May 4, 2021

Why do vaccinated jurors have to wear two masks when there is social distancing and a ton of other measures?

The jury assembly room, the Board of Supervisor Chambers are being used for "overflow" to pick jurors. With more people being vaccinated,  why is it that Humboldt Public Health, the local courts and government officials are subjecting the public to onerous and unneccesary regulations? 

Courtrooms have social distancing, shields, 24 hour special protective coating, stringent cleaning procedures and everyone is masked. Jurors who are vaccinated are still being asked to wear two masks. Unless you have a N5 mask. One juror who had his vaccination card told court staff to "shove their mask." 

This is the kind of stupidity and overzealous nonsense by the local Courts and Public Health that achieves nothing to protect the public.

If they really want to protect people, the County needs to clean the vile air vents and improve air circulation in that Courthouse. Even pre COVID, if you spend time constantly in that building, you will get sick.

Jurors had to wait around in local courts, pre COVID. Just this morning because it took 35 minutes for a plea. Not all jurors are retired. People work and own businesses.  

Jurors wouldn't have to wait for hours if we had real leadership from Court administration, the Sheriff and most of all the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors who supposedly are in charge of Public Health but do nothing or give a damn about people's time being wasted. Sit down, set your egos aside and come up with a plan to manage the second floor because some issues with delays in court are related to jail policies and overzealous Public Health requirements.

Not sure what is going on with the local courts. Whether it is a budget issue, scheduling issue or people not wanting to deal with the chaos in Humboldt courts, there have been frequent issues in the last couple of months with having Spanish interpreters available.. It isn't even the same interpreter. Hearings are being scheduled when one is available. It doesn't help that due to COVID, it is harder to get into jail for attorneys and interpreters.

Why are local people who abide by the rules, wearing a mask and are social distancing being punished by overly restrictive rules?

If Trinity and Mendocino are in yellow and Humboldt is still in orange; then it is a leadership problem of no consequences and selective enforcement and rules for the superspreaders because they know so and so in the Humboldt incestuous cabal of business and politics and related by marriage.

 The "left" is just as guilty of violating the rules as the "right." We know those masks come right off when no one is watching and several people think it is okay to travel, have get togethers but others should follow the rules.

These days, most Judges are covering multiple courtrooms, retired Judge Marilyn Miles is covering calendars even though all the current Judges are around.  Judge Kelly Neel is covering her civil calendar and a lot of criminal court. Complete disorganization and where are the two people in charge? MIA.

Where is  Presiding Judge Joyce Hinrichs and what is she doing and the Humboldt Superior Court CEO doing?  

Why are we paying two retired Judges to cover calendars and the Presiding Judge cannot even help with one trial or preliminary hearing? 

Zero communication to the public about a timeline when things will be more "normal". Courtrooms and calendars changed last minute. 

It isn't just  Court administration, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and the City of Eureka Mayor and Council, all working remotely and collecting their paychecks with pathetic leadership and sucky and zero communication to the public about any relevant information. 

"Love Humboldt" does not help pay bills Rex unless you are a part of your  special "gentleman friends" and family program. Local businesses, many that supported you and Virginia, are struggling. The same for Mike Wilson and Steve Madrone. Talk is cheap; your actions speak louder than words.

Not every local business has an "in" with some Supervisor or the locals who disperse state and grant funds and PPP loans to who they like and not based on needs and qualifications. 

Besides nepotism and your "friends"; the rest of Humboldt is on their own trying to survive in an economically depressed area. This in a town with a housing shortage worsened by COVID 19. Besides grants, what have you elected officials done to bring economic growth and private industry to Humboldt? What have you done that benefits anyone else other than your children and select friends? Same people in charge for decades and same old issues. 

All the elected people elected in and after 2010, you have made this a career and that is something you criticized your opponents for doing. What have you done that is different that benefits private industry or brings jobs to the area that are not due to grants or are government jobs? 

The court system and rise in crime in Humboldt is the result of stagnant and failed leadership in Humboldt for decades. 

COVID 19 is a convenient excuse to deny public and media direct access and for the people in charge to do whatever they want without being accountable to the taxpayers who pay your overinflated salaries. Eureka City Council does not even deserve a stipend. Put that money towards the EPD budget. Law enforcement is constantly cleaning up the mess created by elected officials.

If Newsom and the CA Judicial Council actually worked and cared about COVID 19, they would  be in Humboldt addressing these concerns and holding those responsible accountable. This is why the recall got so many signatures. Government arrogance and tuning out the people who elect you and pay your salary. 


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