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....
Re: “Update: Eureka Manager Bill Panos Submits Resignation”
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....