Racer X is Missing?

I haven't seen Racer X's car downtown, stationary or in rapid motion. Perhaps he's off challenging Speed and the Mach 5 somewhere. Is there an event at Sears Point this week? Speed Racer and Racer X, bumping fenders, racing for pinks. I'd watch that. Hey, it's better than most of the "reality" shows currently broadcast.

Black Charger, Away!

There have been questions about town regarding the provenance of a black Dodge Charger with black steel wheels and tinted windows. Who operates it on the streets of Eureka with such elan (Elan being a French word meaning "Drives like Bo and Luke Duke")? Is there a Men in Black sequel being filmed here?

Careful observation of the vehicle reveals that it is frequently seen at the police department. Even more careful observation brought the opportunity to capture an image of the driver.







Now it all makes sense.

Pay to Park?

I see that the City Council has voted to allow certain residents to pay $50 for an annual permit allowing them to park after-hours and overtime at city meters. Apparently an attempt to raise revenue while reserving downtown parking for local residents, the plan leaves something to be desired. After all, it creates no new parking, so during daylight hours the parking situation remains unchanged. Except, that is, for those with the new parking permits who can leave their cars at a metered space overnight, and into the daylight hours. What to do?

We could utilize the site of the former Jefferson School for parking. This would allow the city to raise revenue from parking fees, and ease the parking crunch in the downtown area. Once the building is razed, nobody would be able to claim the property looks forbidding, or fortress-like.

Fortress Eureka

(Not an actual photo of the Eureka PD Building)

There has been some chatter recently referring to the Eureka Police Department building as a "fortress." City Council member Larry Glass and police chief Garr Nielsen (We've seen them together, so we know they're not actually the same person) agree with this assessment. One imagines how they must seethe at the "Employees only" signs in stores, railing at the fortress-like atmosphere at Safeway. So what would they propose to make this a friendly police headquarters building? I suppose the city could pay several million dollars to move to and renovate an old elementary school, just blocks from the current location. But no; that's just crazy talk.

Here at the Black Flag Ascending blog we've commissioned an architectural rendering of an update of the current building. The changes would soften the building's image, and address the fortress-like qualities that so upset some in the community. These concepts are offered free of charge to Larry and Garr, so that they may consider how updating the current "fortress" could soothe their sensibilities.




Isn't that special?