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Not long after Steve Clarke found out there was a push to require voter ID at the polls, he began canvassing for signatures in Sacramento.

Many of the residents he encountered were angry, Clarke said. He began volunteering for Reform California, the group behind the initiative, last year after feeling frustrated with homelessness and the cost of living. “They want the same things: Integrity back in our elections.”

Clarke and his wife are among the thousands of activists pushing for a Republican-backed voter ID ballot initiative that supporters are working to put on the November ballot. Organizers last week said they’ve submitted more than the nearly 875,000 signatures required to qualify the measure — 1.3 million in all. As officials work to verify the signatures, opponents are organizing a campaign built around President Donald Trump and his push for a similar nationwide proof-of-citizenship voter requirement.

Voting rights groups say voter ID laws unfairly disadvantage poor people and Black and Latino voters who are less likely to have official identification, and that creating more requirements is a way to make it harder for people who typically support Democrats to vote. They also point to the history of poll taxes, a fee that Southern states used to prevent Black and poor white Americans from voting after the Reconstruction era.

Recent polling has found popular support for some voter ID laws nationwide and in California. A 2025 poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Government Studies showed a majority of Californians surveyed support voter ID at the polls — 54% overall approved of showing proof of citizenship each time a vote is cast.

The poll numbers underscore the need for the initiative, supporters say.

“We’ve structured this initiative based on what voters across the political spectrum would want,” said Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a Republican from San Diego who is leading the initiative.

Under the proposal, mail-in voters would be required to provide the last four digits of a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license number. The initiative would also require the secretary of state and county election offices to verify voters’ registration for each ballot cast.

Assemblymember Carl DeMaio announces that supporters of the CA Voter ID Initiative will submit more than 1.3 million signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot at the west steps of the state Capitol in Sacramento on March 3, 2026. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

Currently, voters are only required to provide an ID and Social Security number when they register to vote, but not when they cast a ballot. Most states, however, require or recommend that voters present an ID when voting, according to a report by the National Conference of State Legislatures, though only 10 states are considered strict about it.

Experts agree that voting fraud is rare. A 2021 investigation by The Associated Press found fewer than 475 potential cases of voter fraud out of 25.5 million ballots cast in six battleground states in the 2020 presidential election, after Trump touted false claims that the election was stolen.

Opponents of the proposed initiative have stressed the rarity of voter fraud.

“California elections are already incredibly secure,” League of Women Voters of California Executive Director Jenny Farrell said. “There is no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting that would justify adding these strict requirements.”

Voting rights groups also claim the initiative would pose needless barriers and suppress voter turnout. League of Women Voters and other organizations plan to form a campaign committee to oppose the initiative.

Labor gears up for voter ID fight

Another potential opponent is organized labor, which is expected to campaign heavily against the initiative. That messaging will also likely focus on Trump’s support for similar legislation currently stalled in Congress that would require voter ID in federal elections.

California Labor Federation President Lorena Gonzalez told CalMatters that unions will argue the measure is unnecessary. “The California GOP in this situation are just taking Trump talking points,” she said. “I assume that it will be very clear that it’s a Trump fantasy.”

Popular support for some new voter requirements could complicate Democrats’ response to the California measure, said Mike Gatto, a former Democratic assemblymember who authored a failed ballot initiative on homelessness. He said messaging that’s centered on Trump, rather than voter suppression, would likely play better with voters.

“There’s always going to be that inconvenience of somebody, but I don’t know if that will be enough in the minds of voters to counter the positive messaging on this,” Gatto said.

Gonzalez said she could not say how much unions will spend campaigning against the initiative. “It’s hard to tell, because we don’t know what the initiative will look like. But again, this is a priority for us,” Gonzalez said.

A separate union-supported ballot initiative that seeks to tax the state’s billionaires could make it difficult for labor unions to prioritize a campaign against a voter ID initiative.

If voters were to approve it, California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates the new voter ID requirements would cost the state and local governments tens of millions of dollars to implement.

Initiative supporters started gathering signatures in September and have raised $10 million from wealthy and small-dollar donors, according to DeMaio. It’s primarily been funded by Julie Luckey, who chairs the initiative committee and is the mother of tech billionaire Palmer Luckey. The committee, Californians for Voter ID, raised $8.8 million in 2025. The committee worked with DeMaio’s political organization, Reform California, one of the state’s biggest grassroots fundraising groups for conservative causes.

Last year, DeMaio unsuccessfully introduced a bill proposing similar voter requirements but it had little chance of success in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

In general, it’s much harder, and more expensive, to pass an initiative than to defeat one in California. Since 1912, voters approved just 35.5% of ballot initiatives, according to the secretary of state’s office.

Rick Brazeau has proceeded full steam ahead to the Great Tiki Bar in the sky.

He had a fun-filled youth in Stockton, where he and buddies rode bikes to the nearby train yard. Steam locomotives and trains became a lifelong passion. A proud member of Class of 1964 Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, he ran political campaigns, wrote for the student newspaper and learned typing — an unusual male endeavor before the age of personal computers – to improve his excellent writing skills.

Enamored with cameras from an early age, he moved to Arcata in 1966 to study film at Humboldt State College. He was thrilled to have the wonderful Richard Rothrock as one of the Theatre Department’s valuable teachers, and enjoyed learning with his brilliant fellow students.

Articulate and bursting with enthusiasm, he loved to share his knowledge and humor while he taught at the university post graduation. In the early 1970s, after learning the City of Arcata planned to have the Minor Theatre torn down for a parking lot, he and friends decided to rescue the historic building. A number of local merchants heartily supported the project and donated time and materials.

Running a repertory film theatre dulled after a while; he turned his creative energies to advertising and ended up managing MTC Associates until 2004. He and his partners made award-winning TV commercials for Bistrin’s, Pro Sports Center and other clients. His favorite client was a group of commuter airlines, which gave him the opportunity to travel and make lifelong friends.

A student of history and politics, he especially enjoyed guiding political campaigns, spending untold hours helping candidates refine their positions and strategies, all with humor and sound insights. World War II and Hitler fascinated him – he was one of the few Democrats savvy enough to predict a potential dictator would take the presidency in 2016.

But what recap of Ricky B’s life would be complete without mentioning bars? How he loved them so! While every bar on the Arcata Plaza deserved a visit, his special place was Jambalaya (original version, 1973-1999). If anyone heard an order for rye and soda, they knew Brazeau was in the house. Old Overholt was his favorite for many years – the story went that lumber baron Isaac Minor, founder of the Minor Theatre, kept several bottles of that (rather mediocre) brand in his home vault.

One exceptional highlight — the result of meticulous planning — was in December 1973, when he visited all 39 bars within the Eureka city limits within a day. Starting at the Vista Del Mar, which opened at 6 AM in those days of thirsty fishermen, loggers and mill shift workers, he walked and got rides around town for 20 hours, having shots of — yes! — Old Overholt. It was said that some bartenders, alerted by pals, scurried to introduce the liquor into their inventory. Each bartender signed their names on the typewritten log Rick had prepared. Price of a drink at the Eureka Inn’s snazzy Rib Room? $1.80! For decades afterwards, this sheet was a scintillating walk down memory lane for numerous bar aficionados. He ended up back at the Vista where he collapsed into a Volkswagen van owned by buddy Faison Jordan.

Long-term romance entered his life in 1984 when he met Heather Verville. Their shared sense of humor, love of cats, creativity, family, camping, travel, history and other interests welded a deep connection. They married in spring of 1986 at Arcata’s Redwood Park. Eventually he persuaded her to join MTC Associates. Together — often on fun business trips they called boondoggles — they roamed California, the Pacific Northwest and the United States, with a special fondness for San Francisco, Yosemite and Washington DC. Many museums, parks, zoos and gardens were toured; many bars were enjoyed.

In the late ‘80s they were honored to write and help direct educational films about local and California indigenous peoples for the US Forest Service. Learning about sovereign rights, sacred grounds, basket making and other historical practices enriched their lives immensely.

In retirement Rick continued to study history, follow politics, travel (especially on Amtrak), read preferred novels, keep up with railroad news, and watch well-made TV and movies, often pausing the show to point out an interesting production technique or hilarious throw-away line.

Not surprisingly — he also visited bars. Many afternoons were spent at Ernie’s in Eureka or Central Station in McKinleyville, where he would alternate reading with chat amongst fellow regulars.

It’s been said alcohol use often has three stages – fun; fun with problems; and then … mostly problems.

Rick, lucky to be an exceptionally sturdy guy, had fun for many decades. Problems began to crop up as the years went by. And a while back, as his organs, including his precious quirky brain, suffered a continuous onslaught of chemicals, it became mostly problems.

He died at home of congestive heart failure March 5, 2026.

He is survived by his loving wife, Heather Verville, his brother, Robert Brazeau, extended family, and numerous friends.

A celebration will be held at a later date.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Rick Brazeau’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Earl Ronald Crites passed away in the early hours of February 19, 2026 at home in the loving care of his life partner Judy Turney. He was 74 years old. He fought the cancer that eventually took him the same way he lived his life, with courage, optimism and the “no retreat, no surrender” credo of a true warrior.

Earl was born to Harrison William Crites and Mildred Irma (Curtis) Crites on April 2, 1951 in Scotia, California. His birth completed the family that included his older siblings: brother Lee Godsey and sister Jean (Godsey) Swartz.

Earl was raised with his family on a 20-acre homestead in Laytonville, California. The family worked hard and maintained a self-sufficient life-style allowing them to eat from their own vegetable garden, as well as their home-raised poultry and beef. Earl often joked that he got his strong grip strength from years of pulling up acres of manzanita shrubs by hand, one of the many jobs that his father assigned to him.

While attending Laytonville High School, Earl was an avid athlete. He especially loved playing basketball and football, where his strength, speed and competitiveness helped to give Laytonville High its reputation for being one of the hardest-hitting schools in the league.

Soon after graduating from high school in 1969, Earl joined the Army and was thrilled to be able to serve his time in Alaska. Earl was a proud veteran who loved his country.

Earl met his first wife Martina (Finnegan) Peterson in high school and they were married in December of 1969. They had two beautiful daughters Karen Marie Crites (Sweaney) and Tammy Marlene Crites (Rivano). After leaving the service, his family moved back to the “lower 48” where he worked multiple jobs before he eventually began his career in Corrections, working at the Vacaville State Prison as a correctional officer. Following his divorce, he moved to Southern Humboldt in 1980 where he continued his career in Corrections at the Eel River Conservation Camp #31 in Redway where he remained until he retired.

He met Judy Turney at the dentist office where she worked in Garberville in 1980. At that time the state allowed inmates to be taken to local dentists for dental treatment. While the inmate was with the dentist having treatment, there was enough time for a bit of conversation and flirtation between Earl and Judy. The attraction was mutual and they were soon dating. They remained a devoted couple until the end of Earl’s life.

Earl’s dream since he was a teenager was to have his own small homestead where he would build a home and be as self-sufficient as possible. His focus never changed and when he moved to Southern Humboldt, he soon bought property above Phillipsville. Starting with undeveloped property, he created a house site, and built a beautiful home. He and Judy created their beloved homestead together. Over the years they added gardens, orchards, and landscaped yards. Their love of animals led them to raise many cats, dogs, goats and chickens as well as attracting many wild birds to their yard to watch and enjoy.

A life-long passion for sports, travel, and adventure balanced out Earl’s drive to work hard building and developing his home.

He was well known in the Shelter Cove fishing community and had the reputation that his boat most often came in with its full limit of fish. Some people recognized the unique shape of Earl’s boat and enjoyed watching him come in with his Blue Heeler, Bandit, standing proudly on the bow of the boat, waiting to be close enough to shore to dive off and swim to shore. He did this every time they came in!

Earl also loved skiing, all water sports, abalone diving, hiking and traveling. He loved sharing these passions with family and friends. Whether he was hunting abalone with his nephew John Turney, skiing with his friend Tommy (and others), fishing, hiking or rafting with his friend Paul (and others) or traveling with Judy, and often Paul & Tina. The bragging rights and hours of storytelling after each adventure was just as important as the adventures themselves.

He loved to share adventures with Judy, constantly pushing her to challenge herself and learn new skills. He taught her to ski, kayak, snorkel, fish and push for more challenging hikes than she thought she could accomplish. All of these adventures will remain cherished memories.

Earl leaves behind a large and loving family, including his Turney family and many friends who will miss him deeply.

He is survived by his life-partner Judy Turney, daughters Karen (Sean) Sweaney, Tammy (Gary) Rivano, granddaughters Vanessa Rivano, Amanda Rivano, Hannah Rivano, and great-grandson Joshua Mann.

Please join us for a celebration of life memorial May 17, 2026 at 1 p.m. at the Fortuna Veterans Memorial Building, 1426 Main St., Fortuna.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart of the Redwoods Hospice in Garberville.

Earl’s online memorial can be viewed at this link.

Jerry Carter Sr., a man whose life was a symphony of family, faith, and deep-rooted community ties, passed away on January 16 at Sutter Hospital in San Francisco, leaving behind a legacy as resonant as the tuba he loved to play. Born in Vallejo in the spring of 1950, Jerry’s heart truly belonged to the Redwoods.

Jerry’s childhood was spent amidst the rugged beauty of Fort Humboldt and Patrick’s Point State Park, where he watched his father help build the roads that shaped the local landscape.

The family eventually settled in Weott, where Jerry attended South Fork High School. It was there that he forged lifelong friendships and discovered his twin passions: singing and the tuba. Though he briefly ventured to Texas to attend Baylor University, the pull of the North Coast was too strong. Jerry returned home to attend College of the Redwoods, where his musical talents flourished. A musician in the CR jazz band, his performances remain on recordings from the 1970s. During these years, he also worked at the Simpson mill in the Arcata bottoms, balancing long shifts with the camaraderie of the company basketball team.

In 1974, a Bible study changed the course of Jerry’s life when he met Joyce. The pair married in 1975 and recently celebrated a remarkable 50th anniversary. In 1978, they settled in Myrtletown to raise their four children.

In the Carter household, music wasn’t just a hobby — it was a requirement. Jerry ensured his children grew up with instruments in their hands. To support his family, Jerry took to the open road as a long-haul truck driver. He spent countless hours traversing California, accompanied by the sounds of talk radio, gospel music, and the steady chatter of his fellow drivers over the CB radio.

Jerry’s faith was his North Star. He was a long-time member of Bethel Church and later Coastline Church, where he was cherished for his easy conversation and his tradition of enjoying a “pre-service cookie” with friends.

His musical contributions to the community were:

• The Redwood Dixie Gators: Jerry’s own family band and friends that brought joy to many.
• The Messiah: A regular participant in local performances.
• TubaChristmas: A 30-year veteran of the event, Jerry lived to see three generations of Carters performing alongside him.
• The Scotia Band: He recently received his 15-year pin, a testament to his enduring dedication.

Jerry is survived by his devoted wife, Joyce Carter; his children, Leanne (Justin) DuPont, Lorraine Carter, Jerry (Stephanie) Carter Jr., and John Carter; and his cherished grandchildren, Matherin, Connor, Jude, Faith, and Iris. He also leaves behind his brother, Sandy Carter, and his nephew and niece, Brian and Amy Carter.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. An announcement with further details will follow.

THERE’S ONLY 290 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! WHAT’LL I DO!! I GOTTA GET THE GIFT SHOPPING DONE! THE KIDS WANT A PIANO, THE OL’ BALL AND CHAIN WANTS A DEEP FRYER, MY BROTHER WANTS A 2006 GO 4 INTERCEPTOR III AND A FORD RANGER — GREEDY BASTARD — WHERE IN THE HELL AM I GOING TO GET IT ALL?????????

Is that you? Relax! You’re set! With some luck, you could get all of that stuff on the cheap — and not even have to leave town! The city of Arcata is auctioning off 39 items that the city has decided it doesn’t need anymore on GovDeals.com, some of them worth marveling at. 

Ever thought it’d be cool to own a street sweeper? Here’s one: current bid, only $24. That 2006 Go 4 Interceptor III mentioned earlier? A sweet-ass four-banger three-wheeled Meter maid mobile, currently going for $360. There’s two up for grabs, but one doesn’t have a title. 

A few Fords, all of which only start with a jump: an Expedition, an Escape, a Ranger, and three Crown Vics, one of them, inexplicably, going for four times as much as the others. (One has a busted alternator and the other one’s transmission is non-op, so maybe not entirely inexplicable.)

Some other highlights: a pitching machine. A 150 KW generator. Another generator with the beginnings of a nice lawn growing in it. Two trailers. A beefy lawnmower.  “Lot of Miscellaneous Plastic Containers with Lids.” And a bunch of other assorted detritus. 

Even if you do manage to snag a street sweeper for the cost of a decent restaurant meal, there are still plenty of hurdles to clear before you can claim it. The city can reject any bid for any reason; buyers have to pick the property up wherever it’s located. The minimum bid increases vary; sales close March 18, 8 p.m. Arcata’s tacking on a 12.5% buyer’s premium on everything, and buyers also must pay sales tax. Visual inspections are allowed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. 

Also, if you read this article and buy the street sweeper, you have to let me drive it.

PREVIOUSLY:

• YOU SHALL NOT PASS! Samoa Bridge Will Be Closed for the Next Few Nights for Bridge and Broadband Work
• Progress Report: That Fiber Optic Line They’re Laying Alongside 299 Will, in Fact, Include Access Points for Local Communities
• Major Datacenter Company Purchases Arcata Warehouse, Starts Filing Paperwork to Build Fiber Optic Line to Samoa Peninsula

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Construction work that has shuttered the Samoa bridge in overnight stretches will soon bring reliable broadband connectivity to the Samoa Peninsula.

“This is it! This is the long term solution to make sure the peninsula is not left behind,” Connie Stewart, Director of Initiatives at Cal Poly Humboldt, tells the Outpost.

Vero Fiber recently added conduit lines across the bridges in overnight work. By the end of the month, fiber will be pulled through.

The finalization of the leg of infrastructure on State Route 255 follows years of work to bridge the so-called “digital divide” for Humboldt County communities which have lacked reliable internet providers.

Commonly referred to as “middle mile,” the infrastructure will be an open-access line that internet service providers can later connect to to bring internet access to homes — either with direct cable or a wireless connection.

Stewart expects this to be an option for peninsula dwellers in fall 2026, possibly sooner.

“This is really designed around making sure that the peninsula gets service that is reliable,” said Stewart.

The section recently installed in the bridge is the last piece of a middle mile route funded largely by the California Department of Technology, during a historic state investment in the infrastructure.

According to a grant announcement for the work, it will bring fiber internet access to over 500 homes, businesses and public safety locations, half of which are “unserved.” The announcement put the cost of the project at $6.3 million with a $4.4 million grant from the state.

Internet service on the peninsula has been spotty for years.

There are above-ground wires that lead to some communities, while other areas rely on satellite coverage, said Dale Unea, operations manager for the Peninsula Community Services District and fire chief of the Samoa Peninsula Volunteer Fire Department.

The district’s wastewater and water communications are through cellular uplink, which can come with delays if the wind is blowing.

And above-ground internet infrastructure is subject to the peninsula’s harsh coastal environment. Overall, Unea said the infrastructure is needed.

“I just see the future as bright for the peninsula, and this is just another ray of sunshine put on the area,” he said.

One effort to bring the peninsula community of Fairhaven internet in a 2022 contest fizzled out. Bay Area-based startup Dalet Access Labs built out free internet for the neighborhood, but the California Department of Education ultimately failed to announce a winner for a $1 million prize.

Dalet Access still has installed assets in Fairhaven that will need to be recovered at some point, said Odion Edehomon, CEO of Dalet Access in an email to the Outpost.

Fairhaven could see fiber access soon — Stewart notes enough residents in a neighborhood need to sign up before installation can happen.

She said the long-term goal is to link up the bridge fiber to the Old Arcata Road fiber to create resilience around Arcata Bay and Eureka.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light gaps in internet access across the state. Economic disparities and a lack of infrastructure meant swaths of schoolchildren were without reliable internet access when school went online.

Stewart says it’s been six years of trying to find a permanent solution. She said broadband is an essential utility — for students going to school, for emergency services, for economic development and telehealth appointments.

“These projects that are being built right now and almost finished are going to give us that foundation to live, work, play, for generations to come,” she said.

The next exciting project for Humboldt County is middle-mile infrastructure along U.S. 101, said Stewart.

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Press release from Humboldt Athletics:

ARCATA, Calif. – For the first time since 2016, Cal Poly Humboldt men’s basketball is headed back to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Lumberjacks (17-14) earned the No. 8 seed in the NCAA West Region and will face No. 1 seed and site host Cal State East Bay (30-0) on Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. from Pioneer Gymnasium in Hayward. The winner will advance to the West Region semifinal on Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. to take on the winner of No. 4 seed Alaska Anchorage (21-10) and No. 5 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills (22-8).

Humboldt was the final team selected into the eight-team West Region field, setting up a rematch with the undefeated Pioneers after the two programs squared off in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament Championship this past weekend. East Bay claimed the tournament title with an 80-63 victory, but the Lumberjacks’ run to the championship game secured their place in the NCAA Tournament field.

The berth marks Cal State East Bay’s first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance this century, as the CCAA Regular Season and Tournament Champions will see Humboldt for the fourth time this season. The Lumberjacks are the only team to take Cal State East Bay to overtime this season. 

In his first season at the helm, head coach DJ Broome has guided the Lumberjacks back to the national stage alongside assistant coaches John Seavey and Kevin Johnson Jr. The trio has orchestrated a remarkable season, culminating in Humboldt punching its ticket to the Big Dance for the 15th time in program history. 

The Lumberjacks now turn their focus to Friday night’s showdown with top-seeded East Bay. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside Pioneer Gymnasium, with a trip to the regional semifinals on the line.

Additional information regarding live stats, streaming links and ticketing will be available at humboldtathletics.com.