Santa Clara County Blog Articles


Image caption: We're working to make it easier for you to find your way around this awesome state by improving our site architecture and User Interface, and building out two new editorial products.
California Local's Spring 2023 Roadmap

Several projects are underway to make California Local beautiful and more functional. We're working hard to make it even easier for our members to citizen.

Image caption: Valerie Jarrett with the commander in chief in the Blue Room of the White House in 2010.
What Is Civic Engagement?

President Obama’s closest advisor, Valerie Jarrett, created and ran the White House Office of Public Engagement. Because democracy.

Image caption: Collage of images generated by DALL-E with the prompt “An ink drawing in the style of Ralph Steadman of a group of creatures with human bodies dressed in business attire but with lizard heads, outside Twitter corporate headquarters.”
Eschewing Enshittification

Ever wonder why things go wrong in our country and economy? We learned a new word from Cory Doctorow, and found a solution to this menace in the Fediverse.

Image caption: Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr (right) and the man to whom he remains loyal.
Barr Attacks Media at News Publishers Conference

The title of CapCon 2023 was 'Rebuilding Trust in an Age of Disinformation.' Barr’s response to that prompt was unambiguous: You do not deserve to be trusted.

Image caption: View of the flooded San Lorenzo River Park Benchlands in Santa Cruz, California on New Year's Eve 2022.
Communicating During Disaster and Crisis

How to effectively communicate actionable information for preparation before extreme events, and to disseminate vital information during and after disasters.

Image caption: Winter moon rises over Lake Tahoe.
If You Love Tahoe, Step Right Up!

Wherever you live in California, you are likely to have strong feelings about Lake Tahoe. I want you to know that the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s annual Give Back Tahoe campaign is at the tail end of another record-breaking year.

Image caption: Don't get stomped.
Could Mastodon Become the New Twitter?

Following Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, droves are fleeing the social network and joining Mastodon, an open-source federated service in the 'Fediverse.'

Image caption: The Giant Sequoia, like this one in Yosemite National Park's Mariposa Grove, is one of the two fastest growing trees in the world. The other is the Coast Redwood. Ahhh ... California.
Two Years of Virtual Community Building

Publisher Mike Gelbman delivers a report on our media allies, local directories, marketing services, and more.

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TTCF: Delivering Impact in North Lake Tahoe

California Local is helping a powerful organization tell a big story about confronting problems that threaten the soul of the North Lake Tahoe community.

Image caption: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses the United Nations.
International Day of Democracy

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres defends "the cornerstone of democratic societies—free, independent, and pluralistic media.”

Image caption: Dig into daily tips provided by two master gardeners.
Welcome to Sacramento Digs Gardening

We’ve made our proprietary content management platform available for fellow publishers.

Image caption: Photo of Babbage Analytical Engine Plan from 1840 at the Computer History Museum
How Community Journalism Works Online

In which we explore how we do community journalism at California Local.

Image caption: Different representations of traffic stress.
Building a Better Bike Map

Recent discussions in social media revealed a lack of maps of safe local bike routes. So we connected with local bike experts to start a crowdsourced project to create some.

Image caption: Trump supporters are seen in the NY Times video “Days of Rage” attacking police officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. About 140 officers received injuries ranging from lacerations to concussions, rib fractures and chemical burns.
The Big Lie, and the Epiphany that Didn’t Happen

I hoped the events of Jan. 6, 2021, would put an end to the Big Lie—that the election of 2020 was bogus. But on Jan. 6, 2022, the Big Lie got even bigger.

Image caption: It’s good to know traffic and weather conditions before you hit the road.
Accurate Traffic Information Is Vital

We take a look under the hood of California Local’s Traffic and Transportation portal, which provides comprehensive information on local road and traffic conditions, current CHP incidents and traffic congestion hot spots.

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Getting to Yes

In which we ponder how to make things better in a climate of no.

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Building a Collaboration Machine

We wanted to build a better local newspaper; it turned into something much larger.

Image caption: A graph of a social network.
The Genius of Democracy

In which we ponder human self organization.

Image caption: An image of the California Bear Flag.
Welcome to California Local

Thank you for finding California Local. This is what we’re doing, and why we’re doing it.

Image caption: California Local Publisher Michael Gelbman talks about his vision for the site’s future.
Tell Us a Story

California Local gives a voice to community volunteers—and the business leaders who make their work possible.

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Upcoming Civic Events

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City of Sunnyvale
SPECIAL MEETING: Personnel Board
Monday March 27 2023   5:00 PM

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Planning Commission Meeting
Monday March 27 2023   7:00 PM

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City of San Jose
Community and Economic Development Committee
Monday March 27 2023   1:30 PM

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City of Santa Clara
Senior Advisory Commission Meeting
Monday March 27 2023   10:00 AM

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City of Cupertino
Audit Committee
Monday March 27 2023   4:00 PM

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City of Cupertino
Arts and Culture Commission
Monday March 27 2023   6:30 PM

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Historical Commission Meeting
Monday March 27 2023   7:00 PM

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City of Palo Alto
SPECIAL MEETING: Palo Alto City Council Meeting
Monday March 27 2023   5:00 PM

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Town of Los Altos Hills
Pathways Committee Meeting
Monday March 27 2023   6:30 PM

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City of Santa Clara
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Monday March 27 2023   4:00 PM

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City of San Jose
Youth Commission
Monday March 27 2023   6:30 PM

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City of Saratoga
City Council Special Meeting - Commission Work Plan Study Session
Monday March 27 2023   6:00 PM

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City of Cupertino
Planning Commission
Tuesday March 28 2023   6:45 PM

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Los Altos City Council Meeting
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City of Morgan Hill
Planning Commission
Tuesday March 28 2023   7:00 PM

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City of Mountain View
Mountain View City Council Meeting
Tuesday March 28 2023   6:30 PM

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Town of Los Altos Hills
Community Relations Committee Meeting
Tuesday March 28 2023   7:00 PM

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City of Saratoga
Youth Commission Meeting
Tuesday March 28 2023   7:00 PM

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Town of Los Gatos
Council Policy Committee
Tuesday March 28 2023   5:00 PM

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City of Los Altos
Complete Streets Commission Meeting
Wednesday March 29 2023   5:30 PM

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City of Los Altos
SPEICAL MEETING: Design Review Commission Meeting
Wednesday March 29 2023   7:00 PM

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City of Mountain View
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday March 29 2023   6:30 PM

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City of Palo Alto
Rail Committee Meeting
Wednesday March 29 2023   1:00 PM

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City of Palo Alto
SPEICAL MEETING: Palo Alto City Council Meeting
Friday March 31 2023   4:00 PM