Feb 7, 2026 | Housing, Opinion, Politics
By Susan Kirsch
February 5, 2026
Catalysts for Local Control has been my capstone effort, created to educate, engage and empower residents to claim their voice and use their vote around housing and land use policy. The winding down of Catalysts clears the way for the beginning of Wake Up California, with leadership from Marin resident Amy Kalish. Like other successful citizen movements, Catalysts was grounded in three essentials: vision, hope and action.
Feb 6, 2026 | Opinion, Politics
Many voters are confused about initiatives that empower gov’t tax-raising schemes (Prop 5) or gift $1 billion to a failing, shrinking SJ school district (Measure R)—and for good reason: in a decisive report, SCC’s Civil Grand Jury observed (in 2022) that local ballot measures are regularly designed to “deceive” voters through feel-good, misleading, or straight manipulative language.
Feb 4, 2026 | Housing, Opinion
By Nikoi Block
February 3. 2026
Solving the housing crisis has been a central plank of the Liberal party during their decade in power, but progress has been elusive. Despite recognition of housing as a “fundamental human right” and pledges of tens of billions of dollars to housing programs, homelessness has risen and affordability has worsened.
Feb 3, 2026 | Feature, Opinion
By DICK SPOTSWOOD |
January 31, 2026
Making Marin work requires an energized citizenry. Our county is fortunate to have many well-informed residents who’ve exerted much influence on improving Marinites’ quality of life, despite not being in elected office.
I’m reflecting on two women who are soon to retire from their decades-long role as community advocates. Susan Kirsch is founder of Catalysts, California’s leading statewide citizens advocate for returning control over the design, location and composition of new housing back to cities and counties.
Dec 26, 2025 | Housing, Legislation, Opinion
By MARIN IJ EDITORIAL BOARD
December 25, 2025
Bay Area planners seem to have a problem with Marin. We don’t look like the South Bay. They think Marin has plenty of room to grow – out and up. The state’s undermining of local control over land-use decisions and ambitious quotas for approving construction of new housing has set the stage for the new round of Bay Area regional planning. It’s not surprising that Marin leaders don’t share the same vision as those from other Bay Area counties.
Dec 26, 2025 | Uncategorized, Housing, Opinion
By JENNIFER SILVA
December 25, 2025
There is a growing awareness that the housing crisis impacts us all. Our workforce cannot afford to live here. Employers struggle to hire staff. Schools face challenges retaining young teachers. Our children overwhelmingly leave Marin when they finish their schooling. Older residents seeking to downsize have few options. Traffic worsens as more of our workforce commutes from outside of Marin.The numbers tell the story plainly: There is no reasonable housing available in Marin for households earning less than $65,000 per year.
