Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/14095
4A – Daily News – Saturday, July 31, 2010 Opinion Marijuana 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 legalization Editor: 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 I thinks it's ironic that your front page article titled "Pot legalization impacts hard to measure" dated July 23 was below the lead story about a Corning teacher run down and killed by a man stoned out of his gourd. Right minded citizens of this state know where legalization of dope will lead us. It doesn't require a rocket scientist to measure the impact. Jeff Heaney, Corning More on pot Editor: The headline on the top of the front page of the Daily News, dated Friday, July 23, Coming teacher hit, killed in Chico. The article went on to state the facts that the teacher was the fifth grade teacher at Olive View School in Corning, and had been with the district for 29 years. The article also stated the facts of the accident, that she was killed by a driver supposedly high on marijuana. The article on the bottom left of the same front page headline read, "Pot legalization impacts will be hard to measure" The first of the article stated, "Legal- izing marijuana in California could give local governments a revenue boost." The article went on to present the question if it would indeed have any positive effects due to the increase in pot usage and crime related to its use. There certainly isn't anything hard for voters to figure out on this issue. Ask yourself these questions, If this was my loved one killed by a pot smoker, would all the money made in profits from the sale of it com- pensate for the loss of my love one, my mother, my wife, my child? Would all the fifth- graders think it was worth the revenue earned that would sacri- fice their teachers life so a pot head could get high? Is it OK to put the value of money above the value of life? Should children go hungry because their parents bought pot with their grocery money so California could get revenue? I urge voters to seriously consider the consequences and vote against making the sale of marijuana legal in our neighbor- hood, in our community, in our town, in our wonderful state of California. Lois Jolene Cosby, Corning Another thank you to Sheriff Editor: I think everyone of us who had nightmares when we found out that a potential murderer was about to be released into our community, should write a letter of thanks to our sheriff. Thank you Clay Parker for not only spending hours on the phone ensuring that this person was not released into our com- munity, but for all the other times you stood up to those willing to destroy our little com- munity all in the name of toler- ance. Just how much are we supposed to tolerate? I myself refuse to become a puppet to today's way of think- ing. It is unfortunate that most people feel that everyone should be tolerant of others' behaviors. Well, I cannot live within that gray matter. To me there is right and wrong, black and white, dark and light. I prefer to live in a light where the murderers stay in jail, abusers are prosecuted, addicts are given rehabilitation until they are completely free from drugs and Godly values rule each and every household. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for less than what takes place now in America. Tolerance will be the death, not the renewing, of America. Mark my words, judgment day is coming, and when it does, you better pray that you have someone as good as Clay Parker Your Turn enforcing the law in your town. So thank you Clay Parker for not tolerating what another county was willing to do to our county, that of placing their con- victs here among our children and ourselves. Keep up the good work. It is my prayer that the next sheriff will do the same. Bonnie Roberts, Red Bluff Passing the lack of bucks Editor: So now we have a governor — on the floor kicking and screaming like a bratty kid — saying he won't sign a budget unless he gets everything he wants, no negotiations. Doesn't matter about our cities, counties, schools, fire- men, policemen, elderly, any- thing. He will just walk out and leave it to the next governor — meanwhile the state finally slides over the edge. And I thought the state Legislature was the worst. You better pray the next governor, whoever it is, truly has the state and its citizens in their best interest. Oh you don't believe in prayer — maybe you better reconsider that. Thelma Longo, Los Molinos 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. Sacramento, North Commentary I had coffee with Sam the other day. We had a lot of catch- ing up to do since I have been in and out of town, and Sam had been in Sacramento for an extended stay. “Is it true,” he asked,”we don’t have Sacramento to kick around anymore?” “That’s right,” I replied, “we have gridlock, right here in Red Bluff. Our City Council and the “stakeholders other than the general public” are not able to come to any kind of agreement regarding who should pick up the cost of traffic control for special events.” “You’re kidding.” “Wish I were, but it’s true. Councilmen Brown and Carrel made a proposal, but it got nowhere. A representative of the Fair Board stated this motion went against the spirit of cooperation expected from the stakeholders, excluding the real stakeholders, the citizens of Red Bluff. Of course her definition of cooperation is “you agree with me.” We are fortunate, however, because there doesn’t need to be a decision until this fall.” “Why is that?” “Well, allegedly the Monster Truck event will take place in October after the District Fair in September, barring any unfore- seen problems. Of course, if some pot festival or magic mushroom event comes to the Fairgrounds it might force some action, but probably not.” “Are there some ideas for finding funds?” “An increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax has been pro- posed, but “stakeholders” shot that down and the City Council was apparently afraid to impose additional taxes in the face of opposition. Besides, according to the Fairgrounds’ website over ninety-eight percent of Fair- ground visitors travel less than 100 miles round trip to come to events. That means a radius slightly beyond Willows, Chico, Lake Shasta City, and Platina. Half of those visiting the events travel less than twenty-four miles round trip. Not much hotel traffic from that kind of a crowd. It doesn’t seem right to me to have non-Fairgrounds vis- itors paying for traffic control at the Fairgrounds.” “Tell me about the Transient Occupancy Tax.” “Revenue and Taxation Code 7280 et seq allows governmen- tal entities to ‘levy a tax on the privilege of occupying a room’ in a hotel, or the like. Rates vary throughout the state. In Red Bluff the revenue from this tax has been below budget in the last two years. The average statewide rate for this tax was nine and one half percent in 2009, with Anaheim charging the highest at fifteen percent. The rate in Red Bluff is ten per- cent, which is about the same as surrounding cities. Receipts were as high as $619,203 in 2008, but fell to $430,237 in 2009.” (According to California City Finance.com and the City Budget posted on line.) “I read in the paper that one of the incum- bents made a statement essentially accusing the City Manager of hiding money in the budget. I believe it was a million dollars.” “Well, “I said, “the money was never there to hide, so hiding is the wrong verb.” “If there is distrust between council mem- bers and the city administration it will breed real problems. Did they ever resolve the issue about Parks and Recre- ation layoffs?” Joe Harrop “The council seemed to have misunderstood what they had voted on; I am not sure why they didn’t ask before they voted, but they are not the only public representatives who don’t seem to understand what they are doing from time to time. Most boards I have partic- ipated on require some discus- sion before a vote; some even require all motions in writing before the vote.” I continued, “Don’t worry, however, the Chamber of Com- merce has anointed the Con- vention and Visitors Bureau to step in and sort out the situa- tion according to the Red Bluff Daily News. I am not sure if they will be meeting as an interim City Council, or acting like the Grand Jury, just trying to figure out how much the two percent of visitors to the Fairground who come more than fifty miles one way should pay for traffic control. It does sound a little like the threat of a coup, however.” “It will be nice to have someone in charge. I wonder how many of us stakehold- ers the Convention and Visitors Bureau will be asking to help, or if we will have to attend City Council en masse to defend us from all of their help.” Our questions could go on and on. Meanwhile we have no City budget, the City Council cannot afford to hire a commu- nications consultant so they can learn to talk to each other, fin- gers are being pointed, and employee groups are being asked for additional conces- sions. The usual suspects in Sacra- mento are taking a deep breath because, at least in Red Bluff, they are not the only elected officials looking foolish. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.