Only In Marin
Nothing changes but the changes
By Bill Meagher
F or the Marin Economic Forum, it’s mission accomplished! For the San Rafael Business Improvement District, it’s about growth. And the Novato Chamber of Commerce has a new head honcho as Coy Smith takes his leave. The 14-year-old Marin Economic Forum, an organization joining business and government interests in promoting economic health and growth, has decided to fold up its tent. “The board of directors took the decision following an analysis that the organization’s mission and goals had been achieved through its activities over
Taking over for Smith is Christina Mendes, previously the director of operations at the chamber. The chamber has about 400 members. Nonprofits like these business organizations have struggled coming out of COVID and the changes to some traditional business practices and structures. Given Marin’s base of small businesses, business organizations can be critical. Size matters in San Rafael The approval of the redevelopment of the Northgate Mall into a mixed- use project with 1,400 residential units may be shifting how large-scale
Robert Eyler at the Marin Economic Forum
the past 12 years and that the recent additions of economic development staff at the county and multiple cities could cause redundancy,” an email blast said. The forum was known for both its economic development focus as well as a revolving door in its corporate suite. Mike Blakeley, the forum’s CEO, had been on the job since 2018, and was the fifth exec to head up the organization. The forum was also known for a board of directors that could fill a room in no time, a body that had as many as 36 directors of various stripes. Blakeley enjoyed the support of Dr. Robert Eyler, an econ professor at Sonoma State as well as president of Economics Forensics and Analytics in Sonoma County. The forum was a nonprofit and had challenges where its finances were concerned. The County of Marin historically saw the value in the organization and was a loyal underwriter to the tune of almost $1.5 million over the last decade. But the county now has Raissa de la Rosa heading up its newly established Economic Vitality Division. On a personal note, I will miss the forum and its observations about Marin. So, even as the forum slips into its own sunset, the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District is looking at solidifying its leadership position. Last year, the organization teamed up with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. Focused on the downtown area, the district is charged with promoting events designed to bring folks downtown. Some of those events include the Holiday of Lights and Winter Wonderland, the traditional May Madness car show and the Hops and Vine Stroll. Anybody who has tried to negotiate the crowds at these events can attest to their popularity. Whether that translates into more patronage or simply better awareness of the shops, services and eateries populating the downtown, the events generate plenty of excitement and foot traffic. The district is supported by area businesses that contribute between $25 and $425 on an annual basis depending on the size of the business and its location. Putting San Rafael in the rearview mirror, the Novato Chamber of Commerce comes into focus. The nonprofit supporting Marin’s northern-most business community has said goodbye to Coy Smith, who helmed the chamber for two decades.
developments are viewed in the Mission City. Monahan Pacific Corp., longtime developer in Marin, has proposed a 13-story apartment building on Fifth Street across from San Rafael’s City Hall. The plan filed Dec. 3 shows Monahan would like to build 189 units and a rooftop pool. By including very low-income units in the mix (15% of the total before state-mandated density bonuses kick in), the project could realize 63 more units. Monahan has done its homework. The proposed project is eligible for a bigger project and is asking for numerous waivers from the city. Your Marin Moment Mitch Lowe is a former Marin resident and businessman, best known locally for owning and operating Video Droid, a local chain of video rental shops. But he went on to be a founding VP at Netflix, founder and president at Redbox and CEO of MoviePass. But the Securities and Exchange Commission recently updated a set of six unresolved allegations against Lowe claiming he mislead investors in MoviePass. Lowe already pled guilty to criminal charges brought by the Justice Department that mimic the SEC allegations. A status conference has been set for next month in Miami to review his case with an eye toward final sentencing. Lowe faces a max sentence of five years in prison. A resident of Miami Beach, Florida and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Lowe was active in the Marin community and the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is the author of Watch and Learn, How I Turned Hollywood Upside Down with Netflix, Redbox and MoviePass. Mitch was always generous with his time and insights when I was toiling for Marin newspapers. g
Bill Meagher is a contributing editor at NorthBay biz and is a senior reporter at The Deal, a Manhattan-based digital financial news outlet where he covers smallcap equity investing, SPACs and the SEC.
February 2025
NorthBaybiz 19
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