Eureka is full of trash.  Ward One is the filthiest of the wards.  How do we clean it up and keep it pristine?

— Anthony M

Responses

Jason McCutcheon

Thank you for the question, Anthony. 

I agree that Ward 1 is one of, if not the, dirtiest wards in Eureka, and I believe this is an issue that affects the entire city. Eureka needs a serious, citywide cleanup effort. If elected, I would hold Public Works accountable for keeping our streets, sidewalks, parks, and public spaces clean. I would also support expanding the use of community service, where legally authorized, so that individuals who are required to complete community service can help clean up our streets and public areas.

The blight throughout Eureka is also unacceptable. Property owners and business owners should be held accountable for garbage, neglected properties, and severely overgrown landscaping. At the same time, I believe we should work with local nonprofits, community organizations, and volunteers that are willing to help make Eureka cleaner. When someone receives an infraction for a violation, I would support legally available alternatives that allow appropriate community service or cleanup work to be used as part of the consequences, rather than relying solely on incarceration when incarceration is not necessary. My goal is simple: a cleaner, safer, and stronger Eureka that we can all be proud to call home.

Victor Garcia

It’s no secret that Eureka is struggling with litter and dumping, but I’m going to push back on some of the attitudes and assumptions built into the question. I love my neighborhood and so do most of the people that I encounter on my walks in Ward One. People are actively working to beautify the neighborhood, either through their gardens or artwork. Of course, I agree that it would be nice (and better for the environment) for there to be less trash in the streets, but there is a big difference between the residential areas and the commercial/industrial areas of the ward.   

For the residential areas, I see sidewalks that could use some love; the poop I encounter is clearly pet in nature, and while I love a good “free pile,” too many of them end up becoming junk because of exposure to the elements. Large, bulky items seem to mysteriously appear on certain corners. 

These are all solvable issues. One idea I have is to encourage the city to create a sort of neighborhood ambassador program. Taking a page from similar Adopt-a-Block programs, we would pay someone a small stipend to pick up trash or clear weeds from sidewalks/gutters in their neighborhood while organizing and encouraging their neighbors to join them. I believe that one good turn deserves another and that people respond to positive change. The city can explore paying for large temporary dumpsters and sponsoring “trash days” around spring cleaning, end of semester, and other high trash-generating days. 

Things get trickier when addressing this issue in our commercial/industrial areas. A lot of the need is concentrated around 2nd & 3rd Streets and the length of Waterfront Drive. I support the City’s proposed vacant commercial property ordinance as a way to encourage more life and activity in these spaces, as well as the clean-up and beautification events put on by the City and community partners.

I also support the simple approach of having more public bathrooms, trash cans, and pet waste stations. The City can do a lot, but it can’t do it all. We all have the opportunity to come together and do what we can by taking part in making our little corner of the world a cleaner, nicer place for all its residents. 

 

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