Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/8635
6A – Daily News – Saturday, April 3, 2010 Opinion Grave robber 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 Editor: I would like to take this time to thank the Adam Hennery that took the lighted humming bird from my wife's grave. 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 I did not think that there were people that low, but I guess I was wrong. It was not much, just something to brighten up the area and it was her favorite thing. And by the way, the stinking red rose you left in its place does not even start to compen- sate for it. Delbert Mackey, Red Bluff Conservative or extremist? Editor: Why is it when the liberal media refers to the Tea Party they are either Ultra Right or Right Wing extremists? On the other hand, when referring to the Obama administration and the people around him and those he appoints as Czars are just Democrats or Liberals, never Socialists or Communists or Anti-Semites? What is the difference between the Tea Party member and a Democrat or Liberal? The Tea Party member protests by marching, carrying signs, shout- ing and making phone calls to their representatives in Washing- ton D.C. Some of these calls may seem a little obscene and threatening however, anybody who went through boot camp when joining the military (at least in my day) has had just as bad or worse yelled at them or a fellow recruit, no violence ever followed, that I know of. For instance, the staged march (by the Pelosi entourage with body guards surrounding them) through thousands of Tea Party members could not provoke any violence. Many in the current adminis- tration and those supporting or surrounding it, are most likely linked to or have had experience in protesting or demonstrating in the sixties and seventies. Such as the Weather Underground, the Black Panther Party, the Black Muslims, the Chicago 7, and all those college protesters that took over the universities. How much real violence, bombings, destruction of property, loss of life, and looting took place when these “Liberals” protested. Within the last year or so, here locally, when businesses were either down sizing, some closing their doors and laying off the work force here and throughout the entire state, our Tehama County Board of Super- visors gave the county employ- ees a raise. Then they gave some elected officials and department heads a raise of as much as ten thousand dollars annu- ally. Of course, this is peanuts compared to what the State of Cali- fornia is doing and that is peanuts as to what the Obama Administration has done in just one year in office. All this is done to the working class Amer- ican (the Tea Party) without any destruction of property, violence or looting. How amazing is that? Les Wolfe, Red Bluff Negative like a fox Editor: Before ever hearing of Bill O'Reilly, the primetime agitator from Fox News, my family had the pleasure of taking in an older basset hound burdened by failing eyesight that the previ- ous owners had affectionately named "Bill." After observing the aging mutt's demeanor for a short time, we noticed that the loyal tail-wagger had the well-intend- ed but annoying habit of wanti- ng to lick the face of anyone giving friendly acknowledg- ment of his presence. Your Turn Reminiscent of our long departed pet, and though admitting he doesn't understand the measures recently passed by Congress concerning the health care dilemma, the "two-legged Bill" continues to slobber his blind negativity all over the efforts made by the Obama administration to deal with the excessive cost of med- ical treatment in this country. As reform legislation winds its way through the tedious political process, it might be beneficial if the Fox News producers would muzzle their rabid newshound and afford the public an opportu- nity to pay close attention to the "yeas and nays" that will be cast by elected hand shakers on future, bottom-line amendments, as opposed to listening to the con- stant anti-Obama drool coming from the maw of the loud watch- dogs that hang out at a shelter provided by Fox News. Rodina Turner, Los Molinos Your officials 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. Strategic marketing for our county’s future Commentary There has been a lot of talk lately about branding Red Bluff in order to encourage visitors and stimulate our economy, to give it an identity that makes it attractive to potential visitors. That talk was brought about by the 115 page Tourism Strategic Marketing Plan Update released in November; the report states that "Tourism is literally the front door of [our] economic development efforts." It further states that tourism is "entry level jobs and lifetime careers." I obtained a copy of the report on line from the Chamber of Commerce Web site. This week I want to comment on the data section of the report; next week I will comment on some of the plan recommendations. I have two concerns about the Plan Update. The first concern is the quality of the Plan, and the second is the focus. I believe promoting tourism is important for a lot of reasons, but I also think that claiming tourism is the "front door" for economic devel- opment in our county is an over- statement. This self serving update was prepared by Integrated Market- ing Systems, a firm employed to prepare the original 1997 plan. While the firm ecstatically pro- claims its plan has been a dra- matic success, the report is actu- ally a good example of data analysis gone astray. If a gradu- ate student of mine had submit- ted the Update as an assignment, I would have returned it for a serious rewrite. Although claiming success, the report does not link plan activities to any claimed increas- es in tourism; none of the charts or graphs even correlate specific efforts with increases, yet alone spell out any cause and effect. One could just as well claim that any growth is due to the presence of the Shasta Cascade Wonder- land Association (SCWA), which also promotes tourism in Tehama County, or the phases of the moon. The report exaggerates suc- cess. For example, Table 1 on page 5 lauds the change in Tehama County's share of Tran- sient Occupancy Tax (TOT) receipts because it increased from 4.69 percent of all receipts within the SCWA to 4.80 per- cent. In other words its share increased by 0.11 percent. As my son would say, "Big whoop." This translates into a growth of $12,869 over a 10-year period, or less than 21 cents for each of the 61,709 inhabitants the report estimates for our county. Adjust- ed for inflation, this would be 16 cents per capita, and the gross amount less than $10,000. If that is a success, then the standards for measuring a success have been lowered. In a similar manner the report touts the increase from 4.22 per- cent share of SCWA taxable sales to 4.37 percent as a suc- cess; this is an increase of $11,581.54; adjusted for infla- tion it is $8,977.93, or less than 15 cents per capita. The Update pats itself on the back, and it affirms that "by all tax and employment indicators, the Red Bluff Tourism Market- ing Program is working remark- ably well — exceeding statewide averages as well as the more rel- evant neighboring counties, which share a regional marketing program through Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association and the California Welcome Center in Anderson." The update claims that the cumulative change in Transient Occupancy Tax receipts exceeds the statewide growth rate between 1997 and 2007; however, in seven of the 10 years covered Tehama Coun- ty lagged behind the state growth rate. There are math errors in the report. In Table 4 the report claims a growth of 5.77 percent in TOT from 2006 to 2007; based on the numbers in the report, the actual number is 3.56 percent. Using percentage as a measure, the table exaggerates by 61.6 percent, but doing that would be another misuse of math. Table 7 is really full of errors. Whoever put it together did not realize that you can't add togeth- er percentages to get an overall percentage over time. To do that correctly, one must take the start- ing value and ending value and compare them. In this case the Update writer understates the growth in TOT substantially. In Table 6 which indicates growth in per capita travel spending the Plan Update states there has been an increase of 39.05 percent over the 10-year period. If you adjust for infla- tion, then the result is only 7.8 percent; using the Plan's own formula this amounts to a mere 0.78 percent per year, a marginal amount at best. Joe Harrop Later in the report the firm states that it is very difficult to show the effects on employment. The average unemployment rate for 1997 was 7.4 per- cent, that for 2009 was 14.1 percent. The Plan Update does not speak to the unemployment issues of Tehama County, but a recent state press release indi- cates it has increased to 17 percent in February. My major concern, aside from the self serving nature of the update and its math problems, is that tourism will not bring in the jobs our county needs. Of the current labor force in Tehama County, less than five percent are employed in what is classified by the Employment Development Department as "hospitality and leisure." It seems highly unlikely that growing this segment of our economy can be leveraged to bring long term economic relief to the majority of our population. We cannot grow our county's economy on entry level jobs. I am not sure what the Plan Update cost, but the data section of the Plan is probably not worth the ink I used to print out my copy. If we are going to invest in the future of our community, we should be sure we get our money's worth. More next week. 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.