Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6678
6A – Daily News – Monday, February 8, 2010 A MediaNews Group newspaper 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 Opinion Using the phrase "it's best" rais- es the obvious query about "what's best." First, we can agree that access to the proposed National Recreation Area from Highway 36 E at Hog Lake, the Jelly's Ferry Bridge area, and the Coleman Fish Hatchery area of Battle Creek – are not problems. Any increased traffic through the Bend residential area involving (often large) horse trail- ers, caravans of mountain bikers and their vehicles, out-of-area hunting parties and the like, are simply not in the best interests of residents, children and local traffic in that quiet locale. So, let's also agree that no increase in tourist dollars from exposure and promotion of the beauties of the Bend area BLM land is worth destroying the rela- tively bucolic lives and atmosphere of those fortunate enough to reside in Bend. Tehama County's eco- nomic woes will not be solved by such ventures. Other issues raised at the Bend comment meeting, recounted in last Friday's article "Battle for Bend," past incidents of duplicity by BLM, and double-dealing by Senator Boxer with Congressman Herger and county officials, sug- gest extreme caution is needed for the authorizing language of the bill. Frankly, given that Boxer has signaled that Recreation Area sta- tus could be achieved without inclusion in the National Land- scape Conservation System, I would advise against such inclu- sion. Access to necessary funds should be possible with NRA sta- tus alone. It didn't go unnoticed that the comments urging approval, from folks who traveled from Shasta County, seemed to be suspiciously similar in language and arguments. Did anyone else sense we were hearing the results of a coordinated effort to show support, from out- of-county Democrats, for Senator Boxer's bill? Anyway, your con- cerns and opinions about the legis- lation should be sent to your super- visors if you want to make a differ- ence. It was inspiring and gratifying to hear the Pledge of Allegiance recited by the 50 or so that braved the storm in Corning for the inau- gural meeting of the Corning Tea Party Patriots last Thursday. Meet- ings will be on the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Senior Center at 4th Ave. and South St. It was a great, friendly group that has serious potential to affect their community, state and nation by taking an active role to advance 1) Fiscal responsibility, 2) Limited government intrusion, and 3) Adherence to the Constitution. All in attendance seemed armed (with information) and ready to get involved, rather than just get frus- trated. Seeing yet another gathering of patriotic, conservative-oriented cit- izens inconveniencing themselves because they care about their coun- try, and reading some rather ill- informed opinion about the Tea Party movement, I must offer some explanations. First, some thoughts on civility and politeness in political dis- course on these pages: I put no stock in so-called "politi- cal correctness," because simple courtesy is a bet- ter, more reasonable guide. Consequently, socially offensive terms are rightly banned from public utterances out of respect. I need not refer to the words offensive to A f r i c a n - A m e r i c a n s , women, poor whites, eth- nic or national minorities, and the handicapped. Other slang terms, such as the one used late- ly to disparage the Tea Party movement, go over the heads of civil, main- stream folks. Online resources such as Wikipedia or the Urban Dictionary can let adults know more about such things. The word "rag" means a cleaning cloth, but is offensive when referring to head- ware. Chicago trader and cable talker Rick Santelli was among the first to call for another "Boston Tea Party" to protest the high-handed abuse of power by the government. That evolved into the many April 15 TEA Party demonstrations by generally conservative citizens, who, for the most part, understood the meaning of "TEA" to be Taxed Enough Already. As a metaphor for the original Boston event, many incorporated Lipton-style tea bags into their protests. Liberal media pundits and anchors like Anderson Cooper, finding the explanations by lowly citizen-protesters to be less than persuasive, said insulting things like "It's hard to talk when you're teabagging," subsequently apolo- gized for. However, the liberal left seized on such terms to do what those using the word "rag" as a pejorative have done: insult a group in a seemingly benign, but clearly foul way. It's remarkable to me that, at a time when we are all sup- posed to avoid insult- ing others, someone would rationalize that it's just in our minds that those who clearly mean to insult Tea Party members, are in fact doing so. Moreover, after cable hosts like Keith Olberman, as well as President Obama, have used such insults, I didn't think it at all rude to suggest that they might not be enjoying the taste of the tea bags sometimes wielded by Tea Party members, after we helped defeat their pre- ferred candidates. I hope this has been helpful to readers; we're still waiting for that apology from Ms. Bernal. Don Polson has called Red Bluff home since 1988. He can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com. It's best for Bend; latest on Tea Party Commentary N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 Don Polson The way I see it Is blight a right or a fight? There are uncomfortable situa- tions when neighbors see the world from entirely different per- spectives. Moral, political, and personal preferences or differences of opinion can disturb an other- wise peaceful and pleasant co- existence. Some believe the best solution is to quietly suffer and not rock the boat -- apparently I am not among them. Let me begin with an apology to every reader that finds my writ- ing to be offensive and/or conde- scending. I am sorry if I have come across as an arrogant outsider try- ing to dictate how locals should live as this is certainly not my intention or desire. As a Daily News columnist my charge is to share information and express my perspectives to stimulate progres- sive thought and action. Apparent- ly I am being successful, at least insofar as my ability to raise the hackles of those with whom I may disagree or offend. My intention today however is not to focus on what some per- ceive as my verbal blight, but to share a perspective on blight of the more tangible and visual sort known colloquially as an eyesore and legally as a public nuisance. Specifically I'm talking about the properties in our midst that are aes- thetically challenged or literal junkyards having an appearance of disarray, danger, disease, or dis- tress. Far be it for me to decide where to balance the personal free- dom to display, decorate, or con- duct ones affairs with the concerns of our community regarding such choices, but I would hope we can find ways to share such opinions and collectively take actions where it is deemed appropriate. Some readers have told me their concerns about particularly egregious situations where homes and businesses establishments have been abandoned, disabused by vagrants, or are occupied by folks that apparently have limited concern or ability to care about how their property appears to oth- ers. Were it not for the impact this has on the value or safety of adja- cent property and the aesthetic sen- sibilities of the community there should be no cause for concern, but most of us do live in commu- nities where there exists a respon- sibility to others. Unfortunately there is little that those offended by another's property can do in Tehama Coun- ty, short of personally con- fronting the occupants or owners with what could be taken as insulting or embarrassing views that would likely be poorly received, even if the goal is only to obtain permission to clean up their mess. I can't speak for everyone, but it would appear that most just silently suffer while hoping that the property will soon change hands or the tenants will alter their behavior. It seems to me there should be better ways to express and communicate these tensions in a non-confrontational way, much like your letters to the editor, on- line posts, and emails redress my literary transgressions. Admittedly, achiev- ing agreement upon and enforcement of aesthet- ic guidelines is a diffi- cult and subjective task since not all members of a community neces- sarily share the same levels of concern about orderliness and appearances unless pre-exist- ing covenants are in effect – such as in planned or gated communi- ties. The rest of us live by rules of the jungle where the strongest or brashest reign supreme. I would like to suggest what I believe to be a better means of maintaining a happy coexistence. Consider a policy whereby adversely affected community members can anonymously notify owners and occupants of offensive properties with a petition outlining specific concerns. After a reason- able period of time for response and action the petition can be circulated and filed with the District Attorney or other official for moderation. If no res- olution is achieved the petition can take the form of a writ for legal action to satisfy the com- munity desires by plac- ing a lien on the property to pay third parties to mitigate the specified concerns. Hopefully such a process will moti- vate property owners and tenants to act at the early stages, knowing more forceful action will oth- erwise be forthcoming. Please let me know what you think about this and next week's topic: "Walmart Woes or Whoa" on retail super-sizing by sending an email or by posting your comments on this article at www.redbluffdailynews.com. Richard Mazzucchi is a retired research engineer specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. He has travelled extensively and now makes his home in Los Molinos. He can be reached at living-green@att.net. Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point 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. Your officials