Make your voice heard on local climate initiatives at the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building, located at 1 Marina Way in Eureka.
Background
The County of Humboldt is working with incorporated cities and community partners, including the Humboldt Waste Management Authority, Humboldt Transit Authority, Humboldt County Association of Governments and Redwood Coast Energy Authority, on the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions countywide. The plan identifies strategies to lower emissions from vehicle travel, electricity use, natural gas consumption and other local sources of greenhouse gases. The plan’s emissions reduction goals align with California’s state targets of reducing emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.
The County of Humboldt’s Planning & Building Department has released the latest draft of the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan for its 30-day public review period, which ends on Friday, Sept. 13. Review the plan at humboldtgov.org/climateactionplan.
Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan Public Meeting
A public meeting to discuss the plan with the community will occur on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building, located at 1 Marina Way in in Eureka. All interested community members are encouraged to review the document and share their input. For more information and background on the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan and how to submit public comment, please visit humboldtgov.org/climateactionplan.
How to Attend on Microsoft Teams
Members of the public may attend the public meeting on Microsoft Teams by visiting Microsoft Teams and entering the passcode X5dQYx. To access on the phone, please call 949-508-0813, and enter the meeting id: 140 136 751 #.
The County of Humboldt is committed to providing equal access to all county programs, services and activities through the provision of accommodations for individuals with qualified disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With 72 hours prior notice, a request for reasonable accommodation for the public meeting can be made by calling 707-268-3722.
The Humboldt Bay Harbor District’s Board of Commissioners last night decided that they need more information before green-lighting the repair/rebuilding of a billboard that’s been lying face-down in Humboldt Bay since winter.
In a 3-0 vote, with Commissioners Craig Benson and Patrick Higgins absent, the board opted to require an initial study under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) before ruling on a permit application from OutFront Media, the advertising company that owns the billboard.
Harbor District staff had characterized the project as a “repair” of an existing billboard, though plans to re-erect the thing involved removing the existing uprights and using an excavator to pile-drive a dozen new posts 10 feet into the ground. Staff’s assessment found that the project was exempt from CEQA review because the new structure would be located on the same site and have the same purpose and capacity as the one being replaced.
But at last night’s meeting, Division 3 Commissioner Stephen Kullman suggested that there may be unusual circumstances in this case due to the ongoing construction of the Humboldt Bay Trail, among other factors.
In an email, Harbor District Director of Development Rob Holmlund explained that since this stretch of Hwy. 101 is not a state-designated scenic highway, impacts to the beautiful bay view don’t automatically trigger CEQA review. But there can be an exception to otherwise CEQA-exempt projects under special circumstances.
The CEQA initial study could find that the project is indeed exempt from further review, or it could require more of it — either a Negative Declaration, a Mitigated Negative Declaration or a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Holmlund explained.
The Board also voted to continue the item to a “date certain,” scheduled for November 20th. If the Initial Study is done by then, the board will decide which path to take next.
Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula during the Assembly floor session at the state Capitol in Sacramento on May 16, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters
It’s not that California lawmakers shouldn’t aim high, but in an election year, they might avoid taking on bills that could upset voters — their own, or voters of their colleagues.
But that’s not always the case.
In the final days of this session, some Democratic lawmakers are pushing bills that seem ripe for Republican attack ads.
Take Assembly Bill 1840 by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, which would expand the state’s “Dream for All” down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers to undocumented Californians.
The bill has prompted criticism from Republican lawmakers, some of whom cited the state’s budget troubles in their opposition. It also drew “no” votes from four Democrats in the Senate Tuesday, where it ultimately passed 25-14. Wednesday, the bill passed through the Assembly on a 45-15 vote and was sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Senate Republicans immediately urged Newsom to veto the bill, calling it the latest in “a long litany of taxpayer dollar giveaways…that encourage and reward illegal immigration.”
Arambula, a Fresno Democrat, said the measure is part of representing his constituents, who struggle with being able to purchase a home despite working and paying taxes. He is up for re-election, but primary results indicate he is likely to win.
“Thus far, the Dream for All program has not had the diversity that we are used to seeing within our state benefit from the program, so we need to make sure that we’re passing policies that are inclusive,” Arambula told CalMatters.
“I believe that the problem in California with our housing is that it’s too expensive and that is a bigger problem than down payment or lack of down payment assistance,” Min said. “I believe that that program and programs like it have the effect of increasing our home prices.”
But Arambula said ensuring a social safety net for all is important because of a “broken” immigration system, election year or not.
“We have to make sure that representation means that we’re standing up for every person who’s in our district, not just those who can vote for us,” he said. “We have so many people in our state who are not able to benefit from the programs despite the fact that they pay their fair share of taxes, and are working hard and helping our economy to continue to improve.”
As of 2021, California was home to about 2.4 million undocumented immigrants, who paid about $51.4 billion in state and local taxes, according to the latest numbers available from USC’s California Immigrant Data Portal.
Even if the bill wins final passage and is signed into law, its impact is uncertain. The California Department of Finance told KCRA that the program has no money to give anyone — undocumented or not — because lawmakers didn’t appropriate funds for it this year.
Matt Gunderson, a Republican candidate in a congressional seat in Orange and San Diego counties, is already using the bill to attack his Democratic opponent, Rep. Mike Levin, though there’s no clear connection between Levin and the state proposal.
“Mike Levin owes voters an explanation as to whether he supports giving taxpayer dollars to help illegal immigrants buy homes,” Gunderson said in a press release Wednesday.
Arambula isn’t the only ambitious lawmaker trying to push through a hot-button bill before the Legislature adjourns Saturday.
Sen. Dave Cortese revived Senate Bill 94 from the inactive file on Aug 13 It would allow some convicted felons to appeal for shortened sentences if the crime was committed before June 5, 1990, and they have served at least 25 years. It would not include anyone convicted of first-degree murder of a police officer, of three or more people, or of a “registerable” sex offense.
Republicans blasted the bill as a “pro-criminal” measure that would retraumatize victims or family members who may have to testify again at parole hearings. Republican legislators and crime victim advocates held a rally last week at the state Capitol to oppose the bill.
Cortese, a Democrat from Campbell, has defended the bill, saying it was a “conservative, narrow bill tailored to a specific subsection of our incarcerated population who may not have received the same sentence had they been convicted in the present day.”
On Wednesday, Republicans slammed a similar bill from Berkeley Democratic Sen. Nancy Skinner that would allow inmates serving at least 15 years to seek relief if there have been any changes in sentencing laws to make them eligible for a reduced sentence.
“Rapists, drug dealers, murderers, child molesters and worse. These are the people that legislative Democrats care about, really?!” Senate GOP leader Brian Jones of San Diego said in a statement.
Cortese said he has been working to balance the various concerns on the bill for the last two years, and that it has been significantly amended.
“The payoff for that is not necessarily getting the bill signed into law,” he told CalMatters. “That’s the goal. But sometimes the payoff is just to get your hearing and get a vote on it, and we’re still trying to do that.”
Cortese is up for re-election this year, but like Arambula, is likely to win.
An Assemblymember makes notes before the appropriations committee hearing on Aug. 15, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters
Dan Schnur, a politics professor at UC Berkeley, USC and Pepperdine University, said it is more difficult to pass a politically risky bill just weeks before an election than in an odd-year session when there is a full year for voters to calm down or forget.
“Sometimes, a piece of legislation is time sensitive so there’s no choice but to move forward in an election year,” he said. “But it’s almost always easier to persuade a reluctant colleague to cast a controversial vote when their re-election is still off in the distance.”
In Cortese’s view, though, there’s never a perfect time for a bill.
“I think the best policy for a Legislature is just keep doing what you think is the righteous thing to do, regardless of what the polls say or what popular opinion is saying from one day to the next, because it’s very fickle,” he said.
And if it doesn’t pass this year? “I hope it’s this year,” Cortese said. “But if it’s not, we just need to keep working on it. I will do that, either way.”
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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
A sign advertising job availability with the California Highway Patrol in front of the agency’s Oakland office on Aug. 13, 2024. Photo by Florence Middleton, CalMatters
About one in six California Highway Patrol positions are vacant, a rate much higher than in 2019, despite massive raises in the last two years.
The jobs are unfilled at a sensitive time for Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose administration earlier this month agreed to a new contract with the union that represents CHP officers. The deal is expected to cost $489 million over the next three years through a combination of raises and enhanced pay incentives.
CHP officers got a 7.9% wage increase in 2023, marking their biggest raise in 20 years. In 2022, they received a 6.2% general salary increase. Both are historically high raises for the officers.
Rookie CHP officers today can expect to earn up to $117,000 in the first year on duty, according to the agency.
For reasons the Legislative Analyst’s Office couldn’t explain in a report released last week, the CHP officer vacancy rate skyrocketed by 94% between 2015-2023. In 2019, just 5% of CHP positions were unfilled. Today, the vacancy rate exceeds 16%, although the CHP has said it received far more applications to its academy in the first half of this year than than in the same period in 2023.
Part of the problem, the analyst’s office report contends, is that the CHP doesn’t face any consequences for failing to make new hires.
“The current formula does not contain any factor that adjusts pay increases based on the success or failure of CHP to actually recruit and retain employees,” according to the report.
Raises for CHP officers by state law are based on the average compensation at five other law enforcement agencies: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments in Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland and San Francisco, the five biggest police jurisdictions at the time the law was passed in 1974.
It’s considered a good deal for the union, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, because it doesn’t have to negotiate with the governor over wage increases. It’s the only state employee union with that arrangement.
When it comes to pay, most California Highway Patrol officers don’t live in the five biggest police jurisdictions in the state, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office wants to know why they’re paid like police and sheriff’s deputies in California’s most expensive metro areas. The office in 2007 encouraged lawmakers to repeal the provision in state law that gives CHP officers automatic pay raises.
“These jurisdictions possibly were a representative sample of the cost of living where CHP officers worked in 1974,” according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office report. “These five jurisdictions today represent among the most expensive regions of the state and are not where many highway patrol officers work.”
Aside from continuing the pay formula for CHP raises, the new contract includes several other perks to boost retention. They include a new level of a seniority pay for officers with more 27 years of experience, who will get an incentive worth 10% of their base wages; a small boost in pay for officers with motorcycle assignments, who will get an an incentive amounting to 5% of their base pay instead of 4%; and additional compensation for officers who work police dogs.
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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Robert
“Bob” Palmrose, age 93, passed away on July 1, 2024, in Eureka. A
native Californian, Bob was born April 11, 1931, at the French
Hospital on Geary Street in San Francisco. At the time, his father
had a job in San Francisco, due to the closure of Hammond Lumber
Company in Samoa, California. Shortly after Bob’s birth his family
returned to Samoa.
Bob
attended local schools: Marshall Grammar School, Eureka Junior High,
and Eureka Senior High, graduating in June 1948. From a young age Bob
was industrious, mowing lawns with a push mower for two neighbors for
a quarter each and manually setting pins at the Eureka Bowling Alley.
For two years, he delivered the Humboldt Standard newspaper and for
two summers the Chronicle, Examiner and Call Bulletin all by bicycle.
He also worked as a “Printers Devil” at Eureka Printing
Company doing light printing jobs, delivery, and cleaning of the
presses.
At
age 15, while in high school, he started working part-time at
Safeway, transitioning to full-time employment after graduation.
Bob
served in the U.S. Army, undergoing Basic Training at Camp San Luis
Obispo, CA, before being shipped to Korea. He was assigned to the
40th Div. HQ & HQ Btry, Arty, on the central Front M.L.R. from
August 1952 to August 1953. After returning to the U.S., he was
stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA, and released from active duty on December
7, 1953, with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received several awards
for his service including the Army Good Conduct Medal, National
Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal with three battle stars, United
Nations Medal, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and
the Korean Service Medal from the Korean Government (1999). He also
received the Ambassador of Peace Medal presented by Korean Veterans
and the Korean Government to all allies who revisited Korea during
the 50th anniversary of the Korean conflict.
After
his military service, Bob returned to his Safeway career and attended
Humboldt State College. He dedicated 40 years to Safeway, including
time spent in military service, and eventually served as a manager
for 25 years at stores in San Francisco, Arcata and Eureka until his
retirement in 1986.
Bob
was an active community member, participating in the Rotary Club of
Arcata, Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka, Arcata Chamber of Commerce
(Board Member), Citizens Advisory Board , Humboldt Harbor Development
Committee, Eureka Heritage Society (Board Member), Humboldt County
Historical Society (President), Humboldt Bay Council #440 Navy League
of the U.S. (Life member & President), Veterans of Foreign Wars
(Life member at Large), Redwoods Chapter #176 Korean War Veterans
Assoc (Vice President), National KWVA, Elks Lodge #652 Eureka,
Humboldt County Pioneers, Native Sons Parlor #14 Eureka, Runeberg
#102 Eureka, Horseless Carriage Club of America, Studebaker Drivers
Club, Metropolitan Owners Club of North America, Willys-Overland
Knight Registry and Humboldt Chorale H.S.U.
Bob
was a train enthusiast and worked on the Steam Donkeys at Fort
Humboldt in Eureka. He assisted with the restoration of the Saint
George Reef Lighthouse located 8 miles off the coast of Crescent City
in 1983. He was also involved in moving, and later painting, the
Table Bluff Lighthouse to Eureka’s Woodley Island Marina in 1987.
In
addition to the many organizations, Bob also enjoyed traveling,
photography, gardening, antique automobiles, and spending time with
his family. He took pleasure in singing throughout Europe with the
HSU Chorale and dancing at many California jazz festivals.
Bob
was preceded in death by his first wife of 36 years, Margie Joann
(Davis) Palmrose (d 1989), their first daughter Janice Elene
Gonsalves (d 1994), their third daughter Kathryn Eileen Palmrose (d
2015), his second wife of 26 years, Yvonne Jeanne Holmes (d 2017),
his son-in-law Terry Brightman (d 2022), his sister Janice, his
parents Gunnar A. Palmrose and Marion (Vallerga) Grubbs, stepfather
Walter Grubbs, and the aunt and uncle who raised him, Martha A.
(Palmrose) Wilson and Arthur J. Wilson, along with numerous other
relatives from the Vallerga and Palmrose families.
He
is survived by his daughter Barbara Ellen Brightman of Klamath, CA,
grandson Trevor David and partner Steven of Northlake, TX, his
stepdaughters and their husbands: Nancy Holmes McPartland (Charles),
Jeannette Reinholtsen (Dennis), both of Eureka, CA, Renee Leppek
(Chris) of Penn Valley, CA, and Franci McKown (Kirk) of Minden, NV.
He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews,
step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Bob
was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather and a friend to many.
He will be missed. The family would like to thank the staff at Frye’s
Care Home for their care and loving friendship with Bob over the past
several years.
A
graveside service with military honors will be held at Ocean View
Cemetery, 2 p.m., Tuesday, September 24, 2024. In lieu of flowers,
donations in his honor may be made to Hospice of Humboldt or a
charity of your choice that supports the local community.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bob Palmrose’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Bobby Benton Dobbs passed on June 29, 2024, in Eureka, at St. Joseph Hospital, surrounded by his family.
He was born on February 8, 1937, to Guy James Dobbs and Marie Verna McFall in Clovis, Fresno He was 87 years old.
He attended school until around the age of 16 and left with his brother (Jimmy) north to Sacramento and later Humboldt County working in construction. Later he joined the Northern California Laborers Union until he retired in 1992. During this time, he worked in many places, including Humboldt, Del Norte, and Trinity counties mostly on road construction and laying pipe. Then around 1979 he went south for work in Guerneville and Santa Rosa. Then to Pittsburg, Antioch, and Oakley to work in the refineries, always returning to Eureka during breaks in work.
After coming to Eureka, he met and married Leona Christensen and had two children — Donald and Kim. He later divorced and married Nancy Bolt and had one child Linda. Nancy had four previous children — Loretta, Dale, Larry, and Gary. They divorced and later he met and married Joan. She had four children of her own, Dana, Billy, Dale, and Lori. They divorced and while living in the Bay Area, he met and married Cheri she had two boys of her own, Joe and Kevin. Cheri and Dad moved to Merlin, Oregon, upon his retirement.
Besides working in construction, dad and his second wife Nancy owed Coogie’s Bar and Card room between 3rd and 4th on F street in Eureka. He and his third wife Joan ran the Driftwood on First Street in Eureka for a few years.
For those who remember my dad they will remember what a hard worker he was, as well as his love for gambling, drinking and raising hell. He also drove stock cars out at Redwood Acres in the 1960’s, Car 15.
While living in Oregon he raised pigs for the 4-H and had a pet cow named Debbie and several other animals. He loved his dogs (mostly miniature dachshunds) he had up to 12 at one time. It was like a stampede when someone came up the driveway. He had chickens and when the wild turkeys came around, he made sure there was food for them too. He loved animals. When they divorced, he moved back to Eureka in 2012.
He missed his animals so much, so when this little cat with big eyes walked into the office his daughter Kim worked at, she immediately took her to her dad. From that day on he would say, she was the best gift I ever gave him.
His grandson Robert moved from Sacramento and was staying with him until finding his own place. They remained living together which was great company for them both. The last year of his life his dementia and age got the best of him. I appreciate that Robert was there with him during this time so that he was able to remain at home.
Bobby was preceded in death by his parents Guy and Marie Dobbs, his brothers Gordon and James and Sister MaryLee. He is survived by his son Donald Dobbs (Virginia) of Eureka, daughter Kim Gunderson (Dave) of McKinleyville, and daughter Linda Banfill (Ray) of Lakeport Ca. Six grandchildren Steven (Sage) of Redding, Robert, Leona of Eureka, Randy of Boise ID, Trenten and Cory of Dallas Tx. He also had six great grandchildren Carter, Frankie, Nico, and Grant of Boise Id, Alex and Elizabeth of Eureka.
I am sure my dad would have loved a big party in celebration of his life, but I am sure he was happy that all his children and some grandchildren gathered to celebrate his life.
Thank you to Aryes Family Cremation for your kindness and work. His final stop and resting area with be at Greenview Cemetery in Arcata, with his brother Gordon.
His family would like to thank the wonderful staff of St. Joseph Hospital. The nursing staff was amazing and a special thank you to Dr. Segiura, who took his time to explain and listen to me about my father. Thank you to kitchen, housekeeping, and security staff for all the special thing you do.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bobby Dobbs’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
On August 28, 2024, the Eureka Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location.
DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Chief Brian Stephens said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”
Eureka Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
