Elect Liza Welsh
for Eureka City Council, Ward 4
My name is Liza Welsh. I am a Land Use Planner, a Public Policy Analyst, and a proud member of AFSCME Local 1684. If you elect me, I will make data-driven, fiscally-sound, and people-centered decisions. I will identify and pursue opportunities for creativity and cooperation that will help Eureka to navigate through this difficult time and to build our resilience for the future. I will work for a path to economic renewal that tackles the overlapping crises of racial injustice, public health, economic inequality and climate change.
As a Land Use Planner for the County of Humboldt, I work with entrepreneurs and with members of the public to develop successful projects and to obtain the necessary permits to begin operations, bringing jobs and revenue to Humboldt County. As a Master of Public Policy from Mills College, I research and evaluate policies and budgets and choose the best alternatives. My goal is to balance the needs of communities, workers, the environment, and the business sector, in a way that promotes sensible and sustainable economic growth.
I have three generations of family in Humboldt County, and I hope to see more, but some of my friends and family members, who once called Humboldt home, have now left in search of other opportunities. I will increase opportunities for the people who live here now and want to stay here. I want to see a just recovery from the COVID-19-related downturn, a recovery that leaves no one behind. I will work for green energy technology and energy efficiency improvements, electric vehicle charging, trails and bike lanes, public art, and for the access to jobs, housing, health care, and civic engagement that the people of Eureka need to thrive. Please vote for me to represent Ward Four on the Eureka City Council.
My Platform
Below are a few of my ideas, but being a Councilmember isn’t just about pushing my agenda. I want to hear from you about your ideas for the City of Eureka. What is affecting you? What would you like to see happen here? How can your City Council better represent you?
- Target technology, nonprofit, cannabis, building trades, and circular economy manufacturing!
- Promote worker-owned cooperatives!
- Let’s transition from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy that values people and planet! When the community is thriving, the economy and local businesses will also thrive!
- We have a competitive advantage over other cities due to proximity to farms cultivating some of the best cannabis in the world and because we do not have an excise tax on cannabis. Let’s promote that so we can attract cannabis companies to not only establish here, but to headquarter here!
- In addition to plant-touching businesses, let’s attract cannabis technology and lifestyle companies and companies offering ancillary services, such as consulting and marketing.
- We are doing great with murals, electric boxes, and the benches by the waterfront, but I would like to see more large-scale art and sculpture, more interactive art, and more pieces made from locally sourced recycled materials.
- The Council is already exploring this idea. I don’t want to see that work fall by the wayside. It is technically possible, and relatively inexpensive. It is already happening in other cities. Here in Eureka, we have a micro-example in the access point that NextGen Eureka set up in old town.
- Support our students who are engaged in distance learning while reducing costs for families!
- Connect the McKee tract with the Waterfront trail.
- Install bike lanes on key thoroughfares for a safer commute.
- Expand charging options for electric vehicles, bikes, and scooters, especially in shopping centers and business districts.
- Find creative and budget-friendly ways to reduce traffic speed and traffic accidents on busy streets and in our neighborhoods.
- See the report Elephants in the Road by the Center for Responsible Transportation Priorities for data-driven strategies and actions to adapt in Humboldt County.
- New developments should be affordable to workers, close to jobs, bike-friendly, and accessible via public transportation.
- The City of Eureka owns many lots and under-utilized parking lots around the City, including in the 4th Ward. Let’s develop these for the good of the people, and with plenty of community input.
- Set aside a pool of money from the General Fund and let the public decide together how it will be spent.
- Once the pandemic is over, allow people to provide comment at public meetings either in person, or via phone or video.
Explore offering childcare at public meetings
Form a Youth Advisory Council
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