Letters to the editor: Jan. 11, 2024

Props for print

Re: “CN&R to cease print publication; shift focus to digital” (Dec. 18, 2023).

In high school, I was part of a program called Upward Bound, where I got to be the boss for the day. My job: editor at the CN&R. I got to write an article about my experience, my one and only piece ever published. Then I went to Madison Bear and played Street Fighter after getting burgers. One of the best days of my senior year. Sad to see you go to just digital form.

Sandy Harris
Chico

The Chico News & Review has been a journalistic asset to the Chico community for many decades. I wish it good luck in making the transition to digital.

Michael J. Fitzgerald
Oregon

Since 1977, CN&R has been the standout independent print medium for Northern California. The paper has put fire beneath the charlatan politicians of this area, and for that alone, I am thankful. No other had the courage to do so. As the times change, CN&R can continue to survive with community support. I’m in.

Danny Wilson
Chico

Thank you for all the years. I’ve enjoyed your news reporting—while living in Chico for many years and then online from the Central Valley for 14 years (and now from Santa Rosa). I’ve long considered your coverage more to my liking than the Chico ER (and the Modesto Bee while living in Turlock). I still have a copy of the CN&R’s powerful coverage after 9/11—which I read many times over trying to make sense of that horrific event.

In-depth news and independent views and a sense of place that just doesn’t happen with TV “news.”

Thank you, and keep on keepin’ on!

Ann LeBaron
Santa Rosa

Sickness of greed

Re: “The economy vs. the planet” (Dec. 7, 2023)

Your top 10 censored stories piece on excessive corporate profits due to war profiteering deserves praise. There’s a body of law codified by Justice Stephen Johnson Field in the latter part of the 1800s which says that corporate interests are more important than the rights of individuals. In addition, the top two professions that attract psychopaths are chief executive officers and lawyers—very toxic when combined.

If we’re going to attack corporate greed, these two major issues are going to have to be strenuously dealt with, otherwise corruption and high prices will always plague us.

Michael Peters
Chico

Fix healthcare

As a soon-to-be newly graduated RN, I recently volunteered at the Shalom Free Clinic in Chico. Each Sunday, a group of volunteer healthcare providers, aspiring medical professionals, and community organizers gather to bridge the gaps in our healthcare system and throw a lifeline to those left behind in our community. Though the patients I met were ethnically, socioeconomically, and age diverse, they were linked by a single common denominator: They all lacked health insurance.

Since volunteering, I’ve found myself thinking about how organizations like Shalom exist in every city in every state. Each day, hundreds of thousands of volunteers work, without compensation, to care for people who would otherwise be left to struggle with their illnesses and injuries alone. Where would our nation’s health be without the free clinics, community health fairs, GoFundMe campaigns, meal trains, adopt-a-family fundraisers, etc.? I believe that these efforts represent a less efficient, grassroots attempt at universal health coverage, which is defined by the World Health Organization as all people having access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without incurring financial hardship. Our country has the paradoxical honor of having both the worst healthcare outcomes as well as the highest out-of-pocket medical expenses of any other high-income country in the world.

It is long past time that we joined the rest of the world’s high-income nations in adopting a universal health coverage system.

Kascha Wilson
Chico

‘Stop this insanity’

As we have celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace this season, we are faced with endless wars and misery around the world. It may seem remote to Chico citizens, but our tax dollars go toward financing the weapons that destroy lives everywhere—but even worse, it is costing us morally. During a recent interview with two young men, one Jewish, the other Muslim, on the Amanpour & Company show on PBS recently, the men—best friends—expressed beautifully the fact that we are all one. They reminded us that most people, whatever their religion or politics, just want to live in peace and security.

The atrocious and viscous attacks on civilians in Gaza, and other conflicts around the world, are the result of cruel, self-interested, leadership. Murdering the innocent is not the solution to any problem. Behind these attacks are either smoldering anger and resentment over years and years of maltreatment that explodes into violence, or pure greed and lust for power, land, or resources, dolled up to look righteous.

Due to these conflicts, prejudice rears its ugly head leading to violence toward our Jewish and Muslim friends, who are wonderful and charitable people. We mustn’t blame anyone for the actions of their leaders.

Let’s pray for peace, and take action wherever and whenever we can and pressure heads of state to stop this insanity.

Jeanne Thatcher
Chico

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