Neely nails Bass’ failures at new campaign digs

Humboldt County Supervisor Bonnie Neely spoke before an enthusiastic crowd at her new campaign headquarters in Old Town Tuesday about the importance of November’s election.  She drew sharp comparisons between her abilities as Supervisor and the lack of same exhibited by her opponent, Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass.

“My opponent has really failed the citizens of Eureka,” Neely said. “Today the unemployment rate in Eureka is second only to Rio Dell in Humboldt County.”

Neely said the catastrophe in the Gulf reaffirmed her longstanding opposition to offshore oil drilling.

“As a California Coastal Commissioner I have voted against off shore oil drilling 34 times and will continue to do that in the future,” she said. “This, I might add, is in stark contrast to my opponent’s environmental record which includes full support for converting our harbor to a Liquefied Natural Gas depot.”

Regarding the Balloon Track/Marina Center debate, Neely said “ the developer must stop phony delaying tactics, must follow the state law, and must clean up the toxic chemicals now so we can immediately build a project that will create good paying jobs.”

Neely’s sharpest criticism’s were reserved for the local developer money pouring into Bass campaign coffers.  While Bass admits she hasn’t thought in detail about the General Plan Update, her financial base knows exactly what it wants.

“Make no mistake there are land speculators, land barons and developers hoping to cash in on a plan that allows for maximum conversion of timber and ag lands for more profitable subdivisions. Developers and speculative land owners stand to gain greatly from the General Plan policies that favor unbridled development. And that puts a long term cost on you and me, the taxpayers.”

Bass bungles big box questions

KHSU’s weekly radio show “Through the Eyes of Women” featured interviews with candidates for Humboldt County’s 4th District Supervisor seat Monday.

Incumbent Bonnie Neely and challenger Virginia Bass separately answered questions about the economy, the Balloon Track and marijuana. One of them sounded knowledgeable about Humboldt’s key issues and offered ideas for the future, while the other seems to think voters and the media are as misinformed as she is.

Bass appears willing to mislead the public by implying the Balloon Track zoning measure on the November ballot (Measure N) would ban a WalMart on that Eureka property, which is false. Interviewer Kathy Srabian corrected Bass by noting language in the measure only bans “superstores,” but would open the door to a WalMart that forgoes a grocery.

After talking in vague circles about the controversial project Bass jumped subjects to the proposed Ridgewood Village development, warning that a big box might be included in that project — despite the project proponents’ firm opposition to such stores. In other words, big boxes by her friends are good, while big boxes by other developers are bad.

KHSU will upload the interviews Tuesday. Stay tuned for a link.

UPDATE: Listen here.

Bud patrol

Humboldt County Sheriffs haul away somebody’s crop in Redway.

[Photo credit Carolyn Conway.]

LaVallee to kick off Mayoral campaign

What: Peter LaVallee for Mayor of Eureka 2010 Campaign Kickoff
When: Tuesday, August 31, at 12:15 pm
Where: Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way (on the bay at the foot of 1^st Street), Eureka

Former mayor Peter LaVallee will launch his 2010 campaign for Mayor of the City of Eureka at 12:15pm on Tuesday, August 31, at the Wharfinger Building. At a kickoff celebration with his supporters, LaVallee will outline his plans to form an open and fair partnership among citizens, business owners and civic leaders to address the many critical issues facing the City of Eureka.

Neely presser Tuesday

[Neely Campaign Announcement]

The election of County Supervisors this November is the most important local election we’ve seen. This Board is going to adopt a General Plan that will set the rules for the next thirty years of Humboldt County growth. The race between Bonnie Neely and Virginia Bass presents a stark contrast.

A press conference will be held at Bonnie Neely’s new headquarters in Old Town Eureka announcing her campaign as a call to voters to choose the candidate whose values we share.

What: Bonnie Neely Campaign Announcement
When: Tuesday, August 31st at 11:00a.m.
Where: Neely Headquarters – 426 3rd Street, Eureka

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“We can’t forget that these are the same people who said emphatically, “There will be no big box on the balloon tract.” Now they are claiming a big box will create money and solve all our financial problems.  Why would anyone believe anything they say?” Plain Jane on Balloon Track owner Cheri Arkley’s promise about development of Eureka’s most controversial property.

Kuhnel kick-off speech

Ron Kuhnel kicked off his campaign for Eureka’s 3rd Ward City Council seat Monday in front of a trio of businesses on F Street.

ROADS: $1 Million per mile

A new ad by Healthy Humboldt looks at the high cost roads.

Transcript:

Did you know it cost $1 million dollars to build just one mile of new road, and at least $20,000 per year to maintain that one mile of existing road — if it’s in good shape.

There is now a $150 Million backlog in road maintenance in Humboldt County. These facts come from the County Public Works Director Tom Mattson in his April 2010 report to the Board of Supervisors.

As the hearings of the Update of the General Plan continue, Healthy Humboldt asks you to consider the cost of poorly planned growth.  We need policies in the General Plan that will concentrate most future residential growth in already accessible areas so we won’t burden our children and grandchildren with roads they can’t afford to maintain.

Machado facing felony child porn charge

A well-known local figure charged with felony child pornography was back in Humboldt County Superior Court Tuesday.

Cole Machado was arrested in late July, and images depicting a person or persons under the age of 18 engaged in or simulating sexual acts were found on his computer, according to police. Machado has pled not guilty.

In a broadcast on Channel 3 prosecutor Allan Dollison declined to give details about the age or gender of persons in the images.  He said Machado faces up to 3 years in prison, or could get probation and spend time in the county clink.  If convicted Machado might also face lifetime registration as a sex offender.

Machado will be back in court on September 15.

Supes approve Housing Element

Humboldt County Supervisors unanimously approved revisions to the Housing Element of the General Plan Update at Tuesday’s meeting despite demands from Rob Arkley and his litigious organizations to stop the process.

The revisions were requested by the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to bring it in compliance with state law.

Arkley sent an August 6th email to Supervisors characterizing HCD’s request for revisions as a “rejection” of the Housing Element, and said Supervisors should apologize to the state and the public for the Planning Department’s “mess.”

Developers also complain the process failed to include sufficient public participation despite dozens of hearings and workshops. Supervisor Bonnie Neely noted that groups doing the complaining distribute newsletters about the General Plan to thousands of members, including HumCPR which circulates alerts and information to some 75,000 homes by stuffing newsletters in the Times-Standard and other publications.

Arkley agent Kay Backer — in a last ditch effort to derail the process — said Supervisor Mark Lovelace should recuse himself from voting on the Housing Element because of a “relationship” with the Forster-Gill project.  But Lovelace rejected her vague claim.

“I have never been consultant of the Forster-Gill project,” he said.  “Period. “

The revisions will be sent to HCD for final approval.