Letters for August 6, 2015

Responding to Cecil

Re: “The tragedy of Cecil” (Editorial, July 30):

I agree with the CN&R that we should be outraged by the manner in which this majestic animal’s life was taken, and by big-game trophy hunting in general. (Africa’s lion population has declined by over 40 percent in two decades.)

There is a related story that I can find even more egregious. That is the slaughter of massive numbers of elephants and rhinos for their tusks by poachers. According to Defenders of Wildlife, Tanzania, which once was an elephant mecca, has lost two-thirds of its elephants to poachers in the past four years. The African Wildlife Foundation says at the current level of poaching (about 35,000 elephants were poached in Africa in 2014), elephant populations may not survive 10 years in the wild. Elephant ivory gets up to $3,000/pound and rhino horn a whopping $30,000/pound. The black rhino population is down about 98 percent since 1960!

President Obama very recently announced a plan to ban the sale of ivory across state lines. That’s a step in the right direction. The CN&R editorial named one organization readers can support. Another that I would highly recommend is the African Wildlife Foundation. Check them out.

Sheldon Praiser

Chico

I’m hoping this letter will reach some young readers. A lot of kids are mad and sad about a beautiful African lion named Cecil. He was wounded with an arrow and then killed by an American dentist, Walter Palmer.

This is confusing. Dentists try not to hurt their patients. So, why would this man go to Africa and hurt a lion?

Here’s one answer: The man hurt the lion because he thought it was exciting. Most people want to believe that animals don’t feel pain like we do, so we can use them any way we want. Of course, we know better. Animals are very sensitive and want to live—lions, dolphins, horses, dogs, chickens, cows, pigs, etc. But, a lot of adults will tell you not to worry about this—to ignore what animals feel.

Soon you will be able to make the choices that adults make. Animals will suffer less if you make smarter decisions than Walter Palmer and never forget that animals suffer like we do.

What happened to Cecil is sad, but you and other young people can change the way we think about animals. Don’t give up.

Patrick Newman

Chico

Casting the wrong Stone

Re “Buzz-cut barbecue” (Second & Flume, by Melissa Daugherty, July 30):

Why do you think it’s a little early in the game for Sean Morgan to kick off his 2016 City Council campaign? Is it the strong support that came out for him 15 months before the election?

I did not see your paper questioning Mr. Stone coming out Nov. 25, 2014, just 21 days after the November 2014 election and seven days before the new City Council was even sworn into office.

On Mr. Stone’s Facebook page (Nov. 25, 2014), “we have begun fundraising efforts for Stone for Council 2016. I am asking for your support and contribution moving forward to the 2016 election.”

Stone also goes on, if you contributed $20.83 for the next 24 months, you would maximize your possible contributions.

I questioned Mr. Stone why he would be asking so early and doing so in the holiday season when local nonprofits are asking for support and donations.

It just shows Mr. Stone’s personal political ambitions and can it be good for the city?

Michael Reilley

Chico

Cleaning won’t help

Re “Murky waters” (Newslines, by Howard Hardee, July 16):

I doubt that cleaning helps clear the water. What it does do is remove the algae from the bottoms so it is not so slippery. I would guess that removing the algae would strip some of the ability of the stream to clean itself. Something like taking antibiotics to cure an upset stomach, or dumping Clorox into a septic tank.

Richard Roth

Chico

Beating Bernie’s drum

I just got back from an organizing meeting. Over 100 degrees, Chico Grange Hall, no air-conditioning, just 200 or so excited Chicoans. Young, old, all excited about one person and his ideas, Bernie Sanders. If there was a common thread, it was that enough is enough. We have suffered long enough under a government that is controlled by the rich and powerful. We have had enough of U.S. corporations avoiding taxes and hiding all their wealth overseas, and enough of our representatives in Washington being bought and paid for by wealthy, controlling interests.

Bernie Sanders is the only candidate looking out for the average guy’s best interest. Sanders is the only guy talking about all the important issues facing U.S. citizens today. Bernie has plans to control and lower health care costs, for jobs for all Americans, and to even the playing field and bring back opportunity for all young people by making higher education affordable.

Bernie Sanders does not take political contributions from wealthy corporations. His average contribution is $35. Bernie does not do fundraisers; rather he has town hall meetings and giant rallies. People across the country are turning out en masse to hear Sanders’ message. Bernie is our guy, and that was very evident tonight.

Gary Janosz

Chico

Hillary’s hypocrisy

While we little people in Colliefornia (as the former Gropenator calls it) are told, we will pay exorbitant prices for energy (for example AB 32 and other taxes and mandates) and can’t even have plastic grocery bags in order to save the environment, Hillary is traveling around the country in private gas-guzzling jets and limos lecturing us peasants on global warming … er … climate change. Pretty cool—er hot, huh?

I love it! And I would bet my last dollar that you and your paper will endorse her and I love that, too. You know why? Because hypocrisy gives me a tingling feeling.

I wonder if you will ever recognize the truth, that DemocRat or RepublowCon are just different wings of the same evil bird of prey.

Barton Crocket

Chico

Stop illegal pot gardens

Commercial pot growers worsen drought conditions in Butte County. Marijuana’s high water demands deplete wells, and growers divert or transport it to stay afloat until harvest season. The groundwater supplies in foothill communities cannot sustain noncompliant pot cultivation. The Office of Emergency Management has stepped in to provide life-saving water needs for families.

Citizens can help too. Ordinance 4075 (Measure A) is only enforced if illegal grows are reported to Butte County code enforcement. The process is reactive (complaint-driven). Call Butte County’s anonymous tip line (538-6000) to report noncompliant marijuana-growing activities or print a medical marijuana cultivation complaint form at www.buttecounty.net/dds/CodeEnforcement.aspx to drop off at code enforcement.

A dedicated team of CEOs (code enforcement officers) make site inspections to ensure compliance. Butte County sheriff’s deputies accompany them to assure safety. They are all doing a tremendous job enforcing Measure A. The final perk is water saved for people and wildlife.

Nancy Royball

Oroville

Help in my fight

Chico, this is what I need to fight for your rights to safe access to medical cannabis: First, please call your representatives and ask why after 20 years of being legal there are still no dispensaries in Butte County. Next, we need a location. This could be a warehouse or a large enough space for at least 50 people. We need access now, so call the City Council to agendize medical cannabis.

I need all of you to start raising hell about this and fight the wrong-sided representatives like Larry Wahl calling us deadbeats because we have no money to pay fines. After paying for land, we are forced by the unconstitutional policies (not laws) to control property by our district attorney. We are marginalized more by the incredible input of Wahl.

I need you to make it clear to our representatives there are precedents throughout our state that safe access lowers crime. Please read the interview on Synthesisweekly.com with Maureen Kirk about this subject. Please, I need you to get involved ASAP. I certainly can not do this alone. You may contact me at joel.castle@yahoo.com

Joel Castle

Chico