When we started building California Local five-ish years ago, we were alert to the fact that a lot of Americans, including many Californians, had grown cynical about politics—in particular, about politicians. We understood that this cynicism was somewhat justified, but felt it was also largely based on a lack of knowledge or understanding about what really takes place in the halls and chambers of government.
Speaking for myself: Having covered local elected officials for years, I had long ago learned that most of them, regardless of their political affiliations, were decent people trying to do what they believed was the right thing. While it has been my job to hold these people accountable, and while I may or may not have agreed with their policy agendas or politics, the fact that I was professionally bound to give them a fair hearing caused me to develop a pretty deep level of respect for almost every one of them.
Ryan Coonerty, former mayor of Santa Cruz and former county supervisor, is on a mission to spread the news that the people we refer to here as “public servants” are worthy of that kind of respect. Since 2018, he has hosted a podcast called “An Honorable Profession,” where he interviews electeds from all over the country. (He took the name from something once said by Robert F. Kennedy.) (Senior. ;-)
Chris Neklason turned the tables on Coonerty a couple of years ago in an interview that does a first-rate job of explaining what it means to be an elected official. You’ll find that Q&A attached to the story below.
And this week, we return to Ryan and his podcast to tell a story about another Santa Cruz elected official whom we believe you should meet.
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By Eric Johnson
Published Feb 17, 2025
The Work of Politics
Setting Health as a Policy Goal
A decades-long fight to protect children leads to victory—with another battle on the horizon.
Little Santa Cruz Beats Big Sugar
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Santa Clara County's Homepage |
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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 Winter! cookbook.
Get to Know a Group
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Children’s Discovery Museum |
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose serves the needs of children, families, and schools as a center for learning and discovery. The museum offers interactive exhibits and programs in a warm and inviting environment.
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From Our Media Allies |
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San Jose Protest Against President Trump Draws Hundreds |
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Hundreds of protesters from around Silicon Valley marched through downtown San Jose Monday as part of demonstrations taking place across the country over President Donald Trump and his policies. |
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Santa Clara Finalizes World Cup Contracts |
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Santa Clara officials are paving the way for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finalizing responsibilities. |
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Santa Clara County to Limit Speakers at Public Meetings |
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Santa Clara County officials could further restrict residents' already limited opportunity to make their voices heard at meetings. |
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San Jose Apartment Project to Reduce Affordable Housing |
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Plans for a housing development near Japantown have changed, with the number of affordable apartments being significantly reduced. |
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Santa Clara County Education Office Plans Layoffs |
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Santa Clara County’s top education office is planning for a wave of firings amid questions over top-heavy management and executive assistants with six-figure salaries. |
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Leadership Morgan Hill Celebrates 30 Years |
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Leadership Morgan Hill, a nonprofit organization that has trained hundreds of local community leaders and spearheaded numerous civic improvement projects, marks its 30th anniversary this year, celebrating three decades of fostering community engagement and developing future leaders in South Santa … |
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Santa Clara County Courthouse Mural Is Racist, Advocates Say |
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Silicon Valley groups are calling for a mural they say is racist to be removed from the Palo Alto branch of the Santa Clara County Superior Court. |
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Cupertino Hotel Project Pulled Amid Slow Hospitality Sector |
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A Cupertino hotel that would have provided millions of dollars for the city is no longer in the pipeline, as the hospitality sector continues to struggle post pandemic. |
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San Jose Tackles Lack of Parking After Cutting Requirements |
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A group of San Jose leaders want the city to explore a permitted parking program that would benefit residents living in high growth areas. |
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Gilroy Police Chief Announces Retirement |
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After a 30-year career in law enforcement, including 22 years with the Gilroy Police Department, Chief Pedro Espinoza has announced his retirement. |
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Sunnyvale’s Lack of Protected Bike Lanes Frustrates Residents |
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Sunnyvale residents have been waiting for the city to implement its grand plan for a bicycle safety network, but a lack of action has led to mounting frustration. |
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Historic Los Gatos Hotel Could Be Replaced With 155 Homes |
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More than 100 homes could displace a longstanding, landmark hotel in Los Gatos. |
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San Jose Residents Unaware of Non-Police Crisis Services |
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San Jose officials are voicing concern about how to keep paying for a non-police response program for mental health emergencies. Advocates doubt the city is even trying to make it work. |
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The Rubbish Rules Have Changed |
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West Valley Recycles (WVR) has an outreach team to help us learn to recycle correctly. |
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San Jose Opens Multi-Story Modular Housing Site for Homeless Families |
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A South San Jose modular housing project for homeless people is finally opening after months of delay due to issues with mold, plumbing and structural safety. |
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High School District Picks Heath Rocha for Superintendent |
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The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District trustees voted 4-0 in favor of appointing Acting Superintendent Heath Rocha as its new permanent superintendent, during last board meeting. |
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Council Enthusiastically Approves 209-Unit Los Gatos Meadows Senior Living Project |
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In stark contrast with the antipathy shown towards the slew of affordable housing developments that have cropped up in Los Gatos in recent months that seek to bypass local control, the Los Gatos Meadows senior facility has now achieved final … |
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San Jose to Rezone Land Near Airport for Business Development |
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San Jose is eyeing patches of vacant land underneath the San Jose Mineta International Airport flight path for commercial use. |
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San Jose Education Leaders Delay Decision on School Closures |
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The leaders of a local school district are postponing a decision to close a handful of schools. |
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Silicon Valley Riders All in on Caltrain Electrification |
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Transit advocates and officials said Caltrain’s electric fleet, which launched last September, helped drive an increase in year-over-year ridership to 39% as of December 2024 — with electric trains delivering on promises of more service and smoother rides. |
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Santa Clara County Wants More Family Home Care Visits |
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Santa Clara County may be able to serve more vulnerable children through home visits by tapping into new Medi-Cal funding. |
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Cupertino City Buildings Get Greener With Solar |
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Three prominent Cupertino government buildings are set to switch to green energy as the city warms up to the idea of solar power. |
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Sunnyvale Traffic Deaths Spark Safety Concerns |
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Sunnyvale officials want to tighten traffic safety near Fair Oaks Park after multiple pedestrian deaths over the past six years. |
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San Jose Officials Look to Reshuffle Funds for Budget Shortfall |
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San Jose officials have implemented a hiring freeze and are reviewing funding cuts across departments to soften the blow of a larger than anticipated budget shortfall. |
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San Jose Tackles Thousands of Homeless Camp Fires |
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Fires emanating from San Jose’s homeless encampments far outnumber those coming from homes and businesses, leaving nearby residents scared for their safety and health. |
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Recent Local News |
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The Los Altos City Council approved $2.3 million towards development of a combined downtown park and underground parking. Read on for details.
More than 100 homes could displace a longstanding, landmark hotel in Los Gatos. The Los Gatos Planning Commission unanimously recommended a proposed 155-townhome development Wednesday that would replace the Los Gatos Lodge.
Three prominent Cupertino government buildings are set to switch to green energy as the city warms up to the idea of solar power.
Read on to learn more about Irene Smith, pro tem judge, entrepreneur, and former IBM employee now candidate for the open San Jose City Council District 3 seat.
Sunnyvale residents have been waiting for the city to implement its grand plan for a bicycle safety network, but a lack of action has led to mounting frustration.
Read on to learn more about the recently released Palo Alto Palo Alto Unified School District Ethnic Studies curriculum and its goal to fill gaps in the teaching of history.
Read on to learn more about the South Bay School of Music Arts in Milpitas, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Read on to learn more about planned zoning changes in Mountain View to advance housing growth goals, and the concerns about possible adverse effects on small businesses.
The Palo Alto City Council appointed three new commissioners to the influential Planning and Transportation Commission. Read on to learn more about the new commissioners.
The Palo Alto City Council is considering the expansion of the Geng Road "safe parking" site for folks living in RVs. Read on to learn more.
On February 11, San Jose Museum of Art Executive Director S. Sayre Batton announced her departure scheduled for May. Read on for a look back at her tenure, and next steps going forward.
Learn more about approval of the planned development of an 8,265-square-foot courtyard project at the Los Altos main library, and why some community members object to the design and concerned about the impact of an adjacent orchard.
In their February 10 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council unanimously approved a teacher housing development on El Camino Real. Read on for more information about the project and why its so controversial.
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Recent Statewide News |
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In the days and weeks following the January Los Angeles County wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office moved quickly to manage the response and begin recovery efforts after the blazes were contained. Since then, the governor has been singularly focused on the region, describing his approach as “an extended period of engagement” with L.A. during a press conference in Altadena last week.
California has known for years that it must pay extra attention to people with disabilities and limited mobility during natural disasters. Will it put the lessones of the L.A. fires to use for the next emergency?
California schools are grappling with the U.S. Department of Education's letter requiring them to scrap their DEI programs.
Against the recommendation of his staff experts, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara denied a request from State Farm to green light “emergency” rate increases for insurance policy holders.
A spate of new bills in California and other states would protect consumers from electricity rate hikes that subsidize data centers.
AS HOST TO the largest battery storage facility in the world, on a site that just had its fourth fire in four years, the people of Monterey County have grown to realize that Moss Landing is a learning laboratory for California’s green energy transition.
The audit by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission followed CalMatters’ revelations that a law requiring trip organizers to annually disclose their major donors had been used only twice in seven years — even as interest groups continued paying millions for lawmakers’ travel.
In the wake of the Los Angeles fires, State Farm asked for an “emergency” premium increase of 22% on average for California homeowners. Lara today denied the request pending more information.
Despite Trump’s plans, federal funding is a small part of California’s education budget and the state oversees curriculum.
Californians rejected the anti-slavery ballot measure Proposition 6, which would have forbid forced prison labor. Reparations advocates want to try again in 2026.
After a 2022 CalMatters series documenting long waits and low payouts for workers who claim their employers have shorted them on wages, California lawmakers have now proposed bills to try to ease the backlogs.
As academic researchers continue to explore what happened to public education during and after the COVID19 pandemic, they are confirming the harsh reality of decline in such basic skills as reading and mathematics.
A California appeals court rules a baker can’t refuse to sell a generic cake to a lesbian couple. It’s part of a series of cases shaping the debate over free speech and anti-discrimination laws.
Outreach workers in the Bay Area city of Fremont worry the new ordinance could target them, despite assurances from the city.
Sen. Kelly Seyarto is the only former career firefighter currently serving in the Legislature. But as a Republican in a Democratic supermajority, he says it can be challenging to make progress on wildfire policy.
Interviews suggest some people swept up in Trump’s immigration crackdown are dedicated to their families and communities — not hardened criminals.
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Government Announcements |
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City of Los Altos Launches City Permit-Ready ADU Program |
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Los Altos, Calif. February 15, 2025 The City of Los Altos is rolling out its City Permit-Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program, a streamlined solution designed to make it easier for property owners to add affordable housing units.
City of Los Altos (02/16/2025)
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Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company, LLC Issues a Product Recall on Undeclared Almonds in Mauna Loa Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias (1oz) Pouches |
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Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company LLC of Kea'au, HI is voluntarily recalling one batch of its Mauna Loa Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias snack (1oz) pouches, due to the presence of undeclared almonds which are an allergen.
United States (02/15/2025)
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Esmeralda Soria California Assembly 27: Assemblywoman Soria Introduces AB 707, to Fund Hwy 152 Improvements Needed for Expanding San Luis Reservoir |
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Assemblywoman Soria Introduces AB 707, to Fund Hwy 152 Improvements Needed for Expanding San Luis Reservoir
fernanbr
Fri, 02/14/2025 - 16:57
Email
brody.fernandez@asm.ca.gov
Phone
(916) 276-3390
Friday, February 14, 2025
SACRAMENTO, CA Today, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced), introduced AB 707, which will appropriate $455.5 million for improvements to State Highway Route 152, which are needed to accommodate increasing the water …
State of California (02/14/2025)
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Presidents' Day Holiday |
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Please note that the Library and Town Administrative offices will be closed Monday, February 17, 2025 in observance of the holiday.
Town of Los Gatos (02/14/2025)
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Home Hardening Strategies and Wildfire Preparedness Town Hall |
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You are invited to attend a virtual town hall meeting focused on home hardening strategies and wildfire preparation.
City of Monte Sereno (02/14/2025)
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Community Funding FY 25-26 |
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Annually, the Morgan Hill City Council considers funding requests from local non-profit organizations that host community wide events, host community supporting events at City facilities, and provide services to the community.
City of Morgan Hill (02/14/2025)
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Help Shape the Future of Gilroy’s Civic Center |
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The City of Gilroy is developing a new Civic Center Master Plan to better serve the growing community, address increasing demands, improve underutilized spaces, and update aging facilities. Community members are invited to participate.
City of Gilroy (02/14/2025)
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Coffee with the Mayor, Feb. 22, 9 a.m. |
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Join Mayor Mark Turner and guest Jennifer Carman,
Development Services Director, for a free cup of coffee at
the CRC's Multipurpose Room, 171 W. Edmundson Ave. The topic of the informal
conversation will be housing developments in Morgan Hill.
City of Morgan Hill (02/13/2025)
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City Offices Closed for Presidents' Day |
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City offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents' Day.
City of Saratoga (02/13/2025)
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Storm Update 2/13/25 9:15 AM: Please Slow Down and Drive Safely |
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The National Weather Service has indicated that the heaviest part of the storm is over. Mild to moderate rain will continue through the next twenty-four hours.
City of Gilroy (02/13/2025)
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