Sausalito city manager Elaine Forbes was arrested on suspicion of burglary, according to authorities. The 53-year-old, who had just begun her role as city manager, was found inside a yacht that did not belong to her. The Sausalito City Council called the incident a difficult development for our city staff and our community
and declined to comment on specifics.
Elaine Forbes, 53, was arrested at 6:50 a.m. Saturday at 501 Humboldt Ave., the address of the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, after authorities got a call about a burglary. Authorities found her inside a yacht that did not belong to her, according to the Marin Independent Journal, citing sheriff’s Lt. Domenick Yazzolino. Forbes, who officially started her job as Sausalito’s city manager on July 1, was held on $50,000 bail. A statement from her family described her as experiencing a mental health crisis
and urged the public to avoid rush[ing] to judgment based on limited information.
A City Manager’s Sudden Legal Troubles
Forbes, a former San Francisco Port director with over two decades of public-sector experience, was hired by Sausalito’s City Council in May. Her base salary was set at $275,000, and she had previously worked on critical infrastructure projects, including the retrofitting of San Francisco’s Embarcadero seawall. The arrest came just two days after the City Council held a private meeting to discuss her employee performance, according to the agenda. On Sunday, the city confirmed it had approved a leave of absence for Forbes during that meeting, with the Council planning to discuss next steps
at its next session on Tuesday.
The Incident and Official Responses
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office referred questions to the Sausalito Police Department, which in turn directed inquiries to city spokesman Joe Vazquez. Vazquez referred to the city’s statement that officials would not comment on specific allegations.
A statement from Forbes’ family, issued by spokesperson Sam Singer, emphasized that Forbes has devoted much of her life to public service and is widely respected by the many people who have worked with her over the years
and urged compassion. As the facts become clearer and Elaine obtains legal and healthcare counsel in the coming hours and days, we hope people will respond with compassion, patience and respect for her and her family during an extraordinarily difficult time,
the statement said.
The Sausalito City Council’s statement described the arrest as a difficult development for our city staff and our community.
The council had unanimously voted to hire Forbes on May 5, with the city highlighting her “homecoming” to Marin County, where she grew up in San Rafael. Forbes had expressed excitement about her new role, stating she aimed to support the city’s long-term fiscal sustainability
and address challenges like sea level rise.
Legal and Personal Implications
Forbes was being held on $50,000 bail. The Sausalito Police Department and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office have not provided additional details. The city’s decision to grant her a leave of absence was made during a Thursday meeting.
Forbes’ tenure at the San Francisco Port, which ended in 2025, included managing large-scale infrastructure projects. The Sausalito City Council’s upcoming meeting on Tuesday is expected to involve discussions on next steps.
The Sausalito City Council is expected to discuss next steps at its next meeting on Tuesday. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office referred questions to the Sausalito Police Department.
For now, the community awaits clarity on the situation.
