A commitment to justice and accountability is carved in stone, so to speak, in the California constitution, which gives every citizen the right to serve on their county's civil grand jury.
As you can see above in the banner ad for our book, How California Works, by Jonathan Vankin, we believe that “Democracy Lives in California”—despite the very real threats it has faced for decades, which persist today.
Obviously, this hopeful position is not fashionable in this era of hyper-partisan negativity. It is easy, these days, to fall into a trap of believing that politics is entirely corrupt. We have discovered that if you look closely, you will find that here in California, a lot of people—including elected leaders—are still working hard at the project that gives our book its subtitle: “Building Democracy in the Golden State.”
That said, this is not a time to be passive or naive. It is the first job of every journalistic enterprise—and every active citizen—to hold public officials accountable.
In this week’s edition of The Newsletter, Chris Neklason writes about a uniquely Californian institution that allows ordinary citizens to exert significant power over their local governments.
A Uniquely Californian Democratic Institution
Over the past week, citizens empowered as members of civil grand juries issued reports of their investigations of local governments. It's an honorable institution, and these volunteer government watchdogs found some dishonorable stuff. Here's how the civil grand jury system works, and what this year's reports reveal.
2024 Civil Grand Jury Reports
We celebrate California's Civil Grand Jury session of 2023-2024 with a review of some findings and results from across the state.
• California’s ‘Weak’ Job Market Propped Up by Public Money as Private Sector Sheds Jobs
Private-sector jobs in California have declined since their post-pandemic peak, while public-sector employment has shown gains, the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office says.
(07/08/2024) → CalMatters
• California Boosts Spending to Help Students Earn Math and Science Degrees
A program for low-income, first-generation STEM students at community colleges is receiving millions of dollars to expand across the state.
(07/08/2024) → CalMatters
• CalMatters’ Digital Democracy Makes a Difference in the Legislature
CalMatters launched Digital Democracy in April, and its impact has rippled across the Legislature.
(07/08/2024) → CalMatters
• Hundreds of Deaths, Thousands of Injuries, Billions of Dollars: The Cost of Extreme Heat in California
Heat waves have killed hundreds of Californians and cost billions of dollars in the past decade, according to a new report from the state insurance department.
(07/07/2024) → CalMatters
• 6 Myths About Homelessness in California
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around out there about homelessness in California. We use data to dispel several common myths.
(07/07/2024) → CalMatters
• California Now Has Mandatory Water Conservation in Urban Areas: How Will the New Rules Affect Your Supplier?
The measures are substantially weaker than a previous proposal after an onslaught of criticism. But they will still save enough water through 2050 to supply the state’s entire population for a year, at a cost of $4.7 billion.
(07/03/2024) → CalMatters
• Gavin Newsom Says Never Mind on CA Crime Measure
Assemblymember James Gallagher speaks during the floor session at the state Capitol in Sacramento on June 13, 2024. Photo by Cristian Gonzalez for CalMatters
(07/03/2024) → CalMatters
• 2024 California Ballot Measures: What You Need to Know
Much is expected of the California voter.
(07/03/2024) → CalMatters
• ‘Nothing Will Be Protected’ — Why California Environmentalists Oppose a ‘Green’ Energy Bill
Nearly every major environmental group in California opposes a bill that would modify the state’s signature environmental law to speed up upgrades to power lines. Supporters say it would help free the state from fossil fuels and make the grid more reliable, but opponents fear it would damage state parks.
(07/02/2024) → CalMatters
• Does a Proposed $10 Billion Bond Favor Richer California School Districts?
Small and low-income school officials say the bond measure deal is unfair. The money is allocated through matching grants, so wealthier districts that can raise more local funds will get more money from the state.
(07/01/2024) → CalMatters
A commitment to justice and accountability is carved in stone, so to speak, in the California constitution, which gives every citizen the right to serve on their county's civil grand jury.
