September 2010 - Davis Vanguard

Commentary: Looking at the Real Impact of Commission Merger

By David GreenwaldSeptember 30, 20105 comments

The column by Rich Rifkin on Wednesday about the issue of commissions raises a couple of good points and serves as a broader jumping-off point for additional commentary.

As Mr. Rifkin points out, Roseville has nine, Woodland six, Vacaville four and Davis sixteen standing city commissions. The recommendation from the submittee composed of Mayor Don Saylor and Councilmember Rochelle Swanson was to reduce that number to ten by merging 10 smaller commissions into four.

Governor Campaign Drives the Strange Execution Story of Another Brown

By David GreenwaldSeptember 30, 20100 comments

Execution Now Off as We Look at Jerry Brown on the Death Penalty –

The whirlwind continued the past few days as the clock was ticking on the expiration of the lethal injection drugs, set to expire on October 1, with new drugs not available until 2011.

There was just a surreal element going on with Jerry Brown pushing for the rush to execute ahead of the Governor’s election, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger moving in the other direction. On Monday the Governor ordered a one-day delay in the execution, giving defense time to file appeals.

Phone Bank Party for No on 23 Campaign

By David GreenwaldSeptember 29, 20100 comments

ANNOUNCEMENT: PHONE BANK PARTY FOR THE NO ON 23 CAMPAIGN. Prop 23 will put an end to…

Analysis: No Knockouts, But A Clear Contrast For Voters

By David GreenwaldSeptember 29, 201054 comments

While pundits will likely be quick to point out that there were no knockout punches thrown on Tuesday night at the first debate, the debate did offer an at-times refreshing respite from the normal formulaic and scripted candidates’ debate.

The debate also offered the voters somewhat of a clear distinction between the two Governor’s candidates. Voters will have to choose between the contrasting ideologies of Meg Whitman as the anti-tax conservative, and of Jerry Brown as the candidate who, like it or not, is tied to labor and public employees.

Debate Night Brings Both Governor Candidates to Mondavi Showing Voters Constrasting Visions of California

By David GreenwaldSeptember 29, 20101 comments

by Karina Piser –

On Tuesday night, both candidates for California governor came together at the UC Davis Mondavi Center to debate key issues in the November election, such as education and the California fiscal crisis. Their backgrounds—which differ both in terms of experience and ideology—created an environment of heated exchange.

Meg Whitman’s entrepreneurial background was at the heart of her political positions; where Jerry Brown focused on his identity as a Californian citizen and his devotion to public service, Whitman insisted that California’s success in Silicon Valley should be applied to the rest of the state and its politics.

Board Incumbents Scurry For Votes of Their Own on Debate Night

By David GreenwaldSeptember 29, 20100 comments

by Samantha Lynch –

Sweet potato pie, coffee, and curious community members; with the elections for the Davis school board taking place on November 2nd, the Incumbents had a meet-and-greet at a local community member’s home. Here, curious voters had the opportunity to meet the Incumbents face to face, and to get to know one another, while enjoying delicious deserts provided by Claire Slotton.

Gina Daleiden and Sheila Allen were representing themselves at the event, while Tim Taylor was unable to attend. All in all, approximately twelve people stopped by the event, which fell on the same night as the debate held on UC Davis’s campus.

DSIDE: New Economic Vision or Smoke and Mirrors?

By David GreenwaldSeptember 28, 201067 comments

Much has been made about the economic workshop that took place last week, with the acronym DSIDE – Designing a Sustainable and Innovative Davis Economy. The ideas presented at this conference could have been delivered 20 years ago, or even 30 years ago.

In recent weeks the Davis Chamber of Commerce and the City of Davis formed a Steering Committee to focus on the unique strengths, values and resources of the community. The Steering Committee was comprised of representatives of UC Davis, the City, and a broad base of business interests.

California’s Execution Temporarily Delayed Amid Some Bizarre Circumstances

By David GreenwaldSeptember 28, 201017 comments

A Closer Look at Flaws in the Criminal Justice System –

It was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who issued a reprieve to Albert Greenwood Brown for a day, to resolve conflicting legal deadlines.

The state’s 1st District Court of Appeal last week overturned a judge’s order that had halted lethal-injection executions, but that order will not take effect until Thursday, which gives defense attorneys time to appeal to the state’s Supreme Court.

Vanguard Investigation Finds Evidence of Exaggerated Crime Figures in DA Grant Applications

By David GreenwaldSeptember 27, 201054 comments

In March of 2010, District Attorney Jeff Reisig made the startling announcement that nearly a third of the DA’s Office is funded by grants designated for investigating and prosecuting different areas of crime.

In 2008-09, the entire criminal prosecution budget for the Yolo County’s DA’s Office was 9.37 million dollars. In 2009, Yolo County received 6.27 million dollars in grants for sexual assault and gang suppression. That money does not exclusively go to the DA’s Office, but is shared by the Sheriff’s Department and three police agencies.

Commentary: From Wood Burning to Senior Housing Commissions Serve a Vital Purpose in Our Community

By David GreenwaldSeptember 26, 20105 comments

People I am running into are still talking about the proposed commission consolidations, and there is both real anger and real frustration with the process. People are often willing to accept outcomes that they do not like if they perceive there to be a fair process.

But in this case, a subcommittee without public noticing or public hearing requirements came forward, not with an informational item, but with an action item to change drastically the way we run our commissions.

Executions to Resume in California as Study Hammers Prosecutorial Misconduct in Multiple Exonerations

By David GreenwaldSeptember 25, 201022 comments

For the first time in four years California is likely to execute an inmate on death row, as the final hurdles were cleared Friday when U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel refused to block the execution of Albert Greenwood Brown. He has been on death row since 1980.

Judge Fogel, a Clinton appointee to the federal bench, expressed concern about the limited time in which he had to evaluate the state’s revised execution procedures. He gave the condemned inmate the choice of being put to death by a single injection, as opposed to the state’s three-drug method.

City Manager Navazio Takes Over Monday

By David GreenwaldSeptember 25, 20101 comments

Commentary: The End of One Era is the Start of a New Era, or is it Just the Continuation of Business as Usual?

Friday marked the end of Bill Emlen’s tenure as Davis’ City Manager. Monday will mark the beginning of Paul Navazio’s tenure as Davis’ interim City Manager. For how long? That is a question that we cannot answer right now.

The policy direction of the city is driven largely by council, or so they will tell you. There is some truth in that, but the single most powerful position in the city is the unelected city manager.

Commentary: Positive Experience to Report on at Patwin

By David GreenwaldSeptember 24, 201013 comments

Last week Jeff Hudson from the Davis Enterprise had an excellent piece that was generally about the persistent achievement gap, but also looked specifically at Patwin Elementary school.

As my regular readers are well aware, I have long been very concerned about the achievement gap. One of the most concerning aspects is that, even among high socioeconomic families – that means families that are college-educated, families that make a decent income – there is still a gap, indeed perhaps a wider gap, between the achievements of Asians and Whites and those of Hispanics and African Americans.

Committee Proposes Sweeping Changes in Public and Media Access to the Courts

By David GreenwaldSeptember 24, 20105 comments

In March 2008, a Bench-Bar-Media committee was formed by California Chief Justice Ronald M. George, in order to foster improved understanding and working relationships among California judges, lawyers, and journalists.

Chaired by Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno of the Supreme Court of California, the committee includes appellate court justices, superior court judges, attorneys specializing in the First Amendment, a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney, journalists, an academic, a superior court executive officer and a superior court public information officer (PIO).

New Enforcement of Jury Summons Hoped to Increase Pool

By David GreenwaldSeptember 24, 20108 comments

The Yolo County Superior Court announced yesterday a new program that will encourage citizen participation on juries, increasing the pool of potential jurors jurors by contacting those residents who have failed to respond to their jury summons and encouraging them to fulfill their obligations as citizens.

We have been observing juries now since January, and one of the huge features of the Yolo County Court system is that largely non-white defendants’ cases are heard by white juries. Perhaps one of the problems is that a large percentage of citizens fail to appear for jury service.

Commentary: Anger Arises From All Forms of Ignorance

By David GreenwaldSeptember 23, 2010116 comments

Every so often a letter to the editor comes along that so perfectly illustrates a point. I found one in the Daily Democrat from Tuesday entitled, “Liberal Press Doesn’t Understand Tea Party.” This ought to be good, I thought.

Writes Jim Hanney from Woodland, “Those of you in the liberal press, and the Daily Democrat has never made a secret about being just that, have often expressed a lack of understanding about what the Tea Party movement represents.”

Jerry Brown Pushing For Resumption of Death Penalty That He Has Spent His Life Opposing

By David GreenwaldSeptember 23, 201012 comments

At a time when support for a death penalty is softening, and other states like North Carolina have joined the call for a moratorium on the death penalty, we see Attorney General Jerry Brown pushing hard for the death penalty to resume in California.

In 2006, a federal judge halted executions and ordered prison officials to overhaul lethal injection procedures. The state adopted new regulations on August 29, 2010 but has not put the matter before US District Judge Jeremy Fogel.

Council Reverses on Banking Contract, Will Issue More Bids Seeking Local Banks

By David GreenwaldSeptember 22, 201012 comments

Council on Tuesday night unanimously voted against staff recommendation, and asked the City to go back and solicit new bids in an effort to give local banks the opportunity to come forth with competitive bids for a banking contract with the City.

Staff had recommended, based on the need to access immediate lines of credit, to go forth with at least 15 million and up to 30 million dollars to finance the upcoming public works surface water supply project and the water utility. The recommendation was that, as a whole, the City turn away from its longstanding commitment to local bankers and approve an agreement with Wells Fargo.

Council Tables Item on Gutting Commissions For Now

By David GreenwaldSeptember 22, 201018 comments

On Tuesday night Mayor Don Saylor announced formally what we had known earlier in the day, that the controversial item consolidating several of the commissions had been tabled, pending further discussion. We were hoping the elections of two council members would infuse new ideas and thoughts into the council. Instead, to a large degree, we see business as usual.

The question we really have today is: will they ever learn? For one who so often has his ear on the pulse of the politics in this community, Mayor Don Saylor can certainly be tone deaf. It is ironic that he now gets his hand caught in the cookie jar, because he managed to avoid the fray four years ago when Stephen Souza and Ruth Asmundson proposed a merger of the Social Services Commission with the Senior Citizens Commission, only to be forced to pull back as the backlash mounted.

Proposed Banking Contract with Wells Fargo Drawing Heat as Well

By David GreenwaldSeptember 21, 201013 comments

On tonight’s council agenda is an item that would authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Wells Fargo Bank for the provision of banking services for a term of five years, with the option of annual yearly extensions thereafter.

The contract is drawing the ire of many residents who argue that Davis should keep banking with local banks, rather than sending huge amounts of city money out of the area. Money that stays locally achieves more and works harder for our city, most sustainable models will argue.

Month: September 2010