They do eat their own...

Greens should make sure their voices are heard
by Michael Smith, 4/14/2006

David Giarrizzo ’s April 4, 2006, views sure are debatable regarding the work of The Eureka Reporter’s Rebecca Bender and the upcoming vote considering the recall of Greg Allen as Green Party of Humboldt County steering committee Chairperson. First some background.

Allen was appointed chairperson of the GPHCSC by five people, himself included, in November 2004 at a meeting conducted at the Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka. Now, nearly 18 months later, five letter-signers, of which I am one, will ask the general assembly on April 15, at Humboldt State University, to consider removing Allen from his post.

More on the recall soon, but first a few comments on Giarrizzo’s article. It came as a surprise to me Giarrizzo was identified as party secretary in the headline. The general assembly, the governing body of GPHC, found the secretary position empty at our February meeting in Garberville.

That is one reason why we appointed a new Web site administrator to take care of our online media business, including the transmission of all official press releases.

The way the GPHC works is the general assembly makes the decisions and the steering committee carries those decisions out, not vice-versa.

Giarrizzo seemed to take over the secretary role in the past three weeks. Still, I give him cautious credit for stepping up in a bad situation.

I see our steering committee as badly damaged under Allen’s leadership — so damaged its unable to properly administrate its duties — and the June 6 election fast approaches.

As far as Giarrizzo s strong words accusing reporter Bender as unethically biased, I have to disagree. Bender had a difficult story to cover and she did a commendable job.

Giarrizzo s assertion that he himself wrote the “Resolution to Promote Responsible Journalism and Scrutinize Biased Media” is questionable.

So you know that resolution made headlines in the local press last year. Allen, on public record at both the spring and summer 2005 general assembly meetings, said he was author.

Why would Giarrizzo contradict Allen?

At both meetings, the general assembly voted down the resolution that later was used as a key component of an unmerciful attack on area media outlets, personalities and even local businesses that advertised in one of the targeted, local newspapers!

In late August 2005, a “copy-cat” resolution was released to local media in violation of GPHC by laws — with the same basic method of operation used in the much-reported recent fake Arcata Green announcement opposing Measure T.

The difference was the Eureka Greens chapter was the victim of the fake “copy-cat” resolution attacking area media, not the Arcata Greens.

Perhaps Greens who live in and around Eureka have an anonymous autopilot controlling a good portion of that local’s business.

That is how the Arcata Greens felt — so they took control of their chapter — and are way better off because of it.

Similar attack resolutions have surfaced in recent months. Communities for Peace, Local Solutions, HCCR, Democracy Unlimited, FairChance and progressive people who live and work in Humboldt County have been the target of anonymously authored resolutions and/or vicious whisper campaigns.

As Greens, we have a responsibility to put a stop to these attacks.

And Allen said in Bender’s April 4, 2006, article that the primary purpose behind the recall letter was his opposition to Measure T.

I doubt it.

Greg Allen should take responsibility for his media presentations — not manipulate others to communicate de facto messages. From what I know, Giarrizzo is always up front, so maybe he can help figure all this out before a recall vote occurs Saturday.

The big question is: Does Greg Allen have the confidence of the GPHC General Assembly to continue as chairperson of the Green Party of Humboldt County Steering Committee?

I, for one, am not willing to wait for that question to be asked after the June 6 election, but I am willing to go along with the general assembly’s answer on April 15.

There is no tomorrow for a nation or a neighborhood at war today. Mobilizing Greens to go to the polls is too important. So is empowering Greens, not controlling Greens.

Peacefully resisting the war, helping people go to college, lending a hand, cleaning up the beach, having a block party so we can enjoy the company of our neighbors are too important.

Of course, Yes on Measure T and re-electing Paul Gallegos are important.

Greens should make their voices heard. One Humboldt County Green equals one vote. Join us at HSU, noon Saturday, Founders’ Hall, Room 163. Go to HumboldtGreens.Org for more information on GPHC, including exact meeting times and location.

(Michael Smith is a volunteer for FairChance, an informal group of students and community residents helping students sign up for college and stay there until they earn a degree.)
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