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4A Daily News – Saturday, November 23, 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. Survivors of Suicide Day Editor: I am a survivor of suicide loss. My daughter, Suzanne, died by suicide at the age of 19, leaving behind family and friends to struggle with the grief and all those questions that begin with why? Since that tragic day, I have learned many things that I hope will be helpful for other survivors. First, I learned that everyone grieves differently, even within your own family. I had heard this said many times, but never truly understood it until I witnessed it. Be patient and understanding with yourself and your loved ones. I also learned that while suicide is typically the result of a complicated mix of cir- cumstances, the main ingredient is almost always an underlying mental illness. Research shows that more than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable — but not always recognized or treated — illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol or substance abuse, or some combination. Lastly, I learned that survivors can often feel as if no one really understands what they're going through. I am here to say you are not alone. In fact, research shows that more than 80 percent of us will lose someone we know to suicide during the course of our lifetime and more than 20 percent of us will lose a family member. Misinformation and the stigma that unfortunately still surrounds suicide can leave many survivors feeling guilty and ashamed, as if the suicide was somehow their with an online chat immedifault. Many feel misunder- ately following the program. The film will then be saved on stood and abandoned. To help survivors cope, the the site for viewing anytime American Foundation for Sui- and available with French, Spanish and closedcide Prevention captioning subtitles. (AFSP) has develYour As a Tehama oped a program that County resident, a creates a safe and fellow survivor and welcoming place for co-chairman of the survivors to come Greater Sacramento together for a day of healing, support, information, Area of the AFSP, I would and sharing. More than 300 like to encourage anyone International Survivors of bereaved by suicide to particiSuicide Day events will be pate in our local event. Please held all around the world on visit www.afsp/greatersacraSaturday Nov. 23, including mento for event details. You may also want to visit right here in Red Bluff. Each event features a 90- www.afsp.org to find local minute film of survivors and support groups, helpful books mental health experts sharing and other resources available stories, support, information, to help you and your family in and heartfelt advice. The film the aftermath of a suicide. is shown at 10 a.m. and will And please remember, you are also be available online at not alone. Mike Gonzales, Red Bluff www.afsp.org/survivorday Turn 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. 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Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary City Council delays and budget deficits I had to give up my ticket to the Kingston Trio performance at the State Theatre Tuesday night so I could attend the City Council meeting; fortunately the meeting was actually entertaining, if you like contrasts. The leaf burning ban ordinance came up again for a vote. The comments from the citizens were in two categories. The first category was composed of the five citizens who cited scientific research, documented actual leaf burning practice in Red Bluff, and had pictures of the pollution those burns caused, pictures of unattended fires with no water hoses visible, and pictures of fires far in excess of the size allowed under current city law. Each picture was taken since the last indecisive meeting two weeks ago. One citizen commented that it was in the council's hands to improve the image of our community without major expense for a change. The second category included two who spoke out against a ban on leaf burning. The first didn't seem to know that the garbage company will pick up leaves in proper containers, no matter how many containers one has, and at no additional cost. He also complained about the noise that leaf blowers would make if everyone just blew their leaves from here to there and back again instead of burning them. He mumbled something about "Obamacare" as well. The second speaker was younger, and made sure we knew he had a copy of the Constitution in his back pocket. He told the council that matters like leaf burning should be decided by the people; that is what "We the people" is all about, he claimed. We have majority rule, he said, and the majority, not City Council should decide. I guess he meant this should not be decided by the council even if a majority of us voted to give them the responsibility to keep us safe and run an orderly city. In my view the council would be glad not to decide about anything. No one commented to that speaker about the practicality of having a town meeting to vote on all city ordinances, but our young commentator added the Fifth Amendment protects us from being "deprived of our life, liberty or property without due process of law." I wasn't sure if he was worried about Green Waste taking leaves improperly, or if he was implying we have the "liberty" to poison the air we all share. When it came time for the council to react to public input Councilwoman Jackson said she was unwilling to vote last meeting out of respect for the Mayor. She said she had looked around town and considered the fact that leaf pickup is part of the basic waste disposal service, and was ready to vote. Councilman Schmid said he was torn about this issue and didn't think he could vote for an urgency ordinance; he was not clear why air quality and good lungs were a sufficiently minor issue that they could wait another month. In the end he voted against any ban on leaf burning; go figure. Councilman Eliggi reported he had seen unattended fires and fires too large to be in the concrete gutters. Our now present Mayor Brown stated he was for leaf burning because it was legal. He stated it was an enforcement problem, as if he believed the city had sufficient staff to run around citing people for improper leaf burning. Councilman Parker remarked the current ordinance is unenforceable as it stands, because if it is a burn day, you can burn committee as they address the leaves. Brown went on to remark that difficulties of 2014-2015. That the "Air Pollution Control Dis- person also suggested the council develop a plan for trict has more control next year that allows over us than I can the public to underimagine." He comstand the city's plight plained that whereas, and the necessary in the old days, he used reduction in services to be able to burn that will result. whenever he wanted, During this discusbut now he had to call sion Mayor Brown Air Pollution Control may have thought of Officer Alan Abbs to himself in a similar see if it was a burn day. vein to the mayor of Brown mused out loud Detroit, the largest about what might hapJoe U.S. city to attempt pen next…a ban on bankruptcy, as he fireplace burning, a ban calmly listened to the on wood stoves, a ban need for Red Bluff to on large sweetened soft trim about $500,000 drinks. Perhaps he was comparing himself to Mayor from its budget in preparation Bloomberg of a larger East for next fiscal year. Fiscal Manager Ryan portrayed a difficult Coast city. Councilman Parker said the year ahead to a council which council was not considering any has acquiesced to a variety of other measures beyond the leaf spending increases that will burning ban; hypothetical con- likely mean deficit spending for cerns about large soft drinks, etc this fiscal year of at least $300,000. were irrelevant. The bottom line is that the When it came time to vote only Eliggi, Jackson and Parker city has managed to proceed voted for an urgency ordinance, with deficit spending since they but Brown and Schmid voted inherited an ending balance of against it; the measure required $750,000 on June 2012; that four votes in favor. The same will have been reduced to as litpeople voted for a "regular" tle as $62,000 on June 2015. ordinance, which would take This amounts to a "reserve" of place after the first of the year. 0.764 percent, hardly a healthy It was unclear why the people amount and far below governof Red Bluff will have to wait mental standards. Maybe we another 50 days for cleaner air. are Detroit. It will be interesting to see The matter of the budget was another focus for the evening. whether the council, which has At this point the forecasted end- trouble making decisions, will ing balance for next fiscal year be up to the task of a new budis less than $100,000, perhaps get for next year. Of course as low as $62,000. The existing after January of 2014 it can't budget committee members of complain that smoke got in its the council have admitted they eyes. did not pay enough attention to Joe Harrop is a retired certain items this summer when educator with more than 30 the council had to appropriate funds to cover their oversights. years of service to the North A member of the audience sug- State. He can be reached at gested different people on that DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. Harrop