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Humboldt Polytechnic Gets a Boost

During his revised budget proposal presentation on May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he’s proposing $433 million for Humboldt State University’s transformation into California State University system’s third polytechnic university.

“I am a big supporter of Cal Polys. We have two; we want to create a third. And that’s the significant investment: $433 million,” Newsom said. “We’ve been working with the board of trustees — the incredible new leader at the CSU — about this opportunity to revitalize the economy in Northern California around Humboldt State, and to look at this opportunity to have a third polytechnic campus.”

State Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood were quick to celebrate the news via Twitter that morning.

“There’s $433M in [California Governor] Newsom’s May Revise budget for a third #polytechnic campus for [Humboldt State University]. So exciting and proud of the hard work #HSU is doing to make it happen!” Wood wrote.

“Today’s major announcement — investing over $400 million — to help transition Humboldt State into California’s third polytechnic university is a game changer for the campus, our regional economy and the greater North Coast community,” McGuire tweeted.

HSU has begun work on a self-study report to detail the changes it would make to become a fully functioning polytechnic university to present to the CSU Chancellor’s Office by September. If approved by new CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro, HSU President Tom Jackson would then formally request a polytechnic consideration from the CSU Board of Trustees by next spring.

In a recent virtual visit to HSU, Castro said he was excited about the prospect.

“Chancellor White invited me to a meeting with President Jackson during the transition, so I had a chance to learn more about it, as well, and I am excited by the idea,” Castro said during the virtual meeting. “I learned more today about some of the details and we have a self-study coming to the chancellor’s office and that will be reviewed and, if all goes well, we’ll present it to the board of trustees for approval.”

In a press release, HSU indicated it would put the proposed funding to good use.

Protect the Otters!

Courtesy of the Sequoia Park Zoo Sequoia Park Zoo will continue mandating masks for guests 3 and older on the grounds that some animals — including the adorable river otters — are believed to be susceptible to contracting the COVID-19 virus. “We know that they can catch other types of the coronavirus, so we’re just being extra careful when were around the animals,” said zookeeper Ruth Mock in a video explaining the zoo’s policy. POSTED 05.18.21

“The governor’s proposal would support its conversion to a polytechnic by funding new academic programs, additional support for students, including housing and basic needs, new facilities, technology throughout the curriculum and expanded broadband.”

— Iridian Casarez POSTED 05.14.21 Read the full story online.

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Triple Murder Suspect Extradited: Mauricio Johnson, the 19 year old suspected of fatally shooting Nikki Metcalf, Margarett Lee Moon, both 40, and 16-year-old Shelly Autumn Mae Moon in February has been returned to Humboldt County after being extradited from Utah, where he was arrested. Johnson has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the

case. POSTED 05.17.21

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Masks Still Mandated: While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made interim recommendations May 12 about relaxing some safety protocols for fully vaccinated individuals, California’s law on masking takes precedence and remains in effect. California’s law requires that masks be worn in all indoor settings and outdoors where 6 feet of physical distancing isn’t possible. POSTED 05.14.21

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County Opens Door to Tax Refunds: After an appeals court ruled the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors overstepped when it “impermissibly broadened the scope” of the cannabis tax voters approved in 2016, the county is beginning the process of refunding potentially millions of dollars in tax payments, allowing those who paid the excise tax from 2017 through 2021 to ask for their money back.

POSTED 05.13.21

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Digitally Speaking

The number of new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Humboldt County over the seven-day period before this issue of the Journal went to press as the local surge continues, driven by the prevalence of the highly contagious B.1.1.7 variant. Ten new hospitalizations were also reported over the same time period. POSTED 05.18.21

They Said It

“Only three California counties fared worse than Humboldt in terms of case rate, and only two had a higher positivity rate.”

— The Humboldt County Joint Information Center in a press release announcing that despite escalating case numbers locally, the state was keeping Humboldt in its orange “widespread” COVID-19 risk tier. POSTED 05.18.21

Comment of the Week

“As someone who likes to cuss, this article was over the top with bad language. Why would you publish this?!?”

— Rebecca Garwood, who apparently doesn’t like to cuss quite as much as the article’s author, on the Journal’s Facebook page responding to last week’s Washed Up

column. POSTED 05.17.21