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By Eric Johnson
Published Jul 15, 2024

View  north over Highway 140, El Portal, and the Merced River canyon as a summer storm rolls on by. Screenshot from a time-lapse courtesy of ALERTCalifornia-UC San Diego. View  north over Highway 140, El Portal, and the Merced River canyon as a summer storm rolls on by. Screenshot from a time-lapse courtesy of ALERTCalifornia-UC San Diego.

Heat Waves, Mountaintop Cameras, and Municipal Budgets

I write to you this evening as always from Sacramento, where we have endured a string of 100-plus degree days, including several 110-plus degree days. We avoided aestivation by hunkering down in our blackout-drapes-darkened, air-conditioned apartment, and escaping to our blessed neighborhood public swimming pool and our favorite lake in the nearby Sierra. 

Many Californians are not so fortunate. At best, they might have been able to access “cooling centers”—but most did not, because California cities and counties have not invested sufficient resources to make them easily accessible.

The feature article in this week’s edition of The Newsletter deals with the admittedly bone-dry topic of municipal budgeting. That is: how your local governments spend your tax money on essential services—from schools to cooling centers to municipal swimming pools. This, as you will see, is the essence of democratic governance.

(It’s actually a pretty easy read, and while I don’t mean to get too “eat your vegetables“ here, this will help you be a better-informed citizen. Thank you and you’re welcome.)

But first something easy and fun: a bunch of short-and-sweet videos that we are calling California Views.

Also, this week as always a bite-sized digest of the important news that might impact you and your community… and a recipe that might add some deliciousness to your week.


One Good Thing: Inspiring Mini Videos

In which we bring you, for just a few pleasurable seconds, to mountaintops, Monterey Pines and Yosemite Valley.


California Views: The California Local YouTube Page

Screenshot of video taken from a mountaintop webcam shows dawn breaking purplish in Sequoia National Park on July 12, 2024.
From short mountaintop webcam time-lapses to handmade videos of stuff we love, we bring you a quick, daily dose of California goodness.


California Local logo

Monterey County's Homepage

Direct your browser to https://monterey.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Monterey County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!


Easily go Deep in the Weeds of Governance

Our good friend, California Local’s CEO Chris Neklason, approaches the job of reporting on local government with the mind of an engineer. Elsewhere, he has pointed out that a fundamental rule of democratic governance holds that whenever public money is involved, there is an elected or appointed board tasked with managing that money. Engineers like rules, and this is a good one.

Here, Chris explains the basic setup that determines how public money is raised and spent. Pretty basic stuff, pretty important, and, I think you’ll agree, pretty easily understood.


Show Me the Money: How California Cities and Towns Fund Their Annual Budgets

The 2024-2025 City of Sacramento budget is dry reading, but worth it. $1.6 billion worth. Courtesy City of Sacramento.
Local democracy is a complex, expensive process. We explain.

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Summer! cookbook.


Overripe banana inspires summer breakfast treat

Banana blueberry pancakes make good use of a too-soft banana.
New! Banana blueberry pancakes (with one banana lots of blueberries).


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Get to Know a Group

Community Emergency Response Volunteers logo Community Emergency Response Volunteers

Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula's mission is “to support local CERT programs, build public awareness about emergency preparedness, and promote the community's capacity to respond to natural disasters and man-made emergencies.”

→ Learn more

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Upcoming Community Ally Events

Arts Council of Monterey County logo Open Studios Art Tour
Saturday October 12 2024   All Day
Arts Council of Monterey County logo Open Studios Art Tour
Sunday October 13 2024   All Day
California Media Alliance logo

From Our Media Allies

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Monterey County Weekly logo Board Delays Its Decision on Pajaro Farmworker Housing Plans After Supervisors Are Split on the Project.

For the second time in three months, a government body deadlocked on a proposed farmworker housing project in Pajaro.

Monterey County Weekly logo The Carmel City Council Rejects an Appeal of Hofsas House Luxury Hotel Project.

Progress is coming to Carmel, much to the disappointment of the leader of the Carmel Preservation Association, Neal Kruse.

Monterey County Weekly logo A Divided Carmel City Council Gives a Green Light to Street Addresses.

The town famous for having no numbered street addresses is now a step closer to adding them, after a divided 3-2 vote of the Carmel City Council on Tuesday, July 9.

King City Rustler logo Officials Investigate Why Lake San Antonio Fish Have Gone Belly-Up

Monterey County officials are closing Lake San Antonio to visitors Wednesday and asking all campers to vacate following a mass fish dieoff that county staff first noticed last week.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Voters to Decide Whether to Increase Sales Tax in Unincorporated Monterey County

Monterey County Board of Supervisors has approved the placement of a measure on the November 2024 ballot to increase the sales tax in Monterey County’s unincorporated areas by 1%.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Nearly $111K in Grants Awarded to Local Arts and Culture Projects in Monterey County

The Arts Council for Monterey County has announced that it has awarded $110,520 in Arts and Cultural Impact Grants to 23 local arts organizations and nonprofit organizations with art programs.

  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Local News

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• Grand Opening Held for Affordable Housing

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held July 11 to celebrate the grand opening of the 66-unit Alfred Diaz-Infante Apartments in the East Garrison.

(07/12/2024) → Monterey Herald

• COE Responds to Civil Grand Jury Report

The Monterey County Office of Education has responded to the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury report, titled “Fentanyl: Our Youth in Crisis.”

(07/09/2024) → Monterey Herald
  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Statewide News

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• Guaranteed Basic Income Programs Proliferate Across CA

Beginning Monday, 150 households in Fresno County are expected to receive a $500 prepaid card to spend on anything they’d like — no strings attached. It will be the first of 12 monthly recurring payments those Southwest Fresno and Huron residents will receive as part of a guaranteed basic income program for low-income families.

(07/12/2024) → CalMatters

• How California Laws May Help Shield It From Supreme Court Decisions

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, California’s Democratic leaders moved fast to shore up reproductive rights: They persuaded voters to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution, approved a dozen bills strengthening abortion protections and passed a law in May to enable Arizona doctors to temporarily provide abortion services for their patients in California.

(07/10/2024) → CalMatters

• Can California’s Health Care Providers Help Solve the State’s Homelessness Crisis?

Taking advantage of new state funds, some California healthcare providers are starting to offer what their homeless patients really need: housing.

(07/10/2024) → CalMatters

• California Has Just Approved a New Blueprint for Offshore Wind. The Massive Projects Will Cost Billions

Harnessing clean energy is a venture of unprecedented scope in California, bringing big changes to Humboldt and the Central Coast, and requiring 26 ports along the coast.

(07/10/2024) → CalMatters

• The Supreme Court Took Powers Away From Federal Regulators. Do California Rules Offer a Backstop?

In three rulings the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a body blow to the federal bureaucracy. From healthcare to climate to workers’ rights, California’s rules often go farther.

(07/09/2024) → CalMatters
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Government Announcements

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Image of United States seal. United States   (07/13/2024)

Taylor's Sausage, Inc. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Landjaeger Sausage Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2024 - Taylor's Sausage, Inc., a Cave Junction, Ore., establishment, is recalling approximately 74 pounds of ready-to-eat Landjaeger sausage products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the...
Image of City of Seaside seal. City of Seaside   (07/12/2024)

NOTICE TO VOTERS OF DATE AFTER WHICH NO ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST CITY MEASURES

Image of United States seal. United States   (07/12/2024)

AB World Foods US, Inc. Recalls Al'Fez Natural Tahini Because of Possible Health Risk

AB World Foods US, Inc. of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, is voluntarily recalling Al'Fez Natural Tahini in 5.6oz glass jars because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, an
Image of United States seal. United States   (07/12/2024)

Wiers Farm, Inc Issues a Voluntary Recall on Whole and Salad Cucumbers Due to Possible Contamination with Listeria

Out of an abundance of caution, Wiers Farm Inc. of Willard, OH, is voluntarily recalling a limited number of whole cucumbers with a pack date of June 5, 2024 and bagged salad cucumbers with a pack date of June 5, 2024 and June 6, 2024 due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. This p
Image of City of Marina seal. City of Marina   (07/11/2024)

City of Marina welcomes Friendship City Delegation from Izunokuni, Japan

Image of United States seal. United States   (07/10/2024)

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Meat and Poultry Products Illegally Imported from the Philippines

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that were...
Image of City of Seaside seal. City of Seaside   (07/10/2024)

July 19th Community Meeting - Local Road Safety Plan

Join us on Friday, July 19th, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m. at City Hall for our Local Road Safety Plan Community Meeting!
Image of City of Monterey seal. City of Monterey   (07/09/2024)

Felony Warrants Arrest

Image of State of California seal. State of California   (07/08/2024)

Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29:
California Legislature Passes Historic School Infrastructure and Climate Bonds for the November Ballot

California Legislature Passes Historic School Infrastructure and Climate Bonds for the November Ballot hagamasc Mon, 07/08/2024 - 10:13 Title Press Secretary Email Cynthia.Moreno@asm.ca.gov Phone 916-319-2029 Wednesday, July 3, 2024 SACRAMENTO, CA The California State Legislature passed two bonds for voters consideration this November, including the Kindergarten Through Grade 12 Schools and Local Community College Public Education Facilities Modernization, Repair, and …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (07/05/2024)

Dawn Addis CA Assembly 30:
Addis, Chair of Central Coast Caucus, Applauds Climate Bond Act of 2024

Addis, Chair of Central Coast Caucus, Applauds Climate Bond Act of 2024 sanchema Fri, 07/05/2024 - 10:09 Wednesday, July 3, 2024 SACRAMENTO Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), Chair of the California Central Coast Legislative Caucus, issued the following statement on Senate Bill 867, the Climate Bond Act of 2024, which was passed and signed today. "After months of hard work …