I got an email from Addison Winslow regarding my last post – read here.
Here’s the thing – if you want to talk to me about the blog, comment on the blog, okay? So I posted his email here.
Hi Juanita,
Good tidings. How are you?
I was reading your blog and I appreciate the nod for some of us defending city tax money.
I noticed your comment regarding ‘certain outsiders’ making Downtown ‘an elitist hub.’ I assume you’re talking about Lupine Legacy. What makes you view their projects so negatively? Stoble is practically worker-owned. They have a successful rent-to-own program in my neighborhood. Saving the El Rey, they gave a grant for the American Sign Language school to operate on Broadway. Maybe a donut shop and an art gallery isn’t going to be the life of downtown, but it’s hard to see that as elitist in any way.
There are a lot of very exciting possibilities, especially when you contrast it with the past 10 years of Dutch Bros development, single-story Salvation Army homes, and dilapidating David Halimi buildings.
I’m curious what you think and where you’re hearing it!
Hope all’s well.
Addison Winslow
District 4 Chico City Councilmember
I stated an opinion – I don’t like outsiders moving in and buying influence. I’d never heard of Lupine Legacy, but I see they are exactly what I’m talking about. Stoble has also moved in and swung their big-money balls around, trying to force projects that use taxpayer money for improvements DOWNTOWN.
Bells and whistles – what are we, Pavlov’s dogs?
“Practically worker-owned” – what does that mean? What is the difference between “worker owned” and “union shop“? When I walked into Stoble, all I know is, I couldn’t afford the coffee. Whenever I sit in my house drinking my Oregon beans I realize I’ve probably saved the price of a pretty decent meal.
The term “Rent to own” is pretty vague. Legally it is known as “a lease with option to buy“. The seller is allowed to charge up to 5% in a non-refundable “up-front option” fee, with an option to buy within a specified time. Contrary to popular belief, neither the “up-front option” fee nor rent paid up to the time of sale is applied to the purchase payment, unless an unbelievably generous seller agrees to do so. In writing.
And frankly, I don’t know why that should impress me. If we had better jobs around here besides baristas people could buy houses with their sufficient incomes and good credit. And don’t forget about the property taxes and other homeowner expenses, if you can’t afford to buy a house without a hand-out you probably won’t be able to keep it.
Frankly, I don’t give a rat’s crap about the El Rey – it is one of the most unremarkable buildings Downtown. I’m not sure what you’re talking about regarding the ASL school, the donut shop, or the art gallery, so I won’t comment. I don’t appreciate your remarks about David Halimi, or the Salvation Army – Halimi has been active in the community since before you were born, so have some respect. I think he has cowboy boots older than you, so you could learn a little something if you were smart.
What about all the other problems I mentioned in that post? All you have to talk about is the bells and whistles for DOWNTOWN?
Here’s the thing – none of that matters if the toilets don’t work.
And here’s another thing – there are people all over town, in old neighborhoods, annexed when you were a school child, that have sub-code streets, no drainage, inadequate or no sewer lines, no street lighting, old rotten power poles and trees growing into power lines. I wrote several emails to you on that subject, but you didn’t answer me. But now you turn up in my mail box to chide me for picking on your friends.
Meanwhile, the city marches on, building housing all around the outside of the dilapidated core, adding more toilets to our sewer lines and wastewater plant, adding more cars to the old crapped out streets, more kids to our schools, with no relief for those of us oldtimers whose taxes go up every year with every new subdivision.
It’s all fun, until you have to pay for it.
