Marin Grassroots members confront me at the "State of Emergency" meeting for civility in public meetings.

Marin Grassroots, Asks the Governor to declare a "State of Emergency" on Free Speech

Raw Footage of "State of Emergency" Rally in Marin on July 23, 2013.

See the story here in the Marin IJ

The following is from the press release of Marin GrassRoots:

Marin Grassroots, who works to support the engagement of low-income people in civic engagement, is requesting a State of Emergency to be placed in Marin County due to severe limitations to the democratic process and threats to residents’ civil rights. The obstructionism and gridlock that the Tea Party has brought to the U.S. House of Representatives has now descended on Marin County, where local government is beset by a growing mob of angry homeowners.

"Residents of color report being singled out in the controversy. Raphael Durr of San Rafael states that, “I feel like it’s the Civil War here in Marin. I’m afraid of backlash I’ll receive from attending a public meeting as a Black man.” Martha Vega, single mother of two declared that, “As a Latina, it’s difficult to get landlords to rent to me, despite my steady income and strong references.”

Speakers at public meetings have put an explicitly racial lens on their concerns. One prominent realtor, for instance, accused a Marin County Supervisor of “volunteering us for the ghetto,” and went on to comment that, “If you’re white in Marin, looks like you are out of luck.”

Among the most affluent counties in the U.S., with the smallest proportion of minority residents in the entire Bay Area, Marin is facing a growing crisis over whether its democratic institutions can function. The voices of constructively-engaged citizens, including low-income and minority residents, are routinely drowned out at County board meetings by what one resident calls, “an angry mob of hundreds of mainly white homeowners.” With no coherent vision of the future of Marin or the Bay Area, these homeowners appear bent on shutting down public discussion and decision making altogether, regardless of the consequences.

Hopefully a state of emergency will bring the focus of discussion back to a coherent vision of Marin County’s future, and to reduce the increasingly threatening voices heard locally, in the media, and in public meetings. One Marin resident who has long been accustomed to bring constructive ideas to their locally-elected representatives is predicting a descent into complete chaos if current trends continue. Because civic engagement in a democratic society is how to promote the best interests of the larger community, rather than to polarize and shout down the opposition, they fear that the civic institutions responsible for local self-government will soon become incapable of taking important actions that the vast broad majority publically supports."

Here is a clip from the above full press conference showing Sustainable Marin director Kiki La Porta:

Here is a clip that shows how I was treated when I arrived at the press conference by a well known activist, Lynne Wasley from "Stand up for Neighborly Novato"  also heard on tape is Dave Coury who declared, "This is War" in a Board of Supervisors meeting  HERE




I let you decide who the "bully" is in the above unsolicited confrontation.

"Now say you love Plan Bay Area, sissy"

Dave Coury, Affordable Housing Lobbyist tells Board of Supervisors "This is War"

Dave Coury, housing lobbyist is hard to miss.  He is tall man with a loud voice. You'll find him at every housing meeting representing various clients in the housing advocate community.  I was shocked when earlier this year he asked the Planning Board to simply rezone ALL property within 1/2 mile of the 101 highway to 30 units per acre, previously known as the 101 Corridor Priority Development Area.  Due process, property rights, democratic principles seem to mean nothing to this man.  Make no mistake. What  housing advocates want is the right to build tax exempt affordable housing apartments next to your home along the 101 corridor and have surrounding taxpayers pay for the cost. It is a socialist solution they call "social equity".

But how "equitable" is it to have property owners who often earn LESS than those in so called affordable housing pay for the expenses of their wealthier neighbors?  According to a recent census map, the neighborhoods immediately surrounding Marinwood Village have an average income in the $60k-$80k range but the so called "low income tenants" that inhabit Marinwood Village will earn on average more.

Dave declares "War" on suburban Marin and is especially targeting Marinwood-Lucas Valley where we are effectively fighting back.  He denies that we have 70% of all affordable housing for unincorporated Marin. He denies that our schools will be impacted.  He denies that tax-exempt housing is a "tax scam".

FACT: 546 of 775 housing units are concentrated in Marinwood - this is 70%. Our Dixie Schools are at capacity. 546 units if built will bring 983 students into our schools.  This will cost local taxpayers millions in new school construction, teachers, administrators and supplies.  This will immediately make Dixie School District severely underfunded.  Tax-exempt properties pay minimal parcel taxes since they are taxed at the same rate per parcel as a single family home and the receive a 55 year taxbreak worth   tens of millions of dollars.  These tax breaks are sold to wealthy corporations at a discount.  The end result is the RICH are the primary beneficiaries of "affordable housing".  Middle class communities pay all of the cost.

Housing advocates lobbying efforts are indirectly supported through grants from private and public funding.

Mr Coury was representing Marin Common Ground this day.  I could not find a website for Marin Common Ground but found a website for New York based Common Ground  which is a homeless housing charity with 500 million in assets.  Mr. Coury's facebook shows that he is from Chappequa, NY which is the home of the Clintons and the first HUD  "analysis of impediments" settlement. Is there a connection?     Marin is the second major district under this HUD ruling.

Dave's opening and closing statements suggests that "We are at War" and ties the Officer involved shooting in Marin City with affordable housing. From the start, the housing advocates have tried to introduce race into their arguments to silence critics of affordable housing.  Now they are using fear and intimidation.  It is my sincere hope that we can find solutions to our affordable housing needs that works for our whole community that honors our democratic traditions.

see Susan Adams promotes Marinwood for HUD housing