Damon Connolly OPPOSEs Regional Housing Tax Authority

Damon Connolly votes No on the CASA Compact Dec 19, 2018

Supervisor Damon Connolly votes "NO" on the CASA compact on December 19. 2018 at the MTC Directors Meeting.  His cites the importance of informing local communities about the massive project that will collect $1.6 BILLION dollars from local taxpayers,  rob cities of their ability to plan and fund their infrastructure.   

Damon Connolly Votes No on Casa Compact

Damon Connolly, Marin supervisor not sold on proposed solutions

Housing crisis plan discussed in luxury; Marin supervisor not sold on proposed solutions

In emails, Marin Supervisor Damon Connolly wrote that while the housing plan contains some good ideas, “there are significant problems with the approach.”(Robert Tong/Marin Independent Journal)

By RICHARD HALSTEAD | rhalstead@marinij.com | Marin Independent Journal
PUBLISHED: November 28, 2018 at 5:26 pm | UPDATED: November 28, 2018 at 8:50 pm


Metropolitan Transportation Commission board members, including Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly, are meeting at the swank Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn this week to discuss a blockbuster new plan for addressing the Bay Area’s critical shortage of affordable housing.

The plan calls for generating $1.5 billion per year in new revenue over the next 20 to 25 years to achieve its goals. It would include new taxes and fees affecting property owners, developers, employers, local governments and taxpayers.

Marin critics of the MTC and its initiatives, such as Plan Bay Area, see the choice of venue as indicative of the commission’s hauteur.

“It smacks of decadence,” said Richard Hall of San Rafael. “While working to house people with low incomes, we have a group of politicians living it up at a wine resort in Sonoma.”

Some members of the commission will be staying overnight at the inn while attending the retreat, which cost the commission $29,000. Mission Inn’s amenities include a spa and a Michelin-rated restaurant; the Sonoma Golf Club is next door. The commission had Connolly on a list of attendees planning to spend the night, but he said Tuesday that was incorrect. See article HERE

Marinwood Safety Meeting by Speakers November 7, 2018

MTC Director Steve Heminger tells Supervisor Connolly, "Small cities may never receive Housing Grants"

Marin Supervisor Damon Connolly on sb827 and Marin housing on January 9, 2018

Here is what Board of Supervisors President Damon Connolly thinks about Senator Wieners SB827 and other housing laws.

Damon's full January 9, 2018 address

Marin IJ Editorial: Progress needed on Marinwood clean-up

The Marinwood Plaza shopping center property has contaminants left by a former dry cleaner. The Savemor liquor store, one of the last businesses there, closed earlier this year. (IJ archives) 

POSTED: 12/01/16, 1:08 PM PST | UPDATED: 13 HRS AGO

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Neighbors of the Marinwood Plaza shopping center want an underground toxic plume cleaned up now, not later.

That’s understandable.

The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has established clean-up deadlines it expects the plaza’s new ownership to meet. Warning that the owners could face fines should help ensure progress toward cleaning up the toxic waste by next fall.

The plume is a remnant of a dry cleaner that was open in that tiny shopping center for years. PCE, or tetrachloroethylene, has been detected in soil tests and the toxic waste has spread underground, moving 2,700 feet under Highway 101 and to privately held lands on the east side of the freeway.

Credit Supervisor Damon Connolly for keeping pressure on the state to demand compliance with its clean-up order. His determination to make sure there is progress has helped make it a higher priority with the state board. see Article HERE

Damon Connolly gives a "state of the district" talk to Marin Coalition 11/2/2016

Damon Connolly gives a "State of the District" speech to Marin Coalition on November 2, 2016.  He is the supervisor for Marinwood-Lucas Valley, Terra Linda and parts of downtown San Rafael, CA (District One).

Marin County Nursing Home Tax

Marin County Supervisor discussion the imposition of an affordable housing tax on nursing homes and assisted living facilities on Oct 18, 2016 .  Damon Connolly is the only supervisor that questions the  new ordinance which will mean higher costs for seniors.  Rice, Sears, Kinsey and Arnold embrace the new tax (development fee).  A project now in the development pipeline could have to pay $1.5 million dollars in affordable housing fees.  Is it any wonder why market rate developers hate building in Marin?

Damon Connolly Marinwood Full Meeting- June 8, 2016

Marin County Supervisor, Damon Connolly speaks to Marinwood Residents about Housing Development, Street improvements at Marinwood  Ave and Miller Creek Avenue, Relocation of Homeless services to North San Rafael.

Damon Connolly- Homeless services to North San Rafael?

Discussion with Damon Connolly on the relocation of Ritter House Homeless services to 67 Mark St. San Rafael near Smith Ranch Rd.

From the June 8, 2016 meeting at Marinwood Community Center


Editors Note:  It was an excellent meeting.  I really like Damon even though I don't always agree with him.  The homeless discussion should be shared.   I disagree with the fellow from East Terra Linda that commented on Nextdoor that there is "nothing to worry about".   We have to educate our neighbors about this proposal.   

Just last night I ran into a homeless guy in Marinwood park on drugs or drunk. He was talking with himself and seemed out of touch with reality.   These sorts of incidents will increase if Ritter re-locates.   Good homeless shelters refuse admittance of the worst of the homeless.  Where do they go?  Into the parks and neighborhoods surrounding community of course.

Prosperity Cleaners Toxic Waste meeting video April 13, 2016

Power point slides from the Clean Up Marinwood Plaza Now committee.

Full Prosperity Cleaners Toxic Waste meeting  video April 13, 2016 at the RWQCB   

Prosperity Cleaners Toxic Waste Clean up meeting November 16, 2015

The meeting is approximately 1:26 minutes

Key points of the evening.

1.) Recent testing has revealed toxic plume is at least 50% larger than the April 2015 map and info sheet.
2.) Testing for toxic soil vapors has begun and more testing will be done inside of Casa Marinwood. Rains may make testing difficult but they hope to complete by Dec 31, 2015
3.) While the substance is dangerous, it also can be treated effectively.
4.) PCE toxic waste (liquid) generally travels in the downgradient towards the Bay. Soil vapors spread in all directiions where there is permable soil, especially around utility trenches. This is the concern at Casa Marinwood.
5.) The top officials at the RWQCB attended and have pledged speedy resolution to the problem. Marinwood Plaza, LLC must submit a plan by Jan 1, 2016.
6.) Supervisor Damon Connolly has provided wonderful community leadership on this issue and will continue to watch over the process.
7.) Community involvement is key to making this happen.

8.) Of special note, the RWQCB agreed to be available to make corrections to the January 27, 2015 Marin IJ article "Plaza Pollution Analysis: All's Fine ": which inaccurately implied there is no further risk to the community.  The risk is much greater than known at the time and a cause of immediate concern.

My Letter to Damon Connolly on the appointment of a New Planning Commissioner.

Damon Connolly is sworn in as District One Supervisor on January 6, 2015

Damon,

I hope you are settling into your new position.  We are all so proud of you in Marinwood/Lucas Valley as our Supervisor.

As you know, four planning commissioners are to be appointed in the next few weeks.

Although we tried mightily to secure a local person to represent the average District 1 homeowner's concerns, no one I know was able to submit an application for appointment.  The job requires too much of a working person or busy parent.  

Fortunately, you may have the option to reappoint Don Dickerson.  Although he voted in projects in the Marinwood Lucas Valley Area, many of us feel that he is thoughtful, sensitive to community needs and asks penetrating questions about planning.  He is well respected in the community and we think he is a good appointment.

The others commissioners do not have our support.  Most especially Enrika Erickson whose advocacy for Marin Grassroots seems to be inseparable from her objectivity in representing the community.  As a "social equity advocate" she appears to promote ideology over sound planning principles.

see: 

http://www.savemarinwood.org/2015/01/ericka-erickson-advocates-multifamily.html

Here is a clip of Erika suggesting that Single Family Home Zoning should be eliminated in Los Ranchitos area as it is a main factor of segregation in Marin.   I do not know where she get's her data "proving" this.  From her logic NO single family zoning should be allowed ANYWHERE in Marin.  This is a radical proposition that would destroy the suburban rural character of our district.

Likewise Kate Crecilious is an affordable housing advocate does not have our hicommunity support.  She petitioned the planning commission to put multifamily zoning on school sites in the Dixie School District.  Although this was quickly dismissed as impractical, it demonstrates her resolve of building high density subsidized housing at all costs in Marin.

All I am asking for is people with commonsense and without a personal agenda to serve the community.  Don Dickerson is a fine example but I'd prefer someone who is even more committed to sensible local planning for Marinwood/Lucas Valley. 

We should not be forced to be burdened with 80% of all the affordable housing quota in just two high density projects for all of Unincorporated Marin.

Thanks for listening.

Yours,

Stephen Nestel

A Big Win for Marin County

A Big Win for Marin County see www.planningforreality.org

by Richard Hall | Jun 4, 2014 | Marin, Supervisors, Uncategorized | 0 comments

The June 3rd Marin County election resulted in Damon Connolly crushing a 12 year incumbent Supervisor Susan Adams – an immense achievement over adversity. Meanwhile Toni Shroyer came out of nowhere against a 20 year incumbent Judy Arnold and almost pipped her at the post (and in one erroneous TV report actually won).

The Higher Level Takeaway of the Election Result

As important as the individual win, and of this incredibly tight race in Novato, is the higher level takeaway:

if you’re an elected then you promote high density housing in Marin at your peril, opponents vastly outnumber a small number of loud proponents.

A Conversation with Congressmen Jared Huffman

I also enjoyed an excellent conversation with Congressman Jared Huffman last night. Huffman shared with me that he thought the debate about Plan Bay Area and high density was irrelevant and people were missing the point – the relevant debate is about water – and there isn’t any. He correctly pointed out that WinCup replaced an industrial building that used more water, but foresaw that Larkspur Landing would not go through. To hear this from a senior Democrat was a very significant signal to me.
I asked Huffman if he agreed with the concept that a given area had a “carrying capacity” – he agreed questioning ABAG’s population projections.
Finally I asked Jared about California High Speed Rail – he is a supporter. Well there’s a reality check for me – the world isn’t perfect. But I’ll take his support of the water issues, carrying capacity and his foresight into the outcome of Larkspur Landing.

A City and District Finally United

Mayor Phillips of San Rafael actually predicted the result of Connolly’s win – 60/40 (if you round to the nearest whole number I believe he is spot on!) . A secondary takeaway that will be of immense benefit to both San Rafael and District 1 is that now after over a decade both are united and supportive of each other. We (as of January when Damon’s term commences) will have a supervisor, a mayor and the entire city council supportive of each other instead of having an antagonizing relationship.
In so many conversations I had with Adams she would try to redirect me to point the heat away from her and back at the city. When pushing on the county’s Housing Element which fixated on rezoning for high density housing she would repeatedly ask why didn’t I put the same pressure on the city of San Rafael which had a much higher housing unit quota. The answer is that the city had the quota covered already without rezoning high density.
It helped too that the city, led by the terrific Paul Jensen, demonstrated true transparency and responsiveness. When questions were asked of San Rafael the responses were thorough and quickly delivered. The city went out of its way to help build understanding. By comparison questions submitted to the county were either not responded to, responded to with bluster and spin or came 3 months later without answering the question.

What’s Next?

Today is a great day for transparency and accountability in Marin. All of us should celebrate this great victory for our wonderful county.
It will be interesting to watch the supervisors who surely received a jolt last night that if they continue to over-represent special interests – such as developers or a tiny minority holding fervent beliefs in high density – then they will find their support becoming anaemic at the election booth. Time to re-engage, re-evaluate, and restore Marin to a course away from destructive high density housing.

Damon's Victory Speech

Remember to Vote next Tuesday, June 3rd

Candidate Debates "Microwave Towers at Marinwood Village and Health Risks "

For more on Toxic Waste, Politics and Greed go HERE

Damon Connolly and Susan Adams debate Marinwood Housing, Dixie Schools and the future of our neighborhood

Marin County Supervisor Debate on April 16, 2014 sponsored by the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents.  Incumbent supervisor, Susan Adams debates San Rafael Vice Mayor and former Dixie school board president, Damon Connolly for the race for District One Supervisor. They discussed affordable housing, Dixie school district, transparency in government, Marinwood-Lucas Valley and public involvement in the planning process. 

Be sure to vote in this important election for the future of Marin.

Will we have a high density, urbanized Marin as advocated by ABAG and Susan Adams or will we grow in the Marin way, organically with considerations of scale, density and infrastructure needs advocated by Damon Connolly?

The election is June 3rd. Mail ballots go out on May 5th.