Opinion By Branden Bieber – December 13, 2023 The Del Norte Board of Supervisors start each meeting with the “pledge of allegiance,” yet they fail to realize their influence or the words they recite. As constituents in Del Norte the ideals of LIBERTY and JUSTICE are only a mirage. We may feel the responsibility to work hard and provide the necessities for life to your families, but now we must provide life’s necessities to neighbors we have never met. Even if it means placing more Del Norte working families below the poverty line, we are being required (taxed) to provide food, clothing, drugs, and housing for people often too lazy to care for themselves. Our Criminal Justice system in Del Norte County is a sponge for career lawyers, judges, and supporting staff who feast off of the misfortunes of others. The revolving door at the Sherriff’s department allows for additional career law enforcement but is NOT making our streets safer. It is however increasing the debt on taxpayers for which local Government has no concern. The Del Norte Department of Health and Human Services has seen over a 40% increase in budgeting and staffing over the past 12 years. And more resources will be required as DHHS enables unemployment, welfare, drug use, and social service fraud to provide wraparound services mainly to their staff’s benefit. Around and around we go, as Del Norte process’s criminals without prosecuting, then provides Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), only to be back at the revolving Sherriff’s door, or receiving more Government (taxpayer) handouts. The Del Norte Board of Supervisors Tuesday 12-12-2023 approved funding $10.8 million dollars to take more real-estate off the tax role and facilitate new homeless housing and services. Del Norte County received the second largest allocation of funds in the State to funnel the despair and poverty on our coastal community. With metropolitan areas finally resisting some of the sanctuary status, Del Norte County has been chosen as the new destination for the poor, the depressed, and the unambitious. If you thought it was hard to survive now, just wait until the next influx of social service seekers break into your house. Liberty and Justice, NOT NORTH OF KLAMATH!