Francisco Martinez
What I cover
Francisco covers Tiburon: the Town Council and town government, development and housing, and the people and events of the town.
Background
Francisco joined The Ark in July 2023. He previously worked for NPR member station KCBX-FM in San Luis Obispo, where he reported "Beyond the Furrows," an award-winning 12-part series about farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. Francisco was also a reporter, news anchor and radio DJ for student-run Mustang News and KCPR-FM at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo; he graduated in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. Francisco lives in Point Richmond with his wife and their four cats. A former record store employee, he spends his free time listening to music old and new, going on walks and solving puzzles of all kinds. Francisco remains an eternally suffering Tottenham Hotspur fan.
Our standards
Ark journalists avoid conflicts of interest, refuse gifts, favors, free travel and special treatment, and correct information throughout the life of a story. Read The Ark’s ethics policy and corrections policy.
Latest from Francisco
Belvedere to ban throttle e-bikes for kids
The city will join Tiburon and other Marin municipalities in a countywide pilot program meant to make trails and roads safer for all riders.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
City joins campaign against boulevard bike lanes
Belvedere is again raising safety concerns, this time taking its appeal directly to the state.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Belvedere’s $14.2M draft budget prioritizes Beach Road seawall
The city is expected to spend $2.66 million to stabilize the seawall while also allocating more toward legal expenses amid ongoing lawsuits.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Medical drama hits home for ER chief shaped by Columbine and Aurora tragedies
Tiburon's Christopher Colwell is chief of emergency medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon resident trades tech career for Detroit-style pizza
Tiburon resident Joe Garfola is now serving up Motor City-style pies as the owner of Squared Pizza at the Bon Aire Center.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Officials emphasize emergency preparation during resident chat
“Our goal is to take little baby steps in emergency preparedness to get everybody involved and understand what takes place in being prepared."
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Rare waterfront Eichler on West Shore Road hits market for $11.58 million
Interior designer Pam Robertson and her husband, Jim, have owned the home for 26 years and still have the original design plans.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
A Korean dish stirs doctor’s memories of medical school
The 30-minute recipe represents more than just a meal for Bermingham, who has practiced as an OB-GYN for 25 years and lived in Tiburon for 13.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
‘Utter disgrace’: Peninsula residents vent over latest power failure
A fallen tree in Strawberry knocked out power to more than 4,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers across the Tiburon Peninsula.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
New late-afternoon and St. Hilary school-bus routes to launch this fall
The agency behind the Yellow Bus Challenge will introduce a pilot late-afternoon route next school year to bring Reed Union district...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·A LinkedIn executive finds peace, purpose in Tiburon
Tiburon reminds Laura Parkinson of her hometown of Hallettsville, Texas, about 120 miles east of San Antonio.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Bluff Point property is back on the market with an 81% markdown
It includes about 2,000 feet of shoreline and carries county approval for an 18,227-square-foot estate.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Officials warn Tiburon Boulevard bike-lane plan risks bus stops, traffic and safety
Caltrans’ 2026 project to rehabilitate and repave Tiburon Boulevard includes bike lanes that would eliminate four school-bus stops.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Signs, songs for Earth Day
Participants in Tiburon’s Earth Day celebration April 27 paraded along Tiburon Boulevard to Fountain Plaza.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Sticker shock pushes Bel Aire to rethink flood-control plans
The projected $1.1 million creek design is nearly three times what was anticipated.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Owner of The Cove apartments defaults on $210 mil loan as its financial troubles grow
The Tiburon Peninsula property is not Maximus Real Estate Partners’ only troubled asset.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon resident wins silver in world tennis tournament
The former college standout has returned to form in 40-plus doubles.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Dance, music and martial arts to highlight Asian American, Pacific Islander festival
The event is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. May 17 at Zelinsky Park.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·A retired pharma rep finds joy in life’s slower pace
Strawberry resident Suzanne Brooks says she’s enjoying a calm pace of life.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Owner: Cinelounge won’t close this week despite fundraising urgency
Email campaign was a ‘Hail Mary’ to generate support for the transition to a nonprofit.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
