Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6768
Thursday, February 11, 2010 – Daily News – 5A 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 Just 9 short months ago, Cal- ifornians voted down Proposi- tion 1D to transfer funds from First 5 to fill state budget holes. The newest budget proposal, once again, asks the voters to shift 50 percent of the tobacco tax revenues out of the First 5 Commission and into various state programs also facing bud- get shortages. The problem: Much of the First 5 funds work to prevent children and families from needing the exact services they are proposing to use the money for. First 5 funds support chil- dren and families: • $60.2 million is going to hospitals and community clin- ics that serve low income chil- dren and provide pediatric ser- vices unavailable anywhere else. More than $10 million is going to oral health services. • $48.8 million is going directly to county public health and social service departments to deliver critical services, including nurse home visiting for at-risk families, child abuse prevention, and support for children with special needs. • $133 million is going to school districts and county offices of education for preschool and other early edu- cation programs targeted to children at greatest risk of aca- demic failu8re – programs that are helping to close the acade- mic achievement gap by closing the school readiness gap. One benefit of the First 5 structure is the use of local commissions. Every county has its own commission, designed to make local decisions and set priorities based upon the specif- ic needs of the individual com- munity. This structure ensures that money trickles down into neighborhoods, funding local programs that enrich our coun- ty and serve our local families. What does this take-away mean for Tehama County? The following partners will be impacted, and their programs will be eliminated or signifi- cantly reduced: • Tehama County Depart- ment of Education – School Readiness program and Annual Provider Recognition Event • Gerber Union Elementary School District – Parents as Teachers Home Visiting pro- gram, KinderCamp, Families and Schools Together program, intensive case management ser- vices, and School Readiness Transition Team • Child Care Referral and Education – Partners for Quali- ty Child Care Program • Northern Valley Indian Health – Mobile Den- tal Clinic Coordination • Los Molinos Uni- fied School District - First Steps Family Resource Center, Par- ents as Teachers Home Visiting program, KinderCamp, Families and Schools Together program, and intensive case management ser- vices, and School Readiness Transition Team • Tehama County Health Service Agency: Public Health Division – Perinatal Substance Abuse Program , Mobile Dental Clinic and Health Partnership coordination • Tehama County Health Service Agency: Drug/Alcohol Division – DADs Program and Perinatal Substance Abuse Pro- gram • Northern Valley Catholic Social Service – Red Bluff and Corning Family Resource Cen- ter network sustainability and coordination • Corning Elementary School District - Parents as Teachers Home Visiting pro- gram, KinderCamp, Families and Schools Together program, and intensive case management services First 5 Tehama funds have already been used to assist the budget gaps. In 2009, the First 5 State Com- mission directed $81.4 million to backfill Healthy Families, ensuring coverage for 200,000 infants and children. In our county, First 5 Tehama: • Increased support for pro- grams addressing child abuse prevention and substance abuse • Increased funding for early childhood education programs • Provided support to exist- ing community-based service providers facing increased demand and reduced resources Rather than taking money away from local control and placing it into the state budget coffers, legislators should respect the voters and continue to maintain First 5 funds to help local children and families get through this crisis. Denise Snider is executive director of First 5 Tehama — Children & Families Commission. No means no 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 Guest View Denise Snider 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 Paving of the recreation area Editor: I am writing to complain about the unforeseen conse- quences of having paved the main rode at the Paynes Creek Recreation area. But let me preface this by expressing my appreciation for all the Bureau of Land Management has done over the past several years to make the area a better place. BLM has installed a restroom, trash receptacles and picnic tables as well a couple of hitch racks for the horses. I'm also aware that it has added greatly to the original 4,000 acres and removed old fencing to make horseback riding, hik- ing and hunting more enjoyable. Yesterday it became neces- sary to walk my horse on the newly paved main road for about 100 feet near Sherman Ranch Road. A car being driven by a young female with three male passengers passed close by me at about 20 mph, startling both me and my horse. As they sped off toward Perry Riffle I hollered at them to slow down. The response I got was a very loud expletive from the occu- pants. I later saw them going the other way and noted that two of the males had tattoos on their arms not unlike parolees from state prisons. Nice people, right? I also noted that most of the six or eight automobiles using the road were traveling in the 30 to 40 mph range, and a couple of those vehicles con- tained what appeared to be undesirables that I have only seen once or twice in the 10 years I have hunted, fished and ridden my horse in this area. I was not in favor of paving this road not only because it was a use of money this nation can ill afford at this time, but because I new that providing such easy access to this wonder- ful area would invite over- crowding and its frequent use by many undesirables. For the most part, the folks who use this area for hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, dog training, etc., have been congenial indi- viduals who respect the land and the rights of others who use it. But now I'm afraid that is going to change unless you add a much greater law enforcement presence at much greater expense to the taxpayer. This is a great area as it stands. The number and type of people who use this land for various activities such as special pheasant hunts for youngsters and women, duck hunting, quail hunting, bike riding, horseback riding, etc. allow it to be easily maintained without great expense. These folks tend to conduct themselves well, pick up their trash and get along with all others using the area in a give and take manner. If BLM continues to attempt to bring in more people in to use this area it will go the way of other areas that the government wanted to improve. We will eventually end up with so many users that the government will find it necessary to impose many new rules, restrictions, regulations, use limita- tions and very likely entrance and special use fee's. Is this where BLM wants to take us. Believe me, I've seen it happen before and it will hap- pen here if it continues along this slippery slope. Please, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Paynes Creek Recre- ation Area is wonderful as it is and all of its users appreciate it and take care of it. It gets lots of use as it as; leave it alone and just maintain it. Les Caldwell, Red Bluff Columnist didn't do his homework Editor: Mr. Mazzucchi, in the Daily News column of Feb. 8, "Is blight a right or a fight?," you apparently proposed a method to provide community output to land owners who are not maintaining their property to standards you or others approve. I think you did not do your homework. In Tehama County, and in our major population centers, there are existing ordinances and procedures in place regarding your concerns. Most jurisdictions maintain Web sites that allow you to look up their ordinances. These Abatement Ordi- nances are generally of two types. The first, and usually the oldest, are for the abatement of trash, garbage, building materials, dilapidat- ed structures and the like. The second, and usually newer, are ordinances are for abate- ment of vehicles, tires and parts. These ordinances usually require a local government agency to send notice to the property owner, with specific procedures as to the details and timing. Then there is an appeal process and finally a noncompliance provision, which usually states that the government agency can order the cleanup, and lien the property for the costs incurred. This implies that failure to pay the costs could result in loss of the property. Of course these ordinances do not address the Constitu- tional issue of government confiscating goods and prop- erty without due compensa- tion. And there have been accusations of officials in some jurisdictions, abusing their authority in order to acquire collector vehicles or equipment at little or no cost. John M. Elko, Red Bluff Your Turn