City News

Blame it on the "war on drugs," blame it on insufficient funding for rehabilitation programs, blame it on whatever you want - most Californians agree that the criminal justice system for drug offenders is broken.

The problem is finding a solution.

Twelve people were arrested Wednesday in a sting operation to put unlicensed and uninsured employers out of business, according to a District Attorney's Office press release. Seven were fined civil assessments totaling $9,500 for not having workers' compensation insurance or for paying their employees under the table.

The operation is aimed at contractors who are not complying with labor and contracting laws. Wednesday's arrests were part of a broader operation that has resulted in 112 people who have been cited, arrested or fined for operating without a license, not providing workers' compensation insurance and paying employees under the table, authorities said.

Religious leaders from around Davis came together Thursday at the Davis United Methodist Church to speak in opposition to Prop 8. If approved by voters, Prop 8 would amend the California Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Historically a controversial issue, the bill has elicited both support and opposition from religious and secular groups.

Higher education policy hasn't exactly been a hot-button issue this election season, but it finally came up after Wednesday's presidential debate.

In the last of three presidential debates this fall, Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain briefly touched on the issue of college affordability at Hofstra University in New York.

SATURDAY

Bike bandit

A UC Davis police officer noticed a suspicious pickup truck driving on campus on Saturday night with a truck bed full of bicycles. The officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle and determined that the bikes had recently been stolen on campus.

The driver, a resident of Hercules, was arrested and booked at the Yolo County Jail on charges of grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and violation of probation.

The UC Davis Police Department has stepped up enforcement in response to bike theft on campus, including plainclothes officers patrolling on campus, according to a press release. Prior to this weekend's arrest, there have been twice as many reports of bike theft this year as there were last year. UCDPD asks the community to report any suspicious activity on campus.

The battle between abortion rights and anti-abortion is back on the California ballot.

Proposition 4 would require a doctor to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion for minors. The pregnant teenager can choose to notify certain adult relatives instead of a parent, but the law would require the doctor to report the parent to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.

In the Oct. 10 story "Food, fun and compost," Michael Siminitus was mistakenly identified as Michael Seminitus. Furthermore, the quote that read, "When compostable organics decompose naturally, they release methane, which is an essential greenhouse gas," was incorrect. The correct quote reads: "Landfilling compostable organics produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas." The Aggie regrets the error.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, councilmembers and the public were treated to a detailed presentation on employee compensation in the city of Davis.

With the current national, state and local budget issues, people want to know where their money goes. Lately, this has led to heightened scrutiny across the nation of the compensation of public employees, from custodial staff to fire fighters to the city manager.

Among many fiscally controversial measures on the California ballot in November is Proposition 3, the children's hospital bond act.

The proposition authorizes $980 million in bonds, to be paid from the state's General Fund, to fund the renovation and expansion of children's hospitals throughout the state.

Los Angeles to San Francisco in two and a half hours?

Proposition 1A promises the first step to an exhilarating 220 mph high-speed train running between San Diego and Sacramento, with connections to the Bay Area, fully functional by 2030.

Proposition 2 aims to give California livestock a bit more legroom.

The proposition, if passed, would require farmers to keep egg-laying hens, cows raised for veal and pregnant pigs in areas where they are able to stand up, lie down and fully extend their legs.

Last day to register is Oct. 20

Californians who intend to vote in the Nov. 4 election must be registered to vote by Oct. 20. Voter registration forms must be received at your county's registrar of voters or postmarked by Oct. 20.

THURSDAY

BUI done right

An individual was seen drinking a beer while riding a bike on Second Street.

Buried under 10 other ballot measures and a slew of elected offices is Proposition 11, California's legislative redistricting measure.

The proposition would give redistricting authority to a new 14-member commission, made up of an even mix of party members. This commission would have the responsibility of re-drawing California's legislative districts every 10 years after the census is completed, a task that is currently left to the state legislature and the governor.

Update on state budget

Assistant city manager Paul Navazio gave a presentation outlining the impacts of the adopted state budget on the city's adopted budget for 2008-2009.Biggest impact is on the Davis Redevelopment Agency, which will have to make payments totaling $662,000 over the fiscal year. The city will also lose a total of $99,279 for law enforcement.