Marin County

San Anselmo's Easy Street Cafe will close this Sunday after struggling with the economy and the Redhill Shopping Center remodel. There is still hope that it will reopen somewhere else, though the odds seem slim. With this institution's closure, speculation is running rampant that the shopping center is turning into a regular chain-dominated strip mall. So far, eight businesses have moved out or been evicted. You can find their letter on the Pacific Sun. On a personal note, I am quite saddened by the loss. It's my favorite breakfast spot in Marin and I haven't found anyplace better in DC. Since I can't make it to the closing, eat some bangers and scrambled eggs for me and I'll buy you a beer at the next happy hour. (IJ, Pacific Sun)

Just as regulatory hurdles were cleared, Lucasfilm formerly withdrew its Grady Ranch proposal, beginning a mad scramble around the North Bay to woo what a few Marin activists said would constitute the Hollywoodization of Lucas Valley. (IJ, San Rafael Patch)
For Earth Day, San Rafael promoted recycling, energy efficiency, and electric cars, but remains entirely silent on walking or biking. Perhaps next year they'll install a bike rack or two downtown? (IJ)
Travel on the Golden Gate Bridge is going to be terrible next week. Not only is Doyle Drive closing, but Occupy SF plans to close the bridge on Tuesday. (SFist)
SMART is exploring a station near the Sonoma County Airport, which would be at their planned maintenance facility on Airport Boulevard. Details are still sketchy, to say the least, but it would certainly make the airport a more attractive option for Marinites. (Press-Democrat)
SMART has approved a more sustainable pension plan for future employees than what it has now, remedying one of the Grand Jury's principal gripes about the system. (Press-Democrat)
The Board of Supervisors has formally requested an audit of Plan Bay Area growth projections, saying that the job growth numbers just don't seem realistic. (IJ)
Larkspur and MTC are looking for a few good souls to fill out their boards. MTC has four vacancies on their Policy Advisory Council, while Larkspur has openings on the Planning Commission, Parks & Rec Commission, and the Heritage Preservation Board. Take a look to see if you want get involved. (IJ, PR Newswire)

The Greater Marin

When you make a great place you're making great people habitat, and that's good for the environment and all the natural habitat we need to protect. New Urbanism is a New Environmentalism. (NRDC Switchboard)
The headaches caused by private bus companies in San Francisco are starting to get noticed, and the city may start to regulate. (SFBG)
Electric bikes can dramatically expand the reach and audience of bicycling. In spread-out and hilly Marin, the electric assist can be a life-saver for the unfit. (Clarendon Patch)
Sonoma County faces a $120 million road maintenance backlog and only $4.5 million per year to fix it. Though the county is looking for new revenues, perhaps it could spend less money on widening 101 instead. (Press-Democrat)
California will soon get $100 million in new electric car charging infrastructure, part of a settlement with energy companies related to the state's 2001 energy crisis. (Chronicle)