Gregory Andrew
October 5, 2026
Mayor Kate Colin and San Rafael City Councilmembers, and Ms. Lindsay Lara, City Clerk
City of San Rafael
1400 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Via email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Re: Comment on Item 3b of the 10/5/2026 City Council Agenda; re: Exclusive Negotiating Agreement Regarding Affordable Housing
Dear Mayor Colin, Councilmembers Bushey, Hill, Llorens Gulati, and Kertz, and Ms. Lara I am writing to provide a public comment on the above referenced City Council agenda item and I ask that this be entered into the public record for this City Council meeting.
I call on Councilmember Bushey to recuse herself from the vote on Item 3b of the October 5, 2026 San Rafael City Council agenda – regarding the City entering into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) for an affordable housing project at 350 Merrydale Road, in San Rafael. If approved by the City Council, as is recommended, the City will enter into this ENA with Eden Housing.
Councilmember Bushey appears to have a close relationship with Mr. Joe O’Hehir who is a Director of the Eden Housing Board of Directors. Their relationship stems, in large part, from both Councilmember Bushey and Mr. O’Hehir also being Directors of the San Rafael Public Library Foundation. Councilmember Bushey and Mr. O’Hehir can both be applauded for their efforts and dedication to help bring a new library to San Rafael. However, their relationship presents the appearance of a conflict of interest for Councilmember Bushey, in my opinion, with the potential and opportunity for Eden Housing to have received undue bias or favoritism from Councilmember Bushey in the City’s selection process of a developer for the 350 Merrydale Affordable Housing project. Therefore, I hope that Councilmember Bushey will avoid any conflict of interest and recuse herself from voting on this agenda item.
Thank you,
Gregory Andrew
GMA:gma