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Davisite Banner. Left side the bicycle obelisk at 3rd and University. Right side the trellis at the entrance to the Arboretum.

Month: February 2026

  • Yolo County Nonprofits Host Civic Engagement Pizza and Movie Night on Feb 17

    (From press release) Yolo County residents can join “Pizza and a Movie Night” on Feb. 17 from 5-8 p.m. at Woodland Community College to learn more about civic engagement. The free event is sponsored by AAUW of Davis, Indivisible Yolo and the Yolo County Leage of Women Voters, and includes pizza and a 90-minute documentary from 2024 called “The Deciders.”  The event also will include small-group discussions where attendees will learn more about their role in governing policy, the importance of voter registration and timely ballot return, and opportunities for advocacy in 2026 elections. Discussion leaders will answer voter registration and election participation questions.

    Seating is limited with priority registration offered to students at Yolo County high schools and Woodland Community College. For more information and to register: http://bit.ly/49sOy8L.

    “We all share the same goal of taking the important message of active civic engagement in democracy directly into our community,” said Michelle Famula, president, Yolo County League of Women Voters. “Together we support a democracy in which every eligible voter has the desire, right, knowledge and confidence to exercise their voting rights.”

    The event will center around the film, which showcases how active voices in a working-class community impacted government policy and improved lives. Organizers say they especially hope to engage youth newly registered to vote, busy working households, college students and recently arrived county residents to help ensure higher voter turnout in the fall.

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  • Yolo County Residents Can File Taxes for Free Through United Way

    Members of United Way’s Free Tax Prep team help a client sign in to have her taxes prepared in 2025. The program is now open for the current tax season.

    (From press release) Yolo County residents and those throughout the Sacramento region are eligible to file their taxes for free through United Way California Capital Region’s Free Tax Prep program that runs through April 15. Households that earned less than $68,000 in 2025 can file for free, and trained tax volunteers will help maximize cash back from state and federal credits, including the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC and CalEITC). United Way’s Free Tax Prep program saves participants an average of $200 in preparer fees. The program provides free tax help virtually and in person in multiple languages and locations across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. United Way recommends filing as early as possible to receive tax credits sooner. For more information or to sign up: www.YourFreeTaxPrep.org or call 2-1-1.

    This year, the local United Way is partnering with Yuba-Sutter-Colusa United Way to offer its Free Tax Prep program in Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties as well. For services in that region, call 844-546-1464.

    “At United Way, we believe every family deserves the dignity and peace of mind that comes from financial stability,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “Our Free Tax Prep program is more than a service, it’s an opportunity for our community to keep more of what they’ve earned and to build a stronger foundation for the future. When we remove barriers and open doors, families thrive – and when families thrive, our entire region grows stronger together.” 

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  • Suggested changes to Ordinances for the Village Farms Project

    [The following was sent to the Davisite for posting]

    February 2, 2026
    To: Mayor Donna Neville and Council Members
    Fr: David J. Thompson, Affordable Housing Advocate
    Re: My Suggested Changes to Exhibit E Affordable Housing PIP Report

    Could you please address these questions and concerns before tonight’s final City Council vote on the second reading regarding Village Farms?

     Due to a number of issues I have located I have made the following suggestions by section number on the “Affordable Housing” agreement:

    Click to access 04E-Second-Readings-Village-Farms-Davis-Ordinances.pdf

     1)    Section 2. General Clarification, All 360 units are to be “deed restricted permanently affordable”. However, in Section 5. Which provides specific detail, the term ‘deed restricted permanently affordable’ is missing and should be included in Section 5.

     2)    Section 4.1. Do not understand why requirement of 18+ acres has been reduced to 16 acres?

     3)    Section 4.1. I have previously stated to the Council that the closer to transportation and shopping center the sites wins extra points in the funding competitions. Not knowing where these parcels will be should have been set by now to ensure the sites gets highest extra points for location. Why will the siting be unknown when the citywide vote occurs?

     4)    Section 5. ’80 ownership units for moderate income households…’.  I have previously provided you with an analysis why this is not likely possible with a Limited Equity Housing Cooperative. The only other option is to do a condo which I think is equally difficult for much the same reasons. How does the city plan to get the ownership units built?

     5)    Section 5. I would suggest you allow for these 80 units to be also done as rentals which are a more feasible, of value and a likely option. They could be delivered much earlier. The likelihood of acquiring funding for moderate income ownership housing is a long shot at best.

     6)    So the City may well be left with NO affordable housing and land use dedication which will not be developed in the near future, or perhaps ever.

     7)    Section 6.C. Given the trend in financing low-income housing $2 million may not be enough at $20,000 per unit to complete the subsidy funding of the initial 100 units. What are the additional dollars per unit Mercy Housing is asking for per unit at Bretton Woods?

     8)    Section 7.2. For me and perhaps for others, the section below definitely confuses me.

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