The petition to leave the decision to remove or keep the statue of President William McKinley on the Arcata Plaza up to voters was approved Tuesday.
“GOOD NEWS! Our petition has been approved,” a post on the “Let the people vote on our McKinley Statue” Facebook group states. “We should be able to start collecting names by Thursday. To those of you willing to circulate potions, please send me a PM with your phone number. Those who want to sign, I will post locations you can do so as soon as we get going.”
David La Rue, who has been working with Arcata City Councilman Michael Winkler on the initiative, deferred to Winkler for comment. Winkler couldn’t be reached for comment before the publishing deadline.
“This initiative, if approved by a majority of the Arcata registered voters, would prevent the City of Arcata from relocating the statue of President McKinley (including its base) from its current location at the center of the Arcata Plaza” the summary of the ballot initiative, signed by Arcata city attorney Nancy Diamond, states. “The initiative would additionally prohibit the city from modifying or destroying either the statue or its base. Finally, it would require the city to restore the statue and its base to the center of the Arcata Plaza in the event it is moved before or after enactment of the initiative.”
According to previous Times-Standard reporting, now that the language of the initiative has been approved by the city attorney, a notice must be published in a local newspaper of record including the full text of the measure. After that publishes, proof of its publication must be submitted to the city before the required 961 signatures can be gathered. All signatures must be gathered by May 29 to qualify for the November ballot. Once gathered, Humboldt County has 30 days to certify the signatures. Then the council will have the option of adopting the measure as written or place it on the ballot for the voters to decide, according to previous reporting.
“The city council made the decision to remove the statue,” Arcata City Councilman Paul Pitino said.
On Feb. 21 the council voted 4-1 with Winkler dissenting to remove the statue from the plaza with much applause from a passionate crowd in the council chambers that evening.
“The citizens have a right to have a final say, so of course I respect that,” Pitino said.
Diemer previously told the Times-Standard that a vote by Arcata citizens to keep the statue where it is would supercede the council’s February vote.
Hunter Cresswell can be reached at 707-441-0506.