Letters for August 15, 2019

Forum forthcoming

Re “Fear of the unknown” (Editorial, Aug. 8):

On Aug. 7, I attended the Local Government Committee meeting, where one of the key agenda items was a Public Health presentation on syringe access programs.

As a social worker who has always applied a prevention and harm reduction lens, I have long supported the benefits a program like this would bring to our region. A presentation of the facts from some of our county’s Public Health professionals was an informative and welcome dialogue in the midst of mixed information. The committee had the chance to ask questions and clarify concerns our community has broached.

It was clear how significantly this information could benefit the broader community, so I made an immediate request to agendize the presentation from Public Health at an upcoming City Council meeting. I’m hopeful that a public forum to explore the research related to these programs and build a better understanding of their local application is on the horizon. Stay tuned.

Alex Brown

Chico

Editor’s note: Ms. Brown is the vice mayor of Chico.

Ignoring the science

I have been waiting for information on the city of Chico Cannabis Committee meetings. The city’s website posted some of the agendas, but no minutes of the past meetings. After nine meetings, the agendas lacked information of whether the health issues of cannabis were discussed.

The majority of people smoking pot today were not alive when the debate started over the highly addictive drug nicotine, which is found in cigarettes. Cigarette companies denied for decades the effect that nicotine had on the brain and body of smokers. Nicotine is a chemical that is dangerous because it causes addiction to cigarettes. Doctors and scientists are now discovering that tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC, which is an ingredient in cannabis, is now found to be addictive.

In the early 1990s, marijuana contained just under 4 percent THC. Today marijuana can contain upward of 30 percent potency of THC. A study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse found “substantial evidence from animal research and a growing number of studies in humans indicate that marijuana exposure during development can cause long-term or possibly permanent adverse changes in the brain.”

Advocates for cannabis distributors are ignoring the adverse health effects of THC.

Steve Simpson

Chico

No-response rep

I wrote our Congressman, Doug LaMalfa, asking two questions: 1. Have you read the Mueller report? 2. What is your response to that report? That’s all.

After a few weeks, I received his reply: an email rehashing Attorney General William Barr’s questionable summation of the report, with no reference to Mueller’s report itself. I responded by pointing out that I was asking about Mueller’s report, not Barr’s synopsis.

I repeated my two questions: 1. Have you read the Mueller report? 2. What is your response to that report? Again, I requested a reply. Then I waited … and waited. This was several months ago, and still no reply.

Lynn Elliott

Chico

Speaking of LaMalfa

A disingenuous debate tactic is where one overwhelms their opponent with a rapid fire of different arguments, without regard to accuracy, such that the opponent cannot address any of the points in real time.

It’s what the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led organization demanding bold climate action, received when they met with Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s chief of staff, Mark Spannagel, seeking clarification of the congressman’s negative stance on the Green New Deal.

The meeting with Mr. Spannagel was not unlike that of Sen. Dianne Feinstein and a group of children demanding climate action, as we were similarly reminded that LaMalfa “had been doing this longer” than we have. If it hadn’t been clear already, it was by the end of the meeting: Doug LaMalfa doesn’t take the climate crisis or climate activists seriously. We must elect someone who does.

Sisarie Sherry

Chico

Editor’s note: For more on Mr. LaMalfa and his stance on climate change, see Andre Byik’s report on page 11.

Trump’s character

A nationalist who won’t condemn white supremacy, a bigot, a racist, an advocate for violence. This is Donald Trump’s character and, if you pay attention to what he’s saying and doing, you should draw the same conclusion.

“I’d like to punch him in the face,” he said about a protester; laughs when someone yells, “Shoot ’em” regarding how to stop immigrants crossing the border; pantomimes a congressional candidate who body slammed a reporter because he didn’t like the question.

In a published transcript of a 1994 interview on ABC, Trump said, “I don’t want to sound like a chauvinist, but when I come home at night and dinner’s not ready, I go through the roof.” Another gem: “I tell friends who treat their wives magnificently and get treated like crap in return, ‘Be rougher and you’ll see a different relationship.’”

Is this the new normal where all things will pass, including this year’s 244 mass shootings? If Sandy Hook didn’t move the needle, then our nation’s moral fiber is damaged. Maybe a shock and awe campaign of published four-color pictures of what a weapon of war did to these children might jolt our nation’s collective backbone and common sense and decency will prevail.

Roger S. Beadle

Chico

Fresh face in race

After watching Elizabeth Betancourt speak, I could see she is a very intelligent person with an extensive background in water resources. She is 39 and has worked as a watershed specialist and a farmer. She has 20 years of experience in water policy with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

She spoke about forest management and what we all know: that the forests need to be thinned to stop the catastrophic fires our state has been experiencing. I believe she has the knowledge and is willing to work hard toward helping us safely manage our land, water and forests.

“What I see is that policies are created that recognize the resources we bring to the state but they don’t recognize the people that [bring them there],” she said.

I encourage you to support and vote for Elizabeth Betancourt for California’s District 1 Assembly seat. Help us get back to good land and water management.

Mona Uruburu

Janesville

Clash in Hong Kong

The flame of democracy is burning on high in Hong Kong. People around the planet have our hearts and hopes with them.

Marvin Wiseley

Chico