by Jack
For a number of years the dirt and rock bank along Big Chico Creek has been eroding away just West of Manzanita and parallel to Valombrosa. This has created a 10 foot ledge with a cave under it that goes back under the ledge another 8 feet or more. The more the bank erodes the more likely it is that it will eventually come crashing down. This doesn’t present much of a danger to anyone during the winter months, but in summer this is a popular swimming hole for our local kids, typically those between 8 and 15 and that a big problem. They don’t recognize the danger.
I was walking my dog past this area today and I noticed a group of five kids swim into the cave. They were joking and hanging out for a few minutes, but I thought if this ledge they are under goes we’ll have some dead kids.
The City can’t make improvements to this natural erosion problem without assuming all future civil liability, so the fiscally smart thing to do is just let nature take its course and let whatever happens happen. But, from the moral side the City has a duty to protect people from this danger, by whatever means necessary.
If you know about this popular swimming area, then you probably know about the cave, but you may not know how dangerous it’s becoming. If enough of us take a minute to complain to public works, the City will be forced to do something. Call Public Works now at 896-7800 and see if they won’t at least post this as a dangerous area. You might be saving a child’s life.
How about danger or warning signs posted along this section? They would release the city of possible liability.
Kids swimming there alone are old enough to read, younger kids would, hopefully, be accompanied by their parents.
Peggy, parents don’t go normally go to this area. This is a kids hangout, mostly grade schoolers and a few teens. Signage might help, kids can be oblivious to danger unless it’s posted.
I guess a couple guys with shovels would run the risk of being ticketed and or arrested for doing what the city will not do.
We are definitely too litigious as a society when cities, schools, hospitals, doctors…can’t do what they know needs to be done for fear of lawsuit.
If the land erodes naturally its fine but the city can’t arrange a collapse…not even as an exercise for the fire department or bomb squad? I mean they set condemned buildings on fire as an exercise, right?
How come … when you think a thing should be done by your government, it’s responsible citizenship? … but … if somebody else think’s it should be done, they’re promoting a “Nanny State”?
How many times do I have to repeat myself?
I am not against government. I am against an overly powerful and intrusive federal government and I believe, as the founders did, that most of what the federal government does should be left to the people and the various states. Since I think the closer to the people we get it makes sense that cities should have more autonomy and power than states because they are closer to the people.
I don’t see how my comment has anything to do with responsible citizenship or the nanny state. I was merely asking why a city could allow the fire department to set a house on fire without fear of lawsuit but not blow up some land that need to come down for safety reasons without those same fears.
I understand the fear of lawsuit but isn’t the chance of kids getting killed the greater threat?
So we shouldn’t expect our local government to promote the general welfare of the people by removing a clearly dangerous situation? Libby you are a F’ing idiot. What is the point of paying taxes?