Letters for April 25, 2019

Remembering Jonathan

Re “Larger than life” (Healthlines, by Ashiah Scharaga, April 18:)

We were all inspired by Jonathan Studebaker. Thank you for his story.

Bob Mulholland

Chico

A human rights question

Re “Chico State wary of shelter” (Downstroke, April 18):

Whether we locate a homeless shelter in our downtown is a human rights question: Are we the kind of society, having failed to house our least competitive people, that will at least accept them among us? Or, are we the kind of society that drives an entire class of people into the shadows—stigmatizing, coercing, punishing and, ultimately, hiding the poor and disabled in some acceptably remote facility?

In recent years, an array of local homeless human rights issues have come to the fore, at our council meetings and in our public spaces: restroom access, park access, right to rest (sleep), sit-lie laws, right to secure possessions, access to survival gear/emergency shelter, relentless police profiling, “failure to appear” warrants, “social crime” prosecutions, etc.

Had more than a microscopic number of Chico State staff and students meaningfully engaged on these issues, the lack of university support for a downtown shelter might be surprising. Despite the on-campus, self-congratulatory talk of social justice and diversity, human rights violations on our streets meet with apathy, or worse: When the CSUC president found a voice, it was a bigoted voice and an all too perfect example of what right-wingers call “liberal elitism.” Seek support elsewhere.

Patrick Newman

Chico

More on homelessness

I have worked in and around downtown Chico for 40 years. What has happened in the last few years breaks my heart. So much more conspicuous abject poverty. Conspicuous because so many Chicoans can’t afford an apartment.

What is going on is referenced in U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Haver Analytics, and Council of Economic Advisers calculations. The data show that, since 1980, rents are up 140 percent, incomes up about 10 percent, and our income’s buying power is down nearly 20 percent.

What do you suggest I tell the frail 70-year-old homeless man at the market who got teary asking when Simplicity Village would be open? He said he felt desperate. What do you tell the woman who was 10 minutes late going to a local shelter, couldn’t get in, and got raped on her way to find a hiding place to sleep in the bushes?

We’re in the most urgent, tragic human crisis to hit the streets of Chico in my lifetime! With the issue of homelessness, the answer is more new low-income homes ASAP. Chico Housing Action Team’s Simplicity Village proposal is the only plan before the city for just such housing this year.

Charles Withuhn

Chico

Props for the music fest

The persistent presence of the Chico area music scene is the essence of a community coming together in response to planet Earth’s most devastating disaster of 2018. The musicians bring hope, love and a way for us all to set our differences aside and dance.

The CN&R and its Arts DEVO certainly made a dent in the sadness of loss and grief with their no-dough CAMMIES show Saturday night at the Sierra Nevada Big Room. Everyone in the house shared something vital to the communities’ health and safety—a way to sit, talk and smile with their neighbor without a care but the sweet music in their ears.

Thank you, Jason Cassidy and crew, and to all of the musicians, sound peeps, promoters, bookers and venues that bring such joy and love to our lips.

Bill Mash

Chico

On the good presidents

I recently had the pleasure of reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Leadership: In Turbulent Times. A narrative masterpiece, Goodwin explores the lives of four former presidents who embraced the obligations of being president, and the leadership they displayed while confronting a national crisis of their time: Abraham Lincoln—the Civil War; Teddy Roosevelt—the Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902; Franklin D. Roosevelt—the Great Depression; and Lyndon B. Johnson—civil rights upheaval and wretched poverty.

These men possessed an ability to recognize the leadership abilities within themselves, and were recognized for such by others, be them friend or foe. Their styles were different in nature, but extremely effective in overcoming the darkness they faced: their transformational strengths overcame their weaknesses; knew the importance of corralling political support for policies; rarely resorted to pettiness when dealing with adversaries; preferred olive branches over childish mockery. Lincoln said it best when he exclaimed, “I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man’s bosom.”

When we reflect upon presidential history, we realize we have been fortunate to have had leaders who strove to bring out the best in the American people. When reflecting on where we are today, it’s enough to make a grown person cry.

Roger S. Beadle

Chico

Lemmings no more

The cunning President of the United Base of America gave a false impression of Bernie Sanders’ recent town hall meeting in Bethlehem, Penn., hosted by FOX News. “Very strange the audience liked Bernie,” quipped the shifty, amoral, unscrupulous Trump.

In “reality,” Trump salivates over the mischief Sanders creates among Democrats. Along with the Russians, Sanders stood alone as the man most responsible for comrade Trump’s shockingly dreadful Electoral College win in 2016. Comrade Trump voters are joined at the hip with “Bernie backers,” make no mistake about it. The complete naivety of the DNC and its mass movement lemmings, never ceases to amaze. Please folks, don’t enroll in another Trump University course in 2020.

Ray Estes

Redding

Corporate stooge rep

Once again Congressman Doug LaMalfa voted against us constituents. His no vote on Save the Internet Act (House Resolution 1644) supports a corporate takeover of the internet. LaMalfa and his fellow Republicans are invoking harm to current and future internet users.

Larry S. Jackson

Chico

Before the course opens

Peregrine Point Disc Golf Course has been closed since the Stoney Fire last July. The city of Chico’s ongoing, required mitigation for operation of the course needs completion including: 1) split-rail fencing for out-of-bounds areas to protect Butte County checkerbloom and concentrating fairway foot traffic to protect wildflower fields; 2) wood chips around baskets and tee pads throughout the course to forestall erosion and protect roots of oak trees; 3) relocation of baskets away from oak trees to lessen damage to branches; 4) tree protective devices to lessen impact to oak tree trunks; 5) interpretive signs at tee pads to encourage play that lessens ecological impacts; and 6) annual biological monitoring of the big four: oaks, Butte County checkerbloom, Bidwell’s knotweed and wildflower fields.

Implementation of these requirements should be done prior to reopening the course, so implementation is incentivized and their purpose is effected.

Woody Elliott

Chico

On helping Earth

On Easter, I reflected upon the central messages of Christianity. Love, forgiveness and mercy. How does that affect our worldview today in this polarized political world? So many just keep doing what they’ve always done, rather than make necessary changes to protect our children’s future world. Can they be forgiven? Hard to say, but none of us is perfect. We travel, we eat foods shipped from Italy and Asia. We buy clothes produced in slave-like conditions in foreign lands. We keep using ridiculously inefficient incandescent lightbulbs, and we run them nonstop even with natural light pouring in our windows.

Let’s all reflect on the nature of what we are doing to create an excruciating world for our children will live in. What have we already done? Then ask: What can I do now, going forward, to deserve their forgiveness for that? What actions will I take to help?

Julie Heath

Chico

Poor folks lose out

There is quite a bit of outrage concerning the college admissions scandal involving wealthy parents, including celebrities Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. I don’t think most people have an issue with wealthy people spending their own money. I think the problem is that other people’s kids, who don’t come from wealth, lose their college spots that they worked hard for because rich people purchased them. That behavior tends to tick off the average, honest, hard-working citizen.

Donald J. Trump avoided the Vietnam War because of a medical deferment due to bone spurs. You and I know that if he can play golf at his age now, those bone spurs were bought and paid for by his wealthy family. But, somehow getting out of Vietnam and the college admissions scandal are perceived as two different things.

You might argue they are apples and oranges. True. In one case the parents of the kid who worked hard don’t get to see their child go to the college they hoped for. In the other case, the nonwealthy parents probably saw their child come home from Vietnam in a body bag.

Wolfgang J. Straub

Redding

Operation rip-off

Boy, was I in for a shock when I went to the Shasta County Recorder’s Office and was charged $95 to file a lien on a neighboring property as a result of a recent favorable small claims court ruling.

The recording fee was only $17. Then, there was an optional $3 fee to notify the affected party. But the real kicker was the whopping $75 Affordable Housing and Jobs Act fee.

Apparently, our elected geniuses in the California Legislature figured adding this fee would be an easy, albeit sneaky, way to fund its Homes and Jobs program. Implemented in January 2018 as a result of passage of Senate Bill 2, the fee is collected by county recorder offices on behalf of the state.

My purpose is not to argue the merits of such programs as those promoted by SB 2.

It is, however, my greatest concern the program is subsidized by a small segment of the population, specifically those exercising their legal rights at the recorder’s office.

Assuming the goal of SB 2 is a worthy one, it should be subsidized by all citizens of the state and not just a select few.

Dare I say, just another reason to leave California.

Pete Stiglich

Cottonwood

No more death row

Re “Ending a barbaric, discriminatory practice” (Guest comment, by Cassandra Stubbs, March 28):

There are many reasons to overturn the death penalty. In addition to the cost of housing an inmate for life, you have appeals lawyers making hundreds of dollars an hour filing endless appeals at taxpayer expense.

In the case of the Golden State Killer, he will die in prison of natural causes, or be killed by an inmate seeking notoriety before he is executed, regardless of who is governor. It is much more tragic to put a young person to death and later DNA proves his innocence, which has happened numerous times.

Another good reason is that many countries will not extradite anyone to the U.S. because we have the death penalty. That means many convicted and suspected criminals are leading normal lives in other countries. The Bible makes it pretty clear: “Thou shall not kill.”

Kelly Youngs

Chico

Correction

Last week’s cover story (“Surveying the destruction,” by Meredith J. Cooper) incorrectly named Zeke Lunder as owner of Deer Creek Resources. He is its founder, but the wildfire consulting firm is owned by Chico-based Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression Inc. We apologize for the error, which has been corrected online. —ed.