Letters for November 25, 2004

Correction: Last week the CN&R editorial “Too safe for our own good,” mistakenly said that the state Supreme Court was historically responsible for redistricting in California. That is not true. The state Legislature has always had the responsibility to redraw the legislative districts every 10 years. The Supreme Court steps in only when the Assembly, Senate and governor cannot come to an agreement, as it did throughout the decade of the 1990s. The News & Review regrets the error and apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Dangerous security
The purpose of security at a concert is to control crowds and maintain a safe environment. Apparently, security for JMAX Productions has the opposite agenda.

While attending the Built to Spill concert at the Senator Theater on Nov. 5, I witnessed unwarranted, inexcusable and excessive force by the security. While trying to stir up some enthusiasm down on the floor, a friend was tackled to the ground by security, without warning. Upon asking another uninvolved member of security what the heck was going on, my brother was tackled to the ground. Both of the victims happened to be about half the size of these muscle-heads who tackled them.

The madness continued out the side door and into the street. Our friend was beaten to a pulp before we finally got security off of him. Just when I thought the commotion was over, the security guy most out of control pushed my wife with both hands, setting her back a few steps. This came without warning or provocation. I called the police.

When they arrived, we explained what had happened. Of course JMAX Productions had to cover its butt and deny any wrongdoing. The police officers apparently agreed with JMAX that its security personnel are above the law and can assault whomever they want, man or woman. They would not even let us file a report.

Up until this point I always had a pretty good impression of the Chico Police Department, but then I have never needed their help before. I guess I’ll think twice about calling them for help in the future. If anyone else witnessed this brutality, we would like to here from you. Please e-mail qbwalker@outrageous.net.

Patrick Walker
Chico

Our pleasure
I have been gone all week at school, and I come into town and pick up a copy while eating a burrito and having a Pale Ale. Your paper is a breath of fresh air that is right on.

Tom, I apologize about your parking ticket [“Last chance,” Inside view, Nov. 11], but if it makes you feel better I think I saw Councilmember Steve Bertagna’s SUV getting a ticket, too. The statement “Dumb as a Rock” comes to mind when I read the article about Butte College and its solar plans.

Then the next article about Enloe and their nurse problems. The nurse who made the statement about LVNs kind of sums up some of the issues at Enloe. The morale remains low probably because of attitudes like hers and how she even wants to build walls within the nursing field.

Thanks for the great Veterans Day stories. Makes my contemporary military experience seem rather mediocre.

Rob Glatthaar
Chico

Disc golf inferno
With regards to “Slipped Discs” [Letters to the editor, Nov. 18] the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission, Park Department, and City Council allotted $200,000 to plan for and address the environmental impact of the disc golf. An initial study, botanical survey, and archeological survey supported the disc golf course project. It was determined that any impact could be mitigated. The Friends of Bidwell Park (of which Patsy Shutz is a member) were not pleased. Out of town lawyers were hired and stopped the project.

Had this project been allowed to go forward the entire community would have been better served with additional park access, and management of the disc golf area.

The Friends of Bidwell Park advocate removal of disc golf as a recreational opportunity. The cost to start playing disc golf is around $15 (2 discs). People from all socioeconomic backgrounds can play. Disc golf is taught in both Chico area Junior High Schools. It is a sport all ages can enjoy. I have no doubt as to why the Friends of Bidwell Park target disc golf, and avoid confrontations with mountain biking and equestrian constituencies (which cause similar soil impact). Opposition to those activities would force them to confront better-funded groups.

There are 80 disc golf courses in California. Many courses exist on similar terrain, and have done so successfully for decades. The Friends of Bidwell Park should support disc golf, and the opportunity it provides to educate people about nature. City officials should do the same.

Lon Glazner
Received via e-mail

Disc solutions
An old environmentalist slogan goes, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” Unfortunately, a few of us have made careers out of looking for problems and see those of us who are looking for solutions as a threat. Getting shot down by friendly fire has become the greatest hazard for anyone who offers answers and tries to lead by example. Disc golf, mountain biking, hiking trails, equestrians and even the observatory have all become targets.

The problems with our disc golf course are obvious. Too many people having too much fun in too small of a space. No trail maintenance or impact mitigation is allowed to happen.

The same amount of dog walkers and bird watchers in the same size area would have about the same effect. Our Park Commission and our City Council recognized this recently and unanimously funded $200,000 for park access, environmental reviews, maintenance and mitigation.

The Friends of Bidwell Park still weren’t happy and hired a lawyer to blast it all down in flames. The money all went to fund the Master Management Plan, instead. This only creates more problems, which of course, gives them even more ammunition. The solutions are also obvious.

A course in Lower Park that’s easy for kids to get to would decrease use of the existing site. Throw wood chips on compacted soil. Throw gravel or cement on the tees. Cost: Next to nothing. Value: Priceless.

I challenge the Friends of Bidwell Park to demonstrate an equally popular, beneficial and inexpensive activity. Let’s see a solution.

Gregg Payne
Chico

State’s rights, Alberto?
A question many people would like our senators to ask Alberto Gonzales at his confirmation hearings for the post of attorney general of the United States, a question I have written to Senators Boxer and Feinstein to request them to ask: Will you uphold the Constitution of the United States, including the 10th Amendment, which states that those powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people thereof, or will you continue your predecessor’s unconstitutional vendetta against Oregon’s right-to-die-with-dignity law, twice approved by the electorate of that state?

Dorothy L. Subke
Paradise