[Listen] ‘Reducing Crime’ initiative supported by ‘Supervisors; Last week’s top stories

Humboldt Last Week

With what many call the “revolving door” at the jail comes majority support from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors for an initiative called the “Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act.” “Serial property theft would mean a year in jail rather than probation -- that’s a big one,” said Lost Coast Outpost reporter Ryan Burns. The measure which is still in the signature gathering phase aims to make serial theft a felony, reduce early release numbers for violent prisoners, increase penalties for parole violations, and allow DNA collection in more cases among other things. It sounds great on paper if you’re not a criminal. In an unexpected turn of events at a ‘Supervisors meeting last week retiring Chief Probation Officer Bill Damiano broke with many of his law enforcement peers as a skeptic of the initiative saying it could bog down already overcrowded jails and take money away from rehabbing the 95 percent of inmates that will inevitably be released. That the good the initiative does can be achieved in other ways. In the program, Lost Coast Outpost reporter Ryan Burns is interviewed about his coverage on the meeting and the nuances of the perspectives shared. The interview begins at 11:42. Also covered The loss of a local radio superstar, the McKinley statue gets us national coverage, an NFL-bound HSU alum reaches an internet milestone, a local MMA fighter goes pro, Sara Bareilles gets outstanding critical reviews for a live performance on NBC, Fortuna has a new interim City Manager, a North Coast News employee anonymously told KMUD they’re refusing to run Sinclair promos in response to a viral video, drug issues, crime updates, and more. Episode partners: Bongo Boy Studio / Eel River Hydroponics