The proposed downtown Eureka “EaRTH Center” is one of the projects that the “Housing For All” initiative wants to stop. Graphic: City of Eureka.

Press release from I Like Eureka Housing!:

Housing advocates are joining forces to defeat a new ballot initiative that threatens to stop desperately needed affordable housing. Together, housing advocates are coming together under a new banner — ”I Like Eureka Housing!” — to officially oppose the deceptively-named “City of Eureka Housing for All and Downtown Vitality Initiative.” This initiative, which will be placed on the ballot thanks to signatures gathered by paid signature gatherers, would stop the construction of affordable housing and would put the city in legal jeopardy, risking millions of dollars of state grant funding.

“Safe, affordable, and accessible housing is the cornerstone of a healthy community. Creating health starts with securing the fundamentals of food, shelter, and clothing,” said Tory Starr. Tory is familiar with how housing impacts health. As the CEO of Open Door Community Health Centers, Tory has seen how patients have suffered because of a lack of housing — and how our housing shortage has impacted the healthcare profession. “Without affordable workforce housing we are in imminent risk of our local healthcare system collapsing due to a lack of workers. I’m not referring to only doctors but the myriad number of support staff such as medical assistants, nurses, nurses aids, laboratory techs and receptionists who are needed to keep our delivery system functioning.”

“Downtown and Old Town Eureka will improve because of new housing,” said Solomon Everta, owner of Eureka Books. “Imagine a local barista or office worker able to walk from an affordable home to their place of work in Downtown. Imagine these folks walking through Old Town on the weekends, visiting our local businesses and enjoying this vibrant and liveable town. Affordable housing is a win in every way for the city.”

Susan Seaman was mayor of Eureka from 2018-2020 and has worked in economic development for decades. “Our housing affordability crisis impacts all facets of the economy and particularly hurts working families. Eureka has responded to this crisis by releasing under-utilized parking lots to be redeveloped into affordable housing. While I care about parking for downtown businesses, housing is more important.”

Neal Latt is an attorney with offices in Downtown Eureka. As a lawyer, Neal understands the legal ramifications of the anti-housing initiative. “By stifling affordable housing production, the anti-housing initiative would place Eureka’s Housing Element at risk — and with it, millions of dollars in grant funding and local control over many issues related to local control of zoning and development.”

Peter Pennekamp has worked in community organizing for decades. Peter recognizes that the anti-housing initiative is a threat to local democracy. “If one rich person can buy themselves a ballot initiative, that’s a concern for local democracy. Eureka’s downtown housing plan was developed through a long, public process. Bypassing citizen engagement through a misleading ballot initiative is bad for Eureka.”

Peter LaVallee understands the difficulty of local governments to produce housing. As mayor of Eureka from 2003-2006, Peter understands that if Eureka wants affordable housing to be constructed, the city needs to play a role in its development. “The City of Eureka owns little property that could be redeveloped for housing. The downtown parking lots chosen for housing were the most underutilized based on utilization surveys dating back to 2016. The idea promoted by the anti-housing initiative that there are other properties that could be developed is false. The City of Eureka does not control the former Jacobs Middle School site and California Highway Patrol is in negotiations to purchase the property from Eureka City Schools.”

The anti-housing initiative is likely going to be placed on the November 2024 ballot. Opposition to the initiative is a grassroots effort, driven by a love of Eureka and a concern for the loss of housing that would result if it were to pass. If you would like to volunteer, please sign up here. If you would like to donate, please click here. If you’d like to donate via check please mail to PO Box 7284 Eureka, CA 95502. Please include your employer and occupation. If you don’t have an employer or are retired, put N/A, and if you are self-employed, put “self-employed” as your employer and describe your occupation.

Thank you all for your support. Together we’ll save Eureka’s housing.

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