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 graduated from the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. There, he was a reporter, news anchor and radio DJ for student-run Mustang Media Group, which includes Mustang News and KCPR-FM. Francisco also worked for 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 lives in Point Richmond. A former record store employee, he spends his free time listening to music old and new and playing with his four cats. 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
Tiburon waterfront estate on Old Landing Road hits market for $17.5 million
A single-story waterfront home at 36 Old Landing Road in Tiburon, steps from a private beach on the bay, is on the market for $17.5 million.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Salt & Pepper named Tiburon Peninsula business of the year
Paulino Monterroso started as a dishwasher in a Tiburon cafe in 1992. Now his Salt & Pepper Restaurant on Main Street is the Tiburon chamber’s 2026 Business of the Year.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon seeks savings as ponds park estimate reaches $3.7 million
Tiburon parks commissioners asked designers Sept. 15 to trim the cost of a planned park at the former sanitation ponds near McKegney Green, now projected at $3.7 million.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon parks board scales back Cypress Hollow upgrades
Tiburon is scaling back its Cypress Hollow Park redesign to the existing play areas and dropping the sidewalk neighbors opposed, cutting a $2.5 million plan at least in half.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon Wine Festival returns Oct. 3 with 60 wineries, 10 restaurants
Honey wine, crab salad and a cover band: The 43rd Tiburon Wine Festival pours from about 60 wineries 1-4 p.m. Oct. 3 at Point Tiburon Plaza.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Blanch, 18, becomes youngest Tiburon Challenger champion
Darwin Blanch, 18, of Florida beat No. 4 seed Michael Mmoh 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 Sept. 20 to win the Tiburon Challenger, the youngest champion in the tournament’s history.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Four candidates seek three seats on Richardson Bay Sanitary District board
Incumbents Mark Fitzgerald, Peter McIntosh and Patrick Walravens face challenger John Turnacliff for three Richardson Bay Sanitary District board seats on Nov. 3.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
The Richardson Bay Sanitary District board candidates at a glance
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon producer aims to make scientists rock stars with ‘Particle Fever’
Tiburon resident Annie Roney is a lead producer of "Particle Fever," a musical about the CERN scientists who found the Higgs boson. It premieres Feb. 16 in La Jolla.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
A former jewelry designer recalls key chain that took off
Mill Valley's Shayala Diamond stopped at Tiburon's Shoreline Park on a 90-degree day. She spent 20 years designing jewelry, including a key chain that took off.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon approves $909,000 rebuild of Bel Aire play area
Tiburon's Town Council voted 4-0 Sept. 2 to spend up to $908,899 rebuilding the Bel Aire play area. It is the first substantial upgrade under the town's parks master plan.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Health benefits and social-media posts add tension to Marin Board of Education race
Two Tiburon residents, incumbent Marilyn Nemzer and challenger Avery Lieberman, are running Nov. 3 for the Marin County Board of Education seat covering the Tiburon Peninsula.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
The Marin Board of Education Area 5 candidates at a glance
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Adaptive-signal pilot at Trestle Glen won’t come until spring
Tiburon's adaptive-signal pilot at Tiburon Boulevard and Trestle Glen Boulevard will not be running until spring 2027, Public Works Engineering Manager David Eshoo says.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Paradise Coffee owners bring grab-and-go options to Point Tiburon Plaza
Paradise Coffee at Point Tiburon Plaza in Tiburon sells Cubano sandwiches, breakfast burritos and bonbons from a Tiburon chocolatier.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon council race pits five candidates over parks, housing, finances, traffic
Five candidates seek three seats on the Tiburon Town Council Nov. 3: incumbents Alice Fredericks and Jack Ryan, challengers Kathleen Defever, Chuck Hornbrook and Faris Jafar.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
The Tiburon Town Council candidates at a glance
Five candidates are running for three seats on the Tiburon Town Council in the Nov. 3 election.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Cypress Hollow Park redesign prompts calls for more changes
Parents told the Tiburon Parks, Open Space & Trails Commission on Aug. 24 that the proposed Cypress Hollow Park play structures don't look fun. The commission asked for changes.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon parks commission weighs reservation system for new amenities
Tiburon has no simple way to reserve a picnic table or book a park for a party. The Parks, Open Space & Trails Commission voted 4-0 on Aug. 24 to form a reservations subcommittee.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·A friendship that started in Tiburon and spans continents
Brian Suchodolski and Pep Gubau grew up together in Tiburon, played soccer at Redwood High and stayed close across 5,950 miles when Gubau moved back to Barcelona.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
