Saturday, May 14, 2022

David P. Donery, Town Manager

Marin County Gun Buy Back Event, Saturday, June 4, 2022

Participation in this program helps reduce the risk of suicide, accidental discharge, domestic violence and guns getting into the wrong hands.

It is a terrible reality that guns continue to proliferate in Marin County and can be used in homicides, crimes and suicide. The 2020 Marin County Civil Grand Jury estimated that there are 100,000 firearms in Marin homes and vehicles. As a community, we want to do all that we can to provide the opportunity to remove unwanted guns from our homes. One of those actions is a Gun Buy Back event which is being co-organized by Marin County DA’s office, Marin County Sheriff, San Rafael Police Department and San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin and Fairfax Mayor Stephanie Hellman. The event serves all of Marin County and will be held on June 4, 2022, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM outside of the the Marin County Sheriff's office at 1600 Los Gamos Drive in northern San Rafael.
 
Gun Buy Back events work by enabling participants to bring in functional firearms and receive cash in exchange. The funding that supports the event comes from government, business, education, foundations, hospitals and individuals. Local jurisdictions, including the Town of San Anselmo through the Central Marin Police Authority, have contributed funds to help make this program a success.
 
Organizers are asking that you consider donating to the Gun Buy Back Fund and help to make our community even safer. The City of San Rafael is managing the fund and to participate, please send checks to: City of San Rafael, 1400 Fifth Street, Attn: Finance Rm 204, San Rafael 94901. Specify that the donation is for “Gun Buy Back”. All donations are tax deductible (City EIN number is 94-6000424).
 
Questions? Call 415 485-3070 or email Mayor Kate Colin at kate.colin@cityofsanrafael.org

Vote by Mail Voting is Safe & Secure

Your local election officials would like you to know that sending Vote by Mail ballots to all eligible voters is the law in California, and it is safe, secure and convenient.

Official ballots were mailed on May 9^th and all registered voters throughout California, including in the Bay Area, should start receiving their ballots soon for the upcoming June 7, 2022 California Statewide Primary Election.

While permanent Vote by Mail has been in place in California since 2002, Assembly Bill 37, passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law by the governor in 2021, requires counties to mail a ballot to every active, registered voter in California. All eligible voters will receive Vote by Mail ballots, and the return envelope is postage paid.

Put your completed ballot in the envelope, seal it, sign it, and mail it to your local election office. Voted ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven (7) days of the election to be considered timely. A detailed article and Fact Sheet on Vote by Mail, could help answer any additional questions.

Vote by Mail is a highly regulated process. It is nearly impossible to cheat the system due to the number of multiple factors, checkpoints, people, and systems that coordinate to keep your vote safe.  “Over the past 20 years, California has steadily applied measures such as pre-paid postage, drop boxes, and a “cure” process for challenged ballots, ensuring Vote by Mail is a robust sound process for voters to cast their ballots,” said Shannon Bushey, County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters.

Voters can track their ballot to know when they are mailed, received, and processed by the county election office by signing up at the Secretary of State’s office (https://wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov).  It’s a great way for voters to know when to expect their ballots and when the election office receives your voted ballot, thereby providing increased transparency.

For local information, go to the Marin County Elections Department website. More information on this topic can be found on the website, BayAreaVotes.org, or the Facebook page, Bay Area Votes.

Town Seeking Applicants for Boards, Committees and Commissions

The Town is seeking to fill two seats on the Arts Commission. The Arts Commission was established in July 1996. The goal of the commission is to add to the cultural character of Ross Valley through any form of artistic expression. The objectives include providing a structure to facilitate the creation of art in all disciplines in the community, promoting and exhibiting art and cultural works produced by Ross Valley artists and promoting art education in the community and schools. Persons from the entire Ross Valley are encouraged to apply.
https://www.townofsananselmo.org/176/Arts-Commission

The Town is seeking to fill one seat on the Parks and Recreation Commission .The commission advises the council and the parks and recreation staff on the planning of the recreation activities, the development of town parks and management of public lands.
https://www.townofsananselmo.org/188/Parks-Recreation-Commission