LBL
Member since Jun 8, 2013
Recent Comments
Re: “Policing the Police”
As one element of local context illustrating the Us vs Them attitude of local law enforcement, our Sheriff has mounted on his wall a full-size desecration of the flag of the USA in the "blue lives matter" corrupted modification. Who is our Sheriff actually protecting and serving?
Effective citizen oversight boards are needed for every one of our local law enforcement agencies. Thank you, Mr. Greenson and NCJ for highlighting this issue.
The militarization of our local law enforcement agencies must end, from inappropriately redeployed military equipment to the murderous SWAT teams (RIP Cheri Lyn Moore).
The use of inaccurately described "less lethal" responses to non-violent citizens including "tear gas" (poison gas), rubber bullets and lead-filled "beanbag" (sic) ammunition must be eliminated from any possible local use. The injuries frequently caused by these methods eliminate any possible justification for their use against non-violent citizens.
Such measures can be enacted by our local City Councils and Board of Supervisors. Write to your elected officials and demand that they implement these and other common-sense updates to governance of and limits to use of force for all of our local law enforcement agencies.
Re: “Dire Projections”
"Measuring measures the measuring means." Without adequate data from testing in the community at large, i.e. with no statistically valid local sampling, there is simply no basis for these local projections. The failure of our gov'ts at all levels to provide such testing is a major factor in the magnitude of the catastrophe we are all experiencing, both in the health and the economic dimensions of this pandemic. The purpose of these speculative projections appears on the surface to be to frighten the county citizenry into compliance with current orders. Based on the high level of compliance that I see when I go out, such scare tactics seem unnecessary. In the end, by promoting what may objectively be categorized as misinformation, making dire speculation from a model with inadequate local data erodes trust in our local officials and seems counterproductive. We are already "Humboldt Strong!". I suggest our local officials would be more effective by acknowledging and encouraging the resolve to do the right thing being demonstrated every day by our broad and diverse community in favor of our common health and well-being. (And please, given the magnitude of the impacts being presented and implied, do publish the data and the model on which these projections, and any future projections, are made.)
Re: “Where's the Respect?”
I agree wholeheartedly with Ms. Taylor's letter.
Supervisor Madrone won an election and thereby merits the full respect of his other Supervisors. Supervisor Madrone is seated at the Supervisors' dais to represent both his district constituents who elected him and the broader interests of the County, which he is actively doing.
Who is Supervisor Bohn representing? Certainly not the Latin constituents of his district who he recently equated with petty criminals. Whose respect does Supervisor Bohn merit with his apparent inability to think before he blurts, his stated disrespect for both his constituents and Supervisor colleague, and his positions favoring moneyed interests? Not mine.
Re: “Federal Jury Hits County with $2.5 Million Wrongful Death Verdict”
We are all "Humboldt County". This tragic event reflects on all of us.
What are the resource shortfalls and the pressures on law enforcement staff that led to the failure to follow established procedures? It would seem simple and straightforward to summon the on-duty nurse to assess in the pre-booking stage of custody a young man with mental illness, with a drug problem and with symptoms of the meth that was in his system. How can we as the citizens of Humboldt County "rise to the occasion" and, together with our civic leaders, learn from this terrible object lesson? We certainly don't want to be paying more judgments like this!
I for one favor more taxes to pay for our mutual responsibilities. Our local mental health resources are in a shambles, exemplified by the need to subcontract with a private agency for the key psychiatrist position. I am in favor of supporting with resources not just the civil rights that we're obligated to protect but the social services such as mental health, drug treatment, supportive housing and pro-active health treatment for chronic emergency room patients that in the end save money through reduced costs in other areas.
And then, how do we assure that tax dollars and related resources, e.g. County land, buildings and staff dedicated to providing services, are actually engendering the results that are their goals and objectives? e.g. Do we simply need to invest more in Sempervirens, or does Sempervirens need major changes? Where are the audits, the feedback, the positive and negative lessons learned with changes in policy and procedure resulting? And where are the audits that would reveal the failure to comply with policy and procedure, where follow-on action and further staff training could have prevented the death of Daren Borges?
As this case painfully illustrates, (with homage to "Pogo"), "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
Let's step up and provide greater support for our local mental health, supportive housing, drug treatment agencies and organizations. And yes, let's provide additional focused resources for the Sheriffs and local law enforcement as all of these agencies and organizations provide critical services to our neighbors (and sometimes visitors) in moments when they are least able to care for themselves. These are investments worth making as everyone benefits - if the programs are also audited to assure that stated outcomes are achieved.
Re: “Throw Like the Irish”
I just read with dismay the Journal’s promotion of the concept of heaving heavy steel balls onto our local roads (“Throw Like the Irish”, Rees Hughes, May 14). How about if we promote hitting the roads with sledgehammers? Great fun! And it doesn’t cost anything to do it, right? Not.
In my work I travel a lot around the state and the country, with a lot of driving, so I have a pretty broad experience of road conditions. Humboldt County has among the worst road conditions anywhere, IMHO. Even in Arcata, I know I’m home when I get to the stunningly crappy conditions on Beverly Drive.
How does the Journal prioritize the common good and collective costs vs. promoting individuals doing whatever (intentionally or unintentionally) destructive activity they may dream up and mask behind some positive value such as outdoor recreation?
I received an email from a colleague recently with this footer that seems a worthwhile reminder: “Thought of the day: Knowledge is being aware of what you can do. Wisdom is knowing when not to do it.”
Bruce LeBel, Arcata
Re: “Wing and a Prayer”
High praise to the Sky West team at ACV, supporting our local air travelers despite substantial adversity.
County Supervisors, City Councils, HSU executives and local business leaders should each imagine the impacts on our local economy if there is no airline connection from Humboldt County to a major hub. The likelihood of a major economic contraction following loss of air service is so significant that I encourage all stakeholders to multiply their various forms of meaningful support for our airport(s), for our current carrier, and for the effort to bring in a second carrier to connect to a different major hub.
Re: “Public Health Confirms 45 New COVID-19 Cases”
Covid is evolving to be more infectious but less virulent, ie reduced percentage of serious cases, as omicron seems to manifest. The reporting also needs to evolve. IMO refocusing on hospitalizations and deaths rather than positive tests would be more helpful and more useful statistics and graphs. That is the data that now reflects the strain on our health care system and that will guide each of our decisions on returning to more open ways of living.