The Davis Enterprise Friday, May 29, 2020

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enterprise THE DAVIS

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

Arts: Theater company presents murder mystery on ‘Radio Tuesdays.’ Page B1

New county health order eliminates local shelter-in-place BY ANNE TERNUS-BELLAMY Enterprise staff writer Yolo County issued a new health order on Thursday replacing the shelter-in-place order that has been in effect since midMarch. The local shelter in place has now been terminated but county residents must still comply with the state’s “stay at home” order, which remains in effect indefinitely and prescribes what busi-

nesses and activities are currently prohibited from reopening. Meanwhile, the new county order maintains the requirement that all residents wear face coverings while in public; emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility; continues guidance on health and safety, including maintaining physical distance and frequent handwashing; and provides additional directives on activities. Under the new order, the

Planning Commission opposes U-Mall plan

county health officer maintains the authority to allow activities released by the state to reopen in Yolo County as well as to strengthen or supplement state guidance with local recommendations or protocols. The change comes as the county has seen a uptick in COVID-19 cases in the last week as well as an additional death. That death, reported Thursday, was the sixteenth linked to the Stollwood Convalescent Hospital

in Woodland. Meanwhile, 21 new cases have been confirmed in the last seven days, bringing the county total to 207 with 23 deaths. The county remains well within the benchmarks set by the state to move into stage three of reopening. To view the new health order and track which activities have been approved by the local health officer, visit www.yolocounty.org/ coronavirus-roadmap. “The county continues to move

rapidly toward streamlining and clarifying processes aimed at approving and implementing the reopening of select businesses and activities consistent with guidelines issued by the state,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Gary Sandy. “Underlying these changes will be an enhanced emphasis on the importance of personal responsibility, including the need to make

Foreign students’ future up in the air

On top of it

BY ANNE TERNUS-BELLAMY Enterprise staff writer Davis planning commissioners presented a united front Wednesday in their opposition to a proposal for redeveloping University Mall. The commission voted 7-0 to recommend that the City Council not certify the environmental impact report, amend the General Plan or take any other steps towards approving the proposed University Commons mixed-use project on Russell Boulevard. The focus on student housing, a lack of affordable housing, and the size and scale of the project — potentially seven stories high — were among commissioners’ objections as well as those of some 20 members of the public who called in during public comment during Wednesday’s meeting. Commissioners were particularly critical of the affordable housing plan, which one called “a slap in the face,” and the focus on building more studentoriented housing off campus, which another commissioner referred to as “tone deaf.” Still, despite commissioners’ unanimous opposition, mall owners Brixmor Property Group indicated they plan to proceed to the City Council next month seeking approval. “We still very much want to move the project along and have a lot to address between now and the council meeting,” said Brixmor representative George Phillips. Brixmor which purchased University Mall in 2004, began the redevelopment process two years ago. The existing mall, built in 1966, was outdated and in need of refurbishment, Brixmor representatives said at the time, and that was the original plan — to spruce up the city’s oldest mall. Over the years, University Mall has been home to a wide range of department stores like Gottschalks, grocery stores like Harvest Market and Safeway, and numerous specialty stores and restaurants, including the now closed Graduate sports bar. Trader Joe’s was added to the southwest corner of the property in 2010. It was city representatives, Brixmor staff said, who urged mall owners to consider not just renovating the mall but thinking

SEE U-MALL, PAGE A5

VOL. 123 NO. 65

SEE ORDER, PAGE A3

BY CALEB HAMPTON Enterprise staff writer

OWEN YANCHER/ENTERPRISE PHOTO

UC Davis firefighters scramble up the roof of a burning building in the 2300 block of Glacier Place on Thursday morning. Davis and UCD fire crews responded shortly after 9 a.m. to reports of smoke coming from the two-story home, where firefighters “got a pretty quick knockdown from the first floor,” Battalion Chief Roland Pussich said in a video posted to social media. The occupants were not at home at the time, and no injuries were caused by the incident. The Davis Fire Department is investigating the cause.

As the novel coronavirus pandemic left millions of Americans jobless over the past two months, President Trump has said he wants to restrict the entry of new immigrants and temporary workers to the U.S. New restrictions could affect the ability of some foreign students and scholars to remain in the U.S. and impede others from coming. The president is reportedly considering suspending H1-B visas, which authorize more than 85,000 skilled workers, including researchers, to work in the U.S. each year. Republican lawmakers

SEE STUDENTS, PAGE A3

City extends COVID eviction moratorium BY ANNE TERNUS-BELLAMY Enterprise staff writer COVID-19 relief measures approved by the City Council in March have been extended through June, the city announced Wednesday. Those relief measures include an ordinance prohibiting residential and commercial landlords from evicting renters impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. In passing the ordinance on March 25, the City Council authorized City Manager Mike Webb to extend the moratorium as needed. So far, the ordinance has affected rent payments due April 1 and May 1, and the extension applies the ordinance to June 1 rent payments as well. Additionally, the city will continue to waive new utility bill late fees for all residential and commercial customers, allowing late payments without penalty through June. Customers do not need to apply or submit any special forms. The city also will suspend water shutoffs for commercial and residential accounts through June. Hotel transient occupancy tax payments have been deferred through June as well. “This is a small step we

INDEX

Arts . . . . . . . . . .B1 Dial-A-Pro . . . . A4 Sports . . . . . . .B5 Classifieds . . . . A5 Forum . . . . . . . .B4 The Wary I . . . . A2 Comics . . . . . . .B3 Legals . . . . . . . . A3 Weather . . . . . . A4

“This is a small step we can take that will make a large difference.” Brett Lee Davis mayor can take that will make a large difference for those who need this protection,” said Mayor Brett Lee. In order to qualify under the eviction moratorium ordinance, tenants must provide written notice to their landlords regarding inability to pay rent because of lost income and financial impacts due to COVID-19 no later than 10 days after the rent due date. Tenants must also provide documentation of COVID-19 financial impacts within 30 days of the rent due date. Residential landlords may not initiate a no-fault eviction unless immediately necessary because of a hazardous condition, which would not include any condition related to COVID-19. Tenants are expected to pay the portion of rent they are able to pay and

SEE EVICTION, PAGE A5

WEATHER Sat Saturday: Sh Showers likely. Hi High 74. Low 56.

COURTESY GRAPHIC

Pandemic impacts all aspects of life BY ANNE TERNUS-BELLAMY Enterprise staff writer Calls to Yolo County’s suicide prevention hotline are up and childhood vaccinations way down as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls into month three and continues to leave collateral damage in its wake. Some of that damage was foreseen, including the local unemployment rate shooting up after a shelter in place was ordered in mid-March. But some was not. Case in point: reports of suspected child abuse have plummeted, not, say officials, because there is less abuse. Rather, children are staying home and out of the eye of mandated reporters like teachers and doctors. The starkest drop came in April, when the county received 124 reports of

suspected child abuse, compared to 228 in April of last year. Similarly, year over year reports in March dropped from 247 in 2019 to 189 this year. “The actual number of cases you’ll see reported has gone down, actually dramatically,” Brian Vaughn, the county’s public health director, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “We think this is certainly not the result of less child abuse. It is, actually, a result of people coming inside and having (fewer) mandated reporters out there seeing kids.” With schools shut down and healthcare facilities limiting well-child checkups, “there’s just not people out there with eyes on the kids,” Vaughn said. In addition to not being screened by health care

professionals for child abuse, Yolo County’s kids are also not being vaccinated. Vaccination rates have plummeted since the start of the pandemic, according to county data. In April 2019, 3,734 vaccine doses were given to Yolo County children aged 0-2. One year later, 1,842 doses were given. The drop was even more significant among all children. For those ages 0-18, 5,493 vaccine doses were given in April 2019. That dropped to 2,051 in April 2020. “It’s pretty dramatic what’s happened the last two months as the clinics and hospitals have closed down their services for COVID response,” Vaughn said.

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SEE IMPACTS, PAGE A5

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