I saw a letter to the editor the other day that caught my attention because I could have written much of it myself.
September 21, 2019 at 10:59 pm
Then there are the bathrooms? Totally gross. The whole plaza smelled of urine.
That plaza was a gem for our community but it certainly is no longer. I guess I should take some responsibility for the state of disrepair as I am a citizen of this community; however, I have discontinued attending things in the downtown area because it seems to be this way the majority of the time now.
I’m not sure what I can do. I help out at the shelters and I do not give to panhandlers, this definitely is not enough. I guess when we don’t take pride in the things that we have they fall into disrepair and lack beauty. Kind of sounds like society as a whole these days?
— Elise Gladu, Chico
But I disagree with Gladu’s conclusion. I am not going to take responsibility for the state of disrepair, people are paid to take care of these facilities, six figure salaries, plus benefits. I am a citizen of this community, I obey the laws, I pay my taxes, fees and utility bills. And I do know what to do – educate yourself before you go to the ballot box and demand more and better service out of bloated, complacent public agencies like the City of Chico and Chico Area Recreation District.
I don’t like the chiding tone at the end either. I smelled a plant, so I searched Elise Gladu and found she works for CARD and Chico State. So, she’s not going to call out the pensions.
Of course she’s entitled to her opinion, I just think it’s good to know what actually shapes a person’s point of view, especially when it’s their bottom line.
This is what we can expect – one public employee – future pensioner – after another, coming forward to stump for the tax measures CARD and the city of Chico have planned for the 2020 ballots. Well, tit for tat – I rattled off the following letter:
Like Elise Gladu, I had an experience in Downtown Chico that left me disappointed by the disgusting state of city plaza – relatives came from out of town, and we took them to Thursday night market.
We had not been Downtown for awhile, and were embarrassed. Yes, the sidewalks were filthy, expensive cement trash cans had been destroyed by vandals, and shop windows had been etched with tags and obscenities. The stink of garbage, urine and cigarette/pot smoke was overwhelming. Transients had spread their bedrolls all over plaza lawns and walkways, their dogs wandered free, doing what dogs doo-doo.
There is no excuse for the condition of Downtown. Downtown business owners are made to pay into an “improvement district”. Why isn’t the DCBA washing down sidewalks every morning? City ordinances prohibit public urination, littering, vandalism, “sitting and lying” on public walkways, camping, unleashed dogs, and smoking within a certain distance of doorways, including city hall. Why aren’t the ordinances enforced?
In a 2018 report, the League of California Cities warned that “City pension costs will dramatically increase to unsustainable levels.” First suggestion – make more aggressive payments to CalPERS. Meanwhile, “Change service delivery methods and levels of certain public services.” The report continues, “Often, revenue growth from the improved economy has been absorbed by pension costs. The next round of service cuts will be even harder.”
The obvious strategy – cut services and threaten more cuts until the voters agree to pay more taxes. It’s a carrot on a stick, don’t bite.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
As with everything else, the city provides as little actual service as they can get away with.
Wow a plant??? I have never worked for CARD or Chico State?? I have volunteered on 2 CARD long term planning committees which was pretty much a joke as nothing ever came from those committees and I have volunteered in the Recreation Department both mentoring Recreation therapy interns and speaking in a variety of classes. I have been an active member of this community since 1978 and have worked for the Work Training Center for over 35 years a private non profit and believe me I have no state/county/city pension?? I simply believe as citizens we need to take responsibility/action for our community and I don’t believe I am doing enough to help out, I just don’t know what more will work/help? Our country was founded on our citizens…I believe too much government intervention takes away our freedoms.
I’m sorry I accused you of being a pensioner, your profile indicates you have worked for Chico State. I also know there’s a direct relationship between CARD and the WTC, the WTC gets a yearly grant from CARD, and uses CARD facilities. So pardon me if I misunderstand the direction of your letter. I know CARD has asked people to write letters in support of their measure and is trying to get a local group to run the campaign. So pardon me for being suspicious, but your reasoning seems to lead toward a tax measure as the solution. Sorry to jump to conclusions.
I don’t think it’s too much government intervention for public employees to do the job they are paid very generously to do. These are basic government services, the reason we have a government at all. If they won’t perform these simple services they need to stop taking our money.
By the way, how did you happen to stumble across the blog?
Elise, do you get a 403k plan? The WTC site says employees receive health and retirement benefits. Do you know what agency administers these benefits?
wow, no response from Elise?