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Tired of boom-bust promises that never land? We sit down with Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery for a frank, fast-moving look at what actually gets built, what stalls out, and how we change the rules so progress sticks. From a scrappy surf-kid past to a data-first public leader, Miles lays out how the Bay Trail moved from vision to miles of waterfront access—and how that same bias for action is shaping housing, transit, and the city’s approach to homelessness.

We get specific about why Eureka struggles to grow: legacy “coastal dependent industrial” zoning that blocks modern light industry, a small population base, and institutions allergic to risk. Then we talk solutions. A new transit center will anchor regional buses, Amtrak links, and ground-floor services under 51 new homes. Microtransit will offer $2 trips across town via app, with an Old Town circulator on the table to ease curb crunch. An automated parking structure is under study to deliver capacity where it counts. We also confront the parking myth with real data—summer peak studies show downtown lots below 50% capacity across a month, even if Friday Night Markets feel slammed.

Housing gets the reality treatment too. With RHNA pressure rising, Eureka put public land in play, navigated Old Town pushback, and traded sites to protect businesses while keeping momentum. The result: 302 of 332 required affordable units already funded. On homelessness, the city pairs low-barrier options like Bayside Village with embedded mental health teams, rapid rehousing, and job pathways, acknowledging that compassion works best with accountability.

If you care about smart growth, transit that connects, and rules that fit today’s economy, this conversation is a blueprint. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Humboldt, and leave a review with the one policy you’d change first—we’ll feature the most thoughtful takes next week.

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About 100% Humboldt with Scott Hammond

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