Month: November 2024

Safe Space works to overcome hurdles to intake

Unhoused people may be stranded during storm
by Leslie Layton and Natalie Hanson | Posted November 20, 2024

photo by Karen Laslo
Safe Space volunteers checked in people who needed shelter during an intake held near the municipal center last winter.

The nonprofit organization Safe Space is working to get emergency night-time sheltering available by Christmas Day as unhoused people struggle with this week’s downpour.

Forecasts were indicating that up to 10 inches of rain were possible in Chico between today and the end of the week, as well as localized flooding. Safe Space Executive Director Hilary Crosby said outreach teams were on the streets handing out tarps and making sure homeless community members “knew about the storm coming through.”

“I don’t have anything [at this point] to provide people so they can get warm or dry off,” Crosby said early today. “We’re checking on people to make sure they have what they need.”

Safe Space wants to open an office at 1909 Esplanade but faces hurdles. The office would be used for intake during the winter, with people gathering in the parking lot for about two and a half hours each evening. After volunteers check in unhoused people, they would be shuttled to one of five participating churches for the night. Crosby said there would likely be between 35 to 50 homeless people seeking shelter, and a half dozen volunteers. read more

Día de los Muertos inspira un redescubrimiento cultural

Mejor comprensión de la tradición china que era parte de mi niñez
by Yucheng Tang | Posted November 19, 2024

foto por Yucheng Tang
Los bailadores folklóricos celebraron en Meriam Park con coloridos actividades del Dia de los Muertos.

Read in English here.

Al entrar al lugar llamado “The Barn” donde mucha gente estaba reunida para la celebración mexicana del Día de los Muertos el 2 de noviembre, yo no anticipé que tal celebración me haría reconsiderar un festival chino – Día de la Limpieza de las Tumbas – que fue parte de mi propia niñez.

Música latina sonaba a todo volumen al fondo. Niños con caras pintadas de esqueletos bailaban y cantaban con alegría en el escenario. Al lado había una ofrenda comunitaria, adornada con fotos de seres queridos fallecidos; velas; y las flores cempasúchil las cuales se cree que guían a los espíritus en su regreso a casa.

Cerca, una mesa ofrecía pegatinas cortadas en forma de estas flores. En ellas se podían escribir en ellas los nombres de los propios seres queridos ya fallecidos, así como mensajes para ellos. read more

Sentencing of ex-cop appealed by DA

Domestic partnership declared between former officer and his alleged victim
by Dave Waddell | Posted November 14, 2024

Devin Pasley

A fired Gridley police officer previously charged with felony domestic violence has been sentenced to one year of probation for abusing his domestic partner’s dachshund.

Butte County District Mike Ramsey said his office wants a longer, more restrictive probationary period for Devin Pasley and has appealed his sentencing by Superior Court Judge Virginia Gingery. A hearing on the appeal has yet to be scheduled.

Gingery sentenced Pasley to 90 days in jail for misdemeanor animal cruelty but stayed the jail time pending successful completion of the one-year probationary term. The conditions of his probation prohibit Pasley from having animals in his home.

The DA’s office wanted a three-year probationary period under a state domestic violence law. In Ramsey’s view, Pasley’s partner meets that law’s definition of an “indirect victim.” read more

Day of the Dead festivity leads to cultural rediscovery

Understanding better the Chinese tradition that was part of my childhood
by Yucheng Tang | Posted November 13, 2024

photo by Yucheng Tang
Folkloric dancers recently celebrated a lively and colorful Day of the Dead at Meriam Park.

How can a day that’s about death feel like a huge party?

When I joined the crowd at The Barn at Meriam Park for a Nov. 2 celebration of Day of the Dead — a Mexican tradition called Día de los Muertos in Spanish — I didn’t expect it to lead me to reconsideration of a Chinese festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, that was part of my own childhood.

Latin music played loudly in the background. On stage, children whose faces were painted like skeletons danced and sang joyfully. Next to the stage stood a community altar, adorned with photos of deceased loved ones, candles, and marigolds — the flower that is believed to guide spirits back home.

Nearby, a table offered marigold-shaped stickers where attendees could write the names of their departed loved ones as well as messages for them. read more

Chico State Academic Senate calls for TPM policy suspension

by Yucheng Tang | Posted November 12, 2024

photo by Caleb Hearn
Bryce Ingersoll tabled on campus, discussing with students what implementation of the TPM policy would mean.

The Chico State Academic Senate has called on the California State University (CSU) Chancellor’s office to suspend the interim “Time, Place, Manner” (TPM) policy that sets rules for student protests.

The Oct. 31 resolution says the CSU should “initiate a process of good faith negotiation through shared governance to determine what guidance for peaceful activism … may be justified and consensually applied.”

The local Academic Senate took action days after the Academic Senate of the California State University system passed a resolution condemning the CSU-wide interim TPM policy. The California Faculty Association notes the policy restricts use of face coverings and requires “advance written permission for posters, signs, banners, and chalking.” read more

Key race in City Council election narrows to seven-vote difference

District 3 race will decide which slate has majority
by Yucheng Tang | Posted November 7, 2024

photo by Yucheng Tang
Monica McDaniel at the Green City Coalition watch party on election night.

Nov. 8 UPDATE: The vote gap between Monica McDaniel and Dale Bennett narrowed to just seven votes as of 4:30 p.m. today, with Bennett receiving 3,009 votes and McDaniel 3,002. Updated vote counts will not be available until next week.

Whether challenger Monica McDaniel or incumbent Dale Bennett secures the District 3 seat has become the key question in the 2024 Chico City Council election.

The District 3 candidates are in a tight race; Bennett led McDaniel by only 40 votes Nov. 7, according to the Butte County Clerk-Recorder’s unofficial count that had been updated Nov. 6. The District 3 race will determine which slate will become a majority on the seven-member panel for the next two years.

“District 3 is a swing district and a lot pivots” on the race, said McDaniel, adding that if her opponent isn’t ousted “we’ll just have a lot more of the same. There will continue to be challenges for service providers who want to help the homeless.” read more