Downstroke

Tough tactics on Labor Day
As usual this time of year, the city of Chico is warning folks that it will mount an increased law enforcement presence on Labor Day weekend. Police, sheriff, Highway Patrol and other agencies will be out in force in and around Chico, especially near the Sacramento River.

The city’s concern is about out-of-control partying and the resultant arrests, accidents and DUIs, as well as the damage thousands of tubers can do to the river banks. Officials are warning there will be zero tolerance for illegal party activity and that people can expect long traffic delays, a DUI checkpoint and glass ban on Labor Day. No alcohol consumption or glass will be allowed at the Irvine Finch Highway 32 river access site.

As a “friendly reminder,” officials point out that suspended driver’s licenses, jail and fines up to $1,000 could result from alcohol-related violations.

Candidates line up
Unless some last-minute candidates filed papers Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 16), the deadline for filing and for this issue of CN&R, these are the candidates who will be on the ballot for seats on the Chico School Board and the Chico Area Recreation and Parks District Board of Directors.

For School Board, incumbents Anthony Watts and Rick Rees are seeking re-election, while incumbent Scott Huber has decided not to run again. Also running are Kathy Kaiser, a Chico State University sociology professor and former trustee for the CSU system; Gene Lucas, an instructional technologist and frequent letter-to-the-editor writer on school issues; and Todd Sturgis, a Chico native and sales manager for a wholesale wine and spirits distributor.

Running for the Chico Area Recreation and Parks board are incumbents Ed Seagle, Jeff Smith and Jan Sneed. The only new candidate is Fred Brooks, a recreation planner/consultant.

Hot bill relief
You’ll be getting a little relief from the heat of high July electricity bills, PG&E announced this week. The giant utility is asking the state Public Utilities Commission to allow it to give all residential customers a one-time bill credit of 15 percent and a 10 percent credit to all other customers.

PG&E calculates that the heat wave in July increased residential customers’ usage by an average of 28 percent per customer—and average bills by 44 percent. Regions such as ours, where summer use is typically higher, saw even higher increases.

The company’s proposal would provide a future credit based on customers’ bills for the July heat storm. PG&E hopes to have the credit available as early as Oct. 1.