San Anselmo's Measure F opposes messy flood tax

Democracy is alive and well in San Anselmo.

As a four-term mayor and 20-year council member in

San Anselmo, I have seen and participated in many positive community projects. The list is long, but the most worthwhile were open-space purchases, traffic calming enhancements, downtown beautification and saving our beloved “Carnegie library,” as well as infrastructure improvements.

However, in the past few years, egregious projects and wholly wasteful expenditures by some local and county bureaucrats have marred our town. In those instances, the residents of San Anselmo have taken their right to vote to the electorate.

In 2015, some tried to turn our beloved Memorial Park into a detention basin for rainwater. The community responded with an initiative and, in a landslide, defeated the project. Today, the park is a jewel.

In 2019, the same officials placed a measure on the ballot for a multimillion dollar regressive tax to “improve” the park. The community rebelled and, despite being outspent by its supporters, defeated the tax in another landslide. Now Memorial Park is being improved with existing funds and grants.

County bureaucrats have spent $52 million in a wasteful exercise of gluttony for engineers and consultants for socalled “flood protection.” Now the community responded with another initiative. Hundreds of residents signed the petition. Measure F is on the March 5 ballot. It will stop San Anselmo from being further taxed to support any new projects planned by the disgraced Flood District.

I find it unfortunate and inexplicable that the Marin IJ editorial board opposes Measure F. I urge San Anselmo voters to continue their strong support of democracy to protect our wonderful community of San Anselmo by voting yes on Measure F.