HuffPo: Gallegos win keeps California progressive

The mega-blog Huffington Post reports on the Gallegos victory:

While Gallegos’s vision reaches beyond the boundaries of Humboldt County, he is very focused on the overarching needs of the community. Gallegos’ win, coupled with Kamala Harris’ victory as Attorney General, maintains California as a progressive state geared towards the betterment of its populace through a judicious approach.

Supes spar over Coastal Commission nomination

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to support the nomination of Supervisor Mark Lovelace to fill the North Coast seat on the California Coastal Commission — but the issue provoked tense talk and finger-pointing.

Lovelace asked the Board to support his nomination, but suggested any letter of recommendation wait until the middle of December in case other elected officials step forward.

Supervisor Jill Duffy strongly criticized Board Chairman Clif Clendenen for not contacting Supervisor-elects Virginia Bass and Ryan Sundberg to find if they are interested in the position.  She said the “games that have been played are over the top,” but when Lovelace responded she defensively said she wasn’t accusing him.

A lengthy public comment period followed with all speakers asking the board to hold off on supporting the nomination to allow other elected officials to step up.

Fortuna City Councilman Dean Glaser said he would throw his hat in the ring if it would help delay the process.  The colorful Councilman whose commitment to confusion is well known, said he is “as neutral as you can possibly get.”

Bass said she would like the opportunity to be considered for the position, but in traditional Bass fashion expressed confusion about how or if she could put her name forward. She said her time as mayor and on the Eureka City Council gave her some knowledge about issues facing coastal communities.  But it’s clear following her performance over the last year that she is relatively clueless about the operations and goals of the Coastal Commission.

“It’s not our job to solicit nominees, its the job of the nominees to step forward,” Lovelace said.  “I’m not asking the Board to nominate me and only me.  I’m simply asking for a consideration of my nomination at this time and leave the door open for others.”

Supervisor Bonnie Neely — who will leave her position on the CCC in January — amended her motion in support of Lovelace to direct the County Administrative Office to work with the City Selection Committee to identify other possible nominees.  The Board will revisit the issue at its December 14th meeting.

Humboldt pot growers in the Sacramento Bee

Despite the failure of Prop. 19, a media spotlight remains fixed on our neck of the weeds:

In Humboldt, population 138,000, it is more common to ask who doesn’t grow pot than who does. As open-air gardens and greenhouses bloom in the mountains, average citizens supplement their income growing under shimmering lights at home.

Full story.

(Unofficial) election results

Humboldt County Supervisor, Fourth District

Virginia Bass….. 4,181 (+825) 55.06%
Bonnie Neely……… 3,356 44.19%

Humboldt County Supervisor, Fifth District

Ryan Sundberg… 5,088 (+154) 50.57%
Patrick Cleary………. 4,934 49.04%

Eureka Mayor

Frank Jager……… 4,500 (+700) 51.59%
Peter LaVallee………. 3,800 43.56%
Marshall Spaulding.. 397 4.55%

Eureka City Council, 1st Ward

Marian Brady…. 4,950 (+1,251) 57.10%
Larry Glass …………3,699 42.67%

Eureka City Council, 3rd Ward

Mike Newman…. 3,629 (+183) 44.18%
Ron Kuhnel ………….3,446 41.95%
Xandra Manns ……. 1,116 13.59%

Eureka City Council, 5th Ward

Lance Madsen 6,257 96.26%

Arcata City Council

Alex Stillman……… 3,222 28.91%
Mark Wheetley…… 3,178 (+424) 28.52%
David Meserve ……….. 2,754 24.71%

District Attorney

Paul Gallegos…….. 25,238 (+2,149) 52.08%
Allison Jackson ……….23,089 47.61%

Assessor

Mari Wilson…………27, 459 (59.13%)
Johanna Rodoni………..18,827 (40.54%)

Full report.

Colorado leads charge to test, regulate marijuana

California may have been the first state in the US to legalize marijuana, but other jurisdictions are paving the way to better testing and safety standards.

Colorado is working toward becoming the first state to regulate production of medical marijuana. Regulators say pot consumers deserve to know what they’re smoking, and producers should have safety regulations such as pesticide limits for plants destined for human consumption…

Colorado hopes to have in place by early next year some sort of labeling and inspection standard for marijuana sold commercially, under provisions of a new state law. But it’s a daunting task. Physicians, pot shop owners and state regulators all say standards are needed but guidelines don’t exist.

Full story at the Chronicle.

Eureka man threatens Obama

What are the odds this guy was a blog troll?

A Humboldt County man who served time in prison for mailing a phony anthrax letter to the FBI was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges that he wrote a letter threatening to kill President Obama, records show.

Roger Hudnall, 54, of Eureka wrote, “I will Kill the President” in a letter he mailed on Jan. 7, 2009, less than two weeks before Obama took the oath of office, according to the indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in San Francisco.

Full story at the Chronicle.

Happy Thanksgiving

Enjoy the turkeys.

Lovelace seeks Coastal Commission appointment

Humboldt County Supervisor Mark Lovelace is “actively seeking the nomination” to the California Coastal Commission, according to the Times -Standard.

Two seats on the powerful commission will be vacated following the Nov. 2nd election. Commission chairwoman Bonnie Neely lost her bid for re-election to the Humboldt County Supervisors, making her ineligible for a spot on the commission.

Any local progressive politico that lands a seat on the CCC will likely find themselves in the cross-hairs of local power monger Rob Arkley, who blames the CCC for stalling his “Marina Center” project.  Arkley himself stonewalled the Commission’s proceedings on permits for the Marina Center, but used his fictionalized version of events as a political blow torch to catapult his loyal candidates into office.

Arcata City Councilman Mark Wheetley is another local possibility for the Commission, according to the T-S.

Outgoing governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will appoint a replacement for Neely before he leaves office, but there is no guarantee that the pick will come from Humboldt.  Elected officials from other Northern California Coastal Counties are also eligible.

Freedom of Speech

[by Mitch Trachtenberg]

Something seems to have gone seriously wrong with our understanding of freedom of speech. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution has this to say:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It protects Americans from attempts by the government to silence us, or to tell us how to think. It specifically protects “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.”

Some seem to think that “freedom of speech” means “speech free from consequences,” or, perhaps, “it’s all good.”

It’s not all good.

Eureka to pay $100,000 to settle Hansen lawsuit

The Times-Standard reports that the City of Eureka is on the hook for half of the $200,000 settlement in the lawsuit brought by former EPD dispatcher Tawnie Hansen.  Hansen alleged — and apparently proved — that she was the victim of vicious harassment by her co-workers while the city conducted a watered down investigation that failed to stop the harassment.

The City Council never agreed to the settlement because its insurance carrier, the Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund (REMIF), “has ‘full authority’ to control settlements under its coverage agreement with the city.”

Oddly, city manager Dave Tyson, who was named in the suit for his role in the harassment, was part of the city’s litigation team, though he is unsure if he was an “official member.”  One might guess he was officially in charge of sitting on the settlement agreement these long weeks, however.

The city released a statement announcing the settlement yesterday, despite the lawsuit’s resolution at the end of October.

The Humboldt Herald announced news of a $200,000 check from REMIF to Hansen on November 7.