DEMOCRACY & RESPONSIBILITY
By Mardi Grainger
The word democracy means: rule by the people, the people decide. In the past there was Direct Democracy, as in town hall meetings. In modern times there is more likely Representative Democracy, to accommodate larger populations. Historically, the most important aspects of democracy have been individual equality and freedom. Those who prefer more government involvement are known as Liberals and those who prefer less government are known as Conservatives.
Most people today are so disappointed at all government that they keep their distance and just complain. At the same time, we are taught that preserving equality and freedom requires the responsibility of participation by the people. It is a dilemma, but being a victim of the government implies needing to be rescued.
What if we rescue ourselves by realizing we have the power to change our experience with the democratic process. We can choose to be part of the solution by contributing our unique perspective on issues and our unique creativity for solutions. What if we establish a process where everyone's concerns and ideas get consideration; a place like the OFFICE OF POSSIBILITIES as an intermediary step between the people and our decision-making leaders?
Remember, our leaders are to be guided by us - they are public servants.
Instead of becoming a victim or resisting the way the democratic process has evolved, let's create a new vision where we take ownership of our community by participation. We either take responsibility or we deserve the consequences of diminishing freedom. If we don't decide our future, someone else will do it for us. Responsibility means taking your power and using it with intentional focus to bring balance. This results in a new sense of personal balance through purpose. Responsibility is a level of consciousness. Let's step up to it now. We are the ones we've been waiting for!
BLOOP – Blue Lake Office of Possibilities
Open every Wed. 2-3:30 and Thu. 5:30-7 at the Grange for your ideas and creativity.
708-894-2736
Mardi Grainger is a resident of Blue Lake who offers a good deal of herself volunteering time, energy, and ideas to our community. Mardi is in her 85th year of life and in her own words “likes to stay busy.” Mardi has spent the last 25 years serving her various communities as a volunteer and enjoys helping others to do good things.
This essay was posted to one of our local Facebook pages on the morning of August 8, 2023. In the afternoon Mardi was notified by the president of the Mad River Grange that Blue Lake’s Mayor, Adelene Jones was “concerned” about this message. Two weeks earlier Mayor Jones expressed a similar concern about a discussion topic brought to a BLOOP meeting by resident Dennis Whitcomb regarding public safety and law enforcement. As a citizen of Blue Lake one might wonder why our Mayor is “concerned” about people discussing democracy and topics of interest in Blue Lake.
The Blue Lake Times reached out to Mayor Jones on Friday 8/11/23. As of the posting of this article, (Sunday 8/13/23) no response has been received.
The Grange Breakfast ~ Back By Popular Demand
COVID hiatus is over, the Mad River Grange is bringing back their pancake breakfast fundraiser!
The COVID lock down and subsequent COVID variants halted the pancake fundraiser breakfasts at the Mad River Grange from 2020 on. The lock downs ended in 2021, but social distancing concerns led to the Grange adopting a takeout breakfast burrito as a compromise. The burritos were a success overall but left some folks disappointed in the menu change and some with the lack of socializing. Since then, with a lack of serious COVID spread and the success of the Granges Monday Coffee Club, the Grange Board of Directors decided to bring back the classic pancake breakfast that people know and love.
A volunteer meeting was held on August 6th. Grange president Jennifer Kramer made the official announcement on Facebook Sunday night. The breakfast is set for Sunday August 13th.
So, come out to support the Grange and see old friends! Breakfast will be served from 8:00 to 11:00 AM. Sunday August 13th.
This Week's City Council Highlight (July 23, 2023)
What's Law Got To Do With It?
The City of Blue Lake has contracted with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services since 2008 when the City’s police department was disbanded. During this time there have been varied levels of service and associated costs. Blue Lake is currently entering year 3 of a 3-year contract for service.
The City was officially notified at the end of May that the cost for law enforcement services would be increasing from $146,000 to $315,000. The City had been advised prior to April that a significant increase in cost was expected. The contract between the City of Blue Lake and the Humboldt County Sheriff Office allows for cost increases on an annual basis. The contract also allows either party to opt out of the contract with 60 days’ notice.
According to City of Blue Lake budget documents, grant funding through the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund covered the full cost of the Sheriff's contract for the last 2 years. The city was granted $189,831 for FY 2021-2022 and $162,880 for FY 2022-2023, and paid out $122,000 and $146,500 respectively. The coming fiscal year 23-24, will be the first in this 3-year contract that the City will need to pay for a portion of the law enforcement services from the general fund.
On July 3rd, Blue Lake's City Manager Amanda Mager told the Times Standard, "she wants to see a reduction of the cost because the services don't match the price." This and other statements indicate Mager believes that Blue Lake isn't getting their money's worth. Blue Lake would have to spend above $600,000 if it were to fund its own police department.
What does it cost to put a deputy on the streets? What are the unspoken, “behind the scenes” costs that are not considered in the Times Standard Article or by Manager Mager?
Sheriff Honsal answered this question in a letter to Manager Mager dated July 18th, stating, “The Sheriff's Office assumes all liability and provides various public safety services such as law enforcement, accident investigation, dispatch services, records management, evidence storage, major crimes investigators, public information, training, supervision, and management. All of this is offered at a fraction of the cost it would take for the City to operate its own law enforcement agency. As a point of comparison, the City of Ferndale pays $650,000 annually for their law enforcement services.”
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the annual cost to field one patrol deputy is approximately $226,000. This does not include perishable skills training, vehicles, armory, or equipment.
Questions to be asked are:
- Since the Sheriff’s Office has been clear from the outset that there is no room for negotiating the price or services, why was there no discussion of this topic during the two City Council meetings in June that were dedicated to the budget? Why was the cost increase not factored into the budget plan?
- Does Manager Mager have special training or expertise in law enforcement that enables her to determine what constitutes a “fair price” for law enforcement services?
- Does Manager Mager have any budget plan to present to the City Council to fund the contract increase and if not, is she working with the City Council to develop such a plan?
- Does Manager Mager have a “plan B” to present to the Council for budget approval should the Sheriff’s contract be terminated due to the cost increase?
Hopefully, these questions will be answered at the next City Council meeting on July 25th. Concerned citizen can attend the meeting in person or via Zoom. A link to the agenda can be found on our Video Library page.
Addendum:
Source materials used for this article include:
Blue Lake City budget documents for fiscal years 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24
Public Safety Commission Meeting recordings of 4/3/23, 5/1/23 and 6/5/23
* Law Enforcement Services contract between the HCSO and City of Blue Lake July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024
* Price increase notification from HCSO dates May 31, 2023
* Email dated July 18, 2023 from Sheriff Honsal to Manager Mager (Appendix A)
Email dated June 2, 2023 from Regina Fuller to Captain Quenell (Appendix B)
* Can be found in the agenda packet for 7/25/23 City Council Meeting
Reference Sources
Appendix A
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Appendix B
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