Op-ed | Cycling, from Davis to the World
Davis, California is known as the “Bicycle Capital of America” for its pioneering work in creating bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure, which has become a model for cities around the world.
Davis, California is known as the “Bicycle Capital of America” for its pioneering work in creating bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure, which has become a model for cities around the world.
California Forever is a proposed large-scale housing development in Solano County that has drawn intense criticism and debate over its potential environmental and economic impacts, highlighting the tension between local governance and the state’s housing shortage.
Residents of Davis are concerned about the cleanliness and maintenance of the downtown core, with some feeling the city prioritizes students over families and businesses, and suggesting improvements such as adding planter boxes, sweeping sidewalks, and clearing leaves more regularly.
Declining school enrollment in Davis is a result of Measure J, which has made it difficult to build housing for families, leading to a lack of balance in the community and a need for responsible development to sustain the city’s future.
The Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education is facing a potential loss of 1,000 students over the next decade due to rising housing prices, falling birth rates, and changes in UC Davis’s workforce patterns, which could lead to school closures and staff cuts unless two proposed housing developments are approved.
Davis, California has taken measures to address racial profiling, but data suggests that racial disparities in traffic stops remain a persistent issue, and the City of Davis continues to pursue meaningful ways to combat racial profiling and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the community.
Judge Sonia Cortés dismissed felony vandalism and conspiracy charges against three UC Davis protesters who had spray-painted the university’s Egghead sculptures and other campus property during a 2024 protest, after they paid restitution, completed community service, and participated in educational activities reflecting an understanding of the artwork’s cultural importance.
Judge Sonia Cortés dismissed all charges in the vandalism case involving the UC Davis “Egghead” sculptures, ruling that the defendants had taken meaningful steps to make amends and that the university and museum representatives were open to alternative resolutions rather than criminal prosecution.
The Davis Hate Free Together program needs to evolve beyond addressing individual prejudice and focus on fostering shared understanding and dialogue between groups, rather than using a “hate eradication” model that can be polarizing and counterproductive.
UC Davis has been ranked No. 9 among the nation’s top public universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, and has also been recognized for its strong performance in other national rankings.
The decline in international student enrollment in US colleges and universities is expected to have long-term effects on the American economy and higher education system, with a 19% drop in enrollment this year and a potential 40% decrease, due to the Trump administration’s policies making it more difficult to obtain student visas.
The housing crisis is not a result of declining birth rates, but rather the unaffordable cost of housing, which is driving people to delay marriage and having children, and forcing workers to live further away from their jobs, leading to longer commutes, higher emissions, and a diminished quality of life.
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office is continuing to press felony charges against three UC Davis students in the Egghead case, despite the Shrem Museum’s willingness to consider restorative justice.
The Davis City Council will receive a Market Velocity Report from the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, which highlights both opportunities and challenges for the city’s economic development strategy, such as its lagging job growth, housing affordability issues, and need for sustainable industries.
Davis, California has seen a decrease in student housing demand due to an increase in student housing, changes in enrollment demand, and rising inventory in the for-sale market, resulting in a decrease in rents and an increase in incentives for tenants.
A UC Davis study has found that California Jews have experienced a significant increase in depression and anxiety symptoms since the Hamas attacks in October 2023, with antisemitism being a key driver of this psychological distress.
The City of Davis must make urgent and far-reaching decisions in its general plan update to address housing shortages, job and transportation mismatches, and the growing effects of climate change, while balancing growth with the protection of agricultural land and open space.
Davis has a robust urban forest thanks to an enthusiastic community, but the city has faced challenges associated with inadequate funding for the program, resulting in tree liability issues, tree maintenance, and a lack of clarity on tree ownership.
The City Council of Davis is preparing to update its long-term vision with a General Plan Update that will integrate environmental justice and establish a new General Plan Committee to ensure broad representation from city commissions.
Universities that have eliminated standardized test requirements for admissions have seen gains in diversity, but these gains are diminished or disappear if the universities also face financial shortfalls, enrollment declines, or prioritize quantitative academic criteria.