A road in Florida flooded by the massive rains brought by Hurricane Helene.
As I write this, people across the southeast states are reeling from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene.
As an emergency communications geek, I follow a number of emergency service professionals on social media, and the information coming out of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee is both dire and inspiring.
Yes, inspiring. Even before the winds and rain had died down, neighbors and professionals leapt into action to perform swift water rescues, dig survivors out of mudslides and destroyed buildings and do house to house welfare checks in their neighborhoods. With power, cell phone, landlines and internet down, Ham Radio operators hastily organized networks to help coordinate relief efforts throughout the affected regions.
And right now, people across the country are gripped with an desire to reach out and help .
This week, The Newsletter contemplates that human impulse to cooperate and give support and aid to our fellows, and how we've organized our society around it.
How We Take Care of Each Other
For all of our flaws, there is an essentially decent part of human nature that compels us to render aid to the afflicted and unfortunate.
We celebrate our humaneness with the first two articles of what will be an ongoing series documenting "service clubs" whose names may be familiar— organizations that are doing good in our communities.
The Changing Nature of Doing Good
The legacy of ‘service clubs’ such as Soroptomists and Rotary lives on in a new generation of social clubs and volunteer organizations.
• October 19 is Main Street Day in Ripon
The public is invited to the Ripon Chamber of Commerce sponsored 39th Annual Main Street Day on October 19.
(09/27/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• A Look at Valley Link Rail Line
In a presentation held on September 25, Melissa Hernandez, BART Director and Chair of the Valley Link Board of Directors gave a presentation about the commuter rail project projected to begin service in 2027 and linking northern San Joaquin Valley with the Bay Area.
(09/27/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• San Joaquin County Supervisors Approve Expanded Camping Ordinance
In their September 24 meeting, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment with additional restrictions to the public property camping ordinance.
(09/27/2024) → Stocktonia
• Candidate Forum: City of Tracy Mayor
In a September 23 candidate forum, the three candidates running for office of Mayor of the City of Tracy introduced themselves and outlined their positions.
(09/27/2024) → Tracy Press
• Manteca Roadwork Progress Report
As the roadwork season comes to a close, a look at City of Manteca transportation projects expected to be completed in the coming months.
(09/26/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• Candidate Forum: Stockton City Council and Mayor
In a September 25 candidate forum held at Delta College, candidates running for Stockton City Council and Mayor introduced themselves and their positions.
(09/26/2024) → Stocktonia
• Stockton Breaks 100 Degree Days Heat Record
The City of Stockton recorded its 41st day of temperatures at or above 100 degrees on September 24, breaking the record of 40 days set in 2022.
(09/26/2024) → Stocktonia
• San Joaquin Approves Safe Parking, Camping Code Changes
In their September 24 meeting, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved changes to the building code to support construction of safe parking and camping facilities for the homeless on county property.
(09/25/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• 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
• Applications Sought for City of Ripon Poet Laureate
Applications and nominations are open for the position of Poet Laureate for the City of Ripon.
(09/23/2024) → Manteca Bulletin
• VotingMatters Event Held at Delta College
A report of the Stocktonia and CalMatters sponsored VotingMatters event held on September 23 at Delta College.
(09/23/2024) → Stocktonia
• Vomiting, Cramps and Lethargy: As Heat Rises, California Kids Are Sweltering in Schools With No Air Conditioning
An estimated 1 in 5 schools has no air conditioning and another 10% need repair. Underfunded schools struggle to keep classrooms cool as heat waves intensify. “It’s a hot mess,” one teacher says.
(09/30/2024) → CalMatters
• Late Payments to Nonprofits Hamper California’s Fight Against Homelessness
Homeless service providers are scaling back and taking out loans as they wait for late payments from the government.
(09/30/2024) → CalMatters
• California Bans Legacy Admissions at Colleges. The End of Affirmative Action Is a Reason Why
California’s private nonprofit colleges will no longer be able grant students an admissions advantage if their parents donated to or went to the same college after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law this morning banning the practice.
(09/30/2024) → CalMatters
• Newsom Plan on Gas Prices Clears First Hurdle
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to combat gasoline price spikes appears headed to a long-awaited Assembly floor vote next week after passing out of committee on September 26.
(09/27/2024) → CalMatters
• Election Guide: Proposition 2 $10 Billion Education Bond
The Mercury News guide to the Proposition 2 $10 billion bond to build and repair public schools.
(09/27/2024) → The Mercury News
• Economists Like Newsom’s Plan to Help Control Gas Prices. Refiners Don’t.
The governor wants new gas reserves to dampen seasonal price spikes. Refiners say the move would raise prices and require new storage tanks.
(09/26/2024) → CalMatters
• Will New Laws Improve Housing for CA Farmworkers?
Many California farmworkers have long lacked safe and affordable places to sleep — an issue thrown into sharp relief after last year’s mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, which left seven agricultural workers dead.
(09/25/2024) → CalMatters
• Election Guide: Proposition 36 Anti-Crime Measure
The Mercury News guide to the anti-crime and ant-drug dealing measure Proposition 36 on the November ballot.
(09/25/2024) → The Mercury News
• Cal State Campuses Brace for ‘Severe Consequences’ as Budget Gap Looms
Cal State officials are projecting a 2025-26 budget hole of about $400 million to $800 million. They are warning of layoffs and academic cuts.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
• New California Law Gives Tenants More Time to Respond to Eviction Notices
Tenant advocates say giving renters 10 days to respond to eviction notices, up from 5, will help those who live in rural areas and have trouble finding legal help. Some landlords argue it will increase their costs.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
• Only 1 in 5 California Community College Students Makes It to a University, Audit Says
Community colleges are designed to help students get an associate degree and transfer to a four-year university. Most community college students never graduate or transfer, a state audit found.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
• A New California Law Will Scrub Most Medical Debt From Credit Reports
About 4 in 10 Californians are believed to be carrying medical debt, which can harm their chances of landing a mortgage or an apartment if it shows up on credit reports.
(09/24/2024) → CalMatters
A road in Florida flooded by the massive rains brought by Hurricane Helene.
