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
A motion designer and his dog enjoy walks in Tiburon parks
Tyson Dale has worked on broadcast and internal communications and using stop-motion, puppetry and “all animation-related things.”
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon unveils conceptual designs for parks upgrades
Tiburon is seeking community feedback through Feb. 19 on preliminary designs for four neighborhood parks.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon council OKs Little League block party and return of beer fest
Officials are also exploring more events, like Fourth of July and Labor Day parties.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Belveron East resident must rethink home project after pushback on second story
62 neighbors signed a petition opposing the project.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
A Tiburon resident savors stroll along Shoreline Park
Walking is a favorite pastime for DonnaAmon, though health issues have prevented her from taking longer walks she previously enjoyed.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Sam’s Anchor Cafe owner purchases Silver Peso bar in Larkspur
Peso owner Rebel Lee announced his retirement and the sale to Tiburon resident Conor Flaherty and his ownership group.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Appeals court sides with Tiburon in Paradise Drive housing-element lawsuit
California appeals court cleared Tiburon to keep a Paradise Drive site in its housing plan, rejecting neighbors’ CEQA challenge.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Flood zone faces gap of $3.5 mil for major projects
Tiburon Peninsula flood officials are facing a financial squeeze.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Marin mayors council agrees to follow state open-meeting laws
The vote follows a cease-and-desist letter alleging a Tiburon councilmember blocked a resident from meetings that should have been public.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon arts board floats Summer of Love music festival
Commissioners envision outdoor concerts that celebrate music from different cultures.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Tiburon arts board eyes aluminum bird exhibit as first rotating public artwork
Commissioner Nora Noguez suggested Adani’s birds could inaugurate a permanently dedicated space for temporary art exhibits.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Setting fires to prevent them
Smoke rises from Angel Island as California State Parks conducts prescribed vegetation burns Jan. 28.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Cindy’s salon owner turns family loss into service abroad
Cindy Siciliano is aiming to raise $10,000 by early June ahead of another planned humanitarian trip to the Philippines in November.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Activist alleges Marin mayors’ council violates open-meeting law
She says the Tiburon councilmember who chairs the Legislative Committee blocked her from attending and has threatened legal action.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·Strawberry resident launches flood app based on the tides
The app faces its first real-world test this week: NOAA projects higher-than-normal king tides Jan. 29-Feb. 2.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Half of Marin’s 10 most expensive home sales in 2025 were on Tiburon Peninsula
Billionaire designer Jony Ive’s $43.5-million purchase of the Locksley Hall mansion in Belvedere was No. 1.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Redwood freshman lands lead teen role in new Amazon family drama
Liv Lindell plays asey in “It’s Not Like That,” a drama series releasing Jan. 25 on the Wonder Project.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Tiburon parents to be honored for decades of cystic fibrosis advocacy
Tiburon residents Michael and Bonnie Rose are receiving the 2026 Breath of Life Award from the Northern California chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation during its gala Feb. 28 in San Francisco. The Roses are longtime supporters of the foundation, with efforts bolstered following their daughter Katie’s diagnosis with the disease in 2001. (via Bonnie Rose) After Bonnie and Michael Rose welcomed their third child, Katie, in 2001, they knew “something was off right away,” Bonnie says. ...
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
A lifelong bird-watcher finds peace, nature at Railroad Marsh
Jim Gaither Jr. peers through his binoculars at Railroad Marsh on Jan. 14, listening for distinct bird calls echoing across the water.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
Point Tiburon Plaza parking lot could get nine townhomes
A developer plans to build nine three-story townhomes under state laws that would override zoning requirements for lot size and density.
By FRANCISCO MARTINEZ ·
