Greetings from your friendly pro-democracy, pro-community, anti-pessimism Newsletter. As always—local news from YOUR community below. Along with other good news, and a recipe! (I do not get tired of saying this.)
Also this week, as we often do, we bring you a true story about something good that worked. In this case, it's a first-person story—first-person plural, as in: “we.”
The “we” that you will read about here, if you’re curious enough to click, includes myself, my wife and business partner Traci Hukill, and our colleague Mike Kahn. This “we” also includes the oldest land trust in California, the current mayor of Santa Cruz, tens of thousands of Santa Cruz County residents, and one of America’s greatest environmental heroes: former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. (I am leaving a lot of folks out for lack of space.)
What did we do that deserves memorializing here? We convinced Pres. Barack Obama to protect a beautiful piece of land on Santa Cruz County’s North Coast in perpetuity, and make it available for visitors to love.
The Cotoni Coast Dairies National Monument, named to honor the people who lived there for 7,000 years (pronounced cha-toni) and to recognize the ranchers who worked there for more than 100 years, will forever be protected, and it will soon be open to the public. I got to visit the place a couple weeks ago, and you'll find a short story about how this all happened, along with a virtual tour, by scrolling and clicking your device. ;-)
• Applications Open For Sacramento County Guaranteed Income Program
Applications are open for up to 200 low-income Black and Indigenous families in Sacramento County with children age 5 and under as part of a state-funded one-year guaranteed income pilot program.
(09/23/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• Downtown Sacramento’s Selects Ten For Calling All Dreamers Business Incubator Program
Ten business proposals have been selected by the Downtown Sacramento Foundation to participate in the 12th annual Calling All Dreamers business incubator program.
(09/20/2024) → Sacramento Press
• $500 Million Bond Planned For Airport Expansion
With work already underway on the projected $1.3 billion project to expand and upgrade Sacramento International Airport, plans are underway to issue $500 million in municipal bonds to help pay for it.
(09/20/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Sheriff Discusses Fentanyl Seized at County Jail
On September 19, Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper announced that enough fentanyl to kill the population of Elk Grove had recently been seized after being smuggled into two county jail facilities.
(09/20/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Candidate Profiles: Galt City Council
Meet the three candidates running for two open seats on the Galt City Council in the November election.
(09/20/2024) → LodiNews
• Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg Delivers State of the City Address
On September 19, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg delivered his last State of the City Address, touching on the accomplishments of his term of office.
(09/19/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• A Look at Interim Housing For The Unhoused
Solving Sacramento looks at the use of interim housing as a scalable means addressing the needs of the unhoused.
(09/18/2024) → The Sacramento Observer
• Sacramento Approves Small Apartment Buildings in Single-Family Neighborhoods
In their September 17 meeting, the Sacramento City Council approved the construction of apartment buildings of up to three stories in height in neighborhoods designated for single family homes.
(09/18/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• Environmental Youth Jobs Program Launched
A new 18-month environmental workforce program for Sacramento area Black and Latinx youth was launched on September 6th.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Observer
• Applications Open for Sacramento County Watershed Project Grants
Schools and community groups are invited to apply for grants from the Sacramento County Department of Water Resources to fund projects improving water and environmental quality of local creeks and rivers.
(09/17/2024) → Rio Linda Messenger
• Chamber Supports Proposition 36
The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce announced its support of the anti-crime measure on the November ballot.
(09/17/2024) → Sacramento Business Journal
• Sacramento State Fees, CSU Tuition Going Up
Sacramento State University is increasing mandatory student fees over the next three years, while California State University is increasing tuition by 34%.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Report on Annual Solidarity Summit on Homelessness
A Solving Sacramento report on the September 7 Solidarity Summit on Homelessness.
(09/16/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• Nonprofits Seek to Get More Women Into Construction Trades
Jessica Alvarez Castañeda was sick of low-paying jobs. For years, the 39-year-old mother of four had been “breaking her back for almost nothing” as a cashier, nursing assistant, babysitter, house cleaner and cook.
(09/22/2024) → CalMatters
• California Rolls Out Career Path Grants to Schools – Nearly a Year Late
After delays and mishaps, California announces $450 million for high school career pathways.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• UC Approves New Less-Lethal Arms for Its Police Force Amid Protest
The UC Regents approved campus requests for more tools for UC police months after campus protesters clashed with law enforcement.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• Why Ricardo Lara Says His Plan to Fix California’s Insurance Crisis Will Work
At a CalMatters event, California’s insurance commissioner says the changes he’s making will help homeowners and business owners. One idea: A state grant for those who spend money to protect their property from wildfires.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• California Drivers Can Get Mobile Licenses on Their iPhones — But They Need Physical Ones Too
California is the seventh U.S. state to adopt mobile driver’s licenses for iPhones, part of a growing push by businesses and governments to make digital IDs commonplace.
(09/19/2024) → CalMatters
• 6 Myths About California Crime as Voters Weigh Ballot Measure on Drugs, Retail Theft
Worries about retail theft and fentanyl deaths shaped a November ballot measure that would toughen some criminal penalties. Here are the facts about California crime trends.
(09/18/2024) → CalMatters
• CalPERS CEO to Earn More Than $1 Million for the First Time Thanks to a Big Performance Bonus
The California Public Employees’ Retirement system is the nation’s largest state-backed pension fund. It awarded its chief executive $667,000 bonus after a successful investment year.
(09/18/2024) → CalMatters
• Disorganization, City-County Feuds Impede California’s Efforts to Reduce Homelessness
Over the last five years, the state government has spent some $24 billion to ameliorate homelessness, which, according to polls, is California’s most troublesome issue.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
• Most Maternal Deaths Can Be Prevented. Here’s How California Aims to Cut Them in Half
The California surgeon general is launching a campaign today to spread awareness about health conditions that contribute to pregnancy-related deaths, such as heart disease.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
• Election Explainer: Proposition 4
The Sacramento Bee explains the Proposition 4 climate resiliency bond measure on the November ballot.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Election Explainer: Proposition 36
The Sacramento Bee explains the Proposition 36 anti-crime measure on the November ballot.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Election Explainer: Proposition 32
The Sacramento Bee explains the Proposition 32 minimum wage measure on the November Ballot.
(09/17/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Homeless Students Can Sleep Safely in Their Cars at This California College. Other Campuses Say No
Failed legislative bills have attempted to create safe parking programs for students to sleep in their cars on California campuses while awaiting housing. Meanwhile, Long Beach City College allows homeless students to park overnight.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
• California’s Cap on Health Care Costs Is the Nation’s Strongest. But Will Patients Notice?
California’s new cap on health care cost increases is regarded as the most aggressive in the nation. It includes potential fines against companies that exceed the limit.
(09/17/2024) → CalMatters
