Dear Neighbors—
Sausalito has no shortage of people who care. We have a shortage of follow-through.
Look at the pattern.
2007: A 17-member waterfront committee brought residents and business owners from across the political divide together to develop a Marinship plan. Its report was shelved.
The decade after: More studies. More books for the shelf.
2021: On my first day on City Council, I called for professional urban planning. I met resistance.
May 23, 2023: I finally got a comprehensive urban planning proposal before the Council. It called for up to $25,000 in City matching funds to launch a process in which:
Residents would shape alternatives through outreach, workshops, models, and 3D visualizations.
Professionals would investigate flooding, subsidence, contamination, infrastructure, traffic, and emergency access.
To build trust, I championed a specific urban planner who was previously engaged by residents most skeptical of Marinship changes; hoping that someone they trusted could help move us all forward together in harmony.
Read the proposal here. See the impressive presentation here. Watch the meeting recording here.
Had we voted YES three years ago, today would be different. We may have had a plan by now—and perhaps a townhome alternative to the residential tower now proposed at One Harbor Drive across from Mollie Stone’s.
But the proposal was defeated by a 3–2 vote. Councilmembers Jill Hoffman and Joan Cox voted no.
Today, my two colleagues are running for re-election, opposing Measure X, by saying that we need to do an urban plan.
And yet, having been on City Council for a combined 5 terms, they voted down this comprehensive Marinship planning proposal while offering no comparable alternative, before or since.
Six years on City Council have taught me that “let’s study it some more” is often just another way of saying “no.”
And while we are saying “no”, or “no, and,” going in circles, buildings deteriorate, streets flood, and businesses leave.
The Marin Independent Journal endorsed Measure X, saying that it’s
“a Sausalito tradition to stop proposals and promise a better plan in the future.”
This election is our chance to change this pattern.
That does not mean everyone asking questions opposes progress. All of us want thoughtful change that protects what we love. We deserve answers and meaningful participation.
But if Measure X fails, I predict six more years of the last six months: competing claims, more fights over studies, promised alternatives, confusion, and uncertainty about when anything—except more flooding—will happen.
If X passes, I believe the momentum in Sausalito changes.
Voters will have given a clear mandate: move forward. There will be a tailwind behind planning. Supporters and opponents will have reason to shape what comes next.
Remember, despite the scary postcards, Measure X does not approve a single new building. Proposals would still require applicable planning, environmental review, public hearings, and approvals. With the mandate clear, I believe we can revive the urban planning effort rejected three years ago and use it to help the community guide future project decisions.
Professional planners and staff can develop options. Residents can demand improvements. The Council can make decisions.
We will still disagree—but the disagreements will be about what to improve, approve, or reject, rather than whether we can ever begin.
Architect and planning commissioner David Marlatt, who worked with Save Our Sausalito on view protections, said:
“Is Measure X better than the status quo? Absolutely.”
Read his full opinion editorial here.
The Marin Independent Journal said directly when it endorsed Measure X:
“Sausalito can no longer afford inaction.”
Sausalito is full of talent, experience, volunteer spirit, and love for this town. Let’s remove the obstacles standing in the way and start moving forward together.
Please join me in voting Yes on Measure X by November 3.
PS: If you have the time to dig deeper:
Here are emblematic messages from an artist, marina steward, entrepreneur, maritime organization, fisherman, and maritime leaders who are being suffocated by our current laws.
Here is Heath Ceramics pleading for help. Do we value Heath?
Click to read the endorsements from the Marin Independent Journal here, the Greenbelt Alliance, the Sustainable Waterfront Association.
Here is a link to the SFChronicle polemic on Measure X.
Here is a description of the mind numbing multi-year process that will still exist after Measure X that ensures we can control the appearance of anything actually permitted; regardless of what is proposed.
Watch the whole Measure X debate here.
Here is an FAQ and a Fact vs. Fiction, if you have time to read.
Here is how CAST, and MALT are examples of what is empowered by Measure X. Both these protective mechanisms take money. And Measure X is a pathway to funding things like this.
PPS. We can do better than this:
This is an actual photo of an RV storage yard in today’s Marinship that the current rules will not allow to be developed into anything with higher commercial usage.
