CRIME AND PUNISHMENT … it’s not surprising that more than 70 percent of Davisites voted to do away with the death penalty in California, and it’s also not surprising that the rest of the state went the other way … as long as there are bad guys out there doing horrific things, Californians are likely to keep the ultimate punishment on the books …

Even those of us who have long opposed the death penalty for a variety of reasons are hard pressed to come up with an “appropriate” punishment for the recently convicted Richard Joseph Hirschfield … truth be told, there is no appropriate punishment for his unspeakable actions and no penalty, death or life in prison, will take away the pain that family and friends of the victims continue to suffer, even 32 years after the crimes were committed …

A WOLK IN THE PARK … while many incumbents had uphill battles last Tuesday, State Sen. Lois Wolk romped with 66.1 percent of the vote … “I’m very pleased,” Wolk said after the results were announced, apparently unaware that incumbents need two-thirds approval to win re-election … wait, maybe that’s just for taxes … but then how did Gov. Brown’s tax pass with just 54 percent of the vote and Measure E almost failed because it had “only” 68.9 percent? … I think we need a do-over …

SPEAKING OF GOVERNOR MOONBEAM … good for Jerry Brown for having the guts to put Prop. 30 on the ballot and good for Jerry Brown for trusting the people of California to make the right decision … we’ll expect a fat check in the mail next week, Governor …

ELECTORAL TRUTHS … my friend Ed on the Alphabet Streets writes to say “The national election map suggests that the Republicans continue to do well in the states dominated by jackrabbits and opossums.” … the Sagebrush Rebellion lives on … and that same map seems to suggest that Democrats continue to do well in states heavy with salt air …

SMOKE-FILLED DECISION … Glen at netscape.net says he “can’t imagine why the Davis City Council would sign off on a wood burning ordinance that excludes households with low incomes.” … compassion, Glen, compassion … scientific studies prove that wood smoke from low-income households does not harm the lungs in the same way as wood smoke from high-income households …

Adds Glen: “If they were exempting low-income people from, let’s say, a Davis ordinance banning shoplifting in the Davis Downtown District, I would at least see how they connected the dots to cut needy people some slack. But exemption from a wood burning ordinance deemed ‘urgent’ by the council? I don’t get it.” … you’re not supposed to get it, my friend …

On the bright side, it’s now a whole new day for low-income folks in Davis … they can now roll right through stop signs, drive 60 mph past elementary schools and litter our sidewalks and streets to their hearts’ content … they are exempt …

— Reach Bob Dunning at [email protected]

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