Eureka Mulls Inspection Ordinance

From today's Times- Standard:

”There were times when I would be on the living room floor because of gunfire going on,” she said.

I call bullshit on that. I don't think there's anywhere in Eureka where gunfire, or gunfights, are a regular or even occasional problem. I can't recall the last time I heard a gunshot around my house. 4th of July, maybe?

So, the City of Eureka and a number of local busybodies want to start charging landlords $35.00 per unit a year to set up some sort of code inspection program. As usual they mix in just about every reason they can for it.

First, some lady says it all has to do with crime in her neighborhood. Then we're told "slum housing is a common source of criminal behavior". Well, duh!

So I'm guessing Larry Glass and others think that by ensuring rentals are up to code the crime around them will stop? Nope, it's just an excuse- a way to scare people into supporting the ordinance.

And I agreed with at least one of the folks in the T-S' comments section that landlords should make sure tenants pay their fair share of the proposed $35.00 fee, just as they should have charged an additional $15.00 when mandatory garbage service was started in Eureka.

Larry; you're making Eureka an expensive place to live.

Interesting that they're talking about hiring 1 1/2 positions for this code enforcement when the city is supposedly in such dire financial straits. But, I doubt the positions would last even if they do hire someone. They'll just have the people already doing those same inspections keep on doing them and the city pockets the landlord's fees.

If this actually gets started, I'll also predict it won't be the end of it. As one T-S comment stated:

CJ Saint Claire wrote, "... inspections might include police follow-up to reported suspicious activities as noted by whomever would hold this proposed post.

Ahhh, of course. Use this to get access to people's homes to check for criminal activity without a warrant? Where have we seen that before? Southern Humboldt maybe?

You can't help but wonder if that's what this is all about in the long run?