Polling Reveals Prospects for Valley Oak Parcel Tax Bleak

While the Davis Joint Unified School Board generally received good news from the returns from the polling they commissioned to test proposals for a new parcel tax, the one piece of bad news was the general unviability of the second parcel tax that would fund the continuation of Valley Oak Elementary School. While its presence on the ballot did not appear to doom the initial parcel tax, there did not appear to be sufficient support to even warrant its inclusion on the ballot.

The initial polling of 437 households in Davis conducted in late April had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent. The initial Valley Oak Polling which presented to the voter information about Valley Oak and then asked:

“Therefore, the district may place a second parcel tax proposal on the ballot to raise the funds needed to keep Valley Oak Elementary School open. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?”

The findings for this revealed that just 35.9 percent favored this proposal while 42.9 percent opposed it. Remember all of the tax items need a two-thirds vote in order to gain approval.

Even when a the dollar figure of $32 per year was included, the opposition stayed relatively stationary at 41.7 percent, which the support rose from 35.9 to 46.2 percent, that primary came from the 20 plus percent of undecideds rather than from the opposition.

Making prospects worse, a full 51.4 percent of those polled considered themselves very aware of the district’s recent decision to close Valley Oak Elementary School and 82.4% considered themselves very or somewhat aware of the decision.

As the pollster who presented these results said, these findings indicate that the proposal is “a long way short” of the support needed to obtain a two-thirds majority. He didn’t “see it as having a viability district-wide.”

However, additional polling does suggest that having both items on the ballot, “does not seem to disrupt the ability to get the two-thirds vote that you need” on the initial parcel tax. In other words, having the Valley Oak item “will not harm viability” of the initial parcel tax.

Even when they changed the wording from testing “Valley Oak” to testing the wording of keeping “all nine schools,” the second proposal still fails. “The semantic change does not give the second proposal any more life.”

He further argued that the Valley Oak proposal does not even pass in the Valley Oak neighborhood and that in no district does it achieve a two-thirds vote and furthermore it is a long distance from even a majority.

When asked if under ideal campaign conditions, whereby there was an unopposed campaign if it could achieve a two-thirds vote. The pollster said, “I think it’s a long way and will never get there [to two-thirds support].” He said is was simply too great a distance to make up that kind of ground, and in twenty years of work, he has never seen that kind of movement. He said, “it would be an extraordinary situation to move from this level of support to two-thirds.”

And while the polling again suggests that it would not harm the chances of the main parcel tax, the sense seems to be at this point, that they should not take the risk on the parcel tax as an option to keep Valley Oak Elementary School open. In fact, there are a number of reasons to not do it, aside from the risk. The most likely route to take would be the continuation of their efforts to draft a charter and turn Valley Oak into a charter school.

Overall the news was overwhelmingly good for passage of the main parcel tax. 81.3% favor supporting the parcel tax, “without changing any of the details of the current parcel tax.” With only 7.8% opposition, that is well above the two-thirds vote needed to approve the renewal of the tax at current levels.

They also tested for an increase in the parcel tax up to $194 per home and $97 per apartment per year. Support drops, but it remains at 64.3 percent and more importantly only 20 percent opposition.

They also tested for length of renewal being extended from four years to six years and found about the same level of support as they had for the tax increase.

As we have mentioned previously, the parcel tax will most likely be on the ballot with the library tax. Testing them together found that both parcel taxes appear to have strong support–in the 70 percent ranges even when polled together with a full 63.5 percent pledging support to both and an additional 12 percent supporting just the school parcel and 9.1 percent supporting only the library tax. Just 7 percent of the voters opposed both.

The polling companies conclusions and recommendations are as follows:

There is an overall strong base of support for renewing the parcel tax. The current use of the parcel tax appears to align well with the community’s priorities for education and the community seems strongly in support for funding additional programs as well.

“Increasing the cost of the tax to address the impact of inflation does reduce the level of support available for renewal but we believe there is adequate support among parents and very active voters to recommend that a proposal to increase the cost to $194 be placed on the November ballot.”

Moreover, most of the changes being considered are feasible including an extension to six years. Adding an “oversight committee” would help to build support for the renewal. A senior exemption for voters over 55 years of age does not appear to harm the prospects for passage with other voters. However, they do not recommend adding in a CPI index to the parcel tax, as support for a COLA does not appear high enough.

They were very clear that there is no such thing as an easy tax election, however, they felt with a strong campaign and limited or no organized opposition, that these taxes with some adjustments were both feasible and likely. With only a bare 10 to 20 percent opposition, it seems promising that organized efforts to oppose the measure will not be mounted.

Still while the findings overall for the parcel taxes were reassuring, the support for a Valley Oak parcel tax, even in its own neighborhood is very discouraging. It demonstrates that the efforts underway to produce a charter school need to continue.

—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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128 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    That’s disappointing, but ultimately, not too surprising. The Board majority (Taylor, Dalaiden, and Jones) offered only tepid support for the VO parcel tax during the board discussion over closure issues. In addition, it seems apparent that the District’s administrative leadership has done nothing over the last couple of months to work with the VO community on transition issues, nor have they offered much support or counsel on the parcel tax itself.

    On a related note, the much-ballyhooed Achievement Gap TF released some preliminary recommendations earlier this week. Without exception, each recommendation has a fairly significant price tag associated with it. The timing of the report is interesting in that it comes during a period where the board has voted to close a school that has done more than any other to close the Achievement Gap at the elementary level, all the while citing budget and funding shortfalls as the chief reason.

    The real “shortfall” in the DJUSD is in the area of leadership. We can be a district where innovation and creative problem-solving return to the forefront of district and board operations. The charter school movement that has taken root in the VO community is a step in the right direction.

  2. Anonymous

    That’s disappointing, but ultimately, not too surprising. The Board majority (Taylor, Dalaiden, and Jones) offered only tepid support for the VO parcel tax during the board discussion over closure issues. In addition, it seems apparent that the District’s administrative leadership has done nothing over the last couple of months to work with the VO community on transition issues, nor have they offered much support or counsel on the parcel tax itself.

    On a related note, the much-ballyhooed Achievement Gap TF released some preliminary recommendations earlier this week. Without exception, each recommendation has a fairly significant price tag associated with it. The timing of the report is interesting in that it comes during a period where the board has voted to close a school that has done more than any other to close the Achievement Gap at the elementary level, all the while citing budget and funding shortfalls as the chief reason.

    The real “shortfall” in the DJUSD is in the area of leadership. We can be a district where innovation and creative problem-solving return to the forefront of district and board operations. The charter school movement that has taken root in the VO community is a step in the right direction.

  3. Anonymous

    That’s disappointing, but ultimately, not too surprising. The Board majority (Taylor, Dalaiden, and Jones) offered only tepid support for the VO parcel tax during the board discussion over closure issues. In addition, it seems apparent that the District’s administrative leadership has done nothing over the last couple of months to work with the VO community on transition issues, nor have they offered much support or counsel on the parcel tax itself.

    On a related note, the much-ballyhooed Achievement Gap TF released some preliminary recommendations earlier this week. Without exception, each recommendation has a fairly significant price tag associated with it. The timing of the report is interesting in that it comes during a period where the board has voted to close a school that has done more than any other to close the Achievement Gap at the elementary level, all the while citing budget and funding shortfalls as the chief reason.

    The real “shortfall” in the DJUSD is in the area of leadership. We can be a district where innovation and creative problem-solving return to the forefront of district and board operations. The charter school movement that has taken root in the VO community is a step in the right direction.

  4. Anonymous

    That’s disappointing, but ultimately, not too surprising. The Board majority (Taylor, Dalaiden, and Jones) offered only tepid support for the VO parcel tax during the board discussion over closure issues. In addition, it seems apparent that the District’s administrative leadership has done nothing over the last couple of months to work with the VO community on transition issues, nor have they offered much support or counsel on the parcel tax itself.

    On a related note, the much-ballyhooed Achievement Gap TF released some preliminary recommendations earlier this week. Without exception, each recommendation has a fairly significant price tag associated with it. The timing of the report is interesting in that it comes during a period where the board has voted to close a school that has done more than any other to close the Achievement Gap at the elementary level, all the while citing budget and funding shortfalls as the chief reason.

    The real “shortfall” in the DJUSD is in the area of leadership. We can be a district where innovation and creative problem-solving return to the forefront of district and board operations. The charter school movement that has taken root in the VO community is a step in the right direction.

  5. Anonymous

    As with most polling, the rub is in the question. Evidently, the question appears not to have been asked: If the supplemental VO addition was part of the parcel tax and if a NO vote eliminated the funding for current “enrichment” programs, would you vote NO?
    For myself, I will be voting NO if VO is still slated for closure when the parcel tax is offered to the Davis voters. Those who vote against all tax increases do not expose themselves to public ridicule when polled. They express themselves on election day. Add to this, voters like myself who have always supported this parcel tax but feel that placing violin lessons over critical, successful programs is unacceptable, and I predict that passage, in spite of the polling, will be a “squeaker” at best and could very well fail.

  6. Anonymous

    As with most polling, the rub is in the question. Evidently, the question appears not to have been asked: If the supplemental VO addition was part of the parcel tax and if a NO vote eliminated the funding for current “enrichment” programs, would you vote NO?
    For myself, I will be voting NO if VO is still slated for closure when the parcel tax is offered to the Davis voters. Those who vote against all tax increases do not expose themselves to public ridicule when polled. They express themselves on election day. Add to this, voters like myself who have always supported this parcel tax but feel that placing violin lessons over critical, successful programs is unacceptable, and I predict that passage, in spite of the polling, will be a “squeaker” at best and could very well fail.

  7. Anonymous

    As with most polling, the rub is in the question. Evidently, the question appears not to have been asked: If the supplemental VO addition was part of the parcel tax and if a NO vote eliminated the funding for current “enrichment” programs, would you vote NO?
    For myself, I will be voting NO if VO is still slated for closure when the parcel tax is offered to the Davis voters. Those who vote against all tax increases do not expose themselves to public ridicule when polled. They express themselves on election day. Add to this, voters like myself who have always supported this parcel tax but feel that placing violin lessons over critical, successful programs is unacceptable, and I predict that passage, in spite of the polling, will be a “squeaker” at best and could very well fail.

  8. Anonymous

    As with most polling, the rub is in the question. Evidently, the question appears not to have been asked: If the supplemental VO addition was part of the parcel tax and if a NO vote eliminated the funding for current “enrichment” programs, would you vote NO?
    For myself, I will be voting NO if VO is still slated for closure when the parcel tax is offered to the Davis voters. Those who vote against all tax increases do not expose themselves to public ridicule when polled. They express themselves on election day. Add to this, voters like myself who have always supported this parcel tax but feel that placing violin lessons over critical, successful programs is unacceptable, and I predict that passage, in spite of the polling, will be a “squeaker” at best and could very well fail.

  9. Anonymous

    The vote is on whether or not we want to provide money to enrich the programs at all Davis’ schools, not whether you like the school board right now.

    Voting no for the reason you give – if Valley Oak is slated to close then make sure all Davis kids feel the pain – is just petty.

  10. Anonymous

    The vote is on whether or not we want to provide money to enrich the programs at all Davis’ schools, not whether you like the school board right now.

    Voting no for the reason you give – if Valley Oak is slated to close then make sure all Davis kids feel the pain – is just petty.

  11. Anonymous

    The vote is on whether or not we want to provide money to enrich the programs at all Davis’ schools, not whether you like the school board right now.

    Voting no for the reason you give – if Valley Oak is slated to close then make sure all Davis kids feel the pain – is just petty.

  12. Anonymous

    The vote is on whether or not we want to provide money to enrich the programs at all Davis’ schools, not whether you like the school board right now.

    Voting no for the reason you give – if Valley Oak is slated to close then make sure all Davis kids feel the pain – is just petty.

  13. Nikki Smith

    Thank you, anonymous 1 and 2 for your support of Valley Oak. Anon. 3, I understand your point. To be honest, my knee jerk reaction was the same as Anon. 2. But…I don’t want to see any kids suffer.

    I do not know exactly which programs the initial parcel tax supports, but my impression is that it primarily supports enrichment (extras). It is bothersome that our community seems to value the extras over the core programs.

    I have to commend Interim Super. Richard Whitmore for having the decency to come talk to our staff about the polling results prior to last night’s meeting, which I was not able to attend. Unfortunately, the meeting occured at lunch time, which limited available time for discussion and left me with indigestion.

    I did ask the question, “Why can’t we put both tax amounts together and propose one tax for all children?” The answer was two-fold. First, the amount would then exceed $200, which seemed to lower support. Secondly, that is not what the board approved. They approved a second tax.

    I have talked to colleagues about getting out and really talking to the public. $32 a year is nothing. That is less than one cup of Starbucks a month. I am sure many people spend that much on chewing gum. I think that even if the initial support is low, it is not hopeless. Those in support of the Valley Oak children just need to be very vocal.

    Was a final recommendation made for whether or not the “Valley Oak Tax” should be on the ballot? Do we know when the board will decide on the issue?

    Let’s not give up yet. The charter movement should continue, the efforts to pass the second parcel tax should continue, and pressure should continue to be applied to the district, because they are the ones responsible for the free and equal education of all children. Not my charter friends or the tax payers.

    All support is greatly appreciated.

  14. Nikki Smith

    Thank you, anonymous 1 and 2 for your support of Valley Oak. Anon. 3, I understand your point. To be honest, my knee jerk reaction was the same as Anon. 2. But…I don’t want to see any kids suffer.

    I do not know exactly which programs the initial parcel tax supports, but my impression is that it primarily supports enrichment (extras). It is bothersome that our community seems to value the extras over the core programs.

    I have to commend Interim Super. Richard Whitmore for having the decency to come talk to our staff about the polling results prior to last night’s meeting, which I was not able to attend. Unfortunately, the meeting occured at lunch time, which limited available time for discussion and left me with indigestion.

    I did ask the question, “Why can’t we put both tax amounts together and propose one tax for all children?” The answer was two-fold. First, the amount would then exceed $200, which seemed to lower support. Secondly, that is not what the board approved. They approved a second tax.

    I have talked to colleagues about getting out and really talking to the public. $32 a year is nothing. That is less than one cup of Starbucks a month. I am sure many people spend that much on chewing gum. I think that even if the initial support is low, it is not hopeless. Those in support of the Valley Oak children just need to be very vocal.

    Was a final recommendation made for whether or not the “Valley Oak Tax” should be on the ballot? Do we know when the board will decide on the issue?

    Let’s not give up yet. The charter movement should continue, the efforts to pass the second parcel tax should continue, and pressure should continue to be applied to the district, because they are the ones responsible for the free and equal education of all children. Not my charter friends or the tax payers.

    All support is greatly appreciated.

  15. Nikki Smith

    Thank you, anonymous 1 and 2 for your support of Valley Oak. Anon. 3, I understand your point. To be honest, my knee jerk reaction was the same as Anon. 2. But…I don’t want to see any kids suffer.

    I do not know exactly which programs the initial parcel tax supports, but my impression is that it primarily supports enrichment (extras). It is bothersome that our community seems to value the extras over the core programs.

    I have to commend Interim Super. Richard Whitmore for having the decency to come talk to our staff about the polling results prior to last night’s meeting, which I was not able to attend. Unfortunately, the meeting occured at lunch time, which limited available time for discussion and left me with indigestion.

    I did ask the question, “Why can’t we put both tax amounts together and propose one tax for all children?” The answer was two-fold. First, the amount would then exceed $200, which seemed to lower support. Secondly, that is not what the board approved. They approved a second tax.

    I have talked to colleagues about getting out and really talking to the public. $32 a year is nothing. That is less than one cup of Starbucks a month. I am sure many people spend that much on chewing gum. I think that even if the initial support is low, it is not hopeless. Those in support of the Valley Oak children just need to be very vocal.

    Was a final recommendation made for whether or not the “Valley Oak Tax” should be on the ballot? Do we know when the board will decide on the issue?

    Let’s not give up yet. The charter movement should continue, the efforts to pass the second parcel tax should continue, and pressure should continue to be applied to the district, because they are the ones responsible for the free and equal education of all children. Not my charter friends or the tax payers.

    All support is greatly appreciated.

  16. Nikki Smith

    Thank you, anonymous 1 and 2 for your support of Valley Oak. Anon. 3, I understand your point. To be honest, my knee jerk reaction was the same as Anon. 2. But…I don’t want to see any kids suffer.

    I do not know exactly which programs the initial parcel tax supports, but my impression is that it primarily supports enrichment (extras). It is bothersome that our community seems to value the extras over the core programs.

    I have to commend Interim Super. Richard Whitmore for having the decency to come talk to our staff about the polling results prior to last night’s meeting, which I was not able to attend. Unfortunately, the meeting occured at lunch time, which limited available time for discussion and left me with indigestion.

    I did ask the question, “Why can’t we put both tax amounts together and propose one tax for all children?” The answer was two-fold. First, the amount would then exceed $200, which seemed to lower support. Secondly, that is not what the board approved. They approved a second tax.

    I have talked to colleagues about getting out and really talking to the public. $32 a year is nothing. That is less than one cup of Starbucks a month. I am sure many people spend that much on chewing gum. I think that even if the initial support is low, it is not hopeless. Those in support of the Valley Oak children just need to be very vocal.

    Was a final recommendation made for whether or not the “Valley Oak Tax” should be on the ballot? Do we know when the board will decide on the issue?

    Let’s not give up yet. The charter movement should continue, the efforts to pass the second parcel tax should continue, and pressure should continue to be applied to the district, because they are the ones responsible for the free and equal education of all children. Not my charter friends or the tax payers.

    All support is greatly appreciated.

  17. Doug Paul Davis

    Nikki:

    Thanks for the comments.

    Of course, the board could revisit their vote in light of the polling results. There was sufficient support for money going to keep nine schools open in the poll, although some legitimate question about whether people knew exactly what nine schools meant given the results when asked directly about Valley Oak.

    I do agree based on the polling the assessment that they could not go to $226 which is what it would take to include money for Valley Oak.

    At this point, I don’t think any one wants to put the second parcel tax on the ballot because even supporters are afraid that a resounding defeat would harm the chances to keep Valley Oak open either through a charter or if the fall enrollment shows a great increase like last year.

    The two best options at this point are really the charter and also getting two pro-Valley Oak SB members elected.

  18. Doug Paul Davis

    Nikki:

    Thanks for the comments.

    Of course, the board could revisit their vote in light of the polling results. There was sufficient support for money going to keep nine schools open in the poll, although some legitimate question about whether people knew exactly what nine schools meant given the results when asked directly about Valley Oak.

    I do agree based on the polling the assessment that they could not go to $226 which is what it would take to include money for Valley Oak.

    At this point, I don’t think any one wants to put the second parcel tax on the ballot because even supporters are afraid that a resounding defeat would harm the chances to keep Valley Oak open either through a charter or if the fall enrollment shows a great increase like last year.

    The two best options at this point are really the charter and also getting two pro-Valley Oak SB members elected.

  19. Doug Paul Davis

    Nikki:

    Thanks for the comments.

    Of course, the board could revisit their vote in light of the polling results. There was sufficient support for money going to keep nine schools open in the poll, although some legitimate question about whether people knew exactly what nine schools meant given the results when asked directly about Valley Oak.

    I do agree based on the polling the assessment that they could not go to $226 which is what it would take to include money for Valley Oak.

    At this point, I don’t think any one wants to put the second parcel tax on the ballot because even supporters are afraid that a resounding defeat would harm the chances to keep Valley Oak open either through a charter or if the fall enrollment shows a great increase like last year.

    The two best options at this point are really the charter and also getting two pro-Valley Oak SB members elected.

  20. Doug Paul Davis

    Nikki:

    Thanks for the comments.

    Of course, the board could revisit their vote in light of the polling results. There was sufficient support for money going to keep nine schools open in the poll, although some legitimate question about whether people knew exactly what nine schools meant given the results when asked directly about Valley Oak.

    I do agree based on the polling the assessment that they could not go to $226 which is what it would take to include money for Valley Oak.

    At this point, I don’t think any one wants to put the second parcel tax on the ballot because even supporters are afraid that a resounding defeat would harm the chances to keep Valley Oak open either through a charter or if the fall enrollment shows a great increase like last year.

    The two best options at this point are really the charter and also getting two pro-Valley Oak SB members elected.

  21. Nikki Smith

    Thank you for the clarification. I did propose that the board revisit the issue (right before the lunch bell rang). But, like you said, without more pro-VO members, a revote probably wouldn’t change much. At least two seem dead set against us remaining open.

  22. Nikki Smith

    Thank you for the clarification. I did propose that the board revisit the issue (right before the lunch bell rang). But, like you said, without more pro-VO members, a revote probably wouldn’t change much. At least two seem dead set against us remaining open.

  23. Nikki Smith

    Thank you for the clarification. I did propose that the board revisit the issue (right before the lunch bell rang). But, like you said, without more pro-VO members, a revote probably wouldn’t change much. At least two seem dead set against us remaining open.

  24. Nikki Smith

    Thank you for the clarification. I did propose that the board revisit the issue (right before the lunch bell rang). But, like you said, without more pro-VO members, a revote probably wouldn’t change much. At least two seem dead set against us remaining open.

  25. Anonymous

    The parcel tax supports the “extras” – reading programs at the elementary school level, program aids, teacher stipends, additional FTE for counselors and teachers in order to reduce teacher/counselor to student ratios, an additional period of education at the junior high level so students have space in their day for music, art, computer science, drama and language along with the additional teachers hired to teach these subjects, amongst other things. I guess you could call these “extras,” but I believe that we are just taxing ourselves to maintain an expected quality of education.

    If the parcel tax does not pass, we will be confronted with the task of laying off many teachers and the reduction or cancellation of many valued programs in Davis.

    This parcel tax has been renewed every four years for 20 years. The community should vote to renew it again.

  26. Anonymous

    The parcel tax supports the “extras” – reading programs at the elementary school level, program aids, teacher stipends, additional FTE for counselors and teachers in order to reduce teacher/counselor to student ratios, an additional period of education at the junior high level so students have space in their day for music, art, computer science, drama and language along with the additional teachers hired to teach these subjects, amongst other things. I guess you could call these “extras,” but I believe that we are just taxing ourselves to maintain an expected quality of education.

    If the parcel tax does not pass, we will be confronted with the task of laying off many teachers and the reduction or cancellation of many valued programs in Davis.

    This parcel tax has been renewed every four years for 20 years. The community should vote to renew it again.

  27. Anonymous

    The parcel tax supports the “extras” – reading programs at the elementary school level, program aids, teacher stipends, additional FTE for counselors and teachers in order to reduce teacher/counselor to student ratios, an additional period of education at the junior high level so students have space in their day for music, art, computer science, drama and language along with the additional teachers hired to teach these subjects, amongst other things. I guess you could call these “extras,” but I believe that we are just taxing ourselves to maintain an expected quality of education.

    If the parcel tax does not pass, we will be confronted with the task of laying off many teachers and the reduction or cancellation of many valued programs in Davis.

    This parcel tax has been renewed every four years for 20 years. The community should vote to renew it again.

  28. Anonymous

    The parcel tax supports the “extras” – reading programs at the elementary school level, program aids, teacher stipends, additional FTE for counselors and teachers in order to reduce teacher/counselor to student ratios, an additional period of education at the junior high level so students have space in their day for music, art, computer science, drama and language along with the additional teachers hired to teach these subjects, amongst other things. I guess you could call these “extras,” but I believe that we are just taxing ourselves to maintain an expected quality of education.

    If the parcel tax does not pass, we will be confronted with the task of laying off many teachers and the reduction or cancellation of many valued programs in Davis.

    This parcel tax has been renewed every four years for 20 years. The community should vote to renew it again.

  29. Anonymous

    Apartments are being asked to pay too much of this parcel tax. Davis is dominated by aparments rented by UCD students and they should not be asked to subsidize the education of Davis youth. I do not have a solution, but the notion of taking advantage of UCD students should be considered.

  30. Anonymous

    Apartments are being asked to pay too much of this parcel tax. Davis is dominated by aparments rented by UCD students and they should not be asked to subsidize the education of Davis youth. I do not have a solution, but the notion of taking advantage of UCD students should be considered.

  31. Anonymous

    Apartments are being asked to pay too much of this parcel tax. Davis is dominated by aparments rented by UCD students and they should not be asked to subsidize the education of Davis youth. I do not have a solution, but the notion of taking advantage of UCD students should be considered.

  32. Anonymous

    Apartments are being asked to pay too much of this parcel tax. Davis is dominated by aparments rented by UCD students and they should not be asked to subsidize the education of Davis youth. I do not have a solution, but the notion of taking advantage of UCD students should be considered.

  33. 無名 - wu ming

    renters don’t pay the parcel tax, it would be up to the landlords to pay for it, although i guess the cost could be passed on indirectly as higher rents.

    for what it’s worth, i’ll vote for whatever gets schools funded. the davis school system was good to me, and it is incumbant to make sure that it remains there or better for the next generation.

  34. 無名 - wu ming

    renters don’t pay the parcel tax, it would be up to the landlords to pay for it, although i guess the cost could be passed on indirectly as higher rents.

    for what it’s worth, i’ll vote for whatever gets schools funded. the davis school system was good to me, and it is incumbant to make sure that it remains there or better for the next generation.

  35. 無名 - wu ming

    renters don’t pay the parcel tax, it would be up to the landlords to pay for it, although i guess the cost could be passed on indirectly as higher rents.

    for what it’s worth, i’ll vote for whatever gets schools funded. the davis school system was good to me, and it is incumbant to make sure that it remains there or better for the next generation.

  36. 無名 - wu ming

    renters don’t pay the parcel tax, it would be up to the landlords to pay for it, although i guess the cost could be passed on indirectly as higher rents.

    for what it’s worth, i’ll vote for whatever gets schools funded. the davis school system was good to me, and it is incumbant to make sure that it remains there or better for the next generation.

  37. Anonymous

    I believe that issues such as these go to show that Davis (contrary to what most residents think, but confirming the opinion of most californians) is much more a typical central valley town than a typical “college” town. It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.

  38. Anonymous

    I believe that issues such as these go to show that Davis (contrary to what most residents think, but confirming the opinion of most californians) is much more a typical central valley town than a typical “college” town. It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.

  39. Anonymous

    I believe that issues such as these go to show that Davis (contrary to what most residents think, but confirming the opinion of most californians) is much more a typical central valley town than a typical “college” town. It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.

  40. Anonymous

    I believe that issues such as these go to show that Davis (contrary to what most residents think, but confirming the opinion of most californians) is much more a typical central valley town than a typical “college” town. It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.

  41. Doug Paul Davis

    I agree with the most recent anonymous exactly. Davis has since the early 1970s prided itself as a town of progressive liberal policies, but in fact, if you scrape below the surface, you find a dark underbelly that is not liberal or progressive. You don’t see Reagan conservatives here, but it is not the bastion of liberalism and progressivism that it likes to believe. That is one of the reasons that I created this blog to expose that dark underbelly of Davis.

  42. Doug Paul Davis

    I agree with the most recent anonymous exactly. Davis has since the early 1970s prided itself as a town of progressive liberal policies, but in fact, if you scrape below the surface, you find a dark underbelly that is not liberal or progressive. You don’t see Reagan conservatives here, but it is not the bastion of liberalism and progressivism that it likes to believe. That is one of the reasons that I created this blog to expose that dark underbelly of Davis.

  43. Doug Paul Davis

    I agree with the most recent anonymous exactly. Davis has since the early 1970s prided itself as a town of progressive liberal policies, but in fact, if you scrape below the surface, you find a dark underbelly that is not liberal or progressive. You don’t see Reagan conservatives here, but it is not the bastion of liberalism and progressivism that it likes to believe. That is one of the reasons that I created this blog to expose that dark underbelly of Davis.

  44. Doug Paul Davis

    I agree with the most recent anonymous exactly. Davis has since the early 1970s prided itself as a town of progressive liberal policies, but in fact, if you scrape below the surface, you find a dark underbelly that is not liberal or progressive. You don’t see Reagan conservatives here, but it is not the bastion of liberalism and progressivism that it likes to believe. That is one of the reasons that I created this blog to expose that dark underbelly of Davis.

  45. davisite

    Self-induced blindness of the privileged is an apt description of many “good” people of Davis.DPD, the mission of the Peoples Vanguard is to help them “see” once again.

  46. davisite

    Self-induced blindness of the privileged is an apt description of many “good” people of Davis.DPD, the mission of the Peoples Vanguard is to help them “see” once again.

  47. davisite

    Self-induced blindness of the privileged is an apt description of many “good” people of Davis.DPD, the mission of the Peoples Vanguard is to help them “see” once again.

  48. davisite

    Self-induced blindness of the privileged is an apt description of many “good” people of Davis.DPD, the mission of the Peoples Vanguard is to help them “see” once again.

  49. Moron

    “It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.”

    What is your definition of liberal? What differentiates that from progressive?

    Is Woodland liberal? How about Winters? Sacramento?

  50. Moron

    “It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.”

    What is your definition of liberal? What differentiates that from progressive?

    Is Woodland liberal? How about Winters? Sacramento?

  51. Moron

    “It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.”

    What is your definition of liberal? What differentiates that from progressive?

    Is Woodland liberal? How about Winters? Sacramento?

  52. Moron

    “It’s not at all liberal, but it’s not conservative either.”

    What is your definition of liberal? What differentiates that from progressive?

    Is Woodland liberal? How about Winters? Sacramento?

  53. 無名 - wu ming

    well, davis has lots of different political types (there are indeed reagan conservatives here, and some well to the right of reagan), but i would put the center of political gravity as liberal on national politics, generally in favor of funding (their own kids’) education, parks and public services, almost exclusively educated upper-middle class, and socially rather liberal (although not universally so, and with a penchant for intentionally ignoring problems and proclaiming that everything is fine). lois wolk is a good example of the political median, in my opinion.

    the divisions in town don’t really divide along a normal left-right axis, from what i’ve seen. growth is the big split, although i suspect that there is a lot more complexity and ambiguity there than most of the heated letter to the editor battles suggest. a lot of city politics is more related to personal relationships than it is to ideology, and i suspect that up to a third of people voting in any given election are going mostly on who they personally know (or endorsements of people they trust) at best, and vague feelings about lawn sign ratios and campaign mailers at worst. try asking your neighbor sometime about the city council squabbles over things like the length of city council meetings (which have been endemic for decades now), and i suspect most of them will give you a blank look.

    i have never gotten a good answer from anyone online as to what in the world progressive actually means. in davis politics it’s even more confusing because the “progressives” of the 1970s are generally enounced as “moderates” by many of the self-titled “progressives” of the 90s and 00s, because of political differences on issue of growth.

    both woodland and winters have a strong liberal contingent, but i would say that their towns’ centers of balance were comparatively more to the right, just because of the greater numbers of conservatives and republicans.

  54. 無名 - wu ming

    well, davis has lots of different political types (there are indeed reagan conservatives here, and some well to the right of reagan), but i would put the center of political gravity as liberal on national politics, generally in favor of funding (their own kids’) education, parks and public services, almost exclusively educated upper-middle class, and socially rather liberal (although not universally so, and with a penchant for intentionally ignoring problems and proclaiming that everything is fine). lois wolk is a good example of the political median, in my opinion.

    the divisions in town don’t really divide along a normal left-right axis, from what i’ve seen. growth is the big split, although i suspect that there is a lot more complexity and ambiguity there than most of the heated letter to the editor battles suggest. a lot of city politics is more related to personal relationships than it is to ideology, and i suspect that up to a third of people voting in any given election are going mostly on who they personally know (or endorsements of people they trust) at best, and vague feelings about lawn sign ratios and campaign mailers at worst. try asking your neighbor sometime about the city council squabbles over things like the length of city council meetings (which have been endemic for decades now), and i suspect most of them will give you a blank look.

    i have never gotten a good answer from anyone online as to what in the world progressive actually means. in davis politics it’s even more confusing because the “progressives” of the 1970s are generally enounced as “moderates” by many of the self-titled “progressives” of the 90s and 00s, because of political differences on issue of growth.

    both woodland and winters have a strong liberal contingent, but i would say that their towns’ centers of balance were comparatively more to the right, just because of the greater numbers of conservatives and republicans.

  55. 無名 - wu ming

    well, davis has lots of different political types (there are indeed reagan conservatives here, and some well to the right of reagan), but i would put the center of political gravity as liberal on national politics, generally in favor of funding (their own kids’) education, parks and public services, almost exclusively educated upper-middle class, and socially rather liberal (although not universally so, and with a penchant for intentionally ignoring problems and proclaiming that everything is fine). lois wolk is a good example of the political median, in my opinion.

    the divisions in town don’t really divide along a normal left-right axis, from what i’ve seen. growth is the big split, although i suspect that there is a lot more complexity and ambiguity there than most of the heated letter to the editor battles suggest. a lot of city politics is more related to personal relationships than it is to ideology, and i suspect that up to a third of people voting in any given election are going mostly on who they personally know (or endorsements of people they trust) at best, and vague feelings about lawn sign ratios and campaign mailers at worst. try asking your neighbor sometime about the city council squabbles over things like the length of city council meetings (which have been endemic for decades now), and i suspect most of them will give you a blank look.

    i have never gotten a good answer from anyone online as to what in the world progressive actually means. in davis politics it’s even more confusing because the “progressives” of the 1970s are generally enounced as “moderates” by many of the self-titled “progressives” of the 90s and 00s, because of political differences on issue of growth.

    both woodland and winters have a strong liberal contingent, but i would say that their towns’ centers of balance were comparatively more to the right, just because of the greater numbers of conservatives and republicans.

  56. 無名 - wu ming

    well, davis has lots of different political types (there are indeed reagan conservatives here, and some well to the right of reagan), but i would put the center of political gravity as liberal on national politics, generally in favor of funding (their own kids’) education, parks and public services, almost exclusively educated upper-middle class, and socially rather liberal (although not universally so, and with a penchant for intentionally ignoring problems and proclaiming that everything is fine). lois wolk is a good example of the political median, in my opinion.

    the divisions in town don’t really divide along a normal left-right axis, from what i’ve seen. growth is the big split, although i suspect that there is a lot more complexity and ambiguity there than most of the heated letter to the editor battles suggest. a lot of city politics is more related to personal relationships than it is to ideology, and i suspect that up to a third of people voting in any given election are going mostly on who they personally know (or endorsements of people they trust) at best, and vague feelings about lawn sign ratios and campaign mailers at worst. try asking your neighbor sometime about the city council squabbles over things like the length of city council meetings (which have been endemic for decades now), and i suspect most of them will give you a blank look.

    i have never gotten a good answer from anyone online as to what in the world progressive actually means. in davis politics it’s even more confusing because the “progressives” of the 1970s are generally enounced as “moderates” by many of the self-titled “progressives” of the 90s and 00s, because of political differences on issue of growth.

    both woodland and winters have a strong liberal contingent, but i would say that their towns’ centers of balance were comparatively more to the right, just because of the greater numbers of conservatives and republicans.

  57. Don Shor

    Moderate and conservative politics equals a “dark underbelly”? I would usually reserve that term for things like graft, corruption, venality, or blatant racism. San Joaquin County had a “dark underbelly” — their sheriff went to jail. I think using that term in Yolo County and Davis is hyperbole at best.

    Most of the older liberals here share the same values about social and environmental issues, fiscal policy, foreign policy, and so on, as the newer ones. They are just willing to vote for some development, which as far as I can tell is the only issue separating them from the newer liberals.

    It is convenient to call the newer liberals “progressives” but IMO there is no real meaningful difference between the terms.

  58. Don Shor

    Moderate and conservative politics equals a “dark underbelly”? I would usually reserve that term for things like graft, corruption, venality, or blatant racism. San Joaquin County had a “dark underbelly” — their sheriff went to jail. I think using that term in Yolo County and Davis is hyperbole at best.

    Most of the older liberals here share the same values about social and environmental issues, fiscal policy, foreign policy, and so on, as the newer ones. They are just willing to vote for some development, which as far as I can tell is the only issue separating them from the newer liberals.

    It is convenient to call the newer liberals “progressives” but IMO there is no real meaningful difference between the terms.

  59. Don Shor

    Moderate and conservative politics equals a “dark underbelly”? I would usually reserve that term for things like graft, corruption, venality, or blatant racism. San Joaquin County had a “dark underbelly” — their sheriff went to jail. I think using that term in Yolo County and Davis is hyperbole at best.

    Most of the older liberals here share the same values about social and environmental issues, fiscal policy, foreign policy, and so on, as the newer ones. They are just willing to vote for some development, which as far as I can tell is the only issue separating them from the newer liberals.

    It is convenient to call the newer liberals “progressives” but IMO there is no real meaningful difference between the terms.

  60. Don Shor

    Moderate and conservative politics equals a “dark underbelly”? I would usually reserve that term for things like graft, corruption, venality, or blatant racism. San Joaquin County had a “dark underbelly” — their sheriff went to jail. I think using that term in Yolo County and Davis is hyperbole at best.

    Most of the older liberals here share the same values about social and environmental issues, fiscal policy, foreign policy, and so on, as the newer ones. They are just willing to vote for some development, which as far as I can tell is the only issue separating them from the newer liberals.

    It is convenient to call the newer liberals “progressives” but IMO there is no real meaningful difference between the terms.

  61. Rich Rifkin

    Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?

    I find it funny that someone as progressive — not in the Vanguard sense of the term, but in the real world usage — as Mike Corbett is viewed as part of the dark underbelly of Davis, today, by the self-titled progressives, because he designed and promoted Covell Village, which would have been, of course, the most “progressive” neighborhood in Davis, had it been built.

    Since CV was vetoed by the voters, I suppose Village Homes, built 30 years ago, is still the most “progressive” development in Davis. However, looking at the plans for UC Davis’s West Village, that looks like a very nice, even “progressive” design. The housing should be similar to what the University built in Aggie Villa. And anyone who doesn’t like that small neighborhood’s design doesn’t have a clue about good design.

  62. Rich Rifkin

    Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?

    I find it funny that someone as progressive — not in the Vanguard sense of the term, but in the real world usage — as Mike Corbett is viewed as part of the dark underbelly of Davis, today, by the self-titled progressives, because he designed and promoted Covell Village, which would have been, of course, the most “progressive” neighborhood in Davis, had it been built.

    Since CV was vetoed by the voters, I suppose Village Homes, built 30 years ago, is still the most “progressive” development in Davis. However, looking at the plans for UC Davis’s West Village, that looks like a very nice, even “progressive” design. The housing should be similar to what the University built in Aggie Villa. And anyone who doesn’t like that small neighborhood’s design doesn’t have a clue about good design.

  63. Rich Rifkin

    Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?

    I find it funny that someone as progressive — not in the Vanguard sense of the term, but in the real world usage — as Mike Corbett is viewed as part of the dark underbelly of Davis, today, by the self-titled progressives, because he designed and promoted Covell Village, which would have been, of course, the most “progressive” neighborhood in Davis, had it been built.

    Since CV was vetoed by the voters, I suppose Village Homes, built 30 years ago, is still the most “progressive” development in Davis. However, looking at the plans for UC Davis’s West Village, that looks like a very nice, even “progressive” design. The housing should be similar to what the University built in Aggie Villa. And anyone who doesn’t like that small neighborhood’s design doesn’t have a clue about good design.

  64. Rich Rifkin

    Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?

    I find it funny that someone as progressive — not in the Vanguard sense of the term, but in the real world usage — as Mike Corbett is viewed as part of the dark underbelly of Davis, today, by the self-titled progressives, because he designed and promoted Covell Village, which would have been, of course, the most “progressive” neighborhood in Davis, had it been built.

    Since CV was vetoed by the voters, I suppose Village Homes, built 30 years ago, is still the most “progressive” development in Davis. However, looking at the plans for UC Davis’s West Village, that looks like a very nice, even “progressive” design. The housing should be similar to what the University built in Aggie Villa. And anyone who doesn’t like that small neighborhood’s design doesn’t have a clue about good design.

  65. 無名 - wu ming

    well, the problem with the words progressive and progress is that both are value-neutral WRT where the political movement is ostensibly headed. whether covell village was a step forwards or backwards is entirely dependent on how one defines the desired goal.

    newness alone isn’t really indicative of anything, substantively. for example, one could, from a positional standpoint, claim that 2005’s battle over social security was between democratic conservatives aiming to preserve the current system intact, and republican reactionaries aiming at pushing for radical change back to the status quo ante. or you could say the same republicans were radical progressives aiming at creating a brave new world of state capitalism, funnelling taxpayer dollars into the stock market. is it progress? regress? or something else?

    i’d much rather we fixed our labels to descriptions of the desired shape of the government and society, but they’d likely end up to be really long and convoluted, with little utility in generalizing bout large political coalitions. which would be, i guess, a sort of progress in itself.

    progressive or not, i think mike corbett is a great guy, and wish that he’d been given the franchise on all future development contracts after village homes. full of ideas, that guy.

  66. Don Shor

    “Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?”

    In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as they don’t want any. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.

    I don’t think there is any real difference in this country. The term progressive came into vogue when it was politically unsuccessful to label yourself a liberal. In Europe I believe ‘liberal’ means something entirely different.

  67. 無名 - wu ming

    well, the problem with the words progressive and progress is that both are value-neutral WRT where the political movement is ostensibly headed. whether covell village was a step forwards or backwards is entirely dependent on how one defines the desired goal.

    newness alone isn’t really indicative of anything, substantively. for example, one could, from a positional standpoint, claim that 2005’s battle over social security was between democratic conservatives aiming to preserve the current system intact, and republican reactionaries aiming at pushing for radical change back to the status quo ante. or you could say the same republicans were radical progressives aiming at creating a brave new world of state capitalism, funnelling taxpayer dollars into the stock market. is it progress? regress? or something else?

    i’d much rather we fixed our labels to descriptions of the desired shape of the government and society, but they’d likely end up to be really long and convoluted, with little utility in generalizing bout large political coalitions. which would be, i guess, a sort of progress in itself.

    progressive or not, i think mike corbett is a great guy, and wish that he’d been given the franchise on all future development contracts after village homes. full of ideas, that guy.

  68. Don Shor

    “Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?”

    In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as they don’t want any. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.

    I don’t think there is any real difference in this country. The term progressive came into vogue when it was politically unsuccessful to label yourself a liberal. In Europe I believe ‘liberal’ means something entirely different.

  69. 無名 - wu ming

    well, the problem with the words progressive and progress is that both are value-neutral WRT where the political movement is ostensibly headed. whether covell village was a step forwards or backwards is entirely dependent on how one defines the desired goal.

    newness alone isn’t really indicative of anything, substantively. for example, one could, from a positional standpoint, claim that 2005’s battle over social security was between democratic conservatives aiming to preserve the current system intact, and republican reactionaries aiming at pushing for radical change back to the status quo ante. or you could say the same republicans were radical progressives aiming at creating a brave new world of state capitalism, funnelling taxpayer dollars into the stock market. is it progress? regress? or something else?

    i’d much rather we fixed our labels to descriptions of the desired shape of the government and society, but they’d likely end up to be really long and convoluted, with little utility in generalizing bout large political coalitions. which would be, i guess, a sort of progress in itself.

    progressive or not, i think mike corbett is a great guy, and wish that he’d been given the franchise on all future development contracts after village homes. full of ideas, that guy.

  70. Don Shor

    “Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?”

    In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as they don’t want any. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.

    I don’t think there is any real difference in this country. The term progressive came into vogue when it was politically unsuccessful to label yourself a liberal. In Europe I believe ‘liberal’ means something entirely different.

  71. 無名 - wu ming

    well, the problem with the words progressive and progress is that both are value-neutral WRT where the political movement is ostensibly headed. whether covell village was a step forwards or backwards is entirely dependent on how one defines the desired goal.

    newness alone isn’t really indicative of anything, substantively. for example, one could, from a positional standpoint, claim that 2005’s battle over social security was between democratic conservatives aiming to preserve the current system intact, and republican reactionaries aiming at pushing for radical change back to the status quo ante. or you could say the same republicans were radical progressives aiming at creating a brave new world of state capitalism, funnelling taxpayer dollars into the stock market. is it progress? regress? or something else?

    i’d much rather we fixed our labels to descriptions of the desired shape of the government and society, but they’d likely end up to be really long and convoluted, with little utility in generalizing bout large political coalitions. which would be, i guess, a sort of progress in itself.

    progressive or not, i think mike corbett is a great guy, and wish that he’d been given the franchise on all future development contracts after village homes. full of ideas, that guy.

  72. Don Shor

    “Don, If progressive means the same thing as liberal, except a progressive opposes progress more than a liberal would oppose progress, what is progressive about a progressive?”

    In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as they don’t want any. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.

    I don’t think there is any real difference in this country. The term progressive came into vogue when it was politically unsuccessful to label yourself a liberal. In Europe I believe ‘liberal’ means something entirely different.

  73. davisite

    “….In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as THEY DONT WANT ANY. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.”

    THEY DONT WANT ANY(my caps). Don.. I am taken aback by your statement here. This is Dunning-talk and not your usual thoughtful and nuanced observations.

  74. davisite

    “….In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as THEY DONT WANT ANY. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.”

    THEY DONT WANT ANY(my caps). Don.. I am taken aback by your statement here. This is Dunning-talk and not your usual thoughtful and nuanced observations.

  75. davisite

    “….In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as THEY DONT WANT ANY. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.”

    THEY DONT WANT ANY(my caps). Don.. I am taken aback by your statement here. This is Dunning-talk and not your usual thoughtful and nuanced observations.

  76. davisite

    “….In the sense of growth, ‘progressives’ are more conservative, inasmuch as THEY DONT WANT ANY. So Davis progressives are more conservative than Davis liberals.”

    THEY DONT WANT ANY(my caps). Don.. I am taken aback by your statement here. This is Dunning-talk and not your usual thoughtful and nuanced observations.

  77. Doug Paul Davis

    Along those lines Davisite, I don’t know if I fall into the progressive camp or not, but I certainly am not one who wants no development and no growth.

    What I do want to see are small locally owned businesses with good community values encouraged over large national big boxes. I think we agree on this point. And I will add, that I think your business is the model of the type of business I want to encourage in Davis. I also do not mind small scale more national business with progressive labor policies like a Trader Joe’s.

    In terms of residential development, right now I’m largely opposed to peripheral development, what I would favor are infill developments that are small scale, mixed use and affordable housing. I think we have number of prime locations that should be utilized first before we consider peripheral development.

  78. Doug Paul Davis

    Along those lines Davisite, I don’t know if I fall into the progressive camp or not, but I certainly am not one who wants no development and no growth.

    What I do want to see are small locally owned businesses with good community values encouraged over large national big boxes. I think we agree on this point. And I will add, that I think your business is the model of the type of business I want to encourage in Davis. I also do not mind small scale more national business with progressive labor policies like a Trader Joe’s.

    In terms of residential development, right now I’m largely opposed to peripheral development, what I would favor are infill developments that are small scale, mixed use and affordable housing. I think we have number of prime locations that should be utilized first before we consider peripheral development.

  79. Doug Paul Davis

    Along those lines Davisite, I don’t know if I fall into the progressive camp or not, but I certainly am not one who wants no development and no growth.

    What I do want to see are small locally owned businesses with good community values encouraged over large national big boxes. I think we agree on this point. And I will add, that I think your business is the model of the type of business I want to encourage in Davis. I also do not mind small scale more national business with progressive labor policies like a Trader Joe’s.

    In terms of residential development, right now I’m largely opposed to peripheral development, what I would favor are infill developments that are small scale, mixed use and affordable housing. I think we have number of prime locations that should be utilized first before we consider peripheral development.

  80. Doug Paul Davis

    Along those lines Davisite, I don’t know if I fall into the progressive camp or not, but I certainly am not one who wants no development and no growth.

    What I do want to see are small locally owned businesses with good community values encouraged over large national big boxes. I think we agree on this point. And I will add, that I think your business is the model of the type of business I want to encourage in Davis. I also do not mind small scale more national business with progressive labor policies like a Trader Joe’s.

    In terms of residential development, right now I’m largely opposed to peripheral development, what I would favor are infill developments that are small scale, mixed use and affordable housing. I think we have number of prime locations that should be utilized first before we consider peripheral development.

  81. Anonymous

    “It takes a lot of guts to be a minority of color in this community. We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    I have been a “minority of color”(?) in this community for a very long time. You do not speak for me concerning intestinal fortitude or the job performance of Mr. Taylor.

    When you say these things, speak for yourself. I do not like being categorized as thinking a certain way because of my skin color. I can think and speak for myself.
    Thanks!

  82. Anonymous

    “It takes a lot of guts to be a minority of color in this community. We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    I have been a “minority of color”(?) in this community for a very long time. You do not speak for me concerning intestinal fortitude or the job performance of Mr. Taylor.

    When you say these things, speak for yourself. I do not like being categorized as thinking a certain way because of my skin color. I can think and speak for myself.
    Thanks!

  83. Anonymous

    “It takes a lot of guts to be a minority of color in this community. We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    I have been a “minority of color”(?) in this community for a very long time. You do not speak for me concerning intestinal fortitude or the job performance of Mr. Taylor.

    When you say these things, speak for yourself. I do not like being categorized as thinking a certain way because of my skin color. I can think and speak for myself.
    Thanks!

  84. Anonymous

    “It takes a lot of guts to be a minority of color in this community. We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    I have been a “minority of color”(?) in this community for a very long time. You do not speak for me concerning intestinal fortitude or the job performance of Mr. Taylor.

    When you say these things, speak for yourself. I do not like being categorized as thinking a certain way because of my skin color. I can think and speak for myself.
    Thanks!

  85. first anonymous

    “…..We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    Actually, the We I was referring to were white Davis voters who were looking for a more diverse school board that better represented the needs of school communities like VO.

  86. first anonymous

    “…..We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    Actually, the We I was referring to were white Davis voters who were looking for a more diverse school board that better represented the needs of school communities like VO.

  87. first anonymous

    “…..We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    Actually, the We I was referring to were white Davis voters who were looking for a more diverse school board that better represented the needs of school communities like VO.

  88. first anonymous

    “…..We all hoped for more of Mr. Taylor”.

    Actually, the We I was referring to were white Davis voters who were looking for a more diverse school board that better represented the needs of school communities like VO.

  89. Vincente

    I always hope people will post some sort of identifier, even if it is a moniker, at least we can kind of develop on-line familiarity.

    BTW, very unimpressed with Mr. Taylor tonight at the DHS program.

  90. Vincente

    I always hope people will post some sort of identifier, even if it is a moniker, at least we can kind of develop on-line familiarity.

    BTW, very unimpressed with Mr. Taylor tonight at the DHS program.

  91. Vincente

    I always hope people will post some sort of identifier, even if it is a moniker, at least we can kind of develop on-line familiarity.

    BTW, very unimpressed with Mr. Taylor tonight at the DHS program.

  92. Vincente

    I always hope people will post some sort of identifier, even if it is a moniker, at least we can kind of develop on-line familiarity.

    BTW, very unimpressed with Mr. Taylor tonight at the DHS program.

  93. Darnell

    Sorry First Anonymous. I didn’t mean to go off on you; it looks like I totally misinterpreted your words about Mr. Taylor. My thoughts still hold true for the “guts” thing. There are a lot of other places that would take more guts to live in than Davis. You don’t need guts to live here. You need a lot of money and a decent education. Usually with one you can get the other.

    Darnell

  94. Darnell

    Sorry First Anonymous. I didn’t mean to go off on you; it looks like I totally misinterpreted your words about Mr. Taylor. My thoughts still hold true for the “guts” thing. There are a lot of other places that would take more guts to live in than Davis. You don’t need guts to live here. You need a lot of money and a decent education. Usually with one you can get the other.

    Darnell

  95. Darnell

    Sorry First Anonymous. I didn’t mean to go off on you; it looks like I totally misinterpreted your words about Mr. Taylor. My thoughts still hold true for the “guts” thing. There are a lot of other places that would take more guts to live in than Davis. You don’t need guts to live here. You need a lot of money and a decent education. Usually with one you can get the other.

    Darnell

  96. Darnell

    Sorry First Anonymous. I didn’t mean to go off on you; it looks like I totally misinterpreted your words about Mr. Taylor. My thoughts still hold true for the “guts” thing. There are a lot of other places that would take more guts to live in than Davis. You don’t need guts to live here. You need a lot of money and a decent education. Usually with one you can get the other.

    Darnell

  97. Anonymous

    I think some of the dark belly that is being exposed is the supposed liberals whose actions don’t meet up with their supposed standards of treating people. As a single mother in Davis I have seen the prejudices of people who claim themselves as liberals, and surprised by some of the open hearts of conservatives. It really comes down to how we behave in the world, not what we say we believe.

  98. Anonymous

    I think some of the dark belly that is being exposed is the supposed liberals whose actions don’t meet up with their supposed standards of treating people. As a single mother in Davis I have seen the prejudices of people who claim themselves as liberals, and surprised by some of the open hearts of conservatives. It really comes down to how we behave in the world, not what we say we believe.

  99. Anonymous

    I think some of the dark belly that is being exposed is the supposed liberals whose actions don’t meet up with their supposed standards of treating people. As a single mother in Davis I have seen the prejudices of people who claim themselves as liberals, and surprised by some of the open hearts of conservatives. It really comes down to how we behave in the world, not what we say we believe.

  100. Anonymous

    I think some of the dark belly that is being exposed is the supposed liberals whose actions don’t meet up with their supposed standards of treating people. As a single mother in Davis I have seen the prejudices of people who claim themselves as liberals, and surprised by some of the open hearts of conservatives. It really comes down to how we behave in the world, not what we say we believe.

  101. darnell

    Geez First Anonymous. Now I understand why I don’t have any friends. I never just “go along to get along”. I wonder if it’s too late? Some of the contributors to this blog sound like really nice people. I’ll give it a try!

  102. darnell

    Geez First Anonymous. Now I understand why I don’t have any friends. I never just “go along to get along”. I wonder if it’s too late? Some of the contributors to this blog sound like really nice people. I’ll give it a try!

  103. darnell

    Geez First Anonymous. Now I understand why I don’t have any friends. I never just “go along to get along”. I wonder if it’s too late? Some of the contributors to this blog sound like really nice people. I’ll give it a try!

  104. darnell

    Geez First Anonymous. Now I understand why I don’t have any friends. I never just “go along to get along”. I wonder if it’s too late? Some of the contributors to this blog sound like really nice people. I’ll give it a try!

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