Month: May 2010

City Discloses Street Impact At Current Funding Levels

City Discloses Street Impact At Current Funding Levels

By David GreenwaldMay 20, 201020 comments

potholeCurrent Funding Levels will Take us Into the Fair PCI Range by 2012 –

Last week, we reported on the increasingly dire situation involving the city’s ability to perform very basic city services such as pave streets.  As the Vanguard has reported, the city for a number of years has maintained a road maintenance budget that is less approximately 800,000 dollars per year which is about 1.2 million dollars less than what is needed.  The result is the city has built up more than a five million dollar backlog of maintenance needs.

Last Tuesday acting public works director Bob Clarke gave a report on the public works department. “In addition to the staffing cuts,” he reported, “our approximately $1 million a year road maintenance budget is down to $250,000 next year, which won’t buy us much pavement out in the field next year.”

Heystek Endorses Rochelle Swanson

Heystek Endorses Rochelle Swanson

By David GreenwaldMay 20, 201081 comments
lamar_heystekThe conventional wisdom in this council election is that Joe Krovoza is the front runner and likely to finish first and that second place will come down to Sydney Vergis and Rochelle Swanson.  Often in Davis, conventional wisdom is not so conventional and things do not work out as planned.  Nevertheless, if true, the prospects of Rochelle Swanson received a big boost on Wednesday as Councilmember Lamar Heystek added his name to her endorsement list.

It has been a good week and a half for Ms. Swanson’s candidacy as she received both the Sacramento Bee and Davis Enterprise endorsements in addition to receiving endorsements from Mayor Ruth Asmundson and past mayor and current councilmember Sue Greenwald.  Rochelle Swanson is trying to carve out the progressive wing of Davis politics, securing endorsements from both Mr. Heystek and Sue Greenwald, along with other past leaders like former Mayor Bill Kopper and Councilmember Mike Harrington.

Word To The Wise: Reverse Redlining – Predatory Mortgage Loans and the Foreclosure Crisis

Word To The Wise: Reverse Redlining – Predatory Mortgage Loans and the Foreclosure Crisis

By David GreenwaldMay 20, 20100 comments

reverse-mortgageTargeting Minorities and the Elderly

By E. Roberts Musser –

According to the courts (Honorable v. Easy Life Real Estate System), reverse redlining is the practice of extending credit on unfair terms to specific geographic areas due to income, race or ethnicity. So typically, reverse redlining occurs in neighborhoods with high concentrations of ethnic minorities. However, I have a sneaking suspicion, as do other consumer organizations, the elderly were another target for extending mortgage credit on unfair terms. The result has been a foreclosure crisis of immense proportions and far reaching consequences beyond just ethnic minorities or the elderly. Everyone is being effected by the mortgage meltdown, young and old alike, regardless of cultural background. Reverse redlining harms everyone.

Extending mortgage credit on unfair terms is a form of predatory lending. Major indicators of predatory mortgage lending are:

City Staff Inexplicably Brings Verona Back Proposing Waiving 700K in Impact Fees

City Staff Inexplicably Brings Verona Back Proposing Waiving 700K in Impact Fees

By David GreenwaldMay 19, 201021 comments
housing-size-150In July of 2008, the City Council approved an 83 unit single-family residential development on the corner of Fifth Street and Alhambra.  To date, much like most other recently approved developments, there has been no building permits pulled nor construction that has begun.

However, for reasons not completely clear, on May 12, there was an emergency hearing of the Planning Commission where suddenly the Verona project was brought back with major changes.  Because of the nature of the Planning Commission meeting, there were two members absent, in addition, there were already two vacancies, which means that the final vote to move this to council occurred with just four commissioners by a 3-1 vote.

Vote No on PG&E’s Proposition 16

Vote No on PG&E’s Proposition 16

By David GreenwaldMay 19, 20105 comments

pgeBy Dan Berman –

Proposition 16, sponsored by PG&E Corp., would amend our state constitution to require a two-thirds vote to replace privately owned utilities like PG&E. According to the Bakersfield Californian, Prop. 16 would erect a ‘constitutional iron curtain,’ that would freeze us into PG&E’s utility empire forever after the June 8 election.

As such, Prop. 16 is a frontal assault on the right of voter majorities to choose their electricity providers. If it passes, Prop. 16 will empower a one-third electoral minority to veto any attempt by cities or counties or irrigation districts to escape PG&E’s cold embrace and declare their energy independence.

Should the City Extend the Deadline For the Construction of Development Projects?

Should the City Extend the Deadline For the Construction of Development Projects?

By David GreenwaldMay 18, 20102 comments
housing-size-150Last fall, when the council was debating whether or not to approve a development proposal at the 29 unit project Willowbank in South Davis, the question came up as to whether or not this was the appropriate time to approve new development units.  Problem as acknowledged by council and staff was a large number of units approved but not built due to the economic downturn and the decline of the real estate market.

Concerns were raised and the Mayor went as far as to suggest that they may consider time limitations on entitlements to encourage the developers to build in a more timely manner in order to avoid a glut on the market when things finally improved.

Commentary: The World is Changing and the Time is Now For Pension Reform

Commentary: The World is Changing and the Time is Now For Pension Reform

By David GreenwaldMay 18, 201025 comments
pension-reform-stockThe other day I was reading a little blurb from Steven Greenhut, the right wing or libertarian depending on your perspective, who has led the charge for pension reform.  He was talking about an experience in the PERS committee listening to testimony over SB 919, a pension-reform bill.

What caught my attention in particular was the union representatives kept talking about the fact that pension liabilities can be fixed at the bargaining table.  Now Mr. Greenhut called that utter nonsense and argued that “the unions control the bargaining table. It’s been at the bargaining table where these massive liabilities have been created.”

Measure Q: Renewal of Needed City Revenue or the Continuation of Poor Fiscal Practices?

Measure Q: Renewal of Needed City Revenue or the Continuation of Poor Fiscal Practices?

By David GreenwaldMay 17, 201039 comments

Measure-Q-forum

Measure Q is the renewal of a half cent sales tax in Davis which generates on average three million dollars in general fund revenue.  The League of Women Voters forum gave us the opportunity to hear the Yes on Measure Q side as presented by Councilmember Sue Greenwald and the Non on Measure Q side as presented by David Musser, a Davis resident.

In addition, on Sunday, the Davis Enterprise published an op-ed written by four of the Davis City Councilmembers and three other individuals in support of the sales tax renewal.

The sorriest thing about Prop 16

The sorriest thing about Prop 16

By David GreenwaldMay 17, 20100 comments

The sorriest thing about Prop 16 (the New Two Thirds Requirement for Local Public Electricity Act) is that it demonstrates the brute force of corporate money over our lives. Today, I received an e-mail with videos opposing Prop 16;  they were the voices of ordinary people speaking for the interests of citizens. The email asked us to show these videos in homes because the opposition couldn’t afford to buy media time.

In contrast, PG&E, the sole funder of this proposition, has a war chest of $35 million. It could afford to pay professional teams to collect the thousands of signatures required to place this measure on the ballot and then to constantly broadcast its misleading television ads.

Krovoza and Swanson Make It Two for Two, Endorsed by Davis Enterprise

Krovoza and Swanson Make It Two for Two, Endorsed by Davis Enterprise

By David GreenwaldMay 16, 2010115 comments

rochelle-swansonEndorsement Caps of a Great Week for Swanson and a Tough Week For Vergis –

For the second time this week, Joe Krovoza and Rochelle Swanson have received a major endorsement, this time from the Davis Enterprise. 

The Enterprise has a history of supporting the pro-growth candidates and policies, indeed going back to 2002, Sue Greenwald in 2004 is the only non-pro-growth candidate to receive an endorsement.  The Enterprise supported both Covell Village and Target.  But times have changed, and the most burning issue has not been growth this year, but the budget and the Enterprise has fairly consistently been critical of the current council’s budget and spending priorities.

Should Measure J Be Renewed in the form of Measure R?

Should Measure J Be Renewed in the form of Measure R?

By David GreenwaldMay 15, 201044 comments

Measure-r

Last week, when the League of Women Voters held their forum, they not only had a candidates for with the city council candidates, but they also had the only discussion on Measure Q and Measure J.

Last week, we covered the candidate’s portion of the forum except for one question, which deal with Measure R.  Today we are going to cover that question and then the discussion between Mark Spencer who represented the Yes on R side and former Davis Mayor Jerry Adler who was opposing the renewal of Measure J in Measure R.

Fue Luis Gutiérrez un Sureño?

Fue Luis Gutiérrez un Sureño?

By David GreenwaldMay 14, 20100 comments
Para cualquiera razón, decidí comentar en un artículo en el Woodland Journal que hizo una reclamación sobre la Coalición de la Justicia del Condado de Yolo. El artículo mismo no se interesa mucho, pero uno de los moderadores del sitio, Dino Gay, hizo algunas afirmaciones que llamó hechos.

“Navarro fue Sureño. Fue drogado. Tuvo un cuchillo. Sacó el cuchillo ante un agente de la policía. Otra vez, todos hechos.”

Road Maintenance Backlog Approaching Dire Stages

Road Maintenance Backlog Approaching Dire Stages

By David GreenwaldMay 14, 201018 comments

pothole.jpgCity Continues to Hide the Real Costs and Real Deficit Through Deferred Maintenance –

The report was alarming on the front of transportation and street maintenance.  It made front page headlines in the Davis Enterprise that reported, “But while streets, bike paths and sidewalks will stay in good condition for the immediate future, the city’s current proposed funding allows streets to deteriorate while the cost to repair them will climb exponentially.”

City Manager Bill Emlen acknowledged the problem, “There’s lots of concern about the sidewalks and the bike paths. Realistically, it’s going to be hard to address them.”

Was Luis Gutierrez a Sureño?

Was Luis Gutierrez a Sureño?

By David GreenwaldMay 14, 201019 comments

Gut-1.jpg

For some reason I decided to weigh in on a post on the Woodland Journal that made a claim about the Yolo County Justice Coalition.  The post itself was not really that interesting, but one of the moderators over there, Dino Gay, then made assertions about the Gutierrez case that he called facts.

“Navarro was a Sureño. He was high. He had a knife. He pulled the knife on an officer. Again, all facts.”

UC Davis College Democrats Host City Council Forum

UC Davis College Democrats Host City Council Forum

By David GreenwaldMay 13, 201014 comments

Davis Democratic Club Endorses Joe Krovoza –

College-Dem-can-forum

On Wednesday, the UC Davis College Democrats hosted a City Council candidates’ forum that was co-sponsored by the Davis Vanguard.  All of the candidates came to the forum regardless of party identification.  The event was attended by probably 30 or more club members making it one of the better attended forums in the series.

The UC Davis College Democrats will make their decision on who to endorse based in part on the public forum and also on written questions that were answered prior to the forum.  They can by rule only endorse registered Democrats this means that they can choose between Joe Krovoza, Sydney Vergis, and Daniel Watts.

Norman Finkelstein coming to UCD‏

Norman Finkelstein coming to UCD‏

By uptownstudiosMay 12, 20103 comments

Renowned Author Norman Finklestein will be in Davis Friday, May 14th, 2010 in the Science Lecture Hall 123 at 7:30pm.

For more information, please contact Amna Sultan (530) 601.0786.

Council Puts Off Decision on Water Rate Hikes Until May 25 – But They Seem Inevitable

Council Puts Off Decision on Water Rate Hikes Until May 25 – But They Seem Inevitable

By David GreenwaldMay 12, 201022 comments
watersupplyFor Max Connor he bought a laundry business, The Laundry Lounge on Hanover Drive, two years ago and has worked hard to be environmentally responsible and as well as keep a local business local.  But as the city of Davis continues to put burdens on his business and raise his bottom line he finds it more and difficult to do so.

“I’m here to state my frustration as a small entreprenuer in Davis,” said Mr. Connor speaking before the Davis City Council.  “It’s harder to survive in this economy the more our bottom line gets raised by two years ago the same rates were raised for essentially the same reasons.”

Bee Endorses Krovoza and Swanson for Davis City Council

Bee Endorses Krovoza and Swanson for Davis City Council

By David GreenwaldMay 12, 201015 comments
rochelle-swansonThe Bee in the first major endorsement in the Davis City Council race has opted to endorse Joe Krovoza and Rochelle Swanson.  Do endorsements really matter some may ask?  Probably not.  Two years ago, the Bee ended up endorsing Don Saylor, Sue Greenwald, and Cecilia Escamilla-Greenwald over incumbent Stephen Souza and Souza still finished second in the race.  Nevertheless, it may or may not be meaningful that the Bee chose Ms. Swanson over Sydney Vergis.  Time will tell.

Usually these editorials are seen as reason to tell Davis that it needs to have faster growth.  However, while Measure R (the renewal of Measure J) has been present in this campaign, growth has not been a huge issue.  In part this is due to the economy and the real estate market.  In part it is due to the dominance of the budget and fiscal issues.