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By Eric Johnson
Published Aug 12, 2024

Humpback whales lunge feeding in Monterey Bay.
Humpback whales lunge feeding in Monterey Bay.
Image credit: Blake Matheson   CC BY-NC 2.0

Biden Comes Through for the Monterey Bay Area

Joe Biden visited the Santa Cruz County beach towns of Aptos and Capitola a couple winters ago following bad storms that wrought the kind of destructions that coastal communies are facing due to the climate crisis. Last week, his administration delivered a big pile of money to help these communities and their neighbors build resilience.

This week we meet Robert Mazurek, who has been working on conservation issues in the Monterey Bay Area for decades, and is now overseeing a $71 million coastal resilience grant. He explains how this historic win came to pass, what it means to the region and the world, and why this money should be seen as a mere down payment on a sustainable future.


California Marine Sanctuary Foundation Wins Big

The conservation community in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties has been punching above its weight for generations—for example, by working to create the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a resource of global significance. Last week, these ambitious protectors of the magnificent environment they call home scored a huge win—the biggest federal grant given to an NGO in California historey.


Robert Mazurek Q&A: Preparing for Climate Change

Robert Mazurek, who helped launch the globally influential Seafood Watch program for the Monterey Bay Aquarium 25 years ago, is now overseeing a historic climate resilience grant, and working on even bigger stuff.
The Santa Cruz-based California Marine Sanctuary Foundation receives a historic $71 million climate resilience grant from Biden Administration.


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Yolo County's Homepage

Direct your browser to https://yolo.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Yolo County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!


Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Summer! cookbook.


Fresh figs, almonds and lemon combine in easy jam

Beautiful ripe Kadota figs, combined with almonds and lemon, will become delicious jam.
New! Fresh fig-almond jam with no added pectin


Get to Know a Group

Big Brothers Big Sisters logo Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brother Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong, enduring, professionally supported mentorship. The organization believes that all children can achieve success when given the proper tools and resources—and volunteer mentors are among the most important of those resources.

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From Our Media Allies

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Gilroy Dispatch logo Gilroy Library Offers Passport Services

The Gilroy Library, located at 350 West Sixth Street, now offers U.S. passport services as of Aug. 6. The local library is now the fourth Santa Clara County library that serves as an official passport acceptance facility, following Milpitas, Cupertino …

San Jose Spotlight logo Coyote Valley Preserve South of San Jose Will Be Easier to Access

With a multimillion-dollar funding infusion, Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve will become more accessible to those with disabilities through enhanced amenities.

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose School Districts Forced to Consider Campus Closures

Declining enrollment rates are forcing school districts across San Jose to stare down campus closures and sharp budget cuts.

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose Homeless Advocates Protest Newsom’s State Order

As Gov. Gavin Newsom pushes for local governments to take swift action to clear homeless camps, local housing advocates are standing together against policies they say criminalize being unhoused.

San Jose Spotlight logo Myers-Lipton: Wealth, Poverty and Inequality in Silicon Valley

The fifth annual Silicon Valley Pain Index, an easily understandable, statistical overview of the structured inequalities in Silicon Valley, was recently released and features new data that highlight the region’s persistent inequalities. There are almost 200 statistics in the pain …

San Jose Spotlight logo Santa Clara County, Cities Fail to File Homeless Shelter Reports

For years, shelters in Santa Clara County have been rife with violence, theft, mistreatment of residents by workers and unsanitary living conditions, based on interviews with residents living in shelters and advocates.

San Jose Spotlight logo Sunnyvale Developments Could Result in Food Deserts

A Sunnyvale project to create walkable, interconnected neighborhoods could come up short, with advocates worried that vital retail services will be slashed.

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose Mayor Opposes Rent Control Expansion Measure

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has come out against a November ballot initiative that could vastly expand rent control to cover any type of housing in California.

Morgan Hill Times logo National Night Out Draws Crowds to Civic Center Plaza

Thousands of Morgan Hill residents braved the early evening heat Aug. 6 to attend National Night Out, an annual public safety event that aims to promote positive connections between law enforcement agencies and the community.

San Jose Spotlight logo Silicon Valley’s Most Vulnerable Live in Filthy Homes

When Azazel Holmkvist was placed in a squalid home on East San Fernando Street, his case manager told him there was no other housing available.

Los Gatan logo Silicon Valley Trade Mission Promoted Ties With Historic Silk Road City

In early July, Los Gatans Rosemary Coates and John Eichinger found themselves on a plane headed to the 30th Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair.

San Jose Spotlight logo Cupertino Housing Project Designed for People With Disabilities

A first-of-its-kind Cupertino development could advance housing accessibility at a low cost to future residents.

Hilltromper Silicon Valley logo ‘Whale Bathing’ in Pacifica: Spotting Humpbacks From the Bluffs

Every summer, members of the North Pacific whale tribe feed off the coast of Northern California and put on a show that can feed your soul.

San Jose Spotlight logo Bay Area Fund Aims to Speed Up Housing Construction

A model Bay Area partnership aims to fill the gap in affordable housing projects that are short capital, seeing it as a way to accelerate much needed construction.

San Jose Spotlight logo Silicon Valley BART Expansion Has Multimillion-Dollar Shortfall

Federal funding will be flowing into Silicon Valley to help expand BART service to Santa Clara, but the revenue is just short of VTA’s request, leaving officials looking for ways to plug the shortfall.

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Recent Local News

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Palo Alto City Council Addresses El Camino Real Parking
The Palo Alto City Council approved neighborhood parking permits for employees of some El Camino Real businesses.
(08/13/2024) Palo Alto Online
Blight Increases in San Jose
A look at the burned down, boarded up and deserted properties increasing urban blight in San Jose.
(08/10/2024) The Mercury News
Self-Driving Vehicles Approved For Testing
The California Department of Motor Vehicles granted approval for Mountain View-based self-driving car company Nuro to test a new model of autonomous vehicle on local streets.
(08/07/2024) Palo Alto Online
COVID Surging Locally
Testing of wastewater shows sharp increases of COVID circulating in Santa Clara County.
(08/07/2024) Palo Alto Online
Bike Lanes Spur Parking Changes on El Camino Real
The City of Palo Alto is working out how to shift parking to accommodate bike lanes on El Camino Real.
(08/07/2024) Palo Alto Online
Milpitas Sales Tax Measure Added to November Ballot
In their August 5 meeting, the Milpitas City Council voted to add a measure to the November ballot asking residents to extend the existing Measure F sales tax.
(08/06/2024) The Mercury News
Los Altos School Approves Bond on November Ballot
In their August 5 meeting, the Los Altos School District approved placing a $350 million bond for upgrades and new facilities on the November ballot.
(08/06/2024) Mountain View Voice
Palo Alto Approves Ventura Neighborhood Plan
In its August 5 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council adopted the North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan, which calls for denser and taller housing.
(08/06/2024) Palo Alto Online
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Recent Statewide News

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Californians Will Vote on a $18 Minimum Wage. Workers Already Want $25 and More
Proposition 32 to increase the minimum wage from $16 isn’t as far-reaching as when it was first proposed. Fast food workers are already making more, and health care employees are on track. But worker groups are already pushing for more.
(08/13/2024) CalMatters
Californians: Your Rent May Go Up Because of Rising Insurance Rates
The state’s landlords see rising insurance costs, so they say they’re going to have to raise rents. But they complain about laws that limit how much they can do so.
(08/12/2024) CalMatters
California Is Giving Schools More Homework: Build Housing for Teachers
Some California agencies are offering incentives and hosting workshops for school districts that want to build affordable housing for teachers.
(08/12/2024) CalMatters
CA Rent Control Back on the Ballot, Twice
Sky-high rent is among Californians’ biggest concerns. Nearly 30% of tenants spend more than half their income on rent; and the median rent is $2,850 a month, 33% higher than the national average. Two propositions on the Nov. 5 ballot address this issue — though one does so in a rather roundabout way.
(08/08/2024) CalMatters
Dangerous Herbicide Used on California Crops Banned
The chemical, used for decades, can harm babies’ developing brains. Farmworkers and people living near fields are most at risk. The EPA issued a rare emergency order.
(08/07/2024) CalMatters
CA Democrats Push Retail Theft Bills
Legislators are pushing ahead with a retail theft bill package in their continued opposition of Proposition 36 — a November ballot measure backed by law enforcement groups and Republicans (and some Democrats) that would roll back parts of 2014’s Prop. 47.
(08/07/2024) CalMatters
California Battles Onslaught of Wildfires With Help From Mutual Aid: ‘More Resources Than Rest of US Combined’
So many intense wildfires all at once require an intricate chess game for maneuvering firefighters and equipment around the U.S.
(08/06/2024) CalMatters
Audit: California Risked Millions in Homelessness Funds Due to Poor Anti-Fraud Protections
A critical new federal audit calls out California for doing too little to prevent fraudulent spending of homelessness funds. Nearly $320 million was at risk.
(08/06/2024) CalMatters
CA Budget Deficit Sidelines More Bills
The Senate appropriations committee sent dozens upon dozens of bills — that have a price tag of at least $50,000 to $150,000 and that may also be politically dicey — to the dreaded suspense file, where many could die quickly on Aug. 15.
(08/06/2024) CalMatters
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Government Announcements

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Image of State of California seal. Bill Dodd CA Senate 03: Sen. Dodd Comments on California Insurance Reform
Friday, August 9, 2024SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today regarding insurance marketplace rate reforms implemented by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara that were called for in Gov. Gavin Newsoms May budget revision: This is an important step forward, and Commissioner Lara and Gov. Newsom deserve credit for being proactive, said Sen. Dodd. Business as usual is clearly …
State of California   (08/09/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Bill Dodd CA Senate 03: Sen. Dodd Comments on California’s AI Partnership
Friday, August 9, 2024SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today regarding the partnership reached by Gov. Gavin Newsom with California-based Nvidia to help prepare the state for opportunities and challenges posed by the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence. This kind of forward-looking collaboration with the private sector will help ensure California remains a leader in the new …
State of California   (08/09/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Bill Dodd CA Senate 03: August 2024 – District Report
August 2024 District ReportMonday, August 12, 2024 A Message from Bill Dodd Dear Neighbor, Students start returning to school this month as we in the Capitol make a final push on legislation to protect consumers from hidden fees, prevent wildfire and prepare for emerging AI technology, among many other topics. In this Issue: Wildfire Safety & Preparedness Delta Week Legislative …
State of California   (08/08/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Bill Dodd CA Senate 03: Sen. Dodd, Lawmakers to Designate ‘Willie Mays Highway’
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 SAN FRANCISCO In recognition of the contributions to sport and society made by the late baseball icon Willie Mays, Sens. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and other Bay Area legislators announced today a resolution to name a portion of Interstate 80 in San Francisco the Willie Mays Highway. Willie Mays career was nothing short …
State of California   (08/07/2024)
Image of United States seal. Metro Produce Distributors Inc. Recalls Fresh Guacamole Because of Possible Health Risk
Metro Produce Distributors Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is voluntarily recalling all Lunds & Byerlys fresh guacamole products with a use-by date of August 2, 2024, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fat
United States   (08/01/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Josh Hoover CA Assembly 07: Animal Welfare Concerns at SeaQuest Folsom
State of California   (08/01/2024)
Image of City of Woodland seal. Drive-Through Shred Event
Protect yourself from fraud and have your documents shredded on-site.
City of Woodland   (07/31/2024)
Image of United States seal. Colonna Brothers, Inc. Issues an Updated Voluntary Recall for "1.5oz Marcum Ground Cinnamon & 2.25oz Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon" Because of Possible Health Risk Due to Elevated Lead Levels
Colonna Brothers of North Bergen, NJ is voluntarily recalling its 1.5oz Marcum Ground Cinnamon & 2.25oz Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon because of a possible health risk due to elevated lead levels. Short term exposures to very low levels of lead may not elicit any symptoms. It is possible that in
United States   (07/30/2024)
Image of United States seal. Boar's Head Provisions Co. Expands Recall for Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2024 - Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., a Jarratt, Va., establishment, is expanding its July 26, 2024, recall of deli meat products that may be adulterated with...
United States   (07/30/2024)
Image of United States seal. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream of Brooklyn, NY is voluntarily recalling its Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Lot 24V094 pints sold at the 81 Bergen Street Brooklyn, NY location. These pints contain an undeclared allergen, peanuts. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious
United States   (07/29/2024)