>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", WE TALK TO A REPETITIVE FROM THE WIYOT TRIBAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT A NEW GRANT FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR $14 MILLION TO HELP THE TRIBE ADDRESS YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR RYAN HUTSON BRINGS US A REPORT FROM A RECENT TOWN HALL EVENT FROM TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY CANNABIS ABATEMENT ISSUES COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT".

LIVE CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM >> FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE A PACKED SHOW TONIGHT AND ABSOLUTELY NO TIME TO WASTE.

STARTING OFF, WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE DAVID COBB FROM THE WIYOT TRIBE TO TALK ABOUT A NEW $14 MILLION GRANT RECEIVED BY THE TRIBE TO HELP END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

WELCOME, DAVID.

>> HI, JAMES.

I SHOULD START OFF BY SAYING I'M AN EMPLOYEE OF THE WIYOT TRIBE, BUT NOT AN ENROLLEEING OF THE WIYOT TRIBE.

>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

THERE WAS CONVERSATION ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS SAYING WE WERE PRESENTING WHITENESS HAVING YOU IN HERE.

YOU WERE WHO THE TRIBE PINTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I APPRECIATE THE SENSITIVITY AND THE QUESTION AND I WANT TO ADDRESS STRAIGHT UP THE FACT THAT I AM AN EMPLOYEE.

I REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE TRIBAL ADMINISTRATOR, MICHELLE VASSEL, WHO THEN REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE ELECTED WIYOT TRIBAL COUNCIL.

>> MM-HMM.

>> SO I WORK FOR THE WIYOT TRIBE.

I AM THE ADVANCEMENT MANAGER FOR WIYOT TRIBE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.

IT MEANS LOVE IN THE WIYOT ANCESTRAL LANGUAGE.

WE ARE PUTTING LOVE BACK IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN I SAY LOVE, ALL OF OUR PROJECTS ARE ONLY IN WIYOT ANCESTRAL TERRITORY.

I AM A DESCENDANT FROM CELTS.

THE LAST TIME MY ANCESTORS WERE RIGHT WITH THE LAND THEY INHABITED WAS ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND, THEY WERE PUSHED OFF THE LAND, THEY CAME TO THIS CONTINENT AND TRAUMATIZED PEOPLE PUSHING THEM OFF THEIR LAND.

THERE IS TRAUMA UPON TRAUMA.

WHAT THE WIYOT TRIBE IS COMMITTED TO DO THE DISKAMA LANSD TRUST IS COMMITTED TO HEAL THE LAND TOGETHER BOTH WIYOT AND F NON-WIYOT ALIKE IN THIS, OUR HOME.

SO I'M A GUEST ON WIYOT TERRITORY, BUT I'M LEARNING TO BE AN APPROPRIATE GUEST UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE WIYOT TRIBE.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

JUST ANOTHER QUICK CLARIFICATION ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA WE SAID MICHELLE VASSEL WAS GOING BE ON THE SHOW.

SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT, SO WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE DAVID.

LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE INTERVIEW.

LET'S START WITH THE BIGGER PICTURE.

WHAT KINDS OF HOUSING ISSUES TO TRIBES LIKE THE WIYOT FACE AND WHY?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE KNOW THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BOTH AGAIN WIYOT AND NON-WIYOT ALIKE ARE IN AN ACUTE HOUSING CRISIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE KNOW PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING, THERE IS VERY LITTLE INVENTORY AND WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS COMING ONLINE, IT IS JUST GOING TO GET A LOT WORSE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND WHAT IS SPECIFICALLY ACUTELY DIFFICULT IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT WIYOT PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY BEING PRICED OUT OF THEIR OWN ANCESTRAL TERRITORY.

>> SURE.

>> SO ANY OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO BUILD HOUSING, WE ARE ALWAYS GOING BE PRIORITIZING WIYOT ENROLLEES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FIRST.

BUT ALMOST ALL OF OUR PROJECTS WILL BE BIG ENOUGH THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR NON-WIYOT AFTER WE PRIORITIZE WIYOT PEOPLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOW THE GRANT IS IN PARTICULAR FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

VERY EXCITED TO SAY THIS IS A STATE OF CALIFORNIA GRANT THROUGH HCD, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS $14 MILLION FOR ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR GET THIS, JAMES, 39 UNITS.

>> WOW.

>> HOUSING FOR CURRENTLY HOUSELESS YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE'LL HAVE ONE GROUP AGE 15-18 AND ANOTHER GROUP 18 AND A DAY UP TO 25.

AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THEY AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE OR OTHERWISE HAVE CHALLENGES, THERE ARE VERY, VERY FEW PLACES FOR THEM TO GO CURRENTLY.

>> YEAH.

>> OFTENTIMES THEY ARE LITERALLY SHIPPED TO SANTA ROSA OR REDDING.

SO THIS IS GOING SOLVE A VERY CHRONIC PROBLEM HERE AND AGAIN PRIORITIZING WIYOT YOUTH, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR WIYOT YOUTH.

AND WAIT, THERE'S MORE.

BECAUSE THAT IS GOING INCLUDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING, VOCATIONAL COUNSELING ONSITE.

>> WOW.

ALL OF THOSE 39 RESIDENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE KINDS OF SERVICES?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> WOW.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE QUITE A PROJECT.

YOU MENTIONED BEFORE IN OUR CONVERSATION MAYBE YOU HAVE A SLIGHT EYE BALL, BUT YOU CAN'T DISCLOSE WHERE IT IS AT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I CAN TELL YOU IT IS IN EUREKA AND WE WILL SOON BE DISCLOSING THE EXACT LOCATION.

AT THIS MOMENT I CAN'T SHARE THE EXACT LOCATION.

>> IS THERE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT NIMBIISM?

>> WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH NEIGHBORS AND OTHER FOLK.

IF YOU LIVE IN McKINNELLIVILLE TO RIO DEL SCOTIA, THIS IS WIYOT ANCESTRAL TERRITORY.

THE IDEA OF NIBYISM FOR A WIYOT TRIBAL PROJECT IS IRONIC TO ME.

>> THAT WOULD BE RICH.

HELP ME, IT IS DA ROU GAWUK.

THAT IS THE NAME FOR THE AREA KNOWN AS EUREKA.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED THANKS TO THE STUDY THAT I HAVE DONE IS THAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS A GOOD PLACE TO STOP AND REST.

>> OKAY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SO RICH ABOUT THIS LANGUAGE IS THAT THE NAMES OF PLACES, THEY ARE NOT NAMED AFTER PEOPLE, THEY ARE NAMED AFTER THE LITERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION.

SO IT REALLY IS AN INVITATION INTO A DECOLOIZATION AND THINKING ABOUT THIS LAND DIFFERENTLY AND HOW TO BE ON THIS LAND DIFFERENTLY.

I'LL TELL YOU, SO FAR I HAVE NEVER HAD A WIYOT PERSON TELL ME THAT I HAD TO LEAVE THEIR ANCESTRAL TERRITORY.

I HAVE HAD WIYOT PEOPLE SAY, LET US TEACH YOU HOW TO BE HERE DIFFERENTLY IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAND AND THE FOREST AND THE SALMON AND THE REST OF CREATION.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE BEEN A JOURNALIST FOR 20 YEARS OR MORE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND THE CONVERSATION ALWAYS WITH THE WIYOT PEOPLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN RESPECTFUL.

WHERE THEY EXTEND THEIR CULTURE, IT IS USUALLY IN AN EDUCATIONAL AND WELCOMING WAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY INSPIRE DIALOGUE AND HEALING AND DON'T DO IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE WHO WOULD THREATEN PEOPLE WHO MAYBE AREN'T AS EVOLVED ON THAT ISSUE.

>> JAMES, I'M APPRECIATING IF CONTEXT YOU GAVE.

LET'S ACTUALLY TAKE ONE STEP BACK AND RECOGNIZE THAT TULAWAT ISLAND, WHAT MANY PEOPLE CALLED INDIAN ISLAND, IS THE COSMOLOGICAL CENTER OF WIYOT PEOPLE, WHERE THEY COME FROM.

MANY KNOW THAT WAS THE SITE OF A HORRIFIC MASSACRE AND A SERIES OF MASSACRES, ACTUALLY.

>> MM-HMM.

>> INTERRUPTING A WORLD RENEWAL CEREMONY.

AND OVER THE COURSE OF LITERALLY OVER 100 YEAR OF RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE AND HEALING, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP AND THE DIRECTION OF THE WIYOT, ULTIMATELY THE CITY OF EUREKA VOLUNTARILY RETURNED TULAWAT.

JAMES, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE CAN FIND THAT A MUNICIPALITY VOLUNTARILY RETURNED LAND AND REMATRIATED IT TO A TRIBE.

THAT IS TO SAY NOT AS A RESULT OF A FEDERAL ORDER OR AS A RESULT OF LITIGATION, BUT A VOLUNTARY RETURN.

THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN.

IT WAS THE RESULT OF GENUINE RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE AND I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT WHEN THE WIYOT TRIBE TOOK -- REGAINED TULOWOT ISLAND, THAT REMOVED OVER 80 TONS OF DEBRIS.

IT WAS A HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE.

THE TRIBE GOT THE FIRST TRIBAL SITE REUSE AWARD.

DONE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE WIYOT TRIBE, BUT MANY NON-WIYOT PEOPLE WERE IN HAZMAT SUITS IN THE MUCK WORKING TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT TULOWOT WAS A PROFOUND SIFT AND SHOIS THAT LAND BACK IS NOT NEARLY A METAPHOR, IT CAN BE DONE.

AND IT IS A WAY WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.

AND BY HEALING THIS LAND TOGETHER WE HEAL THAT RELATIONSHIP.

>> WELL, AND IT'S -- I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT THE CENTER OF THEIR UNIVERSE AND THE SITE OF WORLD RENEWAL IS FUNCTIONING IN JUST THAT WAY, PERHAPS, FOR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRIBE AND THE CITY.

THERE BE RENEWAL IN THAT RELATIONSHIP.

>> I THINK THAT IS RIGHT, JAMES.

WHAT IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING TO ME IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS WE SAW THE TULOWOT RETURN FROM THE CITY OF EUREKA, THEN THAT IS PUBLIC, RIGHT?

THEN YOU HAVE MARASHAWAK, WHICH MEANS WHERE THE WOLF LIVES DOWN ON FIELD'S LANDING.

A RETURN OF ABOUT 80 ACRES.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE IN FORMATION I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO TALK ABOUT YET.

SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE PUBLIC LAND BACK PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDER WAY AND HOME KEY IS, OF COURSE, A VERY BIG ONE.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE MULTIPLE PRIVATE LAND BACK.

A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHEN I DIE AS PART OF MY STATE, I WANT TO REMATRIATE THE LAND.

I CAN HELP IF ANYBODY IS WATCHING THIS AND WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THAT, REACH OUT TO ME AND THE WIYOT TRIBE BECAUSE THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT WE ARE DOING.

PUBLIC/PRIVATE LAND BACK TO HEAL THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA AND TO MEET PEOPLE'S NEEDS IN A RESTORATIVE REGENERATIVE MANNER.

>> IF WE COULD, REAL QUICK, WE ARE GETTING LOW ON TIME, BUT TO GIVE A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, THE TRIBE HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORK AND YOUR DISHGAMA.

>> IT MINES LOVE.

>> THAT IS PART OF A BROADER COMMUNITY LAST TRUST PROGRAM, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WHAT IS REALLY UNIQUE, JAMES, DISHGAMA IS A DEPARTMENT OF THE WIYOT TRIBE.

SO, YES, IT IS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, BUT IT IS A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST NOT JUST DIRECTED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

IT IS THAT, BUT IT IS MUCH DEEPER.

IT IS LITERALLY AN ARM OF THE WIYOT SOVEREIGN NATION.

>> YEAH.

EXCELLENT.

NOW REAL QUICK ON DECEMBER 6 THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE CONSIDERING RENAMING 2030 PARK AS DIOS PARK.

PLEASE EXCUSE MY PRONUNCIATIO ATTEMPTS.

IT IS WHERE THE CYPRESS ARE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS RENAME AND HAVING THAT CHANGE OCCUR?

>> SOLALUK IS THE LANGUAGE OF WIYOT PEOPLE AND OF THIS LAND.

TO ME, THIS IS A GENUINELY SPIRITUAL INVITATION WHEN WE START TO THINK ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP IN A RECIPROCAL MANNER.

AGAIN, WITH WIYOT STEWARDSHIP TO HELP US THINK ABOUT LAND AND OTHER LIFE.

NOT MEERL AS -- MERELY AS COMMODITIES OR NATURAL RESOURCES, BUT TO THINK ABOUT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP WITH LAND AND OUR TWO-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED AND OUR FEATHERED AND FINNED RELATIVES.

SO WHEN I LEARN ABOUT RENAMING CEREMONIES AND THE KIND OF RECLAIMING THAT IS GOING ON, IT GENUINELY INSPIRES ME WITH HOPE BECAUSE WHAT I KNOW IS THE WIYOT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL.

THEY WILL ALWAYS BE HERE AND THEY KNOW HOW TO BE HERE AND IF WE ARE PATIENT AND IF WE ARE HUMBLE, BUT DIGNIFIED, WE CAN LEARN TO BE HERE DIFFERENTLY AS WELL.

>> EXCELLENT, DAVID.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND IN THE FUTURE WE WILL HAVE YOU OR SOMEONE FROM THE TRIBE BACK TO TALK MORE ABOUT PROGRESS ON THIS FRONT AND MAYBE WE WILL HAVE MORE OF A FORMAL SEGMENT WE CAN PRESENT TO PEOPLE.

>> THANK YOU.

I WOULD LOVE THAT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE HELD A TOWN HALL AT THE MATEEL CENTER FOR LOCAL ACTIVISTS TO DISCUSS THE CONTROVERSIAL CANNABIS ABATEMENT POLICIES.

THE INSTITUTE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY CLAIMING THE COUNTY SYSTEM IS UNFAIR AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

KEET CONTRIBUTOR RYAN HUTSON WAS THERE AND BRINGS US THE FOLLOWING REPORT.

>> HUMBOLDT COUNTY HAS RESPONDED TO A FEDERAL LAWSUIT REGARDING THE CODE SIGHLATIONS VIA CANNABIS ABATEMENT PROGRAM WHICH BEGAN IN 2018.

THE PROPERTY RIGHTS LAWSUIT WAS FILED ON BEHALF OF ABATED COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO WERE DENIED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, ACCORDING TO THE INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE LAWYERS WHO SAY THE GROUP OF RESIDENTS THEY REPRESENT NEVER GREW CANNABIS, BUT ALSO CAN'T GET THEIR DAY IN COURT.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, THEY FACE CRIPPLING LANDS AND CANNOT DEVELOP THEIR LANDS.

EVEN NOW CANNABIS CULTIVATION IS LEGAL, FRAMING AS A SOCIAL BLIGHT STILL COLOR GOVERNMENT PERCEPTION, REVERENCING THE SATELLITE IMAGERY RELIED ON TO TARGET PARCELS WITH IDENTIFIABLE GREENHOUSES JOHN FORD SAID IF CANNABIS IS A LEGAL AND REGULATED PRODUCT, THE ILLEGAL PORTION NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED AND IN A PROACTIVE WAY.

>> LIKE I SAID, THEY ARE DOING THIS ALL WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE.

THEY ARE NOT INSPECTING YOUR LAND.

THEY ARE DOING SWEEPS WITH THE SATELLITE PROGRAM, LEVYING THE FINES, THEY ARE SCARING THE HELL OUT OF PEOPLE AND SAYING PAY US MONEY AND WE WILL GO AWAY.

SO WE FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ABATED, ASKED FOR A HEARING AN NOT RECEIVED ONE.

WE RAISED FIVE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES IN THE CASE.

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ACCUSES YOU OF SOMETHING, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

THE WAY THEY HAVE DESIGNED THIS PROGRAM IS ONE, YOU DON'T GET HEARD AT ALL SO IT CAN'T BE MEANINGFUL, BUT THEY HAVE STRUCTURED THE APPEAL SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE HEARD, IT IS NOT MEANINGFUL.

THEY ARE ACCUSING YOU WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE AND THEY POST A NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER TO TELL ALL OF YOUR NEIGHBORS THAT YOU HAVE GROWN CANNABIS WITHOUT A PERMIT BASED ON NO PROOF THAT IS THE CASE.

THN YOU APPEAL, THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A HEARING.

YOU SEND PICTURES TO SHOW THERE IS NO CAN FWHIS THE GREENHOUSE.

YOU TEAR DOWN YOUR GREENHOUSE TO SHOW THE GREENHOUSE IS GONE.

THEY DON'T CARE THERE IS NO PROOF OF A VIOLATION, THEY WILL NOT DISMISS THE PENALTIES.

THE SECOND ONE THEY CALL IT SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS.

BASICALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTEREST IN WHAT YOU DO ON YOUR LAND UNLESS YOU ARE HARMING SOMEONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE LIKE THE CITIZENS ARE THE GOVERNMENT HERE.

AND YOU JUST DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO TELL PEOPLE HOW TO USE THEIR PROPERTY UNLESS THEY ARE CAUSING SOME SORT OF OUTWARD HARM TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE PROOF THAT YOU HAVE VIOLATED THE CODE BEFORE THEY LEVY THESE FINES AND THEY ARE JUST NOT DOING THAT.

OUR THIRD CLAIM IS EXCESSIVE FINES.

I DON'T THINK I REALLY NEED TO EXPLAIN THAT ONE VERY MUCH, BECAUSE THESE FINES ARE INSANE.

LIKE RHONDA OLSEN FACES $7.4 MILLION IN FINES RIGHT NOW, LIKE, I HAVE BEEN TO HER PROPERTY SEVERAL TIMES.

THE ONE, IT IS LITERALLY A VACANT PIECE OF LAND.

AND LIKE THERE USED TO BE HOOP HOUSES.

AND DECADES AGO A TIMBER COMPANY GRADED THE LAND AND WE HAVE IN WRITING FROM THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT THAT SAYS WE KNOW THAT GRADING MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THE 80s, BUT THEN SOMEONE GREW CANNABIS ON THAT LAND SO NOW IT ALL NEEDS TO BE PUT BACK TO PRE-CANNABIS STATE.

AND UNLESS YOU PUT THE LAND BACK TO ITS PRE-CANNABIS STATE, BECAUSE THE LAND IS SOMEHOW NOW DIRTY AND TAINTED BECAUSE IT HAD WEED ON IT, SO UNLESS YOU CORRECT THAT, YOU ARE FACING $7.4 MILLION OF FINES.

AND BY THE WAY, YOU ONLY HAVE 10 DAYS TO DO SO.

AND OUR FOURTH CLAIM IS, IT IS CALLED UNCONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS.

THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT WITHHOLD A BENEFIT FROM YOU UNLESS YOU AGREE TO DO -- TO GIVE UP ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

WHETHER THAT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A HEARING OR THE RIGHT TO SOMETHING ON YOUR PROPERTY, THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT EXTORT YOU INTO GIVING UP YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN EXCHANGE FOR A PERMIT YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TO.

THE FIFTH CLAIM WE BROUGHT UNDER THE SENT AMENDMENT THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A -- THE SEVENTH AMENDMENT THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO A JURY.

WHETHER YOU BUILT A GREENHOUSE TO GROW CANNABIS A JURY OF YOUR PEERS SHOULD DECIDE NOT SOME LAW FIRM THE COUNTY HIRED.

WE BROUGHT THEM ON BEHALF OF RHONDA OLSEN, THE THOMASS AND BLU GRAHAM AND A CLASS OF PEOPLE IN HUMBOLDT WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS PROGRAM AND ASKED THEIR CHANCE TO BE HEARD AND DENIED THAT RIGHT BY THE GOVERNMENT.

AND THE GOVERNMENT -- WE ALWAYS SAY THE GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR YOU GUYS.

LITERALLY, YOU ARE THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY ARE YOUR REPRESENTIVES AND THEY SHOULD BE WORKING FOR YOU AND NOT TRYING TO EXTRACT AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> THEY SAY $10,000 A DAYTIMES SEVEN VIOLATIONS.

THAT IS $70,000 A DAY.

I GOT ABATED AND I WENT IN THERE RIGHT AWAY.

HOW DO WE FIX THIS.

COME IN AND SEE MY PROPERTY.

THEY EXTORT YOU, $70 GRAND A DAY, SIX DAYS IN, WHATEVER THAT MATH IS, GOOD LUCK.

DO YOU GOT MONEY FOR A LAWYER?

YOU CAN GO TO A HEARING, BUT YOU ARE GOING LOSE BECAUSE WE HIRE THE JUDGE THAT IS GOING HEAR THE CASE AND HE IS GOING SIDE WITH US, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NO ACTUAL EVIDENCE OF WHAT WE'RE ACCUSING YOU OF.

BUT YOU CAN COME AND PAY US $30,000 AND YOU CAN SIGN THIS COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT SAYING YOU WON'T SUE THIS, PAY $30,000 AND SIGN THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THAT IS EXTORTION.

>> REFERRING TO THE LAWSUIT AND PREMA SURE AND MERITLESS, THE COUNTY'S LEGAL DEFENSE DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS ENTIRELY SAYING THE WHOLE STORY REFLECTS APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY EFFORTS TO CURE PLAINTIFFS' VIOLATIONS WHICH WERE EITHER FULLY RESOLVED OR REMAINING PENDING.

ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY'S FILED RESPONSE.

>> I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY THAT ARE HURTING AT A HUMAN LEVEL AND THEY HAVE COME OUT HERE, A LOT OF THEM LIVE OFF THE GRID, AND THEY HAVE JUST BEEN -- THEY MOVED TO HUMBOLDT FOR THE RIGHT TO BE LEFT ALONE AND THEY ACHIEVED THAT FOR DECADES AND NOW AFTER LEGALIZATION, THE COUNTY THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN IT WAS OR WHATEVER THEIR MOTIVE IS AND THEY HAVE USED THAT AS A HOOK TO REACH OUT THROUGH THEIR SATELLITE IMAGES AND THROUGH THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT TO REEL THESE PEOPLE IN AND TRY TO SQUEEZE THEM FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY HAVE AND THERE IS NO CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS IN PLACE AND WE BROUGHT THIS ACTION TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY WILL COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

IF THERE IS A NUISANCE ON A PROPERTY, THE COUNTY CAN COME IN AND FORCE PEOPLE TO CORRECT THAT NUISANCE, BUT THEY CAN'T BE USING NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR CASH GENERATION AND JUST EXTRACTING AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN THROUGH COERCIVE AND EXTORTIVE MEANS OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> WIND BLOWING OFF OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHORES COULD GENERATE CARBON FREE ELECTRICITY IN A DECADE.

THIS TUESDAY DECEMBER 6th, OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY DEVELOPERS WILL BID ON THE FEDERAL LEASE AUCTION OF A 206-SQUARE MILE AREA, 21 MILES WEST OF EUREKA.

>> THIS REGION HAS THE BEST OFFSHORE WIND POTENTIAL REALLY IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY OF THE RESOURCE.

IT IS VERY COMPLEMENTARY OF SOLAR, WHICH WE HAVE IN ABUNDANCE IN CALIFORNIA.

BECAUSE THE WIND PICKS UP IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN AND ALL OF US ARE GOING INTO OUR HOUSES AND TURNING ON OUR APPLIANCES AND CHARGING OUR CELL PHONES AND ELECTRIC CARS.

>> DEVELOPING THE WEST COAST'S FIRST OFFSHORE WIND FARM THE AUCTION WINNER COULD FLOAT UP TO 150 TURBINES GENERATING UP TO 1.8 GIGAWATTS OF POWER AND SUPPLYING ROUGHLY 4% OF CALIFORNIA'S ELECTRICITY NEEDS.

TO DELIVER THAT CLIMATE FRIENDLY POWER TO CUSTOMERS, CALIFORNIA WILL HAVE TO BUILD NEW TRANSMISSION LINES.

"HEADLINE HUMBOLDT"'S ERIC BLACK EXPLAINS.

>> CALIFORNIA GENERATES GRID ELECTRICITY USING THESE ENERGY SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTES THAT POWER TO CITIES AND RURAL AREAS.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY IS CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE MAIN GRID BY WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER CAPILLARIES.

THE MAIN ONES ARE TWO 115-KILOVOLT TRANSMISSION LINES THAT RUN TO THE EAST AND CONNECT IN THE REDDING OR COTTONWOOD AREA.

SOME OF THE BIG POWER LINES THAT RUN UP AND DOWN THE CENTRAL VALLEY WOULD BE THE MAIN ARTERIES.

THOSE ARE MAYBE 500KILO VOLTS, HUNDREDS OF TIMES LARGER THAT CONNECT THE HUM BOILT BAY REGION TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY.

THE CONNECTION LINES ARE LARGEST IN THE AREAS YOU ARE TRYING TO MOVE BULK AMOUNTS OF POWER FROM GENERATION SOURCES TO THE MAIN SUBSTATIONS.

>> THE FLOATING WINDMILLINGS WILL CREATE A NEW GENERATION SOURCE THAT WAS NOT ANTICIPATED WHEN HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT.

THOSE LINES CARRY SMALL LOADS OF POWER WEST TO HUMBOLDT'S ROUGHLY 137,000 PEOPLE TO DELIVER LARGE VOLUMES OF POWER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM THE WIND FARM SOURCE EAST THE ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS STATEWIDE THE STATE OR DEVELOPER MIGHT BUILD NEW 500 KILO VOLT LINES.

>> ONE OPTION FOR TRANSMISSION WOULD BE FOR OVER LAND TO THE EAST TO CONNECT WITH THE MAIN TRANSMISSION CORRIDORS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND FROM THERE, MOVING FROM THE SOUTH TO THE BAY AREA AND OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT ENERGY CONSUMPTION.

THIS AREA IS SEISMICALLY ACTIVE AND LANDSLIDES AND HIGH WILDFIRE.

ON TOP OF THAT, IF YOU ARE GOING RUN A TRANSMISSION LINE YOU NEED A RIGHT-OF-WAY TO DO THAT.

THE EXISTING RIGHTS-OF-WAY ARE NOT WIDE ENOUGH TO RUN THE LARGER TRANSMISSION LINES TO MOVE POWER.

THE LARGER RIGHTS-OF-WAY WILL NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED.

ANOTHER OPTION WOULD LOOK TO AN OVER LAND ROUTE MORE TO THE SOUTH.

FOLLOWING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE HIGHWAY 101 CORRIDOR TO GET DOWN TO THE BAY AREA.

>> THE CHALLENGES BUILDING LINES OVER LAND, THE STATE OR DEVELOPER CAN CONNECT WIND FARM ENERGY TO BAY AREA ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE BY BURYING A ROUGHLY 300-MILE CABLE UNDERNEATH THE OCEAN FLOOR.

>> ONE IS A NEAR TO SHORE ROUTE THAT ESSENTIALLY HUGS THE COAST FOR A PORTION OF THE WAY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THERE ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERSEA CANYONS, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A RIF VALLEY CANYON, BUT SUBMERGED.

THERE ARE FLOWS OF WATER THAT MOVE UP AND DOWN THOSE CANYONS AND OFTEN DEBRIS FLOWS AS WELL.

THAT MAKES THEM PHYSICALLY CHALLENGING TO INSTALL A CABLE ACROSS THEM.

THEY ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT ECOLOGICALLY.

THERE IS A LOT OF SEA LIFE THAT LIVES IN AND AROUND THOSE CANYONS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ALONG THE COAST BETWEEN HUMBOLDT BAY AND THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.

EACH AREA HAS ITS OWN SET OF GUIDELINES OF WHAT MAY BE POSSIBLE.

SOME MAY BE VERY RESTRICTIVE IN HAVING AN UNDERSEA CABLE UNDERNEATH THEM.

ANOTHER IS RUNNING AN UNDERSEA CABLE IN DEEPER WATER.

PARTICULARLY IT AVOIDS THE CANYONS.

IF YOU ARE GOING FAR FROM SHORE, YOU ARE GOING IN VERY DEEP WATER, SOMETHING IN THE ORDER OF 10,000 FEET.

WHILE IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO UNDERSEA CABLES AT THAT DEPTH, IT IS CHALLENGING TO LAY THEM AND REALLY CHALLENGING TO MAINTAIN THEM.

>> ARNE JACOBSON ZEST MATES IT WILL TAKE $1.7 TO $3 BILLION TO BUILD THE LINES THE THE PROPOSED ROUTE.

IN THE MEANTIME THE WINNING BIDDER IN TUESDAY'S AUCTION COULD BUILD A SMALLER PROJECT THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE UPGRADES, IT WOULD NOT EXPORT ELECTRICITY OUT OF AREA, BUT HUMBOLDT COUNTY COULD BY EXCLUSIVELY LOCAL RELIABLE ENERGY BY 2030.

ERIC BLACK, "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", EUREKA >> THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

I WANT TO GIVE GRATITUDE TO OUR FREELANCE CREW THAT DOES REPORTING.

WE HAD IN-DEPTH STORIES NO OTHER SBI HAD.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF RYAN HUTSON AND ERIC BLACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

LIVE CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM