Article in the IJ today wrt preserving the wetlands.
Note the proposed expansion area is ~3.5 miles from the Binford encampment where the same officials are allowing toxic waste to be spewed into the same water, where the same threatened species live.
We have contacted Jared Huffman previously about the Binford pollution with no response.
The San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge is home to some of the North Bay’s most vital habitats — serving as a safe haven for threatened species, increasing the region’s climate resiliency and providing outdoor recreation opportunities for folks in the Bay Area,” said Huffman, a San Rafael resident. “As a time-tested proponent of land conservation, I think this area is the perfect candidate for expansion.”
On Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 3:57 PM Toni Shroyer <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Eric,
I am requesting via the FOIA, proof of all taxpayer funds (Federal, state and county) spent on Binford Rd since January 2023. This includes the recent state funds allocated specifically for Binford Road. Of said funds spent, I need them itemized with trailing documentation.
As Binford Road has gotten worse since August 22 2023 (and under your leadership), with new vehicles/residents, more trash/hoarding and consistent crime, I and others are curious as to where said taxpayer funds are going.
When speaking in public, please address although the county has provided berms, the campers on Binford are and have been digging them out with shovels to allow more vehicles—-with no consequences. Recently you publicly talked about the berms, but not what the campers were doing with them.
Thank you for your help. Day 1 starts tomorrow regarding my FOIA request.
With regard to the August 2023 County staff report regarding Binford Road, the staff stated people are living on Binford Road because they have been “priced out of Marin.” I asked the staffer after the August 22, 2023 BOS meeting where the statistics were to back up the statements in the report. She stated there weren’t any statistics. I asked her to not state things that were not true on public reports. She said, “ok.” Please have your county staff provide accurate information, and not made up statements to the public. One doesn’t have to look very far on Binford to see out of state license plates and parolees and ex-cons from other counties.
Attached is a photo of Terry Kramer, ex-con and current con, who was sent to Binford Rd via Petaluma PD. When arrested on Binford, he had lots of cash, weapons and drugs. Last I heard, he is still at large. The Catch and Release Program does not keep our community safe with criminals coming into neighborhoods. Meanwhile the clean-up of Mr. Kramer’s garbage/hoarding/camper he left on Binford, cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars to remove.
As the case has moved through the legal process, city officials and coalition attorneys have wrangled over what constitutes “involuntary” homelessness. Ryu’s court order cites Martin v. Boise, a landmark federal case that prohibits the citation or arrest of people sleeping outdoors if no shelter is made available to them.
…
This month, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals “acknowledged that individuals are not involuntarily homeless if they have declined a specific offer of available shelter or otherwise have access to such shelter,”
I was very interested to read about a three-year plan to clean up the vehicle camp situation on Binford Road near Novato (“Marin County unveils plan to clear Novato road camp,” Aug. 26).
I’m wondering why Marin County officials continue to ignore the question of finding a safer place for the vehicles and their residents as they work to help them find more permanent homes.
These people would be much safer if they could park their van or camper near a structure with services. I know there are organizations built to provide things like laundry services, showers, food and waste management. Recently, I read about one working well in East Palo Alto.
We need to realize that people living on Binford Road might want to stay in their camper while they find permanent housing. I know Marin has plenty of vacant land and parking lots that could be built to accommodate campers, much like an actual RV community.
Of course, we all know that providing space won’t be enough. The program must include onsite support. Some will need help to get jobs, medical help or rehabilitation services.
I’d like to think that a newly created community of rehabilitated RV dwellers could become self-sustaining. They could all collectively stay at the newly built park, eventually paying a subsided rent. Anything is possible.
It seems to me that we are asking people to leave their perceived safe space (whether they live in a tent or a vehicle) with too many uncertainties about support. People who live in tents could be living in a tiny cabin community as a transition to permanent housing. People living in their RVs could have a safe, supported place to park.
In my last Binford Bulletin I shared that the Board of Supervisors would receive an update from County staff regarding the Binford Road Encampment at our August 22 Board Meeting. The staff report and video recording (item 7) of the meeting are posted on the County website.
The County of Marin recently secured $1.6 million in state grant funding over three years to resolve the Binford Road encampment through enhanced outreach, housing-based case management, and other direct support to homeless individuals.
With support from the new state funding, three main strategies have been identified as next steps to address the encampment.
Supportive Services: The goal is to house half of the approximately 90 individuals along Binford Road within two years, and all within three years. Some of these individuals will need permanent supportive housing, while others may need assistance to stabilize into affordable housing units, including security deposits, first and last month’s rent, or other housing-related costs.
Enforcement and Regulation: The goal is to improve public and environmental safety by reducing the number of abandoned vehicles and belongings in the public right-of-way. Abandoned or excess vehicles will be removed after providing registered owners with a 30-day pre-notice period, followed by a 15-day action notice. Personal property stored in the public right-of-way will be removed after the notice period. The Sheriff’s office is distributing notices this week to begin this enforcement effort.
Environmental Protection: The goal is to protect and preserve the sensitive environmental habitat on and along the Rush Creek Preserve and slough. The County will increase efforts to support appropriate and healthy disposal of trash and waste prior to the wet weather season, when control of such discharges is more difficult.
In addition, the reconstruction of Binford Road has been on Public Works’ capital improvement project list for several years. These needed improvements are planned to commence in 2025, including requirements along the east side of Binford Road to install sediment control to filter road runoff for protection of the sensitive habitat of the Rush Creek Preserve and slough. This will have the effect of eliminating much, if not all, parking along the east side of Binford Road along the water. We will monitor progress of these efforts and plan for any needed contingencies.
I have asked our County staff to come back to the Board of Supervisors by the end of the calendar year to provide a status update on these efforts. Monthly progress will be tracked on the County’s Data Dashboard.
I know that no plan is perfect, but I support the strategy in place. We have a lot of work to do, and I’m pleased we have a detailed, thoughtful, collaborative effort in place to execute. Our end goal is to move people into housing.
I will continue to visit Binford Road on a weekly basis and communicate with you when we have updates to share. I appreciate the interest and concern from the community.
CALL TO ACTION : We can all call in at 9am on Tuesdays to the BOS meetings, speak at public comment about Binford via zoom (although they do not show our faces—just a black background) say what we have to say and hang up. That way people don’t have to leave work and drive down there and speak —and its easier than having to stand up and speak.
We didn’t get what we wanted, but there is movement. Without all of us getting involved, nothing would have happened.
