Well-stated, good sir. Let’s check our thinking on cancelling a time-honored event that is guilty of nothing more than being held on the same day as a tragically random act of violence at Community Park.
How about some common sense from City Hall🤷🏻♂️ in not permitting off-campus activities/events on Picnic Day that may attract outside influences to perpetrate unchecked, anonymous acts of violence—particularly when law enforcement are stretched to their limits.
15 years ago, downtown activity on Picnic Day resembled an old West saloon brawl with 50-cent beer sales beginning at 6AM and fights in the street. This was brought under control with occupancy load enforcement (no fun for troublemakers when they have to wait in line to get into a bar to start something); limiting alcoholic beverage sale hours (at least postponing over-serving until afternoon), and elevated law enforcement presence through mutual-aid (CHP and surrounding jurisdictions).
Why further exacerbate a vulnerable situation, by City Hall permitting other events scattered throughout the city that cannot be adequately monitored or safely controlled?
This is not a campus or Picnic Day failure…it’s a common sense and city regulatory failure.
Present your list of all the fantastic events held this year during Picnic Day and I am sure number 112 will be even more exciting. I am amazed that such a wonderful and educational gathering takes place so close to Merced. Davis is a unique city. I have learned all about Davis from The Wary One. Thank you.
Why would the City restrict off-campus activities for Picnic Day? Sounds a lot like what the Presidential Administration would declare. This is a City with a University not a University with a City. We should be free to utilize City parks and facilities for any activity we chose, not restricted because it might be affiliated with UCD. Freedom of assembly applies to every one regardless of an association with UCD on Picnic Day.
This was not a political rally of any kind, John. It was on out-of-control party of massive proportions. The city has a right to deny a permit for a party of that size on a day when up to 70,000 people will already be coming to town and first responders will be stretched to the max.
Every time something happens on Picnic Day Saturday, the entire Picnic Day event is blamed. The question was raised early on Next Door and, of course, as usual, I have an opinion. Who doesn't?
We've had stabbings, officer death, and many other things that occurred outside Picnic Day. It isn't just then that bad things happen here. And we can't stop being who we are; we shouldn't.
I don't see how Saturday at the park could have been avoided. There was already a huge police presence in Davis. Davis PD, UCD PD, Woodland PD, Dixon PD, Winters PD (I think), they were all here. Stupid people don't take that into account. They come to do cruel, stupid things anyway. All the police in the world can't stop people from doing what they've come to do, but preventing the large gatherings can reduce some of the attraction.
No Permits issued for large parties on Picnic Day; no taking over parks. This one day only, authorized events should be limited to Campus sponsored Picnic Day events. Everything else is "Safety Enhancement Zone" enforced, and I do mean enforced. Groups will continue to have their own parties but they shouldn't be City or Police 'Permitted' events. Thus, within the Safety Enhancement Zone rules.
I asked this question on Next Door. If you had a party at your home and a group broke in and robbed you and all your guests, would you never again have another party? Was having the party the problem?
Let UC Davis have this day to do what it has done to enhance this town for decades and deny the 'authorized spinoffs' this one day.
Even from a long distance away, I agree that the city officials should not live in fear. Whether we like it or not, there will always be some disturbed individual to cause trouble, but we shouldn't plan our lives around that fact.
I would say (easy for me, being more than a thousand miles away) if the weak-kneed officials cave and try to call the event off, protest publicly and loudly. And if that doesn't work, hold it anyway.
Some traditional events after a few years or decades start losing the crowds and soon fade into oblivion. I've seen several of those disappear here. But other events seem to keep getting larger and larger every year and hold on. Picnic Day sounds like one of the latter for you.
The city officials can't call it off because it's not a city event. The UC Davis campus is not part of the City of Davis. It is a separate entity, responsible to the UC Regents, not the voters.
That explains a lot. If the CA regents system is anything like the TX one, boards of regents are composed of a mixed lot: primarily political major donors, some businessmen with usually good sense; others who got their wealth through inheritance or other means.
In routine matters, it doesn't make much difference. In issues involving politics, their decisions depend on which way the wind is blowing. Here in Texas, it's mostly ho-hum, but I have seen some doozies over the years.
Maybe it's easier to just say in Austin, the University of Texas flagship campus hosts the LBJ Presidential Library. In College Station, the main Texas A&M University campus hosts the GHW Bush Presidential Library. The GW Bush Presidential Library is in Dallas on the SMU campus.
So, it's your guess as to how the UC Regents will respond. Hope they do the right thing.
Thank you Bob for the amazing list of Picnic Day events to be found in every nook and cranny on and off campus! I've printed it out so I can refer to it next year. Long live PICNIC DAY!
My memories of this great day are almost as many and old as r yours good friend. when would canceling of wholesome fun community events end. we will have a full community business and health fare in community park (yes that park). we used to participate when we owned the Davis Athletic Club. Years ago the city and the d.a's office handled the downtown drunken craziness that had seriously effected downtown enjoyment by working with the courts, the police and community leaders. Limits on alcohol sales invoking the "86"( bars refusing more alcohol to the obviously inebriated) issuing P.C 647 f (drunk in public/danger to yourself or others)criminal citations and making offenders go to court and jump through hoops to keep this off their records. Chico simply canceled their version (pioneer day). we used a scalpel not a hatchet.
I remember Chico's dilemma, but Pioneer Day (or Days) started to go on for weeks. It wasn't as big a deal as Picnic Day. The cancelled it because the booze became the whole attraction and they didn't know how to stop it.
We try to take reasonable cautions and not live in fear of every bad thing that might happen. Living in fear is not living, and Picnic Day is, has always been, and will continue to be, priceless.
Agreed. My opinion? Don’t give into fear. Be aware and alert. Picnic Day is a Davis tradition that brings community together. So important in times like this.
Well-stated, good sir. Let’s check our thinking on cancelling a time-honored event that is guilty of nothing more than being held on the same day as a tragically random act of violence at Community Park.
How about some common sense from City Hall🤷🏻♂️ in not permitting off-campus activities/events on Picnic Day that may attract outside influences to perpetrate unchecked, anonymous acts of violence—particularly when law enforcement are stretched to their limits.
15 years ago, downtown activity on Picnic Day resembled an old West saloon brawl with 50-cent beer sales beginning at 6AM and fights in the street. This was brought under control with occupancy load enforcement (no fun for troublemakers when they have to wait in line to get into a bar to start something); limiting alcoholic beverage sale hours (at least postponing over-serving until afternoon), and elevated law enforcement presence through mutual-aid (CHP and surrounding jurisdictions).
Why further exacerbate a vulnerable situation, by City Hall permitting other events scattered throughout the city that cannot be adequately monitored or safely controlled?
This is not a campus or Picnic Day failure…it’s a common sense and city regulatory failure.
Completely agree, Bill.
The City should not permit any events at any city facility, inside or outside, on Picnic Day. No exceptions.
I don't care if it's your grandpa's 100th birthday, the answer is "No."
There were Davis cops, UCD cops, County Sheriff, CHP. I'm pretty sure I saw some RCMP racing down Covell from Saskatchewan at the height of the mess.
Especially if the group is a University affiliated organization. They can hold their event somewhere on campus.
Agreed
Ahhh, The Mounties…👍🏼
Present your list of all the fantastic events held this year during Picnic Day and I am sure number 112 will be even more exciting. I am amazed that such a wonderful and educational gathering takes place so close to Merced. Davis is a unique city. I have learned all about Davis from The Wary One. Thank you.
Thanks so much Jacqueline. Much appreciated.
Yes, Davis is a special town.
You should put Picnic Day 112 on your calendar.
Why would the City restrict off-campus activities for Picnic Day? Sounds a lot like what the Presidential Administration would declare. This is a City with a University not a University with a City. We should be free to utilize City parks and facilities for any activity we chose, not restricted because it might be affiliated with UCD. Freedom of assembly applies to every one regardless of an association with UCD on Picnic Day.
"Why would the City restrict off-campus activities for Picnic Day?"
See: Recent Shooting
Amen
This was not a political rally of any kind, John. It was on out-of-control party of massive proportions. The city has a right to deny a permit for a party of that size on a day when up to 70,000 people will already be coming to town and first responders will be stretched to the max.
Every time something happens on Picnic Day Saturday, the entire Picnic Day event is blamed. The question was raised early on Next Door and, of course, as usual, I have an opinion. Who doesn't?
We've had stabbings, officer death, and many other things that occurred outside Picnic Day. It isn't just then that bad things happen here. And we can't stop being who we are; we shouldn't.
I don't see how Saturday at the park could have been avoided. There was already a huge police presence in Davis. Davis PD, UCD PD, Woodland PD, Dixon PD, Winters PD (I think), they were all here. Stupid people don't take that into account. They come to do cruel, stupid things anyway. All the police in the world can't stop people from doing what they've come to do, but preventing the large gatherings can reduce some of the attraction.
No Permits issued for large parties on Picnic Day; no taking over parks. This one day only, authorized events should be limited to Campus sponsored Picnic Day events. Everything else is "Safety Enhancement Zone" enforced, and I do mean enforced. Groups will continue to have their own parties but they shouldn't be City or Police 'Permitted' events. Thus, within the Safety Enhancement Zone rules.
I asked this question on Next Door. If you had a party at your home and a group broke in and robbed you and all your guests, would you never again have another party? Was having the party the problem?
Let UC Davis have this day to do what it has done to enhance this town for decades and deny the 'authorized spinoffs' this one day.
Very well said, Donna
Even from a long distance away, I agree that the city officials should not live in fear. Whether we like it or not, there will always be some disturbed individual to cause trouble, but we shouldn't plan our lives around that fact.
I would say (easy for me, being more than a thousand miles away) if the weak-kneed officials cave and try to call the event off, protest publicly and loudly. And if that doesn't work, hold it anyway.
Some traditional events after a few years or decades start losing the crowds and soon fade into oblivion. I've seen several of those disappear here. But other events seem to keep getting larger and larger every year and hold on. Picnic Day sounds like one of the latter for you.
Don't let fear kill it.
The city officials can't call it off because it's not a city event. The UC Davis campus is not part of the City of Davis. It is a separate entity, responsible to the UC Regents, not the voters.
That explains a lot. If the CA regents system is anything like the TX one, boards of regents are composed of a mixed lot: primarily political major donors, some businessmen with usually good sense; others who got their wealth through inheritance or other means.
In routine matters, it doesn't make much difference. In issues involving politics, their decisions depend on which way the wind is blowing. Here in Texas, it's mostly ho-hum, but I have seen some doozies over the years.
Maybe it's easier to just say in Austin, the University of Texas flagship campus hosts the LBJ Presidential Library. In College Station, the main Texas A&M University campus hosts the GHW Bush Presidential Library. The GW Bush Presidential Library is in Dallas on the SMU campus.
So, it's your guess as to how the UC Regents will respond. Hope they do the right thing.
Thank you Bob for the amazing list of Picnic Day events to be found in every nook and cranny on and off campus! I've printed it out so I can refer to it next year. Long live PICNIC DAY!
Thanks so much, Diane.
Yes, long live Picnic Day.
Good work Bob.
Thanks very much, Mark.
My memories of this great day are almost as many and old as r yours good friend. when would canceling of wholesome fun community events end. we will have a full community business and health fare in community park (yes that park). we used to participate when we owned the Davis Athletic Club. Years ago the city and the d.a's office handled the downtown drunken craziness that had seriously effected downtown enjoyment by working with the courts, the police and community leaders. Limits on alcohol sales invoking the "86"( bars refusing more alcohol to the obviously inebriated) issuing P.C 647 f (drunk in public/danger to yourself or others)criminal citations and making offenders go to court and jump through hoops to keep this off their records. Chico simply canceled their version (pioneer day). we used a scalpel not a hatchet.
I remember Chico's dilemma, but Pioneer Day (or Days) started to go on for weeks. It wasn't as big a deal as Picnic Day. The cancelled it because the booze became the whole attraction and they didn't know how to stop it.
We try to take reasonable cautions and not live in fear of every bad thing that might happen. Living in fear is not living, and Picnic Day is, has always been, and will continue to be, priceless.
Beautifully said, Robin. Thank you.
I agree -- we will not be bullied
Ever
Thank you, Bob.
Great to hear from you, Dana. Keep up the great work on our beloved campus. Go Ags
Agree with you 101%, Bob.
101% appreciated, Cyril
Agreed. If we've learned anything from the last 30-odd years, it's that a lethal shooting can happen anytime and anywhere in this nation.
Isn't that a sad truth?
I agree 100%!
Thanks, Bev
Word.
Amen, Mike.
Agreed. My opinion? Don’t give into fear. Be aware and alert. Picnic Day is a Davis tradition that brings community together. So important in times like this.
Dottie Bonneau
You said it, Dottie.
We're all in this together.