Proud of his efforts on behalf of homeless

Although the next election is years away, in the playbook of the town’s authoritarian contingent it is never too early to start defaming your opponents. Over the past weeks, some of our most churlish homeless detractors have begun disparaging my attendance at Butte County Homeless Continuum of Care (COC) meetings. The irony in this charge is that these same individuals opposed every position I’ve ever taken at COC meetings, votes that sought to make our community a better place by approving the funding of shelter and services for our community members without homes.

In March of 2020, the coronavirus hit and I, like many, lost my regular job. In June, after three months of attending

Zoom meetings, and after actively participating in more than 20 COC meetings, I began working out of state. During this time I drove the 14 hours home for council meetings or attended them virtually. Because COC meetings are held midday, I was content knowing that my colleague, then-Vice Mayor Brown, would be present at those meetings in her role as chair of the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force.

The real question is: why are those who so rabidly seek to expel the victims of fires, floods, failed foster-care, lack of mental-health services, a housing crisis and an opioid epidemic, the majority of whom are native or long-term residents of Chico, so disinterested in helping them rebuild their lives and become productive community members?

My record of advocating for the under-represented in Chico speaks for itself.

— Scott Huber, Chico