I got a kick out of the letters section in the Enterprise Record today – sometimes I think I’m the only person who takes offense to the city’s actions. This guy takes on the public toilets and other poor spending choices.
Letter: Leaders need to spend our tax dollars wisely
Regardless of individual political beliefs, most citizens within a community have much in common. We work, we pay taxes, and we care for our families and friends. Within this framework, what is the role of government? To collect taxes and spend funds appropriately, and to make laws and enforce them. The questions of how various income/wealth levels are taxed, how funds should be spent, what types of laws are created, and the way laws are enforced, are the fundamental topics of many political debates.
That said, elected officials have a fiduciary responsibility to the overall community they represent. Does this mean that politicians must make decisions that make everyone happy? No. It means they have a responsibility to benefit the overall community. In other words, how can they support the quality of life for as many citizens as possible? When politicians divert focus, funds and energy to pet projects that do not benefit most of the citizens, they are neglecting their obligation to the entire community.
Let’s get specific. How will 24-hour public toilets benefit the overall community? Just look at how it worked out at the Sundial bridge in Redding. If by miracle the door is unlocked, you’ll be rewarded with a floor covered in human waste and used needles.
If our local leaders can’t spend public funds in a manner that benefits the overall community, they are failing to do their job. Let’s be sure to vote them out of office.
— Matt Dutton, Chico
This one made me laugh out loud –
Let’s see, “I gave at the office;” “The check is in the mail;” “Hi, I’m from the government and I’m here to help you;” or we can’t paint stripes or lines on your Chico streets becauseLetter: The streets are pleading for some warm weather we use special paint that needs warm weather to bond with the asphalt. It will be some months before we get that kind of warm weather. I guess Chico hasn’t had any “warm weather” for six or eight years.
— Dennis Anderson, Chico
And here’s a real ass-kicker –
Letter: Ridge residents not to blame for increase in crime
Just to let you all know, we are very offended by the comments from the Chico City manager, Mr. Orme, about the Camp Fire survivors who were forced to take up residence in Chico after our town, our homes, our businesses and our lives were destroyed by the Camp Fire.
He implies that the increase in violent crime and traffic accidents are all the blame of the “invasion” of Chico by displaced people from Paradise and Magalia. None of the stabbings or armed robberies that I have seen reported have been committed by Paradise people. They all seem to be from Chico. Traffic has increased, yes, but pay attention and most accidents can be avoided.
Many Paradise and Magalia people have always come to Chico to shop and I certainly haven’t heard any whining about us spending our money here, now even more money than before the fire. Mr. Orme, have you considered that Chico’s liberal policies toward the homeless caused many new people to move here to take advantage of the relief help that was and is intended for the wildfire survivors and they just decided to stay here? Why don’t you use some of the increase in sales taxes to help fund a few more police officers? Or put in some new shelters and bathrooms?
This is not our home. We want to go home, but we can’t.
— Mike Johnson, Paradise
I know a lot of Paradise evacuees, and that’s the main sentiment – they want to go home. Hearing Randall Stone and Mark Orme, among other staff members, on the news, citing all these problems they are supposedly causing, is like a knife in the back.
Thanks to all these letter writers – I hope Orme is feeling a warm sensation in the seat of his pants.
Chico Taxpayers Association 