Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/125181
4A Daily News – Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Opinion Tit for tat with the Tehama Action Team DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong community newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehicles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its communities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 There is a new gang in town called the Tehama Action Team (TAT). We are now 29 members strong and are actively seeking others to get involved in making positive changes to Tehama County. We encourage everyone to visit our Facebook page and join us if you are of like mind. What follows is extracted from the TAT Facebook page. "We are concerned individuals and businesses in Tehama County uniting to promote safety and solutions toward our most urgent challenges. We use advocacy, education and coordination to encourage increased public participation in local issues that affect all of us, and communicate the peoples' needs with local government leaders. We are non-partisan and are not affiliated with any political or religious organizations. Let's keep Tehama County a place to proudly call home, feel safe to walk the streets, and make sure the voices of the people are heard. Please join us. Everyone can so something, even if you are just one voice to pass on vital information." TAT member Pat Johnston has made considerable headway to address concerns related to the removal of the Lake Red Bluff Diversion Dam and subsequent lowering of the water levels of the Sacramento as it passes through Tehama County. Of particular con- cern is the slough passing under Antelope Boulevard that without water has become an unregulated homeless encampment, with an accumulation of garbage, purported drug activity, sanitation problems, fire hazards and environment damage. In addition concerns related to the loss of recreational and sporting use of Lake Red Bluff, unusable boat ramps and docks, and well failures due to a lowering of the water table near the Sacramento need to be addressed. As a result a public informational meeting pertaining to the current issues related to the Antelope Area of Red Bluff will be held on Thursday May 2 from 6 till 8 p.m. in Board of Supervisors Chambers, located at 727 Oak St., 1st Floor, Red Bluff. Members of the public, including local residents and business owners are encouraged to attend and participate. Information will be provided by the City, County and State representatives. County agencies participating will include the Tehama County Sheriff, Departments of Public Works, Building and Environmental Health, the Community Action Agency, and the County Trails Coordinator. Representatives from the city of Red Bluff will include the Police Chief and the Planning Department personnel. The State Department of (unemployed and vicWater Resources will tims of predatory lendalso participate. The ing, foreclosure or topics to be discussed scams) and 7) those that include: water quality, choose to live as ground water depth vagrants. While some changes, abandoned factions might be accomwells, flood elevation modated in a homeless studies, homeless shelter should we find a encampments and suitable location and related issues, and funding, others might recreational and trails prefer a structured opportunities. encampment, while othThe Tehama Action Team will meet on May Richard ers still prefer being left alone or should be in 13, to review the results rehab, jail or institutionof the informational alized — arguably the meeting and finalize most problematic. plans to clean up the TAT member Jenny slough in conjunction Maree Jones has posted with federal, state, and that "the Tehama Action local agencies. One Committee is going to major challenge is to figure out just what organizations, have a Clean Up Day at the south if any, are responsible for this area. side of the Antelope Bridge on We will also discuss the multifac- Saturday, May 18. It is going to be eted challenge of homeless per- a BIG job and they would love to sons in our midst such as how we have you participate in any way can best accommodate them in you can. We appreciate everything legal, sanitary and safe environs. you have done to help contribute to To best satisfy this need we under- a Cleaner, Greener Red Bluff and stand there are several factions any assistance would be very including: 1) criminals and those much appreciated." Please check on the lam, 2) drug addicts wish- our Facebook page for updated ing to continue using, 3) drug information and to go tit for TAT addicts wanting to recover, 4) with the Tehama Action Team. those that are mentally ill or unable Richard Mazzucchi is a retired to support themselves, 5) victims of domestic violence or abuse, 6) research engineer. He can be those suffering economic hardship reached at living-green@att.net. Mazzucchi Positive Point Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-8954217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-3076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Geoengineering, great dinner, lousy Senator You may want to take the time to hear a special guest speaking on an extremely thought-provoking topic, geoengineering, at tonight's Tea Party Patriots meeting, 6 p.m., Westside Grange. Dane Wigington is a researcher, highly educated with a background in solar energy, employment in Bechtel Power Corp. and a multi-state contractor who has, based on his experience, raised some alarming questions and observations over geoengineering and "chemtrails." Visit http://guymcpherson.com/2012/09 /geoengineering-dangerous-proposal-or-lethal-reality/ to learn more. "He focused his efforts and energy on the geoengineering issue when he began to lose very significant amounts of solar uptake due to … ever-increasing solar obscuration caused from aircraft spraying …" I provide this information for readers without taking position due to lack of knowledge. What he and others are saying is that there are either proposed or implemented man-made methods to negate the effects of global warming, the side effects of which pose unforeseen threats to human and nature's health. As I write, the Vets Hall is now restored to its prior condition; the decorations, bunting, drapery, etc are stored until the fair; a delightful meal was enjoyed by all who attended (my dinner, uneaten due to MC duties, became one of the best brunches I've had in a while); and attendees were rewarded with one of the best programs in recent memory. The Tehama County Republican Red, White and Blue Dinner, in chalking up another fine fundraiser, has consistently been the pinnacle Republican event in the North State. Mr. Frank Jones, in playing Abraham Lincoln, gave a very moving recitation of the Gettysburg Address, incorporating the prayerful nature of Mr. Lincoln's spoken ministrations to America and her citizens. Additionally, he shared some rather rib-tickling anecdotes and stories, the best one of which involved a farmer's donkey that was better at forecasting the weather than a government expert. Asked why he refused to make the animal his official weatherman, he simply exclaimed, "If I did that, why, every jackass would want a job in government." (bahda-bump) It's remarkable that from our own ranks were found four absolutely marvelous voices: Linda Davis, Val Say, J.R. Gonzales and Miles Leyva, Red Bluff High School Senior. From the National Anthem, to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, to Civil War songs like "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and "Goober Peas," to America the Beautiful, all were voices worthy of the finest choirs. The sound system, put together by Rick Lytle, was simply superb; I don't know where he's listed but there must be some way, if you need quality sound/mixer/recorded music, to find him. Space constraints and lack of notes limit my ability to describe Elizabeth Emken's keynote speech except to say that her rendition of the core Republican values, and our ability to present those values to the broader citizenry, was inspirational. To me, her comments on the imperative of appealing to voters with a message of, shall we say, self-sufficiency touched on so once-failed, unconstitutional and much of what is driving America completely non-responsive (to the actual facts behind away from the values that recent mass shootings) have been instrumental in "assault weapons" ban, our economic and moral but she also embarstrength. After most a rassed herself at the century of the liberal/prohands of Texas Sen. Ted gressive philosophy of Cruz. He had the brilever-expanding governliant, unmitigated gall ment trying to fix all of to ask our very senior society's ills with deficit Senator what other fueled, ever broadening amendments she felt social and welfare benewere subject to her fits, America faces a debt interpretation of what and collectivist point of citizens were entitled to no return. Don (my paraphrasing); She Trillions upon trillions spent over decades to Polson was adamant, you see, that she had the wisdom induce dependency upon The way and legislative purview government-provided to tell her fellow Amerwelfare, food stamps, I see it icans what guns they medical care, housing have no right to own. subsidies, tax credits and so on can only be reversed with a She uttered some inanity about Republican message of economic being smarter than a fourth grader growth and fiscal responsibility; but was utterly unconvincing on inculcating the once-legendary that count. I truly, deeply hope that American work ethic back into the masses of able-bodied but now- Democrats are determined to condependant, potentially productive tinue to attempt to advance gun citizens. Only by following that control or, as Harry Reid said in an path, pursuing that mission, can unguarded moment, "anti-gun" our nation's finances begin the nec- measures, and that they think it will essary transition to rising econom- endear them to voters enough to ic tides, self-worth, industriousness make Nancy Pelosi the Speaker of and the corresponding reduction of the House of Representatives in the government spending programs, as 2014 elections. It is only blind idewell as rising revenues. That's the ological hubris that explains it; it should, I hope, not only allow the way I see it. Emken's apologies for losing to Republicans to keep the House, but Sen. Diane Feinstein aside—given to retake the Senate, giving Obama the near-slavish pro-Democrat the genuine lame duck status he so voting pattern among California's richly deserves. low-information voters—her Don Polson has called Red Bluff prognosis on Feinstein's likely legislative agenda was on-the- home since 1988. He can be by e-mail at mark. Not only did our leftist Sen- reached donplsn@yahoo.com. ator give her all to advancing a