STREETALK
What do you like most about yourself?
Asked at Vallombrosa Post Office
Rachael Clark hospital tech
If I had to pick one, I guess my perfectionism. It stresses me out, but I like it. It helps me stay focused with everything that’s going on—work, school, life, planning a wedding. I try to be a good person as much as I can.
Ali Sarsour retired
Anything they want me to do, I was available to do it. I help people. Like one time, I was teaching Arabic, and it came out that these two guys in my class—they came from Iran—started talking about having a mosque. We ended up opening a big mosque. When Paradise burned, we opened the mosque for people to send us stuff and [for them] to come and get some of the [supplies]. I was there, [but] it’s not just me. It was a lot of people.
GUEST COMMENT C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5
public safety and fellow law enforcement officers. He attracted voters from across the political spectrum while maddening politicos who expected him to toe a monolithic line. He’d let anyone he respected, regardless of affiliation, put a campaign sign at the front of his house. He was appointed to the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission in 2017. He handily won election to the Chico Area Recreation and Park District board the next year. I suspect he would have filed to seek another term this November. Tom enjoyed serving, with a focus on what concerned his Chico neighbors. Myriad folks knew Tom as a friend—a generous friend. That is what he became to my wife, Amy, and me. He did not stand on formalities. Councilman to editor? No, I was Mr. T’s son. We as people were his first thought when he heard of the Humboldt Fire (2008 harbinger of the Camp Fire) blazing toward Paradise. Just after Amy and I got a reverse-911 call advising we might face evacuation, the phone rang with Tom telling us to get off the Ridge immediately. The two of us and our four dogs would stay at his place. “We can worry about the politics later,” he concluded, taking nothing but a “yes” as the answer. Our vehicle wound up being one of the last down Clark Road before flames cut off that route. We reached his home in a half-hour. Relatives who hesitated got stuck on Skyway for hours. Tom offered us accommodations for as long as needed—fortunately, we were stranded just one night. That was Tom. Caring. Selfless. Unique. I miss him. Ω Adios, Amigo.
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Caitlin Junti college student
My perserverence. I moved halfway across the United States—[from] Oklahoma—by myself to go to college. It’s hotter back home than it is here.
LETTERS
C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4
survived those turbulent four years of Trump’s irresponsible leadership and moved on to more normal times. Thanks to those who were able to discern the truth in all the chaos. We can rebuild our democracy again. Robert Woods Forest Ranch
Erica Blaschke teacher
I guess I like that I’m hard working. As a teacher, I put in a lot of hours. I also enjoy some downtime, and I just came back from Europe!
Write a letter Tell us what you think in a letter to the editor. Send submissions of 200 or fewer words to cnrletters@newsreview.com. Deadline for Sept. 1 print publication is August 22. AUGUST 4, 2022
CN&R
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