As the end of Summer rolls around, I’m looking back at 2023, having made some big changes in my life.
My husband and I have downsized to a tiny apartment, having rented our old lifestyle to some other folks. We found living in Chico was not only more expensive these days but the atmosphere of crime and general “scuzziness” isn’t good for old people. So, we have our simple living space, but we hit the road a lot. Mostly we drive to other towns to buy groceries and enjoy their coffee shops and other amenities.
So no, I don’t have much time for city business anymore. I try to read the agendas the clerk sends me, but I don’t attend meetings very often anymore.
Last time I attended a day meeting, I swear to Gawd – Sean Morgan tried to start a fight with me. It was very weird. At one point Katy Thoma (now Chico Chamber CEO) asked me, did I respect Sean and I said yes, agreeing that I felt he had “integrity”. All the sudden Morgan got kind of nasty, saying he thought I was being sarcastic. I told him, “sometimes you’re not very nice…” I was trying to tell him that while I agreed with him on certain things, his style – which on at least one occasion resulted in the city paying out on a lawsuit – left something to be desired. He looked at me with a really nasty expression and said, “it takes one to know one…”
Really? I was knocking myself in the dirt to be nice to that guy – I realized, he was trying to get me kicked out of the meeting. I know I have to be careful what I say in those meetings. Mark Sorensen has warned me several times, and I believe he’d kick me out for making a joke. So I just don’t go. I can’t sit there and listen to their total bullshit and not make a remark. You’re not allowed to ask questions unless you fill out a card, and then that’s it, one question. No remarks, no further questions. So I skip the meetings these days, in fact, I’m going to have to get around to asking the clerk to take me off the mailing list.
To tell the truth, Chico has become so nasty, all the way around – have you read the letters section of the ER lately? Is Jorge Smirnoff on crank or what? Why is Editor Wolcott allowing people to go on full-tilt personal attacks? It’s not an opinion page, it’s a dirt clod fight. I’d like to continue participating, but there’s no real discussion. Ukraine? Global warming? Well how about a conversation on something we can actually DO SOMETHING ABOUT, like city of Chico public worker compensation and the burgeoning pension deficit? That may be too intellectual for ER letter writers, not sure.
Now that Evan Tuchinsky is taking the reins I’m not sure which way he will take the paper. Evan is a good writer but I believe he has an agenda that colors his reporting. At least with Gascoyne you knew who you were dealing with – you could walk up to Tom on the street and hear what he thought. Tuchinsky is kind of passive-aggressive, I frankly just don’t want to deal with him after being dicked around by Dave Little and Mike Wolcott for years. I’m done with the paper.
So I guess I’m saying, I’m done. Frankly, I don’t want to end up like Rob Berry.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
This overpriced city just sucks dollars out of residents and college students providing nothing in return. The recent increase in sales tax should be repealed because less things are done about the problems in this community and the pigs are just getting fatter for nothing in return. Mean while the city of Chico continues to allow the aggressive harassments of citizens by “bums” loitering at the local stores, defecating, trashing and and stealing. The racketeering by the police, city administration and trash owners to collect more taxes and fines must stop. It is no longer safe on the streets in Chico and it is too late to convince me to stay in this SHT hole anymore.
Oh, shit – you just reminded me, I can’t quit now! Have you heard about the Taxpayer Protection and Accountability Act, which will be on the 2024 California ballot? Obviously not! It will repeal Measure H, the Chico sales tax. I guess I have to stick around one more year to tell people about that, thanks RW! Hey, if you haven’t finalized your exit plans yet, you could vote for it.