Analysis: Can We Cut Our Way to Prosperity?
In 2008, the Vanguard was ahead of the curve, warning of unsustainable spending practices by the city,…
Mayor Wolk Re-Opens the Fire Issue
Despite continued data showing that fire service has improved under Shared Management, Boundary Drop, and staffing changes,…
Commentary: Moving in the Wrong Direction on Financial Issues
I increasingly find myself in a strange position with regard to city finances and the direction in…
Analysis: Firefighters Remain Highest Paid in the City
Back in May of 2009, the Vanguard ran an analysis on “Why Do Firefighters Make Substantially More…
Sunday Commentary: Exposing the Dark Underbelly
As we celebrate the Vanguard’s ninth anniversary of its founding, few of our current readers probably are…
Sunday Commentary: The General Use Tax and Tales of 2004
The risk of a general use tax is that the voters have no say over how that…
Commentary: The Case For Economic Development Is Stronger Than Ever
This is not the strongest economic recovery we have seen and at some point in the next…
Analysis: Should City Really Preclude More Employee Concessions?
Monday night’s Finance and Budget Commission budget discussion got high marks from a number of people who…
Vanguard Commentary: Equalizing Pay for Police and Fire
In 2009, in one of the most widely read articles on the old Vanguard site, we ran…
My View: Fiscal Situation Not on the Backs of the Progressives
While it has been an easy mark to pin the demise of the innovation parks, and perhaps…
PERB Denies Firefighters’, Union President’s Unfair Labor Practice Claim
A PERB (Public Employee Relations Board) ruling in December denied claims by the Davis Professional Firefighters Association…
Analysis: Sacramento Firefighters’ Contract is a Warning Sign For Davis
In December 2013, the Davis City Council unanimously voted to impose the last, best and final offer…
Monday Morning Thoughts: Moving Into 2015
Now that New Year’s and the holidays are over, I want to refocus on three critical issues…
Commentary: Backsliding Into 2015, Biggest Local Concerns Going Forward
New Year’s Day is a time of rebirth, where we remember the past year and prepare for…
Looking Ahead: Ten Key Issues for 2015
We can look back at 2014 as bringing us some surprising happenings on the local scene. Who…
City Makes Payroll Correction to Pay Back Overtime Owed to Firefighters
On Wednesday, the city of Davis announced that city staff had recently identified and corrected a payroll…
Sunday Commentary: Time For the Firefighters’ Union to Step Up and Make Current Arrangement Work
The September fire report, released nearly a month ago, shows an amazing level of success in dealing…
Monday Morning Thoughts: New School Board Takes Shape, And the Week Ahead
Last week we saw the election of three new school board members: Madhavi Sunder, Barbara Archer and…
August Fire Report Continues to Show Progress of Reform Efforts
Last year the city of Davis implemented several reforms with the way the fire service provided service…
Monday Morning Thoughts: To New Beginnings
It is Election Day on Tuesday, which means an end to the torment of the never ending…
