Volunteers Terry Scovil, center, and Shendi Klopfer load the car of a community member with food from the Trinity County Food Bank at the Trinity County Fairgrounds on Feb. 8, 2023. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters
Food insecurity in California ticked upward over the past year, bringing the share of hardship back up to levels early in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released by the California Association of Food Banks on Tuesday.
“Families are buying less food,” said May Lynn Tan, the association’s director of research and strategic initiatives, who conducted a survey of food aid recipients this summer. “They’re running out of food, not being able to afford nutritious meals, and worrying more about food.”
Advocates credited a pandemic-era federal aid program that gave food assistance recipients more money for groceries for pulling food insecurity below 20% of California households between 2021 and 2022. The additional aid, Tan said, helped recipients buy healthier food and become more financially stable.
As prices soared last year, food insecurity spiked. Then, the boost in federal aid ended in April. By October, more than 1 in 5 California families — more than 3.1 million households, including 1.1 million with children — were steadily reporting uncertain access to food, according to Census data analyzed by the association.
While hunger overall is disproportionately borne by people of color, Black families in particular reported sharp increases this year. In April, 30% of Black households in California were food insecure. Six months later, the figure was 40% — and nearly half of Black families with children.
Anti-poverty advocates had feared a rise in hunger after the end of the aid boost this year, which affected the nearly 3 million California households that receive CalFresh, the federally-funded food stamps program. For three years the program had given all families receiving CalFresh the highest possible amount of food assistance for their family size each month, with $95 on top for those already receiving the maximum.
When the program reverted to ordinary aid levels, the decrease was anywhere from 32% to 40%, depending on the recipient, according to the food banks association. In a survey the association conducted over the summer, more than two-thirds of the state’s food banks reported increases in the number of clients seeking meals and groceries.
The uptick in food insecurity also follows an increase in poverty last year, triggered by the end of a different pandemic-era policy. A one-time, yearlong expansion of a tax credit program in 2021 sent thousands of dollars to most families with children and pulled child poverty levels down to historic lows; after it ended, poverty spiked again.
Both trends are likely to be the basis of advocates’ calls next year for California to expand safety net spending, even as the state faces a projected $68 billion deficit in the 2024-25 fiscal year. That’s double the budget hole California plugged this year.
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano volunteers and staff load groceries into cars in Vallejo on June 7, 2023. Photo by Shelby Knowles for CalMatters.
The food insecurity data was outlined by the food banks association Tuesday as it gears up to lobby for the expansion of assistance programs next year, including increasing funding for food banks to buy California produce to distribute to clients and supplementing the federally-funded CalFresh (food stamps) program with state dollars.
“It does look like a tough budget year next year but I don’t think that changes our strategy,” said Becky Silva, the association’s director of government relations.
It’ll be a tough sell.
California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom avoided major program cuts when they closed the deficit this year, but it did bring to a halt several years of social services expansions.
Still, at a separate Tuesday web conference for anti-poverty advocates and lobbyists hosted by the liberal California Budget and Policy Center, Jessica Bartholow, chief of staff to state Senate Budget chairperson Nancy Skinner, an Oakland Democrat, urged advocates to continue seeking funding or program expansions.
“Don’t ask for less,” she said.
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CalMatters politics reporter Yue Stella Yu contributed to this story.
CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Press release from the Bridgeville Community Center:
The Bridgeville Community Center is pleased to announce that we now have 1,000
young readers who are signed up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Humboldt County. It is a program
that mails books each month to children from ages 0-5 (they graduate when they turn 5). There is no cost to the
family. If somebody is interested in signing their child up, please go to www.ImaginationLibrary.com
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a great gift to the community. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and
write, Dolly started the Imagination Library in 1995 to serve the children of her hometown in Sevier County,
Tennessee. Today, her program gifts over 2.4 million free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to
children around the world. There is never a charge to families who participate in the program, and it is open to
all children under the age of five in geographic areas with operating programs. The funding is shared by Dolly
Parton and thousands of local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and
Republic of Ireland.
The Bridgeville Community Center partnered with the Dolly Program in April 2023 to bring books to children in
Humboldt County (plus Mad River and Ruth, in Trinity County). Now we have the first 1,000 children enrolled.
Our expectation is that the number of children enrolled will increase each year. Our yearly cost per child is $13,
which comes to $1.10 a book delivered to their home. Our goal is to enroll every eligible child who wishes to get
Imagination Library books. And your donations will help make this dream possible.
This program is valuable to our county. There is now a fundraising committee to help cover the costs. Please
contact us if you are interested in joining. All donations collected go directly to cover Imagination Library costs.
And if you are interested in donating to help cover the cost of books to a child, you
can either mail us a check, or make a donation via paypal -
We thank you for your support. Your donation helps a child enroll in this remarkable
program. Your donation is a gift to the child, as well as the community.
The Eureka Police Department is actively investigating several crimes that occurred from
multiple businesses and organizations located in the 5100 block of N. Highway 101
between December 7, 2023 and December 9, 2023.
On December 8, 2023, a business owner reported sometime during the night an
unknown suspect(s) entered one of his work trucks and stole approximately $2300
worth of various tools.
On December 9, 2023, EPD received a phone call from the Regional Coordinator for
Toys for Tots, reporting sometime between the evening of December 8, 2023 and the
morning of December 9, 2023, an unknown suspect(s) gained entry to their storage shed
and stole approximately $7000 worth of donated toys. The surveillance system that was
in place at this location was also stolen by the suspect(s). In addition to the theft, the
suspect(s) caused approximately $2000 worth of damage to the gate that secures the
property.
Also, on December 9, 2023, EPD responded to the 4100 block of Jacobs Avenue for a
report of a “jack knifed” semi-truck and trailer. The truck belonged to a business
located in the same complex at 5100 N. Highway 101. The owner stated that no one
had permission to drive the vehicle and a stolen vehicle report was taken. It was also
discovered the vehicle had suffered approximately $5000 worth of damage as a result of
this theft.
While all three of these incidents occurred in the same business complex it is unknown
at this time if or how they may be connected.
On December 11, 2023, a Detective with the Eureka Police Department authored
warrants for three (3) locations in the greater Eureka area, 2000 block of Greenwood
Heights, 2700 Union Street and 3200 block of High Street, in relationship to this
investigation. Assisted by additional Detectives, Officers, an Evidence Technician, and
Agents from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, the search warrants were executed
on the locations.
During the search of the locations, involved personnel recovered a portion of the toys
stolen from Toys for Tots as well as some of the tools reported stolen the day prior from the business complex. Agents also found the primary suspect in possession of a short-
barreled shotgun, a stolen motorcycle as well as a stolen generator.
Brandon Roy Haselip, 35 years of age from Eureka, was located and arrested at the
Greenwood Heights location. Haselip was booked at the Humboldt County Correctional
Facility for possession of an illegal firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, possession
of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property. Additional charges are also being
submitted to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for review.
This is an on-going and active investigation. We are requesting any community members
who recently donated a unique item to Toys for Toys please contact Detective Bailey
immediately at 707-441-4215.
Soon Outpost reporter Isabella Vanderheiden will have her usual wrap-up of this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, which is underway at the courthouse now.
But there is some breaking news, and that is that Supervisor Mike Wilson just pledged to stop using the odd phrase “with relationship to” quite as much as he currently does.
The announcement, which was accompanied by general laughter in the Board of Supervisor’s chambers, came after Wilson caught himself using the barely grammatical locution three times in the space of about a minute.
The supervisor, in his apology, acknowledged that this particular verbal crutch had somehow become his version of “um,” and asked staff if it might be possible to rig some sort of buzzer when he erred in the future.
Please see the edited video below, which includes a selection of some of the “with relationship to”s Wilson dropped in last week’s meeting alone. This is the sort of thing that will never happen again.
Barbara passed away at home in McKinleyville on November 15, 2023 at
the age of 68. She was born to Robert and Phyllis Wayland in
Pasadena on December 27, 1954.
Barbara grew up in sunny Southern California (Fullerton), as one of
five children. She loved the sun, always sporting a dark tan due to
all of her outdoor adventures. Barbara loved playing sports.
Organized, or with siblings or neighborhood kids, she could be found
throwing and catching a ball, depending on what season it was. Her
parents were her biggest fans. Attending her every softball game, and
cheering her on. Loudly. Barbara loved the LA Dodgers and Rams. She
even received a full Rams uniform, pads, helmet and all, one very
merry Christmas. She loved to collect sports cards and had quite a
collection. Her most valuable cards were either lost in the spokes of
her bicycle, or cut up to change the team name if the player got
traded. Barbara moved to Humboldt County in 1976 to play softball for
Humboldt State University and made it her forever home.
Barbara graduated from Rosary High School in Fullerton in 1973. She
went on to attend Fullerton College and HSU and played basketball and
softball for Fullerton College and softball for HSU. She then studied
at Mt. San Antonio College for her respiratory therapy license.
Barbara worked as a medical professional all of her adult life. She
was a respiratory therapist for many years, a transcriptionist and a
pathology technician. She was a hardworking, efficient, prompt and
loyal employee and worked for various doctors and hospitals in the
area. But most of all she was well-liked and had a wonderful sense
of humor. She loved making her coworkers laugh.
Barbara’s passion was her cats. Many lucky cats got loved and
nurtured over the years by Barbara. She also took care of a feral
colony of cats in Arcata for over twenty years; tending to them every
day. She also drew many strays to her doorstep because they knew they
had a friend. Many organizations fostering and adopting out cats were
blessed by her empathy and generosity. She corresponded with cat
lovers far and wide about her cat stories. Barbara set up cameras in
her home so she could record their shenanigans and check on them if
she wasn’t home. She loved her kitties.
Barbara loved to ride her bike and in later years, walk, every day.
Her day wasn’t complete unless she had her exercise. Even rainy or
inclement weather was no deterrent.
Barbara wasn’t an avid traveler but had a bucket list that included
visiting every baseball park in the Major Leagues. While she didn’t
get to all of them, she got to most. She particularly loved Fenway
Park, the old Yankee Stadium, Camden Yards, Coors Field, and of
course, Dodgers Stadium.
Barbara was an avid reader. Even as a young child she had at least
two or three books going at once. If she wasn’t reading for
relaxation, she listened to music, often with at least one cat in her
lap. A good book, a good song, and a warm kitty were her joys.
Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Robert Wayland, her
mother, Phyllis Wayland, and her sisters, Sandy Jackson, and Carol
Barr. She is survived by her sister, Sharon Wayland and her spouse,
Karen Trone, her brother, Steve Wayland, her daughter, Jamie Myer,
and her son, Bradley Myer.
Barbara enjoyed many friendships throughout her life. None longer or
more special than Anne Franklin, Stephanie Haines, Ilona Bruneau, and
Sheri Myer.
A private scattering of her ashes will take place on a later date.
Please consider making a donation to one of our local animal shelters
in her name. Barbara loved and was dedicated to her cats.
Sequoia Humane Society 6073 Loma Ave. Eureka, Ca. 95503
Miranda’s Rescue 1603 Sandy Prairie Rd. Fortuna, Ca. 95540
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Barbara Wayland’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
Saturday, December 9, 2023: Arcata Fire District was
dispatched to the 2400 block of Penn Avenue in response to a residential structure fire.
Units from Arcata Fire, Fieldbrook Volunteer Fire, Westhaven Volunteer Fire and
CalFire responded to the scene. The first engine arrived to find smoke coming from a
36’ travel trailer and threatening two nearby structures.
The first crew on scene attacked the fire, while additional personnel extended a hose
line to protect the nearby structures. The fire was controlled within 10 minutes, and the
trailer was searched for any victims, none being found.
The cause of the fire is suspected to be a ‘LiPo battery’, or a battery for a remote
controlled car. It is believed that the rechargeable battery ignited during charging.
Resident was not home at the time that the fire began.
Christmas is coming up, so please be aware that it is not uncommon for these ‘LiPo’
batteries to degrade, heat up and catch on fire while charging. Never leave them
charging unattended.
The trailer and contents were a total loss, mounting to an estimated $25,000 in
damages. The Red Cross was contacted to accommodate the resident with lodging and
necessities.
Clockwise from top left: First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, Gordon Clatworthy, Gerald McGuire, Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson, Rogelio “Roy” Gomez, Brian Roberts, Jeana McClendon, Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell.
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Hard as it may be to believe, we’re just 85 days from California’s March 2024 primary election, and here in Humboldt the stage is set for three contested county supervisor races.
Friday was the deadline to submit nomination paperwork to the Humboldt County Elections Office, so the faces you see above represent the full roster of eight candidates vying for the three county supervisor seats. That includes the three incumbents along with five challengers.
Map of the county supervisorial districts, cropped to highlight those in contention this cycle. | County of Humboldt.
With that backdrop, below you’ll find a quick rundown of the three county supervisor races for Humboldt County’s March 5 primary. The Outpost is also relaunching its heralded LoCO Elections page, where readers can submit questions directly to candidates, who are invited to reply.
One quick logistical note: With three candidates in both the 1st and 2nd District races, there’s a distinct possibility of November runoffs. If none of the three contenders earn 50 percent of the vote plus one then the highest two vote-getters will advance to a showdown in the big Presidential Election on Nov. 5.
District 1
Bohn
Incumbent Rex Bohn is Humboldt County’s longest-serving supervisor, and he’s running for a fourth term, which he says would be his last. At his campaign kickoff event in August, Bohn highlighted this experience as a big plus, noting his service as chair of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), vice chair of the Rural Action Caucus and an appointment to the National Association of Counties.
“I like servin’ the people,” Bohn said at the event.
Bohn found himself in unfamiliar territory over the past two years as the election of progressive Natalie Arroyo to the 4th District seat in 2022, replacing Virginia Bass, meant that he’s found himself in the minority on quite a few votes.
He’s also faced some controversy, including fallout over inflammatory comments made by his Planning Commission appointee, Alan Bongio (who later stepped down) and questions about his judgment after he included a handgun among the “Humboldt County”-themed items in a charity auction basket.
Clatworthy
Bohn’s first challenger, Coast Guard veteran and comedy show co-host Gordon Clatworthy, tossed his hat into the ring in August, and in a pair of interviews with the Outpost he said he’d like to address the county’s homelessness and mental health problems and re-evaluate county spending priorities.
He also vowed to “replace or repeal” the controversial Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative, a ballot measure that has not yet passed and, if it does, could only be repealed by voters. And he made reference to an ongoing investigation into Bohn, though he declined to offer specifics.
Clatworthy has launched a campaign website, which refers to him “the progressive voice of the 1st District,” and a couple weeks ago he participated in an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) forum on Reddit.
McGuire
Bohn is also being challenged by Fields Landing resident Gerald McGuire, though there’s not a whole lot to say about his candidacy thus far.
McGuire submitted his candidate intention statement to the county elections office on Nov. 13, but he has not answered phone calls from the Outpost, and we’ve been unable to leave him a message as his voicemail box is full. Nor did he reply to a text, and we’ve been unable to locate any website or Facebook page for his campaign.
McGuire did appear before the Board of Supervisors in September to protest the revocation of a Coastal Development Permit for his property.
The board vote unanimously to revoke the permit, citing notices of violation and nearly two decades’ worth of complaints from neighbors over the substandard conditions of his property, including “accumulation of junk, solid waste, scrap, miscellaneous items and debris,” according to a staff report.
District 2
Bushnell
Incumbent Michelle Bushnell is partway through her first term representing the 2nd District, having replaced former Supervisor Estelle Fennell.
Owner of a clothing and Western-wear store in Garberville, Bushnell is also a licensed cannabis cultivator who won her seat largely by promising to be a voice for the industry. Because of her involvement in the industry, Bushnell followed the advice of the Fair Political Practices Commission and recused herself from a 2022 vote on Measure S tax relief. However, despite “conflict of interest” grumbling, Bushnell has participated in other weed-related votes, saying she’s only required to recuse herself when there’s a direct financial interest involved.
Her fervor in advocating for growers has not been questioned, though in 2022 an employee from the county Planning and Building Department complained about her methods, accusing her of inappropriately interfering in the cannabis permitting process by advocating (quite passionately) on behalf of an applicant while disregarding evidence that the applicant had violated a number of county codes.
An outside investigation sustained the allegation that she’d violated the county’s code of conduct by mistreating that staff member, and Bushnell apologized.
Bushnell announced her re-election campaign in October, citing her hard work, open lines of communication and responses to recent natural disasters. She has a campaign Facebook page and website, which features a list of endorsements.
Roberts
Challenger Brian Roberts lives on 44 acres outside of Blocksburg in a very rural part of Southern Humboldt. When we reached him by phone this morning he said he and his wife had been up late dealing with feral pigs tearing up their field in the night.
“I’m pretty much running for District 2 to change the status quo from the last several years,” Roberts said. He filed to run four years ago, too, but dropped out amid a crowded field.
“Michelle said the right things at the time, [saying] she’d advocate for small farmers … ,” Roberts said. “Unfortunately, in the last four years I think none of [her promises] came true.”
Roberts has his own 10,000-square-foot grow operation, and this past summer he clashed with county staff and supervisors over disputed inspection and permitting fees.
Roberts said the county tends to prioritize certain applications (namely, those of large, well-funded folks) while de-prioritizing others, and he described American politics as a one-party corporate system.
“I offer honesty above all else, respect for all people and integrity to serve the entire county,” Roberts told the Outpost. Formerly the owner of a Los Angeles-based clothing company, he has a campaign page up and running on Facebook.
McClendon
The other 2nd District challenger, Jeana McClendon, submitted the necessary paperwork last Thursday, and in a phone conversation with the Outpost this morning she said people have approached her for years asking her to run for various elected positions.
“I feel I have a calling for public service,” she said. “It inspires me; it’s what makes me tick. … I’ve been asked to run and I’ve answered the call.”
McClendon and her husband own George’s Glass, a longstanding windshield replacement and repair shop in Fortuna, and over the past two decades she has owned several other local businesses, including a coin-operated laundromat, a sub sandwich restaurant and, currently, Main Street Coffee Co. in Ferndale.
McClendon described herself as upbeat, with a reputation for being diplomatic and getting things done. In a candidacy announcement posted to our LoCO Elections page, she says the county faces urgent challenges.
“Our housing crisis has exacerbated homelessness, internal conflicts plague our county government and cannabis growers need clarity on rules and regulations that are evenly enforced,” the statement reads. “We will not fix these problems … with division and performance art. I will bring a new leadership style to the Board, one devoid of negativity, false promises and political posturing.”
District 3
Wilson
Up in the 3rd District, incumbent Mike Wilson is seeking a third term, following nine years on the board of the Humboldt County Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District.
In his re-election campaign announcement, Wilson cites his work “to increase safe and walk-able neighborhoods, protect cherished open landscapes, create affordable housing, increase renewable energy production, and expand emergency and long-term mental health services.”
Gomez
Wilson’s lone challenger is Rogelio “Roy” Gomez, owner of Eureka cannabis dispensary Heart of the Emerald and a frequent commenter at Eureka City Council meetings, where he has accused several members of being “undemocratic anarchists” out to dismantle capitalism.
Reached by phone this morning, Gomez described himself as a “defector” from the Democratic party who’s frustrated by the country’s binary political polarization.
He said this division “sometimes restricts candidates from voting their conscience, as opposed to [following] party lines,” adding that he’s running as an independent.
The position of county supervisor is non-partisan, of course, but Gomez said the two-party system still influences county politics, with Wilson having connections to the Humboldt County Democrats.
Gomez said he looks forward to having a good conversation, rather than a debate, with Wilson, explaining, “As much as I want to call it a debate, I think Mike and I could discuss the issues [and] have a good community discussion about where we see our future.”
In his campaign announcement Gomez says “governing from the middle will allow me to build the consensus needed amongst my constituency to make decisions on behalf of ALL the people. If elected, I will promote the use of diplomacy, transparency, and ethical standards in our local government.”
