Royal Inn shut down by the City of Eureka, why today?

"John,

Do you know why the Royal Inn Motel is getting boarded up and why EPD is sitting out in front of the building?

Thanks."

Got this email around noon. 

Did follow up and got some initial information on my own. The Royal Inn got shut down by the City of Eureka.  They were given 24 hours notice "to get out." Royal Inn is  boarded up and fenced off now.

I contacted EPD and City of Eureka. 

EPD's Brittany Powell got back to me promptly.

"On September 14, 2021, at about 8 a.m., Detectives with the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing team (POP), served a search warrant a motel on the 1100 block of 5th Street in response to drugs and weapons.  Detectives seized a large amount of ammunition in different calibers and two suppressors.  The male subject of the warrant was not on scene but a warrant for his arrest is anticipated. "

"Also written into the search warrant was the City of Eureka Code Enforcement and Building Inspector. "

"All legitimate tenants were provided housing resources by the City. "

Eureka Manager Miles Slattery said they are working on a press release. That was eventually issued at 5:11 and didn't add much to what I already found out.

There are many violations and worse all over Eureka.  Eureka City Code Enforcement does selective enforcement. I see City building and planning employees all chummy with certain motel owners.  Online and in person, many people have spoken about how property management and slumlords are not held accountable by the City of Eureka. 

Like everything else in Humboldt, selective enforcement and if you speak up; petty retaliation.

Royal Inn's conditions have been visible walking by for years. It suddenly became egregious today? From social media comments, I am not the only one who is observant.

Why shut it down now? City of Eureka need PR this week? Just like the Squires and Budget Motel, this will make the headlines and news and be the one example for years the do nothing council will use for a spin. Will the Mayor, Eureka City Council including 4th District Supervisor Candidate Natalie Arroyo brag about about this even though they did nothing.

Housing resources = other motel/hotel rooms? Those who are not legal tenants will be go where? Their usual spots outside offices, people's home, the Courthouse and the sidewalks where they normally loiter. 

Will the City ursurp this property, fix it up like the Budget Motel and then it will be used for the homeless again, with a new name. Budget Motel = Humboldt Inn. Same people off the street temporarily. The City and select private entities pocket money and get to claim they fix problems and are "successful."

City of Eureka Press Release:

Date:   September  16,  2021 RE:   Royal  Inn On September  14,  2021,  at  about  8  a.m., Detectives  with  the  Eureka  Police  Department’s Problem Oriented  Policing team  (POP), served  a  search  warrant  a  motel  on the  1100  block  of  5 response  to  drugs and  weapons. th Street  in Detectives  seized  a  large  amount  of ammunition in  different calibers  and  two  suppressors. his  arrest  is  anticipated. 

The  male  subject  of  the  warrant  was  not  on scene  but a  warrant  for Also  written  into  the  search  warrant  was  the  City  of  Eureka  Code  Enforcement  and  Building  Inspector, who  observed  structurally compromised  stairways  and  other  dangerous  building  code  violations. Based  on this  inf ormation,  the  City of  Eureka  Code  Enforcement  team  obtained  an  inspection  and abatement  warrant,  which  was  served on  the  morning  of Wednesday,  September  15 . During  the course  of  the  inspection,  code  enforcement  personnel  catalogued  numerous  violations  of th the  Eureka Municipal  Code,  California  Building  Code  and  Health  and  Safety Code  including  hazardous  electrical work,  leaking  plumbing,  rotten  stairs  and  structural  members, rooms  contaminated  with  blood,  urine and  feces,  severe  mold issues,  infestations  of rats,  cockroaches  and  bedbugs, fire  hazards  and  other violations.  

These  issues  posed  a  significant  hazard  to  the  occupants  and  surrounding  community and the  decision  was  made  to  vacate  the  motel  and  secure  it  against  entry. During  the  course  of the  day, the  City worked  with  other  organizations  and  local  housing  providers  to immediately  relocate  the  most  atrisk  individuals  and  to  provide  relocation  assistance  to  residents  of the  motel.  The  costs  of  all  relocation expenses,  staff  time,  contractors  and  mat erials  will  be  tied  to  the property and  collected  by all  legal  means  available  including  liens  and  tax  assessments.  In  the  past, the  City has  been  very successful  in  recouping  taxpayer  dollars  spent  cleaning  up  problem  properties.