Marginally enjoyable holidays from Al's Corner 😐 . . . 'Tis the season to be an a-hole.
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Welcome to Al’s Corner – “Pouring Gasoline on the Dumpster Fire of Davis Politics” – Volume #16 [Vaguely Mixed PC Holiday Edition]
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Comments
53 responses to “Welcome to Al’s Corner – “Pouring Gasoline on the Dumpster Fire of Davis Politics” – Volume #16 [Vaguely Mixed PC Holiday Edition]”
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Maybe after a weeks worth of lung-choking “Don’t Light Tonight” nights, Davisites are loathe to start a dumpster fire.
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I’ll start off, and for once (at least) won’t be writing about the Vanguard.
What do you think about Richard McCann’s article in the Enterprise? I think it’s pretty-well written (overall), but the costs of this (which are actually “housing costs”) are usually something that he and other housing activists are concerned about:
https://www.davisenterprise.com/feature/features/per-capita-climate-needs-more-than-just-good-will/
His claim that PG&E will be abandoning (retiring) gas lines (for residential and commercial customers) is rather concerning. (Somehow, I doubt that this will occur in all locations.)
In any case, I see that he’s also a self-proclaimed “expert” on climate action plans. I thought he was a self-proclaimed “professional economist”? (Must be a smart guy.)
I’d like to see more information regarding how these plans are being funded, as they’re not limited to Davis.
On perhaps a somewhat related note, I see (from several other articles) that California’s population has dropped for the third year in a row. You’d think that this would make the “housing shortage” people happy – as well as those concerned about the climate, since it is not just a California phenomenon. (Birth rates are well-below replacement rates, among millennials.) -
Speak for yourself Roberta, I’m perfectly capable of being an a-hole without a fire, dumpster or otherwise. LOL
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SUBJECT: “Media and Local DA’s Need to Move Away From War on Drugs Which Have Been Proven to Fail When Dealing with Fentanyl” (David Vanguard 2022-12-23)
“Harm Reduction” is a joke. I prefer non-evidence-based approaches.
Other meaningless words words from the article:
• carceral
• progressive
• gascon
• greenwald
And . . .
“Enforcement of drug war policies has historically targeted black and Latino communities, and drug-induced homicide prosecutions appear to follow this pattern.”
I see what they did there: if you oppose the policies, you are automatically a racist. Unfortunately, that’s not how the transitive property works — but nice try . . . 😐 -
SUBJECT: “Biden Administration Releases Plan to Reduce Homelessness by 25 Percent by 2025” (David Vanguard 2022-12-23)
I hope he does better than his California gubernatorial party-mate. Note the date and the goal year.
SF Chroicle: “Newsom details plan for homeless / Mayor-elect vows 10-year strategy” — Dec. 14, 2003 !!!
Even after becoming governor with the ability to funnel state funds into his old mayoral city, all that has happened is that San Francisco has become a crime-ridden, feces-ridden, sh*thole city even more overloaded with so-called homeless people.
Democratic promises — in the dark.
Read the old and new articles and notice all the similarities. What do the two plans have in common, twenty years apart?: butt-loads of federal billion$ !!! The Homeless Industrial Complex lives!!!
Love this: Biden admin say one problem is the “criminalization of homelessness” — yet the 2003 article notes, “Critics call this an invasion of privacy because it involves taking people’s fingerprints, but Newsom pointed out that new federal rules say the fingerprinting has to be done for a city to qualify for basic governmental funding.” Can’t think of a way to say ‘you’re a criminal’ than to be fingerprinted by the feds 😐
In four years, [Newsom] said, he will welcome being judged by how he approached the homelessness crisis.”
— That would be judgement day in 2007. I’ll give him an “F” !!! And continue that to a “Triple-F” 15 years later 😐
Love this:
Biden admin said: ” . . . use All In as a blueprint for addressing homelessness in their communities”
Is Davis “All In” ? 😐
Best of luck, Joe! (ha-ha!!!) -
Keith, lol.
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A Happy/Merry _________________ [rather than my being super-woke-PC & listing every holiday and probably missing one that’s required these days, you fill in the preceding blank yourself, OK?] to the 99-plus-% of Davis residents who do NOT support the Davis Vanguard financially, and a Happy New Year! . . . from the financial backers, executive team, board of directors, and hard-working staff at Al’s Corner. We have exciting plans for Al’s Corner in 2023: more of the same, and less of it!
And to those few of you who do support the Davis Vanguard financially: _____________ . . . you can also fill in the blank. And I think you know what it says. -
https://www.davisvanguard.org/2022/12/my-view-the-rise-of-anti-semitism-in-concerning-but-there-is-a-silver-lining/
“A big debate is what is driving this spike. The simple answer is probably Trump. Defenders of the former President will argue that he’s not anti-Semitic, he has a son-in-law who is in fact Jewish.”
I’m not a “defender” of Trump, but how long (after his presidency) can some continue to use him as a political rallying point? Is there a political statute of limitations regarding that?
Underlying political motives are are one of the reasons I don’t trust the statistics regarding “hate crimes” in the first place. But not the only reason.
By the way, wasn’t there (what might be described as a “hate incident”) at one of the local mosques a few years ago? And, an actual hate crime directed against that same mosque around that same time? (Is Trump being blamed for that, as well?)
Overall, I suspect that hate crimes against Jewish people are pretty “low” on the list of hate crime frequency. (For one thing, it’s not obvious “who” Jewish people are, visually.)
But the Jewish community (unlike some other communities) apparently does have a “watchdog” supposedly keeping track of such incidents. As does the so-called “AAPI” community (as if that’s “one” community in the first place).
Nothing “wrong” with that, but again – leads me to believe that there’s both political and racial motivations in regard to emphasizing only “some” hate crimes (and hate incidents). And truth be told, it’s only politically-expedient if the perpetrators are “white”. Some time ago, I reviewed a list of anecdotally-reported hate crimes listed by one of these groups, and without exception – it only identified “white” perpetrators. Anyone watching news reports can see that this isn’t the case – not be a long shot. (As a side note, I recall that some of the incidents in the report I read were not even crimes at all.)
What if there was a group that was specifically monitoring “hate” crimes against white people (as a separate group from say, Jewish people)? How quickly do you think that some would label the very existence of such a group as racist? -
“And to those few of you who do support the Davis Vanguard financially: _____________ . . . you can also fill in the blank. And I think you know what it says.”
Heck, I don’t even click on any of the annoying Vanguard ads because the Vanguard may get a penny or two.
“Whenever Internet users visit a website and click on a posted ad, a small amount of money, usually about 15 cents, goes to the website proprietor from the advertiser or its agent. A website that generates a thousand ad clicks per day would earn its owner $15 daily or $450 monthly.” -
“I’m not a “defender” of Trump, but how long (after his presidency) can some continue to use him as a political rallying point? Is there a political statute of limitations regarding that?”
Apparently not. When in doubt, blame it on Trump, I don’t care what it is, the rallying cry of the left.
Like COVID, TDS will be a pandemic forever. -
https://www.davisvanguard.org/2022/12/accused-charged-with-hate-crime-after-allegedly-hitting-jewish-man-with-skateboard-shouting-antisemitic-remarks/
“Navarro Perez allegedly “asked the victim if he was Jewish or Black and attacked the victim with a skateboard when the victim said he was Jewish,” Jenkins explained.”
Assuming this is even true, here’s a tip:
If a lunatic on the street can’t even figure out if you’re black (or is asking if you’re Jewish) for no apparent reason, you might want to avoid engaging in conversation at all. Let alone answering the question.
But based upon the alleged perpetrator’s name, I assume he’s not “white” this time. (Which is probably unfortunate from a political perspective.) -
SUBJECT: ““My View: The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Concerning, But There is a Silver Lining”
Dave Hart December 24, 2022 at 10:28 am
To the extent Trump is the concertmaster helping to orchestrate anti-semitism,
I thought he just allowed it, not orchestrated it.
we should not pretend the Republican Party is not equally behind this rising tide of hate speech.
How so? I thought the religious right-wing were huge supporters of Israel.
Notice the level of silence in response to what the former child in charge says and does in this regard.
I don’t think silence has levels. It’s a lack of sound, period.
“child in charge” – . . . O . . . K
There are so many crazy contradictions at play here it’s dizzying.
Do tell.
Trump and his supporters, both out and closeted, can simultaneously express sympathy or advocate anti-semitic speech while at the same time insisting that Christmas should only be a celebration of the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jew by birth, aka “King of the Jews”. Hate speech weaves a tangled web.
Um . . . let me get this straight . . . Jesus . . . King . . . sympathy . . . closeted . . . oh forget it . . . Hate speech isn’t the only thing that is tangled here.
We must keep working to make sure when these creeps get tangled in it, we don’t let them escape.
Like you said, Keith, TDS lives. -
R.O.: “Overall, I suspect that hate crimes against Jewish people are pretty “low” on the list of hate crime frequency. (For one thing, it’s not obvious “who” Jewish people are, visually.)”
I don’t think that’s true; statistically quite the opposite. Though I think I get your point that Jews are often “white appearing” so it’s not as easy to target them by appearance — is that the point? I think often though there are other tells such as dress, location, association, self-disclosure.
One thing that is weird about being Jewish and the white-appearing thing is that on occasion Jew haters will say something against Jews in public either not realizing there is a Jew around, or assuming if there is, they will not speak up.
One such Jew hater made a big mistake saying that around this particular Jew. -
Alan M:
I’m not sure what’s true, given that there’s specific organizations which “look for” violations against particular groups, but not necessarily others.
I have never even heard an “anti-semitic” comment in my entire life from anyone, directly. (Only in the news, or what folks tell me – like you.)
The only racist attacks (both verbal and physical) that I’ve ever personally witnessed or experienced have been directed against “white” people. (And no, I wasn’t particularly “looking for” those type of attacks – it’s just an observation.)
And yet, I’ve seen no group keeping track of that, or even any official figures. (Some actively deny it even occurs, much as they claim that non-white people have no “power” to be racist.) But many people “lump” Jewish people in with white people in the first place, for obvious (visible) reasons. So when a Jewish person is attacked, I guess there’s more than one “option” regarding the perceived reason (e.g., “white”, “Jewish”, or ?).
I have heard (e.g., in the news) that some claim that Jewish people have a “disproportionate” amount of power and wealth (e.g., in Hollywood, and in other wealthy industries). (I think this might be the same thing Hitler claimed, but I’m not sure.) If believed, that is the type of thing that can provide the “justification” for hatred (on the part of some).
Whomever “they” perceive as being “on top” (and keeping out others), even if it’s not true.
I like your previous comment, in which you said that someone in your family asked, “where’s my Jew money”? (Probably the same type of comment you hear from white people in places like Appalachia.)
Of course, there’s also complications/effects in regard to Israel, Palestine, etc. That has got to be one of the longest-lasting conflicts in the history of mankind. -
I haven’t heard of any Anti-Semitism coming from the GOP in Congress for years, but the same can’t be said of Democrats. Take the “Squad” for instance:
“The Anti-Defamation League’s annual report on antisemitic incidents observed a surge in incidents in May of last year, coinciding with anti-Israel rhetoric from members of the Squad that were strongly condemned by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., last may.”
“”For the entire month, 387 antisemitic incidents were tabulated by the ADL, 297 of which occurred between May 10 — the official start of military action — and the end of the month, an increase of 141% over the same period in 2020,” the report said. ” Of the 297 incidents, there were 211 cases of harassment, 71 cases of vandalism and 15 assaults.”
“McCarthy drew a direct line between the surge in incidents and the comments of some lawmakers.”
“Over the past several weeks a growing number of House Democrats wrongly blamed the violence in the Middle East on Israel,” McCarthy said in May of last year. “In fact, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Cori Bush irresponsibly tried to delegitimize our closest ally in the region, calling it an ‘apartheid state.’”
“Within days, this same sentiment of bigotry spilled into several major U.S. cities,” he continued.”
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/antisemitic-spiked-squad-blue-states -
KO, Imagine posting Fox News link on the Davis Vanguard! It would be like a UFO landing.
Merry Candle 8 & a Happy Lit Tree to all.
Well, all except you-know-who, upon whom I cast a lump of progressive, woke bituminous 😐 -
“KO, Imagine posting Fox News link on the Davis Vanguard! It would be like a UFO landing.”
That’s the problem, would the Vanguard have even allowed me to post that comment and link? I remember the NY Post story about the Hunter Biden laptop which the Vanguard repeatedly denied being posted. But we have all found out later that the story was true. -
Look what a new commenter posted on the Vanguard. It didn’t take him long to “get it”.
“As I suspected this site is devoted to ginning up hate against one side with not regard for facts” -
[response to KO 12/25 11:00am] So true – and what spooks me. No one can ever take their side so seriously, or demonize the other side so completely, that they are willing to suppress and lie in order to move their cause, allegedly, forward. Having done that, one has already lost. We all have.
Well, no me on the DV, but DH and AH can still post. I took on DH, but AH’s was so confusing to me I didn’t know where to start. I guess with “???”s. Try try again:
Alan Hirsch December 24, 2022 at 3:13 pm
Too often those who lead the fight again antisemitism frame problem as an apolitical one
???
– and have refused to call out it sources – other than to blame the university.
The University???
It was striking in the public gathering in the wake of mass shooting at synagogue in Pittsburg few if any Jewish or public spokesman called out triggering rhetoric by Trump or Fox Cable about the alleged “invasion at the border” alleged fund by George Soros– even thought the Gunman noted it.
Untangle me that one!
??? ??? ???
There were words and phrases in there that maybe had some meaning to the writer I’m sure . . . How about breaking that down into four sentences instead of one?
If we don’t ID the source of the Hate, i.e. the triggering rhetoric,
Triggering rhetoric is the ‘source’ of hate? If the rhetoric is triggering, what is it triggering? I’d say whatever created the source of the triggered reaction is the ‘source’ of hate
how can we eradicate it?
‘We’ can’t eradicate it. Only the person with hate can eradicate that hate — and first want to. I suppose I’m wrong and there is a way to eradicate all the hate – kill all the haters. That might work.
Shaming everyone who voted for Trump sure isn’t a path to eradicating hate. Might make one feel good about themselves, though.
I believe an analysisof source of anti-semitism, homophobia, anti-black, anti-asian and anti-immigrant rhetoric would show their common roots in a few sources.
Do tell.
Why are so many leaders afraid of this truth?
Um . . . can’t answer, as you didn’t say what that truth was.
But since you know, you can know that we don’t know and you do know.
Isn’t that special . . . -
Oh God! Save me!
I accidentally clicked on “Newsy”, and gave the Davis Vanguard 7¢
Forgive me father, for I have sinned.
Lord have mercy on my soul.
Oh, Lord, please God help me!!! -
“Oh God! Save me!
I accidentally clicked on “Newsy”, and gave the Davis Vanguard 7¢”
LOL, I have accidentally done that too. It’s hard not to with the annoying floating ads. -
SUBJECT: “Council to Discuss District 3 Vacancy When They Return Next Week” (David Vanguard 2022-12-29)
Sharla Cheney December 28, 2022 at 1:33 pm
” . . . I think I would be OK with an appointment for this District for the next two years . . . I’m already being represented by people I could not vote for . . . The cost is an issue for me. Such a waste for just a short period.”
SC, you are literally the only person I’ve heard express this opinion in District 3; most are vehemently in favor of election. lf it wasn’t for districts I’d be torn between costs and all-city representation — probably still leaning towards an election. But now this is a matter of representation. The (earlier) Council chose not to spend a few million fighting this, so now we are stuck with the costs, and one of those costs is that of a district election, because districts must be represented by officials chosen by, well, pretty much anything but the politicians representing every district but the one they’d be appointing someone “for”. -
” . . . I think I would be OK with an appointment for this District for the next two years . . . I’m already being represented by people I could not vote for . . . The cost is an issue for me. Such a waste for just a short period.”
Only 2 years? That’s a long time when you think of all the decisions that could be voted on that would/could stick forever. The district should elect their own representative just as the other districts have. -
To what Alan said, which I agree with, I would add: there was another option. Lucas could have resigned as soon as it was clear he was elected to the BOS, in time so that his replacement could have been elected in the November election. He is already leaving his post early; it would have just been a bit early earlier than that. He chose not to do it. So now we pay for a replacement. I hope the extra months of Lucas (including summer months when not much happens) were worth it.
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SUBJECT: “Charges Against Former Correctional Officer for Sexual Misconduct of Incarcerated Women Sent to District Attorney for Review” (David Vanguard 2022-12-29)
cynthiacohen December 29, 2022 at 3:15 am
This judge, Carrie Stephens, is really dishonest. She cannot even remember or care about the accuracy of my title. That’s “DR” Cynthia Cohen, dummy.
Meow! . . . or ‘call the men in their white suites to take someone off to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time’ . . . or SOMETHING!
Possibly the greatest comment ever in the Davis Vanguard. For pure entertainment value. Not only is the judge’s name never mentioned in the article, nor anything about a judge period, but the person who wrote this, DR Cynthia Cohen — that’s DR Cynthia Cohen in case there was any question (and not “Dr.” for some reason) — is not herself mentioned in the article, nor is her relation to this case, IF ANY, DR, explained in any way in the article or in the comment.
Then she finishes off by calling the not-mentioned judge “dummy”.
Pure comedy gold.
When I was a kid, I read the comics section. Now I read the Davis Vanguard “funnies” (comment section) when I want a great ROFL belly laugh to lighten my day 🙂 🙂 🙂 . . . 😐 -
Alan, speaking of comments, check out this comment in the Vanguard:
“Single family neighborhoods are the chief cause of urban sprawl and are worthy of destruction.”
So my neighborhood (which I consider nice), and any other single family neighborhood are worthy of destruction? Being that two thirds of Californians live in single family homes that would cause a major problem, don’t you think? -
KO, yeah nothing ‘comical’ about that comment. Reminds me of two things: 1) The Aerosmith song “Eat the Rich”; and a very dangerous thing: 2) The politics of ENVY; which is of great concern to me, because that’s how Hitler demonized the Jews (well, one major way): he convinced the population they were taking their money because a certain group of Jews indeed were bankers/jewlers/etc. and very successful; but in reality there were huge groups of Jews in Eastern Europe that lived in abject poverty as well. Point is: Envy is one of the most dangerous forms of racism, because it FEELS justified because they have the money and therefore they are the oppressors. In this case, the 2/3 (I’ll take your claim as fact without checking) of California’s who DARE to live in single-family zoning are ALL the oppressors, and that’s why the power grab, fueled by a combination of utltra-progressive righteousness and capitalist-developer millions could lead to SOCIALISM–>COMMUNISM–>LEFT-WING-EXTREMIST-FACISM.
I said “COULD” 😐
Good morning everybody!!! 😐 -
“Eat the rich” — except if you are follow history, the rich just get richer and rarely get “eaten.” So what will happen, what is already happening, is that the middle class will get eaten and the rich will have a good ol’ belly laugh at having successfully turned the lower income folks against the middle income folks.
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Alan, speaking of comments, check out this comment in the Vanguard:
“Single family neighborhoods are the chief cause of urban sprawl and are worthy of destruction.”
I actually responded to that comment, but it won’t be posted today (due to the 5-comment limit per day). In addition, my response has “totally disappeared” (and is not in pending status), so I suspect that it won’t be posted tomorrow, either. (I also cannot retrieve it, as a result of the apparent deletion.) It is one of the few comments that I didn’t “save” in anticipation of possible moderator interference.
In any case, I noted that the commenter (Walter) is opposed to Measure J, which would indicate that he’s more of a “supporter” of sprawl – despite his comment.
I then pointed out that Walter’s advocacy for “destruction” of sprawl isn’t likely to result in the land being reverted back to farmland. -
DG to RO:
“I encourage you to read Color of Law if you haven’t and you can see if Rothstein is right.”
AND . . .
“Instead of arguing with me, maybe you ought to read the book by Rothstein and then we can discuss where you think he got it wrong.”
RO, reminds me of when Greenwald ‘encouraged’ me to read “White Fragility”, LOL 😐
This, despite the fact that I have repeatedly told him my skin color is a beautiful olive hue and I therefore do not identify as ‘white’. -
Beautiful “Olive Hue” – that does sound nice. Sounds like a good title for a novel, or something. Or maybe one of those semi-romantic “chick flicks”, like “Under the Tuscan Sun”?
Personally, I think that “white” skin color is impractical (and probably dangerous) in the “sunbelt” (which the Sacramento region is sort-of part of).
It’s definitely “dangerous” to have in inner-city schools, which is never-acknowledged out-loud.
Better-suited for caves and forests. 🙂
In any case, Roberta is absolutely correct, regarding the following:
So what will happen, what is already happening, is that the middle class will get eaten and the rich will have a good ol’ belly laugh at having successfully turned the lower income folks against the middle income folks.” -
In any case, Roberta is absolutely correct, regarding the following:
So what will happen, what is already happening, is that the middle class will get eaten and the rich will have a good ol’ belly laugh at having successfully turned the lower income folks against the middle income folks.”
Yeah, truer words have never been spoken . . . truer words . . . truer words . . . -
Great news for Berkeley!
I cannot freaking believe this happened 😊 :
UC Berkeley housing at People’s Park could be halted after unusual court ruling
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/UC-Berkeley-housing-at-People-s-Park-could-be-17681790.php
My favorite quote from the article:
Harvey Smith, president of the People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group: “Any rational city planner or environmentalist would say with increased density, more, not less, parks and open space are needed.”
My least favorite quote from the article, from UC Davis’ own Chris Elmendorf 😦 :
“The court’s reasoning is devastating ammunition for racist white homeowners who would leverage CEQA to keep poor people and minorities out of their neighborhoods”
I’ve always been suspicious of Elmendorf, but now he’s saying the quiet part out loud. So I’ll say my quiet part out loud:
‘I hate you, Chris Elmendorf. Maybe not you personally (though maybe that too), but I certainly hate everything you stand for regarding your views on housing and what you convolute to be ‘racism’ ‘.
[Elmendorf further stated that] homeowners could cite statistics that low-income people and minorities are more likely than others to be targets of gun violence, and could then argue that bullets cause environmental damage to neighborhoods, as well as their residents.
What the what? No, make that a full-on ‘What the fck?’ . . . with a ‘u’ in place of the asterisk.
Of course, this ruling cannot be allowed to stand in the California Power Structure, so the Powers That Be will strike it down, just like they did with the Trackside Appeal — except this time the CA Supremes will hear the case. And what we learned from Trackside is that a partial win can actually be a catastrophic loss, as when the Trackside final ruling became *state law precedent for similar cases 😦
The Evil Ones always win the end, it seems 😐 -
Beautiful “Olive Hue” – that does sound nice. Sounds like a good title for a novel, or something. Or maybe one of those semi-romantic “chick flicks”
Well in my case an “Extremely Hairy Beautiful Olive Hue”. Not sure that would work quite as well as a ‘chick flick’ title 😐 -
As a professor, Emendorf is getting PAID by UCD. Not sure of the “dividing line” between his advocacy, vs. his employment (in regard to his actual duties).
And I doubt that UCD is sure of it, either. Or maybe they are – which is even worse (regarding UCD).
Especially in light of their reluctance to accommodate the housing need they generate. -
From Wikipedia:
“Academic freedom is a moral and legal concept expressing the conviction that the freedom of inquiry by faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy as well as the principles of academia, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts (including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities) without fear of repression, job loss, or imprisonment. While the core of academic freedom covers scholars acting in an academic capacity — as teachers or researchers expressing strictly scholarly viewpoints —, an expansive interpretation extends these occupational safeguards to scholars’ speech on matters outside their professional expertise.[1][2] Especially within the anglo-saxon discussion it is most commonly defined as a type of freedom of speech, while the current scientific discourse in the Americas and Continental Europe more often define it as a human right with freedom of speech just being one aspect among many within the concept of academic freedom.
Academic freedom is a contested issue and, therefore, has limitations in practice. In the United States, for example, according to the widely recognized “1940 Statement on Academic Freedom and Tenure” of the American Association of University Professors, teachers should be careful to avoid controversial matters that are unrelated to the subject discussed. When they speak or write in public, they are free to express their opinions without fear from institutional censorship or discipline, but they should show restraint and clearly indicate that they are not speaking for their institution.[3] Academic tenure protects academic freedom by ensuring that teachers can be fired only for causes such as gross professional incompetence or behavior that evokes condemnation from the academic community itself.[4] “ -
An article in the Vanguard today about San Francisco DA Jenkins charging Pelosi’s attacker DePape with attempted murder.
https://www.davisvanguard.org/2022/12/sf-district-attorney-brooke-jenkins-comments-after-arraignment-of-pelosi-attacker/
I and many others wonder why DA Jenkins has refused to release the body cam videos of the police officers who went to the door and were on the scene during the attack. It would answer so many questions as several different scenarios are being tossed around. Why the secrecy? -
David Greenwald (in some blog post in some blog):
” as we head into 2023, the issues for me remain – . . . “
Is the bear Catholic? Does the Pope shit in the woods?
” . . . housing, affordable housing, homelessness”.
I think that can be translated into housing, housing and not-housing, which is also housing. So I would summarize as: “Housing”. Cubed.
I have a suggestion on how to fix the housing . . . (I can’t say it . . . I can’t say it . . . I can’t say it . . . ) . . . I’ll just say the “C-word”: how about writing mentally-ill-level obsessive quantities of repetitive, poorly-written, delusionally-illogical online blog-posts on the subject? That should cure the problem.
But if not, at least the weird combination of evil-developers and uber-progressive-delusionals may continue to throw monetary scraps your way in support one of the weirdest careers in Davis history.
And after decades of ‘work’, on your deathbed, the “crisis” will still be there, unless a nuke has taken out the Sacramento region, and you can write one last blog-post, in the hope that THIS swang-song collection of still-poorly-edited words, will be the one to make the difference.
And it won’t. -
Regarding “academic freedom”, is UCD’s position that it includes the following? (I assume so, since there’s apparently no consequences for him as a result of such comments.)
Quoted from above:
“My least favorite quote from the article, from UC Davis’ own Chris Elmendorf:
“The court’s reasoning is devastating ammunition for racist white homeowners who would leverage CEQA to keep poor people and minorities out of their neighborhoods” -
Ron, I am not a lawyer and often such things don’t really have answers until they are pursued in a court of law — that being said, I would think that a statement like that falls under academic freedom. I base that on my ~30 years in academia, having seen many similar remarks. I know free speech is important to you so I would imagine you would defend his right to say it even as you disagree with it vigorously, just as you were concerned about the free speech rights of the anti-semites who posted their banners on the highway (who you also disagreed with vigorously).
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Posted by: Alan C. Miller | December 30, 2022 at 10:03 AM
Brilliant comment. The sort of thing that used to be the only thing worth reading on the VG. -
Roberta:
I guess the difference is that the “anti-semites” presumably had to hide their identity (and place of employment), so that they wouldn’t get fired. (For jobs which probably pay a lot less, with a lot fewer benefits – and not footed by taxpayers.)
Let alone “announcing” where they worked while engaging in advocacy (thereby implying both expertise and connection to their employer).
As far as “academic freedom” is concerned, I don’t believe that the intent of it is to further one’s personal views/advocacy. Presumably, it’s to benefit the students and community at large.
On a broader level, there’s a perception among some in the conservative community that there isn’t actual “academic freedom” at universities. And it’s eroding support for universities among those communities.
Gary May had no problem “condemning” the anti-semites. I recall that Robb Davis recently put forth a comment on the Vanguard, noting that there is confusion on campus regarding what constitutes a hate crime. (This doesn’t surprise me, as universities have apparently stopped teaching what free speech actually means.)
But does “free speech” totally equate to “academic freedom”? Or, do only university professors actually enjoy free speech? (As noted, there’s almost always consequences for engaging in free speech, except, apparently for university professors.)
In any case, “academic freedom” would be an interesting topic to explore further.
But for sure, it seems that university professors are a “protected class”, compared to any other employee.
What do you suppose the chances are that Professor Elmendorf is engaging in “free speech” (advocacy) IN CLASS, with a captive audience dependent upon him for a grade? (Not to mention many other professors, no doubt.) I’ve experienced this type of thing myself, when attending college.
Of course, no one knows – unless they actually monitor those classes in person (which probably isn’t allowed, unless enrolled). -
“Of course, no one knows – unless they actually monitor those classes in person (which probably isn’t allowed, unless enrolled).”
Not if you’re “white” anyway — judging from his R-word-ist comments. -
To R.O.
I find your comment very prejudice in your recent comment regarding Jews:
“Though I think I get your point that jews are often ‘white appearing’ so it’s not so easy to target them by appearance…I think often though there are other tells such as dress, location, association, self-disclosure.” -
To Jan Bower:
You’re quoting Alan M., not me.
Though I’m not finding anything “prejudice” about it.
Whoopi Goldberg recently said something similar (and got in trouble “twice” for it), for reasons I don’t understand.
Maybe you can explain. -
J.B. said: “I find your comment very prejudice in your recent comment regarding Jews: ”
J.B. then quotes this as the item they found very prejudice: “Though I think I get your point that jews are often ‘white appearing’ so it’s not so easy to target them by appearance…I think often though there are other tells such as dress, location, association, self-disclosure.”
R.O. said: “You’re quoting Alan M., not me.”
Food fight in the Davisite!
But seriously, J.B., I am SUPER UNCLEAR as to what you are finding ‘very prejudice’, as I am referring to what R.O. said in my answer to R.O., so I’m unclear if you are referring to R.O.’s comments or mine as ‘super prejudice’. To break this down:
R.O. said, paraphrasing: ‘jews are often ‘white appearing’ so it’s not so easy to target them by appearance…’
A.C.M. (me) responded: ‘Though I think I get your point [what R.O. said above], I think often though there are other tells such as dress, location, association, self-disclosure.’
Since, J.B., you quoted me with R.O.’s comment embedded within my comment, it’s confusing as to who you were saying made a comment you found ‘very prejudice’. R.O. thinks it’s me you have issue with. I tend to think it’s what R.O. said that you have issue with.
Please state what part specifically you have issue with, and more importantly, what you found ‘very prejudiced’ about it. Too often people assume it’s so obvious to others because it’s so obvious to them. Please explain more clearly, and then we can have a conversation.
Awaiting your reply. -
I didn’t see either Ron’s or Alan’s comments as being very prejudiced in any way. But I’m all ears and willing to learn. J.B. please enlighten me.
-
David Somebody (in some article in some blog today):
In 2020, there was an additional issue – at the time, Pickett was the only woman elected to the school board, and she was also one of two people of color.
Thanks for the gender and race breakdown. Very important to identify people by these categories. BTW, was that a XX or identified-as woman? And are you sure of the number of ‘people of color’ ? You got that wrong once. And it’s very important to get a proper count. And you are the white-appearing XY to do it. For Davis. Self-appointed. With a 55-gallon drum of digital ink and half-arsed writing skills.
The optics of replacing a woman of color with a white woman, right after the George Floyd killing and subsequent protests did not sit well with a sizable portion of the population.
How sizable was that portion of the population? Was it larger or smaller a portion than the portion of population that you like to smear as ‘slow growthers’ and attribute incorrect motives to? Numbers! I want numbers!
Happy new year to the sane! -
I’m wondering why no one has a “problem” with me noting that white skin color is better-suited for caves and forests, vs. the sunbelt region.
On a more serious note, I also noted that it’s a dangerous color to have in inner-city schools. (Or public transit systems, serving those areas.) Perhaps even slightly more so than having an “olive hue” (or Asian descent), though I suspect that the difference in attacks experienced by these groups is not “statistically significant”.
Maybe this is how “critical race theory” most-often presents itself, in reality. -
From today’s Vanguard.
https://www.davisvanguard.org/2022/12/my-view-council-should-go-special-election-route-in-filling-frerichs-seat/
“In 2020 when School Board member Cindy Pickett resigned, the school board moved to appoint a replacement, but in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests, many in the community were not pleased that the school board would replace Pickett, a woman of color, with a white woman.”
A petition drive followed and the appointment was overturned and that November, Vigdis Asmundson was elected to fill out the seat – her term has since expired and she was unable to run again due to district elections.
Just wondering if anyone believes that the resulting school board decisions were “improved” as a result of filling that position with someone who had a more “desirable” skin color.
“In a letter from Pickett, she noted, “I feel strongly that the Davis community deserves to have a voice in choosing who their leaders are and that an election should be held. Elections are often the only means through which the less well-connected sectors of our community have any influence. Elections can also help ensure that officials are attuned to those they represent.”
She warned, “the appointment process carries the risk of being influenced by the deciding body’s familiarity and prior relationships with the potential appointees.This can happen implicitly, even when the members of that body are well intentioned and have vowed to put any potential biases aside.”
And yet, the selectee ended up being the daughter of two former council members.
How is it that someone who resigned their position feels that they should be able to dictate the skin color of their replacement (and actually take steps to try to ensure that occurs)?
And yet, few seem to have a “problem” with this, and in fact – supported that outcome.https://localwiki.org/davis/Ruth_Asmundson
Perhaps someone can explain the reason that this entire incident isn’t a racist embarrassment for all those involved. From the same type of people who claim to be “oh-so-concerned” about racism in the first place.
Hopefully, the outcome wasn’t actually based upon racial preference, even though the race-based activists were the ones who initiated it in the first place.
It’s unfortunate that Asmundson didn’t repudiate the campaign. Does anyone actually want to win an election due to a politically-desirable skin color?
Davisite 
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