(From Press Release) – In recent days, the Yes on Measure A campaign has been running a TV ad in Davis focused on the benefits of Yes on Measure A.
You can watch it online at: (see below)
The ad reads:
This June Davis voters will have an opportunity to continue our leadership in bike friendly neighborhoods, a vibrant downtown, and sustainability.
Measure A will support UC Davis business startups, provide student housing, and is an award winning vision for sustainability.
Measure A will also provide for critical city needs, improving traffic on Richards and Olive Drive, supporting our public schools, and providing revenue for public services without raising taxes.
Vote Yes on Measure. Smart and sustainable for our future.
The advertisement reflects the positive qualities of Measure A which are directly focused on the needs of Davis. This fact is underscored by the unanimous support of the Davis City Council – and the fact that all candidates for City Council support Measure A. Every claim made in the ad is based on well-established facts on record.
“…bike friendly neighborhoods…”
The Nishi Gateway expands bike paths connecting to the Davis Bike Loop, and the property will include hundreds of bike parking spots, many of which are shaded. Additionally, the improvements along Richards Boulevard include a grade separated bike path to protect bikers from vehicle traffic. For these reasons, the Nishi Gateway would be the first project in Davis to exceed the Davis Beyond Platinum Bike Plan.
“…a vibrant downtown…”
Yes on Measure A provides a new customer base for downtown businesses and makes downtown more accessible and attractive with extensive infrastructure improvements on the Richards corridor.
“…sustainability…”
The Nishi Gateway was ranked the #1 most sustainable development in the state by the California Strategic Growth Council. 85% of energy consumed will be generated by on-site solar panels; buildings will be energy efficient and LEED certified; open spaces will be available to the public; and car-free living will be encouraged in an environment ideally suited for walking and biking.
“…will support UC Davis business startups…”
The Nishi Gateway includes 325,000 square feet of research and development space that will be overseen by Sierra Energy, a leading Davis-based clean energy company. The space is designed to attract small businesses that emanate from research conducted at UC Davis. 1,500 to 1,800 local jobs are expected to be created if Yes on Measure A passes.
“…provide student housing,..”
Nishi creates housing for 1,500 students within walking and biking distance of campus and downtown. This housing will be cheaper than much of the housing currently available on campus, and it will provide modern amenities attractive to students. Importantly, Nishi also reduces the spread of mini-dorms in residential neighborhoods by relieving pressure on Davis’s rental housing market, which currently suffers from an untenable 0.2% rental vacancy rate.
“…critical city needs…”
As the Davis Enterprise wrote in its endorsement of Yes on Measure A, “Our city has real needs, and this project will help address them. … We have twin problems: Davis needs more revenue and more places for people to live, and it needs them without impacting the small-town feel voters cherish. This is why we think the proposed Nishi Gateway project, planned for the 46 acres between Interstate 80 and the Union Pacific railroad tracks, will be such a smart solution.”
“…improving traffic on Richards and Olive Drive…”
Yes on Measure A invests $23 million in private capital for infrastructure improvements in Davis. These improvements include major fixes to Richards Boulevard and Olive Drive, including a new second bypass road and undercrossing to campus to divert traffic away from the Richards tunnel, upgrades to the on-off ramps at the I-80 interchange to end dangerous weave conditions, and bike safety upgrades that will prevent collisions.
“…supporting our public schools…”
If Yes on Measure A passes, $400 thousand will be generated annually for Davis Joint Unified School District without new taxes.
“…and providing revenue for public services without raising taxes…”
If Yes on Measure A passes, $1.4 million will be generated annually for city services without raising taxes. Upon passage, $9 million in upfront developer fees will also be paid to the city.
