EPD, decent property owners and landlords are paying the price because of an inept Council

Slumlords are not a new development in Eureka. Neither is crime or the street littered with criminals, bums and addicts.

California laws such as Prop 47, the Ninth Circuit ruling and the litigious enablers have been around for a while. These factors do hamper EPD's ability to address concerns. Despite that we have POP, CSET, and other successful teams at EPD.

Speaking up in a small town has consequences. People who gave feedback for this post wanted to remain anonymous.

Until three years ago, there was a better response to graffitti, nuisance and crime, one business owner told me.

Another business owner told me that he has never had anyone from the current City Council reach out to him. "Who are they listening to?"

Commenting on Mayor Susan Seaman's PSA's, another citizen said, "She is not running for the Governor of California." The information in the PSAs is old, she takes credit for programs that are created by EPD and "feel good" initiatives aren't what "I need right now."

Decent property owners and landlords are suffering because of shady slumlords and owners. Property values are affected when the house next door is a constant magnet for addicts and criminal activity. Decent landlords work with their tenants without eviction moratoriums. Such actions are needed because of the slumlords. Decent property owners maintain what they own because of pride and knowing value. Decent property management companies and property owners don't have pedophiles and drug addicts as their primary renters.

How many of you ended up in a cycle of couch surfing or homeless because Code Enforcement staff did nothing about your complaints? Ever had Code Enforcement tip off a landlord about your complaint? Many have shared these experiences with me.
Why isn't this City Council standing up for the people?

The level of frustration for businesses and citizens  has grown in the last four years and people are resorting to hiring a lawyer or posting on social media.

EPD officers take direction from their leadership. EPD Chief Steve Watson answers  to the Eureka City Council. So does the City Manager and the City department heads.

Our police officers, dispatchers and first responders ate exhausted because we have a weak City Council. It is not the job of our officers to pick up garbage and needles and babysit obnoxious drug addicts and criminals who are on the streets because of their poor choices. I have personally seen Humboldt Bay Fire answer repeated "medical" calls to several nuisance properties. What an insult to those who work hard to keep us safe.

This Mayor and City Council are responsible for Eureka's increasing blight because of their ineptness. They ignore what law abiding citizens and businesses want but stand up for HACHR.

They are unprofessional and only cater to their political supporters and sycophant media that panders to them.