Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman’s Friday Statement

Press release from Mayor Susan Seaman:

Issued Friday, November 27
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.

Well, here we are in Thanksgiving Week. When this pandemic started very few of us could have imagined we would still be in the middle of it today, but as summer turned to fall, we heard a reoccurring message that we would be seeing another wave of COVID 19. Only two weeks ago, we were sitting pretty in the yellow tier and fewer than five cases a day. Today we have reached the most restrictive purple tier, and we are seeing numbers growing daily, consistently in the double digits.

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate those things that we are grateful for and that is almost always the people we care about. This year, after giving up so much to avoid spreading COVID 19, many people are struggling with also sacrificing this cherished tradition of gathering with close family and friends. Unfortunately, what we risk losing by continuing to host Thanksgiving gatherings are the very things we’re most thankful for – the health and happiness of our friends and family. It is true that many who have Thanksgiving celebrations will probably come through it without getting COVID-19. It is also true that many people won’t. The kicker with this virus is that we won’t know which is which until it’s over.
The CDC has provided guidelines to mitigate some risk if you do gather. Eating outside is one of them. Wearing a mask and remaining socially distanced during the gathering, limiting the length of time people are together and having individuals bring their own meals and utensils are some other tips. But, the most surefire way to keep yourself and your family safe while preventing the spread of COVID 19 is to stay home with your family unit.

It’s true that COVID 19 has made 2020 a historically terrible year. One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that when things are bad, we truly begin to recognize and appreciate those things that are important to us. That makes this Thanksgiving less fun, but more poignant as we think about those things we’re grateful for.

I am grateful every day for the community where we live. Despite the growing numbers of COVID 19 cases, I generally see a strong culture of taking personal responsibility for managing this virus, and without those of you who continue that, we could be even worse off than we are now. I am grateful for all of you who have made the difficult decision to stay home and forego the comforts of the celebration this Thanksgiving. Thank you for your sacrifice.

I’m grateful to the business owners who are innovative and adaptive and just plain tenacious to persevere – and support each other – in these difficult circumstances. I heard a story of Manzanilla purchasing the Thanksgiving supplies from another restaurant when they had to close temporarily, saving the food from getting spoiled and helping the restaurant to recoup some of their costs. This kind of Co-Opetition is quite common in our community where businesses understand that they can gain more from cooperation than competition.

I am thankful to have local organizations like the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Eureka Main Street, Eddy Alexander, Humboldt Made, Visit Eureka and more who help us recognize the value of our local businesses and encourage us to shop locally. I am especially grateful to our community who embraces that message and delights in frequenting our restaurants, retail shops and more. Remember, when you’re out there supporting your local businesses, let everyone know by posting #ChooseHumboldt #ShopEureka on your social networking profiles.
Finally, I’m grateful that – despite the huge challenges we are facing from this pandemic — we are continuing to find ways to build a stronger and more resilient community. We have started community meetings with LINC Housing, the development company who will be adding over 100 units of affordable housing in Eureka. The Harbor Commission has approved a landing lease to allow for up to four underground trans-Pacific fiber optic cables, providing opportunity for high-tech business development as an economic opportunity. And, Humboldt State University is exploring the possibility of becoming the third Poly-technic in the Cal State University system – an exciting opportunity to highlight the applied sciences that HSU has been excelling at for so long. All of these things provide much needed momentum to building a stronger community for the long-haul.

Again, I’m Mayor Susan Seaman, and I appreciate everybody’s commitment to keeping us healthy. I hope you find ways to make this Thanksgiving special and enjoyable. Please continue to practice good habits, stay healthy, be patient with yourself and kind to your neighbors and family. We’ll talk again soon.