Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/43818
4A Daily News – Tuesday, October 4, 2011 Opinion Graffiti Editor: 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 There is gang graffiti all over Red Bluff now. Look down Antelope and you see a bunch of new taggings that have recently been put up. 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 What is the town going to do? These people that are doing the tagging need to be sent out on a rail. Get the cowboys, cops, community together and send these delinquents a message that this is not acceptable in Red Bluff, or for any town for that matter. I say take back the town, before it gets worse. Don't just sit by and see if they go away, as they don't. It gets worse, if you let it. Don't let these people destroy a wonderful town. Shannon Ruszczyk, Red Bluff AB 109 Editor: People of California — on behalf of all Tehama County non-violent inmates who are too many to list — come on, wake up. Our prisons are overcrowd- ed and now that AB 109 is in effect and now a law the same people that are responsible for putting so many non-violent people, such as drug offenders, in prison are the same people making all the fuss about non- violent, low level, low custody inmates being released. These same people: law enforcement, district attorneys, judges, probation, etc. are the same people that all lied to get the people of California to think and believe that the three-strikes law would lower crime in Cali- fornia. It's all political BS. That's part of why our prisons are so full. Now here comes Assembly Bill 109 and it's the same old scenario with a different twist, lies. These overzealous DAs, judges and law enforcement are trying to convince John Q. Pub- lic that this bill will cause the state to have to release murder- ers, rapists and child molesters. Come on people, wake up. They say safety for the public is No. 1 priority. Don't fall for that. Paychecks are their No. 1 priority. Being a non-violent inmate myself I'd fall under the release. Let me point out a few facts. I am an addict. I was not out robbing, stealing or causing harm to anyone but myself. I have a beautiful wife, we own everything we have, no pay- ments. We have our own resi- dence. I have and own a newer, nice 4x4 and my wife owns a newer, nice car. We owe no one, but yet because of my addiction an overzealous district attorney, judge and a public defender who should be arrested for claiming to be an attorney, here I sit doing six years. These same three good ole boys would rather waste your tax dollars to send drug offend- ers to prison and allow a murder suspect to remain free to walk among you. Why do the people of California continue to believe these lies? Us non-violent offenders are not killers, rapists or child molesters. For the most part we are just like you with the exception that most are addicts. If the California public wants to continue to throw tax dollars away, at least throw them to help addicts and low level, non- violent offenders. I am from Tehama County and my own defense attorney told me straight out, "Tehama County does not send drug offenders to programs in lieu of prison." Why? This is the same county that knowing- ly allows a homicide suspect to walk among the public, while wasting your leading up to the Court Annex. Couldn't some of that area be encroached for new entrances? I assume the county will buy Your Turn tax dollars to house non-violent offenders. Those of us non-violent offenders would not only like to expose Tehama County but would like to thank you for the welfare and medical benefits that some of our loved ones receive due to your tax dollars while your overzealous elected DA and judges keep us here. David Hodges, Red Bluff Court cost Editor: The Board of Supervisors is hungrily anticipating the sale of county property to the state of California so a new State Court House can be built. The $1.2 million price tag has them drooling. But what is the real cost? The state wants a new build- ing reportedly because the old (newest) Court House Annex does not have enough room for security features deemed neces- sary for modern times. No place for guards, X ray machines, etc. Where is the study that says that security could not be incor- porated in the existing build- ings? There are wide sidewalks the annex court house for a healthy price. Then they will have to remodel the annex to use for county offices. If there is anything left over from the sale, this will quickly be used up by renovations. More than likely the net cost to the county will be much more than received from the state Years ago the sheriffs' department wanted to build a jail out on Walnut Street. The objections were several. Down- town merchants wanted them to stay in downtown, so employees would shop and eat downtown during lunch breaks. The courts wanted the jail next to the cour- thouse so prisoners would not have to be trucked to and from for court appearances. The jail was constructed behind the Court House. Well, after the new court- house is built, then the cry will be for a new jail next to it. Maybe the courthouse will be funded by the state, at taxpay- ers' and court fee payer's expense. Nevertheless, I expect to have to pay additional because there will probably be local use the court system will charge us for. The new jail, that nobody is talking about now, will come. Moreover, most of that cost will come out of yours and my pockets. Tell the county we cannot afford the cost of selling property to the state. John Elko, 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; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Getting things right beyond just writing Commentary Sometimes as a writer I get it right. I appreciate all the positive comments I have received regarding my last piece about my wife, Rena. The best columns are the eas- iest to write – and that one was easy. She asked me why I did it. I told her that if I died that day, I would want her to know how I felt. Over the years, many have been amazed at how we actually met and the circumstances that surrounded our deciding to get married. I was going to tell the story around September 11th because we are a 9-11 couple. If those towers didn't fall, Rena and I probably wouldn't have married a month later. We met over ten years ago on a Sunday in June. I was living across the street from E's Lock- er Room. I played golf that day with some friends and ended up back at E's that afternoon. One of the guys – someone I had never socialized with – suggested we go to Tips to continue the fun. I told him I wasn't overly fond of the idea since Tips was- n't a place I frequented. In 20 years, I think I've been in there less than five times. However, I caved and we went. I remember heading straight to the jukebox. I popped in some quarters and pressed some buttons. My songs filled the room. So, I'm standing there mind- ing my own business in a place I really didn't want to be, and there she was. Rena was with a friend across the room. She was wearing some funky, orange pajamas (and on vaca- tion visiting from Alaska). Her first impression was observing me playing air guitar to Led Zeppelin on a pool cue. It was a match made in heaven. So, she walked over and we met. Rena told me how funny I looked doing my Jimmy Page impersonation; in sarcasm I dropped my nose and raised my eyes at her outfit thinking it quite lame for a social gather- ing. Funny, but I thought I looked cool and she thought she looked hip. From the start, we didn't quite see things the same. I believe we've been thinking that way over the past ten years. Our anniversary is tomorrow, and we will celebrate the union of two unlikely people who met in an unlikely place. We finished that fateful night shooting pool. Rena dropped me off at home, but I made her stop at Food Maxx on the way so I could get her some flowers for being so nice. They were white daisies. I gave her my num- ber and said to call sometime. We hugged and she left with her friends. I never expect- ed to hear from her again for she was going back to Alaska the next day. I was headed home to Los Angeles to visit family and friends. We were two people headed in opposite directions. When I got home a week later, there was a message on my machine; it was Rena. She just called to say "hi" and see what was up. I called back and we talked. From there, every- thing was pretty much a blur. We started emailing and talk- ing on the phone almost every day. The conversa- tions grew deeper and I began to suspect that maybe this unlikely person could be right for me. Pat Gleason Simply Put out. 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. Have a great day. ——— I think she thought the same. To make a long story short, 9-11 came, the towers fell, and we agreed, in the midst of all the uncertainty of that day, to spend the rest of our lives together. She moved and we were married in Ivan and Jean Hansen's back yard a month later. We will go there tomorrow afternoon to reflect on what has been an amazing ride. Sometimes life just works