Arcata City Council Candidate Forum Recap

KMUD News hosted a comprehensive Arcata City Council Candidate Forum on October 24th, 2024 featuring all seven candidates vying for the three open seats. The two-hour forum provided voters an in-depth look at the candidates’ platforms and positions on key issues facing the city. The seven candidates included three incumbents – Alex Stillman, Stacey Atkins-Salazar, and Sarah Schaefer – as well as challengers Gregory Daggett, Shea Freedomhowler, Genevieve Serna, and Dana Quillman. During the forum, the candidates addressed a range of topics important to Arcata residents, including affordable housing and homelessness, sea level rise and climate change, policing and community oversight, and the city’s general plan update. Each candidate was given one minute to respond to questions, with optional 30-second rebuttals. Key takeaways from the forum include:

• Candidates expressed differing views on the city’s approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis and supporting unhoused residents
• There was broad acknowledgement of the serious threat posed by sea level rise, with candidates outlining plans to partner with regional agencies on mitigation efforts
• Several candidates called for increased police oversight and accountability, while others defended the police department’s actions
• Candidates discussed the importance of robust community engagement in the general plan update process to ensure it reflects the needs of all Arcata residents

The full audio recording of the Arcata City Council Candidate Forum is available below. Voters are encouraged to review the forum to help inform their decisions ahead of the November 5th election.

Here was our list of questions for candidates:

Q1:  Arcata continues to face challenges with affordable housing and homelessness. What specific policies or initiatives would you advocate for to increase affordable housing availability and address the needs of unhoused residents in the city? (13:10)

Q2: Humboldt Bay is projected to experience three feet of sea level rise over the next 40 years, which could overrun the dikes and flood critical infrastructure, including U.S. Highway 101 and the city’s sewage treatment plant. In Arcata, areas around South G Street are likely to be affected. On a scale of 1 to 10, how serious do you consider this issue, and what partnerships or solutions would you like to see the county pursue to address it? (21:35)

Q3: Do you believe the Arcata Plaza has issues with crime and homelessness? If so, do you think these issues are impacting Arcata residents and businesses? How do you propose addressing these challenges while still preserving the free-spirited nature of downtown? (31:28)

Q4: As stated on the city’s website, ‘To sustain vital programs and services, the Arcata City Council unanimously voted to place a three-quarter (3/4) cent tax, named Measure H, on the November 5, 2024 ballot.’ Measure H is estimated to generate $2.6 million annually to fund programs that Arcata voters have indicated are important, such as emergency and climate change response, services addressing homelessness and its impacts, mental health crisis response, and improvements to sidewalks, bike lanes, transit, roads, and trails. As someone overseeing the city’s budget, can you elaborate on the projects, studies, and programs you believe are the most critical to fund with this revenue if the measure passes? (41:02)

Q5: On its website, the City of Arcata states that it is committed to reducing the community’s greenhouse gas emissions associated with global climate change. However, the city’s greenhouse gas inventory hasn’t been updated in over a decade. Which programs do you believe are currently working, and what initiatives would you like to see created or expanded? (51:32)

Q6: Centro Del Pueblo’s community garden, the Garden Sanctuary, has been repeatedly defaced and even desecrated. What meaningful actions have you taken, or do you plan to take, to address these hate crimes and prevent future incidents? (1:01:00)

Q7:Anti-war and Palestinian solidarity protests have taken place at the Arcata Plaza, with two ending violently at the Cal Poly Humboldt campus due to police intervention. Yes or no: Do you agree with the university’s decision to use force in that situation? Additionally, how would you like to see the city and the university collaborate to address these important issues that matter to many residents? (1:10:00)

Q8:A recent incident described as a violent arrest of a young man attempting to BBQ on the Arcata Plaza has sparked community outrage. How closely have you been following this situation, and do you support the calls for a police oversight committee? (1:20:10)

Q9: Arcata’s General Plan is undergoing revisions. How will you involve the community in this process to ensure transparency and that the plan reflects the needs and values of all residents? What are your top priorities for this update? (1:28:44)