The Pranksters Behind ‘I like Eureka’: An Exclusive Interview with the Westside Sanguine Society

JS I like Eureka

The stickers began showing up in mailboxes as early as 2014.

Like many great ideas, this one started in a bar. Determined to preserve anonymity, the creators of  the “I like Eureka” stickers won’t name which bar lest it provide too great a clue, but they did divulge some other details during a recent interview. In addition to the genial campaign’s origin story, they shared how they’ve funneled the stickers into the world, expanded on the recent kerfuffle over Neighborhood Watch’s co-opting of their design, cited particular aspects of Eureka most liked and provided a sliver of background.

Let’s start there.

They (we shall refer to the Westside Sanguine Society as a single plurality) arrived in our Victorian Seaport about a decade ago after living all over the United States: the Midwest, East Coast, South, Northeast… They quickly found Eureka to be “the most livable area we’ve ever lived in.” Sure, the city has its problems, some of which are unique to the county – call it the “Humboldt factor – but mostly, any city has the same issues. And, as they pointed out, most cities lack Eureka’s charm and rapidly improving trail system.

Fondness for Eureka firmly rooted, our protagonists were dismayed when the rise of social media resulted in disproportionate bashing of their adopted city. From Craigslist “rants and raves” to comments on Lost Coast Outpost to various Facebook pages, “We were tired of seeing negative messages,” they said. Especially insulting criticism was of their neighborhood. “People would say things like, ‘I wouldn’t let my kids walk there,’ this constant barrage about ‘tweakers’… and ignoring all the good.

So about three years ago, they decided to change the conversation. “It started out as an understated, tongue-in-cheek pirate project,” they said. The prankster element permeated from the beginning. “We wanted to have fun and to give fun.” Part of that stems from being anonymous, they explained. “We’re kind of nobodies,” they said. “We’re not hiding because we have something to hide – there’s a lot of fun in the not knowing.”

At first, members of the Society placed stickers in public locations (including on the gate at the Samoa Beach parking lot, where yours truly first delighted upon one), but concerned about angering people – or being accused of committing acts of vandalism – they returned to social media as a tool to spread the good word. Anyone who “gave a good voice to Eureka” or otherwise said something nice about the city would receive stickers via the postal service, as long as an address could be found. To date, the Westside Sanguine Society has distributed about 2,000 stickers.

They’ve been surprised by the momentum. “We see different people on Facebook and Instagram… businesses and individuals” rocking “I like Eureka.” There’s a hashtag. And, as noted in a recent North Coast Journal story, the stickers even adorn police cars these days.

Which brings us to the current impetus for the Society speaking out: Consternation over the co-opting of their “I like Eureka” design by Eureka’s Neighborhood Watch Group. Initially, the groups were working, if not in tandem, at least not in opposition. In fact, the Society had been thrilled – “tickled pink” – when stickers and buttons bearing the phrase popped up at a Neighborhood Watch Block Party. Those featured a green-and-white design by local graphic guy Joel Mielke and were, as reported in the NCJ, based on a 1970s-era logo.

And all throughout this interview, the members of the Westside Sanguine Society emphasized, “We were happy they bought into the slogan!” and “We have no axe to grind.”

Still, once the Neighborhood Watch Group jettisoned the Mielke design and started selling merchandise bearing an exact imitation of the Society’s, the resulting disappointment – and sense of ownership – eventually spurred the Sanguists into action.

I like Eureka copy

“We agonized for a while,” they said. “The letter that went out was the third or fourth draft… We didn’t want to sound too angry.”

They’d hoped for a response via social media from the Neighborhood Watch Group, but so far, nothing. (Neither has my phone call nor ones from the North Coast Journal been returned.) They also offered a suggestion for resolution: Neighborhood Watch could hold a contest for a new logo, then utilize that logo on merchandise while giving away the other as promotional items. All the Sanguists ask is for Neighborhood Watch to change the font and color – “It would be a classy move.”

Despite the controversy, enthusiasm for the city remains high. When asked what exactly they most liked about Eureka, the Sanguists didn’t hesitate.

“The waterfront is fantastic!”

“It’s so bikeable! There’s nowhere in town we can’t ride bikes to in 20 minutes!” (Note: The “I bike Eureka” stickers? That’s them, too.)

“All the outdoor activities!”

“The restaurants!”

“It’s a little bit like an island, a little bit separate.”

“It’s a good life!”

But what about the problems? As noted at the beginning of the conversation, Eureka – like most cities – has some. Sure, they admitted, homelessness is an enormous issue and one with no easy answer. They see community outreach, studying what’s worked elsewhere and involving local homeless people in the process as critical steps in finding a solution. “It’s a big concern, but it’s a big concern in other communities as well,” they said.

And they like Eureka more than ever, thanks to the support and reception the stickers have received. The Society plans to continue sending “I like Eureka” out into the world as long as demand exists. For free. “It’s my birthday present to myself,” one of the Sanguists explained when asked about the costs associated with production and mailing. They were equally cagey about upcoming projects but hinted there may be more to come. “We’ve got some ideas,” they laughed.

In the meantime, a kind word about Eureka on social media – and an easily accessible address – might result in your very own stickers arriving the old-fashioned way.

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18 Comments
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lauracooskey
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lauracooskey
7 years ago

Thank you, Jen. And thank you, Westsiders and Eureka likers. I like Eureka, too, though i don’t live there.
I love the architecture the most. So many incredible old houses!

I never believed in the old “Love it or leave it” mentality. There’s the possibility of changing things you don’t like. So, i say to people who don’t like Eureka or Humboldt, “Help it or leave it.”

If anybody really dislikes it as much as many people online seem to, i can’t imagine why they live here. But there must not be as many of those disgruntled souls as the comments suggest–everyone i know is here for one reason: it’s beautiful and they love it.

beachcomber
Guest
7 years ago

And they were generous enough that I’ve been able to kick down a few of the extras I had. Thank you mystery guys for helping us show pride in the City we hope to take back soon.

Kathy Srabian
Guest
Kathy Srabian
7 years ago

Great article Jen. It captures the spirit of the free range sticker. Neighborhood Watch did not answer to my inquiries about how they could take an exact design that was not their own and offer it for sale other than to suggest I see a Facebook posting of theirs which describes their intent to use it. Perhaps if more people contacted them and helped to explain that to steal someone’s creative work is wrong, it’s un-neighborly. ‘ I like this, I’m taking it for my own use” is a concept the Neighborhood Watch should be discouraging.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
7 years ago

Got Garberville?

Violet Shepherd
Guest
Violet Shepherd
7 years ago

Sounds like Eureka Citizen group was a spin-off.

veteransfriend
Guest
veteransfriend
7 years ago

Sanguine…..bloody funny, that is

TT
Guest
TT
7 years ago

I like Eureka. I love.love ,love Humboldt County.

Neurocks
Guest
Neurocks
7 years ago

When I slap my own handwritten sticker, oh so artfully crafted as it may or may not be. And it reads ‘Hello my name Is:” – insert random graffiti moniker here… you’d better like that too.

Irot, Kava, Old Crow, Plant Trees, etc (respect)… Same with the paint on the bridges. It’s all my idea of beautifying the drab world we’ve created. Too much grey for my taste, but I digress. You put enough of these stickers up on stop signs and it is a felony.

I do like these stickers. I do like Eureka. But bad idea by blowing yourself up like this. Or maybe you start a brand, a company and come up by your own self advertisement and a good idea.

The concept is lost on so many of you. Ugh.

ICon50
Guest
ICon50
7 years ago

Thanks so much for your article! My husband and I have been wondering where we could get the “I like Eureka” sticker since we first saw one, months ago. We only live here part time, but it is the best part! Unfortunately, everyone we asked had no idea where they came from or how to get one. We love Eureka and wish we could live here full time, but we also have responsibilities elsewhere – a place that has no beautiful soul like Eureka and Humboldt. I would love to use the sticker to share the spirit of Eureka with the ‘burbs in the Valley.
We are not really bar kind of people ( don’t drink ), but I will visit every bar in Eureka if I have to, to find those stickers!

Mary Bustamante
Guest
Mary Bustamante
7 years ago

I like Eureka! 1928 i st 95501. Mary Bustamante

A.H.
Guest
A.H.
7 years ago

Positive vibration! Better than “Litter Art”!

HH
Guest
HH
7 years ago

My business Humboldt Hardware makes reclaimed redwood I Like Eureka signs hand routered or wood burned. People love them. We mostly donate them to non-profit auctions or give them away to locals that spend over $100. We have support and permission from both the sanguine society and neighbor hood watch. In the woodworking world it’s normal to steal designs. I see it every week. I was surprised that this is even a story. We are also selling the buttons designed by Joel Mielke, and bags and aprons made from reclaimed coffee and coco sacks from two of our favorite businesses. The money goes to support neighborhood watch and the police volunteers. I LIKE EUREKA.

G-ma
Guest
G-ma
7 years ago

Great stuff for Eureka!!it’s a start,I would love to see us awsome again.Humboldt is truly the most beautiful place on earth!!so full of artists of all kinds!it would be nice to hear wow eureka has changed,it’s nice”again.yay

Mary Bustamante
Guest
Mary Bustamante
7 years ago

I’m VERY thankful to the WS Society 🙆🏻
I’m loving my I like Eureka stickers.

Mary Bustamante
Guest
Mary Bustamante
7 years ago

I’m VERY thankful to the WS Society 🙆🏻
I’m loving my I like Eureka stickers. Many thanks.

Jen
Guest
Jen
7 years ago

I like Eureka too! 217 Del Norte Street. Pretty please?
<3 Jen

Tish
Guest
Tish
7 years ago

I would LOVE to have 4 stickers!! 1360 LB Williams Circle 95501

please please please..thank you thank you thank you..!

Amy B
Guest
Amy B
7 years ago

I like Eureka! 1637 f st, 95501

We’ve got quite a nice little town 🙂 Getting better & better every day!