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By Eric Johnson
Published Mar 03, 2025

'Engaged California' and Digital Democracy

Happy Monday, Team CALocal supporters! This week, I bring you evidence that WE are WINNING.

By WE, I mean those of us who believe in democracy, and are working together to find ways to protect and improve our means of self-governance. (I realize there’s also evidence this week that this system is breaking down—you can find that elsewhere in your news feed. True, sadly, but NOT the whole story.)

By WINNING—I point to three good and true things.

1: Big news (for big fans of self governance): The state of California is launching a “digital democracy” tool that will allow all of us to participate in policy-making in new ways. More on this below.

2: A report from the Nieman Lab about “emergent civic media systems,” showing that local outlets are proliferating nationwide that make it easier for citizens to find information about their communities.

3: News about “a policy agenda for local news that treats public-interest journalism and civic information like the public goods they are” by “infusing values of community, equity and sustainability into policy.”

Of course, as always, you can find cool stuff about a local nonprofit community group, and a recipe, just a scroll downscreen AND: Unless you follow every news source in your county (we do), you are likely to learn something interesting and maybe important in our News Digest, which is also just down there a little ways.


Taking Politics Online For Real

Audrey Tang built a web tool that helped her county heal its political wounds. Now, it's coming to California. 


Engaged California Aims for ‘Rough Consensus’

Audrey Tang is bringing her revolutionary online civic engagement tool to California.
The state’s new digital deliberation platform, modeled by a Taiwanese champion of democracy, is meant to fight polarization with conversation.


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Santa Clara County's Homepage

Direct your browser to https://santaclara.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Santa Clara 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 Winter! cookbook.


Put that citrus to work for dinner

Not the usual winter dish, this entree is essentially deconstructed kebabs: grilled chicken pieces with vegetables, all flavored with an orange juice marinade. Too wet outside to grill? Use the broiler.
New! This orange chicken is healthier than fast food


Get to Know a Group

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy logo Guadalupe River Park Conservancy

The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy is a nonprofit community group that is actively engaged in advocating for ecological and environmental values in the local community through education, advocacy and stewardship of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, located in downtown San Jose. The conservancy offers leadership experiences for people to learn about such values and hosts fundraising parties to support its work.

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From Our Media Allies

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Carmichael Times logo California Comment on Latest Small Business Optimism Index

Small business optimism across the nation fell a bit in January but for the third consecutive month, came in higher than its 51-year average, according to the release Feb. 11 of the monthly Small Business Optimism Index by the National …

San Jose Spotlight logo Silicon Valley Transit Workers Could Strike as Contract Ends

The contract between a Silicon Valley public transit agency and its frontline employees ends Monday — and negotiations have stalled.

San Jose Spotlight logo Billboard Company Spent Thousands Lobbying San Jose Officials

An Ohio media company spent thousands of dollars lobbying San Jose officials to vote in favor of new digital billboards downtown — and succeeded.

San Jose Spotlight logo Silicon Valley Women’s Wage Gap Among Highest Nationwide

For decades, women have been fighting to level the playing field with men when it comes to how much they earn on the job, especially in Silicon Valley.

San Jose Inside logo Liccardo Co-Sponsors Bill to Prohibit Federal Officials From Profiting From Crypto Assets

The measure was prompted by reports that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made a windfall on their respective meme coins.

San Jose Spotlight logo Santa Clara County Asks State to Help Fund Affordable Housing

Santa Clara County is applying for up to $40.5 million in Project Homekey+ funding for the Algarve Apartments at 1135 E. Santa Clara St. next to Roosevelt Park in San Jose. When completed, the development will have 91 homes — …

Morgan Hill Times logo Morgan Hill Rotary Awards More Than $25k in Local Grants

Representatives from 29 local organizations lined up under the spotlight at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center Feb. 19 to receive more than $25,000 in grants from the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill.

San Jose Spotlight logo Sunnyvale Residents Split on Improvements to Dangerous Road

As Sunnyvale expands its bicycling network, one neighborhood is grappling with decades-old limitations.
Residents in North Sunnyvale, a portion of the city that historically lacks resources, are excited about planned safe transit infrastructure on Tasman Drive, from Fair Oaks Avenue …

San Jose Spotlight logo State Gun Group May Sue Santa Clara County Over License Fees

A statewide gun rights group is gearing up to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against Santa Clara County over price hikes for concealed carry weapons licenses.

San Jose Spotlight logo Town & Country Owners Look to Build Housing Near Its Shopping Center

For more than a year, the owners of Town & Country Village have been battling a proposal to build a condominium development on a parking lot just north of the El Camino Real shopping center.

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose Approves Hundreds of Affordable Homes at Historic Site

A 15-story multifamily affordable housing development is about to become part of downtown San Jose’s SoFA district after almost a decade of planning.

Morgan Hill Times logo Chamber Celebrates Morgan Hill

It’s that time of the year again, for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce to start naming their annual Celebrate award winners recognizing local people, businesses and organizations that have made unique or significant contributions to the community during the …

Gilroy Dispatch logo Anderson Dam Retrofit Construction to Start in Early 2027

Valley Water officials shared progress updates and timeline revisions for the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project during a community meeting Feb. 20, announcing the release of the final Environmental Impact Report for the project, as well as giving a general …

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose Wants to Send Homeless People Back to Families

San Jose is launching a program to relocate and reunify homeless people with their families as the city strives to end unsheltered homelessness.

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose District Will Close Three Schools

Another San Jose school district is closing schools due to declining enrollment and a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose Says Mobile Home Park Owner Can’t Raise Rent

A San Jose mobile home park with hundreds of spaces has failed to get city approval for a proposed rent increase.

San Jose Spotlight logo Downtown San Jose Street Becomes Permanent Pedestrian Mall

San Jose officials have approved the permanent restriction of vehicle traffic at a popular downtown street in an effort to increase fast-growing economic vibrancy in the business district.

San Jose Spotlight logo Campbell Housing Project Fills Hole in Downtown Corridor

Nearly 100 homes could fill a vacant block next to downtown Campbell that has dragged through the development process for almost a decade.

San Jose Spotlight logo San Jose Mayor Wants to Permanently Shift Affordable Housing Funds

Amid a budget shortfall, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan wants to move money allocated to affordable housing toward temporary housing solutions — indefinitely.

San Jose Spotlight logo Santa Clara County to Weigh Potential Budget Cuts

Santa Clara County officials say critical safety-net services could abruptly end as early as next month, as congressional lawmakers prepare to vote on a plan to trim trillions in spending over the next decade — and cut off billions of …

San Jose Spotlight logo Mountain View Backs Targeted Density in Residential Areas

Mountain View is making strides with its plan to rezone parts of the city to create more opportunities to build more homes, including some lower-density multifamily residential areas.

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Recent Local News

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Spotlight on District 3 Candidate Tyrone Wade

Read on to learn more about Tyrone Wade, running for the San Jose City Council District 3 seat in the upcoming special election.

(03/04/2025) The Mercury News
Palo Alto Revises Zoning

In their March 3 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council approved changes to zoning ordinances to encourage housing in commercial areas. Read on for details.

(03/03/2025) Palo Alto Online
Hundreds of Housing Units Proposed Near Tamien Station

A "transit village" of several units of housing is being proposed near Tamien Station in San Jose. Read on for details.

(03/03/2025) The Mercury News
Milpitas City Manager Resigns

Read on to learn more about the resignation of Milpitas City Manager Ned Thomas and next steps in recruiting his replacement.

(02/28/2025) Milpitas Beat
Mountain View Considers Moffett Boulevard Bike Lanes

Not currently known as a safe route, Mountain View is considering adding bike lanes to Moffett Boulevard. Read on for details.

(02/27/2025) Mountain View Voice
Cupertino Mayor Talks State of the City

Read on to learn what Cupertino Mayor Liang Chao had to say in her February 26 State of the City address.

(02/27/2025) The Mercury News
Proposed Downtown San Jose Housing Highrise Defaults

Read on for details about the default of a proposed 708-unit downtown San Jose housing highrise, and what comes next.

(02/26/2025) The Mercury News
Palo Alto Working to Staff Mitchell Park Fire Station

Concerned about response times, the Palo Alto City Council is working to add a fire engine and staffing to the Mitchell Park fire station. Read on for details.

(02/26/2025) Daily Post
Plans Filed for 500+ Apartments in San Jose Housing

Read on to learn more about a 500+ apartment project proposed for 3896 Stevens Creek Boulevard currently moving through the San Jose planning process

(02/26/2025) The Mercury News
Hundreds of Homes Proposed in Los Altos Hills

Read on to learn more about the proposed development of 596 units of housing in the Twin Oaks area of Los Alto Hills.

(02/25/2025) Los Altos Town Crier
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Recent Statewide News

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First-of-Its Kind Court Order Halts Sweep of California Homeless Camp

This appears to be the first such injunction since the U.S. Supreme Court let cities crack down on homeless encampments in California and beyond.

(03/04/2025) CalMatters
Towing Companies Can Sell Your Car — And the DMV Gets to Keep the Profit Without Telling You

Since 2016, the DMV has collected more than $8 million from nearly 5,300 car sales, according to a CalMatters analysis.

(03/03/2025) CalMatters
‘Too Damn Hard to Build’:  a Key California Democrat’s Push for Speedier Construction

Oakland Democrat Buffy Wicks said lawmakers will soon see 20 bills to speed up housing construction, along with more on energy, water and transit.

(03/03/2025) CalMatters
Return to Office: Newsom Orders California State Workers Back Four Days a Week

The governor’s announcement affects most of the state workforce and will take effect on July 1.

(03/03/2025) CalMatters
California Made a Big Bet on Producing Its Own Insulin. There’s No ‘Date Certain’ for Delivery

Two years ago, California made a bold announcement that it would manufacture a state-branded, low-cost insulin. Drug manufacturers, insurers, economists and diabetics took notice. It had the potential to disrupt the market, bring down drug costs and save patients’ lives.

(03/02/2025) CalMatters
Newsom’s Homeless Funding Tracker Website Holds Counties Accountable for Housing Goals

RED MEANS FAILURE, green means progress. Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a new tracker tool this week that shows how local agencies are using state funds to eradicate homelessness and rates their success. The concept is to pool data on grants and reporting so counties can watch other counties; the public can watch state spending; and the governor can make the argument for granting or cutting funds.

(02/28/2025) Local News Matters
With Reservoir Levels in Good Shape, State’s Water Managers Increase Delivery Forecasts

State and federal water managers have announced significant increases to water allocations across California thanks to early February storms and healthy reservoir levels.

(02/28/2025) Local News Matters
‘It’s a Garbage Fire’: Some CA Legislators Leave X

In the past few months, some Democratic state legislators have joined the reported exodus of users on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

(02/27/2025) CalMatters
California Has a Lot to Lose if Trump Slashes Medicaid. Seniors, Kids and More Could Face Coverage Cuts

Almost 15 million Californians have health care coverage through Medi-Cal, a program that stands to lose billions of dollars if Republicans follow through on proposed cuts.

(02/27/2025) CalMatters
Californians Approved $1.5 Billion for Wildfire Prevention. How Will the State Spend It?

The governor has proposed spending climate bond money dedicated to wildfire mitigation in various ways. Some lawmakers think a focused strategy would be more effective.

(02/27/2025) CalMatters
Spotlight on 2-Year Yolo County Basic Income Program

Read on for details about a report on the 2-year Yolo County Basic Income Program which ended in April 2024.

(02/26/2025) The Sacramento Bee
‘Look, There’s Nowhere Else to Go:’ Inside California’s Crackdown on Homeless Camps

It’s been eight months since the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally changed how cities in California and beyond can respond to homeless encampments, allowing them to clear camps and arrest people for sleeping outside — even when there’s nowhere else to sleep.

(02/26/2025) CalMatters
Why Bills to Help Prevent California Fires Fail

Each year, legislation aimed at better wildfire mitigation fails – often due to cost or conflict with environmental regulations.

(02/26/2025) CalMatters
California’s Fund to Build Student Housing Runs Dry — Leaving Community Colleges in the Lurch

Feather River College is still reeling from the 2021 Dixie Fire, which destroyed hundreds of homes in the surrounding community and warped the housing market. The college is one of many schools that have tried — and failed — to secure state grants to build more student housing.

(02/26/2025) CalMatters
‘We’re Out Here Not Getting Paid’: UC Workers Strike Amid Contract Negotiation Stalemate

University of California laboratory technicians, information technologists, museum and health care workers went on strike Wednesday to protest what they say are staffing shortages and other grievances.

(02/26/2025) Local News Matters
California Insurance Commissioner Meets Privately With State Farm, Hopes to Make Rate Hike Decision Within Two Weeks

Ricardo Lara said he will look at information provided by State Farm before revisiting his previous decision to reject the company’s emergency rate hike.

(02/26/2025) CalMatters
‘Engaged California’: New Statewide Initiative Aims to Give Public a Voice in Policy Decisions

A new program dubbed “Engaged California” aiming to give the public a greater voice in government is launching soon, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced. Described as an exercise in “deliberative democracy,” the program is designed to help the public influence and inform government actions such as the ongoing Los Angeles firestorm rebuilding and recovery, the governor’s office said.

(02/26/2025) Local News Matters
Prop. 36 Poses Cash Problem for Local Governments

California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, a new law that stiffened penalties for certain drug and theft charges, and pledged to provide “mass treatment” for those facing drug charges.

But since the law took effect, some counties have been scrambling to implement the measure without new funding or, according to people involved in enforcing the law, sufficient resources.

(02/25/2025) CalMatters
California Extends State Financial Aid Deadline Until April 2

California is giving students more time to apply for college aid due to a drop in completed applications.

(02/25/2025) EdSource
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Government Announcements

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Image of State of California seal. Esmeralda Soria California Assembly 27: Soria Honors the Life of Chang Xiong, Community Leader and Pioneer for Hmong Rights
Soria Honors the Life of Chang Xiong, Community Leader and Pioneer for Hmong Rights bairdro Mon, 03/03/2025 - 16:54 Monday, March 3, 2025
State of California   (03/03/2025)
Image of City of Milpitas seal. City Hall Expands Hours to Include Full-Day Fridays
The City of Milpitas is pleased to announce that, starting March 7, 2025, City Hall will once again be open all day on Fridays, ensuring greater accessibility and service for the community.
City of Milpitas   (03/03/2025)
Image of United States seal. AKT Trading Inc. Recalls Prepared Vegetable Products Because of Possible Health Risk
AKT Trading Inc. of Torrance, California, is recalling certain prepared vegetable products manufactured by Choshiya Honten Co., Ltd. due to a potential risk of Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. The products lack the necessary "Keep Refrigerated" s
United States   (03/03/2025)
Image of City of Saratoga seal. Saratoga Volunteer Day
Join the City of Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission for a rewarding volunteer opportunity on Saturday, March 15 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, to enhance the natural beauty of Quarry Park.
City of Saratoga   (03/03/2025)
Image of City of Saratoga seal. St. Paddy's Day in the Village
Join the St. Paddy's Party in Saratoga Village, on Saturday, March 15, from 24 PM, sponsored by the Saratoga Village Development Council!
City of Saratoga   (03/03/2025)
Image of City of Gilroy seal. Update Regarding the Monday, March 3, Regular City Council Meeting
Spanish language interpretation services will be available for the first public hearing regarding the Citys transition from an at-large to a district-based election system.
City of Gilroy   (03/02/2025)
Image of City of Los Altos seal. Los Altos Seeks Community Input on Main Library Renovation Project
Los Altos, Calif. March 1, 2025 The City of Los Altos invites the community to participate in a series of upcoming meetings to discuss proposed renovations to the Los Altos Main Library. The project team will present the project background, goals, and timeline and welcome feedback on the proposed improvements and criteria for success. The Los Altos Main Library renovation …
City of Los Altos   (03/02/2025)
Image of City of Campbell seal. Summer Preview Activity Guide Now Online
Summer Camps and Swim Lessons... Register soon!
City of Campbell   (03/01/2025)
Image of City of Morgan Hill seal. Hiring Lifeguards and Swim Instructors
Be a part of the aquatics team! We're hiring lifeguards and swim instructors; application deadline is May 10. Training class is available for lifeguard positions; next class starts April 11 to help you get on your way to a great job with Parks & Rec.
City of Morgan Hill   (02/28/2025)
Image of Town of Los Gatos seal. 143 and 151 E. Main Street Mixed-Use Project - CEQA Public Review
The Town of Los Gatos, as the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), announces the Notice of Intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the proposed 143 and 151 E. Main Street Mixed-Use Project.
Town of Los Gatos   (02/28/2025)