Buju Banton back in Humboldt

UPDATE 10/05/09: The show is canceled.

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Homophobic reggae artist Buju Banton has seen other cities cancel his shows amid protests of his gay-bashing lyrics, but Eureka isn’t one of them.  He’ll be performing at Nocturnum on October 11.

This is at least the second Banton concert in Humboldt County.  He played the Mateel in the fall of 2006 (he must like Humboldt County this time of year), and Eric Kirk covered the controversy.

Banton is unapologetic for his lyrics which encourage people to violently murder gay men.

[Image source]

Balloon Track tour open to the public

As noted in the Times-Standard this morning the Eureka City Council will hold a special meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30th at 4:00 that will take place on the Balloon Track.  To attend, head to Commercial between Waterfront Drive and Second Street.  The meeting will include a tour of the controversial property now owned by Security National who intend to build a fancy mall.

The meeting will be followed by the Jeff Leonard Show, otherwise known as a “Community Forum” on the interim clean-up plan for the property.  The blessed event will commence at 6:30 at the Wharfinger.

Marina Center virtual tour

Okay, kids.  Grab the popcorn and get a load of Eureka’s idyllic future.  It’s a silent tour, unfortunately, but at least you can watch at work (unless you warm a desk chair at the City of Eureka).

Notice the lack of cars — even on Broadway.  But there’s plenty of room to shop, shop, shop! Looks like kicking the CalTrans guy off the Planning Commission must have solved any pesky traffic issues in the Draft Environmental Impact Report.

The proposed Home Depot isn’t depicted by name, but is designated as “anchor retail.”  Just in case they bail — if they haven’t already.

Tap into water rights

The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District will hold “frank” discussions about community water rights in the District’s post-pulp-mill water climate.

Click the image to biggify.

The meetings will cover phases 1 & 2 of a 4-part approach to address potential rate hikes or loss of local control over Humboldt County’s newest gold rush — the water.

Donald Fisher RIP

Lifelong San Francisco resident Donald Fisher, owner of the Gap, Inc., and Humboldt Redwood Company has died.  He was 81.

The Fishers took control of Pacific Lumber Company in 2008 after the Houston-based Maxxam drove it into bankruptcy after liquidating much of the company’s vast holdings of ancient redwoods.  The newly created Humboldt Redwood Co, has opted for a saner timber management approach to its 200,000 acres in the heart of Humboldt County.

Kushboldt digs deep

A new local blog called Kushboldt focuses on — wait for it — marijuana.

The blog features funny, old newspaper clips guaranteed to give you the giggles. Like this one:

In your face, 1980!

Politics getting down right stupid in Eureka

The shadowy forces behind Eureka City government are pulling a fast one and hoping you’re too stoned to notice.

Remember when the City Council nixed the Balloon Track forum proposed by Councilman Larry Glass?  Good news! Councilman Jeff Leonard — who spends more time these days as candidate Jeff Leonard — is heeding the call of concerned residents.

Yessiree, candidate Leonard will host the very forum the moron majority previously shot down.

Why?  Because he wants your vote!  And you’re too high to remember Jeff’s twisting of the issue as a “delay” tactic just two short weeks ago.

Leonard was absent for the final “no” vote on September 17, and Mayor Virginia Bass sided with nay-saying Councilmen Frank Jager and Mike Jones.

At the time, the Humboldt Herald expressed surprise that the Council would give up a “chance for a dog-and-pony show highlighting the environmental stewardship of the big box proponents at Security National.”

Well, now we’re going to get one.  And Jeff — who has strived to do the bidding of Balloon Track owner Rob Arkley — will be the pony.

The forum is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at the City’s Public Marina Building.  Show starts at 6:30.

No new money for old mill

(Guest post by Leila Binder).

Remember the movie Erin Brockovich? It told the true story of a woman who helped victims sue PG&E for a cancer cluster caused by hexavalent chromium. Evergreen Pulp produced this metal as well.

A draft of a Health risk assessment of Evergreen Pulp dated October 2006, never shared with the public in the two years it continued to operate, states: “The modeled cancer health risk at point of maximum impact (PMI) is above the threshold limits established by the California Air Toxics Hot Spots program….The acute health risk exceeds the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District threshold because of the estimated acrolein emissions from the pulp dryer….Of the toxic air contaminants, hexavalent chromium contributes the most cancer risk….Acrolein [a pulmonary irritant] is the greatest contributor to chronic and acute risks, accounting for 99.6% of the acute hazard index.”

Apparently, they didn’t actually do tests on the hexavalent chromium itself. This was a projection based on other mills. The report suggested that further tests be done on this and some other contaminants as well. If these tests were done, a follow up report was never filed. So was this dangerous metal (a Proposition 65 listed carcinogen) properly monitored? Did the local air board do anything to ensure that this was done?

And now Evergreen Pulp has left town without a trace, leaving mill workers, some with cancer, without health insurance or pay.

Bob Simpson wants to reopen the mill and build a tissue plant. We don’t have local government agencies that hold companies accountable for their violations, agencies that will make sure the environmental violations under Evergreen, and before that under Stockton Pacific and Louisiana Pacific, are not repeated. When Evergreen Pulp violated environmental laws, they asked the local air board for variances allowing them to continue to pollute and they got them. The aforementioned report states: “The mill is one of the facilities in Humboldt County that is defined as a major source of air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.” Why should Simpson spend good money on a clean plant when local agencies only weakly and belatedly enforce environmental laws? Why not just ask for variances instead?

With the 400 million dollars Simpson has asked for we could create another type of business for Humboldt county using newer clean technologies instead of trying to revamp an old dirty mill built in 1965. Humboldt County needs the jobs that a reopening of the mill would bring. But what good would it do to be employed but get cancer? I feel that the health hazards outlined in this report should be investigated (contaminants are likely still in the groundwater and possibly peoples’ bodies) and the mill should not be reopened.

The health risk assessment of the Evergreen pulp mill may be obtained by anyone at the local air board office.

Racial hatred on HSU campus

This just in from HSU prez Rollin Richmond.

Dear HSU Community Member:

Recently there was an incident on campus of racial hatred that involved a written attack against a faculty member. This is a hateful and cowardly act. The faculty member involved has resigned from the university in fear for his/her safety. The outrage and sorrow expressed by those members of the campus community who know of this incident reiterate the university’s absolute and unequivocal refusal to tolerate this kind of behavior. The University Police Department has been notified and is investigating the incident. Let us all continue to reflect on the challenges of social justice and inclusivity that continue to elude us — as a campus community and as a society overall. It is essential that we strive to find ways to make our campus a safer and more humane community. Everyone will benefit from the opportunity to experience and learn from a diverse faculty and staff.

Let us reaffirm our support for HSU’s vision and use it to guide our interactions with members of the campus community: We will be renowned for social and environmental responsibility and action.

Sincerely,
Rollin C. Richmond
President

(h/t Not A Native)

Unbridled train love

Check out the fantasyland lyrics in this celebratory song about taking a “Humboldt-bound” train rolling from “Willits to Eureka and points beyond.”

The video is billed as a tribute to Northwestern Pacific Railroad.  The song appears to have been written after the train stopped service to Humboldt but sings of riding the “Eel River up and down.”

For the record, repairs to the Eel River canyon have no timeline and an open-ended price tag according to NWP CEO John Williams.