Month: January 2013

Measure I Proponents Argue Water Supply Project Essential to Davis’ Future

Measure I Proponents Argue Water Supply Project Essential to Davis’ Future

By David GreenwaldJanuary 14, 201340 comments

Measure-I-flier-1a

Nearly a month ago, the Vanguard met with, and interviewed, the opposition to the Measure I campaign.  On Friday, the Vanguard sat down with three representatives of the Yes on Measure I campaign – two members of the WAC, Chair Elaine Roberts Musser and Alf Brandt, along with Alan Pryor.

“The Davis-Woodland Water Supply project ensures that Davis for decades to come will have a clean, safe, and sustainable water supply,” said Alf Brandt who works with the California State Assembly as a principal consultant on water resources and delta management.  Along those lines he argued that the project is “better for the Delta.”

Governor Calls California’s Prison Overcrowding Crisis Over: ‘Ridiculous,’ Say Reformers

Governor Calls California’s Prison Overcrowding Crisis Over: ‘Ridiculous,’ Say Reformers

By uptownstudiosJanuary 14, 20131 comments

prison-reformBy Dan Aiello

Citing California Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr.’s veto last session of a bill that would have allowed reporters access to prisoners protesting conditions within the state’s 33 prisons, reform advocates called on judges, legislators and news media to ignore Brown’s claim that the state’s prison crisis “is over.”

The Brown administration began the week in court with a motion before the 9th Circuit Federal to vacate the population cap imposed on the state’s overcrowded prisons, citing the state’s realignment plan as evidence the cap is both dangerous and no longer needed.

VANGUARD COURT WATCH: The Human Side of the Criminal Justice System

VANGUARD COURT WATCH: The Human Side of the Criminal Justice System

By uptownstudiosJanuary 14, 20137 comments

Yolo-Count-Court-Room-600By Vanguard Court Watch Interns

Steven Lopez, an inmate at the Yolo County Jail, had his sentencing hearing this past Friday, January 11th. He has been charged on four counts, mainly pertaining to theft and unauthorized use of vehicles. While the counts he has been charged with are not something to be particularly curious about, this case embodies the stigma all too often placed upon these “criminals.”

While in custody, Mr. Lopez started hysterically crying to Judge Mock of Department 3. Although I am certain this is not uncommon in the courtroom, it is cases like this that shed light on the indisputable truth that many people seem to forget – that those in custody are human just like the rest of us.

Sunday Commentary: Distrusting Motivations

Sunday Commentary: Distrusting Motivations

By David GreenwaldJanuary 13, 201320 comments
reisigJust before the New Year, we ran our Sunday Commentary, “When Speaking Out Comes with a Price,” where we discussed Jann Murray-Garcia’s concerns about accepting an invitation  from Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven to join their new Multi-Cultural Community Council, an invitation he made public at the December 1 Breaking the Silence of Racism event.

Dr. Murray-Garcia had several times declined the offer, and told him so publicly.  She wrote, “I told Jonathan I was not interested, because I had accompanied too many Davis folks in Yolo County Superior Court who were inappropriately charged, investigated, overcharged, gang-labeled and unnecessarily prosecuted at great taxpayers’ (yours and mine) expense, and residents’ turmoil.”

Report Finds Climate Change Dramatically Impacting US Economy and People Already

Report Finds Climate Change Dramatically Impacting US Economy and People Already

By David GreenwaldJanuary 13, 201337 comments
heatwaveThe draft version of the National Climate Assessment was released on Friday, and the key finding is that “climate change is already affecting the American people.”

“Climate change presents a major challenge for society,” the committee’s leadership said in a letter on Friday. “This report and the sustained assessment process that is being developed represent steps forward in advancing our understanding of that challenge and its far-reaching implications for our nation and the world.”

My View: Help is NOT on the Way for Local Schools

My View: Help is NOT on the Way for Local Schools

By David GreenwaldJanuary 12, 201330 comments
schoolThe news is largely good in terms of the budget, but in terms of immediate help for our local schools, the good news is limited to the fact that no more money will be cut from the budget this year.

The governor’s budget, after years of cutting from education, presents a plan to increase per pupil funding by 2016-17.  But the bulk of that will that will go, not to Davis, but to poor and low performing districts.

Commentary: The City’s DACHA Problem

Commentary: The City’s DACHA Problem

By David GreenwaldJanuary 12, 20136 comments

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It was with great interest that I read the letter from Elaine Roberts Musser regarding DACHA (Davis Area Cooperative Housing Association).  At a time when the residents of DACHA had no legal assets with which to fight a court battle, Ms. Roberts Musser admirably stepped up to provide assistance.

While Ms. Roberts Musser is no neutral observer in this legal fight, her words are telling and informative to the concerns expressed by the Vanguard.

Commentary: DACHA, the ONLY Good News is That It’s Over

Commentary: DACHA, the ONLY Good News is That It’s Over

By David GreenwaldJanuary 11, 20134 comments
housing.jpgThe good news is that the DACHA nightmare, and it was that for a number of people, is over.  There are at least four sides of this story, but at the end of the day, there are a group of people, many of whom are largely completely innocent, whose only mistake was to buy into a local affordable housing project, who can now move on with their lives.

The Vanguard called for an independent investigation into DACHA back in 2009.  At that time, we had the oddly matched couple of Don Saylor and Lamar Heystek supporting the call.  The city wanted to protect their assets first, but they forgot that while assets are a critical interest for the city, their top duty was accountability to the voters and taxpayers.

Governor Claims Budget Deficit is Gone, Introduces Balanced State Budget

Governor Claims Budget Deficit is Gone, Introduces Balanced State Budget

By David GreenwaldJanuary 11, 2013104 comments

Brown-balanced-budget-2013

Governor Jerry Brown announced on Thursday that he is putting forth a balance budget “that boosts investment in education, implements health care reform and keeps California on a long-term path to fiscal stability. This budget builds on the work of the last two years to eliminate the ongoing deficit.”

“The budget cuts made in the last two years and the passage of Proposition 30 make it possible to both live within our means and to increase funding for education,” said Governor Brown.

VANGUARD COURT WATCH: Man Acquitted on Felony Evasion of Police Officers

VANGUARD COURT WATCH: Man Acquitted on Felony Evasion of Police Officers

By uptownstudiosJanuary 11, 20134 comments
Yolo-Count-Court-Room-600Editor’s Note: Every week, the Vanguard Court Watch of Yolo County sends a number of interns into the Yolo County Court in Woodland.  Beginning today, we will be publishing some of their accounts of what they have observed.

Many of these are collaborative efforts and will be published under the byline of Vanguard Court Watch Intern.  Others will be published under the intern’s individual name.  This feature will at least be published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Commentary: Pinkerton’s Bold Move

Commentary: Pinkerton’s Bold Move

By David GreenwaldJanuary 10, 201341 comments
pinkerton-steveThere is more than just a tinge of irony here.  After all, the CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) regulations were supposed to prevent double-dipping into the pension well, whereby retired public employees, particularly public safety employees, who retired at the age of 50 could effectively have a second career where they got CalPERS pension credits.

In this case, the city of Davis finally found their man – with the skills and ingenuity to not only audit the department but stand up to what was once the most powerful union in the city and still remains quite dangerous.  But the new CalPERS regulations are putting reform efforts in jeopardy by forcing the interim chief to leave before his task has been completed.

Federal Judge Confirms Settlement in UC Davis Pepper Spray Lawsuit

Federal Judge Confirms Settlement in UC Davis Pepper Spray Lawsuit

By David GreenwaldJanuary 10, 20131 comments

Pepper-spray

On Wednesday, a federal judge gave final approval to the settlement that UC Davis students and recent alumni reached with the university in late September.

Ten months after the November 18, 2011, pepper-spray incident, on September 26, 2012, attorneys for 21 UC Davis students and recent alumni announced the details of their settlement with the university over a federal class-action lawsuit.

City Settles DACHA Lawsuit for 350K Dollars

City Settles DACHA Lawsuit for 350K Dollars

By David GreenwaldJanuary 9, 201311 comments

housing.jpgAfter a long and protracted public dispute, the parties involved in the DACHA lawsuits announced Wednesday afternoon that they had reached an agreement for a complete settlement.

According to a release by the City, “The parties have entered into a letter settlement agreement stating the general settlement terms. The Settlement will allow the parties to put their disputes behind them and move forward amicably.”
Major Shake Up in Fire Department Administration

Major Shake Up in Fire Department Administration

By David GreenwaldJanuary 9, 201318 comments

Black-LandyCity Manager Designates Police Chief to Temporarily Oversee Fire Operations – In what can only be viewed as a bold and brash move, City Manager Steve Pinkerton late on Tuesday announced that he has appointed Chief of Police Landy Black to temporarily oversee the Fire Department, as the city and UC Davis fully analyze the feasibility of a shared management oversight concept for the two fire departments.

The new process is expected to take up to six months.

Davis Marijuana Gang Case Finally Settles with DA Dropping Gang Charges

Davis Marijuana Gang Case Finally Settles with DA Dropping Gang Charges

By David GreenwaldJanuary 9, 201312 comments
marijuana2From the start, defense attorneys argued the case against Israel Covarrubias and Amaris Rodriguez stemming from a May 2010 arrest in Davis should be a marijuana case.  But for nearly two and a half years, the Yolo County DA’s office held the couple to answer to four criminal counts.  These included the sale of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, conspiracy to commitment a crime, and the standalone Penal Code section 186.22(a) charge for criminal street gang activity, along with three gang enhancements, from Penal Code section 186.22(b).

All told, the co-defendants faced 13 years in prison if convicted.  The defense attorneys all along argued that this case was really a marijuana sale case and should be charged as such.

State Seeks End of Court Orders Capping Prison Population; Legislation Introduced to End Solitary Confinement of Juveniles

State Seeks End of Court Orders Capping Prison Population; Legislation Introduced to End Solitary Confinement of Juveniles

By David GreenwaldJanuary 9, 20136 comments

prison-reformGovernor Brown Issues Poignant Demand to End Federal Oversight of California’s Prisons- “The prison emergency is over in California,” Governor Jerry Brown declared during a pointed press conference on Tuesday.

He told reporters, “California is a powerful state, we can run our own prisons.  And by God, let those judges give us our prisons back.  We’ll run them right.”

Goodwill Becomes the Bad Guy as Residents Describe Impact of Loss of Laundry Facilities

Goodwill Becomes the Bad Guy as Residents Describe Impact of Loss of Laundry Facilities

By David GreenwaldJanuary 8, 201312 comments

washmill

It is a crazy world, when somehow an organization like Goodwill – that is noted for funding non-profit thrift stores for low-income people, based on donations – can become the bad guy in a local land use dispute, but that is precisely what appears to have happened.

And that is exactly what has happened as the public laundromat, The Wash Mill, located in the Davis Manor center, in a neighborhood that serves working class families and students, is being forced to move from a location where they have resided for forty years.  They have been forced to do so by the landlord at the behest of Goodwill, so that Goodwill can move into an adjacent store and expand.

Misreading the Data on Gun and Automobile Accident Fatalities

Misreading the Data on Gun and Automobile Accident Fatalities

By David GreenwaldJanuary 8, 201324 comments

gun-controlIn the weeks since the Sandy Hook massacre, we have seen a re-engagement of the gun debate.  It is an issue area that had been largely ceded since 2000 when Al Gore, running for President, made mistaken inferences from public opinion data and failed to recognize that, while a majority of Americans may support tougher gun control, the group most likely to vote on that basis was heavily against any tougher regulations.

At the same time, I continue to be somewhat awestruck at the lack of basic statistical awareness on the part of opponents of tougher gun laws.  A good case in point is Greg Stovall in the local paper, who accuses many of “hypocrisy in the wake of shooting.”

Decriminalizing Homelessness in California

Decriminalizing Homelessness in California

By uptownstudiosJanuary 8, 201324 comments

ammiano19By Dan Aiello

State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) is following through on his promise to reform California’s prisons with the introduction of a homeless rights bill intended to decriminalize homelessness in the Golden State, protecting “some of society’s most vulnerable members.”

Make no mistake, Assembly Bill 5 is as much prison reform, as it is civil rights, legislation.

Interim Fire Chief Confirms Deception by Firefighters’ Union President

Interim Fire Chief Confirms Deception by Firefighters’ Union President

By David GreenwaldJanuary 7, 201310 comments

weist-dec-2012Interim Chief’s Account Shows Firefighters’ Union Had Ample Opportunity to Participate and Give Feedback but Chose Not To – On December 20, 2012, the Vanguard reported that the firefighters used deception as a means to block staffing changes that the union leadership clearly opposed.

As we reported at the time, the Davis City Council had already voted 4-1 that week to have a continued discussion on the proposed changes to fire staffing and boundary drops, as recommended by Interim Chief Scott Kenley.