July 2009 - Page 2 of 3 - Davis Vanguard

It Takes a Village

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 19, 2009

Education Still Remains a Priority in Davis –

An overused phrase for the past two decades is that it takes a village to raise a child. If California is that village, we have literally kicked our children to the curb periodically over that time period–none more than now. With massive cuts to education but also health care and other social programs, we have taken our children, thrown them into the water, and said swim. Those who can do, and those who can’t we end paying far more to lock away.

But within the vast wilderness of California not all villages are equal. If you want to know why Davis still has good schools, why Davis’ children will not be thrown into the water without a life preserver, swimming lessons and at least a fighting chance, look no further than the support we have given our schools above all odds.

Only One Regent Dared to Stand Up Against Furloughs

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 18, 2009

garamendi2

While 20 members of the UC Board of Regents cast their vote to go along with President Yudof’s furlough plan, one Regent was still looking for a different way. That was Lt. Governor John Garamendi who has foregone a challenge for Governor in favor of seeking the open 3rd Congressional Seat, vacated by Ellen Tauscher who was appointed by President Obama as an under Secretary of State for arms control.

Right up until the end, Mr. Garamendi was looking for another way. He called on the Regents instead of acceding to the demands of the economic downturn to join a coordinated effort with CSU and the Community Colleges to Abolish the two-thirds majority requirement and pass an oil severance tax.

The End of the California Dream

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 17, 2009

In the 1950s California led the way with an innovative and unprecedented higher education that would enable anyone who wished to, to attend a four year college and get a college degree. For the next half century, California had a higher education system second to none in the world. There was the world-class University of California system that would take the top tier of student and the California State University system that would admit virtually anyone, initially at no cost and but even to this day one of the best deals around.

If this is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression one of the biggest victims will be the California Dream of an accessible and affordable college education.

Others Implement Cost-Recovery For At-Fault Parties

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 17, 2009

During the course of Councilmember Lamar Heystek’s presentation of the alternative budget, one of his proposals for possible additional revenue was the idea of billing the party at fault when it requires fire or ambulance service.

Councilmember Heystek called it cost-recovery for at-fault party for public safety response. He projected it could produce an additional 25,000 dollars in revenue for the city which would enable it to off-set some of the cuts to service for the public. The city and the city council seemed to reject it almost on principle, but it established the idea of looking for alternative means by which to fund city services.

Budget Deal May Hinge on More Cuts to Education

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 16, 2009

Suspension of Prop 98 May Be Last Sticking Point –

Early yesterday the word came down that a budget agreement in Sacramento was imminent. If true, that would have meant that the legislature’s leaders from both sides of the aisle would have reached tentative agreement with the Governor on a plan to cut an additional 26 billion dollars from the budget. Bearing the brunt of these cuts have been the poor, the disabled, state workers, and of course education.

Late last night it was announced that talks had stalled and word leaked out that the point of difference was what to do about education, specifically Proposition 98. Education has already suffered cuts of well over $10 billion and that number could increase even more if the legislature agrees with the Governor to suspend it.

AFSCME President Says Furlough Plan Disportionately Impacts Those at the Bottom

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 16, 2009

by Sarah Kanbar –

Today the UC Board of Regents will vote on a controversial plan that will enact furloughs to help close the growing budget of the University of California. UC President Mark Yudof announced this proposal last week, and the plan still has to go through full board approval and union approval. While this plan seeks to save money by avoiding cutting jobs, and instead opting for between 11 to 26 unpaid days off proving a small salary cut, UC employees, professors, and AFSCME Local 3299 are openly stating their opposition.

The Vanguard had the opportunity to do a brief phone interview with AFSCME Local 3229 President Lakesha Harrison. The Vanguard asked Ms. Harrison two questions revolving around this ordeal: Is this fair? And who does this effect the most?

Wildhorse EIR Shows Need To Update City Fire Policies

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 15, 2009

Reading the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the proposed Wild Horse Ranch development gives one a little insight into how the city operates. Specifically the designation of the “unavoidable cumulative impact” on the fire service. EIR concludes: “consistent with the analysis of the Davis General Plan and General Plan EIR, the proposed project would have a significant impact to fire protection services.”

Specifically the project is said to lie outside of the five minute response time area. Moreover,

Gang Injunction in Solano County Challenged

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 15, 2009

In a scene somewhat familiar to residents of Yolo County and West Sacramento, there is a legal challenge now being mounted in Fairfield in Solano County Superior Court urging the court to limit the overly broad scope of the proposed gang injunction for the city of Fairfield. At issue is the ability of the police to serve the injunction on an individual without presenting definitive evidence of gang membership and without court approval.

Joining in the case fighting the gang injunction is the Northern California ACLU who had also worked against the first gang injunction in West Sacramento that was eventually thrown out in West Sacramento due to its overly narrow number of alleged gang members that it served.

Community Must Come Together To Seek Answers of Shooting

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 14, 2009

by Eric Alfaro –

On April 30th Luis Gutierrez was shot in the back while walking home from the DMV. The killing of this 26 year old person has created a ripple effect of questions that have challenged the way city officials are accountable to city residents.

The deeper one investigates the clearer it becomes that interconnecting interests are present in Woodland politics. Woodland is showing symptoms of cronyism; in other words, the case of Luis Gutierrez has stretched the fabric of the political structure to the point that one can no longer ignore the favoritism within politics and indifference with community concerns.

UNSUSTAINABLE: City PERS Contributions Skyrocketed Over Last Decade

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 14, 2009

For those who have closely followed the debate on the blog, the chart you are about to see should come as little surprise. Over the course of 2000 until 2009-10, the City’s PERS contribution has increased dramatically from just under one million dollars per year, up close to seven million by the end of the decade.

Obviously that rate of increase is unsustainable. Thanks to the city of Davis and Finance Director Paul Navazio, we have the latest projections as well. The key question is whether PERS contributions will continue to increase at the rate that they have and the second question is what the city can do about it.

Furlough Plan by UC Met with Mix of Support and Opposition

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 13, 2009

University of California professors and staff would have to take between 11 and 26 furlough days a year according to a new proposal announced Friday by UC President Mark Yudof. These unpaid days would amount to a 4 to 10 percent pay cut per year.

Professors would not be allowed to skip classes as part of their furlough days, but students will still feel an impact with the furloughs, staff layoffs, and program reductions.

Prestigious Scholars Come to Katehi’s Defense But Fail To Address Specific Concerns

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 12, 2009

On Friday a very prestigious group of UC Davis professors came to the defense of incoming Chancellor Linda Katehi. Unfortunately, like many who have come to her defense, they have failed to address the key issues that have brought questions.

The bottom line I think for myself is that at first the chancellor did not answer questions about what happened during her tenure at the University of Illinois. When she did, her answers seemed in contradiction to the facts that emerged. In short, she has not been forthcoming with information that explains her exact role. While I agree that nothing has come forward is a smoking gun in terms of her involvement, at the same time the answers and statements that she has given have failed to put this issue to rest.

California is Out of Cash and Out of Time

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 11, 2009

Debunking the Myths of California’s Budget Crisis –

State offices throughout the state were closed yesterday as the state endured another furlough Friday. The July 1 deadline came and went last week with no agreement between the Governor and the legislature. The Governor could have saved the state and taxpayers nearly three billion dollars had he simply accepted a partial solution last week. But instead he held out for the entire 23 billion dollars in spending cuts and when that did not materialize, he vetoed the legislature’s effort and so now instead of having a 23 billion dollar deficit we have a 26 billion dollar deficit.

Ten days have passed since that point, the state is out of cash, had the Governor simply taken the partial solution, at least we would be solvent at this point and would have enough cash to pay our bills. Instead people are not being paid with IOUs. The average person probably has not felt this yet, but that will be coming. The Governor is now talking about a fourth furlough day or another 5% paycut for state employees (which is functionally the same thing) and state employees are talking strike.

Whose Side is the Council On?

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 10, 2009

Employee Contracts Are the Last Piece to the Puzzle –

For those who read Rich Rifkin’s column this Wednesday in the Davis Enterprise, it was a nice summary of where we are and where we stand. He makes a few points that bear repeating and further discussion. But let us back up a second for starters.

Last week, the Davis City Council passed a budget that calls for cutbacks in salary and benefits that equals around 3.8 percent of employee compensation. The raw number is 1.25 million dollars, less than the number that Councilmember Lamar Heystek pushed which represented around 5 percent at 1.575 million dollars. At the same time, it was greater than the 850,000 dollars that the city was proposing.

AB 155 Prevents Cities From Filing For Bankruptcy Protection

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 10, 2009

By Justin Smith –

The California Assembly recently approved AB 155 (Mendoza), a bill that prohibits cities and counties from filing bankruptcy without state approval and is headed to the Senate. The bill requires local governments and counties to get approval from the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC) before filing for bankruptcy.

The California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission consists of the State Treasurer, the Governor or the Director of Finance, the State Controller, two local government finance officials, two Assembly Members, and two Senators.

Planning Commission Hears Wildhorse Ranch Application and Moves it To City Council

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 9, 2009

A bare quorum of the Davis Planning Commission was on hand on Wednesday evening in Davis, but they agreed to approve the staff report unanimously with a 4-0 vote on all measures except the Final EIR which was inexplicably only received from city staff on Monday. Commissioner Ananya Choudhuri voted against approving the Final EIR due to her not reading it (she probably should have abstained rather than voted no, but that’s largely a moot point).

The actions taken by the Planning Commission on Wednesday were fivefold. First, they certified the Final EIR for the Wildhorse Ranch proposal, including findings of fact, statement of overriding considerations, and mitigation monitoring plan in the staff report. Second, they approved the General Plan Amendment Resolution that establishes the land use designations for the Wildhorse Ranch. Third they introduced the ordinance that rezones and establishes the use and development standards for the Wildhorse Ranch site. Fourth, they approved the Affordable Housing Plan. And finally they introduced the ordinance to approve the Development Agreement between the City and the Developer, Parlin Whildhorse Ranch. Again, this item was approved as received as it was not complete at the time of the meeting.

A DANG Good Deal: West Davis Has a Grocery Store

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 8, 2009

After three years of sitting vacant, the West Lake Shopping center will have a new grocery store by November, in time for Thanksgiving according to a deal announced at Davis City Council. This deal was agreed to by all parties involved including the current owners, the prospective grocers, the neighbors, and approved by city staff and city council.

DeLano’s Markets is coming to West Lake. The talks had been on and off for much of the last six months. The deal at one point appeared dead when the owners pulled the financing, however due to the persistence of DANG (Davis Advocates for Neighborhood Groceries), city staff kept the pressure on the owners to put something together. Those talks had heated up for the past month and they made steady progress until last week when the Vanguard announced the two sides were close to an agreement.

Is Council Ready To Decide About Wood Burning?

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 7, 2009

Back in January the issue of whether there should be a woodburning ban became a topic of tremendous controversy. On the one side were some environmentalists and some health advocates concerned with both the impact of wood burning on the environment as well as health implications. On the other side were citizens who, for a variety of reasons, use wood during the few cold months of the year to heat their homes and provide themselves with some sort of aesthetic enjoyment.

The council in January decided to punt after the Natural Resource Commission recommended an ordinance that would ban woodburning. Given the time of year and the fact that it was the end of the burning season, it made some sense to defer a decision in this case. The council will now hear the issue once again and perhaps make some sort of determination.

Wow Factor: Wildhorse Ranch Achieves Unprecedented 90% Greenhouse Reduction

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 6, 2009

In a letter dated July 1, 2009, the city received a sustainability proposal from the Wildhorse Ranch developer and the project’s energy conservation consultants that will put the city of Davis back on the map in terms of environmental sustainability and innovative developments. The proposed Wildhorse Ranch development would achieve a 90% reduction in green house gas (GHG) emissions. A typical single family home will create around 5.5 metrics tons per year of GHG emissions. This proposal would reduce that number by 4.95 metric tons per residence to .55 metric tons per residence.

In April, the Davis City Council passed a resolution recommending GHG reduction thresholds and standards for new residential housing projects. It set as its initial goal a 2.4 metric ton reduction per residence, or a 44% reduction of GHG emission for new homes. This project more than doubles the city’s goals.

The End of the Palin Moment?

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 5, 2009

I would be remiss if I did not comment on the extraordinary chain of events that occurred on a Friday before the Fourth of July weekend when Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin who has made a career our of being a maverick and unpredictable, took that to another level by announcing she would resign by August.

Naturally this has touched off speculation ranging from her trying to avoid some sort of scandal to using the extra time to run for President and become the leader in the Republican Party.

Month: July 2009