Canal Alliance supports plan for educator housing

As the leader of one of Marin’s largest social-service agencies, I witness Marin’s profound housing crisis every day. At Canal Alliance, we see how it affects our hardworking clients and staff. Limited access to affordable housing is driving out essential employees from public, private and nonprofit organizations.

The inability to attract and retain talent is already costing taxpayers, schools and county government through staffing shortages, reduced services and high turnover rates. We support the Oak Hill development, located in the San Quentin area of unincorporated Larkspur. The long-term economic and social costs of inaction far outweigh the risks of this project.

Oak Hill represents more than just a housing development — it embodies a collective, system-level solution to Marin’s housing crisis. Housing is not just about providing shelter — it’s a foundation for economic vitality, public service effectiveness and community wellbeing.

Oak Hill demonstrates a collaborative model, which enables different agencies and districts to share the housing units, ultimately reducing risk for everyone and creating a more resilient housing system. By distributing risk across multiple partners, it provides a sustainable solution that can shift the housing system toward greater equity and stability. This innovative model offers a scalable framework for public, private and nonprofit collaboration, and is exactly the kind of systems-level intervention that Marin urgently needs.

Our greatest hope for solving Marin’s housing crisis lies in embracing collective leadership and innovative solutions. Oak Hill represents a shift from fragmented, piecemeal approaches to a more coordinated, system-wide strategy. Now is not the time to back away because of uncertainty.

Canal Alliance supports the call of Supervisor Dennis Rodoni and Marin County Superintendent of Schools John Carroll to back Oak Hill and push for stable, affordable housing for educators and county employees in Marin.

— Omar Carrera, Corte Madera

San Rafael theater offers many quality films

Among the many things to be thankful for in Marin is the Smith Rafael Film Center and its wonderfully diverse offerings.

Recently, I was fortunate to see the two Academy Award-winning films — “I’m Still Here” and “No Other Land.” Although one is set in Brazil and the other in Palestine, both highlight the admirable human qualities of courage, perseverance and collaboration in the face of overwhelming oppression. For these qualities, we can also be grateful.

I hope they continue to inspire all who work to make the world a better place.

— Paul da Silva, Larkspur

Bridgeway bike-lane plan deserves approval

As a resident and former chair of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee of Sausalito, I am writing to express my strong support for the proposal to add bike lanes to Bridgeway along the downtown waterfront, as detailed in the recent Marin Voice article Warren J. Wells (“‘Better Bridgeway’ plan in Sausalito makes sense for more than just cyclists,” Feb. 28).

Bike lanes would significantly improve safety for cyclists (like myself) who frequently use Bridgeway. The current lack of dedicated bike lanes forces cyclists to share the road with cars, leading to unsafe conditions. I often witness cars accelerating in the center lane to pass cyclists. I believe that makes the situation even more dangerous. Crossing Bridgeway as a pedestrian also feels unnecessarily risky due to the lack of adequate crosswalks.

The proposed bike lanes will not only enhance safety but also improve traffic flow. By providing a designated space for cyclists, the lanes will prevent cars from being stuck behind slower-moving riders. This will reduce congestion and make it easier for everyone to navigate Bridgeway. Furthermore, the addition of designated loading zones will address the current issue of delivery vehicles parking illegally in the center lane, further improving traffic flow and ensuring emergency vehicle access.

It’s crucial to seize this opportunity to improve Bridgeway for all users. Unfortunately, I have seen Sausalito lose grant money for critical projects in the past. We cannot afford to let it slip away. The “Better Bridgeway” plan represents a practical and well-thought-out solution benefitting cyclists, drivers, pedestrians and local businesses alike. I urge the City Council to approve this plan at Saturday’s special meeting.

— Aaron Roller, Sausalito