"Can you please write an article to & about our community that is being destroyed . This is horrific & unacceptable"

 

(Photo submitted by E.W.)

It has not even been a week since proposed camping ordinance which could have given law enforcement the tools to address what frustrates the reader who contacted me today. It was voted down by the majority of Eureka City Council.

I have verified the reader and at request am using the initials E.W. This reader followed all the rules for a tip and responded promptly to any question I had.

The email sent to me was titled "Re Behind Eureka Co-Op Memorial Day Mess."

Email 1 E.W.:

"Hi

Can you please write an article to & about our community that is being destroyed

This is horrific & unacceptable

And for those that want to allow “camping” in public.. May they offer their yards to these people they are advocating for..

This is insane & a public health hazard!

Thanks for all you do"

I responded, "Is this just today? I do walk in the area and this is a city wide issue. I am not sure what I can do because the topic has been covered many times. I could use your photo and highlight the issue."

Email.2 E.W.:

hello

yes..it was today… Memorial Day 2025

yes- it gets covered a lot ….  It is a City wide issue...

And the can keeps getting kicked down the road

I am honestly just wondering… What do these “Advocates" for these people Suggest be done … kicking the can down the road.. Again..

Thanks for getting back to me ..

Again you are appreciated…

Thank you

I share the frustration of this reader. Those who want help, take action and get off the street. I referred someone to Uplift. He chose to go to the Resource Center within a day and on the same day he went there they were able to get him off the street and be safe. He was trying to apply for housing. That process make take a while but he chose to do something than spend another night out in the cold. 

He didn't say no. He didn't ask for money. He shared his journey about why he was on the streets and he was honest. I referred him to Uplift because they do try and help as many people as they can. Out of all the local resources to help the homeless, Uplift is superior and gets results.

I also went to the Uplift Resource Center and told them who I was sending for assistance. Uplift has rules, will hold you accountable and they do expect you to your part in maintaining housing.

It takes a very long time to get stable or feel secure after you are housed. The trauma, PTSD and add to that the anxiety and uncertainty most people have these days about affording the basics.

Humboldt's economy keeps getting worse and it is the biggest factor and the lack of housing is due to greed. Check out what a studio or one bedroom goes for in San Diego and compare it to whatHumboldt property owners charge for mold infested, pest ridden, sketchy on code violations and less than desirable tenants in most apartment buildings. 

Using regulations as an excuse no longer works. People end up on the streets and couch surfing for many reasons and not everyone who cannot get out of that cycle is a drug addict or mentally ill or lazy. 

Uplift cannot solve the homeless problem for everyone. There isn't enough housing. The people who showed up at Eureka City Council whining about the camping ordinance went against a solution supported by Rescue Mission's Bryan Hall, Betty Chinn, Eureka Police Department and mental health clinicians. These are the people out in the trenches every day helping people on the street and to get off the street. 

The commenters talk. Now go behind the Co-op and clean up this public health hazard.  You all don't walk through filth and are not being solicited or harassed everyday by the same troublemakers. You don't sit in court and hear case after case about the crimes against other homeless, residents and businesses. You don't answer the calls EPD responds to while simultaneously being dispatched to multiple crimes across the city. Do you even know our EPD officers and EPD brass such as Commander Leonard LaFrance? These are compassionate officers and other places wish they had these law enforcement officers.

What have those who you who showed up at the City Council meeting done to take on slumlords, NIMBYs or any concrete action where you got someone off the street? Buying a cup of coffee and passing out sandwiches occasionally does not make a difference. Sometimes, it takes people getting into court to get housing to get stable or the mental health help they need. The proposed ordinance could have been used for as a tool the people who refuse services off the street but that does not fit the narrative of the people who spoke against the ordinance. As the reader suggested, take a few people home. 

Don't want to do that? Then I don't want to hear your comment in public or email or in person. Go virtue signal to the local media who enable you in your delusion that you are helping those who are homeless. 

All you did is hinder law enforcement from keeping the public safe and that includes the fellow homeless the regular troublemakers prey on and assault. Those court cases and news do get covered on this blog.