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By Eric Johnson
Published Nov 04, 2024

Barricades being installed outside the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 3, 2024, Barricades being installed outside the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 3, 2024, Image credit: CALocal photo

A Cure for Election Anxiety

First: If, like me, you are one of those procrastinators who still celebrates Election Day the traditional way, a reminder that a few scrolls below, you will find a quick-and-easy list of stories from newsrooms in your county that might help you with your decisions.

And: Here is a handy, comprehensive set of Voting FAQs from our friends at Local News Matters.

The subject line for this edition of The Newsletter was going to be “a love letter to democracy”—a nickname Chris Neklason has given to a series of blog posts that we take turns writing. As you may have noticed, I chose a different angle.

I began to change my mind after I saw a couple of texts from family members in Washington D.C.. “The Observatory is being boarded up,” the first text read, referring to the historic U.S. Naval Observatory, which since 1977 has served as the residence of the vice president of the United States. A reply came shortly thereafter: “That means they’re expecting violence.”

A few minutes later I saw Steve Bannon’s face on the front page of the New York Times alongside a disturbing article, and that sealed the deal. A headline reported that Bannon and his allies are spreading disinformation “inviting chaos if Harris wins the race.” 

If you have been protecting your mental health by avoiding frightening news like this, forgive me; I believe the photograph above says all we need to say about our perilous situation right now, so let’s jump immediately to the love-letter portion of this note. 

Let’s get to the good news—the running theme here at the Newsletter: how democracy works.


A Love Letter to Democracy

It was Chris N. himself who suggested the headline just above as a subject for this week’s Newsletter. He did so because he spent much of last week reading scores of news stories in the 10 counties we serve, and came away from that exercise feeling hopeful.

All over Northern California, and all across the nation for that matter, people are in the process of making decisions about the cities and counties they call home. Chris, who is in the unique position of surveying and accumulating information about civic life from Big Sur to Lake Tahoe, reports that local news outlets statewide are doing a good job of getting their readers the information they need to vote.                                                                                                               

A few years back, when building the database that underlies California Local, Chris made a similar discovery— and wrote about it in our first love letter to democracy. Then-managing editor, Sharan Street made her own discovery several months later—her love note also has Evergreen value. Taken together, I hope they help with your sanity.


The Genius of Democracy

A graph of a social network.
In which we ponder human self organization.

I’ve Got a Hunch


And I know you have one as well. Let’s compare notes.


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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

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See more recipes in their Taste Fall! cookbook.


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These pumpkin pancakes are a great choice for an autumn breakfast.
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Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento logo Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento

The Children’s Receiving Home provides hope and healing for children and their families suffering from the effects of abuse and neglect.

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Sacramento News and Review logo Mayoral Candidates Share Visions for Sacramento’s Creative Economy

Sacramento’s mayoral candidates presented their visions for the city’s creative economy at a two-part “Meet the Candidates for Mayor” Creative Economy meeting hosted by Atrium 916 in late September and early October.

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The nonprofit Capitol Creative Alliance held its second annual Design Week Sacramento from Oct. 14-19 with community events throughout the city, culminating in a two-day conference at The Urban Hive downtown.

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The city of Folsom is launching a new "instant solar permitting portal" to streamline permits for residential solar and battery storage, authorities announced last week.

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City program funds crucial repairs to prevent displacement for 14 income-eligible homes

Since the launch of the Justice for Neighbors Emergency Home Repair Program in 2023, 14 income-eligible households have received grants to complete crucial safety and habitability repairs, with an additional 16 homes currently undergoing work. The program, funded by a one-time allocation of over $500,000, helps residents who cannot afford necessary repairs by providing up [...] The post City program …
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Data Report: How the City responded to homelessness Oct. 21-27

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Elevation Foods Issues Recall Due to Undeclared Soy in Hannaford Seafood Salad

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Sacramento Police use new camera network to arrest robbery suspects

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