Update: Panos issued a
addressing his resignation, writing in it, “I have enjoyed working with the Council and senior leadership team. The City of Eureka has embarked on a new strategy with a reenergized organization.”
Previously:
Bill Panos — who was hired as Eureka’s city manager last November — has submitted a letter of resignation, the Lost Coast Outpost reports.
Panos’ most high-profile task was hiring a chief of police to replace Murl Harpham. That hasn’t been a particularly smooth process.
The Journal profiled the incoming city manager at the beginning of this year. Panos didn’t immediately return a phone call placed this morning.
This article appears in Main and Loleta.
I don’t think we will ever be allowed to know the real reason for the Panos departure. Was he sought out or did he seek employment elsewhere? Did he like or dislike the area? Did he see Eureka improving or a lost cause? Did he get along with City Council or not? What I can tell you is that I led a battle for 6 months in regards to the safety concerns of H and I Streets. I had a meeting with Panos, the city engineer and a council member. I had on-going conversations with Panos and our city council and the traffic safety commission. Despite tons of public comment, all we got was extra signage around Eureka High and Larger street lights at the intersections. While a step, this was not aimed at improving H and I street but was an overall Eureka Safety Plan. The issues of H and I remain unchanged. It is extremely difficult to tell if Panos wanted to do more but was foiled by the Council or if he sided with the council to do nothing. Homeless numbers are out of control. Store fronts remain empty after years. Small business are dropping like flies or struggling to hang on. Some big chains leaving the area, replaced by others. The housing market continues to struggle here more so than most elsewhere. He may have been building a home but with one eye on the door. Whether he searched or they came to him, once the opportunity knocked, gone! I even had a conversation with his wife when she called arbitrarily looking for assistance on a business service and she expressed her extreme dissatisfaction with what was available in the area. I got the feeling neither were happy here and were just waiting for a way out.
Panos or no Panos, there are much bigger issues here and it starts with the City Council. Unless we get people with open minds and new ideas that are not bought and paid for, Eureka will just continue to decline. Huh – just described our Congress….
That last paragraph says it all. Board of Supes not much different. I’ll never forget election season when attending a Democratic Central Committee meeting, I actually felt out of place as meeting almost dominated by Virginia and what’s her name, oh yeah, “the Brady Bunch” wearing Rex Bohn sweatshirts! What? We definitely need new blood. No, we’ve had enough of that, we need new life in the humanist sector.
“New life in the humanist sector”. What does that even mean? How does that get the core competences of *municipal* government fulfilled: potholes filled, safer traffic flow, more vibrant business, public safety. How? Are folks who care about humans but don’t necessarily call themselves “humanists” not invited to participate in local government in your view?