North Coast congressman Jared Huffman joined fellow members of the House Progressive Caucus Thursday at a news conference aiming to sound the alarm over Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has spent the last couple weeks tinkering with various federal government agencies. 

“Every day, Elon and his tech bros ride their skateboards over to a new agency and start crashing into their databases,” Huffman said at Thursday’s event while standing in front of a sign reading “Fire Elon Musk.”

Watch Huffman’s portion of the press conference above or view the event in its entirety here. 

California’s push to electrify its cars is facing a potentially serious problem: People aren’t buying electric cars fast enough.

After three straight years of strong growth, sales have stabilized in California, raising questions about whether the state will fail to meet its groundbreaking mandate banning sales of gas-powered vehicles.

About a quarter — 25.3% — of all new cars registered in California in 2024 were zero emissions, just slightly more than 25% in 2023, according to new California Energy Commission data. The flat sales follow several years of rapid growth — in 2020, only one in 13 cars sold was zero-emissions. Their share of California’s market is now three times larger than four years ago.

But the slowed pace of growth in the market puts the state’s climate and air pollution goals at risk. Under California’s mandate, approved in 2022, 35% of new 2026 car models sold by automakers must be zero emissions. That leaves considerable ground to make up as some 2026 models begin rolling out later this year.

The requirement ramps up to 68% for 2030 models, and in 2035, California’s rule bans all sales of gasoline-powered cars.

David Simpson, who owns three car dealerships in Orange County, said he is not seeing increased demand for electric cars. While the initial rollout of some models, such as the GMC Hummer EV, did well at first, the demand did not continue. Sales of the Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer EVs do alright, but aren’t strong, either, he said.

“The sales are declining,” Simpson said. “We’ve filled that gap of people who want those cars — and now they have them — and we’re not seeing a big, huge demand. I don’t see households going 100% EV.”

Dave Clegern, a spokesperson for the California Air Resources Board, which oversees the electric car mandates, said in an email that while sales of zero-emission vehicles in California are “less dramatic than in years past,” the flat sales occurred in the context of an overall plateauing of car sales last year.

Although the rules limit what automakers can sell, Californians are not required to buy electric cars. That means if consumer demand doesn’t increase, it could be a major black eye for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has made electric cars a cornerstone of his agenda to fight climate change and clean the air. A spokesman for Newsom declined to comment.

The state mandate, however, has some flexibility, Clegern said. First of all, it’s a multi-year formula: Each manufacturer’s sales of 2026 zero-emission vehicles must be 35% of its total sales averaged for model years 2022 through 2024.

Manufacturers also can buy credits from automakers that have exceeded the target — companies that only sell electric models, such as Tesla or Rivian. To enforce compliance with California’s sales requirements, state officials could impose steep penalties of $20,000 per vehicle on manufacturers that fall short of quotas.

“Manufacturers may still be in compliance even if they do not achieve these specific sales volumes,” Clegern said.

Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Association, said automakers could seek to avoid the fines by reducing the number of gas-powered cars they send to California dealers. He said that could leave fewer options for buyers, drive up prices and push some consumers to Nevada or Arizona to find the car they want, while others will hold on to their older, more polluting vehicles.

“We’re just not going to make the mandate as presently drafted” so automakers will have to take action, Maas said. “The most rational is to constrain inventory.”

“We’ve filled that gap of people who want those cars — and now they have them — and we’re not seeing a big, huge demand.”
— David Simpson, orange county car dealerships owner

The auto industry group Alliance for Automotive Innovation has been raising these concerns since at least December, when it published a memo entitled, “It’s gonna take a miracle: California and states with EV sales requirements.” The group warns the mandate could depress auto sales in California — as well as in other states that adopt its rules.

Last month, John Bozzella, the group’s chief executive, called California’s rules “by any measure not achievable” after President Donald Trump signed an executive order repealing federal rules promoting electric vehicles.

“There’s a saying in the auto business: You can’t get ahead of the customer,” Bozzella said.

The outgoing Biden administration’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted California a waiver in December that allows the state to enforce its requirements phasing out new gas-powered cars. Many experts believe the Trump administration is likely to challenge the waiver through the courts.

Experts also anticipate that Trump could eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credit for zero-emission vehicle purchases, which would increase the cost of buying some electric cars. Newsom vowed last year to continue offering the incentive through state funding, although that promise came before Los Angeles faced devastating wildfires and the state released its fragile budget earlier this year.

Californians have purchased more than 2 million electric cars, leading the nation. The number has doubled in about two years.

But electric vehicle sales, which make up the majority of zero emission cars, grew by only 1.1% in 2024, with 378,910 sold compared to 374,668 in 2023. Plug-in hybrids, once considered a potential alternative to a purely electric model, remained relatively stable. And sales of hydrogen-powered cars all but collapsed last year, with sales plummeting to a meager 600 in 2024 from 3,119 in 2023.

The slower growth comes amid overall market sluggishness, with all auto sales in California dipping slightly last year to 1,752,030.

Loren McDonald, chief analyst for the charging app Paren, said a major contributor is a shift in consumer demographics.

The state’s market has moved beyond early electric car adopters — affluent, environmentally motivated buyers willing to overlook challenges like limited charging infrastructure and higher costs — and into the mainstream.

He said these new buyers, often from middle-income households or who live in apartment buildings without easy access to charging, are far less forgiving when it comes to electric cars. Concerns about range, broken chargers and upfront costs are deal breakers.

Tesla’s market dominance has exacerbated the issue. Many left-leaning California consumers, who were once loyal to Tesla, appear to have distanced themselves because of CEO Elon Musk’s controversial public persona and alliance with Trump.

As Tesla sales have softened, dropping 11% in California last year, the decline has disproportionately affected overall EV registration data in California because of the company’s significant market share, McDonald said.

Affordability remains a crucial hurdle, though McDonald sees signs of improvement. Automakers have ramped up production, leading to competitive pricing and aggressive lease deals — many under $400 per month.

But mainstream consumers are largely unaware that electric vehicles offer long-term savings in fuel and maintenance, McDonald said, adding that better education is needed to convince consumers to take the leap, especially as electric car prices increasingly approach parity with gas-powered vehicles.

McDonald remains optimistic about 2025. The market will benefit from new electric models priced under $50,000 and technological advancements, such as faster charging and vehicle-to-home power capabilities.

###

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Trapper John Clark
October 11, 1938, to January 25, 2025

Kenneth Johnathan Clark (or Trapper John, to most) was born in Detroit Michigan on October 11, 1938, to father Constantine ‘Gus’ Clark and mother Josephine. He had three younger sibling — sisters JoAnne and Connie, and brother Bill. At a very young age he and his family moved to Wyoming where they worked on a ranch. He loved his childhood in Wyoming and shared many fond memories about the beautiful state where he was raised. He’d often remember the countryside and rivers. He’d share stories about the winters and having to keep pipes warmed with a fire so they wouldn’t freeze. He had maps of Wyoming where he’d point out points of interest and share his childhood.

When John was of age, he joined the US military as a Marine, where he served for seven years, from 1956 to 1963. The marines sent him to many places around the U.S. including California, which is when he discovered beautiful Humboldt County. The minute he came to the California redwoods he fell in love. To him, Humboldt County was the most breathtaking place he had ever been. He had decided he needed to start a life here. Something in the air called him to the redwoods. He got a job at the mill in Scotia and worked evenings bar tending in Rio Dell. He quickly became a part of the community and soon after settling into his new home, he met the love of his life, Loreta Tompkins.

They married and had two daughters of their own — Brenda Moore and Doreen Shaw — and would later welcome his granddaughter Brittany McBroome and great-grandchildren from an extended family: Cayla, Luke and Zac Lynch. His dream came true, living among the redwoods on a quiet ranch in the Avenue of the Giants while raising his children alongside his beautiful bride. He then started logging for Lewis Logging & Outfits, where he worked for 30 years, and later became a truck driver for Wendt Construction, where he retired after 17 years.

He had tons of hobbies, skills and wisdom to share. He was a hunter and would also spend time gardening produce on the ranch to feed his family. He had a strong love for all things, nature and the outdoors. He’d challenge himself to live primitively mostly living off the land, he truly had the heart of a mountain man. He had a skill in trapping which gifted him the nickname “Trapper John.” He was president of the Tall Trees Mountain Man Club, where he would help facilitate and run the Rendezvous in Smith River, making a space for people to gather as a community and join in; black powder shoots, tall tales, knife and tomahawk axe throwing, and snipe hunts for the peewees (kids). He was also an active member of the Fish and Game Advisory Commission.

Trapper John was also a very creative soul; he enjoyed blacksmithing, creating art, sewing clothing, basketweaving and beading intricate jewelry and designs. He always loved staying busy and active. He competed in many logging competitions and has taken home countless awards. He also received many awards at trap shoots and black powder shoots.

Trapper John was very sociable and could easily make friends anywhere he went. He would cultivate long-lasting friendships that would last a lifetime, a real connection that made everyone truly feel like family. Trapper John was a young-spirited goofball, full of love, wisdom, stories, and creativity that he shared throughout his life. Trapper John Clark took his last breath on this earth on January 25, 2025, at the Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital, surrounded by family and friends.

Trapper John; son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. We love you dearly. We miss you. Goodbyes are never easy, but we know you’re always with us. He had so much love for his community and everyone that has come into his life. Trapper’s family would love to thank his huge community of friends that has made for a soft landing during this difficult time.

The family will be holding a drop-in memorial on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building, downstairs in the Bay Room, in Eureka. There will be light snacks, or you’re welcome to bring something to share. However, this is a strict NO ALCOHOL event. There will also be an open mic for those who would like to share a happy memory. Open to all that would like to join in Trapper John’s celebration of life.

Written by his loving granddaughter, Brittany.

Grandpa Trapper, I am heartbroken, and I miss you so much. You were the greatest grandpa with such a rich life. I will always treasure the lessons you taught me, and I will hold onto all the happy memories tightly. I love you. Rest peacefully, grandpa <3

###

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

###

PREVIOUSLY: 

• Eureka City Council Tables Decision on Police Surveillance Cameras, Citing Privacy Concerns 
• Eureka’s Police Oversight Board Weighs Pros and Cons of Automated License Plate-Reading Cameras; City Council to Review Draft Policy Next Week

###

Last night, the Eureka City Council unanimously voted to reject a proposal from the Eureka Police Department to install nearly two dozen automated license plate-reading (ALPR) cameras throughout the city, citing concerns over privacy protections and data sharing. 

The council’s decision came after nearly two hours of impassioned public comment where all but one speaker urged the council to vote against the proposal. The vast majority of the 50-odd commenters worried that the information could be obtained by federal immigration officials and used to target undocumented community members.

The technology, provided by Georgia-based manufacturer Flock Safety, uses stationary cameras to automatically collect license plate details from passing vehicles. That encrypted data is stored and cross-referenced against a database of vehicles of interest, often termed a “hot list,” which may include vehicles associated with active investigations, missing people, or those implicated in criminal activities. When a match is found, a real-time alert notifies police of the location where the image of the vehicle was captured.

Eureka Police Chief Brian Stephens introduced the draft policy to the city council last October, noting at the time that ALPR technology “truly has the capability to be a force multiplier” for the department. The council opted to table its decision until the city’s Community Oversight on Police Practices (COPP) board had a chance to review the draft policy and offer its own recommendations, which it did at its quarterly meeting last week.

Speaking at last night’s meeting, Stephens said he’s been working with City Attorney Autumn Luna, City Manager Miles Slattery and OIR Group, the city’s independent police auditor, to incorporate additional oversight measures into the draft ALPR policy, which was modeled after best practices issued by Lexipol, a private company that provides policy guidelines and training standards for law enforcement agencies across the country.

Stephens | Screenshot

“The issue of privacy is obviously the overbearing concern, not only stemming from the potential implementation of this technology in our community but in our society as a whole,” Stephens said. “As a chief of police, I can’t address that fear and concern on a national level but I can address it on a local level, as it relates to the implementation use of the Flock … and hopefully lessen that fear and concern surrounding the technology.”

Speaking via Zoom, Flock Community Affairs Manager Kristin MacLeod noted that the company uses end-to-end encryption to ensure data integrity. She emphasized that the company does not use AI or facial recognition technology to “make enforcement recommendations.”

“Nor is it predictive policing,” she said. “We’re not predicting where or when crime occurs. [Our] technology takes the information contained in the still images and organizes it into [a] searchable database … .”

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office implemented the county’s ALPR program in April 2024. The Blue Lake Rancheria recently signed a contract with Flock, Stephens said, for eight cameras on the rancheria and along State Route 299. Other local law enforcement agencies have looked into technology as well, including the Arcata, Fortuna and University police departments.

Councilmember G. Mario Fernandez asked for an example of how ALPR technology would be used. Stephens recounted a “horrific investigation” where a man was set on fire in broad daylight and it took EPD officers over six hours to track down the suspect. “It took us three hours to search … cameras in that area to find a photograph of the vehicle, and then it took another three hours for officers to scour the City of Eureka to find that vehicle parked somewhere and arrest that suspect,” he said. 

If the city had Flock’s cameras at the time, EPD could have entered the vehicle’s description into the system and likely known which direction the suspect was traveling, Stephens said. “We [could have] cut it down into an hour, and this individual wouldn’t have had any chances to hurt anyone else,” he explained. “It helps us focus the manpower that we do have in the right place to get them to the suspect in a lot quicker time frame.”

Councilmember Kati Moulton asked what protections the California Values Act would provide for undocumented residents under the draft policy, and if EPD would be required to share ALPR data with federal immigration officials. 

Moulton | Screenshot

“[The policy says] a law enforcement official shall have discretion to cooperate with immigration authorities only if doing so would not violate any federal, state, local law or local policy,” Moulton said. “And then there’s a long list of exceptions for both federal and state agencies to request information … . Am I right to understand that there are exceptions to the California Values Act where we would have to turn over information about somebody being in Eureka or being seen on our cameras?”

If the person in question is a suspect of a crime, yes, Stephens said. “Additionally, if a federal agency came to us with a court order, a subpoena [or a] federal search warrant, then they could also have access to that [data] … because [the order] came from a judge, not from an agency themselves.”

However, if there were any “legal concerns” surrounding the authenticity or legality of the subpoena, the matter would be heard in court, Stephens said.

“What would happen if the City of Eureka got a federal subpoena for information and then refused to turn over that information?” Moulton asked.

“We could be subject to court sanctions at that point,” Luna responded. “So with a judicial warrant for the release of information, I think the city would be beholden to that warrant.”

During the two-hour public comment portion of last night’s meeting, dozens of speakers urged the city council to deny the contract to protect the privacy of its citizens. Eureka resident Kendall Finch expressed concern for marginalized communities who could be disproportionately impacted by increased surveillance measures.

“One of Trump’s first initiatives in his last administration was an attempt to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA),” Finch said. “These are loved ones and neighbors, they’re folks who grew up in the U.S. If DACA ends, cameras like these make these folks easier to find and target, and a Flock contract specifically would put their data in the hands of out-of-state agencies we have no control over.”

Eureka resident Scott Palmer said he was “wildly against” the proposal and questioned whether Flock’s encryption methods would remain effective in the months and years to come.

“Even if today’s perfect encryption is wonderful, is it going to be that in six months?” he asked. “[W]e’re looking at a slippery slope. … Let’s protect our community, but [this technology] doesn’t stop nefarious things from happening. … I believe wholeheartedly in giving [EPD] everything they need to keep this community safe and to deal with the very significant issues that face us on a regular basis. … I believe wholeheartedly that the chief will run a tight ship and keep a good eye on all this, but … I don’t know who’s going to be in charge of it five years from now or 10 years from now.”

COPP board member Melinda Ciarabellini was the only person who spoke in favor of the proposal, though she noted that her opinion was her own and not that of the COPP board. 

“The use of this technology will greatly enhance EPD’s effectiveness in criminal investigation,” she said. “[T]he potential benefits of using this technology as another tool in the toolbox, as we say, far outweighs any concerns you may have about privacy issues or thoughts about the potential misuse of the system by EPD officers, especially considering that the data being collected is a photograph of the back of a vehicle and a license plate that’s taken while on a public road — that’s it.”

Ciarabellini emphasized that there are “many, many safeguards” built into the draft policy to address potential abuse by EPD officers and administrators.

“For example, access to and use of the ALPR system requires all users, administrators and officers to have individual credentials — like a PIN or a password — and that log-in and log-out information is subject to audit,” she continued. “Consider what may happen if you choose not to approve the use of ALPRs in the City of Eureka. Your strained police force will be left without this vital tool to help identify and apprehend criminals leaving the scene of a crime or committing crimes in progress.”

Councilmember Leslie Castellano echoed some of the concerns expressed during public comment and emphasized the importance of “building community trust.” She also felt the $74,000 that would be spent on the installation and first year of Flock’s services could be spent in better ways and made a motion to deny the proposal. The motion was simultaneously seconded by Fernandez and Moulton.

Contreras-DeLoach | Screenshot

Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach expressed her appreciation to staff who put their time into developing the draft policy and EPD officers “for the good work they’re doing in our community,” but said she would also be voting against the proposal. “I know that there’s a good intention here, and it’s to be able to solve crimes for us and make things safer because we are dealing with some issues here in our community.”

Councilmember Scott Bauer noted that Eureka “is a small city with big city problems” and acknowledged that Flock’s technology could serve as a tool to address some of those problems. But like his fellow councilmembers, Bauer felt the potential negative impacts and unintended consequences of the technology outweighed the benefits. 

“I do want to recognize that there’s no malintent by EPD or the chief — this is purely [our city] trying to figure out a way to make people feel safer in the community,” he said. “It’s hard to support this tool when there’s so much concern from all of us, frankly. I hope we can figure out another way to help the public feel safe in their community and help our police force … .”

The motion to deny the camera-reading technology proposal passed 5-0.

UPDATE, Feb. 10:

Sometime over the weekend, less than a week after it was put up, the proud Zionist image was torn off of the billboard. See photos below. The Arcata Police Department is investigating the vandalism.

Lt. Todd Dockweiler tells the Outpost that the call first reporting the crime came in on Saturday, and there are no known security cameras nearby. He noted the deluge of negative responses to the billboard on social media and elsewhere, adding, “The pool of suspects is large.”

###

Original post:

Drivers heading south from Arcata today may have noticed a new billboard off to the right of Highway 101, a message that reads “Call me a Zionist. It only makes me prouder” against a background of a woman in front of the flag of Israel.

The slogan was put up by David Porush of San Mateo, according to the Jewish News of Northern California. Porush has also paid for a billboard reading “America and Israel: Fighting Terrorism Together” in Redwood City. Porush runs an organization called Code Blue and White and got the funding from JewBelong, a nonprofit known for its pro-Israel billboards.

Porush worked with Israel-born Arcata resident Tamar Krigel to design the slogan. 

The billboard is proving controversial. One post on the Humboldt subreddit calling for its demolition has over 100 upvotes. Dozens of commenters bemoan its Zionist message and its inflammatory effect on the community. 

“Cut it the fuck down,” said one anonymous commenter. “Mr. Molotov would be happy to help,” said another. 

Krigel told the Jewish News of Northern California that she reached out to Parush to design a billboard after last spring’s pro-Palestine occupation shut campus down for a week. 

The Outpost is waiting on a statement from Krigel. 

###

[EXPLANATORY ADDENDUM: Geoff Wills, owner of local company AllPoints Signs, called the Outpost to say that while his company installed this advertisement, he does not own the billboard, nor was he involved in the sale or contract terms. As such, he asks that complaints be directed elsewhere.]

(AUDIO) Marble Jar on KSLG

It’s a busy week for the boys in Marble Jar. This coming Saturday, the Humboldt alternative punk rock trio will celebrate this week’s release of their new album All of the Marbles with a show at the Arcata Playhouse. But before that scene coalesces, the group stopped by the Carson Block Building to hang on the air with KSLG’s very own Rhi Marie. (Listen above.)

Started by frontman Peter Ricchio back in 2010 as Peter Puffington and the Rocketship Explosion, the group has gone through several lineup changes before arriving at the current configuration that also features drummer Mitch Holmes and bassist/producer Sean “Trugg” Weikal. All of the Marbles is the band’s first full length album following the 2022 EP Losing Your Marbles and the live set Live @Blondies.

As though their album release wasn’t momentous enough, the Marble Jar crew also made some radio history this week: The band is the first (of hopefully many) to sign the ceiling of KSLG’s new Old Town studio, a tradition haphazardly conceived during their visit. Evidence of their appreciated vandalism in the pictures below. (Side note: Are you a Humboldt band doing cool things and making music that, more-or-less, fits into the KSLG vibe? Reach out at studio@kslg.com!)

Marble Jar’s album release party takes place at the Arcata Playhouse this Saturday at 7 p.m. The show features additional musical support from Crooked Teeth out of San Francisco and Unlikely from Fresno. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and available here.

UPDATE, 1:08 p.m.: Here’s a statement from the County of Humboldt on PG&E’s plans.

###

Could the dams on the upper Eel River be coming down for good?

Late last week, PG&E issued a 2,000-plus-page plan to decommission and demolish its two dams on the upper stretches of the Eel River – Scott Dam and Cape Horn Dam, in Lake County and Mendocino County, respectively. These long-troubled dams were built over 100 years ago for the purpose of generating electricity, and had the side effects of rerouting water from the Eel River into the Russian River watershed. Also, they blocked fish passage into a bunch of prime habitat.

The dams have long been unprofitable, PG&E has been trying to get rid of them since at least 2018. They haven’t generated any power at all since 2011 2021. Now the utility is ready to take them down.

It all might be a lot more straightforward if not for the big interests that have grown up around the Eel River water that has, for the last century, been diverted into the Russian. When the dams first fired up, no one much cared which way the water went to the sea. It was all about generating power. But since then, agribusiness and development in the Mendocino/Sonoma/Marin corridor have come to depend on that water for their operations.

Under PG&E’s plan – you can download it here in full – both dams would be removed fairly rapidly. In their place, a new facility will be built at the site of the former Cape Horn Dam to continue to supply water to the Russian River watershed. This would be called the NERF – the “New Eel-Russian Facility.” It’s not yet clear how much water would be diverted at the NERF, but it could presumably be limited to winter months and vary depending on the wetness of the year.

“The framework here is that we will only agree to a diversion that has zero ecological impacts on the Eel,” said Scott Greacen, conservation director of Friends of the Eel, in a phone conversation with the Outpost this morning.

The main thing, for proponents of Eel River restoration, is to open up salmon and steelhead habitat beyond the dams. Cape Horn has a very bad fish ladder, and Scott Dam has no fish ladder at all. Removing those barriers could be a particular boon for summer-run steelhead, a threatened population on the North Coast.

PG&E is giving an online public presentation on their final decommissioning plan tomorrow, Feb. 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Here’s the link. Public comments on the document — which will be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — are due by March 3.