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 […]
Stacy Atkins-Salazar
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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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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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Arcata Vice Mayor Goldstein Stepping Down to Focus on Family
Arcata Vice Mayor Emily Goldstein announced last night that she will be stepping down from the city council seat she was elected to a little more than one year ago to “focus on the health of my family.” At times growing emotional, Goldstein said the decision was “really hard” but the “energy and time I […]
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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 […]