Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman Talks About Halloween, This Election, and More

Press release from the City of Eureka:

Hello. I’m Mayor Susan Seaman.  As I’ve shared with you in my previous communications, the City of Eureka is continuing to work tirelessly to support the health and well-being of our citizens, our community, and our economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.Happy Halloween! Halloween is normally an event associated with Orange and Black, but this year, the color we want to focus on is YELLOW! Humboldt is remaining conscientious in our efforts to keep our numbers low so we can continue to keep things as close to normal as possible.

Time and again, social gatherings are hotspots for COVID exposure. Please be aware of that as you plan your weekend activities.  There are many ways to enjoy the holiday within County guidelines. The City of Eureka and our partners are offering several.  The City of Eureka is planning Halloween-in-Quarantine events.

Today, I’m here at Cooper’s Gulch, which will be all set up tomorrow for a COVID friendly Halloween Pumpkin Hunt – along with 20/30 Park and Sequoia Park. There will also be activities at Sequoia Park Zoo and in Old Town. Look for more information at the City of Eureka (ci.eureka.ca.gov) and Eureka Main Street’s (eurekamainstreet.org) websites.

We are in the final days before an important election. Thank you to all of you who have voted early. Tomorrow, October 31, marks the opening of the Voter Assistance Centers in Humboldt County.  The centers offer in-person voting, vote-by-mail ballot turn in, replacement ballots, and same-day registration and voting. There are two centers in Eureka, one on Hoover and other on H Street. You can find out more about locations and time at the Humboldt County Elections page (https://humboldtgov.org/890/Elections-Voter-Registration).  Also, you can still mail in your ballot. In California, ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 have 17 days to arrive.

Remember, this election is not only deciding large national and state issues, but there are several items on the ballot that will affect you right here in Eureka as well. Two wards will be selecting new Council Members. Measure C is a Charter Amendment that could allow Ranked Choice Voting for future elections. And, Measure H is a sales tax related to funding for vital city services like public safety, repairing potholes, maintaining parks and more.  You can find more information about Measure H on the City website (ci.eureka.ca.gov).

There has also been a lot of talk this election season about making a plan to vote.  It’s probably not a bad idea to also make a plan about how to get through the next week or so as we all wait for final results come in.

I’m hearing from many people that their feelings of hope, anger, anticipation and duty are interwoven with a powerful thread of anxiety. I’m sure the ongoing pandemic is only serving to heighten these powerful emotions.    If you find you are feeling especially uneasy about the pending results, you may want to consider some strategies to manage these emotions:

Find a trusted source for result information and limit the number of times you check-in
Avoid entertainment news that is seeking to heighten the drama around this waiting period
Stick to more objective results-oriented reports
Take a break from social media if it causes anxiety
And, take a walk, cook a special dinner, or schedule a family game night to keep your mind busy.

Remember this election is important to many people for many different reasons. After such a heated national race, it’s likely that everyone will have a different response as they process, grieve, or celebrate the final results.

Regardless of the electoral outcomes, I want to encourage everyone to remember the core values that come with living in a democracy. Let’s make a point to respect one another and, of course, to remember that no matter what happens, Eureka is our home and we all benefit when we work together to ensure this community continues to be a place we all love and belong.

Again, I’m Mayor Susan Seaman. Please continue to practice good habits, stay healthy – and especially when things get stressful, be patient with yourself and kind to your neighbors and family. And, Happy Halloween!  We’ll talk again soon.