Today's vote on SN housing project proved the following

 

It proved that EPIC's Tom Wheeler does not have the pull he thinks has and hardly anyone reads the Times Standard. It proves that when certain local special interests oppose a much needed project just because they don't like the applicant; it backfires. 

If you didn't watch the meeting and if you don't read the post, you might not be aware that Security National has reached out to tribes in the area. Something that was brought up by First District Supervisor Rex Bohn today; not SN. 

If you read my Oct 28 post, "Before jumping to conclusions, get the facts", you know it was unnecessary for Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson to pull this from consent. Where were all those people who contacted him and opposed this project?

Don't take my word for it, read Supervisor Wilson's own words or  watch the video and hear what he said when the item was introduced. Later in the meeting, Supervisor Wilson said he intended to vote for it. Even, Fifth District Supervisor Madrone voted with one brief comment about and no discussion.

Only Larry Glass from NorthCoast Environmental Center and Colin Fiske from Coalition for Responsible Transportation spoke against the project. They are biased parties. 

Glass hates the Arkley family and atleast two years ago, I was told he is one of the People associated with the anonymous Tuluwat Examiner. 

How do I know this? Someone who knows Glass well and obviously has his confidence. Glass failed to keep his business open and lives off a position with a non profit whose primary mission and funding is lawsuits. What has EPIC done to solve the housing problem and the suffering of those with no roof over their head?

Building and Planning Director John Ford came well prepared. First District Supervisor Rex Bohn obviously did his homework about the project and even former Arcata Mayor Paul Pitino refuted the incorrect assumptions raised about access and transportation.

When Supervisor Wilson agreed with Rex that watching the slide presentation wouldn't affect the outcome; I knew the outcome of the vote. It was unanimous. 

Northpoint Consulting's Annje Dodd responded succinctly to concerns raised. The technical study will answer questions raised today about the feasibility of the project. "We are committed to an open and public process," said Dodd. A website SNPdevelopment.com is up for people to answer questions and comment. After the study, the proposed project will come back before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.

The slides sent by Northpoint Consulting were lost in transit by County staff. The presentation would have been less than three minutes. 

Others who go on and on with lengthy presentations in public meetings should take a lesson from SN and private industry.  Time is money and no one needs government agencies, non profits and companies like PG & E to hoard time at meetings with busy agendas.

If you are not struggling, have not suffered due to lack of housing or tried for years to work through the government system which only benefits bureaucracy and others like CalPoly and Providence and DHHS who shuffle the same people around or house a small portion of people and this does not put a dent in the local housing crisis, I don't care about your opinion. 

At least with private housing, if you can pay, even with the vindictive, small town tyrants, you have a better chance to get a place because money rules. With government and non-profits, you are at the mercy of petty, personal choices of the same local players who do whatever they want even if you qualify for "affordable housing." They help "their people"; their family and friends and not those most in need or those who have the most chance of suceeding in transitional and affordable housing. 

CalPoly is buying property, wanting to buy motels, lease out many hotels which impacts people trying to transition from streets to housing and tourists. Students, travel nurses, tourists already have limited options because of the NIMBY attitude against development of places like Arcata and Trinidad. Where do you think your tourists, visiting teams and large conferenve attendees go? Eureka bears the brunt.

People who move into SN housing will free up other housing. I would like all who are protesting this project to give up their cushy income, government grants and live on the streets for months and experience the housing crisis they have created. 

Supervisor Wilson opened discussion by saying that usually a petition on the consent calendar is not pulled for discussion because a decision is not being made about the project. Anyone who read the agenda item knew this fact. So why pull it for what turned out to be a unanimous vote?

Supervisor Wilson asked if the application was reasonable and  "pulled it from consent" because he received comments from people "living in the area and external." Is it worth the time of staff?, asked Supervisor Wilson.

Was it worth staff time, public time to needlessly pull this item to appease a few special interest, biased people? Why are people not living in that area opining on what is none of their business and does not affect them?

The last question about staff time could be asked of any project in front of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.

Ford said,"we have staff on different teams." Cannabis and long range projects are declining. "We have staff capacity without a doubt."

There is no financial impact to the County because the applicant pays the costs. This was in the agenda. Did Supervisor Wilson not read his Supervisor agenda packet?

After Ford's response, Supervisor Wilson said his "biggest concern was greenbelt protection."  Supervisor Wilson felt this large development was contrary to the planning policies in Arcata. Wilson mentioned "visual impact" and no wastewater facility nearby.

Rex made a motion to accept staff recommendation and Bushnell seconded the motion. 

"When housing is our #1 issue, I have a problem throwing up a roadblock," Rex said. He talked about the "100-200" units of housing. That number was not from SN. 

SN has not committed to a number units as the studies are still in the initial stage. Rex mentioned other Humboldt Transit Authority exemptions.

Fiske said, "there is no denying there is a crisis in housing but we cannot solve it with car dependent housing." He said the Arkleys opposed "downtown affordable housing." Since Fiske brought that up, he should answer how many people will actually benefit and be residents at the proposed downtown Earth Center project versus how many offices will be at that location and the influence of CALPoly on the project Fiske thinks is better for the housing crisis. 

CalPoly now even controls the local EDD. CalPoly is no different than any corporation or oligarch. Change the name but it is still HSU with all the issues. CalPoly needs to work on keeping students safe before poaching the housing supply. Where is the outrage about the out of control drinking and rapes still happening at CalPoly? Students in desperate need of housing answering scams on the local craigslist and Facebook groups. If this same project was being proposed by CalPoly, would there be the same objection?

You can watch the rest of public comment on video. Most of the public comment was in favor of the SN proposed housing project.

Rex asked Dodd if "tribal leaders" had visited the site and if SN had reached out to the "acronyms" who called in to the meeting. Dodd answered yes.

Supervisor Madrone said,"It is hard to pass up on an opportunity for housing."

Supervisor Wilson concluded with, "We have not denied this in the past." This being an application similar to SN's for the proposed housing project.

Earlier post today:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/11/sn-application-for-housing-project.html?m=1

Related posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/10/before-jumping-to-conclusions-get-facts.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/09/security-national-propertiestakes-first.html?m=1