Chico: City of trees, education, violent crimes and drugs...Wait, what???

Dear city of Chico,

Name the city where these current crimes have taken place:

March 7th 2015: A brawl breaks out at a residence in downtown. Owners report that unknown people tried to enter home to attend party. A fight ensues and a 22 year old male is fatally shot.

March 11th 2015: A girl walking home is assaulted by two adult males. Assailants hit the victim in the face causing her jaw to break in 2 places.

March 16th 2015: A women is found beaten to death on the front lawn of a home in a residential area. The trauma is so great to the facial area that it will take a few days for the swelling to subside to identify the victim.

March 26th 2015: Residents report gun shots being heard in the area. Shortly after male victim is reportedly shot in front of corner market. Was taken to emergency room. There is no information on his condition at this time.

This isn’t Detroit. It is not Chicago or New York. If you were thinking Los Angeles that’s a no also. Hell this isn’t even the police blotter from Salinas, California. Folks this is the current stat sheet of violent crimes for the quiet farm and college community of Chico, CA. Yes friends, that place that a lot of you spent the best 4 to 7 years of your life (We are all doctors when we leave here) and learned social and networking skills that are unrivaled in the business community through the numerous buck nights attended that dot the drinking establishments downtown has been transformed to a place where it’s not safe to walk at night whether you’re a man or a women. As the city council, the police chief and university president continue to blame the Greek System, binge drinking and the bar scene for the community’s issues, violent crimes and homicides are happening at a blistering pace. As you sit there in disgust and ask what has happened to the home of the Wildcats I would like to offer you some answers. Currently I hold no official titles as “mayor” (other than the bar scene), “Chief of Police” or “whatever Paul Zingg is referred to currently” but being an upstanding citizen and team player, I’m here to offer solutions to the problem.

1. STOP BLAMING THE GREEK SYSTEM FOR ALL OF CHICO’S PROBLEMS. Fraternity members aren’t looking to commit an act of violence towards anything other than a burrito from Tacos De after a night of drinking. The bro tanks, skinny jeans and flat bill hats are a good indication of this. The last thing a sorority girl is thinking about after 6 Scooby Snack’s and a Blue Dolphin is who she can shank for stepping to her. There main concern is that the porches are free of peeps to judge as she makes her way home the next morning. This isn’t just a Greek thing, this includes most students who attend the university. They come to Chico and bring much needed dollars to businesses and along the way transform from young adults to future leaders. They are not the problem.
2. ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEM…DRUGS. As the police force continues to focus on shutting down drinking and weed use among students the real drug problem continues to spiral out of control. Oroville and the surrounding areas use to be the home of Walter White but Breaking Bad has decided to set up shop in Chico and call it home. Meth, heroin, crack, etc. has become the go to among Chico’s finest citizens. A college kid puffing on the hippie lettuce doesn’t savagely attack people, a spun-out vagrant looking for his next fix does. Instead of spending city dollars on painting the streets green so bicyclists know where they should ride, hire some extra officers and have them and the current force target a problem that has reached epidemic proportions for such a small, tight knit community.   
3. CLEAN UP THE HOMELESS PROBLEM. If you need me to explain this issue then you have never walked downtown at any given time day or night or owned a business in the area. Drugs, assaults, pissing and shitting on sidewalks, etc. are reasons to eradicate our community of this problem. This isn’t me being heartless, this is me being real about the problem. You see how that works politicians? Honesty at its purest form.   

I am one of the lucky ones who was able to attend school here and was able to stay upon graduating. Chico has an allure to it that is magical. If you didn’t attend school here or have not been fortunate enough to call it home you are not going to understand what I’m talking about. For those of you who have, you are currently shaking your head in agreement with a smile on your face as you read these words. Leaders of Chico, let’s get this great city back on track. Focus resources on what is inherently wrong with this city and not what will get your name on the front page of the paper or face time as the lead story on the evening news. I along with many others call Chico home. We are homeowners and operate businesses. I would eventually like to raise a family here (I can hear your gasps). Do the right thing, before Chico becomes just another city. On second thought, I’ll accept that Mayor title…

PS. Happy Friday peeps on this gorgeous spring day. Treat yourself to an ice cold beverage at some point and remember….If you want to know what someone fears losing, watch what they photograph.

#Chico #Chicostate #wildcats #Paulzingg #Chicocitycouncil #chicopolice #empireliving