Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/14036
6A – Daily News – Friday, July 30, 2010 Opinion Response to 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 columnist Editor In his column of July 19, Don Polson took a couple shots at CARES, our citizens group that has opposed the Tehama County General Plan Update. I feel oblig- ed to reply. Polson makes it sound like he 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 believes in property owners' rights to do whatever they please with their land. But in fact, I doubt if he fully supports this notion. As a former Realtor, I suspect he is in favor of the zoning laws that created neighborhoods at a reasonable density and with a suit- able land use mix that enabled him to sell attractive homes there. I assume he is also in favor of the building codes that ensured his clients moved into a home that was safe and healthy. And yet both zoning laws and building codes infringe on an owner's use of his property. So Polson, along with most of the rest of us, agrees that govern- ment has an important role to play in guiding the sensible develop- ment of property. This is just the role that we feel Tehama County has failed to exercise properly in the new General Plan. Many of our fellow citizens feel just like we do about keeping the rural and agricultural feeling of our county intact. Remember that the Board of Supervisors only approved the plan by a 3-2 vote. Both no votes came from the northern districts where the out-of- control growth is planned to occur. Meanwhile, an opinion survey tells us 86 percent of voters think the county's growth rate is just right or already too high, while only a scant 6 percent want faster growth. This survey was ordered and paid for by the supervisors, who then ignored the results. In fact, much of the support for this General Plan comes not from average citizens, but from the Red Bluff business community. We all need jobs, and businesses need to make a profit. But should we destroy the agricultural heritage and rural lifestyle of our county so a Red Bluff businessman can sell a few more windows? An eight-sentence ruling on these critical issues from a lame- duck judge who didn't bother to do his job is not a triumph of individ- ual property rights. It is a disgrace and a disservice to current and future generations of Tehama County residents. Gary M. Catlin, Lake California Thanks to Little League All Stars Editor: Just recently we had the privi- lege of being part of the Red Bluff Little League All Star teams. What an honor to be a part of such a great organization. I know it takes a lot to pull off all stars. There is very little time to put together the teams, organize the games, fit the kids for uniforms, practice and then compete in the tournaments. Plus, find coaches willing to put in the time and effort to work with the kids. However, this year Red Bluff did just that. My boys were honored by being selected to participate, on the 11-year-old team and on the 9- to 10-year-old team and I would like to thank all of their coaches. All of the men involved did a won- derful job of working with the boys. While the 11-year-olds didn't go as far as they would have liked, they still did a great job. Chris Sin- clair and Ryland Sanders gave a lot of their time, experi- ence and patience and they deserve a big thank you. The 9-10 teams actu- Your Turn ally won the district title and then took third over in Crescent City. It was a great experience for not only the boys but the parents as well. J.B Stacy, Jason Avilla, Bill Hobart and Ernie Martinez all gave so much to the kids, as coaches they showed class, integrity and respect for the players. On behalf of my kids, my fam- ily and I, we just wanted to say thank you for a great Little League experience. Jennifer Youngblood, Red Bluff Unemployment Editor: Listening to reports and stories of the individuals who find them- selves unemployed or those who have been unemployed for extend- ed periods is disheartening. As a small business owner, I work hard to employ and maintain employment for the individuals who work for my business. Unfor- tunately, there have been times when we have had to lay off or fire people for substantive reasons, two of whom are still collecting unemployment more than two years later. As a result, my rate per $100 to the UI & FUI funds is at its maxi- mum, and to maintain employees becomes even harder as a result. So the stress of unemployment is not just affecting the unemployed. Many businesses are feeling the same impact, a layoff or let go is always a lose-lose situation. The State of California isn’t paying for the bulk of the unem- ployment; the business- es are through higher tax rates. Having said this I’ve watched however, two young adults recently relocate back to Red Bluff. Within two weeks, they are both working. Why? I believe it’s because they choose to or that they are not holding out for bigger bucks or just maybe because it’s the right thing to do. Another individual who works for me is a displaced logger. Where he was accustomed to making thousands of dollars a month, he now is grateful for the lesser pay and as a result is also able to keep his home out of fore- closure. This is nothing new, we’ve watched many white collar work- ers step down into blue collar jobs, and some blue collar workers move down to an even lower level of work if that is possible. More unemployed folks should recon- sider what they’re holding out for, and take work where it is offered. I would. Working for compensation is right. Compensation for anything else should be short term and not so inviting. As it stands, unem- ployment compensation has become another form of depen- dent welfare — paid for by employers who have no say in who receives, for how long or how much. Sharon Wilkes, Red Bluff 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. For a year, I’ll be a forty-niners fan Commentary Tomorrow, I turn 49. That’s the big "four-niner." I’m going to enjoy it because, after all, what have I got to look forward to? Fifty? No thanks. So, I have 365 days during which no one will make fun of me. After the next July 31, I’m going to have to endure all the lame 50-year-old jokes. That’s cool. At least I can look in the mirror and think I look better than most my age. And I’m not trying to flatter myself – it’s the truth. Even my students say so. Whoops, I almost forgot, sar- casm is a service we offer here. Lots of things have happened this summer while I’ve been on vacation. I tend to notice the funny stuff because I think I’m more in tune with what’s going on around me. Here are a couple laughs that caught my eyes and ears recent- ly. While walking through Wal- mart the other day, I overheard an older, bearded man respond to the following question: "So, what have you been doing late- ly." He said, "Just watching the sheep get fat." Do people actually do that? Remember, I’m from the city, so I don’t really know. Next, I was driving through our neighborhood about a month ago and ran across a sign in front of a garage that read, "Free (bleep)." "Bleep" was a bunch of dis- carded items that someone placed in their driveway near the sidewalk. I cracked up. I wanted to run home and grab the camera so I could take a picture, but I had other things to do. At my last book signing, a woman walked up and asked if I must be Pat Gleason. I said I was and signed her book. I asked what it was she liked best about my columns and she replied, "I like it when you make fun of yourself – and also when you write about your kids" Well, here’s a good story that kills two birds with one stone — I really don’t like that phrase cause it’s kind of inhumane. My kids came up with two zingers recently at my expense. While walking toward the pool in our back yard with our shirts off, my son Ethan looked down at his belly, rubbed it, and said, "Hey, Dad, I’m almost as fat as you." Seriously, he really said that. The other night, my daughter came off the wall with this one. I mentioned to my wife at the dinner table that I figured out a way to spend some of my next paycheck. Without flinching, Mia said, "What are you gonna do, grow some of your hair back?" She’s not even 6 yet. Anyway, leave it to the kids to chip away at what’s left of Dad’s self esteem. I know by next summer I won’t have any — you know, the whole 50 thing. It’s funny, but my horoscope has been pretty accurate the past month. Not that I believe any of that stuff, but it’s pretty fun to read in the morning and see how the day turns out. So, yesterday, I read that I’m supposed to keep a cool head in responding to my literary critics within the community. Pat Gleason Simply Put Interesting, since there was a letter to the editor Thursday complaining about my treatment of the Sugar Shack in last week’s column. The writer basical- ly thought I dissed the place by saying it wasn’t Etta’s any- more. However, I’m pret- ty sure I wrote, "To be fair, there is nothing wrong with the Sugar Shack." Yep, I did say that. And I think I also wrote, "The owners are friendly folks who are just trying to make a living here in Red Bluff." That sounds good to me. Anyway, I didn’t mean any harm to the owners in terms of what vibe I got and I hope busi- ness goes well for them. Have a great Friday. ——— Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us.