Month: June 2012

Woodland Takes Full Regional Water Option Off the Table

Woodland Takes Full Regional Water Option Off the Table

By David GreenwaldJune 30, 2012151 comments
Sacramento-River-stockIn a memo the Vanguard received, sent from Woodland City Manager Paul Navazio to Davis City Manager Steve Pinkerton among others, it becomes clear that the Davis-Woodland-West Sacramento regional option for water is off the table.

The memo sent on Thursday, June 28, from the former acting Davis City Manager says: “We understand that the Davis Water Advisory Committee has an important meeting this evening, and that the agenda includes an update on the various options for partnering with West Sacramento.”

Harris’ Move Shifts the School District’s Paradigm

Harris’ Move Shifts the School District’s Paradigm

By David GreenwaldJune 30, 201242 comments
Harris-RichardThe writing was on the wall last week, the Davis School Board was not going to put the restoration of this year’s cuts on the ballot.

There were good and solid reasons laid out by Gina Daleiden last week for not attempting to restore the cuts from last year, resulting in a net 50-position cut.

Commentary: Slow Down on the New Revenue Talk

Commentary: Slow Down on the New Revenue Talk

By David GreenwaldJune 29, 2012112 comments

parks-taxNo sooner has the city proposed a realistic austerity budget that starts cutting into the type of city services that the residents have come to expect, but we hear talk about new revenues.

“Given that 84 percent of us voted ‘yes’ on a tax that needed just two-thirds approval, it’s clear the city didn’t ask for nearly enough money from residents who dearly cherish their parks and greenbelts and vast urban forest that stretches from one end of town to the other,” Davis Enterprise columnist Bob Dunning wrote on June 14.

Senate Committee Kills Ban the Box Legislation

Senate Committee Kills Ban the Box Legislation

By David GreenwaldJune 29, 20129 comments

banthebox

On Thursday, Assembly Bill 1831 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson was killed in the in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. The bill would have prohibited requesting criminal background information on the initial employment application for local employees, with the goal of reducing unnecessary barriers to employment for the one in four adult Californians who have an arrest or conviction record and are struggling to find work.

This would “delay the consideration of an applicant’s criminal history until after the agency has determined the applicant’s qualifications meet the requirements for the job position.”

Parkview Housing Approved Despite Some Objections From Neighbors

Parkview Housing Approved Despite Some Objections From Neighbors

By uptownstudiosJune 29, 201214 comments

housingby Ramon Solis

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the development of Parkview Place Apartments on 337 D Street. The project would demolish the existing Peña House and would create room for four-housing units and a work space on the ground floor.

“We think it will be one of the best examples of sustainability that will be visible in the country,” said Dick Bourne, representing the group of seniors who plan to move into Parkview.

The Vanguard’s Big Day: The Importance of Transparency to Our Community

The Vanguard’s Big Day: The Importance of Transparency to Our Community

By David GreenwaldJune 28, 201220 comments

Transparency

On Tuesday night, Mayor Joe Krovoza announced that the council had met in closed session and made a reportable action.  By a 4-1 vote, the council had formally agreed to a settlement agreement with The People’s Vanguard of Davis, codifying the decision from late May to turn over a less-redacted version of the three and a half year old Davis Fire Report.

It had already been a big day for the Vanguard as two of the attorneys involved in the Public Records Act Request action filed by attorneys for the Los Angeles Times and Sacramento Bee credited the Vanguard‘s investigative work for playing a critical role in the judge’s decision to order the release of the Reynoso Task Force and Kroll Reports with the names unredacted.
Despite Assurances from City Manager, Public Concerned About Loss of Tree Trimmer Position

Despite Assurances from City Manager, Public Concerned About Loss of Tree Trimmer Position

By David GreenwaldJune 28, 201219 comments

treetrimming

On Tuesday evening, numerous members of the community came forward to speak to council about their concerns about the city cuts to tree trimming positions and the potential impact on the city’s urban forests.  Despite assurances from City Manager Steve Pinkerton that the level of service will be maintained through this move, city council has requested that consideration of the tree trimming positions and related issues come back to them at a future meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Rochelle Swanson’s motion asked for staff to be “bringing back a full staff report regarding our urban forest, specifically options for an ordinance that would allow our citizens to be able to hire certified arborists.”
Retiree Health Care Commitments Crippling City’s Budget

Retiree Health Care Commitments Crippling City’s Budget

By David GreenwaldJune 28, 201222 comments

OPEBThe public has focused during this budget cycle, to the extent that they have focused at all, on the impact of the nine layoffs of DCEA (Davis City Employees Association) employees and, in particular, the tree trimmers.  However, while the council unanimously moved forward with a heavily austere budget, the most alarming piece of news was on the OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) front.

For some time, the city has been working to deal with its $60 million unfunded liability on retiree health care benefits, after new accounting practices under GASB-45 showed that the city’s liability, by simply paying for the benefits as the bills come due, would push the city heavily toward bankruptcy by 2030.

Judge Orders UC to Turn Over Names of Pepper Spray Officers

Judge Orders UC to Turn Over Names of Pepper Spray Officers

By David GreenwaldJune 27, 201228 comments

secondofficerVanguard Plays Huge Role in Order, Stayed Until Late July Pending Appeal

On Tuesday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo handed the LA Times and Sacramento Bee, as well as advocates for transparency and open government, a major victory when the judge ordered the University of California to turn over an unredacted copy of the Kroll and Reynoso Reports on the pepper spray incident, with the names of all involved police officers.

There is a “strong public policy supporting transparency in government,” Judge Grillo wrote in his decision adding, “[t]he public’s interest in the … conduct of peace officers is substantial” because “[p]eace officers ‘hold one of the most powerful positions in our society; our dependence on them is high and the potential for abuse of power is far from insignificant.’ “

Missing the Forest Through the Trees on the Budget

Missing the Forest Through the Trees on the Budget

By David GreenwaldJune 27, 201254 comments
Tree-1It was an odd night, going late into the evening, when the Davis City Council in the last meeting with Stephen Souza and Sue Greenwald almost reluctantly passed a budget.  It was a budget that puts the city on the road to sustainability, but the public’s comments focused largely on the elimination of tree trimming positions.

Councilmember Dan Wolk, in his final meeting before becoming Mayor Pro Tem Dan Wolk, voted for the budget but admonished his colleagues while playing to the crowd that “we can do better than this.”

High Court Strikes Invalidates Life Without Parole For Juveniles

High Court Strikes Invalidates Life Without Parole For Juveniles

By uptownstudiosJune 27, 20123 comments

juvenile-courtby Ramon Solis –

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling determined that mandatory life without possibility of parole for minors in homicide-related cases is unconstitutional.

The ruling was based off the precedent of two now concluded court cases. In each case a fourteen-year-old was convicted of homicide. The first case found Arkansas native Kuntrell Jackson guilty of a convenience store murder in 1999, even though he decided to stay outside while the murder took place. The other case found an Alabama boy named Evan Miller guilty after beating a 52-year-old neighbor and setting fire to his home. The neighbor then died of smoke inhalation.

Vanguard Analysis: Cafeteria Cash Out Cap’s Disproportionate Impact

Vanguard Analysis: Cafeteria Cash Out Cap’s Disproportionate Impact

By David GreenwaldJune 26, 201212 comments

treetrimmingOne of the focal points of the structural reform that the city of Davis is looking to do is to update its policies on the cafeteria cash out.

The city offers every employee health care.   In cases, where the city employee is otherwise covered under a spouse, they can opt to take their benefit in the form of cash.  Prior to the last round of collective bargaining in 2009 and 2010, the city allowed those employees who needed no health benefits to have the full worth of the health care policy.

 

Commentary: Vanguard’s Latest Analysis on the Water Ballot Measure and Assessment on Election Timing

Commentary: Vanguard’s Latest Analysis on the Water Ballot Measure and Assessment on Election Timing

By David GreenwaldJune 26, 20128 comments
Sacramento-River-stockThe Vanguard has avoided taking a clear position on the water situation up until now, primarily because we really do not feel like we have all of the facts at this time.  In fact, the more we have learned in the past week, the more complex it has become.

This column is an effort to clarify where we are and where we can go.  At the start, there are those who believe that our goal is delay.  Actually, our goal is a transparent and open process.

Bill Seeks to Ban the Criminal History Box from Applications

Bill Seeks to Ban the Criminal History Box from Applications

By David GreenwaldJune 26, 201219 comments

bantheboxSponsor Argues State Can Reduce Recidivism by Removing Checkbox on Past Criminal Background from Job Applications

Court mandated decreases to the prison population operationalized through AB 109 have led to a renewed focus on reducing California’s astronomically high recidivism rate.  One way that public officials are seeking to reduce recidivism is through efforts to ensure that individuals who have served their time get a fair opportunity to get a job.

AB 1831, sponsored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson who represents Sacramento in the Assembly, seeks to remove the check box from the employment application that denotes that the applicant has had an arrest or conviction record.

Supreme Court Invalidates Key Portions of Arizona Anti-Immigration Law

Supreme Court Invalidates Key Portions of Arizona Anti-Immigration Law

By uptownstudiosJune 26, 201240 comments

SupremeCourtby Ramon Solis

The United States Supreme Court has mostly struck down Arizona’s controversial anti-immigration bill, thus effectively concluding a hotly contested two-year legal battle. However, perhaps the most controversial aspect of the bill has been ruled valid. Known to some as the “papers please” provision, this law permits police offers to check an individual’s citizenship status given “reasonable suspicion.”

Three of the Supreme Court holdings concerned whether the state of Arizona exceeded its jurisdiction into federal law. In a 5-3 ruling, The Supreme Court struck down these three provisions of Senate Bill 1070, which its authors have titled the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act. Those dissenting included Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

Water Measure: No Silver Bullet (Update)

Water Measure: No Silver Bullet (Update)

By Matt WilliamsJune 25, 201230 comments

Sacramento-River-stockby Matt Williams

The following is a personal opinion of the author.

Let’s start by saying that this isn’t worth doing if it isn’t done right.  Anyone who has attended or watched the WAC meetings, knows that the WAC is committed to doing this right.
Staff Recommends Against Binding Vote on Water?

Staff Recommends Against Binding Vote on Water?

By David GreenwaldJune 25, 201221 comments
pinkerton-steveLast week we reported that the WAC (Water Advisory Committee) by a 6-4 vote recommended a binding vote on water.  However, this week’s staff recommendation by City Manager Steve Pinkerton seems to move away from that recommendation and back toward an advisory vote.

This week’s staff report notes, “At the June 12th City Council meeting, staff presented a request from the committee asking for an extension of their project recommendation date to August 21st and rate recommendation to September 18th. Council granted this extension, but also asked the committee to review the ballot language that needs to be finalized by July 10th, and return to Council with a recommendation on June 26th.”

Commentary: Why Rush the Budget? Let the New Council Handle It

Commentary: Why Rush the Budget? Let the New Council Handle It

By David GreenwaldJune 25, 20124 comments
weistCity Manager Steve Pinkerton is recommending that the city council enact an Urgency Ordinance adopting the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 on Tuesday night.  The question is why that is the case, as just three weeks ago he indicated that there were no statutory obligations to pass the budget by the end of June.

This budget represents the fifth consecutive year that require budget reductions in order to maintain the city’s General Fund operating budget, as well as to address further reductions in funding levels from state and federal sources supporting transportation and social services programs.

Sunday Commentary Part Two: Water Measure Needs to Be Done the Right Way

Sunday Commentary Part Two: Water Measure Needs to Be Done the Right Way

By David GreenwaldJune 24, 201247 comments
floating-20Back on June 9, the Vanguard warned that the proposed surface water ballot measure had some flaws.  The main flaw is that the timeline to put the water measure on the ballot is so tight that the Water Advisory Committee (WAC) has asked for additional time to weigh in on their evaluation of the various project proposals before us, and we do not have water rates, and we do not know what the project even is and may not know until September at the earliest.

Since that time, the WAC, which has done commendable work, has agreed that the ballot measure will be binding rather than advisory.  A smart move.

Sunday Commentary: A View From the Dark Side

Sunday Commentary: A View From the Dark Side

By David GreenwaldJune 24, 201254 comments

hate-meeting-2

When this site was founded back on July 30, 2006 on the original free blogspot site with the white writing and the black background, our tag line was “A Vivid Description of the Dark Underbelly of the People’s Republic of Davis.”  While that tagline is no longer in use, it remains perhaps the most poignant description of what we do.

This week is the reminder of why that remains an apt description of this site.  We began this week with base ugliness.  The hanging of a noose at the Davis Football Stadium, followed by the discovery of graffiti of a Swastika and the word “Nigger,” are stark reminders to us about a dark history from a not-so-distant past.