Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/13344
4A – Daily News – Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Opinion D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Concerns over migrant farm labor camp Your article regarding the proposed migrant farm worker labor camp was the subject of a public hearing at the Tehama County Planning Commission on June 10 . 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 let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. 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 submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity 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 vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents 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 Since the objections from the neighbors were so numerous, Mr. David, chairman of the planning commission, requested that only items which had not previously been discussed to be brought up, and continued it to the July meeting for further public discussion. It is my opinion, as well as several of my neighbors, that the article was unfairly slanted in favor of the proposed farm labor camp.There are several points that need further clarifi- cation before anyone forms a final opinion. Following are some of the points: •Ag water well being used as the domestic water source at the proposed location •Owner only meeting mini- mums for many labor camp requirements,such as only 50 square feet of living area per worker •Access to camp is via Wis- consin Avenue which is a nar- row road with a one-lane bridge •No on-site paving is pro- posed,which will lead to very dusty conditions •The properties located on the east side of Wisconsin Avenue include many residen- tial type properties with small lots •No on-site sewage disposal •No on-site cooking (catered food) •No on-site recreational facilities •No on-site laundry facilities •No way to enforce the 60- day occupancy limit to maintain its status as a temporary facility •No way to enforce any noise restrictions •Unknown if temporary structures are going to be left on site year around •No obvious attempts made to recruit local labor •Decrease in adjoining prop- erty values •Decrease in tax base to the county of Tehama •Use permit goes with prop- erty if the property is sold With so many items that can adversely affect the permanent residents, wouldn't an environ- mental impact study or report be prudent? If I were allowed to build a living facility, wouldn't I have to meet the following requirements? •Paved road improvements •Permanent septic tank facil- ities •Public water facility •Laundry facilities •Recreational area Having a year around living facility should have a similar environmental impact as having 140 people for 60-days. This proposed temporary migrant farm labor camp seems to allow unfair bias to this property owner over the other residents in the neighborhood. For sup- plying living quarters as a convenience to his migrant farm workers, the permanent residents in our neighborhood will suffer from a lower quality of life by expe- riencing higher traffic volumes, higher noise levels and more litter, as well as hav- ing our properties devalued. One-hundred-and-forty migrant farm workers will increase the population on Wis- consin Avenue by five times. There may also be health issues. U.C.Davis’ John Muir Institute of the Environment states the following: “Prior reports on adverse health out- comes or potentially hazardous environmental exposures asso- ciated with farm labor housing conditions seldom suggest a direct link between health status and sub-standard or overcrowd- ed housing. It is known among health professional that the potential consequences are gas- trointestinal illnesses associated with the lack of a refrigerator and significantly elevated levels of anxiety and depression asso- ciated with poor living condi- tions. Large numbers of unrelat- ed immigrant workers residing together is a risk factor for the spread of infectious diseases that likely originate in the send- ing countries, including out- breaks of tuberculosis, parasite infections and malaria.” Guest View Lerose Lane These migrant farm workers will only have 50 square feet of living space in the dormitory living quarters as proposed. Under the Williamson Act, this proposed project is considered to be an allowable use of farm land. Due to the act being grossly underfunded, the coun- ty is getting a negligible amount of money from the state to offset the farmers' decreased property taxes. Due to the pro- posed facility being temporary, the county will not collect the normal building fees. There appears to be no benefit to the county if this proposed project is allowed. A Negative Declaration is inappropriate for the area’s cur- rent development, which has smaller parcels with rural resi- dences. The exclusive agricul- ture zoning also seems inappro- priate with the number of small residential type parcels. This appears to be a misplaced pro- ject which will cause significant long term hardships on the per- manent residents in the neigh- borhood. Lerose Lane lives in Corning. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. 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; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Navigating the 2nd Amendment in DC Commentary "When you get mugged, there are certain rules you must fol- low," my friend and his wife explained to me as we walked from a Washington, D.C., pub to their condo. "When I get mugged?" "Muggers are polite when you follow their instructions, but they get surly when you are rude," said his wife. "How can you be rude to a mugger?" "Ignoring the mugger is rude," said my friend. "This will give him license to strike you with a blunt object." "I see." "Making eye contact is also rude," said his wife. "Look only at the mugger's feet." "Why not just run?" "Running might affect the mugger's self-esteem," said my friend. "You'll give him little recourse but to club you with a blunt object." "Then what should I do when we get mugged?" "Always make an offering of some kind," said his wife. "Hand over my watch?" My friends laughed. "You don't wear a watch in this city!" said his wife. "You give up your wallet." "But my wallet contains my license, credit cards and other vital information." "You don't hand over your real wallet," said my friend, looking at his wife like I was an idiot. "You give up a dummy wallet. You carry your real wallet in your sock or your underwear." "I keep my credit cards in my bra," said my friend's wife. "What if the mugger looks in your sock?" "Muggers never do that," said his wife. "They're eager to com- plete their transaction, so they can move on to the next mugging." "Can't you call for a police- man?" "Ha!" said his wife. "If you can find one." "How about Mace?" "If a mugger catches you reaching for Mace, that gives him license to --" "Strike me with a blunt object?" "Precisely," said my friend. "What if you were able to carry a gun?" "The gun laws are very strict here," said my friend. "It seems the only people who have them are the police or the criminals." "But two years ago, the Supreme Court held that D.C.'s handgun ban violated individuals' Second Amendment right," I said. "The court affirmed that 'the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed' in federal enclaves." "It did?" "The Supreme Court just ruled on a similar case from Chicago, which is not a federal enclave. It affirmed that the Sec- ond Amendment pro- vides Americans with a fundamental right to bear arms that cannot be violated by state and local governments." "So the average law- abiding citizen is now permitted to own a handgun anywhere in America?" Tom "Local jurisdictions are still free to impose a variety of restrictions," I said. "However, plenty of lawsuits will follow as the details are worked out. In D.C., for instance, law-abiding citizens may own guns but are not permitted to carry a concealed weapon as they walk home." "Too bad," said my friend. "If the muggers feared we had a gun, they might be inclined to leave us alone." "But then again,” said his wife, “if the mugger discovers we have a gun, that might give him license to --" "Shoot us with a blunt object?" Purcell I said.“Whatever the case, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for the majority, said the right to self- defense is fundamental to the American concep- tion of ordered liberty. It would appear you could use more ordered liberty in your neighborhood.” As we approached their condo, my friend and his wife sprinted to the door. They scanned for suspicious move- ment in the shrubs, then ushered me inside and slammed the door. "We made it!" said his wife. "That was a close one!" said my friend. "You have developed an inter- esting process for dealing with muggers in Washington, D.C.," I said. "How long have you lived here?" "We moved in last Friday," said my friend. Tom Purcell, a humor columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, is nationally syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web at www.TomPurcell.com or e-mail him at Purcell@caglecartoons.com.