In a wide-ranging interview with the Davis Vanguard, Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs sat down to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing the region, from affordable housing to immigration fears, and from regional collaboration to the fallout of proposed federal funding cuts.
As Frerichs continues his move away from his longtime role on the Davis City Council to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, he’s bringing both a regional perspective and a sense of urgency to some of the county’s most pressing issues.
The Housing Divide: County vs. City
Affordable housing has long been a priority for Frerichs, who noted the difference in how cities and counties approach development. “Cities have more tools at their disposal,” he explained, citing in-lieu fees and land dedication sites that cities like Davis can utilize in housing projects. “The county doesn’t do a lot of development in unincorporated areas,” he added, which limits its toolbox.
Still, the county plays a crucial role, especially when it comes to supporting vulnerable populations. “We recently received $1.2 million in CalWORKs funding to support families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. That money is going directly to support the Pacifico project in Davis,” he said. Another key collaboration was Paul’s Place, a vertical tiny home community in Davis. Both the city and county each contributed $1 million from American Rescue Plan funds, showing what joint investment can accomplish.
Frerichs believes this collaborative model is becoming more common. “We’re recognizing that homelessness doesn’t respect jurisdictional boundaries. It’s not just Davis’ problem or Woodland’s problem—it’s a regional issue.”
Tiny Homes, Motels, and the Housing Continuum
Asked about Woodland’s tiny home community on East Beamer Way, Frerichs praised the innovation behind it. “That’s a project the county helped fund in partnership with the city and Fourth & Hope,” he said. He compared it to West Sacramento’s approach—buying and rehabbing old motels for supportive housing—and Davis’ Paul’s Place. “Everyone is experimenting with what works for their community, but I think we’re going to see more projects like these across Yolo County in the next few years.”
Policing and Homelessness: Finding the Right Response
The conversation turned toward law enforcement’s role in homelessness, particularly Davis’ recent move to consider adding a dedicated beat officer downtown. Frerichs struck a balanced tone: “I understand the concern. We spent years working on public safety reform. There’s definitely a perception issue, especially downtown, but I don’t think things are spiraling out of control.”
Frerichs emphasized the county’s support of an alternative model—the Conder model—which embeds social workers with police officers to respond to calls involving unhoused residents and mental health crises. “The social workers are trained for these situations, but they often don’t want to go alone. So pairing them with law enforcement has worked really well. And the county pays about two-thirds of the cost.”
He credited Davis Police Chief Todd Henry for his understanding and leadership on these issues. “Chief Henry has a mental health background—he served on the Placer County Mental Health Board. That’s rare for a police chief, and he’s already demonstrated a willingness to hold his officers accountable when situations aren’t handled well.”
Frerichs acknowledged that while some officers handle these encounters with compassion, others don’t. “Perception becomes reality. And if a resident calls for help and the officer responds by yelling at someone experiencing homelessness, that damages trust.”
Looming Federal Cuts: “It’s Alarming”
One of the more urgent concerns for Frerichs is the threat of federal funding cuts. He said the county has already analyzed the potential impacts of an executive order issued earlier this year, which—if implemented—would slash about $80 million from Yolo County’s budget.
“That’s roughly 11% of our total budget,” he said. “And the cuts are targeting programs that serve the most vulnerable—CalFresh, foster care, TANF, even crime victim assistance. These are critical safety net programs.”
Frerichs pointed out that counties act as intermediaries for federal programs. “We deliver the services the federal government mandates, but if they cut off funding, we’re left scrambling. It’s alarming.”
A New CAO and the “Davisification” of the County?
Frerichs also addressed the county’s recent hiring of Mike Webb, former Davis City Manager, as Yolo County’s new Chief Administrative Officer. Some critics jokingly dubbed it part of the “Davisification” of Yolo County, but Frerichs brushed off the term.
“I’ve heard that, sure. But it’s really just a sign that Davis has produced a lot of strong public administrators,” he said, pointing to a lineage that includes Paul Navazio, Dirk Brazil, and others. “Mike Webb brings deep experience and is respected across the region. He had other offers but stayed local because this was the right challenge at the right time.”
Frerichs acknowledged the shift in public visibility. “The county role is less in the spotlight than city government, but it’s more complex—more people, a bigger budget, and broader responsibilities. I’ve appreciated the chance to grow and take on these new challenges.”
Immigration: “This Is Bullshit”
The conversation ended with an emotional discussion on immigration, with Frerichs expressing strong condemnation of the current federal rhetoric.
“This country was built by immigrants,” he said bluntly. “The idea that they’re to blame for our problems is complete bullshit. It’s false, it’s disgusting, and it’s dangerous.”
He shared stories of fear and disruption within Yolo County’s immigrant communities—from families skipping church out of fear of ICE raids to undocumented students too afraid to attend basketball games. “This isn’t theoretical,” he said. “This is happening to people in our neighborhoods, right now.”
Still, he praised local law enforcement for standing firm on the California Values Act (SB 54), which limits cooperation with ICE. “Even the District Attorney and the Sheriff made it clear: we’re going to follow state law. We’re not going to be ICE’s foot soldiers.”
Frerichs sees Yolo County as a place of welcome and inclusion. “Agriculture built this region—and it was built by immigrant labor. We’re going to continue being a county that protects and uplifts our immigrant residents, not scapegoats them.”
As federal winds shift and local needs grow more complex, Supervisor Lucas Frerichs appears committed to pragmatic, compassionate leadership. Whether navigating housing policy, budget threats, or human rights, he continues to champion a Yolo County that responds with both clarity and care.
“We recently received $1.2 million in CalWORKs funding to support families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. That money is going directly to support the Pacifico project in Davis,”
Pacifico. The gift that keeps on giving. Or is it taking?
“Paul’s Place, a vertical tiny home community in Davis.”
Tiny homes are now vertical. Or are they just ‘buildings’ ?
“Both the city and county each contributed $1 million from American Rescue Plan funds, showing what joint investment can accomplish.”
Both the City and the County were flooded with federal Biden-money (the mass existence of which massively upped inflation which is a regressive tax that hurts low income persons most), and they jointly contributed from the money flood. And when there was an ‘oops’ of $2 million in the budget needed to complete the project, the county sang “yes yes yes yes” like Zoe Saldaña.
Without all that free-money printing and mass distribution in the future, what will we do? Probably have the rate of inflation decrease.
““Everyone is experimenting with what works for their community, but I think we’re going to see more projects like these across Yolo County in the next few years.”
I’ll tell you what works Davis District 3 — if Davis Districts 1,2,4 and 5 would stop bending us over and making us yell “souii” when it comes to the placement of #ahem# “services”. How about an overnight shelter on the shores of Stonegate Lake, for example?
“I understand the concern. We spent years working on public safety reform. There’s definitely a perception issue, especially downtown, but I don’t think things are spiraling out of control.”
What the hell does that even mean? Understand what concern, which concern? By ‘public safety reform’ — does that mean ‘defund the police’ ? A perception issue of what, crime or lack of police or too many police? Is this rubber-stamping ‘oh, the crime you’re experiencing isn’t real, stats say so, and the homeless are victims, so if you’re a privileged victim, just bend over and take it’ ?
I don’t know what the definition of ‘spiraling out of control’ is here, but many people have outlined the crime that they’ve seen and experienced recently. Please don’t tell us we’re ‘perceiving’ crime just because you’re talking to a far-left progressive blogger and that’s what he wants you to say — address your Davis constituents.
“Frerichs emphasized the county’s support of an alternative model—the Conder model—which embeds social workers with police officers to respond to calls involving unhoused residents and mental health crises.”
I am supportive of this. Expensive, but it makes sense. Takes care of the mental health needs and the safety of the social worker, which was left out of some earlier ‘defund the police’ style models.
But since this has become a competition, I’ll say ‘don’t defund the downtown beat officer’ to pay for this. I wouldn’t have even brought this up, just countering all the ‘defund the beat cop’ talk from the extremists at the last CC meeting.
“some officers handle these encounters with compassion, others don’t. “Perception becomes reality. And if a resident calls for help and the officer responds by yelling at someone experiencing homelessness, that damages trust.””
I’d agree with this. I believe Davis has officers better trained than most places at this (that’s my ‘perception’), stressing this and training for this is important. I had a homeless incident going on nearby and called the cops as it seemed one of them maybe needed help. A visiting friend seemed very upset I’d call the cops; seemed the only viable thing to do, but yes the more consistent and compassionate response (as appropriate) the better, and hopefully a better public ‘perception’ of cops will follow, at least in Davis.
“The idea that they’re to blame for our problems is complete bullshit. It’s false, it’s disgusting, and it’s dangerous.”
What else is dangerous is having a non-system of moving people across the border which involves deadly treks sponsored by cartels and encouraged by an administration that barely discouraged welcoming people while enabling unsafe border crossing. I’m not condoning random ICE raids. Rather, we need a legal border crossing system that is safe and legal and allows many to come in, while simultaneously discouraging illegal and unsafe crossings.
What steams me about Trump’s rhetoric is that it is completely unnecessary, expensive and unkind to target those already here — our government (and Mexico’s) is the problem, not the people — except the dangerous criminals — those should be deported. But Trump’s rhetoric is disrupting people’s lives for political points, and simply not needed when there is so much that can be done to make people safe — both those already here and those wanting to cross.
Lucas says: “This country was built by immigrants,” he said bluntly. “The idea that they’re to blame for our problems is complete bullshit. It’s false, it’s disgusting, and it’s dangerous.”
Tell that to the mayor of New York City.
But in regard to the “immigrants who built this country”, did they arrive here illegally? Also, I’ve been told that they were “colonizers” (in a negative sense), so which is it?
In any case, you are clearly in the minority regarding your views of how the Biden administration handled illegal immigration. You did see the results of the last election, right?
“ In any case, you are clearly in the minority regarding your views of how the Biden administration handled illegal immigration. You did see the results of the last election, right?”
All politics is local and he represents deep blue Davis in deep blue California
I don’t buy into the argument that all of California is “deep blue” regarding illegal immigration. Certainly, a lot of its leaders are willing to ignore federal law (and proudly proclaim it).
Some of this is (once again) due to business interests which depend upon illegal immigration – including farming, construction, and the public school “industry”, which has (as usual) infiltrated the political system.
LF say: “This country was built by immigrants . . . The idea that they’re to blame for our problems is complete bullshit. It’s false, it’s disgusting, and it’s dangerous.”
RO say: “Tell that to the mayor of New York City.”
I’m baffled by the comparison of a group of people who built the USA with a group of current people who also came here from another country. Seems like vacuous rhetoric. And are ‘immigrants’ to blame for ‘our problems’. Maybe some of the immigrants are to blame for some of the problems — that’s impossible to measure or get anything meaningful from. It seems an unthinking argument to wink-wink to a left-leaning base. Which is why I will never be a politician.
But as to RO’s comments, that is the issue is the mass encouragement without a process which does affect people and cities and encourages dangerous border crossing, and it only benefits — the donors to both parties, while exacerbating harm and chaos to individuals. That’s why I despise Biden’s approach for the chaos and harm, and I despise Trump’s approach because the people here shouldn’t be targeted or even have their lives disrupted from fear. What we should do is come up with a system to allow those here to stay, vastly deter illegal dangerous future crossings and greatly increase legal and safe crossings. I do agree with Trump deporting dangerous criminals, but he needs to be both more careful and to publicize and justify the who and the crimes so he garners mass support for the specifics.
“I don’t buy into the argument that all of California is “deep blue” regarding illegal immigration.”
Ron, recent polls prove you right.
“ Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.”
— Leo Tolstoy
“All politics is local”
Then who do the vast majority of people in Blue Land wast their time and energy fighting Trump, which isn’t going to do anything but embolden him, and instead flood City Council or County Supervisor meetings where you have a shot at making a difference?
“and he represents deep blue Davis in deep blue California”
He also represents me and I’m a lighter shad of pale, or a deep purple or purple haze, or a black dog, or a green day or green river, or a white snake or white room, but definitely *not* a pink floyd.
Immigrants built YOLO County. Chinese and Irish immigrant built the railroad.
Primarily Chinese in California. They were the ones sent in to pack the gunpowder in the rock blasting through the Sierra. Used as human cannon fodder. While it is true California didn’t have slaves, this practice shows some pretty disgusting similar pratices. And of course California had native slaves, all the way back to when Mexico ruled.
California actually did have slaves including Yolo County per Jerika’s 2016 article: https://davisvanguard.org/2016/03/roots-slavery-woodland/
You are correct. I am actually very familiar with the Basil Campbell story and have long been fascinated by the history of the Capay Valley and in particular the small black population there that lived in the hills east of Guinda (don’t look up those hill’s historic name!) and worked in agriculture in the valley. I attended the Capay Valley black history day event in Guinda for a few years before it seems now to have died out with/after the pandemic. Too bad, it was a fascinating, multi-cultural event and showcased much local history beyond it’s major theme. This is where I learned about the destruction of Japan Town in Winters by a-hole/racist Wintersite’s after WWII to try to prevent the Japanese from returning after internment.
I wasn’t trying to say there was zero slavery in CA regarding black persons, and this ‘indentured servitude’ of Mr. Campbell could of course be classified as slavery. My point was actually to agree there were forms of slavery here, though in CA more formally organized regarding the Chinese labor and native labor.
Wave after wave of immigrants from China, Philippines, Japan and Mexico built the farms.
At one time you couldn’t get bank funding to grow rice in this county unless you had an Asian( “Oriental”) on staff.
If not for the immigrant built Central Pacific now Union Pacific UC would have located the UC Berkeley farm elsewhere
Lucas Frierichs for Congress!