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
Ned’s Way crossing beacon a long-awaited victory for residents
Work is underway to install a new light-signal system at the Tiburon Boulevard crosswalk at Ned’s Way — a victory for neighbors who have...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
AT&T looks to ax landline phone service on peninsula, across state
AT&T is seeking to end its landline phone service on the Tiburon Peninsula and across much of California, which local critics say would...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Trust needs $1 million to finish ridge land purchase
The nonprofit seeking to buy the 110-acre Martha property on the Tiburon Ridge says it needs to close a $1-million fundraising gap by...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Bike track at Blackie’s, rec center by McKegney?
Tai chi pads and an outdoor classroom at Blackie’s Pasture, a rec center with gym, pool, pickleball and a drop-off parking lot near...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon cracking down on e-bike dangers
Tiburon is set to impose new rules for e-bikes starting in April, including clear bans on riding on sidewalks, towing riders and riding...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon plans Little League party, Juneteenth, Diwali on Main Street
A Little League block party and Juneteenth and Diwali celebrations are officially among this year’s festivals returning to Main Street,...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Club must get pickleball permission again after town error
The Tiburon Peninsula Club will have to go back to Tiburon for permission to allow pickleball after the town failed to adequately notify...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Ex-Ark reporter Claire Horn had passion for writing, travel and community
Claire Horn, a former Ark reporter who covered education for a decade over separate stints starting in the 1990s and 2010s, died Jan. 11...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon chamber begins search for new leader as executive director announces departure
The Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has begun the search for a new executive director after DeAnn Biss announced last week that she...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
In appeal, Yema attorneys make case against dismissal of civil-rights suit
Attorneys for the owners of downtown Tiburon boutique Yema are arguing that a district court erred last year when it dismissed their $2...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Stewart Drive sinkhole is stabilized, with repairs resuming next week
Caltrans officials say they have stabilized a 10-foot sinkhole that has shut down the Stewart Drive crosswalk at Tiburon Boulevard, with...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Heavy rains knock out power to more than 1,000 residents
Some 1,113 customers lost power Wednesday afternoon after parts of a eucalyptus tree fell onto a power line amid heavy rainfall during...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Belvedere artist Diana Bradley was known for annual calendars of her works
Longtime Belvedere resident Diana Bradley, a well-known artist who exhibited her work in local shows, taught classes for residents and...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Storm-caused sinkhole closes Stewart Drive crosswalk
A curbside sinkhole created by recent storms and a failed culvert has shut down the Stewart Drive crosswalk over Tiburon Boulevard until...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon resident Bonnie Austin was chamber’s first woman president, ran popular gift shop
Longtime Tiburon resident Bonnie Austin, who for years ran a popular gift shop on Main Street and became the first female president of...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Belvedere council OKs new 8-year housing plan and rezoning
Belvedere this week was expected to complete rezoning to allow for more housing under the latest version of its eight-year roadmap, a...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon will begin soliciting bids for boulevard traffic study
A planned Tiburon traffic study will focus on three major arteries: Tiburon Boulevard from Blackfield Drive to Beach Road; Trestle Glen...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon Peninsula had 7 of Marin's 10 most expensive homes sold last year
Seven of the 10 most expensive homes sold in Marin last year were on the Tiburon Peninsula, topped by a six-bed, seven-bath waterfront...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Mallard Pointe project wins environmental exemption on appeal
The Belvedere City Council has cleared a major roadblock for the 40-unit redevelopment of Mallard Pointe, ruling that the proposal is...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon middle schooler wins Congress-sponsored challenge for his food-allergy app
A Tiburon teenager has won congressional recognition for creating an app that communicates food allergies in multiple languages. Jayden...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
