This letter to the News and Review was written by Chico Unified School District board member Eileen Robinson, one of the longest standing members of the school board.
Let’s do better
You drive your SUV to a 25-unit campground and select a site. You unload your tent, sleeping bags, supplies and your pet. You settle in for a time to visit with your fellow campers and share a campfire. You have two outhouses and two dumpsters to accommodate the most basic of needs.
Next scenario has you pulling and pushing your shopping cart or bicycle into one of 25 campsites. You unload your tent, sleeping bags, supplies and your pet. You are welcomed and settle in to share a campfire and some camaraderie with your fellow camp mates. This campsite restricts placement of outhouses or dumpsters to accommodate the most basic of needs.
In scenario one you leave voluntarily to return home after a few days of rest and relaxation.
In scenario two, government entities declare your circumstance a health and safety hazard and serve legal notice you are to return to the uncertainty of life on the streets of the community where you live.
I hope we will do better than this and find a new “campsite” where people find safety and comfort in numbers, and solace in an understanding community.
Eileen Robinson
Chico
Eileen, the reason we have so many transients on the streets is the failure of our schools to prepare children for the reality of the world – work or starve. The school district is only now bringing back classes in basic work training such as welding and shop. For years they steered kids toward the performing arts and the cloudy world of “tech.” A lot of the transients I see repeatedly arrested are from local schools – they “fell through the cracks.”
I had to suffer an appearance by Robinson at a CARD meeting one evening, she was completely unprofessional, disorganized, and demanding. She’s one of the longest standing members of CUSD board, and she needs to go. Problem is, the public pays so little attention to the school board, there hasn’t been a real board election in years.
Wake the hell up Chico.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
I am sure if she wanted to she could accommodate a few of these people in one of her spare bedrooms and/or with a tent in her back yard.
Thanks for saying Bob, that’s exactly what comes to my mind every time I hear someone asking pity for the transients. After all, charity begins at home!
Well, she better be prepared to take in more because Dogtree and many others are pushing for Chico to become “sanctuary city.” I doubt the current city council would go for that but who knows.
These people are happy to take in the world as long as it’s someone else paying for it all.
Bingo.