Measure Y’s opponents grasping at straws

I wanted to respond to some falsehoods that opponents of Measure Y have been circulating.

Measure Y’s opponents claim that “$44M is TOO MUCH.” Take a look around you. Measure Y is an annual property tax capped at $30 per $100,000 of assessed value, an extension of the current rate authorized in 1999 to build Pioneer High School. Compare that to Winters and Esparto, with new school bonds at a rate of $60 per $100,000 (twice as much). Davis passed a $150M bond (more than three times as much), and West Sacramento’s Measure

Z on the ballot this November would also generate $150M.

That $44 million for Woodland schools will be generated without increasing your annual property tax bill.

Measure Y’s opponents claim that it would be a “blank check” for the school district. This is false. Bond funds can only be spent on facilities projects or project types outlined in the authorized bond resolution (available on Measure Y’s website for transparency’s sake). Every project proposed for bond funding will be agendized at public school board meetings for public scrutiny.

Measure Y’s opponents claim that it would create new debts for the district and taxpayers. This is misleading. Bond measures are meant to be self-contained. Measure Y will not create new debt obligations that would burden the district’s general fund or require additional tax measures to resolve.

Are you sensing a theme yet? Don’t fall victim to the demagoguery and deception.

They want you to be misinformed, and disguise themselves as the sole arbiters of what’s true and what’s false, because that’s how they win. They want you to cut off your noses to spite your faces.

These folks, aligned with the Yolo County Taxpayers Association, have personal business interests and commercial real estate holdings. They have no problem holding back our public education system for their own financial gain. That’s why they fabricate these falsehoods. They want to scare voters into doing what they want.

It isn’t going to work this time.

Jake Whitaker, Woodland school board trustee

Library trustee president endorses Measure R

As President of the Woodland Public Library Board of Trustees, I am compelled to write in support of Measure R. In these challenging times, the Library is a shining example of an asset we cannot afford to lose.

Measure R is not a new tax; it’s an extension of Measure J. If Measure R fails, the Library’s programming, hours, and staff would suffer severe cutbacks. There would also be cuts to police youth programs, Parks and Recreation programs and utility bill assistance for low income seniors.

The Library deserves a better fate than to have its programs decimated. We have spent years building services for children, teens, adults, seniors and Spanish speakers. In 2018-19 there were 195,698 in person-visits, 9,110 computer sessions, 81,200 internet sessions, 1,082 classes and events including literacy services, 14,109 children attended 333 programs, and 3,917 attended 210 teen programs.

During the pandemic, we served families by adapting to online programming including children’s story times, paint nights, and summer programs. We utilized social media to inform the community about COVID, created face shields for the community, offered curbside book pickup and provided services at local parks.

COVID School disruptions will require supplemental learning opportunities for students, especially with literacy skills. Our Library will be a community partner to help students to overcome these challenges.

Vote yes on Measure R to retain one of our most valuable resources, our Woodland Public Library, which continues to be a beacon of light for all of Woodland.

Noel Rodriguez, Woodland

County puts cyclists at risk on CR99

I am writing this letter to put cyclists on the CR99 bikeway of a new risk created by repaving road 99. Rather than dig up the old pavement, the county layered several lifts of asphalt atop the existing pavement raising the road surface by about 8 inches. The shoulder was then reestablished using roadbase type material. However, the shoulder was only reestablished for 1 ½ to 2 feet from the outside edge of the already narrow bike path. Where the shoulder ends, there is a steep 8-inch drop-off with a crumbly edge.

This situation creates a trap for a cyclist who leaves the pavement for any reason. For instance, wandering attention, a wind gust from one of the many speeding trucks using road 99, escaping an errant motorist intent on texting mom, and many other reasons could bring the cyclist onto the shoulder.

It is vital that the county fix this situation as quickly as possible and reestablish a safe shoulder for cyclists (and vehicles). It is vital both to protect the cyclists and to protect Yolo County from the obvious liability this situation creates. This letter will serve to put the county on notice of this hazard and the need for fix it before an accident happens and before a potentially staggering liability suit is filed.

Michael Horner, Woodland