The 415
Relief for Highway 37? The commute between Marin and Solano counties could see some light at the end of the traffic-jammed tunnel, as state transportation officials lobby for $73 million in funding to widen Highway 37. California Transportation Commission staff is recommending the project receive grant funds as part of the statewide $810.5 million Trade Corridor Enhancement Program. The Highway 37 work would widen a 10-mile stretch from Sears Point to Mare Island—a thoroughfare that sees almost daily gridlock. Highway 37 between Marin and Vallejo sees nearly 40,000 daily, according to the Marin Independent Journal. The highway is a hot topic among transportation watchdogs—as its situation abutting the San Pablo Bay will likely see it under water in the coming decades if expected sea-level rise comes to fruition.—JW
Marin DA part of 275k settlement with ‘fraudulent’ magazine Attention local magazine readers: If Pacific magazine sends you a bill—don’t pay! The Marin County District Attorney’s Office recently was awarded part of a $275,000 settlement in a “fraudulent billing practices” case against the San Marcos-based Pacific Magazine Billing, which was accused of violating false advertising and unfair competition laws. “The company’s business model was a scheme built on deception,” said Marin County Deputy District Attorney Michael Wear in an announcement of the settlement. “Consumers believed they were paying legitimate bills, when in fact they were being scammed.” Under the settlement terms, Pacific Magazine Billing is also permanently banned from sending solicitations for magazine subscriptions and from mailing solicitations that resemble bills or invoices in any business capacity. After receiving complaints from consumers throughout the state, several District Attorneys’ offices, including those in Sonoma County and San Francisco, and the California Department of Justice, launched a joint investigation into Pacific magazine in late 2022. The investigation uncovered that, from 2016 through 2022, the company mailed tens of millions of deceptive solicitations to households across the country. These mailers were designed to look like legitimate bills for existing magazine subscriptions—but, in fact, they were intended to trick unsuspecting consumers into sending payments for subscriptions they had not ordered or intended to renew. Thousands of consumers were misled, according to the Marin DA.— JW
Oak-infesting insect found in Novato An invasive beetle has penetrated the Marin County limits—and local agricultural watchdogs are on high alert. The Mediterranean oak borer, an invasive insect that primarily feeds on white oaks, was recently detected in Novato. The Marin County Agricultural Commissioner is urging professional arborists and the public to keep an eye out for evidence of the invasive tree pest, which is native to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The ambrosia beetle species is small—approximately 3 millimeters—and bores tunnels into stressed trees, specifically oaks. The beetles initially attack branches in the crown of a tree, killing limbs as the infestation grows. Eventually, the infestation spreads to the trunk and ultimately kills the tree. The insect was first detected in Napa County in 2019 and has since been found in nine counties. The beetles carry and grow fungus in the galleries they bore; then they feed off the fungus, so they can live and reproduce within a tree for generations. Typically, the female beetles fly, but the males don’t. Joe Deviney, Marin’s agricultural commissioner, said now that the oak borer is here, it’s likely here to stay. “Education about the beetle is important, but unfortunately it can’t be eradicated and it’s becoming more widespread in our area,” Deviney said in a press announcement about the insect. “It was only a matter of time for the presence of this invasive pest to be confirmed in our county.” Homeowners are urged to monitor tree crowns and, if they see a decline in leaf growth in one or more branches or observe other symptoms of an infestation, are encouraged to seek expert evaluation from a certified arborist. Learn more at mobpc.org. — JW
July 2025
NorthBaybiz 13
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software