Battle-ax

As the editor of the local alternative newsweekly, it’s probably no surprise that, among the hundreds (no exaggeration) of emails that pour into my inbox each day, some are written in high dudgeon.

Often, they are triggered by what’s in the CN&R’s current issue. Of course, there are also the predictable messages calling me a pinko, commie or Marxist—or a combination of those words—and the fill-in-the-pejorative-term variety. Fortunately, I also get my fair share of “good on ya” notes to balance it all out.

When it comes to discussion about homelessness, however, there’s a common thread. I find it in my inbox, I see it all over social media, and it even made it into a letter to the editor in our last issue. The target is basically anyone who dares to stand up for folks who live on the streets.

It goes something like this: “If you care so much about bums, why don’t you invite one to live with you?” I cannot recall how many times I’ve seen or heard some form of this trite argument. Last week, a letter writer suggested that we “liberal elitists” at the CN&R open our office’s restrooms to the “unfortunate.”

The letter was in response to an editorial criticizing an elected official—Chico Mayor Sean Morgan—not only for his record of partisanship and nepotism but also for refusing to agendize discussion on public restrooms. Its author evidently believes that this newspaper should not advocate for the city to provide public restrooms unless we do something similar. Never mind that we’re talking about a taxpayer-funded agency versus a private business.

Thing is, coming up with solutions is going to take actual critical thinking from members of our community. Sadly, a lot of folks aren’t interested in that kind of discussion. Thus far, that includes the members of the City Council’s majority.

We hope that changes during upcoming budget discussions. It’s hard for us to believe that the city can’t figure out how to make a facility that’s literally yards from a police substation safe and accessible round-the-clock.

As we spelled out in this week’s editorial, there are practical reasons to make sure homeless people have access to restrooms at all hours. Another that seems to get overlooked is that withholding it strips people of their dignity. Indeed, that’s a central theme reporter Ashiah Scharaga came upon while talking to local homeless individuals, many of whom didn’t make it into her piece, this week’s cover story exploring the holdup.

We elitists at Second and Flume streets don’t have all the answers, but we do know this: Restroom access has long been a civil rights issue, and it remains one today. Once upon a (shameful) time, “white-only” facilities existed and it was unheard of to have accommodations for those with disabilities. Withholding access is just another form of discrimination—and it’s not going to make homelessness go away.

Anniversary This month marks my fifth year in the chief’s chair at the CN&R. Over the years, writing in this space and the one on the opposite page, I’ve made it a priority to speak truth to power. In doing so, I’ve developed a reputation as something of a battle-ax. I don’t see myself that way, but then again, somebody’s gotta do it.