Hail to the Chief
Like the Grand Jury, the people in Brandenburg’s backyard all seemed to feel that the resistance Nielsen has encountered within his own department stems from stubborn old-schoolers averse to needed reforms.
“He came in at a very difficult time, and he actually had to implement change,” Neely said. “And that’s not always popular.” She cited the EPD’s newly formed partnerships with other law enforcement agencies including the Sheriff’s Department, the CHP and the District Attorney’s office as examples of positive changes Nielsen has made at the department. “I think he’s done a great job,” Neely said.
Councilwoman Linda Atkins, who brought along her wife and sister to meet the chief, said she appreciates Nielsen’s community- and problem-oriented policing efforts and vowed to “hold the line” on any cuts to public safety. “People in the West Side and the poorer parts of town have been really impressed with the changes in the police force and the police’s attitude toward the citizens,” Atkins said.
Between offerings of sweets, Brandenburg handed out fliers to attendees, urging them to continue “the groundswell of support from the people of Eureka,” exemplified, she says, by the passage last year of Measures D and E, tax increases benefiting the general fund. The flier included the names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of Mayor Virginia Bass, City Manager David Tyson and all five City Council members.
Nielsen didn’t seem too worried, though. “I’m not here to advocate for [people] to contact the City Council about the budget. In a very difficult economic situation, the council has beenextraordinarily supportive of us,” he said diplomatically.“I think the draft budget indicates a great deal of support for public safety.”
Wait. You’re saying these charming ladies are protesting possible public safety cuts when the chief of police himself is comfortable with the draft budget? “I am comfortable with the draft budget, yes,” Nielsen said. “Regardless of what the decision is, I’ll take the resources I’ve been given and do the best job I can with them.”
That’s still not good enough for Sue Brandenburg. “I know Sue,” Nielsen said affectionately. “She’s one of those people who’s very vocal about the things she supports and the things she doesn’t support.”
Fortunately for Nielsen, he’s on her good side.
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on the cover
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Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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ONE Comments
Comment / By Numbers don’t lie… / July 17, 2009, 4:54 p.m.
“And she’s right: The stats are intimidating (if debatable). Real estate research site neighborhoodscout.com, for example, ranks the city a two on a crime scale of one to 100, meaning it’s safer than only two percent of cities in the U.S.”
Actually I read those stats and that page showed Death Valley CA as being the #1 safe city. Which makes sense because most people go there 12 weeks out of the year and oh yeah it’s a National Park.