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Who’s Bankrolling the Push for Prop 18?

Who’s Bankrolling the Push for Prop 18?

By uptownstudiosAugust 5, 20101 comments

Consumer group outlines who’s paying for pro-water bond campaign and the surprising winners—and losers—behind the massive $11 billion bond –

Developers, agribusiness and construction interests would benefit from the water bond on this fall’s ballot, while public services—such as education and public health programs—could suffer, according to a new analysis from consumer organization Food & Water Watch.

As California’s legislators return to Sacramento this week to decide the fate of Proposition 18, an $11 billion water bond that the governor hopes to postpone to the 2012 ballot, the group today released an independent analysis detailing the funders of the pro-bond campaign and the interests that stand to benefit from the most expensive water bond in the state’s history.

A Couple of Interesting Tidbits Sitting Around in the Courtroom

A Couple of Interesting Tidbits Sitting Around in the Courtroom

By David GreenwaldJuly 29, 20100 comments

One of the more interesting things about sitting in a courtroom is listening to the conversations that take place when there is no judge or jury around.

I was sitting around Department 7 Wednesday morning waiting to see when the jury might return in the case of Maria Pastor charged with possession of 0.0118 grams of meth.  The conversation between the Deputy Sheriff and Deputy DA Sean King quickly turned to the case.  It was not about the absurdity of charging someone with possession for that small of an amount of meth, but rather the defendant’s excuse that it was someone else’s purse.

Davis Disability Pride Parade and Celebration on Saturday morning

Davis Disability Pride Parade and Celebration on Saturday morning

By David GreenwaldJuly 29, 20100 comments

A disability pride celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 31, in Davis’ Central Park (between 3rd and 5th and B and C Streets) . It will begin with a sidewalk parade around the park, starting and ending at the Rotary Stage by the carousel, followed by speakers and performers at 9:30 a.m.  Central Park is also home to the Davis Farmer’s Market at this time, so we hope you come and enjoy all the produce and goodies as well.

Organizers say they hope to “strengthen the pride, power and unity of people with disabilities, our families and allies” and “challenge the way many people think about and define ‘disability.’ ”
Davis High School and UC Davis graduate Sara Granda will serve as grand marshall for the parade. Paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident in 1997, Granda made headlines last year during her successful fight to take the bar exam. She has since been appointed special assistant to the chief counsel for the State Department of Health Care Services.

Disability Pride Parade on July 31 at Central Park

Disability Pride Parade on July 31 at Central Park

By David GreenwaldJuly 21, 20100 comments

A disability pride celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 31, in Central Park. It will begin with a parade around the park, starting and ending at the Rotary Stage, followed by speakers and performers at 9:30 a.m.

Organizers say they hope to strengthen the pride, power and unity of people with disabilities, our families and allies and challenge the way many people think about and define disability.

Drugs: It’s Time for a Health Approach

Drugs: It’s Time for a Health Approach

By David GreenwaldJuly 15, 20100 comments

By Margaret Dooley-Sammuli –

The heal thcare legislation President Obama signed earlier this year promises to bring sweeping changes to alcohol and drug treatment systems across the country. Not only will more people have access to insurance; heath insurers will be required to cover alcohol and drug treatment as they do any other chronic health condition (aka “parity”). Drug treatment – which currently exists largely outside the mainstream healthcare and insurance systems – may finally be allowed to come in from the cold.

As we work to make that treatment access a reality, however, we need to address the country’s existing contradictory policy responses to drug use. Even before the recent hard-won healthcare legislation, the U.S. Congress and a previous administration was on record as supporting parity. Two years ago, Congress passed – and President Bush signed – the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. At the same time, an overwhelming majority of the American electorate reports in national surveys that they believe that drug addiction is a treatable medical problem.

California’s Prison Reduction Plan Will Overburden Counties; Misses the Mark

California’s Prison Reduction Plan Will Overburden Counties; Misses the Mark

By David GreenwaldJuly 1, 20104 comments

by the Justice Policy Institute –

The Justice Policy Institute (JPI) released a fact sheet today laying out reasons why the proposed California Community Corrections Act of 2010 is misguided and deeply flawed. The bill would move people serving sentences of less than three years from state prisons to already crowded county jails, shifting the costs to local counties that are already facing budget shortfalls. The grant funding available to counties for this move would not cover the costs of increased incarceration, but may create incentives for counties to incarcerate more people rather than to utilize alternatives to incarceration, like probation, since funding is based on the number of people held for the state.
Cut the Death Penalty to Trim California’s Budget

Cut the Death Penalty to Trim California’s Budget

By uptownstudiosJune 29, 20104 comments

Cut This: The Death Penalty

by James Clark

California’s governor has proposed closing the state’s $20 billion budget gap with a drastic cuts-only approach, slashing funding for vital human services without working to increase revenue. Yet one state program seems to be immune from these cuts: the death penalty.

We think the time has come to CUT THIS.

Reinforcing Levees sounded like a good idea at the time…

Reinforcing Levees sounded like a good idea at the time…

By uptownstudiosJune 29, 20101 comments
By:  Jessica Iñiguez
Restore the Delta

It sounded like a good idea to us

The Delta Stewardship Council couldn’t wait to get started on the part of the Interim Plan that involves “review and approval of Proposition 1E expenditures for selected projects.”

July 8 BP Protest Announcement

July 8 BP Protest Announcement

By uptownstudiosJune 28, 20108 comments

Yolo Progressive Democrats of America will sponsor an EXPRESS YOUR OUTRAGE demonstration on Thursday, July 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in front of the Arco station at Russell and Anderson.  Arco/ampm are brand names for BP in western states. We will have signs expressing outrage at  1) the human and environmental costs of oil profits  2) lack of government regulation of industry and  3) our own excessive use of fossil fuels.  Participants are encouraged to write their own messages on signs. This gas station and the Davis Police Department have been notified of this event. Obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic and physical interference with business are prohibited.

A boycott of Arco gasoline will have limited economic impact on BP. The majority of BP’s profits derive from the sale of natural gas and massive Department of Defense contracts. Unfortunately, we cannot easily withdraw our patronization of BP via utility companies and the government.

Update on the Delta Situation

Update on the Delta Situation

By uptownstudiosJune 24, 20100 comments

By: Jessica Iñiguez
Restore the Delta

“Lipstick on a pig”

That was Senator Lois Wolk’s description of AB 2775, a bill that would amend the water bond to remove language that would allow nongovernmental partners to be part of joint powers authorities formed to own and manage dams.

Control of Labor and Fetuses

Control of Labor and Fetuses

By David GreenwaldJune 22, 20103 comments

A Dirty Little Secret of the Uncivil War for Freedom of Labor –

by Jack D. Forbes

The “Uncivil War” (U.S. Civil War) was not a romantic defense of southern freedom, nor was it a protest against a power-hungry federal government. It was in the main a struggle over the status of women and labor and specifically the control over unborn fetuses. Women who were held to be slaves (captives or private prisoners, in fact) were not only workers without pay; they were also the source of future unpaid workers, workers already in their wombs as well as workers not yet conceived.

BP Protest Rescheduled for July 8

BP Protest Rescheduled for July 8

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 201029 comments

Yolo Progressive Democrats of America will sponsor a demonstration to boycott Arco/ampm on Thursday, June 24 July 8 between 4:30 PM and 6 PM at the Arco/ampm station at Russell and Anderson. Arco and ampm are retail brands of BP.

While we await action on the disaster in the Gulf, we can play our part. We can stop rewarding BP. It is our purchases at Arco Stations that give BP its profits and power.

Freddie Oakley’s Benefit For Cancer Victim

Freddie Oakley’s Benefit For Cancer Victim

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 20100 comments

The following letter was sent by County Clerk Freddie Oakley to her fellow Department heads…

Dear Colleagues,

Lupe Ramirez, a Woodlander and a valued long-time employee in our Clerk/ Recorder’s office has a wonderful 20 year-old daughter, Leanna, who is fighting a courageous battle against a virulent form of cancer, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, that has now spread to her lungs.

Davis Wiki Wins Knight News Challenge Grant

Davis Wiki Wins Knight News Challenge Grant

By uptownstudiosJune 18, 20100 comments
The creators of the Davis Wiki were among this year’s winners of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight News Challenge, a contest that funds ideas that use technology to inform geographic communities.

The LocalWiki project, created by Davis Wiki founders Philip Neustrom and Mike Ivanov, will create the  next generation of wiki software tailored to the needs of local communities.  The new software, to be tested in several “pilot” communities, will allow citizens a to easily collaborate on a common repository of local information, providing the context behind the people, places, and events that shape our communities.

THANK YOU LETTER FROM YES ON “R”

THANK YOU LETTER FROM YES ON “R”

By David GreenwaldJune 13, 20102 comments

By overwhelmingly renewing Measure J last Tuesday, Davis citizens have ensured that for another 10 years they will continue to have the final say on when, how much and where the city grows.   As one of several important planning innovations pioneered by Davis residents, a renewed Measure J will continue to reinforce the city’s on-going efforts to achieve a more thoughtful and sustainable ag-urban partnership.

Ten years ago, when the four of us first came together to pass Measure J, we were able to forge a broad citywide collation in the face of significant developer opposition.  While the opposition was more muted this time, our coalition was even more broadly and deeply rooted.