Letters for February 19, 2015

On pot and fracking

Re “Fracking ban fails” (Newslines, by Tom Gascoyne, Feb. 12):

There are many marijuana users living in Butte County and no oil executives. Yet the majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors obviously does not like medical marijuana growers, whose negative impacts can be mitigated. They obviously do love those who have the money to horizontally fracture and whose destruction of our public water is permanent. Does the Butte County Board of Supervisors represent its residents or the out-of-county wealthy who want our resources and are willing to destroy our agricultural livelihood and our health to get those resources?

R. Sterling Ogden
Chico

Cannabis users fight back

Re “A growing problem” (Newslines, by Howard Hardee, Feb. 12):

The passage of Measure A in Butte County this past November may seem to have silenced the cannabis proponents, but just the opposite is true. A newly formed group, Liberty Rising, has backed a lawsuit brought by medical cannabis patients whose rights to their legally prescribed cannabis are being sorely trampled upon by the implementation of Measure A. We are not sitting idle. We will rise up, speak up and stand up until we have fair measures in place that work for all Butte County citizens.

As the members of the Butte County Board of Supervisors were working diligently to make their measure as restrictive on growers as possible, they were also trampling on the rights of patients to obtain their medicine as easily as other patients go to Walmart and pick up theirs.

Our dispensary was closed down. Our ability to have collectives grow for those who live in apartments and small parcels has been all but eliminated.

The Butte County Board of Supervisors passed a half-million-dollar appropriation for the Sheriff’s Office to harass and illegally enter properties with the intent of eradicating cannabis gardens. I just bet that there are many, many more pressing issues that need the funds.

Anne Murphy
Chico

GRUB needs funds

Many in Chico have been inspired over the past seven years by the GRUB Cooperative. If you have not heard of the GRUB Cooperative, we are what is known as an intentional community. We are at 1525 Dayton Road (The Palms to many old-time Chicoans). We farm together through different projects, including Heartseed Farm, GRUB Grown Nursery, a community garden space and education program, and even a bike shop, Old Spokes Home Chico.

There also are many community workshops and events that take place out here. We strive to be a community asset by sharing this place with the greater community as much as possible. We have been leasing this land all of these years with the intent of someday being able to have it purchased as community space, not privately held land. We are now in the position to be pushed off the land. The current ownership must sell it. So we are reaching out to the community for help to secure this vital piece of Chico history and agricultural land on the Greenline. Please contact us a grubchico.org if you can help financially or otherwise.

Ron Toppi
Chico

Editor’s note: For more on this issue, see Tom Gascoyne’s report on page 11.

Let’s try education

Re “Restrictions won’t do” (Editorial, Feb. 12):

You stated marijuana prohibition’s a losing battle because people will always grow it whether it’s legal or not. You argued Californians instead need to eliminate the profit motive that drives criminals to endanger water and wildlife by growing it on public lands. You alleged legalizing marijuana would eliminate these problems and enrich government coffers.

So long as it’s in demand, I agree some people will always grow marijuana and tobacco, and make alcohol. Accordingly, imposing “punishments” for doing so would be somewhat expensive, destructive and ineffective.

Offenders should therefore be required to attend classes educating them to the injury these drugs cause to public health, wealth and the environment. They should also be taught safer, less-harmful methods for attaining the benefits sought. These would include learning to enjoy people and nature without controlled substances and obtaining affordable prescription drugs from Canada via the Internet.

This, along with reducing the ease of obtaining these substances for recreational use, would likely be a far more effective and socially responsible solution. Legalizing marijuana would only worsen the problem, add new problems, and make subsequent reinstatement of its prohibition more difficult.

Nathan Esplanade
Corning

Context on Ukraine

For anyone with questions about who’s driving the bus into the chaos of the Ukraine, please read the article published in last November’s Stars and Stripes introducing Gen. Frederick Hodges, the newly appointed commander in Europe. Note the headline: “Hodges targets Russia in 1st remarks as USAREUR commander.” Any questions?

William Dewitt
Chico

Cartoons are disrespectful

While I abhor the murderous violence that has taken place targeting creators of cartoons that make fun of the Prophet Muhammad, and I deeply value free speech as a basic freedom, I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would be moved to publish a cartoon of the head of Muhammad attached to the body of a dog, or all the other insulting ways Mohammed has been depicted by promoters of “free speech.” What possible value can there be in such insulting drawings of the esteemed prophet of one of the world’s great religions?

The great majority of Muslims are peace-loving people, yet such insults are hurtful to them as well. Such cartoons are also a form of violence. They contribute to the growing Islamaphobia in our world and incite more violence in those young people on the edge. How about kindness and respect to accompany our free speech?

Emily Alma
Chico

Support these workers

I’m writing in support of in-home supportive services workers. These people in general are hard-working, self-sacrificing and compassionate. They take care of the frailest people in society. In return, the government, including Gov. Jerry Brown but mostly conservatives, treats them like dirt.

Their union, which is desperately needed, takes a lot of money out of their paychecks. So they are earning less than the minimum wage. This is not glamorous work, so most people would rather flip burgers at this wage. The people needing their help are having a really hard time finding reliable, functional people.

The Board of Supervisors is not negotiating with their union. The workers do not receive overtime pay and the benefits most workers get.

So please help conservative members of the Board of Supervisors give them as big of a raise as is possible and treat them with the fairness and respect that they deserve.

Rod Caudill
Chico

Thanks, Discovery Shoppe!

We are fortunate to live in a community that is so generous to our local nonprofits! Specifically, I want to send out a huge thank you to the ladies of the Discovery Shoppe for selflessly giving of their time and resources to donate almost $100,000 locally to various nonprofits in 2014.

Our organization, Reading Pals (readingpalschico.org), was very fortunate to be one of the recipients of their generosity this year. It is because of folks like them who are so dedicated to this fine Chico community that organizations like ours exist. Thank you, ladies, for your commitment to making this community a better place for everyone!

Michelle Anderson Curran
Chico

He’s sorry

To the Jehovah’s Witness who came to my door in Paradise this morning, I owe you an apology. I was very rude and am sorry. In my defense, you did not pick up the subtle cues I have been giving you on your frequent visit attempts. I am a sinner saved by the grace of God, just like you, and do not need any more confirmation at my door step. Again, I apologize for being rude.

Craig Edwards
Paradise

Corrections

The byline for last week’s music feature on Dengue Fever (“Khmer, check this out,” page 22) was mistakenly attributed to the wrong author. The writer of the story was Carey Wilson.

A story last week’s Newslines (see “Hijinks or hate?” by Ken Smith, Feb. 12) incorrectly identified the administrators from Chico High School who showed up to investigate allegations of racism by students from the school. The administrators were Assistant Principals Brian Boyer and Mike Allen. Our apologies for the errors, which have been corrected online. –ed.