Saying we can’t have “unity again” implies we once were unified. But who is the “we” and what does it mean to be “unified”? Was that when women couldn’t vote? When African Americans were slaves? Or when American citizens of Japanese descent were held in internment camps during World War 2? White men might, in her phony nostalgic dream, have once felt “unified” but maybe that’s because they were the only ones with a voice and power.

Perhaps most troublingly, Nava appears to promote a narrative mocking the trans community, speaking wistfully of a time when “boys became men and … girls became women,” demeaning people who “ignore biology to promote feelings over facts.” Such statements promote a narrative that hurts and marginalizes human beings (particularly trans kids), leading to spikes in bullying, depression, and self-harm.

Nava’s plea for unity rings hollow to my ears.

— Rob Davidson, Chico

Years ago, I contested a parking ticket in Judge Rutherford’s court. I KNEW I’d put money in that meter across from the Bear. The case before mine involved a guy who’d been cited for running a stoplight, which he swore he hadn’t. Rutherford said, “You know how you know that you’ve come to a full stop? You feel it in the small your back. Did you feel it?” He said “No,” and she let the fine stand.

When it was my turn:

SM: “I just know I put a quarter in the meter.”

AR: “How do you know?”

SM: “I felt it in small of my back.”

Everyone in the courtroom cracked up.

AR: “Get outta here,” she said laughing, and dismissed it …

— Steve Metzger, Chico

(Voice of Inigo Montoya): “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

By voting down a project of 2,777 houses (when completed years from now), you have successfully squashed the dreams of 2,777 families seeking to find a home. Progress?

For decades, anti-growth “progressives” have masqueraded as protecting Chicoans from wannabe Chicoans.

Wildland/Urban interface: Their bogus arguments against building due to the risk of fire were grossly exaggerated, and not supported by firefighting professionals. The fact is that many houses already exist beyond the perimeter of the proposed project.

Water: The claim that Butte County would face a shortage of water due to the development is simply absurd. If it were true, then all building in the entire county should be prevented, and Oroville Dam should quit sending our excess water to needy areas to the south.

Affordable housing: All houses – including yours and mine – were affordable at the time of purchase, otherwise we wouldn’t own it. Housing value is determined by the buyer/seller agreement, and “affordable” is determined differently by each buyer.

Increased traffic: This one ignores future road changes. Unless the anti-everything “progressives” block that, too. In the meantime, traffic from surrounding communities will necessarily increase.

Selfishly voting against “sprawl” of an extremely well-designed, thoughtful, contained community will result in actual sprawl of a haphazard non-existent growth plan. Voting with “progressives” simply crushes dreams.

— Barry Johnson, Chico

Preordained? In February 2024 Putin had an 86 percent approval rating in Russia, as determined by the well-respected Lavada Center, a Russian independent, nongovernmental polling organization. He needed no shenanigans to win against the Communist Party candidate and two others. During his presidency that began in 2020, Putin lowered the poverty rate in Russia from about 28 percent in 1999 to 9.3 percent  in 2023. Life for ordinary Russians has greatly improved during Putin’s tenure.

The March 2024 favorability ratings for US presidential candidates are Trump, favorable 50%, unfavorable 45%; Biden, favorable 43%, unfavorable 51%; RFK Jr, favorable 49%, unfavorable 32%. Polling by Harvard University Center for American Political Studies.

US elections are big business, and an  embarrassing, gigantic circus.

What do Chico Democrats think about the Democratic National Committee and allied groups spending millions to block third-party candidates from the 2024 ballot trying to “save democracy” by limiting democratic choice?

Local Democrats call Trump a fascist, a threat to democracy …  silly, obedient hysteria. From the Washington Post, January 20, 2017, before Trump’s inauguration, “The effort to impeach President Donald John Trump is already underway.” The Democrats have long been actively undermining democracy.

RFK Jr.’s choice of Nicole Shanahan, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, will make this election wild. She is smart, strong and inspiring. Listen to her VP acceptance speech. Democrats may cringe as she describes why she left the Democratic Party.

— Lucy Cooke, Butte Valley

— Eric Ayars, Chico

Considering Trump’s recent antics and his ongoing court appearances, both criminal and civil and his continual falsehoods regarding anything or anyone who he feels has opposed him, then one must wonder how any individual could consider such an individual as president.

— Steve Wolfe, Chico

My Chapmantown suits me. Three blocks down is Boucher Street Market, a nice little walk to either from my home. Community Park boarders our east side, and through that park we have pedestrian and bicycle access to the bookstore, groceries, office and crafts stores along MLK Avenue. We are a hot mess mix of culture, languages, of craft, dirty work, messy yards and gardens, laggards, educators and activists. Sipping coffee I mingle with cyclists, students, homeless, watch the seasons change, the creek, young kids, and the old aging and dying. Our Chapmantown neighborhood – by luck and resistance has overcome obstacles – probably better than other Chico neighborhoods. We can “get around” some. But! We can not get to you. Not on foot, or by bicycle – safely.

A book: “Less is More” talks of “enclosure.” I have penciled and tacked that word to my wall. Enclosure is built into the system. It is why cars are the greatest burden and threat to young families and the handicapped. Cars source the greatest profit. It is why there is little compliance, smart design, placement or consideration of ADA integration that helps everyone get around. Enclosure is why our urban streets and sidewalks crumble.

— Richard Roth, Chico

Since the E-R request asking that the heat of political opinions be toned down,  I have greatly missed the push and pull of our letters page rhetoric, and especially those of Scott Paulo.  He was always, to my mind, right on the mark, obviously having done the research his, and with his good mind making sense of it all.

— Thelma Safarik, Chico

Biden reverses Trump’s border policies, in turn creating chaos and more crime, including increased drugs and human trafficking. Some undocumented immigrants are killing and/or raping innocent Americans, thanks to Democrat policies. It’s insane.

Biden canceling student loans will cost the federal government hundreds of billions of dollars, and the taxpayer will eventually foot the bill. Insane.

Biological men in women’s sports, insane! Thanks to the Democrats’ woke diversity, equity and inclusion policies, actual fairness goes out the door and let’s not forget the confusion kids have with drag queens reading to them, and sexuality being forced on them … total insanity!

Increase cost of living hits home, doesn’t it? California is number one in homelessness and welfare. Oh … totally run by Democrats.

Democrat attorneys bringing bogus charges and outrageous fines on Trump, just before an election … now THAT is election interference. The Democrats have weaponized the legal system. All Americans should fear these tactics. If the government doesn’t like you, they can easily destroy you … insane!

It appears the Democrats will stop at nothing to control Washington and control our lives. The Republicans aren’t perfect, but at least they have common sense, and if the Democrats continue to win elections, the insanity will continue. The country ran far better under President Trump

— Lori Eckhart, Chico

Sites water will not benefit taxpayers like you and me. It will not benefit the North State. If passed, this plan will be litigated by national environmental organizations. When taxpayers understand the money behind these projects most would oppose this dam.

The Central Valley Water Project is the canal that follows I- 5 to LA. This is where much of the water will go, with siphons along the way benefitting urban sprawl and nut trees growing in the desert. Ag and development in the Bay Area and California’s valleys have depleted their groundwater, so they want ours.

Diversions take most of the mighty Feather River, 50% of the Trinity River, and big quantities of the San Juaquin and Sacramento Rivers. Like Oroville, Shasta and other dams, in times of severe drought the water in Sites will be very low. Our water is already over allocated. We can’t make water!

Commercial and recreational salmon fishing will be severely restricted or shut down again this year. This is a direct result of dams. Fish need water in the rivers. How many species will we loose before we get it? We are removing dams, not building more. What we have done in the past no longer works. The earth can’t wait.

— Patricia Puterbaugh, Chico