Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive
I don’t mean to sound impertinent, but does the free-rent program in Marin stop when the COVID emergency is over, or when the money gushing from the federal government runs out?
Here’s where we are now with the seemingly never-ending rental assistance program.
Marin County got out of the business after writing checks for – wait for it – some $27 million to 1,900 people from the start of the pandemic to last September. After that, the county contracted with Community Action Marin to continue paying out federal money through, it is hoped, the end of 2023.
I’m no expert in this. Nor am I an accountant. But get a load of this blurb out of the Marin Independent journal:
“The $3.2 million contract with the nonprofit allotted $2.88 million for rent payments; $185,000 for administrative, accounting and fiscal oversight services; and $145,000 to be shared with North Marin Community Services and Legal Aid of Marin. Supervisors approved an approximately $4 million addendum to that contract that includes $3.35 million for rental assistance, more than $329,000 for housing support and stability services, and $375,000 for administrative costs.”
So, what happens after that? Those living rent free at this late date will – what? – just start magically paying rent.
I find that unlikely. If you’re not back on your feet and paying rent by now, you may be milking the system. Just a theory, of course.
The rent-assistance program has already continued months after the pandemic was officially declared over. And everyone knows that for all intents and purposes the pandemic ended half a year before that. By the county’s own numbers, a number of people are already back at work and paying rent on their own, which is a good thing. And, in case you have not noticed, there are even people in Marin walking around in broad daylight – and even down the aisles in the Safeway – without a mask. Who’d-a thunk it a year ago?
Seems to me that the remnant of those still on rent assistance might – go with me for a minute on this – be playing the system. It’s just a theory, as I say, but not a farfetched one. So, is the county or their agents being good stewards with our money and on lookout for fraud? The goal, I would think, is not to give away all the money until the coffers are dry, but to get assistance into the hands of people who really need it, if there are any still out there.
I know some will say I’m being too mean to point this out. But someone should.
INCONVENIENT FACT
Today, at this very moment, China is building two coal power plants a week. America builds zero. China’s carbon emissions are double that of ours. But well meaning climate folk, God bless their souls, want you to think that giving up your natural gas powered stove will save the planet.
It won’t.
Not in a million years.
We gotta stop being stupid about this stuff and start squaring up on China. When China is as benign to the planet as the USA, then we can talk about gas stoves in Marin.
That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
LIKABLE JARED
If you had a chance to see Rep. Jared Huffman handle himself at his town hall in San Rafael last week (see story above), you know why he is very popular in Marin. He’s one of the most left-leaning “congresscritters” in Washington, for sure. And he makes no apologies for that. Whether you agree with him politically or not, he’s likable. In my limited interaction with him, he has had the grace not to speak in political buzzwords (like Kamala Harris) designed to find what answer might appeal best to the audience. He is what he is and he’s OK with that.
ELEVATION
The Marin County Office of Education offered a 1-day seminar entitled “Elevation to Transformation.” It is described as a foundation for “talking about race both interracially and intra-racially.” Participants will learn to understand “the impact of race and gain clarity around the construct of whiteness and its role in sustaining systemic racism.”
Imagine, you get all that “elevation” in just a few short hours.
It cost $100 per person, no discount for skin tone.
As an old white guy still coming to grips with his moral inferiority and “construct of whiteness”, I think I’ll take a hard pass and not comment further.
ONE MORE THING
– ESPN has announced they’re covering this year’s World Origami Championships. Unfortunately, it’s only on paper view.
– Marinscope Reader: OMG, you can’t write that in Marin! Sherman Frederick: Yes I can, give me my laptop.
– Life’s too short to be serious all the time. So, if you can’t laugh at yourself, call me. I’ll laugh at you.
– Arguing with your lifelong partner is like getting arrested. Everything you say can and will be used against you.
– Don’t make me laugh. I’m trying to be mad.
Thanks for reading Marin’s favorite (and most needed) newspaper. Until next week, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority. And, don’t forget you can read us everyday at MarinLocalNews.com.
(“Properly Subversive” is a commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for Marinscope Community Newspapers, the “mother ship” of the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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