A marathon special meeting of the Eureka City Council, stretching from 7 until 11:30 p.m., resulted in the council voting 3 to 2 in favor of a resolution temporarily prohibiting all syringe exchange services within city limits, with councilmembers Natalie Arroyo and Leslie Castellano dissenting. The wording of the resolution is tangled, stating that the […]
Heidi Messner
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3rd UPDATE: Bergel, Arroyo, Castellano Take Council Seats; Seaman in as Mayor
3rd UPDATE: The Humboldt County Elections Office just released its final election night report and the Eureka City Council races seem settled. Here’s the quick rundown of the latest results: Ward 1 Leslie Castellano built her early lead and never looked back. With the final election night report, Castellano finished with 47.78 percent of the […]
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Eureka Weighs the Future of its Nonprofit Needle Exchange Program
It was the most pointed question in a meeting full of them. Eureka City Councilmember Kim Bergel looked at Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction Programs Coordinator Jessica Smith and board treasurer Rachel Waldman, leaned into the microphone and gave voice to a rumor — an allegation hurled on a social media platform without a […]
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Business Owner Doxxed Over Utility Box Art Spat
In the week since she stood before the Eureka City Council to lament the brightly painted utility box out in front of her business, Molly Green has received a lot of backlash, some from thousands of miles away. The rift began when Green showed up at her business near Fifth and G streets in Eureka […]
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Eureka Passes Syringe Management Ordinance
After nearly two hours of discussion, debate and public comment, the Eureka City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday night codifying best practices around syringe exchange programs within city limits. The unanimous decision was met with some grumbling from a rowdy crowd, which filled the council chambers and delivered many strong opinions during public comment. Loose […]
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Eureka City Council Approves Key Waterfront Projects
The Eureka City Council voted in favor of several waterfront projects Tuesday night, including the commitment of city funds to complete Waterfront Drive between G and J streets and authorizing staff to negotiate a lease-to-buy option for 11 acres east of Halvorsen Park with a developer who would like to build an upscale RV park […]
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Clarke Museum May Make Room for Welcome Center
UPDATE: The Eureka City Council approved the proposal. Previously: The Eureka City Council is set to vote tomorrow night on whether to authorize City Manager Greg Sparks to negotiate with local nonprofit Humboldt Made to operate a visitor center that will take up the main room of the Clarke Museum, at Third and E streets. […]
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UPDATE: Eureka Council Passes Human Rights Resolution
UPDATED: The Eureka City Council passed a broadly worded resolution last night that delineated the city’s goals and attitudes towards minority groups, women, immigrants and the environment. The Human Rights, Inclusiveness, Environmental Sustainability, Affordable Health Care, and Religious Freedom Resolution, which was brought to the council by City Councilmember Kim Bergel on Dec. 13, only […]
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2nd UPDATE: Allison, Arcata Incumbents Secure Wins in Final Report
3rd UPDATE: The final election night reported has been posted with 100 percent of Humboldt County precincts reporting, and not much has changed with local contested city council races. Austin Allison has bested John Fullerton in Eureka’s 4th Ward, the Arcata incumbents have held their seats, incumbent Ferndale Mayor Don Hindley has won himself another […]
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Election Council Seat Roundup
With the dust settled after Wednesday’s filing deadline, local city council races have solidified. There was some movement — with one Eureka candidate, Allen McCloskey, bowing out due to health reasons and someone stepping in to take his place on the ballot — at the 11th hour, and it seems most cities will have at […]
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Council Races Take Shape: Stunning Turn in Eureka’s 2nd
City council races throughout Humboldt County are taking shape and a shocking turn has left Eureka Faith Center co-pastor Heidi Messner running unopposed for Eureka’s 2nd Ward seat, which is being vacated by the termed-out Linda Atkins. Both Wells Fargo broker Matthew Owen and former 5th Ward Councilman Chet Albin had submitted papers qualifying for […]