Author: davisite2

As we face a crisis of leadership on the national and local level we need significant change. Colin Walsh is a longtime Davisite who knows what our town has been, is and can become. His policies are based in community outreach and common sense. He has frequently given voice to the people city hall ignores (almost all of us) and I know he will continue to do so on council.

Many voters are confused and disillusioned by the quagmire of lies and deceit that permeates current politics and have been made cynical by those, current council included, who promise one thing as candidates then perform 180s once elected. The solution is not withdrawal from the arena but finding and supporting people like Colin who respect the democratic process, feel the great responsibility of representation and will not sell us out or forget us upon election.

Dan Urazandi
Owner of Bizarro World

I’ve known Jim Provenza for over 25 years.  Jim is a dedicated advocate for those who often cannot speak for themselves.  For most of his life, he has worked tirelessly for equality, social justice, and civil rights.

In his first jobs after law school, he represented victims of domestic violence, child abuse, civil rights violations, and housing and job discrimination. As legislative counsel, he was instrumental in enacting California’s current hate-crimes law. As legislative advocate, he sponsored legislation making sexual orientation and disability protected classes.

Jim believes a strong community starts by helping our most vulnerable—children, seniors, disabled, the poor. As chair of First 5 Yolo, he helped raise millions to provide health care, safety and early learning for our children. He was a key force in saving the Yolo Crisis Nursery in Davis when it was in danger of closure and has continued to fight for their funding.  He established and chairs the Healthy Aging Alliance, advocating for the needs of seniors. During this pandemic, Jim has helped obtain aid and funding for childcare for families hit hardest by the pandemic— essential workers who help keep our economy running. 

Jim is an advocate for our agricultural heritage and environmental protection. He was instrumental in enacting one of the strongest agricultural land-protection ordinances in California. He supports the Williamson Act and other incentives to keep land in agriculture. He served on the Delta Conservancy, helping obtain millions in funding for water and habitat projects. He supports Yolo Basin Foundation and efforts to promote habitat for migrating birds.

Jim understands the importance of reducing greenhouse gases in our communities.  At a recent Board of Supervisor’s meeting, Jim introduced a resolution on behalf of the Yolo Climate Emergency Coalition, declaring a climate crisis in Yolo County and setting a countywide goal of achieving a carbon-negative footprint by 2030, putting Yolo County on the path to becoming the statewide leader in the fight against global warming.

Jim has earned our continued support.  Please join me in re-electing Jim Provenza for supervisor.

Pam Nieberg
Davis

I’m honored to write this letter in support of Jim Provenza in his bid to be re-elected as our Yolo County Supervisor, District 4.

For years I’ve witnessed Jim’s passionate service to our community, from his efforts to protect Ag land and preserve the Yolo Bypass, to his work on behalf of those experiencing homelessness or struggling to find mental health resources.

I got to know Jim personally through my volunteer work with the Yolo Crisis Nursery. The Nursery serves some of the most vulnerable in our community – children 0-5 years of age whose families are in crisis. In 2019-20, 99% of the children who walked through our doors were Medi-Cal eligible, 93% came from single parent homes and 94% of those homes were headed by single mothers.

When the Nursery faced with the threat of closure in 2013, Jim was there for us. He was instrumental in keeping our doors open, ensuring that at-risk children and their families continued to receive the resources and wraparound support they needed to thrive.

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A number of Davisites have reported receiving the following email:

From the Desk of Michael Corbett

Former Davis Mayor

Dear Davis Citizen,

The Davis City Council Members have made some decisions over the the last 8 years that have cost the city taxpayers millions of dollars, and they have shown a lack of good judgment in protecting our quality of life. Three City Council Members responsible for those actions are currently candidates seeking re-election. Their questionable actions should be considered as we mark our ballots.

In 2014 on a 3 to 2 vote, they approved the Cannery without an agreement to provide a grade-separated crossing at F street as was originally envisioned. That crossing would have connected the planned North Davis bike system to allow people living east of F Street to safely travel to schools, the library, downtown, the University and other community facilities. Two of the tree current Council candidates voted for this deficient agreement.

The same two candidates were part of a 3 to 2 vote to allow the Cannery project to reduce the number of much-needed, affordable housing units by allowing the developer to substitute granny-flats without any price controls, a favor not afforded to other developers. They did that by allowing the substitution to be included in the Development Agreement. If either had, instead, joined the 2 no votes, they could have avoided giving up affordable units and other concessions that favored the developers rather than the public. The substitution of granny-flats for affordable units was affirmed and expanded in both the 2016 and 2018 Amendments to the Development Agreement. These two candidates had at least three opportunities to vote "no" on the granny-flat substitution incorporated into the Development Agreement and its amendments, but they did not, they acquiesced.

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I am writing a personal letter to endorse Supervisor Jim Provenza’s re-election to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. First, I want to be clear, I am a loyal supporter of equality and the first to support local and national efforts to serve minority communities and human rights. When it comes to leadership, however, I have always aligned myself with the leader that I believe to exhibit the highest values, integrity and dedication in serving their community. I don’t believe that excellent leadership is represented by one gender over another, and I do believe that diversity brings the right balance.  As you cast your vote, I urge you to consider true leadership, experience and commitment when you vote for Jim Provenza in the upcoming re-election as Yolo County Supervisor.  I assure you, I will be the fist to endorse a female candidate, as well as more diversity and equal representation for the Board of Supervisors, when a candidate with comparable leadership qualities enters the race. Until that time, however, Jim has my vote.

As a long-time Davis resident, now living in Woodland, I have known Jim for more than 10 years and I am uniquely familiar with his track record in serving our community. I have worked side by side with him on matters that address families and children in crisis, and I can assure you that many of the programs Jim has endorsed, as well as the corresponding budget allocations he has voted for, have resulted in contributing to long-term physical and mental health, educational achievements and success of the families served.  I have personally witnessed his unwavering care and commitment to housing insecurities, food insecurity and the needs of the elderly in Yolo County. Jim has been an unwavering champion of diversity.

In addition, a little research will further validate that Jim has supported numerous state laws that have addressed hate crime, permitting guns to be taken away from domestic violence perpetrators, laws preventing early release of persons convicted of repeat violent sex crimes against women and children and many more laws that protect Yolo County’s most vulnerable.

More recently, Jim’s response and hard work to care for those impacted by COVID-19 has been exemplary and his many years as a supervisor have produced a distinguished track record of creating sustainable economic development solutions, more jobs, a farmland protection ordinance, as well as responsible funding allocations.

I urge you to vote for Jim because of his incredible track record as our Yolo County Supervisor, his passion for service to this community, and most of all for his leadership. Thank you.

Becky Heard
Davis

I am writing this letter to encourage Davis District 2 voters to vote for Colin Walsh for City Council.

Colin is a longtime Davisite with a deep concern for the quality of life we have in Davis. He grew up in Davis, attended Davis schools from West Davis Elementary through UCD and now his children attend Davis schools. He has impressed me over and over again with his knowledge of local issues and current events. He takes time to study the details, analyzes all aspects and encourages others to join in the civic process.

I have been disappointed with our current city council and decisions that have been made with little or no time to allow the public to learn of the plans or weigh in on decisions. Colin recognizes the importance of transparency in governing and values input from all.

Colin has become extremely knowledgeable about development projects including the DISC and has asked probing questions of our council and identified areas that require further review or clarification. Colin is an advocate for the environment, the preservation of open space and has a deep conviction about the importance of farmland. You can learn about Colin through his walsh4davis.com website, I strongly recommend a vote for Colin for City Council.

John Weeks
Davis