Partansky, 51, graduated from UC Davis in 1970 and stayed. Elected to the City Council six years ago, one of her first acts was championing the cause of the toads who "hopped on the road and got squished." Two other Partansky notions fell flat: One would have required fruit bearing trees along some streets so anyone hungry could eat; another would have blocked repairs to potholed alleys in the historic district of town.
Each suggestion drew uncomplimentary attention to the town. A Midwest newspaper columnist suggested Davis was becoming "The Weirdness Center of the World"--and each opened floodgates of letters to the editor in the Davis Enterprise.
Does Partansky care? No, emphatically, she doesn't. Well, not really. OK, a little.
When the dark skies issue was covered recently by a Sacramento television station, she rejoiced that the newscasters didn't "make any comment like, 'Only in Davis.' "
The ordinance, which had its first council hearing last week, appears to be headed for final passage Dec. 2 and enactment 30 days later.
If approved, it would require all new lighting on stores, industries and apartment complexes to include hat-like shields that prevent light from beaming toward the sky--a problem that experts estimate wastes up to 50% of the light produced.
Outdoor signs are to be lighted from the top down instead of bottom up, and rules about turning off public tennis court and ball field lights after hours must be reinforced.
And that's not the end of it. Other Partansky proposals being researched by city staff range from a gradual retrofitting program for street lights to possible restrictions on homeowners' outdoor lights.
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