Citing Family Medical Issues, Goldstein stepping down from Arcata City Council
Story shared by Kevin Hoover at the Mad River Union:
Vice Mayor Emily Grace Goldstein announced tonight that she is resigning the Arcata City Council. Citing family medical issues, Goldstein said she will leave after serving through February.
“I’m stepping down from City Council,” Goldstein announced, her voice choked with emotion. “I love this town and this community.”
Vice Mayor Emily Grace Goldstein
She said the health problem requires her full focus. “Unfortunately, it’s become clear that the health care in Humboldt County does not come close to meeting the needs of its residents. The energy and time that I have dedicated to you all now needs to go towards insuring that I have the best medical care possible for my family.”
Continued Goldstein, “I ran for this office because I value people above all else. Each person deserves a good life, and I need to be able to provide that for my own family.”
The timing of her announcement, she said, gives the council more options for replacing her than waiting any longer. Goldstein
She thanked her fellow councilmembers, naming Stacy-Atkins-Salazar, Sarah Schaefer and Meredith Matthews, but not Brett Watson, seated just to her left. “These three elected officials are some of the strongest and most capable people I have ever met. Please know how tirelessly they work for you all, and that they always truly have your best interests at heart.”
“Please remember to love your neighbors, housed or not, and embrace each other with compassion and empathy,” she said.
Goldstein was elected in November of 2020. Her departure leaves the council an even-numbered body subject to tied votes until a replacement councilmember can be selected. Recent mid-term replacement members have been selected by the council rather than by costly special election.
Mayor Atkins-Salazar said a public discussion will be had as to how to fill the vacancy, either at the next council meeting or a special meeting.
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Good riddance
The City Council ought to address that issue at some point.
“it’s become clear that the health care in Humboldt County does not come close to meeting the needs of its residents.”
This is the single most intelligent statement to come from an Arcata City Councilperson in some time…
Considering the fact that Mr Watson refuses to step down, even though he is an admitted alcoholic/drug abuser, and was actually allowed to serve as Mayor, following the ascension through some act of nepotism no doubt, of the wholly unqualified former Mayor to the Directorship of HHS…
The City of Arcata continues to whitewash it’s own local government, in a shameful process of neglect and favoritism…
We wish Ms Goldstein and family well.
Congratulations, Arcata !
What is going on in Arcata? Are we becoming worse at management/planning now that we are more “woke”?
Yes.
“Unfortunately, it’s become clear that the health care in Humboldt County does not come close to meeting the needs of its residents.”
Most of us have been painfully aware of this fact since, well, forever
Sure would be nice if we elected folks that already understand this
No. Each person deserves the chance to earn a good life. And therein lies the fundamental problem with Arcata libs…
Compassion: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
Some people are more misfortunate than others and it can be hard to know without actually knowing someones story. Better to give people the benefit of the doubt.
So now embarrassment and humiliation are health problems?
Buh Bye!
Just saw her little speech on the news about how Humboldt just hasn’t done enough to provide for her family. I guess the fact that she and her little minions just got caught being lying, conniving, self serving control freaks is a separate issue.
“She thanked her fellow councilmembers, naming Stacy-Atkins-Salazar, Sarah Schaefer and Meredith Matthews, but not Brett Watson, seated just to her left.”
That illustrates perfectly why she was never fit to be on the Council. Watson’s issues are being adjudicated through HR and her injecting herself in the issue outside of the established process (along with other councilmembers) is seriously overstepping boundaries. Omitting Watson from a pro forma acknowledgment was an unnecessary, graceless, petty swipe. Given the large portion of Goldstein’s term left to be filled, a special election should be the obvious procedure. But, given the self-serving and controlling nature of this Council, look for them to take the opportunity to fill Goldstein’s seat with another ideological pinhead.