Souza Encourages Heystek to Bring up Living Wage Item on His Own

In what follows is the exchange from the August 1, 2006 Meeting where Heystek first requestioned that council agendize the living wage ordinance. Note that he clearly states he would like it on the September 12 agenda. This is important because when Council votes against agendizing the item by a 3-2 vote, Souza specifically encourages Heystek to prepare the item on his own for discussion. Because he has to prepare the item himself, it takes until the September 19 Meeting to bring it forward, which was the last possible date it could have a first reading and still apply to Measure K. Heystek is then chatised by Souza and Saylor both at the meeting and in the press for politicking and throwing this item on them at the least meeting. In light of this video clip, this attack is shown completely unfounded and the council majority is in fact responsible for the late date by failing to allow staff to prepare this item.

Bottom line here–the video at the end of this clip clearly shows Souza encourage Heystek to bring this proposal forward on his own and later both he and Saylor attack Heystek for bringing it forward at the last minute (he did not) and for politicking. This is duplicitous on the part of council at best.

—Doug Paul Davis reporting

About The Author

David Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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12 Comments

  1. davisite

    Doug… while your video does expose Souza’s attempt to gag the discussion, I would have included his statement(and Ruth’s”parroting”) that somehow an open discussion was “premature”.Premature to what? I think that he was really searching for the phrase, Don and I negotiated a development agreement with Target behind closed doors so ,too bad folks, it’s too late now…. This council majority reminds me of the Lillie Tomlin character… you remember that abusive telephone operator.. her reply to the frustrations of the people was.. Too bad, folks but WE”RE the telephone company!

  2. davisite

    Doug… while your video does expose Souza’s attempt to gag the discussion, I would have included his statement(and Ruth’s”parroting”) that somehow an open discussion was “premature”.Premature to what? I think that he was really searching for the phrase, Don and I negotiated a development agreement with Target behind closed doors so ,too bad folks, it’s too late now…. This council majority reminds me of the Lillie Tomlin character… you remember that abusive telephone operator.. her reply to the frustrations of the people was.. Too bad, folks but WE”RE the telephone company!

  3. davisite

    Doug… while your video does expose Souza’s attempt to gag the discussion, I would have included his statement(and Ruth’s”parroting”) that somehow an open discussion was “premature”.Premature to what? I think that he was really searching for the phrase, Don and I negotiated a development agreement with Target behind closed doors so ,too bad folks, it’s too late now…. This council majority reminds me of the Lillie Tomlin character… you remember that abusive telephone operator.. her reply to the frustrations of the people was.. Too bad, folks but WE”RE the telephone company!

  4. davisite

    Doug… while your video does expose Souza’s attempt to gag the discussion, I would have included his statement(and Ruth’s”parroting”) that somehow an open discussion was “premature”.Premature to what? I think that he was really searching for the phrase, Don and I negotiated a development agreement with Target behind closed doors so ,too bad folks, it’s too late now…. This council majority reminds me of the Lillie Tomlin character… you remember that abusive telephone operator.. her reply to the frustrations of the people was.. Too bad, folks but WE”RE the telephone company!

  5. Doug Paul Davis

    Yeah that’s a good point. I was trying to get three points onto the clip and keep it brief. The three was the proposal for the ordinance–and he was clear that this was an ordinance, the date for hearing would have been September 12 rather than September 19. Second, was Sue’s point that if this was not heard immediately, it would not be able to be applied to Target. Obviously an employer of 150-250 is a priority to ensure that there is a living wage for those employees so that they can reside in this city. And that’s not a small point because if they reside out of town, then the revenue is somewhat leaving town. Finally, Souza, knowing full well what was being proposed, suggested specifically that Lamar write this on his own.

    Those were the points I thought that needed to be on the clip. But I could have added the premature comment, and perhaps I will.

  6. Doug Paul Davis

    Yeah that’s a good point. I was trying to get three points onto the clip and keep it brief. The three was the proposal for the ordinance–and he was clear that this was an ordinance, the date for hearing would have been September 12 rather than September 19. Second, was Sue’s point that if this was not heard immediately, it would not be able to be applied to Target. Obviously an employer of 150-250 is a priority to ensure that there is a living wage for those employees so that they can reside in this city. And that’s not a small point because if they reside out of town, then the revenue is somewhat leaving town. Finally, Souza, knowing full well what was being proposed, suggested specifically that Lamar write this on his own.

    Those were the points I thought that needed to be on the clip. But I could have added the premature comment, and perhaps I will.

  7. Doug Paul Davis

    Yeah that’s a good point. I was trying to get three points onto the clip and keep it brief. The three was the proposal for the ordinance–and he was clear that this was an ordinance, the date for hearing would have been September 12 rather than September 19. Second, was Sue’s point that if this was not heard immediately, it would not be able to be applied to Target. Obviously an employer of 150-250 is a priority to ensure that there is a living wage for those employees so that they can reside in this city. And that’s not a small point because if they reside out of town, then the revenue is somewhat leaving town. Finally, Souza, knowing full well what was being proposed, suggested specifically that Lamar write this on his own.

    Those were the points I thought that needed to be on the clip. But I could have added the premature comment, and perhaps I will.

  8. Doug Paul Davis

    Yeah that’s a good point. I was trying to get three points onto the clip and keep it brief. The three was the proposal for the ordinance–and he was clear that this was an ordinance, the date for hearing would have been September 12 rather than September 19. Second, was Sue’s point that if this was not heard immediately, it would not be able to be applied to Target. Obviously an employer of 150-250 is a priority to ensure that there is a living wage for those employees so that they can reside in this city. And that’s not a small point because if they reside out of town, then the revenue is somewhat leaving town. Finally, Souza, knowing full well what was being proposed, suggested specifically that Lamar write this on his own.

    Those were the points I thought that needed to be on the clip. But I could have added the premature comment, and perhaps I will.

  9. Anonymous

    I am really confused. I really don’t understand why Don Saylor and Steve Souza are in charge of negotiating employee wages as part of the development agreement, if that is in fact what they are doing.
    I also consider $10/hour near the bottom of the pay scale. It is a paycheck to paycheck level of existence. Even the University agreed that they would not pay less than $9/hour for full-time career employees (plus a generous health insurance plan). I think that Target would welcome right now looking like they would be a benefit to the Davis community by offering wages that Davis citizens need to live here. I don’t understand Don and Steve’s opposition to even discussing the idea openly.

  10. Anonymous

    I am really confused. I really don’t understand why Don Saylor and Steve Souza are in charge of negotiating employee wages as part of the development agreement, if that is in fact what they are doing.
    I also consider $10/hour near the bottom of the pay scale. It is a paycheck to paycheck level of existence. Even the University agreed that they would not pay less than $9/hour for full-time career employees (plus a generous health insurance plan). I think that Target would welcome right now looking like they would be a benefit to the Davis community by offering wages that Davis citizens need to live here. I don’t understand Don and Steve’s opposition to even discussing the idea openly.

  11. Anonymous

    I am really confused. I really don’t understand why Don Saylor and Steve Souza are in charge of negotiating employee wages as part of the development agreement, if that is in fact what they are doing.
    I also consider $10/hour near the bottom of the pay scale. It is a paycheck to paycheck level of existence. Even the University agreed that they would not pay less than $9/hour for full-time career employees (plus a generous health insurance plan). I think that Target would welcome right now looking like they would be a benefit to the Davis community by offering wages that Davis citizens need to live here. I don’t understand Don and Steve’s opposition to even discussing the idea openly.

  12. Anonymous

    I am really confused. I really don’t understand why Don Saylor and Steve Souza are in charge of negotiating employee wages as part of the development agreement, if that is in fact what they are doing.
    I also consider $10/hour near the bottom of the pay scale. It is a paycheck to paycheck level of existence. Even the University agreed that they would not pay less than $9/hour for full-time career employees (plus a generous health insurance plan). I think that Target would welcome right now looking like they would be a benefit to the Davis community by offering wages that Davis citizens need to live here. I don’t understand Don and Steve’s opposition to even discussing the idea openly.

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