Letters for April 4, 2002

Non-Chicoan thought
Regarding the Sterling University Housing project ["Projectus interruptus,” Inside view, March 28], Editor Tom Gascoyne wrote, “ The fact is those neighbors don’t want a bunch of students … “

As an editor he should be able to differentiate between a fact, an opinion or altered truth.

Besides, I wonder what prompts Mr. Gascoyne to sound so compassionate toward a developer who, alas, has already lost money in trying to get this project going. He does not usually worry about such things. In fact, the editorial regarding a different development almost sounds like it was written by a different person.

I guess it is OK to cry over milk that has already been spilled. How about keeping it from running over in the first place? Of course that would mean to open your eyes to what is truly going on here and to think like a Chicoan.

Gitta Brewster
Chico

Meghdadi massacre
I am angry. I’m at least as angry as Rick Keene was when that mentally ill transient set fire to the flag on his porch.

After visiting the site of the “Meghdadi Massacre” and reading the newspaper accounts, I am appalled at Andrew Meghdadi’s lack of respect for the law, his neighbors, his community and his land. The audacity of this man is truly disturbing, and I sincerely hope that his punishment is swift, severe and lasting.

In a way, I am not surprised by this tragic event, and as I project my anger I’ll tell you why. Since the majority of our City Council consists of free-market property rights zealots who seem solely intent on serving the interests of their developer and real estate contributors, the climate for slaughtering heritage trees is perfect.

Come November, let the battle cry be, “Remember the Meghdadi Massacre!” Let’s purge the City Council of developer and real estate influence. Let’s build a future for Chico based on respect for good planning, sustainable growth and the long-term importance of the environment.

Dan Carter
Chico

A Meggs man
Your recent cover article on Chico State baseball Coach Lindsay Meggs ["The Meggs Dynasty,” March 21] was outstanding. Over 33 years I have read hundreds, if not thousands, of articles in Chico publications regarding issues and/or individuals (including myself) connected with Chico State. This was the best yet.

Adequate history and context, capturing the essence of the personalities, conflicts, success, and frustration without melodrama, yet still a stimulating and interesting read. Lindsay Meggs has stretched the boundaries of bureaucratic inertia and comfort and of post-adolescent performance and learning. He is my current hero at Chico State.

Abe Baily
Chico

No notice
On March 20 I attended a meeting of the Chico Park Trails and Safety Committee. Based on previous attendance by the public, I was surprised by the lack of participation at this meeting. Only two members of the public spoke, and only three other concerned citizens were in the room.

Before the meeting was adjourned, I commented to Park Director Dennis Beardsley that I had not received notification from his office of this meeting. Judging by the nearly empty room, not many other people seemed aware of it either.

Attendees at previous meetings were given the opportunity of placing their names and addresses on a “mailing list” to be advised of any future park-related meetings. Mr. Beardsley assured me notices were mailed to the approximately 50 people who had requested information. One of the committee members said that my lack of notification should be blamed on the Postal Service.

This letter was delayed pending contacting others whose names appear on the mailing list. None of the seven people contacted (more than 10 percent of the total) had received notification. Neither did I receive notice of the Park Commission meeting held March 25. I find it difficult to accept the suggestion that I should blame the Postal Service. Is it reasonable to believe that the post office failed to deliver mail only to people whom I happen to know? Since the park director volunteered to keep interested parties informed, I feel that the city should honor that commitment.

Elizabeth Tice
Chico

A thanks
We’re proud to know that the people of Butte and Glenn Counties support their local community college, and we want to acknowledge those volunteers who staffed phone banks, placed signs, listened to our message, gave us good ideas and donated their time to pass Measure A.

It takes strong community support and many friends to pass a bond measure.

Now what happens? The process to begin improvements, repairs and new building projects is starting now. We are delighted to start our first phase, including preparations for the new facility in Chico and the Learning Resource Center on our main campus.

We look forward to fulfilling our vision of building new facilities and completing long-overdue renovations so that students can have the training and resources they need to be successful. We will continue to work hard to fulfill the trust that the public has placed in us.

Sandy Acebo
Superintendent/President

Butte College

Media love taxes
Sen. Hillary Clinton, in her first year in Congress, has voted voting for more new government spending than any of her 99 colleagues. Are the newspapers and television companies in favor of more taxes? Do the employees of these organizations enjoy paying taxes? It seems that is the case. If this were a Republican I feel it would garnish a little more news.

Olin Smith
Paradise

Seats of torture
When you get on the brand-new Chico city buses (the ones with the sparkling new LED route signs), you’ll find, just behind the driver’s spring-cushioned seat and above the six brand-new festively colored, cheap, inadequately padded formed-plastic seats, partially occupied by the gray haired and pain wracked, this message posted: “PLEASE OFFER THESE SEATS TO THE ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.”

Why?

Aside from being closer to the door, these new seats are exact clones of all the other new seats on the new buses: hard as rock. With no lower-back support and uniformly shaped fanny dips (for uniformly shaped fannies?).

The busses look like giant rolling egg crates for humans—but egg crates “protect” the eggs.

Being disabled myself, with a degenerative disease of the spine and very close to senior citizenry, I’m no stranger to the “P” word. And the bus being my main source of transportation, I’m forced to ride the new ones. It took just a couple of short trips before the condition I was managing to manage exacerbated with a vengeance.

The seats are brutal. And maybe that’s the point. Four different drivers have told me the seats are there to “discourage” people from riding the bus “all day.” They are meant to be uncomfortable. OK. That’s wrong. Right?

But, given that, what about the special seats, up front, for the elderly and the disabled? Are they meant to be uncomfortable too? Because they are; and worse than that, they’re damaging.

R.A. Garner
Chico