The Davis Voice

Excuse Our Mess

Cleanup on Aisle V, Cleanup on Aisle V

With four new authors on the Davis Voice, we've got the potential to start rocking this space right. 

But, we've been a little off lately with keeping our content fresh and on time.  So, please bear with us as we get over the new user/technology learning curve.  We'll get it right soon! 

Whatever you do, don't unsubscribe.  How would you know that the carnies are descending, our GEMs are at risk, and that bicycling can be sexy? 

More importantly, how would you know that we've already had one candidate's forum for the June 3rd City Council Election?  You sure wouldn't know if you only read our hometown newspaper (ahem.)

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.

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.

1% Growth Rate Cap

Wish the Hogwarts Cap Hat Would Sort City Council

Last night at the City Council meeting, we wrangled with math, statistics, history, parliamentary procedures (substitute-substitute-substitute motions), and rhetoric in an effort to clarify our fair city’s growth rate.

It is interesting that the current City Council, some of which are often unfairly pilloried and publicly whipped for “being in the pockets of developers”, has presided over one of the slowest growth rates in the modern history of Davis.

So, if this Council is “pro-growth”, why haven’t they allowed huge apartment complexes to be built all over town?  The short answer? No person in this town is simply “pro-” or “anti-” growth.  We all have nuanced beliefs about growth that allow exceptions for many types of growth.  Stephen Souza wants more senior housing and affordable units.  Mayor Greenwald would build thousands of units a year if they were all “infill” and conformed to her guidelines.  Rob Roy wants high-rises downtown.  I don’t know about you, but I just want to stop renting (although, I would miss my landlady’s cupcakes).

Does this new-fangled 1% Growth Rate Goal Parameter Guideline Cap actually mean anything to new housing in Davis?  No, absolutely NOT.

After the jump, drop in on my 1% Cap Academy to find out why the answer is so simple.