This Veterans Day we feature two articles about organizations that provide services to the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The first is the latest installment in Chris Neklason‘s Doing Good series of articles about “service clubs,” from the Soroptimists to Rotary International, which employ countless volunteers who together wage a vast, ongoing campaign of civic improvement.
This week, appropriately, Chris tells the fascinating story of the American Legion, the organization that brought us Veterans Day.
Also on the Veterans Day theme: a useful compendium of information about services available to California veterans. If you are a vet, or a friend or family member of a vet, you might find this information valuable and might want to keep it handy.
But first, we present a perspective on last week’s election that contains a surprising piece of hope.
Defending Democracy
In defining the justifications for the use of armed power in the world, former US National Security Advisor Anthony Lake put forward what can be seen as the primary mission of the United States military: “To preserve, promote and defend democracy, which enhances our security and the spread of our values.“
As an independent, non-partisan journalistic enterprise, California Local is nevertheless not neutral on the subject of democracy. As most of you know, we are also obsessively fond of the structures and institutions of democracy—including, for instance, the vast army of men and women who make up the federal workforce.
As both the concept of democracy and our democratic institutions themselves face a very real threat, we offer an appreciation of what’s at risk.
Doing Good: The American Legion
The organization responsible for the GI Bill and Veterans Day continues to help service members, veterans, and their families.
Celebrating Veterans Every Day
About 1.8 million veterans live in California. Here are some organizations dedicated to serving the needs of those who served America.
• Operation Green Lights in Santa Cruz
In honor of local veterans, Santa Cruz County is participating in the annual Operation Green Lights by illuminating the main administration building at 701 Ocean Street with green lights through Veteran's Day November 11.
(11/04/2024) → Lookout Local
• CA Workers Could Lose Deportation Protections
Immigration advocates are sounding the alarm over the prospect of mass deportations upending California immigrant communities, which Donald Trump has vowed to initiate when he returns to the White House in January.
(11/11/2024) → CalMatters
• California Empowered Immigrants to Speak Up at Work. Trump Could End Their Protections
California wants to protect witnesses in workplace investigations from deportation, but the Biden administration program for undocumented employees is at risk with Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
(11/10/2024) → CalMatters
• California Enacts New Climate Rules — which Could Boost Gas Prices
Experts don’t know how much gas prices may rise from the revised California climate program, which tightens standards and gives incentives for low-carbon fuels. The board ordered an annual review of the cost impacts.
(11/08/2024) → CalMatters
• What Trump’s Border Policies Mean for California
President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on implementing a sweeping border crackdown and undertaking the largest-scale deportation effort in history. If carried out, his proposed initiatives will have profound consequences in California, which shares a 140-mile border with Mexico.
(11/08/2024) → CalMatters
• Here We Go Again: California Prepares to Battle Trump Over Environmental Policies
A lot is at stake with the new Trump administration: California’s water projects, its unique authority to clean its air, federal support for offshore wind and disaster aid for wildfires.
(11/07/2024) → CalMatters
• Newsom Calls Special Session to ‘Trump-Proof’ California
Newsom wants the new Legislature to ‘protect’ California from Donald Trump on civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families. The session will start Dec. 2.
(11/07/2024) → CalMatters
• The California Legislature Set a Record for Women in Office and Could See Historic Gender Parity
California’s Senate will reach gender parity, but depending on the outcome of some close contests, that could extend to the whole Legislature.
(11/07/2024) → CalMatters
• Proposition 4 $10 Billion Climate Bond Passes
Learn more about how the just-passed $10 billion climate bond measure will fund resiliency projects across the state.
(11/05/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• GivingTuesday Explained
Learn more about the annual fundraising day on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year falling on December 3.
(11/04/2024) → Monterey Herald
Thank you for your service.
