SUNDBERG: Protecting rural lands with bulldozers?

Fifth District Supervisor candidate Ryan Sundberg needs a dictionary. Despite campaign coffers that are flush with developer money, he told the Times-Standard he supports “protecting agricultural and timber lands.”

Perhaps he means “protecting” with new roads and fragmentation.

But his ideas of protection don’t include meeting with farmers who work the land — Sundberg bowed out of a March 29th meeting with them. So, just like other events Sundberg avoided, the meeting carried on without him while his three opponents, Patrick Cleary, Pat Higgins and Jeff Lytle, discussed their views with Humboldt’s northern farmers.

Sundberg originally said he would attend the meeting, but backed out after farmers informed him they support Option A in the General Plan Update (GPU), which offers the most protections to ag land.  Sundberg said a death in the family prevented his attendance, but at least he made it to a fundraiser for his campaign the following day.

Sundberg’s big-money supporters throw cash behind the most development-friendly candidates, which is why his comments in the T-S raise eyebrows.  It’s not enough to have a campaign manager hovering during interviews to insert protectionist buzzwords Sundberg may or may not embrace. At the April 26th candidates debate, Sundberg said it would be “predecisional” to give an opinion on which GPU option he favored.

Outgoing Supervisor Jill Duffy endorses Sundberg because, she says, he knows how to listen. So far, it appears he listens about as well as Duffy — selectively — avoiding those with opposing positions.

Jackson blows it with Betty

In a quest for power and glory, sometimes it’s hard to get your story straight.

Today’s Times-Standard exposes a string of gaffs out of the Allison Jackson campaign for District Attorney.  It began when Jackson included local philanthropist Betty Chinn’s name in her public list of supporters without first getting permission.

When Chinn asked her name to be removed, Jackson told a reporter Chinn was being harassed for the endorsement.  Chinn said it’s not true, she simply didn’t want her name on a list about which she was never contacted or gave consent. When pressed, Jackson couldn’t say where she learned of the harassment.

Full story.

Rural livability

Redwood Coast Rural Action director Kathy Moxin went to Washington D.C. recently to focus on transportation needs in rural areas.

Full story from Transportation for America.

Four more years! Four more years!

In the midst of the pre-election craziness we almost forgot:

Today is the Humboldt Herald blogiversary!

Happy birthday to us!
Happy birthday to us!

Happy birthday to the Humboldt County watercooler on crack among disparate portions of the political spectrum who would scarcely approach each other in a crowded room but duke it out in blogland all day lo-oonnggg

Happy birthday to us!

Planning Commission not jazzed about GPU schedule

An expedited schedule approved by Humboldt County Supervisors to speed the lagging General Plan Update (GPU) process was met with skepticism by the Planning Commission Thursday night.

“This schedule is ridiculous,” said new Commissioner Denver Nelson. “What are they going to do [if we don't meet it], fire us all?”

Commissioner Mel Kreb said the schedule would cause a personal hardship, including interference with loading his truck to vend produce at the Fortuna Farmer’s Market on Friday mornings.

Commissioner Ralph Faust said the Commission’s process for the GPU has been “beneficial,” but estimates completion time would be 2012.  He said the Commission could produce a better product “with more meetings and more time,” but said Supervisors are elected to call the shots.

“It’s our charge to help write the General Plan,” protested Commissioner Dennis Mayo.  Such a comment may have caused convulsions in the Home Builders’ Association, who rally to the cry of “it’s an update, not rewrite!”

Commission Chair Jeff Smith said it’s harder for Commissioners to agree when taking things in “too big of chunks” rather than the details.  He said he’d like to speed the process but was unsure the new schedule is the way to go.

Nelson said the new time-line was meant to get ‘er done before the November election, but Community Development Services Director Kirk Girard said the characterization was unfair.  “It’s clear this will straddle the election,” he said.

If followed, the schedule would wrap-up GPU deliberations at the Planning Commission in November, but Supervisors would then hash out their own, albeit briefer, review before adopting the new General Plan.

Ocean advocates show Black Wave, host Gulf Coast fundraiser

[Guest post by Jennifer Savage.]

Environmental disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill require an all-hands on deck approach – and that’s why Ocean Conservancy, Humboldt Baykeeper and Humboldt Surfrider are teaming up to raise awareness and funds at two upcoming events. BP’s April 20 spill exceeds the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in both gallons of oil propelled into our ocean and expected clean-up costs. The immediate consequences – death and destruction – are obvious, the long-term legacy likely horrific. To highlight, and help defray, the real cost of this crisis, ocean advocates are showing a film about Exxon Valdez and hosting a fundraiser for Gulf Waterkeepers.

On Thursday, June 3, as part of the monthly Ocean Night event, Ocean Conservancy, Humboldt Baykeeper and Humboldt Surfrider present Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez. The award-winning documentary shows how the spill has profoundly altered the lives of tens of thousands of people, reducing them to poverty and despair. Some species, including herring, have never recovered, creating a permanent economic crisis for the fishermen of the Sound. Black Wave also reveals how the initial class-action suit brought against ExxonMobil seemed to end in a huge victory, but was reduced to a mere 10th of the original amount by the U.S. Supreme Court – a bitter defeat for the people of Cordova, AK. The showing is all ages, free – with donations for the Gulf Waterkeepers accepted – and begins at 7 p.m. at Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St., Arcata. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

In support of ongoing efforts to clean-up the Gulf Coast, Ocean Conservancy, Humboldt Baykeeper and Humboldt Surfrider also host a Friday, June 11 fundraiser at Humboldt Brews, 856 G St. Ukesperience plays at 9 p.m. All proceeds go to assist the Gulf Waterkeepers with clean-up supplies, protective gear and other items needed to maintain the front lines of defense.

Ocean Conservancy has been advocating for ocean protection since 1972 and is helping lead the Gulf Coast response, restoration and recovery effort, as well as working to advocate for reforms to ensure this tragedy is never repeated. Humboldt Baykeeper, part of the Waterkeeper Alliance, was launched in October 2004 to address the immediate need for an advocate for Humboldt Bay, its associated watersheds and the near-shore waters of the Pacific. Humboldt Surfrider is the local chapter of Surfrider Foundation, was established in the early 1990s, and continues to protect North Coast ocean, beaches and waves from environmental and access threats. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, humboldtbaykeeper.org or surfrider.org/humboldt.

Quote of the day

“Other than making an unsuccessful offer of $50,000 in Headwaters funding to the City of Eureka for development of a master plan for the property, which would have included a cleanup plan, I have never had any formal decision making role with respect to the Balloon Track.” — Supervisor Bonnie Neely in today’s Times-Standard addressing developer Rob Arkley’s misinformation campaign to blame Neely for his self-created problems.

The polluted properties of Union Pacific

What is the extent of the pollution on the Balloon Track property in Eureka? That should be the first question.

Union Pacific, former owner of the one-time rail yard, is facing massive clean-up costs on other rail properties that are similarly polluted. One 61-acre property in Las Vegas faces $30 million in clean-up costs and U.P. is doing it’s best to worm out of paying the bill.

In Lincoln, Nebraska, U.P. won’t allow testing of a property until the city signs a purchase agreement.

Why the secrecy?

In Eureka, when Security National bought the Balloon Track from Union Pacific, it agreed to assume responsibility for cleaning up Union Pacific’s mess.

But SN’s “clean-up” plan calls for pushing soil around the property before tests identify which toxins exist — and where they exist — on the 43-acre property.

To complicate matters, portions of the property were used as a log deck by Schmidbauer Lumber over the last many months.  And while the winter (and spring) rains turned to the dioxin-laden property into a toxic stew, the log deck was removed by trucks that carried the muck onto city streets.

Security National is pushing a clean-up plan that forgoes analysis of the current state of the property.  Based on current situations in other areas mentioned above, Union Pacific must appreciate that.

Neely announces Coastal Commission grants to local orgs

Bonnie Neely, speaking Sunday during Save the Whales day in Eureka.

EUREKA — Supervisor Bonnie Neely recently announced three Humboldt County organizations received a total of $41,390 in grant awards from the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail License Plate Fund in 2009. Neely is currently serving her second term as Chair of the California Coastal Commission.

Nearly 40 marine education projects were funded statewide, totaling $704,000. The Whale Tail License Plates, which made these grants possible, may be ordered from www.ecoplates.com or through the DMV.

“Buying a Whale Tail license plate is one way for individuals to use their purchasing power to show support for our magnificent coast,” Neely said. “Approximately 182,000 Whale Tail Plates have been purchased to date.”

Organizations receiving funds in Humboldt are:

Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation – $17,958 for a new exhibit about urban impacts on salmon. The new exhibit at the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka will feature models of different salmon species, an interactive station with a microscope to view species supporting the salmon food chain, and information about everyday ways people can help keep urban waterways healthy for the migrating fish.

Wiyot Tribe – $8,432 for a marine education program. Young tribal members at the Table Bluff Reservation will engage in hands-on activities relating to a variety of marine science topics over two summers, in collaboration with faculty at Humboldt State University.

Friends of the Dunes – $15,000 for the Kids’ Adopt-A-Beach Program and Beach Cleanup in Humboldt County. This program educates students at underserved and inland elementary schools about dune ecosystems and harmful effects of ocean pollution. On May 21, the Beach Cleanup culminated with 1,000 students.

“The students who participated in the Beach Cleanup are sending us a message,” Neely said. “Ocean life under threat from so many sources. The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a tangible reminder of the ocean’s vulnerability. It is up to all of us to help sustain life in the ocean.”

Supes approve new GPU schedule

In an effort to speed up the Humboldt County General Plan Update process the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve a schedule that aims to wrap it up by November 2010.

New GPU schedule. Click to enlarge, print and rally.