Month: June 2012

Lovenburg to Seek Re-Election for School Board

Lovenburg to Seek Re-Election for School Board

By David GreenwaldJune 24, 20121 comments

Lovenburg-SusanIf it lacks the flare of the dramatic announcement of Richard Harris, who turned not only the prospective school board election on its head, but the entire community as well, Susan Lovenburg will have to be forgiven.

Her time on the board is perhaps as tumultuous as anyone’s, beginning with the late night meetings and dramatic decisions that punctuated early 2008 in the first of many fiscal crises that saw the young board propose and ultimately reject closing Emerson Junior High, DaVinci, and numerous programs like foreign languages, music, art and drama.

Guest Commentary: A Teachable Moment

Guest Commentary: A Teachable Moment

By uptownstudiosJune 24, 20124 comments

nooseBy Cecilia Escamilla-Greenwald

A noose was found hanging from the goal post at Davis High School and some people say it was a prank. This is the same high school where, nearly 30 years ago, Thong Hy Huynh was stabbed to death in a hateful, race-related act and where hateful messages have been spray-painted on the walls at various times over the years.

Again, some say it was a prank or kids simply being insensitive.

Commentary: Once More Our Schools Are in Crisis and the Community is Called to Step Up

Commentary: Once More Our Schools Are in Crisis and the Community is Called to Step Up

By David GreenwaldJune 23, 201264 comments

schoolStop me if you’ve heard this one before – the school district is facing fiscal crisis that requires immediate action or we face cuts in the millions.  And the worst part is that there is a very real chance that even if the district is able to make those cuts, it will lack the cash to meet payrolls and end up being taken over by the state – the same state that is largely responsible for these problems in the first place.

People have the right to be skeptical.  After all, if you cry doom and gloom all of the time, people have the tendency to regard you as the boy that cried wolf.  At some point when you are crying fiscal emergency all of the time, people stop running.

Do Officers in Pepper Spray Incident Face Safety Threats with Disclosure of Names?

Do Officers in Pepper Spray Incident Face Safety Threats with Disclosure of Names?

By David GreenwaldJune 23, 201215 comments

secondofficerJudge Will Hear Evidence to See if Public Records Act Compels University to Release Officer Names –

When the University of California was attempting to release the Reynoso Task Force and the Kroll Reports back in April, they ultimately agreed to a deal where they would withhold the names of all police officers, except for Former Chief Annette Spicuzza and Lt. John Pike, whose roles and names were well known.

They did so in the interest of expediting the release of the reports in a timely manner to allow the public to gain insight into the events on November 18, 2011.  The judge believed that there was enough threat to the safety of additional officers, after being presented with evidence that Lt. Pike suffered a substantial amount of harassment in the days immediately following the November 18 pepper spraying incident, to keep the temporary injunction on their release.

School Board Leans Toward 444 Dollar Parcel Tax

School Board Leans Toward 444 Dollar Parcel Tax

By David GreenwaldJune 22, 201263 comments

chalkboard

The School Board did not have a vote on Thursday night, but there is clear support at this point for putting another parcel tax measure on the ballot this November that, while falling short of the bold initiative put forward by Trustee Richard Harris, would enable the district to stay afloat during a time that more than one board member called the most fiscally troubling so far.

As Richard Harris explained on Thursday night, the $642 proposal was actually three pieces rolled into one.  The first component would be restoring the 2012-13 staffing that was cut as the result of the $3.5 million structural gap.  After the DTA balked at concessions, that resulted in 50 layoffs.
Making Sense of a Complicated Labor Negotiation Picture

Making Sense of a Complicated Labor Negotiation Picture

By David GreenwaldJune 22, 201223 comments
Owen-DavidWhen the city announced the layoff of nine city employees, plus the cutback of three additional positions, many cried foul, even after the city subsequently lost their PERB (Public Employment Relations Board) appeal and were ordered to make back payments of roughly 800,000 dollars to these employees.

At the same time, many accused DCEA (Davis City Employees Association) of essentially throwing nine of their employees under the bus rather than accepting concessions.  The Vanguard spoke with DCEA President Dave Owen at the time, and he put forth the argument that DCEA wanted to preserve those positions, but he wanted those position to be worth having and it was their view that the city’s proposed cuts were too steep.

Commentary: The Real Cost of the Art on the Water Tank Might Stun You

Commentary: The Real Cost of the Art on the Water Tank Might Stun You

By David GreenwaldJune 22, 201270 comments

east-area-water-tank

For quite some time a columnist in this town has been beating the drum about a 75,000 dollar expenditure for art on the East Davis Water Tank.  Now, given the magnitude of the city’s fiscal problems, this criticism seemed a bit out of proportion.  After all, not only are we talking about “only” 75,000 dollars, but we are talking about one-time money.

Back in October, the columnist wrote, “Yes, I’ve been critical of this outlay of public money. Sure, it’s not much, but with the city likely facing layoffs, $75,000 might save someone’s job and benefits.”

Laid Off City Employee Speaks Out (Updated 5 pm)

Laid Off City Employee Speaks Out (Updated 5 pm)

By David GreenwaldJune 21, 201222 comments

treetrimmingCity Rejects Deal to Restore Laid Off Employees in Exchanging For Forgiving PERB Rules Backpay –

Chris Kassis, 54, has been working since he was 16 years old.  In November of 2008, he decided to get out of a very lucrative position, owning his own construction company, and came to work for the city at a somewhat lower rate of pay.

Like many, he was recruited to work for the city.
Tensions Heighten as Swastika and “N” Word Found Spray Painted Under I-80 Underpass

Tensions Heighten as Swastika and “N” Word Found Spray Painted Under I-80 Underpass

By David GreenwaldJune 21, 201273 comments

Community Meeting Held to Discuss Incident and Stand Strong Against the Hanging of the Noose at DHS

n-word-swastika-underpass

A diverse group of community members ranging from high school age on up, of all different races and ethnicities, gathered at the Davis High School library to discuss and better understand the noose incident.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven, a Davis resident, announced that on his morning run he had found under the bike and pedestrian underpass connecting UC Davis with South Davis, a Swastika and graffiti that said, “Nigger.”

Word To The Wise: Gate Disgrace

Word To The Wise: Gate Disgrace

By David GreenwaldJune 21, 201210 comments

Full-Body-Scan-Machine.jpgBy E. Roberts Musser

I consider myself a fairly mellow person, and I don’t embarrass easily.  However, as I was going through airport security recently, a TSA agent subjected me to a pat down that was somewhat humiliating.  I’ve tried to take it with a sense of humor, as in the scheme of things it was not that big a deal.  Let’s put it this way, I’ve heard of stories a lot worse.

I’m a female senior citizen, 62 years of age, and somewhat overweight.  I’ve had three children, which as every woman knows, does interesting things to the body.  I’ve also had major intestinal surgery, with a huge scar running up and down my torso.  As a result, my stomach is no longer as flat as it used to be in my youth.  But then, whose is at age 62, male or female?  Where am I going with this?  Let me explain.

Commentary: Responses to Noose Article on the Vanguard Hurtful to Some in this Community

Commentary: Responses to Noose Article on the Vanguard Hurtful to Some in this Community

By David GreenwaldJune 20, 2012136 comments

nooseEverybody responds to news differently.  Davis, a diverse community with all sorts of viewpoints, has responded in its own way and everyone has a different response to the noose incident at Davis High.

The response has been made more difficult by the uncertain nature of the incident.  We do not know why the incident occurred – whether it was meant as a joke or inspired by actual hate.  And quite frankly, it does not matter.

Yamada Bill on Ballot Arguments Moves Forward Over Objections From Granda

Yamada Bill on Ballot Arguments Moves Forward Over Objections From Granda

By David GreenwaldJune 20, 201211 comments

assemblymember-mariko-yamada

Jose Granda, the oft-times critic of the Davis School District, tried to take his fight to the legislature on Tuesday.  His target this time was legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, which would close loopholes that became evident during March’s parcel tax election.

AB 1626 has already unanimously passed in the Assembly, but it encountered some opposition on Tuesday in the Senate Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee as it passed on a party-line, 3-2 vote.

Public Officials Issue Statement on Noose

Public Officials Issue Statement on Noose

By David GreenwaldJune 19, 201237 comments

nooseAn investigation is underway into what the Davis Police Department is investigating as a hate incident, the hanging of a noose, found by Davis School District Safety Coordinator Marc Hicks on Friday, hanging from the goalposts at the Davis School football field.

The investigation is still underway.  Officials are taking this matter very seriously, believing it very important that all people in this community feel safe.
Noose Discovered Hanging from Goalpost at Davis High Stadium Has Public Officials Concerned

Noose Discovered Hanging from Goalpost at Davis High Stadium Has Public Officials Concerned

By David GreenwaldJune 19, 201240 comments

noose

Details are sketchy at the moment and Superintendent Winfred Roberson and Mayor Joe Krovoza are reportedly expected to issue a joint statement, perhaps as soon as today, after officials found a noose hanging from the uprights of the south goal post at the Davis High Stadium during the Juneteenth celebration this past weekend.

The investigation is still underway.  Officials are taking this matter very seriously, believing it very important that all people in this community feel safe.

Commentary: Is it really all gloom and doom?

Commentary: Is it really all gloom and doom?

By David GreenwaldJune 19, 201236 comments
Tree-1The column on Sunday generated a lot of attention – it was meant to be a stark and eye-opening exposé on what went wrong from 2008 to 2012.  For some, the truth proved to be highly valuable – a way for the public to understand the enormity of what we have to do.

It is perhaps unfortunate that some strategic missteps have ironically enough not allowed the public to see the forest through the trees.  The decision to lay off nine city employees the day after the election, an election where the public passed a parcel tax to fund the city’s parks that everyone knew would be insufficient to fund parks, has diverted the attention.

New Study Places Wrongful Conviction Rate at 5% for Murders, Higher for Sexual Assault

New Study Places Wrongful Conviction Rate at 5% for Murders, Higher for Sexual Assault

By David GreenwaldJune 19, 201212 comments

dna-300One of the problems facing those who believe that the problem of wrongful convictions is far deeper that statistics currently available would indicate, is the dearth of reliable longitudinal data.

However, a new study that involved the DNA testing of hundreds of old Virginia homicide and sexual assault cases supports the exoneration of at least 38 suspects, according to a study released Monday by a national policy group that examined the test results.

Commentary: No Such Thing As Halfway Democracy – WAC Makes the Right Call

Commentary: No Such Thing As Halfway Democracy – WAC Makes the Right Call

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 201225 comments
floating-20We’ll borrow from a popular song a few years back and say that just as there is no such thing as halfway crooks, there is no such thing as halfway democracy.  That’s what an advisory vote on water would have been – halfway democracy.

The message would have been, while we value your input, we just don’t trust you to make the right decision.  And what kind of message is that really?

Commentary: Slow But Measurable Progress with City Governance

Commentary: Slow But Measurable Progress with City Governance

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 201216 comments
Nats-1As I told people yesterday, if there is one article this year you read in its entirety it needs to be yesterday’s Sunday Commentary which tracks not only the 2008 to 2012 history, but shows how we got in the mess that we are in.

Anyone who believes we can reduce seven to eight million dollars in one budget without pain is fooling themselves.  The next month or so is going to be just as contentious as the elections.

Three Strikes Measure Does Not Fix All Problems, But Will Save State 100 Million Annually

Three Strikes Measure Does Not Fix All Problems, But Will Save State 100 Million Annually

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 20121 comments

prison-reformThe Three Strikes Reform ballot initiative will not fix all of the problems associated with the three strikes law.  What it will do is fix the problem of people charged with minor crimes such as stealing a package of shredded cheese, then facing a 25 year to life sentence.

What it will also do is save the state perhaps $100 million a year, a number that has fiscal conservatives, who do not normally support measures of this sort, jumping on the bandwagon.
Sunday Commentary: Past Council Majorities Failed to Deal Adequately with Budget Crisis

Sunday Commentary: Past Council Majorities Failed to Deal Adequately with Budget Crisis

By David GreenwaldJune 17, 201241 comments

weistDespite Rhetoric to the Contrary They Did No Favors to City Employees

The public has focused its attention on this point about nine layoffs by the city manager of employees in the DCEA (Davis City Employees Association) bargaining group.  Some have focused squarely on the layoff of a tree trimmer.

One can question the timing of this decision.  One can question whether it should have been a tree trimmer.  But what one needs to understand is that this has been a long time in coming.