By Eric Johnson
Published Dec 11, 2023

California's Revolutionary Culture

In this week’s edition of the newsletter, we wish a happy 90th birthday to Lou Adler—a peerless impresario, brilliant producer of music and films, and a great Californian.

Lou’s first megahit was, fittingly, “California Dreamin’,” by the Mamas & the Papas—unless you count “Surf City,” by Jan and Dean, or “Wonderful World,” which Lou co-wrote with Sam Cooke. His biggest hit record was Carole King’s Tapestry, which won a Grammy in 1972 and is widely considered one of the greatest pop albums of all time. A man of vast depth and breadth, he also discovered Cheech and Chong and produced their first movie, Up in Smoke. And oh, that’s right, he gave us The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I would argue that Lou Adler’s most significant cultural contribution was the Monterey Pop Festival, and even more so the movie, Monterey Pop, which let the world see that something explosive was happening in California in 1967, and not just on the stage. Which gives us a segue to introduce this week’s first story.

Bringing California Music to the World

Monterey Pop is widely remembered for introducing both The Who and Jimi Hendrix (who got his start in London) to America. More importantly, if you ask me, the movie also introduced the California sound to a broad audience. The festival featured then-upstart bands from San Francisco including Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and Janis Joplin, and brought them together for the first time with their counterparts from Southern California—The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Mamas & the Papas, who were the headlining act (!).

As you may have noticed, here at California Local, we are not shy about bragging up the fact that our state leads the world in many regards. While we mostly focus on the democratic institutions of government, policy and politics, this week my colleague Sharan Street presents a magnum opus about California music documentaries.

We all know in our bones how important cultural products like music and movies can be. Even just reading a little bit about the 50-plus films presented here gives a glimpse into the richness and diversity that defines California, and, more and more, the United States. And here’s how important one of these movies was to me: I’m pretty sure that if I had not seen Monterey Pop when I was in high school, I might still be in New Jersey. I was already predisposed to California thanks to my pre-adolescent passion for the Beach Boys, and it was the Dead that fully sealed the deal—but as I was reminded while listening to the still-mindblowing Monterey Pop soundtrack yesterday, when I witnessed the revolutionary scene captured by D.A. Pennebaker in his film of the world’s first big rock festival, it sparked a flame in my teenage heart that still burns. So, thanks, Lou Adler, and happy birthday!

On that note:

California Music Docs

Tune in, turn on, and drop into these California-focused documentaries—only some of which are about the ’60s San Francisco sound.

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From Our Media Allies

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	Community Shop Class Teaches Interns to Build Tiny Homes
	Adding to Sacramento’s tiny home community, one home at a time, is the latest flagship program of Oak Park’s Community Shop Class.

	Santa's Coming to Folsom Neighborhoods
	Father Christmas will make his annual jaunt through Folsom neighborhoods Dec. 10-16. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be escorted by the Folsom police and fire departments with blaring sirens and flashing lights.

	Santa Receives a Little Help, From Horses
	The West Sacramento Trail Riders Association, a group of horse owners and enthusiasts, has conducted their Trot for Tots toy drive for the past 15 years.

	Pancho Villa BBQ Opens
	The opening date of Pancho Villa BBQ at in Fair Oaks has been moved back to early 2024 as owners wait for final renovations to be finished and permits approved by Sacramento County.

	Discussion is Successful at First Racial Equity Summit
	Dr. Rohan Radhakrishna began his session at the first Sacramento County Racial Equity Summit at Sacramento State University by asking whether audience members had played Monopoly.

	Dog Trainer Bags Mayoralty
	Miranda Viani’s campaign for Honorary Carmichael Mayor is reaching a tail end. Because she ran unopposed for the appointment and has met Chamber of Commerce fundraising obligations, the dog trainer will don the mayoral sash in January.

	Sacramento Commute Times Remain at a Ten-Year Low
	Following the pandemic, Sacramento workers continue to be on the road less, with many still working remotely.

Recent Local News

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• Sacramento County Launches “Operation Bad Elf” to Combat Rampant Retail Theft

Sheriff Jim Cooper claims that his deputies are powerless to hold repeat offenders accountable. In a bold move, the sheriff’s office launched a large-scale retail theft sting. Undercover agents infiltrated 12 major retailers for an entire week.

(12/07/2023) → The Sacramento Observer

• A Growing Number of Black Californians Are Claiming Their American Indian Lineage

Relying on newly digitized federal records and other sources, Black Americans are discovering direct bloodlines to Native American ancestors.

(12/06/2023) → The Sacramento Observer

• Sacramento DA Adds to Lawsuit Against City Over Homelessness Response

Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho is adding environmental violations to his lawsuit against the city of Sacramento over what he calls its failure to act regarding the homelessness crisis.

(12/06/2023) → CapPublicRadio

• President Biden Names Silicon Valley Woman to White House African Diaspora Council

African Diaspora Network founder Almaz Negash has championed investment in businesspersons, entrepreneurs, and innovators of African descent for 13 years. Now she is set to do similar work for the Biden administration.

(12/05/2023) → The Sacramento Observer

• SacRT Unveils Annual Holiday Bus

The 40-foot holiday-themed bus celebrates SacRT’s 50 years of service and brings holiday spirit throughout the Sacramento region.

(12/05/2023) → The Arden Advocate

• As Atmospheric Rivers Become More Frequent, California Expands Research to Prepare

A new law expanding California’s atmospheric river research program goes into effect next year. It connects flood and reservoir control operations with new technologies and strategies that can help operators accurately predict the arrival of these storms.

(12/05/2023) → CapPublicRadio

Recent Statewide News

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• Supreme Court Upholds California Ban on Conversion Therapy

By declining to hear a conservative group’s challenge, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a California ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth. California is one of 22 states to ban this practice.

(12/11/2023) → Sacramento Bee

• Yosemite Trying New Strategies to Reduce Food Packaging Waste

An estimated 100,000 pizza boxes have been removed from Yosemite’s waste stream. This is because the famed park now serves pizza on trays and puts to-go portions in compostable bags, part of a move to reduce food-related waste.

(12/11/2023) → SFGate

• Here’s Why It’s Getting Harder to Buy Car Insurance in California

Californians have said they experienced added difficulty over the past year in getting car insurance. Insurer rates have gone up more than usual.

(12/10/2023) → CalMatters

• State Releases EIR for Delta Tunnel

The California Department of Water Resources released an environmental impact report for a tunnel that the state would like to build through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The report identifies potential impacts to farmland, tribal remains and endangered species of fish.

(12/08/2023) → Sacramento Bee

• Coyotes More Likely To Turn Up at Wealthier Properties in San Francisco

A coyote recently was found at the $27 million Russian Hill home of AI mogul Sam Altman. This relates to a study, which found that coyote sightings were more frequent in higher-income areas of San Francisco.

(12/08/2023) → SFGate

• Thousands of Migrant Farmworker Apartments Sit Vacant for Months

Even though California is facing a crippling housing shortage, one potential source remains untapped. The state allows thousands of apartments used for part of the year by farmworkers to otherwise sit vacant for three to six months.

(12/07/2023) → Sacramento Bee

• At-Home COVID Tests Can Be Reimbursable in California

Although the federal government is providing four free COVID tests per month, that’s not the only way to get them. Aetna and Blue Shield of California members can be reimbursed for up to eight at-home tests per month, while Kaiser Permanente is offering discounts on tests.

(12/07/2023) → KQED

• Native American Tribe to Get Back 40 Acres of Land from State

The Fort Independence Indian Community is getting the Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at no cost in 2024. Native Americans had lived on this land for centuries before the hatchery’s construction.

(12/06/2023) → SFGate

• State Might Soon Require Replacing Broken A/C Units

California energy regulators are considering requiring homeowners to replace broken air-conditioning systems with heat pumps or HVAC systems that are more energy efficient. The change would go into effect in 2026.

(12/06/2023) → Sacramento Bee

• Moms Who Suffer Domestic Abuse Can Lose Their Kids. But Does This Policy Make Any Sense?

California’s “failure to protect” law allows child welfare agencies to take kids from households scarred by domestic violence. Advocates say the separation can worsen a family’s trauma.

(12/06/2023) → CalMatters

• High-Speed Rail Project Connecting SoCal to Las Vegas Wins Grant

Private company Brightline secured a $3 billion grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation toward a 218-mile high-speed rail line from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas. The line would allow people to make the trip to Sin City in a little over two hours.

(12/05/2023) → Los Angeles Times

• DMV Shift Appears to Spur Drop in ‘No Party Preference’ Voter Sign-Ups

The California Department of Motor Vehicles changed its voter registration process in 2019 to put a party selection dropdown on the same page. Since then, the number of people registering as Republicans or Democrats has jumped close to 20 points.

(12/04/2023) → Sacramento Bee

• New Assembly Labor Committee Chair Faces Ongoing Worker Unrest, but Scores Some Wins

With nine months’ experience in the Assembly, Liz Ortega will lead the Labor committee after a strike-filled summer and several wins for low-wage workers.

(12/04/2023) → CalMatters

• Oakland Might Have to Pay Developers Millions Over Coal Terminal

An Alameda County judge ruled on Nov. 22 that the city of Oakland thwarted a proposed coal export terminal. The judge will rule if the developer who sued is entitled to $159 million in damages or moving forward with the project.

(12/04/2023) → KQED

Government Announcements

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	City of Sacramento (12/08/2023) City will soon begin another phase of critical infrastructure maintenance
The City's Department of Utilities will soon begin maintenance work on it's flood control system, which is considered critical infrastructure. This maintenance will be similar to the critical infrastructure work the City has performed in past years and is expected to take several weeks to complete. "We work in phases year-round to help ensure these [...] The post City will …

	City of Sacramento (12/07/2023) City looks to Land Park as a location for future permanent dog park
Over the past year, the City’s Department of Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment (YPCE) has worked to explore solutions and potential renovations that support community use at Sierra 2 Park and parks in surrounding neighborhoods. Staff are now set to request approval from Sacramento City Council to establish a capital improvement project to explore the option [...] The post City …

	City of Sacramento (12/07/2023) Data Report: How the City responded to homelessness Nov. 27-Dec. 3
Assistant City Manager Mario Lara on Dec. 5 provided his weekly report to the City Council regarding the work of the City’s Incident Management Team responding to homelessness. From Nov. 27-Dec. 3, the City of Sacramento received 767 calls to 311 customer service related to unsheltered individuals. Through the work of the IMT, 599 calls [...] The post Data Report: …

	City of Sacramento (12/06/2023) Four storefront dispensaries have opened in Sacramento with support from City’s cannabis equity program
The new store on J Street in midtown Sacramento is light and airy, with gleaming glass counters, illuminated display cases and immaculate wooden floors. Welcome to Crystal Nugs, the fourth storefront dispensary to open from a member of the City’s Cannabis Opportunity Reinvestment and Equity (CORE) program. Crystal Nugs joins The Pocket Dispensary, Off the [...] The post Four storefront …

	City of Sacramento (12/06/2023) City of Sacramento to activate weather-respite center Dec. 7
With the National Weather Service forecasting a period of cold nighttime temperatures, the City of Sacramento is activating weather-respite operations at its Outreach and Engagement Center (3615 Auburn Blvd.). The OEC will provide weather respite from 8 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 7) to 8 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 12). Walk-ups will be accepted, with the OEC able [...] The post City of …

	City of Citrus Heights (12/06/2023) Retail Theft BLITZ Operation & Arrests
On December 1, 2023, detectives with the Citrus Heights Police Department’s IMPACT Unit and the California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, conducted an undercover retail store theft operation.

	City of Citrus Heights (12/06/2023) Sacramento County to Host Vaccine Clinic in Citrus Heights
Sacramento County to host flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinic on January 16th,

	City of Galt (12/05/2023) Traffic Impacts Anticipated with Old Town Water Project
The Old Town Water Main Replacement Project is currently in the design phase. This project will replace and add water mains in the Old Town area and in the southwest area of town along Kost Road. In the upcoming days and weeks, there will be...

	City of Galt (12/05/2023) Help Fill the Patrol Car for the Galt Toy Drive
We're excited to announce the second annual Fill the Patrol Car Toy Drive Event benefiting children in Galt! Join us at the Walmart Supercenter, where Galt Police Department officers and staff will collect new, unwrapped toys to fill the patrol car....

City of Sacramento (12/05/2023)

Women’s Business Center to select winners for City-funded entrepreneur pitch competition at this Dec. 12 event

The California Capital Women’s Business Center on Dec. 12 will select winners for its “Small Business Showcase Pitch Competition,” in which Sacramento entrepreneurs and businesses will compete for cash prizes. The program is funded in part through the City of Sacramento’s Innovation Grant program. Three winners will be selected for cash prizes at the final [...] The post Women’s Business …

California's Revolutionary Culture

Bringing California Music to the World

Sacramento County's Homepage

Green Giving, Cali Style

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From Our Media Allies

Recent Local News

Recent Statewide News

Government Announcements