A month ago or so, 1700 signatures on the Ridge Evacuation Routes petition were presented to the Paradise Town Council and the Butte County Board of Supervisors. The Town Council received these with interest, and as a result a small group of us were asked to meet with Paradise Town Manager Chuck Rough. Mr. Rough informed us of a list of emergency strategies the town of Paradise is working on. Another meeting will be held with Mr. Rough next week. It appears that the Town of Paradise is willing to listen to the concerns of citizens on the Ridge, not only in Paradise, but in the Upper Ridge as well.
The presentation of these petitions to the county Board of Supervisors was more complex.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
July Meeting: More Fire, More Roads
We had a fantastic, informative meeting this month. The main topic of discussion was the issue of emergency exit roads and the petition that is going around asking for immediate attention to be put on creating more options for citizens on the ridge. Geri Benedict once again brought her mentorship to the group, helping us fill in a number of blanks regarding the history of exit road planning, community activism, and local politics to our table.
Specifically, we discussed the idea of asking the Paradise Post to include the petition as a newspaper insert, contacting local women's and other groups to have them make it available at their meetings, and also approaching local businesses to see if they would have it on display for people to sign. We need volunteers ..... that's YOU!.... to take this on.
Right now, we have just over 500 signatures and we want thousands! If each of us worked on this, imagine what we could do! PLEASE do print out several copies of the petition and carry it around with you.... to the grocery store, to your club meetings, to the gym, etc. Keep it in your car and have everyone you know sign it. It is attached it to this email for your convenience. Extra copies will also be available at the Paradise Ridge Democratic Club meeting this week (Wed. July 23, 7pm, Paradise Library).
One suggestion Geri had for us was to be more proactive in attending the Board of Supervisors meetings, to make sure this issue doesn't go by the wayside. The Board generally meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays; a calendar is linked at http://www.buttecounty.net/cob/agendas.htm.
Do you know that you can request a Board Agenda by mail? All you have to do is call to get on their mailing list. You can also get the agenda in email or access it online (although the online version may not be complete).
Do it today!
For a copy of the agenda in your mailbox, call the Clerk of the Butte County Board of Supervisors: 530-538-7371
To request an agenda by email, send email to kmoghannam@buttecounty.net
To access the agenda online, go here: http://www.buttecounty.net/cob/agendas.htm.
.
Specifically, we discussed the idea of asking the Paradise Post to include the petition as a newspaper insert, contacting local women's and other groups to have them make it available at their meetings, and also approaching local businesses to see if they would have it on display for people to sign. We need volunteers ..... that's YOU!.... to take this on.
Right now, we have just over 500 signatures and we want thousands! If each of us worked on this, imagine what we could do! PLEASE do print out several copies of the petition and carry it around with you.... to the grocery store, to your club meetings, to the gym, etc. Keep it in your car and have everyone you know sign it. It is attached it to this email for your convenience. Extra copies will also be available at the Paradise Ridge Democratic Club meeting this week (Wed. July 23, 7pm, Paradise Library).
One suggestion Geri had for us was to be more proactive in attending the Board of Supervisors meetings, to make sure this issue doesn't go by the wayside. The Board generally meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays; a calendar is linked at http://www.buttecounty.net/cob/agendas.htm.
Do you know that you can request a Board Agenda by mail? All you have to do is call to get on their mailing list. You can also get the agenda in email or access it online (although the online version may not be complete).
Do it today!
For a copy of the agenda in your mailbox, call the Clerk of the Butte County Board of Supervisors: 530-538-7371
To request an agenda by email, send email to kmoghannam@buttecounty.net
To access the agenda online, go here: http://www.buttecounty.net/cob/agendas.htm.
.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
June Meeting: Fire and Roads
Ridge Democratic Women met with a small group this month but we had a big discussion.
About fire.
About roads. Or, more specifically, lack of roads.
We told our stories and agreed they need to be told to others. But mostly, we concluded that this is the time.... right now.... to become squeaky wheels. We need to write letters, to make phone calls, to attend meetings.... all to insist that there is no more time to dilly-dally about the need for more exit roads off the ridge.
Here's what we are doing. We hope you will join us!
1. Sending letters to Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Governor Schwarzenegger, Wally Herger, and Kim Yamaguchi, to INSIST that this road be made a high, immediate priority. Addresses and phone numbers for all these people are included at the end of this email. Instead of letting Wally Herger brag about how he doesn't like pork and earmarks, we need to state LOUD and CLEAR that getting this exit built is NOT PORK.
2. Making our voices heard here in the community among officials. Specifically, we are planning as a group to attend the next BCAG meeting on Thursday, June 26, at 9:00 am in the Chico City Council Chambers. An email to the board before the meeting would be helpful, letting them know our concerns. The BCAG website is at http://www.bcag.org/ and the BCAG Board of Directors page is at http://www.bcag.org/Meetings--Agendas/Board-of-Directors/index.html
If you scroll down to the bottom of the Board of Directors page, there is an email link you can use.
3. Making personal emergency plans with neighbors and friends, including contact numbers.
4. TALKING to neighbors and friends and getting them involved in #1 and #2 above!
This "no exit road" situation has gone on long enough. We need to move on this! The time is now!
Contact Information:
Senator Dianne Feinstein
San Francisco Office
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 393-0707
Fax: (415) 393-0710
Website: http://feinstein.senate.gov/
Senator Barbara Boxer
Sacramento Office
501 I Street, Suite 7-600
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-2787
(916) 448-2563 fax
Website: http://boxer.senate.gov/
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 ( new number )
Representative Wally Herger
55 Independence Circle, Ste. 104
Chico, CA 95973
(530) 893-8363
NO FAX NUMBER???
Kim Yamaguchi
Phone: (530) 872-6303
Email: KYamaguchi@buttecounty.net
About fire.
About roads. Or, more specifically, lack of roads.
We told our stories and agreed they need to be told to others. But mostly, we concluded that this is the time.... right now.... to become squeaky wheels. We need to write letters, to make phone calls, to attend meetings.... all to insist that there is no more time to dilly-dally about the need for more exit roads off the ridge.
Here's what we are doing. We hope you will join us!
1. Sending letters to Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Governor Schwarzenegger, Wally Herger, and Kim Yamaguchi, to INSIST that this road be made a high, immediate priority. Addresses and phone numbers for all these people are included at the end of this email. Instead of letting Wally Herger brag about how he doesn't like pork and earmarks, we need to state LOUD and CLEAR that getting this exit built is NOT PORK.
2. Making our voices heard here in the community among officials. Specifically, we are planning as a group to attend the next BCAG meeting on Thursday, June 26, at 9:00 am in the Chico City Council Chambers. An email to the board before the meeting would be helpful, letting them know our concerns. The BCAG website is at http://www.bcag.org/ and the BCAG Board of Directors page is at http://www.bcag.org/Meetings--Agendas/Board-of-Directors/index.html
If you scroll down to the bottom of the Board of Directors page, there is an email link you can use.
3. Making personal emergency plans with neighbors and friends, including contact numbers.
4. TALKING to neighbors and friends and getting them involved in #1 and #2 above!
This "no exit road" situation has gone on long enough. We need to move on this! The time is now!
Contact Information:
Senator Dianne Feinstein
San Francisco Office
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 393-0707
Fax: (415) 393-0710
Website: http://feinstein.senate.gov/
Senator Barbara Boxer
Sacramento Office
501 I Street, Suite 7-600
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-2787
(916) 448-2563 fax
Website: http://boxer.senate.gov/
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 ( new number )
Representative Wally Herger
55 Independence Circle, Ste. 104
Chico, CA 95973
(530) 893-8363
NO FAX NUMBER???
Kim Yamaguchi
Phone: (530) 872-6303
Email: KYamaguchi@buttecounty.net
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Few Items of Interest
SEXISM IN THE MEDIA: There is a very interesting video on YouTube, called "Sexism Sells -- But We're Not Buying It." It's a video montage synopsis of gender-biased comments made by various commentators, some about Hillary Clinton, some about Nancy Pelosi, and some just in general. If you have felt that gender bias has been present and haven't been able to convince others that it's true, you might want to send the link along to the naysayers. It's about 6 minutes long. Watch it on YouTube.
ELECTION RESULTS: Anyone who wants to see election results can go to the Butte County Recorder's website.
ENDANGERED OLEANDERS: The following article (dated June 11, 2008) is on a blog site called Debunking the Bunk which is one of several blogs at NorCal Blogs, which is a list of blogs specific to our area. If anyone is interested, a phone call doesn't take too long:
CHICO'S FREEWAY OLEANDERS TO TURN INTO CONCRETE
Phase 2 of the Freeway improvements between 8th and 9th Streets (Highway 32) and East 1st Avenue, as approved by the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG), will require the removal of the Freeway Oleanders for at least one mile within the project area and the installation of a concrete barrier where the Oleanders are removed.
This was not necessary, since the plans approved by the Project Advisory Committee, the engineering consulting firm, and CALTRANS recommended the improvements be built so that the Oleanders could remain in place.
The improvements recommended included auxiliary lanes built on the eastside of the northbound lanes and westside of the southbound lanes; not requiring the removal of the Oleanders.
If you want to save the Oleanders, please contact the BCAG, Attention Jon Clark, 2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Chico, CA 95928 or call 530-879-2468 or e-mail www.bcag.org
Read the original here: Debunking the Bunk
ELECTION RESULTS: Anyone who wants to see election results can go to the Butte County Recorder's website.
ENDANGERED OLEANDERS: The following article (dated June 11, 2008) is on a blog site called Debunking the Bunk which is one of several blogs at NorCal Blogs, which is a list of blogs specific to our area. If anyone is interested, a phone call doesn't take too long:
CHICO'S FREEWAY OLEANDERS TO TURN INTO CONCRETE
Phase 2 of the Freeway improvements between 8th and 9th Streets (Highway 32) and East 1st Avenue, as approved by the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG), will require the removal of the Freeway Oleanders for at least one mile within the project area and the installation of a concrete barrier where the Oleanders are removed.
This was not necessary, since the plans approved by the Project Advisory Committee, the engineering consulting firm, and CALTRANS recommended the improvements be built so that the Oleanders could remain in place.
The improvements recommended included auxiliary lanes built on the eastside of the northbound lanes and westside of the southbound lanes; not requiring the removal of the Oleanders.
If you want to save the Oleanders, please contact the BCAG, Attention Jon Clark, 2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Chico, CA 95928 or call 530-879-2468 or e-mail www.bcag.org
Read the original here: Debunking the Bunk
Saturday, May 24, 2008
May Meeting Notes
At this month's gathering, we had an informal discussion about the upcoming election, health care, and the California budget cuts and how they are affecting local services, especially the Behavioral Health Center in Paradise.
Robin Huffman updated us on her campaign and her television commercial, and reminded us that she will be hosting an election night get-together. Please email Robin for more information on this.
We chose no specific action items for this month.
Important Dates:
June 3 -- California Primary Election Day
June 6 -- Upper Ridge Coordinating Council; 1:30 pm, POA library, Magalia (1st Friday of every month)
REMEMBER TO VOTE!
Robin Huffman updated us on her campaign and her television commercial, and reminded us that she will be hosting an election night get-together. Please email Robin for more information on this.
We chose no specific action items for this month.
Important Dates:
June 3 -- California Primary Election Day
June 6 -- Upper Ridge Coordinating Council; 1:30 pm, POA library, Magalia (1st Friday of every month)
REMEMBER TO VOTE!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
April Meeting Notes
We had a very productive and informative meeting this month, facilitated by Carol Holzgrafe, with a lot of discussion on a variety of topics: Robin Huffman's campaign, the Paradise tree committee, the national election, and a brainstorming session on advertising and future topics for discussion.
About those trees: Planning Commission member April Grossberger was able to inform us of the details about the Paradise Town Council's proposal to eliminate the tree committee from the planning process. Everyone was urged to attend the Paradise Town Council meeting this week (actually tonight, as this is being written) to voice their opinions about this proposal, or even just to listen and/or provide a warm body in the room. Hopefully the trees in Paradise can be supported by residents coming out to this meeting.
About Robin's campaign: Donations are welcome and yard signs need to be installed. A fundraiser is planned at La Posada for May 3. If you can help, please email Robin.
About the national election: We had a fairly lively discussion about Senator's Clinton and Obama, regarding experience, gender issues, and their overall campaigns.
About advertising and future topics: Carol is working on getting our group's meetings into the Paradise Post calendar, so we collaborated on wording for that. In addition, we brainstormed a list of topics for discussion at future meetings. These covered both local and national issues.
A few important dates:
April 23, Wednesday, 7pm: Paradise Ridge Democratic Club meeting THIS MONTH ONLY at the POA in Magalia.
April 26 & 27: Gold Nugget Days.
Come out to see Robin Huffman in Saturday's parade. Robin will have a booth at the Gold Nugget festivities during the weekend.
April 24, Thursday, 10 am: Butte County Air Quality Board meeting; Chico
April 25, Friday, 1 pm: Air Quality meeting at the POA in Magalia; Gail Williams to speak.
May 3, Saturday, 9-11 pm: Fundraiser at La Posada for Robin Huffman. Big Mo will be playing and the restaurant will be donating a portion of their proceeds during these two hours to her campaign. Tickets are available from Robin (only $7) or can be purchased at the door.
Get out there! Be active!
About those trees: Planning Commission member April Grossberger was able to inform us of the details about the Paradise Town Council's proposal to eliminate the tree committee from the planning process. Everyone was urged to attend the Paradise Town Council meeting this week (actually tonight, as this is being written) to voice their opinions about this proposal, or even just to listen and/or provide a warm body in the room. Hopefully the trees in Paradise can be supported by residents coming out to this meeting.
About Robin's campaign: Donations are welcome and yard signs need to be installed. A fundraiser is planned at La Posada for May 3. If you can help, please email Robin.
About the national election: We had a fairly lively discussion about Senator's Clinton and Obama, regarding experience, gender issues, and their overall campaigns.
About advertising and future topics: Carol is working on getting our group's meetings into the Paradise Post calendar, so we collaborated on wording for that. In addition, we brainstormed a list of topics for discussion at future meetings. These covered both local and national issues.
A few important dates:
April 23, Wednesday, 7pm: Paradise Ridge Democratic Club meeting THIS MONTH ONLY at the POA in Magalia.
April 26 & 27: Gold Nugget Days.
Come out to see Robin Huffman in Saturday's parade. Robin will have a booth at the Gold Nugget festivities during the weekend.
April 24, Thursday, 10 am: Butte County Air Quality Board meeting; Chico
April 25, Friday, 1 pm: Air Quality meeting at the POA in Magalia; Gail Williams to speak.
May 3, Saturday, 9-11 pm: Fundraiser at La Posada for Robin Huffman. Big Mo will be playing and the restaurant will be donating a portion of their proceeds during these two hours to her campaign. Tickets are available from Robin (only $7) or can be purchased at the door.
Get out there! Be active!
Friday, March 28, 2008
March Meeting Notes
Our main topic of discussion was Robin Huffman's campaign for county supervisor, mostly doing some brainstorming about what we thought should be on a flyer, how to get information about the differences between her and Kim Yamaguchi, and how to get the word out.
Robin will be having a campaign team meeting at her house on Sunday, March 30.
Robin will be having a campaign team meeting at her house on Sunday, March 30.
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