Supervisors honor civil‑grand‑jury and human‑trafficking awareness months; public comment raises timber and housing concerns

EUREKA, Calif. — The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors opened its Jan. 27 meeting with two proclamations: one declaring February 2026 Civil Grand Jury Awareness Month and another designating January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Chair Wilson read the civil‑grand‑jury proclamation, citing the jury's role in "promoting transparency, accountability, and public trust" in local government. A grand‑jury representative thanked the board and encouraged residents to apply, saying applications are available at the superior court and the county website.

Supervisor Bushnell introduced the human‑trafficking proclamation and invited coalition representatives to speak. A Northern California Coalition to Safeguard Communities representative described an anonymous tip line the group runs focused on labor trafficking connected to illicit cannabis grows and other operations and urged residents to submit tips.

During general public comment, residents raised multiple concerns: intense public attention to timber cutting and exemptions in Lower Redway and worries about protections for old‑growth redwoods; calls for a comprehensive review of exemptions and planning practices; frustration over closed‑session scheduling that left some members of the public waiting; and personal appeals related to homelessness, medical needs and access to county programs.

The board acknowledged comments and scheduled the closed session time set for the morning; it also appointed an at‑large planning commissioner by unanimous consent later in the meeting.