Arcata Councilmember Brett Watson issued a statement this evening saying he was entering “a 30-day residential rehabilitation program to focus on depression and personal issues.” Watson, who was replaced as mayor at a special meeting earlier this week, states that he informed the council and staff on Oct. 11 that he intended to step down […]
Brett Watson
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Arcata Council Casts ‘No Confidence Vote’ After Removing Mayor for ‘Alleged Behaviors’
The Arcata City Council voted unanimously Wednesday evening to remove Brett Watson from the position of mayor and followed up the decision with a no confidence vote in his ability to serve as a councilmember. Watson was not present “due to personal reasons,” according to Stacy Atkins-Salazar, who was selected to serve as mayor until […]
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Arcata Council Set to Select a New Mayor, Vice Mayor
Arcata Mayor Brett Watson has not submitted a resignation letter but the city council is scheduled to select his replacement and chose a new vice mayor during a special meeting tomorrow. The item on the 5:59 p.m. agenda just before the regularly scheduled meeting states simply: With a mid-term vacancy of the mayor’s position, the […]
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Arcata Vacation Rental Regulations, Cap Move Forward
The Arcata City Council moved forward in a 3-1 vote, with Mayor Sofia Pereira recused, a municipal code amendment last night that will establish regulations for short-term rentals and cap their number at 100, with some exceptions. Councilmembers Brett Watson, Stacy Atkins-Salazar and Emily Goldstein voted in favor and Sarah Schaefer against. Several councilmembers, in […]
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Election Night Final Report: Arcata Incumbents Ahead, McKinley Statue Measure Continues Downward Slide
ELECTION NIGHT FINAL UPDATE: Incumbents Sofia Pereira and Brett Watson maintain their leads to continue serving on the Arcata City Council over challenger Valerie Rose-Campbell, taking 43.58 percent and 36.14 percent of the vote, respectively, in the three-person race. Meanwhile, the ballot bid to keep the statue of President William McKinley on the plaza continues its […]
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UPDATED: Divided Arcata City Council Stalls Student Housing Project
The Arcata City Council, meeting this morning with Councilmember Michael Winkler absent, having recused himself from the issue, deadlocked on The Village, a controversial off-campus student housing project, leaving the development’s future uncertain. The council voted 2-2, with Councilmember Paul Pitino and Mayor Sofia Pereira dissenting, on a motion from Councilmember Susan Ornelas that would […]
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Arcata to Vet Bringing Back Former FBI Agent in Lawson Investigation, Other Measures
The Arcata City Council directed staff to look at bringing back a retired FBI agent who recently stepped down from the David Josiah Lawson murder investigation or hiring another expert during Wednesday’s meeting after hearing demands for action from a packed room that included the slain 19 year old’s mother. While not taking an official […]
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Another Twist in the McKinley Statue Saga
So, remember two weeks ago, when the Arcata City Council voted 4-1 to take down the statue of President William McKinley? Well, things just got a bit more complicated. Now it appears the statue’s situation might go to some sort of vote after all — one of the options staff had recommended in the first […]
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Arcata, Meet Your New Mayor and Vice Mayor
The Arcata City Council today selected Sofia Pereira to serve as mayor for the next year and Brett Watson, who was appointed to his seat in April, to serve as vice mayor. The council rotates the honorary positions on an annual basis. Pereira, a Humboldt State graduate and the community manager for She Should Run, a […]
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Arcata Moves Forward With Sanctuary City Status
The Arcata City Council took the first steps toward becoming a sanctuary city this week in a reversal of position from one month ago when a divided board stopped just short of the declaration. After the 4-1 vote on May 16, Councilmember Michael Winkler stated he supported the body of the ordinance but cast his […]
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Brett Watson Selected as New Arcata Councilmember
Small business owner Brett Watson will join the Arcata City Council on April 19 after being unanimously selected by the other councilmembers following last night’s candidate forum. He will serve out the remainder of Mark Wheetley’s term, which ends in December of 2018. After 12 years of public service, Wheetley stepped down in March to […]
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Arcata Council Hopefuls to Take Questions at Forum
The seven hopefuls seeking to fill the remainder of Mark Wheetley’s term on the Arcata City Council are set to take questions at a candidate forum tomorrow at city hall. Three Arcata planning commissioners — Jason Akana, Robin Baker and Judith Mayer — as well as educator Michael J. Hart, Minor Theatre owner Joshua Neff, […]