Will Kamala Harris become the first Californian since Richard Nixon to lead the nation?
For people who care about democracy, this has been a good week. Many of us are feeling, maybe for the first time in a while, optimistic—or at least hopeful—about our political future. This warm feeling is made possible because a bunch of civic leaders, journalists and others, working individually and together, executed a master class in statecraft.
“Statecraft,” in its broadest and driest definition, is the art of governance. In a democracy, the term can be used to describe the way our elected leaders and others involved in politics wield power. Note that the skillful execution of political power is an art and not a science—it has been likened to “listening for the footsteps of God and catching his coattails as he strides by.”
In his five decades as a public servant, Joe Biden wielded power effectively and gracefully, but, in his Covid fever last week, he may have heard those footsteps heading away. He definitely also heard from leaders of his party, and finally heard a message that he had not allowed himself to hear for at least a couple of years.
As we’ve seen, the wave of gratitude that followed the president’s courageous decision to step aside and anoint his successor immediately morphed into a storm of enthusiasm, proving the collective wisdom of the longtime friends and allies who gently but firmly pulled the levers that dislodged him.
And here we are, with Kamala Harris making a strong bid to be the first Californian since Richard Nixon to serve as president of the United States. So the word of the week: Statecraft!
• Manteca Unified School District Announces New Principals
Manteca Unified School District announced the hiring of new principals for French Camp, Mossdale, and New Haven elementary schools.
(07/26/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• New Teen Center Offers Sneak Preview
The new Thomas Toy Community Center at 602 East Yosemite Avenue in Manteca opened for a "sneak preview" game night on July 25 and received positive reviews from local teens.
(07/26/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• High Cost for New Manteca Pool Complex
A new swimming center for Manteca could cost as much as $30 million.
(07/26/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Solar and Battery Storage Coming to Manteca Schools
New state green energy rules for public education facilities mean that Measure A funded upgrades to Brock Elliott and Joshua Cowell schools will include solar panels and onsite battery storage.
(07/26/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Mixer Held for new Teachers in Tracy
A July 23 mixer sponsored by the Tracy Unified School Districts and the Tracy Chamber of Commerce welcomed dozens of new teachers to the community.
(07/26/2024) → Tracy Press
• New Art Freiler School Principal Named
Maureen Riley has been hired as the new Principal of Art Freiler School by the Tracy Unified School District.
(07/26/2024) → Tracy Press
• Manteca Homeless Enforcement Hardens
Following the recent US Supreme Court homelessness ruling, police in Manteca are stepping up efforts to clear homeless encampments.
(07/25/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Stockton to Begin Clearing Homeless Camps
In a July 25 press release, Mayor Kevin Lincoln of Stockton announced the city will begin clearing homeless camps on public property.
(07/25/2024) → Stocktonia
• Sacramento Police Annual Military Equipment Report Under Review
The annual Sacramento Police Department military equipment policy and usage report is before the city council for review, citing 324 incidents involving use of military equipment between May 2023 and April 2024.
(07/24/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• Manteca Sees Large Increase in Fire Service Calls
A 43% rise in calls over five years is putting pressure on the Manteca Fire Department.
(07/24/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Manteca Looks to Build 6th Fire Station
Officials in Manteca are seeking to take an acre of the 17-acre Tara elementary school for use as a sixth fire station.
(07/24/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Manteca Museum Seeks Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to help staff the Manteca Historical Museum.
(07/24/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Manteca's Sequoia School Upgrades Complete
Work funded by $8.4 million from Measure G and Measure A bond measures has upgraded the classrooms, playground and playing field turf.
(07/24/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Stockton Unified Superintendent Contract Extended
In their July 23 meeting, the Stockton Unified School District voted to extend Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez's contract another four years.
(07/24/2024) → Stocktonia
• Sacramento County Grand Jury Explainer
An explainer about the Sacramento County Civil Grand Jury.
(07/22/2024) → CapPublicRadio
• Watch Duty Park Fire Incident Page
The official Watch Duty incident page for the massive Park Fire burning in Butte and Tehama Counties.
(07/27/2024) → Watch Duty
• CA Indoor Heat Rule Put on Fast Track
After years of delay, a new California regulation to protect indoor workers from extreme heat is now in effect.
(07/25/2024) → CalMatters
• Newsom Set an Ambitious Goal to Launch 500,000 Californians Into New Careers. Many Are Firefighters
In his 2018 campaign, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would create 500,000 new apprenticeships in the decade after taking office. So far, the state has registered more than 180,000 new apprenticeships. Many of them are firefighters.
(07/25/2024) → CalMatters
• California Has Seen Many Towns Created, but as Population Drops a Big Project Has Stalled
When California emerged from its colonial beginnings nearly two centuries ago and began coalescing into a distinct society, its towns and villages tended to be located either on navigable rivers, such as Sacramento, or around the 21 missions that Spanish explorer priests had established, such as San Diego.
(07/25/2024) → CalMatters
• CHP Justifies Its Officers’ Use of Force at Gaza Protests, Without Providing Evidence
“This doesn’t build public trust. Where is the evidence?” said Jeff Wenninger, a former Los Angeles Police lieutenant who oversaw use of force investigations.
(07/25/2024) → CalMatters
• California Forever abandons ballot measure in face of growing opposition, looks to 2026
California Forever’s announcement July 22 that it has decided to pull a ballot measure that would have let voters decide on a controversial planned city in rural Solano County drew swift reaction from political leaders and opponents.
(07/24/2024) → Local News Matters
• When California Housing Regulators Beef With Voters, Who Wins?
What happens when voters take to the ballot to thumb their nose at state housing law? Courts haven’t offered a clear answer.
(07/24/2024) → CalMatters
• West Nile Cases in Yuba and Stanislaus Counties
The first two human cases of West Nile virus this season were reported in Yuba and Stanislaus Counties.
(07/24/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• As Newsom Finishes His Governorship, Would-Be Successors Are Multiplying
There never was much of a chance that California Gov. Gavin Newsom would be running for president this year, even if President Joe Biden were to step aside.
(07/23/2024) → CalMatters
• California Forever Pulls Initiative
Following a report released the previous week by Solano County citing billions of dollars in costs and a host of other issues, California Forever pulled their initiative from the November ballot.
(07/23/2024) → The Mercury News