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Davisite Banner. Left side the bicycle obelisk at 3rd and University. Right side the trellis at the entrance to the Arboretum.

Category: Politics

  • Dual Freeway/Bridge shutdowns a perfect traffic storm

    Double Bridge-Freeway shutdown to hit West Sac

    By Alan Hirsch, Yolo Mobility

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    Seen Friday in West Sacramento at the tower bridge

    Both US 50 freeway in West Sac and the Tower Bridge look to be 100% shut down for periods this coming weekend. Combine this with likely congestion on Jefferson  blvd  entrance to 50 where freeway reopens, this could be a perfect storm for residents of West Sac who may not be able to leave their neighborhoods due to cut-thru Freeway traffic congesting local streets, a detour Caltrans suggests for freeway drivers in its press releases. Caltrans press release seems unaware the Tower bridge will also be shut for a charity event both Saturday and Sunday AM until 1pm.

    As reported previously here and here are reprinted Caltrans press releases reporting, east bound highway 50 freeway will be closed in West Sac from the 50-80 split at Enterprise Blvd to Jefferson Blvd. This beginning next Friday 3/14  at 9pm thru Monday, and opening only Tuesday 3/18  at 5am. This is for Caltrans pavement rehab work and is not related to widening to add the I-80 Yolo toll lane, whose construction is yet to begin. The press release seems to indicate east bound drivers can still go north on I-80 at the split to Natomas.

    (note- as told to me Monday night at YoloTD meeting, US 50 shut it may yet be put back again to another weekend-—when it will conflict with Baseball season openers at Sutter Health field.)

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  • 1500 scientists and science-supporters rally state capitol

    By Alan “Lorax” Hirsch

    IMG_5169About 1500 people attended the science rally Friday March 7th at the Sacramento state capitol — 1/3 carrying unique home made signs. Who says scientists are not creative?! Evidence of people from UC Merced, Sac State, government agencies and of course UC Davis.

    Davis’s Beth Bourne seemed the only counter protestor. She was escorted off capitol grounds to the street side sidewalk by CHiP officers because of her disruptive chanting.

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  • Reform the DDBA to Avoid a Costly Lawsuit

    Commentary by Heather Caswell with Jonathan Greenberg

    Our decision to threaten the City of Davis with a class action lawsuit on behalf of members of the Downtown Davis Business Association (DDBA) was not made easily, or quickly. For years, an organization that was created to support the interests of hundreds of dues-paying businesses has instead been co-opted to support controversial political positions promoted by the Davis City Council, as detailed below.

    As stated in the California Supreme Court’s landmark 1976 Stanson v. Mott decision, a “fundamental precept of this nation’s democratic electoral process is that the government may not ‘take sides’ in election contests or bestow an unfair advantage on one of several competing factions.”

    This means that it would be illegal if the Davis City Council, even indirectly, allowed a special tax dedicated to promoting the interest of downtown businesses be used to promote political speech benefiting city council positions on public initiatives.

     

    We believe that this is what the DDBA has done,  through an unaccountable board of directors, which holds its power through irregular and potentially illegal elections

    The DDBA has done this through an un-accountable board of directors, which holds its power through irregular and potentially illegal elections. Fewer than 10% of the organization's members voted in the January 23 election that I ran in. Three quarters of the dozens of DDBA businesses that I spoke to never received email notifications of the election. Not a single one was notified by the organization that they could run for its board. And at a time when all DDBA Board meetings are held over zoom, members, for no good reason, were required to vote in person within a one hour period, instead of online, at their convenience.

    When Ezra Beeman and I ran to help create a more responsive board, the existing board members and the DDBA Executive Director colluded to change the election rules at the last minute, while they selectively recruited other former board members to show up to run or vote against us. Without any mention during the board meetings prior to the election, they added four seats to the seven member board two days before the election (the DDBA website today still states that they are a seven member board). They then delayed the printing of ballots for three days to print them just hours before the election, so that the names of their friendly candidates could be included.

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  • Complete Freeway Closure to Sac delayed by one week

    EB US 50 Closed Friday 3/14 9pm to Tues 3/18 5am

    (Weekday Causeway Bike Path closure also)

    By Caltrans & Alan Hirsch  

    Image006 102Released Wed. 3/5 begin: “Caltrans is alerting motorists that this weekend’s extended connector closure for the ongoing Yolo Interstate 80 (I-80) and U.S. Highway 50 (US-50) Pavement Rehabilitation Project has been postponed (emphasis added) because of the weather forecast for rain and cold temperatures. The work has been rescheduled for the following weekend.”

    AH Annotation #1: What Caltrans means to say is US 50 east bound in West Sac from I-80 split to Jefferson Ave will be 100% closed Friday 9pm thru Tuesday 5am 3/14 thu 3/18- a week later than stated in previous press release. Please use local streets in West Sacramento instead. “expect delays”. (see below)

    AH Annotation #2: The Yolo Causeway bicycle path also is scheduled to be closed all next week for repair work. Caltrans are not- but should be  –providing a bus “bike bridge” for that period. They bury this in press release.

    AH Annotation #3: This was announced late last week for this weekend but has been delayed by a decision of Caltrans and contractor.  That this will cause a major inconvenience to local residents & Tahoe traffic – who are likely planning their life around closure. This closure will also cause cut-thru traffic on local streets in all three Yolo County cities. Caltrans is even suggesting drivers use local street in West Sac as alternative to the 3 lane freeway. See below.

    AH Annotation #4. If you think Caltrans is treating public cavalierly, write “Chair and member, Yolo Transportation District board (YoloTD) and tell them at link below. Public has complained to board in the past about lack of information from Caltrans on I-80 construction. YoloTD gave Caltrans $100million to”fix” i-80 in May of 2024. clerk YoloTD public-comment@Yctd.org

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  • CITY OF DAVIS MISLEADS PUBLIC ON $24 MILLION WRONGFUL DEATH VERDICT

    Attorney Roger Dreyer Calls Out the City’s Failure to Take Responsibility Until the Last Minute

    For Immediate Release: Kellie DeMarco

    Woodland, CA — After a Yolo County jury unanimously found the City of Davis fully responsible for the tragic death of Jennifer Comey, a wife and mother killed by a falling tree limb in a city park sandbox next to her toddler, the City immediately pushed out a carefully crafted press release in an effort to control the narrative. But here’s what they aren’t telling the public.

    For four years, the City of Davis denied responsibility, instead blaming private contractor DRG Inc. for the tragedy. It wasn’t until one week before trial ended—a clear PR stunt—that the City finally admitted fault while continuing to point fingers at DRG. However, the jury saw through the City’s tactics and ruled unanimously (12–0) that DRG was not responsible in any way. Instead, the jury held Davis 100% accountable for failing to inspect and maintain its own trees.

    “What was most impressive about this case is that the jury was not distracted by the misleading tactics of the attorneys for the City,” said Roger Dreyer, attorney for the Pitts family. “They focused on the devastating loss this family has endured. This jury’s decision was a remarkable demonstration of how citizens do their job for the public.”

    THE FACTS THE CITY WON’T SHARE

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  • March for Science in Sacramento

    474871296_10160357991382191_7775486472176908709_n(From press release) On March 7, 2025, scientists, students, advocates, and community members across the country will rally to defend science as a public good and a cornerstone of social progress.

    Stand Up For Science 2025 is a national day of action calling for robust, interference-free scientific research and policies that ensure science serves everyone. In Washington, DC, state capitals, and cities around the country, people will gather to advocate for continued government support for science, defend against censorship, and push back on attacks against diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in research and education.

    The Sacramento area is participating!

    Event Details:
    📍 Where: Sacramento capitol building (west side)
    📅 When: Friday, March 7, 2025, 12 – 4pm PST
    🌍 Who: Scientists, advocates, and anyone whose life is better because of science

    For additional information and forthcoming local rally details, visit www.standupforscience2025.org or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stand-up-for-science-2025-sacramento-ca-capitol-mall-west-side-tickets-1250788625449?aff=oddtdtcreator

  • Sierra Club Yolano Group Comments on Village Farms DEIR

    The following comments were emailed by the Sierra Club Yolano Group to Dara Dungworth, Principal Planner City of Davis Department of Community Development, on Feb 25. 2025, concerning the Village Farms DEIR. (See https://newdavisite.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/draft-eir-for-village-farms-released-for-public-comment/).

    1. Alternatives

      a) Recommend Consideration of Co-op Housing – Evidence suggests that a housing co-op model can provide stable, affordable workforce housing for individuals and families (see California Cooperatives: Today's Landscape of Worker, Housing and Childcare Cooperatives). Providing affordable local housing for people currently commuting to Davis from outside Davis will lessen the VMT and GHG emissions impact of this project and should be considered as an effective mitigation measure.

      We recommend that the FEIR analyze as a Project Alternative a co-op model (perhaps similar to Dos Pinos or Muir Woods) as a supplement to the proposed starter-home program to explore the environmental benefits that such a model could produce.

      b) Recommend Consideration of Alternative Only Below Channel A – On December 8, 2023, the County of Yolo Planning, Building, and Public Works Departments sent a letter to the City of Davis commenting on the Village Farms NOP which stated, "The Draft EIR should consider a reduced footprint alternative that defines the northern project boundary south of the existing Davis Drain and explores the opportunity for increased density, thereby maximizing housing options without compromising economic returns". Quoting from Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14: "Because an EIR must identify ways to mitigate or avoid the significant effects that a project may have on the environment (Public Resources Code Section 21002.1), the discussion of alternatives shall focus on alternatives to the project or its location which are capable of avoiding or substantially lessening any significant effects of the project, even if these alternatives would impede to some degree the attainment of the project objectives, or would be more costly. "

      We similarly recommend that a reduced footprint alternative be examined with its northern project boundary south of the existing Davis Drain to determine if building 1,000 or more units on such a reduced footprint can provide increased density and maximize housing options while preserving more trees and habitat and still meeting project objectives.

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  • Breaking: Watch closing arguments Slide Hill Tree Death on line

    By Alan Hirsch

    Tuesday, Davis city’s  “trial of the decade” begins to wrap up with closing arguments – and the public can watch the drama of three sets of polished lawyers via live-stream from home.

    The issue is liability for the city killing a woman to through neglect of a city tree in a Slide Hill City park. The city of Davis and Davey consultants are defendants. Plaintiffs are the survivors of Jennifer Comey. She was killed by a tree limb in front of her three-year-old daughter by tree that overhung a sandbox—  the city could not provide any evidence of pruning or inspecting the tree during the trial.

     The Jury verdict may be  delivered before the weekend.

    You can watch the drama in closing argument on Tuesday on line. The Jury will files in at 10:30-sharp. It will run until noon,

     You can attend dept 11 at yolo court house in person, or you can watch live stream at www.yolo.courts.ca.gov  Dept 11.

    ***
    I have watched this slow motion tragedy unfold in city government as the “self-appointed Lorax” for over 15 years now. Previous generations of Council was advised  by top management they can cut funding maintenance of tree infrastructure. They were advised they could ignore the public comments of concern on this matter.

    Even as everyone could see the city arborist was struggling to do his job.

    The current council and community are now stuck with cleaning up the mess.

     The entire city hall chain of command who advised council and managed the city into this situation have now moved on- or with Mike Webb now leaving, have announced they soon will.

     Current Davis-and Yolo residences (thru YCPARMA risk pool) will be held liable to pick up the tab that will total some multiple of the tax increase we noted on ourself last November. 

  • Immigration Crisis-What You Can Do

    There are many immigrants throughout the country who have become frightened for their future due to recent changes in immigration policies.  Many of us are concerned about the impact of Trump’s new policies on our immigrant neighbors. We share Yolo County with a large number of immigrants and their families, and their contributions to our economy, agriculture, labor force, and rich diverse cultures are significant.  

    Please join us for “Immigrants at Risk-What You Can Do” to learn about the current immigration enforcement, how it is affecting our immigrant neighbors and how we can assist them during this stressful time.  The program will be on Monday, February 24 from 7-8:30 pm and is open to the public.  The evening will include a multi-speaker panel discussion covering the legal landscape, hearing firsthand from local immigrants and the director of a refugee center in Sacramento. The program is sponsored by the Social Justice Committee at Congregation of Bet Haverim along with support from Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network (YIIN).  Please register in advance here. The event will be at Congregation Bet Haverim at 1715 Anderson Road in Davis. The program is free, and donations are helpful to cover the costs.  Any questions can be directed to John Katonah at jckatonah@icloud.com. 

  • City admits liability for killing woman in Park

    By Alan “Lorax” Hirsch

    On February 23, 2021, a mother, Jennipher Comey,  was struck, pinned down and killed  by a failed city tree that stood beside the  sandbox in Slide Hill Park in east Davis. As also reported in the Enterprise Sunday, the event occurred  in front of her 3 year old daughter Marjory.   Two weeks ago, after four years, the city admitted its inadequate tree care, and thus liability. This admission only seems to have occurred after an under-oath deposition by the former city arborist of the time. Robb Cain. He stated there was no city record of this tree ever being pruned in past, no current plan to ever inspect it for safety- or any future schedule to even do any routine tree maintenance  pruning in the Slide Hill Park.  This according to Davey Resource Group lawyer, a codependent in the case and the company the city hired to do the city’s $250,000 urban forest master plan (UFMP) later in 2021.

    In contrast, professional arboriculture “standard of care” practice calls for paying heighten attention to trees that overhang a children’s play area or picnic tables- as the fallen one did.  Slide Hill Park’s trees were ignored, not even on the city’s minimal 7 year “block pruning” cycle street trees get according to Davey.

    The delay in admission meant the city seems to have made no payment to support the family over the last four years since the incident. During that period the now orphan girl and her surviving father left Davis and moved to Ohio to be near family for support not received in Davis.

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