BLM announces hiring monument manager
The Bureau of Land Management last week announced Leisyka Parrott is the new Bureau of Land Management California Coastal National Monument manager. She has nearly 20 years of public service and brings a diversity of natural resource expertise to the position where she will oversee the management of approximately 20,000 offshore rocks and islands, and over 7,900 acres of public land in six onshore units along California's coastline.
“This spectacular coastal resource is an inspiration for Californians and visitors from around the world,” said Central California District Manager Chris Heppe in a prepared statement. “Leisyka is an experienced leader who brings a strong background in collaboration, cooperation, and coordination needed to manage this important and complex resource.”
A native of coastal California, and graduate of Humboldt State University (Cal Poly Humboldt), she began her career in the northwest Great Basin as a fire lookout for the BLM fire program for eight years. In 2010, she joined the BLM Arcata field office as an interpretive specialist, in the monument's gateway community of Trinidad, bringing interpretation, education, and stewardship opportunities to the north coast and its watersheds. Working with local partners, she led the North Coast Seabird Protection Network which serves to reduce impacts on seabirds through monitoring populations, and public education programs.
“I look forward to collaborating with coastal Tribal governments, local communities, organizations, and agency partners,” Parrott said in a statement. “We will work together to keep these iconic public lands healthy and accessible for generations to come.”
The California Coastal National Monument provides important habitat for nesting seabirds and marine mammals. The six onshore units include Trinidad Head Lighthouse, Waluplh-Lighthouse Ranch, Lost Coast Headlands, Point Arena Stornetta, Co
toni-Coast Dairies, and Piedras Blancas Light Station.
CR hosts forum on police department
Last week, the College of the Redwoods hosted the first of a series of open forums to discuss the ongoing development of a campus police department, a news release from the college stated.
The forums provide a platform for students, faculty, staff, and community members to express their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.
Attendees engaged in a lively and productive dialogue, exchanging ideas and opinions on how to work together to create a safer and more just community and addressed student concerns regarding over-policing and police misconduct. Police Chief Michael Perkins ensured the audience that he is committed to ensuring that both his officers and the cadets at the CR Police Academy are held to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.
The forum also provided an opportunity to meet CR's new police Sgt. Corrie Watson, who spoke about her own sadness regarding the tragic events surrounding the death of Tyre Nichols. Both Watson and Perkins invited students to get to know them.
Future events and initiatives will be announced in the coming weeks, the college said.