One of the less controversial votes was a 4-1 vote by the Board of Supervisors to apply the new specific plan designation to approximately 398 acres which could include up to 1,335 homes and 160 acres of commercial/industrial development.
The one dissenting vote was Supervisor Matt Rexroad. One the surface of it, it is an odd vote. The people of Madison are in favor of the development. Furthermore, the Supervisor who actually has Madison in his district, Duane Chamberlain, was in favor of the development and Chamberlain is a strong opponent of new developments.
Nevertheless, Rexroad’s “no-vote” has the people of Madison talking recall despite the fact that they won the vote 4-1 and despite the fact that Madison is not even in his district. I am not certain how that will work, but I am fairly certain that you have to be in someone’s district to recall them and I am even more certain that the people who live in Rexroad’s district are not about to try to recall him over what he voted on in Madison. Needless to say however, Rexroad is all shook up about this. On the phone last night, he could not stop laughing.
The funny thing is, is when you look at the proposal and the arguments employed by Mr. Rexroad, I have to agree with him that this probably not the place to develop.
First, the people of Madison have argued that this would provide homes for the casino workers, but as Rexroad points out that housing in Esparto would make a lot more sense since it is closer to the casino, there are existing schools, and it is not a flood zone.
Speaking of flooding, Rexroad argues that most of the problems with flooding will be resolved by road improvements to Highway 16, and once that is done, the rest of the flood solution can be resolved by the existing residents.
The issue of revenue for the county comes up as well, however the economic people in the county project that the county will not make money unless the homes are $400,000 plus and they are not building those kind of homes in Madison.
Based on these arguments, I have to agree with Matt Rexroad, this proposal makes little sense. I would however like to here from the good folks in Madison about why we need this new development.
As I suggested at the beginning on this piece, the folks in Davis have largely stopped following this process once Davis literally dropped off the map, although I really expect this issue to arise in the future. The heat got too hot for some in the county, but I suspect that the core reasons for their support for development remain. However, honestly, from top to bottom, I am appalled and outraged at some of the proposals that have come forward and that will be supported by the county.
The county somehow believes that they are going to grow themselves into new revenue. I really wish they would study other counties and municipalities who had the same belief and see how that turned out for them. I would venture to guess you will have a hard time finding a county in the black, regardless of growth policies. I suspect that will leave us with two alternatives, a good look at what we are spending money on currently and a good look at how the state can do a better job of funding counties for the services that they provide to citizens.
In the meantime, I would hope that the folks of Madison have something better to do than to try a vengeance recall effort on someone else’s county supervisor, but who knows.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
It is my understanding, from the information I learned attending Rexroad’s Yolo 101 classes, that building houses, even with the increase in property taxes, do not really help the county. Now if there was a mini-mart built nearby in the unincorporated area to serve the new houses, the county would get the sales tax. The business producing the highest sales tax revenue for the County is the UCD Bookstore, I was amazed to hear. The decision should be about whether this is the right place to build, will the community benefit from the new development, and will it be cost neutral for the County. I applaud Rexroad’s thoughtfulness about his vote and it is because of the fact that he is not the representative from that district that he could point out the negatives of the project. However, the community of Madison wants the project and is going to get it despite concerns about flood risk, etc. There must be a perceived social benefit to increasing the size of their town, I’m guessing.
It is my understanding, from the information I learned attending Rexroad’s Yolo 101 classes, that building houses, even with the increase in property taxes, do not really help the county. Now if there was a mini-mart built nearby in the unincorporated area to serve the new houses, the county would get the sales tax. The business producing the highest sales tax revenue for the County is the UCD Bookstore, I was amazed to hear. The decision should be about whether this is the right place to build, will the community benefit from the new development, and will it be cost neutral for the County. I applaud Rexroad’s thoughtfulness about his vote and it is because of the fact that he is not the representative from that district that he could point out the negatives of the project. However, the community of Madison wants the project and is going to get it despite concerns about flood risk, etc. There must be a perceived social benefit to increasing the size of their town, I’m guessing.
It is my understanding, from the information I learned attending Rexroad’s Yolo 101 classes, that building houses, even with the increase in property taxes, do not really help the county. Now if there was a mini-mart built nearby in the unincorporated area to serve the new houses, the county would get the sales tax. The business producing the highest sales tax revenue for the County is the UCD Bookstore, I was amazed to hear. The decision should be about whether this is the right place to build, will the community benefit from the new development, and will it be cost neutral for the County. I applaud Rexroad’s thoughtfulness about his vote and it is because of the fact that he is not the representative from that district that he could point out the negatives of the project. However, the community of Madison wants the project and is going to get it despite concerns about flood risk, etc. There must be a perceived social benefit to increasing the size of their town, I’m guessing.
It is my understanding, from the information I learned attending Rexroad’s Yolo 101 classes, that building houses, even with the increase in property taxes, do not really help the county. Now if there was a mini-mart built nearby in the unincorporated area to serve the new houses, the county would get the sales tax. The business producing the highest sales tax revenue for the County is the UCD Bookstore, I was amazed to hear. The decision should be about whether this is the right place to build, will the community benefit from the new development, and will it be cost neutral for the County. I applaud Rexroad’s thoughtfulness about his vote and it is because of the fact that he is not the representative from that district that he could point out the negatives of the project. However, the community of Madison wants the project and is going to get it despite concerns about flood risk, etc. There must be a perceived social benefit to increasing the size of their town, I’m guessing.
There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea. Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved. Now that his district(and developer supporters) are set for the next 10? years, he can politically posture in the other districts as anti-sprawl.
Rexroad professional political PR skills are clearly on display.
There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea. Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved. Now that his district(and developer supporters) are set for the next 10? years, he can politically posture in the other districts as anti-sprawl.
Rexroad professional political PR skills are clearly on display.
There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea. Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved. Now that his district(and developer supporters) are set for the next 10? years, he can politically posture in the other districts as anti-sprawl.
Rexroad professional political PR skills are clearly on display.
There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea. Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved. Now that his district(and developer supporters) are set for the next 10? years, he can politically posture in the other districts as anti-sprawl.
Rexroad professional political PR skills are clearly on display.
For casino worker’s with children, this doesn’t make sense. But for the others, who want it, I would think it would make the most sense to build a workers’ dormitory in the area of the casino, built by the Rumsey Indians. Back in my days working in fish canneries in Alaska, it was common for large employers to provide nearby company housing for their employees.
The benefit not only would be affordable rents. The workers would save the two or more hours a day they are now commuting. And that would reduce some of the traffic on Highway 16. I’ve spoken with a number of Cache Creek workers — most live in Woodland, some come all the way from the Bay Area — and a couple told me the commute is the worst aspect of working at Cache Creek. It is the case, nonetheless, that the casino does buy Yolobus passes for all of its workers who want one — and it subsidizes the cost of the Yolobus which goes up there every hour.
For casino worker’s with children, this doesn’t make sense. But for the others, who want it, I would think it would make the most sense to build a workers’ dormitory in the area of the casino, built by the Rumsey Indians. Back in my days working in fish canneries in Alaska, it was common for large employers to provide nearby company housing for their employees.
The benefit not only would be affordable rents. The workers would save the two or more hours a day they are now commuting. And that would reduce some of the traffic on Highway 16. I’ve spoken with a number of Cache Creek workers — most live in Woodland, some come all the way from the Bay Area — and a couple told me the commute is the worst aspect of working at Cache Creek. It is the case, nonetheless, that the casino does buy Yolobus passes for all of its workers who want one — and it subsidizes the cost of the Yolobus which goes up there every hour.
For casino worker’s with children, this doesn’t make sense. But for the others, who want it, I would think it would make the most sense to build a workers’ dormitory in the area of the casino, built by the Rumsey Indians. Back in my days working in fish canneries in Alaska, it was common for large employers to provide nearby company housing for their employees.
The benefit not only would be affordable rents. The workers would save the two or more hours a day they are now commuting. And that would reduce some of the traffic on Highway 16. I’ve spoken with a number of Cache Creek workers — most live in Woodland, some come all the way from the Bay Area — and a couple told me the commute is the worst aspect of working at Cache Creek. It is the case, nonetheless, that the casino does buy Yolobus passes for all of its workers who want one — and it subsidizes the cost of the Yolobus which goes up there every hour.
For casino worker’s with children, this doesn’t make sense. But for the others, who want it, I would think it would make the most sense to build a workers’ dormitory in the area of the casino, built by the Rumsey Indians. Back in my days working in fish canneries in Alaska, it was common for large employers to provide nearby company housing for their employees.
The benefit not only would be affordable rents. The workers would save the two or more hours a day they are now commuting. And that would reduce some of the traffic on Highway 16. I’ve spoken with a number of Cache Creek workers — most live in Woodland, some come all the way from the Bay Area — and a couple told me the commute is the worst aspect of working at Cache Creek. It is the case, nonetheless, that the casino does buy Yolobus passes for all of its workers who want one — and it subsidizes the cost of the Yolobus which goes up there every hour.
“There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea.”
I don’t live in Woodland, but if many feel that way, then they should organize and attempt to stop it.
“Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved.”
I believe I probably oppose the vast majority of Rexroad’s vote on most things. However, that doesn’t make him any less correct on this particular image or the entire idea that a community that does not vote for Rexroad should have any ability to attempt to organize a recall. I think that’s pretty basic.
My belief is when you are right, you are right. There have been times when Souza and Saylor have voted the right way, and I have applauded them. When they vote the wrong way, I criticize them. That’s how things should work, imo. You decide to support or oppose people on the basis of the preponderance of their votes, but doesn’t mean we should not be appreciative when Rexroad opposes growth on the Davis periphery–a stance our own supervisors refused to take.
“There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea.”
I don’t live in Woodland, but if many feel that way, then they should organize and attempt to stop it.
“Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved.”
I believe I probably oppose the vast majority of Rexroad’s vote on most things. However, that doesn’t make him any less correct on this particular image or the entire idea that a community that does not vote for Rexroad should have any ability to attempt to organize a recall. I think that’s pretty basic.
My belief is when you are right, you are right. There have been times when Souza and Saylor have voted the right way, and I have applauded them. When they vote the wrong way, I criticize them. That’s how things should work, imo. You decide to support or oppose people on the basis of the preponderance of their votes, but doesn’t mean we should not be appreciative when Rexroad opposes growth on the Davis periphery–a stance our own supervisors refused to take.
“There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea.”
I don’t live in Woodland, but if many feel that way, then they should organize and attempt to stop it.
“Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved.”
I believe I probably oppose the vast majority of Rexroad’s vote on most things. However, that doesn’t make him any less correct on this particular image or the entire idea that a community that does not vote for Rexroad should have any ability to attempt to organize a recall. I think that’s pretty basic.
My belief is when you are right, you are right. There have been times when Souza and Saylor have voted the right way, and I have applauded them. When they vote the wrong way, I criticize them. That’s how things should work, imo. You decide to support or oppose people on the basis of the preponderance of their votes, but doesn’t mean we should not be appreciative when Rexroad opposes growth on the Davis periphery–a stance our own supervisors refused to take.
“There are many in Woodland who feel that the massive development that is taking place there was a very bad idea.”
I don’t live in Woodland, but if many feel that way, then they should organize and attempt to stop it.
“Perhaps DPD could reexamine Rexroad’s arguments when the massive Woodland sprawl was approved.”
I believe I probably oppose the vast majority of Rexroad’s vote on most things. However, that doesn’t make him any less correct on this particular image or the entire idea that a community that does not vote for Rexroad should have any ability to attempt to organize a recall. I think that’s pretty basic.
My belief is when you are right, you are right. There have been times when Souza and Saylor have voted the right way, and I have applauded them. When they vote the wrong way, I criticize them. That’s how things should work, imo. You decide to support or oppose people on the basis of the preponderance of their votes, but doesn’t mean we should not be appreciative when Rexroad opposes growth on the Davis periphery–a stance our own supervisors refused to take.
A lot of his arguments are correct, but it’s not like a development in Madison would be terrible – just not ideal. Esparto would probably be a better spot, but it’s not a huge difference. Caltrans is fixing most of the flooding issues imminently anyhow, and they’ll be much better before anything’s ever built.
Sharla: The plan does call for a moderately-sized commercial development along the freeways. Rexroad said he would possibly support this part of the development.
A lot of his arguments are correct, but it’s not like a development in Madison would be terrible – just not ideal. Esparto would probably be a better spot, but it’s not a huge difference. Caltrans is fixing most of the flooding issues imminently anyhow, and they’ll be much better before anything’s ever built.
Sharla: The plan does call for a moderately-sized commercial development along the freeways. Rexroad said he would possibly support this part of the development.
A lot of his arguments are correct, but it’s not like a development in Madison would be terrible – just not ideal. Esparto would probably be a better spot, but it’s not a huge difference. Caltrans is fixing most of the flooding issues imminently anyhow, and they’ll be much better before anything’s ever built.
Sharla: The plan does call for a moderately-sized commercial development along the freeways. Rexroad said he would possibly support this part of the development.
A lot of his arguments are correct, but it’s not like a development in Madison would be terrible – just not ideal. Esparto would probably be a better spot, but it’s not a huge difference. Caltrans is fixing most of the flooding issues imminently anyhow, and they’ll be much better before anything’s ever built.
Sharla: The plan does call for a moderately-sized commercial development along the freeways. Rexroad said he would possibly support this part of the development.
Also, your comment was well put DPD. I couldn’t agree more.
Also, your comment was well put DPD. I couldn’t agree more.
Also, your comment was well put DPD. I couldn’t agree more.
Also, your comment was well put DPD. I couldn’t agree more.
i’ve been folowing rexroad’s take on this, and from what i’ve seen, i tend to agree with him here too. housing shouldn’t be built for revenue, it should be built to provide housing where needed. building in a flood-prone area just makes it a doubly bad idea.
that being said, i’m in favor of periodic recall campaigns, if just to rattle the politicians a bit. keeps ’em honest.
i’ve been folowing rexroad’s take on this, and from what i’ve seen, i tend to agree with him here too. housing shouldn’t be built for revenue, it should be built to provide housing where needed. building in a flood-prone area just makes it a doubly bad idea.
that being said, i’m in favor of periodic recall campaigns, if just to rattle the politicians a bit. keeps ’em honest.
i’ve been folowing rexroad’s take on this, and from what i’ve seen, i tend to agree with him here too. housing shouldn’t be built for revenue, it should be built to provide housing where needed. building in a flood-prone area just makes it a doubly bad idea.
that being said, i’m in favor of periodic recall campaigns, if just to rattle the politicians a bit. keeps ’em honest.
i’ve been folowing rexroad’s take on this, and from what i’ve seen, i tend to agree with him here too. housing shouldn’t be built for revenue, it should be built to provide housing where needed. building in a flood-prone area just makes it a doubly bad idea.
that being said, i’m in favor of periodic recall campaigns, if just to rattle the politicians a bit. keeps ’em honest.
I feel it important to first point out that there is no recall campaign nor will there be. The situation of Madison residents calling for Rexroad’s recall is the equivalent of us clammoring for the recall of the Governor of North Carolina.
Wu, you might want to do some research on recall campaigns and their effects. They’re extremely dangerous to employ, even against political opponents. If a recall campaign fails, the politician becomes nearly untouchable and gains a huge ammount of political capital.
Dianne Feinstein is a perfect example of this. Possibly the greatest propellant in her political career was when an unsucessful recall campaign was launched at her for attempting to ban handguns in San Francisco.
I feel it important to first point out that there is no recall campaign nor will there be. The situation of Madison residents calling for Rexroad’s recall is the equivalent of us clammoring for the recall of the Governor of North Carolina.
Wu, you might want to do some research on recall campaigns and their effects. They’re extremely dangerous to employ, even against political opponents. If a recall campaign fails, the politician becomes nearly untouchable and gains a huge ammount of political capital.
Dianne Feinstein is a perfect example of this. Possibly the greatest propellant in her political career was when an unsucessful recall campaign was launched at her for attempting to ban handguns in San Francisco.
I feel it important to first point out that there is no recall campaign nor will there be. The situation of Madison residents calling for Rexroad’s recall is the equivalent of us clammoring for the recall of the Governor of North Carolina.
Wu, you might want to do some research on recall campaigns and their effects. They’re extremely dangerous to employ, even against political opponents. If a recall campaign fails, the politician becomes nearly untouchable and gains a huge ammount of political capital.
Dianne Feinstein is a perfect example of this. Possibly the greatest propellant in her political career was when an unsucessful recall campaign was launched at her for attempting to ban handguns in San Francisco.
I feel it important to first point out that there is no recall campaign nor will there be. The situation of Madison residents calling for Rexroad’s recall is the equivalent of us clammoring for the recall of the Governor of North Carolina.
Wu, you might want to do some research on recall campaigns and their effects. They’re extremely dangerous to employ, even against political opponents. If a recall campaign fails, the politician becomes nearly untouchable and gains a huge ammount of political capital.
Dianne Feinstein is a perfect example of this. Possibly the greatest propellant in her political career was when an unsucessful recall campaign was launched at her for attempting to ban handguns in San Francisco.
Feinstein’s 1982 law was overturned as a violation of the state constitution. The ban on handguns that passed two years ago in San Francisco has completely failed. Also, Washington, D.C., the murder capital of the United States, and Chicago, which also has a high murder rate, have had handgun bans for more than 20 years. Neither ban had any effect at all on crime rates or homicide rates. All these bans did was prevent law-abiding citizens from owning handguns. Criminals just ignore those laws.
Feinstein’s 1982 law was overturned as a violation of the state constitution. The ban on handguns that passed two years ago in San Francisco has completely failed. Also, Washington, D.C., the murder capital of the United States, and Chicago, which also has a high murder rate, have had handgun bans for more than 20 years. Neither ban had any effect at all on crime rates or homicide rates. All these bans did was prevent law-abiding citizens from owning handguns. Criminals just ignore those laws.
Feinstein’s 1982 law was overturned as a violation of the state constitution. The ban on handguns that passed two years ago in San Francisco has completely failed. Also, Washington, D.C., the murder capital of the United States, and Chicago, which also has a high murder rate, have had handgun bans for more than 20 years. Neither ban had any effect at all on crime rates or homicide rates. All these bans did was prevent law-abiding citizens from owning handguns. Criminals just ignore those laws.
Feinstein’s 1982 law was overturned as a violation of the state constitution. The ban on handguns that passed two years ago in San Francisco has completely failed. Also, Washington, D.C., the murder capital of the United States, and Chicago, which also has a high murder rate, have had handgun bans for more than 20 years. Neither ban had any effect at all on crime rates or homicide rates. All these bans did was prevent law-abiding citizens from owning handguns. Criminals just ignore those laws.
I think you completely missed the point of my comment. Her attempt to ban handguns incited a recall campaign against her, which failed. That failure to win a recall election over Feinstein contributed to her political future success.
Gun control is certainly an interesting issue in this country, though. I’m having a hard time resisting a random discussion of the subject.
I think you completely missed the point of my comment. Her attempt to ban handguns incited a recall campaign against her, which failed. That failure to win a recall election over Feinstein contributed to her political future success.
Gun control is certainly an interesting issue in this country, though. I’m having a hard time resisting a random discussion of th