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By Eric Johnson
Published Aug 26, 2024

The Memorial Rose Garden at McKinley Park in Sacramento. Built and maintained by everyday citizens as a gift to their city.
The Memorial Rose Garden at McKinley Park in Sacramento. Built and maintained by everyday citizens as a gift to their city.
Image credit: By Eric Johnson

How Citizenship is Like Gardening

You may have noticed last week that government, and governing, seem to be suddenly cool again. Elected officials starred in a mini-series that became the hit of the season—drawing applause and even genuine, heartfelt laughs. People talking politics used the word "joy" repeatedly—and also that buzzword from a few seasons back: "hope."

We say: It's about time. For too many years, there's been a negative campaign telling a dark and cynical story about politics and politicians, and this has not been the exclusive provenance of any one political party.

Some of the consequences of this campaign became evident this week, as a number of cities throughout the state had to cancel elections and re-appoint incumbents because nobody registered to run—it's a safe bet that some folks opted out to avoid the hyper-partisan attacks that come with public service.

Here at California's pro-democracy web portal, we seek out the true stories about (as our book title has it) How California Works. In this week's episode of The Newsletter, we bring you a couple more. 


Tending to our Communities

Chris Neklason has written a number of blogposts that explain how the nuts 'n' bolts (more accurately the code and information-architecture) of California Local is designed to foster democratic participation. He's at it again this week, re-branding what I once called a "civic-engagement engine" with a friendlier name. Gotta click the link to find out what that is. 

And: Getitng into a different but equally important bucket of nuts 'n' bolts, he enlists the help of the "Internet dynamo" Anil Dash to explain how boards of directors of nonprofits and other organizations endeavor to make the world a little bit better.


Cultivating Civic Engagement

Many hands make the community bloom.
Things bloom best when people get their hands dirty.

Anil Dash Explains: What Does a Board of Directors Do?

Board of directors come in all shapes and sizes, but by and large, the job is the same.
The writer and Internet dynamo shares his experience and reveals what happens in the board room.


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Monterey County's Homepage

Direct your browser to https://monterey.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Monterey 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 Summer! cookbook.


A treasured salad from Bulgaria with love

Shopska salad is a celebration of summer.
New! Shopska salad makes most of ripe tomatoes, crunchy cucumber


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From Our Media Allies

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Sacramento News and Review logo Prefab Temporary Housing Might Soon Shelter Unhoused Californians

Small, less-expensive readymade homes could buy time as the state continues to struggle with homelessness and high building costs.

  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Statewide News

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These Middlemen Say They Keep Drug Prices Low. California Lawmakers Don’t Buy It
Pharmacy benefit managers attempt to negotiate cost savings for insurers. California is considering new rules that would require them to pass their discounts on to consumers.
(08/27/2024) CalMatters
Lawmakers Say Newsom Staff ‘Inflated’ Cost of Failed Health Care Bills
A trio of California Democratic lawmakers say they’re frustrated by high cost estimates that helped kill their health care legislation. Did the Newsom administration inflate the numbers to quietly kill the bills?
(08/26/2024) CalMatters
Millions of Californians Have Medical Debt. It Wouldn’t Hurt Your Credit Under Proposed Rules
About 4 in 10 Californians are carrying medical debt. Lawmakers are advancing a bill that would prevent that debt from affecting credit scores.
(08/26/2024) CalMatters
They Delivered 5,600 Babies. They Blame California Rules for Putting Them Out of Business
Birth centers are popular options for families who want to deliver a baby outside of a hospital. Nineteen of them closed in California in the past decade, deepening the state’s maternity care crisis.
(08/25/2024) CalMatters
Newsom’s Hands-on Approach to Crime in California Cities Gains Critics in Oakland
Gov. Gavin Newsom has taken to using state resources to fight crime on a local level. Not everyone in the cities he’s taken an interest in is thrilled with the results.
(08/25/2024) CalMatters
When Should Police Be Involved at School? A California Bill Would Let Teachers Make the Call
In the final week of session, legislators are debating whether to give more leeway to public school teachers when to report students to law enforcement. Supporters say disabled and students of color are unfairly disciplined, but opponents say school safety is at risk.
(08/25/2024) CalMatters
Proposition 6 Explainer
The Sacramento Bee explains Proposition 6, the initiative to ban involuntary servitude.
(08/21/2024) The Sacramento Bee
Taxpayers Cover Tuition at California’s for-Profit Schools. The Results? Low-Wage, High-Turnover Jobs
California officials have warned students for years that for-profit schools may make misleading career claims — leaving them with “a mountain of debt” but no job. Still, many for-profit schools remain on the state’s list of recommended job training programs.
(08/20/2024) CalMatters
More California Schools Are Banning Smartphones, but Kids Keep Bringing Them
Schools that banned phones a few years ago have advice for other districts as the governor calls for a crackdown.
(08/19/2024) CalMatters
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Government Announcements

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Image of City of Monterey seal. DRAFT Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) FY 2023 - 24 - For Public Review
City of Monterey   (08/27/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Dawn Addis CA Assembly 30: Holding Polluters Accountable
Monday, August 26, 2024 Asm. Addis spoke at a rally on several bills that aim to hold polluters accountable.
State of California   (08/26/2024)
Image of City of Marina seal. 10-Day Review Period for Rebuttals to Arguments to Measure U.
10-Day Review Period for Rebuttal Arguments for Measure U August 23-September 3, 2024
City of Marina   (08/22/2024)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. Detoured traffic Aug. 26-28
Detoured traffic Aug. 26-28 kminami Thu, 08/22/2024 - 2:45 PM Microsite Community On Monday, August 26th, DRO Public works department will be engaged in a construction project on Rosita Rd. between Angelus Way and Paloma Rd. This portion of Rosita will be closed and detoured between 8:00am-5:00pm until approx. Wednesday, August 28th . News Release Date 08-22-2024 News Type Public …
City of Del Rey Oaks   (08/22/2024)
Image of City of Marina seal. Movie in the Park - Top Gun Maverick
Join us on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 6:30 pm for Movie in the Park event.
City of Marina   (08/21/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas Champions Historic Retail-Theft Laws With Central Coast Public Safety, Business, And Community Partners
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas Champions Historic Retail-Theft Laws With Central Coast Public Safety, Business, And Community Partners vincelty Mon, 08/19/2024 - 15:44 Title Press Secretary Email Cynthia.Moreno@asm.ca.gov Phone 916-319-2029 Monday, August 19, 2024 SALINAS- In downtown Salinas on Monday joined by several dozen Central Coast elected officials, law enforcement leaders, business owners and local and state lawmakers Assembly Speaker Robert …
State of California   (08/19/2024)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. FORTAG Construction Update - Week of September 9, 2024
FORTAG Construction Update - Week of September 9, 2024 LauraBatra01 Mon, 08/19/2024 - 7:53 AM Microsite Parks Department Please find below links to weekly updates to construction activities for the TAMC Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Project (FORTAG). For more information on this project, click HERE. Supporting Documents FORTAG Weekly Construction Update - Week of September 9th News Release …
City of Del Rey Oaks   (08/19/2024)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. FORTAG Construction Update - Week of September 2, 2024
FORTAG Construction Update - Week of September 2, 2024 LauraBatra01 Mon, 08/19/2024 - 7:53 AM Microsite Parks Department Please find below links to weekly updates to construction activities for the TAMC Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Project (FORTAG). For more information on this project, click HERE. Supporting Documents FORTAG Weekly Construction Update - Week of September 2, 2024 News …
City of Del Rey Oaks   (08/19/2024)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. FORTAG Construction Update - Week of August 19, 2024
FORTAG Construction Update - Week of August 19, 2024 LauraBatra01 Mon, 08/19/2024 - 7:53 AM Microsite Parks Department Please find below links to weekly updates to construction activities for the TAMC Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Project (FORTAG). Supporting Documents FORTAG Weekly Construction Update - Week of August 19, 2024 News Release Date 08-19-2024 News Type Announcement Page Features …
City of Del Rey Oaks   (08/19/2024)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. FORTAG Construction Update - Week of September 16, 2024
FORTAG Construction Update - Week of September 16, 2024 LauraBatra01 Mon, 08/19/2024 - 7:53 AM Microsite Parks Department Please find below links to weekly updates to construction activities for the TAMC Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Project (FORTAG). For more information on this project, click HERE. Supporting Documents FORTAG Weekly Construction Update - Week of September 16th News Release …
City of Del Rey Oaks   (08/19/2024)