HIT — Ask a Chicoan about their pet peeves and you’re likely to hear “potholes” and “homeless camps” as the top two answers, with “parking kiosks” a close third.
Particularly in neighborhoods around Chico State, but also elsewhere, you’ll hear a fourth: streetlights. Some blocks are brighter than others, which poses a significant safety concern for residents and people passing through.
The City Council has taken note. Spurred by a request from new Councilor Katie Hawley, whose District 5 representation includes the campus area, her colleagues directed Public Works Engineering to bring a report on street lighting to the city’s Internal Affairs Committee.
That took place Monday, and from the meeting, councilors on the IAC recommended a more proactive approach for addressing concerns. Gaps mostly exist in older neighborhoods, but fact of the matter is bulbs burn out everywhere, even where fixtures are newer and more prevalent.
Public Works noted that each streetlight has a serial number, so if you notice a dark spot, let the city know the fixture. Meanwhile, IAC Chair Mike O’Brien — a former Chico police chief — suggested councilors take moonlight strolls with constituents to gauge problem areas in their districts.
The emphasis on improving street lighting is great news.
MISS — Speaking of pet peeves, we’re tired of the word “tariffs.” The whiplash of “they’re on” and “they’re off” is all too reminiscent of Chico’s whack-a-mole approach to anti-camping enforcement that’s left us dizzy the past few years.
Economic uncertainty affects everyone. As just one example, chronicled this week, Chico success story Klean Kanteen is fighting to survive with its supply line in flux.
For even longer than the Warren v. Chico saga, city leaders — notably conservatives — have trumpeted the need for a predictable climate for business in order to attract and retain firms that keep our local economy thriving.
Mercurial tariffs create the opposite. We hope there’s a smoother route down the road.
HIT/MISS — We shouldn’t be surprised given the political divides in our community as well as our country, but nonetheless, we’re disappointed that a peaceful protest — and it was peaceful, based on our first-hand reporting — exacerbated conflicts.
The Hands Off! march drew thousands to Children’s Playground downtown to hear speakers and express their discontent with policies of the federal government. The right to peacefully assemble to air grievances is a fundamental right in the U.S. under the First Amendment, which also protects our right to write this.
In a letter to the editor this week, a mother wrote she “was shocked by the number of signs displaying the f-word and other graphic, vulgar messages.” She continued, “If we truly care about the future, we must protect the innocence of our children and preserve the spaces designed for their growth and happiness.”
We agree with her on one thing: Some signs were distasteful. The bearers of those signs would assert that this is precisely the point, though they shouldn’t be surprised when people take offense at offensive language. We looked carefully at each photo we ran to check for obscenities.
We disagree with her notion of “find(ing) more appropriate venues for public demonstrations.” That goes back to the First Amendment.
Censorship is a slippery slope. Whether we agree with every slogan and speech is secondary to our support of the right to express those opinions in the proverbial public square.
HIT — We were pleased to hear that Chico’s long-awaited aquatic center is heading into the bell lap, with a groundbreaking expected in the next month and a grand opening slated for fall 2026.
As reported this week, the Chico Area Recreation and Park District awarded a $30 million construction contract to local builder Slater & Son to develop the 15-acre property that previously encompassed Sunset Hills Golf Course.
Coming to that Garner Lane site: a 50-meter competition pool, a four-lane recreation pool, a “zero entry” leisure pool, a “lazy river” float, two water slide structures and two buildings with restrooms and classrooms.
“Chico has a history of a profound lack of public pool space,” noted Scott Schumann, CARD’s facilities and parks director. He’s right: Competitive swimmers now have just Pleasant Valley Pool unless they drive elsewhere.
We can’t wait to dip our toes in the water.
Hits and misses are compiled by the editorial board.
