Mayor Kate,
I'm speaking tonight because this is about contradictions, and contradictions reveal patterns.
When you ran for mayor, you promised transparency, community involvement, and public trust But the 350 Merrydale process has repeatedly contradicted your statements.
An October 8 email — which is part of the public record — shows the property acquisition had already occurred in the minds of city officials.
Yet for months afterward, you publicly stated it had not.
That is a contradiction - undeniable.
On November 15, another email — also public record — from a project supporter explained that the FAQ you touted provided no real answers, only a generic link to the homeless services page.
That is also a contradiction - undeniable.
Crime and property value examples you cited came from neighborhoods already struggling with homelessness —
apples-to-oranges comparisons.
More contradictions.
The court process created a sense of urgency by claiming the project had to close by December 2, presented as a hard deadline leaving no room for appeal.
In reality, the property closed on November 26, several days earlier - plenty of time existed for residents to appeal and protect their rights.
This contradiction effectively limited our ability to protect those rights.
After the December 1 meeting, your suggestion that neighborhood boards online could provide input trivialized our request for real, local involvement.
When I asked the city manager which board or advisory panel could address 350 Merrydale, she said, "I have no idea what the mayor was talking about."
This shows those boards had no real authority or connection to the project — again contradicting direct statements.
Taken together, these are not isolated issues.
They form a pattern: promises of openness paired with actions that limit information, participation, and legal rights — all well documented.
I'm not here to be divisive.
As I asked in my recent letter, why not include residents in shaping this project — which could be a feather in the city's cap — rather than forcing a process that creates conflict and distrust?
Thank you.
From:
To: [email protected]
Cc: Laine Hendricks; [email protected]
Subject: Invite to 10/15 press event for ERF-funded transitional housing in Marin, 65-units Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 7:28:07 AM
Attachments:
Good morning Secretary Moss,
I wanted to reach out on behalf of the County of Marin and the City of San Rafael to invite you to a press event next Wednesday 10/15, @ 3:30pm to publicly announce the acquisition of a large property in San Rafael to provide transitional housing for 65 unsheltered residents. This project was possible in large part thanks to a $6 million state Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) grant to address encampments along a nearby path.
I was speaking with Cody Zeger, your former BCSH/Cal ICH colleague, who offered that you may want to join the announcement - as this is exactly the type of strong City- County-state partnership to address homelessness that your leadership has championed. This soon-to-be-announced project will house 65 unsheltered Marin residents starting in 2026, making it the largest and most impactful project like this in Marin to date.
We would be honored if you were able to join us for the press event to make some remarks about the importance of projects like these in every community. Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Damon Connolly will also be at the event, along with County Supervisors, San Rafael Mayor and Councilmembers and other local electeds.
Please let me know if your attendance, or attendance by another representative from your office, is possible.
Finally, note that this information is embargoed, so we appreciate you keeping this information and invite confidential until after next Wednesday.
Warm regards,
Talia Smith
From: Matthew Hartzell
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], K Colin 4
Subject: Where to find information about the 350 Merrydale Road Project Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:32:49 -0700
Attachments: 350_Merrydale_flyer.png
Daniel Cooperman
Community Services Division Director
City of San Rafael
Dear Daniel,
My name is Matthew Hartzell. I live in Larkspur, but I'm highly engaged in San Rafael as well. Today on NextDoor I saw a post about a project at 350 Merrydale Road to house unhoused people in tiny homes.
I support this project. However, there are numerous people on social media who are already speaking in opposition to it. I would like to have all of the facts so that I can help to explain them and try to defend this project in the public sphere.
The NextDoor post includes an image of a flyer that was distributed to neighbors with a QR code that says "Learn More and Get Updates." (see attached screenshot). When I scanned that QR code, it takes me to the Homelessness section of the City's website, but I can't find anything on there about 350 Merrydale Road. I searched for 350 Merrydale Road on the City's website, but that only turned up documents related to the previous condo project which is no longer being pursued.
Could you please let me know how I can learn more about this project? Thank you
Matthew Hartzell
Cristine Alilovich, City Manager of San Rafael
Kate Colin, Mayor of San Rafael
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