January 2011 - Page 3 of 5

Subcommittee To Propose Radical Changes to Parcel Tax

By David GreenwaldJanuary 16, 201147 comments

$math-chalkboard.jpg$ As opposition appeared to be mounting to a parcel tax proposal that would impose a $495 tax on every residence, suddenly the school board’s Parcel Tax Subcommittee, comprised of Sheila Allen and Gina Daleiden, is proposing radical changes to the ballot measure.

The Vanguard learned on Saturday, “After considering the district’s immediate emergency fiscal situation, public input, the Governor’s budget proposal, the economic pinch for our community and our previous board discussions,” that the subcommittee will propose changes on Thursday at the next board meeting.

New Governor Proposes Radical Reforms to the Prison System

By David GreenwaldJanuary 16, 201144 comments

In what the San Jose Mercury News is calling “the most sweeping criminal justice overhaul in state history,” Governor Jerry Brown is proposing the elimination of the youth prison system, along with an end to prison terms for thousands of convicts who are in prison for relatively minor crimes. Those individuals would be moved to county jails.

According to the Governor’s budget, such a move would save the state nearly half a million next year, $1.4 billion annually on an ongoing basis, while at the same time dealing with the critical prison overcrowding and prison reform issues.

Guest Commentary: A Renaissance of Non-Violence From King to Korematsu

By uptownstudiosJanuary 16, 20114 comments

By Mariko Yamada –

“An individual has not started living fully until they can rise above the narrow confines of individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity….Every person must decide, at some point, whether they will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As Americans, we gather today across the nation to honor the power of peaceful resistance and the courage of civil discourse. Although our hearts are still heavy from the tragedy unleashed in Tucson on January 8, reflection and calm have begun to replace the chaos that engulfed us just a week ago.

Rally To Mark The One Year Anniversary Of The Citizens United Vs The Federal Election Commission Decision By The Supreme Court.

By David GreenwaldJanuary 15, 201150 comments

Friday, January 21, 2011 between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm on the north steps of the state capitol building, sacramento at 10th street and Capitol Mall (L Street). Derek Cressman, Western States Regional Director for Common Cause, will speak on “How Citizens United Will Affect You.” Confirmation of other speakers is pending. Folk music will be provided by Gabe Lewin.

This rally is sponsored by Public Citizen, a public advocacy group and Take Back Our Democracy, a grass roots progressive group based in Davis, with the participation of California Common Cause, Calpirg, Sacramento For Democracy and other advocacy organizations. It is one of many such anniversary events held nation wide. Please send questions concerning this event to zbox@dcn.org.

Mixed Reviews for Governor’s Budget Proposal

By David GreenwaldJanuary 15, 20113 comments

One thing Jerry Brown cannot be accused of doing is playing things safe. His plan is bold, it spreads pain, and it has the potential to both please and irritate everyone at the same time.

Time will tell whether he will be successful in convincing a few Republicans to allow the tax plan to go before the voters, where he will get to make his case. Many will quibble at the margins, but frankly I cannot think of a bolder first week in any recent administration.

Amid Criticism, School District Presents Unprecedented Transparency

By David GreenwaldJanuary 15, 201113 comments

It is too soon to know how deep the anti-tax sentiment goes in Davis as the school district attempts to raise the parcel tax by 54%. There are a lot of different issues and concerns floating around at this point.

Everything from the magnitude of the tax increase to the lack of accountability has been brought up. Some of these concerns have merit, some do not.

Council Will Hear Full Discussion on Unfunded Liabities and Retirement Pensions

By David GreenwaldJanuary 14, 201125 comments

The biggest test to date is coming for the four person council as they are set to at least begin tackling the biggest issue facing the city – its unfunded liabilities and retirement pensions.

On Tuesday, the Council will discuss the City’s unfunded liabilities – the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Pension Plans and Retiree Medical Benefits.

Allegations of Brown Act Violations in Letter to Board of Supervisors

By David GreenwaldJanuary 14, 201112 comments

A group calling themselves Citizens Alliance for Regional Environmental Sustainability (CARES) sent a letter through Davis Attorney Donald Mooney* Thursday alleging a Brown Act violation occurred at the Yolo County Board of Supervisors Special Meeting on December 17, 2010, where the Board took up the issue of an agreement with Conaway Ranch and a group owned by developer Angelo Tsakopoulos.

The letter alleges “the notice for the December 17, 2010, Special Meeting violated the requirements of the Brown Act, Government Code, section 54956.”

Students Concerned About Governor Brown’s Cuts to Higher Education

By David GreenwaldJanuary 14, 20113 comments

By Amani Rashid

Elected on November 2nd and inaugurated on January 1st, Governor Jerry Brown has recently managed to spark more debate amongst the students of UC Davis then the latest hook ups on Jersey Shore. Why all the fuss and commotion? Could it be the budget Brown proposed on Monday, or more specifically, could it be the $500 million dollars the UCs will be losing under his proposed budget?

“He cut so much, I knew cuts were inevitable but the repercussions of a slash like that are deep, this will cost students their education. We trusted him,” these were the passionate cries of Fidel Garcia, a third year psychology major, as he spoke of Brown’s “betrayal”.

Commentary: Re-Thinking Parcel Tax View in Light of Growing Opposition

By David GreenwaldJanuary 13, 201126 comments

The school district has some very important considerations to make in the next few weeks as they decide what do with a parcel tax proposal that they intend to put to Davis voters in May.

Upon hearing the school board’s proposed parcel tax, my initial thought was why not ask for what you need.

Governor’s Proposal Looks To Elimination of Redevelopment

By David GreenwaldJanuary 13, 201110 comments

What Will Be the Impact of Gov Proposal on Davis Redevelopment and the Pass-Through Agreement?

There will never be a dull moment under Governor Jerry Brown, I suspect. The Governor’s budget priorities look to put more money and power into the hands of local government, but they are also looking at the elimination of redevelopment monies, which are causing cities to cry foul. How this will all play out is anyone’s guess.

Redevelopment is a portion of local property taxes that is supposed to be used for blight. The problem is that cities like Davis rely on redevelopment money, even in places where there really is no blight.

Getting History Right: Former Mayor Corrects Former Colleague Adler on Mayor Ordinance

By David GreenwaldJanuary 13, 20112 comments

One of the byproducts of the discussion last week that ended up with the selection of Joe Krovoza as Mayor and Rochelle Swanson as Mayor Pro Tem, was the assertions made by Former Mayor Jerry Adler about the way in which the current ordinance, which allows the first place finisher in a city council to become Mayor Pro Tem and the first place finisher from two years ago to become Mayor, came about.

Jerry Adler’s clear purpose in speaking was to allow for Stephen Souza’s rotating Mayor proposal to have merit and also allow for Stephen Souza to be appointed as the next Mayor Pro Tem.

Council Expresses Opposition to Current Union Pacific Plan For Olive Street Fence

By David GreenwaldJanuary 12, 201120 comments

Contrary to prior reports, the City of Davis may have a good deal more leverage than first believed about the fence that goes up along the Union Pacific tracks, at least in terms of the type of fence and the possibility of creating some sort of bike and pedestrian crossing.

Without city approval, the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority would not approve government funding for a fence. On Tuesday night, representatives from the railroad giant, Union Pacific, vowed to work with the city as the council unanimously rejected the current proposal and called for future study.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Bolster Brown Act

By David GreenwaldJanuary 12, 20114 comments

In recent years the Brown Act, which protects the fundament right for the public to be noticed of meetings by public officials and governmental bodies, has been suspended or threatened during the state’s current budget crisis.

Under state law, local governments are reimbursed the cost of fulfilling statutory requirements enacted by the Legislature – so when the state’s budget fails to allow that reimbursement, local governments have argued that they are no longer required to fully notice meetings.

Small Gathering At City Information Session for Council Appointment Process

By David GreenwaldJanuary 11, 20115 comments

It was billed as an information session to lay out the process which an individual would have to follow in order to be appointed to fill the seat vacated by Mayor Don Saylor.

It was a small gathering, at least in the time I was there, which was abbreviated in order to attend other meetings. However, I am a bit surprised that more people did not show up, even if it was only to do as I did, to see who showed up.

Is Gov. Brown’s Budget Plan DOA?

By David GreenwaldJanuary 11, 201143 comments

Governor Jerry Brown unveiled his budget plan Monday, but critics have already scoffed that it looks remarkably like that of former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and GOP leaders have already said that the tax plan will get none of their votes.

In a statement, Governor Brown said that his proposed budget will be comprised half of budget cuts and half tax increases in order to attack a deficit that is estimated at $25.4 billion.

Topete Finally Will Proceed to Trial: Is the Courtroom Stacked Against Him?

By David GreenwaldJanuary 11, 20119 comments

The big news in the case of Marco Topete, who is accused of shooting Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Diaz back in the summer of 2008, is perhaps that the latest hearing went according to form, no surprises and no big shake-ups.

That has not been the case through much of this case, that began over two-and-a-half years ago and made headlines around the region when Sheriff’s Deputies locked reporters and family members of the accused out of the arraignment hearings. That has prompted charges by the media of favoritism and censorship and led to concerns that Mr. Topete could not receive a fair trial.

City Addresses Public Criticism Toward DACHA and the City’s Affordable Housing Program

By David GreenwaldJanuary 10, 201119 comments

The Davis City Council and Redevelopment Agency are looking into options for long-term use of the twenty single family homes that comprise the Davis Area Cooperative Housing Association (DACHA), that are now owned by the Redevelopment Agency as a result of the foreclosure procedures that were implemented last year.

The Redevelopment Agency in August of 2008 had performed a comprehensive refinance of DACHA’s secured debt in August 2008 in an effort to stabilize the organization and protect the affordable housing units it held. This reduced the initial share investment and lowered the monthly carrying charges. However, by paying back money to members of the co-op, they took assets from the cooperative.

Commentary: On The Continued Need For Green Waste Containerization

By David GreenwaldJanuary 10, 201112 comments

Few people know this but when I first found out I was accepted to graduate school at UC Davis I was in the midst of a bicycling trip up Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to San Francisco with a buddy of mine from college. When I learned of my acceptance to UC Davis, we added an extra leg to our trip to go to Davis to check things out.

I arrived to learn that there was someone named Sue Greenwald running for City Council and everyone asked me if I were related to her (little did I realize at the time how much that would intersect my life), and to learn that the bicycling capital of the world (or at least the nation) dumped their lawn and tree clippings in the bike lane.

A Comment on the Senseless Arizona Shooting

By David GreenwaldJanuary 9, 2011128 comments

Yesterday was once again a reminder that sometimes the outside world shall and must intrude on the writings of this site, normally focused on covering news and events in and around Davis and Yolo County. Given our focus of scrutinizing our local government and government officials, it would be foolhardy and downright irresponsible not to comment on the senseless tragedy that occurred yesterday that left six people dead, 19 more wounded, and put us within inches of seeing a member of the US House of Representatives effectively assassinated.

The story, however, begins nearly 16 years ago. On April 19, 1995, I was a four year student at Cal Poly. I was sitting in my philosophy case, and someone walked in and said that there had been a bombing in Oklahoma City. We surmised it must be Islamic terrorists. I remember early reports of seeing known Islamic extremists around the site.

Month: January 2011