Category: Politics

Chico PD leaves unresolved questions

Chasing truth in turbulent times
by Leslie Layton | Posted March 1, 2025

photo by Karen Laslo
Colleen Evans leaves the protest on a stretcher.

When Colleen Evans stopped by the Feb. 17 “Not my Presidents Day” protest at City Plaza, she hoped to voice her opposition to the Trump Administration and find camaraderie with like-minded people.

Instead, the Chico woman, who was wearing a knee brace to protect a broken kneecap, ended up at the Enloe Medical Center emergency room with new injuries. She arrived at Enloe bloodied, sore and dazed after a disastrous fall off the sidewalk on the east side of the plaza.

Almost two weeks later, a Chico Police Department investigation has left many questions unresolved, and Evans, 70, is recovering but frustrated that her story hasn’t been told. read more

Redistricting issue may come back to Chico City Council

City attorney rethinks his position
by Yucheng Tang | Posted February 24, 2025

photo by Karen Laslo
Councilmember Addison Winslow

Councilmember Addison Winslow complained at the Feb. 18 City Council meeting that there were “cockamamie” procedural objections that blocked his effort earlier this year to ensure there will be future discussion on redistricting and how it’s done.

“I wanna believe that this is the last time that we have an issue like that,” Winslow said from the dais during the public comments section of the meeting. “I think the least that we can do is maintain a legitimate public decision-making process.”

Newly-elected Councilmember Bryce Goldstein, at the Jan. 28 meeting, made the motion to direct staff to return with information regarding the application of several reforms, including the possible establishment of an independent redistricting commission. read more

Chico protesters decry Trump-Musk “power grab”

Administration's actions fit definition of a coup, or "autogolpe"
by Leslie Layton | Posted February 17, 2025

photo by Leslie Layton
Crowds gathered at a corner of City Plaza to protest Trump Administration policies and actions.

Several hundred people showed up today at City Plaza to protest the Trump presidency and the consolidation of power that is now being termed a coup by reputable political commentators.

Turnout was surprising given that the event was announced only days ago on social media by local groups that wanted to support the “We The People” nationwide protest.

Toward the end of the 12 p.m. protest, tempers flared when a Chico man, Danny Peters, planted himself about a hundred yards down the sidewalk on the east side of the plaza and waved a flag that said, “Trump won” and “Get over it.” A woman was interviewed by police and taken off by paramedics after onlookers said she was pushed off a curb and onto the pavement face down. read more

Tuscan Water District to levy fee that will finance operations

Large landowners who favored fee had more voting clout
by Leslie Layton | Posted February 13, 2025

photo courtesy of Tuscan Water District
Approved TWD map

The recently-formed Tuscan Water District (TWD) is now in the budget planning stage after winning the right to levy a special assessment fee on landowners within district boundaries.

In an election held last month, TWD won the support it sought for a fee of up to $6.46/acre to be paid by landowners whose votes were weighted based on the number of acres owned. That was in accordance with California law that allows weighted voting in special districts, said TWD General Manager Tovey Giezentanner.

Giezentanner said the fee could raise up to about $620,000 a year that would pay for “general expenses, not around a specific project, but to fulfill the mission of the district.” read more

Protests and informational sessions support immigrant communities

ImmSchools: Public schools can create a safe environment
by Julian Mendoza | Posted February 12, 2025

photo by Julian Mendoza
Kassandra Ramondo (left) and Lizette Pilar

Hundreds of people gathered on Chico State’s campus Feb. 5 for a peaceful march in what was one of several recent local protests advocating for immigrant rights.

“I think it’s super important that people understand and know that immigrants do make the backbone of our country,” said Lizette Pilar, program coordinator at Chico State’s Gender & Sexuality Equity Coalition. “Especially in agriculture, a lot of our pickers are illegal immigrants or undocumented.”

Efforts are underway across the state — including passage of new laws, street protests and information sessions — to push back against the Trump Administration’s most extreme immigration measures. Downtown Los Angeles has had multiple protests including one that blocked U.S. 101 for hours. Ethnic Media Services (EMS), a a nonprofit news and communications agency, held a know-your-rights training Feb. 7 for media organizations. read more

President’s executive orders endanger LGBTQ people

Advocates sound alarm as Trump targets transgender community
by Natalie Hanson | Posted February 10, 2025

photo by Leslie Layton
A Stonewall Alliance Chico flier circulates during this Black History Month seeking support for queer and trans people of color.

LGBTQ advocates from Chico and beyond say that the Trump Administration’s jump to “criminalize and erase” transgender people will worsen an ongoing rise of hate and violence toward a marginalized community.

Stonewall Alliance Chico, a nonprofit that has served LGBTQ people for decades, told ChicoSol in a statement that Trump’s anti-trans campaign — recognizing only “biological men and women” — is the latest in an “ongoing wave” of policies attempting to erase the transgender and gender non-conforming community.

Stonewall Alliance Chico Executive Director Justina Sotelo said: “Trans people have always existed and cannot be legislated out of existence. Executive orders do not override federal or state laws, and in California, strong protections remain in place to defend trans and LGBTQ+ rights, ensuring access to healthcare, education, and legal affirmation.” read more