By Carey Ann Hunt
The ground was dusty and the air was bone dry.
Midafternoon dense with heat,
Smoky with the chance of ash.
Fires blazed in hills nearby.
Engulfed in heat, I tired from merely walking
I made my way to the three greenhouses
Just past the fire station on the left.
Voter Forum
"When we rise, we vote!”
Voters’ forum focused on the issues of concern to voters in Yolo County and the region and CA state ballot initiatives, with the goal of maximizing voter turnout. This event is sponsored by the Yolo County Democratic Party.
Sunday at 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Davis Senior Center
646 A St, Davis, California 95616
<<<press release>>>
Local Democratic clubs, community groups and candidates are invited to table at the event. There may be a brief amount of time provided for speakers at the opening and closing of the event. We ask all clubs and community groups to bring a food item to share for 10-50 people. Together, we can provide some light snacks and refreshments for up to 200 people.
More importantly, we ask that you come prepared to share facts, figures, Get Out The Vote strategies that work, and solutions that empower, either by tabling for your group or leading a breakout session. We strive to be as welcoming and empowering as possible. We are coming together as a very diverse, respectful, and progressive community.
For more details and to co-sponsor (bring your own table, lead a breakout session, or provide food), contact: Kris Edwards (writemindfulness@gmail.com), M. E. Gladis (916-248-6442, mixieups@yahoo.com), Desiree Rojas-Bates (Desflores5@gmail.com)
Paid parking will change the character of the downtown experience
By Daniel Urazandi
downtowndavis.org is an association of small businesses that oppose paid parking downtown. Here's why: (the city has been unable or unwilling to provide certain numbers upon request. Those are marked by the #? symbol)
People do not want to pay to park, everyone admits that. Forcing them to will make them visit downtown less and for shorter periods of time. The city calls this increasing parking availability, we call it driving traffic away from downtown. Less drivers means less customers, less sales, eventually less shops.
The city's plan not only doesn't add a single parking space, it takes away an undisclosed #? amount as the meters will come with ADA legislated handicapped only spaces in the streets. Since the existing handicapped spaces are not all used these will be mostly vacant spaces.
No new spaces means the only way promised space will be created will be by driving other drivers away. Who gets run off in the city's plan?
By Dave Taormino, a Davis Housing Provider, WDAAC Developer
Housing Shortage: Yes on L Offers Housing Choices
Davis is one of only a few cities in California that has a self-inflicted shortage of homes and apartments. A massive housing shortage exists in the Bay Area because of the lack of land and tremendous job growth. The same problem occurs in Southern California.
Davis needs more housing of several types: for seniors, locally based employees and more student complexes on campus. At least student apartments have made progress, but none for seniors and others.
by Bob Schneider
Properly planned, the northwest corner of Davis offers an important opportunity for meeting development needs in Davis in a manner that reflects Davis values. Neighborhoods, a natural habitat swale for the Covell drainage, flood water pond storage, edible vegetation, affordable co-housing, senior housing, community gardens, appropriate commercial, and live-work buildings, bordered by protected farmland and open space reflects my values and I believe our Davis values.
Working towards this vision necessitates a General Plan update or a Northwest Specific Plan.
Piecemeal development, focusing on one development at a time, may preclude this important opportunity.
I suggest we delay any immediate decisions until the new council is seated. They can make a thorough, inclusive, and comprehensive decision without a rush to judgement on how we should best proceed.
For full disclosure- Yes, I was a builder and developer and for a time I v.,ras involved in the northwest area. My interest then, as now, was in first ensuring comprehensive planning. I no longer have any involvement or financial ties to this area.
(Originally published June 2018)
“Victoria Secret” I blurted.
The room erupted in robust laughter.
My stomach turned as my face went red.
By Carey Ann Hunt
For years I have shied away from speaking in public or doing anything to put myself out there in a theatrical sense. I clearly recall a particularly awkward moment one evening in eighth grade. I was invited to a High School Shakespeare play reading event. The 11th grade boy I had a huge crush on was there. Giddy with nervous enthusiasm, sweaty palms and a constant blush I mistakenly blurted out Victoria Secret instead of Victoria Station, when it was my turn to read and of course the room exploded in fits of laughter. It took a really long time for people to regain composure. Nerves, laughter, and the genuine dislike of audiences made me want to push that button that makes the floor drop down under me, rapidly opening into a hallway leading to an inconspicuous exit route. The button didn’t work. I not only was still there I had to continue reading my part.
What is the cost of paid parking in downtown Davis?
Not how much will it cost an hour to park, but rather, what will the effect be on local businesses?
Local businesses are worried about paid parking and 50-plus of them have founded downtowndavis.org to bring their concerns to the City Council and the Davis public. Again, and again business owners state that paid parking will hurt their business.
Advocates for the paid parking plan state, “Let’s not forget that a car parking spot used for one car — and one shopper — can instead be used by six bikes, and six shoppers.” But, this depends on there being six cyclists demanding a new spot to park. Given the current availability of bike parking downtown I see no evidence that these new replacement shoppers exist. As far as I can tell, no one is deterred from biking downtown for a lack of a place to park. The same is not true for car drivers.
Local businesses want parking.
By Colin Walsh
A new organization is growing in Davis. A group that is feeling shut out of Downtown planning. They are not your typical old Davis activists accused of protesting everything instead they are at the very heart of the downtown economy – Davis business owners. You can find them at downtowndavis.org
The website makes it clear what has this new group rising, "STOP PAID PARKING," and "ACT NOW."
The story of a “a pop culture archaeologist” and “a place to explore both current and nostalgic aspects of our shared American experience.”
By Colin Walsh
There is an unassuming low-slung building under a pitched roof mid block on E street between 2nd and 3rd in Davis CA. The building is set back from the street and set further into the building is a door to another world. Through that door is a den of untold treasures: comic books, new and used, even classic and hard to find games; movie collection of titles that may not be suggested to you on Netflix; vinyl albums, card games, and a range of Americana and pop culture ephemera. The real treasure though is the store itself.
This is probably not the combination of words you were expecting.
By Carey Ann Hunt and Colin Walsh
Leif in Motion and Shamaniclown.net are holding their first free Playshop titled Begin Big Change!. It will be Sunday July 22nd, 10:00am to 12:00 at Davis Holistic Health Center. 1403 5th Street, Suite B.
You read that right – Shamanic Clown.
Should the idea of a healing shamanic clown experience even be taken seriously? Yes and No and that, folks, is exactly the point.
Davisite 