City News

A presentation hosted by Davis Students for Nader two weeks ago raised questions about the possibility of harmful microbes in local soil,but public health officials say the claims are unfounded. The presentation featured the mother of former Sacramento resident David Bell,who claimed he became ill after working with biopesticides for Davis biotech firm AgraQuest in the late1990s.

After a year of struggling for a way to pay for everything without cutting programs,the Davis Joint Unified School District is turning to residents. Measure W on the Davis ballot is a parcel tax that would require homeowners to pay$120per year and apartment owners to pay$50per unit per year.The tax would last for three years,and the district’s board of trustees could vote to eliminate the tax if they felt it was unnecessary.

In a community that values free speech and open debate,recent political sign thefts have outraged some community members. The controversy over Proposition8,which would amend the California Constitution to allow marriage between only a man and a woman,has spilled over into petty theft and vandalism of lawn signs.

It’s not the hottest topic on the ballot,but it could have serious implications for local government. If passed,Measure N would change the city of Davis from a general law city to a charter city. The charter under consideration is a broad charter that comes as the result of several years‘ discussion by various task forces and subcommittees of the Davis City Council.

THURSDAY Obviously not a marketing major An individual was asking people on F Street if they wanted to buy marijuana.The individual was subsequently arrested for possession with intent to sell.

For the past several weeks,students at UC Davis have complained about being asked if they‘re registered to vote three times a day.But there wasa purpose to all those persistent democracy enthusiasts,and their ceaseless efforts have paid off.

Proposition12,also known as the Veterans‘ Bond Act of2008,will appear on the ballot on Nov.4.Approval of the proposition provides for a bond issue of$900million to provide loans to California veterans to purchase farms and homes. Since1921,the voters have approved a total of about$8.4billion to finance the veterans‘ farm and home purchase program,also known as Cal-Vet.As of July2008,there was about$102million left to support new loans.

The former Laboratory for Energy-Related Health Research at UC Davis has been a site of controversy for several years with regards to the potential contamination left in the soil on site. Government officials presented a proposed final cleanup plan for the site at a public meeting Thursday.

If you think midterms are rough,try running for Congress at the same time.Zane Starkewolf,a UCD alumnus and current graduate student in chemistry,is the Republican candidate for Congress in California’s1stCongressional District.

MONDAY Gimme the meds! An individual left a clinic on West Covell Boulevard upset and making threats after he could not get medications from his doctor.

California law gives victims of crime the right to speak out at sentencing and parole hearings,but supporters of Prop9say crime victims‘ rights cannot stop there. “Victims should have the right to be involved in all the proceedings,” said Patricia Wenskunas,attempted murder victim and founder and CEO of Crime Survivors Inc. “A lot of times right now the families are not even notified. [Prop9] gives them a right to have their voice heard.“

Among the propositions on the Novemberballot,the one that deals withthe environment and renewable resources is Proposition10,the alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy initiative. Prop10is a bond measure that would provide$5billion to fund research into alternative fuel technology.The funds would also go toward helping consumers purchase high fuel economy or alternative fuel vehicles,including natural gas vehicles.