“If successful, Rob Arkley’s anti-housing initiative would cost the city dearly."

At the Eureka City Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 7th, the Council will hear city staff present their report  about the impacts of the anti-housing initiative.  

The following is a comment from Solomon Everta, Chairperson of I Like Eureka Housing and Old Town business owner:

“If successful, Rob Arkley’s anti-housing initiative would cost the city dearly. Besides stopping much needed affordable housing, independent fiscal analysis of the initiative found that it would prevent approximately $169.8 million in one-time construction related spending in Eureka, which in turn would cost approximately 1,000 jobs during the construction phase with an average earning of $64,000 per job. Local businesses would also suffer from the loss of $7.2 million per year in retail spending in the County from new residents living in the downtown. What’s more, the initiative would likely result in Eureka violating state housing law, resulting in the loss of millions more in grant funds for housing and transportation-related projects.

Voters need to be vigilant. The anti-housing initiative has deceptively framed itself using poll-tested pro-housing language that masks its real intention. Rob Arkley’s anti-housing initiative would stop at least 129 new housing units for Eurekans.”

The campaign to oppose this initiative would like to urge all of our friends and neighbors in Eureka to attend this meeting this Tuesday, Nov. 7th,  and let their voices be heard. Eureka needs real housing options, not disingenuous tricks aimed at keeping taxpayers on the hook for Rob Arkley’s parking lot. Together we can take our city into a truly vital future.

If you aren’t able to attend, you can still support sustainable housing in Eureka by volunteering or donating at realhousing4eureka.com.