Marginally enjoyable holidays from Al's Corner đ . . . 'Tis the season to be an a-hole.
Express your inner a-hole at Al's Corner!
Category: Ethics
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Yolo County Needs a âJust Transitionâ Climate Action Plan
Wetlands at the Patwin-Wintun Tending and Gathering Garden are the keystone project for Yolo Countyâs plan to turn 30 former gravel pits into 900 acres of recreational lakes and habitat. The feasibility study for the Cache Creek Parkway was conducted by economic consultants now hired for Yolo Countyâs Climate Action and Adaptation PlanBy Marlen Garcia, Anuj Vaidya, and Juliette Beck
Yolo County has a lot at stake in how we address the climate crisis. In September 2020, the Board of Supervisors passed a visionary resolution calling for a Just Transition approach to climate action and community resilience planning. Just Transition is a critical policy framework for ensuring that historically marginalized communities are centered and empowered to actively participate in the development of climate solutions. It is deeply relevant to Yolo County, which has the deepest levels of inequality in California.
Unfortunately, Yolo Countyâs recent choice of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) consultant team that did not include a Just Transition approach in their proposal is squandering a critical opportunity to address worsening socio-economic disparities. As members of a team that also submitted a proposal, we are intimately familiar with the process and motivated to share our concerns by a sense of moral obligation to our community and future generations.
Yolo Countyâs houseless, BIPOC, rural communities, outdoor workers, and youth are already being hit first and worst by climate breakdown. Summer temperatures in Woodland and West Sacramento average ten degrees hotter than in greenbelt-lined Davis; air pollution has worsened along the 1-80 corridor; eviction rates have increased by 57% since last year. Alarmingly, multinational companies are mining groundwater to feed thousands of acres of perennial orchards, while small, family farms and the wetlands at the Patwin-Wintun Tending and Gathering Garden in the heart of Yolo County have gone dry.
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Letter: Support Education in Davis
A good education is a human right. It is also a societal good, given human interdependence. These are basic moral truths, yet we don't always act like they are, as two recent happenings in Davis illustrate.As reported in the Enterprise, DJUSD teachers, backed by many supporters, have been asking for a salary increase, given the high cost of housing and the lower salaries that Davis teachers have as compared to neighboring cities. Teaching is extremely rewarding, but it is not reasonable to expect people to dedicate their hearts and souls only to find out that they cannot make ends meet. So teachers who can leave, do leave, and K-12 education is sacrificed.
During the same time period, several groups of University of California workers have been on strike (two have now settled), including graduate student teaching assistants. Ostensibly, these workers work "half time," but that is misleading. In some (perhaps many) cases, these workers end up doing far more than 20 hours per week, given grading, assisting students during office hours and appointments, holding discussion sections, answering emails, etc. In addition, these grad student workers are expected to do their own coursework and research, making the position in reality a full-time one. (They are often not permitted to take outside work, or at least strongly discouraged from doing so). That these grad student workers cannot likewise make ends meet threatens their own education as well as the education of undergraduates.
Paying these workers more is the obvious solution, but dedicated housing on DJUSD land and UCD land, respectively, should also be in the mix, as a way to buffer against the vagaries of inflation and rising housing costs.
It is a moral imperative that we do more for our DJUSD teachers and our UCD graduate student workers.
– Roberta Millstein is an Emerit Professor in the Department of Philosophy at UC Davis
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Arborealis legalis persona
An earlier illegal dump of yard waste on East Covell. Imagine being on a bike at this location…That's Latin for "Legal personhood of trees".
Part One:
So that was fun. I was working and came across a huge mother f****** pile of yard waste in the bike lane on westbound Arlington in front of Harding Terrace. This is, of course, strictly illegal. I went to three of the homes here and one guy was nice the other two said they didn't know anything about it.
No surprises so far.
I called the Davis Police Dept non-emergency line and they said they can't do anything about it until the morning and I could be connected to code enforcement or whatever. The lack of surprises continue.
Still no surprises.
I asked what if it was yard waste blocking a traffic lane they said no they wouldn't come until tomorrow morning because it doesn't constitute an emergency.
The lack of surprises continue.
Then I asked t if it was a tree branch that fell into the traffic lane or the bike lane. They said that would be an emergency and they would have to dispatch a crew to deal with it immediately.
So in other words… if you want to block a traffic lane or a bike lane, be sure to use the right part of a tree!!
* Pretty much the only time I contact the police or CHP is when there's a potential of traffic violence, such as assault using intentionally-placed yard waste in bike lanes.
Part Two: There is no "Holiday Tree" in Davis.
I am Jewish. Christmas is a fine and a lovely tradition. I am happy to celebrate it with friends who do.
There is no "Holiday Tree" in Davis. It's a Christmas Tree.
All the activities at the City's "Candlelight Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony" refer to Christmas or the northern Winter.
Why is it called a "Holiday Tree"? It's because some years back various parties sued various entities across the country to remove mentions of "Christmas" in government activities.
I am fine with the City co-organizing and co-sponsoring this, because most people in the City celebrate Christmas in one form or another. It's certainly a vital issue that a truly enlightened city council should address if other holidays that residents celebrate are not observed in equal proportion in terms of e.g. staff time and finances, all year round. While I am not sure if there's an e.g. Kwaanza or Hanukkah song etc in the choir program, it would just be tokenism. (These are just examples — there are other holidays around this time celebrated by many in the region, including the Eastern Xmas in early January).
Calling the Christmas Tree a "Holiday Tree" is like referring to the Hanukkiah (the eight-candle menorah used for Hanukkah) as a "Holiday Candlebra" or Dia de los Muertos as "Mexican Halloween". It's a well-intentioned but very sloppy bit of false-inclusivity. As such, and because we're paying for part of it, it's a lie. Because is it's a lie about cultural and sometimes religious traditions, it's discriminatory. It has no place in any city, especially one whose leaders wave the flag of equity every chance they get. Keep the Christmas Tree, but please start calling it that. (There's an obvious argument some could make that "Holiday" refers also to New Year's, but the transition period from December 31st to January 1st is only the Gregorian New Year — again, representative of a large proportion of the population, but far from nearly everyone).
The above repeated and Next Door discussion in this Google Doc copy. (For Next Door users from certain neighborhoods in Davis, here is a direct link)
Two members of Tree Commission searching for Entwives with Street Tree Defenders. Source: https://allentotingski.artstation.com/projects/rRPVQ2 -
Welcome to Al’s Corner – “Pouring Gasoline on the Dumpster Fire of Davis Politics” – Volume #15 [Thanksgiving Edition]
Let's all gather around the Al's Corner Thanksgiving table and give thanks that Al's Corner provides a place to moan & complain about what is stupid in Davis.
Let the complaining begin!
[See "Pages" –> "Al's Corner – What It Is" for Rulez.]
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Kelsey Fortune: The Climate Expert We Need to On City Council
By Juliette BeckWith the existential threat of climate breakdown looming, this is quite possibly the most important election in human history. We need to elect leaders at all levels that will help navigate our sinking ship to safer shores. The City of Davis has the potential to lead a just transition to ecologically sustainable, socially just and climate-resilient communities, but we need to elect the right leaders and make some significant changes in how this city operates.
I've watched with great interest as the city council election has unfolded with two progressive candidates in West Davis running on a climate platform – Kelsey Fortune and Bapu Vaitla. There are differences between these two candidates and I'm supporting Kelsey Fortune because I believe she has the right combination of skills, knowledge, experience and the dogged determination to help our city chart a course to safety through these troubled times.
Kelsey Fortune came to Davis nine years ago to pursue a PhD in Economics with a focus on transportation, energy and climate policies that drive equitable outcomes to ensure that all community members are included in a just transition to a green economy. Over the past decade, as an active community member and a city council candidate, Fortune has stepped up to offer her pragmatic, evidence-based solutions to guide our community. During her first campaign for city council two years ago, I was impressed with Fortuneâs knowledge of our city – who owns property and who doesnât, our transportation system, zoning laws, the needs and rights of renters, etc. Fortune has consistently advocated for infill development and affordable housing for working families and low-income individuals. Her expertise in designing climate-friendly communities are at the heart of a just transition.
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Welcome to Al’s Corner – “Pouring Gasoline on the Dumpster Fire of Davis Politics” – Volume #14
A place for YOU to make comments about stuff because why not. Special election edition for no particular reason nor content.
Election Voting Happening People – Vote if you can rub two brain cells together! AND if you vote similar to me. If not, please stay home and forget to turn in the envelope. Thank you.
. [See "Pages" –> "Al's Corner – What It Is" for Rulez.]
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Miller Protests the Davis Vanguard — for Sucking
Alan C. Millerâs One-Man Protest of the Davis Vanguard, for Sucking. â Photo Credit: Alan C. Miller (also available as a poster or as a t-shirt!)An Alâs Corner Special Report. Dateline Sacramento. Alan C. Miller Reporting on Alan C. Miller.
The Davis Vanguard (DV) held an event last Thursday night in Sacramento. The event honored some people for doing stuff. Entry into the event was $100 to $5000. Why? Do those contributing not realize that giving money to something perpetuates its existence?
As of last Thursday morning, there were 167 $100 tickets âavailableâ. But one shouldnât draw any conclusions as people often wait until the last minute on events. As one person did. As of 6:00pm last Thursday there were 166 $100 dollar tickets available. Not sure how many $5000 tickets were still available.
The entrance had no obvious signs of the event, though some A-frames advertised a food establishment within the becolumned ex-bank. I arrived at 5:45pm and found a spot near the A-frames across from the door where I could be seen but be out of the way of anyone who showed up. I held up my 11×17 protest sign which read, âThe Davis Vanguard Sucks Donkey Ballsâ on one side and â$100 – $5000 WHY?â on the other.
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Newly Released City Documents Reveal More Problems with Carsonâs City Emails
Councilman Carson Violated Two City Policies Using City Resources for Campaign EmailsBy David L. Johnson and Colin Walsh
New documents obtained through a Public Records Act request reveal that City of Davis Councilman Dan Carson violated two City of Davis policies when he sent numerous campaign emails from his publicly-funded city email account concerning Measure H, a ballot measure to approve the DiSC development project.
New documents from the city also reveal that all emails Carson sent in 2022 regarding measure H appear to have been deleted from his city account.
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Partida Statement On Old Fraud Conviction
Statement By Gloria PartidaThere has been discussion on social media over the past week concerning whether I was truthful in answering a question that was asked by an audience member during a candidate forum sponsored by Yolo People Power on September 26, 2022. I was asked whether I had ever been arrested or convicted of a crime.
I responded by giving examples of police encounters I had had while driving. I also affirmed in my response that I had the experience of being arrested.
Have I ever been convicted of a crime? Yes. Do I currently have a conviction? No.
Answering this question in a way that doesnât create misunderstanding, takes more than the brief response time allowed in the forum. Moreover, I have received legal advice that I am under no obligation to disclose this prior conviction, given that it was reduced to a misdemeanor and set aside.
The events around this occurred in 1996, and resulted in charges being filed against me. The details of this incident involve my extended family and the circumstances are deeply personal and painful. The bottom line is that I followed all legally authorized processes to resolve the matter, including what was needed to obtain court orders to render the incident a misdemeanor for all purposes and obtain an expungement of my record. When I filed for a new term on the City Council and declared that I met the eligibility criteria, I did so in good faith and in accordance with the law. I have been assured by my legal counsel and the District Attorneyâs office that my response was in full compliance with the law.In response to Alan Pryorâs statements regarding my background, I do not have a criminal conviction. I did have a prior conviction from 22 years ago. That conviction was dismissed and set aside by the Yolo County Superior Court in 2005, based on my âcontinued law-abiding lifestyle, education and involvement in family and community.â Simple fact: I do not currently have a conviction.
Seventeen years ago, my court case file should have been updated to correctly show a âdismissalâ of the charges. I learned only recently that, due to a record-keeping error, the Court website was not properly updated to show this dismissal until I notified them several days ago that the court website contained incorrect information. Contrary to Mr. Pryorâs assertion that the court website was âscrubbedâ the Court Clerkâs Office acknowledged that the website had not been properly updated. The Court Clerk then sealed the record, as required by Senate Bill 731, which took effect on July 1 of this year. No scrubbing involved, just compliance with applicable legal requirements.
I did not have any legal obligation to disclose this when I filed my papers for candidacy. At that point, I was asked if I had a felony conviction, and I did not have one. The prior conviction had by then been reduced to a misdemeanor and dismissed. You have a right to hold me to a high standard, and my sincere hope in sharing this information with you is that you will take into account my long history of commitment to our community. I sincerely hope that all of my work in the community will allow you to put this issue into the proper context.
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link to Alan Pryor's previous article "Does Gloria Partidaâs Conviction for a Felony in 2000 Disallow Her from Holding an Elected Public Office in California?"
Davisite 