Commentary: Can Calmer Heads Prevail in Controversy Over Fired Coach?
My initial view on the firing of Davis High’s basketball coach was formed watching dozens of parents, community members, and former players of the coach speak on his behalf. It was an emotional and moving appeal from a lot of people who clearly have a huge amount of passion and even love for the coach.
At the same time, I am viewing this as an outsider. I have never watched a girl’s basketball game at Davis High. I could not have told you the name of Jeff Christian – nor do I think most people in this community could. I was at the meeting for another issue and stumbled upon this cauldron.
In December, a Yolo County jury found Jose Valdivia guilty of two counts of drunk driving, plus they found him guilty of evading a peace officer and resisting arrest. This was not the only set of charges that Mr. Valdivia faced.
We have spent much time on these pages talking about pensions and unfunded liabilities. We have also spent numerous columns and articles talking about employee compensation.
It has taken two years and untold amounts of money, but the lawsuit filed by former UC Davis Police Officer Calvin Chang is going forward with the key provisions intact.
It was an interesting week at the county level, as watching the Conaway Ranch water agreement vote was so instructive. The problems that this agreement presents for the Yolo Basin are troubling, as laid out by both Supervisors Jim Provenza and Duane Chamberlain. This agreement threatens wildlife and agriculture and also threatens to compromise the spillway’s flood control capacity.
Last week, we reported on the death of Evaristo Ramirez, an immigrant who had been arrested for a DUI and held in the Sacramento County Jail. He became the victim of Richard Harden, who somehow ended up in the same jail cell as Mr. Ramirez despite evidence that his hammer attack on a Latina female was motivated by hatred towards immigrants.
It was last spring, and Choices For Healthy Aging (CHA) had a candidate’s forum for the city council candidates. They had a chance to show that they were a full seniors advocacy group and they blew it horribly. Instead, as Jon Li put it, “the answer to every question was Covell Village.”
City to Maximize Borrowing Ahead of Redevelopment Closure – 
One of the most contentious issues in recent months is a proposed fence that Union Pacific Railroad is applying to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) to receive funding for. Making this issue far more difficult is the fact that the City of Davis has no direct authority to control when and how the fence would be constructed.
Yesterday the Davis Downtown Business Association announced that 32 business with licenses to sell alcohol have signed a 13-point Picnic Day Community Covenant, agreeing to responsible hospitality practices that highlight moderation and appropriate use of alcoholic beverages on Picnic Day 2011, scheduled for Saturday, April 16.
The California Report today has published a follow-up to last week’s bombshell that was accompanied by NPR and Frontline coverage, which showed the questionable history of Dr. Thomas Gill, who worked with the Forensic Medical Group, a private company commissioned by the Yolo County’s coroner’s office to do autopsies.