COMING UP NOW ON HEADLINE HUMBOLDT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED THE DEPUTY WHO SHOT AND KILLED A SHOOTING SUSPECT IN CUTTEN EARLIER THIS MONTH, AS THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GRAND JURY SEPARATELY RECOMMENDS A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE DEPARTMENT.

ALSO, 4TH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR NATALIE ARROYO JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY'S AILING BUDGET, AN APPARENTLY DECLINING CANNABIS INDUSTRY, AND HOW WIND POWER MAY WELL TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY.

COMING UP NOW ON HEADLINE HUMBOLDT.

FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS HEADLINE HUMBOLDT.

I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THE CYCLES OF BOOM OR BUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE SOMETHING THAT HAS LONG PLAGUED COMMUNITIES UP AND DOWN THE STATE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN REGIONS WHERE THERE ARE MORE TREES AND TRAILS THAN PEOPLE.

PLACES LIKE HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

DUE BOTH TO UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND AN EVAPORATING TAX BASE, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COUNTIES AND SACRAMENTO HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED AND BASED ON DEPENDENCY.

AND WHERE IN SOME YEARS THE STATE MAY BE BROKE BUT THE COUNTY FLUSH, OR VICE VERSA, THE ARMAGEDDON MOMENTS ARISE WHEN BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE STRAPPED FOR CASH AND BOTH LOOK TO THE OTHER FOR INCREASED SUPPORT.

IF NEITHER HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES, YOU CAN EXPECT CUTS, OFTEN DEEP, TO THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT IMPACT ORDINARY PEOPLE.

IT'S UP TO OUR ELECTED LEADERS TO WEIGH THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES AND MAKE THOSE CUTS AND CHANGES IN PLACES THAT LEAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE RECOVERY AND SUCCESS.

TONIGHT, WE SPEAK WITH 4TH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR NATALIE ARROYO ABOUT THE BUDGET, ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, AND HOW WIND POWER REPRESENTS A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY, AS WELL AS A RISK, FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S RESIDENTS.

BUT FIRST, THE NEWS.

THIS WEEK THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE RELEASED THE NAME OF THE DEPUTY INVOLVED IN A RECENT CUTTEN SHOOTING THAT LEFT A MAN DEAD AND AN ELDERLY WOMAN INJURED.

THIS COMES AS THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GRAND JURY RECENTLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNTY ESTABLISH A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WELL AS AN INSPECTOR GENERAL.

ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT CONAN MOORE WAS THE DEPUTY WHO FIRED THE SHOT ON APRIL 25 THAT ULTIMATELY KILLED 32-YEAR-OLD KEVIN BURKS.

MOORE IS A 15-YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN, AND IS CURRENTLY ON PAID LEAVE.

DEPUTIES WERE ORIGINALLY NOTIFIED THAT AN ELDERLY WOMAN HAD BEEN SHOT BY AN UNKNOWN ASSAILANT AT THE CORNER OF CEDAR AND FERN STREETS IN CUTTEN.

POLICE ARRIVED AND LOCATED BURKS, WHO HAD FLED INTO A NEARBY HOME.

HE APPEARED SHORTLY AFTERWARD WITH A FIREARM, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SHOT BY MOORE, AUTHORITIES SAID.

THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE IS RECOVERING IN A REHABILITATION FACILITY THIS IS THE THIRD TIME LT. MOORE HAS FIRED HIS WEAPON IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

HE PREVIOUSLY SHOT SUSPECT JESSE WIDMARK IN THE LEG FOLLOWING A 2023 CHASE.

HE ALSO FIRED UPON A VEHICLE CONTAINING TWO SUSPECTS THAT WAS DRIVING AT HIM DURING AN INCIDENT IN LOLETA IN 2013.

THE CASE IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM.

THE RECENT RECOMMENDATION BY THE I WANT TO BE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GRAND JURY FOR A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSPECTOR GENERAL POSITION, WERE UNRELATED TO THE SHOOTING.

THE NOW UNFOLDING PROCESS TO TURN HUMBOLDT COUNTY INTO A MAJOR WIND POWER GENERATOR FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RECEIVED COVERAGE FROM THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE THIS WEEK, THROUGH IT'S PODCAST REIMAGINE RURAL WITH HOST ANTHONY PIPPA.

SUPERVISOR NATALIE ARROYO AND BRINA LIPPER FROM THE HUMBOLDT AREA FOUNDATION, AMONG MANY OTHERS, SPOKE IN THE EPISODE ABOUT THE NEED TO EMBRACE THIS CHANGE FOR THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL IT BRINGS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE WE DETERMINE OUR OWN DESTINY AND DON'T FALL VICTIM TO A HARROWING AND DEPERSONALIZED PROCESS.

WE HAVE INCREDIBLE WIND RESOURCES HERE AND WE RECOGNIZE AS A COMMUNITIED I THINK THAT'S AN AS IS THE.

I WILL TELL YOU WHEN THE MAY IS BLOWING NONSTOP FOR DAYS AT TIME.

IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL LIKE AN ASSET.

WE HAVE VERY WINDY SPRING AND WE HAVE WIND ALL YEAR-ROUND.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WILL IT IT STOP BEING WINDY.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORK WITH?

IN DECEMBER OF 2022 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEARLY 600 SQUARE MILINGS OFF HUMBOLDT BAY AND MORRO BAY TO FIVE ENERGY DOUS.

THE PLAN NEAR HUMBOLDT IS TO BUILD GIANT 900 FOOT WIND TURBINES TO HARNESS THE WIND AND SEND ITS ENERGY BACK TO STORE AS ELECTRICITY.

THINK THE SIZE OF THE EIFFEL TOWER IN PARIS.

FLOATING ON THE OCEAN.

ONE ESTIMATE IS NOT OFFSHORE WIND FARMS LIKE THE ONE PROPOSED HERE COULD POWER 25 MILLION HOMES.

WHICH IS THE FIFTH LAURNINGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

SOME ESTIMATES PUT THAT PROPORTION OF ENERGY EVEN HIGHER.

ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT IT'S A LOT MORE POWER THAN HUMBOLDT NEEDS FOR ITSELF.

IT'S NOT JUST A PROJECT TO ERECT WIND TURBINES.

ASHBURY NAH LIPPER THIS WILL REQUIRE A AND A OFFSHORE 2K0E6789 THE WIND FARMS WERE ONLY ONE OF A SERIES OF MANY CASCADING ACTIVITIES WE CALL THE OFFSHORE WIND CLUSTER.

THAT INCLUDES A MASSIVE PORT DEVELOPMENT.

THAT INCLUDES TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND STATE OF OREGON.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT FERK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THINKING ABOUT THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT ALL OF THAT.

HOUSING, AND TRANSPORTATION AND WORKFORCE SYSTEMS AND SUCH.

AND SO YOU BEGIN LOOKING AT THIS MASSIVE INDUSTRIAL REALLY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX THAT NEEDED TO BE DEVELOPED HERE IN ORDER TO ENABLE OFFSHORE WIND.

JOINING ME NOW IN STUDIO IS 4TH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR NATALIE ARROYO.

>> I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THAT WORD.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> WIND POWER THIS PROJECT THAT HAS BROUGHT A $426 MILLION WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE TYPICALLY DON'T SEE IN AN AREA LIKE THIS.

IT'S GOING TO IN A LOT OF WAYS CHANGE THE FACE OF THE WATERFRONT.

I WONDER IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT CHANGE MEANS IN TERMS OF THE SKYLINE AND STUFF.

BUT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

AND I NOTICE IN THAT THE PODCAST THERE WAS PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PROJECT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO US.

WE HAVE A HAND IN SHAPING WHAT IT TURNS OUT TO BE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED WITH THE WIND POWER PROJECT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROJECT THAT'S IN FEDERAL WATERS THOSE WIND TURBINES WILL BE MORE THAN 20 MILES OFF OUR COAST.

TRIAL SMALL TO US FROM 20 PLUS MILES AWAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT.

WE DON'T KNOW YET EXACTLY WHAT THE CONFIGURATION WILL LOOK IN THE OCEAN.

THAT'S IN THE FEDERAL WATER.

THAT'S REALLY FACILITATING.

THE $2020 MILLION PLUS IS A PROJECT OF THE HARBOR DISTRICT SO TO ENHANCE AND UPGRADE THE PORT.

BUT THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE THE GREATEST VISUAL IMPACT HERE IN THE HUMBOLDT BAY AREA.

MAYBE FROM HUMBOLDT HILLOCK SEE THE TURBINES IN THE OCEAN.

>> BUT IF WE BUILD THEM IN THE BAY.

THEY'LL BE SEEING THEM IN THE BAY.

>> EXACTLY.

WE JUST WENT TO THE EAST COAST THROUGH GRANT FUNDING THAT WAS REALLY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO NEW BEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS WHERE THERE'S A TURBINE ASSEMBLY IN THE PORT.

THOSE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT TURBINE THAN WE WOULD HAVE HERE.

WHAT THE SCALE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SOME PRETTY INTERESTING AND INNOVATIVE EQUIPMENT WAS NEEDED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND HOW MUCH PHYSICAL SPACE IS NEEDED TO BUILD THESE THINGS.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS POTENTIALLY COULD BE THE BIGGEST PROJECT TO E.R.A.

EVER HAPPEN IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

BUT TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD BRING.

IN TERMS OF JOBS AND SUSTAINABILITY ECONOMICALLY.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE UP HERE.

>> I KNOW BRINA THERE WILL BE LOTS OF JOBS IN CONSTRUCTION FOR THE JOBS.

WE DON'T HAVE A RECENT HISTORY OF LOT OF FOLKS IN THE ORGANIZED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING IN THE JOB MARKET AS MUCH.

THIS IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE TRADES TO BE LOCATED AND TO TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO THAT TYPE OF SKILLED WORK.

I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE AUXILIARY PROJECT.

WE'RE SLATED TO HAVE UPGRADES TO BOTH SUBSTATIONS AND TRANSMISSION LINES THAT WILL INCREASE OUR RELIABILITY IN THIS AREA AS WELL.

AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER WE DO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE POTENTIAL IM THAT PACKET OF THESE PROJECTS AND LOOK TO MITIGATE THOSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HAVING COMMUNITY BENEFIT DEPRAEMENTS AND SOME TRIBAL BENEFIT COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS.

SO I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE THAT.

>> DOES THE FACT SOME OF THE TRIBES HAVE BEEN STAND OFFISH ON IT.

>> I THINK THEY'RE GIVING THAT FEEDBACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS WELL AS TO THE HARBOR DISTRICT.

I THINK WE NEED TO PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.

REALLY HEAVILY ENGAGED WITH THE PROJECT.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE NOT FEELING THAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

AND SO I THINK IT WAS A STRONG WARNING TO EVERYBODY TO STAY ENGAGED AND TO ENGAGE WITH TRIBES AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AN END TO THE CONVERSATION BY ANY MEANS.

>> I DIDN'T GET THAT IMPRESSION EITHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I APPRECIATE THAT STRONG POSITION AND I THINK IT'S WARRANTED.

>> THANK YOU.

SO THE ORIGINAL REASON WHY I WANTED YOU ON THE SHOW IS THE BUDGET SITUATION.

FOR THE COUNTY AND THE STATE.

BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND I MAY BE TOTALLY WRONG, $12.4 MILLION IN THE HOLE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM AND WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FILL THE GAP.

>> WE'VE HAD DOUBLE DIGIT DEFINITE IT'S WE'VE HAD TO FILL FROM FUND BALANCE.

THIS IS MY SECOND BUDGET CYCLE AS A SUPERVISOR.

LAST YEAR WE WERE IN A SIMILAR POSITION WHERE WE HAD AN EXCESS OF $10 MILLION OF REVENUE SHORTFALL.

WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE UP WITH THAT FROM FUND BALANCE.

BUT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS WE WILL RUN OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE AND NEED TO CURTAIL EXPENSES SIGNIFICANTLY.

YES WE HAVE A DEFICIT.

RIGHT NOW WE CAN FILL IT WITH FUND BALANCE.

IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN BRING THAT DOWN TO GET RID OF THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OUR STAFFING.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT PLACE.

>> YOU ARE ON THE HAPPENED HAWK.

>> MYSELF AND MA SHL BUSHNELL.

>> SO WE MET WITH EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND THERE ARE MANY DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

WE MET WITH EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT AND TALKED THROUGH THEIR BUDGET AND TALKED ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL REQUESTS.

AND THEN BROKE THE NEWS ABOUT I WOULD SAY THE EXTENT OF THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT WE'RE WANTING TO ADDRESS SO THAT WE COULD START TO GET BUY IN OR ESSENTIALLY AUSTERITY MEASURES RIGHT NOW AND ANY POTENTIAL WITH REORGANIZATION OR DEPARTMENT HEADS CAN MAKE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET BUT THIS MULTI-YEAR DEFICIT ISSUE AND HOW TO ADDRESS WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING RIGHT ON THE HEALS OF OUR REAL BUDGET CYCLE.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON FOR THE TOT TAX.

THERE WERE PEOPLE FROM THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT KIND OF FUNDING.

ULTIMATELY YOU CAN BRING MONEY IN.

THAT SORT OF DEMONSTRATES HOW COMPLICATED THESE ISSUES.

IF YOU CUT SOMETHING THAT PRODUCES REVENUE YOU'RE SHOOTING YOURSELF IN THE FOOT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT THE TOT TAX ISSUE IS HERE.

>> SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MEASURE J WHICH WAS AN ADDITIONAL COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS FOR TRANSSIT TAX.

AND THOSE REVENUE STREAMS WERE REALLY DISCUSSED IN THE COMMUNITY AS BEING FOR NOT ONLY PUBLIC SERVES BUT ALSO THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.

BUT LIKE MANY TAX MEASURES THE LANGUAGE WAS VERY ROBUST WHAT IT WANTED TO ACHIEVE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO ALLOCATE THAT'S REALLY CHALLENGING.

SO I WILL SAY IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WE'VE ALLOCATED $880,000 FOR ONE FULL YEAR.

AND THE PREVIOUS YEAR SO $440,000.

TO THE SUITE OF PROJECTS.

SO ONE OF THOSE WAS PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED.

WE FUNDED ARTS AND CULTURE NEEDS.

WE FUNDED THE HUMBOLDT AND DELL NORTH FESTIVAL.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> AND IT'S REALLY FUN.

CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT MONEY.

SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE FUNDED.

AND NOW I WOULD SAY OUR BOARD IS UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE TO CONSERVE FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS DISCRETION OVER.

THAT'S AT THE HEART OF THE CONVERSATION.

THINKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL STAFF REDUCTIONS.

BUT YOU KNOW I THINK WE'RE UNDER A PRESSURE FROM WITHIN OUR OWN ORGANIZATION TO NOT GET TO THAT PLACE.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH IT FROM THAT PLACE.

EVERYONE HAS GOT REAL NEEDS.

WHATEVER YOU CUT IS GOING TO HAVE A POTENTIAL IMPACT DOWN THE ROAD.

WHAT DO YOU KEEP IN MIND.

I KEEP IN MIND I'M UPON FOR EMPLOYING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVING THE GREATER COMMUNITY AND LISTENING WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IS.

>> I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND IN THE LAST YEAR.

WEIGHING THOSE TWO THINGS IS REALLY CHALLENGING.

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE NEED TO MAKE OURSELVES A DESTINATION FOR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO THING.

WE NEED TO ENSURE WHEN IT COMES TO TOURISM OR KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS HERE WHO'RE BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO THINK WHAT KIND OF QUALITY OF LIFE THEY HAVE TOO.

WE CAN'T JUST FUND GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF JOY THAT'S HARD TO REPLACE WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICES THAT THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY REALLY BRINGS.

>> CHARACTER.

>> AND I WILL SAY THERE'S A RELEVANCE TO THINK ABOUT TOURISM AND WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE HERE AS WELL.

WE KNOW WE ARE A BIG TOURIST DESTINATION.

>> THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR SAVING GRACE AS WE SHUFFLE BETWEEN LEGACY INDUSTRIES.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL YOUR GOLDEN GOOSE.

>> SURE DON'T.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP WITH THE MEASURE Z FUNDS.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ROLE PLAYS IF THAT'S A BIG CONCERN YOU'RE HAVING.

AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE LONG-TERM.

THOSE THINGS ARE SET TO BE TEMPORARY.

I WILL SAY CONSUMER SPENDING REALLY SEEMS IT'S TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A DOWNTURN RIGHT NOW STATEWIDE AND LOCALLY.

SO WE ALWAYS PLAN CONSERVATIVELY THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY SALE TAX REVENUE.

THIS IS ONE WHERE WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE DECLINE THAT REFLECTS INFLATION AND CONSUMER HABITS.

BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE FIXED COSTS.

MEASURE Z HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO COUNTY POSITIONS THAT INHERENTLY THE COSTS GROW OVER TIME.

AND THOSE ARE JUST THINGS INHERENTLY COMBO UP.

WE'RE DEALING WITH A SMALLER AND SMALLER MEASURE Z THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED.

WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE MEASURE SEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION.

SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.

>> IS THAT GOING TO EXPIRE THE MEASURE Z.

WE NEED TO CREATE SOME MORE GUIDANCE FOR THAT COMMITTEE OVER TIME.

I WOULD SAY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS THERE WILL BE FUNDS TO ALLOCATE.

IF WE SEE A CHANGE IN OUR SALE TAX BASE SO IT COULD GO UP OR DOWN.

IT'S HARD TO SAY FOR NOW.

WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUING TO FUND RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THEY ABSOLUTELY DEPEND ON IT.

AND RURAL AMBULANCE SERVICE.

THE GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS RAW VICED BUDGET.

>> I'VE GOTTEN UP ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPACTS.

WHAT WE'RE STILL DIGESTING.

THE GOVERNOR RELEASED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE LEGISLATURE IS STILL CHEWING ON THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY WE ALSO ADOPT OUR BUDGET IN JUNE.

WE WILL HAVE ESSENTIALLY ADOPTED OUR BUDGET.

>> YOU AND THE COUNTY ESPECIALLY.

>> WE'RE DEALING WITH QUITE A NUMBER OF UNKNOWNS WHICH WHICH MAKES THE BUDGETING PROCESS ALL THE HARDER.

FROM AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SOMETIMES CRITICAL.

THAT'S PUTTING IT GENTLY CRITICAL OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

CAN'T THEY JUST BALANCE THEIR CHECKBOOK.

AND SOME REVENUE STREAMS SOMETIMES WILL BE HOLDING ON TO A FUND BALANCE OR WAITING FOR A REPAYMENT OR COMPENSATION ON GRANTS OR FOR OTHER PROGRAMS FOR YEARS AND SO IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED MIX.

BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY BE SEEING SOME IMPACTS FROM THE STATE BUDGET CONTRACTING A BIT.

>> THAT'S SORT OF THE GO TIME.

WHEN BOTH ENTITIES ARE STRAPPED FOR CASH AND EVERYONE IS SCRAMBLING FOR WHAT THEY CAN PRESERVE OR KEEP OR CUT.

>> NONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN CUT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH FAT TO CUT WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT HELP A LOT OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HOPE TO ADVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH OBJECTIVES.

WE'LL BE IN AN INTERESTING PLACE TO FIGURE OUT OUR PRIORITIES.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I THINK A MORE EQUITABLE PERCENTAGE BASED CUT IS EASIER TO STOMACH FOR EVERYONE.

>> 5% FOR EVERYONE.

>> THAT IS EASIER TO ADVANCE THAN SOMETHING THAT IS DEEP TO JUST ONE.

THEY ALL HAVE VALUE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S COME OUT PROPOSITION 1 PASSED IT BARELY SQUEAKED BY.

THIS IS THE INITIATIVE BY THE GOVERNOR TO PROVIDE MORE REHAB HOUSING AND TREATMENT BED FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH DRUG DEPENDENCY.

AND $3.3 MILLION HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

AND IT'S BEEN RATHER CONFRONTATIONAL WITH EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US.

ALONG THOSE LINES.

CAN YOU TALK HOW YOU IMAGINE PROPOSITION IS GOING TO IMPACT THE COUNTY AND WHAT'S UP WITH THE CONFRONTATIONAL DIALOGUING WE HAVE FROM SACRAMENTO.

>> IF I'M READING THE TEA LEAVES IF I INTERPRET WHAT THAT MEAN.

THAT'S AIMED FOR FOLKS THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITIES SEVERELY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES OR THEY BALKED AT FINDING THOSE LOCATIONS OR PRIORITIZING THOSE USES.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE WITH HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN ARCATA.

AND SOME OTHER PROJECTS HERE IN EUREKA.

SO I LIKE TO THINK WE'RE DOING OUR PART.

PERHAPS SOME COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SLOW TO ADOPT THOSE NEEDS.

>> AM I WRONG THEY ARE TAKING SOME OF THE COUNTY HAS TRADITIONALLY USED FOR THESE ENTITIES.

THEREFORE THERE MIGHT BE A LOSS OF SERVICES.

>> WELL THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT WAS ADOPTED BY PROP ONE WHICH IS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACT SO IT'S REPLACING IT.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME CHANGES TO FUNDING THAT WILL HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF THAT.

MORE FUNDING GOING FOR HOUSING AND TREATMENT FOR THE MOST SEVERELY ILL INDIVIDUALS WHICH IS GOOD.

BUT WOULD TAKE AWAY POTENTIALLY FROM OTHER PROGRAMS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ALL OF THE EXACT IMPLICATIONS OF THAT.

I'M EXCITED THAT THE GOVERNOR IS RELEASING MORE OF THIS MONEY UP FRONT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN JUMP START THESE PROJECTS WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING FACILITIES.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

IT MAKES SENSE TO FRONT LOAD IT NOW AND A CONSTRUCTION COSTS ONLY GO UP OVER TIME.

>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS TO HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

WE HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO'RE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

ESPECIALLY HOMELESS.

TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR FACILITIES AND PLACES TO HOUSING PEOPLE.

>> WE NEED MORE BEDS FOR FOLKS THAT NEED SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

THEY NEED CARE THAN IN GET AN APARTMENT, AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY STAY HOUSED AND STAY WELL WITHOUT THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT.

AND EVEN A LEVEL OF CARE POTENTIALLY YOU KNOW BEDS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO LEAVE ON THEIR OWN WRECK SANCHEZ IF THAT'S MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

OF COURSE THOSE SEDATIONS ARE MADE REALLY CAREFULLY.

I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY A NEED.

AND THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY HARD TO SERVE.

I'M HOPEFUL.

I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACTS LOCALLY.

SO IT HAS PASSED.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT FALLS FROM THE SKY AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT.

THAT'S HOW SMALL GOVERNMENTS ROLL UNFORTUNATELY.

IN A RECENT MEETING HOW THE NUMBER OF CANNABIS PERMITS HAVE DROPPED.

WHAT IS YOUR FEELING WHERE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

I KNOW THAT MEASURE A WENT DOWN AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN WHAT THAT MIGHT DO IN THE INDUSTRY IN THE FUTURE.

NOW THAT THREAT IS OVER WITH.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY GOING.

>> RIGHT NOW IN OUR RECENT MEETING WE DECIDED TO DO VERY LITTLE AROUND OUR EXISTING ORDINANCE.

OUR CANNABIS LAND USE ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THIS DWINDLING NUMBER OF PERMITS BECAUSE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING COMMISSION ARE CATCHING UP TO THE EXISTING PERMITS WE DO HAVE.

WE'RE SEEING SOME FALLOWING OF LAND.

AND WHO'RE NOT PLANNING TO RENEW.

THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND WE'RE WAITING TO SEE HOW THAT SHAKES OUT.

I THINK THERE IS SOME INTEREST IN MAKING CHANGES TO THAT.

I THINK SOME FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FLEXIBILITY AND MORE RIGOROUS BY SOME PEOPLE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD FOR THAT INDUSTRY BUT I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN STILL FIND A NEARBY AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A NEARBY AS A BOUTIQUE CANNABIS PRODUCER.

>> WE HAVE THE REPUTATION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOU YOU COMING IN.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANKS TOO.

>> THANKS FONGES.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

O.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

LK.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

S. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.