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Author: davisite2

  • 3 Different Voices Raised Marking October 7th

    By Scott Steward

    I attended three October 7th events. First, I attended the noon UCD Students for Justice in Palestine demarcation of “One Year of Genocide." – it was well attended, and the students chanted a series of edgy truths about Palestinian rights to land taken by Israel, 76 years of takings and oppression, and the most recent accelerated genocide.  

    YA-protest

    October 7th, students attending "One Year of Genocide" Students for Palestinian Justice protest at UCD Memorial Union

     

    A small group of counter-protestors was noticeably attended by non-student senior adults. The senior adults led the harassment of masked Justice for Palestine student protestors. With phone cameras pointed, they would home in on a student and attempt to get a response with a series of derisive questions. The students were well-disciplined and would not let themselves get drawn into a quarrel.  Repeatedly, the pro-Israeli counter-protestors chanted, “Rape (see footnote) is not resistance,” in a useless attempt to shout down the much larger group of Students for Justice in Palestine. I left the group before they marched through campus.

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  • Free climate lecture on UCD campus, Tues Oct 22

    Storer Lecturship in the Life Sciences: How Decades of Climate Denial, Disinformation and Doublespeak by Big Oil Fueled the Climate Crisis

    ClimateLectureTuesday October 22, 4:00 – 7 pm ARC Ballroom (and Zoom)

    Register here: https://bit.ly/102224StorerReg (or use QR code in flyer).   All are welcome.  Please register soon to help ensure an accurate headcount.

    Speakers:

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  • Davis’s most recent financial audit was not “clean”

    By Matt Williams

    In one of the Measure Q threads on NextDoor, Council member Donna Neville and I have been having a dialogue about whether the City’s most recent financial audit by their independent auditors was “clean.” The dialogue starts here (https://nextdoor.com/p/8q75t9X4mtRY/c/1232060918?utm_source=share&utm;_campaign=1728246745147)

    As you can see from the comments in the dialogue, Donna asserts that the audit was “clean,” and I believe the audit was not. For those of you who prefer not to wade through long threads, here are the reasons I believe what I do. In the interests of transparency, I have sent this to Donna as a personal email as well as posting it here.

    Donna, reasonable people can agree to disagree reasonably.  I have always found you to be very very reasonable, and this is no different.  And I the spirit of that reasonability let me explain why I do not believe the audit is “clean.” When the 2021 audit arrived in January 2024, the concerns the auditor had raised in the 2020 audit were no longer 4 “Significant Deficiencies,” but rather 5 even more serious “Material Weaknesses” plus 5 “Significant Deficiencies.” Even more concerning was the fact that the City had made no meaningful progress in addressing 3 of the 4 Significant Deficiencies in the three years between audits.

    So, with the carry over of those 3 unaddressed Significant Deficiencies there really were 6 Significant Deficiencies in the January 2024 Audit’s Memorandum.

    Those factual realities appear to indicate that the Auditor and the City were having conflicts getting the 2021 audit done because (1) the City didn’t appear to be taking the Auditor’s 2020 concerns seriously, and (2) in three years the situation had gotten significantly worse both in the gravity of the problems and their quantity. That is what the auditor’s written report tells anyone who reads it, and it is impossible for me to see that as a “clean” audit.

  • Soroptimists giving women education grants

    (From press release) Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to further their education or training are encouraged to apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women.

    The application deadline is Friday, Nov. 15. This year, Soroptimist International of Davis will present one or more awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. The top recipient’s application will advance to regional and possibly the international level, where she could receive up to $15,000 more. Recipients may use the Live Your Dream Award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This may include tuition, books, childcare, transportation or other education-related expenses.

    Applications are available at https://bit.ly/LYDA-apply.

    The Live Your Dream Award provides more than $2.8 million in cash awards to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program’s inception in 1972, more than $35 million has helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.

    Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Learn more at https://www.sidavis.org/.

  • Recordings of election forums

    The LWV Davis area held three local election forums for the November election.  Measure Q, Davis City Council district 2, and DJUSD Trustee Area 2.  You can find the videos here:  https://lwvdavisarea.org/ (scroll down)

  • Follow the Money!

    Four Davis City Council Members Accepted Large Campaign Contributions from the Firefighters Union and its Members that Preceded Excessive Salary Increases

    By the No on Measure M Campaign Committee

    I. Large contributions were accepted by current Davis City Councilmembers’ campaign committees over 2 election cycles from firefighters and their union.

    All current Davis City Councilmembers, except Donna Neville, have accepted substantial bundled contributions from individual firefighters and Davis Firefighters Union Local 3494. Additionally, in Gloria Partida’s and Bapu Vaitla’s case, the firefighters’ union also printed and sent out a mailer for each of their campaigns, as well as door hangers. These door hangers were then distributed by firefighter volunteers on behalf of the campaigns in 2022.

    Following is a summary of the total contributions accepted by the 2020 campaigns of Will Arnold and Josh Chapman from the Davis Firefighters Union and their members, and by the 2022 campaigns of Gloria Partida and Bapu Vaitla. See Appendix A for a full detailed listing of the contributions as reported on the City of Davis’ and the California Secretary of State’s campaign finance  reporting portals.

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  • Lies All Along, War Again

    By Scott Steward

    Gaza protest

    51 Weeks of Protest, Yolo for Palestinian Justice weekly protest in front of Mike Thompson's Woodland Office. We witness a genocide and Mike does nothing. It will be a year next week.n

    51 Weeks of Protest, Yolo for Palestinian Justice weekly protest in front of Mike Thompson's Woodland Office. We witness a genocide and Mike does nothing.  It will be a year next week.

    It is some comfort, if small comfort, that the moorings of our Davis democracy are relatively intact, even as our "leadership" gambles our democracy on US/Israeli war crimes.  I would say that Israel has drawn Iran into war and the US along with it, except that it is obvious that the US has been party to the war plan all along.  12 months of Genocide?  That is the cost of doing business for Israel and the US.

    After yesterday's 200 mostly destroyed Iranian missile attacks on Israeli military targets, “Make no mistake,” Joe Biden said, “The United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel.” October 1 2024, Michael Birnbaum Washington Post.

    Blinken has been lying about peace (see Veterans for Peace lawsuit below). Joe is delusional. Together along with most all of our federal representatives, including our Congressman Mike Thompson, we have been lied to about any and all consternation concerning Israel. No serious thoughts of how to secure the return of the hostages, no thoughts on how to give honor to those killed on October 7th, just a year of killing (42,000 Gazan's dead, mostly women and children).

    As we debate Measure Q and the rest of the November ballot here in Davis, you are about to see your future hopes, dreams, and dollars be flushed down the war toilet – again. Why not pay the extra 1% sales tax for Measure Q, and get our $11 million local dollars.  We might as well, we are about to experience the same Iraq/Afghan Washington Beltway war f– up with Iran  ($21 Trillion US dollars, 2,000 US and 200,000 Iraq killed). In the end, we will have a more radicalized and impoverished Arab world when it is all over.  Let's all go buy Raytheon stock! 

     

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  • Letter: Setting the record straight on the IHJD position on Measure Q

    Let's set the record straight regarding the position the No on Q speakers shared at the recent League of Women Voters Forum.

    No on Q stated that Interfaith Housing Justice Davis (IHJD) is urging residents to vote for Measure Q because the city is planning to direct more money to homelessness. They implied that the city has already committed to funding new programs addressing housing. While IHJD supports Measure Q, the city has not promised anything other than that housing is on the list of possible recipients of funding along with other legitimate city needs including replenishing the General Fund reserve, and infrastructure. The city has not promised to prioritize housing issues or indeed any particular recipient because Measure Q is a General fund tax and therefore by law, they can't.

    No on Q stated that a plan for the City to spend money on homelessness is in the staff report. A review of the 6/4/24 staff report clearly demonstrates a wish list of projects "including urban forestry, climate action, affordable housing and social services, and infrastructure ". No commitments were made (nor can they be made!!) about where funds may be used.

    Yes, IHJD supports Measure Q because we hope revenue will be generated sufficient to fund housing related issues. But we understand that passing Measure Q is only the first step. When the council begins the budgetary process after the election, IHJD will advocate for a commitment to address affordable housing and homelessness.

    Ellen Kolarik, co-chair IHJD

  • Soroptimist Soup Night is Oct. 24 at Vets Memorial Center

    (From press release) Soroptimist International of Davis invites community members to join its annual Soup Night and Silent Auction, Thursday, Oct. 24 at Veterans Memorial Center. The event benefits two programs that serve local women’s causes: SI Davis and Thriving Pink.

    Due to the event’s popularity, organizers moved it to a larger venue: Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St., Davis. The Soroptimist Soup Night and Silent Auction features unlimited soups from local restaurants as well as sides and dessert. Each ticket comes with a beverage ticket for a local beer, glass of wine or nonalcoholic drink. Music will be provided by the youth jazz band Lucky Strike.

    What makes the silent auction so popular? It’s the meticulously crafted themed baskets, each a labor of love from dedicated Soroptimists and generous local businesses. From artisanal gifts to unexpected experiences, the auction is a celebration of community generosity and creativity. It’s a great chance to get a jump start on holiday shopping too.

    General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Students or children ages 6-17 are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children 5 and under are free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Auction bidding ends at 7:30 p.m. and the event concludes at 8 p.m. For tickets or sponsorship information, visit https://www.sidavis.org/soupnight.

    The evening’s proceeds benefit SI Davis programs, and Thriving Pink’s work bettering the lives of breast cancer survivors and their families. Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Learn more about the service club at https://www.sidavis.org/ and about Thriving Pink at https://www.thrivingpink.org/.

  • Fact Checking False Ballot Statement Claims by Yes on Measure Q

    by the No on Measure Q Campaign Committee

    This article factually analyzes and discusses patently false claims made by the Yes on Measure Q campaign in their ballot statements presented to voters.

    Introduction and Background

    This article is the 3rd in a series presented by the No on Measure Q campaign committee about the significant problems associated with the new tax measure. The first article (see here) provided three good reasons for citizens to vote No on Measure Q including a decided lack of transparency and disclosures by the City Council in bringing the measure to a vote. The 2nd article (see here) gives additional reasons to vote No on the tax measure, discussing the mismanagement of city finances by the current administration.

    About Measure Q

    If passed on the November ballot, Davis Measure Q would double the extra sales tax from 1% to 2% imposed by the City of Davis on all goods purchased or used within the City except for some food and medicines. Based on the expected $11 million per year generated by the new tax and a Davis population of about 66,000, this works out to be approximately $165/year tax for every man, woman, and child in Davis. And like the previous two ½ percentage point sales and use tax hikes, this tax is permanent.  It doesn’t matter if the City’s financial condition substantially changes for the better in the future, this tax never goes away!  

    No on Q Banner Artwork

    In the Past Decade, City of Davis Revenues and Expenses Soared Far in Excess of the Inflation Rate or Population Growth.

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