I often wonder – what do people outside Chico hear about us?
If it were up to the city of Chico, they would never hear the truth – here’s a snippet from the city website –
https://www.ci.chico.ca.us/sites/main/files/file-attachments/depotparkwmap.pdf?1593621296
“Depot Park is an ideal place for an afternoon picnic and is most commonly utilized for weddings.”
Well, that’s just not true. It’s not even funny. I’ve driven by the site recently – it is a mess of tents and garbage. If you watch the news, you know it’s a giant crime problem for the neighborhood. Ch 7 reports people are moving out of apartments there due to a spike in crime.
One neighbor described the scene – “‘Stealing things from cars, going into pools. I’ve seen a lot of domestic violence around the streets. I’ve had to call the cops on them like beating each other up, it’s been kind of scary to watch,’ she said. Now she’s thinking of ending her lease agreement early.”
“Chico Wiki” tells it like it is – ” Depot Park is presently used as a campground for unhoused individuals.” Followed by a list of crimes including stabbings and shootings that have happened there over the last year.
Depot Park is part of what we affectionately refer to as “the student ghetto.” It’s a sad fact that the area surrounding the campus is one of the worst parts of town. And that includes the Nord Ave Safeway, where 10 people were reportedly “bear maced” last night by a person who was shoplifting. Apparently someone, either an employee or other customers, confronted the man, and he responded by spraying them with mace. “Suspect was a transient subject with facial hair wearing a black shirt and hat. He left on a bike…” According to a witness an employee named “Ruby” was taken to Enloe hospital after inhaling fumes. Depot Park is an easy one mile bike ride directly down Nord Ave from that Safeway store.
My husband and I often watch the Sacramento news – we stuck our antenna in a black walnut tree, we get KCRA and My 58. This story has been running for over a year now – about a plan to bring a passenger train to Chico, for travel to and from Sacramento. Shuttles will be available in Downtown Sacramento for both Sacramento International Airport and various shopping areas.
Businesses from Yuba City to Sacramento are seeing an opportunity to steal customers from failing Chico retail sectors, like Downtown and our struggling malls. Here’s what proponents are hoping for.
“Businesses in the areas where the train line would go through told KCRA 3 they hope they see an economic benefit from the project. At Justin’s Kitchen in Yuba City, bartender Travis Blagg said the restaurant and bar already has a loyal customer base, but still wants to expand its reach. Blagg said he hopes the proposed commuter train line will bring more people through Yuba City, and therefore a potential boost in business.
“Herminia Bumagat, the owner of Fil-Am Bakery, a Filipino baked goods and snack shop in the Natomas area, said North Valley Rail might make it easier for out-of-towners to come to Sacramento and take a bigger bite out of what her eatery has to offer.”
That story was from Sacramento, here’s a local story.
The “North Valley Rail” would stop in Marysville, Yuba City, Plumas Lake, Gridley and Chico, according to Executive Director for the Butte County Association of Government (BCAG) Jon Clark. But it sounds like people are more interested in getting OUT of Chico.
“I think public transportation should be more accessible for people,” said Whitney Gow who lives in Chico. “I think having a train from here to there would make it a lot easier for people to travel home.”
“I think my biggest struggle is getting to the Sacramento Airport. I have been ubering which has not been the safest lately,” said Chico State student Olivia Velasco. “I definitely think a train would be very beneficial.”
“It would provide both commuter service that would get people to Sacramento and other areas south of us for work purpose,” said Clark. “It is also good for recreation.” The train would cater to people that have moved here but kept jobs elsewhere. And yes, people would be able take this train from Chico to sporting events, concerts, and resorts in the capitol city. Or catch a bus/train/plane to the Bay Area for a Giants game, even SF International.
According to this story from Sacramento –
(“KTXL) — The northern Sacramento Valley will soon be better connected to the Bay Area and the northern San Joaquin Valley with the addition of a new rail line, according to the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG). What will be known as the North Valley Rail will run from Natomas to Chico and makes stops in Plumas Lake, Marysville-Yuba City and Gridley.”
This rail line will take in the entire service area around Chico, with buses connecting Oroville to the station in Gridley. They even promise a connection with the Coast Starlight, running from Seattle to Los Angeles.
I have to wonder – will Chico be a destination? Or an exit? How will this affect Chico retail and the hospitality industry? How can we take advantage of this rail line to boost retail and tourism in Chico?
Meanwhile, Mayor Andrew Coolidge called a press conference the other day about the city’s efforts to get millions in donations to guarantee air service to Chico Airport. For 700 people who claim to “fly out of other airports each day”? Yes, the article says “out”.
I’ve seen Chico go through a lot of ups and downs in my life, we’ll see what happens next.
Chico Taxpayers Association 