There are currently six people whom Eureka voters have entrusted to make city decisions on their behalf. Five councilmembers and a mayor. That’s it. But these six people — all of whom have volunteered to work long hours and take on a bunch of responsibility (not to mention public scrutiny) in exchange for a modest […]
Marketing
Posted inNews
‘A Comedy of Errors’
When the city of Eureka took the bold step in February of putting out a request for proposals for a lucrative marketing contract — one that for decades had been given to a single organization — the request itself outlined a bold vision. Referencing the council’s 2018 strategic visioning session, the request noted that the […]
Posted inNews
Eureka Council Rejects Humboldt Made’s Proposal, Moves Forward with Virginia Marketing Firm
Meeting in closed session on the heels of recent revelations that staff had materially misrepresented the extent of issues with Humboldt Made’s proposal to provide marketing services for the city, the Eureka City Council voted this evening to direct the city manager to negotiate the $370,000 annual contract with the other finalist, Eddy Alexander, based […]
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Eureka Staff Repeatedly Provided Council, Public Inaccurate Information About Marketing Contract Process
During a tense May 21 Eureka City Council meeting, council members lamented that what they deemed a flawed process used to select finalists for a $370,000 annual marketing contract had broken the public’s trust. Things have since gone from bad to worse amid new revelations, including that staff has repeatedly and materially misrepresented key facts […]
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Julie Benbow Tapped to Head Visitor’s Bureau After Supes Extend Contract
The Humboldt County Visitors Bureau’s board of directors has named Julie Benbow as the tourism organization’s interim executive director. Benbow steps into the role Tony Smithers held for decades until his unexpected death in January. And the board’s announcement comes on the heels of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote Tuesday to extend […]
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Council Delays Marketing Vote Amid Transparency Concerns
The Eureka City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to delay selecting a marketing services provider after questions were raised about the fairness of the process, with several council members pointedly voicing frustration at the lack of information provided to them, despite their requests. So after several hours of discussion and public comment, the council opted to […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
The Tax Man Giveth Back
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 12 to reinvest a portion of its cannabis excise tax revenue back into the industry it came from. In a series of votes, the board approved plans to create a local “equity” program aimed at helping those impacted by prohibition and the drug war, a board […]
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UPDATE: Eureka Mulls Changing Course on Tourism Spending; Visitors Bureau Warns of Dire Consequences
UPDATE: In the wake of the death of Tony Smithers, the Eureka City Council today pulled an agenda item scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting to consider withdrawing its $370,000 contribution to the Eureka-Humboldt Visitors Bureau. PREVIOUS: The city of Eureka is considering drastically changing its approach to attracting tourists — and their dollars — to the […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Tourism Bureau Takes ‘Separate but Equal’ Approach to Cannabis Businesses
As they sat huddled around banquet tables arranged in a U shape, tensely nibbling the remnants of a catered lunch in the conference room of Eureka’s Red Lion Hotel, the Eureka-Humboldt Visitors Bureau Board of Directors voted last week to welcome cannabis businesses into their midst and to use them to market the county to […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
The Strain Name Game
Quibbling over how we can brand cannabis using Humboldt as a signifier of the sticky icky is not new. In August of 2016 the county launched its track-and-trace program, allowing local growers to stamp their product with proof of origin. In January, state Sen. Mike McGuire introduced a bill that would strengthen existing wording in […]
Posted inNews
Selling out to Big Soda
It was with incredulity that Journal staffers gazed on a slender green can of caffeinated pop dressed up in gaudy packaging that arrived last week. There, in front of us, was a piece of bona fide swag. A well constructed box with a green ribbon pull, embossed lettering, and printed with a somewhat ominous countdown: […]
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Humboldt Made Shakeup
T. Aaron Carter, the executive director of Humboldt Made who was hired at the beginning of the year and led an effort to reshape the group, has left the position. “It just got to a point where I felt like I did what I needed to do,” he says. “I couldn’t justify continuing to pay […]