>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARY ANN HANSON FROM FIRST 5 HUMBOLDT JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AS WELL AS CHALLENGES FACING HER ORGANIZATION AS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF FUNDING, TOBACCO TAXES, BEGINNING TO KLINE.

EUREKA CITY COUNCIL SHRUGS OFF WIYOT HOUSING AT TWO CITY-OWNED PARKING LOTS.

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.

THERE ARE FEW ORGANIZATIONS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY WITH A MORE IMPORTANT MISSION TO ENGAGE PARTNERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO GET THINGS DONE AS FIRST 5 HUMBOLDT.

SOME OF THAT SUCCESS CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARY ANN HANSON.

SHE HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SEVERAL EFFORTS AND CAMPAIGNS THAT OVER THE YEARS HAVE SOUGHT TO MAKE KIDS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, HEALTHY, SAFE, WELL-ROUNDED AND INSPIRED.

FULL DISCLOSURE, KEET WAS THE BENEFICIARY OF ONE SUCH EFFORT.

WITHOUT FIRST 5 AND MARY ANN HANSON'S HELP ADDICTS AMONG US WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PRODUCED.

SHE HELPED PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE MISSIONS OF OUR MOVIE AND HER ORGANIZATION ALIGNED IN TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT ON TRAUMA IN CHILDREN AND HOW THAT FESTERS INTO MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AND SUBSTANCE USE IN PARTICULAR.

IT IS A SCENE THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON THE NORTH COAST.

SHE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE WORK SHE AND FIRST 5 HAVE DONE AND HOW FUNDING FOR FIRST 5, MUCH IS PREDICATED ON CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO TAXES SEEMS TO BE DRYING UP NOW MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE DROPPED THE HABIT.

STRANGELY, THE PURPOSE OF RAISING PRICES WAS TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY KIDS FROM SMOKING.

VOTERS PUT FIRST 5 ON A TRACK TO FUNDING INSECURITY.

WE GET AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT SITUATION STANDS NOW AND WHAT STEPS CAN HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE FOR A PERMIT SOURCE OF CASH.

WE'LL BE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

>> WELCOME TO THE SHOW AGAIN, MARY ANN.

WHICH NAME DO YOU PREFER?

>> MARY ANN.

>> WE HAD YOU ON THE SHOW DURING THE COVID EPIDEMIC.

>> I DO REMEMBER THAT.

>> WE WERE ON ZOOM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

SO I SAW THIS NEWS AND I WAS SADDENED BECAUSE I'M A FAN OF FIRST 5 HUMBOLDT, I HAVE KIDS AND I THINK YOU DO AMAZING WORK.

I THINK WITHOUT YOU GUYS ONE OF MY BIGGEST SUCCESSES IN MY CAREER NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AND YOU BASICALLY GUIDED ME THROUGH THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF FINDING FUNDERS AND PUTTING A TEAM TOGETHER AND MAKING IT WORK.

>> AMAZING PROJECT.

>> I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU PERSONALLY AND TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND YOUR BOARD.

BUT YOU GUYS ARE FACING SOME HARD TIMES NOW.

LET'S START WITH, THOUGH, WHAT FIRST 5 HUMBOLDT IS AND SORT OF GIVE OUR READER -- LISTENERS A CHANCE AT UNDERSTANDING THE BACKGROUND OF HOW IT CAME TO BE.

>> SURE.

FIRST 5 HUMBOLDT IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY.

WE ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE COUNTY EVEN THOUGH WE ARE AT THE COUNTY LEFT.

WE ARE FUNDED BY TOBACCO TAXES AND THAT'S BECAUSE IN 1998 THE CALIFORNIA VOTERS PASSED A BALLOT INITIATIVE CALLED PROP 10 WHICH DEDICATED OR ADDED A 50 CENT TAX TO EVERY PACK OF CIGARETTES SOLD IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND DIVIDED THAT MONEY UP AMONG COUNTIES BASED ON BIRTHRATE.

EVERY COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA HAS A LOCAL COMMISSION AND SO THAT MONEY IS MEANT TO BE SPENT BASED ON LOCAL NEEDS AND LOCAL PRIORITIES.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT IS A DECLINING SOURCE OF REVENUE.

IT'S THE ONLY VOTER MANDATED AGENCY THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT IS MANDATED TO WORK ACROSS SILOS AND ACROSS AGENCIES.

>> YEAH.

>> TO HELP THEM ALL WORK BETTER TOGETHER.

>> THAT IS PART OF YOUR MANDATE, LIKE YOU JUST SAID.

BASICALLY, YOUR MISSION TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> YEP.

EXACTLY.

AND SO OUR WORK LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

WE HAVE OUR FINGERS IN LOTS OF PIES, SUPPORTING LOTS OF FOLKS TO DO THEIR WORK BETTER AND MAKE SURE CHILDREN UNDER 5 AREN'T FORGOTTEN.

MOST OF US DON'T REMEMBER OUR LIVES UNDER AGE 5 AND IT MAKES IT EASY TO FORGET THE NEEDS.

90% OF THE CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS BEFORE AGE 5.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD FOR YOU.

JUST BRIEFLY, CAN YOU GIVE US IN A NUTSHELL WHAT THE SCIENCE IS OF KIDS UNDER 5 AND WHY THAT AGE IS IMPORTANT.

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO STOP ME TO KEEP ME FROM GOING TOO LONG.

ESSENTIALLY, CHILDREN LAY DOWN THE ARCHITECTURE FOR THEIR ENTIRE NERVOUS SYSTEM BEFORE AGE 5.

AND BY AGE 2, THE NUMBER OF SYNAPTIC CONNECTIONS IN A CHILD'S BRAIN IS TWICE THAT OF AN ADULT.

THEY DO BLOOM AND PRUNE.

BLOOMING AND CREATING ALL THESE AMAZING CONNECTIONS, THEY CAN THEN RESPOND TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

SO THEY ARE AMAZINGLY ADAPTABLE.

SO THEY CREATE THE BEST BRAIN THEY CAN TO RESPOND TO THE ENVIRONMENT THEY ARE IN.

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL, AWE-INSPIRING, AND ALSO SENSITIVE.

>> YES.

>> AND CREATES INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL FOR BOTH OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOR DAMAGE AND HARM.

SO BASICALLY IF YOU ARE IN A SUPER STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU ARE 2, YOUR BRAIN GOES, OKAY, I'M GOING RESPOND AND BE EREADY TO BE ALERT FOR DANGER AND MY WHOLE NERVOUS SYSTEM IS GOING TO GET PRIMED UP SO I CAN RESPOND TO THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.

MAYBE NOT PUT AS MUCH ENERGY INTO THINKING AHEAD, PLANNING, THINKING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES.

JUST THINKING ABOUT SAFETY.

OR THE FLIP SIDE, RIGHT?

IF WE CAN SUPPORT PARENTS TO BE THE VERY BEST THEY CAN BE AND WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT NURTURE CHILDREN THEN WHAT WE END UP WITH A BRAIN THAT IS PRIMED TO THINK AHEAD, TO CONSIDER CONSEQUENCES, TO PLAN, TO MAKE CONNECTION, TO NOT BE DEFENDED.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT'S THE HOPE, RIGHT, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT TIME BEFORE AGE 5.

IT IS LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE, RIGHT?

THE BLUEPRINT AND THE ARCHITECTURE THAT IS BUILT BEFORE 5.

WE CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE OTHER 10% AFTER 5, BUT THE PRIMARY FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE AND THE STRUCTURE IS BUILT BEFORE AGE 5.

>> YEAH.

AND IN TERMS OF IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, YOU ARE BASICALLY INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE BY MAKING SURE THE KIDS WHO GET A START HAVE THE MOST SOUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAY IS TOMORROW STARTS TODAY.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT IS REALLY EASY FOR PEOPLE TO THINK LET'S DEAL WITH THE CRISIS IN SOCIETY TODAY AND THE KIDS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

LET'S PUT OUR FUNDING AND FOCUS ON THE CRISES BEFORE US.

OUR MESSAGE IS WE NEED TO DO BOTH.

WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE CRISES IN FRONT OF US, BUT FOCUS ON PREVENTION SO WE CAN SWITCH THAT SCRIPT, TURN OFF THE TAP FOR SOME OF THE MOST PROFOUND CHANGES AND CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> IF SOMEONE HAS HAD FOUR OR MORE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES WHEN THEY WERE A KID, THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE DIABETES.

THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE CANCER.

THEY ARE 12 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE AS AN ADULT, 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO USE INJECTION DRUGS AS AN ADULT.

ALL OF THESE THINGS WE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIX COULD BE PREVENTED IF WE INVESTED MORE.

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT YOUR EFFORT AND YOUR PROGRAM'S WORK IS THAT IT IS NOT JUST REACTING.

YOU ARE GOING IN ALL KINDS OF DIRECTIONS.

IT IS IMPRESSIVE THE MANY DIFFERENT POTS YOU FIND YOUR WORK AND INVESTMENT IN.

IT IS LIKE YOUR FORWARD THINKING AND YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND THE KIDS' OWN PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING WELL BEFORE IT IS ANY ISSUE WE CAN REGISTER ON SOME KIND OF STATISTIC OR WHATEVER >> MM-HMM.

>> I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

FOR PEOPLE AT HOME, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BE MOST RECOGNIZABLE OR SOMETHING YOU CAN POINT TO SAY THIS IS WHERE WE THINK WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE?

>> I THINK OUR MOST RECOGNIZABLE PROGRAM IS OUR PLAY GROUPS.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WE INTERVIEWED FAMILIES AND CONTINUE TO INTERVIEW FAMILIES TO ASK WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU ARE DEALING WITH.

THEY SAY THEY FEEL ISOLATED AND DISCONNECTED.

THAT RESONATES WITH ME BECAUSE SOCIAL ISOLATION IS A COMMON DENOMINATOR FOR HOUSELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES.

SO MANY OF OUR ISSUES ARE LINKED BACK TO CONNECTION.

WE HAVE PLAY GROUPS.

TWENTY-FOUR PLAY GROUPS FROM ORLEANS TO BLOCKSBURG, EUREKA, ARCADIA.

THOSE PLAY GROUPS BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES IN BARRIER FREE, OR SUPER LOW BARRIER ENVIRONMENTS TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF PARENTS OR FURTHER CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES.

THAT HAS BEEN LONG ONGOING.

WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT I'M SUPER PROUD OF, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES, PROVIDES SERVICE TO FAMILIES AT RISK OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER WHO HAVE CHILDREN UNDER 1 OR ARE PREGNANT.

WE HAVE A HUGE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.

CHILD CARE IS A REAL CHALLENGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I'M PROUD TO SAY PART OF DEVELOPING SOME SOLUTIONS LOCALLY AROUND THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH OPEN DOOR, SO THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM IN SCREENING CHILDREN FOR ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

>> THEY ARE DEALING WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF FOLKS.

>> HUGE ACCESS TO FAMILIES.

>> TEAMS IS VERY EFFECTIVE?

>> IT HAS BEEN SUPER USEFUL.

WE JUST PUBLISHED A HIKING BOOK.

MAYBE YOU EVE SEEN IT.

>> YES.

WE HAD IT ON THE SHOW.

>> I KNEW THAT, COME TO THINK OF IT.

GETTING FAMILIES CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> AND FIGURING OUT WHAT IT IS TO LIVE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND ENJOY THE PLACE.

YOU GUYS HAVE KNOWN THIS HAS BEEN COMING FOR A WHILE.

>> YES.

>> IT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD EVENTUALLY SLOW DOWN ON THE SMOKING.

YOU HAVE DONE SOME WORK TO TRY AND DIVERSIFY YOUR FUNDING.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU STARTED IN TERMS OF FUNDING WITH JUST THE TOBACCO STUFF AND WHERE YOU ARE NOW AND HOW YOU HAVE BACK FILLED?

>> YEAH.

SO, I AM JUST PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO FIRST 5 HUMBOLDT'S FOUNDING COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING IN THE VERY BEGINNING.

SO THEY ESSENTIALLY DIDN'T SPEND MONEY IN THEIR FIRST YEAR AS THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING DO.

THEY PUT A BIG CHUNK OF THAT FUNDING IN WHAT WE CALL OUR SUSTAINABILITY FUND AND THAT WAS THE MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP SOFTEN THE BLOW AFTER REVENUES STARTED DECLINING SIGNIFICANTLY.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN I CAME ON IN LATE 2015, 2016, WE WERE -- OUR BUDGET WAS ABOUT $1.2 MILLION A YEAR AND WE SPENT EXCLUSIVELY PROP 10 DOLLARS, BUT WE ALREADY STARTED TO DRAW DOWN FROM THAT SUSTAINABILITY FUND.

THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE GREAT RECESSION.

>> YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH.

>> TOBACCO TAXES DROPPED BUT THE COMMUNITY NEED INCREASED SO THEY STARTED PULLING DOWN FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY FUND.

WE STARTED DIALING BACK AND CUTTING AND SO WE'VE CUT SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, OVER $300,000.

SO THERE WERE FANTASTIC PROGRAMS THAT WE DID, WHICH IS ABOUT 25% CUT.

>> SO YOU'VE ALREADY CUT 25% OF WHAT YOU WERE DOING TO ANTICIPATE THIS?

>> YES.

WE USED TO FUND CHILDREN'S ORAL HEALTH MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, WE USE TO HAVE A PROGRAM WITH KEET, A LITERACY PROGRAM, READY TO LEARN.

AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE THAT HAVE BEEN CUT.

SO WE'VE DONE THAT AND OTHER PIECE IS WE HAVE BEEN SEEKING OTHER FUNDING, PRIMARILY OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.

WE DON'T WANT TO COMPETE WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS GOING FOR GRANTS.

WE HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFUL ABOUT DOING THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

NOW MORE THAN 50% OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM GRANTS.

>> WOW.

>> YES.

IT IS NOT THAT THE COMMUNITY HASN'T FELT PAIN, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR WORK.

WHEN I CAME ON I ASKED THE COMMISSIONERS, THE PLAN WAS WE WOULD SHUT THE DOOR IN 10 YEARS KNOWING THIS WAS COMING.

I ASKED THE COMMISSION, IS OUR WORK DONE?

THE RESOUNDING MESSAGE FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS NO.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, BUT IN NOVEMBER THE VOTERS PASS DS PROP 31, THE FLAVORS BAN.

WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.

>> THE PROPOSITION BANNED FLAVOR NICOTINE TOBACCO, VAPE PENS AND WHAT NOT.

IT HAD A REAL EFFECT.

PEOPLE STOPPED VAPING AS MUCH.

IT IS A CONUNDRUM WE SEE.

I KNOW YOU DON'T FEEL THIS WAY, BUT YOU CAN PUT SOMEONE IN A POSITION TO BE LIKE, COME ON PEOPLE, SMOKE.

WE NEED FUNDING.

IT IS AN INTERESTING BALANCING OF VALUES.

>> YES.

>> WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD WITH MONEY COMING FROM A BAD THING.

YOU HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET FUNDING AROUND THAT.

IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT EVEN IF YOU REPLACED ALL THE FUNDING IT WOULD TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE CHOICE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

SO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FUNDING IMPORTANT SERVICES WITH THE SIN TAX.

BY REDUCING THAT UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR, IT WILL REDUCE WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO, YEAH, WE'VE TRIED TO FILL IN WITH GRANTS BUT ANYBODY WHO IS DEPENDENT ON GRANTS UNDERSTANDS THAT LIMITS THE LOCAL CONTROL AND WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR MISSION.

AND SO WE KEEP LOOKING FOR GRANTS THAT MATCH OUR MISSION, THAT MATCH WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WANTS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

AND THAT WE CAN COMPETE FOR SUCCESSFULLY.

BUT IT'S REALLY CHANGED, THE NATURE OF WHAT WE DO.

>> NOW, YOU GUYS HAVE SOUGHT OR THOUGHT ABOUT APPROACHING THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SAYING, HEY, LOOK, LOOK AT THE VALUE OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

CAN YOU PLEASE FIND A SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT IS MORE STABLE?

IN THE CURRENT FISCAL ENVIRONMENT IT IS NOT WORKING OUT?

>> I THINK LAST YEAR WAS A BAD YEAR FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A BUDGET DEFICIT AND WERE MAKING SOME CUTS.

IT IS ALSO HARD TO PITCH TO THE STATE WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY LOCAL-CONTROLLED FUNDING.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> BUT WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT CONVERSATION.

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE -- I CAN'T IMAGINE HUMBOLDT NOT HAVING AN AGENCY THAT IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE CHILDREN UNDER 5.

THAT IS ITS MISSION, TO WORK ACROSS SILOS AND ACROSS AGENCIES.

>> LOOKING AT YOUR TRACK RECORD IT HAS OBVIOUSLY WORKED.

>> YOU KNOW, THE CHILDREN OVER 5, WE HAVE A K-12 SYSTEM THERE THAT INCORPORATES MENTAL HEALTH AND SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND EDUCATION AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND THERE IS NO UNIFIED VOICE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I DO THINK WE HAVE DONE GOOD WORK.

>> INTERESTINGLY YOU ARE AN ALLY, I WOULD SAY, OF STATE SENATOR MATT McGUIRE.

HAS HE BEEN PROACTIVE OR ARE HIS HANDS TIED?

HE WAS THE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, RIGHT?

>> HE WAS -- HE HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF A LOT OF THINGS.

HE IS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

HE'S WORKING HARD, IS WHAT HE IS DOING.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR STAFF.

>> YEAH.

>> HE WAS A FIRST 5 COMMISSIONER WHEN HE WAS IN SONOMA COUNTY SO HE IS AWARE OF THE ISSUES OF FIRST 5.

ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOOD IS PRETTY AWARE OF THE ISSUES.

HE IS A DENTIST.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF PREVENTION.

THAT IS WHAT FIRST 5 HUMBOLDT IS ALL ABOUT.

SO I THINK A LOT DEPENDS ON THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, THE FINANCING LANDSCAPE.

>> AND THE BUDGET AND ALL THAT.

>> WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO TAX AND WHAT KIND OF TAX IS PALATABLE.

YEAH.

>> THAT IS WHY THEY MAKE THE BIG BUCKS.

>> I GUESS.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE ARE STILL LOOKING.

I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE THE END OF FIRST 5.

BUT PROP 31 HAS DEFINITELY RESULTED IN A STEEP DECLINE.

>> HOW IS THAT -- HOW DO YOU SEE THAT PLAYING OUT IN TERMS OF -- DO YOU SEE A FIVE-YEAR WINDOW AT A CERTAIN POINT YOU WILL FALL OFF THE MAP?

>> I DON'T LIKE FALLING OFF THE MAP.

>> NO.

THE FUNDING.

YOU SOUND LIKE YOU WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SURVIVE NO MATTER WHAT.

IT IS NOT WHAT IT IS NOW, BUT SOMETHING TO SURVIVE.

IN TERMINGS OF WHERE YOU ARE GETTING CASH.

>> I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER SMALLER LOCAL FIRST 5s.

I'M NOT GOING NAME ANYBODY.

THEY ARE WORRIED HOW THEY ARE GOING COVER THE MORTGAGE ON THEIR BUILDING AND KEEP ESSENTIAL STAFF IN PLACE WITH THIS DECLINE.

SO WE'RE GOING KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT >> YEAH, YEAH.

>> AND SEE WHAT COMES.

OUR LOCAL COMMISSION IS RIGHT NOW WORKING ON A FIVE-YEAR PLAN WHICH INCLUDES BOTH CUTS AND PULLING DOWN THAT SAVINGS, THE MONEY THEY HAD IN SAVINGS TO CUSHION THE BLOW.

THE FASTER WE PULL DOWN THE SAVINGS, THE QUICKER IT IS GONE E >> SURE.

>> SO IT IS REALLY A DELICATE DANCE.

THE COMMISSION WILL DECIDE ABOUT WHAT TO REDUCE, WHERE TO CUT.

WE HAVE MADE SOME CUTS ALREADY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> WHICH INCLUDE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT SERVICES.

>> YEAH.

>> WE'VE ONLY GOT A MINUTE LEFT.

>> OH, SORRY.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THE COMMUNITY CAN DO TO HELP?

YOU TALK ABOUT A LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN OR CONTACTING LEGISLATORS.

IS THERE ANYTHING PEOPLE WHO COME TO RESPECT YOUR PROGRAM CAN DO TO TAKE ACTION?

>> I THINK DEFINITELY CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR.

TALK TO YOUR COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN LEVERAGE THEIR LOCAL POLITICAL VOICE IN THIS CONVERSATION.

IF YOU THINK WHAT WE ARE DOING HAS BEEN USEFUL.

>> IT HAS.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, I'M JUST GOING THROW THAT IN THERE.

>> MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY THINKS SO.

BUT IF YOU SEE THE VALUE IN PREVENTION AND SORT OF CHANGING THE FUTURE TRAJECTORY FOR CHILDREN AS THEY BECOME ADULTS, THEN, YEAH, SPEAK UP.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, MARY ANN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AND DOING WHAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS SHORT BREAK.

>> THE EUREKA CITY COUNCIL TOOK A RIGHT TURN AT STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS LAST WEEK AND AGAINST THE ADVICE OF THETY MANAGER'S OFFICE CHOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE WIYOT PROGRAM.

THE CITY COUNCIL AWARDED THAT LAND TRUST CONTRACTS TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN TWO CITY-OWNED PARKING LOTS AT FIFTH AND D AND SIXTH AND L STREETS.

STAFF ADVISED THE CITY CHOOSE A PROPOSAL FROM THE EUREKA COMMUNITY PARTNERS BASED OUT OF ILLINOIS, WHICH OUTSCORED DISHGAMU IN A NUMERICAL PROPOSAL ASSESSMENT.

THEY MADE THEIR CHOICE BASED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT ON RESPECTING TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND HELPING TO HEAL WOUNDS CREATED THROUGH TRAUMA AND PREJUDICE.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE COMMUNITY GOING STREET FAIRS AND FARMER'S MARKETS AND DOING THE LEG WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND SO THAT, TO US, HAS BEEN -- WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.

AND THE CITY MANAGER'S CORRECT THAT WE WERE KIND OF DERAILED BY THE SWITCHING AROUND OF THE PROPERTIES AND WE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED TWO PROPOSALS, ONE FOR THE ORIGINAL SITES AND HAD TO MAKE A NEW PROPOSAL FOR THESE SITES.

SO WE'RE IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL AS A TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING HOUSES IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED >> IT IS ALL ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS.

WE HAVE CREATED A STRONG GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF EUREKA AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT.

WE NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY, WE ARE OUR OWN GOVERNMENT, WE DON'T ANSWER TO THE STATE.

WE ARE IN THE CONSTITUTION TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIONS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED ON AS THE GOVERNMENTS.

I'M NOT SAYING OUR TRIBAL GOVERNMENT IS PERFECT OR THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNMENT IS PERFECT, BUT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

LIKE MICHELLE SAID, THIS IS WIYOT LAND.

I ALWAYS WELCOME EVERYBODY IN WIYOT TERRITORY, IF YOU LEAVE HERE, YOU ARE A PART OF US.

WE ARE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE WIYOT PEOPLE, BUT EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES THIS COMMUNITY WILL NEVER HEAL.

I HEARD A LOT ABOUT HEALING TONIGHT.

IT IS ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND HEALING ALL TOGETHER.

>> A LOCAL ATTORNEY ARRESTED LAST MARCH FOR FENTANYL FOR SALE, HE CONTINUES TO REPRESENT CLIENTS IN COURT.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR RYAN HUTSON HAS THE STORY.

>> THE CALIFORNIA STATE BAR POSTED A CONSUMER ALERT TO GIVE THE PUBLIC NOTICE VICTOR CAMPOS, AN ATTORNEY IN EUREKA WORKING PRIMARILY IN CRIMINAL DEFENSE HAD BEEN SUSPENDED FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW CITING THE CRIMINAL CHARGE BROUGHT AGAINST HIM IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR ALLEGING POSSESSION OF FENTANYL FOR SALE, A FELONY, AND MAINTAINING A DRUG HOUSE AS WELL AS FAILURE TO PAY FEES FOR RENEWAL OF HIS LAW LICENSE.

THIS LAST MARCH, HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S DRUG TASK FORCE SERVED A SEARCH WARRANT AT CAMPOS' LAW OFFICE AND RESIDENCE.

HE WAS ARRESTED ALONG WITH ANOTHER MAN FOUND AT THE RESIDENCE ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE OF MARCH 9th.

SO FAR CAMPOS HAS BEEN REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IN THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY COURTS HOUSE.

MEANWHILE THE CONSUMER NOTICE POSTED TO CAMPOS' PROFILE AT THE STATE BAR WEBSITE READS IN PARTS, THE STATE BAR POSTED CONSUMER ALERTS ONLINE WHEN ATTORNEYS ARE SUSPENDED FROM PRACTICE AND ADDITIONALLY NOTES ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF ATTORNEY MISCONDUCT IS URGED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE BAR.

THAT CAN BE DONE AT THE STATE BAR WEBSITE ONLINE.

NOTABLY, VICTOR CAMPOS HAS PLED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

HE HAS A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION HEARING IN OCTOBER AND PENDING MOTION OF THE COURT FOR RETURN OF PROPERTY.

IN LIGHT OF MR. CAMPOS' WORK ON CASES IN SPITE OF THE STATE BAR SUSPENSION OF HIS LICENSE, COURTHOUSE CEO TOLD US THE COURT WAS AWARE OF HIS SUSPENSION FOR NONPAYMENT OF DUES THE CEO EXPLAINED IT IS NOT THE LOCAL COURT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP A SUSPENDED ATTORNEY FROM CONTINUING TO PRACTICE.

AND RESPONDED THAT IT IS THE INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT WHEN THEIR LICENSE IS SUSPENDED.

VICTOR CAMPOS IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY BY A COURT OF LAW AND AS FAR AS THE STATE BAR IS CONCERNED, HIS ABILITY TO PRACTICE LAW IN CALIFORNIA IN THE FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY AND RECOGNIZING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO AND NEED FOR TIMELY, ACCURATE INFORMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCLOSE THIS REPORTER WORKS AS A LEGAL ASSISTANT IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AS WELL AS BEING YOUR LOCAL REPORTER.

FOR "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT", THIS IS RYAN HUTSON.

>> THANK YOU, RYAN.

REMEMBER TO CATCH OUR NEW YOUTUBE SHOW, NEON GALACTIC, WHERE WE WILL POST AN INTERVIEW WITH RETIRED NAVY MASTER CHIEF KEVIN DAY WHO WAS THERE WHEN THE EVENTS IN 2004.

IF ANYONE WATCHED THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING THAT WAS THE MOST DOCUMENTED UFO SIGHTING IN THE HISTORY OF UFO SIGHTINGS.

STAY TUNED.

STAY INFORMED.