Jet Black Pearl-Flop

Do you live within the Marinwood Village Toxic Waste Zone of Influence?

The toxic waste from Prosperity Cleaners at Marinwood Plaza continues to spread unabated.  Recent testing on Silveira Ranch indicates a much further penetration into our groundwater supply than previously estimated.  

A cancer hot spot of multiple cases is present in Casa Marinwood.  Although it is highly speculative at this point whether there is a causal relationship,  we now know that the toxic waste has definitely spread and threatens the health of our community.  

Supervisor Susan Adams and Marc Levine have personally intervened to stop the mandatory cleanup order for Marinwood Plaza to allow Bridge Housing to secure financing.  We understand they are now out of the bidding and a new buyer has also dropped out.   

It appears that no one is prepared to take on the responsibility for clean up.  Marinwood Plaza, LLC is the legally responsible party but has successfully delayed full clean up since 2007 when first made public.  We understand that Ms Adams has long had the objective of building housing on the site and capitalizing on the funds available from the EPA for clean up of brownfield sites for affordable housing.   This well meaning effort to delay clean up has imperiled hundreds of Marinwood residents as well as the Silveira Ranch dairy operation.   

Sudden staff changes at the Regional Water Quality Control Board appears to be political manuevers to get approvals on this troubled site.  We sincerely hope that the RWQCB does responsible science and order the immediate clean up for the safety of all.

Will the court action be necessary?   

If you are in the "zone of influence" we recommend that you step forward to add your voice of concerned residents at tommorrows  RWQCB meeting in Oakland. For more information contact savemarinwood@gmail.com

Welcome to your New Family Home at Wonderful Marinwood Village!

The Toxic Avenger from the film The Toxic Avenger

For years and years, it is alleged that the dry cleaner who leased at Marinwood Plaza, dumped toxic waste down his drain and over the fence behind his store.   The Marinwood Plaza site is now contaminated at unacceptable levels according to state laws.  Although some mitigation measures have taken place the toxic waste site is far from clean. According to State regulators the damage is much greater than previously reported.

The "brownfield" contaminated site now extends under the freeway on ramp and clear across to the east side next to the Silveira ranch.  To properly clean the site,  hundreds of cubic yards of soil will need to be cleaned, replaced and sealed to prevent further environmental damage and to make it safe for human habitation. The containment is PCE which breaks down into multiple toxic compounds. It is now illegal for use in California.

The site is also home to two high power microwave transmission towers

on the southeast corner of the property. 

Microwaves are also a known health hazard

All hidden behind a 16 foot soundwall barrier that will reduce traffic noise

but still subject inhabitants to roadway pollutants.

Would you choose to move your family to Marinwood Village?

We MUST insist that Bridge Housing do a full Environmental Review and treat toxic waste to the highest levels of safety.  We will not allow a "negative declaration" to avoid rigorous review.

If you care about the community, you will care about the health of the residents, the quality of Dixie schools and the financial integrity of the Marinwood Village proposal

Speak up for your rights and your community!

Marinwood Village Enviromental CRIME! PCE Risks to You (en espanol )

From the National Library of Medicine

Perchloroethylene (PCE, PERC)

en español

Perchloroethylene is used in dry cleaning. Long-term exposure may affect health.

What is perchloroethylene?

Perchloroethylene is a colorless, nonflammable liquid with a sweet, ether-like odor. It is also called tetrachloroethylene, PCE, or PERC. The chemical formula for perchloroethylene is C₂Cl₄.

Perchloroethylene is a volatile organic compound (VOC). Perchloroethylene is a manufactured chemical that is primarily used for dry cleaning fabrics and degreasing metals. It has also been used to make other chemicals, including chlorofluorocarbons, and rubber coatings; as an insulating fluid and cooling gas in electrical transformers; and as a scouring, sizing, and desizing agent in textiles. It is an ingredient in aerosol products, solvent soaps, printing inks, adhesives, sealants, paint removers, paper coatings, leather treatments, automotive cleaners, polishes, lubricants, and silicones. It is also an ingredient in some consumer products, including typewriter correction fluid, adhesives, spot removers, wood cleaners, and shoe polish.

How might I be exposed to perchloroethylene?

You can be exposed to perchloroethylene if you dry clean your clothes, which will release small amounts of perchloroethylene into the air after they are dry cleaned, or if you use a laundromat that contains dry cleaning machines. You can also be exposed if you use products that contain perchloroethylene, such as fabric finishers, adhesives, spot removers, typewriter correction fluid, shoe polish, and wood cleaners.

Exposure to low levels of perchloroethylene in the air and water can occur because of industrial releases. There is more perchloroethylene in the air in urban and industrial areas than in rural and remote areas. You can be exposed to higher levels if you live or work close to dry cleaning facilities, chemical waste sites, or chemical storage areas where perchloroethylene has been stored.

At work, you can be exposed to perchloroethylene if you work in a dry cleaning, metal degreasing, chemical production, rubber coating, or textile facility.

How can perchloroethylene affect my health?

Short-term exposure to high levels of perchloroethylene can affect the central nervous system and cause unconsciousness and death. 
Perchloroethylene is listed as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" in the Thirteenth Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program because long-term exposure to perchloroethylene can cause leukemia and cancer of the skin, colon, lung, larynx, bladder, and urogenital tract.

Long-term exposure may also damage the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys; it can also cause respiratory failure, memory loss, confusion, and dry and cracked skin. If you are pregnant, long-term exposure to perchloroethylene may damage a developing fetus.

Short-term exposure to high levels of perchloroethylene can cause buildup of fluid in the lungs, eye and respiratory irritation, severe shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, difficulty speaking and walking, and lightheadedness.

Short-term exposure to low levels of perchloroethylene can cause dizziness, inebriation, sleepiness, and irritated eyes, nose, mouth, throat, and respiratory tract. Direct contact with perchloroethylene liquid or vapor can irritate and burn the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.

If you have a disease of the heart, liver, kidneys, or lungs, you will be more susceptible to the health effects of perchloroethylene.

If you think your health has been affected by exposure to perchloroethylene, contact your health care professional.

For poisoning emergencies or questions about possible poisons, please contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

This description is based on the information found in the Web links listed with this topic.

More Links
Map of Superfund Hazardous Waste Sites with Perchloroethylene in the United States. TOXMAP (National Library of Medicine) 
Tetrachloroethylene (PERC). ToxFAQs. (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) 
Tetrachloroethylene. Haz-Map (National Library of Medicine) 
Tetrachloroethylene. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (National Library of Medicine) 
Tetrachloroethylene. Household Products Database (National Library of Medicine) 
What is Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene or PCE)? (Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center) (PDF — 62 KB)

Bridge Housing to win $2.2 Million Grant for Marinwood Village

Chief Planner Leelee Thomas explains that Bridge Housing is in line for a $2.2 million dollars gift. She explains at appx. 03;56 that they will qualify for $25,000 for each of their 82 units at Marinwood Village.


Ah,  the life of a "non-profit" developer!   They win so much taxpayer money from our "generous" supervisors,  State, Federal and foundation grants- not to mention they don't have to pay property taxes for 55 years and pay a pittance for all other services like schools, infrastructure, police and fire.

You may think that affordable housing is for the "working poor".  It's not.   It is for the "corporate welfare queens" who squeeze the system for every taxpayer giveaway they can get.   They also typically scoop 60% of the rent as management fees.  The "working poor" are merely bit players in this complex corporate welfare scheme.

[Editor's Note]I am republishing this posting from 2013.  Although Bridge Housing has stepped away from Marinwood Plaza, other developers are lining up to take part in the scheme to redevelop.  The county has also promised to give away part of Marinwood Avenue for parking  (illegal transfer of wealth from the county to a private party) and the toxic waste hot spot is far worse than ever imagined creating huge legal liabilities for any potential developers.   A cancer hotspot in Casa Marinwood and the toxic waste has spread ACROSS the freeway .  Any developer taking on the project absorbs a huge risk.  But if the money is FREE from the taxpayers....

Kate Sears $150,000 Future Goggles. Will Sea Level Rise Fears get her Re-Elected?

Supervisor Kate Sears announces an education program OWL to "see the future" with sea level rise in Mill Valley.  This temporary installation will be installed along the bike path in Mill Valley and costs an estimated $150,000 for twelve weeks.  This is an eye popping $12,500 per week.  This is some expensive "education".

Kate Sears is up for election in November 2015

Kate "No Ears" Sears refused to hear concerns of Strawberry Residents about the PDA for sixteen board meetings in a row. She refused to allow it to be placed on the agenda for discussion.
Now she wants to be re-elected...

Presidential Candidate Rand Paul Opens "Tech Hub" in SF, Talks About "Disrupting Democracy"

Presidential Candidate Rand Paul Opens "Tech Hub" in SF, Talks About "Disrupting Democracy"

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Riya Bhattacharjee
Sen. Rand Paul (right) with Brigade CEO Matt Mahan at Disrupting Democracy event in San Francisco

Republican Presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul was in San Francisco Saturday to speak about "disrupting democracy" in an attempt to woo Millenials and the Silicon Valley crowd.

Paul, who calls himself "a different kind of Republican," took questions about net neutrality, NSA surveillance and Millennial voters during the discussion, formally titled "Disrupting Democracy: A New Generation of Voter Engagement." The event was co-hosted by Lincoln Labs, a Libertarian-leaning "technology and policy think tank" and Brigade, billionaire Sean Parker's civic engagement startup. Brigade's CEO Matt Mahan also joined the conversation along with the San Francisco Chronicle's political reporter Carla Marinucci.


Tesla's Powerwall Battery a Hit, Says CEO

"Some people might be thinking what the hell is a Republican doing in San Francisco," Paul said to chuckles from a packed house at the shared incubator workspace StartupHouse at 934 Howard St. Paul opened a "tech hub" at StartupHouse Saturday to boost his campaign's presence in Silicon Valley, the first 2016 presidential candidate to do so. Paul's campaign has also added a CTO, a tech advisory board and tech office space in Austin.

Paul and Mahan discussed strategies to increase voter engagement among Americans, particularly Millennials — an elusive group that's attractive to Republicans and Democrats alike.


Mark Zuckerberg Could Help With Affordable Housing

"I think young people are looking for something genuine," Paul said. "You need to go where young kids are." Paul said his campaign will be aggressively using social media to reach out to young people during what is already being dubbed as the "Periscope election." "We use Snapchat more than anybody else," he said, without going into any specific social media plans ("I'd have to kill you first," he quipped when asked about it).

An article in Vox last year observed that even though Millenials may be missing from the polls, their tweets, texts and hashtags indicate they are paying attention.

Editor's Note:  Although we have no intention of promoting presidential politics on this blog, regular readers will note the author's love of "Do your own thing" California over the Plan Bay Area "We have a forty year plan for you and you will love it" California.  To this end, I plan to support candidates of both parties that treasure freedom over government control. 

Transparency in Union negotiations- Not on your life!

Marin Board of Supervisors discusses transparency in Union negotiations (COIN). Union Executive Director, Rollie Katz (14:00) blasts the idea and the Citizens for Sustainable Pension Plans.  The very next speaker for the Firemans Union goes further and alleges that the CSPP are the same type of people against affordable housing and want to keep Marin "lily white".  Ironic because ALL of the firefighters in attendence appear to be Caucasians. Kate Sears(24:12) plays both sides of the issue.  Steve Kinsey was not present and made no comment.Judy Arnold (28:44) believes that CSPP will never be satisfied and is playing political games. Katie Rice (30:00) shuts down further discussion, "No more public comment. We're done."

Katie Rice , "No more public comment. We're done."

Activists take over City Government by the Ballot Box.

A labor activist and community organizer tells other how they seized power in Richmond, CA by winning elections. There is nothing sinister about this but it should alert people of more moderate political persuasions that they must get involved if they want the government to change from its present course. Progressives are determined to win elections and are funded with grants from government agencies and private foundations. Grassroots organizing is hard work.

Government belongs to those who show up.

Filmed at the closing remarks for ABAG's Capstone conference held in Oakland, CA on April 15, 2015.


If you plan to run for office, you must submit paperwork soon.  There are three seats up for election in the Marinwood CSD.  

Marinwood CSD Tarey Read on Brown Act

Marinwood CSD Board President, Tarey Read attempts to implement an action that was not on the agenda and asks if anyone will object according to Brown Act. She dismisses the motion when several in the audience ask that the law be followed.

Such flagrent disregard for the Brown Act has been practiced for years on the Marinwood CSD Board. Bill Hansell and Tarey Read have served for over ten years after their appointment. In the last election, they were reappointed by default after the Marinwood CSD failed to announce it beyond minimal requirements ( a tiny one line announcement buried in a legal ad published on a Monday morning in July).

Bill Hansell and Tarey Read are up for election in November 2015. Application for Marinwood CSD are due in July 2015 and are available at the Marin County Board of Elections.

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Someone identifying as Tarey Read posted the following in April 2015:responded to this video:

Tarey Read 1 month ago · LINKED COMMENT

Listen clearly--I said "ready to entertain" not "will entertain". No motion was made so no motion could be dismissed. Always check the facts when viewing any posting from this source. /s/ Tarey Read

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Preventing Displacement in the San Francisco's Mission

Dawn Philips, community activist with Just Cause or Causa Justa is testifying at the April 15, 2015 Capstone Conference on Preventing Displacement. She is concerned with ABAG's push to gentrify working class neighborhoods which will have the effect of displacing existing residents. 

This the exact concern of many who find "One Bay Area" , a forty year government plan to "improve" our lives to be overbearing and limits people's choice.  This is as true in the Mission as it is in Marin.  Causa Justa advocates for more government controls to fix the disparity and we think more democracy is the solution. We agree that communities have a right to their self determination and no planning bureaucrat or politician has the right to force communities to bend to their will. We live in a democracy.

Steve Kinsey, Transportation Authority of Marin Secret Meeting in 23 seconds

Supervisor Steven Kinsey 

Gotta Love,  Supervisor Steve Kinsey and his commitment to government openness.
Check out this hilarious 23 second video for the Transportation Authority of Marin on September 8, 2014.