Letters for April 12, 2012

More on the mansion

Re “Much ado about the mansion” (Newslines, by Ken Smith, April 5):

I’m upset and angry at State Parks’ false and misleading characterization of the Bidwell Mansion Association. The implication that the BMA was hampered in its ability or derelict in its dedication to keep Bidwell Mansion open is completely untrue.

Since the announcement of the mansion’s potential closing last May, I’ve been personally involved in the “pink postcard” campaign, in which citizens filled out postcards that the BMA mailed to state legislators LaMalfa, Logue and Nielsen, asking for their assistance in keeping Bidwell Mansion open. More than 1,500 postcards were mailed.

In addition, the BMA paid for and distributed “Keep Bidwell Mansion Open” bumper stickers, obtained oversized postcards addressed to Governor Brown and placards stating “Closing State Parks Is Bad for Business,” and provided copies to the Chico Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Chico Business Association. We manned a booth at many community events, including the Thursday Night Market, Patrick’s Ranch, Ice Cream Social, Avenue 9 Paint-Out, Wednesday farmers’ mrket, Facebook Reunion, Fun Run, and more.

Also, because the state did not have personnel to do it, the BMA has for the last 18 months managed the inventory, ordering, setup and display of the “General’s Store” in the Visitor Center.

We are dedicated to keeping the mansion restored and in use as a continuing historical and education resource. That is why the BMA was created.

Gloria Veith
Chico

How much money has BMA raised in the last 10 years through fundraising? As I understand it their assets are from growth in funds. Did the BMA notify its membership that it was without a nonprofit status for 10 months? I don’t think we are hearing both sides of the story here.

Elke Rist
Chico

A dialogue on pot

Re “Why risk it?” (Letters, by Ashley Hardin, April 5):

Why risk it indeed? Yes, Ashley, I totally agree. The problem is county’s policy of no safe access, other than growing. She is given no option.

I would suggest that where kids are involved the county dialogue with the city of Chico for a “public option” that would give these ladies relief from the danger of growing. I must also say that it takes the business out of the medicine.

Her other option is to join the Chico Cannabis Club, which is the fastest-growing option to dispensaries.

This lady was trying to do the best she could, not breaking any laws. The children were not in any danger; that was shameful and inciteful language. The word is open, public “dialogue.”

Joel Castle
Chico

Abusive invasions

Re “Green light for abuse” (Editorial, April 5):

The conservative Supreme Court justices are doing a great disservice to those they are sworn to protect from unconstitutional abuse. By siding with those making a police-state mockery of our legal system with overzealous enforcement of drug possession and presumptions of guilt, they rationalize warrantless searches of innocent Americans.

Considering the difficulty and infrequency of using body cavities to hide contraband, it would seem more likely that innocent persons are subjected to abusive, invasive and demoralizing denial of constitutional privacy and due-process provisions.

Richard Mazzucchi
Los Molinos

It’s the devil’s fault

Re “Mortgage scam fallout” (Newslines, by Tom Gascoyne, April 5):

First of all I want to say: Don’t believe everything you read in the newspapers or hear on the television news. Both of these sources, like law enforcement and our judicial system in this nation, are corrupt and influenced by demonic spirits—yes, the devil.

He (the devil) doesn’t want people to believe that he exists, but he does. He works through people, and people run these institutions, and they are all demonically influenced. The Bible says that the god of this world blinds the minds of those who believe not.

That’s what’s really happening to Mrs. Haynie: The god of this world (the devil) hates her, so he sends his demons who work through people to do his will.

Tom Gascoyne, we bless you in the name of Jesus, and may God have mercy on your soul, as you have been led to assist in doing the devil’s will to persecute God’s people. People who believe everything you read and hear, wake up and know that your government and its laws and law enforcement agencies and courts are not for you, but against you, especially if you are of color. You don’t stand a chance being black with an all-white jury. Mr. Tom Gascoyne, why don’t you report that!

I suppose the devil who influences you will not allow you to tell the truth, huh?

Vince Haynie
Chico

Connelly should apologize

Re “Connelly’s ‘funny’ email” (Downstroke, March 29):

Apparently, Islamophobia is alive and well in Butte County and in the halls of our elected officials. A tiny minority of Muslims would do what is described in the joke (shout anti-American slogans), yet when such images are perpetuated, they contribute to the ignorant perception that such behavior is true of all or many Muslims.

I cringe with shame as I think of my Muslim friends who must endure such stupidity and keep smiling so they won’t be accused of being “anti-American.” Connelly owes Muslims living in Butte County, and all of the residents of this county, an apology and an acknowledgement of the many gentle people of the Muslim faith residing among us.

Emily Alma
Chico

Stop me if you’ve heard this: A guy gets elected to public office. One day he forwards an email containing disgusting content to some folks at work. The email gets forwarded to the media. When asked about the email, the public official downplays its importance by saying “It was just a joke.” You’ve heard it? Yeah, me too.

An elected official who 1) finds racism funny and 2) finds it appropriate to share racist jokes with other county employees has no place in public office.

SHAUNA JONES
Chico

Stay true to employees

The recent news about the contract renegotiations for large grocery store chains like Save Mart, Safeway and Raley’s will negatively affect many people and their families. Raley’s in particular wants to take a huge chunk of benefits away from its current and retired employees.

My father worked so hard for Save Mart for 30-plus years before he retired a few years ago. When he retired he got to keep his amazing benefits for himself and our family. The thought of these companies taking away health-care benefits for retired employees has put my family in a state of panic.

These huge companies are turning on their employees during the hard times of trying to keep up with stores like Walmart. I find this funny because these grocery stores would not be where they are today without their incredibly hard-working employees. They need to take care of their past, present and future workers if they really plan on getting through these hard times and being successful in later years. After all, who is going to continue supporting a company who stops supporting its employees?

Emma Meagher
Chico

Sign the GMO-labeling petition

I would like to urge your readers who have not already done so to support efforts to require that genetically engineered (GE) foods be labeled in California. Many people have already signed the petition to get the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act on November’s ballot. Thank You! If you have not yet done so, please make sure your signature finds its way to a petition before April 22. This is the last day signatures can be collected.

Advanced polls indicate that over 75 percent of Californians support their right to know what is in the food they eat. Thousands of signatures have been collected throughout the state thus far, but we remain shy of the 800,000 signatures needed to ensure this ballot initiative is put before the voters.

The California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act is simply an effort to improve consumers’ ability to make informed choices in the foods they buy. This act would not ban or promote GE foods, only require they be labeled. We have not always required calories and nutritional value information to be labeled on foods, but we do now, and consumers use these labels to make better-informed decisions.

Gerad Dean
Mount Shasta

Find common ground

Re “The great Magalia deer-feeding bust” (Cover story, by Jaime O’Neill, March 29):

I agree that Fish and Game wardens are overzealous in “protecting” wildlife. There are so many egregious examples of unlawful slaughter of wildlife that they are unable to prevent, so they turn the screws on those laws they are able to enforce, in my mind unfairly.

However, there are gun-happy states that allow you to put food out for deer and shoot them when they show up—for example, Texas. The governments in those states do nothing to protect their wildlife. Slaughter is looked on as a good thing. Think Alaska and their overfishing of halibut that is now showing declining stock.

There must be a common-ground, good-sense policy to protect and maintain our nation’s wildlife.

Kathy Sweeney
Chico

Editor’s note: Jaime O’Neill informs us that he was contacted by District Attorney Mike Ramsey, who said he’d read O’Neill’s story and had decided to drop the charges against the author.