Editor:
It’s been reported in BuzzFeed and in the North Coast Journal that the Trump administration’s Justice Department, under AG Jeff Sessions, has created the “Marijuana Policy Coordination Committee” (“Reefer Madness and Bongzilla,” Sept. 6). This administration may intend to implement a nationwide zero-tolerance approach to marijuana similar to the current policy of zero tolerance in regards to the undocumented.
When the Justice Department starts to require local law enforcement to arrest and detain people on federal marijuana charges, will there be an outcry in our community for our local LEOs to take a pass on enforcing those laws?
The very same thing is already happening when it comes to the undocumented. Disappointingly, we hear push back both from our law enforcement officials and from some county supervisors (Estelle Fennell, in particular) that we cannot afford to pass Measure K. Why? Because “K” would codify that local LEOs not become lackeys for the Trump regime in the enforcement of immigration laws.
Either we stand united as a community for our values and our right to self-determination or we buckle under the pressure of this out-of-control administration and its policy of zero tolerance.
Vote Yes on Measure K.
Richard Salzman, Arcata
This article appears in ‘A Giant Falls Among the Redwoods’.
The estimated costs are pretty amazing. I had no idea that not doing something was so expensive!
Eric Kirk refuses to answer the following questions about Measure K. Let’s see if he does so on this forum, as I’ve been censored on his.
For the record, Eric. Youve repeatedly claimed Measure K will save the county money. What money is being spent right now in Humboldt that will be saved? Who has made what, if any, proposals that have given you the idea money will be spent on any sort of systematic immigration in this county? Where in this country has any lawsuit even been filed, let alone successful, in the way youve repeatedly warned is a threat to Humboldt County? Has or has not the county assured you there’s neither interest nor funds to spend on such matters?
Claudia Portillo received high profile attention for her arrest in a sanctuary city. You pitched Measure K to her audience. How did San Francisco’s sanctuary ordinance help Claudia Portillo, before and after her arrest? How have these measures in other cities helped people like her who have been detained anyway? Do you feel San Francisco owes Claudia Portillo the $12,000 she was unobjectably required to be freed? Could Humboldt be sued for such lack of assistance?
Eric Kirk has called the sheriff and county staff liars over their cost estimates regarding Measure K, yet is unable to provide either a ballpark figure of what he claims the county will “save” or even a source of expenditures to be saved in the first place.
Straight forward no-bullshit questions, Eric Kirk keeps avoiding direct answers to these simple questions other than to ridicule me and call me illiterate. Illiterate like english is my second language? Speak to the people youre claiming to want to help, Eric. Because what you’re doing instead is the exact kind of shady
politicing we’ve agreed on in similar instances.
Richard Salzman, I almost unanimously agree with your opinions and have always supported your efforts. However, you’re not invincible to shady politics. I think Estelle Fennell should be outright fired for a host of reasons, but her position on Measure K isn’t one of them. Your claim that she, and others, object to Measure K on grounds that they have some sort of desire to be federal “lackeys” is just absurd. Correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is people involved in the county’s finances and paperwork don’t want to deal with the additional expense and paperwork of an unecessary policy. What expense, you ask? Any expense, as Eric Kirk refuses to quantify or identify amounts and sources of money to be saved. Measure K is an expense, and another pile of paperwork. And Eric Kirk hasn’t done the obvious showcasing of similar policy’s effectiveness in other areas. That’s because they’re not effective. How many sanctuary city’s have arrests occured anyway? How would this ordinance “stick it to Trump” as Eric claims, when the President has declared retaliatory aciion? Is Measure K out to make martyrs?
Richard, look at Eric’s promotional material for Measure K and tell us what it DOESN’T inform voters. Don’t you think it’s very important to clarify to the generally informed general public that Measure K will NOT stop ICE activity whatsoever, and that people involved with ICE won’t receive any kind of help from the county despite Measure K waving a “sanctuary” flag at them?
I believe in truth in advertising, and lowering our costs and bureaucratic hassles. Measure K does neither. Everything being championed by those who care about people as people can, and should, be achieved without legislation and expense whenever possible. Measure K is bad, ineffective politics, simple as that. It’s playing on emotions, not common sense.