Heather’s Message

Dear Neighbors,

I’m writing to urge you to vote Yes on Measure J and, crucially, No on Measure K. Voting 'No' on K is essential to preserving one of the few parks we have in Sausalito.

Like many of you, I moved to Sausalito from San Francisco seeking a close-knit community reminiscent of my Midwestern upbringing. It was here that my family and I found our home, where neighbors have become like family.

I support Measure J because we must meet our state-mandated housing obligations, and Measure J accomplishes that goal on its own. My support for affordable housing is deeply rooted in my career; I spent years working in the nonprofit sector, advocating for low-income housing communities in San Francisco's Bayview. I am a firm believer in progress, following the rules, and finding smart housing solutions.

However, Measure K is a different matter. The proposal to build housing at Martin Luther King Jr. Park is deeply concerning. There are significant legal and financial risks associated with this plan, and the simple truth is that once a park is gone, it’s gone forever. We have been told the land could never be sold, but that is simply not true.

We do not need Measure K to meet the state housing numbers.  Even if we eventually need to locate alternative sites, they already exist, right here in North Sausalito and authorized within Measure J itself.  These are sites that do not obstruct views, do not impact the working waterfront, and, unlike Measure K, will not displace artists.  

Although proponents of Measure K keep claiming that private landowners do not want to build senior housing, this weekend’s Chronicle article included an interview with a local landowner who wants to do so.  The private sector can and will fill this demand if the City will permit it to do so.

This raises a critical question: why are we risking our limited green space when we don’t have to? We owe it to Sausalito's children to consider the long-term impact of this decision. Instead of taking the easy path, let’s work together to find a solution that protects our park. A community center—the original promised use for the park's lease revenue— or even a pool would be a far better way to serve our community in this irreplaceable location.

The city has been circulating a mere rendering, not an actual plan. There is no guarantee that this project won't require millions in additional taxpayer funding on top of the loss of our public land. For residents on a fixed income, this financial uncertainty is a serious concern.

Furthermore, forcing two schools to share a smaller, more compact lot with restricted access will inevitably create danger for children and traffic gridlock for everyone else.  More than five hundred families will have to drive in and out at the Bridgeway, Ebbtide and Gate 5 intersection during the peak of morning and afternoon commutes.

MLK Park is more than just open space; it is a vital community hub. It serves children from both Sausalito and Marin City and is home to our town's only baseball diamond. Every weekend, diverse groups gather here for soccer and lacrosse, bringing revenue to our city and, more importantly, bringing our residents together.

Two of our local schools—a top source of non-tax revenue for Sausalito—share the MLK property, and hundreds of their students use the park daily. My own daughter is there six days a week. The city’s rendering eliminates a beloved natural play area her teacher calls "the woods." The claim that no green space will be lost is demonstrably false; you can see it in their own public drawings. The revenue from these schools was intended for park upgrades, not to turn this area into a cramped, unsafe space for our children. These schools love our town, but a decision like this could force them to leave.

To our City Council, I urge you to reconsider this path. Your reputation is at stake. Please stop intimidating residents with threats of state lawsuits. We must ensure all residents, especially our seniors, receive accurate information, not misinformation.

Let's come together to find a solution that doesn't sacrifice a vital community hub and endanger the children who learn and play there every day.

Vote No on Measure K. Once our parks are gone, they are gone forever. Let’s not set that precedent.

Sincerely,

Heather Frentzen