Sky Will Not Fall if Measure P Passes
The sky will not fall if measure P passes, nor will the world end for the City’s river water project. Measure P requests a redo of the water rate structure, so that water rates are equitable to all and understandable. During the short interim of the “redo” the City can easily cover the small difference between previous rates (that we would go back to if Measure P passes) and our current rates (that don’t jump up until next year, when it is too late to do anything about it). The City has water-fund reserves to draw from in the short term, and a new Council will be able to put fair rates in place within a few months. So, with that, there won’t be any of the nasty defaults and penalties that the City is now crying about.
Measure P’s language and its petition for fairer and simpler rates have been known for at least 10 months. This uproar and “sky is falling syndrome” at the City is very much like the claims made before the last election that the wells were not safe, and that the deep wells were declining in quality and productivity. Guess what water you are now drinking, and still will be drinking, but mixed with river water, after 2016?
The main point of this letter is to encourage you to look for yourself. According to the Yolo County Elections Office, the County Voter Guide is in the mail and should be arriving any day if you don’t already have it. Please read the arguments for and against Measure P. And for good measure, check out the candidate statements. Then we can all make up our own minds about Measure P and other City business without relying on histrionic headlines and last minute campaign claims.
Kathleen Flaherty
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CASE Joins Growing and Diverse Coalition Supporting Delaini
Larenda Delaini, candidate for Yolo County Superior Court Judge, has received the endorsement of the California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment (CASE). CASE joins a growing list of supporters, including West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and County Supervisors Matt Rexroad and Don Saylor.
“The CASE Board of Directors is pleased to endorse Larenda Delaini for the Yolo County Superior Court bench. In her role as a California Deputy Attorney General, Ms. Delaini has developed a reputation for skillfully handling important cases in the state and federal courts. Her lifetime of public service and commitment to her community make her an outstanding candidate, one who will be a valuable addition to the Yolo County Superior Court,” said the CASE Board of Directors.
CASE is the exclusive representative of more than 3,400 attorneys, administrative law judges and other legal professionals employed by the State of California in Bargaining Unit 2.
Delaini said, “I am honored to have received the support of CASE. CASE members preside over administrative hearings and handle trial and appellate work in state and federal courts throughout California. They know what it takes to be a fair and effective judge, and I am humbled that CASE has endorsed my candidacy.”
The election for Superior Court Judge will be held on June 3. A judicial vacancy was created when Judge Stephen Mock announced that he would not seek re-election. Delaini, a Yolo County native and resident, is a Deputy Attorney General and former Deputy District Attorney. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Sacramento City College and works in the legal writing program at Lincoln Law School.
To find out more information about Larenda, visit www.DelainiForJudge.com
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Neustadt Only Viable Choice
Sam Neustadt is the only viable choice for Yolo County Superintendent of Schools. He has been a career educator for over 27 years, been awarded the state teacher of the year, as well as, state administrator of the year. Sam taught every grade K to 6th, had 3 distinguished schools during his years as principal, never had a gap in his credentials unlike the opposing candidate.
Being in the classroom, Sam Neustadt was able to understand and work with various students need needs. His experience includes being exposed to various different ethnicities, social-economic differences, and different learning styles including students with learning disabilities, exposed to different teaching programs. He has had the opportunity to work with parents, teachers and administrators always keeping in mind the students’ best interest at heart. To see his detailed experience, I encourage you to see his resume at www.samneustadt.com
As a Principal, Sam Neustadt has supervised a multi-million dollar budget and supervised a line of staff commensurate with the Yolo County Office of Education, unlike the opposing candidate. In my research, there is no comparison of candidates. Sam Neustadt is the quality candidate, educator, administer and the only one who deserves to win the election on June 3rd.
I would encourage the voters of Yolo County to investigate both candidates and choose the most qualified.
Teresa Pena,
Retired Social Worker
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Crime Victims Group Endorses Beronio
A major statewide organization representing victims of crime has announced its support of a Yolo County candidate for judge.
Crime Victims United of California (CVUC) has endorsed Yolo Superior Court Commissioner Janene Beronio for election as Judge of the Yolo Superior Court, her campaign committee announced today.
President and Chair of CVUC, Harriet Salerno, in a April 28 letter to Commissioner Beronio endorsing her for Judge, explained the function of her organization as follows: “CVUC is a bi-partisan, statewide organization comprised of victims of crime, law-enforcement officials, legal professionals and others who work to protect and enhance public safety. These professionals, along with CVUC, work to promote effective crime reduction measures and strengthen the rights of crime victims.”
In addition to the endorsement of CVUC, Commissioner Beronio’s campaign announced the support and endorsement of the Crime Victims Action Alliance. The campaign also announced the endorsement of Laura Valdes, program manager of the Yolo County Victim Services Program, housed in the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, as well as Kerry Martin, program manager of the Sacramento County Victim and Witness Assistance Program, housed in the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
“A simple truth about the work of our courts is that a majority of the work we do is in criminal law,” said campaign spokesman Judge Dave Rosenberg. “Commissioner Beronio’s campaign for Judge has received strong support from prosecutors and equally strong support from defense attorneys – and now we have received strong support from victims of crime. It’s fair to say that Commissioner Beronio’s support is both wide and deep, based on her unmatched experience and her track record as a judicial officer. She is clearly the most qualified candidate, and the choice of those who have worked with her.”
Janene Beronio has served as a Yolo Superior Court Commissioner for the past 25 years and is now a candidate for election to an open position for Judge of the Superior Court. She has the endorsement of every active and retired Yolo County Judge, as well as the endorsement of the Yolo County Bar Association.
My question is how long Commissioner Beronioi will serve if elected. My understanding she is in her early to mid-60s. Is there an age limit for retirement?
no. there are supreme court justices into their 80s. superior court works the same way.
SODA wrote:
> My understanding she is in her early to mid-60s. Is there an age limit for retirement?
It is not like someone is “over the hill” in their “early to mid-60s”.
I read last year (after Mick Jagger turned 70) that the Rolling Stones and the US Supreme court both had about the same average age…
Sam Neustadt is the only viable choice for Yolo County Superintendent of Schools.
Does anyone know if Jesse Ortiz, during this campaign, has spoken about his history of sexual misconduct at Woodland Community College? His court case, which he lost again on appeal, was finally resolved in December. He then announced his candidacy in January. I am not sure if his past behavior–it was from 2005–disqualifies Ortiz for office. However, I think at the very least he needs to discuss his transgressions and in some sense show that he has matured and learned from his mistakes. If, on the other hand, he ignores his troubled past, I think that should concern voters.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/appeals-court-upholds-yuba-college-ruling/article_bbc0da34-7123-11e3-806b-0019bb30f31a.html
Rich – I read the link, and the lawsuit seems not to have been about the misconduct, but about whether or not the Community College violated the Brown Act.
According to this article, Ortiz denied that he was the person involved in what seemed to be a consensual act between two adults (albeit in a car parked in the community college parking lot). The lawsuit states that sexual misconduct against Ortiz was never substantiated. Do you know more about this case? Based on what I’ve read so far, I can’t see what transgressions Mr. Ortiz would need to explain.
“The sky will not fall if measure P passes”
the sky may not fall, but that doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen.
“The City has water-fund reserves to draw from in the short term, and a new Council will be able to put fair rates in place within a few months. ”
that’s not even remotely accurate. first of all, the city isn’t using the raise in water rates to pay for current costs. the city is using current water rates to take out bonds. if the process is short-circuited, the city will not be able to do that. the city staff laid out exactly what the consequences for this would be and this letter writer clearly doesn’t understand how financing a large capitol project works.
“that’s not even remotely accurate” writes a no-name “progressive”.
[I was not sure what progressive means so I looked up the political definition: left-wing, liberal, believing in progressively larger government, increasingly larger government programs, benefits and entitlements, etc. So a progressive would support a large expensive river-water system that many citizens feel is expensive beyond its value.]
Re the water revenue, he or she should take note: Is not the Davis CC “borrowing” possibly up to a million dollars from the City Public Works Dept. reserves to study forming a Davis Utility District for electricity, the DUD as we call it?
The water revenue difference over a few months is trivial in comparison to a million – max of a few hundred thousand. But this is moot. The City is using present revenues for operations and has a revenue reserve! The bond-selling negotiations can go on. And only after negotiations are finished and the bonds sold does the City begin paying interest and also principal, depending on the type of bond, to the bond-holders. Revenues begin to increase this year and the City can begin to pay the bond-holders from these increased revenues.