Before we get to our featured article and all the other good stuff, I need to own up to a mistake that illustrates a point about planning. In the May 28 edition of The Newsletter, I announced the publication of our first book, How California Works: Building Democracy in the Golden State, by the great Jon Vankin. If you missed the big announcement, that’s on me, because I scheduled it for the day after Memorial Day. Not the best timing for a book launch.
In my defense, some last-minute snafus had delayed publication, and I was eager to let you know about the book as soon as that was possible. This is a hopeful book that can be an antidote to the dire news we are confronted with daily—it’s filled with true stories about the ways, at its best, California is leading the world toward a better future
I also forgot to say this last month: Here's how to empower yourself as a citizen AND support local journalism: Find How California Works on Amazon; available in hardcover, softcover and digital (Kindle).
The General Plan: Your Community’s Map to the Future
I say How California Works is a hopeful book because when you really see how local government functions, you have to be a little bit amazed. Our friend and colleague Chris Neklason has written about how building the database underlying California Local—discovering the elected bodies and volunteer boards that safeguard your tax dollars—hipped him to The Genius of Democracy.
This week Chris explains how a General Plan serves as the “constitution” of every incorporated community in the state—enumerating the long-term vision, priorities, goals, objectives and policies informing community governance—especially with regard to land use decisions. Good stuff to know.
• Report Finds County Roads "Deplorable"
The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury released a report on the state of the 586 miles of county-maintained roads, finding them inadequately funded and maintained.
(06/10/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• Big Sur Is Back
Photos spotlight the beauty of the Big Sur community.
(06/06/2024) → Edible Monterey Bay
• Additional Funding for Highway 1 Project Approved
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission approved an additional $3 million for the Highway 1 expansion project to cover cost overruns.
(06/06/2024) → Lookout Local
• Santa Cruz Shakespeare's 11th Season Approaching
Season 11 will be the biggest yet, with two plays by William Shakespeare and two by other authors.
(06/06/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• Clocktower Development Unveiled
The proposal for the 16-story 260-unit Clocktower Center housing development in Santa Cruz was presented on June 6.
(06/05/2024) → Lookout Local
• La Bahia Hotel Advances
The long-delayed 155 room La Bahia Hotel and Spa is making progress toward a spring 2025 opening.
(06/05/2024) → Lookout Local
• City of Santa Cruz Downtown Plan Expansion Project Open for Review
On June 4, the City of Santa Cruz released a draft of the Downtown Plan Expansion project documents for public review.
(06/05/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• UCSC Chancellor Defends Use of Police
In a statement posted to the UCSC website on June 4, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive defended use of police to break up a pro-Palestine encampment in the interest of campus safety.
(06/04/2024) → Lookout Local
• Aptos High Students Build Tiny Home
Aptos High School building and construction trades program students recently completed construction of a 20-foot by 8-foot tiny home.
(06/04/2024) → Santa Cruz Sentinel
• Sports Complex Unveiled as Part of California Forever
A rendering for a Solano Sports Complex development with facilities for baseball, basketball, football, swimming, tennis, volleyball, pickleball and other sports was released as part of the California Forever project in east Solano County.
(06/07/2024) → SF Gate
• CalMatters Hosts Big Ideas Festival
The two-day CalMatters Ideas Festival wrapped on June 6 with more than a dozen events examining critical policy issues impacting the lives of millions of Californians.
(06/07/2024) → CalMatters
• The California Maternity Wards That Are Staying Open
Over the last decade, nearly 50 maternity wards have closed across California, with more than half shutting down in just the last four years.
(06/06/2024) → CalMatters
• Land Trust Announces Opposition to California Forever
On June 6, the Solano Land Trust announced its opposition to the California Forever project to build a new community housing up to 400,000 people in the county.
(06/06/2024) → The Mercury News
• How Best to Reduce California Homelessness?
A panel at the CalMatters Ideas Festival debates how to reduce homelessness without punishing poverty. There’s worry about a potential $1 billion cut in state funding.
(06/06/2024) → CalMatters
• The Future for California Workers Is Apprenticeships
A panel of labor experts at the CalMatters Ideas Festival say California workers should have more access to more apprenticeships that pay more. Barriers still exist, especially for women and low-income Californians.
(06/06/2024) → CalMatters
• New Reservoir Project Advances
The $4.5 billion Sites Reservoir project is advancing after a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by environmental groups.
(06/05/2024) → The Mercury News
• A Look at Police dispatches to Schools
EdSource reports that police are dispatched thousands of times per school day across California.
(06/05/2024) → EdSource
• California Seeks a More Resilient Water Supply as Familiar Sides Battle for Access
A new study, conducted by researchers at three University of California campuses, projects that a combination of factors will reduce California’s water supply by up to 9 million acre-feet a year.
(06/05/2024) → CalMatters
• California Made It Easier to Vote, but Some With Disabilities Still Face Barriers
California is hailed as a national leader for voting access. But visually impaired voters and their advocates say they still face unnecessary barriers, despite bills and lawsuits. Some election officials raise security concerns.
(06/04/2024) → CalMatters
• California Homelessness Funding Is on the Chopping Block. Will It Make the Final Budget?
It’s the billion-dollar question. That’s how much cities and other local governments have been receiving from the state each year to deal with California's ever-increasing population of homeless people.
(06/04/2024) → CalMatters
• Why CA Families Are Getting a Tax Surprise for Health Care
For families seeking affordable health insurance, the state’s health insurance marketplace, Covered California, can provide major relief. But if they’re not careful, they can get hit by an unexpected federal tax bill.
(06/04/2024) → CalMatters
