Is Eureka a big town or a tiny city? When you’re charting its future, which is the better way to think of it?

— Hank Sims

Responses

Janelle Jackson

I don’t aspire for Eureka to become a big city. Eureka is a small town, and I love that about it. To me, the more important question is: what kind of community do we want Eureka to be?

I believe we can grow economically without losing our small-town feel. Growth doesn’t always mean getting bigger. Sometimes it means making better use of what we already have.

Eureka has tremendous potential. Our waterfront, downtown, and mall all have opportunities for new investment and activity. I want to see those spaces put to better use, creating jobs and supporting businesses that strengthen our local economy. Tourism is important, but our focus should also be on what our community can provide for the people who live here: good jobs, thriving local businesses, opportunities for families, and a quality of life we can be proud of.

That also means taking care of the basics. We need to fix our roads, invest in the services and facilities our community depends on, clean up our city, and make sure Eureka is safe and welcoming. Growth should be measured not only by what we attract to Eureka, but by what we are able to provide for the people who call it home.

One of the things I value about being a small town is that our residents can have a real impact on what happens here and help shape the future they want for their community. I want to work alongside the people of Eureka, listen to what they want for our community, and help build a future where Eureka can thrive without losing the character and sense of community that make it special

G. Mario Fernandez

Eureka possesses the heart and character of a town, while facing the responsibilities and pressures of a city. When I consider the future of Eureka, I look to its potential as the dynamic and forward-thinking “tiny city” it could become through economic foresight, planning and building, forward thinking community safety.

Economic foresight means partnering with our local schools, colleges, and unions to create and bring forward the living-wage jobs needed in our region and our future for working class families, and coordinating with business owners on their needs and aspirations for success. In total, it’s building economic resilience with one another through our mutual needs in the community.

Planning and building for the future means modernized land-use with mixed-use and infill housing. At the same time, we have to create the policies that establish and improve the infrastructure for healthcare access. We need to accommodate our working-class families without sprawling into the natural spaces that draw tourists to our region and have people fall in love with moving here. 

Forward thinking is recognizing and creating a public safety plan that offers multi-layered solutions that include: infrastructure improvements (e.g. housing, roads, etc.), disaster preparedness and mitigation, protecting our local supply chains, addressing the root causes of homelessness, and having specialized teams to help manage mental health crises rather than criminalize conditions.

We preserve our town’s character and integrity through the positive growth of Eureka’s care and investment in its community.

 

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