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

That’s why transparency is so important, and that’s why we’re giving a big thumbs-up today to the Chico Police Department.

On Thursday — as required by Assembly Bill 481 — Police Chief Billy Aldridge hosted a public session on the department’s use of military-grade equipment. The meeting, in Chico City Council Chambers, drew about two dozen people, along with members of the Police Community Advisory Board.

What made this get-together different was, Aldridge held it before the annual report was reviewed or approved by the Chico City Council. And he did that following a request from a citizen who wondered what good the public meeting could do if the council had already approved the report.

It’s good that citizens are concerned about what equipment our police have and how (and when) it could be considered for use. Aldridge’s explanation of much of the equipment actually being used for de-escalation makes sense to us.

In any case, we appreciate the transparency, and the extra step of receiving the public’s input before the council discusses the report.

MISS — We were shocked and saddened by news that a Northwest Lineman College student died Monday after the utility pole he was climbing collapsed at the Oroville campus.

The Victorville Daily Press reported that the student was Carlos Mendoza, 19, of Adelanto. He graduated from Victor Valley High School last year and was just one week away from completing his lineman training program.

The college has sent thousands of highly qualified linemen into an invaluable area of work since its opening more than 30 years ago, with the Oroville location opening in 2006. Student safety and training, and the condition of the climbing poles, have always been priorities, leaving school officials — and us — at a loss as to how this tragedy could have happened.

Mike Daniels, president of Northwest Lineman College, said in a released statement “We’re working closely with local law enforcement as they continue to investigate the incident.”

We’re looking forward to learning those findings. In the meantime, our hearts go out to Mendoza’s family and loved ones, as well as all students and staff at the college.

HIT — A new residency program that’ll lead to more medical care for Chico?

Sign us up!

Our doctor-challenged town got a huge boost of good news Thursday when Healthy Rural California, a nonprofit born of the Butte-Glenn Medical Society, announced the inaugural class for a residency program for psychiatrists in training who will come to Chico next year — when a second residency program launches for family medicine.

“It’s important to do something to stabilize our medical community,” said Dr. Sean Maiorano, chief medical officer at Enloe Health. “We’re at a really unique opportunity (point) to grow our own and provide for our community and surrounding communities.”

HRC is exploring another residency, for internal medicine physicians, that could follow.

Here’s the truly beautiful part: The numbers show 50% of residents stay in the place where they train. If that holds true, we’ll get more psychiatrists and primary care doctors beyond the window of their residency — two per year in each, statistically speaking.

It’s all great news. Here’s to good health!

MISS — There was a scoop hidden a few inches into our Q&A with Chico Mayor Andrew Coolidge on Sunday, and we were sorry to see it.

Andrew Coolidge, who is in the final year as his second term as Chico mayor — while in his second stint on the council — told Evan Tuchinsky he won’t be seeking re-election this fall, although he did say he’d consider seeking office again in the future.

We’ll be sorry to see him go. While we didn’t agree with every decision he made — a distinction he shares with every other councilor in our city’s history — we were appreciative of the even-handed approach he brought to running the meetings and his ability to consider all sides of an issue.

He’s generally lined up with the conservative majority on council votes, but has shown he’s not afraid to break ranks depending on the issue.

We like those traits in any councilor. Here’s hoping he keeps the door open for a return come 2026.

Hits and misses are compiled by the editorial board.

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