Opinion and Commentary By Investigative Reporter, Linda Sutter – August 7, 2025
It is time to move forward and hit the Crescent City Harbor District where it hurts the most—their pocketbook. A pocketbook decapitated by gross mismanagement and lack of transparency, controlled by Harbormaster Michael Rademaker and his cohort, Sandy Moreno.
It is time for the people of Del Norte County to take action and repeal the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) that was once intended to uplift the harbor but has now become a financial slush fund for failed leadership and fiscal recklessness.
This tax, originally approved by voters to repay a USDA loan, has been co-opted by a Harbor administration that shows no regard for accountability, stewardship, or the taxpayers they claim to serve.
Despite clear signs of incompetence and abuse, the District continues to collect and squander public funds without oversight or consequence. Repealing this tax is not just symbolic—it is essential.
A History of Lawsuits and Laughable Leadership
The Crescent City Harbor District has already faced lawsuits over transparency violations and corrupt practices. Rather than change course, the majority of commissioners laugh off their misconduct, confident that the public has neither the will nor the power to hold them accountable.
They flaunt their disregard for ethics, daring the community to sue them again. And why wouldn’t they? litigation costs are paid with public money—your money.
Ignoring the Grand Jury
Adding insult to injury, the Del Norte County Grand Jury issued a damning report this year exposing misconduct, fiscal irregularities, and the toxic leadership culture embedded in the Harbor District. But instead of responding with transparency or humility, Mr. Rademaker and his loyal cadre of flying monkeys decided to do what they do best—ignore it.
Their excuse? According to reports, Harbor District legal counsel Ryan Plotz allegedly advised them not to respond. This refusal to comply with basic government oversight is not just cowardly—it’s unlawful. It’s the latest in a pattern of stonewalling, obfuscation, and contempt for the public process.
Let the People Decide
This is not a call for another audit. Audits have proven to be toothless and inaccurate. This is a call for real action. If the Harbor District cannot manage its finances with integrity, then it should not be entrusted with our money. The time has come to repeal the TOT tax and return that revenue to the people and the county it rightfully belongs to.
Let the voters decide. Let the people restore financial sanity. Let us put an end to enabling poor leadership through blind taxation.
Once we achieve this the board members will need to step down, a new board will be appointed as well as a new Harbormaster and a real public accountant.
In 2018 the Friends of the Harbor submitted an initiative called Measure C. Measure C was to collect tax from hotels, B&B’s and other Transient rentals. It was a 2% tax allocation.
The purpose of the TOT Tax was to pay back the $5 million dollar USDA loan resulting from the 2011 tsunami. However, the last 2 harbormasters not including the current one, has financially destroyed the financial stability of the harbor. This was done by electing commissioners who don’t know what they are doing.
The current Harbormaster Rademaker has been caught falsifiying records to the point they will lose their approved grants. And the people who allowed him to do that was Evans, Shepherd, and Weber. It’s a shame.
From which businesses is the Harbor COLLECTING the Tax? Or they just RECEIVING 2%. The only hotel in the Harbor is the Anchor Beach Inn and I do not think that RV parks have to collect TOT from guests. The idea behind TOT is to use the money collected from visitors for funding more outreach to attract more visitors to the area. Is the Harbor District using their 2% share of the TOT to fund visitor attraction?