Intra-council texts reveal struggle over Watson issues




ARCATA – Newly disclosed text messages between Arcata City Councilmembers reveal frustration and struggle at City Hall over how to cope with Councilmember Brett Watson. 

Released in four tranches so far, the messages were made public following a Public Records Act Request filed by the North Coast Journal. They were compiled by City Clerk Bridget Dory based on her requests for relevant communications from the councilmembers, who voluntarily complied by emailing Dory screen caps of texts. 

The PRA request asked for “copies of emails/written correspondence to and from (as well as text messages to and from) the following members of the Arcata City Council: Stacy Atkins-Salazar, Emily Goldstein, Meredith Matthews, and Sarah Schaefer dating back to October 6, 2021, that have references to Brett Watson,” and  “all emails sent and received by Brett Watson on his city account since October 1.”

City Councilmember Brett Watson.

Where the previous tranches were composed of predominantly constituent service and other routine communication to and from elected officials, the new batch consists of texts between various combinations of the five councilmembers from Oct. 6 through 28. That was the period during which Watson’s estrangement from the rest of the council deepened, and he was removed from the mayorship with a “no confidence” vote.

The intra-council dispatches are informal, at times reflecting levels of emotion and raw personal assessments not commonly heard from the dais during council meetings. While fragmentary, the texts provide a basic outline of four first-term councilmembers seeing their initial sympathy for an erratic-behaving colleague dissolve amid confusion and resentment at his council-distracting excesses.

What isn’t disclosed are details of Watson’s alleged offense, which is now being investigated. That and other undocumented details leave some gaps in terms of understanding certain references in the conversations. 

Watson remains on the council and participates constructively in its business, though recent meetings have been marked by unusually tense exchanges between him and the other councilmembers, as well as staff. 

Shown the newly released messages, Watson declined to comment for the record.

Update: Following the Saturday morning posting of this story, Watson stated, “These texts appear to have been carefully selected.”

Snowballing problems

Watson’s personal strife first welled up in August, 2021 with his arrest for driving under the influence. It later came to light that he was in possession of cocaine at the time. He ultimately pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

The incident triggered suggestions that he resign as well as expressions of support. With the council having no authority to remove him, Watson chose to retain his position

On Oct. 20, on a 4-0 vote, the council declared “no confidence” in Watson and stripped him of his mayoral position in absentia over an allegation of alleged inappropriate conduct which remains undisclosed. At the time, Vice Mayor Emily Grace Goldstein said that Watson’s actions “negatively affected the city and some of its staff members.”   

From support to disgust

Around Oct. 10, perhaps the day before, a text to Councilmember Sarah Schaefer from Watson includes an apology for drinking too much due to depression over his father’s death.

Schaefer offers sympathy. “Let me know if I can support you in any way,” she writes.

On Oct. 10 at 4:53 p.m., Watson asks Schaefer for a phone conversation. “It’s important,” he says.

Another redacted, undated text by Watson, forwarded to then-Councilmember Atkins-Salazar by Councilmember Meredith Matthews, stirred strong reactions.

City Councilmember Sarah Schaefer.

“My therapist says I shouldn’t resign,” Watson writes. “She says [redacted] led me on and tried to keep me addicted to [redacted] so [redacted] could control me. My attorney [redacted] says I shouldn’t resign. Two other attorneys I talked to told me not to resign.”

“My psychologist also told me [redacted] was enjoying the relationship and having me dependant [sic] on [redacted].”

In her response, Matthews declines to engage Watson, but affirms their friendship and asks that he not bring the issues up with her. “Please don’t put me in that position,” she says.

“I apologize,” Watson replies.

In an ensuing exchange with Atkins-Salazar, Matthews states, “I’m disgusted,” apparently referring to Watson’s message.

“I’m just starting to get angry because I feel like we’re being really manipulated,” replies Atkins-Salazar. “We’ve been trying to be very gracious and give him an easy way out… But this is not OK.”

The newly-named Mayor Stacy Atkins-Salazar and Vice Mayor Emily Grace Goldstein on Oct. 20, 2021. Via City of Arcata

The two agree that Watson has been dishonest and manipulative, but offer no specifics.  

It was at some point in this time frame that the alleged misconduct by Watson may have occurred, because the exchanges take a different direction.

‘Holy actual shit’

On Oct. 12, Matthews asks Councilmember Emily Grace Goldstein, “Did you talk to Nancy Diamond? Holy actual shit.”

“Yep!” replies Goldstein. “My reaction exactly.”

On Oct. 13, a week before Watson’s ouster as mayor, the council held a closed evening session over a single case of “anticipated litigation.”

At 7:20 that night, according to a copy of a text provided by Atkins-Salazar, Matthews writes, “Hey. I hope you’re OK. This was a rough night. FYI Nick [Matthews, Meredith’s husband] gave Brett a ride home.”

“I’m just so grateful it’s out in the open and that all 4 of us are on the same page,” states Atkins-Salazar. Apparently referring to the closed session meeting.

Both are eager to move on from the Watson imbroglio.

“What a burden you carried,” Matthews states enigmatically. “I’m so ready to get to work”

“Let’s get shit done!!” enthuses Atkins-Salazar.

“Yes!!” replies Matthews.

City Councilmember Meredith Matthews.

At 7:27 p.m. on Oct. 14, Matthews asks Atkins-Salazar if she’s heard from Watson.

“I did,” Atkins-Salazar replies. “He said he would resign and takes full responsibility.”

But much to his colleagues’ frustration, Watson was not to follow through on any promise to resign, if one was made.

The big day approaches

A text some days later, probably on Oct. 19, Atkins-Salazar says that if Watson hasn’t resigned “by our meeting tomorrow,” the other councilmembers may make a statement, possibly including a vote of no confidence. 

“It will be an interesting meeting to say the least,” she concludes. 

On Oct. 19 at 5:14 p.m., Schaefer asks Goldstein if she’s heard from Watson, and is told no. Goldsten asks if Matthews has heard any news from staff or the other councilmembers. “No, no word,” Atkins-Salazar replies. 

Goldstein then says she’s forwarded to Diamond a statement she wanted to read regarding a vote of no confidence at the next night’s special meeting.

“If it is how you all want to move forward then I am comfortable making the motion and reading the statement but I want to make sure it’s how we all feel it’s best to move forward,” Goldstein writes.

Both express frustration about the lack of communication from Watson, and direction as to how to responsibly handle the next evening’s proceedings.

MISSING MAN Councilmember Sarah Schaefer, Mayor Stacy Atkins-Salazar, the vacant seat of former Mayor Brett Watson, Vice Mayor Emily Grace Goldstein and Councilmember Meredith Matthews. Via YouTube

The next day, Oct. 20 at 3:03 p.m., as the 6 p.m. meeting approached in which Watson was to be demoted approached, Atkins-Salazar tells Matthews she hasn’t heard from Watson and that no resignation letter has been received. 

“He texted me,” replies Matthews. “He checked into a 30-day treatment center in Petaluma. I told him not to text me, but to focus on his demons.”

Atkins-Salazar concludes by saying that councilmember statements will be coordinated with City Attorney Nancy Diamond. 

What followed that night was his ouster in absentia as mayor and the no confidence vote, plus the airing of unspecified allegations of misconduct.

‘We did the right thing’

On Friday, Oct. 22, while still undergoing therapy in Petaluma and in another norm-shattering move, Watson bypassed the city’s communications staff and City Manager’s Office and issued his own ostensible City of Arcata press release. 

Using a copied city seal and nonstandard writing style, Watson stated that “On Monday October 11th, I informed the City Council and staff I would be stepping down as Mayor and entering a 30-day residential rehabilitation program to focus on depression and personal issues. My goal is to get myself better before making any decisions on how I can continue to best serve my community.”

All this was apparently news to his colleagues. At 7:12 p.m., Matthews forwards to Goldstein a link to a Mad River Union story about Watson’s rogue press release. 

“I just saw!” exclaims Goldstein. “WTF. He forged a city document??????”

“Right?” agrees Matthews.

“I’m blown away,” Goldstein says. “Every time I think he can’t go farther he does.”

“Super disrespectful to do it this way, without taking any responsibility,” says Matthews.

“Completely!” agrees Goldstein.

At 7:27 p.m. that night, Matthews asks Atkins-Salazar, “Did you see?”

“Yep,” replies the mayor. “So at this time he’s not resigning. I also read the mean and nasty email from [redacted]. And the legal inquest from [redacted]… I’m feeling pretty shitty. But in the middle of my pity party guy [sic] thought of the previous counsel [sic] and what they had to go through with a Josiah Lawson murder… This is nothing compared to that so I guess I just need to toughen up!”

“We did the right thing,” Matthews says, apparently referring to Watson’s demotion and the no confidence vote.

Click to view the newly released messages:

Goldstein Texts Matthews Text 6_Redacted Matthews Text 5 Matthews Text 4_Redacted Matthews Text 3 Matthews Text 2_Redacted Matthews Text 1_redacted Atkins-Salazar Text 4-5_Redacted Atkins-Salazar Text 2_Redacted Schaefer Texts Atkins-Salazar Text 6 Atkins-Salazar Text 3 Atkins-Salazar Text 1