Supporters of Measure W formally launched their campaign Wednesday, advocating for the Willowgrove development, a proposed housing initiative slated for the November 3 ballot. Proponents assert the project would address Davis’ housing deficit through the provision of affordable units, new recreational facilities, and fiscal benefits.
Davis voters are slated to consider Measure W in the forthcoming November election, a ballot proposition designed to amend the city’s General Plan for the purpose of authorizing the construction of the 1,250-home Willowgrove community.
A defendant facing a felony second-degree robbery charge, stemming from an alleged shoplifting incident at a Davis grocery store, entered a not guilty plea in Yolo County Superior Court. The defense argued the probable cause declaration’s facts did not support a violent robbery, characterizing the alleged conduct as an ‘Estes’ robbery, where force is used post-theft. While the prosecution acknowledged the ‘Estes’ characterization, it maintained the legal validity of the robbery charge, leading the court to release the accused on their own recognizance with conditions.
Measure V has incrementally reduced its deficit in the ongoing Yolo County election count, narrowing the gap to 416 votes in the latest update. However, the proposed Village Farms development initiative requires approximately 52.6 percent of the estimated 8,000 outstanding ballots to secure passage, a threshold exceeding its recent performance.
Davis is confronting a fundamental debate concerning its future growth trajectory, specifically whether to prioritize vertical development over outward expansion. Proponents of an infill-only strategy emphasize agricultural land preservation, while others raise questions regarding the feasibility and broader implications of such an approach.
The Yolo County 2026 Point-in-Time Count, a federally mandated assessment, indicated a nearly 20 percent increase in homelessness within Davis, California, over the past two years. The report, which identified 194 individuals experiencing homelessness in 2026 compared to 162 in 2024, highlights persistent strain on local housing, shelter, and behavioral health systems.
Measure V, a ballot initiative in Davis, California, is presented as a strategy to enhance community accessibility and attainability for families, building upon the city’s established reputation as a desirable location for family rearing. Advocates contend that the measure would concurrently stimulate economic vitality, thereby fostering a healthy and resilient local economy.
City of Davis officials issued a statement condemning a banner displayed during a May 1 gathering in Central Park that appeared to support the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, while acknowledging constitutional protections for free speech.
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson presented a $1 million federal check to the City of Davis to support bicycle and pedestrian improvements at the Davis Amtrak Station, which will improve access for residents south of the station and enhance multimodal access.
The mayor of Davis issued a statement in response to allegations of sexual misconduct involving César Chávez, and the city announced it will cancel its annual celebration honoring the late farmworker leader.
Davis is a progressive city that prides itself on its quality of life, but its low wages are forcing service workers to live elsewhere, draining the vitality of the community and creating a system of subsidization for the affluent.
The California Court of Appeal has upheld the City of Davis’ decision to relocate the Sky Track playground equipment within Arroyo Park, rejecting a legal challenge that argued the project required further environmental review due to noise impacts on nearby homes.
California’s state housing laws are beginning to generate housing, with 20 large proposed or master-planned housing developments across the state representing over 273,000 housing units, demonstrating the state’s efforts to address the housing crisis.
Davis, California is known as the “Bicycle Capital of America” for its pioneering work in creating bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure, which has become a model for cities around the world.
Sausalito voters have overwhelmingly approved zoning changes allowing dense housing development and affordable senior units, signaling a shift in California’s housing politics and the increasing pressure on cities to comply with state housing mandates.
Residents of Davis are concerned about the cleanliness and maintenance of the downtown core, with some feeling the city prioritizes students over families and businesses, and suggesting improvements such as adding planter boxes, sweeping sidewalks, and clearing leaves more regularly.
Davis residents are debating whether the city should build housing to support school enrollment, but demographic modeling shows that the level of housing needed to stabilize enrollment is almost exactly the same level the state is already requiring the city to build under its housing obligations.
Declining school enrollment in Davis is a result of Measure J, which has made it difficult to build housing for families, leading to a lack of balance in the community and a need for responsible development to sustain the city’s future.
The City of Davis needs additional housing, but the proposed Village Farms project includes a fourth fire station and a downpayment assistance program that could add to the city’s deficit spending and not benefit low-income residents, so the commission should recommend that the fire station proposal be dropped and the downpayment assistance program be either dropped or administered by a private entity.
About 50 people marched through the Davis Farmers Market on Saturday, October 11 to mark two years since the start of the devastation in Gaza, carrying photos of children killed by Israeli airstrikes and calling for lasting peace and justice in Palestine.