December 2010 - Page 3 of 4

Inspector General Rebukes Efforts by Yolo County Board of Supervisors to Downplay Grant Misuse

By David GreenwaldDecember 10, 201019 comments

In a strongly-worded response, Inspector General Laura Chick rebuked efforts by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors to attempt to soften the blow of the criticism of the Probation Department for their failure to adhere to the terms of a grant.

Ms. Chick wrote on December 7 to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Helen Thomson, “It is important to remember that Yolo County received this grant for specific purposes. The innovations and risk-taking you mention in your letter were an inherent part of the grant. Any county seeking this funding was, in fact, being asked to change and improve the way it was dealing with perpetrators and victims of sexual crimes.”

Negotiations Continue on the Water JPA

By David GreenwaldDecember 10, 20101 comments

JPA Chair Bill Marble Issues Public Statement –

Woodland City Councilmember and Chair of the Joint Powers Agreement Body for the surface water project, Bill Marble, issued a statement in open session on Thursday.

At this time, a scheduled meeting for Monday will be canceled. The process of negotiations remains highly sensitive and complex among many parties.

Council Modifies Sweeping Changes Proposed by Staff To Entitlement Review Process

By David GreenwaldDecember 9, 20104 comments

It what was to be a major change in the nature of citizen input and participation into the planning process, when the city staff on Tuesday night proposed an alternative entitlement review process, ostensibly to streamline the process.

Council modified the suggested changes, approving a substitute motion crafted by Councilmember Rochelle Swanson who moved that “the planning commission begin their work plan with help of staff and review our zoning code with an eye to increase public participation and reduce staff time, whether that be by looking at administrative review or a different kind of process.”

Yolo County Gang Member Acquitted on Attempted Murder Charges

By David GreenwaldDecember 9, 201019 comments

A Woodland resident in his early 20’s, Jose Valenzuela, from a Salvadorian family, was acquitted of attempting to kill one man and was nearly acquitted of attempting to kill the other man, but the jury hung 11-1 for acquittal.

Nevertheless, the DA is attempting to refile charges and it will be determined in January whether Judge Stephen Mock allows the trial to move forward again.

Decision Will Wait on Sentencing of Former CASA Director Medlock

By David GreenwaldDecember 9, 201016 comments

CASA packed the court with board members and supporters on Wednesday, to hear the sentencing of Claudean Medlock for embezzlement. But after waiting nearly an hour for the case to be called, there was a lengthy discussion between Deputy District Attorney Michelle Serafin, Deputy Public Defender Monica Brushia, Probation and Judge Thomas Warriner.

As it turned out, the trek was all for naught, as Judge Warriner announced that the case would be returned to the judge who accepted the plea agreement. Judge Warriner was taking all of Judge Kathleen White’s cases for the day, as she was otherwise preoccupied.

Council Decides It Will Appoint Saylor’s Replacement

By David GreenwaldDecember 8, 201018 comments

In perhaps a preview of things to come, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Krovoza led a civil and respectful discussion about how the Council will go about seeking to replace Mayor Don Saylor who on January 3, 2011 will take his seat on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.

On Tuesday night, the method of replacement was chosen, but not the process itself. The Council agreed to come back on January 4, 2011, the day after Mr. Saylor becomes Supervisor Don Saylor, and discuss both the replacement of the Mayor and the process by which Mr. Saylor’s vacant seat would be filled.

DA Dismisses Case Against Accused Murderer Solis

By David GreenwaldDecember 8, 201018 comments

In late September into early October, a Yolo County jury hung, with seven jurors voting to acquit and five to convict Jesus Solis. Mr. Solis stood accused of shooting and killing an individual named Jesus Cortez Heredia last September outside Ortega’s West, a bar in West Sacramento. Another individual standing beside Heredia at the time of the shooting was also hit by the flurry of bullets, following a fight in the parking lot at closing time.

Mr. Solis is now in Mexico, having been deported, but is free after facing, at one point, the death penalty in this case. Former Deputy District Attorney James Walker had said in the original filing that this was a capital case, unless stated otherwise. Charges were refiled after the mistrial.

DA Files Hate Crime Charges in West Sacramento Cab Beating

By David GreenwaldDecember 8, 20105 comments

Two men accused in the beating of Sacramento cab driver Harbhajan Singh in the early morning hours of November 28, 2010 were arraigned on Tuesday afternoon, charged with hate crimes, according to a release from the Yolo County DA’s Office.

Pedro Ramirez, 41, and Johnny Morales, 33 have been charged with felony assault and hate crimes, according to the release. In a statement released by Mr. Singh through his spokesperson Amar Shergill at the Shergill Law Firm in Sacramento, they say that the Felony Assault charge also includes a Great Bodily Injury enhancement, and there was an additional charge of criminal threats.

9th Circuit Court Considers Standing Issue for Prop 8

By David GreenwaldDecember 7, 201099 comments

It is a great irony of democracy that some of the most contentious issues will be decided in part by electoral races that few were following closely. Yet that is precisely what may happen with the closely-contested and just-concluded California Attorney General’s race, where Kamala Harris edged out the Republican District Attorney from Los Angeles, Steve Cooley.

Mr. Cooley, unlike the current occupant Jerry Brown and unlike his opponent Ms. Harris, vowed to defend the ballot measure, Propostion 8, that was passed by the voters in 2008. Kamala Harris prevailed and has vowed to continue the now-Governor-elect Brown’s policies.

City Manager Recruitment Process Moves Forward As Council Seeks to Select Consultant

By David GreenwaldDecember 7, 20105 comments

We have already discussed what is likely to be the most contentious process in the next month, the process by which the council chooses to replace current Mayor Don Saylor, both on the council and as Mayor.

However, in a city manager governance system, the most important spot may be who the next city manager will be. That process is also moving forward.

Enterprise Gives Voice to CHA

By David GreenwaldDecember 7, 20103 comments

The Davis Enterprise has started a “Senior Living Article,” which are articles to be written by a senior on health issues. This is a perfectly appropriate subject for a community-based newspaper.

The Vanguard was informed that, in fact, the idea for a “Senior Living” column actually originated with the Davis Senior Citizens Commission. However, the commission decided such a column would not be an appropriate project because approval of every article would have to be obtained from the City Council. That created some practical and other concerns.

Proposed Railroad Wall on Olive Presents Vexing Problems for City

By David GreenwaldDecember 6, 201054 comments

The City Lacks Clear Authority to Act on a Proposal That Seeks to Improve Safety but May Make it More Dangerous –

The Capital Corridor Joint Powers Association has been considering the building of a three-quarter mile long wall along the railroad tracks, along the length of Olive Drive from the Richards Underpass all the way to the freeway offramp.

While the JPA argues the wall would make the stretch of railroad tracks safer, residents argues that it will cut off Olive Drive from portions of downtown Davis, make a school route longer and more hazardous, and isolate a segment of the population.

The Truth Will Set You Free: A Lesson in Democracy and Open Government

By David GreenwaldDecember 5, 201010 comments

I have sat in Judge Fall’s courtroom as he handed down an implausible sentence of 378 years to Ajay Dev. I have sat in Judge Fall’s courtroom as he berated a young public defender, demeaning her not only in front of her colleagues, but in front of a jury.

He makes attorneys nervous. He acts in an arrogant and condescending fashion at times. But privately I have had more than one attorney tell me no judge in Yolo County knows the law better than Judge Fall, and Judge Fall makes them a better attorney.

Council and Mayoral Vacancies: The Who and How Questions

By David GreenwaldDecember 5, 201023 comments

Officially we are counting down the days now and it is less than a month until Don Saylor is no longer Mayor or on the Council. We will have more post-mortems on his tenure, but mostly I see it as a lost opportunity to accomplish something in six months of time.

The Council will now undertake a lengthy and perhaps contentious process to figure out how we will replace the council seat, who will be the next Mayor, and perhaps who will be the next councilmember.

Former West Sac PD Officer’s Employment Status Raises Flags and Controversy in Galvan Case

By David GreenwaldDecember 4, 20105 comments

On Friday, former West Sacramento Police Officer James Reeder took the stand. Mr. Reeder testified that he arrived a couple of minutes after the altercation began between Ernesto Galvan and Officers Schlie and Farrington.

He said it was pitch black and all he could see was the amber lights of the police “overheads.” He then saw the skirmish and called out, asking if there were anyone else involved. Officer Farrington said, “just him. ” That would be Fermin Galvan. Mr. Reeder admitted under cross-examination that Fermin Galvan was 30 feet from the incident, not participating, not yelling to his brother, but nevertheless he considered him a threat.

CHA Modifies Strategy To Push Senior Housing Component At ConAgra Site

By David GreenwaldDecember 4, 201014 comments

While it would appear that any plans for senior development at Covell Village are off the frontburner, it appears that members of the “astroturf-front” organization for the Covell Village developers, CHA (Choices For Healthy Aging), are working behind the scenes with ConAgra while biding their time to push for development of their choice project at Covell Village. Astroturfing refers to political maneuvering that implies spontaneous, or “grassroots,” activity.

In a recent newsletter to their membership they write, “ConAgra has submitted a housing development plan, known as Cannery Park, adjacent to the Covell site. Development of that project likely will begin before the implementation of the Covell sustainable neighborhood project that we have conceived. The ConAgra land is within the city limits and therefore does not require approval by referendum of all eligible voters in Davis; it needs supporting votes from only three City Council members to move forward.”

Council To Discuss Next Week Process To Replace Don Saylor

By David GreenwaldDecember 3, 201026 comments

On January 3, 2011, Don Saylor will be sworn in as a Yolo County Supervisor representing the 2nd Supervisorial District. In so doing, he will both create a vacancy on the council and also require the council to find a new mayor, either from the current membership or from a newly-elected or appointed member.

For months there has been debate and speculation as to how this process would work. At this time, it would appear that the window for an election has closed, as Mr. Saylor opted against withdrawing from his position prior to the General Election and a specialty election would cost the cash-strapped city several hundred thousand dollars.

DA Now Seeks Prison Time For Former CASA Executive Director

By David GreenwaldDecember 3, 201025 comments

The DA’s office is seeking to prison time now for a former Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Executive Director who had pled no contest to one felony charge of grand theft from an employer.

Last week, the Vanguard reported that the DA’s Office would be attempting to overturn a plea agreement reached with former CASA Executive Director Claudean Medlock. Ms. Medlock had allegedly embezzled more than $46,000 from the non-profit agency and used the money to gamble at casinos.

Assemblymember Yamada Joins Call For Hate Crimes Prosecution for Recent Attack on a Sikh Taxi Driver

By David GreenwaldDecember 3, 201021 comments

Early on Sunday morning, November 28th, Sacramento cab driver Harbhajan Singh was attacked by two of his passengers in a neighborhood in West Sacramento. According to eye witness reports, during the beating the two men repeatedly threatened to kill him, while calling Mr. Singh ‘Osama bin Laden’.

This assault left Mr. Singh with multiple facial lacerations requiring stitches, bone chips in his nose, eye injuries and bruising along his rib cage. Mr. Singh, a Sikh-American, believes that had he not gotten away, his attackers would have killed him.

Report: Problems Loom For Westlake IGA Owners

By David GreenwaldDecember 2, 201013 comments

SF Chronicle Reports Troubling News For Davis’ New Grocers –

Residents of West Davis spent many months working to bring a new grocer to the grocery site that had been vacant for three and a half years before Westlake IGA Opened their doors last winter.

Now published reports earlier this week in the San Francisco Chronicle show that the small family-owned grocery chain, DeLano’s IGA Markets, is struggling financially and has plans to close many of its stores soon. Right now it does not appear that the Davis Market, where the company is headquartered, is one of them.

Month: December 2010