Three items on the August 19, 2025 Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Meeting that may be of interest to the public; after all it is taxpayer money.
Whether Curt Eikerman gets appointment to the position of Interim Director of Aviation or not; I don't care. Let the other local media look into it.
The other two items I do care. One is the increase in pay for County appointed attorneys. The other dellocating three Deputy DA positions to make Christmas Eve a holiday and CALPers related expenses.
If you want, you can read the staff reports which I have included. Another post that the public will appreciate but the powers to be at 825 5th street won't. Don't expect other local media to cover the court agenda items. I will always report on news that is relevant to you and your pocketbook and in your interest.
The BOS are not going to listen to me and all these decisions are going to be rubber stamped and any comment and discussion is for show.
I do not have a problem with the increase of rates for County appointed attorneys or investigators but in reality, there needs to be better inquiry from the judges about defendants and who qualifies for financial assistance. If you read my blog, there are defendants who taxpayers pay for; who later say they want to hire a private attorney. The panel of court appointed attorneys needs to be expanded and not have all cases go to basically three attorneys. Former DA Paul Gallegos is the fourth but the bulk of cases are being assigned to Gregory Kreis, Rebecca Linkous and Joe Judge. Unnecessary continuances do happen in Humboldt Superior Court and I have writren about them but with Ms. Linkous, they are usually the reasons I have written about several times. It is court record that Mr. Judge has medical issues and there are cases that keep getting continued. It is unfair to the defendants other potential attorneys and the taxpayers for Mr. Judge to make a living at taxpayer expense when he cannot give his all. Mr. Kreis, at least shows up for court but he has been assigned several of Ms. Andrea Sullivan's cases and seems to be getting a lot of court appointments. If taxpayers are going to pay; Humboldt Superior Court needs to be transparent about the process. A Visiting Judge is no longer required for any case Mr. Kreis is appointed on but that is a court expense; not County expense. Given Mr. Kreis' former position; transparency is important from the County and Courts.
Humboldt judges need to stop granting continuances for just any reason such as an attorney saying I have vacation; I have a hangnail! The second one is not something that has been stated in court and it is hyperbole because in Humboldt the most ridiculous reasons are good cause. Also, discovery, declare doubt, mental health evaluation needs to be scrutinized and not just used as an excuse to deal with backlog. With all the time and court staff wasted on continuances in one week, court administration could schedule interventions one morning and one afternoon a week and get better results and resolutions. Taxpayer money should come with practical conditions.
Dellocating three Deputy DA positions because they are vacant is dumb. There is short staffing in every department. If anything, the two departments that should not face cuts are HCSO and DA. Positions are vacant because no one who has a choice wants to live in a rural area and pay San Diego, San Francisco, LA rents for moldy tin can apartments and houses supporting lazy progeny or selfish retirees, with non existent health care options and mexican food and pizza that is considered diverse cuisine with criminals screaming day and night on the streets.
If people want Christmas Eve off, they can take a personal day. This County has way too many holidays. CALPers premiums are not my problem or any taxpayer problems. The County should make better budget decisions and not throw away a million dollars for the Fairgrounds and hire less non County lawyers.
Ms. Andrea Sullivan was the best court appointed in Humboldt Superior Court and they took advantage of her. She is one of the best defense attorneys. She worked hard and those lucky enough to have her court appointed in Humboldt should be grateful. That is the caliber that deserves the rate increase.
If by some miracle, the County actually listens to my suggestions; god forbid follow them; I will check to see if pigs are flying on Tuesday.
And Kent, if you mention any of my suggestions in your three full minutes on the court agenda items, make sure you give me credit.
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