Politics Archives - Page 3 of 28

Redistricting will matter to District 1 residents

Climate, farming practices, rural health would be debatable

by Yucheng Tang | Posted September 16, 2025

Audrey Denney argues for passage of Prop 50 at a recent Sweet September meeting. Photo courtesy of Bruce McLean.

If California’s congressional districts are redrawn, District 1 residents could see lively debate about climate change and how farmers can adopt environmentally friendly practices.

Audrey Denney, chair of the Democratic Action Club of Chico, has announced she will run in the District 1 election if the proposed map is approved. Denney views agriculture as “a tremendous asset in the fight against climate change,” and would push for more incentives for farmers to adopt regenerative practices.

District 1 Congressman Doug LaMalfa, by contrast, rejects climate-focused regulations as burdensome for small farmers and the food industry. LaMalfa, a rice farmer from Richvale who was first elected to the House 13 years ago, was one of four congress members to introduce legislation to provide disaster relief for farmers in the form of a permanent program. read more

Immigrant data-sharing threatens privacy of all Americans

"Digital watchtower" -- system of surveillance -- expands

by Selen Ozturk/American Community Media | Posted September 14, 2025

Lea en español en ACoM aqui.

The federal expansion of immigrant surveillance is increasing political targeting, identity theft and data breach risks for all Americans.

The second Trump administration has raised alarm from experts that government use of personal data under the banner of fighting fraud, stopping crime or detecting undocumented immigrants — including an immigrant name and address data-sharing agreement between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — could threaten the privacy rights of residents nationwide, including citizens.

Last May, a federal judge denied a preliminary injunction against such data-sharing between DHS, the IRS and Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE); this effectively greenlit the first-ever time the IRS formally agreed to provide taxpayer information for immigration enforcement under a memorandum of understanding. read more

Ingersoll named to Climate Action Commission

Goldstein wants the Commission to encourage climate action

by Yucheng Tang | Posted September 3, 2025

The Chico City Council appointed recent Chico State graduate Bryce Ingersoll to the Climate Action Commission at its Sept. 2 meeting.

Ingersoll, who was nominated by Councilmember Bryce Goldstein, won unaninmous Council approval, and said he wants to work toward making the city more bike-friendly and increasing the supply of housing that doesn’t worsen urban sprawl.

“Chico has been ripe for climate solutions,” Ingersoll told ChicoSol later.

“With this position, I hope to spark new conversations with community organizations, university students and staff, and the City,” he said in a presentation to the Council.

Ingersoll recounted his experience in environment-related fields, such as his geography degree, volunteer work for Butte Environmental Council, and participation in prescribed burns with Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. read more

Chico demonstrators join nationwide Labor Day protests

by ChicoSol staff | Posted August 30, 2025

Demonstrators on the 20th Street bridge. Photo by Karen Laslo.

Dozens of Chico-area people joined the Labor Day weekend Bridge Banners Action today, protesting Trump Administration conduct and policy from overpasses on Eaton Road, Cohasset, 20th Street and Skyway.

According to the Defenders of Democracy coalition, the theme was “We Are OVER It,” and local protesters acted in concert with West Coast residents in the “Mexico to Canada Bridge Banner Challenge.”

The demonstrators received supportive honks from passing vehicles, and said they would be protesting as well the mornings of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The coalition is “devoted to nonviolent activism towards changing the current racist and authoritarian political culture,” a press statement said. read more

“I’m an immigrant – this puts me at risk”

Gold on fascism: "We are already there."

by George Gold, guest commentary | Posted August 26, 2025

When I was about 7, my family was on a camping holiday in Queensland, Australia, when my father took me aside and relayed in detail the events that led to his escape from Nazi relocation camps in Austria.

My parents were Holocaust survivors, and part of their worldwide escape took them through several countries to Australia, where they had finally settled and where I was born. I’m an immigrant, and in the United States today, just saying this now puts me at risk of summary arrest and deportation.

My father was an amateur boxer and in excellent physical condition. He had escaped three times from different camps, each time being re-captured. Following his last escape, he hid under the floorboards of his home for three weeks. He then realized he had to leave Austria or he would probably be killed. Over the next several weeks my Dad made his way through Belgium, then to France, and then hiked his way across the Swiss Alps to Switzerland. read more

Massage ordinance could pose challenge to immigrant workers

by Yucheng Tang | Posted August 22, 2025

The City Council considered a new ordinance that would establish several operational standards for the conduct of massage establishments at its Aug. 19 meeting.

Under the new ordinance, all massage practitioners would have to be certified by the state massage practitioner regulatory body, California Massage Therapy Council (CMTAC).

Code Enforcement Supervisor Charlene Durkin said the goal is to address prostitution and human trafficking in the industry.

Three massage practitioners and stakeholders voiced objections to the ordinance during the meeting.

Dan Hays, whose wife runs a massage parlor, stressed that he doesn’t oppose an ordinance, but the problem is that the city’s massage therapists were not engaged in the process. read more