Clarification about grant program's condition

I am writing in regard to the April 22 article about the City of Crescent City’s decision to hire a Sacramento-based firm for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administrative services and the remarks made at the April 15 City Council meeting on which the article was based.

I would like to clear up any misconceptions about the financial condition of the CDBG program when my contract ended. I am not aware of, and cannot speak to the many non-CDBG grants administered by city staff, one of which may have $7,500 in excess expenditures.

At the time my contract ended, however, none of the CDBG grants for which I was responsible were either overspent or projected to be overspent. Administrative costs required to close out fully-expended CDBG grants are minimal and are chargeable to the administrative portion of those grants that remain open.

The CDBG program is sufficiently complicated that management and tracking of the multiple projects and funds are easily confused. I believe I was both diligent and successful in performing this task during my time with the city. 

Charlaine Mazzei, Crescent City

Let's choose a local physician for county post

The April 25 article about the county health officer (“Health officer residency raises spat”) should have included more information. 

Sheriff Dean Wilson acknowledges there were some raised eyebrows in Sacramento earlier this month when he told a State Senate Committee that he wouldn’t enforce one or more of the gun-control laws it was considering.

There were some raised eyebrows here in Del Norte as well, even though this is one of those rural, politically conservative areas where gun rights are especially prized.

Whether a majority of Del Norters support Wilson is hard to say. Frankly, a lot would depend on how one words the question, something the newspaper attempts to do starting today in its online poll at triplicate.com.

The sheriff bases his opinion of what laws would violate the U.S. Constitution on its statement that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” His is a liberal interpretation, contending it applies to most of the firearms out there. There are plenty of other people who generally support gun rights but have no problem with the constitutionality of restricting certain types of rapid-fire, high-capacity weapons.

A second controversial issue at play here is whether the sheriff has the legal right to not enforce state laws that he believes violate the U.S. Constitution. You won’t find that decision-making power in his job description at the courthouse, but he says it’s inherent in the power of the executive branch of government. He also notes that even foot soldiers in the U.S. military have the right to disobey orders that are illegal.

Neither issue is likely to be laid to rest soon. Wilson fully expects the Legislature will pass and the governor will sign one or more gun-control laws that he will refuse to enforce.

That doesn’t mean that it’s almost high noon and Del Norters are going to have to choose up sides — are you with him or against him? Look a little closer, and the drama fades a bit.

A short time ago while substitute teaching at the high school a student asked me who was my “favorite coach to play for.” It was a really fun question for me to answer.

While I had three coaches at Del Norte that really inspired me to want to become a coach, Chuck DeAutremont was at the top of the list.

Chuck was my coach during my junior and senior years. Chuck had come to Del Norte after being an outstanding three-sport athlete at Southern Oregon College.

He coached football, basketball, baseball and track, and I had the privilege of playing all those sports under him. While playing football I dreamed of becoming a head football coach at Del Norte.

I was impressed that coach DeAutremont tried things that I had never seen done before. I remember his attempt at what he called the double T formation, where he had two quarterbacks with their hands under centers.

It didn’t work, but I was impressed that you did not have to do the same things everyone else was doing. He also treated everyone like he was special; you did not have to be a star.

The other two coaches who really impacted me were Mike Whalen and my Crescent Elk coach, Ed Fraser.

It was lovely while it lasted! That warm sunshine Wednesday!

Things are getting pretty in my yard — the tree rose with deep pink blooms, my favorite giant white iris and the apple trees in full bloom.

A lovely sight — but I need to find a way to keep those pesky masked bandits away from them this year — they spirited every apple away last year. And I was so looking forward to those Macouns! If you have never had one, you have no idea what a treat you are missing! A cross between MacIntosh and Cortland, they are wonderful.

But that’s all just wishing — and the good things in the wind today are faith and music.

• Today is the day for the Church of Christ Rally. If you plan on going, you have hopefully made your RSVP, as organizers requested, because there will be lunch provided.

Three speakers and worship in song from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It sounds like a great day!

• Wednesday there will be a special concert at the Redwoods Family Worship Center.

From the pages of the Crescent City American, April 1928.

Interest in this year’s Redwood Empire Indian Marathon race has been quickened in the interior counties by the announcement that Mad Bull from Josephine County, Ore., winner of last year’s race, will again start in the 480-mile grind from San Francisco to Grants Pass on June 14.

A “dark horse” from Crescent City looms on the horizon this year as a runner in the race and indications are now that the county will have at least two and possibly three runners to start. Nothing definite is being given out regarding the mysterious entry, but it has been quietly rumored that he will be booked for the race at an early date. 

With these two runners certain to start this year’s race, this event should even eclipse in interest the 1927 event, as the American Indian will be forced to test his stamina against other native people from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada, who have signified their intention of entering. 

Plans for Memorial Hall

When the Board of Supervisors met for its April session at the courthouse on Monday, April 9, it was confronted by contractors Chester Cutting and Milton Neilson, regarding the plans for the new Memorial Hall which is to be built at the corner of 8th and H streets. The matter was held over until Tuesday when it was gone into thoroughly. 

Mr. Cutting pointed out to the Board that the plans for the new building were not definite enough in what materials were to be used, and if a contractor was to bid on such a building in an intelligent manner, he must have all the specifications. 

Thanks for beautiful coverage of butterflies

The California Sister has been an old friend of mine for many years. Thank you for the beautiful photo in Saturday’s paper (“The forests on another scale: Butterflies and moths are indicators of habitat health within the region’s redwood parks”).

Mary Jean Goecker, Crescent City

Sheriff lacks authority to cherry-pick laws enforced

The information in the April 18 Triplicate informing us our sheriff will prosecute only matters which meet his, or the group he represents, interpretation of constitutionality certainly got my attention! (“Dems pushing for gun control: Wilson tells senators he would not enforce bill.”) 

I do not recall his campaign put forth the idea he would uphold only those laws meeting his understanding of the Constitution. I voted for Sheriff Wilson not as a constitutional expert, but to uphold the county, state and national laws on the books. We have rules in a democracy for changing laws that do not include elected officials deciding which are to be honored and which are to be ignored. Working for change is a long, difficult task, but if change is needed the process must be followed.

For those who use it, the jetty serves many purposes. There’s fishing, mussel-collecting, diving and wildlife-viewing, not to mention the heady experience for those who crave it of simply being surrounded by the ocean wild while the ground beneath their feet stays level.

Yet, as we all know, people get trapped and even killed out there.

After a couple observances earlier this year of Crescent City’s aggravatingly annual winter tradition of rescuing people stranded on the harbor’s jetty by high waves, there were the ensuing second and third steps in the ritual: first, a conversation led by public safety officials about why going out on the jetty is a terrible idea and should be prevented, then a backlash of irritated locals insisting that jetty access shall not be infringed.

The argument against access: The surf is unpredictable and people may be trapped or thrown off the jetty (a long fall onto jagged rocks, no less) by unexpected waves. An op-ed by Sheriff’s Office dispatcher Malinda Sarbacker-Wiley (“Coastal Voices: Things to consider about jetty access,” Feb. 2, 2013) added that public access puts law enforcement lives at risk because jetty rescues can be as dangerous for the rescuers as for the rescued.

The argument for access: It’s not fair to punish the wise for the sins of the foolish, many locals have enjoyed the jetty for years without harm, it’s safe for people who know how to judge when wave conditions might pose a risk, so really it’s only the ignorant and the foolish who are a problem, the implication being that they get what they deserve if any harm befalls them. (It is, perhaps, a subconscious appeal to our animal instincts to let the course of nature thin the slower members of the herd.)

One letter-writer to the Triplicate, Mike Cuthbertson of Gasquet (“Why is jetty different than beaches? Close them too?” Feb. 7, 2013), said in reply to the op-ed that if the jetty should be closed to protect the lives of rescue workers, then by logical extension the beaches also should be closed to protect rescuers.

But I think more can be said about this issue with information in hand from Vista Point’s series of the past several weeks on sneaker waves.

No one is seriously suggesting that California will soon become another Cyprus, the Greek-speaking Mediterranean island nation whose economic bailout plan includes dunning holders of “large” bank accounts as much as half their holdings and freezing the rest.

But since a federal bankruptcy judge gave the go-ahead for the city of Stockton to seek shelter from more than $1 billion in debts via Chapter 9 bankruptcy, alarm bells have been ringing loudly in the heads of municipal bond investors.

They’ve already seen California cities and counties file four of the five largest municipal bankruptcies in U.S. history, beginning with the $4 billion 1994 Orange County debacle, and then Vallejo’s $175 million case in 2008 and the in-progress cases of Stockton and San Bernardino.

If you’re the chief of municipal bond investing for a big bank, whether on Wall Street or in San Francisco, Los Angeles or Chicago, this gets your attention. You might hesitate to lend hundreds of millions of dollars to other cities and counties if you fear they might go the Stockton route. Even if you proceed, you might insist on higher interest rates to compensate for what now appears to be added risk. That can translate to higher local taxes.

If you hesitate or insist on high interest, what happens to school remodeling plans, sewer expansions and repairs, park purchases, water facilities and scores of other civic projects that won’t be built without borrowed money?

There’s also the question of who might go to work for cities and counties, some risking their lives at times as police officers or firefighters, if Stockton should be allowed to weasel out of salary and pension obligations the city and its voters agreed to.

Rehabilitating Crowell is nothing short of wonderful

After being a foster parent in Del Norte County, I can honestly say that Thomas Crowell was one of the best probation officers that I have ever dealt with. He was instrumental in turning my nephew’s life around.

The fact that the county is giving him the chance to go to rehabilitation for his gambling addiction (“Crowell reaches a plea bargain,” April 11) is nothing short of wonderful.

The people that have been writing such negative letters obviously do not know him. Furthermore, to compare him to District Attorney Jon Alexander is preposterous. Jon Alexander was investigated by outside sources and found culpable.

What Mr. Crowell did is not an offense that would land someone in prison, as stated in Tony Jacomella’s April 20 letter, “No good reason Crowell is still head of probation.”

I am very glad that he has been given a second chance. Everyone deserves that.

Janine Hodson, Crescent City

Kayla Kahoalii, 20, of Eureka, does chin-ups during the training Saturday in Crescent City. Del Norte Triplicate / Michele Postal

As I approached the group, I began taking photos of a young woman doing chin-ups on a bar set up in the field. She finished her set strong and was barely winded as she walked to the end of the line where I followed. Kayla Kahoalii told me she was from Eureka, where she had attended College of the Redwoods. At 20, she decided to join the Marines.

A handsome young man with a friendly smile came over and introduced himself as Staff Sgt. Alan Inchaurregui (a Basque name, he offered), the local Marine Corps recruiter whose office was next door.

He explained that he was in charge of the area between Gold Beach and the northern part of Eureka. He and his two counterparts from the south had arranged this day of training exercises to help prepare their 20 soon-to-be-Marines (and 10 guests) for what lies ahead in basic training.

The recruits were from Hoopa, Fortuna, McKinleyville, Eureka, Arcata, Brookings and Gold Beach, and seven were from Del Norte County.

The staff sergeant explained that Saturday’s program of physical challenges and exposure to military protocol was designed to help them overcome any fears they might have about upcoming boot camp.