Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/9232
6A – Daily News – Saturday, April 17, 2010 Opinion Regarding 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 sheriff questions Editor: Mr. Mike Kain doesn't men- tion in his letter to the editor Friday that he's a big supporter for Dave Hencratt for sheriff. Would any answer Sheriff 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 Parker gave to Mr Kain's ques- tions really have been accepted as fact — or truth — knowing Mr. Kain's agenda? From what I hear about Dave Hencratt, he's more open and above board than some of his supporters. Larry Hilbert, Cottonwood We must support troops Editor: I’m writing in hope of gain- ing more awareness about our troops. My nephew was recently deployed to Afghanistan. He was able to call home and put in his wish list. Later, in a conver- sation with his mother, I found out that he and 29 other mem- bers of his platoon do not have sheets or pillows to sleep on. I’m working on donations from friends and family for these items. Please remember our troops are there for us. Because of them, we are able to enjoy our lifestyles. I’m sure that there are other men and women that do not have sheets either. Get involved, make donations to support our troops. Mary Enos, Red Bluff Left should follow the golden rule Editor: Fanning the flames of dis- content is the headline of Maz- zucchi’s column, Positive Point, April 5. He states in his column “the Tea Party move- ment is inciting violent acts targeting Democrats who voted to support the health care reform bill.” When is exposing or telling the truth hate speech? When the truth exposes the lies this administration, the leaders of the Democratic Party and all the buying and selling of the Democrats who prostituted themselves for their votes to pass the health care reform bill. I, not having graduated from or been indoctrinated by Berkeley or Harvard, have to rely on the traditional values and common sense taught me by my parents. So, was it the lies that incited the violent acts or the truth that exposed the lies? This country’s citizens have been lied to, stolen from, their children’s future mort- gaged and their Constitution violated more in just one year than ever before in my three score and 10 plus years. Mazzucchi states “Republican leaders have courted the Tea Party movement.” The Tea Party movement is non-partisan and polls show 40 percent of the movement is made up of Democrats and Independents. The Tea Party movement stands for lower taxes, smaller government, fis- cal responsibility and adher- ence to the Constitution, so naturally more Republicans than Democrats will follow these guidelines. Case in point: find an elected California Democrat in Sacramento that stands for any one of these guidelines or in Washington D.C. for that matter. If you do, it certainly will not be Obama, Harry Reid or Pelosi. Only a liberal progressive would take offense and make a big issue out of Sarah Palin’s comment “Reload” and the cross hairs over a map, while ignoring what happened in Searchlight, Nev., where real Your Turn violence took place. But wait a minute, it wasn’t the Tea Partiers, it was the progressive Liberals that were caught on video directing traffic in the wrong direction. And wait a minute was that an egg in the union member’s hand ready to be launched into the Tea Party crowd? How else would you describe a panel that makes decisions on how much medicine or treatment you receive after a certain age but a death panel? How else could they pass this health care reform bill without cramming it down our throats? After the health care reform bill was passed, Biden dropped the F-bomb saying it was a big deal. The liberals immediately compared it to Cheney’s com- ment to Leahy. There is a tremendous difference between the two comments; the Obama Administration had just done to the whole country what Cheney suggested Leahy go do to himself. I’m calling on all progres- sives to 1) Don’t lie or make false accusations, 2) don’t call people you don’t agree with bigots or homophobes, 3) The golden rule is good, just follow it. Les Wolfe, Red Bluff 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. Planning for economic development Commentary This is the week of the Red Bluff Round Up, and we have been experiencing the unstable weather that usually comes with this event. One year we shivered through Saturday’s events; one year we about had heat stroke; and one year I distinctly remem- ber hearing a “pop” as they pulled a steer up from the mud. Over the years we have had many visitors whom we took to the rodeo and the parade. The first time we went to the Round Up we had my in-laws and all the cousins with us. There was an inebriated cowboy behind us, and he was trying to get into an alter- cation with a Native American sitting in front of us. All eight cousins sat bug eyed at the spec- tacle, not sure what to expect. Fortunately calmer heads pre- vailed and we were able to enjoy the rodeo. In many ways I feel like those young children many years ago at the rodeo. Tehama County and Red Bluff are teetering on the brink of serious economic prob- lems. Not only that, but at a time when they are most needed, the Tehama Economic Development Corporation had to shrink to a mere shadow of itself because of funding limitations. According to the Tehama County Business Attraction and Retention Program Analysis (BARPA) prepared by Chabin Concepts for the Tehama County Planning Department, we have many obstacles as well as many opportunities. This report is far from the cheerleading attempt by Integrated Marketing Systems which prepared a report for the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and which was also released in November. BARPA is fairly real- istic when it describes our county and its citizens and does not dis- tort any data. It shows our zits as well as our beauty marks. BARPA asserts that economic development in our County requires purposeful and coordi- nated effort, not just the serendip- itous hope that visitors will chose to stay here and bring some kind of economic relief. It also states that young businesspeople should be included in the mix of those who work this plan; there are two reasons for this: the “old guard” is not keeping up with the times, and new energy is needed for this effort; along with new energy comes new ideas. Several years ago at the Red Bluff High School commence- ment exercises, the Principal, Joe Pelanconi, gave this piece of advice to the graduates, “Get out of town.” There were two points he was making. There is a world outside of Red Bluff, and our young people should be explor- ing it to gain perspective. The second reason was there were job limitations if they chose to stay. Based on what we read in our local newspaper, our community appears to be experiencing rising violence, domestic abuse, gang activity, driving under the influ- ence, petty crime, and drugs. These are symptoms of chronic unemployment and hard times. BARPA data show clearly that our per capita income in Tehama County is 60 percent of the statewide average; the mean household income is 55 percent of the statewide average (page 11 of the report). Welfare recipients are 8.30 percent of the population compared with the statewide average of 4.99 percent (page 17). We know from state data that the official unemployment rate was 17 percent when last reported; the actual unemployment and underemployment rates are much higher. The Robert Wood Johnson Founda- tion rated Tehama County 50th out of the 58 counties in Califor- nia in quality of life. The above may seem depress- ing, but according BARPA we have potential for additional retail sales within our County which translates to $93.1 million dollars. This is called leakage; each of us who travels to Red- ding or Chico and beyond to shop contributes to this leak of local revenues. The flip side of this problem is that our demo- graphics make it difficult for a vendor or service provider to sell sufficient merchandise/services to be competitive or thrive. When we first came to town there were fine clothing stores on Main Street, and three hardware stores. Penny’s has closed as has Lyon & Garret, Western Auto, Brain- erd’s, Tucker’s, Zuckwieler’s, and others I cannot remember. We have lost Lassen Lumber. This is our reality. Joe Harrop There is another reality; we have a con- siderable number of items that make us attractive to potential businesses. These include available labor, particularly unskilled labor. We also have lots of space, unfortunately not much of which is turnkey ready. We have a large empty car dealer spot on North Main, and if all the litigation ends, we may have an empty store in front of the new Wal Mart Supercenter. BARPA provides specific sug- gestions for helping us work our way out of the economic malaise in which we find ourselves. It makes good reading, and might stimulate some new participants to come forward. You can down- load a copy from the Tehama County Planning Department web site. I hope it will not be another plan kept on a shelf and never used. It will take all of us to make it work. 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.