Accomplishments

Susan has worked on a number of important issues that made differences within the community she serves including:

Community Health and Wellness:

• Improved access to healthcare for all, regardless of family income, through a Health and Wellness Campus. “Any door is the right door” means that Marin County residents can access healthcare and prevention services through any door on the new campus, which is located in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael.
• Supporting single payer, comprehensive, universal health care.
• Working on many fronts to identify funding sources locally to provide access to healthcare for Marin’s children.  Each year more children are enrolled due to her efforts.  Her participation on commissions on a state and federal level keep universal healthcare on the front burner.  
• Reinvigoration of the Ten Year Plan to Reduce Homelessness, going from planning into implementation.  She has been deeply involved with the work of the Marin Homeless Policy Coordinating Committee, bringing new housing opportunities and services to the homeless.
• Development of a mentally ill offender’s court where non-violent mentally ill offenders are diverted into treatment instead of jail. This therapeutic approach to crime has resulted in a 85% reduction in recidivism in this population and a 54% reduction in psychiatric emergency room visits.
• Development of a Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps.
• Creating healthy communities through changes in infrastructure that allows healthier and safer choices for walking and biking
• Development of a nationally recognized Social Host Ordinance (Aimed at curbing teen drinking; Marin cities with such as ordinance include Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur and San Rafael. It punishes homeowners or hosts of parties where teens are drinking, regardless of the homeowners' knowledge of the party.)

Environment and Land Use:

• Restoration and improvements in watersheds (Miller Creek and Gallinas Creek).
• Flood protection planning with the community.
• Lobbying state and federal elected representatives for funding to pay for flood control projects including a new pump station; also working with the county and the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a levee study in Santa Venetia and implement levee and pump projects to protect the community from flooding. 
• Actively involved with parks and open space and community groups for habitat restoration (Santa Venetia marsh and levees, goat grass eradication on ridges in Terra Linda).
• Superimposing sustainable green building practices in developing our communities.
• Promotion of recycling and safe disposition of waste.
• Revision, enhancement and expansion of integrated pest management programs.
• Supporting the institution of the Baylands Corridor in the general plan in order to protect sensitive habitat on the last few remaining marshlands and open spaces along the San Francisco Bay waterfront.
• Proactively addressing operational and environmental issues at the San Rafael Rock Quarry with the owners and the community.
• Engaging the Marinwood neighborhood in a community based planning process that will bring a mixed use retail/housing “village” to the community in an in-fill location.

Communication and Community Outreach:

• Provided leadership in the development of the County Government (G) Channel.
• Engagement with neighborhood regarding local concerns, e.g. Marinwood Village, Santa Venetia, Point San Pedro and San Rafael Rock Quarry.
• Monthly email newsletter (available by subscription and archived on the website)

Transportation and Housing:

• Instituting shuttle service in the Santa Venetia, Marinwood, Lucas Valley and Terra Linda communities to fill in the gaps in the local transit system. 
• Re-striping roads throughout the district to create safer bicycle and pedestrian pathways including a new Lincoln Hill Class 1 multi-use path. Safe routes to schools and disability accessibility are also a key considerations.
• Undergrounding the utilities along North San Pedro Road.

Susan has been deeply committed to the concept of Healthy Planet and Healthy People and is working with her community to make it happen. She greatly appreciates the opportunity she has had to make a difference in her community.