Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Conservative local blogger and The Union columnist George Rebane has a comment over on Russ Steele’s blog that is raising some eyebrows.

Russ has a post observing that President Obama, who called for a “new generation” of nuclear power plants in his State of the Union address, is quickly moving forward.

In the reader comments, Rebane responds: “Increasing nuclear power stations across the land makes sense as long as we can secure them from the ragheads. Where do I sign?”

Steve Enos responds: “George, what value does making a statement like this offer? ‘secure them from the ragheads’ George, this type of racist comment adds nothing to a rational discussion and makes you look bad. Very sad, very needless, very disappointing.”

As Wiktionary states: “raghead (plural ragheads)
1. (pejorative), (slang): Term used in derogation of Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs, and other groups who traditionally wear headdress such as a turban, keffiyeh or headscarf.

As best I can tell not all “ragheads” are terrorists. One peace-loving Sikh who comes to mind is Narinder Singh Kapany, the Indian-born physicist widely acknowledged as the father of optic fiber. His photo is here:

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A posting on the Sierra Express Bicycle Club website reads: “Jimmy Rogers has been an integral part of our local cycling & business community for many years. He co-founded the Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop along with the late Ron Miller.

“Sadly on Sunday 1-31-2010, Jim was struck and killed by an automobile while on one of our popular local ride routes. He will be missed by all that knew him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time.”

JIm also was a member of the Sierra Express Racing Team. Conceived by Jim and Ron in 1980, the team was restarted with local riders and sponsors in late 2004.

A photo of Jim from the Sierra Express Racing Team website is here:

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Here’s a coincidence: I crossed the Pine St. Bridge in Nevada City on Monday and was confused by the road signage.

Though the stop signs had been removed, the old stop markings on the roadway were clearly visible. I wasn’t sure whether to stop or go.

I noted it and returned home. Then I fired up my computer and read this email from Nevada City resident Tom Grundy (among the other emails):

“To all of the local news outlets — please spread the word, in the name of safety and progress, that the stop signs at both ends of Pine St. Bridge in Nevada City have been removed (as of around Jan. 29) and replaced with 15 m.p.h signs.

“Pavement markings have been added, but, the old markings are not yet scraped/covered thoroughly, making it confusing for now.

“You may want to inquire with the city to find out if there are plans to get rid of the old markings more thoroughly.

“After crossing the bridge a few times in the last few days on bike, most or all of the cars stopped completely where the old signs were, either out of habit, or confusion, or lack of clarity with the current markings.

“Cars/bikes /whatever that stop when they shouldn’t risk getting rear-ended.”

Tom finds it a big improvement, however, for the AMGEN bike race, he wondered. But he’d just like to see the roadway markings removed.

Having just experienced this too, I agree.

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UPDATE: The salaries are posted in the comments below.

Last month, 31 workers were laid off days after Yuba Community College District’s Board of Trustees voted to give Chancellor Nicki Harrington a nearly $30,000 raise, causing an uproar.

In addition, the board may have violated the Brown Act in approving the salary hike — a double insult to John Q. Public.

Are our Sierra College administrators overpaid, I wondered? What are their salaries and benefits? When did they receive their last pay raises? It’s all more relevant than ever, as cost cutting is being openly discussed this week.

I began to dig around for the salary information at Sierra College — but it’s not readily available.

“It is my opinion that the specific amount any public employee makes should be a matter of public record, but at this stage, it’s not on the web in a single and convenient place,” Trustee Aaron Klein wrote in a reader comment on this blog when I asked about it.

“This is testing my memory, but I asked five years ago why we didn’t post this on the web, and there are some California privacy laws that our legal counsel believed were in conflict with my suggestion.”

Educator Tony Waters responded in a comment here: “I think that the Chico Enterprise-Record bugged the local school boards and Butte College enough until they came up with the data.”

“Ultimately, public agency salaries are public information. But that does not mean that the different agencies do not drag their feet a little when it comes to supplying the data.”

The Association of California College Administrators has an annual salary survey. It’s free for members but costs $100 for the rest of us, I discovered.

Aaron, could you please pass along my request for the administrator salary information to your college? I’d like to know:

•How much Sierra College President Leo Chavez is earning and when he received his last raise.

•How much the Sierra College dean of the Nevada County campus is earning and how that compared with her predecessor, as well as the deans of the other campuses.

•How this compared in a “peer” survey of other community colleges.

•A copy of the Association of California College Administrators annual salary survey.

We live in Nevada City, and Aaron is the representative for our district.

This is a question that taxpayers throughout the state should be asking as community colleges feel the pinch of cost cutting.

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CABPRO published an article on its website on Monday about a Vermont state legislator who recently introduced a bill to register “non-gun-owners” and require them to pay a $500 fee to the state.

“Thus Vermont would become the first state to require a permit for the luxury of going about unarmed and assess a fee of $500 for the privilege of not owning a gun,” the article on CABPRO states.

Vermont already boasts a high rate of gun ownership along with the least restrictive laws of any state. It is the only state that allows a citizen to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, the article states.

“‘America is at that awkward stage. It’s too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards,’” This makes sense!” the CABPRO article concludes.

“There is no reason why gun owners should have to pay taxes to support police protection for people not wanting guns. Let them contribute to their fair share and pay their own way.”

On its website, CABPRO lists “Our Links” as: NC Media Watch (Russ Steele’s blog); Rebane’s Ruminations; RenewAmerica and The Heritage Foundation.

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The county is gearing up a campaign to remind residents that the U.S. census is coming.

•More than $400 billion per year in federal funding is allocated to state and local governments based on census data.

•The census is used to assist in making decisions concerning business growth and housing needs.

•The 2010 Census will create jobs that stimulate economic growth and increased employment.

In March census forms will be delivered to residents in the county and throughout the nation.

From April to July, the Census Bureau will knock on the door of every household that does not mail back a completed form.

The county is providing information here.

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