The Davis Voice

This Weekend in The People's Republic

Thanks to whomever took Spring out back and waterboarded asked it nicely if it would come early.

Enjoy the weather by taking your bicycle out for a sexy spin this weekend, you'll need it if you're planning on attending the plethora of cultural events in our fair city.  After the jump, check out your options.

The Future of Biking in Davis

Bringing the Sexy Back to Biking

First off, we know. We know that we're probably the 3,864,039^th attempt to write about bicycling in Davis.   Many of those attempts cash in on irresponsible hyperbole, but the Davis Voice does not condone such behavior.

So, give us a break and just read our bicycle post.  Maybe our attempt at prose will cause you to turn over a new leaf (if there are any left after your smog spewing, death machine of steel kills every living thing on this planet) and start biking around town more often.

If Davis,California is the “Most bicycle friendly town in the world,” then why is bicycle ridership down?  Why has riding a bicycle become less popular?  Forget the why, and follow us as we bring the sexy back to biking.

After the jump, find out how we think biking in Davis should go about getting a new look, find its mojo, start dating the hot girl, and have lots of ridiculously smart and adorable trikes.

Welcome Aggies

The California Aggie Told You to Come Here, Sweet.

Thanks to the Aggie and Alex Buller for a well written article all about us.  So, welcome Aggies, great to have you here. 

We're still looking for contributors, so check out the "About Us" and read through the site.  If you think that you've got something to add (with a little bit of funny) on a regular basis (1-4 posts/month), let us know.

And finally, we're getting some traction on Dalebrities.  Let us know if you spot a Dalebrity doing something inane or thoroughly ridiculous: tips@davisvoice.com

DJUSD Long Term Funding Challenges

A Day Decade Late, A Dollar $,$$$,$$$ Short
by Michael P. Bartolic

With the threat of massive cuts to schools from the state budget, the already horrible fiscal health of the the Davis Joint Unified School District just took a roundhouse to the head that would make Chuck Norris proud. 

The Davis Voice has kept you in the loop on a couple of DJUSD issues that face this community (see DJUSD category to the left), but until now, we've been light on offering suggestions for improvement.

After the jump, find two proposals that will do nothing to ensure that music classes aren't cut next year BUT will give DJUSD the safety net it so direly needs.  And, no, neither proposal includes using Chuck Norris' tears to instantly solve the problem... Chuck Norris has never cried.

Charter City Status for Davis

How you can wear white stockings and a wig with pride.

Should the City of Davis be able to make its own rules? Damn skippy… this is a People’s Republic after all, right?? Unfortunately, many of our regulations are dictated by our governmental overlord, the State of California. How do we loosen those statutory fetters? Home Rule is the concept that constituent parts of a state should be given more self governance.

In the State of California, the “default” status for an incorporated city is General Law. If a city wants more control over their self government, then they must become a charter city. What is a city charter? Basically, it is a city constitution.

How is it possible that our People’s Republic doesn’t have its own constitution? Isn’t there a Constitutional Convention somewhere in our storied past? Why, oh why, can’t we have choice voting and our own municipal utility if we want it?

Since the Governance Taskforce in 2005 and the general citizenry in 2006 voted in favor of instituting choice voting, the City Council subcommittee of Stephen Souza and Lamar Heystek have been investigating this issue.

Tonight, they will present their findings at the City Council meeting. After the jump, you’ll find all the links and info you can handle to begin understanding this issue.

This Week in YOUR Government

Souza & Heystek to Present Charter City Proposal

This week, like every other in our fair city, there are many opportunities to flex your civic muscles by attending and/or participating in a local governance group.

I've decided to also include political events in this weekly roundup.  So, add tips@davisvoice.com to your email list if you're publicizing a fundraiser, candidate meet-and-greet, or a debate in your backyard.  And please, keep us in the circle if you decide to launch an all-Davis strike to permanently close Downtown Davis from gas-guzzler traffic.

One item that should pique your interest is the City Council meeting on Tuesday.  Councilmembers Souza & Heystek will present their proposal regarding the advisory measure in which Davis voters asked the City to look into adopting a charter that would allow us to, among many other things, institute choice voting.

After the jump, get the skinny on all of those local governmentt and political happenings that are crowding my GoogleCalendar.

Welcome, All ye Political Junkies

Hardened Political Veterans, Bored People (All Ages) Also Wanted

Thanks to Claire St. John of The Enterprise for luring you into our little corner of the Web.   

A great, well rounded article was marred only by the picture of my bearded mug seated at the Delta of Venus while either expounding on some vital issue OR demonstrating the width of an  unknown item.

One minor correction:  I have not asked any current DJUSD Board members to write for the site (though I would welcome their contributions), but I have approached a former Board member.

This post, like most of our articles, has only the first few sentences on the main page.  If you want more, click on the "Continue reading" link (aka "the jump") to get the full story.  Our very first post is reproduced after the jump.

We hope you enjoy the content, get involved and come back often.  If you'd prefer a daily email, rather than furiously refreshing the page until we post something new (M-F only!), sign up in the field above left.

Weekend in The People's Republic

Can Someone Lobby/Bribe/Threaten Spring to Arrive NOW?

The vernal equinox (aka Spring) is just 26 days, 15 hours and 34 minutes away, but until then, some of us still need to be flogged out of the house and into the world. 

After the jump, check out a mix of music, cultural and political events to help cure the last stages of your seasonal depression during this rainy weekend.

Capay Valley Almond Festival: POSTPONED

We’ve Got Rural Character, Yes We Do!
We’ve Got Rural Character, How ‘Bout You!?

BREAKING: Almond Festival has been postponed, due to threat of heavy rain, until Saturday, March 1st.

In most urban growth conversations and documents in our fair city, it is inevitable that reference will be made to the “rural/agricultural character of Davis”. Although Davis has increased in population by 40,000+ in the past few decades, this town, county, and region still has a lot of “rural/agricultural character". Don’t forget that UC Davis is traditionally the UC System agricultural (we’re the Aggies) campus. We’re surrounded by world famous wineries, orchards, sunflowers, and a plethora of other ag products. Yet, somehow, many of us have no idea where our food comes from beyond the shelf at Nugget.

Nugget Fields 7/11 Committee

This is About Soccer, Not Slurpees

Last year, I served on the DJUSD’s 7/11 Surplus Property Committee for the Grande Site. No, the committee is not called “7/11” because we held our meetings in a convenience mart with Giant Slurpees; it is a reference to the state-mandated makeup of 7 to 11 local citizens.

During that process, I believe that we diligently followed the precepts of open and good government.  We challenged the administration and neighbors to provide thorough feedback and evidence on this matter. Somewhat reluctantly, we recommended that with the current status of facilities, enrollment, and programs, DJUSD had no foreseeable educational uses for the site.  DJUSD is now pursuing the sale/development of this site with ongoing input from the Neighborhood Association.

Now, the community must face the fact that Nugget Fields is also on the chopping block. By the way, it’s time for opponents of Covell Village  to step up to the plate for a rational discussion on how to preserve park (and other open) space without concomitant development… 

After the jump, you’ll find the first column by Michael P. Bartolic. Mike will be contributing regularly on parks, recreation and a smattering of other issues that keep him up late at night.