Marin Maven

All Hail Señor Bongo Day

The Maven — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:06:50 +0000

spicoli

Woohoo! Marin is in the news today.

At 4:20 pm planes may have to be re-routed for smoke that doesn’t come from a volcano. Ladies and gents, it is Marin’s only holiday claim-to-fame, 420 Day. Now cool parts of the world like Boulder, CO, Canada, and New Zealand celebrate it. Back in 1971, some kids from San Rafael would meet at 4:20 pm by the Louis Pasteur statue. Maven doesn’t condone doing anything illegal, but it is hard to ignore this homegrown holiday especially when California is going to be voting on legalizing and taxing Marijuana in November. The California Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2010) website states that the initiative:

Allows people 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use. Permits local governments to regulate and tax commercial production and sale of marijuana to people 21 years old or older. Prohibits people from possessing marijuana on school grounds, using it in public, smoking it while minors are present, or providing it to anyone under 21 years old. Maintains current prohibitions against driving while impaired. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Savings of up to several tens of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments on the costs of incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Unknown but potentially major tax, fee, and benefit assessment revenues to state and local government related to the production and sale of marijuana products.

People who are going to use and abuse drugs are going to do so whether or not there are laws. People who toke at work will be treated like people who drink on the job. People who get high behind the wheel will be treated as if they drink and drive. It is still a crime for persons under 21 to possess, grow, or use Marijuana. Parents are not allowed to smoke in front of their kids.

Prohibition and the War on Drugs have not really worked and have been costly in terms of resources, money, and lives. All these laws haven’t curbed demand nor abuse.

Wouldn’t it be cool to free up prison space for violent offenders and focus attention on real crimes?

Oh, for the rest of us mundanes, 4/20 (Today) is the date for an Adams vs. Mazzoni debate at 7pm at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center (200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael).

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PG&E CEO Admits Real Reason for Prop 16

The Maven — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:56:53 +0000

Thanks to marinenergyfreedom.org we have audio of PG&E CEO, Peter Darbee talking about the real reason they are pushing Proposition 16. I will give you a hint — it’s not about giving voters a say who generates their energy. It is all about PG&E putting a halt to community power or any competition at all.

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Newsom Alert! Do Not Meet Him In Person

The Maven — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:57:44 +0000

newsom

Maven had lunch with some longtime friends last weekend and conversation turned to Gavin Newsom, a candidate for Lt. Governor. One friend observed that when she saw him on television or his picture in print, Newsom is just “good looking” or even “handsome.” Disturbingly, when she meet him in person his charisma was sparkly (or had a Fairydust quality) and she basically confirmed what happened when I saw him in person. His charm bypasses your normal higher brain faculties of logic and critical thinking, and sneaks in and tickles your brainstem.

I felt like we formed an instant support group of those who have had a Newsom-experience and it feels great to know:
1. I am not alone
2. Maintaining a safe distance from Newsom can help.

Right now I am at a safe distance way up here in Northern Marin and I feel somewhat free to be critical of him.

Soon after this conversation I found my Gavin Newsom stainless steel water bottle he was giving out at the California Democratic Convention in Sacramento last year. My husband pointed out that if it said “Gavin Newsom for Governor” it be worth something, but it only says “Gavin Newsom.” “Gavin Newsom” for Governor is so very 2009 — too soon to be nostalgic.

I guess it is pretty smart to just put your name on campaign trinket if you are going to run for more than one office. Speaking of that, Dick Spotswood offers some juicy speculation.

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Marin District 1 Supervisor Candidates Part 1

The Maven — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:05:05 +0000

Kerry Mazzoni with Dave Green and Kel Harris

Representing the Marinwood Association, I attended Marin County’s Public Workshop on Non-Motorized transit projects in the Marinwood/Lucas Valley Corridor. As you know I find this stuff actually interesting — the nuts and bolts of creating plans that will make things easier for a community. I found it was a great opportunity to give input from the perspective of living in the area and speaking with neighbors. While I have plans to write up about the actual content of the workshop, the appearance of both candidates for Marin County District 1 kind of distracted me and a few others who were aware of the race.

Dave Green was introducing Kerry and I got to introduce myself. Not only was I one of Directors of the Marinwood Association, but I blog for a Marin politics and SFGate’s In Marin. She gave me a contribution envelope with her contact information and I gave her my card. There was a mention that I could put money in the envelope, but I responded that I hadn’t made up my mind yet, and that was true. It was an okay first impression.

Susan Adams 1

When Susan Adams came in parts of the room were in flutter mode. Both candidates gave each other wide berth keeping to the opposite sides of the room. Susan kicked off the meeting showing she had a command of non-motorized projects in our part of the county and county wide. Mazzoni could only ask the County representative if they have polled residents about what they wanted, even though this night introduced no new plans and only showed existing conditions. The night was asking for public input. If she had been around our part of the woods, she would have known that safer streets have been a discussed topic for sometime. A year or two ago, residents were given a questionnaire about their priorities for working on area routes. Tonight would have been a great opportunity for Mazzoni to hear what people had to say about various sections of road, but she left early. Susan stayed, participated, talked with people — including The Maven.

I will have more to say about this exciting race in other posts.

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Monday Marin Blackout Effects Over 10k

The Maven — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:00:43 +0000

canlelight

It turns out that Monday night’s blackout that started at 8:20 pm was due to a power pole snapping on 101 and Alameda del Prado. PG&E’s explanation for 4/12 power outage was that the pole and guide wires had sunk into saturated soil, moisture corroded wires, and wind toppled pole. It seemed to hit pockets of Marin County. I heard people in Novato and Central San Rafael experience flickering of power, while those in Marinwood and Terra Linda (apparently other cities in Southern Marin) were definitely in the dark for hours. Marinwood came back on line at Midnight.

Maven tried out using her solar lawn light as back up light to find where the flashlights and candles are. Be advised that the better strategy is putting your flashlights back where you can find them first, but solar lawn lights work in a pinch.

My blackberry worked like a charm and we were able to share information via Twitter and I could get the number of PG&E via their website on my phone and call them. Smartphones are not only sparkly, but they can be useful.

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