Saturday, October 16, 2021

Bicyclists, Pedestrians, and Music

Just got wind of this bill Governor Newsom vetoed, which has to do with bicyclists being able to yield at stop signs and allowing pedestrians to cross the street without a crosswalk. As is my usual habit, I search the topic and review all the various viewpoints. Headlines help me to discern the journalism from the opinion. 

I am still amazed at the lengths people will go to push an agenda. This whole fantasy that if we change laws and build sidewalks where we don't really need them is going to make more people trade in their cars for bikes is just that - a fantasy. What is going to reduce driving is more work from home options and better city planning - where schools and services are within walking distance. And say what you want about Amazon - there are may reasons they are successful. When their Prime delivery fleet goes to zero emissions, we will be getting somewhere. 

I thought I would share a couple of articles, 

this article 2014 BBC article, about jaywalking: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26073797

and a more recent one from the LA ist: 

https://laist.com/news/transportation/jaywalking-pedestrian-ab-1238-traffic-safety

Do yourself a favor and read more. 


About music: 

I have a private party gig coming up and Arne is almost done recording a great album by a new artist. 

I miss being in a recording studio. 

Hope you create a great day! 

ox, 

Mari 



Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Changes In Marin's Mask Mandate Take Effect October 15, 2021

Hello All! 
Hope this email finds you well. 

In case you missed the details of the mask mandate changes, here's a press release from the County: 

Indoor Mask Requirement Eased for Select Settings New Exemption for Gyms, Offices and certain settings with 100% full vaccination 

 San Rafael, CA – As local COVID-19 transmission and hospitalization rates continue to decrease, Marin County Public Health will be easing the local mask mandate in certain limited indoor settings starting October 15. 
Indoor settings that potentially qualify, if they can verify all present are fully vaccinated, include gyms, fitness centers, office settings, employee commuter vehicles, religious gatherings, and college classes. In these settings, individuals are exempt from the indoor face covering requirement if all of the following circumstances are satisfied: 

 - The host, employer, or organizer has verified that all individuals present are fully vaccinated (two weeks following a person’s second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the first dose of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine); and 
 - There are no more than 100 individuals present; and 
 - The host, employer, or organizer can control access to the setting, and the setting is not open to the general public; and 
 - The host, employer, or organizer maintains a list of individuals present. 

“We’re not ready to lift the mandate across the board, but we’re in a good place to ease restrictions for the safest settings.” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s Public Health Officer. “Science shows that when an entire group is vaccinated, the risk of infection is much lower. Some settings have already adopted mandatory vaccination policies for all staff and customers, and this gives more incentive for others to follow suit.” 
The revised order will be effective Friday, October 15, and the new exemption does not apply to public indoor settings like retail, bars and restaurants. 

The revised order comes on the heels of a new criteria for lifting the indoor mask requirement altogether. 

Currently, Marin County is satisfying two of the three criteria and hopes to make progress toward the final metric over the coming weeks. Until that criteria is met, masks are still required in all other indoor public environments not outlined in the revised order. 
To learn more about Marin County’s current health orders and mask guidelines, visit  Coronavirus.MarinHHS.org.

Take Care, 
Mari