Representatives from Governor Gavin Newsom's office visited local government, tribal officials and nonprofit representatives. Photo: Courtesy of Building Healthy Communities

Three representatives of California Governor Gavin Newsom paid a visit to Del Norte County on Tuesday, meeting with local and tribal officials and nonprofit organizations.

Kathleen Kelly Janus, Newsom’s senior advisor on social innovation; Christina Snider, the governor’s tribal advisor and executive secretary to the Native American Heritage Commission; and Anna Naimark, the governor’s tribal negotiations advisor, stopped in Crescent City and Klamath during a statewide listening campaign.

Newsom’s three representatives were hosted by Building Healthy Communities and the Wild Rivers Community Foundation. The organizations, and their partners, sought to give Janus, Snider and Naimark a first-hand look at Del Norte’s challenges and innovative programs, according to a BHC news release.

On Tuesday, Janus heard stories from local residents and officials addressing tribal issues, public health, childcare, literacy, transportation and access to healthcare, according to the news release. She was also interested in exploring how the state could help in those regards.

However, there were no promises of future visits or programs “this time around,” Scott Graves, WRCF’s strategic communications manager told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Thursday.

“I think the biggest message of the day was that Del Norte County is rural and often has different issues than metro areas and that things that work in metro areas don’t often work here,” Graves said. “At the same time, there is collaboration among folks in Del Norte County in getting things done.”

According to WRCF, Newsom’s representatives met with the Del Norte Nonprofit Alliance, the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Elk Valley Rancheria, Yurok Tribe, Del Norte County, Crescent City, the Del Norte Local Transportation Commission, Lynn’s Hope House of New Beginnings, CASA of Del Norte, the Del Norte Senior Center, the Family Resource Center of the Redwoods, the Hmong Cultural Center, Open Door Community Health Center and the California Center for Rural Policy.

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