Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

The Eureka Police Department, in collaboration with the Redwood Coast Regional Center, is proud to host a regional Blue Envelope Program event designed to improve communication and understanding between law enforcement and drivers on the autism spectrum or with other communication differences.

Joining EPD for this event are the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Arcata PD, CHP, Fortuna PD, Ferndale PD, Blue Lake Tribal PD and Cal Poly Humboldt PD. Rio Dell Police Department was the first agency in Humboldt County to implement the Blue Envelope Program, and EPD hopes to encourage all local law enforcement agencies to join this effort.

The Blue Envelope Program provides a simple, effective tool to make traffic stops and other encounters safer, calmer, and more understanding for everyone involved. Participants receive a blue envelope to hold essential documents such as their driver’s license, registration, and insurance. The envelope may also contain emergency contact details and information about the driver’s communication needs. When presented to an officer, the envelope discreetly signals that the person may have a communication disability or condition requiring additional time or a different approach. The envelope also includes tips and reminders for officers to help guide the interaction.

Along with the blue envelopes for drivers, there are also bracelets, key fobs, stickers, ID cards, and other identifying items featuring the Blue Envelope logo. These identifiers can help officers recognize that an individual may have a communication difference even outside of a vehicle setting. For example, if someone is walking and contacted by law enforcement, wearing one of these items provides a quick, discreet cue to the officer. Stickers can also be placed on the front door of a residence where an individual who qualifies lives, offering an additional layer of awareness and safety.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide have adopted the Blue Envelope Program as part of a broader effort to build awareness and foster positive interactions between officers and individuals with communication challenges. By working together, local agencies hope to expand this important program across Humboldt County to ensure safer, more compassionate encounters for everyone on the road - and beyond.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

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Tom Steyer, the billionaire climate activist and businessman who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, is the latest Democrat to jump into California’s crowded gubernatorial field.

His two core promises — which could appear at odds — are to preserve the state’s status as a hub for business and innovation while also lowering California’s cost of living by making corporations pay “their fair share,” he said in a video message.

The nearly two-minute campaign launch film, which intersperses sleek graphics with footage of line cooks, ranchers and manufacturing workers on the job, encapsulates those dueling themes.

“There’s a reason everybody comes here to start businesses — because this is the place that invents the future,” Steyer says near the start of the video. “I never want to lose that spark.”

Steyer made his fortune as the founder of Farallon Capital, a hedge fund headquartered in San Francisco that currently manages about $42 billion in assets. After selling his stake in the company in 2012, Steyer started NextGen America, a liberal nonprofit that supports progressive positions on issues such as climate change, immigration, health care and education. The group also launched a labor-aligned super PAC to fund races nationwide.

His activism through NextGen America has elevated Steyer’s profile in recent years from little-known hedge fund manager to global climate activist and Republican antagonizer. He has spent millions to pass progressive ballot measures to uphold California environmental laws, raise taxes on tobacco to fund health care and push states to invest in more renewable energy.

Gov. Gavin Newsom terms out next year. At least six other Democrats are running to replace him, including former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

While a billionaire former financial executive might be at odds with a party base hungry for a more relatable fighter, he’s attempting to appeal to everyday Californians by spotlighting the issue that most people say is their top priority — affordability.

“The Californians who make this state run are being run over by the cost of living,” Steyer says later in the video. “Californians deserve a life they can afford.”

Steyer also promises to “launch the largest drive to build homes that you can afford” in state history, rein in monopolistic utilities that have driven up costs and “drop our sky-high energy prices.”

Steyer’s nearly $13 million advertising blitz in support of Proposition 50, the congressional redistricting plan that voters approved earlier this month via special election, led many California political insiders to speculate that he would launch another bid for governor.

He alluded to his gubernatorial ambitions when he launched a controversial advertisement that, rather than amplify the Yes on Prop. 50 campaign’s message of checking the Trump administration’s power, touted his own calls to impeach and resist President Donald Trump.

Paul “Jason” Pacheco was born in San Francisco on August 4, 1977, to Margaret “Ellen” Pacheco and Saturnino Torres, and was lovingly raised by his adoptive father, Larry Holt. He passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at Mad River Hospital.

Jason lived in many places throughout California during his childhood, eventually returning to San Francisco for high school. He was a proud 1996 graduate of Balboa High School, where he embraced every opportunity to get involved. A multi-sport athlete, he played football and baseball and was an active member of the ROTC. Jason often reflected fondly on his high school days and carried immense school pride—his class ring remained one of his most prized possessions.

After graduation, Jason attended Humboldt State University, where he played football and quickly fell in love with Humboldt County. He built lasting friendships and deep roots in the community he would always consider home.

The greatest joy of Jason’s life was his daughter, Kameiko Hostler-Pacheco, born in 2001. He was endlessly proud of her and never missed a chance to brag about her and everything she accomplished. After Jason moved to Sacramento, Kameiko spent many summers and holidays with him, creating cherished memories and countless adventures together. Jason affectionately called her “Mee’gosh,” a nickname that came from her saying, “Oh me gosh” as a toddler, which he found incredibly endearing. He loved it so much that he later tattooed “Mee’gosh” on his arm, surrounded by Tribal basket designs — an enduring tribute to the little girl who meant everything to him.

They shared a love of movies — especially Star Wars — and she was his “road dog” throughout elementary and middle school. Through his longtime work in concert security, Jason gave Kameiko the unforgettable experience of attending major concerts, including her first shows — Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, Green Day, and the Warped Tour.

Jason’s career in concert security took him all over California and beyond. He loved the energy of live music and made many friends along the way, working shows for legendary artists such as The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, and at Bonnaroo. It was a job he truly loved — one that reflected his outgoing spirit and his gift for connecting with people.

In the last three years, Jason returned to Hoopa. He was proud to join the HVPUD Transfer Station as a laborer, working alongside his brother and best friend, Sam Campbell. He found great fulfillment in this work and in reconnecting with his friends and family in Hoopa. Jason was surrounded by close friends who loved and supported him, including Les Jackson, who became like a second mother to him.

He loved spending time with his brothers — Sam Jones, Jed Morris, Sam Campbell, Harold “O’s” Campbell, Ralphy Peters, and Victor Mattz — on the river, lifting weights, and enjoying life; and fishing with Bill “Pecos” Carpenter. He loved hanging out and chilling with his sisters Mary “Sister” Campbell, Louisa “Weezie” Jones and the late Leilani “Lonz” Jones. He was the favored babysitter to his nieces New-New, Saucey, and Tots. He loved tinkering on his truck, coming close to finally getting it running, and adored his loyal dog of fourteen years, “Nacho,” who was truly his best friend.

Jason had a soft spot for elders and spent many meaningful hours with Grandma Maggie and Grandma Mary, sharing coffee, football games, and good conversation. Friends and family remember Jason as kindhearted, warm, and always ready with a smile or helping hand.

Jason was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Ellen Pacheco-Lundquist; his adoptive father, Larry Holt; his stepfather, Jerry Lundquist; his grandparents; and his beloved-sister Leilani Jones.

He is survived by his beloved daughter, Kameiko Hostler-Pacheco; his brothers Lorenzo Holt (Angela), Jason Baumgarten, Josh Lundquist; and his sister Kimberly Holt, as well as his soul-dog Nacho.

Pallbearers are Lorenzo Holt, Sam Campbell, Harold “O’s” Campbell Jr., Victor Mattz, Sam Jones, Jed Morris.

Honorary Pallbearers are Mike Hostler, Jason Baumgarten, Josh Lundquist, Porsche Charlo, Lucas Garcia, Ralphy Peters, Harold “Harry O” Campbell Sr., Gordon McCovey, Bill “Pecos” Carpenter, Leslie Starrit, Harwood Starrit, Artie Jones, and Rick Loger.

Family and friends are invited to a funeral service on Monday, November 24, at 11:30 a.m. at the Hoopa First Baptist Church, 0 Loop Road, Hoopa. Burial will follow at the Mattz Family Cemetery on Bald Hill, with a reception immediately afterward at the Hoopa Wildland Fire Hall. Flowers can be sent to Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary, 560 12th St., Fortuna, CA 95540. In lieu of flowers, you can also send a donation in Jason’s memory to the Hilton Hostler Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Humboldt Area Foundation at this link.

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Gordon Schatz was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, and he married his high school sweetheart Karen Lyle in 1964. They then moved to Hollywood, where he obtained a BA degree in photography from Art Center College of Design. He operated his own advertising photography studio until the family relocated to Humboldt County in 1975, to establish and operate the Schatz Tree Farm in Maple Creek.

Gordon’s reforestation work on the Schatz Tree Farm led to official recognition as the “California Tree Farm of the Year” award. Shortly after receiving this honor, the Schatz family donated the tree farm to Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation. Gordon continued working as resident manager of the tree farm until his passing.

In addition to his reforestation work, Gordon served for 12 years on the Maple Creek School Board and was a founding member and eventual Fire Chief of the Maple Creek Volunteer Fire Department during its’ 30-year existence.

Gordon enjoyed living with the land through gardening, orcharding, raising rabbits and sheep, and planting all the variety of trees he could fit on his homestead. He was always a person of self-determination, and enjoyed individual activities including backpacking, hiking, photography, sailboarding, skiing, snowboarding, and plenty of summers swimming in the Baduwa’t (Mad) river. He especially enjoyed mountain biking and was a successful competitor in cross-country races for many years.

Gordon also enjoyed sharing life and experiences and quiet contemplation with his beloved wife Karen, his sons Ian and Dylan, his daughters-in-law Elizabeth and Zia, and his grandchildren Jas, Griffin, and Leo. He was ever wishing for peace on earth and protection of our planet’s forests. His remains will be returned to the earth by his immediate family, to nourish the trees which he planted and loved.

Those who would like to honor his memory and wishes are encouraged to plant trees — especially Sequoia sempervirens — to help make our planet forever green.

Mark “Sparky” S. Hensley — beloved husband, father, brother and friend — passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025, in Eureka. He was born on November 27, 1954, in San Mateo, California, and spent his life surrounded by the people, places and passions he cherished most.

Mark grew up in San Mateo before moving north, eventually graduating from Eureka High School and later from College of the Redwoods. Throughout his life, he made his home in San Mateo, Weott and ultimately Eureka. He worked proudly as a salesman for Albee and Buck, where he was known for his warm personality, strong work ethic and ability to connect with anyone he met.

A true outdoorsman and animal lover, Mark’s hobbies brought him joy and peace. He spent countless hours raising fish and canaries, tending lovingly to his fuchsias, caring for his horses and doting on every animal lucky enough to cross his path. His love of nature and living things was a steady reflection of his gentle spirit.

Mark is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Dorothy Hensley; his son Travis Hensley, along with Amy and Aspen; and his daughter Shelby Marshall, along with Brett, Madison and Mariah. He is also survived by his sisters Linda Sesna of Washington and Brenda Gilbert and her husband Dan of Arcata; as well as his extended family of surviving brothers- and sisters-in-law: Louis Goselin (Wanda) of Fortuna, Bob Thomas (Lori) of Texas, Susan Thoms (Tal) of Oregon and Ken Thomas (Violetta) of Texas.

He was preceded in death by his mother Vera Hensley, father Horace Hensley, sister Judy Enos and grandmother Minnie White.

A celebration of Mark’s life will be held at a later date, where family and friends will gather to share memories and honor the extraordinary man who touched so many lives.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice in Mark’s memory.

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The Outpost reported some dire predictions last week for people dependent on the federal Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care funding. Although the outlook is grim, Robert Ward, the Housing and Assistance Coordinator for the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services, said in an interview it might be years before many of them are forced into the streets.

CoC funding houses 72 people in 64 households countywide, according to DDHS data. DHHS received $365,000 for the time period between Oct. 1, 2026, and Sep. 30, 2027 for permanent housing. The Arcata House Partnership, responsible for housing 31 of them, received $660,000. 211 Humboldt earned a much smaller $31,000 CoC grant for coordinated entry access services. 

The new HUD directive forces CoC grantees to spend at most 30% of the funds on transitional housing, which allows for tenants to stay up to two years. Permanent housing, which currently makes up 91% of CoC spending county-wide, supports participants indefinitely. 

Ward said the grants couldn’t be diced up and distributed piecemeal in an exact 30-70 split. Far more than 70% of the funding will be earmarked for transitional housing. They have until Sep. 30, 2027 to move the funds to transitional housing. 

After that, Ward said there was a possibility DHHS and AHP could use that money for people currently depending on permanent housing — for two years, at least.

“That gets us to September 30, 2029,” Ward said. “Assuming Trump can’t actually win a third term, we’ll have a new administration, and we could have different leadership at HUD. If we’re able to pull off these transitions, we may not see people on the street immediately. It may take a few years, and there could be policy fixes in the intervening time.”

AHP executive director Darlene Spoor told the Outpost they were “absolutely” looking into using their transitional housing funds to keep people sheltered. However, she’s worried that AHP may lose funding from the politicized HUD because they’re not a faith-based organization, as well as California’s status as a sanctuary state. Spoor thinks that other, more disreputable organizations might use the opportunity and score more of the funding. 

“People can stack up our progress to anyone. That’s not a concern to me,” Spoor said. “We are top-notch, running these programs. We have great results. I’m not afraid of that. But if we’re being compared to somebody that’s not in a sanctuary state, if they’re not doing the quality work that any of us in our CoC is doing — that concerns me.”

The CoC funding for permanent housing was also one of the most consistent sources of money service providers in Humboldt could depend on, said Ward. Most other grants aren’t awarded as frequently or aren’t as large. 

The fallout from these policy changes would be far less severe if rent prices were lower, Ward said. 

“The rent is just way too high for a certain percentage of people at the bottom of the income spectrum, and particularly people with severe disabilities,” Ward said. “…I don’t see how a lot of these folks can sustain housing without long-term support.”

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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors made quick work of its agenda this morning, wrapping up the public portion of the meeting before heading into closed session just before noon. Let’s get into it!

Board Appointments for 2026

At today’s meeting, the board made its selections for board chair and vice chair for the coming year. After passing on the opportunity a few years back, Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson agreed to step up from his current role as acting chair to chair of the board in 2026, with Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo to serve as vice-chair. 

Wilson | Screenshot

“I didn’t do chair [before] because we were in the midst of COVID, kids at home — all kinds of stuff,” Wilson explained. “We had a volunteer, [former Fourth District Supervisor] Virginia Bass, who did a wonderful job and enjoyed it so she took it on. I’m completely ready to take on the chairmanship, if that’s the desire of the board.”

Wilson assumed the chair’s responsibilities earlier this month after the board voted to censure Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell and remove her as chair in response to sustained allegations that she mistreated two county employees. At today’s meeting, Bushnell made the motion to appoint Wilson and Arroyo to the chair and vice chair positions. 

The motion passed in a unanimous 5-0 vote.

Continuing with appointments for 2026, the board selected First District Supervisor Rex Bohn to serve as a delegate for the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), a position he has held for more than a decade. Wilson was appointed to serve as an alternate.

The board also voted to appoint Arroyo to the California State Association of Counties delegation, with Wilson as an alternate. The board approved the appointment in a 4-1 vote, with Bohn dissenting, though he didn’t say why.

New Rules for Cannabis Microbusinesses

A little earlier in the meeting, the board approved a couple of changes to the county’s Commercial Cannabis Land Use Ordinance to ease the licensing process for small-scale cultivators and promote vertical integration. The amendment will allow cannabis microbusinesses (license holders with less than 10,000 square feet of cultivation area) to incorporate processing, sales and “non-volatile manufacturing” into their cultivation permit. 

“This exception essentially states, if you’re not expanding anything — no new buildings, all your cannabis that you’re working with is grown on site and you don’t have any customers on site — then you can go through this process as well for the microbusiness,” said Augustus Grochau, a staff planner for the county. “To make it easier to get manufacturing, we’ve also added another ZCC [zoning clearance certificate] option, provided that it is in association with a cultivation permit without customers on site.” 

Bohn asked if the change would allow small-scale growers to skip the distributor and sell directly to retailers, adding that “most of my complaints lately have been from distributors not paying the cultivator.”

“To be able to sell your product, you’re going to need to modify your permit in order to allow for off-site retail sales,” Grochau said, adding that a state transport license would still be required to self-transport.

Speaking on behalf of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance during public comment, Ross Gordon thanked staff for relaxing some of the rules for small-scale cultivators. 

Gordon | Screenshot

“This is definitely one of the top issues — if not the major issue — that farmers here are facing broadly, which is trying to sell a craft product, but having to go through multiple middlemen on the way to doing that distribution and retail,” Gordon said. “That means you’re not necessarily controlling the quality of your product as it moves through the supply channel … and it means, as I think was pointed out, you may not get paid, and a lot of people are in that situation.”

Marissa Hartley, a senior program manager for environmental consulting firm Antea Group, expressed concern about new sanitation guidelines from the Department of Cannabis Control that would prohibit animals and pets from being allowed in a cannabis processing facility. She worried that the new rules would impact microbusinesses operating out of their homes.

Following public comment, Planning and Building Director John Ford politely noted that pets can easily be kept out of cannabis processing areas.

“I don’t want to sound flippant, but if that’s going to be a requirement of the state, and you’re processing in your garage, keep the pet out of the garage,” he said. “I don’t know what else to say.”

After a bit of additional discussion, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone made a motion to approve the amendments, along with an addendum to the environmental impact report for the county’s cannabis ordinance. The motion passed 5-0.

Homeless Supportive Housing Cuts

During the reading of a proclamation for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, several community leaders raised concerns about federal funding cuts that threaten permanent supportive housing for the homeless. The item spurred a half-hour discussion, despite the fact that it appeared on the board’s consent calendar and was not pulled for discussion.

Nezzie Wade, executive director of Affordable Homeless Housing Alternatives (AHHA), said local providers are expecting a 50 percent reduction in funding for permanent supportive housing, which receives funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care Program. 

“The prospects for our future, with respect to budget cuts and things that we’re facing now … make it look pretty bleak in our future,” Wade said. “We really need the state to step up, and we need to work better and put more input and pressure on housing and community development so we can open up different kinds of housing types that we need.”

Wade asked the Board of Supervisors to form a task force that includes people experiencing homelessness to better inform the county’s approach to the shelter crisis.

Food for People Executive Director Carly Robbins brought up the recent lapse in SNAP benefits and expressed concern that people living paycheck to paycheck would soon be forced to “make the choice between putting food on the table or paying their rent,” putting them at risk of homelessness. 

“Frankly, this has been a challenging year for anyone doing food security work,” she said. “From the cuts we’ve seen to just the last few weeks of folks losing benefits, it’s pretty dramatic, and I really only see it going further in that direction. Pretty soon, federal changes to policy will have significant impacts on how supplemental nutrition assistance programs are administered and who’s eligible. … And ultimately, it’s going to kick people off of the program.”

Asked to clarify some of the points made about the federal funding cuts, Robert Ward, housing and assistance coordinator for the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), said HUD plans to put a 30 percent cap on permanent supportive housing for the homeless and shift its focus to temporary shelters. 

Robert Ward | Screenshot

“HUD wants to move back in the direction of transitional housing in kind of an extreme way,” he said. “[W]e could potentially transition 60 percent or so of our permanent supportive housing to transitional housing. We’ll get one year to transition, [which] takes us to October 1, 2027, when they would have to fully be transitional housing projects. The big difference between transitional housing and permanent housing is the 24-month limit on how long people can remain in the transitional housing.”

Following public comment, Madrone noted that the board had formed an ad hoc committee to address some of the issues surrounding homelessness.

“I’m hoping that our ad hoc will absolutely reach out to these folks and seek their wisdom and advice [on] how we might continue to partner on this compassionate assistance approach to solving some of our problems,” he said. “When we work together, we’re going to do a lot more.”

Arroyo said she was “deeply worried” that losing federal funding could put more people out on the street. Speaking to a previous comment questioning the efficacy of the county’s homeless outreach efforts, Arroyo noted, “Just because we currently see people on the street doesn’t mean that our programs aren’t serving other people who aren’t on the street.”

“Whatever we can do as a board … to advocate, I’ll say I’m willing to do, and I believe this board would be willing to do so,” she added.

The board eventually approved the proclamation along with the rest of the consent calendar, but did not take any additional action on the subject.