Month: November 2008

The Campaign for Senior Housing at Covell Village Continues

The Campaign for Senior Housing at Covell Village Continues

By David GreenwaldNovember 10, 200888 comments
imageCity of Davis

Three years ago this month, a proposed development at Covell Village was defeated by a massive grassroots effort. The overwhelming defeat of Measure X by nearly a 60-40 margin has not slowed efforts to develop the property that is bordered by Pole Line and Covell Blvd.

Instead, the would-be developers of the property have changed tactics and changed the form of the would-be development. Now they are looking at a senior development.

Slowly and methodically, they are building toward a community consensus on the need for senior housing. They have done this by meeting with key stakeholders in the community and also senior groups, selling the case that the community of Davis is in need of more senior housing and that their property offers the ideal location for that development.

Ralph Nader Used to Be My Hero

Ralph Nader Used to Be My Hero

By David GreenwaldNovember 8, 200848 comments

I do not remember how old I as, but I remember as a child my mother mentioning to me with excitement that Raplh Nader was going to come to town. She described him as a consumer advocate who stood up to big business and who was incorruptible. They tried to discredit Nader, hiring all sorts of independent investigators and tried to corrupt him with prostitutes to trap him into uncompromising positions, but they could not.

Ralph Nader’s expose on automobile safety, “Unsafe At Any Speed” is still a classic work of investigative journalism. His advocacy lead to many of the safety features that have made modern automobiles a good deal safer.

Analysis: A look back at Measure N at Why It Was Defeated

Analysis: A look back at Measure N at Why It Was Defeated

By David GreenwaldNovember 7, 200864 comments
imageCity of Davis

The results for Measure N can be looked at in two ways. On the one hand, the measure failed by just 2000 votes despite large amounts of public confusion about what the measure would do and why it was needed.

On the other hand, opponents of Measure N point out that Davis rarely opposes such measures, that there was only late organized opposition, no ballot argument against the measure, and yet it lost.

Both in a way are probably correct.

City of Davis Responds to Yolo County General Plan’s Inclusion of City Edge

City of Davis Responds to Yolo County General Plan’s Inclusion of City Edge

By David GreenwaldNovember 4, 200844 comments
imageYolo County

The Vanguard is fully aware that most of the population is following the election today, and the bulk of our coverage today will be on the election. However, this is issue is too important to let slide. Tomorrow evening the Davis City Council will be taking up a response to Yolo County on the General Plan.

Here’s the key sections of the General Plan that impact Davis’ planning area:

Policy LU-6.2 reads: Coordinate with the University of California at Davis regarding the Long Range Development Plan (LRDP), campus facilities, off-campus agricultural and open space property and joint venture development with the private sector to achieve the best possible outcomes consistent with the General Plan.

Mayor Flips on Measure N–Comes Out Against

Mayor Flips on Measure N–Comes Out Against

By David GreenwaldNovember 2, 200824 comments
imageCity of Davis

In what may end up being the deathblow for the already beleaguered proposal to create a Charter City in Davis, Mayor Ruth Asmundson who was part of the 4-1 vote to place Measure N on the ballot and one of three Councilmembers to sign the statement in favor of Measure N on the sample ballot, has written a brief but pointed letter coming out against the initiative.

She simply writes without explanation:

“On further consideration, I now believe that Measure N is not in the best interest of Davis voters. Please vote no.”