If you remember, a couple of years ago — in January 2022, to be precise — the city of Eureka traded a couple of its downtown parking lots (including the one in front of City Hall) to Redwood Capital Bank. In return, the bank acquired rights to a few parcels up by Winco and signed those over to the city. Thus did the city seek to calm the first wave of people panicking over the conversion of downtown parking lots to affordable housing.

It didn’t work, but that’s another story.

The story today is that the city is returning to the subject of “Sunset Heights,” which is what it has taken to calling the 80-unit housing complex it’s looking to get built up there above Broadway, between Harris and Henderson streets. 

Do you have concerns? What are they? What would you like the buildings to look like — should they blend into the community or should they stand out? 

These are just some of the questions that the city would like your answers to. To that end there’ll be a public meeting specifically on the question on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Eureka City Hall (531 K Street). Representatives from the city and the developer will be there, and they’ve scheduled a presentation and a Q&A session.

Also, the city would like to get your feedback on the project via this online poll. Click it! It’s quick and fun.

Press release from the City of Eureka follows:

The City of Eureka and Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation (RCHDC) are seeking public input on the design of an upcoming multi-family housing development at 1200 West Harris Avenue (Sunset Heights). Please join the City and RCHDC for a public meeting on the project on Wednesday, November 15th at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers, 2nd Floor of City Hall, 531 K Street.

Also, please visit eurekaca.gov/sunset-heights for meeting details including how to participate via Zoom, a link to an online survey, and information on how to join the project mailing list.

For further questions please contact Development Services – Planning at planning@eurekaca.gov or (707) 441-4160.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Eureka City Council Approves Land Swap With Pierson Company, Will Develop Housing Near Winco Instead of on Three Downtown Parking Lots

More than 2 million people ages 16 to 24 are working in California — about the same as the population of Houston — making up 12% of the workforce. They comprise a critical portion of the state’s economy, according to a new report by the UCLA Labor Center.

But many young people earned low wages, worked long hours — often while going to school — and lacked sufficient worker protections and benefits. These hardships may impact their financial future and the state’s economy for years to come, said researchers who examined the years surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019 to 2021.

“Young people are critical actors in California’s vibrant economy and labor force,” says the study, released today. “Yet, young workers in California find themselves navigating a tumultuous landscape of societal shifts, economic challenges, and the lingering aftermath of a global pandemic.”

About 64% of California’s young workers earned low wages — defined as about $18 an hour, two-thirds of the median wage — and 60% reported difficulty affording their expenses, researchers wrote.

The assumption that young people work at service-oriented, low-wage jobs temporarily before they’re propelled to full-time careers isn’t necessarily true, said UCLA researcher Vivek Ramakrishnan. Many young people stay in low-wage jobs for years.

“When we’re looking at the data, we’re seeing young people are really struggling in these kinds of roles,” he said, adding later, “There’s a sense you can get stuck working in the service industry.”

The report analyzed data from multiple sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the COVID-19 Household Pulse Survey — which documented the impact of the pandemic — and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Young workers reflect California’s growing diversity. About 3 in 4 are people of color and more than half are Latino. About 15% of high school-aged young people worked full time and half of young people ages 19 to 24 worked full time.

Young workers’ trap

In the service industry, 40% of young workers are employed in bars, restaurants and retail.

These young people run the risk of being caught in a “circular labor trap,” the study says, because these low-wage service jobs are structured with little room for growth or skill development.

“When you have these skill sets that are hyper-specific toward these industries, and not much room for growth, it’s hard to compete against students who may take an unpaid internship in a very content-specific area of expertise and gain connections in the career they want to go into,” Ramakrishnan said.

Because so many service industry jobs were considered frontline jobs, the pandemic was particularly disruptive for young people, who often had to choose between their health and their income. And when grocers and restaurant businesses closed during the pandemic, younger workers, especially young people of color, experienced higher levels of unemployment or underemployment compared to older workers in other industries.

In 2020, the unemployment rate for California’s young workers increased to 18% from 9% the year before. That was twice the rate of workers ages 25 to 64.

Unemployment among young people has since rebounded to pre-pandemic levels at 8.7% nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While many young people are stuck in lower-wage jobs, the research suggests they are contributing significantly to their household income. And about 12% of young workers are heads of households, according to the report.

Young workers are overrepresented in households living below the poverty line compared to those over the age of 25. About 14% of young workers lived in poverty compared to 5% of older workers, according to the report. A third lived in households with incomes below 200% the federal poverty line. That number in 2021 was $53,000 for a family of four.

Working through school

Along with responsibility for helping family members cover basic expenses, young people often have to balance work with education, in pursuit of a better future.

About half of young workers go to school. and about 40% of them worked 15 to 29 hours a week, the report says. One-fourth of workers in high school, and more than half in college, worked 20 hours or more a week. And about 17% of young workers worked 40 hours or more weekly.

Postsecondary education became more essential for a stable career, yet with education costs increasing, it was less accessible for young people, according to the report.

From 2018 to 2020, the share of California high school graduates enrolled in postsecondary education within 12 months fell from 65% to 63%, according to the study.

While nearly all racial and ethnic groups experienced declines in college matriculation, Black college-going rates plunged from 61% to 55%, and American Indian and Alaska Native rates dropped from 53% to 47%.

Nationally postsecondary enrollment began rebounding last fall, though study researchers said they don’t know yet if that’s the case in California.

Meanwhile, from 2019 to 2020, young peoples’ average student loan amount increased from $6,847 to $10,000.

On-the-job training?

One in 3 jobs in California requires some college education, the study notes. Yet as higher education costs and student debt climbed, job earnings haven’t kept up.

Aside from education, researchers found other pathways toward higher paying jobs and careers also are not very accessible to young people.

For instance, trade apprenticeships are significantly underutilized. In 2022, there were about 80,000 federally registered apprenticeships in California, but only 24,000 were filled, the study said.

Latino workers held the majority of apprenticeships, 66%, while Black young people held 4%. Most apprenticeships went to young men, 94%, while young women held 6%.

Many apprenticeships are linked to unions. While surveys show young people are more pro-union than ever, they’re underrepresented in unionized jobs. Just 9% of young workers are union members, compared to 19% of older workers.

Ramakrishnan said the data paints a “scary” picture of the realities young people face, but it also highlights some areas where policy changes can help.

He noted that Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a measure by Assemblymember Liz Ortega, a Democrat from Hayward, that directs California high schools to educate students about workers’ rights and the labor movement.

There’s a need for other career programs that offer young people training and school credit, Ramakrishnan said.

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

Dottie Lee passed away in Eureka on October 4, 2023. She was the daughter of the late Tom and Della Chappelle. Born on November 8, 1947, she was a graduate of Eureka High and lived the majority of her life in Eureka.

Dottie worked many years for Pacific Bell, where she started as a telephone switchboard operator, and later worked for AT&T, with assignments in Bakersfield and Santa Rosa, as well as Eureka. She also worked for NCI, O&M Industries and Renner Petroleum as a financial officer. Her last employment was with Hensel Hardware in Arcata.

Dottie was a member and President of Soroptimist International of Humboldt Bay and a member of Humboldt Sponsors. She made many friends in both organizations and enjoyed their service to our community. She was also treasurer for both groups.

Dottie was raised as a Presbyterian, but she became a Catholic and found strength in her faith. She attended Cursillo, where she enjoyed sharing her faith and friendship with the people who organized and experienced the program.

Dottie had an extended family. Her brother Tom Chappelle (Jane), Darlene Dungan (Casey), brother Bob, and sister Roseanne and their families were important to her. Her cousin Lee Chappelle (Renee) and Marie Garick (Clyde) and their children were often in her thoughts. Her cousin Jim (Darlene) was too. She recently got to spend special time with her niece Jocelyn Taylor.

Dottie always had a special place in her heart for her nephew Nathan, his wife Karen and their children Hudson and Haley. Military service meant they were stationed in many different areas, but she always kept up with them.

Her Aunt Donna Peterson, her uncle Bob Lewis and his wife Edie were very special people in her life. She enjoyed holidays and family times with them.

Dottie was married to Brian Lee for more than 20 years, and she treasured the times they shared with his daughter Tracy.

Dottie always had a tender heart for animals. She had many dogs and cats over the years. Her last kitty was very dear to her: Toby. She rescued him from the Sequoia Humane Society shelter, and she spoiled him every day.

There are no formal memorial services planned for Dottie. If you wish to make a donation in her memory, please send them to the Sequoia Humane Society, 6073 Loma Ave., Eureka or Humboldt Sponsors, PO Box 444, Eureka 95502.

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Well into the ninth hour of Tuesday’s protracted Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting, the supes voted 3-1, with First District Supervisor Rex Bohn absent and Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone dissenting, to direct staff to prepare a county finance-related measure for March primary election ballots.

If passed, the measure would combine the offices of the county auditor-controller and its treasurer-tax collector into a single Department of Finance, whose director would be appointed by the board.

Attentive voters with good memories may recall being asked to consider exactly this proposal back in 2016, via Measures Q and R, with Q asking whether voters wanted the two finance positions combined into one while R asked whether the director of such a department should be elected or appointed. 

Q wound up failing by a margin of roughly 54 percent to 46 percent, making the answer to R irrelevant. However, after the tumultuous tenure of former Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez, the Board of Supervisors last year decided to take another run at it, directing staff to start working on a new version of the measure.

Staff’s recommended ballot language for the do-over, presented in a staff report yesterday, goes as follows:

Humboldt County Fiscal Accountability and Financial Management Act.
To maintain stringent fiscal accountability standards and ensure the Treasurer/County Auditor is professionally trained/qualified, shall the County of Humboldt consolidate the offices of Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector into one department led by an appointed, professionally qualified Director of Finance responsible for:

• making only authorized and legal payments;
• ensuring timely and accurate property tax billing and payments; and
• requiring posting of monthly financial reports for public review?

Board discussion on the item began with a presentation from representatives of a pair of public polling firms, FM3 Research and the Lew Edwards Group, which recently conducted interviews with 661 likely voters, asking their opinions on a range of issues, including county finance matters, transportation and other key concerns.

According to the results, respondents are most concerned about homelessness, drug use and the cost of housing, with road conditions being a lower priority.

Another poll question found that a majority of likely voters are concerned about waste and inefficiency in local government while traffic safety concerns ranked much lower. (The results have a four percent margin of error, according to Curtis Below of FM3.)

The polling results were designed to inform the board’s decisions on two potential ballot measures: one regarding the potential consolidation of county finance offices and another regarding a potential new revenue measure — either a retail sales tax designed to finance road repairs and general county services or special purpose tax measure to generate revenues specifically earmarked for roads and transportation.

In California, “special purpose” taxes require 66.67 percent voter approval to pass whereas “general” tax measures need just a simple majority. However, the higher threshold could soon be lowered for some specific projects. A statewide ballot measure set to appear in March, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1, will ask voters whether new special taxes and bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects should require only 55 percent approval to pass. County staff said that’s one reason why it might make sense to wait until next November for a roads tax.

On Tuesday, the board had to decide not only which route to take with each of the two potential measures but also whether to place them on March 2024 primary ballots or the November General Election ballots.

Public Works Director Tom Mattson spoke to the need for road maintenance funds.

“Our roads are in bad shape and getting in worse shape,” he told the board, and he reminded them that a 2016 retail tax measure aimed at funding road repairs narrowly failed at the ballot box. Mattson said he’s committed to working with the county and educating voters before they’re asked again to consider such a tax, likely next November.

During the public comment period, leaders of local environmental groups urged the board to include funding for public transit in any transportation-related ballot measure.

Colin Fiske, executive director of the Coalition for Responsible transportation Priorities (CRTP), said a coalition of local groups “will oppose any growth road tax measure that fails to include public transit and other work to decarbonize transportation.”

Caroline Griffith, executive director of the Northcoast Environmental Center, backed up Fiske’s stance, and she questioned whether the polling results were skewed by improper framing of the issues, particularly the connection between public transit and climate change.

Addressing the proposed consolidation of county finance offices, Treasurer-Tax Collector Amy Christensen said she’s opposed to the idea.

“I firmly believe that the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office needs to remain independent and that the Treasurer-Tax Collector should be elected by the people of Humboldt County,” Christensen said.

Mychal Evenson, who serves as the county’s deputy auditor-controller but stressed that he was speaking purely as an individual, agreed with her.

“There’s important internal control differences between the Treasurer-Tax Collector and the Auditor-Controller,” he said. “They need to stay apart. If they get combined … it opens up opportunities for fraud.”

However, Arcata resident Kate Shea Ennis suggested that an appointed finance director position might attract more qualified candidates.

”We’ve experienced recently what can happen when we have someone who’s less than qualified in a position of power, and the absence of necessary, required documents really jeopardizes funding for the most vulnerable in our communities,” she said. “And so it really is a very important issue to all of us, and one that should appear on the ballot.”

The board spent a good deal of time debating the substance and timing of the two potential ballot measures, trying to agree when, how and whether to present the matters to the voting public.

Madrone stated at the outset of the discussion that he would not support a ballot measure asking voters to combine the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office and Auditor-Controller’s office into a single Department of Finance. But he did propose getting a roads measure on the March ballot.

Mattson and other county staffers suggested that it would be better to take more time crafting a transportation-funding initiative, allowing time for staff to get public feedback that could inform the language of a ballot measure. County Administrative Officer Elishia Hayes said it will take “an incredible amount of work” to prepare a transportation funding measure, whereas staff has been working on the finance measure since last year.

Deputy County Administrative Officer Sean Quincey addressed concerns about the independence and accountability that a county director of finance would have, noting that it would be a state-regulated position subject to annual audits.

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson said there are “cogent and real arguments” on both sides of the debate, and he said it makes sense for voters to make the decision. However, he did observe that some fiscal management professionals may not want to pursue elected office.

”I do understand that it’s hard to recruit for these positions, but I don’t see [how] requiring someone to go through an electoral process expands our recruitment,” Wilson said.

“Elections are scary,” Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell agreed. “And so some people just don’t have it in their wheelhouse.”

Madrone pushed back, saying he doesn’t think a unified Department of Finance is needed, and he reiterated his call to get a roads-funding measure on the March ballot, despite the pressure it would put on staff. (The county would need to finalize the language of a ballot measure by December 8 to meet the county Elections Office deadline for the March primary, and there are only two Board of Supervisors meetings between now and then.)

Wilson wound up making a motion to adopt staff’s recommendation, which was to move forward with placing the Department of Finance measure on the March ballot and to continue community outreach for a tax revenue measure in the fall.

Madrone wound up voting “no” due to his opposition to establishing a Department of Finance. Bohn was out of town representing the county at a National Association of Counties meeting and thus did not vote.

The motion passed 3-1, though the board won’t finalize the finance-related ballot measure until a future meeting.

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If you’re planning to pay a visit to the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Social Services Branch on Koster Street in Eureka anytime soon, you may want to mask up or even wait a while. The site is currently understaffed due to a major COVID outbreak.

“Social Services Koster Building A is under CalOSHA ‘major outbreak’ status, due to a high number of employees with COVID,” Christine Messinger, DHHS spokesperson, wrote in an email to the Outpost Wednesday afternoon. “CalOSHA defines a ‘major outbreak’ as 20 or more employee COVID cases in an exposed group who visited the worksite during their infectious period within a 30-day period.” 

The sign currently posted on the door of Building A

Messinger said that the worksite will remain in “outbreak status” until one or fewer new COVID cases are detected in the exposed group over a 14-day period, as is outlined in the California Code of Regulations for COVID-19 outbreaks. So it’s hard to say how long the current state of affairs will continue.

The site, which offers assistance with benefit programs like CalFresh and Medi-Cal, is continuing to operate through the outbreak, and a sign has been posted on the door letting people know about the large number of COVID cases, recommending that they mask while inside the building. Messinger added that “mandatory masking for staff’ has also been implemented, as well as “other mitigation measures.” 

DHHS wants to advise people that, because so many employees are out with COVID, the site is also very understaffed and people should expect wait times to be longer, both at the Koster Street building and at the call center. 

If at all possible, you might want to first try getting assistance with CalFresh, Medi-Cal, etc. at BenefitsCal.com, before you try to call or visit the site. 

Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

Oppen.

On November 7th, 2023, Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents served a search warrant at the residence of Lander Oppen (Age 33) located in 300 block of Quail Valley Rd. in Eureka. After a multi-week investigation, the HCDTF believed Oppen was in possession of large quantities of Cocaine and Ketamine for the purpose of sales.

Upon arrival at the residence, agents located Oppen on the property where he was detained without incident. Agents also located and detained William Robert Briggs (Age 46), inside of the main residence.

Once the scene was secure, agents began searching Oppen’s residence. In the garage area, agents located approximately 1.2 pounds of Ketamine, 8.8 ounces of MDMA (Methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine), 2.5 ounces of MDA (Methylendioxy-Amphetamine), ½ ounce of cocaine, 6 vials of LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), 3 pounds of dried psilocybin mushrooms, 7.5 ounces of Psilocybin gummies, 38 Psilocybin capsules, 61 tablets of Diazepam, over $27,000 in US Currency, packaging materials, and digital scales.

Briggs.

Agents also searched a bedroom that Briggs was believed to be residing in. During the search, agents located a Polymer 80, 9mm handgun. The 9mm handgun was non-serialized and equipped with a threaded barrel.

Oppen was transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked for the following charges:

• 11378 HS Possession of a controlled substance for sales
• 11366 HS Operating/maintaining a drug house
• 11351(A) HS Possession of narcotics for sales

Briggs was transported the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked on the following charges:

• 30605 PC Possession of an assault weapon
• 32000 PC Illegal manufacturing of a firearm

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Fatal Crash Near Henderson Center Closes I Street
• Another Two-Car Collision on Henderson Sends Three to the Hospital
• And Yet Another Crash in Eureka Has Closed One Lane of Broadway

Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire and the Eureka Police Department:

Humboldt Bay Fire and Eureka Police Department would like to address the recent traffic collisions on Henderson Street. We have seen a total of five traffic collisions since the morning of November 7th. Three of those traffic accidents occurred on Henderson Street with one resulting in a fatality.

Humboldt Bay Fire and Eureka Police Department would like to remind everyone to please slow down in residential areas and be aware on one-way streets. It is important to obey all traffic laws such as coming to a full stop at all stop signs and traffic lights. As well as slowing down for construction zones and amber signals.

According to the National Safety Council speeding was a factor in 29% of fatality accidents in 2022. It is important to stay vigilant of the speed limit as well as other drivers. Henderson Street has a speed limit of 30 miles per hour unless in a school zone. Distracted driving was a factor in 8.2% of fatal traffic accidents according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. This includes the use of handheld devices; distracted driving is a primary cause of major injury crashes involving teens.

This is a great opportunity for the community as a whole to commit to safe driving practices including following the speed limit and keeping those cell phones away while behind the wheel. Safety is our highest priority and our condolences go out to the family of yesterday’s victim.