‘Buildings for Rich People’: Part Two of Punished for Another’s Crimes, a Look at the Ramifications of the Abatement Process

Notice to Abate

Notice to abate. [Photo first posted on Redheaded Blackbelt June 24, 2018]

Today marks a significant anniversary in Humboldt County cannabis history–exactly five years ago on May 24, 2017, the first “Notice to Abate Nuisance” for cultivating cannabis without a permit was posted. By February of 2020 there were 970 abatements countywide, 236 of which were unresolved at the time. Of course, there have been more abatement cases and more resolved cases since then.

Until recently, when abating a property previously used for growing cannabis, Humboldt County required unpermitted structures to be demolished and property to be returned to pre cultivation condition at the current owner’s expense whether or not they had anything to do with illegal production.(We wrote about the hardships this can cause previously in Part One of this series.) On March 22, 2022, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to accept a policy change proposal from the Planning and Building Department’s Code Enforcement Unit.

Though the discussion about changing the policy centered around unpermitted cannabis, the new policy also pertains to restoring permitted cannabis sites after farms are laid fallow, terminated, or abandoned.  The policy requires the owners of property with permits to submit a withdrawal request immediately, and either submit an application for grading or demolition within 30 days, which then gives the property owner six months to finish all of the restoration work. Or property owners have 30 days to submit a withdrawal request that outlines the permitted use of any remaining proposed cannabis related materials, infrastructure or tools.

This new policy voted in by the Board of Supervisors now allows “Property owners and/or operators to prepare a plan and description of the non-cannabis continued use of the unpermitted structures they want to retain if zoning and land use allow for a legitimate legal use, the building is within the curtilage of an existing residence, the building can be permitted, and there is not environmental harm in the structure.”

However, the new policy can still cause hardship. If you buy property that had been allegedly used for cannabis cultivation by previous owners, in order to keep otherwise legal to own items and structures, you are required to contact the county and provide them a description of how you plan to legally use them. This doesn’t just pertain to buildings with a foundation. The policy reads, “…including but not limited to bags, pots or other containers, tools, fertilizers, pesticides, fuels, hoop house frames and coverings, irrigation pipes, water bladders or tanks, pond liners, electrical lighting fixtures, wiring and related equipment, fencing, cannabis and cannabis waste products, imported soil and soil amendments not incorporated into native soil, generators, pumps, and structures not associated with non-cannabis permitted use of the site.” Essentially, anything on the property that could have been used for cannabis production has to be justified.

“Yeah, let’s criminalize tools,” Del McCain, a local real estate agent and former Code Enforcement activist from the United Stand Days joked. He pointed out that under this policy if it is strictly enforced, “You have to get rid of everything that could be used for cannabis, despite the fact that many of these same things are used for normal living.” He noted the same items used for growing cannabis are often used for growing food. 

“Almost everyone uses fertilizers (of course I don’t favor indiscriminate use),” he explained.  “People also use irrigation systems, water bladders, ponds and tanks… Criminalizing water storage…is simply bad policy.”

McCain also pointed out that buildings previously used to grow cannabis can be used “as much needed outbuildings.”  

McCain isn’t the only one concerned about issues with the new policy. Engineer and Owner of DTN Engineering David Nicoletti reflected on the new policy’s timeline and requirements saying, “The county acts like everyone has $100,000 lying around. These poor people are going to have to jump through so many hoops to keep their structures or terminate a permit.”

He questioned the reality of trying to remove structures and flats that often took years to create in the timeline granted by the County. “They have to go through the conditional use process, consultants,” he pointed out. “[A]nd what if the county gives you permits in October to do grading within six months during the winter?  These timelines are way too demanding, especially given our current industry conditions and economy.”

Speaking during the public comment period at the Board meeting where the decision to change policy was made, Natalynne Delapp, Director of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA), encouraged supervisors and staff to give farmers more consideration during these hard economic times.

She explained, “We really need to be thinking about what a post cannabis landscape looks like, if and when active cannabis farmers go fallow or transition to non-cannabis crops… These farmers are absolutely going to need time and a breather to figure out what their next steps are.”

She called it insane that “farmers would have to dismantle their purchased private property infrastructure simply because it was used for cannabis…It is a massive waste, and how is that not a taking of their private property?”

Delapp’s concern about cultivators having to drop out of the business isn’t something that might happen someday. A Public Records request made by this reporter last month revealed growers laid fallow or abandoned 122 permits last year alone.

Note that the cost of removing structures, etc. aren’t the only costs borne by the person who is usually withdrawing from growing cannabis because of a lack of funds. The policy says the county will bill property owners for staff’s work. The county doesn’t just charge for meetings or hearings, but emails and phone calls too. The billed hourly rates for low to mid range level staff’s time reportedly range from $100-$300 per hour, far more than wages made by average residents in rural Humboldt, where most of the abatements are given.

Once a permit holder withdraws, they can’t restart the permit process in the future. The current policy states, “[This] end[s] cannabis cultivation entitlements and eliminate[s] permit pathways for future cannabis cultivation operations for that site.”

And if they should illegally return to growing, the current policy adopted by the board also states, “If subsequent unpermitted cannabis cultivation is identified, the site will be subject to Day 1 penalties as described in HCC section 352-3(m)(2) of the Humboldt County Code.”

One day of penalties can be substantial if several violations are alleged. For example, if you were cited for say, perlite soil on the ground, a chicken coop 150 feet away from a seasonally dry stream (class three), a greenhouse over 120 sq. ft. on non-residentially zoned land which lacked an ag exempt permit and you (or the previous owner) were alleged to have cultivated commercial cannabis, whether guilty or not, that one day fine can sometimes be $40,000.

The Scope of the Issue

During the Board meeting, District One Supervisor Rex Bohn asked Code Enforcement Officer Brandon Howton for his best estimate for how many unpermitted outbuildings and other structures are affected by this countywide.

Brandon Howton said there were fifty structures leveled last year of approximately 800 total, adding, “We didn’t even scratch the surface.”

Some structures were small such as chicken coops or storage sheds. Others were more substantial, such as massive metal buildings or homes. 

Attempting to get an idea of the scale of the issue of structures being abated by county Code Enforcement and demolished, Supervisor Bohn asked, “Of the fifty structures [demolished last year], how many could have been permitted?” 

Howton responded,  “A dozen would have been permittable of the fifty.”

However David Nicoletti, Engineer and Owner of DTN Engineering disputes this. He told us, “There is no such thing as an unpermittable structure.” 

Nicoletti continued saying, “Any building could be permitted. The issue is primarily cost versus the value of the building.”

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Change in Policy

Humboldt County Code Enforcement Manager Karen Meynell pointed out that one advantage to the County of the policy change was that property taxes that were paid on the structures in the past, whether permitted or not, would now continue to be paid.

Many of the fifty unpermitted, demolished structures under the old policy had taxes paid on them, sometimes for decades. For example, in Rhonda Olson’s case which is the smallest structure featured in Part One of our series; the shop that Code Enforcement wants her to bring up to code or remove, costs her about $1,500 annually today and taxes have been paid on the structure since 1982.

Of course, we don’t know the value of all the structures, but just as an attempt to quickly understand the possible value to the county, if all property owners paid the same tax amount for the fifty demolished structures thus far, that is  $75,000 annually in lost tax revenue for the county. If all eight-hundred structures were demolished that Code Enforcement Officer Brandon Howton cited in his report to Supervisors and the tax was the same for each,, this equates to a loss of $1.2 million annually for the county in tax revenue (Remember, this is a very rough guesstimate to grasp the scale of the economic impact to county from the loss of taxes. We are not claiming this is the actual amount. The number could be smaller or larger than this).

An advantage of the policy change not mentioned by Code Enforcement is the potential impacts to our housing market and the consequences for those already struggling to obtain and maintain affordable housing. Considering current inflation, rising fuel costs, the cannabis industry collapse, and that we have a countywide emergency shelter ordinance in effect, removing structures has the potential to further compromise critical shelter opportunities at the time when an increasing number of residents need it most. The new policy could allow structurest that might otherwise be destroyed to provide living space.

Code Enforcement Manager Karen Meynell expressed there were some disadvantages of the new law, including:

  • Less of a deterrent for unpermitted cannabis cultivation
  • In particular, less accountability for property owners who might be cultivating indoor cannabis
  • Encouraging land owners to transfer property to avoid demolishing a structure

Meynell explained, “It’s hard to track the transfer of property. One concern is that whatever the board considers to do, we should make different allowance for people who created the problem vs. people who live there and inherit the problem. I don’t want to create a situation where people are transferring ownership to avoid taking down a building because it’s really hard for us to track LLCs… and responsible parties.”

During the meeting, John Ford, Director of the Humboldt County’s Planning & Building Department, detailed the two factors that are considered when keeping a structure, saying they are “Whether the building can be used for a permitted use, and if the structure can be permitted.”  

Supervisor Madrone suggested that perhaps some structures should be allowed to remain even if they are not up to current code. “Back in United Stand when Peter [Childs] and Dan [Taranto] and everybody were pushing back against the red tagging,” Madrone said, “the outcome was the AOB [Alternative Owner Builder] rules, which I’ve taken advantage of…I think we are all learning in today’s world– the codes are changing, there are new innovative ways to build things, that aren’t in the codes yet, but they could be, like recycled materials.

Charles Garth, owner of Yeehaw, an intentional community, which provides affordable housing largely made of recycled materials said, “One by one, I see farms closing up and water tanks being trucked off– it’s eerie.” He added, “The cannabis industry is rapidly becoming irrelevant. Humboldt County is changing, we are going to go through a lot of changes that are not going to be easy, and people are going to need all the infrastructure they’ve got to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.”

How Are Properties Affected by the Board’s Policy Change:

Even though in March, the Board softened the requirements for demolishing structures during abatements, many if not most property owners face serious consequences whether or not they were the growers that caused the issue. As John Ford explained to the Board of Supervisors in the March meeting, “All three cases featured in [Part One of] the article would subsequently still need exceptions to be made and/or extensive construction and engineer work.”

Below we take a look at the reality of what owners face under the new, more relaxed rules as we revisit the property owners featured in Part One.

The Thomases 

Engineer David Nicoletti’s aerial drone imagery of the structure and other imagery featured in his report for Code Enforcement.

Engineer David Nicoletti’s aerial drone imagery of the Thomases’ structure and other imagery featured in his report for Code Enforcement.

The Thomases, who came from out of the area and purchased a property that had a clear title report and no cannabis activities onsite since the previous owner was raided, continue to work with the County’s demands to demolish the two and a half story structure that Code Enforcement tasked them to remove with an abatement notice they received ten days after escrow closed.

Nicoletti, owner of DTN Engineering, visited the Thomas’ property in April to conduct a thorough site inspection of the structure in the remote area near Miranda. He estimated roughly that the cost to demolish it would be $110,000±. However, he said the approximate expense to bring the building into compliance as an Ag-Exempt structure is $15,000±, which includes his fee. “That is unless the county has me jumping through all kinds of hoops,” Nicoletti added.

Nicoletti detailed his assessment of the environmental harm of removing the structure, saying, “I just had a meeting with a Contractor and he concurred the demolition would require clearing of at least 20’ on all sides resulting in the removal of about 70 trees of various sizes.”

Various views of the Thomases' building.

Various views of the Thomases’ building.

He explained the problem, “Due to the environmentally sensitive area, various in-depth environmental studies would need to be performed. Restoration and mitigation can occur, but at what price to the environment and the current owners?”

The equipment to remove those buildings is very heavy and would be hauled to the site with large semis that require significant turn radius. Can the road system support the demolition? The typical response from the County is “they got it in there and they can take it out”. That gives me the impression that the County is not aware of the demolition process for a building such as this, other than permitting.

Nicoletti elaborated on the structural integrity of the concrete floor and foundation, saying, “The building and foundation were built incredibly robustly and with minor code improvements, can be permitted as an Ag Exempt structure, and used by the Thomases as a storage facility.”

He believes, “Any other perspective seems punitive. I mean the Thomases are clearly not cultivating cannabis and they bought the property ten days prior to receiving the notice of violation.”

What he wants to know is how would the structures destruction improve the situation. “Yes,” he said, “the County may legally assume that the liability belongs to the current property owner…[but] from a pragmatic perspective what’s the benefit to removing the building? I see none.”

Rhonda Olson

Last month, Inspectors red tagged a building on Rhonda Olson's property declaring it unsafe.

Last month, Inspectors red tagged a building on Rhonda Olson’s property declaring it unsafe.

Orleans is an economically deprived and largely indigenous community in the Northeastern part of the county, with a population of 705, that is “in desperate need of affordable housing,” according to Rhonda Olson. Olson has been busy working to comply with Code Enforcement’s demands for her three Orleans parcels, recently purchased with clear title reports. Despite there being no cannabis on site since her purchase, she received an abatement initially in the previous owner’s name, only a month after escrow closed. Subsequently her affordable housing project in Orleans is on hold until the notices are entirely resolved. 

After the March 22 Supervisors meeting, Olson proactively hired a new engineer to address any lingering concerns the county may have had. During this time, she says her engineer was regularly communicating with Code Enforcement Officer Warren Black about resolving the abatements. 

One of three abatement notices served in April 2022, the daily fines total $83,000 for all notices

One of three abatement notices served in April 2022 on Rhonda Olson’s property. The daily fines total $83,000 for all notices

Still, the day before Earth Day on April 21, Olson found new abatement notices on all three parcels dated April 5. This time the notices were in her name. The abatements were accompanied with a red tag on her shop stating that it was unsafe to enter or inhabit, however, the red tags said they were “not demolition orders.”

Olson asked, “Why did they red tag it now if I wasn’t safe in 2020?… Why did they give me another abatement when I have an engineer working with Warren Black directly now? Also, David was just here on April 11, and it was not posted at the time of his inspection. If I have a ten day deadline and it isn’t posted until sixteen days later, how can I comply?”

The recent abatements listed the same violations from the initial notices posted in 2021. Olson said she already resolved Code Enforcement’s concerns last year, besides filling in garden bed holes once used to cultivate cannabis, which she will do, and signing a compliance agreement, which she refuses to do.

Olson’s Shop used for storage, the left side leads to a shed and hole below, by Nichole Norris

Olson’s shop used for storage, the left side leads to a shed and hole below. [Photo by Nichole Norris]

A new matter raised in the recent abatement was Olson’s sizable shop, initially rumored to have been built by a local logger and used to store his logging trucks. The shop is 80’ x35’ and currently being used for storage. The shop is a well built structure, the issue is that it is attached to a shed that leads to a hole beneath part of the building, which Code Enforcement is concerned could compromise the integrity of the structure.  The hole was called a “tunnel” by Code Enforcement during the Supervisors meeting discussion. The narrow hole is approximately 25 feet from end to end, only a few feet tall in some places, and accessible through a shed that is one level below on the neighboring parcel, also owned by Olson.

The tunnel. [Photo by Nichole Norris]

The tunnel. [Photo by Nichole Norris]

Olson then explained, “I didn’t even know the hole existed until Warren told me about it after I bought the property. It looked like a shed to me. The previous owners used it to store recycling and trash because it’s hard to get to the dump when you live way out here in Orleans…I take care of my disabled father full time, so his belongings are stored in the shed now. But according to the red tag I need the county’s permission each time I have to get my father’s diapers from the building.”

Engineer David Nicoletti visited the parcels on April 11 to determine the most cost effective way to fix the tunnel and bring the structure up to code. 

Nicoletti said, “Olson’s new properties are not bad at all, except for the health and safety issue with the shop , which is impacted by the tunnel. I’ve got it covered. I spoke with Black on April 12th reaffirming our previous conversation, right before she got the most recent abatement and red tag.”

Nicoletti continued, “The shop is really nice, there is no issue bringing it up to code, the problem is the work required could potentially cost $61,000.”

Nicoletti estimated if Olson were to rebuild the structure today it would cost $275,000 for the materials, slab, and the gas to get materials onsite, plus $56,000 for workers, and permitting will be an additional $20,000-25,000, so well over $300,000.

(Olson’s father’s storage inside the otherwise empty shop, by Nichole Norris)

Olson’s father’s storage inside the otherwise empty shop. [Photo by Nichole Norris]

Additionally Code Enforcement wants Olson to fill in all the garden beds at the vineyard and other parcel, that were once used by previous owners to cultivate cannabis but they are now completely overgrown. One option is grading the existing field level, which requires a permit and is environmentally disruptive to the existing habitat. The other option is using fill dirt which will cost another $22,500, Nicoletti said, adding, “So Rhonda is looking at about $83,000 to come into compliance.”

(View of field on the vineyard parcel, once used to cultivate cannabis by previous owners that Rhonda Olson is tasked to fill in with $22,500 in dirt or grade flat)

View of field on the vineyard parcel, once used to cultivate cannabis by previous owners that Rhonda Olson is tasked to fill in with $22,500 in dirt or grade flat.

Olson is willing to address any issues with the holes and shop over time, but she explained, “I am pretty maxed out on what I can spend on these properties at this point…I’m already out about $14,500 for various experts and labor cleaning up the abatement issues already… My intention was to provide low income housing opportunities, but at this rate I’m not sure that’s an option anymore.”

(Rhonda Olson photographed with shingles in April)

Rhonda Olson photographed with shingles in April.

After Part One of this article was published, Olson was hospitalized for shingles, which is a stress related condition, that rendered her temporarily blind in her left eye. Her eyesight has since returned but the doctor insisted she reduce her stress levels to ensure the shingles do not come back and potentially leave her permanently blind. 

The one day penalty for all three recent abatements combined is $83,000, making that a tall order for Olson, who says,  “My eyesight finally came back, but how can I follow the doctor’s orders to avoid stress when the county won’t leave me alone? It’s not getting better and now I’m worried the shingles will spread into my brain.”

Olson said, “Ford does not see the placing of abatement notices with the draconian fines on already cleaned up property as abusive. It’s elder abuse… This is no different than what Code Enforcement did in the 80’s except they had guns. This is too much power to be put in the hands of the Planning Department.”

The Selinos Donated Volunteer Fire Department Building 

(Salmon Creek community coming together to help the couple disassemble the interior walls)

Salmon Creek community coming together to help Corynne and Matt disassemble the interior walls of the metal building. [Photo from Corynne and Matt Selino]

Months after Corynne and Matt Selino bought their property, they are still working to permit and donate the existing 4,000 sq. ft. metal building to the Salmon Creek Volunteer Fire Department (SCVFD). Before the change in policy, Humboldt County had abated the structure on July 7, 2021, and demanded they demolish it. A large group of Salmon Creek community volunteers spent five days tearing apart the interior wooden grow rooms of the massive metal building. Their in-laws even leveled a small home due to the County’s demands as well. However, after a number of members spoke to the Board of Supervisors, the metal building intended for the fire department use is still standing and the Selinos are actively trying to work with the county to permit and donate it.

Even given the policy change proposed, the Selino’s case still requires exceptions and they face a minimum of $10,000 in permitting costs in addition to the $6,550 spent thus far, despite just purchasing the property with a clean title eight months prior.  

Attorney Eugene Denson said, “The new policy makes what [the Selino’s] want to do possible, but it doesn’t make it certain. They are going to need a special use permit, and they will be required to go to hearings and things. The estimate of getting the permit is at least $10,000… .”

Moving Forward After the Policy Change–Buyer Beware

At the March 22nd Board meeting, the Humboldt County Supervisors raised the issue of disclosure laws which are meant to protect buyers when purchasing property. 

Supervisor Michelle Bushnell asked, “If someone is purchasing a property…, and they are unaware, what can we do?  I understand it’s the owner’s responsibility, but what about people who are new to our community who aren’t aware of our policies…. How do we address that?”

Planning Director John Ford added, “We reached out to realtors to encourage them to determine if the cannabis use is legal or not before advertising it as such. In addition to investigating the unpermitted buildings.” And, he added, “Going forward [abatments] have been recorded.”

Bushnell asked about the abatement cases prior to October 2020, and what happens when there are seller financed cases which she said were common in rural Humboldt.

Ford responded, “We can go back and record notices on all properties that haven’t been resolved yet… I don’t know how many of those there are…[We]… have been going backwards and recording notices. We are back to 2018.”

Real Estate Agent Del McCain suggested all buyers do their due diligence with their agent to determine all the conditions of any parcel of interest, and, he said, they should ask a lot of questions.

“A title company can’t know what isn’t of record, so if the county didn’t record an abatement, then the title company would have no way to know about it,” he explained. “So they wouldn’t know to disclose it as an exception to title insurance on the report.” He added, “Legal liability varies from case to case and it’s very complex, which is even more reason the county should have a coherent policy to simplify it as much as possible.” 

Lingering Concerns

As long as this article is, it barely brushes on the complexity of just this one aspect of cannabis policy that Humboldt County law makers and residents have to grapple with. Some matters still left unclear in the new regulations are: 

  • Will unsuspecting landlords be held liable for tenant’s actions they are not privy to? Who will be responsible for the substantial penalties?
  • What are the responsibilities of the property owner versus the permit holder if they are two different people or entities?  
  • What happens to unsuspecting landowners who are the victims of trespass growers?
  • The liability, stress and costs assumed by new property owners who purchased property with clear titles was not addressed in the new policy beyond a mention of case-by-case consideration for those who caused the problem versus those who did not.
  • How will the county weigh the harm of removing a structure versus leaving it, beyond on a case by case, special permission basis?

Another matter not addressed by the County was the incredible cost to the community economically. It’s been five years since the first abatement was given May 23, 2017 and millions of dollars have been extracted from mostly rural Humboldt residents. The new policy fails to address what happens when people cannot afford the costs to comply.  Satisfying the County’s abatement requirements could cost more than property owners have.

Some property owners face hundreds of thousands in fines or costs. The most financially stable can struggle to deal with an abatement…the least financially stable face losing not only their outbuildings, but their farms, their homes, their way of life. 

With property owners expending tens of thousands of dollars to meet the County’s abatement requirements, the cost of retaining many structures can seem impossible to those already struggling to survive. Real estate agent Del McCain worries that the process is beyond the reach of many residents. “What the county is describing is buildings for rich people, it shouldn’t be essentially against the law to be poor,” he stated.

Additionally, there is a sense of injustice in rural Humboldt County as a result of these cannabis related enforcement policies. Landowner Rhonda Olson summed up her position saying, “The jobs that we thought cannabis legalization would bring did not materialize. I was trying to pivot to affordable housing, but with the Planning Department in charge of permitting, I have no hope of going that direction. I’m broke and broken… .”

This reporter asked for an interview with Director Ford several times, but he has not yet been available. 

*PLEASE NOTE: This reporter works for the Law Offices of Eugene Denson and is working for a change to County policy.

In addition, please be aware that the publisher, Kym Kemp, lives in the same Salmon Creek neighborhood as the Selinos.

Note: Del McCain requested we change fumed to stated as he felt that best characterized his feelings.

Earlier: Punished for Another’s Crimes: Humboldt County Demands New Owners Destroy Any Unpermitted Building Used for Cannabis Cultivation

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218 Comments
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Sonnyb
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Sonnyb
1 year ago

You can thank the right wing CA legislation for the current state of are industry. They have controlled are state with a bully pulpit for so long with a super majority the dems have no chance too help the small dealers. It has too change at the grass roots level and then Rayguns trickle up economics will begin. In the mean time you must stay the course and stay with in the boundaries. Lettuce prove every body right that this was the best decision and correct choice to move forward in to the 20th century. Lest we half to move in to the shadows as be fore.
+freebrandon
NLM TOO

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago
Reply to  Sonnyb

That was all leftwing legislation. Right wing legislation is against government control.

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Doesn’t add up. They’re jerkin you around Jeff. Why can’t right wingers legislate against government control of women’s choices?

Lou Monadi
Guest
Lou Monadi
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

Can you define a woman? I didn’t think so

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Quit tryin to define her. Just ask!

regulators
Guest
regulators
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

A biological human female. That’s an easy one. Biology 101.

Don T MattaD
Member
Don T Matta
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Can YOU????

Lou Monadi
Guest
Lou Monadi
1 year ago
Reply to  Don T Matta

Womb of Man.

rollin
Guest
rollin
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

Maybe cause murder is a bad choice? Maybe??

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

When does life start?

Please answer this simple question.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Actually

*crickets*

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

So…no guns allowed either? Still sounds like government control.

honey Lumpkin
Guest
honey Lumpkin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

uh what? the right wing of this nation are all over wanting to legislate people to death. they want to force women into indentured servitude with their laws on our bodies. no, the right wing wants to abandon all responsibility to the individual and have the individual serve the government. there s a word for that.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago
Reply to  honey Lumpkin

The supreme court is only saying that abortion is a state issue under the Constitution. Many Republicans support abortion.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Then how come a whole bunch of red states are already introducing legislation targeting birth control in anticipation of the ruling. Roe vs. wade had a lot to do with doctor patient confidentiality.

The way the leaked opinion reads also potentially sets precedent by allowing for even more civil rights to be rolled back.

Corporate Serfdom
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Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  honey Lumpkin

Excuse me, but the indentured servitude isn’t just for RINOs.

regulators
Guest
regulators
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Like hell they are. It was the Republicans who refused to cooperate on this legislation unless massive “sin taxes” were included.

Republicans regularly support regulatory capture by industry, because they are opposed to regulation to begin with.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago
Reply to  regulators

Please. Calif is controlled by a democratic super majority.

yep
Guest
yep
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Look at the California High-Speed Rail project for example.

Dano
Guest
Dano
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Unless it is a woman’s body or what books you should read or when it benefits the oligarchy…

F**k all government
Guest
F**k all government
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Anyone working in government is about government control. Neither side care about you or me or anyone else in any of these countries, it’s up to us to take control of our reality and create something beautiful for our children and communities coming after us. All of you are complaining about everything these people do and what’s your way to fix it, is to go vote more greedy power hungry pieces of s**t to control your every move so they make profit from you .

Wake up and let’s really take control
Everyone in every industry, race, country should stop everything . If everyone in the world just sit down and does absolutely nothing it would not take long to have real change everywhere All these people care about is money and you take that away from them they will do anything to get that back. Stop complaining about everything and blaming the government when it’s everyone who voted these people into office believing that anyone in the government really wants to help you YOU ARE THE PROBLEM

Lou Monadi
Guest
Lou Monadi
1 year ago
Reply to  Sonnyb

The woke folk are good at pointing fingers, but the reality is that ca is blue thru and thru. The left is destroying America and they must be stopped. Vote republican in October if you want your civil rights back.

Dude
Guest
Dude
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Except for abortion rights though right??

Lou Monadi
Guest
Lou Monadi
1 year ago
Reply to  Dude

Last time I checked Americans have abortion rights

Tim
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Tim
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Check back again once Roe is overturned.

Screen Shot 2022-05-24 at 7.54.41 PM.png
Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

What about the voting rights the republicans keep trying to strip? Oh wait it’s only gonna affect poor people never mind.

You folks love to say that liberalism is a mental disorder( with the current state of the Democratic Party I agree I guess) but fail to see the batshit craziness that is going down in the Republican Party right now.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

I usually vote for whoever is not in power. Just to send the tiny message that I think they BOTH suck. Both parties that is….sometimes an individual candidate (from either party)- can be less sucky- until the party beats them down

Lou Monadi
Guest
Lou Monadi
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

I actually agree with your statement. Corruption and greed have infiltrated both parties. That’s why we need to drain the swamp and put trump back in office

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Exactly. A soft handed, born rich, NY tv celebrity, who doesn’t pay his bills, and wears Chinese ties. Sounds about right.

Lou Monadi
Guest
Lou Monadi
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

I bet if you go look in your closet at the tags on your clothing, the car you drive, the food you eat…it’s all made in China! America is made in China . I do appreciate your sense of humor though

yep
Guest
yep
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

And that is a serious problemthat neither party is willing to address.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  yep

“we should make different allowance for people who created the problem vs. people who live there and inherit the problem.”

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

None of my china shit is branded “El J-Ski”!

Justanotherperson
Guest
Justanotherperson
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Trump is a draft dodging malingerer. You love him so much you’d watch him grab your wife, daughter, or sister by the p***y, right? All you so-called conservatives have for decades preached about the importance of the military and how soldiers are heroes, and you like this soft handed rich boy, draft dodger whose never earned a dollar in his life. I think y’all just wish you were him.

Jim Brickley
Guest
Jim Brickley
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

“Draft dodging, tin pot wannabe Dictator”. Tammy Duckworth –

regulators
Guest
regulators
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Trump is part of the Republican party, and easily one of the very worst presidents are country has ever had.

Grammar is tuff
Guest
Grammar is tuff
1 year ago
Reply to  regulators

*our

yep
Guest
yep
1 year ago

Kym

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago
Reply to  regulators

He looks real good next to the present idiot and his predecessor the half white commie America hating Obama. I liked cheap gas and a good economy and making Europe pay up.

Dano
Guest
Dano
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

QUit making up lies. Look at the economy under Obama compared to Trump…

rollin
Guest
rollin
1 year ago
Reply to  Dano

The economy sucked under the piece of shit commie, unless you were watching Rachel Maddow. Oh, nevermind.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

When you follow a lie with another insulting lie you sound like, well, a liar.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

Dude. Your the one constantly complaining about people being upset by racism and yet you’re using half white in a deragatory manner. Who cares what race he was? I thought a lot of shit Obama did was shady but guess what? I address specific issues and don’t have to resort to childish ad hominem attacks to make my “point”(do you even have one?).

Conservatism is a mental disorder.

yep
Guest
yep
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Im pretty sure using “half white” as an insult is not gonna fly here. Im surprised Kym let it go 8 hours.

Flat Woman
Guest
Flat Woman
1 year ago
Reply to  yep

You may be half right

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Europe is paying up. The Top 5 gas companies reported 300% profit increases this quarter. 35 Billion dollars, 28% of what Americans pay at the pump. Is it Biden or the Corporations that run our country who are at fault.

rollin
Guest
rollin
1 year ago
Reply to  regulators

Yeah, things are much better now on the verge of WW3 with double digit inflation on the precipice of an economic disaster with the Easter Bunny directing the president. Bravo!

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

Conservatism is a mental disorder.

Dano
Guest
Dano
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

You are joking right? Have you looked at his previous choices for his administration? They are the swampiest group of people to ever work for the government.

elvis costanza
Guest
elvis costanza
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Scump IS “the swamp”. Haven’t you been paying attention?

Liberty Biberty
Guest
Liberty Biberty
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

That’s like expecting emotion from a automated system

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago

Lol! perhaps so…

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

Voting is just an exercise in making oneself feel better, as if they have an impact. Mights as well go play a lotto game. But like the broken watch, you’re right both parties suck.

Dano
Guest
Dano
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

It is a false equivalence to suggest Democrats are equivlent to Republicans. It is thinking like this that gave us Trump and a 6 to 3 anti-American, anti civil rights SCOTUS

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Dano

Yeah it’s similar to the difference between drinking koolaid laced with uranium vs plutonium. They are both very bad but plutonium is worse.

rollin
Guest
rollin
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

Good analogy. Democrats are plutonium.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

Sick burn dude.

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Actually

Let’s just hope their half life isn’t as long as plutonium.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

Way to own the libs!

yep
Guest
yep
1 year ago
Reply to  Dano

It was the DNC that gave the election to trump. They should have gone with the candidate that had far better polling against trump.

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

I’m gonna vote for the goofiest repbulican in the Primary! Hey just wondering what happened to all that Recall energy now that we have a real election coming..hmm?

Lou Monadi
Guest
Lou Monadi
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

Good for you! Unfortunately Russia controls all of the energy now, thanks to the woke policies of the current administration

Dano
Guest
Dano
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Not even close. WHat policies? The energy problem is created by the energy industry. Period. They could pump more but they refuse to.

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Dano

They could take a quarter without CEO pay…maybe sell at cost, zero profit for a quarter…how come through out “supply chain disruptions”, and “refinery shutdowns” and “reduced demand during COVID” they still are making a profit?

regulators
Guest
regulators
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Obviously that is not true. Have you never heard of the Central valley?

What civil right has been lost?

Don T MattaD
Member
Don T Matta
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

In October??? You trying to get an early start to stuffing the Ballot Box???

Dano
Guest
Dano
1 year ago
Reply to  Lou Monadi

Civil rights back? You mean the republican party that consistently votes against civil rights is going to change come October? You are either misinformed, uneducated, or brainwashed.

Richard
Guest
Richard
1 year ago
Reply to  Sonnyb

You do realize the State of California is a one-party state with the Democrats holding all statewide offices for practically forever? I don’t think a Republican could get elected city dog catcher. Do try to keep up with the present.

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard

Except for Brian Eagle, Kim Nielson, Andreas Borgeas, Shannon Grove, Scott Will, Rosalicie Ochoa Both, Melissa Melendez, Patricia Bates, Brian Jones, Megan Dahle, James Gallagher, Frank Bigalow, Kevin Kiley, Heath Flora, Jim Patterson, Devon Mathis, Thurston Smith, Vince Fong, Jordan Cunningham, Tom Lackey, Suzette Martinez Valladares, Phillip Chen, Kelly Sayarto, Steven Choi, Randy Voepel, Tyler Diego, Bill Brough , Marie Waldron, in the State Senate, and US Representatives, plus the Mayors of Fresno, Bakersfield, and Anaheim…Republican are not so endangered here, just becoming whiney cry babies.

299CommuterD
Member
299Commuter
1 year ago
Reply to  Sonnyb

You are probably the only person in this State that thinks it is being run by Republicans. You seriously need to do some research.

rollin
Guest
rollin
1 year ago
Reply to  Sonnyb

“You can thank the right wing CA legislation for the current state of are industry.”

Liberalism is a mental disorder!

“The Democratic Party currently holds veto-proof supermajorities in both houses of the California State Legislature. The Assembly consists of 60 Democrats and 19 Republicans, with one independent, while the Senate is composed of 31 Democrats and 9 Republicans.”

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

Any policy suggestions besides “Obama is a commie…”?

Putin even isn't a communist
Guest
Putin even isn't a communist
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

Yes, Trump is a pathological liar white racist Fascist

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago

With all due respect can you folks take this conversation to an appropriate platform. The matters raised in my article and the relevant comments below are so important for our community to digest, but are unfortunately getting diluted by this left v right banter. It’s not right v left, it’s up v down folks, please stop battling one another and keep on topic here because this is really important for our community. Again with all due respect, Thank you.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

It’s economic warfare, and people are fed up with trickle down bullshit, that takes more and more out of our pockets when we PAY FOR GOVERNMENT ABUSE, then have to pay to defend ourselves against said abuse.
It’s disgusting how mid level intelligence uses the qualified immunity of government policy making and the enforcement apparatus to wage war onot us.

https://theinfowar.tv/watch?id=629154aa33b70327655fbef1

Worn out
Guest
Worn out
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

Please vote republican. The taxes are killing us. No deep pockets available. Trillion dollar demons living upscale lifestyles. Not the direction to follow. Makes you wonder if they shop or pump their own gas. Really research those candidates, it’s not easy.

izzy
Guest
izzy
1 year ago

As above, so below. It’s all of a piece.
“You will own nothing and be happy.”

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago

Enjoy your corporate “legalization” everybody! Feeling “free” and “safe” yet? Gotta love that John Ford, right? Somebody tell me- when is the big demonstration at the Building Department? Oh that’s right- that was the OLD Humboldt…when we had some unity…before the greedrush and the wonderful mega-growers blew up our community. Now the county is just shooting fish in a barrel and squeezing, squeezing… When those delayed cannabis taxes actually DO NOT get paid in September (by the never-to-be-named Four Biggest Farms) they will squeeze even harder. Hey- the county has salaries and benefits to pay! So screw you…Enjoy!!

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

It’s about the money. These people are all getting punished basically for not signing up for the extortion. If this were a piece written on Mexican drug history, it would be called a government protection racket. Warren Black doesn’t like this place, or it’s people. He’s living out a sadistic power trip fantasy.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

As a so called greedrusher I disagree with your remarks. You continue to divide into categories certain growing classes and then talk about unity. Well this so called greedrusher thinks as he did back then you all can be a thankless group that does not deserve our support if ya cannot recognize those that have earned their place. John Ford and the group you represent ain’t to far off in thought processes just different side of the fence in my viewpoint. [edit]

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Oh? I thought you were an OG? Isn’t that what you claimed the other day? Anyways…this article is about one issue we can agree on. Yes- we can have unity even in these divided times. (And for the record- I do not create the division. I just call it out for what it is. People hate that because they would rather live in denial or be shady. But yeah, anytime please debate me on the issues…I am not infallible and I do apologize when wrong. You and I are often in agreement but sometimes not)

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

Apparently I am not allowed to call myself OG by some. lol. You may not realize your dividing and I would say it is not intentional but your lumping a large labeled group under one umbrella is what I was pointing out. Yes we most certainly agree on this issue as for other issues I absoulutely expect to be called out and corrected anytime. I welcome it as much as you it helps us become better humans.

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

I resonate with your sentiment and appreciate your comments on kyms site often, thank you.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago

Humboldt county government is draconian. I cant believe the Supervisors would allow such punitive policies.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

I can’t believe the county pretended that nothing illegal was going on for decades. And still do. They are only “draconian” even now when taxes and fees are involved. Wink, wink, nod, nod ethics created a whole lot of entitled people who now object when they get pinched by the system they smugly abused when it only damaged others.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago
Reply to  Nooo

They didnt pretend. They always raided grows.It’s just a difficult monster to control and now it got so big its destroying itself. The over regulation was a direct result of that. It all got bad when Gallegos said you could grow 99 plants for personal medical needs. The movement for legality was a naive path to the current situation. Greed of the growers and greed of the government guarantees problems.

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Nooo

County code enforcement is trying to punish the ghosts of growers past! In these cases the person who used otherwise normal buildings for growing moved on and sold. The new buyers are getting fined because the OLD owner MAY have committed what was then a crime on the property. The buildings appear to be fit for AG exempt uses, the process to permit them shouldn’t be more difficult than getting a building permit in the first place.

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

The ghosts of growers past yes! Brilliant! May I quote you?

farmer
Guest
farmer
1 year ago

People are committing suicide left and right John Ford, The planning department, and the board of Supervisors are directly responsible for this. They supported rich growers and out of towers while drowning regular families. The loss if life is only going to get worse under market conditions and overall nation inflation. If the counties citizens continue to ignore this issue, they will have blood on their hands too. The uptick in family violence, hard drug use, and suicides will not stop until you stop these draconian laws created to make people suffer. Was it so bad that regular people could lift themselves out of poverty? Do the citizens of this county believe people deserve to go homeless or, worse, leave this planet over this? Once again, laws that disproportionately punish people of color and indigenous heritage, the colonizers continue will continue to steal all of the land and wealth.

Last edited 1 year ago
Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  farmer

I think that this is very true about the suicides being directly related to the actions of greedy creepy John Ford, and his greedy creepy cronies. The burden of those deaths should be placed squarely upon their shoulders. They blood is on their hands.

There is no way out for some folks, and the unresolvable conflicts leave them no other choice.

I feel that until they get the oldest abatement conflicts resolved, they should have to cease and desist initiating more new abatement conflicts.

They clearly cannot manage the problems that they have already caused.

There should be no way for Ford and his I’ll to drag out such an unresolvable ongoing nightmare, indefinitely, for people that are willing and trying to cooperate with them.

People have a right to a speedy, reasonable, doable, due process to address the issue, and be able to get past it.

And exorbitant extortionist fines are out of the question.

They have been on the take for weed related property tax money for over half a century.

They have been complicit, and have already reaped a rich reward.

Enough is enough.

Ford needs to go.

Mariahgirl
Guest
Mariahgirl
1 year ago

John Ford is a liability to the county and they need to get rid of him! Taking down buildings that could actually be permitted is the most ridiculous thing there is. We have had the pleasure, not, of working with the planning/building department and they are in it for the money and don’t like it when you find a way to reduce your permit fees. Why doesn’t this office work with people instead of against them? Oh, I forgot, John Ford is the director of the office and thinks he is god.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Mariahgirl

John Ford works at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors. Each individual member of the Board will downplay their part in what he does but they are truly the people who are responsible for John Ford’s actions. They want money squeezed from the rural people of the county but they want him to be seen as the bad guy. Don’t get me wrong- He is! But they are his direct bosses. Yet they do not take responsibility for his cruel policies…Like so much in this county this program operates in the dark. And that is how it keeps moving along…until we call it out. Thanks to Kym for bringing it to light!

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

Nikki Norris wrote the article (I forgot to switch to her name initially when I posted but she is the author)

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym, great article. Well done as the editor. Nikki, outstanding article. I wish there was more work like this and less of the press releases. Thank you.

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

Thanks hayforker! I’m working out childcare I should have more time to report soon. And yes all thanks to Kym!

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

She did a great job, as always!

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

Thanks farce, I always appreciate your comments 🙂

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

I’ll have to agree with this whole comment. The BOS and CAO are ultimately responsible.

Good work farce, although even a broken old school watch is right twice a day.

Steve Koch
Guest
Steve Koch
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

I have no idea whether John Ford is a bad guy but I am 100% certain that he is implementing policy defined by BoS. The BoS are happy to let John Ford take the heat. Pressure the BoS to change these permitting policies or sue Humboldt County.

There are some ramshackle, tearer downer properties that have been justifiably targeted by the Permit people. Having said that, tearing down solid, useful unpermitted structures that could be fixed for reasonable $ to be permitted is bad policy.

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Mariahgirl

So, when the county places fines on a property, above the value, and the old owner walks away from it, what does the county do? Own it? Sell it without fixing the “problems”. There’s a property out here with $900,000 dollars of fines. That must be because of all the environmental problems or something right? They were $900,000 important. Now it’s kinda the County’s responsibility are they jumping on fixing anything? Or are the fines just punishment for having the audacity?

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

This a VERY IMPORTANT matter yes. I tried to do an interview on this very issue and got some misinformation from Brandon howton Atwood years ago. Have you ever seen the site bid4assets.com ? Everyone should Check it out. All the properties with liens are up there for auction and listed per county. the whole state is viewable and Humboldt has a lot in comparison to other counties I noticed.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

I wonder if information about the properties with abatement liens went to that bid4assets.com site, first, before the title companies were even notified of the same liens.

Might be worth checking into…

That would seem to be pretty fraudulent.

Then find the $ connection between bid4assets.com and the Humboldt County Code Enforcement Unit.

Mark my words, Ford will leave the Country to avoid consequences. I’m sure he is filthy rich by now…

Last edited 1 year ago
Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

Looks like they just took them all down..

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Lynn H

Is that because the liens weren’t even recorded properly yet, or the title companies weren’t even notified?

Or are you talking about all the people that work in the CEU…

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Lynn H

What? The properties on bid4assets? Wild! I’ve been looking at that site for years.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

Does that mean something fishy between Humboldt CEU and Bid4assets.com must have been going on…🐟🐠🐡???

That is the only reason that the Humboldt properties would have been taken down…

Hopefully someone has a record of those listings and someone can dig a little deeper…

The plot sickens…

It would be interesting to know just exactly when the Humboldt properties were removed… And exactly why…

Simultaneously with Ford’s resignation?

Could it have been Ford that “directed” their removal?

Is someone trying to cover their tracks?

Were those listings premature?

Maybe about the time of the above comments?

Seems a little too coincidental…

Why exactly were they removed.

Enquiring minds want to know.

It seems very telling…

Is there a connection?

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

!!! This is so wild. How is it that Humboldt went from having, close to the most listings in the state to zero? I havnt looked at it in a few months, I’m not sure if it related to our comments or Ford. But I’m with ya.

It’s a nationwide site too so you can see properties up for auction all over the country.*

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris
Last edited 1 year ago
Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Linda is a hero of mine, Ive loved her work for years and I am thrilled she wrote this piece. It brought a tear to my eye and is long overdue. Thanks Linda!

humboldturtle
Guest
humboldturtle
1 year ago

The local real estate industry controlling the BOS via HumCPR is the same industry selling these properties without proper warning. Follow their money back to Bohn, Bushnell and Bass, then ask your local realtor WTF?

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago

Oh yeah and a Heads Up!- Mendocino bought into the satellite imagery this year so expect the same stuff down there soon enough! It’s the new income stream for county government- squeezing your rural residents for everything they have! Mobilize now or face elimination…

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

You would not believe what happened to me that prevented me from advocating against this program in mendo on the radio for the third or fourth time I think. Right in the thick of the satellite abatement decision, I’m haunted by this to this day, but I have hope.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
1 year ago

Well the BOS, specifically Rex, stated their shouldn’t be cannabis growing in the hills. They get to kill two birds with one stone by also removing competition for their family and friends. Another benefit is if say your friends or family of a BOS needs a change in code well then they will change the setback so you can be allowed to grow as well as look the other way on that building that ain’t a permitted structure (oh sorry I mean they got 2 years to correct and that was 5 years ago).

Huh?
Guest
Huh?
1 year ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

Dan Bongio on the planning commission said the same thing. Regulate the farms out of the hills, they don’t need to be there. I heard him throw a little temper tantrum in one of the meetings a few months back. Thomas Moulder was the only person in the meeting who understood what trickle down effects would result from the changes they were discussing. The whole thing was astonishing to listen to. Melanie McCavour is a clueless head in the clouds leftcoaster who shouldn’t be making important decisions for the county either.

humboldt_Loco
Guest
humboldt_Loco
1 year ago
Reply to  Huh?

no, she is a left wing eastcoaster with no clue

Huh?
Guest
Huh?
1 year ago
Reply to  humboldt_Loco

Haha! Your probably right.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago
Reply to  humboldt_Loco

She is Canadian and very severe, structured and highly educated. She has little ability to adapt to the mores of a wild west community like Humboldt.

Last edited 1 year ago
Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Huh?

Thanks for the heads up I must have missed that, Do you have the date of that meeting?

Huh?
Guest
Huh?
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

No, it was in Jan or feb. Some of the topics were potential changes to road, generator, and well regulations. Mr Fisch spoke for quite awhile on his decades of experience drilling wells in the area. Super informative, I know who I will be calling if I ever need a well drilled! The meeting went until 9:30 pm and everyone was getting really crabby towards the end.

Huh?
Guest
Huh?
1 year ago
Reply to  Legallettuce

And I couldn’t remember his name for a minute, but while at a bar back in 2017 Steve Lazar said the same thing to my face, that regulating the farms out of the hills was part of the plan.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Huh?

Now, just look at the local method , and recognize the same thing on a state and federal level.

Wearetheprey.com

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Huh?

I have heard this same thing said so many times, the county’s aim of “getting farms out of the hills” all the way back to the 80s.it’s so tragic because those farmers also sustain non profits, services the county fails to provide for rural residents like, road work, infrastructure and they help with schools, fire prevention/ departments environmental sustainability efforts etc. check out this epic clip from the code Enforcement wars March 1 1988- they are having the same exact conversations and around minute marker 32 Ted cogan (rest in power) says the same thing you speak about. and details how while on the grand jury he unearthed an official email from code Enforcement to the sheriffs about why they need to get rid of our homesteads—Tourists! https://archive.org/details/AH-1574-1-1988_Code_Enforcement_Mar_1_4-2?fs=e&s=cl

Festus Haggins
Member
Festus Haggins
1 year ago

You, The people of Humboldt, are in charge of your government. You as a whole can vote out your representatives and vote people in that share your thought process. In many rural area’s in other states no building permit of any sort is required outside of city limits. If you build a house that falls over and kills you it’s your tough luck, same as buying a property, you better look close as it’s buyer beware. You need to take responsibility for your own actions and quit letting the county / state/ feds micro manage your life.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Festus Haggins

Regulatory Capture

Who you calling lazy!
Guest
Who you calling lazy!
1 year ago
Reply to  Festus Haggins

Yes, but that means I have to open the mailed ballot and read words I don’t understand and then mark in the choices followed by folding the ballot up and sealing the envelop and signing on the front. THEN I have to drop it off at the Post Office. It’s all too much work and that’s why I don’t vote.

willow creeker
Member
1 year ago

Get rid of the code enforcement team- they did their job now they need to be disbanded.

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

Yes, they are being used to abuse the population.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

Absolutely, the cannabis market crashed and gone. The only way to justify their existence is to turn their focus /guns in the rest of rural Humboldt, almost like Russia indiscriminately bombing Ukraine.

honey Lumpkin
Guest
honey Lumpkin
1 year ago

what I just read was, “john Ford made a life long mistake when he pissed off kym kemp.” I guess she’s not commiserating with his inner lizard any longer.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  honey Lumpkin

I really like John Ford. I think he’s a good man doing a hard job. I think it is unfortunate that trying to hold a lens up to the problems that exist makes people want to blame one person and not make them try to figure out solutions and work to implement them..

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You are really too kind-hearted! But at least you’re consistent about it. I’m respecting you more all the time- even if we have very different perspectives lol! You’re a good egg, Kym…

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

Perhaps a little cracked.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

LOL Aren’t we all?

Tim
Guest
Tim
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I thought journalists were all supposed to be hard-boiled.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

He is working under a state and county mandates, but had a hand in suggesting the county’s. Remember, though, the Humboldt County Planning and Building department have always been difficult to deal with, way before Ford came along. Remember Gerard. He was awful, and arrogant, too.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Do you think that you might be singing a different tune if you were on the receiving end of some of his relentless power tripping, trouble making, money grubbing, especially if it was misapplied and undeserved?

Say, like if you were one of the ones such as the Thomas’s if I’m getting their names correct?

What if it was you that had been forced to tear down your home, and pay to do it?

Would you still feel the same warm fuzzy feeling?

Last edited 1 year ago
Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Perhaps you’re not aware that Kyms family understands first hand what it’s like to go though the cannabis permitting process.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

Perhaps you are not aware of how aware I am.

And, yes, I am quite aware of that.

That’s not what I am talking about.

Clearly it’s not.

What is quite clear is that it’s not her home that has been destroyed at Ford’s insistence, or her purse that has been unjustly plundered.

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

// “That’s not what I am talking about. Clearly it’s not.”//

If it where clear, I would be asking the question.

//”What is quite clear is that it’s not her home that has been destroyed at Ford’s insistence, or her purse that has been unjustly plundered.”//

Trust me, you don’t get through the cannabis permit process without your purse getting unjustly plundered, so you’ll need to rethink that one.

JB

Last edited 1 year ago
Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

No, bud, you don’t know of what you speak. Let them force her to tear her home down, or her parents home, for an unjust reason, and watch how fast she changes her tune.

That’s what I’m talking about.

It’s easy to defend the man that is destroying the competition, until it’s you that’s getting your home destroyed, for an unjust cause.

Let me assure you, you don’t get it, and that much is obvious. When they come to kick your door down, and demand that you tear down the home that you built, and that they demand, like mobsters, that you pay them while you’re at it, get back to me, and then we’ll see if you keep singing the same tune.

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

I must chime in because this issue of “replace them all” particularly regarding Ford keeps getting raised by you and others in this comment thread and I’m just not sure that’s the solution anymore.

First I understand your frustration and others 100%. shoot Ford featured part one of my article in the March 22 sups meeting without giving me any notice, denied my public comment on the item while calling my article a “blog” as if orchestrated . someone in his dept threatened me with legal issues that cost me thousands to fight , and all for simply doing an interview last year, yes Ford told me I couldn’t talk to anyone in the CEU but him again for my work after that, and yes he refused an interview again with me which means I don’t have the countys perspective beyond meeting quotes, which is not ideal obviously .

the land I live on got abated for a lavender field last year too, leading to immense headaches and costs despite there being no commercial cannabis. not that this is a big deal in comparison to what other experience but I’m just saying I’m in it. I’ve worked with over 100 abatement victims in the law office and reporting etc. it’s devastating. The suicidal calls, I’ll never forget.

one of the sweetest men I worked with on an abatement killed himself a couple weeks ago. I’ve watched several people die of ill health as they stressed over these notices over the past five years while it seemed like no one cared at the county, or really understood what was at stake. I get your sentiment and so do others here. Don’t forget that.

Even considering this, i still think Ford is a good guy doing a hard job as Kym said. when he did an interview with me regarding the Yeehaw commune proposed demolition, I discovered he was a considerate human, he really seemed to care about human beings that may be made homeless because of his dept. The demolition was put on hold since and Those 30 or so people have shelter as it stands today, though they still worry constantly.

there is hope I think if the public can speak to his heart, to the heart of the matter, just like the legends like Peter child’s, Dan tornado, Fred beauer, and more of United stand did in the 80s.

Ultimately the matter is how to effectively bring lasting change to rural property owners right? Freedom, land rights, environmental sustainability, preventing corporate take over of our community and land, the basics right? We are having the same discussion that the public was having in the 80s, nothing has changed – why?

more often than not, Replacing policy makers doesnt change anything, because the policy still stands and someone will always need a fat paycheck with Benefits. It’s just so much deeper than the individual . I must say after all the suffering I witnessed from the abatement program I wondered about the intentions of the county staff, but it’s not the Ford and meynell at least. they are the figure heads, yes the policies suck but they have hearts, they just dont seem to understand the culture or implications, and it’s up to the public to help them understand.
Call your supervisors, the planning dept, etc. to demand change, As far as i can tell that’s all we can do. Please advise if you have better ideas.

And For the record Kym is the only local media outlet willing to let me touch this topic so please give her thanks and donate to her genuine, generous efforts. The police and county have bigger budgets than single moms, and so they are more frequent with their press releases than I am with articles but that’s not kyms choice. I’m working on it.

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

Ford gave his resignation today. Maybe your articles did impact his decision.

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

I suspect it was the 4 suicides (just that I know about)in three months too and public outcry, yes. I’m so thankful people are paying attention. Thank you thank you!!! I’ve been reporting on this issue since 2017. It’s been lonely but I see hope on the horizon. BUT Do not think changing the figure head means anything though folks. Though the next few weeks could help change policy for the better, if the people United around ending the heir abatement program as we know it. Ford is the type of man to have integrity and to redeem himself, I sense an opportunity.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

“Superficial Charm”

“Psychopaths are often likable on the surface. They’re usually good conversationalists, and they share stories that make them look good. They may be funny and charismatic as well.”

Last edited 1 year ago
Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

Sounds like you are familiar with the BS.

No doubt about that.

And that you were obviously targeted.

But, as bad as your situation sounds, and as vindictive as it sounds, it gets much, much, worse.

If you only knew, you could maybe blow the lid off of this. The pressure is on.

My only question is …

When will the…

“Cannibalistic Humboldt County Code Enforcement Unit Save Your Own Skin Race To Be The First One To Turn Against The Others And Provide Evidence In Exchange For Immunity In Order
To Be able To Keep Your Cash And Save Your Own Skin Feeding Frenzy”, begin…

Does Ford resigning mean it has already begun, and and ended? Did he already cross the finish line, before any of the others even knew they were in a race to save themselves from exposure?

Ford is cunning, very cunning.

For Russell, etc., it might be to late to run…

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

Rethink the justification of plundering the tax base with more regulatory requirements, when the middle class is barely hanging on.

Aristocracy never left.

Lawfare is thousands of pages of grammar very few have the time to digest.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

“Superficial Charm”

“Psychopaths are often likable on the surface. They’re usually good conversationalists, and they share stories that make them look good. They may be funny and charismatic as well.”

Last edited 1 year ago
Bee
Guest
Bee
1 year ago

We are all drowning over here, and the county keeps their boots on top of our heads….they are destroying what is left of this place. North coast is gonna be a shell of what it used to be. Sad.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Bee

Don’t worry- the rich people will come here! Climate change, fire and drought already have the local realtors drooling…

5150
Guest
5150
1 year ago

Government hates corruption, lairs, cheaters and swindlers
(wink-wink-wink)

Xebeche
Guest
Xebeche
1 year ago

I challenge anyone to locate a grading violation in RANCHO SEQUOIA that does not predate 2018

justanotherperson
Guest
justanotherperson
1 year ago

weed as a way of life is dead, well, it is for the vast majority of this region. the rest of the country knows units are going for $2-400 and don’t want to pay even a stack. I saw some very nice indoor at $600 recently… I hate to say it, I really truly do.

about this code enforcement crap, it feels like a continuation of the fight against back to the landers. I realize this isn’t completely the case, but I think it’s not completely far off. Seriously, they need an eye in the sky to make sure people are paying the county to use their property that’s HOURS away from any county services. It’s nice they can pay for satellites to spy but can’t get people wifi or phone service in those same places. You know, when people are paying for the CCW (concealed carry permit) in Humboldt, they’re told that a reason listed for being granted a CCW is that there’s the possibility law enforcement can’t get there to help you in time, so you’re granted the right to carry a concealed firearm at all times (except where prohibited). Communities have built and run their own fire departments, schools, health centers, etc without much help from “the county,” yet the county has authority to take our land and cash because of a structure/code violation!?!?!

It’s got nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans (but if you really want to dig in, the BOS and County officials making the decisions up here lean R in a big way).

I just don’t know what they’re trying to do other than collect bribes (because, while I don’t have a source, we know its a real thing) or consolidate land holdings. Ain’t turning Willow Creek or Rancho or SFM into air bNb subdivisions.

I’ve gotta go work. peace love and hippy grease

Local
Guest
Local
1 year ago

“the rest of the country knows units are going for $2-400 and don’t want to pay even a stack. I saw some very nice indoor at $600 recently…”

The amount of bs in these comments is hilarious…..just a bunch of shitty growers or people that don’t grow spouting non sense. Yeah sorry your boof is hard to sell…..lol….the buyers and brokers love you I’m sure but that’s about it

rollin
Guest
rollin
1 year ago
Reply to  Local

“The amount of bs in these comments is hilarious”

Are you suggesting weed isn’t going for 2-$400? LOL. You must live in the same fantasy world Legallettuce lives in

thatguyinarcata
Guest
thatguyinarcata
1 year ago
Reply to  rollin

I read Local’s comment as saying that the idea that the 2-400$ market is the whole market is wrong.

That is my experience too. Of course there is that market, and 6-800$ indoor. But there is also a higher end market where greenhouse flower is fetching 900 to the farm and indoor is getting the grower something in the teens.

Point being, as I took it, that even though the salad days are past there are still many skilled producers able to make a comfortable living off of a seasons labor selling their crop. Your product just has to be of a truly superior quality.

My observation is that the flood across the country is creating many more informed consumers and will ultimately result in more total consumers interested in the highest quality cannabis. It will be some tough years ahead, but those who stay flexible and determined and continue to produce at a very high level there will absolutely remain a market for their product that allows for a nice life in the hills

justanotherperson
Guest
justanotherperson
1 year ago
Reply to  Local

ok, bud, ok.

Great Idea
Guest
Great Idea
1 year ago

No time like the present for the dope growers and their outlaw culture to just move out of the State. Go ahead show us your not going to get the permits and move.

trout fisher
Guest
trout fisher
1 year ago

It is a total nightmare, i wonder if land speculating real estate vultures are hoping to push land prices down to nothing, and push all sorts of people off their property with these outrageous permitting fees and fines, so they can then scoop up the land. I know of a case of this happening to old hippy land owners who haven’t even grow pot in decades, with one small cabin and two battery solar systems.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  trout fisher

Yes. Of course that is happening. Land is only worth it’s timber value and then they will cut that down.

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
1 year ago

The war on the back-to-landers continues…..

Laura Hall
Guest
Laura Hall
1 year ago

Are all these officials on drugs or just stupid? Welcome to our ghost town.

Arctostaphylos
Guest
Arctostaphylos
1 year ago

Fire John Ford. Replace the Board of Supervisors. Reform the Planning Department.

Let people keep their buildings. Let people use their tools to build and their growing supplies to garden.

Last edited 1 year ago
Kirk Vodopals
Guest
Kirk Vodopals
1 year ago

You mean some outlaw love drug peddlers slapped up a bunch of crappy indoor grows and left tons of trash and pollutants?! How shocking! And now that property is full of liabilities instead of assets!? Seems like the buyers could negotiate a lower purchase price based on the overwhelming amount of liabilities, right? Are the real estate agents still handing out stated income loans like candy?

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Kirk Vodopals

Do you pay the old speeding tickets accrued by the previous owner of a used car?

Kirk Vodopals
Guest
Kirk Vodopals
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

Yes, if the car is still spinning around at 100 mph. Ummm, I refuse to participate in your Jetski logic

Larry Jetski
Guest
Larry Jetski
1 year ago
Reply to  Kirk Vodopals

In the cases mentioned in the article, the new owners are not growing weed. One structure is going to house a Volunteer Fire engine.

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Jetski

The dmv actually has folks pay for past registration and parking / toll tickets attached to the vehicle interestingly.

yep
Guest
yep
1 year ago

I just cant believe the warrant-less satellite surveillance of citizens has been accepted in our county. We should vote out every singe supervisor who approves of it.

No Kidding
Guest
No Kidding
1 year ago
Reply to  yep

Warrantless busts too. Just found out one of my neghbors was busted without a warrent. LEO threatened to throw the book at her if she didn’t let them in.

No Kidding
Guest
No Kidding
1 year ago
Reply to  No Kidding

Also, they just took the several bags of weed and didn’t arrest her or anyone else. Just confiscated (robbed).

Private property rights don't exist in Humboldt.
Guest
Private property rights don't exist in Humboldt.
1 year ago

Planning department chambers need to be red tagged and demolitioned.

Arctostaphylos
Guest
Arctostaphylos
1 year ago

So does that building on H where they work. It’s embarrassing that the county facilities are in such poor condition.

Code enforcement could find plenty of violations in their own building.

Last edited 1 year ago
Huh?
Guest
Huh?
1 year ago
Reply to  Arctostaphylos

For real! Why is there no wheel chair ramp into the planning department?

No Kidding
Guest
No Kidding
1 year ago
Reply to  Huh?

Seriously?

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Huh?

Last I checked the planning department structure itself does not comply with ada standards that farms have to comply to in some cases.

Thanks for proving our point!D
Member

Please… read up before you speak up….. and VOTE!!!! Vote on every issue and for every office. As evidenced here in the crazy ass comment section on every unrelated pet story, the COGNITIVE DISSONANCE is omnipotent and omnipresent. Please, I beg you, VOTE!!!
Have a blessed day! ♥️💙💜🖤💛💚🧡✊

Stoney Bologna
Guest
Stoney Bologna
1 year ago

How much u wanna bet every single small farmer leaves humboldt. How much you wanna bet when that happens the local economy completely collapses. Then how much you wanna bet the pos politicians ruining what was leave too! Yet you really still have people supporting raids 😂 it’s not my fault y’all are so dumb just really prepare, if you’re a homeowner you will lose all your investment, if you’re a business owner 😂😂 good luck…. we will very soon be just another bunch of small towns. Good job local politicians!

Huh?
Guest
Huh?
1 year ago
Reply to  Stoney Bologna

You will loose that bet. I’m gonna stay so that I will be the only one. How could a person not sell their Humboldt weed if they’re only one of a small handful of growers?

Stoney Bologna
Guest
Stoney Bologna
1 year ago
Reply to  Huh?

Because as sad as this is to say humboldts losing its reputation. We’re kinda known for pumping out high grade mids at this point. Sure we’ve got some indoors killing it but if you go out of the area and ask people where the best weeds coming from they’ll say the Bay Area or the Central Valley. Personally, I think humboldt really could’ve been Amsterdam of the west coast. I really think w proper regulation we could’ve had something special here… I guess it’s still possible just w other states like Oklahoma and Michigan being so much more open I just don’t see the most skilled growers staying here 🤷‍♂️ But who knows

HUMBOLDT HIGHLIGHTS
Member
HUMBOLDT HIGHLIGHTS
1 year ago

GREAT ARTICLE NIKKI NORRIS!!!! It’s such a complex issue, I’m truly impressed by your ability to bring truth and understanding of these issues into the light!!! Thousands of people including cannabis growers, organic sustainable farmers, off the grid, back to the landers and basically the majority of rural property owners in Humboldt County, CA should be beyond grateful for your efforts!!! Gaia and Shiva are sharping their gardening tools and will NOT allow them to just be taken without a battle NOR will they file permits to do what is necessary to survive!?! GROWING FOOD and HERBS is NOT a CRIME!!! In a polluted world, disposable society, it’s hard to fathom spitting in the face of the knowledge keepers and doers that know how to live a simple sustainable lifestyle. Those that are earth stewards are being replaced by greedy corporate loving simpletons that want daddy Warbucks to kiss their corporate government’s ass and treat them like the babies they are. Building your own home and outbuildings with recycled materials and growing your own food and herbs should be honorable!!! AOB (Alternative Owner Builder) building codes are still valid and should be argued as a class action lawsuit!!! Proposition 420 and 215 laws should also be argued in class action lawsuits against counties and even against the state of California and the DCC (Department of Cannabis Control) by the cannabis growers that have now become targeted by the “corporate cannabis” laws brought forth by proposition 64, otherwise know as “recreational” “legalization” of cannabis. Proposition 64 should not had been a trojan horse to further punish the keepers of the cannabis culture. As one person commented, what happen to the community that would stand up to this is farce force!? Those that would lock themselves to buildings, gates, trees… to STOP NONSENSE like this!? Oh right, they left… or got their “balls” caught between a vice and an old growth… with thorns in their bare feet hopping around trying to not fall off a cliff into an ocean of confusion!!! Well those promises of cruse ships coming to the rescue to help the drowning farmers didn’t pan out, did it!? Money is NOT a life raft for sustainable lifestyle!!! Just the opposite!!! Money doesn’t float when all wet and those that believe it does will sink and drown with arms and pockets full of wet paper and bellies full of illusions!!! Native ways crushed, caged and locked up on reservations to give way to unsustainable industries… prior to the cannabis industry… somehow supported by the masses until extinction… the gold rush, clearcuts and fishing industries unchecked until too late… These “family” farms may want to consider being a “family”!!!??? The foundation for sustainable futures are clearly being replaced with corporate agendas… and YES the BOS (Board of Supervisors) and their puppet parade (John Ford and the Building Code Department) and the enforcement units (Law Enforcement) ALL NEED to be REPLACED before it is too late, assuming it already isn’t!!? ALL that followed Hitler WERE GUILTY!!! Hitler would had just been a disgruntled Bipolar man on medication in a loony bin if NO ONE had listened to and followed him!!? It takes a village… farmers should learn how to use their pitchforks and shovels and bury this mess to make compost for a NEW garden of sustainable consciousness. A revolution is usually preceded by nonsense like this!!! Historically empires that tax their citizens into starvation don’t fair well… You say there is a homeless problem… I say thats just the beginning if the county and Country continue in this direction… a few nursery rhymes come to mind… “take the keys and lock her up”… “Mary, Mary quite contrary”… “Jack and Jill went up the hill”… “three blind mice”… “rock-a-bye baby”… “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall“… Cannabis Culture had a great fall… One day there will be nursery rhymes about these times! Hopefully the lessons won’t be lost!!! Fahrenheit 451??? 1984??? Salem Witch Trials??? World War 2??? Idiocracy??? Wait for it, here comes the “Water Wars” and “Food Wars” on a massive scale… Humboldt County and the “cannabis conversation” is just the testing grounds… Pretty sure we as a “civilized society” would want our witches in their gardens and hobbit houses and NOT the mafia devils mowing down and polluting the national forest and State Parks!!? Or replacing the forest with a concrete jungle!? Complete misallocation of funds and resources will exacerbate society into pure implosion!? I kinda look forward to corporate society crumbling into a pathetic dependency of failed systems and eventual starvation. Perhaps when starvation and sickness have riddled their minds and bodies to zombie stasis they will be humbled and apologetic for throwing stones and burning their modern day witches!!? If not, at least their lifespan‘s will be shortened by cancer and illness and or they will be locked up in elder prison with Alzheimer’s unable to remember who they are and why they are there to begin with!? Soylent Green!?! Elephants and Asses controlling the masses… Keep in mind, concrete crumbles, allowing for flowers to push through the cracks!!! The flower children are winning the minds of the masses… one day the Boomers will bloom or boom… and the masses will be high enough to see over this wall of illusion!!!

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago

The “Enter” key — it’s the big one about halfway up on the right.

Readability matters when you want to be read.

Last edited 1 year ago
Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

Sometimes the software pushes it altogether. Had it happen to me a bunch of times when the post is longer than a few paragraphs.

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

Any post which is long enough to see the ‘Read more >>’ at the bottom will push the paragraphs together **until* the “Read more” is clicked on and then it appears with the proper paragraph breaks.

That really annoyed me until I realized that it would properly format if expanded.

JB

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

“If you succeed in the rat race, aren’t you still a rat?”

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago

“You either play the game or it plays you.”

“You’re either at the table or you’re on the menu.”

Corporatizaton has come to the triangle. I sure loved the independent business model that provided for a decent life.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

19 children and two adults were killed in Uvalde, Texas by an 18-year-old dropout.

22 children and 52 adults were killed in Waco, Texas by our government.

Wearetheprey.com

Last edited 1 year ago
Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Hayforker

You Are Correct, There Are Few Choices For those Who Don’t Want To Play The Rigged Game.

“I sure loved the independent business model that provided for a decent life.”

So when the majority of the Congress and the Senate, deny aid to local business and instead , cgoose Ukraine, we can assume that there is a war on independence.

Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

Yes I know that, but it still happens to me sometimes. Might just be user (my) error. Grammar was never my strong point.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

I read it just fine… some people don’t want to become YOU!

Last edited 1 year ago
Hayforker
Guest
Hayforker
1 year ago

Most people don’t have the courage and foresight to change course as required to succeed. Wishing JB all the best outside the triangle.

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago

//”I read it just fine”//

Good for you, but the evidence is in — ask any editor. Paragraph breaks are used with good reason. The internet even has a term for endless characters without breaks — “WOT” (wall of text).

If you want the most people to read what you write, make it easy for them — line return characters are free after all.

JB

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

You’ve been educated, touche, but what you clearly fail to rectify is the corruption built into the system.

Some people win, most people lose.

Has almost nothing to do with grammar.

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago

This has nothing to do with formal education (which mine only extends to 2nd grade btw) and everything to do with giving yourself the best shot at being heard and understood.

If you can’t get someone to read your ideas as to how to rectify the corruption in the system, you’ve already lost.

Is using paragraph breaks to make your post more readable a bad idea? No? Didn’t think so.

JB

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

Alright, you picked yourself up and learned from the ground up. Good for you.

The wise ass remark served no purpose but to make yourself feel better about how you think information is absorbed, but you actually didn’t contribute anything other than a snide remark which wage earners tend to ignore coming from those who think that the system works because of grammar.

It works on blunt force trauma, no punctuation needed to understand that.

Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago

The point isn’t about grammer and isn’t about punctuation. Your desire to divert from the actual point is telling.

The point is readability — a WOT puts you at a disadvantage if you’re trying to get your point across.

Is using paragraph breaks to make your post more readable a bad idea? No? Didn’t think so — AND YET you continue to pretend and project. You clearly understand their value because YOU use them.

Move on, I’m going to.

JB

Last edited 1 year ago
Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Jay Beigh

I called you out for a punk ass remark that said more about ^you^ than anything you hoped to achieve.

//”GREAT ARTICLE NIKKI NORRIS!!!! It’s such a complex issue, I’m truly impressed by your ability to bring truth and understanding of these issues into the light!!!” //

Humboldt Highlights wasn’t asking //JB // for anything.

So, Next time someone isn’t addressing you, think twice about throwing your hat into the grammar ring.

Last edited 1 year ago
Jay Beigh
Guest
Jay Beigh
1 year ago

Somewhere you got the impression that I care what you think or that I was asking //YOU// for something.

Trust me — we //BOTH// get to throw our hat in this ring as we see fit. I can assure you that your self important, puffed up ‘punk ass’ isn’t going to influence that.

“Don’t be mistaking me for some whole other person”. GH

JB

Last edited 1 year ago
Notheone
Guest
Notheone
1 year ago

It’s always about that dollar almighty!

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
1 year ago

I think a good legal argument is that if the county didnt record the abatement notice then the subsequent purchaser cant be liable for the actions of his predecessor absent proof of actual knowledge of the problems and the abatement notice. The purpose of the recording laws is to put purchasers on notice of title and other legal problems re the property.

Last edited 1 year ago
Eugene Denson
Guest
Eugene Denson
1 year ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

The county code makes the present owner liable for code violation.The list of people liable is quite long,including the person creating the nuisance, but the CEU NEVER goes after anyone but the present owner. Why? Because in the long run they can seize the property. That’s so much easier than finding the perp. We should be glad criminal law doesn’t work this way.

By the way there is a reasonable reading of the Code that makes the County itself liable for the nuisance after 10 days. I brought this up in court but apparently it was just too far out for the judge, who rejected it. Nevertheless it is true. No one really reads these codes carefully. The County’s own argument made this reading inevitable. Someday I’ll try again.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Eugene Denson

So you have plead with a human judge who may or may not be associated with the “deep roots”, of the community.

I find it extremely punitive and abusive that people have to spend a considerable amount of money and time to defend themselves.

When you destroy an economy, the community and society suffer.

No Kidding
Guest
No Kidding
1 year ago
Reply to  Eugene Denson

I have yet to see one well written law, code or regulation originating in Humboldt county.

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago

So the 1500 plus abated properties and the 1500 plus permitted farms that are in the process of bankruptcy are going to be forced to come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars to permit or demolish. They have no money. You are asking people who lost it all to lose more, their family homes and land. THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I lost a business, fine. But take away my family home and we are going to War. Please ask Jeff Conner, the old Head of Code Enforcement what happened last time. He had a horrible job and was I. The middle of the People and the County, like Kirk Gerard and BOS. Long story short, the people won. The County
Does not have to do this. Simple instructions from the Board of Supervisors to refocus the efforts of Planning Department on more affordable housing and Take away the Power of Code Enforcement and the Problem is solved. Making 3,000 plus people/families move onto the Streets of Eureka when they have a perfectly habitable homestead is insane. Farce, can we come together on this, like the old days, and put aside the legal/ of legal arguments for the sake of those of us who were here before the Greenrush and will be here after.

Nichole Norris
Guest
Nichole Norris
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Well said!

It could be so simple for the board to do this yes I agree! I have asked the board of supervisors to do that for years, mostly their eyes just roll, I actually have some footage of it. The first time I spoke to the sups about people dying while stressed over abatements, they acted like I was exaggerating. I was not, it was happening and it’s only gotten worse, now it’s both health issues and deaths of despair. United stand round two 😉

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Nichole Norris

🤔🧐Nicole Norris,
You seem to be responding favorably and respectfully, to a hybrid of two different, but like minded “Guests”…

Very interesting, and also very considerate of you…

Thank you very much for your extraordinary understanding.

The unresolvable conflict, and the ongoing insurmountable, unsustainable financial and emotional drain caused by these long, drawn out, perpetual, unconstitutional abatement proceedings, even the legally flawed ones,
will have increasingly fatal results, for those being subjected to them unmercifully, and eternally, I’m afraid.

Even in death, their will be no resolution.

Even the heirs will be punished, to the 7th son of the 7th son.

Where is the justice?

The County of Humboldt bears responsibility for this, and must be held fully accountable for the resulting distress, duress, impoverishment, and deaths, resulting from it’s unending tyrannical actions.

The County maintains attorneys, on retainer, or on salary, at all times, to fight us, with our own tax resources, while we have no way to afford defenders of our own, in order to uphold constitutional justice.

It’s a clear conflict of interest, IMNSHO.

Thank you again for your efforts.

Sincerely,

🤔🧐 “Guest”.

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Guest

Tell me where and when. I’m in that fight. Yes- even if I end up standing with some greenrushers Lol! (There are some good ones for sure) This is a fight we can all agree on and then we can fight each other again later or whatever…This is a load of bullcrap. Making people remove functioning structures?! It’s wrong in every sense

Salmongirl
Guest
Salmongirl
1 year ago

Humboldt County code enforcement is behaving like heavy handed ” Predatory Extortionists” like mafia run garbage collection rings one constantly has to be paying off. They aren’t just hitting egrigius cannabis grows, they are cracking down on long time senior citizen, hippy homesteaders, living in alone in small cabins who don’t grow pot at all, those with small two battery solar systems, akin to those weekend campers use in their RVs, and use five gallons of household water per day.
County code enforcement abatements do not require visual proof of violations. According to staff at the code enforcement office, if you or I filed a complaint against county planner, John Ford’s home, code enforcement would be required to investigate, even if we’ve never seen his home. All one needs to do is fill out a form with generalizations and no specifics. This means anyone with a grudge against someone, can fill out a code enforcement complaint form and cause them a problem. There is not a building in the county that a violation can’t be found. Many public and county owned lands within Humboldt County, violate state and county codes. The State of California, and Humboldt County, both have numerous pit toilet outhouses, on public lands. Some of these public outhouses are even very close to water sources, and are not lined. Yet with great inequity on the part of local and State government, responsible off grid land owners, with contained composting toilets are not able to affordably permit them. There are numerous States that now approve composting toilets. The state of California, and Humboldt County, also consider kitchen water to be black water like a toilet, though Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico law all consider kitchen water to be gray water, and suitable for direct watering of ornamental landscaping, requiring no permits. Studies have been done that show there is no difference in soil bacteria pathogen levels, between kitchen sink water, and tap water when used to water ornamentals. Humboldt county has, and follows two sets of inequitable rules for rural lands. Rural private landowners must follow outdated draconian codes, while the county and state don’t obey their own laws.
All Humboldt County campgrounds, State, Federal, and county owned campgrounds, are in violation of State laws that view kitchen water as black water. Campgrounds especially at peak season, have high volumes of campers washing dishes, breakfast, lunch and dinner, with remnants of tuna, and potato salad with mayo, plates with remnants of hamburger, sausage, and bacon grease etc. This dirty dishwater is then tossed in the bushes adjacent to campsites. This goes on day, after day, in the confined space of high volume popular campgrounds. There are even signs on many water spigots specifically telling one not to do dishes at the spigot, but to wash dishes in your campsite.
Compare this to homesteaders who responsibly run their kitchen sink water onto a defined contained area under the rose bush where no one ever walks. Rural landowners are required to use water wasting septic systems that cost a fortune to permit and install, and make zero sense in the drought stricken west. Humboldt county General Plan Update was supposed to come up with sensible guideliness for off grid alternative non water based toilets. People worked hard to make it happen, we came close to having progressive, safe, sanitary, low cost ecological alternatives. However John Ford bluntly squashed those plans when he was hired, they were one of the main requests the public wished to be added to the GPU. Now rural homesteaders are being targeted as the planning department’s cash cow for an unaffordable draconian permitting system, that operates like the Company Store, “if your not rich you’ll be in debt forever to the county. ” Anyone who’s had their lives ruined by the county code enforcement’s draconian tactics, needs to speak up and organize, and challenge this bullshit. This is our county.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago

“we should make different allowance for people who created the problem vs. people who live there and inherit the problem….”

How fuckin profound

Mike
Guest
Mike
1 year ago

What is the county getting out of criminalizing people who own property? It makes no sense what the Planning Department, Code Enforcement and the Supervisors have set up.

The strength of Humboldt County is in those of us who live and work here, rich or poor.

If buildings are illegal, only rich criminals will have buildings.

Toss out this Board and Planners – the sooner, the better. Who is benefiting? Run them out, too. They want to run you out after stealing what they can.

Corporate Serfdom
Guest
Corporate Serfdom
1 year ago
Reply to  Mike

Why do humans enslave other humans?

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago

There are simple solutions to these
Problems. Remove all of the conditions. Code Enforcement should only be able to Abate a House or structure if it poses a threat to Health and Safety, or the Environment. If not double the Permit fee. I believe that’s the way it was for the last 30-50 years minus occasional Code Enforcement Wars. Only since Cannabis Code Enforcement have they taken on these new powers. Code Enforcement Rules and Protocols are written and directed by the Board of Supervisors. In the same way they removed their right to carry firearms and let one person file multiple complaints in the past. We had the BOS rewrite the rules. They are the Boss. When Code Enforcement had 2-3 Employees they focused on egregious violations. When you hire 8-12 people and give them a Satellite, the Power to Issue Extortionist Fines from a desk they become a self fulfilling office of Doom. They perpetuate their own jobs for job security, at extreme cost to the fabric of our County. Humboldt is at a crossroads already with locals being forced out into the bushes,
Cars, R.V’s etc. Following this path will double or triple the Homeless problem, not to mention spike already extreme drug, alcohol and suicide rates. The Wealthy are
Moving up here and squeezing the middle class terribly already. I hear Virginia Bass doesn’t read this Blog, But Rex, Michelle, and Steve, this is going to hit your constituents extremely hard, and don’t be surprised when they protest, fight, Sue, and ultimately vote you out if you don’t step up for them. I have friends who were abated and almost destitute. I have legal farm friends who did and spent everything right and will be in the same boat. Neither have money for this new round of extortion But they do have Heart, Pride, Family, Love of Humboldt and the Spirit to fight back. As with past Code Enforcement Wars, the Realtors, landowners, business owners, homesteaders – whether they be Loggers, fishermen, Native Americans, Democrats, Republicans, Hippies or Conservatives can Unite behind the Sanctity of our Homes, for many our last and most cherished possession.

Salmongirl
Guest
Salmongirl
1 year ago

I’m curious, is there a group for people who’ve been abated, to organize some direct actions, like blockading the code enforcement offices, or show up enmasse at John Ford’s house?

Guest
Guest
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Salmongirl

That should be coming soon. When Kirk Girard threatened to Bulldoze Homes to get peoples attention, finally everyone came together first in Garberville, then across the County. Nikki is starting to tip the iceberg, awesome work, now when Realtors, Lawyers, Civil Rights activists, HCGA, Mental Health providers, Environmental Consultants, HUMMAP, HUM CPR, the Elders who fought this fight in the eighties, and again in 2000’s, ordinary business’ and the cross section of citizens who own rural land and homes realize they are all in danger of the Way oversized and out of control Code Enforcement division at Planning real change can occur. This affects many many people, albeit in different ways, when they realize its a common enemy and common solution the BOS will listen. But probably not until they hear from the broad cross section, and people with money and influence. They are affected by this too. Ed Denson and Nikki have been carrying the torch almost solely for awhile, they need help now. Guest #4, lol.

Last edited 1 year ago
Bill
Guest
Bill
1 year ago

WAIT! What was this article about?
How did the comments go so far off the rails?
Oh, yeah, it’s a forum, complete with christians and liars.

Old McDonald
Guest
Old McDonald
1 year ago

Code Enforcement has gone from pursuing “most egregious of the egregious” cannabis violations (i.e, massive grading, water discharges, timberland conversion) to requiring the demolition of homes and outbuildings. This is not what the Board authorized in May of 2017. Ford and his team of terrorists have gone rogue! The Board needs to rein them in.

Speaking of water discharges, Planning Commission Chair Bongio was served a Notice of Violation (NOV) in January 2017 by the RWQCB. Not the boy wonder he pretends to be. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/board_decisions/adopted_orders/pdf/2017/170110_MaryCourtEureka_NOV.pdf

In regards to providing Notice, the Planning Department continues to violate their own regulations. Section 352-23 of the County Code requires that the County record a Notice of Administrative Civil Penalty Lien. Of course the purpose of the recording the document is to provide Notice to not only the current owners, but to potential future owners of the property. It’s possible liens were not applied to the parcels in the article. However, the Department should amend the regulations to require that a Notice of Violation (NOV) be recorded on the parcels within 15 days of confirmation of said violation. Easy fix.

The County is coming after our homes, our outbuildings, our gardens and our way of life. Beware they also have a provision that allows then to confiscate and sell personal property.

351-15. Sale of Materials
 
Any Personal Property collected by the Code Enforcement Unit during the correction or Abatement of the condition or conditions causing the Nuisance on the affected Property may be sold in the same manner as surplus Personal Property of the County of Humboldt is sold, and the proceeds from such sale shall be paid into the revolving fund created pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter. (Ord.601, §15, 06/06/1967; Ord. 2576, § 4, 06/27/2017)

No Kidding
Guest
No Kidding
1 year ago
Reply to  Old McDonald

“In regards to providing Notice, the Planning Department continues to violate their own regulations. Section 352-23 of the County Code requires that the County record a Notice of Administrative Civil Penalty Lien.”

Class action suit might help spread out legal expenses for those affected. Probably have to be appealed out of county jurisdiction.