The Flatlander

This entry refers to a departed business that has closed or left town. All information here is for historical reference only.

 

The Flatlander's logo. Copyright The Flatlander.

The Flatlander was a local alternative newspaper that was published three or four times a year. It arrived free on most residents' door steps or it could be found at various locations around town. The paper focused on local politics, the environment and general happenings around Yolo County. Articles were regularly written by diverse members of the community. The papers motto was, "Tell The Truth Anyway."

The Flatlander was founded in 1997 and traces its roots to a strong local alternative press tradition. Most notably Winds of Change and Farmer Bob's. Former contributors to both provided content and guidance to the first issues of The Flatlander. Winds of Change was started by Martin Barnes and R. Crumb in 1979 and ended its run in 1983. The first issue was put together in the offices of the Experimental College. The next issue was assembled at first editor Colin Walsh's house and later moved to its offices on E street behind Cafe Roma. When Downtown Roma became Peet's Coffee the Flatlander office moved to the editors house.

For two issues in 1999, The Flatiron introduced editor Joseph B. Malki, a graduate of UC Davis, Infantry soldier in the California Army National Guard and a conservative thinker with a long history of pro-ecology and social justice activism. His short tenure at the paper included articles exposing Davis' horrific underground water contamination and a controversial editorial exposing the absurdity and error in understanding of civil disobedience activists (SOAW) focused on the U.S Army School of the America's alleged training of foreign military personnel in torture. Malki's editorial claimed that activists had read U.S. ArmyOP FOR Manuals (Opposing Force Operations) and misinterpreted it's purpose. OPFOR was confirmed as the method by which U.S. troops engage in combat and escape and evasion rehearsals where American troops pose as enemy troops in a training environment. Escape and Evasion training creates a harsh environment of mock torture and other hardships allowing troops to test their psychological and physical resolve simulating conditions that enemy or opposing forces might engage. Malki's assertions defending the U.S, Army was met with a formidable reaction in the left heavy Davis community.

For several years Eugene "Roger" Apodaca, PhD (Mathematics, UC Berkeley) provided original cartoons focused on environmental and political issues in Davis. His mentorship of interns and editorial staff was regarded highly effective. He assisted in the development of conceptual models and graphics describing the underground plumes of toxins moving towards Davis' central aquifer.

The farm scene below the banner was drawn by the famous cartoonist R. Crumb and was originally used as the masthead for Winds of Change. Other rare Crumb cartoons that were originally published in Winds of Change are occasionally reprinted in the Flatlander.

2006-12-06 08:28:10   I just found the "Tenth Anniversary" issue on the lawn last evening. I just took a look at the website and I quote, ""Print the truth, anyway" The Flatlander started in 1979..." and now we receive something labeled "Tenth Anniversay". Curious that these people go around littering the neighborhoods with what many think is trash. I've often seen soggy old issues lying here and there. Also curious that a seemingly environmentally oriented publication would waste forest products. —ChebaccoThirty

2006-12-07 16:03:26   The flatlander is a good, albeit extreme left newspaper, but that doesn't bother me. The flatlander does pretty much represent the hardcore davisite oppinion on development etc —StevenDaubert

2015-01-26 16:13:43   As one of the editors of The Flatlander I testify that the ChebaccoThirty comment made is off-base. The Flatlander started in October of 1996, not 1979; the Winds of Change, however, was published by the same person, Martin Barnes. Perhaps that is the reason for ChebaccoThirty's confusion. It is true that the paper sometimes got wet in the rain but mostly it did not. It was mostly an "all volunteer" effort and contained many points of view, some "left wing" and some "right wing". We always had fresh content and were enthusiastically received by many readers. Bob Dunning, the columnist of the Davis Enterprise recognized the contribution The Flatlander made to the free flow of information in Davis and Yolo County. —jimleona