Big support for Gallegos from local litigators

[The Gallegos camp says this letter of support is a historic action by the legal community.]

To the people of Humboldt County:

We are your deputy district attorneys, deputy public defenders, and private attorneys. We are Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Greens. Together we represent the vast majority of attorneys in Humboldt County responsible for administering our criminal justice system. Although we are adversaries in court who fight to prosecute or defend our citizens when they stand accused of crimes, we jointly believe the Constitution requires that the rights of all Humboldt County residents be respected, including the rights of the victims and the accused.

Our justice system requires a Humboldt County district attorney who represents the people, not special interests — who acts independently from the police to seek justice, not vengeance, and acts with reason, not anger. Today we take the historic step of setting aside our disagreements in this non-partisan race for the purpose of jointly recommending to our community the Humboldt County district attorney candidate who has shown the best ability to achieve the ideals necessary for the job. We endorse Paul Gallegos for Humboldt County district attorney.

Humboldt County Deputy District Attorneys:
Alan L. Dollison, Elan Firpo, Arnold L. Klein, Christa K. McKimmy, Ben McLaughlin, Kelly Neel
Humboldt County Deputy Public Defenders:
Christina J. Allbright, Patrick M. Coughlin, Leslie J. Kieg, Jonothan L. McCrone, Marek I. Reavis, Andrew Truitt, Edward A. Schrock
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Humboldt County Private Bar Attorneys:
Bill Bertain, Bill Bragg, M.C. Bruce, Amelia Burroughs, Russell Clanton, Ken Collins, David J. Crane, Michael J. Crowley, Manny Daskal, Ed Denson, Lawrence Eitzen, Judith L. Edson, Fredric Evenson, James Flower, Tim Gray, Patrik M. Griego, Chris Johnson Hamer, Rory A. Hanson, Mark W. Hapgood, Mark P. Harris, Thomas Hjerpe, Doug Kaber, Sarah Kaber, Lee Karjola, Joshua Kaufman, Jennifer Keller, Bryce J. Kenny, Larry M. Killoran, Eric Kirk, Lawrence Kluck, Gina Klump, Jon H. Lyons, Peter E. Martin, Shanti Michaels, Marion D. Miller, Jay Moller, Timothy Needham, Larry B. Nord, Benjamin Okin, Melvin B. Pearlston, Elaine Profant-Maciel, Greg Rael, Tracy Rain, Neal I. Sanders, Les Scher, Herb Schwartz, Jeffrey Schwartz, Ron Sinoway, Kelly Walsh, Timothy J. Wykle, and William Verick

Vote for Cleary for a healthy ecosystem

[From the McKinleyville Press, Oct. 27, 2010]

We, the undersigned environmental scientists, engineers, geologists, biologists, and planners, strongly support Patrick Cleary for 5th District Supervisor.

We have all seen the damage to our watersheds that has caused declines in natural resources such as salmon as well as degraded water quality. The impacts on our community and economy are well documented. We also know that the continued use of our rivers, bays, oceans, and other natural resources is not without conflict.

This is why it is so important that we elect a supervisor that not only understands the complex issues facing us but also has the experience and ability to create and be part of the solution.

Patrick Cleary, through his dedication and hard work on the numerous local businesses, non-profits, and community groups, has demonstrated time and again his ability to bring people together for positive outcomes that are good for people and the environment.

Safe?

It’s not every day you see a candidate who was busted for a DUI get endorsed by the sheriff for the stated purpose of “keep[ing] our communities safe.”
Sundberg was arrested in December 2009, but strangely was allowed to stay home (he was arrested in his driveway) rather than taken into custody.  The special treatment has never been explained.

Sundberg says he has since given up the drink, but remains on probation.

Jerry Brown in Eureka Sunday

California gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown will be at the Samoa Cookhouse Sunday morning at 9am.  All are welcome.

KHUM will broadcast the event so if you can’t make it, can’t take the crowd, or can’t hack the politicalpalooza, tune it at khum.com.

[Image source.]

VIRGINIA BASS: Not very smart

Virginia Bass.

Fourth District Supervisor candidate Virginia Bass says big box development is “smart growth.”  That’s about as un-smart as whoever wrote the talking points in her column in today’s Times-Standard.

She also decries her opponent “throw[ing] mud,” but Bass herself exercised her pitching arm during every debate where she avoided questions by going negative on incumbent Bonnie Neely. Perhaps she fails to listen to the scripted words she dutifully recites during these pre-election events.

She claims again she will bring “new ideas” if elected, but what are they?  During multiple interviews and forums she can’t seem to name a single one.

Bass promises a “fresh perspective” and she’s right on that one since she admits her failure to educate herself on key issues facing the county.

The term “hypocrisy” comes to mind when reading the column, but that’s typical for this candidate who regularly says one thing then does another.  Like the time she “threw mud” at Neely for voting to raise her salary while at the same time Bass touted an endorsement by another supervisor who… wait for it… voted to increase her own salary!  The difference is Bonnie turned down the extra money while Virginia’s supporter did not.

Bonnie Neely for Supervisor.

Don’t turn Eureka into “Any Mall, USA”

[Guest post by Tom Peters.]

Wherever we live, we like to feel that our location has a unique identity that makes it different from anyplace else. In the case of California, we’re ‘The West Coast,’  or ‘The Sunshine State.’ Humboldt County is ‘Redwood Country’.  Eureka is a ‘Victorian Seaport.’

Most of us develop a strong connection to the uniqueness of the place we live whether it’s special places like parks or beaches or districts like Old Town or Henderson Center. It may even include certain businesses like Shafer’s, the Co-op, or Carl Johnson’s. All of these things make our place special and unique and help us to identify it as ‘home.’

Have you ever heard anyone identify with a WalMart or a Home Depot in describing their community? Big Box stores are, by their very nature, generic and rootless. They belong to no community, striving to be all the same everywhere they exist. They do not promote a sense of community. They do not create unique buildings or offer goods tailored to community needs. They exist only to serve their nameless anonymous masters, not their communities.

Time to get ramped-up

[Guest post by George Clark.]

Our communities are experiencing an economic crisis rivaling the Great Depression. These are the times that demand bold action that rekindles our historic ideals of the common good.

Instead, candidate Virginia Bass — gathered with like-minded candidates Mike Newman, Marian Brady, Lance Madsen and Frank Jager — exult the qualities of “quiet determination…reasoned calm and positive attitudes that don’t get ramped-up on issues but calmly review them” (8-12-10 Times Standard).

This is the placid language of inaction familiar to Jager and Madsen who, as councilmembers decades ago, failed to ensure adequate installment funds to maintain our waste water system (most of the dramatic increases in our water/sewer bills are for deferred sewer system updates). Soothing voters with “quiet and calm” conceals candidate’s acquiescence to developments that dig deep into our pockets for infrastructure subsidies that enrich the few.

Eureka Council to hold special closed session

The Times-Standard reports the Eureka City Council will meet for a special closed session today at 4:00 to discuss existing litigation against the city by former employees, and real property negotiations.

The Council generally meets for closed session in the hour preceding its regular bi-monthly meetings, and reports any action taken in closed session at the beginning of the public meeting.

Whatever comes of this meeting will not be reported until after the election.

Fishy?

Pot-grower’s paradise is lawman’s limbo

Latest LA Times look at Humboldt County.

In a region where marijuana is not merely tolerated but is a pillar of the economy, there isn’t much a deputy can do but play along with the fantasies that surround semi-legal weed: that unemployed 20-somethings who buy $50,000 trucks earned the money legally; that supply shops for marijuana farmers are innocent home-and-garden centers; that growers who flash medical marijuana cards are not producing for sale but solely for their own medical needs.

“Cheech and Chong cannot smoke that much dope,” [Humboldt Deputy Sheriff Robert] Hamilton said.

[Photo credit Barbara Davidson, Los Angeles Times.]

Kuhnel can do the job

Ron Kuhnel Meet & Greet at Old Town Coffee & Chocolates

Ron Kuhnel, Candidate for Eureka City Council, will hold a Meet & Greet from 4 to 6 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Old Town Coffee & Chocolates, 211 F Street in Eureka.