LETTERS
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More studies, please Re “‘The deadliest wave’” (Covers story, by Chris Faraone, Oct. 3): Thank you for an informative and well-written article about how the drug epidemic has only gotten worse with even deadlier drugs. What I would like to see researched is why there is such a huge demand for people feeling the need to get high with tens of thousands of people overdosing and dying from it. I personally see a strong correlation between housing and health care and education costs being outside the reach of millions of people while the top 1 percent own and control more than half the wealth of the rest of the population. This means the other 99 percent are basically scrambling over what’s left over. It’s depressing and creates anxiety and anger, so they must feel the need to escape, and it’s not like the good old days of smoking a joint in the 1960s to get a little buzz.
Cannabis today is a completely different animal, and then there’s fentanyl—a tiny bit is evidently all it takes and a little bit more kills you. I haven’t seen studies about the connection between the unfairness of modern society—inequality and the drug epidemic—but I believe it would make for a very interesting and enlightening study. Phillip I. Elkins Forest Ranch
About darn time Re “Bearing the cost” (Newslines, by Ashiah Scharaga, Oct. 10): After years of protest and pleading—and 10 months of our “liberal” council’s dithering—I’m glad to see that Chico has two portable toilets open 24 hours a day. This is an important first step in addressing a fundamental human rights issue. Going forward: Does our council
have the political will to ensure that this plan succeeds? (As we know, there are those who would have it fail.) Will the council expand and improve the program? (After all, two toilets only begin to address the need.) Will the council work to decriminalize homelessness, in general, as did the city of Austin, Texas? (Every Chico arrest log continues to be dominated by petty infractions and homeless “failure to appear” warrants.) Will the council support future initiatives not in conformance with the consolidation/ segregation model—such as the Orange Street Shelter? (I’m not sure this council would have granted Orange Street a use permit.) The test of whether this is a progressive council or a status quo council is felt no more acutely than in policy regarding just treatment of those living in our public spaces. So far, the needle has barely moved, but there is life and there is hope. Patrick Newman Chico
LETTERS C O N T I N U E D
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