Month: June 2013

Eye on the Courts: How Much is Enough – the Line Between Public Safety and Redemption

Eye on the Courts: How Much is Enough – the Line Between Public Safety and Redemption

By David GreenwaldJune 24, 201317 comments

prison-reform

Nearly 30 years ago Chris Fowler committed one of the most unthinkable acts one could imagine – tired, angry, and most of all high on drugs and alcohol, Mr. Fowler, just 22, took out his frustrations on an innocent 22-month-old baby, beating the child to death.  For that crime, he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison and has been eligible for parole now for nearly 20 years.

As we reported back in 2011 and just last week, on November 8, 2010, Mr. Fowler was found suitable for parole, but then politics got in the way.  The Yolo County DA’s office put massive amounts of pressure on Governor Jerry Brown, and Governor Brown who ironically has been more likely to allow parole to go forward than his predecessors, succumbed to that press, arguing, if released, Mr. Fowler would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety, and reversed the parole board’s decision.

Sunday Commentary: Benefits of Fluoridation Not Worth the Costs

Sunday Commentary: Benefits of Fluoridation Not Worth the Costs

By David GreenwaldJune 23, 201314 comments

fluoride-water

The WAC will meet this Thursday to discuss and make a recommendation to the Davis City Council on the issue of fluoridation, and I personally urge them to vote against making any sort of recommendation.

I have stayed on the sidelines on this issue throughout much of the debate.  Truth be told, I am actually more sympathetic to the yes position.  I read this morning’s op-ed in the Davis Enterprise by former Schools Chief Delaine Eastin and several respected medical professionals including:  Rick Baker, from First 5 Yolo;  Constance J. Caldwell, Yolo County’s current health officer; and Bette Hinton, Yolo County’s former health officer.

EMQ FamiliesFirst Denies All Allegations

EMQ FamiliesFirst Denies All Allegations

By David GreenwaldJune 23, 201321 comments

Families-First.jpg

Last week, the state agency reviewing the FamiliesFirst situation in Davis, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), completed its investigation, in the wake of reports of a sexual assault and rape of an 11-year-old by residents at the facility who are 13 and 14 years old.

In a statement from Michael Weston, Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Outreach Programs at CDSS, “The children accused of sexual assaults and other abuse have been removed from the facility and additional staff put in place to ensure the appropriate levels of care, safety and supervision is being provided for the children who reside there. The Department is also conducting daily monitoring of the facility.”

Meeting Tonight in West Sacramento

Meeting Tonight in West Sacramento

By David GreenwaldJune 23, 201311 comments
Vanguard-Court-WatchOn Sunday, June 23, 2013 from 5 to 7 PM in West Sac at the West Sacramento Public Library 1212 Merkley Ave, West Sacramento , the Vanguard Court Watch Council of Yolo County (VCWCYC) is inviting the public to come forward to express their concerns about the judicial system, providing testimony and giving personal accounts of contemporary cases in the Yolo County Court system.

“The public has an opportunity to tell of their experiences in the Yolo County judicial system. Experiences that normally are not covered in the newspaper,” said David Greenwald, Executive Director of Vanguard Court Watch. “The Council will take public comment, testimony from invited speakers, and then deliberate in closed session to determine our course of action.”

My View: Reflecting on Notions of Crime and Punishment in the Wake of the Brutal Murders

My View: Reflecting on Notions of Crime and Punishment in the Wake of the Brutal Murders

By David GreenwaldJune 22, 201328 comments

Davis-Murder-3

Last night I belatedly caught Helen Prejean’s interview with MSNBC talk show host Rachel Maddow.  Helen Prejean is the nun who wrote the book “Dead Man Walking,” chronicling her experience with a condemned killer, and one of the most forceful opponents to capital punishment.

Part of what she said really struck me, about “once you get people to be able to identify that the human being who did that outrageous act is more than that one act in their life.”

Commentary: Will Fifth Street Redesign Work?

Commentary: Will Fifth Street Redesign Work?

By David GreenwaldJune 22, 201331 comments

RoadDiets

Do I know that the Fifth Street redesign will work?  I will admit, I do not have a crystal ball, and I do not know if the redesign will work.  What I do know is that the current configuration does not work.

I know that I have sat in my idling car at F Street at 5 in the morning with no cars in sight and waited a full two minutes for the lights to cycle through before learning if I turn on E Street right after the fire station and cut down Fourth, I can avoid the lights and get to my destination faster.

City Releases Full Unredacted Fire Report After Four and a Half Years

City Releases Full Unredacted Fire Report After Four and a Half Years

By David GreenwaldJune 21, 201333 comments

Conroy-Weist-665

On Wednesday morning Judge Dan Maguire issued a tentative ruling, ruling that former Davis Fire Chief Rose Conroy’s request for a preliminary injunction was denied on the grounds that she has not been able “to demonstrate that she is likely to prevail on the merits of her claims at trial.”

By itself that would have been enough to lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) and allow the city to finally, after four and a half years, release the full and unredacted fire report.  But for good measure, at the same time as the judge was issuing that ruling, Ms. Conroy and her attorney moved for dismissal.

And Then There was One: CDM Withdraws From DBO Bidding Process, This Time Permanently

And Then There was One: CDM Withdraws From DBO Bidding Process, This Time Permanently

By David GreenwaldJune 21, 201324 comments

cdm

In early February the Vanguard reported that CDM Smith and United Water had sent a letter to Jim Yost of the project engineering firm, West Yost Associates, informing them that they were withdrawing from the Davis Woodland Water Supply Design-Build-Operate (DBO) Project procurement process.

Six days later, after considerable behind-the-scenes work by project General Manager Dennis Diemer, they wrote to inform the general manager, “We remain interested in participating in the regional water supply project.”

Appellate Court Reverses Parole Denial in Yolo County Murder Case

Appellate Court Reverses Parole Denial in Yolo County Murder Case

By David GreenwaldJune 21, 201317 comments

prison-reformChris Fowler, in November of 1983 and then 22 years old, was convicted of second degree murder for the beating death of 22-month-old Aaron Miller.  He was sentenced to 15 years to life and was eligible for parole on December 23, 1993.

On November 8, 2010, the Board of Parole Hearings (Board) found Mr. Fowler suitable for parole.  However, the governor reversed the Board’s decision, concluding that, if released, Mr. Fowler would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety.

Commentary: One of Our Own – 16-Year-Old Marsh Arraigned on Murder Charges

Commentary: One of Our Own – 16-Year-Old Marsh Arraigned on Murder Charges

By David GreenwaldJune 20, 201336 comments

yolo_county_courthouseBy David Greenwald and Antoinnette Borbon

A sad day today to watch the media swarm around a tragic case. Behind the glass booth of the courtroom today stood a 16-year-old defendant who has been charged with the double homicide of an elderly couple.

On April 13 of this year, the couple was found stabbed to death in their South Davis home. Daniel Marsh was arrested on Monday after an investigation which, at the onset, had police baffled.

Commentary: Too Davis Centric Are the Candidates For Assembly?

Commentary: Too Davis Centric Are the Candidates For Assembly?

By David GreenwaldJune 20, 20134 comments

Wolk-Assembly-Announce

Jim Smith, editor of the Woodland Daily Democrat, makes an astute observation about the announcements from both Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza and Davis Mayor Pro Tem Dan Wolk of Davis.

He writes in a column on Wednesday, “It would serve candidates contemplating a run for higher office to step back and look at the bigger picture, instead of being so ‘Davis-centric.’ “

Hackers, Inventors and Startups… Oh My!

Hackers, Inventors and Startups… Oh My!

By David GreenwaldJune 20, 20134 comments

studentstartupcenter

By Rob White

I haven’t been in Davis long.  But one of my primary tasks has been to identify and meet as much of the entrepreneurial and tech community as possible in a very short amount of time.

This has included meetings with principles from well-known Davis companies like FMC Schilling Robotics, DTL/Mori Seiki, Bayer/Agraquest, Cedaron Medical, Gold Standard Diagnostics, Calgene, SiGNa Chemistry, Engage3 and others. I have heard stories of how the companies started, what their growth has been like, and what has kept them in Davis to date (or in some cases, moving back). I have discussed some of their challenges and took a keen interest in their industry and how that might relate to future companies that could be in Davis.

How Should Davis Proceed with Business Park Development in Light of Mace Curve Decision?

How Should Davis Proceed with Business Park Development in Light of Mace Curve Decision?

By David GreenwaldJune 19, 201314 comments

Cannery-Park

On May 23, 2013, City of Davis Chief Innovation Officer Rob White, in his weekly column with the Vanguard, posed the question to Vanguard readers, “Where Will All the Business Go?”

In it he suggested that if Davis is to become more than an incubator for startups who then either move to other regional destinations like West Sacramento, Woodland, Dixon and North Natomas or down the I-80 corridor to places like San Francisco and the Bay Area, we have to address a key problem, “a significant lack of space for the growth.”

16-Year-Old Davis Resident Daniel Marsh Charged with the Murders

16-Year-Old Davis Resident Daniel Marsh Charged with the Murders

By David GreenwaldJune 19, 201350 comments

Marsh-Daniel

On Monday, the Davis Police announced that a 16-year-old male Davis resident was taken into custody, and is being held on charges for the double murder of Oliver Northrup and Claudia Maupin. There are no other suspects in this case.  By early Tuesday, the Vanguard had learned the name of the suspect, but declined to disclose the information publicly until the charges became official.

Late on Tuesday, the Yolo County District Attorney’s office filed a criminal complaint against 16-year-old Daniel Marsh, who they claim “did willfully and unlawfully kill a human being, to wit, Oliver Northup, with malice aforethought. This is willful, premeditated, and deliberate murder within the meaning of Penal Code Section 189.”

Groups Want Assurances on Civil Rights

Groups Want Assurances on Civil Rights

By uptownstudiosJune 19, 20130 comments

NDAAby Yolo County ACLU, et al

We, the undersigned Davis community groups, seek to restore our democracy by speaking out against Section 1021(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012, which subjects U.S. citizens to military detention, without trial, until the “end of hostilities,” for “substantially” supporting members of al-Qaida, the Taliban and “associated forces,” or “directly” supporting hostilities “in aid of such enemy forces.”

This sweeping legislation is now found in Public Law 112-81. Since the “end of hostilities” in the war against terror may never be decisive, there may be no end to detention for those who come under these vague provisions.

Commentary: Parking Garage Proposal for Boy Scout Lot

Commentary: Parking Garage Proposal for Boy Scout Lot

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 201344 comments

parking-garage-dt

Two weeks ago the Vanguard put forward, once again, its proposal to put the entrance to a parking garage on Olive Dr. adjacent to the Design House.  It would then go over the tracks and consume the current parking lot by the Boy Scout Cabin.  The idea there would be to get people to turn onto Olive and get out of their cars at F and 1st streets, which would put people within about three blocks of most of downtown.

At that place there could be free trolleys and bike rentals to allow people easy access to the rest of the downtown.

Police Have Suspect in Custody in Connection with Double Homicide

Police Have Suspect in Custody in Connection with Double Homicide

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 20135 comments

Davis-Murder-3

On Monday, the Davis Police announced that a 16-year-old male Davis resident was taken into custody, and is being held on charges for the double murder. There are no other suspects in this case.

The investigation is on-going, and because it involved a minor, we cannot release any other information at this time.  Police officials would only confirm that the suspect is not a family member to the deceased.

Analysis: Mace Curve Development: An Argument Against District Elections?

Analysis: Mace Curve Development: An Argument Against District Elections?

By David GreenwaldJune 17, 201346 comments

House-Greg

There is an old adage in politics that if you want to understand why something happened – particularly something where all of the pieces do not seem to add up – you need to follow the money.  An exercise that, as often as not, is easier said than done.

Since Tuesday’s vote where the council, by a 3-2 vote, rejected staff recommendations to pause the grant-seeking process with NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) and pursue a possible deal where the easement proposed on Mace Curve 391 could be swapped for one on the Shriner’s Property where Capitol Corridor Ventures had just finished the agreement to gain an option on that land.

Eye on the Courts: Rare Example Where Jury Does Not Automatically Grant Gang Enhancements

Eye on the Courts: Rare Example Where Jury Does Not Automatically Grant Gang Enhancements

By David GreenwaldJune 17, 20133 comments

gang-stock-pic

It is somewhat surprising that the mass local or regional media did not pick up the story of the trial of Bill Wolfington.  After all, it would seem to have all of the elements.  When he was arrested and his story splashed across the news, there was his connection to the original West Sacramento gang injunction, where he was the sole party who was served by then-Deputy DA Jeff Reisig.

So why would his subsequent arrest on murder and gang charges – a case that was briefly considered as a possible death penalty case – not garner more coverage?  That will remain a mystery to me.