>> COMING UP NEXT ON "HEADLINE HUMBOLDT," A TAX THAT WAS SUSPENDED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS TO HELP CANNABIS FARMERS DEAL WITH POOR MARKET CONDITIONS WILL GO BACK INTO EFFECT, THOUGH NOW AT A TEMPORARILY LOWERED RATE.

ALSO, WE INTERVIEW SOLOMON EVERTA FROM I LIKE EUREKA HOUSING ABOUT THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE ROB ARKLEY LED HOUSING FOR ALL AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE.

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 TALK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN ROB ARKLEY HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO STAYING OUT OF THE LOCAL LIMELIGHT.

IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

ROUGHLY 20 YEARS AGO, ARKLEY AND HIS WIFE, CHERIE, WERE MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS AND POLITICS, A PERIOD THAT IS BEST EXEMPLIFIED BY HIS WIFE'S RUN FOR MAYOR, WHICH SHE LOST TO FORMER MAYOR PETER LAVALLEE.

BECAUSE THE "TIMES STANDARD" AT THE TIME CHOSE TO ENDORSE LAVALLEE AND NOT CHERIE ARKLEY, A FEUD WAS HATCHED BETWEEN ARKLEY AND THE PAPER'S MANAGING EDITOR AT THE TIME, CHARLES WINKLER.

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, THIS FEUD RESULTED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW DAILY PAPER, "THE EUREKA REPORTER," WHOSE EXPRESSED PURPOSE WAS TO PUT THE "TIMES STANDARD" OUT OF BUSINESS.

IT WAS A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED NEWSPAPER WAR, AND ONE IN WHICH I, AND SEVERAL OF MY CO-WORKERS AT THE TIME, WOULD PLAY SUPPORTIVE ROLES.

FOR JOURNALISM, IT WAS A GOLDEN AGE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, MORE VOICES, NO MATTER THEIR ORIGINATION, ARE ALWAYS BETTER THAN FEWER.

AND THE COMPETITION FROM ARKLEY FORCED THE "TIMES-STANDARD"'S BILLIONAIRE OWNER AT THE TIME, DEAN SINGLETON, TO DEDICATE MORE AND BETTER RESOURCES TO OUR PRODUCTION.

EVENTUALLY, HOWEVER, ARKLEY LOST THE WAR AND IN THE WAKE OF THAT LOSS, TOOK A LOT OF HIS TOYS AND ABSCONDED TO BATON ROUGE.

SINCE THAT PERIOD AND SINCE THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OF 2008, ARKLEY HAS BEEN LESS OF A FORCE IN LOCAL POLITICS.

BUT AS OUR STORIES TONIGHT WILL SHOW, THAT MAY BE CHANGING, BOTH LOCALLY AND ELSEWHERE.

LET'S BE CLEAR OFF THE TOP.

ARKLEY AND HIS COMPANY HAVE DONE A LOT FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

HE'S ALSO BEEN PRONE OVER THE YEARS TO MAKE HIS DIFFERENCES WITH OTHERS IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS VERY PERSONAL.

THE QUESTION BEFORE US TODAY, HOWEVER, IS NOT ABOUT THE MAN.

IT'S ABOUT THE POLICY HE'S TRYING TO INSTALL FOR GUIDING THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S NOT PERSONAL, IT'S JUST THE NEWS.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, TONIGHT WE START WITH THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' DECISION THIS WEEK TO REINSTATE A PORTION OF MEASURE S TAXES.

THE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY WITH SUPERVISOR MICHELLE BUSHNELL ABSTAINING, TO REINSTATE THE CANNABIS CULTIVATION TAX AT 10% FOR THE 2024 CULTIVATION YEAR.

THE TAX WILL BE OWED IN 2025.

CANNABIS FARMERS WITH OUTSTANDING BALANCES, MEANWHILE, WILL BE EXPECTED TO ESTABLISH A PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE COUNTY BY JUNE 30, 2024, TO PREVENT THE SUSPENSION OF THEIR PERMITS.

THE DECISION TO PUT THE TAX BACK TO WORK COMES ONE YEAR AFTER SUPERVISORS VOTED TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE TAX.

THE SUSPENSION WAS MEANT, IN PART, TO HELP FARMERS PAY DOWN THEIR OUTSTANDING TAX DEBT.

SEVERAL FARMERS ASKED FOR THE SUSPENSION TO CONTINUE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY ARISING FROM A PROPOSED NEW COUNTY INITIATIVE, MEASURE A, THAT COULD CHANGE THE OUTLOOK FOR FARMERS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

ROSS GORDON FROM THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY GROWERS' ALLIANCE SAID THE MARKET WAS STILL BAD FOR FARMERS, AND THAT MANY HAVE HAD TO SELL THEIR PRODUCT AT A LOSS.

>> FOR SOME BACKGROUND, WE DID SURVEYING OF OUR MEMBERS THIS YEAR AT THIS TIME AND FOUND UNDER THOSE MARKET CONDITIONS 65% OF CANNABIS FARMERS WERE SELLING BELOW MARKET PRODUCTION.

THEY WERE PAYING TO GROW CANNABIS.

20% FOR BREAKING EVEN, 15% WERE TURNING A SMALL PROFIT.

IF WE LOOK AT HOW MARKET CONDITIONS CHANGED OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HEAR ANECDOTELY FROM SOME FARMERS THE MARKET HAS PICKED UP.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CANNABIS BENCHMARK DATA AUGUST 2022 AND JULY 2023 THE WEIGHTED WHOLESALE AVERAGE DROPPED FROM $815 TO $675 A POUND IN CALIFORNIA.

WE ARE SEEING ABOUT THE SAME.

THIS IS COMPARED TO $1,489 IN JULY 2021.

SO WE ARE STILL SEEING THE MARKET CUT ABOUT IN HALF FROM WHERE IT WAS AT ITS PEAK.

>> SUPERVISORS SETTLED ON AN AMOUNT THAT THEY CALLED FAIR TO BOTH THE STRUGGLING FARMERS AND ITS OWN BUDGET, WHICH THIS YEAR WAS $17 MILLION IN THE HOLE.

>> MEASURE S WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE ABOUT NEW PERMITS.

THAT IS AN INDICATOR OF THE HEALTH OR LACK THEREOF OF THE INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO IT WAS ABOUT ONGOING NEEDS IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNMET.

AND SO I AGREE THAT A SMALL PERCENTAGE, WHETHER THAT IS 10% OR 15%, COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP WHILE, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THAT PEOPLE'S PROFITS HAVE BEEN CUT BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT DUE TO THE DOWNTURN IN THE INDUSTRY.

SO I'M OPEN TO THAT.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE CAN FULLY DEFER OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHILE STILL RESPECTING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

SO I THINK FINDING SOME MIDDLE GROUND IS WHAT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO IN THIS INSTANCE.

>> YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE VARIOUS FARMERS AND CANNABIS INDUSTRY PERMIT HOLDERS HAVE A LOT OF CHOICES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS WITHIN THEIR OPERATIONS, WE, TOO, AT THE COUNTY HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, WE -- OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR IS THERE 17 MILLION IN THE HOLE.

$17 MILLION.

WE TOOK THAT OUT OF OUR RESERVES.

OUR RESERVES WERE ONLY ABOUT $27 MILLION.

SO WE HAVE MAYBE ABOUT $10 MILLION OR SO LEFT IN OUR RESERVES SO WE CAN'T DO THAT AGAIN.

I STATED THIS BEFORE.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MEASURE S WAS THE WRONG WAY TO GO.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT TAX SHOULD BE AT THE DISPENSARY LEVEL, FRANKLY.

THE CONSUMER IS GOING MAKE THAT NO MATTER WHAT, ON THE FARMER, THE DISTRIBUTOR OR THE DISPENSARY, THE CONSUMER IS PAYING IT.

WHEN THE PRICE OF CANNABIS DROPPED TO $400 OR $200 A POUND, WE WERE HEARING HORROR STORIES, NOT JUST $600 AND $800, THE DISPENSARIES DIDN'T GO TO $5 AND $10 AN EIGHTH.

WHO WAS MAKING THE MONEY?

NOT THE FARMERS.

IT WAS AN EXTREME HARDSHIP.

WE HAVE MEASURE S TAX THAT WAS SUMMITED BY THE INDUSTRY.

THEY WANTED TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY, WE, TOO, WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WANT TO CONTRIBUTE.

I THINK THE TAX SHOULD HAVE NEVER BE APPLIED THAT WAY.

BUT THAT IS WHAT THE VOTERS CHOSE TO DO.

ALL WE CAN DO IS REDUCE THE TAX.

WE CAN'T ELIMINATE IT.

WE DID WAIVE IT FOR TWO YEARS AND REDUCED IT IN BY 85% REDUCTION.

WE HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF 100% REDUCTION OF THAT TAX.

I WOULD SUPPORT GOING BACK TO A 10% OR 15% TAX FOR THE CULT -- CULTIVATION YEAR 2024.

THAT BECOMES DUE IN MAY AND OCTOBER OF 2025.

AND IN OTHER NEWS, AS ADVERTISED, A LOCAL NAME HAS COME UP IN THE ONGOING BATTLE OVER SUPREME COURT ETHICS.

ROB ARKLEY HUMBOLDT COUNTY NATIVE AND REPORTEDLY A BILLIONAIRE, WAS SENT A LETTER BY THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DEMANDS THAT HE EXPLAIN HIMSELF.

NOT THE KIND OF LETTER YOU LIKE TO GET USUALLY.

THE COMMITTEE IS INVESTIGATING THE RATHER INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND BILLIONAIRE DONORS.

JUSTICES CLARENCE THOMAS AND SAMUEL ALITO HAVE COME UNDER FIRE FOR NOT DISCLOSING VARIOUS GIFTS FROM CONSERVATIVE BENEFACTORS.

ARKLEY IS ONE SUCH, HAVING TAKEN ALITO ON A LUXURY ALASKAN FISHING TRIP IN 2008.

IN A LETTER ISSUED THIS WEEK TO ARKLEY'S SECURITY NATIONAL, COMMITTEE MEMBERS SAY ARKLEY HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION.

THE LETTER WAS SIGNED BY SENATOR S DICK DURBIN, RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, SHELDON WHITE HOUSE, AMY KLOBUCHAR AND CORY BOOKER.

THE COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING REFORMS TO BEEF UP ETHICS RULE AND STANDARDS THAT APPLY TO THE COURT, AND REQUESTED ITEMIZED LISTS OF GIFTS FROM ARKLEY AND FROM OTHERS TO THAT END.

WE ARE JOINED BY SOLOMON EVERTA, WHO IS A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER, EUREKA BOOKS.

WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING FOR ALL AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVES.

YOUR DPRUP -- GROUP I LIKE EUREKA HOUSING.

WHEN DID YOU GO INTO BUSINESS AND HOW DO YOU LIKE OPERATING IN OLD TOWN?

>> I HAVE WORKED THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I OWN EUREKA BOOKS AND I PURCHASED THE BUILDING AND HAVE A GREAT STAFF THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN.

>> SO PEOPLE BUY SOME BOOKS BECAUSE IT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

YOU ARE SOLD ON WHO IS INVESTED.

ARKLEY AND HIS ALLIES SAY HOUSING IS IMPORTANT AND HE HAS A PROJECT HE IS POINTING TO HE WANTS TO GET DEVELOPED WHICH SEEMS TO BE KIND OF A PARTNERSHIP PACKAGE DEAL WITH THIS INITIATIVE, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT IN THE INITIATIVE ITSELF, THAT, YOU KNOW, PARKING IS SUCH A PROBLEM IN OLD TOWN WITHOUT IT BUSINESSES MAY GO UNDER.

DO YOU EXPERIENCE PARKING AS THAT BIG OF A PROBLEM WITH YOUR BUSINESS AND DO YOU THINK THE LOSS OF A PARKING LOT TO BUILD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT WOULDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH OF A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT?

>> WELL, IT ISN'T A PARKING VERSUS HOUSING ISSUE.

IT IS JUST DECEPTIVELY TITLED INITIATIVE THAT SAYS IT IS HOUSING FOR ALL, BUT, IN FACT, IT IS ENDANGERING HOUSING IN EUREKA.

THE HOUSING -- THE PARKING ISSUE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THIS JUST ISN'T THE WAY TO DO IT.

>> YEAH.

>> WE CAN FIND SOME SOLUTIONS FOR PARKING IN OLD TOWN.

WE HAVE PEOPLE COME AND SAY THEY HAVE TROUBLE FINDING SOME PARKING, BUT I HAVE THE BUSINESS THAT HAS NO PARKING SPOTS IN FRONT OF IT AND WE HAVE BEEN GOING 35 YEARS SO PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY.

>> PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> ANY TIME YOU GO TO CITY THAT IS BUSINESS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND A PARKING SPACE NEXT TO THE BUSINESS.

YOU HAVE TO WALK A COUPLE OF BLOCKS.

IT HAS BECOME PROHIBITIVE IN OUR COUNTRY TO NOT NECESSARILY WALK A COUPLE OF BLOCKS.

THAT IS NOT HEALTHY, NECESSARILY.

THEY ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF TWO PARKING LOTS AT FIFTH AND L STREET AND SIXTH AND E STREETS AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.

DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ANY BETTER ABOUT THEIR MOTIVE THEY ARE NOT GOING AGAINST THOSE PARTICULAR PROJECTS OR WHAT?

>> OH, IT IS A STRATEGIC MOVE ON THEIR PART TO NOT GET THE WYATT TRIBE.

IF WE WANT TO DEAL WITH HOUSZING ISSUES, WE CAN DEAL WITH HOUSING ISSUES.

IF WE WANT TO DEAL WITH PARKING ISSUES, WE CAN DEAL WITH PARKING ISSUES.

THIS INITIATIVE DOES NOT DO WHAT IT CLAIMS.

IT IS NOT GOING BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR HOUSING.

IT IS GOING DEVELOP ON THAT PARTICULAR SITE AND IT IS GOING KEEP ALL PLANS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROCESS TO BUILD HOUSING FROM HAPPENING.

AND SO THERE ARE PLANS ON THESE LOTS THAT THE CITY OWNS, THE CITY CAN ONLY WORK WITH THE LOTS THEY HAVE.

THE LOTS THEY HAVE ARE PARKING LOTS.

THESE THINGS ARE SUBSIDIZED BY THE COMMUNITY.

THERE IS A LARGER NEED THAT IS GOING ON.

>> YEAH.

>> ANYBODY THAT HAS TRIED TO RENT IN EUREKA KNOWS THE RENT IS GOING UP AND UP AND UP AND IT IS TOO HIGH.

PART OF THE REASON IS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING STOCK.

THE CITY IS MAKING EFFORTS TO ACTUALLY JUST ADDRESS THIS AND DO THEIR JOB TO MEET THE HOUSING ELEMENT, WHICH IS DICTATED BY THE NUMBERS OR BY THE STATE.

THAT WE HAVE TO REACH CERTAIN NUMBERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO THEY ARE TAKING THE ACTION THEY CAN.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY ARE UTILIZING THE PROPERTIES THEY HAVE AND SAY WE'LL MAKE THIS INTO HOUSING AND THAT WILL PROVIDE SOME HOUSING.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IT.

TO HAVE A WELL-FUNDED CAMPAIG ATTEMPT TO UNDERMIND THIS PUBLIC PROCESS TO HAVE THIS PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP THESE LOTS IS JUST A REALLY ANTI-DEMOCRATIC.

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT SAY IS PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT BECAUSE IT IS ROB ARKLEY.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

WHY IS THIS NOT JUST ABOUT THE MAN?

>> OH, IT IS JUST ABOUT THE PLAN.

IT DOESN'T DO WHAT IT SAYS IT IS GOING DO.

>> YEAH.

>> IF YOU LOOK INTO IT, THERE IS NO -- WE HAVE A PLAN.

THE CITY HAS PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS TO DEVELOP THESE LOTS.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS IS BASICALLY JUST STOPPING THAT FROM HAPPENING.

>> YEAH.

>> IT IS NOT REALLY ABOUT THAT.

PUTTING IN THE PARKING REQUIREMENT FOR ANY KIND OF DEVELOPMENT THAT OCCURS IS MAKING IT SO IT IS PROHIBITIVE TO DEVELOP MORE HOUSING THEREFORE LESS HOUSING WILL GET BUILT, HOUSING WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE AND A DETRIMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY >> FROM YOUR READ OF THE SITUATION, HOW WOULD THE PASSENGER OF -- PASSAGE OF THIS SERVE TO ENRICH ARKLEY AND THE PEOPLE MOVING IT FORWARD?

>> YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM.

THAT IS NOT MY END GAME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE.

YOU CAN WRAP YOUR PROGRAM AND YOUR PLAN IN A HOUSING FOR ALL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY, BUT THAT IS NOT IT.

I THINK THIS IS PRETTY SAD THAT SOMEONE WOULD THINK THEY COULD PULL THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE OF EUREKA.

REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WORK IN EUREKA AND LIVE IN EUREKA UNLIKE SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE HOUSES AROUND THE COUNTRY, LOCAL PEOPLE, WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THIS.

I FEEL CONFIDENT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY WE ARE GOING BE ABLE TO HAVE A GOOD CAMPAIGN THAT'S AGAINST THIS.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND HELP US CANVAS AND SPREAD THE WORLD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND DONATE TO OUR CAMPAIGN AND GET THE SMALL FRACTION THAT IS A RAID AGAINST US AT THIS TIME.

>> WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION REPEATEDLY, I DON'T WANT TO POINT TO ROB ARKLEY, BUT ROB WAS BEHIND IT.

IN THE 1990 TO BRING IN WALMART, BLUE TRACK ISSUE MARINA CENTER AND NOW THIS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SAYS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THEY RALLY AROUND THEIR LAND USE ISSUES AND KIND OF FORM MAJOR POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, ALLIANCES TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY FROM DEVELOPING WAYS THEY DON'T FIND BENEFICIAL?

>> YEAH.

THE EUREKA COMMUNITY IS SAVVY ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

WE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DO TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

AND I GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO COME AND VISIT US AND PEOPLE WHO COME EVERY YEAR ON THEIR VACATION AND STOP IN TO COME DOWN TO OLD TOWN EUREKA BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO MAKE THIS GREAT COMMUNITY.

OUR COMMUNITY REALLY DOES STICK TOGETHER AND MAKE THIS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROBLEMS AND WE TRY TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT IS WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING.

WE HAVE HAD AN ACTIVE CITY COUNCIL, HEY, WE HAVE TO MEET OUR HOUSING ELEMENT, NUMBERS BY THE STATE WE NEED TO MEET OTHERWISE WE ENDANGER MILLIONS OF GRANT FUNDING.

IF THE HOUSING FOR ALL THOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GRANT FUNDING WILL BE IN JEOPARDY AND PREVENT US FROM BUILDING, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING HOUSING AND OTHER PROGRAMS ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING EUREKA VITAL.

>> CAN YOU GO INTO THAT MORE, THE GRANT FUND SOMETHING I HEARD THIS FROM LU LU LAST WEEK BY SWITCHING HORSES AT THIS POINT IT WOULD POTENTIALLY JEOPARDIZE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALREADY APPROVED.

DO YOU KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ON THAT?

>> LULU IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> SHE IS VERY SMART.

>> THE CITY HAS HOUSING GOALS BASED ON THE STATE POPULATION.

YOU NEED THIS MUCH HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE IS TO SAY WHAT ARE THE TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL BOX?

WE HAVE THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE PARKING LOTS AND THIS IS THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE.

IT IS IN OLD TOWN.

IT IS IN DOWNTOWN.

THESE ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COULD LIVE, WALK TO WORK.

WALK TO THE BUSINESSES.

BE THERE JUST COME DOWNSTAIRS AND GO TO THE PIZZARIA, TO THE BOOKSTORE.

SO THAT HOUSING ELEMENT IS IMPORTANT.

IF THIS INITIATE PASSES, THE SO-CALLED HOUSING FOR ALL INITIATIVE PASSES THAT WILL JEOPARDIZE THAT BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE TARGETS.

THE WORK THE CITY IS DOING TO GET THOSE FIVE PARCELS IN, AT LEAST 199 UNITS, TO GET THOSE INTO PLACE WILL HELP US MEET THAT HOUSING ELEMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT HAS TO BE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO PRIVATE IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE GOALS.

THE PUBLIC IS DOING THEIR PART AND THIS INITIATIVE WOULD PREVENT US FROM DOING THAT AND THEN WE DON'T MEET THE GOAL, THEN WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING FROM THE GRANTS FROM THE STATE.

>> TO SORT OF GET AT SOME OF THE ISSUES AT PLAY, ARKLEY HAS SUED THE COUNTY BEFORE FOR NOT MEETING THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS PROMISED TO BE CONSTRUCTED UNDER THE HOUSING ELEMENT.

HE SUED THE COUNTY FOR FAILING TO DO THAT EVEN AS NOW HE IS BASICALLY SEEMS LIKE POTENTIALLY GOING THROW A WRENCH IN THE WORK TO STOP THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING IN EUREKA IF THIS INITIATIVE IS SUCCESSFUL.

THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE ZO BARNUM SITE, HUNDREDS OF UNITS, IT IS NOT IN THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY TO DECIDE TWHOOPS THAT PROPERTY, CORRECT?

>> SURE.

INITIATIVE IS SAYING LET'S ZONE THAT PROPERTY TO BE HOUSING.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE HOUSING MAGICALLY APPEAR.

ROW HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE INTERESTED.

SURE, PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO DO THAT, BUT IT HAS TO BE HAPPENING.

NOW, THE PARCEL IN THE CITY, WE ARE IN PROCESS OF GETTING THOSE DEVELOPED.

THE JACOBS CAMPUS WHERE I WORKED TWO YEARS AT AMERICORPS.

>> RIGHT ON.

>> YEAH I LOVE THAT COMMUNITY.

I LIVED THERE TWO YEARS.

IT IS OWNED BY EUREKA CITY SCHOOLS.

THE CITY OF EUREKA ATTEMPTED TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY TRYING TO DO WHAT THE INITIATIVE IS TRYING TO FORCE THROUGH ZONING.

WE CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> YEAH.

>> SO IT IS JUST LIKE, IT IS KIND OF LIKE THIS MAGICAL THINKING, WHICH I'M ALL FOR, TELLING STORIES AND IMAGINING WHAT IS HAPPENING, BUT THERE IS A FLAW IN THIS STORY.

YOU HAVE TO SIT BACK AND SAY WHAT IS REALLY GOING HAPPEN AND WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING?

WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IS THEY ARE TRYING TO STOP ACTION HAPPENING FROM THE CITY.

>> YEAH.

THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION, SOME PEOPLE SAY THIS IS AN END RUN AROUND THE CITY COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY BY GOING DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS.

WHAT YOU SEE IN INITIATIVES WHERE YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING DIRECTLY, BUT THEY KIND OF TAKE AN INDIRECT APPROACH TO IT, GIVE A SNAPPY TITLE PEOPLE CAN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN VOTE FOR BY READING IT ON THE SURFACE AND REALLY IT IS MORE UNDERCOVER OR IN THE SHADOWS TO MAKE SOME CHANGE.

I WONDER IF THAT COULD BE THE INTERPRETATION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

>> WELL, AGAIN, I THINK EUREKA VOTERS ARE SMART.

WE DEALT WITH INITIATIVES BY WELL-FUNDED MILLIONAIRES TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS GOING HAPPEN IN EUREKA.

AND WE CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ON OUR OWN AND WE ARE NOT GOING BE FOOLED BY THIS SO-CALLED HOUSING FOR ALL INITIATIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT THIS INITIATIVE.

IT IS GOING HAPPEN.

WE ARE GOING HAVE A VOTE AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO VOTE THIS INITIATIVE DOWN AS A COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IT WILL TAKE SOME EFFORT.

I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO JOIN US IN CANVASSING.

IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS AND GO AND TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS.

WE CAN DISAGREE AND SOME PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR IT, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF EUREKA VOTERS, ONCE THEY LOOK INTO IT AND HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME UNPAID CANVASSERS, YOUR NEIGHBORS COMING TO TALK WITH YOU, WILL UNDERSTAND THIS IS A HOAX AND NOT A GREAT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ARE PERSONALLY CRITICIZING THE HOUSING FOR ALL INITIATIVE ON IS THE PAID SIGNATURE ASPECT.

PEOPLE WERE PAID TO GO OUT AND -- PAID A FAIR AMOUNT TO COLLECT SIGNATURES.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHY YOU VIEW THAT AS PROBLEMATIC?

>> SOMETIMES CAMPAIGNS NEED TO HAPPEN QUICKLY AND THAT HAPPENS, RIGHT?

BUT THIS IS PRETTY CLEAR WHAT IS GOING ON IS THAT IT IS HARD TO GET PEOPLE BEHIND THIS AND YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY NOT REALLY TELL THE WHOLE STORY IN ORDER TO GET THOSE SIGNATURES.

WE HAD TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THAT SAY, I MISUNDERSTOOD.

I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT THIS WAS.

IT SAYS HOUSING FOR ALL, ECONOMIC VITALITY, I LOVE THAT.

HERE IS WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES AND HERE IS WHY IT IS BAD.

PEOPLE HAVE GONE IN AND RESCINDED THEIR SIGNATURE OFF THE ORIGINAL THING.

>> OH, WOW.

>> IN ORDER TO GET THAT.

THEY STILL GOT THE SIGNATURES AND IT IS STILL ON THE BALLOT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT TO GO FORWARD ON THE BALLOT.

I TRUST WE WILL VOTE IT DOWN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS MICHAEL MUNSON SAID, IF YOU TAKE PARKING LOTS OUT, BUSINESS CAN WITHER AND DIE.

HOW IS BUSINESS IN OLD TOWN?

IS IT ON THE PRECIPICE OR IS THAT AN EXAGGERATION TO GENERATE FEAR AND CONCERN?

>> THAT MAY BE TRUE THAT EFFORT TO TRY TO DO SCARE MONGERING, BUT, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, I TALK WITH AND INTERACT USUALLY ONLINE WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS IN OLD TOWN AND IT IS A ROUGH TIME FOR US, YOU KNOW.

AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION, IF YOU HAVE BEEN DOWN IN OLD TOWN YOU HAVE SEEN THAT.

WHILE IT IS LEADING TO NICE NEW PAVED STREETS AND NEW UPGRADED, YOU KNOW, FACADES AND NEW BUILDINGS EVEN, NEW RESTAURANTS AND ALL THESE THINGS, DURING THE TIME IT IS PRETTY ROUGH.

RIGHT NOW WE COULD USE A LOT MORE LOCAL FOLKS TO COME DOWN AND DOING SOME SHOPPING IN OLD TOWN.

WE HAVE SALES GOING ON.

IT IS ROUGH.

IT IS CHALLENGING.

PARKING IS AN ISSUE.

IT IS A THING WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, BUT THIS ISN'T THE TOOL.

WE NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT TOOL TO DEAL WITH PARKING RATHER THAN THIS INITIATIVE THAT IS TRYING TO STOP HOUSING THAT WILL JEOPARDIZE OVER THINGS.

LET'S HAVE A FRANK CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING AND OTHER METHODS TO MAKE THIS MORE WALKABLE AND VISITOR FRIENDLY AREA FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS MICHAEL MUNSON SAID I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO.

WE HAD HIM ON THE SHOW SEPTEMBER 1 ON THE INITIATIVE.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO WATCH THAT, YOU CAN FIND IT ON YOUTUBE.

THIS IS A PART OF AN EFFORT TO MAKE EUREKA NOT CAR FRIENDLY.

TO BASICALLY ENCOURAGE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE'VE EVOLVED BEYOND THE CAR.

MADE IT SEEM LIKE A GREEN GOAL.

THAT IS NOT WHERE YOU GUYS ARE COMING FROM, CORRECT?

>> I LOVE MIKE'S VISION OF A GREEN FUTURE FOR OLD TOWN EUREKA, BUT THIS ISN'T WHAT THAT IS ABOUT.

THIS IS ABOUT SOMEBODY WITH A WELL-FUNDED CAMPAIGN TRYING TO SUBVERT THE WILL OF THE PUBLIC WHO WENT THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS TO CREATE AIRS YEAH WHERE WE CAN DEVELOP HOUSING, BRING THE PRICING DOWN SO IT IS AFFORDABLE FOR ALL.

NOT JUST ALL, BUT UP TO SOMEBODY MAKING OVER $20 AN HOUR.

THAT IS NOT LIKE SOME, YOU KNOW, FUNKY PERSON THAT IS GOING MOVE IN OLD TOWN.

THAT IS PEOPLE WORKING AT CAFE, MY BOOKSTORE OR SECURITY NATIONAL.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> SO WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE THESE PLACES AFFORDABLE AGAIN.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED WE WERE GOING DO.

WE HAVE A WEBSITE ADDRESS.

I'M LOOKING AROUND FOR IT LIKE IT IS ON MY DESK.

IF PEOPLE WANTED TO GET INVOLVED AND WANTED TO HELP, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST THEY DO?

GO TO YOUR WEBSITE AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN DONATE OR LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS?

>> YEAH.

FOR SURE.

THE WEBSITE YOU CAN DONATE AND GET INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AND SIGN UP SO WE CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND GO OUT AND DO SOME CANVASSING OR TABLING, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR BODY ALLOWS FOR.

>> YEAH.

>> WE CAN GO OUT AND LEARN ABOUT THIS THING AND SPREAD THE WORD THAT THIS IS A RICH MAN'S ATTEMPT TO OVERTAKE THE PUBLIC WILL.

INSTEAD WE ARE GOING SAY NO AND WE'RE GOING WORK THROUGH OUR PROCESSES TO MAKE A BETTER EUREKA.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED AND I GUESS THIS WILL BE OUR LAST QUESTION, YOUR PRESS RELEASE HAD A LOT OF IMPRESSIVE NAMES.

YOU LOOK THROUGH IT AND IT IS AN ALL-STAR LIST OF POLITICIANS IN EUREKA, PUBLIC FIGURES.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO THIS ISSUE AND HOW DOES THAT HELP YOU?

>> HEY, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

WE ARE BRINGING EVERYBODY IN AND ANYBODY THAT HAS DEALT WITH HOUSING IN EARNEST, KNOWS THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD INITIATIVE.

AND ANYBODY THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE POLITICAL SCENE UNDERSTANDS THIS IS A BAD INITIATIVE.

AFTER WE GET DONE DEFEATING THIS INITIATIVE, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GO BACK TO THE WORK OF HOW DO WE BUILD A SUSTAINABLE AND ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT EUREKA.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK WE CAN DO IT ALL TOGETHER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS NONSENSE BEFORE WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT, I GUESS IN TANDEM WITH DOING THAT.

WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT, TOO.

>> MESSAGING AND ALL THAT YOU ARE ON POINT.

IT WILL PROBABLY GO ON THE BALLOT IN MARCH?

>> WE ARE NOT SURE YET.

NOVEMBER WAS WHAT I THOUGHT -- >> MAYBE YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> WE'LL SEE.

>> THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY I WAS THINKING OF.

I DO A LOT.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND I WILL BE CLEAR ON FUTURE EPISODES AND IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME BACK AS THE CAMPAIGN DEVELOPS WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> YEAH, NO PROBLEM.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.