Eureka councilmembers Albin on crime in Eureka and Ciarabellini on nightime releases

Normally Council reports are mundane but this evening during Council Reports, two Council members spoke about two hot topics.

Councilmember Chet Albin said he recently met with Supervisor Rex Bohn; Interim City Manager for Eureka, Mike Knight; Eureka City Attorney and Chief Andy Mills. The topic: Crime.

Albin said that The City of Eureka needs to stand up to the crime element in Eureka. "We are sick of the crime element in Eureka and we need to figure out how we can prosecute misdemeanors," he said. "We have laws in this city we cannot enforce. "

He said the DA's office for "lack of funding " or whatever reasons,  does not prosecute misdemeanors. "The DA finds a way to get rid of these cases instead of prosecuting them".

Councilmember Melinda Ciarabellini spoke of "a tragic incident on Jan 1 near and dear to our hearts" and why nighttime releases was of importance. Chief Mills and Ciarabellini plan to address this through the League of Cities and specifically when they discuss legislation pertinent to cities. SB 833, read a post on this blog for details and was first mentioned by Dr. Scott Sattler is a bill that has a third reading in the Senate and was the legislation referred to this evening.

Ciarabellini said it has a voluntary program for inmates and "that is where I think it fails" but she feels that could be addressed and amended before the bill passes. She said Sheriff Downey has implemented a similar program.

Paula Arrowsmith-Jones from the Northcoast Rape Crisis Center received a proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She thanked the City Council and said working on awareness was a team effort  "We cannot do the work without you." She added that "it is sad that we still have to come here year after year."

Ms. Arrowsmith-Jones spoke about federal grants that NRCC had received that would specifically benefit the City of Eureka. These grants would fund a prosecutor position in the D.A's office dedicated to these cases for the next 3 years and a position for a Victim Witness Advocate. She thanked the partnerships that with Tribal Law Enforcement, the Police Department, the District Attorney's Office and Probation.

"No matter where they are in the gender spectrum, they do not deserve to be violated," was the most poignant portion of her remarks. Ms. Arrowsmith also spoke about the various events that happen during April which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. She also spoke earlier at the Board of Supervisor's meeting where she received a proclamation from Supervisor Ryan Sundberg recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Prevention and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

NRCC raise funds through donations, grants and fundraisers.

A report was presented on quarterly data on the Hotel Ordinance tracking properties that potentially abuse city fire and police resources. This will be done for a year. The Budget Motel topped the list. Mayor Frank Jager made an editorial quip directed at naysayers who regularly decried that Teen Challenge would be a problem and attract crime in neighborhoods saying that Teen Challenge had 0 calls in violation of this ordinance.