Category: Politics

5th & J Streets – Emergency Situation

Open Letter to Davis City Council

Davis City Council,

Another collision at 5th & J Street today. Car vs. Bike.

Right after I called for Jersey barriers again at Council last night after the last collision.

This is an emergency situation. Two collisions just this week, four in one week several weeks back. Put up the goddamned Jersey barriers already, like today, like tomorrow. Recognize that people are getting hurt at an alarming rate here. I made a mistake being OK that the changes are coming after calling for Jersey barriers immediately after the four accidents a few weeks back. We can't wait.

Here's how to do it: put Jersey barriers on the left of each directional lane leading up to the intersection, and along the left-turn lane. The left-turn lanes will face each other, so block the west to south lane, and allow east to north. Put a 4' gap on each side for peds & bikes at crosswalks. Do this also at I Street and K Street. Similar site problems, and drivers will just cut over to I or K if J is blocked. At I and K Street reverse which left turn lane is blocked, so cars can only go west to south. This allows people to get into the neighborhood from 5th either direction, but prevents a 'face-off' between cars in the two left-turn lanes. Then slap a vertical yellow reflector on the east and west ends of the Jersey barriers to prevent cars from hitting them.

This has been going on for years, but the rate of collisions has increased greatly recently. I live near the corner of 3rd & J Streets. 3rd is a bit less busy but still an arterial. I can't recall ever seeing a collision there. In over 35 years. I'm sure it's happened, but it's rare. So it isn't just bad drivers, it's the intersection.

People keep asking why. 5th & J has inherent site problems. These can't be fixed with shrub trimming – there are poles and trees in just the wrong places. Going south to cross, you have to stop back of the stop line, then pull forward up to the bike lane, stop, and then pull across. It's the only safe way to do it, but most people who don't use it regularly don't know this, nor is stopping twice a normal way to cross a street. You get someone who pulls forward from the stop line with their site line blocked in just the wrong places, combined with a speeding car on 5th, and BOOM. And it happens often.

Do it! Fix it! Today! Now! No later than tomorrow!

Alan C. Miller

Old East Davis

April 16, 2025
Davis City Council Agenda Item 7- 2025 Pavement Management Update Recommendation
By Dan Carson and Elaine Roberts Musser
- Direct City staff to provide funding in the forthcoming two-year budget of $14 million per year (from all sources), including an increase in General Fund resources of $5.5 million per year from Measure Q sales tax increase funding approved by Davis voters, for support of the Pavement Maintenance Program. The $14 million amount represents the funding identified by city staff in a December 2024 presentation to Council that would be needed over four years to make up for previous shortfalls in funding for road and bike path maintenance that have occurred in recent years.
- Direct city staff to return to Council with a recommendation in regard to the additional staff and contract resources, if necessary, that should be incorporated into the 2025-27 budget plan to implement the program at the funding level provided above.
- Restore the process the Council established in 2019 for commission review and oversight of the Pavement Maintenance Program. The Fiscal Commission should:
  1. Examine why the reported condition of street and bike path pavement improved significantly in recent years, nearly reaching the original goals set by Council, despite significant funding shortfalls, and evaluate whether future technical adjustments are warranted to reassess the model used to project the level of funding required for the program.
  2. Evaluate the potential impact of the planned Cool Pavement federal grant program to determine whether any further increases or decreases are warranted for city funding levels for pavement management, due to improvements to roads expected to be achieved under the federal grant program.
  3. Review the specific proposed funding components of the 2019 Council-approved plan for pavement maintenance to:
    
    Determine whether, and to what degree, they have been implemented by city staff, and why;
    
    Determine which, if any of them, are still feasible and available to assist in future funding of the Pavement Management Program;
    
    Estimate the fiscal impact of frontloading rather than backloading funding to maintain roads and bike paths over the next ten years. The Council should direct city staff to assist the Fiscal Commission in all four areas of this review.
Background

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April 14, 2025
Errant Water Permit Puts Good Humus Farm at Risk

By Scott Steward

Boundary Bend was cited by the County in August 2023 for its non-permitted well drilling in the Hungary Hollow region of Capay Valley. So how, after two years of evidence showing that the well is out of compliance, is County staff recommending upholding Boundary Bends agricultural well permit # 23-022W? The County and Boundary Bend know that the new well is too big and too close to Good Humus farm.

Good Humus and other family farms have already had to modify their wells to sustain their table crop farms. Nearly three generations of care have gone into the land craft of organic farming in Hungary Hollow. Without much help, these farms have entered our region's food markets and succeeded in producing some of the healthiest food on earth. Capay has inspired farm-to-fork land care nationally.

Boundary Bend (application #23-022W) took advantage of one-time replacement well criteria that the county was obliged to put in place for farms and residents short on water following the seven-year drought. Replacement well designation was allowed for existing agricultural operations and drinking water. Boundary Bend did not meet the criteria for a replacement well. Instead of reapplying as a new well, Boundary hired lawyers at Kronick to lean on the county.

Here are some of the facts that show that Boundary Bend application #23-022W did not and does not qualify for the approved "replacement well" status. The application:

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April 6, 2025
HandsOff Rally at Capitol, Saturday April 5

Joint Announcement by Sacramento Region Grassroots Organizations

(From press release)

WHAT: Mass Mobilization to Stop the Trump/Musk Corruption and Power Grab
WHEN: April 5, 2025 11 a.m.
WHERE: State Capitol West Steps, Sacramento [and in multiple outlying areas*]

On April 5, local grassroots organizations from around the Sacramento region are calling on all people concerned about the direction of our country to join the 50501 Picnic Protest in tandem with the national Hands Off! mass rally to protest the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities.

Events across the country, in major cities and small towns in every state, will show that the people—the majority—are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab.

Why we’re mobilizing on April 5th

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April 1, 2025
Go See “October 8th” @ Davis Varsity playing through Thursday

by Alan C. Miller

The showtimes for Monday March 31st – Thursday April 3rd are: 6:10pm & 8:40pm

The official summary is:

"OCTOBER 8th" offers a look at the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses, social media and in the streets of America beginning the day after the October 7th attack on Israel by Hamas. Through meticulous investigation, the film also uncovers how over decades, Hamas created sophisticated networks in America to permeate U.S. institutions and examines the tsunami of online antisemitism, propaganda, and disinformation unleashed by Iran, China and Russia – with the sole purpose of dividing American society.

I am sure some will dismiss this movie as "Isreael propaganda". I've seen two single-showing pro-Palestine movies at The Varsity that could be considered Palestinian propaganda. Not that I didn't learn anything or that it is all BS, but of course the most effective propaganda contains mostly truths and leaves out truths not flattering to the propaganda side. I did not consider "No Other Land" to be propaganda; it was about a particular situation from the effects of the settlements in the West Bank. I have yet find anything convincing to morally justify the settlements.

I haven't seen "October 8th" yet, but will be seeing it this week. From the clips I've seen, there is a parallel to what I felt on October 8th and the days following. I had lived as we all have, knowing there were, as in the 40's, and through much of history, people out there who wanted to kill us for who we are, for some to kill all of us —- with one or dozens killed in individual terrorist attacks over the last few decades. I had only come into contact with real antisemitic hatred a few times, but it's really ugly when it happens directly, and astounding. And it has been ramping up, and most white people don't get it. I said that on purpose to get a rise; most non-Jews don't get it.

And then it happened. 1200 Jews killed, and hundreds dragged over the border. I never thought I'd see an event of the mass slaughter of Jews reflecting of the Holocaust in my lifetime. While not as massive, the genocidal intent and the hate was clear.

The next day, on October 8th, I had no expectation of the media and public reaction, but I was shocked by what occurred. Why would I not hear mass mourning and understanding by so so many? I heard calls for Israel to 'stop the genocide', still weeks before Gaza was invaded, with no recognition of the genocidal attack that had just occurred. Multiple independent news sources that I trusted and hosts I admired suddenly turned with narratives that bordered on or were outright antisemitic. 1200 Jews had just been killed, and the term 'Zionist' was now being openly used with the same tone as 'Nazi' by large swaths of the public and even some media outlets — Israelis were even being called Nazis.

I was watching Israeli media directly as much as possible. The day after the "40 beheaded babies" story broke, the story was debunked in Israel. Yet days later our President (Biden) repeated it (why??? @#$%&!). Then for months this group, suddenly empowered in the media, the 'anti-Zionists', including anti-Zionist Jews, began repeating the 40 beheaded babies story as a lie told by Israel, even though it had been debunked the next day in Israeli media.

And the most heinous lie of all – summed up by many as "Listen to all Women, Unless they are Jewish". The anti-Zionists spreading information that there were no rapes. One of the darkest things I ever witnessed was — just a few days after October 7th — two hours of interviews with a team of women who had prepared the bodies of the women slaughtered at the Nova Festival for respectable and fast Jewish burial. This wasn't propaganda — there wasn't even time to have orchestrated such a thing — these were women who had traveled to help out due to the massiveness of the task. They described the burns, the semen stains, the broken bones and pelvises, the severed limbs.

And then — journalists I respected said it was all a lie — there were no rapes. Some say it to this day. I believe the NY Tines didn't get it all right, but that doesn't mean there were no rapes. And this just a handful of years after 'Me Too'. And all this macro-hate directed at Jews when just a few years earlier we were told of the evil of 'micro-agressions'.

I've made it a point to listen to both sides, to all sides, and seek to watch every pro-Palestine movie that comes through, to fully understand, if not to agree. And yes, criticism of Israel is more than valid, it's a right and necessary. I am not a fan of Netanyahu nor the West Bank settlements and Israel deserves much criticism. But the outright double-standard used against Jews, and the hate, that has to be recognized by more Americans for what it is, as it isn't going away.

So this may be propaganda in some people's eyes, and maybe it is. As I said, I haven't seen it yet. But I make it a point to see what is put out by all sides on this issue. I hope you will too.

March 31, 2025
Schumer Should Step Aside as Minority Leader

(From press release) Minority Leader Schumer, as chair of the Democratic Caucus in the Senate, broke with the vast majority of his caucus to allow a GOP funding bill to advance, without any restrictions on the ongoing efforts from Donald Trump and Elon Musk to dismantle the federal government. Indivisible Yolo issued the following statement:

Under Senator Chuck Schumer’s Leadership, Senate Democrats just surrendered a rare moment of leverage to rein in the chaos and harm of Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Congressional Republicans. By voting to advance the GOP government funding bill, rather than demanding anything in return, Schumer handed more power to the extremists destroying the government. This was not just a strategic mistake – it was a demonstration that Schumer is not prepared to lead the Democratic opposition to fascism and protect our democracy. We thank him for his years of service, and call on him to step aside as minority leader.

After working hard throughout 2024 to flip Republican Congressional seats in California, including playing a key role in the razor-close win in nearby CA-13, Indivisible Yolo members were shocked and dismayed by the November results. We quickly pivoted to resisting the fascist Trump agenda however we could.

Specifically, we contacted our Senators many times to urge them to use the leverage provided by Senate rules – particularly the filibuster which had been used against progressive legislation so often in the past – to avoid or mitigate the damage caused by Republicans. We are very grateful to Senator Padilla and Senator Schiff for recognizing the stakes and voting “no” on March 14. Despite a “no” vote by nearly 80% of the Democratic caucus, Senator Schumer surrendered to the Republicans and thereby authorized nine other Senators to vote yes. We feel cheated by the losses we suffered due to the filibuster being used against us in the past, and betrayed by Senator Schumer’s refusal to use the filibuster when we needed it to save democracy. The first branch of government now is merely an advisory body and we are deprived of our democratic representation while being subjected to the tyrannical oppression of the Trump administration.

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March 17, 2025
Again? Freeway-to-Sac’s Closure Postponed – now Indefinitely

By Alan Hirsch

Below is the core of Caltrans press release issued Wednesday 3/12 at 3:28pm announcing postponement of the Eastbound 50 Freeway in West Sac closure for this weekend. They say indefinitely—but it could be forever as they may figure out how to do the pavement rehab work while keeping some of regular 3 lanes up.

But if they reschedule total closure another weekend later in March, drivers will have to contend traffic from with opening of the A’s and River cat baseball season to Sutter Health Park.

This will may push out the work… and could conflict with the schedule to begin work to widened i-80 with toll lane- which is set to begin just next month. The Toll Lane construction work – Phase I of it– will continue into 2028.

For previous articles on evolving (potential) freeway closure, click here , here2.and here3.

Note the bike lane will also be continue thru Monday 3/17 next week- but could go longer as Caltrans notes unhelpfully “weather permitting”.

Editorial: This indefinite postponement could be due to pushbacks to Caltrans from local city council members and state representatives- after receiving calls from constituents. We will likely never know. It is strange the freeway closure was not announced or discussed during YoloTD board meetings even though Caltrans was present – only in public comment. One wonders, for example, if there will be a total west bound closure too.

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March 13, 2025
Dual Freeway/Bridge shutdowns a perfect traffic storm

Double Bridge-Freeway shutdown to hit West Sac

By Alan Hirsch, Yolo Mobility

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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March 11, 2025
1500 scientists and science-supporters rally state capitol

By Alan “Lorax” Hirsch

About 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.

March 9, 2025
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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March 8, 2025