‘Bad Optics’ Hang Over Auditor-Controller Contract

By Thadeus Greenson on May 18, 2022 at 8:49AM

The issue first bubbled into public view during a special April 4 meeting of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors at which the board voted unanimously to censure Paz Dominguez based on a pair of outside investigations — one launched in 2018 and the other in 2021 — that sustained allegations Paz Dominguez had engaged in retaliatory, harassing and abusive behavior with county staff. During a staff report to the board, Chair Virginia Bass asked County Administrative Officer Eilishia Hayes what kind of coaching and mentoring services the county had brought in to aid Paz Dominguez, and then followed up to ask Hayes specifically about “coaching” provided by a firm “that’s not something that went through the normal contract process.” Hayes responded that she hadn’t “been privy” to the contract in question with the firm Edge Caliber, owned by Danny Kelley, which, as the county’s purchasing agent, she said she “typically” would be.

Arcata Council Strips Defiant Watson of Assignments, Limits Access to Staff

By Thadeus Greenson on May 17, 2022 at 9:25PM

so much” and was “going to be depressed” in her absence. In another, he texted, “You mean so much to me.” He also said there were “many” examples of the employee giving him marital advice.

Cal Poly Humboldt Honors Betty Kwan Chinn During Commencement

By Thadeus Greenson on May 16, 2022 at 5:46PM

Artist, Poet, Activist and Karuk Ceremonial Singer Brian Tripp has Died

By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on May 16, 2022 at 3:38PM

After a long and painful battle with illness, 77-year-old Brian D. Tripp, born in Eureka and raised in Klamath, died May 13. A nationally renowned artist whose work echoed traditional forms in painting and sculpture, Tripp was the 2018 recipient of the California Living Heritage Award from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts.

Fortuna High Teacher Charged with Four Felonies in Molestation Case

By Thadeus Greenson on May 14, 2022 at 10:35AM

The criminal complaint prosecutors filed last week includes four felony counts of committing a “lewd and lascivious act” upon a child with “the intent of arousing, appealing to, and gratifying the lust, passions and sexual desires of the defendant,” violations of California Penal Code section 288(c)(1). The counts are related to four specific acts of alleged sexual assault against three girls between March 30 and April 2, including an instance in which Landergen is accused of grabbing one of the girls’ buttocks and telling her, “I love you.”

Arcata Council to Consider Restraining Order, Censure of Watson

By Kimberly Wear on May 13, 2022 at 4:01PM

According to the staff report, the employment counsel’s office notified Watson of the report’s findings on April 26 and “additional allegations of inappropriate conduct” against him by additional staff members, including sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment,” and that the city was “duty bound” to take actions to protect staff members from “the complained of behavior and to ensure that such conduct does not repeat itself.” At that time, the staff report states, Watson was advised that the city “requested that he immediately cease certain activities,” including contact with any staff member outside of council meetings.

'Earth on Top' Initiative Qualifies for Arcata Ballot

By Thadeus Greenson on May 13, 2022 at 2:15PM

The Humboldt County Elections Department informed us yesterday that we had gathered a sufficient number of valid signatures on our petition to qualify for the November ballot in Arcata. The initiative directs the City of Arcata to fly the Earth flag at the top of all city-owned flagpoles, above the US and California flags.

Photos: Celebrating Charlie Moon, Chinatown and the Year of the Tiger

By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on May 10, 2022 at 5:05PM

The rain held off Saturday afternoon as a grateful crowd gathered by Dave Kim's mural "Fowl" on E Street between Fourth and Fifth streets for a ribbon cutting ceremony for Charlie Moon Way. The street sign on the alley bisecting the block where Eureka's Chinatown stood pays homage to Moon, one of the Chinese residents who resisted and remained in Humboldt County after a white mob expelled most Chinese in 1885 under threat of hanging.

Voter Guide Contains Error on Arcata City Council Race

By Kimberly Wear on May 6, 2022 at 2:27PM

Heads up, Arcata voters. There is an error in the Voter Information Guide instructions for the single Arcata City Council seat up for grabs on the June ballot.

California Democrats Lean into Abortion Rights as ‘Defining Issue’

By Alexei Koseff/CalMatters on May 6, 2022 at 9:19AM

And it could remain near the top of the news through the rest of the year, with the official opinion expected this summer and then potentially dozens of states passing new abortion restrictions after that. “It’s kind of like a wildfire, and the burning embers and debris will spread over the electorate for months to come,” Pitney said.