Commentary: Council Needs Reminder That Taxes Were Supposed to Be Temporary
On May 18 of 2014, Councilmembers Lucas Frerichs and Brett Lee joined Elaine Roberts Musser, Dan Carson…
Sunday Commentary: Avoiding Repeating the Mistakes of Davis Budget History
I look at articles like Dan Carson’s (5/2, New City Staff Forecast Says Fiscal Year to End…
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…
Analysis: Which Way Does the Council Go with Compensation, Budget Issues?
One of the more interesting questions for 2015 is what direction we should go on employee compensation…
Monday Morning Thoughts: Excitement Over Emerging Startup Culture; Dose of Reality on the Budget
The Rise of the Startup Culture – We have focused a lot of our time and energy…
Monday Morning Thoughts: Disagree That City’s Structural Deficit is Solved
Dan Carson submitted the guest piece yesterday and opened it with the bold assertion, “New data suggest…
Commentary: Stockton Shows That Bankruptcy Is Not the Answer
There have been days where readers in frustration about Davis’ fiscal situation have suggested that Davis simply…
Sunday Commentary II: Fiscal Crisis Yes, But Some Light Perhaps
On the statewide front, Judge Christopher Klein approved the plan that Stockton put together to repay its…
Commentary: Judges Ruling Serves as a Warning, an Opportunity for a City at Crossroads on Future
The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board this morning argues that Federal Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein’s “potentially groundbreaking ruling…
Landmark Decision Out of Stockton Could Change Playing Field on Pensions
It will likely take some time to figure out the ramifications for cities like Davis, who are…
Part II: What Makes a Good City Manager – the Good and the Bad
One of the reasons that I liked the piece from John Nalbandian about Dallas was that he…
Analysis: Future of Pensions May Hinge on Stockton Decision
Dan Walters had an interesting column yesterday, writing that “Judge Christopher Klein has strongly hinted that he’s…
Analysis: Last Round of MOUs Went Further Than You Think
There has been a conventional belief that the city MOUs in 2012 did not go nearly far…
California Budget Deal Signed Just Before Deadline
A budget deal was reached on Sunday night, about six hours before the deadline that in the…
A Different View of City Employees and Benefits
On Wednesday following the Measure O election, the city’s Chief Innovation Officer offered a very interesting analysis…
Analysis: Rolling the Dice on Measure O
It is no secret that we have been concerned about the possibility that Measure O will not…
Analysis: A Look at the Measure O Op-Ed and What the Authors Don’t Tell the Public
On Sunday a co-authored piece that featured Lucas Frerichs and Brett Lee, among others, argued in favor…
How We Got Here
Last week, the council candidates were asked what choices by the Davis City Council put the city…
Vanguard Analysis: Is Measure O in Trouble?
Daniel Parrella’s comment at Wednesday night’s forum may emerge as the most prescient and memorable comment from…
Sunday Commentary: Asleep at the Switch, Yet Blaming Others
In Bob Dunning’s column this morning, he accuses the city of Davis of breaking the law, calling…
