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 to celebrate Fourth of July with downtown block party, Pooch Parade
Tiburon will mark the nation's 250th birthday with a July 4 block party on lower Main Street from 4 to 8 p.m., capped by a waterfront view of San Francisco's fireworks.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Election roundup: Tiburon’s Thier concedes, Lucan leads in Assembly field; Steyer has edge among local voters
Tiburon Councilmember Holli Thier has conceded the 12th Assembly District primary, running fourth with 14% of the vote.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon plans $8M year of park, infrastructure improvements
Tiburon plans to spend $8M in fiscal 2027 on streets, parks and storm drains, part of a $21.2M five-year infrastructure program.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Artist welcomes all reactions to ‘Word on the Street’ signs in Tiburon
Fifteen street signs bearing positive messages have gone up along Tiburon's waterfront and trails as part of a public-art project sponsored by the Heritage and Arts Commission.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Book Passage marks 50 years under the vision of its Strawberry founders
Elaine Petrocelli opened her first bookstore 50 years ago without knowing what a business plan was. Book Passage now hosts roughly 1,000 author events a year.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Belvedere-Tiburon Library budget boosts programs while projecting modest surplus
The Belvedere-Tiburon Library is proposing a $3.78M budget for fiscal 2027, projecting a $16,000 surplus and a nearly 4% cost-of-living raise for staff.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon begins debate on taxes, debt to fund future projects
Tiburon's town manager warned the council that funding parks, a corporation yard rebuild and traffic improvements may require taking on debt and asking voters to approve new taxes.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon to test smart signals at Trestle Glen bottleneck
Tiburon's council unanimously adopted a two-year traffic study and approved up to $180,000 for adaptive signals at the Trestle Glen bottleneck on Tiburon Boulevard.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon commission seeks to reduce costs on Bel Aire, Belveron park improvements
Parks commissioners directed consultants to cut costs on two neighborhood park designs before either advances to the Town Council, citing price sensitivity and a tight municipal budget.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Motorcycle racing legend Mert Lawwill known for innovation beyond the track
Mert Lawwill, a Tiburon resident for more than 50 years and the 1969 AMA national motorcycle champion, died May 6 in Idaho. He was 85.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon writer brings midcentury modern design to wider audience
Tiburon resident Jenna McKnight has authored a new reference book on mid-century modern design, featuring 60 examples spanning architecture, furniture, glassware and more.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
A Tiburon teen stays focused on the present with newspaper team
Julia has applied for Redwood's advanced journalism program, where students write, edit and design a monthly print paper, produce a podcast and run the school's social media.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Housing nonprofit accuses town of obstructing nine-unit proposal at Point Tiburon
Tiburon says it is processing the application lawfully and consulting with the state on parking exemptions. The developer says a third submission is coming soon.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon residents will host May 31 Pride picnic at Shoreline Park
A Tiburon couple is organizing a free Pride picnic at Shoreline Park on May 31, hoping it becomes a stepping stone toward a larger annual event in the years ahead.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Bel Aire Elementary students pack meals - and encouragement - for residents in need
Each lunch included a handwritten card from a student. Ritter Center staff say clients keep them long after the meal is gone, pulling them out folded and worn, years later.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Michael Mina steps away from Tiburon's Bungalow Kitchen; Arizona-based group takes over June 1
Mina and Hollywood nightclub figure Brent Bolthouse opened Bungalow Kitchen together in 2021. Bolthouse called it his "love letter to Tiburon" in the May 8 announcement.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon Councilmember Thier's fundraising trails for Assembly, but still competitive
About 28% of Thier's total contributions come from 94920 ZIP code donors, compared with 7.6% for Beckman and 1.7% for Lucan.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Flood zone officials seek greater Tiburon involvement ahead of Greenwood Cove study
Flood board members want the town of Tiburon involved now — and on the hook for some costs. The county supervisor and staff say to wait until the study produces data first.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·A Bay Area archaeologist takes colleagues on Angel Island tour
About 30 archaeologists attending a national conference in San Francisco took a field tour of Angel Island, guided by a Santa Rosa-based colleague who knows the island's history.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Resident requests review of Tiburon’s plate-camera use after data concerns
The Ark investigation found dozens of agencies accessed Tiburon camera data citing federal law enforcement, raising questions under California privacy statutes SB 34 and SB 54.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
