Letters for November 6, 2014

More on Bill Lee

Re “Remembering Bill Lee” (Guest comment, by Robert Speer, Oct. 3):

I was saddened to read of the death of Bill Lee, but at 96 years of age, it appears he lived a long life. I worked with Bill; I was a lowly proofreader and TTS operator in the ’60s, but loved that job and working with him. When I worked nights at the E-R, he would sometimes be there late working on an editorial. He was funny, friendly and a workaholic who was quick to point out if I missed an error. He made the E-R a great place to work. We need more like him.

Pat Mullanix
Orland

[Bill Lee was] also an inveterate and knowledgeable Chico State sports fan, and an engaging, discerning and instructive conversationalist.

Abe Baily
Chico

Let’s admit the problem

Re “Bigger questions” (Letters, by Patrick Newman, Oct. 30):

Patrick Newman and Mike Peters believe that men have been misrepresented, even vilified, by women on these pages and that women should own up to their role in creating the morally and environmentally dire situation humans are in today. We could argue about this forever, but instead, let’s look at some statistics: Each year over 90 percent of murders, incidents of domestic violence, rapes and all violent crimes are perpetrated by men.

Every corporation involved in the sub-prime mortgage scandal of 2008 was headed by a man, as are most mining and logging companies, nuclear power and coal plants, industrial/factory farms, pesticide companies, weapons manufacturers and rogue governments around the world, including our own.

Anita Sarkeesian received thousands of threats of death and unspeakable sexual violence for talking about sexism in video games, as did the actress who helped make a video about sexual harassment in New York City that went viral. In China and India, female infanticide numbers in the millions each year. It clearly would appear that women, the planet and life in general aren’t valued under the current patriarchal paradigm. Most men are good people, a few I love and consider close friends, but shouldn’t we admit there’s a problem here?

Sherri Quammen
Chico

Protect our water

Recently the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation held a public hearing in Chico, inviting comments on the proposed 10-year Sacramento River Valley Transfer Program. The bureau is analyzing water transfers up to 600,000 acre-feet per year.

The water would be sold by North State sellers to buyers in Southern California. Many of the 200 attendees voiced passionate opposition to the transfers. Several described serious water issues they are currently grappling with, including dry wells, in part due to the ongoing drought. Northern California farmers and residents alike have a great deal at stake if the cumulative effects of the transfers drop water levels further.

In 1994 sustained groundwater pumping was used to replace water sold south. The result was numerous well failures in the Durham area. The environmental impact of the proposed transfer program likely will compound water supply issues. I urge people to take measures to preserve North State water while there is still time. One way is to support AquAlliance, a nonprofit group that is acting on public behalf to see that environmental laws are enforced (www.AquAlliance.net). I also encourage emailing your comments to bhubbard@usbr.gov.

Elena Middleton
Oroville

Deep pockets from Southern California want to buy water from North State water sellers via a water transfer program administered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The amount of water that may be sold per year is staggering. The number is up to 600,000 acre-feet a year, which is about what a city of 100,000 uses in 20 years.

It is almost impossible to imagine this much water leaving the North State every year over the next 10 years, especially in light of the severe drought we are experiencing. The loss of this water likely would have widespread effects on our aquifer. People who have been monitoring groundwater wells report that groundwater levels have been falling at least a foot a year for many years.

I have neighbors who have had problems with their private wells. Some area farmers have had their wells run dry. The preservation of our groundwater is the mission of AquAlliance, a group that needs this community’s help in hiring environmental lawyers to prevent this unsustainable program from being allowed to move forward at the expense of our precious groundwater supplies. Please support AquAlliance and stand up for our water.

Judith Pfandler
Paradise

Support teachers

I spent five years of study preparing for my job. It took me several years to pay back my student loans in spite of working part time during school years. I carry my work home most evenings to assess the day’s progress and prepare for the next.

I take my job very seriously, for I am responsible for changing the lives of hundreds and preparing them for the future. My job requires me to prepare progress reports and share these results routinely with my constituents. My vacations are often spent in creative study or part-time employment. I’m on my feet most of the time and interacting the entire working day with short breaks between “shifts” and a brief lunch break. Still, I love what I do and take pride in my profession.

If you haven’t guessed, I am a teacher. Join California retired teachers in celebrating the Week of the Teacher, Nov. 2-8.

Dick Cory, CalRTA
Chico

O-bomb-ercare, get it?

Will the Mideast heal under Obombercare?

Stephen T. Davis
Chico

Go with the flow

In my over 10 years living in Chico, one thing that I’ve always enjoyed was the way traffic flowed in downtown. I called it “the wave.” It was the synchronization of the traffic lights going north to south from The Esplanade around 11th Avenue to Park around 20th Street. This was a wonderful way to get around town and I wouldn’t think twice about driving downtown.

Since last year, this has been sadly missing. There are delays at not fewer that three lights when attempting to travel from the south to the north and vice versa. And while it isn’t a major problem, its resolution would not be a difficult fix either. Simply restore the timing of the lights to their former glory and there will be a major restoration of “flow” in energy through the heart of town. I will heartily celebrate the return of “the wave.”

Adam Moes
Chico

Props to the nurse

I applaud nurse Kaci Hickox for refusing to submit to a 21-day quarantine upon returning home to Maine after working in Ebola-stricken Sierra Leone. I’m currently enduring similar civil rights violations.

For my having sustained a brain injury in an assault by a drunken career felon in 2005, California revoked my driver’s license and vehicle registrations. This is despite that its own website cites research (Haselkorn, 1998) demonstrating brain-injured drivers pose no added collision risk.

Since I had no difficulty driving whatsoever and needed to earn a living, I continued driving without incident. However, after four years the state effected the confiscation of my vehicles and work tools. Since I live alone and my home’s 20 miles from the nearest town, this precluded me from working. I was accordingly forced to exhaust my savings, to endure severe and increasing poverty, and suffer loss of other legal rights.

The problem Kaci Hickox, I, and multitudes like us face is that government’s so wealthy and powerful, it lacks motivation to use finesse performing its work. It accordingly squanders money enforcing insensible rules that violate people’s civil rights.

Nathan Esplanade
Corning

Loved ones say thanks

Sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone involved with providing love, care, thoughts, energy, and/or prayers to my niece, Jennifer Robinson. She passed peacefully Sept. 24, surrounded by loved ones. Her hope was to make it to her birthday, which was Sept. 20.

Jen was strong-willed, outspoken, feisty and an amazing young lady, determined to stay alive. She fought a long, hard battle against a deadly cancer, retroperitoneal liposarcoma. In less than four years, Jen endured four brutal surgeries, internal and external radiation, and chemotherapy twice. She received amazing care from both Enloe Medical Center and Stanford. Thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, paramedics and Feather River Hospice for your amazing care. You are all examples of angels here on earth.

We invite anyone interested in celebrating Jen’s life to please join us at the Chico Elks Lodge on Nov. 8, from 6-11 p.m. This will be a potluck-style event with no-host bar and music. In lieu of any flowers, donations can be made to the Jennifer Robinson Memorial at Tri Counties Bank, Account #066733804 or gofundme.com.

Shirl Dietz
Chico