Commission Impossible

Lon wrote: "I wouldn't make the connection that Luvaas is evil because he said something regrettable, and I won't attribute Luvaas' actions or words to candidates because he gave them money."

John answers: It is obvious that Luvaas is paying the lease for his seat on the Planning Commission.

In the end, at the council meeting regarding Luvaas’s comments, Kirk did defend him and his remarks. Watch the tape!

Of all of the local blogs I have visited, this is the most informative. Thank You Lon

I consider myself a pretty independent thinker, but like many of my friends, I got my first taste of local politics when I watched Chico's ultra liberal's try to remove disc golf and mountain biking from upper park.... I didn't speak up then, but I wish I had.

I don't like the heavy handed politics I see from Chico's liberal "progressives", so I was glad to see the ER's editorial admit the mailer I saw from the Espalande League was indeed a "Lie". It does not surprise me to hear that Mr. Gruendell has close ties to this group, and like their mailer, his radio ad covers the same mucky muck about his opponents being a "developer slate"... I don't have any problem with builders, I know a few and they love Chico as much as I do.

Like you, I enjoy and respect the park. I don't like having to confront people to protect common sense recreation policies, or support common sense leadership.

It's too bad that Chico's liberal's have gotten too powerful for the common good, but they have, and it's time for a good old fashioned middle of the road Chico City Council.

To me, the choice is simple. Dan Herbert, Michael Dailey and Mark Sorenson. They are all parents, with sound leadership skills and good old fashioned commmon sense.

Dear Lon,

A portion of this statement is not accurate. "Last minute rushes to fix a few streets, and campaign year promises to neighborhood groups that invite only Gruendl to speak to them, are not examples of changes in priority."

The Chico Avenues Neighborhood Association held 3 evening meetings to hear from our City Manager and city council representatives in regards to RDA funding allocation for the Avenues.

If your reference to neighborhood groups inviting only Gruendl to speak was in reponse to this series of meetings, I want to clarfy. Scott Gruendl and Greg Jones were simply the first to accept our invitation to meet on this issue, all council menbers were invited and most attended one of the meetings.

Regards,
Kasey Merrill

Kasey,

Thanks for posting. And for the correction. I was not aware of the additional meetings, but was aware that certain Council members were not invited to the first meeting.

Let me revise my statement.

"Pre-election road fixes that do not increase or improve the lack of capacity in our road system, and promises to a single politically active neighborhood group are not examples of a change in priority"

Representatives of CANA attended the RDA meetings I was at, and seemed to feel that continued spending of RDA money on non-essential items while $100million-$200million in neighborhood improvements were ignored was inappropriate.

Now that you have the lion's share of funds allotted how do you feel about additional RDA spending?

Are you concerned that the Chico Conservation Voters PAC PO Box address matches the South Chico Neighborhood organization? Does CANA have a political mailer coming out? I'm losing faith that neighborhood groups are apolitical.

Do you think the RDA Committee helped set aside RDA money for neighborhoods? How do you feel about Scott Gruendl recommending the end of the RDA committee?

FYI: You don't really have to answer these questions. I'm just making the point that the issue of neighborhood improvements is bigger than CANA, and bigger than any group of candidates. And now that CANA has some money the issue isn't solved.

Maybe instead of rushing to take credit for helping a single neighborhood candidates can come up with a plan for helping the entire town.

Lon