Author: davisite

By Colin Walsh

Some excellent questions where posted about the Nishi project and I wanted to share the answers here (with permission of the questioner). 

Q> Why is nobody talking about how UC Davis has increased their student population without making sure that there is housing built for students, and how that contributes to the housing crisis in Davis?

A> You're exactly right. A few years ago the University launched the 2020 initiative that brought in 5,000 additional students to campus without planning for housing or other facilities. This has absolutely contributed to the Davis housing crunch. City leaders did nothing at the time to push the University to build more housing. Some even cheered that it would lower the vacancy rate, these same leaders now support the Nishi project. For example:

Swanson said she believes the addition of 5,000 new undergraduates and 300 new faculty will have a positive effect.

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From The Flatlander Newspaper

What follows are some of the peculiar arguments being put forth to support Nishi 2.0.  Have any of these claims fooled you?  

1) UCD students are forced to rent in Woodland, Dixon and West Sacramento.

False.  Students are not “forced” to do anything.  They choose to live in other communities for all sorts of reasons:  a preference for a community other than Davis; lower cost, a desire to live with friends or family; proximity to employment, to name a few.  Building more housing in Davis does not change any of those factors, nor should it.

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By Robert Milbrodt

The Flatlander is now distributing its election issue.  For the first time in 20 years we are delivering it by US Post. If you live in Davis, please expect it in your mailbox today or tomorrow. Bruce Mackenzie who used to walk so many routs to deliver the paper used to say, "Hey, that was a real Flat-lander" as the paper landed in Driveways all over town. This one is for you Bruce, we miss you.

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By Larry Guenther

“Perfection is the enemy of the good.”  We often hear this said, and often what I believe people are saying is, “You’re being too picky,” or, “You’re being unrealistic,” or, “It’s good enough.”  But when it comes to Davis, I want to be picky and I don’t believe I am being unrealistic.  My experience is that “good enough” is settling for something that is mediocre.  It is a hesitancy or unwillingness to do the extra work or take the extra time to make a project extraordinary.

As a remodel contractor, I take pride in my work and am personally accountable for all I do. It is distressing to me that some are willing to settle for what I think of as ‘good enough.’  Do we want Davis to be ‘good enough,’ or do we want Davis to be extraordinary?

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by Colin Walsh

The City of Davis Social Services Commission will be considering a new "Proposed Mobile Home Park Closure, Cessation, or Conversion Ordinance" at 7pm this evening in the Community Chambers. 

Preserving mobile home parks is a strategy to continue to provide cost effective housing that is not currently covered by local, state or federal Affordable Housing programs. It is difficult if not impossible to offer the mobile home park residents anything comparable if a park closes.

The 4 Mobile home Parks in Davis, Rancho Yolo, Slater's Court, Davis Mobile Estates and 1502 Olive Drive all provide low cost housing. Together they represent over 400 homes. 

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Davis’s own Josh Jones is running for governor as a green. That makes 2 Davisites in the gubernatorial race.

And Josh is not like the other candidates. His campaign is corporate-free and people powered and that people power has already taken him up, down and all across the state in his quest for votes and to ignite the Green Party.

Josh's platform is based on two principles: "Maximize equality of opportunity, and minimize harm. We will take no money from corporations."

Much like 3 City Council candidates have pledged not to take developer money (Deos, Beeman and Gunther), Josh has made a pledge to "take absolutely no coal, oil, or fracking money."

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The Davisite received several emails and comments about the recent stories about possible coordination between the Partida and Carson City Council campaigns and we feel it is important to answer a few questions and address concerns.

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Dan Carson's City Council campaign Facebook page posted a picture of Brian Horsfield the campaign's " Lawn Sign Guy" posting Carson and Partida signs. Note the Partida sign laying on the lawn in the background of the photo. 

This comes after Carson made a point of not endorsing any other candidate at the Chamber of Commerce PAC Forum on April 2nd. Partida also declined to endorse any other candidate at the Chamber forum.

The Carson campaign photo corroborates the Davisite Story run yesterday Partida and Carson City Council Campaign Working Together?

Follow the link to see pictures Mr. Horsfield posting Carson and Partida signs at several local apartment complexes.

Spotted today – a gentleman putting up Partida and Carson signs at multiple locations in a car emblazoned with both City Council candidates logos.

On April 2nd at the Davis Chamber of Commerce PAC City Council Candidates Forum all of the candidates where asked who they would be casting their second vote for. Both Dan Carson and Gloria Partida declined to state. Today however someone was spotted putting up signs for both candidates.

The Gentleman drove a car with custom emblems for both Partida and Carson adhered to it's sides, Partida on the driver side and Carson on the passenger side.

This appears to be a specific example of coordination between the Carson and Partida Campaigns.

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By Christy Corp-Minamijji

I have two hometowns, a couple thousand miles apart.

This morning I dropped my son off at his high school – his bike is broken. The rainy morning scene was almost aggressively normal – the patient loop of cars through the parking lot, waving each other on through our windshield wipers; helmet-wearing teens biking in through the exit – latte cups in one hand, steering with the other. Just another “late start” Wednesday.

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