Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/162825
4A Daily News – Saturday, August 31, 2013 Opinion 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. Response to letter Editor: This is in response to the letter submitted by Fred Boest. Although he made some good point, I have to point out that the 2 fatal accidents didn't happen at Sherwood Boulevard. The latest one involving Katie Ramsey and her son, Gunner, was when she was attempting to turn onto Sherman Street. The other one was about 3 years ago at Palm Street when they had the cement turn lane island. I have lived here all my life and do not recall a fatal accident at Sherwood, but I may be wrong. But the idea of shutting off Sherwood at the highway is not really a solution. The best solution is obviously people slowing down and paying atten- tion. But since that won't happen anytime soon, what we need is a turn lane that extends from Palm Street down to Englehorn. Had there been a turn lane, this latest tragic accident would not have happened. I live right in that area and know first hand how scarry it is to sit there waiting to turn on those streets and seeing cars flying up behind me. A turn lane will avoid that for the many that use these streets. We also need a 35 MPH speed limit sign there at Sycamore and South Center to remind people that the speed limit has not gone up yet. People fly heading out of Los Molinos, starting right at that corner. A part of that is due to the fact that the speed used to increase to 55 MPH at that point. Another reason for fast dri- ving is that the speed on 99 have speed traps at random from Los Molinos to Chico is locations even once a month, it 65 MPH for most of the might make people think a little. trip. The speed should No one wants to never have been Your see anyone else hurt increased without the or killed, so please road being widened to slow down, pay 4 lanes or more passing attention and be lanes. There are too safe. many big rigs that Shawna Chrasta, aren't supposed to go above Los Molinos their posted speed of 55 MPH as well as slow drivers. People end up getting impatient and taking risks. Editor: There are many changes that I find it amusing Mr. Minch need to be made to this highfeels he had his 15 minutes of way to keep motorists safer, but that biggest step would be for fame because his daughter is a people to leave a little earlier, casual acquaintance of Robin slow down, pay attention and Williams. I have a close friend who especially stay off their phones. occasionally plays golf with I do completely agree, however, that being able to get more Tom Hanks' mother. She lives patrol on 99 East might help a in Red Bluff. Does that mean I also have little. I know our CHP are my 15 minutes of fame? stretched thin, but if we could Jack Martin, Red Bluff Turn Fame 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. 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Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Making decisions There were a lot of things to think about this week. That makes it difficult to decide just what to write about. I wondered just what might happen next in the confrontation with Syria over chemical weapons, and how our ever complicated role in the Middle East will reverberate throughout that region and across the world. Israel is reported to be on high alert with its anti-missile defenses at the ready. Do world leaders have enough information to make a careful decision? Will we be drawn into more conflict? Are all the dominoes about to topple? We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech and the march on Washington for jobs and justice. I've written about my remembrance of that event while stationed near Washington. While the promises the speech elicited are still a work in progress, the speech itself remains a powerful inspiration for many of us. The anniversary makes it a good time to see Lee Daniels' The Butler, a recent movie release that tells the story of a White House employee; the story is set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement and covers the time period from 1957 to 2004. One news commentary caught my eye yesterday. Economics reporter S. Mitra Kalita is forecasting at least five more years of slow growth for our economy. Her logic seems sound. If she is correct, and her data look convincing, it does not portend well for Red Bluff which is adrift while trying to navigate the fiscal currents impacting it. City management has touted the new sales tax revenue sure to come from the Auto Zone store locating on South Main Street. I have not seen the numbers, but we already have a seemingly saturated auto parts sector in our local economy. My guess is most sales tax generated from Auto Zone will be offset by sales tax decreases from other retailers...unless it is such a big draw that people will come from out of the area to shop there. I don't think that folks go out of their way to buy auto parts, particularly if their vehicle isn't working properly. (Property tax revenues will increase marginally from the new store.) City management also has made prognostications about the revenue to be had from the Super Wal-Mart when it is completed over a year from now; no one is sure who will forego the trip to Anderson to shop here or how many living in Corning, Los Molinos and environs will come to Red Bluff rather than Chico, but some surely will. Others dream of new retail stores in the old Wal-Mart building, stores that will attract those who trek to the Super-Center to spend more money. There are similar hopes for the abandoned CVS, formerly Longs Drug, building in Belle Mill Landing. Retail growth depends on income growth, income growth depends on job creation, and right now those two things are not happening here. If we could lure people to retail shopping in our community, we might improve local income, but shoppers only travel some distance because of something that is different and particularly attractive. People in Chico and Redding already have saturated retail offerings. Kohl's, Target, or other large retailers might be nice for us to have, but the demographics and location do not make Red Bluff a likely site. The Branding folks are correct in trying to make Tehama Country a Peak Experience, a place where people want to visit. Those trying to spruce up the old problem very well. He gets right downtown on Main Street have to the point. Our water delivery the right idea: generate some system is in need of an local business, but also provide a upgrade/replacement but the City Council was precozy and tasteful retail sented with only a experience for the visiproposal to purchase tor. Corning is right in chlorination equipproviding signage to ment so the City could help the visitor around respond quickly when town; visiting there is the next bad water test more enjoyable than arrived. No alternaever. tives were presented, City management so the Council had claims the whole just a simple up or uninviting mess at the down vote, in this south entrance to Red case a non-vote. Bluff will be taken care Joe Although replacof when the new Waling/upgrading the Mart project starts. water infrastructure There are other may cost more than deferred items that also chlorination, City detract from our appearance to the visitor. I have Council was not presented with received many emails with lists, that option, nor was it given any and a recent Tuesday column cost or time estimates. Somehighlighted, I mean "low light- one told the Council replacing ed", the condition of our River the aging delivery infrastructure Park, which was once a proud was infeasible. One person in signature experience on the the audience commented that replacing the old delivery sysshores of Lake Red Bluff. Tonight's free movie in the tem was like exploratory park is an example of how vol- surgery. Would Council's unteers, banding together, can make a difference. These efforts decision/indecision have been require a positive attitude and a the same with all the facts on few funds, and they will make the table? Were they holding out the park a better place by the for a plan to replace/repair the delivery system? Stay tuned. people they draw to the movie. City Council and City ManThe movie night is one reason why I believe Red Bluff agement need to get their act people are resilient; and with together to help us be aware of leadership we will make it what we can and cannot do, through the next five years, but establish clearly articulated goals, and let us know what we we need some direction. Last week I wrote that it is can do besides complain, and necessary for us to know exact- we can do more things to highly what the condition of the City light the character of our comis. Both City Council and City munity, like the movies in the management need to step for- park ward and candidly tell us what Joe Harrop is a retired is possible and what needs to be educator with more than 30 deferred. Robert Jackson's letter to the years of service to the North editor last Thursday about our State. He can be reached at water problem articulates this DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop