City Council District 7: Voters have a clear choice Incumbent Tandon and challenger Goldstein explain to ChicoSol contrasting views

District 7 extends into Lower Bidwell Park on the northeast, crosses Highway 99, and is severed by District 6 west of the highway.

by Yucheng Tang
posted Oct. 26

This is the fourth story in our City Council election series.

District 7 voters have a choice. Candidates Bryce Goldstein and Deepika Tandon both want better streets and more housing projects, but differ on other crucial issues, including homelessness, climate change and wildfire planning.

Goldstein, a transportation planner, has served as a City of Chico commissioner for the past five years, formerly on the Planning Commission and now as a Climate Action commissioner. She says on her website that she wants a community where “everybody can afford to live … where everybody can access fresh groceries without having to own a car, and where our trees, parks, and creeks are protected.” read more

Sikh community pursues change in narrative Los sijs buscan que sus historias sean escuchadas

photo by Yucheng Tang
Jasbir Singh Kang, co-founder of the Punjabi American Heritage Society, speaks during the Listening Session.

by Yucheng Tang
posted Oct. 24

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YUBA CITY — Sikh communities want more visibility and want their stories heard.

Not only should the religious stories be told, but also the stories about how Sikh farmers grow peaches and walnuts, how Sikh community members import food from Mexico or export into Canada, and how they contribute to California’s economy. That’s the view of Jasbir Singh Kang, co-founder of the Punjabi American Heritage Society in Sutter County.

The “Sikh Listening Session” held in Yuba City on Oct. 23 was organized by the California Racial Equity Commission and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA), and gave community members the opportunity to share their stories. read more

The PAC behind the negative mailers "A Better Chico" launches attacks on two liberal candidates

photo by Karen Laslo
Candidate Bryce Goldstein is attacked in a recent PAC mailer that exploits the problem of homelessness.

by Leslie Layton
posted Oct. 22

It cost the political action committee (PAC) A Better Chico some $14,000 to taint election season with a bitter mood by sending out four mailers that attack two City Council candidates who are running for the District 3 and 7 seats.

The two women, candidates Monica McDaniel and Bryce Goldstein, were each targeted with two mailers that make misleading and false statements that exploit the issue of homelessness by showing pictures of tent encampments, piles of litter and needles.

District 3 candidate McDaniel, who is running against Dale Bennett, the incumbent councilmember supported by A Better Chico, is frustrated. McDaniel calls the mailers “hate-spewing” and says they’re full of “straight-up lies.” read more

Big money plays big role in effort to seat conservative Council candidates Grassroots campaigning helps build Goldstein's campaign fund

photo by Yucheng Tang
Mike O’Brien speaks at a candidates’ forum.

by Natalie Hanson
posted Oct. 21

Chico’s City Council races have become clearly divided between grassroots campaigns that rely on small donors and campaigns funded by wealthy outside interests.

Liberal-leaning candidates rely heavily on door-to-door canvassing and fundraising events. But meanwhile, the hefty financial advantage enjoyed by conservative-leaning candidates has helped drive a strong presence for them throughout the city, from campaign signs to advertising. Conservative-leaning and Republican candidates have long held access to some of the bigger wallets in the region, including in the last City Council race which brought about a 6-1 conservative majority. read more

City Council District 5: What does a diverse neighborhood need?

photo by Yucheng Tang
Candidates Katie Hawley (left) and Melissa Lopez-Mora at the Chamber of Commerce forum.

by Yucheng Tang
posted Oct. 18

This is the third in ChicoSol’s City Council election series. Read our District 3 story here and our District 1 story here.

Renter rights. Pedestrian safety. The unhoused. These are the issues people living in District 5 care most about.

Kaylee Hudson, 29, a Chico State MBA student, worries most about pedestrian safety in the district. She came to Chico only five months ago, but has already been hit by a car while crossing the street downtown during the daytime. Hudson said the driver didn’t stop after hitting her.

Bryce Ingersoll, a Chico State undergraduate, told ChicoSol that he cares most about renter protection. There are many old buildings in District 5, Ingersoll said, and one place he rented had mold infestations growing in the walls. He, like many renters, didn’t want to deal with the landlords, leaving those problems unsolved. read more

Rushings lose federal civil rights lawsuit Jury finds tasing of motionless Tyler Rushing not excessive force

photo courtesy of Rushing family

Tyler Rushing

by Dave Waddell
posted Oct. 17

SACRAMENTO – An eight-person jury decided today that the tasing seven years ago of the thrice-shot, motionless Tyler Rushing by a Chico police officer was not excessive force.

Jurors did find negligence in the incident by police, but attached no monetary award to that judgment, said Mark Merin, attorney for Tyler’s parents, Scott and Paula Rushing.

The decision was a victory for the City of Chico and defendant officers Alex Fliehr, Jeremy Gagnebin and Cedric Schwyzer in a civil rights lawsuit brought by the Rushings.

The family is “pretty devastated, as you might imagine,” Scott Rushing said shortly after the verdict. “My anger level is pretty much off the charts.” read more