In the State of the City earlier this week, the E-R reported: “Regarding homelessness, Reynolds noted the city had not heard from the judge on Warren v. Chico but that the settlement agreement will expire within two years regardless. The 2024 numbers: 319 sites cleared, 100 people assessed and 419 tons of garbage removed.”

Because what is measured matters, here are some suggestions for the future: What about counting “the number of people who found shelter, transitional or permanent housing?” How about mentioning “the number of new resources we have created to support people without homes”? What indicators speak to how our community has found innovative ways to address the wicked problem of homelessness?

Please, leaders, find ways to keep score more compassionately. We must work together to ensure safety and quality of life for all the folk who live in Chico.

— Janet E. Rechtman, Chico

Editor’s note: Every Sunday, we select one letter from the previous seven days as our “Letter of the Week.” We’re choosing the letter that, in our view, stands as the best example of civil, thoughtful and fact-based commentary with extra points given on occasion for originality.