>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT," AS THE NATION REELS FROM ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING THAT LEFT SOME 18 DEAD AND 13 WOUNDED, A HUMBOLDT COUNTY SUPERVISOR IS CHIDED BY COLLEAGUES FOR AUCTIONING OFF A HANDGUN AT A COUNTY-RELATED FUNCTION.

ALSO, EUREKA COUNCILMAN G MARIO FERNANDEZ JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF CITY GOVERNMENT, CITY FINANCES, AND THE CITY'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS LONG-STANDING ISSUES.

COMING UP NOW ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT."

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

I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THE CONFRONTATION THAT UNFOLDED THIS WEEK AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING.

JUST AS THE COUNTRY SUFFERED THROUGH ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING, ONE THAT LEFT MANY DEAD AND WOUNDED IN THE STATE OF MAINE, ONE OF OUR OWN SUPERVISORS WAS CHIDED BY COLLEAGUES FOR AUCTIONING OFF A HANDGUN AT A RECENT FUNCTION OF THE RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION.

I, LIKE MANY FOLKS, WAS RAISED AROUND GUNS.

I OWNED A 30-06 WHEN I WAS BARELY A TEENAGER, AND OFTEN LUGGED THAT HEAVY THING OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS WHERE I TRIED REPEATEDLY, WITH NO SUCCESS, LUCKILY, TO HUNT DOWN AND KILL A BLACKTAIL DEER.

I AM NOT ONE WHO OPPOSED THE OWNERSHIP OF USE OF GUNS IN ALL CASES.

PEOPLE HUNT, PEOPLE TARGET SHOOT, AND PEOPLE HAVE OVER GENERATIONS MADE THE FIREARM AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR HOBBIES AND LIFESTYLES.

I BEGRUDGE NO ONE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HURT ANYONE ELSE AND AS LONG AS THEY FOLLOW ALL RELEVANT RULES AND SAFETY PRACTICES.

YET I ALSO THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT CULTURE IN AMERICA HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH HOW GUNS ARE PERCEIVED, HOW THEY'VE BECOME A LITMUS TEST FOR POLITICAL FACTIONS, AND WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR FROM MASS SHOOTINGS, SUICIDES, AND OTHER KINDS OF GUN VIOLENCE.

SO WHILE I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT SUPERVISORS REX BOHN'S DECISION TO AUCTION OFF A SMITH & WESSON HANDGUN WHILE ACTIVELY REPRESENTING THE COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT, I DO THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE AND WORK ON BUILDING CONSENSUS.

HERE'S THE STORY.

AT A RECENT EVENT FOR RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA, OR RCRC, SUPERVISORS REX BOHN AUCTIONED OFF A SMITH & WESSON NINE MILLIMETER HANDGUN.

EACH COUNTY IN THE ASSOCIATION WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE A BASKET, AND HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S BASKET INCLUDED THE GUN, WHICH CAME FROM A LOCAL GUN DEALER.

WHEN THE ISSUE OF REPRESENTATION TO RCRC CAME UP AT THIS WEEK'S MEETING, SUPERVISORS MIKE WILSON SAID HE'D BEEN CONTACTED BY CONCERNED RESIDENTS ABOUT THE GUN AUCTION AND SAID IT WAS NOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT A TIME WHEN IT'S PROBLEMATIC TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH GUNS.

>> YESTERDAY I GOT A FEW PHONE CALLS AT THE LAST RCRC EVENT THERE WAS AN AUCTION AND HUMBOLDT COUNTY WAS AUCTIONS OFF A GUN, A FIREARM, SMITH AND WESSON PISTOL OR WHATEVER.

AND I JUST WAS KIND OF WONDERING, LIKE, CAN WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND?

BECAUSE I -- SOMEONE SENT ME A TWITTER LINK FOR IT AND IT IS ON TWITTER NOW AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUMBOLDT COUNTY BEING PURVEYORS OF GUNS AT A TIME WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST KILLER OF KIDS IS GUNS, SUICIDE BY GUN IS ON THE RISE.

THIS IS RELEVANT TO WHO WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE REPRESENTING US AT THIS ORGANIZATION.

I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THAT.

IF IT IS REALLY THE CASE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING FIRE ARMS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE ARMS AS WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN AUCTION ITEM.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE, FIREARMS ARE NOT -- I FEEL LIKE WE'RE -- THAT AS REPRESENTATION IN THIS REGARD, IT IS NOT A PARTY FAVOR AND IT IS NOT A DOOR PRIZE, RIGHT?

IT IS A FIREARM.

IT IS FOR THE PURPOSES OF KILLING OR SHOOTING PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THAT IS GENERALLY WHY THEY ARE DEVELOPED.

>> TWO THINGS ON THAT.

APPARENTLY, GUNS ARE NOT THE LEADING CAUSE OF YOUTH IN THIS COUNTRY, IT IS MOTOR VEHICLES, GUN IS TWO.

BOHN THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS A POLITICAL ATTACK THEN OFFERED TO REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE RCRC.

>> I FEEL LIKE A MERCHANT OF DEATH.

I DONATE GUNS AND I DONATE WINE AND WINE TASTINGS AND LIQUOR AND PROMOTE ALCOHOLISM AND DRUNK DRIVING, I GUESS.

THIS IS A PERFECTLY LEGAL ITEM, REGISTERED.

SO THE BASKET DOES COME FROM HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

I HAVE ASKED IN YEARS PAST TO HAVE SUPERVISORS PARTAKE.

NOBODY HAS REALLY -- MICHELLE HELPED OUT WITH A FISHING TRIP LAST YEAR.

I'VE ALWAYS -- THE AUCTIONS GO TO THE CHARITIES THAT ARE CHOSEN BY THAT YEAR'S CHAIR.

I BELIEVE THE YEAR I WAS CHAIR WE BROUGHT BACK $63,000 FOR FIVE CHARITIES HERE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

IF YOU WANT ME TO PROMISE I'LL NEVER SELL ANOTHER GUN, I'LL DO THAT.

I TRIED TO BRING -- NOW, THIS IS A RURAL COUNTIES GROUP THAT MAY NOT TAKE THE SAME ATTITUDE WHEN THEY LIVE OUT RURALLY ON FIREARMS.

FIREARMS, I HAVE BEEN LICENSED SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS TO BUY A GUN BECAUSE GUNS ARE TO KILL PEOPLE.

I WON A GUN, I DIDN'T WANT IT, TRADED IT FOR THE PISTOL AND GAVE IT TO THE BASKET.

WE ARE LEGALLY TRANSFERRING THAT.

HE HAS TO DO A 10-DAY WAITING PERIOD AT A LICENSED FIREARM DEALER.

IT HAS TO BE LEGALLY TRANSFERRED AT A LICENSED FDL AND IT WILL BE HIS.

IT WILL BE A REGISTERED GUN IN HIS NAME.

HE WILL DO THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, THE 10-DAY WAITING PERIOD.

WE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT IS LEGAL TO OWN A FIREARM.

THIS IS NOT ANYTHING THAT WAS HIDDEN.

I KNOW WE PUT THE SIGN UP THAT SAID EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE BASKET.

I MEAN, I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL NOR DID I DO ANYTHING I THINK MISREPRESENTED HUMBOLDT COUNTY BECAUSE I DO SEE QUITE A FEW STORES THAT SELL FIREARMS AND IT WAS GOTTEN AT A LOCAL FIREARMS STORE, PAID FOR BY ME, NOT THE COUNTY.

>> THE BOARD ULTIMATELY VOTED TO SWAP OUT REPRESENTATION TO RCRC, REAPPOINTING BOHN AS ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVE, AND SUPERVISORS MICHELLE BUSHNELL AS THE PRIMARY.

ONE OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S BELOVED POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA CONDORS RECENTLY SUFFERED FROM LEAD POISONING, REQUIRING TREATMENT AT SEQUOIA PARK ZOO.

ACCORDING TO THE YUROK TRIBE, WHICH ADMINISTERS THE CONDOR PROGRAM ALONG WITH REDWOOD NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS, A CONDOR NAMED M-NEW-QUICK ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS, RECENTLY FED ON A POACHED ELK CARCASS.

IN A ROUTINE AUTUMN HEALTH CHECK, FIVE OUT OF EIGHT CONDORS WERE FOUND TO HAVE CONCERNING LEVELS OF LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD, WHICH THEY BELIEVE CAME FROM THE ELK.

ME-NEW-QUICK WAS THE ONLY BIRD WHOSE LEAD LEVELS REQUIRED TREATMENT FOR LEAD POISONING.

THE BIRD WAS TREATED ONSITE AT THE PROGRAM'S FACILITY, AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO SEQUOIA PARK ZOO WHERE AUTHORITIES DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAD FRAGMENTS REMAINING IN ITS DIGESTIVE TRACT.

LUCKILY, AFTER COMPLETING ONE ROUND OF CHELATION THERAPY, ITS BLOOD LEAD LEVEL HAD DECREASED TO BELOW THE TREATMENT THRESHOLD, AND ME-NEW-QUICK WAS RETURNED TO ITS FLIGHT PEN.

HE WILL REMAIN IN THE PEN TO IMPROVE HIS HEALTH BEFORE RELEASE, AND WILL ALSO SERVE AS A MENTOR FOR INCOMING BIRDS.

JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS G MARIO FERNANDEZ.

HE GOES BY MARIO.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

>> WE'VE MET BEFORE.

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

REAL QUICK, WE TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTY GUN ISSUE AND NOT ANYTHING YOU ARE FACING SOON OR FACED IN THE PAST RECENTLY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE?

MY DAUGHTER GOES TO EUREKA HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A GUN SCARE.

THAT WAS A WHOLE SCARY EXPERIENCE.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE?

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT EXPERIENCE PERSONALLY BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER HAD TO GO THROUGH IT.

ACTUALLY IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT NAPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE WE WERE LOCKED INTO THE CLASSROOM.

AS A PARENT, I CAN'T RELATE TO THAT.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW THAT WEARS ON YOU SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE MY PARTNER BEING A TEACHER AT WINSHIP, THE EXPERIENCE SHE HAD EARLIER LAST YEAR.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THESE TYPE OF EVENTS ARE STARTING TO BLEND TOGETHER.

WHEN PARENTS GET EXCITED TO WHERE THEY ARE KNOCKING ON THE DOORS THEMSELVES, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ASK THEY NOT DO THAT.

THERE IS A CERTAIN PROTOCOL THAT THE SCHOOLS, THE TEACHERS HAVE TO FOLLOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENTS STAY SAFE IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONAL WORKUP PEOPLE GET FROM IT, BUT WE HAVE THOSE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO KEEP THEM SAFE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES >> BASICALLY, YOU COULD PUT YOUR CHILD AT RISK TRYING TO GET THEM OUT EARLY.

>> LET ALONE YOURSELF OR EVERYBODY ELSE'S CHILDREN.

THIS IS NOT A UVALDE TYPE OF SITUATION AND I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE THAT SITUATION PARTICULARLY IN EUREKA.

SPEAKING TO THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COUNTY, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT REX -- THAT SUPERVISOR BOHN WAS COMING FROM A PLACE OF THINKING, YOU KNOW, IMPACT VERSUS INTENT.

HIS INTENT WAS TO BE, LIKE, WE DO USE FIREARMS IN OUR COUNTY, WE GO HUNTING IN OUR COUNTY.

IT MAKES SENSE IN THESE RURAL COUNTIES REPRESENTED.

THE IMPACT, YOU DO HAVE TO TAKE UNDER CONSIDERATION.

I UNDERSTAND HOW HE FEELS IT IS POLITICAL BECAUSE THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS ENSHRINED IN THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY NUMBER TWO.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN SAY IT ISN'T POLITICAL, IT IS.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE IT HAS BECOME AS DIVISIVE AS IT HAS.

THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THOUGHT IF THIS IS GOING TO BE UTILIZED FOR HUNTING, I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS WHO USE HANDGUNS FOR HUNTING UNLESS IT IS SMALLER GAME.

THERE WERE OTHER FIREARM BASKETS OR WEAPON-FOCUSED BASKET, BUT THOSE HAD TO DO WE GOING HUNTING FOR GAME.

MAYBE THAT IS THE CONSIDERATION NEXT TIME.

NO WAY YOU CAN SAY ABSOLUTELY WE CAN ABOLISH HANDGUNS IN RURAL COUNTIES.

THERE IS A PLACE THAT ISN'T RECEIVING SHERIFF SERVICE.

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF IF SOMETHING GOES IMMEDIATELY WRONG AND CAN'T CALL ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF NOT THAT HAVING THAT THE CASE IN OUR COUNTY.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT CUTS HAPPEN, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE CASE I HAVE TO TAKE IT UPON MYSELF TO PROTECT MY FAMILY.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I FIND YOU INTERESTING AS A COUNCILMEMBER.

YOU HAVE A, WHAT IS THE TERM FOR IT, POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THAT IS WHAT I STUDIED AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE.

>> IT IS A FASCINATES DEGREE, ONE YOU HAD TO BUILD YOURSELF.

THAT COULD EQUIP SOMEONE FOR ANALYZING PROBLEMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FINDING SOLUTIONS.

CAN YOU SHARE HOW THAT EDUCATION HELPED YOU AS A PUBLIC SERVANT AND WHERE IT HAS COME TO BEAR FRUIT?

>> WE KNOW EMPATHY IS GENETIC, BUT IT IS A SKILL YOU CAN HONE, BUILD ON.

I HAVE THAT PERSPECTIVE TRYING TO CONNECT WITH CONSTITUENTS, RESIDENTS.

THE IDEA BEING I WANT FOLKS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

HAVING A DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS TOO MUCH TO WEIGH.

YOU ARE MAKING DECISIONS EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE THE REPRESENTATION, AS IT WERE AND I'M GRATEFUL THE FOLKS OF THE THIRD WARD SAID, YEAH, MARIO IS GOOD FOR THIS.

THE COURSES I TOOK ON GROUP CONFLICT OR GROUP INTERACTIONS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, POLITICAL THOIR.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE COURSES WAS VOTING BEHAVIOR AND CAMPAIGNS.

LESS ON THE CAMPAIGNS AND HOW PEOPLE MAKE THOSE TYPE OF DECISIONS AND DEVELOP HEURISTICS AND MENTAL SHORT CUTS AND BEING AWARE OF BIASES.

AND WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE MORE EDUCATED YOU ARE, POTENTIALLY THE HIGHER YOUR IQ, IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROUTE, THE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE YOU ARE TO BIASES.

I'M AWARE, I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT HAVE YOU EVALUATED THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> GOING DOWN THAT LINE AND HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, VERY RECENTLY HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FRUIT VENDORS WE HAVE SEEN MORE PREVALENT IN EUREKA, OF HISPANIC DESCENT, LATINO DESCENT.

IT IS NOT NORMAL IN THE COUNTY SO YOU GET APPREHENSIVE.

THERE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES RELIEVING THEMSELVES IN ALLEYWAYS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE LIKELY BEING TRAFFICKED OUT IN THE AREA AND TOLD YOU CAN COME BACK AT THE END OF THE DAY AND DEPENDING ON HOW YOU HAVE SOLICITED FUND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STUFF AND GO HOME.

THAT COULD BE A TRAFFICKING STATISTIC.

LAST YEAR CRIME STATISTICS SAID ZERO, IT IS NOT ANY FAULT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

>> SURE.

>> IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S -- HOW DO YOU REPORT THAT ESPECIALLY IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE?

ME, WHO IS LARGELY MONOLINGUAL AND COME UP TO ASK YOU ARE YOU BEING TRAFFICKED, THEY ARE LIKE NO.

>> ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A PERSON OF AUTHORITY THEY ARE NOT GOING TELL YOU BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY COULD BE IN TROUBLE FOR BEING HERE.

>> SO IT RAISED SOME CONCERNS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A PLACE YOUR DEGREE IS COMING IN USEFUL, THERE IS AN ONGOING DEBATE, PUBLIC COMMENT HAS BECOME A THING.

COUNCILMEMBERS AT THE EUREKA CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HAVE HAD ABUSE.

PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND CO-OPTED ONE OF THE MEETINGS TO ATTACK YOU.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT, DO YOU THINK?

IS THERE MORE THE CITY SHOULD DO IN ORDER TO CONTAIN THAT WILD STREAK?

>> I FORGET WHICH LEGISLATIVE BILL RECENTLY SAID WE CAN SHUT DOWN THE MEETINGS IF THERE ARE THREATS OR PERCEPTION OF VIOLENCE, ANYTHING THAT CAN CROSS THOSE LINES.

WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE TAKEN OUT, NOT TAKEN OUT, WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE REMOVED FROM THAT AND CONTINUE OUR BUSINESS AS WE NEED.

I REALLY DON'T WANT THINGS TO GO THAT FAR BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE BASIC TENETS IS WE HAVE AN OPEN MEETING FOR DISCUSSION FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE.

IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO OUR BUSINESS.

TO HAVE PEOPLE INTERRUPT OR DO ANYTHING OF THAT SORT, IT IS TIME, PLACE, OR MANNER, YES, FREE SPEECH HAS THOSE LINES TO THAT EXTENT.

I THINK THE MAYOR HAS DONE A FIG JOB IN ESTABLISHING SOME DECORUM.

NOBODY HAS BEEN TOLD YOU NEED TO STOP THAT AND GET OUT.

IT HAS BEEN MORE, YOU ARE BORDERING ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT QUITE OFFENSIVE BUT CALLING OUT A SINGULAR GROUP OR POTENTIALLY BRINGING HARM TO A CERTAIN CLASS OF PEOPLE.

AND I THINK AT LEAST FROM WHERE IT'S BEEN PARTICULARLY DURING THE START OF COVID, WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER.

I KNOW ABOUT THE RECENT BOMBINGS, ZOOM BOMBINGS WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE EVEN THOUGH THINGS HAVE GOTTEN HEATED DURING THE OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'M HERE AND I CAN COMMENT ON ANYTHING THAT ISN'T ON THE AGENDA.

IT DOES FEEL AT TIMES THAT PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN ON OUR COUNCIL GET SINGLED OUT.

AND VERY MUCH SO THE MAYOR, EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T SPEAK TO HER DEVOTION PERSONALLY, BUT SEEING HOW MUCH SHE GENUINELY GIVES BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY.

BORN AND RAISED HERE, SHE DOES A LOT AND DOING HER BEST.

YEAH, I'M GOING HAVE MY DETRACTORS.

ANY COUNCIL PERSON AND ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL.

YOU HAVE TO ROLL WITH IT GOING BACK TO THE TOWN HALL THAT I HELD BACK IN MAY.

YEAH, THERE WERE FOLKS WHO WERE LIKE THIS IS VERY MUCH OUR TIME AND WE'RE GOING TAKE IT AND USE IT UP AND SAY WE DON'T LIKE YOU BASED ON THESE REASONS.

WE THINK YOU ARE AN ANARCHIST AND DISMANTLING THE TENETS OF THIS COMMUNITY AND SYSTEM WE LIKE.

I DISAGREE WITH YOU.

I'M GOING AGREE WITH YOU ON SOME TENETS BUT WE ARE GOING MOVE FORWARD.

WE ARE GOING KEEP TALKING.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR A SPECIFIC TOWN HALL.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO DERIDE ME MORE, WE CAN DO THAT.

NOBODY REACHED OUT.

>> WHAT IS THEIR REAL PURPOSE, ENGAGE WITH YOU OR DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION?

>> IT IS THAT KIND OF CATHARTIC RELEASE, UNFORTUNATELY, CAN DEVELOP INTO A FEEDBACK LOOP I GOT TO SAY ALL THAT EMASCULATING STUFF OR PERSONALITY DESTROYING STUFF.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT AND I SHOULD DO IT AGAIN.

BUT SHOULD YOU?

I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE FEELING OR COMING FROM IN YOUR EMOTION OR THOUGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IS THIS YOUR BEST SELF?

THIS IS SOMETHING WE ASK OF THE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM, ARE YOU BEING YOUR BEST.

IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE, MAYBE WE NEED A CONVERSATION.

IF YOU ARE RECOGNIZING YOU ARE NOT, WHAT CAN YOU DO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT BETTER.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

I WOULD FIND IT HARD NOT TO REACT WITH ANGER AND YOU GUYS HAVEN'T, THAT I HAVE SEEN.

HOW HARD IS THAT TO KIND OF KEEP YOURSELF FROM ENGAGING IN THAT WAY?

>> WELL, THAT IS WHY I PLAY VIDEO GAMES FIRST AND FOREMOST.

THERE HAS TO BE AN OUTLET.

IT IS REMEMBERING THAT HUMAN ELEMENT.

EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN APPROACH.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS.

I THINK THEY COMPOSE THEMSELVES IN A VERY DIGNIFIED WAY.

GRANTED THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INTO THAT BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER NOT REPLAY IT.

THE COUNCILMEMBER APOLOGIZED.

I THINK THEY WERE GENUINELY SORRY.

BARRING THAT, REMEMBERING THIS IS COMING FROM SOME PLACE AND THEIR THOUGHT IN THEIR EMOTION AND LIFE.

THERE IS AN ELEMENT THAT HAS TO BE TRUE TO THEM.

I'M NOT HERE TO MITIGATE THAT.

THAT IS HOW YOU FEEL, THAT IS TRUE AND VALID, WHERE AND HOW IT IS DEVELOPED IS WHERE WE CAN TAKE DISCUSSION.

IN PUBLIC COMMENT SOMEONE SAYING WE SHOULD HAVE COPS IN OLD TOWN, YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT DISCUSSED.

>> I THINK THE MISTAKE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL IF THEY ARE COMING FROM A CERTAIN PLACE POLITICALLY YOU WILL NEVER LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY.

IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OR TWO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE THEIR MIND MADE UP, BUT MOST OF THE TIME FINDING CONSENSUS AND GETTING THROUGH THE PROBLEMS.

>> THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE THIS IS TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS.

WE TOUCHED ON THIS WITH THE PARKING LOT HOUSING INITIATIVE.

>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

>> I HAVE MUCH DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE DO NEED HOUSING.

IF I WAS ADAMANT, THIS SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE, WHY DID I APPROVE IT TO GO ON THE BALLOT?

I HAVE THE WAY I FEEL FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT ISSUES, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T GROW FROM THAT PLACE OR CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT CERTAIN TENETS.

THE THING I DISAGREE WITH VERY FUNDAMENTALLY IS THE SUPPORTERS SAYING THAT THE PRIMARY IS A GENERAL ELECTION.

FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT COMING FROM NOT ONLY THE PLACE OF THE ELECTIONS CODE OR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE, BUT OUR VERY OWN REGISTRAR OF VOTERS WHO SAYS IT IS NOT A GENERAL ELECTION.

>> WELL, YEAH, THEN THERE IS A SUIT FOLLOWING THAT, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL SUITS INVOLVING THIS WHOLE MANEUVER.

WE TALK ABOUT THE GROUP BEHIND IT.

I MEAN, LARGELY IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SPONSORED BY ROB BARKLEY AND FRIENDS OF HIS.

MICHAEL MUNSON WAS ON THE SHOW SAYING THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FOR THIS THING.

CAN YOU ENCAPSULATE FOR US, THERE IS TALK ABOUT GRANT MONIES BEING LOST IF THIS GOES THROUGH.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHERE THAT GRANT MONEY COMES FROM AND WHY IT WOULD BE LOST IF THE PROJECT SWITCHED?

>> TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THE GRANT MONEY IS COMING FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING -- IT WOULDN'T BE GRANT MONEY IF IT IS TAX BREAKS.

BUT A LOT OF THOSE ARE LOST, TOO, IF THIS PROJECT GOES THROUGH.

IF YOU ARE NOT MAKING A GOOD FAITH EFFORT THE STATE IS SAYING WE WILL IMPOSE A BUILDER'S REMEDY.

NOW WE LOST GRANT MONEY AND THE RIGHT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANT TO EXPEND OR BUILD UPON ANY OF OUR SURPLUS PROPERTIES >> SO LOCAL CONTROL IS OUT THE WINDOW.

>> IT IS OUT THE WINDOW.

ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS NOT ME TRYING TO DEMAGOGUE OR CREATE FEAR.

THAT IS THE REALITY.

THERE IS A PARTICULAR ELEMENT CALLED BUILDER'S REMEDY AND THE STATE SAYS WHO CAN BUILD.

>> PEOPLE AROUND HERE WOULDN'T LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> I HAVE A SENSE.

>> WELL, COMING FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO PUSH THAT ROUTE BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> AS IS PROVEN BY THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE PRIMARY VS.

THE GENERAL ELECTION, A LOT OF THIS SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE SORT OF WHIMSICAL AND SOMEONE WANTS TO PUSH THEIR PARTICULAR PROJECT FOR WHATEVER REASON.

WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES LEFT.

>> OKAY.

>> TO BROADEN IT OUT, YOU HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL ABOUT A YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT SURPRISED YOU COMING ON TO COUNCIL?

YOU DIDN'T HAVE A STEEP A LEARNING CURVE BECAUSE YOU WERE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU COMING IN AND WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE EFFICIENCIES THAT MIGHT BE IMPROVED OR THERE ARE NONE?

>> I THINK COUNCIL IS OPERATING PRETTY WELL RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE TIMES WE DISAGREED, BUT WE HAVE THE GENERAL RESPECT TOWARDS EACH OTHER IS FANTASTIC.

WHAT I DID THINK WAS FANTASTIC IS THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS THE PUBLIC COMMENT WAS PRETTY TAME THEN IT WENT FROM A 2 TO AN 11.

AGAIN, WE ARE COMING OUT OF PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE BEING ISOLATED WE ARE RETURNING TO SEMBLANCE OF ROUTINE AND RESPECT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.

GOING INTO HOW STAFF AND COUNCIL INTERACT, I WAS A BIT SURPRISED WE DON'T HAVE A LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE THAT GENERALLY EVERYBODY THINKS ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE.

LIKE I CAN GO IN THERE AND TELL STAFF THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 12 DAYS, YOU HAVE BEEN HERE 12 YEARS OR MUCH LONGER THAN ME AND THAT IS NOT THE REALITY.

THE IDEA IS, YES, IT IS BUREAUCRATIC, BUT THEY ARE THE EXPERTS IN A LOT OF WAYS.

YOU CAN COME WITH IDEAS TO FLESH OUT AND FURTHER.

AS I ALLUDED TO VERY RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS ON HISTORICAL HOUSING, TRYING TO BUILD AROUND THAT.

THAT IS GROUNDED IN STATE LAW.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE GET TO WORK ON LOCALLY, EXCEPT MAYBE IN TERMS OF ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT TRYING TO NUANCE AND HELP YOU GET THOSE LOANS OR ANYTHING TO HELP PAY FOR THOSE FIXES THAT YOU NEED.

>> MM-HMM >> AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SCATHING PEOPLE, OF COURSE, ON VENDORING LICENSES, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT IS REALLY WHAT I LIKE TO TAKE AWAY.

IT IS AMAZING AND I THINK ON STAFF ALMOST WHOLLY THAT WE HAVE A NEAR BALANCED BUDGET.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT LITTLE BIT OF A SURPLUS.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> AGAIN, I'M COMING IN MIDWAY.

HERE IS OUR BUDGET.

OH, WOW, CAN'T SAY I HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH IT BUT I CAN'T TAKE THE CREDIT.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> NO.

STAFF DID FANTASTIC ON THAT.

IT IS GOING BE A BIT MORE DIFFICULT AS WE ARE LOOKING AT INFLATION RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE ABLE TO REPLICATE THAT LAST YEAR, BUT KNOWING STAFF IS CAPABLE OF DOING IT THIS TIME WHEN THINGS ARE STILL TIGHT GIVES ME HOPE AND SETS THAT FOUNDATION YOU DID IT ONCE, CAN WE DO IT AGAIN?

AND ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO AS WE ARE HEADED INTO, YOU KNOW -- >> YOU LOOK AROUND AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AREN'T AS LUCKY.

THE COUNTY IS $17 MILLION IN THE RED.

A LOT OF DEBT AND ISSUES, WHETHER IT IS NOT QUITE A RECESSION WE HAVE ALL FOUND OURSELVES IN OR WHAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT THE CITY OF EUREKA SEEMS TO BE TAKEN ON WHAT WERE TRADITIONALLY COUNTY RESPONSE BT -- RESPONSIBILITIES LIKE CSET AND TEAMS THAT INTERACT WITH THE HOMELESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON CITY VERSUS COUNTY GOVERNMENT?

HOW SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TRYING TO PARSE OUT RESPONSIBILITIES?

>> I HOPE WE WILL TAKE THE PERSPECTIVE WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN THE BEST WE CAN LOCALLY.

WE HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT SO WE HAVE TO OPERATE IN THE HISTORICAL POLICING MODEL, GETTING OUT THERE AND TALKING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE -- WHAT IS THE PHRASE I'M LOOKING FOR, NOT HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED, BUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE GENERALLY BEEN LEFT OUT, HOMELESS, MENTALLY ILL.

THE MARGINALIZED.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOMELESS WE DO OUR BEST TO OFFER THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES, ESPECIALLY EMERGENCY SERVICES AS WE ARE HEADED -- >> INTO THE COLD SEASON WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT DIE IF THEY ARE OUT TOO LATE OR TOO LONG.

>> I THINK WE STARTED THAT A BIT LATE THIS YEAR WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR.

THAT IS ON US.

WE ARE DOING OUR BEST DILIGENCE BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF THOSE AND GET MARGINALIZED PEOPLE INTO PLACES WHEN COLD SEASON SNAPS >> WE ARE DONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WILL HAVE YOU BACK ON.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU CAN SHARE WITH US ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT.

>> YEAH.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

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