Good morning, everyone! It is a pleasure to have you all here with us today. I want to take this opportunity to welcome and honor California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and thank her for visiting Humboldt County to hear from the community and the Board of Supervisors on the challenges and opportunities in Humboldt County.

Ms. Ma is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position, and her presence brings with it an incredible sense of possibility and hope. She is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when we come together and work for the common good.

The Bible tells us that when we work together, all things are possible. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, it says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

We come together today to take on the challenges and opportunities in our county as a unified force. Together, we can make a bigger impact, accomplish more, and create a brighter future for our community. We are stronger when we work together, and we can achieve great things.

Let us all strive to be a part of the solution and work together to create a better future for our community. Let us remember that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves, and that we can make a difference when we come together.

Thank you all for being here today. God bless.

— LoCOBot