enterprise THE DAVIS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2022
End set for COVID emergency By Kristen Hwang and Ana B. Ibarra CalMatters
A Downtown Streets Team has reportedly been a big success in West Sacramento and
California’s COVID-19 state of emergency will end Feb. 28, 2023, nearly three years from its initiation, officials from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced this week. The announcement came as new variants spur concerns that there will be another deadly winter surge across the country and as test positivity rates plateau in California following a nearly three-month decline. More than 95,000 Californians have died as a result of COVID-19, according to state data. The state of emergency gave Newsom broad, often controversial, powers to issue masking and vaccination mandates and temporary stay-athome orders in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. It also enabled the governor to enter into nearly $12 billion dollars worth of no-bid emergency response contracts with testing facilities, personal protective equipment suppliers and temporary workforce agencies. Some of those contracts were with untested vendors who failed to deliver services. Today, 27 provisions from the 74 executive orders issued under the state of emergency remain in effect, officials said. More than 500 provisions have
See HOMELESSNESS, Page A5
See EMERGENCY, Page A2
Tents line the railroad tracks west of the Cannery in North Davis in January 2021. Owen Yancher/ Enterprise file photo
Council focuses on homelessness Approval for winter shelter, Downtown Streets Team
as for a pilot Downtown Streets Team program that offers volunteer work experience and training for individuals experiencing homelessness.
By Anne Ternus-Bellamy
The Downtown Streets Team will deploy a standing team of about 15 members of the Davis unhoused community who will be trained to clean up high visibility areas downtown, and, in exchange, receive case management, employment assistance and a basic stipend that can be used for food, phone service,
Enterprise staff writer Homelessness was the primary issue on the agenda for the Davis City Council this week. Council members voted unanimously in favor of a winter shelter housing plan as well
medication and other basic needs. A case manager and employment specialist will assess each team member’s skill levels and needs and work with them to develop a plan for resume building, interview readiness, communication skills, literacy resources and more, according to city staff. “Each team is monitored by a staff liaison and led by a team member who has exhibited sufficient skills to supervise a
clean-up crew,” according to the staff report prepared for Tuesday’s council meeting. “Teams provide meaningful structured daily activity that fosters community, kindles confidence, reaffirms dignity, and develops employment soft skills like punctuality, cooperation, and personal responsibility.”
Auditor, commissioners discuss oversight By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer Consultant Michael Gennaco came to Davis in 2018 to review the circumstances surrounding a Picnic Day melee between a group of citizens and three plainclothed police officers that occurred the year before. Although Davis police initially blamed the crowd for triggering the Russell Boulevard altercation, an internal investigation found the officers violated multiple department policies with their actions that day. Two significant developments arose from that conclusion: Gennaco’s hiring as Davis’ independent police auditor, and the
VOL. 124 NO. 127
INDEX
Arts ���������������������B1 Forum �����������������B3 Pets ��������������������A3 Classifieds ���������A4 Kidscoop �����������B2 Sports ���������������B1 Comics ���������������B4 Obituaries ���������A4 The Wary I ���������A2
UC Davis receives food systems grant from USDA By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer
Courtesy photo
Michael Gennaco investigates the public’s complaints about the Davis Police Department. creation of a Police Accountability Commission to field public concerns and provide oversight and transparency in local policing matters.
WEATHER
“It’s important to ensure that the authority that we give (the police) be consistent with the expectations
See AUDITOR, Page A4
UC Davis has received nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build community resiliency and strengthen food systems during emergencies in coastal Northern California. The Agricultural Marketing Service award of $990,752, with a match amount of $499,874, will create additional markets for local food producers in emergency food supply chains to reduce the risk of lost income and strengthen local and regional food systems.
HOW TO REACH US
www.davisenterprise.com Saturday: Main line: 530-756-0800 Mostly sunny. High 73. Low 50. Circulation: 530-756-0826
In a press release announcing the award, USDA noted that “over the past five years, Northern California has experienced catastrophic wildfires, landslides, persistent drought, the pandemic, and economic downturns, putting increasing pressure on local producers, the local/ regional food system, and emergency food aid.” The California North Coast Emergency Food System Partnership, the USDA said, “encompasses chronic emergency food assistance (i.e., groceries) and crisis emergency food
http://facebook.com/ TheDavisEnterpriseNewspaper http://twitter.com/D_Enterprise
See GRANT, Page A2
WED • FRI • $1