Bay Area

Parks to Preview Tax Extension Proposal

Measure A is an important funding resource for Marin County’s parks, open spaces and farms. It generates an average of $14 million per year and has resulted in a total of $91.2 million in funds (as of the most current audited budget from fiscal year 2019-20) for parks, open spaces, and farmland preservation across Marin County.

Published

2 years ago

December 26, 2021

Oakland Post

Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve is one of the many properties and facilities that have benefitted from the funding generated by Parks Measure A.

Courtesy of Marin County

In July 2021, the Marin County Board of Supervisors directed Marin County Parks to work toward renewing the quarter-cent countywide sales tax known as Measure A. The Supervisors received an update during their Dec. 14 meeting about election preparations and recent uses of the tax revenue. Measure A, which sunsets after nine years, is due to expire March 31, 2022

“Our presentation to the Board is another public engagement opportunity and will help us understand whether the proposed draft changes to the expenditure plan are consistent with community priorities,” said Parks Director Max Korten. “Everyone is welcome to weigh in. This is the time for us to turn to our residents, our visitors, and our Board for guidance on what’s wanted and what’s needed.”

After gathering more input, Parks staff will seek a recommendation on an updated proposal from the Parks and Open Space Commission in January 2022 and then return to the Supervisors for an initial hearing. Placing a new measure on the ballot would require the Board passing a resolution; that could happen in February.

Those investments have allowed the county and local governments to increase fire fuel reduction, address deferred maintenance in parks, increase ranger-led events and outings, support working lands, protect and restore natural habitat, and improve trails.

“It has helped us reach our goals of taking care of our parks and preserves and making improvements to them,” Korten said, “but it has also opened more opportunities in areas such as equity-focused programs. Measure A has allowed us to reduce or eliminate park fees, provide park passes to lower-income residents, and fund programs designed to attract park visitors who might not otherwise have the chance to visit.”

Earlier this year, Parks conducted an online public survey to collect opinions about how funds should be spent, including Measure A revenue. The responses indicated a high level of support for the core services funded by the measure and guided the proposed changes to the draft expenditure plan that will be presented to the Board on Dec. 14. A 2019 community survey and a poll conducted by the Marin Open Space Trust in June 2021 indicated broad support for local parks and open space as well.

Learn more about Parks and Measure A at www.marincountyparks.org.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”