Tag: homeless

City explains process for tiny homes on church parking lots

Email to ChicoSol from Brendan Vieg
by Brendan Vieg | Posted December 14, 2025

ChicoSol asked City Community Development Director Brendan Vieg to explain the process that is required for the placement of tiny homes on church parking lots. The following is Vieg’s Dec. 11 response to our story and request.

Council did not “approve” NSST’s tiny home project for church parking lots as stated in your article.  Instead, Council voted to support the idea in general and directed that NSST bring forward an application and that staff do everything they can, within reason, to support a successful public process and outcome.  read more

City Council: no more loitering on medians

Council approves new ordinance that it says will improve public safety
by Yucheng Tang | Posted November 19, 2025
Money spent on the new ordinance could be better used to protect pedestrians, said Freddie Wright. Photo by Yucheng Tang.

The Chico City Council, on a split 4–3 vote, on Nov. 18 approved an ordinance that prohibits people from lingering on medians, roundabouts and in areas near retail-use driveways.

Under the new ordinance, people would be prohibited from lingering on any portion of a median or roundabout adjoining a public roadway, as well as “right‑of‑way zones serving access points of public shopping centers that connect directly to a public roadway.”

Exceptions include crossing, lawful walking, permitted work and emergencies. read more

Tiny homes win on a split Council vote

NSST wants four tiny homes for pilot project
by Yucheng Tang | Posted October 8, 2025
Mason speaks at the City Council meeting. Screenshot photo by Yucheng Tang.

The disagreement around tiny homes for the unhoused, at the end of the Oct. 7 City Council meeting, centered on whether to limit the number that will be allowed on a church parking lot. 

There were two motions on the table when one of the two passed 4-3 — supporting a pilot program for tiny homes on a church parking lot that can house women. The motion directs City staff to move forward with the plan that was presented earlier by the North State Shelter Team (NSST). Most importantly, compared to the other motion, this motion doesn’t limit the number of houses that will be provided.  read more

Alternative Site resident discusses hurtful stereotyping

by Yucheng Tang | Posted October 8, 2025

After a lengthy public hearing Oct. 7 over the City’s Alternative Camping Site, a resident, Michael Morgan, speaks with ChicoSol about the unfair assumptions people make about the encampment and who lives there.

Araujo-Sariñana finds a path in mutual aid

Changemaker: A song about a greedy landlord plants a seed for Araujo-Sariñana
by Yucheng Tang | Posted June 10, 2025
Juan Araujo-Sariñana

“The landlord’s here to visit/They’re blasting disco down below/Says, ‘I’m doubling up the rent ’cause the building’s condemned/You’re gonna help me buy City Hall‘/But we can/You know we can/Let’s lynch the landlord man” — the Dead Kennedys

At age 17, Juan Araujo-Sariñana discovered punk rock music that now, 20 years later, still influences his life.

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, one of his favorite albums by one of his favorite singers, Jello Biafra, was something he listened to often back in high school. In that album, there’s a song called “Let’s Lynch the Landlord.” read more

City to regulate barbecues, ban warming fires

Winslow says the ordinance targets the unhoused community
by Yucheng Tang | Posted May 22, 2025
photo by Karen Laslo

The Chico City Council on May 20 finalized the adoption of ordinance amendments to further regulate outdoor warming appliances and barbecues.

Fire Chief Steve Standridge said the new ordinance will regulate to “mitigate significant fire risks before the start of the fire season” and to “better protect our community.”  

Councilmember Addison Winslow cast the sole vote in opposition to the ordinance. He says it’s one of the many ordinances targeting the unhoused population. read more