Transition Humboldt is self-described as a Transition Initiatives serving Humboldt County- a community-level permaculture design for a low-energy future.

Mary Burke provided the below responses to their questions.

Transition Humboldt: Transportation: McKinleyville is a town of commuters. What is your vision for sustainable transportation and would reducing Central Avenue to three lanes help achieve that goal?

Mary: High priority roads and safety in McKinleyville

There has been much discussion recently regarding the future of Central Avenue, and I want to be very clear about the current facts. It is a common misconception that the McKinleyville Town Center ordinance recently passed by the Board of Supervisors approved a specific traffic calming plan for Central Avenue. It did not. The ordinance simply says what could happen, not that it will happen nor how and when it will happen. The plan for Central Avenue that was included is an incomplete concept and the County will not move forward on an incomplete and divisive road project.

However, there are many high priority road improvements that do need attention and will have greater community support, including but not limited to: safety improvements in front of McKinleyville Middle School that will now have younger students attending; Anna Sparks to 101 - a deadly stretch of road; connectivity through the School Rd roundabout; exploring south-only off and on-ramps on Hiller; building Hiller as a Complete Street; filling sidewalk gaps on critical routes like Gwin and Sutter Roads; and improving our public transit system through town. Many of these issues surfaced in 2018 when I started a community group to address access across McKinleyville and I’ve been working on these issues ever since. 

Recently, I developed a concept for funding sidewalk completion by implementing an in lieu fee for developers when their development has a very low likelihood of ever being connected to other sidewalks. This funding could be the start for how we fill critical sidewalk routes.

As your Supervisor, I will ensure that we move forward with road and trail projects that have community buy-in to address the needs of vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchairs, strollers, other methods of getting around, and even horses. When we have the community’s top priorities then the County Planning and Public Works can get to work on these improvements.

Transition Humboldt: Government: Do you support the incorporation of McKinleyville – why or why not?

Mary: Incorporation of McKinleyville will be the voters choice

Incorporation will only come about if the residents of McKinleyville vote for it. This isn't the first time our community has explored incorporation—the McKinleyville Chamber took this idea on 26 years ago. Eventually the process stalled as funding and the energy wasn’t available to obtain the detailed financial information to answer questions of feasibility. In 2022, I brought a presentation to the MMAC that got this conversation reignited in our community.

I believe that governance is most effective when it is local. No one understands a community better than those who call it home. The prospect of a local city council and planning department would put our future squarely in the hands of McKinleyville residents. I believe in local people making decisions about local issues. 

That’s why I have worked on the McKinleyville Incorporation Exploration Subcommittee (MIESC) of the MMAC since it was formed. We are working to collect the data so that residents can understand if incorporation is financially feasible, and then decide if incorporation will win their vote.

I am proud to share that, alongside the committee and Supervisor Madrone, I was at the table with Senator McGuire and his staff and was successful in obtaining the $50,000 needed to conduct an Initial Feasibility Analysis. Additionally, I brought a CalPoly business professor to the MIESC committee. As a result, his participation led to the first-ever McKinleyville Economic Development Study. The County is hopeful to reproduce this for other unincorporated areas in the County. In addition, I was instrumental in bringing a group of pro bono planners with their expertise to the table. I look forward to continuing this work as Supervisor, so that McKinleyville can make an informed choice about its future.

For more details on the ongoing work of the committee and the incorporation process, I encourage you to visit: Humboldt County MMAC https://humboldtgov.org/238/McKinleyville-Municipal-Advisory-Committ

Transition Humboldt: Economy: Do you think something like an Amazon warehouse is a good example of economic development for McKinleyville? Why or why not?

Mary: Community economic development that considers the environment

The County should support economic activity that seeks to enhance our natural environment, strengthen local communities, and support local business development. A functioning Humboldt landscape results in a healthier population and can generate economic opportunities.

Many of the drawbacks to an Amazon distribution warehouse were spoken about at the public meeting and have already been demonstrated in other small rural areas. An Amazon warehouse falls to the bottom of the list of desired economic development described above. 

In comparison, there is some good news from a recent study done by BMO Climate Institute and the California Parks Association showing that ecological restoration projects in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties can be a significant sustainable economic sector. The analysis shows large-scale ecological restoration projects will generate $140 million annually in economic benefit and almost $50 million in local business such as supply chains and household spending.

These are the types of sustainable economic endeavors that we should be looking toward. They create living wage jobs, focus on restoring natural environments, and as the icing on the cake, they support another economic benefit, eco-tourism. I believe tourism can and must be driven by creating the places that enhance the lives of the people who live here. I’ve written about this on Lost Coast Outpost’s Election site.

I’ve been directly involved in a sustainable economic industry for the past 13 years leading the development of two destination trail and restoration projects. Lhiwetgut trailhead at the end of School Road and the O’Rew project in Orick that created living wage jobs and brought tens of millions of dollars to our community. As Supervisor, I can hit the ground running on this type of economic development, having already led these projects where I worked with tribal, NGO, local contractors, and government partners. I know what it takes to negotiate agreements to get this work done and build more opportunity in this sustainable industry. 

In addition there are a few other exciting local examples in the home construction industry that are even carbon negative. Hempcrete home construction is being championed by both Lisa Sundberg with Indigenous Habitat Institute and Ken Hamik with Earthrise. Also, a high end product, mass timber being produced out of Korbel by Mad River Mass Timber.  

Transition Humboldt: Food: The Humboldt County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy recommends the advancement of  “food hubs, cooperatives and collaborations.” What should the supervisors do to help achieve this strategic action?

Mary: Food futures in Humboldt County

The good news for our region is that we have examples of successful models for greater efficiency and collaboration in the local foodscape. People like Portia Bramble and Megan Kenney at The North Coast Growers Association (NCGA) have done awesome work to stabilize the local farmer’s markets by bringing in FDA grants to create a food hub with cold storage so farmers’ products don’t spoil between farmers markets. This model collectivizes local food production and organizes inventory, making it easier on the producer and customers. 

To boost this Food Hub model, large local consumers could be buying from our local producers, but largely are not. I support local large consumers such as Cal Poly Humboldt, hospitals, and the County to use their buying power through policy that prioritizes purchasing from local producers. 

There are also regulatory limiting factors that prevent local food producers from selling their harvest locally. I realize regulations are meant to protect public safety, but I believe the shared interest in local food production warrants a review of policy to see where a new process could allow for more local products to be sold locally. Also, infrastructure is a limiting factor for local sales. We need a local animal processing and storage facility, and ice production and cold storage for seafood harvesters. 

The County can play a key role in identification and easing of such limiting factors, writing solutions as goals in plans, and using the plans to seek direct support through grant-writing, or state funding opportunities. I am well-versed in how this process works as I’ve successfully written grants and understand how legislation guides the flow of funding. As Supervisor, I am excited to support the great vision of local entrepreneurs with the skilled County Economic Development team and the recent promotion of Peggy Murphy as Director. 

Transition Humboldt: Homelessness:The county might own land in District 5 that could be dedicated to a housing solution like a tiny-house village. Do you think that's a good approach to ending homelessness? 

Mary: Housing solutions for unhoused people across Humboldt County

The County has looked at County-owned properties for tent camps or tiny homes but has come up empty. And properties need to be close to services but providing services is frequently rejected by neighboring businesses or residents. I have heard Supervisor Madrone voice his frustration that the issue is so complex and no silver bullet answer exists. 

Being houseless is a complex social issue with many underlying factors. Therefore solutions will require a spectrum of remedies and significant collective action. The unhoused community is as diverse as is the housed community, as are their reasons for being unhoused. I’ve learned from my friend John Calkins who has engaged in work to help the unhoused in McKinleyville, that conversations should include these community members' involvement for any solution to work.

Tiny-house villages are an excellent first step in a housing-first approach to ending homelessness. I absolutely support this. Other communities have had success in this area even in our County. The Southern Humboldt Housing Opportunities that Supervisor Bushnell has helped launch is a new organization that is committed to the idea that adequate shelter for all benefits the whole community. Funding for the required amount of support is in short supply and getting more scarce. I am committed to learning what the Board of Supervisors and the Health and Human Services Director, and community groups like Joyful Healer, AH-HA, Betty Chin, and Arcata House Partnership have studied and tried, what has been learned, and where I can pick up the conversation and add energy, creativity, and additional resources.

As your Supervisor I will be working on a multifaceted approach that will include addiction and mental health services, job skills and life skills training and support, housing first which may include a tiny house village or similar program, and crisis prevention systems to help identify and support vulnerable individuals before they slide into houseless living. A healthy, well-functioning society should be able to support ALL of us and help through hard times and difficult situations. I also have a good understanding of how to advance local needs through strong partnership with our state representatives. Their endorsements of my campaign demonstrate that I can immediately get to work making our local needs known in Sacramento. 

Transition Humboldt: Public Process: County processes are supposed to allow community input to actually shape outcomes, but sometimes it feels like data is just being collected. What changes would you like to see in the pursuit of meaningful public participation?

Mary: Participatory democracy

This is a question that gets at the heart of why I am running for office. In my work as a Project Manager I’ve developed expertise in holding meetings where participants are heard and their input helps to guide a project forward. However public meetings can feel quite different. As Chair of MMAC, I am working to increase participation and community engagement. I am now hosting some agenda items as a workshop style format for more dialogue, and in an attempt to increase public participation, I proposed the creation of a Community Outreach Coordinator position for MMAC. Thankfully, we are fortunate to have a MMAC volunteer willing to step up to create and hold this position. As Chair, I regularly review community input for topics people are interested in and work to bring these topics to our meetings. 

Elected representatives need to create formal and informal opportunities for face-to-face communication with the people they represent. During my campaign for 5th District Supervisor, I have been hosting meet and greets so residents can get to know me, voice their concerns, and speak about their vision of the future. I plan to continue these informal gatherings during my term as Supervisor. I am committed to outreach in the remote eastern and northern 5th District. I will continue Supervisor Madrone’s schedule of monthly office hours in Willow Creek and Hoopa and also regular visits to Weitchpec and Orick. I will regularly attend Special District meetings to be sure I know what our essential service providers need.

I want residents to know who I am, that I am approachable, and to know that I listen to what they value most. When we can understand each other’s values we can find shared interests and move forward together. 

Transition Humboldt: Environment: How should we protect wetlands (per the McKinleyville Community Plan) in the face of broader goals like housing or economic development?

Mary: Wetlands are wonderful 

In our urbanized and coastal agricultural areas we have lost many of our wetlands. This is unfortunate because wetlands serve many benefits such as water quality improvements, habitat for many animals with many types of plants and, of course, wetlands are beautiful and can be a place of sanctuary and connection with nature. I have restored creeks, rivers, ponds, and wetlands for the past 13 years supporting stewardship of private landowners and public agencies. The process is quite technical with the study of soil, plants, and the presence of water on the land. Historical conditions need to be researched to get the restoration done well. Also, the process assesses the current conditions for opportunities and constraints. Opportunities can be isolated, like a seasonal pond or connected like a greenbelt that could link multiple wetland pockets. 

As Supervisor I will work with local agencies and non-profits to do an assessment of creeks, wetlands, and sensitive natural plant communities in order to describe the current ecological condition, the historical condition, and to document the current opportunities and constraints. I will do this in McKinleyville and other communities where there is interest. This information could be the basis of how to conserve or restore these critically important aquatic habitats and be used to help development projects to avoid, reduce, or mitigate impacts.