October 2018 - ChicoSol News

Gallaway gave $250 to Judge Roy Moore PAC Committee backed Alabama Senate candidate who lost amid sex allegations

by Dave Waddell

Chico City Council candidate Matt Gallaway donated $250 last year to a political action committee (PAC) backing Judge Roy Moore, a controversial Alabama senatorial candidate, federal election records show.

The contribution was first referenced in a campaign flier put out by Chico Democrats as Chicoans mailboxes continue to be flooded with mailers in the lead-up to the Nov. 6 election. In what will probably become the highest-spending campaign in city history — and with partisan control of the Council at stake — more than $300,000 and counting has been contributed to candidates and PACs involved in the race. read more

Ex-sergeant missed ‘no work’ after Rushing shooting Former Chico police Sgt. Ruppel acquitted of assault in later choking incident

by Dave Waddell

Court testimony last week by former Chico police Sgt. Scott Ruppel uncovered a secret that city officials have tried their darnedest to keep the public from knowing: Ruppel took no time off from work after shooting Tyler Rushing twice at point-blank range in July 2017.

Rushing’s father, Scott Rushing of Ventura, called the revelation “monstrous, sickening, disturbing.” read more

How to Bankrupt the Earth point of view

by Lin Jensen

When the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rises, we are supposed to be pleased because a higher GDP means that production and consumption have increased. That’s good, isn’t it? Both major political parties and virtually all economists, corporate CEOs, business owners, workers and random consumers agree that up is good and down is bad.

So the more we make and sell, the greater the wealth of the nation — and this might be true were it not for the fact that the earth’s capacity for production and consumption is entirely dependent on the rate and limit of available sunlight reaching the thin layer of soil that blankets the molten core of our planet. Check the dirt under your feet and you’ll know what sustains you. Take up a handful of soil and you’ll hold in the palm of your hand the only sustainable economy for those of us here on this earth. read more

PAC backing Chico conservatives banking big bucks Police union, businessman help bring total funds to $43,000

by Dave Waddell

Chico’s police union and a longtime businessman have supplied big bucks to bolster a political action committee (PAC) trying to keep conservatives in control of Chico city government.

A $5,000 donation from the Chico Police Officers’ Association, as well as Tom Dauterman’s unusually large $10,000 contribution, were booked in recent days by the PAC, called Chico Citizens for Accountable Government (CCAG). read more

Fewer officers overall attend Butte crisis training ‘Memphis Model’ in county has been ‘opportunity lost’

by Dave Waddell

During a period in which five people were killed by law enforcement in Butte County, overall attendance at the county’s annual week-long training program in crisis intervention has been in steep decline.

However, the Chico Police Department – roundly criticized for past absences at crisis intervention trainings – has stepped up participation since the killing of Desmond Phillips, a young black man in mental crisis. read more

Out of Darkness becomes a Chico tradition Annual downtown walk promotes suicide prevention

by Jessica Lewis

A crowd of people hold hands in a circle around the City Plaza on Oct. 13, bowing their heads as the song “1-800-273-8255” by Logic rings over speakers through downtown, referencing the suicide prevention hotline and marking the end to the ninth annual Chico Out of the Darkness walk.

“I found out about the Out of the Darkness walk because I participated in the Sacramento one after losing a friend to suicide in high school. I went for a few years, and then was like ‘why don’t we have one of these in Chico?’ There were other people that felt the same way and so we started the Chico walk in 2010,” said Ariel Ellis, co-chair for the Out of the Darkness walk and board member for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. read more

Plea entered in Bidwell Mansion arson

Kevin Alexander Carlson, charged with felony arson in connection with the fire that destroyed Bidwell Mansion, pled no contest Feb. 5 in Butte County Superior Court.

The 30-year-old Chico man was jailed without bail until he returns to court for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. March 5. Carlson faces up to 11 years in state prison.

Investigators from various agencies spent “thousands of hours” solving the Dec. 11 arson case, said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey in a press release.

City Council members to look at homelessness response

Chico City Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to authorize the mayor to use emergency powers to address and enforce measures against unsafe and hazardous fires in parks.

The vote doesn’t alter city codes in any way, but enforcement of some codes has been lax under the Warren v. Chico lawsuit settlement agreement.

The vote thus represents a consensus that safety has to be a priority.

The discussion was sparked by Councilmember Tom Overbeek, who asked the panel to authorize the mayor to declare an emergency in dry conditions that would ban encampments in Bidwell Park, Teichert Ponds and Lindo Channel.

Later in the meeting, Councilmember Bryce Goldstein asked to agendize a discussion “on ordinances, code changes, and programs beyond enforcement that the City can use as tools for addressing homelessness.”

That passed unanimously, too.