At 36, Adam Schiff was the youngest member of the California State Senate when he took office in 1996. He was sworn in last week as California's 48th United States Senator.
Throughout California right now, people are being sworn into office—some for the first time, and others in the midst of long careers. It's an annual rite of democracy. In city council chambers and those of boards of supervisors, in offices of school boards and directors of public hospitals—anywhere public money is being spent, the recently-elected guardians of the public trust are taking oaths of office.
On the floor of the US Senate, Adam Schiff was sworn in last week as the 48th person to represent our state in that august body. Schiff took his first oath of office in the California State Senate 28 years ago, and went on to build a career as a bipartisan dealmaker—not as the firebrand who has spent recent years in the national spotlight. Here's a quick read.
But first: Happy Hollidays from the capital of California! Below, as always, you can find one-click links to stories from trusted news sources about the most important stuff happening in your community, and—a recipe to make the season brighter and tastier.
CARE Courts in the News
Sacramento County last week announced the expansion of the CARE court program to provide treatment to homeless residents with psychiatric issues. California now offers access to Community, Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment courts in all 58 counties—the law creating these courts was launched in seven counties just last year. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that "California's CARE Courts are falling short." Here, Jonathan Vankin explains how this controversial humanitarian effort came to pass.
• Stockton Rising Explained
Learn more about the $35 million Stockton Rising project to improve the environment and sustainability in the City of Stockton.
(12/17/2024) → Stocktonia
• Lodi Prepares for Homeless Enforcement
Learn how the City of Lodi and nonprofit partners are preparing to step up efforts to move homeless from encampments into shelter and services with an increased emphasis on accountability.
(12/14/2024) → LodiNews
• Stockton Advances Van Buskirk Renovation Project
The effort to redevelop the 192-acre former golf course and green space inched forward when the Stockton City Council approved $1.3 million for the final design. Read on to learn more about about this project in South Stockton.
(12/13/2024) → Stocktonia
• Tracy New Youth Commission Members
In their December 3 meeting, the Tracy City Council met the members of the Youth Commission, which acts as an official advisory body. Read on to learn more about the role of the commission in city affairs.
(12/13/2024) → Tracy Press
• New Chair Elected to Valley Link Board
San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman has been elected as chair of the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority Board. Read on to learn more about this regional transportation agency.
(12/13/2024) → Tracy Press
• California Workforce Fund Targets Programs Solving Problems
Child care centers throughout California struggled to find people with the right credentials to look after their babies, toddlers and preschoolers. At the same time, many people who wanted to become early childhood educators faced difficulties in earning the credentials.
(12/17/2024) → CalMatters
• Newsom Pushes New Reservoir Project
In a December 10 press conference, Governor Newsom urged lawmakers to press forward in building the Sites Reservoir in Colusa County. Read on to learn more about the project, the largest new reservoirs to be built in California in the last 50 years.
(12/10/2024) → The Mercury News
At 36, Adam Schiff was the youngest member of the California State Senate when he took office in 1996. He was sworn in last week as California's 48th United States Senator.
