LEEDS, DERREK
Yet Another Arrest at Binford Estates
Citizen Letter: 2.4.2024
To: Jamie Scardina <[email protected]>, Mike Thompson <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
Hi Jamie,
I called in the below today regarding Binford Road. There are toxic generators with gas and oil and hoarding being submerged into our wetlands as I write this.
The RV campers have abused the situation and continually destroy our environment.
We, The People have had enough. With over 2.2 Million of our taxpayer dollars given to “fix” Binford, this is shameful.
Although efforts with Mike are completely acknowledged and appreciated, the county can do better.
Our wildlife and citizens of Novato don’t deserve our community to be destroyed.
When Mike is off duty, please have an officer in charge to deal with this mess. It appears when Mike is gone, little is addressed.
Posting all over Social Media and Barbara will not be happy!
Thank you,
Citizen Letter: Binford Road 1.14.2024 (update)
To: Dear Sheriff Scardina, Chief Naugle and Deputy Thompson
We appreciate Deputy Thompson’s efforts on Binford Rd.
Today, I took the below photos:
1) The RV on the city side of the road needs to be removed. I will call it in again to NPD. If you need me to have members of the public call it in too, I can have that done.
2) A dog (healer breed) is tied to some junk and is unattended. I cannot see if he has food or water. I no longer call the MHS, as Nancy who is a leader of the MHS wrote to me, “The people who live on Binford Rd treat their animals like family.” I don’t tie family members up to junk and I don’t know anyone who does.
3) I asked the man to not have his two dogs defecate and urinate into the wetlands. I purposely was on the phone with Dispatch when I stayed this so it would be on record. The man clearly didn’t think he was doing anything wrong by being in the wetlands with his dog.
I am respectfully asking again for the laws to be followed on Binford Rd. No matter the hardships or painful backstories of many of the residents living on Binford, that does not give them the right to neglect animals, have them defecate in the wetlands, litter, dispose of their human waste wherever they like and park wherever they do choose.
On a happy note, after church today, a woman said she appreciated all my social media posts on Binford Rd. I hear that all the time in the community. Time for me to crank it up again.
Peace,
Citizen Letter: 1.14.2024 Newcomer?
To: Marin Sheriff
As I was emailing you about the dogs on Binford, the below just happened.
A car moved out and at the same time this RV moved in.
From my understanding and what the public believes the county is telling them, no newcomers are allowed on Binford Rd.
If this is not a newcomer, he can find another place to go. His RV clearly works. Having two set of rules in this county —for those who follow the law and for those who don’t—-is infuriating the public.
Progress Report from the Field
4 cars were towed on the county side of Binford today.
More fences were put up.
Minimal progress, but progress just the same.
New Binford Resident – Novato Side
Letter to the Chief of Police from a Concerned Citizen
Dear Chief Naugle,
I called about this new resident on Binford Road (city side) to your dept. this morning. I was told by dispatch I was the second call in this regard.
Dispatch referred me to a website. As I am working nonstop to pay taxes, I don’t have the time to go to a website (again) about all of the challenges on Binford Road. That is your job.
I respectfully ask again that the law be followed. Novato has created a precedent that needs to stop. Please have the tents removed on the city side of the property and enforce the parking laws AND littering laws. Our wildlife continues to be destroyed by oil spills, garbage and human waste.
Other cities in California are having successes. Novato can too.
City of Novato – “Report An Issue” website
You can use this to report any issues wrt Binford on the Novato side.
At the City of Novato, we use a coordinated service request process to ensure all departments work together to handle these concerns. I recommend using our service request feature on the City of Novato website, found at this link: https://www.novato.org/community/report-an-issue.
You may upload a photo of the issue to help city staff evaluate what services are needed and which staff members (police, public works, homeless outreach) would be best suited to handle it.
Jim Naugle, Novato Chief of Police
Marin supervisors approve vehicle buyback at Novato encampment
In a new push to remove illegal campers living in vehicles along Binford Road, the county will use $100K from the general fund for the purchase program.
Complete article in the IJ.
Patch: Binford Road Homeless Community Update
Full article at the following link:
https://patch.com/california/novato/binford-road-homeless-community-update
This statement is inaccurate:
According to the county, the encampment began with about a dozen recreational vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic and ballooned into a space accommodating 101 people and 132 vehicles as of Dec. 1.
There have been RV’s parked there well over 6 years.
Binford Bulletin from Mr. Lucan – Nov 30
Posted on the County Site here.
Binford Bulletin
Efforts on Binford Road continue. Our outreach teams are doing a great job connecting with people living on Binford to assess individual needs, sign people up for benefits they are eligible for, and get individuals waitlisted for housing opportunities.
Since our update last month, we have housed one additional person who was previously living on Binford Road, and an additional ten people are on a strong, identified pathway to housing.
To further enhance safety along the roadway, the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance on November 28 to reduce the speed limit on Binford Road to 35 mph.
Additional mitigation measures are also underway: we began mobile pump out services to the RVs on Binford Road; we have increased the number of porta potties and hand washing stations available on-site; and next week we will be installing wind screens near the trash pick-up areas to help prevent debris from blowing into the wetlands.
Efforts to remove personal property stored in the public right-of-way and towing of abandoned and excess vehicles are ongoing.
At the August 22 Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, the BOS received an update on the Binford Road encampment with an associated plan to address the encampment. At that meeting I asked staff to come back to the BOS before the end of the year to provide an update on these efforts. This update is scheduled to come before the BOS on either December 12 or 19 (exact date is still TBD). Please double check the meeting agendas as we get closer to these dates to confirm the meeting date (agendas are posted the Thursday afternoon before the Tuesday meeting). I encourage your participation and comments at that meeting.