Month: February 2010

District Does What It Has No Choice To Do – Approves Layoff Notices

District Does What It Has No Choice To Do – Approves Layoff Notices

By David GreenwaldFebruary 19, 201024 comments
schoolscat.pngWe knew it was going to happen – does that make it any less painful?  That is perhaps the question of the night for the school board.  Not only that, but they have gone through this exercise the last three years, so they ought to be well steeped in the nuances of how to do it.

There will be time for Hail Mary passes later both in the context of a parcel tax and perhaps some voluntary fundraising by the Davis Schools Foundation.  But the bottom line for last night was this was simply inevitable and the part of their fiduciary duties that not one of the board members signed on to or particularly enjoys.

Questions Raised About Yolo County Juries Stem From Galvan, Other Cases

Questions Raised About Yolo County Juries Stem From Galvan, Other Cases

By David GreenwaldFebruary 19, 20105 comments
courtroom.jpgLast week the Vanguard reported on the second mistrial in the case of brothers Ernesto and Fermin Galvan.  This was a clear case of excessive force on the part of West Sacramento Police.  The Vanguard will continue to analyze the case itself, however, at this time the concern arises about the jury and their handling of this matter.

There were critical questions that had to be determined in this matter, it involved a portion of the law that requires keen judgment a discernment of facts.

The Davis Co-op Membership Intiative Process

The Davis Co-op Membership Intiative Process

By David GreenwaldFebruary 19, 201014 comments

davis_food_co-opby Gene B. –

We have often discussed the issue of process here on this blog with regard to city governance. Currently, an issue  at the Davis Coop is raising some troubling considerations of process. The necessary signatures appear to have been gathered. to meet the Coop bylaw requirements to put a membership-generated measure on the upcoming Spring Coop membership ballot that would call for  instituting  a  Coop boycott of Israeli products and potential Coop  divestment of any investments in Israel. On Feb 7, the Coop board decided to deny the initiative a place on the ballot because it was “illegal”.

It is not my intention to have a highly charged “debate” on  reasons to support or oppose a Coop boycott of Israeli products and divestment.  I want to speak here only of process.

Proposed Budget Cuts To The Yolo County Health Department: Can We Afford Them?

Proposed Budget Cuts To The Yolo County Health Department: Can We Afford Them?

By David GreenwaldFebruary 18, 20102 comments

recession.jpgby Mary Zhu –

Given the state budget crisis, the Board of Supervisors has difficult choices to make, one of which is whether to accept the draconian cuts proposed for the Yolo County Heath Department. Threatened are the very programs that took us out of the squalor of the 19th century and that continue to guard our health today.

At the beginning of the 20th century, childbirth was dangerous and lives were short. In 1900, for every 1000 live births, 6-9 women died of complications of pregnancy and 135 infants died before their first birthday, a loss of more than one of every ten babies. By the 1950’s, these deaths were uncommon.   The maternal mortality rate in 1997 was less than 0.1/1000 live births and the infant mortality rate by year one was 7.2 /1000 live births (1)(2). These changes are spectacular and unparalleled among improvements in all other mortality rates. Because of the salvage of infant lives, the expected life span at birth rose from 47.3 years in 1900 to 73.7 years in 1980, a gain of more than 26 years of life. More recently, a few additional years were added at the other spectrum of life; survival from the ailments of age (heart diseases and cancers) improved and life spans increased to 77.7 years in 2006 (3).

Word To The Wise: It’s All About Process, Or Lack Thereof

Word To The Wise: It’s All About Process, Or Lack Thereof

By Elaine Roberts MusserFebruary 18, 201014 comments

citycatBy E. Roberts Musser –

Lately, I have heard the following criticisms from various sources:
  • City Staff is incompetent, so managers and department heads need to be fired.

  • The Davis Senior Citizens Commission ignored a certain segment of the senior population.

  • City labor negotiations should have been transparent and not completely behind closed doors.
Can the City Pass Along Sales Tax Revenue To School and County?

Can the City Pass Along Sales Tax Revenue To School and County?

By David GreenwaldFebruary 17, 201011 comments
citycatWhat began as a public comment that I delivered before the Davis City Council grew into a bit of discussion about possibilities.  The city is poised to place an of extension half-cent sales tax measure on the ballot in June.  That measure would continue the generation of three million in tax revenue to the city.  However, people like me have come out against the sales tax in part because it was used to help expand city employee compensation over the last five years rather than expand services.

Moreover, as I argued last night, while the city of Davis faces a long-term fiscal crisis that has serious ramifications, the short term forecast is not bad.  As City Manager Bill Emlen pointed out, even the bad news from last night, falling short of revenue projections measures in the hundreds of thousands rather than the millions.

Budget Woes Increase For City of Davis

Budget Woes Increase For City of Davis

By David GreenwaldFebruary 16, 20108 comments

lamar_heystekCouncilmember Heystek’s Budget Projections Prove More Accurate Than Navazio’s –

The failure of Davis to adequately address its short-term budget crisis, combined with a further downturn in sales tax revenues has lead the city of Davis to run a new deficit of nearly a million dollars.

The city is in the short-term proposing to balance the budget by using the reserve and then develop new recommendations aimed at restoring the 15% General Fund reserve.

County Health Services Would Be Gutted in Budget Cuts

County Health Services Would Be Gutted in Budget Cuts

By David GreenwaldFebruary 16, 20101 comments
recession.jpgAs we have reported more times than we bear, the county has around a 21 million dollar deficit that it will be cutting around March 25, 2010.  In order to get to that point, whole departments may be eliminated.  However, the worst impact will be on the residents who rely on vital services from the county, most particularly health services.

Departments have been asked to identify the possible impacts and develop worst-case scenarios in the event they have to absorb a 16 to 35% budget reduction target.  From the health department budget the county is contemplating a cut over a little over a million dollars.  The impact will be devastating on multiple levels.  In the fiscal year 2007/08 there were 130.3 FTE positions in the Yolo County Health Department, by 2010/11, that number could be down nearly in half to 67.4.

Another Call for Transparency in Labor Negotiations

Another Call for Transparency in Labor Negotiations

By David GreenwaldFebruary 15, 201020 comments
citycatThe Davis Enterprise argued in an Editorial yesterday that the city’s labor negotiations should be conducted in public.  They used the conflict that emerged last month on the council dais, that started over a dispute between two members of the council as to what happened behind closed doors as an impetus to once again argue for public negotiations.

It is an interesting idea that was broached by the Enterprise last spring before the commencement of bargaining.  However, the city cited confidentiality laws among other reasons for not conducting negotiations in public.  I would argue that while they may be correct, there could have been a lot greater transparency during the process.

Commentary: Given Budget Considerations, Time For DA’s Office To Re-Think Prosecution Policies

Commentary: Given Budget Considerations, Time For DA’s Office To Re-Think Prosecution Policies

By David GreenwaldFebruary 15, 20106 comments
courtroom.jpgYolo County is facing fiscal crisis on a scale that boggles the mind.  Last year, the county was able to cushion a 20 million dollar blow using reserves and concessions, this year, there will be no cushion for a 21 million dollar deficit.  Vital services that people rely on to survey are going to be slashed.  We’re talking health services, mental health services, and public safety.

In that context, last week, the Sheriff’s Department talked about the release of inmates.  Indeed, across the state, there have been the release of prisoners, essentially people who have committed less dangerous felonies.  Likewise Yolo County under a worst case scenario would immediately release 140 convicts with the closure of the Walter J. Leinberger Minimum Security Facility.

Vanguard Analysis: Davis City Council Early Reporting Shows Marked Contrast in Two Announced Candidates

Vanguard Analysis: Davis City Council Early Reporting Shows Marked Contrast in Two Announced Candidates

By David GreenwaldFebruary 14, 201026 comments
citycatSo far there are only two candidates for the Davis City Council, however, that is likely to change as the filing deadline approaches.  In the meantime, the two announced candidates have raised roughly similar amounts of money.

Sydney Vergis who finished fourth back in 2008 has received 6733 dollars while Joe Krovoza has received 7675.  How they got there was very different.

Brazen Supporters of Covell Village Senior Development Turn Up Heat

Brazen Supporters of Covell Village Senior Development Turn Up Heat

By David GreenwaldFebruary 13, 201067 comments
covell_villageThe Vanguard learned earlier this week that developers for Covell Village have yet to turn in an application for the development.  That is still believed to be forthcoming, but the original word was that they would submit their application in January.  That has not occurred.

In the meantime however, supporters of the project and members of the Astroturf Organization CHA (Choice for Healthy Aging) are turning up the heat with an apparent letter writing campaign following the February 2 editorial by Robert Chason, another member of CHA in the Davis Enterprise.  Attempts to contact Robert Chason following our commentary last week have not succeeded.

NewPath Sues City of Davis Over Pulling of Cell Tower Permits

NewPath Sues City of Davis Over Pulling of Cell Tower Permits

By David GreenwaldFebruary 12, 201090 comments
newpathtowerThe Vanguard has learned that the telecommunication company, NewPath has filed a lawsuit against the city of Davis stemming from the rescission of encroachment permits by City Manager Bill Emlen in December the subsequent denial of appeal by the City Council in Janaury.

On January 19, 2010, the Davis City Council unanimously voted to deny an appeal by NewPath on the rescission of encroachment permits by the City Manager Bill Emlen.  Bill Emlen made the decision on December 5, 2009 to rescind NewPath’s encroachment permits and related building permits for a proposed cell tower distribution system across the city.

Case of Police Brutality Ends in Second Mistrial

Case of Police Brutality Ends in Second Mistrial

By David GreenwaldFebruary 12, 20108 comments
courtroomFor the second time, a Yolo County jury was unable to reach a verdict in the case of Ernesto and Fermin Galvan, brothers who were charged with resisting arrest and battery for an incident that occurred back in 2005.

The defendants have alleged excessive force by the police officer.  At that time, they had been unable to come to trial because the younger brother had suffered debilitating head injuries.

Judge Tim Fall declared a mistrial after a juror announced they were hopelessly deadlocked on all six counts.  One juror held out against conviction on all counts, the same thing that occurred in the original trial back in 2007.

DA Reverses Course, No Longer Asks For Life in Cheese Case

DA Reverses Course, No Longer Asks For Life in Cheese Case

By David GreenwaldFebruary 12, 20100 comments
courtroom.jpgOn Monday the Vanguard broke the story that Robert Ferguson is facing life in prison for a third strike in part for stealing cheese from Nugget Market.  Quickly the Sacramento Bee also picked up the story.

As a result, Yolo County Prosecutors announced on Thursday that they would no longer seek life for the man who had also stolen a wallet from a woman in a 7-11 convenience store.

County Begins To Look At $21 Million in Cuts For Next Year’s Budget

County Begins To Look At $21 Million in Cuts For Next Year’s Budget

By Vanguard AdministratorFebruary 12, 20104 comments

recession.jpgby Eric Alfaro –

This week the Yolo Board of Supervisors gathered in a special strategic budget planning sessions to discuss inevitable cuts to the county budget while simultaneously strategizing ways to keep Yolo County performing in a self sustainable manner.

Discussed in the planning session were the logistics behind the current budget problems and the recommended department cuts that would alleviate the budget gap for the 2010-11 fiscal years and beyond.

 

County Proposed Budget Cuts Include the Elimination of the Yolo County Gang Task Force

County Proposed Budget Cuts Include the Elimination of the Yolo County Gang Task Force

By David GreenwaldFebruary 11, 20109 comments
gang-stockFor the second consecutive year, Yolo County is having to cut 20 million dollars from its general fund budget.  This is going to take a huge toll as we will discuss later on the vital county services.  It will also result in cutbacks to law enforcement.

Some of the proposed cuts will include the closure of the Walter J. Leinberger Minimum security facility which would result in the immediate release of 140 felons into the community (though it should be noted these are felons housed in a minimum security facility).

Records Show NewPath Violated Conditions Specified in Encroachment Permits

Records Show NewPath Violated Conditions Specified in Encroachment Permits

By David GreenwaldFebruary 10, 201029 comments
newpathtowerThe Vanguard in investigating how it was that encroachment permits were issued by the public works department has obtained copies of all of the encroachment permits that were issued to the company NewPath between October 21, 2009 and November 16, 2009.  Counter to claims made by the company at the time, the city directly ordered the company to work with the owners of a given property as a condition of building the facility. 

This condition was not adhered to and on that basis the city might have had the authority to pull the encroachment permits.  This is important because there is a reasonable possibility that NewPath will sue the city of Davis as they have other communities.

Study Presents Alarming Findings on the Condition of Yolo County’s Roadways

Study Presents Alarming Findings on the Condition of Yolo County’s Roadways

By David GreenwaldFebruary 10, 20101 comments

potholeStreets and Roads Assessment Shows State and Local Transportation Systems at Great Risk –

Much of the attention in the coming days will focus on the 20 million dollars in cuts to the Yolo County General Fund Budget.  These cuts will decimate social services that are the lifeblood to the county and its needy residents.

However, a looming crisis has gone undetected until now.  California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment conducted its first comprehensive review of local system conditions and it found that local transportation systems are at risk without increased state investment.