Losses now estimated at $20 million or more The Arcata City Council will hear an update Friday on the Jan. 2 fire that leveled a city block and consider ratifying City Manager Merritt Perry’s declaration of a local emergency to open up access to state and federal assistance. The 8 a.m. special meeting will take […]
Arcata City Council
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Man with Knife Arrested at Arcata Council Meeting
A Fresno man was arrested during Wednesday’s Arcata City Council meeting after approaching the dais while carrying what officials described as “a Nerf gun with the handle painted black, which was protruding from the front of his body.” According to the Arcata Police Department, 36-year-old Shaine Scott Haugen had to be “restrained by a city […]
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After Nearly a Year Of Vandalism, Centro Del Pueblo Calls for City Council to Protect Arcata Sanctuary Garden
UPDATE: After publication of this article, APD released a statement responding to the attacks on El Jardin Santuario, which it has classified as hate crimes. APD requests anyone with information about the theft and series of hate crimes contact its Investigations Unit at (707) 822-2428 or its anonymous tip line at (707) 825-2588. Additionally, images […]
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Arcata Seats City’s First All-Woman Council
There’s a new city council in Arcata. On Dec. 15, newly elected members Meredith Matthews and Kimberley White were seated at the dais, forming the city’s first all-woman council, joining just a handful of cities across California to ever do so. (Read more about the landmark occasion in the Nov. 17 Journal story “Marking a […]
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Marking a Milestone
When Arcata voters cast their ballots to fill two open seats on the city council in the November election, they probably weren’t thinking about making history — again. Long known for being on the cutting edge of progressive politics — the college town made national headlines back in 1996 after seating the country’s first Green […]
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Matthews, White Tromp in Arcata as Voters Reject Watson
UPDATE: With a field of six vying for two four-year terms on the Arcata City Council during a time of major transition for the city, incumbent Meredith Matthews and Planning Commissioner Kimberly White won easily, taking 32.33 percent and 30.11 percent of the vote, respectively. The race spells the end of embattled Councilmember Brett Watson’s […]
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Hearing on Restraining Order for Arcata Councilmember Watson Delayed
At the request of the city of Arcata, a court hearing today on a workplace restraining order for Councilmember Brett Watson was continued to December, without objection from Watson’s attorney, and both sides also agreed to have Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn search Watson’s house “immediately” for possible firearms. The city’s attorney Tom O’Connell told […]
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Arcata Council to Consider Unity Statement, Land Acknowledgement
The Arcata City Council will consider Wednesday supporting a “Statement of Unity against Anti-Semitic Messages and all Forms of Hate Speech” in the wake of anti-Semitic flyers found in the city and other areas of the county in recent weeks. While most of the distributions now under investigation occurred around the Fourth of July, a […]
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NCJ Preview: Upcoming Elections, Arcata’s Mayoral Morass and More
This week the Journal is breaking down county supervisor races in the 4th and 5th districts, as well as for the clerk-recorder-registrar of voters. We’ve got an online update on the harassment allegations against Arcata Mayor and Councilmember Brett Watson that were upheld in an investigation report. Despite community members and fellow members of the council […]
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Arcata Council Strips Defiant Watson of Assignments, Limits Access to Staff
After hearing nearly two dozen residents plead with Councilmember Brett Watson to resign in the wake of a scathing investigative report that he abused his power and harassed a city employee, the Arcata City Council passed a series of measures tonight aimed at protecting city staff, while limiting Watson’s access to City Hall. Watson, meanwhile, […]
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NCJ Preview: Summer Camps, Brett Watson and Genius Rice
The Journal‘s annual Summer of Fun issue is here with a rundown of classes, camps and workshops to entertain the kids when school is out. Everything from surfing to stage fighting to science camps are in there and we’re going over the highlights. We’ll also look at what we know about the sexual harassment allegations […]
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Arcata Council to Consider Restraining Order, Censure of Watson
The Arcata City Council has scheduled a special May 17 meeting to discuss possible courses of actions, including a recommendation that the city obtain a workplace violence restraining order, after an outside investigation found Councilmember Brett Watson sexually harassed a city employee. Other options include a public censure, removing Watson from his council assignments and […]