Talk:Eureka, California/Archive 5

WIKIProject CALIFORNIA WATCH NEEDED RePRint of article I submitted to the project

Watch necessary on the Eureka, California article.

Hello, I am new to the community. I was motivated to become a member when I read for the second or third time the artical showcasing Eureka to the world.

I discovered a laundry list of messes in the local police department and a diatribe focusing far too much on a slaughter of local natives that occured in 1860. Yes this 1860 nightmare occurred as did many others accross the nation. But what I found unacceptable is that it took the lionshare of the space of what was printed in the article. When I compared this focus with other cities, I found no such focus on the negative in light of a glaring absence of /focus on of the basics one expects in an encyclopedic reference.

This vitriol was in place of what could be a rich article on one of California's gems, the micropolitan center, Eureka, CA. This little city is living expression of the State Motto "Eureka: I have found it." And its rich history and ongoing revitalization deserves better.

Being new to this community, I unwittingly began an overhaul of the article to get to a foundation and then to rebuild the article in a way that showcases cultural attributes, resources, and history. I was amazed I could do this. But being an historian whose expertise in California history is even more focused on the North Coast, I determined I could right a wrong.

Organically I began the process, not realizing the hornets nest that could be stirred.

I bring this to your attention after my mistake of understanding Eureka and the Redwood Emprire and a sincere desire to focus on a star of California.

I may end up in a political quagmire here as a result of undoing the ridiculousness of the now (today) removed section on Law Enforcement and the lopsided area on History. I am tempted to walk away, but felt since Eureka is on the WIKIPROJECT CALIFORNIA that I would bring it to the attention of the project first.

So far a monitor has allowed my changes to remiain. I can only imagine the hurt individuals who were responsible for the odd extensivity of the negativity in the old sections I removed will not go away so easily.

So I present this simple idea. Why not leave the text of the slaughter of the Wiyots in the article under that name. Why not leave the mess with police misdeeds in a separate article on police problems and misdeeds.

All I ask is why should such a great little city in the midst of its rebirth as a revitalized regionial center be subjected to any continued torture for its shady past and current problems, especially as outlined regarding police. Not Even the Los Angeles listing has this negativity, though its police are certainly often deserving of such notation. I found reference to methamphetamines in the Eureka article overview, but in Oakland and San Francisco no such notation exists for "crack" and "methamphetamines," respectively.

I believe these issues need to be in the public perview, but not in the lopsided way, I found in the Eureka article. I realize I should have made this point before I made sweeping changes in the article, but it was ridiculous as a social historian to allow it to remain. And it was only later in the process that I discovered the protocol herein for change.

Again a monitor of the site allowed my changes to occur as of today, but I ask that those interested in this project monitor for the reaction and what may occur.

I apologize for not understanding how article editing is suposed to occur. But clearly Wikipedia is not a place only to bash a locale for its past. We can do better and I expect all the dirty laundry of every other city to receive its own section, if all the negativity returns to the Eureka article. Fair enough? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Norcalal (talk • contribs) .