Re: “Reggae Returns Home”

Good work to the Mateel. It is high time the planning commission got some backbone and used their clout to support the nonprofit. One correction to the article please. The reporter writes "The planning commission ultimately ruled that the permit went with the property owner, Tom Dimmick, who was working with People Productions. As a result, the Mateel cancelled Reggae on the River 2007 and Dimmick partnered with People Productions on a reggae concert called Reggae Rising." The "result" thing is wrong. The Production Company announced they quit at the annual membership meeting. The Mateel continued on and hired a new producer based on that information. When the Mateel announced it wouldn't just roll over and die, so to speak, the production company and Mr. Dimmick announced their plans (already in the works) to hijack the Mateel events calling it Reggae Rising. Thus the acrimony and lawsuits began and thus the planning commission sided with the property owner (Mr. Dimmick) rather than just making it an event permit (owned by the Mateel for years and years and years). Let's get past history but not rewrite it. The local journalists covering this thing botched it so badly before it made it very hard for the Mateel and it has taken years to claw back their property (although the Board wisely kept the name). So let's not repeat history either.
Cheers to the Mateel!

Re: “The Eureka Wal-Mart Has Been Blessed”

According to Forbes the six Walton family members have more wealth than the bottom 30% of Americans.

Now we can argue that the Walton's are actively trickling down their wealth into the pores of the Humboldt Community. And that it really won't matter to our quality of life as we see businesses cave in over the next five years that are actually owned and operated locally--have been for years. Because in return we will get to go in and shop for things made in far away countries under questionable conditions because we like those better since we see them on television all the time and other people are getting better things than us and we want what everyone else is having because... well they got it... it must be good.

In the meantime the only jobs that pay a living wage at WalMart are located out of the area and often as far as Arkansas. So those people won't be spending a lot of money here.

You see WalMart isn't really here to make a profit. They don't have to make a profit here. They can stay forever just to make a point. That WalMart can't be shut out of a any market just because of the will of the voters.

No, as long as there are a few consumers willing to trickle in the door and sing "Praise the Lord" WalMart will stay. Unless of course you think WalMart will stay because the owners are such great people they just want to the store to hang out here in this small market and lose money because Humboldt needs them so desperately.

Since reality and numbers don't seem to matter to many of the people supporting WalMart on this thread I guess I'll just leave it at that.

God Bless the blind and deaf.

Re: “District Soup”

Aesthetics have value and people are willing to pay for that value. If we are selling our region to others in order to expand our economy then it makes sense to have the type of aesthetics which attract the quality of people the region will prosper from. That doesn't necessarily mean the elite wealthy and that also doesn't mean creating a big box corporate alley in town. It is like your house. If you put the giant television in the middle of the living room, leave potato chip bowls sitting around, and have clutter thrown on the floors people coming into the house get a signal as to what is important and they act accordingly. If you arrange comfortable tidy furniture and some throw rugs and carefully think about each new thing which comes into the room that will give a different signal and attract different friends and neighbors to stay. It isn't rocket science. The rocket science is peeling the facades of the more extreme players running for office who have an extreme agenda one way or another. It certainly doesn't help when the would-be politicians keep switching masks in hopes of misleading a few voters.

Re: “Voting Fail”

IMHO. There is a distinction between someone running for a job in politics being apathetic in their voting record and those not running for the job.

Re: “Vote for Me – But This Isn't a Political Sign!”

First, in my experience, Estelle comes with her own personal "anonymous" bloggers and commentators. Second sign or not it has gained her extra publicity so that is a giant win whether you like the NCJ piece or not. Third, in my opinion, vote Cliff; although she'll throw the developers once she is in office. This is all about Estelle, power, and Estelle's agenda.

Re: “Billboard Boycott?”

Actually I believe there was a turkey bag sign there before Estelle. Or maybe that was the billboard over from that--anyhow it is not generally used for big business unless it is travel based industries. Otherwise they stay pretty much local with or without campaigns. My observations of course.

Re: “Vote for Me – But This Isn't a Political Sign!”

Classic Estelle. Doesn't follow any rules but her own and if she has to make them up that is just fine and anyone who challenges her ideas is just fodder to step on. Estelle with more power is just more disturbing.