Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/36123
6A Daily News – Saturday, July 9, 2011 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 Colony collapse Editor: Do you wonder why bees are dying? This may be one prob- lem: Last Wednesday at approx- imately 8 p.m., a Vector Control vehicle came through my neigh- borhood spraying. 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 After realizing that it was Vector Control, I drove around the area to find the vehicle to find out what it was that was being sprayed. The driver showed me a sheet labeled KONTROL 4-4. After investigating a little about the chemical ingredients I see that the main ingredient, Permethrin (also an ingredient in many other commonly used chemicals used throughout the US), is highly toxic to honey- bees, fish and aquatic inverte- brates. It's also toxic to cats, dogs, and has some other effects on cattle and probably horses, according to the documentation easily found on the Internet. The data sheet says, "Do not allow spray treatment to drift onto pastureland, cropland, poultry ranges or water sup- plies." I live in a diverse area where people have pasture, chickens, cattle, horses, dogs, cats, etc. It is also considered a possible human carcinogenic. Another one of its ingredients, piperonyl butoxide, enhances its effective- ness. I frankly do not want this or any other chemical sprayed around my neighborhood. Bill Reese, Red Bluff Shocked Editor: I can't help but be bothered by the fact that someone was arrested for having sex with a child 3 years or younger and has a bail of $15,000, yet a person arrested on a battery of spouse has a $50,000 bail. What the hell is going on in Tehama County? This seems like a problem to me but maybe I'm trippin’. Wow. I'm disgusted right now. Wonder what that's about? Kara Love, Red Bluff City Pool Editor: The "City Pool" as we called it as kids has been a very spe- cial place for my family. When I was very young I took swim lessons at the pool. This was before the remodel and the filter system was added. So the pool was emptied and cleaned every Monday and drained and refilled on Thurs- day nights making the water Your Turn very cold on Tuesdays and Fri- days. Sometimes on Fridays the pool was being filled during the swim lessons. My brother, sisters and I swam AAU racing (Tritons) from 1960 until 1973. My youngest sister start- ed racing at 5 years old and finished when she turned 18 years old. I was a part-time mainte- nance employee during the summer of 1968. I cleaned the pool, deck, dressing rooms, maintained the filter and chem- ical balances. I was also a lifeguard from 1972 through 1974. I met my future wife during the summer of 1972 at the "City Pool" while working. Our 37th wedding anniversary will be in January 2012. John Woods, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, 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. Small town civics lessons Commentary In a room populated almost exclusively by people who pro- fessed profound empathy for the homeless in our community the City Council maintained its perfect record for finding excuses to pre- vent the establishment of a home- less shelter in town. After the meet- ing supporters of the shelter were reciting a new rhyme: Forrest Flynn just caved in. We attended the City Council meeting at the Community Center Tuesday night. We arrived about fifteen minutes before the 7 p.m. meeting, greeted by a full parking lot. In the lobby supporters of the proposed PATH homeless shelter were passing out white tee shirts with “Be Part of the Solution” printed on them. Seats were at a premium when we entered the meeting area, and just like coming late to church we had to sit in the front row. The Pledge of Allegiance went well, and then things got a little murky. Mayor Carrel made it clear that the first part of the meeting was for members of the public to address the Council about items not on the agenda. The first speaker talked about creating a year round ice hockey venue in Red Bluff; that was certainly not on the agenda for the evening, particularly on a day that had temperatures in the triple digits. The next two speakers apparently did not hear or under- stand the Mayor’s explanation, or perhaps they felt the instructions did not apply to them. Each pro- ceeded to state his opinion about the proposed ordinance that would allow for the PATH shelter to be built at 320 Breckenridge. I knew it was going to be a long evening, and that it was a mistake not to have eaten before the meet- ing when Scripture was used by both speakers to justify both help and neglect of the homeless popu- lation. Mayor Carrel was indulgent and polite, and did not tell the two speakers they were jumping the gun. The Mayor asked for a show of hands to see how many might be for and against the proposed ordi- nance. The show of hands was overwhelmingly in favor of the ordinance change, 252 to 63. The Mayor then said that each side on the issue would give a pre- sentation, and after that individuals would be given opportunity to pro- vide their input; he emphasized it was important that those individu- als limit their presentations to new considerations not previously pre- sented, and presentations would be limited to three minutes. Most speakers were able to avoid pre- senting any new materials and were allowed to ignore the three minute limitation even when gen- tly reminded time was up. The last speaker finished at 9:45. Those official speakers for the project included about five persons who provided background on the project, its relationship to house values, details of the proposed facilities, the roadblocks presented by the City Council over the last several years, and the need for the shelter. We were led to believe that this presentation would be about 20 minutes, but one member of the audience walked up to the mike to speak against the proposal before the presentation was complete. He seemed a little confused and impa- tient, mumbling something about equal time for “his side,” but he did step back from the inadequate microphone when asked. Speakers for and against the project reported on their deep feel- ings for those who are homeless; so much empathy has never been witnessed in one room at one time. What the two sides seemed to dis- agree about was the proportion of homeless people who are on drugs, are child molesters, have chosen to be homeless, or are graffiti artists. Those who were against the pro- ject used the epithet “transients” quite frequently. Of central focus to the oppo- nents of the rezone was the poten- tial demise of both Forward Park and Sam Ayers Park because those who were housed at the shelter would surely hang out in those public places and ruin them for the rest of us, a supposi- tion never substantiated. Some forecasted the demise of downtown as well. The project is approx- imately one half mile from the Sacramento Discovery Center School, conveniently close for child molesters who possibly could be housed at the shelter according to those opposed to the shelter’s proposed location. Given the fact that the shelter would not admit child molesters, it was unclear if those miscreants would hang out by the schools if there was no shelter or if they are currently hanging out now, or if the shelter would provide an incentive for their activities. Jesus was cited as an inspiration on both sides of the issue. It was refreshing to see so much faith in evidence. foreseeable kind would result from the rezone; he seemed to be saying the council was not omniscient, merely human, as demonstrated by the decision a few minutes later. Using Schmid’s logic, of course, the Council would never make any decisions that would impact the status quo because of the law of unforeseen conse- quences. Joe Harrop Councilman Brown seemed to repeat the logic he used for his vote on Feb. 15, and Councilman Flynn seemed to equivocate on his Feb. 15 vote prior by affirming those who had used “child safety,” “neighborhood val- ues “and “sexual offenders” in their presentations. Mayor Carrel said he still believes the project would be a step up for the area pro- posed. Those against the project used knee jerk terms like “sex offend- ers” and “child safety” almost exclusively. Those for the project spoke of “hands up” and “reclaimed lives,” but never did claim they were about rehabilitat- ing child molesters or drug addicts or any homeless individuals who did not want to improve their con- dition. It seemed unclear to me why so much time was being spent to paint a fear picture of people who were not going to be served by the PATH shelter. After a brief intermission at 9:45 the council reconvened. Councilman Schmid told the coun- cil it had to consider that finding number five on their agenda required the council to declare that no negative consequences of any Councilman Schmid had trou- ble phrasing a motion. He started out by asking the council to vote not to do something. When a mem- ber of the audience asked how the council could vote not to do some- thing, and the city counsel talked to the council, the motion was changed to disapprove the pro- posed ordinance. The vote was three to two; two who supported the motion kept eye contact with the audience; the two who voted no kept eye contact as well; one coun- cil member avoided eye contact. Schmid’s and Brown’s votes for the motion were audible and easily heard by all; Carrel’s and Jackson’s vote against the motion were as well. Flynn’s vote was not immedi- ately heard by anyone except the mayor. 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.