“Everything is the way it is because we set it up that way, and we can set it up another way. It may take rethinking things but don’t be afraid to reimagine,” states Jennifer Dolan, a history teacher here at Tamalpais High School.
Marin County prides itself on being progressive, green, and welcoming, but its landscape tells another story. The county’s racial and socioeconomic makeup was established by and built upon the legacy of previous generations and policy, and continues today through zoning, lack of public transportation, environmental prioritization, and fear of change. If we designed a community that locks people out and prevents mobility, what does it say about us that we keep choosing to live in it this way? How can a county that prides itself on being progressive be so unwilling to change?
As Crystal Martinez, an aide to Marin County supervisor Mary Sackett, explains “Housing is so much more than just shelter, it is a legacy wealth builder, and it affects people for generations. We don’t all start on the same playing field, so we need to course correct when there are opportunities.”…