news story / By Bob Doran

Money, Dope and Potholes

The people and issues in the Arcata City Council race

(Oct. 23, 2008)  Arcata is known as a progressive city. In fact, it’s notoriously progressive. The City Council reflects that, and so does the array of six candidates running for three seats in the coming election — every one of them is left-of-center in varying degrees.

Some are familiar faces, some not so much so. There’s a landlord and a homeless person (who prefers the term “houseless”), a couple of 20-somethings, and more than enough idealism to go around.

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A typical question for those running for office is: Why do you want the job? The typically idealistic answer invariably includes the word “service” and some homily about giving back to the community. When you consider the financial crisis facing almost every governmental body today, you might rephrase that question and ask, why in the hell would anyone in their right mind want an elected office that only pays a stipend?

Talk to anyone who’s on the council or someone from city staff and you’ll hear the same thing. Since Sacramento started hogging the lion’s share of tax dollars, Arcata has been forced to cut budgets to the bone, and the residents are seeing the results. Around $14 million in deferred maintenance on city streets and sidewalks has left the town with roads littered with potholes. (Although we do have some lovely roundabouts.) There’s a similar backlog of maintenance on the water and sewer systems.

Then there’s the Arcata Police Department, down nine officers due to retirements, injuries and transfers to better paying jobs elsewhere. It’s been some time since we’ve had a park ranger — as a result, Redwood Park has basically been ceded to the transient population.

The magic bullet for Arcata’s budget crisis is on the ballot Nov. 4. Proponents, including almost every council candidate, fully support Measure G, Arcata’s 3/4 percent sales tax increase. Ballot language suggests that the money will go to fill those potholes, and hire new police officers, but it will be up to the new council to set priorities, should it pass. (There’s no organized opposition.) If it doesn’t — well, no one wants to even think about what will happen.

So who wants the job? Although this is a nonpartisan race, it’s worth noting that among them are a couple of Democrats, a Green Party member and, surprise, a Republican — although you’d probably be hard-pressed to say who comes from which party.

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