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By Eric Johnson
Published Sep 09, 2024

The council chambers in Santa Cruz City Hall has been the scene of countless heated political battles, and at least one melee. The council chambers in Santa Cruz City Hall has been the scene of countless heated political battles, and at least one melee. Image credit: Crystal Birns, Contributed

It Takes a Village to Run a Village: Leadership vs. Partisanship

In November, 2021, more than 2,000 people gathered in the bucolic Silicon Valley suburb of Los Gatos for what was called the United Against Hate March. They did so in part because the town's mayor and elected council had been subjected to a slew of attacks in the wake of vaccination mandates and policies promoting diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI). Similar incidents had already happened during public meetings throughout the state and nation, and they have continued ever since. And last Jauary, my friend Fred Keeley, mayor of Santa Cruz, received a death threat following a contentions city council meeting during which protesters stormed the council dais and broke windows in the chambers.

Last month, the Los Gatos town council voted unanimously to cancel its November election because nobody filed to run against the incumbents for two seats that would have been in contention. We've noticed that the same thing has happened in multiple towns and cities throughout Northern California. In this week's edition of The Newsletter, Chris Neklason examines the trend and posits some reasons people might find running for a public office or advisory board—an admitedly serious conmmitment to civic duty—increasingly daunting.

But first, Chris talks with Ryan Coonerty, a former veteran Santa Cruz elected official and, not incidentally, co-host of the podcast "An Honorable Profession," which is about (you guessed it) elected public service. 


The Business Community Steps Up

When we talk about how California works here at CALocal, we frequently point out that the civic infrastructure in most cities and towns is made up of a multitude of individuals beyond elected officials and public employees. They include, for instance, the employees and volunteers at nonprofit community groups. In every instance I know of, the local business community is also involved in the work of civic betterment.

One of the best examples of business leaders stepping up to nurture community involvement are local programs such as Leadership Santa Cruz—there are similar organzations in many counties throughout California and beyond, and they are generally founded by local Chambers of Commerce. 


Building a Civic Engagement Pipeline

Democracy works better when more people actively participate.
We look at one of many local efforts to cultivate the local civic engagement talent pool.

The Simmering California Public Service Crisis

Democracy is all about having a seat at the table.
What happens if you have a democracy and nobody shows up?


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Sacramento County's Homepage

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


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 Fall! cookbook.


This fruity syrup makes most of late-season harvest

A mix of berries, plus a few other random summer fruits, go into the fruit syrup.
New! Very Berry Syrup mixes strawberries, blueberries, blackberries -- or whatever you have


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Get to Know a Group

Museum of Science and Curiosity logo Museum of Science and Curiosity

Founded in 2021, MOSAC aims to be a regional hub for inspiring people of all ages to “explore the wonders, possibilities and responsibilities of science.”

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From Our Media Allies

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Folsom Times logo Folsom Food Bank Hopes Community Service Day Can Fill Empty Shelves

On Sept. 21, Folsom’s largest day of volunteerism returns, bringing together residents of all ages to complete projects throughout the city aimed at making a lasting, positive impact.

Sacramento News and Review logo The Center for Land-Based Learning Grows Opportunities for Beginning Farmers With Training in the Capital Region

“Hands-on” best describes the Beginning Farmer Training Program at the Center for Land-Based Learning in Woodland.

Folsom Telegraph logo Prima Drive 'Strife' Ends Between Folsom, El Dorado

Folsom and El Dorado Hills officials agreed last week the controversial, proposed Prima Drive emergency vehicle extension between Sacramento and El Dorado counties is no longer necessary.

Folsom Times logo County Supervisors Approve $340M Increase to 2024-25 Budget

SACRAMENTO COUNTY – In a vote this week, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved a significant $340 million increase to the county’s 2024-25 fiscal year budget. The revisions bring the total budget to $9.2 billion, marking a substantial rise …

Folsom Times logo County Supes to Vote on $8M Hotel Purchase for Affordable Housing Project

Project on Howe Avenue in Sacramento would convert 176-unit into multi-family supportive and workforce apartment community.

Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent logo Rancho Cordova Considers General Plan Revisions

The City Council’s and the Planning Commission’s work session on Aug. 27 was on the ongoing General Plan Update, aimed at guiding Rancho Cordova’s growth and development through 2045.

Folsom Times logo SMUD, UC Davis Expand Access to Sacramento’s Largest Science Museum

SMUD has partnered with the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience to offer students from Sacramento the opportunity to explore the region's largest science museum, the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC), through a special field trip program.

Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent logo Suicide Prevention Month Can Save Lives

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and discuss this urgently increasing crisis.

Gold River Messenger logo Nature Savers Reel in Line

A volunteer team has taken on a mission to clear miles of abandoned fishing line from local rivers and waterways.

Sacramento News and Review logo Ode to Earth Festival Honors Winners of Sacramento Youth Writing Competition

During 350 Sacramento’s Ode to Earth festival on Aug. 18, winners of a writing competition put on in partnership with 916 Ink were honored for their environmental-themed works of poetry.

Folsom Times logo A New Room for Eva: Folsom Charity, Rotarians Bring Joy to Ill Child

At just 10 years old, local resident Eva has long suffered from juvenile dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the muscles, causes inflammation in the blood vessels, and results in a great deal of pain.

American River Messenger logo West Nile Virus Risk Continues

While Labor Day is the last holiday of the summer, mosquito activity and the risk of West Nile virus continue for all area residents.

Folsom Times logo Folsom Assemblyman Urges Governor to Sign Bill for Homeless Spending Accountability

On August 31, Assemblyman Josh Hoover of Folsom announced the passage of Assembly Bill 2903 out of the Legislature, which would require state-run homelessness programs to annually report cost and outcome data to the California Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Sacramento News and Review logo CalCenter Works to Engage the Next Generation of Civic Activists With R(E)volution! Event

The California Center for Civic Participation (CalCenter) held its r(E)volution! event at Sacramento State to introduce attendees to some of the voices in civic youth engagement on August 27.

Folsom Times logo Folsom Fire, Police Knock Out Knopfler Circle Vegetation Fire

Folsom Fire Department along with assistance from the Folsom Police Department responded to a small in size but very active vegetation fire on the 1200 block of Knopfler Circle area on the evening of September 1.

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Recent Local News

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• The Bats of Yolo County

The Sacramento Observer shines a light on the hundreds of thousands of bats who make their home in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, and how they benefit local sustainable agriculture (and eat a lot of insects.)

(09/09/2024) → The Sacramento Observer

• Candidates for Sacramento Hold Debate

Learn what candidates for Sacramento Mayor had to say in their September 5 debate in this CapRadio report.

(09/06/2024) → CapPublicRadio

• Sacramento County Attorney Strike Paused

The striking Sacramento County criminal attorneys paused their strike on September 6 to return to negotiations with the county.

(09/06/2024) → The Sacramento Bee

• Elk Grove Launches Unique E-Bike Program

This city is lending residents e-bikes for up to three weeks and sponsoring a purchase voucher program for qualified applicants.

(09/06/2024) → The Sacramento Bee

• Sacramento Light Rail to Roll Out New Trains

The new trains are designed to be easier to use by disabled and mobility-challenged riders.

(09/06/2024) → The Sacramento Bee

• Respiratory Problems in South Sacramento Under Investigation

CapRadio reports on an air monitoring program seeking to determine the cause of respiratory illnesses in South Sacramento.

(09/05/2024) → CapPublicRadio

• Citrus Heights Residents Favor Bulk Waste Pickup

A City of Citrus Heights survey indicates overwhelming support for free Neighborhood Cleanup services.

(09/05/2024) → Citrus Heights Sentinel

• Making Sacramento's Community Gardens Thrive

A look at what it takes to successfully manage a community garden.

(09/05/2024) → The Sacramento Bee

• Proposition 6 Explainer

The Sacramento Bee explains the "involuntary servitude" measure on the November Ballot, Proposition 6.

(09/04/2024) → The Sacramento Bee

• State Settles Housing Dispute With Elk Grove

The Elk Grove News reports on the details of the recent settlement between the State of California and the City of Elk Grove over the July 2022 denial of the Oak Rose affordable housing project.

(09/04/2024) → Elk Grove News Net

• Elk Grove Bans Public Camping

In their August 28 meeting, the Elk Grove City Council voted unanimously to prohibit camping on public property.

(09/03/2024) → Elk Grove News Net

• How To Advocate for Traffic Safety Improvements in Your Neighborhood

The Sacramento Bee presents a guide for requesting speed bumps or other traffic calming options to increase road, bike and pedestrian safety in your neighborhood.

(09/03/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
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Recent Statewide News

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• California "30x30" Conservation Efforts Make Progress

The California state goal to conserve 30% of its land and coastal waters has advanced, with conserved lands reaching 25% and coastal waters 16%.

(09/08/2024) → Los Angeles Times

• Reparations Supporters Plot Comeback After Bitter Defeat in California Legislature

The controversial idea of cash reparations divided even Black advocates in the legislature this year. Here’s what’s next.

(09/06/2024) → CalMatters

• CA Rent Control Battle Goes to the Ballot

Amid a Southern California heat wave, about 300 advocates for rent control — with two 10-foot “greedy landlord” puppets — rallied Thursday in downtown Los Angeles, chanting: “The rent is too damn high!”

(09/06/2024) → CalMatters

• Should California Community Colleges Offer Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing? Universities Say No

Lawmakers approved two bills to allow some community colleges to provide bachelor’s degrees in nursing. That’s setting up another conflict with the California State University, which already offers these bachelor’s degrees.

(09/05/2024) → CalMatters

• Are CA Gig Workers Getting Promised Pay and Benefits?

California voters passed Proposition 22 four years ago. The ballot initiative, backed by Uber, Lyft and other gig companies, promised the state’s more than 1 million gig workers new benefits, such as guaranteed minimum earnings, health care stipends, occupational accident insurance and accidental death insurance.

(09/04/2024) → CalMatters

• More Extreme Heat + More People = Danger in These California Cities. ‘Will It Get as Hot as Death Valley?’

Inland communities with big population booms will experience the most extreme heat days under climate change projections. The combination puts more people at risk — and many cities are unprepared.

(09/04/2024) → CalMatters

• California Schools Release a Blizzard of Data, and That’s Why Parents Can’t Make Sense of It

Information about how the state’s K-12 students are performing is located on several sites and is difficult to understand, a new report finds.

(09/04/2024) → CalMatters

• California School Dashboard Lacks Pandemic Focus, Earns a D Grade in Report

The California School Dashboard makes it hard for the public to see how schools and districts are performing over multiple years, concludes the report's lead author.

(09/04/2024) → EdSource

• California Has Spent Billions on Homelessness but Lacks Hard Data on Outcomes

California has allocated more than $20 billion to alleviate the state’s homelessness crisis since Gavin Newsom became governor in 2019, but there’s precious little data on how the money was spent and what effect it’s had, other than the number of unhoused people has continued to climb.

(09/04/2024) → CalMatters

• Health Care in California: How the State Made Almost Everyone Eligible for Coverage

Almost everyone in California has health insurance. That trend reflects about a decade and a half of policymaking designed to expand access to health care. The state’s average uninsured rate has dropped from nearly one in four Californians in 2009 to less than one in ten today.

(09/03/2024) → CalMatters

• CalFire Deploys New Air Tanker

CalFire received the first of five planes promised by the federal government, a former Coast Guard C-130 Hercules air tanker.

(09/02/2024) → https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article291844345.html

• California’s Economy Lags Behind Other States, Here’s Why It’s So Sluggish

California’s unemployment rate, 5.2% of its labor force in July, is no longer the nation’s highest after months of having that dubious distinction.

(09/02/2024) → CalMatters
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Government Announcements

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Image of City of Citrus Heights seal. City of Citrus Heights   (09/05/2024)

Habitat for Humanity to Build 26 New Homes for Families in Need on Sayonara Drive

Read about the City's recent efforts to bring housing to Sayonara Drive.
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (09/05/2024)

SPD’s traffic safety operation at midtown crosswalk results in 55 citations in one day

As part of its ongoing efforts to protect pedestrian safety, the Sacramento Police Department recently issued 55 citations during a traffic safety operation in midtown Sacramento. Officers involved in the operation focused on drivers failing to yield to pedestrians and other dangerous driving behaviors that put pedestrians at risk, including speeding, illegal turns, and failure [...] The post SPD's traffic …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (09/05/2024)

Sacramento art project brings climate action to life through community collaboration

A community art project aimed at promoting climate action is set to be unveiled at the Hagginwood Community Center (3271 Marysville Blvd) on Sept. 13. The Office of Climate Action and Sustainabilityunder guidance by local artist in residence Taner Pasamehmetoglucollaborated with community members on an abstract painting that highlights the collective effort needed for sustainability. [...] The post Sacramento art …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (09/05/2024)

Roger Niello CA Senate 06:
Senate Republicans urge veto of bill to authorize government-mandated speed trackers in all cars

Senate Republicans urge veto of bill to authorize government-mandated speed trackers in all cars dimmital Thu, 09/05/2024 - 10:23
Image of City of Elk Grove seal. City of Elk Grove   (09/05/2024)

City of Elk Grove Issues Statement Regarding Legal Settlement with State Over Oak Rose Development

In February, the City settled the dispute with the Oak Rose project applicant that resulted in a relocated project with additional units that better meets the Citys affordable housing needs. The States litigation had no impact on the outcome of that case and the City is pleased that the State has agreed to settle the matter without significant impact to …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (09/04/2024)

Sacramento Police Department welcomes new communications team

The Sacramento Police Department recently welcomed two new officers to its Public Information Office (PIO) team: Sgt. Dan Wiseman and Officer Allison Smith, joining veteran PIO Officer Anthony Gamble. In their new roles, Wiseman and Smith will manage communications with the public and act as liaisons to the media. Each brings a wealth of experience [...] The post Sacramento Police …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (09/04/2024)

Input needed on potential routes to complete Two Rivers Trail

The City of Sacramento is seeking feedback on the potential routes to complete the Two Rivers Trail system. This phase of the project will extend the trail within Sutters Landing Park at 28th Street west, approximately one mile, to a loop around the Old City Landfill, just east of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks. [...] The post Input needed …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (09/04/2024)

Data Report: How the City responded to homelessness Aug. 26-Sept. 1

The City of Sacramento has released its weekly progress report for the Citys Incident Management Team responding to homelessness. From Aug. 26-Sept. 1, the City of Sacramento received 713 calls to 311 customer service related to unsheltered individuals. Through the work of the IMT, 427 calls were closed, meaning that either the issue was remedied, compliance was [...] The post …
Image of City of Elk Grove seal. City of Elk Grove   (09/04/2024)

Cooling Center to Open September 4-6

In anticipation of daily temperatures topping the century mark this week, the City of Elk Grove will open a cooling center beginning Wednesday, September 4 and operating daily from Noon to 8 p.m. through Friday, September 6 at the Elk Grove Police Department located at 8400 Laguna Palms Way.  Organizers are initiating the opening of the cooling center in response …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (09/03/2024)

City activates cooling centers Sept. 4-7

With the National Weather Service forecasting triple-digit temperatures in the coming days, the City of Sacramento will activate the Outreach and Engagement Center and the Sam & Bonnie Pannell Community Center as cooling centers where residents can find relief from the heat. The OEC (3615 Auburn Blvd.) will operate from 11 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 4) [...] The post City activates …