Levine knew responsibility of his position

When Marc Levine was elected to represent Marin and Sonoma counties in the state Assembly, he faced a steep learning curve, complicated by the reality that many of his colleagues had spent thousands trying to get his politically entrenched opponent elected.

Not only that, but Levine had reached out to local Republicans — pre-MAGA GOP members — to help him score his upset victory.

Ten years later, as he retires after five terms, he can look back on many accomplishments, including some as an independent political maverick where he courageously worked for his district, instead of the Legislature's Democratic power structure.

We didn't always agree with his stands, nor his approaches, but Levine can look back on a legislative career that showed his independence and understanding of his power and responsibility.

He says he's proud that he didn't “hide in the herd” in Sacramento.

The Greenbrae Democrat can look back on five terms where he questioned the state's prison system. Having San Quentin State Prison and death row in his district gave him a distinct position to be concerned about how the system worked — and wasn't working.

For instance, early in the pandemic, he raised questions about keeping inmates and prison officers safe. The closed environment could fuel the spread of the deadly virus.

It turned out that the unconscionable transfer of inmates from a virus-infected prison to San Quentin proved Levine right.

This was before vaccines became available.

Tragically, the new inmates, who had not been tested for the virus recently enough, brought the deadly strain with them, leading to the death of 30 inmates and correctional officers and infecting hundreds. The fact that officers were not isolated raised concerns about spreading the infection beyond San Quentin's fences.

Levine was a strong critic of the prison system's handling of the deadly problem and helped shine a light on the tragedy.

In the Legislature, Levine has also been a sharp critic of the state's death penalty, the exercise of which has been suspended by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

During his tenure, Levine has also tackled local traffic problems. He has been one of only a few politicians to take on the powerful Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the state agency appointed to set regional transportation policy and disperse state and federal funds for projects.

Notably, Levine pushed MTC and Caltrans to open the third eastbound lane during commute hours and busy weekend hours. He also led efforts to streamline the planning process to expedite the lane's reopening.

That change hasn't completely fixed the evening traffic jam onto eastbound Interstate 580, but it has provided welcomed relief.

Levine also has been a sharp critic of Sacramento's push to force municipalities to plan for and approve more housing.

Levine wasn't opposed to building affordable housing, but questioned the state's “one size fits all” approach and its sizable quotas.

Levine's political approach may have helped make Marin's slow-growth politics a political bull's-eye for Sacramento housing advocates. But he's right in his assessment that the state's approach, while requiring a costly re-examination of local planning, doesn't mean the finances are available to get the housing — especially affordable housing — built. In Marin, the cost of real estate and government fees makes it even more challenging.

Levine can also look back on taking the lead in having Sausalito's rainbow-clad Waldo Tunnel named as a memorial to the late actor and comedian Robin Williams, a Tiburon resident.

He says the effort help bring greater public awareness to suicide, the importance of mental health support and that all to often it can be caused by disease.

Over his decade in Sacramento, Levine authored 95 bills, from reforms needed to respond to the state's wildland fire crises to expanding veterans services, that became law.

Levine can look back on a decade where he, in his words, “stood up and stood out.”