Janine Carroll, who has lived in the area for 30 years and previously worked for the county as an administrative assistant, said it’s difficult for county workers to attend to regular responsibilities in such a tense political environment. “When the political issues are so much at the forefront instead of the day-to-day business, it’s distracting,” she said. “It’s going to be harder for us to hire some of these higher level professionals. It’s gonna have a devastating impact on the whole system.”
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n one Redding neighborhood, Viktoria Peterson’s neighbors have asked whether they should fly the American flag, or if that might be interpreted as support for a movement that has divided a once close-knit community. “People are afraid to put up their American flags,” she said. “They’ve stolen our flag.” The strife has also united some residents. Carroll and Peterson have both joined Civil Shasta, a local group of Democrats, Republicans and independents who hope to bring decorum and civility back to local politics and return to a time where threats were not commonplace. Members of the group, which was opposed to the recall, write letters to the board and local newspapers and encourage those around them to vote. Civil Shasta is intended to bring citizens together, said Roxanna Zalesny, who started the group, and push back against what she believes is a vocal minority.