Letter to City of Eureka Mayor and City Council – Request for March 5, 2024 Election

November 21, 2023

City of Eureka Mayor and City Council
531 K Street
Eureka, CA 95501

Subject: HOUSING FOR ALL AND DOWNTOWN VITALITY INITIATIVE – REQUEST FOR MARCH 5, 2024 ELECTION

Dear Mayor Bergel and Councilmembers:

We are the proponents of the City of Eureka Housing For All and Downtown Vitality Initiative (“Initiative”). As you know, the Initiative was qualified for the ballot by more than 2,000 City voters. The Initiative touches on issues of critical importance to the future of our City – housing and the vitality of local businesses.

We understand that the City Council, perhaps due to incorrect guidance from your City Attorney, has determined to place the Initiative on the November 5, 2024 ballot. However, as you are also aware, your City Attorney recently issued a correction statement and confirmed that the City Council may place the Initiative on the March 5, 2024 ballot. We believe that it is the City Council’s legal, democratic, and civic responsibility to allow the citizens of this City to vote on the Initiative as soon as possible, which means on the March 5, 2024 ballot.

Accordingly, we hereby request that, on or before December 7, 2023, the City Council vote to place the Initiative on the March 5, 2024 ballot.

A March 2024 vote on the Initiative serves the City voters in several ways:

1. Because March 5, 2024, is a statewide primary and general election, the City will be able to consolidate the Initiative election with the statewide election. This will reduce costs to the City – in fact, data from the Humboldt County Registrar of Voters indicates that placing the Initiative on the March ballot would cost approximately $5,500.
2. A March vote will avoid prolonging uncertainty around the City’s Housing Element and affordable housing projects and allow the City to move forward with a better plan.
3. A March vote will avoid a long, divisive campaign for and against the Initiative.
4. The City could avoid expending taxpayer resources on litigation to avoid allowing the City voters to vote on the Initiative in March 2024.
5. You, the City’s elected officials, will not be forced to explain why you are preventing citizens from voting on the Initiative as soon as possible.

By contrast, there are no legitimate reasons to delay allowing the City voters to vote on the Initiative.

Sincerely,

Michael Munson
Michelle Costantine-Blackwell

23-11-21 Req for March 2024 Election