Month: September 2008

City of Davis Getting Water-Jacked on Multiple Angles

City of Davis Getting Water-Jacked on Multiple Angles

By David GreenwaldSeptember 13, 200864 comments

Is Council Finally Having Serious Concerns About the Cost of the Wastewater Project?

At some point it would probably benefit everyone to go back through the records and look at the increases in the estimated cost of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade. I believe that since early last year when I first took note of the wastewater project the estimated cost of the project has risen from around $150 million to over $200 million.

Finally, the city council is taking a serious look at ways to reduce the costs. The real question is why has it taken so long? But at least now the council is looking into the costs.

Cell Phone Laws Hands-Free Restriction–Are people Complying?

Cell Phone Laws Hands-Free Restriction–Are people Complying?

By David GreenwaldSeptember 12, 200852 comments
imageCity of Davis

Back at the end of June the public was bombarded with news stories on television and in the newspaper that a new law was coming. Drivers would be fined if they are caught using a phone without some sort of hands-free device while driving. The first offense carries with it a $20 and that increases to $50 for subsequent violations.

On the other hand, despite being a clear public safety risk the DMV would not assign a point on people’s driving record.

Yolo County Releases Draft of Updated General Plan

Yolo County Releases Draft of Updated General Plan

By David GreenwaldSeptember 12, 200832 comments

Draft General Plan Document Released

[FROM COUNTY PRESS RELEASE] (Woodland, CA) – Today, the Yolo County Draft General Plan was released to the public. On September 16, a joint meeting of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission will be held to receive a presentation on the Draft General Plan. The General Plan is the basic document used by local government in land use planning. It provides the comprehensive long-term plan for the physical development of the county, and is often referred to as “the constitution” of the county. All cities and counties are required, under state law, to have one.
Lessons to Be Learned From Vallejo’s Bankruptcy

Lessons to Be Learned From Vallejo’s Bankruptcy

By David GreenwaldSeptember 3, 2008180 comments

Some have openly wondered why the sudden focus on the salaries of public employees in both Davis as well as in the county. In truth, it is a combination of factors that stem from the alarm of what happened in Vallejo to the burning question: can it happen here. Over the course of the summer, we have looked at this question from a variety of different angles. Perhaps most concerning was the seeming lack of concern from two of the victors in last spring’s Davis City Council election about the looming and impending problem of Davis’ fiscal stability.

Davis Enterprise Anti-Environmental Policies

Davis Enterprise Anti-Environmental Policies

By David GreenwaldSeptember 2, 200884 comments

I write this in part based on Matt Rexroad’s blog entry from yesterday, but frankly I have had similar thoughts lately. There was a time, I would wake up and read newspapers first thing in the morning. But that was really before the advent of the internet and the ability of newspapers to put their content online–much of the time for free. Now if the newspaper is not on the internet, I will not likely read it.

Most newspapers have most of their content available for free on the internet. However, the Davis Enterprise is an exception, though their policy has varied over the two and a half years I have read it. At one point, only the front page articles were available on their website. Then all of their content was posted on the website. Now they have all of the content on the website but it is protected by password and available to those who subscribe.