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
Tiburon police chief named first recipient of diversity award
Four years and three chiefs after the Tiburon Police Department was thrown into turmoil over racial-profiling allegations that made...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon Town Council: Thier, Nikfar on track to hold on to seats
Tiburon voters are on track to reelect incumbents Holli Thier and Isaac Nikfar to the Town Council, with the pair beating back challenges...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Harris nabs 91% of local donations for president
Tiburon and Belvedere residents donated some $618,905 to U.S. Senate and presidential candidates ahead of the Nov. 5 election, with a...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon parks commission recommends master plan, targeting ‘easy wins’
The Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission has given its stamp of approval to a master plan intended to guide the use of Tiburon’s parks...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Thier widens fundraising gap, raising $63,000 in Tiburon Town Council race
Vice Mayor Holli Thier has raised nearly $14,000 since mid-September toward her Town Council bid, widening her fundraising lead over the...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Blackie’s beach-restoration plan set to receive $1.4 million grant
An ambitious “living shorelines” project to restore and prevent erosion of the beaches at Blackie’s Pasture is tentatively set to receive...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon commission to review final draft of parks and recreation master plan
The Tiburon Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission will review the final draft of the town’s parks and recreation master plan at a...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Nov. 2 Diwali festival offers food, art, dance on Main Street
Residents can celebrate Diwali with dance performances, art and food 2-5 p.m. Nov. 2 on lower Main Street in Tiburon. Planned...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon to catch up with 2024 second-unit laws, get a start on 2025 changes
Tiburon will soon allow up to eight detached second units on multifamily lots and is working on a set of preapproved accessory-unit...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Hawthorne Terrace utility undergrounding district members to get $838,000 in refunds
Roughly $838,000 will be going back to Hawthorne Terrace residents thanks to a surplus left over from the neighborhood’s...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Peninsula Club to host 5K ‘fun run’to help 8-year-old with lymphoma
The Tiburon Peninsula Club is organizing a “spooky” 5K fun run to raise money for a local 8-year-old battling cancer. The run-or-walk...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon Town Council hopefuls talk key issues at Ark forum
The four candidates running for Tiburon Town Council shared their views on housing, traffic, parks, diversity efforts and more at an Oct....
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Stanford’s Basavareddy claims Challenger title
Stanford University’s Nishesh Basavareddy sailed to victory in the Tiburon Challenger at the Tiburon Peninsula Club, taking down fellow...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
New law allows Tiburon, Belvedere to ban kids from riding throttle-controlled e-bikes
Marin County and its cities, including Tiburon and Belvedere, will soon be able to ban riders under 16 from using throttle-assisted...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Watch the Tiburon Town Council candidate forum
Tiburon Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission Chair Chuck Hornbrook and former Mayor and Councilmember Andrew Thompson are challenging...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Thier leads Tiburon council candidates in election fundraising; Nikfar fails to file required disclosures
Tiburon Vice Mayor Holli Thier has so far raised some $47,000 in her bid to retain her seat on the Town Council, far outpacing...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Judge confirms ruling that Tiburon study for housing site broke law
A Marin judge has confirmed her ruling that Tiburon violated state environmental laws when analyzing the impact of up to 118 new housing...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon Dr. John A. Clements’ research revolutionized care for premature infants
Tiburon resident Dr. John A. Clements, a titan in the field of pulmonary biology whose research was revolutionary in treating respiratory...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Incumbents, challengers square off for two seats on Tiburon Town Council
Four candidates are competing for two seats on the Tiburon Town Council in the Nov. 5 election: Vice Mayor Holli Thier, who says she...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Parks board starts exploring improvements as master plan approval delayed
The Tiburon Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission is getting a head start on exploring options for a community pool, pickleball courts,...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
