POLICY WATCH – November 2025
In This Issue
Press Release: Voter-Led Initiative to Renew SMART Funding Submits Signatures Early
NBLC Joins Wildfire Solutions Coalition
Data Centers- A New Report on Pursuing a Balanced, Common-sense Approach to this Growing Sector
Members in the News
A Thanksgiving Message of Gratitude
As we enter the Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our members, board directors, and the broader North Bay community. Your partnership, leadership, and ongoing support are essential to the progress we are able to make together.
I am truly grateful for your engagement and the confidence you place in our work. Your commitment to strengthening the North Bay through your expertise, collaboration, and dedication continues to elevate our region and our shared mission.
Thank you for all that you do. I wish you and your families a restful, joyful, and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday.
Best Regards,
Joanne
NBLC Work Plan Priority- Transportation
Goal: Support Improved Infrastructure for Better Mobility
Voter-Led Initiative to Renew SMART Funding Submits Signatures Early, Demonstrating Overwhelming Community Support
For Immediate Release: The SMART Initiative, a campaign to renew the funding for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system, is announcing a major victory: thousands of verified voter signatures were submitted to the Sonoma and Marin Registrars of Voters well ahead of schedule.
Campaign leaders delivered the petition signatures on Friday, November 21, in their effort to qualify a renewal measure for the June 2026 ballot. The early submission, significantly preceding the February 23, 2026, deadline, underscores the strong and widespread support for SMART’s rail and trail service across the North Bay.
“This is a moment of celebration for every resident who values clean, reliable public transit,” said Suzanne Smith, Chair of the SMART Initiative committee. “The speed and success of this voter-led signature drive sends a clear message: SMART is popular, people support it, and they want its continued success. Voters understand this initiative is necessary to ensure we have rail service into the future.”
The campaign has been strongly supported by organized labor, who recognize the measure’s importance to local jobs and economic stability.
“SMART is more than just a train; it’s a commitment to good, local, union jobs- both for the dedicated men and women of Operating Engineers Local 3 who are engineers on the trains, and for the workers who build the pathways and infrastructure,” said Mike Pickens, District Representative for Operating Engineers Local 3 (OE3). “Renewing this existing funding means job stability, continued investment in our communities, and preserving a system that moves our region forward.”
The campaign has garnered strong support from the North Bay business community, recognizing SMART's role in supporting the regional economy and workforce.
“For major employers across Sonoma and Marin, SMART is a critical piece of the multi-modal transportation network,” said Joanne Webster, CEO of the North Bay Leadership Council and resident of Marin County. “It helps our employees get to work reliably, offers an alternative to congestion and provides the kind of sustainable transit options, including the bike and pedestrian pathways that attracts and retains talent in the region. Renewing this existing program is essential for the economic health of the North Bay.”
The initiative aims to renew the quarter-cent sales tax that funds the SMART system and to secure the future of public transit in the North Bay. Without renewal, SMART’s current funding will expire, potentially forcing the service to shut down by 2029 a move that would abandon over a billion dollars in public rail and infrastructure investment.
Supporters of the campaign include State Senator and Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Assemblymembers Damon Connolly and Chris Rogers, all ten County Supervisors from Sonoma and Marin counties, many local elected officials, labor unions, environmental advocates, local employers, and thousands of riders who count on SMART each week. See list of endorsers here: https://thesmartinitiative.org/supporters/
“We’ve come too far to let SMART slip away,” said CA State Assemblymember Damon Connolly. “By submitting these signatures now, the SMART Initiative is putting the power directly in the hands of voters to protect transit access, continue service, and ensure the long-term viability of this critical transportation corridor.”
“The tens of thousands of voters who signed the SMART petition have spoken clearly: they want this system to continue,” added CA State Assemblymember Chris Rogers. “SMART’s clean, safe, and reliable trains and pathways are essential when it comes to meeting our state’s climate goals, reducing congestion through the 101 corridor, and the future prosperity of the North Bay.”
NBLC Work Plan Priority- Climate Adaptation
Goal: Build Resiliency as We Adapt to Climate Change To Ensure A Healthy Economic Ecosystem
NBLC Joins Wildfire Solutions Coalition
North Bay Leadership Council is proud to join the Wildfire Solutions Coalition; a broad regional partnership committed to reducing wildfire risk and building long-term community resilience. As our region continues to face increasingly severe fire seasons, NBLC recognizes that protecting the North Bay’s people, economy, and natural environment requires proactive, collaborative solutions.
“The Wildfire Solutions Coalition (WSC) was launched in June 2025 in response to the growing urgency of California’s wildfire crisis. The cross-sector Coalition is unified in the critical need to move the state from wildfire response to wildfire risk reduction. Data retrieved from the WSC website report that the CA wildfire crisis costs $117 billion per year in economic losses. Investing in wildfire resilience now is far cheaper. For every $1 invested in prevention, we save the state at least $6. By fully funding and implementing California’s wildfire resilience strategy, we can shift from crisis response to preparation and save money doing it. “
The Coalition brings together leaders from government, business, utilities, and community organizations to advance practical strategies from vegetation management and home hardening to smarter land-use planning, workforce development, and new technologies. By participating, NBLC aims to ensure the voice of employers and the economic impacts of wildfire are part of shaping policy and investment decisions.
Joining the Coalition aligns with NBLC’s mission to strengthen the North Bay’s economic vitality. Reducing wildfire risk is essential for maintaining housing stability, safeguarding key industries, keeping workers safe, and ensuring our communities remain resilient in the face of a changing climate.
Read More about Wildfire Solutions Coalition here
Data Centers are Putting New Strain on California’s Grid. A New Report Estimates the Impacts
Data centers are essential infrastructure for modern business and AI development. Demand for cloud computing and AI is growing rapidly, and data centers are the backbone that enables everything from healthcare analytics to advanced manufacturing. Their expansion reflects economic growth and technological leadership in California.
A new report on California’s data center expansion, as written by Cal Matters reporter, Alejandro Lazo reinforces the importance of pursuing a balanced, common-sense approach to this rapidly growing sector. Data centers are now essential infrastructure that support our employers, power innovation, and drive economic competitiveness across the region. The projected increase in energy demand underscores the need for continued investment in grid modernization. The report claims that with better transparency, uniform reporting standards, and thoughtful permitting policies, California can support responsible growth in this industry while protecting community resources. The writer also remarks that advancements in clean energy, battery storage, and modern cooling technologies offer practical solutions to environmental and public health concerns.
Members in the News
Redwood Credit Union Making a Difference, Right Where It Matters: In Our Community!
Watch the video in the link below to see all of the ways RCU and their employees have given back to the North Bay over October 2025.
Sonoma State University Appoints Michael E. Spagna as President
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Michael E. Spagna as president of Sonoma State University (SSU).
Basin Street Properties Broker of the Quarter Niels von Doepp of Cushman Wakefield
Basin Street Properties is pleased to announce Cushman & Wakefield’s Senior Director, Niels von Doepp, has been named our Broker of the Quarter for Q3 2025.
Dominican University’s New Nursing Scholarships Promote Home Health Care in Marin
A Marin university and a Bay Area hospice organization with ties to UCSF Health have jointly announced the first recipients of a scholarship program aimed at strengthening home-based nursing care in the region.
Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods Adds Hand Surgeon
Sonoma County hand surgeon Dr. Kai Mazur has joined Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods, effective Nov. 1.
NBLC Members Recognized Among 15 Local Projects for ‘Excellence in Construction’
The North Bay’s Excellence in Construction Awards winners for 2025 have been announced!