At its monthly meeting on Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is expected to issue a decision on AT&T’s proposal to disconnect landline services for thousands – likely hundreds of thousands – of California customers.
Blue shaded sections represent the territory AT&T seeks to withdraw from as a COLR. Screenshot.
At the beginning of this year, AT&T California applied to remove its status as a Carrier of Last Resort (COLR), which requires the telecommunications giant to provide analog telephone service, or “plain old telephone service,” to residential and business customers. If the application is approved, AT&T will no longer be required to provide landline services in certain areas of Humboldt County, including much of Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, McKinleyville, Rio Dell, Trinidad and smaller communities along Highway 101 and State Route 299.
AT&T argues that the “outdated” COLR obligation has forced it to “wastefully operate and maintain two duplicative networks: one, an antiquated, narrowband network with an ever-dwindling base of subscribers, and the other, a forward-looking, fiber and wireless broadband network,” as stated in the executive summary of the application.
Elected officials, including state Sen. Mike McGuire, and concerned customers have spoken out against the “dangerous” proposal, fearing it could leave vulnerable residents without reliable phone service.
Last month, the CPUC issued a statement indicating it would reject the proposal due to AT&T’s “fail[ure] to demonstrate the availability of replacement providers [that would be] willing and able to serve as COLR.”
“As the designated COLR, AT&T plays a pivotal role in providing reliable telephone service to communities across the state,” the May 10 statement argues. “Despite AT&T’s contention that providers of voice alternatives to landline service – such as VoIP [Voice over Internet Protocol] or mobile wireless services – can fill the gap, the CPUC found AT&T did not meet the requirements for COLR withdrawal.”
The CPUC received over 5,000 virtually submitted public comments in response to the proposal, many of which “highlighted the unreliability of voice alternatives such as mobile wireless or VoIP,” according to the CPUC.
“With the proposal to dismiss AT&T’s withdrawal request, the CPUC reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding access to essential services and maintaining regulatory oversight of the telecommunications industry,” the statement continues. “Importantly, COLR rules are technology-neutral and do not distinguish between voice services offered (such as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), commonly known as landline service, or VoIP), and do not prevent AT&T from retiring copper facilities or from investing in fiber or other facilities/technologies to improve its network.”
AT&T will have a chance to defend its position at the CPUC’s meeting on Thursday. A copy of the proposed resolution can be found here.
Alice Lin’s husband died, and she found herself alone and caring for a disabled son. Then two years ago, the 81-year-old Alhambra woman said she started getting texts from a stranger on a messaging app.
Over the course of a series of friendly chats, he convinced her to wire $720,000 — her entire life savings — to a cryptocurrency app.So she did – in seven separate in-person transactions at her local bank over three weeks. Her life savings disappeared, along with the man who scammed her. For a time, she said she contemplated suicide. But then she got angry – at her bank.
“Despite many red, red flags, my bank failed to consider that I might be a victim of elder fraud,” Lin told the California Assembly’s Banking and Finance Committee this week. “And they did not even contact my daughter, who is the joint account holder on the account.”
In the months since, Lin started working with Consumer Attorneys of California to sponsor Senate Bill 278, a measure aimed at preventing elder fraud scams like the one that drained Lin’s investment accounts.
The bill, by Napa Democratic Sen. Bill Dodd, would require that financial institutions delay transactions of more than $5,000 by at least three days if they “reasonably” suspect an elderly person is a victim of fraud. Banks would be required to train their employees to spot red flags, such as an unusually large and sudden transaction. Banks would also have to take steps to inform an elderly customer’s designated “emergency financial contact” or joint account holder – someone like Lin’s daughter – of a suspected fraudulent transaction.
“Elder financial abuse is everywhere,” Dodd told the banking committee. “Losses exceed $23 billion annually. Once a senior falls prey to financial fraud, they may never recover.”Dodd’s bill passed the Senate this spring with support from every prominent senior advocacy group in California, including the AARP. The measure originally faced intense opposition from the state’s banking and business lobbies, though they’ve since softened their stance after the bill was recently amended.
The financial institutions cite worries that they’d be forced into defacto conservatorships that would give them too much control over an elderly customer’s finances. The restrictions would also limit how quickly customers get their cash for legitimate expenses.
It was a concern shared by Roseville Republican Sen. Roger Niello who cast the lone “no” vote when the bill was before the Senate’s judiciary committee last month.“As the bill exists now, it seems to me we run the risk of more conflict between seniors and their financial institutions than we do limiting elder abuse,” said Niello, who used the opportunity to give Dodd, 68, a good-natured ribbing about his age.
“I want you to know you don’t look a day over 90,” said Niello, who is 76 and the third-oldest member of the Legislature.
Dodd told the Assembly committee that the bill has been amended to limit the liability banks could face “when they do the right thing to protect elderly people, their customers.”
State Sen. Bill Dodd speaks during the first day of session at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Jan. 3, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters
That eased some of the concerns from the 13 financial and business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, that are listed as opponents to Dodd’s bill.
“We think what’s in front of us right now, while it’s going to be a heavy lift for credit unions, the good outweighs the work that’s going to go in there,” Robert Wilson, a lobbyist with the California Credit Union League, told the banking committee this week. “This is going to protect seniors.”
Wilson and other bankers remain leery of how Dodd’s measure would be enforced – a matter that Dodd says will get cleared up by the time the bill reaches the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week.
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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
With profound sadness we announce the passing of Carla Dee Aubrey, our loving mother and
friend to all whose lives she touched, on June 11, 2024.
Carla was a beautiful person full of life, laughter and warmth. She was a proud mother, aunt,
sister and grandmother. She was born on April 2, 1967 to Sherrie Reed and Carl Bryan. She
was one of thirteen children.
When Carla was 14 years old, she was chosen to represent the Yurok people as their medicine
girl for the brush dances in Klamath. Onlookers were in awe of her beauty as she danced that
summer. She studied for months in the mountains before returning home with a beautiful song
that she had planned to teach her daughter one day. The universe had other plans though, and
she was given six beautiful boys. Carla adored her sons and grandchildren. She would often
share photos of her grandbabies with family and friends. Children, sons, nieces and nephews
were one of her great joys in life. If there was a baby in the house, she would be sure to be
rocking it and singing songs.
If you were lucky enough to spend time with Carla, chances are you were laughing at her jokes,
singing along to songs in the car with her, or marveling at her beauty. Carla’s presence brought
light, warmth and kindness to everyone she encountered. She always did her best to make
everyone feel loved and appreciated.
Carla spent her final days expressing her love for her family and friends. She left voice
messages in Yurok for her grandsons to practice. She called old friends to express her
gratitude. She talked to her sister, Fawn, about making plans to visit her newest grandson
George. She did her best to tie up loose ends and find peace before she passed away. We hope
that she knows that these small gestures in her final days have left a lasting mark on our lives.
Carla was preceded in death by her son, Benjamin Taggart, her mother, Sherrie Reece, her step
father, David Reece, her father Carl Bryan and her uncle Lawrence Reed Jr.
Carla is survived by her children, Zachary & Kate Myers, Jeffrey & Chelsey Myers, Joseph
Brazil, Alan Taggart, and Sean & Elena Taggart; grandchildren; Elias Myers, Tristan Myers,
Angel Taggart, Noah Myers, Lochlan Myers, and George Benjamin “Little Eagle” Taggart; siblings, Edward (Horse) & Nicol Aubrey, Lavonne (Fawn) & Josh Guido, Hank Aubrey, Eli
(Buck) Aubrey, Scott Aubrey, Kristin Aubrey, Ethel Reed, Dan Ryles, Kenny Hickok, Star Bryan,
Raina Moore, Shontee Cornejo, Nakia Barnd, and Natchee Blu Barnd; and uncles and aunts Ron
and Crystal Reed, Sharon Reed, Barbara and Bob Rakestraw and Butch Reed.
Carla’s family invites friends and family to attend her funeral service on Saturday, June 22 at
1 o’clock at the Shaker Church in Johnson’s, followed by her burial at the cemetery in
Wautek.
Pallbearers will be Richard Rutherford, Blaine Hurn, Tristin Severns, Mike Obie, Austin
Rakestraw, Brandon Rakestraw and Troy Aubrey. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ron Reed,
Rocky Reed, Jake Reed, Lawrence “Woo” Reed, Terry Bray, Jason Rakestraw Sr., Eli Hensher
and Dominick Severns.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Carla Aubrey’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marcia Mills. She passed
peacefully on April 5, 2024.
Marcia was born January 19, 1935 to Jack and Muriel Allen
in Eureka. She grew up in McCann and graduated from South Fork High School,
valedictorian of her class. She went to work for the county of Humboldt until she met the
love of her life, Eldon Mills. They married August 15, 1953. They moved to Weott
and started their family. In 1964 they moved to Eureka and finished raising their
children.
Marcia and Eldon loved to travel. They had many travel friends to travel and cruise
abroad with. Marcia had her favorite place, Kauai, Hawaii. Marcia and Eldon went many
times to Kauai together before Eldon passed in 2009. She continued to go every year
with her best friend, Maudie Walker, for many years after.
Marcia is survived by her children, Lisa (Mike) Barreto, Frank Mills and Leslie (Dan)
Scott; grandchildren, Brian (Bethany) Barreto, Wiatt (Jasmine) Barreto, Shannon (Tony) Mills,
Haley (Matt) Pedamonte, Wylee Scott, Ashtyn Scott, and Lindsey (James) Harris; great-grandchildren Jerykah (Austin), Bryson, Jayla, Kira, Bristol, and Nash; and great-great-granchild, Tatum.
Marcia is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Eldon Mills, and her son,
Steven Mills.
Please join us to celebrate the life of Marcia Mills. Share stories and memories. Saturday, July
13 from 1-4 p.m., at her home.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Marcia Mills’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
On Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at about 1:14 P.M. a Fortuna Police Officer located a stolen vehicle in the 1600 block of Meadowlark Court in Fortuna.
As the investigation ensued, the scene was determined to be a chop shop as the location was being used to store multiple stolen vehicles. Stolen vehicles were located parked in front of the residence and inside the garage. In total, three stolen vehicles were recovered. The suspect was identified as Daniel Ray Fidler (age 50) of Fortuna. Fidler fled the residence into the Jameson Creek area and densely wooded area directly behind the residence. A K9 was deployed however Fidler had escaped the area prior to the deployment.
Mutual aid was requested and Fortuna Police coordinated officers efforts in an attempt to establish a perimeter around the creek and wooded area. Information was obtained that Fidler was potentially in possession of a handgun and was making comments regarding “suicide by cop”.
Fortuna Police Officers, a Fortuna K9, the Fortuna Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and allied agency officers searched the area for Fidler with negative results. It is believed that Fidler arranged for an associate to pick him up and then fled the area.
As a result of the investigation, Daniel Ray Finder is wanted in connection to the following crimes:
California Vehicle Code Section 10801 – Operating a Chop Shop
California Penal Code Section 496(d) – Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (X3 counts)
California Penal Code Section 29800 – Possession of a Firearm by Prohibited Person
California Penal Code Section 33215 – Possession of a Short Barrel Shotgun
California Penal Code Section 30305(a)(1) – Felon in Possession of Ammunition
California Penal Code Section 1203.2(a) – Violation of Probation
California Penal Code Section 148(a)(1) – Obstructing, Resisting, Delaying a Peace Officer
California Penal Code Section 466 – Possession of Burglary Tools
It should be noted that Filder is on active felony probation and has an active felony arrest warrant for Kidnapping.
While officers were processing the scene, Rio Dell Police became involved in a high speed pursuit involving a vehicle known by police to be associated with this incident. A stolen silver Jeep led Rio Dell Police on a high speed pursuit that ended in the rural area of Ferndale. The vehicle was found unoccupied but it is believed that the two incidents are connected.
This is an active and ongoing investigation, Fidler is believed to be armed and dangerous. Fidler is a career criminal with known access to firearms. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Fortuna Police Department at (707)725-7550.
We would like to thank our allied agencies, California Highway Patrol, Rio Dell Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire Law Enforcement for their assistance with this incident.
Monique “Mo” Harper-Desir and Harrel Deshazier strike a pose while volunteering with Black Humboldt during last year’s celebration. File photo: Isabella Vanderheiden.
For
leaders of local arts and culture organizations, Juneteenth National Independence Day, taking place this Wednesday, June 19, is
an opportunity to
celebrate African American history and heritage through the arts.
Juneteenth, which marks the anniversary of the June 19, 1865, emancipation of enslaved people in Texas and other former Confederate
states, honors the experience of the millions of Black people who
suffered under slavery and recognizes the struggle of the many who
resisted and fought for freedom.
The
holiday celebrates liberation, self-determination and empowerment —
qualities that are also central to social justice work.
Humboldt
County’s first official Juneteenth celebration was organized in
2019 by members of Black Humboldt. This community-based collective
was co-founded by artist and community organizer Mo Harper-Desir
alongside visionary Dionna Ndlovu, with
support from the NAACP.
Black Humboldt, an Ink People DreamMaker Project, has continued to
play a major role in organizing the five annual Juneteenth
festivities that have taken place since, working this year alongside
the Eureka chapter of the NAACP and members of the Black community to
program a diverse roster of cultural events taking place in Fortuna,
Eureka and Arcata.
The
theme of this year’s Juneteenth Cultural Festival is “Visions of
a Liberated Future – celebrating freedom and unity in Humboldt
County.” The series kicks off Wednesday, June 19, with a family
party and a Juneteenth hip-hop show at RampART Skate Park in Arcata.
It culminates Saturday, June 22, with a day party at Eureka’s
Halvorsen Park featuring local Black
and Brown artists, vendors, workshops, performances and informational
“Knowledge for Power” sessions.
This year’s festival hosts a
Hip Hop Zone, a Kids’ Zone and a “Black & Green Zone,”
with free activities including a food sovereignty market, food starts
and plants, recycled art projects, aquaculture sensory tables, a
hands-on watershed model, a build- your-own-bouquet table, a
how-to-recycle center, cultural storytelling and nature-inspired
performances.
Festival
programming also includes live music and open mic events, a visual
arts exhibition, a Black community speakers series, a karaoke
takeover, a Pride tribute, a family skate night and a Black
Student Union barbecue.
“Visions of a Liberated Future,” a
Juneteenth-themed art exhibition conceived in rapport with the
Festival, is on view through June at Los Bagels in Eureka.
“This
holiday is very important and empowering for Black communities all
over the United States, but especially for Humboldt County,” writes Black Humboldt on a website for the event. “This community makes up a
very small percentage of the (county’s) population, and is often
oppressed as a result. Black history is a part of the United States’
history and is important to celebrate, as we create safe spaces and
inclusion for the Black community in Humboldt County. … This is a
learning opportunity to highlight American history, as well as an
opportunity to create a legacy for the Black and Brown community of
the North Coast.”
Poster for this year’s festivities. Click to enlarge.
Several
additional Juneteenth celebrations taking place in Arcata throughout
the month complement festival offerings. HC Black Music and Art
Association, an Ink People DreamMaker Project based in Arcata, works
with young BIPOC people to develop Afrocentric, youth-focused
cultural programming. Valletta Molofsky, the group’s founder and
leader, said that the group would be celebrating Juneteenth in two
summer
youth programs taking place this summer in the group’s Harambee
Cultural Center.
Robert
Broadway, a Marine Corps veteran and martial arts specialist with a
background in Chinese Kung Fu and Yang style Tai Chi, is offering a
series of HCBMAA classes in Tai Chi Chuan and Choy Li Fut to
celebrate Juneteenth. Classes emphasize self-defense,
self-confidence, concentration, awareness and flexibility. HCBMAA
will also be hosting the Harambee Youth Connections summer program, a
two-week series of workshops for young people starting in July. This
“Pan-African celebration of traditions and food” will feature a
special guest, poet and performer Amde Hamilton of political poetry
group the Watts Prophets. Young participants will be able to take
classes in
African cooking, bookmaking, art and beadwork, drum making,
gardening, martial arts, video projects, dancing, and hip-hop dance.
Juneteenth
also marks the initiation of a mural project being
facilitated by Arcata public arts group REBOUND, a community-based
arts and culture organization committed to using good design to
realize projects that enhance community life. REBOUND, an Ink People
DreamMaker Project, will be partnering with the
City of Arcata, the Eureka chapter of the NAACP, the Arcata Rotary and the family of Josiah Lawson to facilitate the creation of a large-scale memorial and mural celebrating the life of David Josiah Lawson,
a Black student leader at Cal Poly Humboldt whose 2017 murder by
stabbing in Arcata remains unsolved.
The memorial, which will be
located on the exterior of the D Street Community Center in Arcata,
will incorporate a living wall planted in native vegetation, a
collaborative mural painting based on a portrait of Lawson drawn by
his aunt, and text rendered in a facsimile of Josiah Lawson’s own
handwriting. Members of the public are invited to take part in this
act of communal creation as a gesture of community healing and
remembrance, in solidarity with the Lawson family and members of
Humboldt’s Black community.
Drop-in painting sessions are scheduled
to begin June 19, 2024 and will continue through June 27.
“Participation
from the public is encouraged! Professional muralists will be on site
to assist members of the community during drop-in painting sessions,”
said artist and educator Benjamin Funke of REBOUND. “All painting
supplies and safety equipment will be provided.”
“The
organizers of Juneteenth are incredible leaders, and I honor their
leadership in bringing these celebrations of African American
resilience to Humboldt County,” Leslie
Castellano, executive director of the Ink People Center for Arts and
Culture, said in response to a request for comment. “The
entire North Coast region has benefited from the many ways leadership
in the black community builds cultural power, celebrates black joy and furthers the long tradition of marching towards freedom.”
When things started to fall apart for Brett Watson in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment, he embarked on a campaign of denial, refusal and counter-accusations: denial that he’d sexually harassed a city employee; refusal to step down from city council; claims that he was the true target of harassment and discrimination at Arcata City Hall.
Watson.
It’s been a couple years, but Watson is still fighting the fight. He was again shot down last week when a California appellate court upheld the restraining order that prohibits Watson from entering Arcata City Hall and contacting four city employees. In his appeal, Watson claimed that the restraining order overextends the language of the law, is based on a lack of evidence and violates his constitutional rights.
The City of Arcata sought the restraining order after a city-commissioned investigation concluded that Watson sexually harassed a city employee for nearly two years, and, when his harmful behavior came to light, created a hostile work environment that some employees said made them feel unsafe. Issued in March 2023 by the Humboldt County Superior Court, the “workplace violence” restraining order is nearly halfway through its three-year lifespan.
The appellate court decision, issued on June 11, recounts the uncomfortable details of the years-long ordeal. Watson, who was a council member from 2017 to 2022, began to harass the employee in 2019 while he was mayor. Watson’s behavior included contacting the staff member frequently outside of work hours, making comments about his feelings for the employee that made her feel uncomfortable and “sick,” asking her for long hugs that were “creepy,” and threatening the employee’s job when she tried to set boundaries. In 2021, another city official witnessed Watson’s behavior and expressed concern to the staff member, who then reported Watson for sexual harassment and workplace violence.
In the months that followed, the City Council passed a vote of no confidence in Watson, who voluntarily stepped down as mayor but stayed on the council. The City commissioned an investigation that sustained the harassment claims, which Watson insisted was biased. Following the findings of that investigation, the City Council stripped Watson of his committee assignments and created protocols to limit his access to staff, which he quickly broke, according to the appellate decision document. The City got a temporary restraining order against Watson in October 2022 prohibiting him from entering City Hall and accessing four employees. He was arrested within days when he cc’d one of the protected four in an email.
The City sought a permanent restraining order, which involved a trial and was issued in March 2023 (permanent restraining orders, despite their name, typically only last three years but can be extended as necessary). By then, Watson was out of the political scene; he’d lost re-election in November 2022.
Watson is not permitted to enter City Hall or go within 100 yards of the four protected people’s workplaces, homes or cars. He also can’t possess firearms throughout the duration of the restraining order. Watson could face a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time up to a year if he violates the terms.
In his appeal of the restraining order, Watson claimed that the trial court misinterpreted the law, argued that there isn’t evidence to suggest his stalking behavior will continue, said that the protections for three additional people are essentially unnecessary and claimed that the restrictions from City Hall and city staff violate his constitutional rights.
The appellate court struck down every argument.
Watson claimed that the trial court improperly inflated the Workplace Violence Safety Act to include emotional and psychological harm in its interpretation of “safety.” But the act defines unlawful violence as “any assault, or battery, or stalking” – and, the court held, Watson was stalking the employee.
To that point, Watson claimed that there wasn’t sufficient evidence of stalking. But the court identified “substantial evidence of stalking behavior,” citing incidents occurring outside of work hours and unrelated to work matters across the years-long fiasco, including Watson’s admission that he was “addicted” to the employee.
Watson’s third challenge of the restraining order was that because he is no longer a city council member, there isn’t evidence to suggest he will continue to stalk and harm the staff member. The court noted that changed circumstances do sometimes warrant dropping a restraining order, but held that this is not one of those times. The court cited multiple occasions when Watson attempted to contact the protected staff members when the city-commissioned investigation was underway and he’d been asked to keep his distance.
“Given the extensive evidence of Watson’s obsessive conduct, his repeated tendency to push boundaries and his admission to being ‘addicted’ to [the staff member], substantial evidence supports the finding of a reasonable likelihood the stalking will recur,” the decision reads.
Watson also argued that the trial court abused its discretion by including the three additional protected persons on the restraining order, claiming that his interactions with those people didn’t indicate a reasonable threat of violence.
But the court again disagreed. “Watson had multiple interactions with each employee and engaged in a course of conduct that resulted in the employees fearing for their safety,” the report reads.
“The court need only find unlawful violence or a credible threat of violence against one employee […] and may then exercise its discretion, on a showing of good cause, to include other employees in the protective order without a separate finding of unlawful violence or credible threat of violence.”
Finally, Watson claimed that the restraining order violates his rights to free speech, freedom of association and civic engagement because he is not allowed to enter City Hall or contact the protected employees. However, Watson couldn’t back up exactly how these rights are violated by the restraining order, and so the appellate court considered the argument forfeited. Even so, the court pointed out that Watson can provide public comment during city council meetings via Zoom.
So that’s that for Brett Watson, for now. The restraining order will expire in March 2026.
State Sen. Bill Dodd speaks during the first day of session at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Jan. 3, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters
