April 2012 - Page 5 of 5 - Davis Vanguard

Police Chief Gives Crime Report to Council

By David GreenwaldApril 4, 201222 comments

burglar

Vanguard Gets Data on Calls for Service

Last night Davis Police Chief Landy Black followed up on a council request for a criminal statistics report. The report comes on the heels of the much publicized arrest of a suspect involved in at least some of a string of burglaries in Davis.

The Vanguard, following up on a story last month, also requested data on calls for service by address. As Chief Black told the Vanguard, it is difficult, without a very time-consuming examination, call-by-call, to make a whole lot out of that data, but we will present that as well as his comments to the Vanguard.

Overseeing Plea Bargain Process

By David GreenwaldApril 4, 20124 comments

Court Greatly Expands Rights of Accused in Cases that Involve Plea Bargains –

It is difficult to figure the direction of the US Supreme Court, particularly in light of a controversial ruling this week that allows those arrested even for very minor crimes to be strip searched. However, one area where the Supreme Court actually expanded the rights of the accused was during a recent ruling on the right to effective counsel during plea bargain negotiations.

Justice Anthony Kennedy has become the power in the middle, deciding which side the court swings on critical issues with an ideological divide. More often he joins the more conservative wing.

Commentary: If Not Now, When?

By David GreenwaldApril 3, 201255 comments

If you want to argue that issues like the budget, water, and perhaps economic development are the most important issues facing the City of Davis at this time, it would be difficult to quibble with that point. However, some have seemed to have suggested that economic development is the most important issue and perhaps the only issue we face.

For reasons stated on Sunday, I very much disagree with that position. The immediate crisis in this community is not going to be solved by economic development, certainly not in the short term even if you believe we can increase our per capita sales tax generation.

Staff Recommends Against ASUCD Proposed Changes to Noise Ordinance At This Time

By David GreenwaldApril 3, 201214 comments

City staff is recommending against changes to the city’s noise ordinance at this time, despite a vote by the City-UC Davis Student Liaison Commission forwarding a recommendation for changes to the noise ordinance. That recommendation was approved by the student members of the commission but opposed by the three members of the commission representing business and property owners.

According to the staff report, “Based on Police Department concerns, staff recommends the City Council accept the City-UCD Student Liaison Commission motion on amending the Davis Noise Ordinance as informational at this time.”

State Superintendent Blasts CSU Leadership Over Executive Pay

By David GreenwaldApril 3, 20126 comments

The heat is slowing being turned up on the leadership of Cal State University (CSU) as State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson Monday called for a freeze on executive compensation when hiring for five open California State University (CSU) campus president positions.

In recent weeks, Governor Jerry Brown and Senator Leland Yee have criticized the timing of executive pay increases as they coincide with tuition increases on students, along with proposals for tax increases to aid higher education.

VANGUARD Meet the Candidates Night – May 5

By David GreenwaldApril 2, 20120 comments

All of the candidates have confirmed for this event on the evening of May 5 in Downtown Davis. The parking lot is located directly north of the movie theater and across the street from the AT&T Store.

The plan is for the candidates to each have their own tables with materials where the public can meet with them and ask questions. We would then have each of candidates give a brief speech and answer questions toward the end of the evening.

Should the Councilmembers Get Increased Compensation?

By David GreenwaldApril 2, 201222 comments

In the next four months, the Davis City Council is going to ask most, if not all, of its employees to take salary, retirement and benefit concessions in their round of bargaining that is ongoing.

At the same time, we have believed for some time that the councilmembers, given the work they perform and the hours they put in, are under-compensated for their service to this community.

Release of Pepper Spray Support Delayed At Least Until April 21

By David GreenwaldApril 2, 201211 comments

Last week Judge Evelio Grillo of the Alameda County Superior Court issued his final ruling on the matter of the release of the pepper spray report. Based on that ruling, it appears that the University of California will wait until at least April 21 before releasing any of the report.

“In ruling almost entirely in favor of UC arguments for full public disclosure of reports from the UC Davis task force, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo imposed a stay until April 20 to allow campus police union attorneys time to prepare an appeal if they decide to do so,” UC General Counsel Charles Robinson said Thursday in a statement.

Man Acquitted by Yolo County Jury of Failure to Register As Sex Offender

By David GreenwaldApril 2, 20126 comments

A Yolo County jury has acquitted Randall Hill of failing to register as a sex offender. According to Deputy District Attorney Chris Bulkeley, Randall Hill was residing in Woodland at his girlfriend’s residence.

He had been convicted of a felony for a sexual offense that requires him to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290. However, he failed to register with the Woodland Police Department.

Sunday Commentary: When You Lack Money to Do the Right Thing

By David GreenwaldApril 1, 2012107 comments

A fascinating discussion broke out on Facebook late yesterday when Bernie Goldsmith revisited the city council’s late 2010 decision to bank with Wells Fargo rather than more local banking institutions. The decision ultimately came down to hard numbers, something that Mr. Goldsmith disputes.

He writes, “I think it is a core value of this town that we should support our local businesses, institutions, and service providers, even when it’s a little more expensive.” He adds, “This is because we know that the value of shopping locally is not always reflected directly in dollars and cents or a bottom line; dollars spent locally recirculate and multiply more than dollars spent elsewhere, enriching businesses and government alike. This issue is deeper than a simple bottom line; it reaches to the bedrock of our community’s values, and what makes Davis unique.”

Commentary: Vanguard Believes UCD, DA Overreach on Charges to Protesters

By David GreenwaldApril 1, 201261 comments

We have been critical of the university’s policies in responding to the bank blockers all along, and that now escalates with the decision by the Yolo County District Attorney to file charges against twelve of the protesters at the behest of UC Davis.

We spoke with Kristin Koster, one of the bank blockers who was not arrested. She told us that, most likely, the purpose of this decision was to protect the university from a potential lawsuit from US Bank.

Letter From Attorney Takes Us into Realm of the Absurd

By David GreenwaldApril 1, 201221 comments

Just when you think you have seen everything, something comes up and just simply makes you shake your head. Every so often we get emails from attorneys accusing us of copyright violations or other things.

In one case, attorneys for a plaintiff in a lawsuit attempted to find out information about the true identity of a poster. That one we fought and we prevailed in court.

Month: April 2012