Improving transportation and ending gridlock on the
freeway is one of the biggest challenges we face. While
the final solutions must be devised on a regional level,
there is much we can do and are doing locally to support
that regional effort. First, I supported the passage
of Measure A, passed by the voters in 2004 to devote
a half-cent of sales tax revenue for buses, roads, bike
and pedestrian improvements and building a car pool and
bus lane on Highway 101 from Novato through San Rafael.
As a Board Member of the Transportation Authority of
Marin, I worked to ensure that these improvements benefited
Novato and the county of Marin.
Second, as a leader of the Novato Safe Routes to School
Committee, I have worked to help make it safer for our
youth to walk and/or bike to schools. I was instrumental
in expanding the number of schools participating in our
efforts and in helping to develop a grant application
that makes improvements around five Novato schools.
Third, I support multi-modes of transportation including
rail. But, we need to make sure that any passenger rail
service is cost effective, environmentally sound and
is compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. As a Board
Member of the Sonoma and Marin Rail Transit (SMART) authority,
I worked to ensure that the efforts to implement rail
service is transparent with the public and is responsive
to the community's needs.
THE ONLY
WAY we will reduce traffic congestion on our roads and
freeways is by providing reasonable, attractive and affordable
alternatives to driving alone.
That's one of the reasons why I support
public transit — buses, vanpools, carpools, ferries
and rail — where it makes sense economically and environmentally.
Unfortunately, the $1.4 billion Sonoma Marin Area Rail
Transit proposal for rail service from Cloverdale to
Larkspur does not make sense for Marin.
At last month's Novato City Council meeting on the final
Environmental Impact Report, I announced my opposition
to the SMART project and the proposed sales tax measure
that will appear on the November ballot.
Here are my reasons.
First
and foremost, SMART's own studies show the planned
rail will not make a difference in traffic congestion
in Marin. The FEIR found that, with or without the
rail, Highway 101 southbound in the mornings from
Highway 37 to San Pedro Road in San Rafael will have
a level of service of "F"—- which is
essentially a parking lot.
My hope is to retain all of or a majority of this property
as open space or for agricultural use. Growing up in
Terra Linda, I enjoyed viewing the open space of the
Silveira property and the school and chapel at St. Vincent's.
As a resident of Novato since 1974, I have also enjoyed
the property as a community separator between the cities
of San Rafael and Novato.
In the end, some compromise might be necessary to allow
very limited development. We should explore finding grants
or other funding to purchase the land or even a portion
of the property to preserve it.
At a minimum, I believe that the viewshed from 101 should
be preserved as open space. And any use of St. Vincent/Silveira
needs to protect the view to the Bay, not increase traffic
congestion, and preserve a buffer zone or green belt
between San Rafael and Novato - one of the few left in
the County of Marin.
Affordable workforce housing is very much needed in
Marin County. In Novato, many, if not most, of our police
officers and teachers cannot afford to live here. Much
the same is true of our firefighters, public works employees,
and others. This is not good for the community because
in a state of emergency it will be hard for those who
we depend on to keep us safe, to reach Novato. Our sense
of community suffers when the people who are responsible
for protecting us and teaching our children, are only
available during working hours.
We are creating almost 600 units at the former Navy
housing site at Hamilton of which 50% is for purchase
as workforce housing. We gave our essential workers -
police, fire, teachers, other City, County and School
District employees - the first shot at the housing, bringing
these workers home. The other area where we need more
affordable housing is for our seniors. We have approved
senior housing projects in Novato, some of which are
dedicated as affordable units. But, we have not kept
pace with the increasing need for senior housing and
we must do more to provide the housing that seniors need.
In-fill projects are good for seniors because they do
not generate traffic and/or require a lot of parking.
I am very excited about the renovation and the revitalization
of our Downtown. Our downtown is one of the ways that
we define our community character and as such, it is
very important that the downtown acts as an economic,
social, civic, and recreational hub. Last year, Novato
completed the restoration of Grant Avenue, which eliminated
the crown in the street, re-built our sidewalks and corrected
drainage problems - resulting in a $10.5 million beautification
project and a community investment that is the largest
capital improvement project in Novato.
There are some catalyst projects that will help continue
the downtown revitalization that is in the works - the
rebuilding of the old train depot with Book Passage,
construction of the Whole Foods Project, the renovation
of the Novato Theater and, the addition of Trader Joe's
on Redwood Blvd. We need to continue to bring high quality,
diverse businesses to our downtown, including a bookstore,
restaurants, and other retail businesses. I am fully
committed to making our downtown lively, prosperous and
truly the heart of the Novato community.
Economic development and environmental protection go
hand-in-hand. Without one, you will not have the other.
In my meetings with business leaders, I have been impressed
by the fact that they chose to locate their businesses
in Novato for the same reasons we choose to live here.
These executives want to see open space, breathe clean
air, and enjoy the small town character of our community.
They like to look out of their office windows and see
cows. If we want to encourage economic growth, we must
not do it at the sacrifice of the environment. If we
don't protect our environment, we won't have the main
drawing card that brings and keeps the kinds of companies
we want in Novato. If we maintain a balance between economic
health and environmental health, we will be able to provide
our community with a very high quality of life.
Before we can make any substantial progress, everyone
- every government body, every youth organization, every
parent organization - must become involved in a joint
effort to meet the needs of children who are at risk.
If juvenile crime isn't fought on the streets by the
police, in the classrooms by the teachers, and in the
homes by parents, we are bound for failure.
Juvenile crime and violence must be addressed on a continual
basis. I am very proud of our Police Department and its
leadership role in our City and the County on gang issues.
We must be diligent to prevent heinous crimes from happening
in our communities. We must hold the gangs at bay, and
respond quickly and justly when there are gang-related
incidents. Having gone on many ride-alongs with the Novato
Police Department, I can assure you of the officers'
sensitivity to our youth and their ability to deal effectively
with kids in trouble.
To combat juvenile crime there must be a two-pronged
approach: preventative and punitive. I voted for the
Youth Curfew because I am convinced that the police needed
a non-criminal means to help young people who may be
at risk. The curfew allows the officer to help without
having to involve the juvenile in the justice system.
On the preventative side, I support giving our youth
legal and wholesome ways to socialize and have fun. That's
why I supported the skate park and the Youth Activity
Center. I initiated, along with Connie Benz, former President
of the Novato Unified School District Board of Directors,
a Blue Ribbon Committee focused on preventing the use
of drugs and alcohol by our youth. Among the many successful
outcomes of our efforts were the Youth Court (now operated
by Marin County Courts) and the popular 15-minute program
that stages an alcohol-related accident resulting in
a mock trial.
Our fastest growing population in Novato is seniors
over 70 years of age. We must prepare to meet the needs
of our increasing senior population. The two most important
areas that we need to address for seniors are housing
and transportation. As the initiator of the Housing and
Services Commission, I know that the City needs to do
more to focus on providing affordable senior housing,
especially in the area of assisted living facilities.
Our seniors on fixed incomes need to know that we value
having them in our community and want to continue to
benefit from the contributions that seniors make to Novato.
Transportation for seniors is not as easily solved. I
support the City providing a local jitney service that
would help our seniors move around town to shop, socialize,
go to doctors, and see their families. Unfortunately,
the bus system is designed for commuters but is sorely
deficient in meeting the needs of people who want to
traverse Novato. I will work to find the funding for
the jitney service so that seniors are not imprisoned
in their homes.
Paid for by Pat Eklund
for Supervisor. FPPC ID# 1282392
