For many Californians, the proposal of a state-run single-payer health system remains a ‘pie-in-the-sky’ idea, and odds are it could remain that way, especially if leading advocates can’t agree on how to get there.

Democratic leaders and advocates who are looking to transform the current complex health care system are divided on their approach. On one side, a coalition of health, labor and civil rights advocacy groups is standing behind Senate Bill 770, which seeks an incremental path toward “unified financing,” where a statewide system would pay for health care for all residents. This could be single payer or a similar model. The bill would task a workgroup of experts and consumers to come up with next steps in advancing toward this goal and deliver a report to the Legislature by next June.

SB 770 also calls for the Newsom administration to engage the federal government, which would need to approve such a system in California, on this issue. The bill, authored by San Francisco’s Sen. Scott Wiener, is currently making its way through the Legislature — last week it received the green light from the Assembly Health Committee and is headed to a fiscal committee next.

On the other side, the California nurses union, a longtime driving force behind the single-payer movement, opposes Wiener’s bill, arguing it could derail its own legislation, Assembly Bill 1690. That two-year bill authored by Assemblyman Ash Kalra, a San Jose Democrat, would establish a single-payer system dubbed CalCare. The bill was introduced earlier this year, but won’t come up for a hearing until the next legislative session. There are currently no details in the CalCare bill, but union leaders said they are using their previous attempt at single payer, Assembly Bill 1400, as a starting point. AB 1400 died last year after its author, Kalra, opted not to take it up on the Assembly floor because he was short on votes.

Last week, Kalra joined the nurses union in publicly opposing Wiener’s bill, calling it a “detraction” from his and the nurses’ ongoing efforts.

With the full intention of moving forward with a single-payer policy bill in January, I respectfully express my opposition to SB 770 as further delay/detraction from our collective efforts to bring single-payer healthcare to California.
Statement link:https://t.co/uXIJYHUamC

— Ash Kalra 🌱 (@Ash_Kalra) June 26, 2023

Single payer has been politically dicey even in blue California because of pushback from the health industry, including health insurers and some physician groups, but also powerful business interests, such as the Chamber of Commerce, citing the tax hikes that would be needed to fund such a system. Still, the status quo costs too much and leaves too many people behind, experts and health advocates say.

Carmen Comsti, lead regulatory policy specialist with the California Nurses Association, said the two bills are conflicting because legislators can use Wiener’s bill as an excuse to vote down the bill backed by the nurses union next year.

“We do not believe the Legislature would pick up and pass single payer if they just authorized another work group to consider the program,” Comsti told CalMatters. Instead, it opens the door for legislators to say: “It’s too soon to talk about CalCare and single payer because we’re studying it,” she said.

“To get the Legislature to adopt a full blown single-payer program in one fell swoop has not proven to be viable politically.”
— Michael Lighty, president of the coalition sponsoring Wiener’s bill

But Wiener and those supporting his proposal see the two bills as complementary, not conflicting. For example, to carry out a single-payer system, California would need to eventually seek a waiver, or permission from the federal government, to skirt current rules that dictate how the state can spend federal health dollars. Wiener’s bill would start those conversations, the author said.

“If CalCare passes, then at that point California will go to the federal government and make waiver applications. The work here, having those discussions with the federal government will be helpful; it dovetails,” Wiener said during last week’s hearing.

Some Democrats who sit on the Assembly Health Committee noted they see Wiener’s bill as a way to get the ball rolling on single payer while they wait for wider support from their colleagues.

Kevin McCarty, a Sacramento Democrat, noted the nurses’ single-payer bill last year was “dramatically short” on votes. “It’s nowhere close,” McCarty said. “In the meantime, are we going to be purists or try to get more? That’s what I think (SB 770) is trying to do. I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive.”

Michael Lighty, president of the coalition sponsoring Wiener’s bill, said the point is to follow up on the findings from the Healthy California for All Commission, a group assembled by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The group’s work culminated last year in a 105-page report, but no action.

Lighty is a veteran in the single-payer movement and at one point worked as the director of public policy for the nurses union. The California Nurses Association is actually part of the health coalition he leads, but on this particular piece of legislation, they haven’t seen eye to eye.

Another main concern for the nurses union is the language used in the commission’s report and Wiener’s bill. “Unified financing does not equal single payer,” Comsti said. She argued that if “unified financing” includes programs that leave room for health insurers or any middlemen to profit, then that essentially goes against the single-payer system they’re seeking.

“There is this disagreement now and I hope in the future that rift heals, but we all want the same result. We want everyone to have true universal access to health care.”
— State Sen. Scott Wiener, Democrat from San Francisco

Lighty sees the language argument as an issue of nomenclature; ultimately both sides want the same outcome, he said. And after multiple failed attempts to get to single payer, perhaps it’s time for a new way in, he said.

“To get the Legislature to adopt a full blown single-payer program in one fell swoop has not proven to be viable politically,” Lighty told CalMatters.

By 2031 health care spending in California is projected to increase by $158 billion; a “unified finance” system can help slow down that growth, according to the Healthy California for All Commission report. Most importantly, extending coverage to all Californians could save about 4,000 lives a year, the report said.

“Folks on both sides of this bill have historically worked very closely together on expanding health care access,” Wiener said. “There is this disagreement now and I hope in the future that rift heals, but we all want the same result. We want everyone to have true universal access to health care.”

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Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

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

Charlene Rae Arruda passed away on June 16, 2023. Her prayers were answered when it was not her cancer that took her from this earth.

Charlene was born in Kingfisher on December 20, 1938 to James (J.C.) and Thelma Jacobs. Her family moved to California when she was three years old. The cute little blonde girl was popular with the soldiers on that train ride. So much so that she could remember the happy experience all her life.

Charlene met Alfred (Al) Arruda while she was still in high school and he was in the Marine Corp. Shortly after meeting they were married in 1956. They had two daughters, Jacquee (Hagans) and Sheila (Arruda-Russell). They moved to Eureka from the Sacramento area in 1970. It was here that the entire family found the miracle of God’s love and forgiveness. Many people’s lives were touched through Al & Charlene’s gift of hospitality. Charlene and Al were able to celebrate 50 years of marriage together and take their dream vacation to Alaska before Al passed away in 2007. Charlene missed being with her dance partner and traveling buddy.

Not only was Charlene a very caring mother and grandmother; but she was also very gifted. She was an excellent seamstress even sewing Jacquee’s wedding dress and able to display her creativity in the many quilts she made and enjoyed many types of crafts and painting. Besides teaching her girls how to be successful, confident women, she taught others as well. Charlene taught a 4-H cooking class, sewing to her children and local great grandchildren, craft projects with her grandchildren, and was a big support when two of her great grandchildren were being home schooled.

Charlene worked most of her life wearing many different hats throughout her career in addition to keeping the books for Al’s business adventures. Charlene was also an active member and volunteer at Bethel Church and Faith Center. She was willing to serve in any capacity needed from being a co-leader, to having a supportive role, and teaching preschoolers. Charlene was a great example of one who walked in forgiveness and with courage. Her loving support will truly be missed.

Charlene is survived by her brothers, Jerry & Bob Jacobs, and sister, Sheila Hoak; her daughters and their husbands, Jacquee & Duane Hagans and Sheila & Kevin Russell; three grandchildren and their spouses, April Hagans & Stephen Jones, Sean & Virginia Hagans, and Matthew & Ashley Russell; nine great-grandchildren: Samahri & Calvin Brice; Nico Hagans; Nolan, Kambria, Hudson & Malia Russell; and Shara and Nathan Jones; and her nephews and nieces whom she loved as well.

On Sunday July 23, 2023 at 3 p.m., a memorial service celebrating Charlene’s life will be held at Life House Church, 2734 Hubbard Lane in Eureka.

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John A. Soderholm of Eureka passed away after a long battle with cancer on June 16, 2023, surrounded by his surviving children. He was 75 years old.

John was born to Carl and Martha Soderholm on February 28, 1948 in Alexandria, Minnesota. He was the 6th child added to the large family of a total of seven children. He moved with his family to Eureka California at the young age of two where he grew to meet the love of his life Cheryl (Gabrielson) Soderholm and begin his own family. Together they adopted four children and fostered many more. John worked at the Simpson Mill in Arcata as a Grader, then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to further his career in communications where he retired as a Communications Manager at Santa Clara Valley Medical in 2011. He spent his retirement doing what he loved at his family cabin on the Trinity River in Hoopa, working in the yard and making friends.

Anyone who knew John knew he had a huge heart and always wanted to help his family and friends in whatever way he could. He was a kind soul who could see the good in anyone and took great pleasure in helping others.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Cheryl Soderholm (2005), his daughter Tanya Burson (2011) , daughter Donna Soderholm (2020), and three brothers and one sister. John is survived by two sisters Velma Erb and Ivalene Zimmerman, his son Shawn (Kat) Soderholm, son James (Jen) Soderholm, his grandchildren, Anthony Elneel, Breanna Soderholm, Christopher Soderholm, Laura Soderholm, James Soderholm II, Thomas Soderholm, Chase Soderholm, Chance Soderholm, bonus grandchildren Trent, Taryn, Trinity, and great granddaughter Violet Soderholm as well as several dear nieces and nephews.

Private, intimate services will be held by the immediate family at a later date.

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It is with great sadness that on June 29, 2023 we lost our family legend Antonio “Tony” Soares Lourenco, at home surrounded by the loving presence of his family. Tony was the seventh of twelve children born to Amelia and Jose Homem on October 15, 1934, in Terceira, Azores. His childhood was filled with many wonderful moments with his brothers and sisters and despite not having much wordly wealth he would always have gratitude for all of the immaterial wealth that was bestowed upon him.

As a child it became evident that soccer was his gift, (or maybe a curse!) He was notorious for sneaking away to play rather than helping in the fields that provided the family’s food. He felt dealing with the consequences he would face from his father was worth fulfilling his passion. His talent continued to develop and teammates from his Sport Club “Barreiro” in Portu Judeu, granted him the nickname “Finoca.” He became so legendary that fans in the Azores would still recognize him 30 years later and yell “Finoca! Finoca!” Photos of Tony still hang on the club wall.

In 1958 he emigrated from from the Azores to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he worked as a butcher with his brother Joe. His heart was full being reunited with several siblings there until in 1968 when he was sponsored by his beloved sister Gabriela and brother-in-law Robert Murphy and immigrated to the United States, settling in Arcata.

Upon moving to Arcata, he began his employment with Simpson Timber in Korbel, where he retired after 30 years. He was introduced to his future wife Judy by his sister Natalia. Tony and Judy were married on June 28, 1975, in Arcata at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They were blessed with two children, Anthony and Carlos. Tony was very proud of his children and enjoyed traveling with them.

Tony continued to play soccer in Arcata and in the early 1970s became part of the Club Team “Acoreano’s.” He was known as an intense mid-field player and was an excellent defender. His legendary status followed him everywhere. He was constantly stopped by past teammates, competitors, and fans up until his death and was always complimented on his soccer skills and sportsmanship. Tony hung up his cleats in his 70s, but continued to share his skills with his younger family members who followed in cleat-steps.

Family was everything to Tony. He adored his siblings and their families. He was put on this earth as a servant and serve he did. Tony was a family Uber and would take his sisters that did not drive to grocery shop, doctor’s appointments, and hair salons. He could always be counted on.

He had a natural ability to do anything he put his mind to. Although he was not formally trained, he could build, paint, landscape, and garden as well as any professional. His happiest days were to share those talents with the people he loved the most. It would be hard to find a family member’s home that did not have his finger prints on it.

Many may remember Tony as someone who was always in search of a good bargain or treasure. He loved thrifting and sharing his good finds with his loved ones.

Tony was the epitome of light, love, laughter and joy. He showed us all how to have fun, be goofy, live light-hearted, not take things too seriously, give everyone a great nick name, speak in code (onomatopoeia).

As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

He was preceded in the death by his wife Judy, father Jose and mother Amelia Homem, his sisters; Maria Jose DeMatos, Maria dos Santos Rafael, Natalia Oliveira, and Fatima Borges, his brothers; Manuel Homem and David Homem.

He is survived by his children; Anthony and Carlos Lourenco. His siblings; Gabriela Murphy, Jose Homem (Gloria), Fernando Lourenco (Jorlanda), Durvalina Machado, Avelino Homem (Ana), In-laws; John DeMatos, Maria de Lourdes Homem, and Ana Paula Homem. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews that lost their “favorite Uncle Tony.”

A recitation of the Rosary will be said at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 6th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Arcata with The Mass of Christian burial immediately following at 11 a.m. Internment immediately following at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

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PREVIOUSLY:

• Suspect in Tonight’s McK Homicide Named; Residents Urged to be Vigilant

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Search efforts continued today, July 4, 2023, for the suspect of a homicide yesterday evening in McKinleyville.

Jasen Dwain Coley, age 26, is suspected of fatally shooting an adult male victim outside of a home on the 2200 block of Silverbrook Court. Late last night, law enforcement located the vehicle believed to be associated with Coley parked and unoccupied on Trinidad Frontage Road near the Strawberry Rock Trailhead.

Since last night, ground and air crews have been searching the Strawberry Rock area for any signs of Coley. Resources utilized during this search include tracking K9s, HCSO and CAL FIRE unmanned aerial systems (UAS), California Highway Patrol air resources, and rangers with California State Parks and the National Park Service. Despite an extensive search, Coley has not been located. At this time, HCSO investigators have scaled-back the search of Strawberry Rock and the investigation is ongoing.

McKinleyville and Trinidad residents are asked to take extra precautions such as locking all doors to your residence and not opening your door to strangers. Please report any suspicious persons or circumstances immediately to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251, ext. 0.

Jasen Coley is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, heavy-set, with brown hair, brown eyes and facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, dark pants and a light-colored hat. He may be in possession of a rifle or a shotgun.

Anyone with information about Jasen Coley’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

DOWNLOAD WANTED FLYER

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Jasen Dwain Coley

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the suspect of a homicide occurring in McKinleyville Monday evening.

The suspect, 26-year-old Jasen Dwain Coley, is wanted in connection to a fatal shooting on July 3, 2023, outside a residence on the 2200 block of Silverbrook Court. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the home at about 5:25 p.m. where they located a deceased adult male with a gunshot wound.

Coley is reported to have fled the scene. Deputies were contacted by residents in the Hiller Park area reporting a suspicious person matching Coley’s description. Despite extensive search efforts, including air support from the California Highway Patrol, law enforcement was unable to locate Coley.

Jasen Coley is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, heavy-set, with brown hair, brown eyes and facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, dark pants and a light-colored hat. He may be in possession of a rifle or a shotgun.

Coley may be associated with a dark blue 2016 Hyundai Elantra, Tennessee license plate # 015BKGM.

McKinleyville residents are asked take extra precautions such as locking all doors to your residence and not opening your door to strangers. Please report any suspicious persons or circumstances immediately to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251, ext. 0.

This case is still under investigation. Identity of the deceased is being withheld pending next of kin notifications. More information will be released when available and appropriate.

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Justin Legge is a passionate local naturalist who wants to share his love of Humboldt’s natural beauty with, well, just about anyone. 

In the last decade, he’s led hundreds of tours throughout Northern California, ranging from kayak outings on Trinidad Harbor, botanical tours of the Lanphere Dunes Preserve, backpacking excursions in the Trinity Alps to guided forest therapy experiences among some of the tallest, oldest trees in the world.  He regularly leads guided tours through Redwood National and State Parks in the northern reaches of the county. But try as he might he isn’t able to take his business down to Humboldt Redwoods State Park along Avenue of the Giants because he cannot obtain the required permits.

“I’m just completely roadblocked from doing anything. It’s out of control,” Legge told the Outpost in a recent interview. “There is precedent for California State Parks allowing and permitting guides to do private guided experiences. … I’m just trying to do this for my community because I love this place, and I feel this policy is detrimental to the protection, education and conservation of the redwoods.”

It all started about three years ago, when Legge was hired on as the general manager of the Benbow KOA and tour director and lead naturalist at the Benbow Historic Inn, just south of Garberville. Working alongside his employer, John Porter, Legge planned to build a vibrant naturalist program and tourism experience for folks visiting the region. That’s when he made his first attempt to bring private guided tours to Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

He applied for a Special Event Permit, but it was denied. Undeterred, he applied for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit. Months later, that application was denied as well.

“I was told that [the CUA permit] application – which I found on their website – doesn’t actually exist anymore,” Legge said. “I was told on another occasion that they never had the permit, that it was not a thing they ever offered. … It soon became painfully obvious to me that this challenge would not be surmountable, or at least not at that time. But let me tell you, I don’t know if it will ever be surmountable.”

Legge seems to be more than qualified to lead tours in the park, having worked in several positions as an educational tour guide and as an interpretive ranger with U.S. Forest Service. He’s studied outdoor recreation at Cal Poly Humboldt and is a certified naturalist through the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. He’s also served as an emergency medical technician and a wilderness first responder. So, what gives?

Legge

According to California State Parks spokesperson Adeline Yee, Legge is seeking the wrong permit. Humboldt Redwoods State Park “does not fall under the National Park Service’s [Commercial Use Authorization] CUA agreement,” she said.

“The three state parks – Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Parks and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park – within Redwood National and State Parks are co-managed by the National Park Service, and therefore, permits are issued by the National Park Service for these three park units,” Yee wrote in an email to the Outpost. “The National Park Service has agreements in place that are different than State Parks, including the CUA. CUAs allow for guided experiences to occur within park boundaries, but all business activities, including the collection of fees, occur outside of park boundaries.”

Legge acknowledged that CUA agreements are “not standard” in California State Parks, however, “there are multitudes of State Parks that enable commercial use permits for activities – such as guided tours – [through] a Special Event Permit,” he said. “I have spoken to outfitters at Mt. Diablo State Park and Crystal Cove State Park that have explained the same process. This is possible.”

Aaron Ostrom, co-owner of Pacific Outfitters and Bigfoot Adventure Academy, has encountered the same issues. Like Legge, his business is authorized to operate within the northern parks but he hasn’t had any luck getting permitted to operate in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

“We’ve tried to get permits from [Humboldt Redwoods State Park] similar to the other parks but we’re met with roadblock after roadblock,” Ostrom said during a recent interview. “I’ve done some research with Justin [Legge], and it’s not clear why there isn’t a straightforward permit process for guided tours at this park. … Other parks have come up with a permit process that works within the boundary lines and the guidelines that they have. We’re just trying to get set up here.”

Ostrom recognized the park’s obligation to protect its natural and cultural resources but pointed out the irony in the park’s refusal to allow private guided tours while simultaneously allowing tourists to wander around the park unsupervised.

“There are tour buses that show up to that park and they drop off 50 or 60 people at a time with no guide and that’s okay, but doing guided tours with one to six people where there’s a guide to help supervise isn’t,” he said. “All of a sudden, there are issues with parking lots full of people and trail erosion. It’s just kind of a head-scratcher. All of our guides – all of the guides that I know – are out there being good stewards of the environment. These are the people who you want as allies. They’re assets to these parks and they’re being treated like liabilities.”

After months of back and forth with state parks staff, Legge was eventually told he could submit a concession proposal to provide guided tours for district evaluation. Concessionaires offer services and goods that the state cannot otherwise provide, ranging from full-service restaurants and retail sales to educational programs and tours.

To apply, the interested party is required to submit a concession proposal, launching a request for proposals (RFP) or bid process “which establishes fair market rent for the specific concession opportunity,” according to California State Parks. Concessions can be proposed by a member or the public, an entrepreneur or corporation, a district superintendent, a legislative mandate, or a local agency under an existing operating agreement with State Parks.

Legge submitted a proposal. It was not accepted.

According to Yee, the State Parks spokesperson, all concessions proposals and special event permit requests are evaluated by the district superintendent or their designee and “may be denied for a range of reasons, including if the service is already being provided by district staff, as is the case with tours at Humboldt Redwoods State Park.”

Reached for additional comment on the matter, North Coast Redwoods District Superintendent Victor Bjelajac said educational tours are already provided by park staff.

“What these folks are trying to do with guided walks is a service that we already provide,” he continued. “In our busy season, we provide interpretive programming all over the place, which includes guided tours. … When we ask somebody to provide services it’s because we can’t. When we do provide those services – which we do – and allow somebody to come in and compete, we get into bargaining unit problems and take away State Park jobs that are already occupied.”

Bjelajac said he would be willing to talk to Legge more about his proposal “if it’s a service that we don’t provide and it’s a benefit to the public.” He noted that there are no concessions businesses currently operating within the park, adding that he has not received any proposals – from Legge or anyone else – to do so.

“They were told many times that they [could] develop a proposal for a concession agreement,” he said. “They said, ‘That’s too much work. We’re not going to do that.’ … I think Mr. Legge is aware of the CUA mechanism that National Parks has and he wants to go through an easier process but … we don’t have that tool.”

Legge pushed back against Bjelajac’s claim, asserting that the park refused to accept his application.

“They have denied the starting of the process multiple times to multiple different people, including myself,” he said. “Officially, sure, I guess they can say they have not ‘officially denied a concessions application’ because they are refusing to accept any. I have requested, and been denied multiple times.”

For that very reason, Legge feels a concessionaire agreement “just doesn’t make sense” for private guided tours, adding that “it’s too similar” to the services already being provided by the state.

“I feel like they’re just making us run in circles,” he said. “I understand that, as the superintendent, this is his park. He has a right to have a prohibitive policy, but please just say, ‘This is not happening,’ and stop playing this game of ‘you can do this, you can try that.’ It’s actually pretty uncommon to have a parks superintendent be 100 percent prohibitive.”

A prohibitive policy has implications beyond the park’s borders. 

Increased tourism opportunities at Humboldt Redwoods State Park could provide a much-needed shot in the arm for Southern Humboldt communities struggling to stay afloat following the collapse of the local cannabis industry. 

“Humboldt Redwoods State Park is our number one tourist draw and we cannot use it,” Legge said. “I can’t even quantify really the economic value of what we lose.”

Legge reached out to Gregg Foster, executive director of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, to try to get a better idea of the economic benefits of growing tourism in the region. He couldn’t offer a specific dollar amount, but he emphasized that the park is “an important asset to the tourist economy in Southern Humboldt.”

“I believe that the state does have a responsibility to consider the economic health of the communities that are adjacent to and surrounded by the park,” Foster said. “Many of these communities are suffering from the crash of the cannabis economy, which was brought on, in large part, by poor regulatory and tax policy at the state level. While the State Parks may not have played a role in this policy, I do believe that all state agencies are part of a greater whole and, as such, have a responsibility in supporting the health of our communities.”

The more robust services are offered to tourists, the better it will be for the economy as a whole, he added.

“State Parks resources are spread thin and I do believe they are doing the best they can with what they have, but the state should seek ways to be a good neighbor by including local businesses and communities in their plans and services,” Foster said. “It’s not enough to just invest in park assets, I believe that active and authentic engagement with the communities that they affect is necessary as well. The state should not only care about the natural resources of the park, they should also care about the communities surrounded by and adjacent to park lands.”

Legge and Ostrom have also brought this matter to the attention of local and state elected officials. The two met with state Senator Mike McGuire last month to try to find a resolution to the permitting issue. When asked how the meeting went, Legge said, “It was interesting.”

“They had a [separate] meeting with the park people – the superintendents and the higher-ups – and they told them things that they’ve never told us that seemed very incongruent to the conversation,” Legge continued. “The one thing that I’m stuck on is [parks staff] saying that they never had [the CUA] permit, that it is not a thing that they ever offered. But it was uploaded to their site to be filled out. … They told Senator McGuire’s office that it was uploaded by a rogue employee that never got permission to do that and that never should have been published.”

The CUA permit application, which was downloaded by Legge sometime in 2020 or 2021 and shared with the Outpost, looks to be a standard document. “Commercial Use Humboldt Redwoods Park” is denoted in the upper right corner of the application, so it appears to be specific to the park.

However, Bjelajac maintains that the “mechanisms haven’t changed.” 

“I understand what he wants to do and there just aren’t mechanisms for what he wants,” Bjelajac continued. “It has been very clear and it’s been explained to him many times over the last few years.”

When asked for additional information on the recent meeting, McGuire said he would continue to work with park staff on the issue in the coming months.

“Knowing the special importance of Humboldt Redwoods’ world-famous beauty and world-renowned ecosystem, we are working to ensure its long-term protection while providing consistency and equal opportunity for visitors in our beloved State Parks,” McGuire wrote in a statement to the Outpost. “We have met with prospective tour guide operators as well as state park officials – and we all want the same thing – to provide the best experience possible for Park visitors.”

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Hat tip to SFGATE reporter Ashley Harrell who originally reported on this story.