What's the deal with Eureka? Why all the negatives? (San Francisco: violent crime, motels)

[eureka1]

The whole COUNTRY is awash with drugs and crime, every populated area including rural. Is this a surprise to anyone?

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by eureka1

The whole COUNTRY is awash with drugs and crime, every populated area including rural. Is this a surprise to anyone?

While this general statement has some truth. The real question is the 'Degree' to which drugs and the associated crime which comes along with it infects and effects a particular region. The degree to which these things cloud over an area effect everything else such as the schools, businesses, neighborhoods, walkability, friendliness for residents and visitors, safety for families, property values, etc... Quality of life goes down as drugs and crime increase - bottom line (except maybe for criminals who aren't getting shot or imprisoned).

So the real question is how much have drugs and crime made Eureka a less desirable place to live and visit - reducing quality of life for all.

Derek

[TheDragonslayer]

I live up here and would take a walk through Eureka any day or time, before I would risk taking a walk in Berkeley, Oakland or San Francisco. I have been shopping in Old Town, Myrtle Town, Cutten and Eureka proper and I always feel safe. There are a few pockets in Eureka that are not too swell, the homeless hang out near the marina and near the old rail road yard. There are a few areas with section 8 apartments to avoid and a skate board park where the youth hang out, but over all Eureka is an attractive and clean city. It is Arcata that has a pot problem that resembles the hippies of S F in the sixties. I do not find the meth problem up here to be any worse than I have seen back in the bay area. As to the weather, I find it to be just as variable as that in San Francisco or Pacifica and on its good days as nice as Santa Cruz.

[brubaker]

If you look a the stats the violent crime rate isn't any higher than anywhere else.

The property crime is higher...but I'm guessing it's because Arcata (not Eureka) has a reputation as a place with a 'liberal' pot attitude.

To me it just seems reasonable attitude, but when the rest of the country has their fingers in their ears going LA-LA-LA-LA-LA and hoping the War on Drugs will magically turn itself around Arcata seems positively PRO pot.

Anyway when the rest of the country is acting crazy every user *and* abuser within a 1000 mile radius heads to the one place acting reasonable.


Thats my angle anyway.

[Rcgreen]

As a Eureka resident I believe the major problem is the "mind thought" up here in Humboldt County. Its not just Arcata and Eureka its the whole area, Pot Triangle. We constantly get people moving up here for the liberal beliefs and acceptance of drugs. It started with pot but has became drugs of all kinds. We get a very "unique" group of people moving here and that has only worsened the area. Because they bring much more then just marijuana.

Eureka is safe enough but i also have had many fiends shot and stabbed just minding their own business. They were rare cases but should I even be able to write a sentence like that about Eureka?
Im planning on moving out next year because I do not want to raise my kids here!

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by TheDragonslayer

on its good days as nice as Santa Cruz.

Yeah...but that's the problem. Eureka has fewer good weather days than a place like Santa Cruz.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by CA central coast

Been through Eureka, didn't stop. Seemed nice. But I hear about high crime, not being safe, ghetto area's. To me, it's hard to imagine those places existing in that area of CA. It's so beautiful and pristine. So what's up? Is Eureka a bummer?

As far back as I can remember Eureka has always been pretty depressed and has depended almost solely on the timber industry. I don't think the crime is violent as much as against property. Of course the county is known for it's drug problems as well. I would feel safe in the town, but wouldn't turn my back on what could happen.

You are right, it is pristine and beautiful but it is so peaceful it draws a group that would rather lay in the grass ( yes, a pun) than have a meaningful life.

Nita

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Rcgreen

As a Eureka resident I believe the major problem is the "mind thought" up here in Humboldt County. Its not just Arcata and Eureka its the whole area, Pot Triangle. We constantly get people moving up here for the liberal beliefs and acceptance of drugs. It started with pot but has become drugs of all kinds. We get a very "unique" group of people moving here and that has only worsened the area. Because they bring much more then just marijuana.

Thank you. I was going to say something similar. Like you said, it's a mindset among the people who live there....and that mindset can be infectious. Of course, since I don't live there, many would not have believed me.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by brubaker

To me it just seems reasonable attitude, but when the rest of the country has their fingers in their ears going LA-LA-LA-LA-LA and hoping the War on Drugs will magically turn itself around Arcata seems positively PRO pot.

Anyway when the rest of the country is acting crazy every user *and* abuser within a 1000 mile radius heads to the one place acting reasonable.


Thats my angle anyway.

So here is a question for you.

If Eureka is the one place of 'sanity' in the US regarding pot right now, do you really think the majority of successful resident growers want weed legalized? And if so what happens to their big businesses when any joe farmer can now grow it out in the open? What about their clients? And how about prices when mary jane is as common as cigarettes? How sane will these benevolent, enlightened growers be then? And what will happen to Eureka's economy after losing logging and now one of their main cash crops to the common pot farmer? Where will the free loving, free wheeling, hippies and gangs raise $$ from? Just curious what you think will happen to these enlightened individuals? Will they simply be smokin' it up in bliss or???

[Grumbler]

Originally Posted by TheDragonslayer

It is Arcata that has a pot problem that resembles the hippies of S F in the sixties.

We stayed at the Fairwinds Motel in Arcata for 3 nights last month. I'd
agree with you that Arcata has a pot problem, but it's just a matter of
keeping it all in perspective. There's tons of regular folks as well as the
so-called counter culture types. Most of the folks were warm, friendly
and open-minded. There were a few, like anywhere else, that I would
prefer not to hang with.

Arcata is a small enough town where you can walk anywhere from the
downtown district to Humboldt State University, and the Redwood Park
by 14th Street.

The Alibi, which is a cocktail lodge, has an interior that's comparable to
that of The Brick from the old Northern Exposure television series. We
had breakfast there. It's right across the street from Arcata Plaza.

However, McKinleyville, where you live, is nothing like Arcata. In fact,
quite a few folks have advised me to move there rather than to Arcata
as it's a saner place to live.

I personally don't care too much for what I see from US-101 while in
Eureka, but that's only a small part of Eureka. Then again, am pretty
much spoiled by the downtown district here in Boise.

Still, Humboldt County is a great place to live regardless of whether
there's a pot problem or not.