Month: July 2013

Should the Davis Amtrak Move to the UC Davis Campus?

Should the Davis Amtrak Move to the UC Davis Campus?

By David GreenwaldJuly 31, 201327 comments

Amtrak-Nishi

The other day I overheard part of an interesting conversation about the possibility of moving the Amtrak train station from its present location in downtown Davis to the Nishi property, which is being discussed as a possible location for housing or a small business park.

One idea apparently would be, instead of attempting a Measure J vote which would be fraught with risk – particularly along the lines of Richards Blvd. access, to give the land to UC Davis and part of the use would be a train station at that location.

Commentary: Classic Overcharging in Manning Case

Commentary: Classic Overcharging in Manning Case

By David GreenwaldJuly 31, 201360 comments
manning-bradleyEven after being acquitted on the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, Bradley Manning still faces life in prison after being found guilty of numerous lesser charges, as the Obama administration works hard to make an example of him after he leaked classified reports that showed that the U.S. Government was lying to the American people as well as to its allies.

In reading the verdict, Col. Denise Lind ruled that the facts were insufficient to convict Mr. Manning of what would be the military equivalent of treason.  She found that, for instance, the video Collateral Murder did not qualify as “national defense” information.

Vanguard Turns Seven

Vanguard Turns Seven

By David GreenwaldJuly 30, 201314 comments

Vanguard_-_VJust wanted to send a quick note out.  Seven years ago today, the Vanguard published its first entry. I’ve published this piece at the exact time the first publication occurred.

This was the first entry I ever wrote, on the free blogger software.  I think it was not until late September of that year when I realized people were actually reading this stuff that I had started publishing every single day.

NRC Puts Forward Renewable Energy Ordinace

NRC Puts Forward Renewable Energy Ordinace

By David GreenwaldJuly 30, 2013103 comments

solar-2Citing a study that shows that both solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heating are considerably cheaper energy options for Davis residents than using grid-sourced electricity and natural gas, the Natural Resources Commission has proposed a Davis Renewable Energy Ordinance.

Their report shows that installing solar PV could reduce a consumer’s monthly electricity cost by more than 30 percent.

Commentary: UC Remains Tone Deaf and Blind on Salaries

Commentary: UC Remains Tone Deaf and Blind on Salaries

By David GreenwaldJuly 30, 201310 comments

Napolitano-Janet

University of California students might be forgiven if they are a bit cynical.  After all, for years now they have been asked to pay an increasingly larger share of the burden of their education.  Much of that money will be repaid later severalfold as students struggle under an avalanche of debt that the leadership in Congress has failed to address and has at times made worse.

Still, I think that most students could probably understand that, as the natural outcome of the worst recession since the Great Depression, this is a state that continues to teeter on the brink of budget crisis and overall malaise – if only that burden seemed to be shared evenly across all comers to the UC System.

Defense Seeks to Suppress Evidence, Alleging Illegal Search in Davis Drug Arrest

Defense Seeks to Suppress Evidence, Alleging Illegal Search in Davis Drug Arrest

By David GreenwaldJuly 30, 20136 comments

police_tapeThe defense has filed a Pitchess motion and a motion to suppress, in the case of Kathryn McEachern.  She is accused of possession of drugs, stemming from an arrest at CVS Pharmacy on West Covell in Davis, on January 30 at 2:30 am when Ms. McEachern had entered the pharmacy in need of taking care of her menstrual cycle that had come on suddenly and unexpectedly.

In his report, Sgt. Doug Bates indicated that he, Officer Franti and Sgt. Rod Rifredi were dispatched to the CVS on West Covell regarding a suspicious circumstances call.  An employee had called in about observing a male and female in the store apparently preparing to shoplift.

Analysis: Differing Views on Water Rate Initiative

Analysis: Differing Views on Water Rate Initiative

By David GreenwaldJuly 29, 20135 comments

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This weekend the Davis Enterprise came out against the water rate initiative put forward by Michael Harrington, Pam Nieberg and Ernie Head.

“Let the court decide whether rates are proportional under the law,” they argue.  “The people have spoken. Now, it’s time to move on.”

Analysis: Wolk Gets Out in Front on Fluoridation

Analysis: Wolk Gets Out in Front on Fluoridation

By David GreenwaldJuly 29, 201375 comments

Wolk-Assembly-AnnounceIt is easy to view everything through the lens of electoral politics, especially when an announced candidate for the  State Assembly makes a very public statement on a rather controversial issue.  On Sunday, Mayor Pro Tem Dan Wolk became the first Davis City Councilmember to public endorse the idea of fluoridated water.

His campaign insists he did so because it was the right thing to do, but at the same time, he has waded into turbulent waters of an issue that has divided the Davis community for over 50 years.  As our analysis suggested on Sunday, we believe there is a good possibility that fluoridation – if placed on the ballot – would fail in an up or down vote.

Eye on the Courts: Pepper-Spray Ruling Shows Police Cannot Hide in Plain Sight

Eye on the Courts: Pepper-Spray Ruling Shows Police Cannot Hide in Plain Sight

By David GreenwaldJuly 29, 20132 comments

secondofficer

When the police union stepped in to prevent the release of the Kroll and Cruz Reynoso reports last year, they relented at allowing the reports to go forward, but with the names of all of the officers not named – all but John Pike and Chief Annette Spicuzza – redacted.  It was the height of absurdity.

Facing lengthy litigation, the UC Regents rightly reasoned that allowing as much information to go forward in a timely manner made the most sense.  We agree.

Sunday Commentary: Council Must Kill Fluoridation to Save the Water Project

Sunday Commentary: Council Must Kill Fluoridation to Save the Water Project

By David GreenwaldJuly 28, 2013110 comments

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In an op-ed in the local paper, Mayor Pro Tem Dan Wolk joins with the executive director of First 5 Yolo, Julie Gallelo, and former Woodland Mayor Art Pimentel to argue, “The partnership between Davis and Woodland on our surface water project provides both communities the most cost-effective solution to do what we should have done years ago: fluoridate our water.”

But despite the fact that “across the nation, more than 70 percent of people utilize community fluoridation,” the topic has proven to be highly controversial, not just this year, but for the last fifty years in the city of Davis.

Analysis: City Puts Best Face on Troublesome Conundrum with Loss of Bayer-AgraQuest

Analysis: City Puts Best Face on Troublesome Conundrum with Loss of Bayer-AgraQuest

By David GreenwaldJuly 28, 201387 comments

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On May 23, the city of Davis’ chief innovation officer asked the provocative question, “Where will all the business go? The small business community doesn’t have access to the necessary space for growth. Some of these businesses came from good ideas at the university and they are now growing so fast that they cannot find places that will accommodate their growing space needs.”

At the time he noted, “There are several small technology companies (currently under 50 employees) that were founded in Davis and have grown so dramatically in the last 24 months that they are on track to double in size again in the next few years.  That’s a potential of at least a few 100 new career-track and professional jobs that could be in Davis. These are companies that create products and require supply chains for their parts – and, some of these supply companies could (would) be in Davis. “

My View: Surface Water Project in Serious Trouble

My View: Surface Water Project in Serious Trouble

By David GreenwaldJuly 27, 201363 comments

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My sense is that people in City Hall and some of the posters on this site are underestimating the severity of the threat posed by the litigation, and now the initiative, that Michael Harrington has filed with the help of Ernie Head and Pam Nieberg.

This is going to be the first of a two-part commentary that lays out, in the best way I can, the potential danger here.  For its part, the city seems to believe that the litigation will not stop the water project, and that it will only make it far more expensive.  Unfortunately, we still have not seen the figures but the city’s current estimate of the impact on the bond ratings is about $50 to $60 million.

Vindication for Michael Artz After Four Years

Vindication for Michael Artz After Four Years

By David GreenwaldJuly 27, 201339 comments

Yolo-Count-Court-Room-600

On May 6, 2014, Michael Artz will be a free man, his term of probation expiring, his only charge on his record a misdemeanor charge for having a sexual encounter with a classmate less than two years younger, and no registration under Penal Code section 290.  At some point, he would be able to get even that misdemeanor expunged from his record.

But to get there was a long, painful and arduous journey filled with rape allegations, a trial that saw him acquitted on that charge but found guilty on lesser charges, a long and painful sentencing proceeding, endless counseling, a period of incarceration at the local jail, the loss of his mother and then finally an appellate court overturning much of what remained of the charges, with Judge Stephen Mock on Friday dispensing with the last hurdle – the PC 290 registration requirement.

Pike Filed Worker’s Compensation Claim For Pepper-Spray Incident

Pike Filed Worker’s Compensation Claim For Pepper-Spray Incident

By David GreenwaldJuly 26, 2013112 comments

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Former UC Davis Lt. John Pike filed a worker’s compensation claim for injuries suffered on November 18, 2011, during the incident in which he doused protesters with pepper spray on the UC Davis Quad.

While much of the information remains confidential, protected under privacy and other rights, the form indicates that the impact was “psychiatric” and affected the “nervous system.”

Bayer-AgraQuest’s Departure Leaves Davis with a Void

Bayer-AgraQuest’s Departure Leaves Davis with a Void

By uptownstudiosJuly 26, 201315 comments

bayer-agraquest-580x333By Rob White

SPECIAL COMMENTARY: Like the Dickens novel about two cities that needed to heed warnings about their future based on their past, yesterday’s news about Bayer CropScience/AgraQuest moving to West Sacramento made many of us stop and think. This is one of Davis’ most celebrated technology startup success stories, and now they are moving… primarily, they couldn’t find an appropriate place in Davis, and this informs us of some of the outcomes from our collective decisions.

And they will also be consolidating the Nunhems unit there. As most of you know, Bayer CropScience acquired local startup company AgraQuest, Inc. in mid-2012. They had previously moved the vegetable seed company Nunhems to Davis in early 2009. According to a press release distributed Thursday by the parent company Bayer AG on PRWEB, the company would execute the move in Q1 2014.

Analysis: Report in Firefighters Newsletter Puts City, Davis in Bad Light

Analysis: Report in Firefighters Newsletter Puts City, Davis in Bad Light

By David GreenwaldJuly 26, 201311 comments

cpffaThe report in the California Professional Firefighters Second Quarter publication is entitled, “Davis Firefighters Battle Organized Campaign to Discredit Local.”  Ironically, the article itself is full of half-truths and distortions, with veiled and pointed attacks on many in the Davis community.

The tone gets heated from the start, referring to critics and reformers in the city of Davis as “haters.”

Vanguard Analysis: Is the Future of Surface Water Project Murky?

Vanguard Analysis: Is the Future of Surface Water Project Murky?

By David GreenwaldJuly 25, 201357 comments

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Yolo County Judge Dan Maguire dealt at least a procedural blow to the city’s efforts to build its surface water project when he denied the city’s motion formally on Wednesday and implemented his tentative ruling.  The city had attempted to bifurcate the portion of the lawsuit filed by the Yolo Ratepayers for Affordable Public Utility Services (YRAPUS) that dealt with the city’s water rates.

Judge Maguire ruled that the city “fails to show that bifurcation, as proposed, would promote judicial economy or convenience.”  Furthermore, he ruled that the city, “was aware of the current lawsuit when it entered into the joint powers agreement with the City of Woodland on February 26, 2013.”

Court Orders Release of Pepper Spray Officer Names Arguing Not Covered Under POBR

Court Orders Release of Pepper Spray Officer Names Arguing Not Covered Under POBR

By David GreenwaldJuly 25, 20131 comments

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In May of 2012, following the release of the Kroll Report and the Cruz Reynoso Task Force report with the names of police officers redacted, the Los Angeles Times and Sacramento Bee argued that the public and press interests were not represented in the agreement to suppress the names of officers who were involved.

In a case that is likely destined for the state’s Supreme Court, the First Appellate District, Division Four, ruled in favor of the newspapers and ordered the release of the names of 12 officers named in the two reports commissioned by the University of California Regents.

Increasing Resources Through Broader Networks

Increasing Resources Through Broader Networks

By uptownstudiosJuly 25, 20132 comments

innovation-technologyBy Rob White

In just the last two weeks, I have had several interactions that are good examples of how broad-reaching networks can increase opportunity for additional resources. Each of these initial discussions has resulted in subsequent follow-up discussions about potential new investment and funding resources in and around Davis.

Chinese Trade and Development

The first discussion to highlight was with former City of Sacramento Council member Rob Fong, who is now the director of a newly formed nonprofit centered on increased trade relationships between the Sacramento area and Chongqing, China. The nonprofit is formally known as the California-Chongqing Trade and Commerce Organization and is focused on creating robust trade and technology development investments between the two regions.  If this sounds familiar, it is likely because his efforts were covered in the Sacramento Business Journal last week.

VANGUARD COURT WATCH: Jury Finds Defendant Guilty of Firearms Offenses

VANGUARD COURT WATCH: Jury Finds Defendant Guilty of Firearms Offenses

By uptownstudiosJuly 25, 20132 comments

gunsBy Anthony Rascon-Ramos

In the jury trial of People v. Darnell, the jury reached a verdict on Wednesday morning on the five counts charged against the defendant. On the first count of carrying a loaded firearm, he was found guilty, as well as on the additional allegation of not being the owner of the firearm. On the second count of possession of a concealed firearm and on an additional allegation he was also found guilty.

Lastly, on the third count of possession of burglary tools he was found not guilty.