Letters for October 11, 2018

On the last issue

Re “Homeless script flipped” (Newslines, by Ashiah Scharaga), “Stepping down” (Newslines, by Meredith J. Cooper) and “An odious letter” (Letters, by Tom Malolepszy):

Thoughts on the Oct. 4 edition of the CN&R:

1) Chico has declared a “shelter crisis,” but the devil is in the details; i.e, with his motion to capture state funding for the Jesus Center—to be renamed the “Renewal Center” (a “point-of-intake” facility, replacing Chico’s only soup kitchen)—Councilman [Andrew] Coolidge signaled, once again, that all roads must lead to a “consolidation” compound.

2) Our council was again unanimous in its tone-deaf approach to human rights in the public space, as evidenced in wide support for a permanent homeless hit-squad, aka Street Crimes Unit.

3) With the closing of Stairways, 30 people will lose shelter—however squalid. It’s a disaster. Were we to learn anything from this failure, we’d have to go much deeper into how Michael Madieros and his ally, real estate mogul Wayne Cook, manipulated the homeless issue for years, with scant understanding of how “velvet hammer” criminalization—and our failure to provide real services and decent housing—afflicts those on the streets.

4) In conflating the Brock Turner case with the Brett Kavanaugh travesty, letter writer Tom Malolepszy unwittingly illustrates the point of my guest comment: In the realm of gender, we are increasingly incapable of well-reasoned, dispassionate discourse.

Patrick Newman

Chico

More on homelessness

It is time that we take a realistic view of the homeless situation in Chico. We have a crisis! Punishment has not worked, the homeless are not going away. Consolidation is too little too late.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Sept. 18, 2018, that as long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize people for sleeping outdoors on public property.

My friend Patrick Newman has been arguing this for years! Patrick has been a consistent, loud and clear voice for the rights of the homeless. Not only has he defended their right to exist in our city, he has personally taken action to defend their right to use the plaza by distributing food and clothes each Sunday.

Patrick has been right all along. Now it’s not only his opinion, it’s California law.

What’s next? Now we wait for the lawsuits against the city for criminalization of the homeless. We still have a crisis with no solution in view.

Rosie Kuhn

Chico

‘Nailed it’

Re “The real agenda: unfettered capitalism” (Guest comment, by Roger S. Beadle, Oct. 4):

“You can’t legislate morals; making a law that says you will do right.”

Mr. Beadle nailed it. Quote: “Those who control the nation’s wealth will control the legislative process, and laws will favor capitalism, not democracy.” With almost any analogy, to have the insight and to express such in coherent language is to be commended. When the subject is our quality of life—whether it be financial, moral, etc.—it requires a process to not only recognize the circumstances, but also to do something about it.

Take, for example, the hound dog that was sounding off with such an expression of pain that the passerby asks, what in the hell is wrong with that poor dog? The reply came back: He’s sitting on his tail.

Ernie Bean

Paradise

Settlement feedback

Re “Settlement in sight” (Downstroke, Oct. 4):

It is unfortunate that innocent victims in many cases do not receive the same support and justice from our courts as those who commit criminal acts.

PursuitSAFETY does not support fleeing drivers and is disgusted at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision upholding the excessive force claim of the officer-involved shooting of Breanne Sharpe.

We are dismayed that the city of Chico will offer up a settlement to her mother. This individual led police on a high-speed chase in February 2013 driving a stolen vehicle putting innocent bystanders at risk. Seven months later, she is again eluding officers in a pursuit, fleeing, running into a pole, trees, vehicles and putting the car in reverse toward officers. As a repeat offender, Sharpe again put the lives of police officers and innocent bystanders in danger. If she would not have again been breaking the law, she would not have been shot.

What would the discussion have been if Sharpe had broken free, continued to flee and then crashed into and killed a car full of innocent bystanders? The decision of the city of Chico to make this payment is a bad decision.

Mark Priano

Chico

Back and forth

Re “The upsell” (Letters, by Peter Bridge, Oct. 4):

Mr. Bridge, I didn’t realize that your argument is that abortion is somehow OK, but shouldn’t make up 3 percent of a clinic’s business. Let’s start with your apparent premise that the word “abortion” describes a bad thing.

Abortion is an option every woman has a right to. Abortion is a medical procedure. Abortion is virtually unavailable in many areas because of the Christian right’s “belief” that theirs is the only correct opinion on the matter. Abortion phobia fuels hate and murder in its addicts. Abortion is a subject 73-year-old men like me have little business opining on. Did I use “abortion” enough times that it takes the stigma of the word away? I doubt it.

As for the rest, I have hiked naked, self-medicated and paid my taxes with no thought they were confiscatory. I plan on choosing the way I die if at all possible, like my late wife did. I am glad we have a strong government to provide the many services we desire, and regulate the people who would take all they can of the common (stuff that belongs to all of us) for their own enrichment.

Rich Meyers

Oroville

He likes Jerry

Re “Faux eco gov” (Letters, by Garry Cooper, Oct. 4):

I’ll add (to a recent letter) some important points in the role that Gov. Jerry Brown has accomplished in moving California to a green state. In the 1970s, Brown forced the utilities to pay manufactures for electricity produced in the cogeneration process, thus reducing the need for coal plants, like the one that PG&E proposed south of Chico, which was stopped by Jane Dolan. Brown also was the first in the country to start wind turbine farms (Altamont Pass, Bay Area).

Today, Gov. Brown is the international leader on the threats of Earth heating up, while the Republicans, led by Trump, have their heads in the sand.

Over the decades I have observed some at meetings criticizing Vice President Al Gore (awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his environmental work), Gov. Jerry Brown and other climate change leaders for not solving every problem the world is facing, yet the critics drove to the meetings in oversize SUVs or very old polluting cars.

Bob Mulholland

Chico

Roundabout revulsion

Re “A visual feast” (Second & Flume, by Melissa Daugherty, Sept. 27):

I hate this new structure in the roundabout. It is too tall and obstructs my ability to see the cars about to enter the roundabout or the ones already in it. [It cost] $378,000 to make it more difficult! What a waste of money! Now I will always avoid that intersection when I go downtown.

The streets around where I live aren’t even paved to the curb! And there are numerous pot holes—why can’t they fix that?

Nicolette Gamache

Chico

‘They’d just laugh’

“If they did not believe Dr. Ford, they’re not going to believe me either. Even the president made fun of her, and everyone laughed and clapped! They’d just laugh at me, too,” thought the distraught rape victim.

Ralph Slater

Chico

Climate and congressman

Re “World on fire” (Cover story, by Alastair Bland, Aug. 23):

Record temperatures and wildfires have scorched the UK, Europe, Asia, the Western U.S., Canada, Alaska and Russia in our burned-up/burned-out year of 2018, which followed another “record-setting” year in 2017.

Canada’s boreal forest alone in 2018 burned 10 times more acreage than in an average fire season. So how do corporate-bought politicians and timber company apologists react to obvious climate change events? It’s just forest mismanagement! Blame environmentalists! Ironic that environmental scientists predicted exactly what’s happening now over 30 years ago.

This year’s fires in Sweden, Croatia, Italy and Spain happened during all-time record heat waves. Sound familiar? And those “once in every 500 years” floods have also been piling up since Katrina, with names like Sandy, Harvey, Florence. Thousands have lost their homes in the U.S., not to mention “other” climate migrations from places like Puerto Rico, or the drought-ridden “Dry Corridor” of Central America.

Through it all, Doug LaMalfa sleepwalks in his corporate-sponsored bubble, insists human-caused climate change isn’t happening. Fortunately, we have someone who is aware of the problem and will take action. In November, vote Audrey Denney, and give LaMalfa the boot.

Ed Schilling

Paradise

Message to millennials

You give me inspiration. When I was college age, sex was an act of liberation, abortion was illegal, and we didn’t trust anyone over 30. I’ve lived in Chico almost 40 years, and I can say unequivocally that you are more open-minded, warm-hearted and inclusive than any previous generation.

Age does not guarantee wisdom. I will gladly hand you the torch. You are being ruled by amoral, cynical white men in their seventies who do not care about your innovative spirit, your diversity, or your future.

I urge you to take hold of your lives and vote in the upcoming election. Now is not the time for cynicism, though it seems to be the driving force behind Republicans and the president. This is an urgent time in need of focus and deliberate action.

Vote! Vote for people who reflect your values and concerns. Vote for people with the courage to stand up for what is important to you. Our nation needs your vote to create a more conscious and compassionate society. You are your future. (And mine.)

Penni Markell

Chico

Lying elevated

We, as Americans, have learned to relish lying. We advocate it, laud it and vote in favor of it. We attend rallies where lying is the primary element and wave our banners, flags and posters in support of it. Lying has become the ultimate process to dispute annoying scientific realities, to ignore history, to promote self-worth and to increase corporate and personal wealth.

As lying has become the most valuable asset of those seeking to advance themselves politically and economically, we joyfully advance the most skillful liars to the highest of positions. Our citizenry is not only supportive, it is unduly proud of those who tell the most outstanding lies. Given this fact, should we now develop university curricula to teach lying as a science, how best to apply it, when it is most affective and toward whom it needs to be directed (e.g., Lying 1A and 1B)?

We fortunately have a president who is adept at this practice; senators and Congress members who fully support this activity; and now, two Supreme Court justices who have not only been accused of lying, but have also been proven to have done so under oath with impunity.

What has happened to us?

Dean Carrier

Paradise

Views on LaMalfa

Do you like the economy? Do you think the economy is roaring and unemployment is at its lowest level in 50 years? I do.

You may not like our president. He sometimes says inflammatory things. But he’s a street fighter, not a politician: when he’s hit, he hits back harder! He’s doing things for our country that could never be done by a meek and mild president.

Next year the opposition party says they will impeach him if they gain the majority in the House and Senate. That why it’s so important that we elect and/or reelect Republicans to Congress—so President Trump can continue doing good things for our country.

This brings me to Rep. Doug LaMalfa. I have not always agreed with him on issues in the past. But since President Trump’s election he’s voted with the Republicans and will stand up for our president. That’s why I urge you to vote for Doug LaMalfa, James Gallagher and Jim Nielsen on Nov. 6.

Loretta Ann Torres

Chico

“He’s one of … them.” Our current U.S. representative, Doug LaMalfa, incorrectly identifies as one of “us,” but he doesn’t support my values and issues in Congress. His record shows only one successfully sponsored piece of legislation that was passed into law, and despite my stated requests, he ignores his role to serve as a check and balance to the executive branch.

As a rice farmer, his family directly profits from his Congressional votes. I ask Chico State students, independent voters and nonvoting eligible voters to go online at registertovote.ca.gov and then cast your vote for Audrey Denney. She grew up in the agriculture business and earned her degrees in agriculture to understand the unique needs of our area.

She supports high-quality and affordable health care for all. And, most importantly, she isn’t accepting corporate PAC money—because her belief is to serve citizens, not corporations—unlike our current representative who posted his total campaign contributions are over 50 percent from PACs. Register. Vote. Change. We have the opportunity.

Peter Dahlin

Chico

Why would Congressman Doug LaMalfa vote against fire protection, affordable health care including children’s health care, against protecting women and so much more that doesn’t help us?

He is self-serving and callous with every vote. He doesn’t represent us. He is not one of us as he is very, very rich, taking in federal money by the bucketful. Vote him out.

Vote Audrey Denney for Congress. She will make our lives better through integrity, intelligence and great care. Our district is huge, encompassing Butte, Modoc, Plumas and eight other counties. We have much in common and we can do better. Vote Audrey Denney on Nov. 6.

Nora Nausbaum

Grass Valley

Youth, get preregistered

I was unaware that 16- and 17-year-olds could preregister to vote. In my conversations with a few of this age group, we realized that many of them had forgotten this piece of information from their freshman civics class.

Please, dear principals and student body presidents, make a big push to get these future voters registered. They may not be able to vote in the midterms, but will be able to in 2020. If they preregister in numbers, politicians will have to start addressing the issues important to this youth segment, since they will see a committed group of youngsters just champing at the bit to vote.

Chico High and Pleasant Valley High in Chico alone have approximately 2,000 students who are 16 or 17. Registering them would give our future voters influence here and now, and they could totally upset the status quo in this county, where elections are often determined by just a couple of hundred votes. Besides which, dear student body presidents, think how great spearheading this push will look on your résumés when you run for City Council five years from now.

Catherine Riley

Chico

Correction

Last week’s Healthlines story (see “Boosting positivity,” by Ashiah Scharaga, Oct. 4) incorrectly identified Mains’l Services as a nonprofit organization. It is a limited liability corporation. We apologize for the error, which has been corrected online. —ed.