The Memorial Rose Garden at McKinley Park in Sacramento. Built and maintained by everyday citizens as a gift to their city.
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.
• Trouble in Tahoe Paradise Park
Vandals, shouts and screams, and now gunshots at night beset Paradise Park.
(08/24/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• PG&E's to Continue Fuel Reduction
PG&E crews are working to remove vegetation around the base of electric poles in an effort to mitigate fire damage to transmission infrastructure.
(08/22/2024) → Georgetown Gazette
• El Dorado Hills Community Service District Investigation Initiated
Following a conflict of interest complaint, directors voted to begin a formal investigation.
(08/21/2024) → Mountain Democrat
• El Dorado County Responds to Civil Grand Jury Report on Election Integrity
County election officials and supervisors follow up on grand jury recommendations to increase ballot security for future elections.
(08/21/2024) → Village Life
• Rescue Unified School District Receives Donation
The Flaherty IMPACT Foundation donated $5,000 in gift cards to the Rescue Unified School District for distribution to needy families.
(08/20/2024) → Village Life
• South Lake Tahoe Rolls Out New Recycling Cart
To comply with state law, the City of South Lake Tahoe is moving to a three-cart curbside refuse and recycling program.
(08/20/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• Sacramento Area Governments Seek Transportation Input
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments is seeking public input through an online survey about what areas in the region are most in need of transportation investment.
(08/20/2024) → The Sacramento Bee
• Restocking Lake Tahoe Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Efforts to bring back the native Lahontan cutthroat trout to Lake Tahoe are making progress.
(08/19/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• Seven Candidates Running For South Lake Tahoe City Council
There are seven candidates in the race to fill two open seats on the South Lake Tahoe City Council.
(08/19/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• Lake Tahoe Forest Thinning Projects Continue
With almost 95,000 acres of forest treated, work continues to thin forests and reduce fire hazard in the Lake Tahoe basin.
(08/19/2024) → South Tahoe Now
• 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
The Memorial Rose Garden at McKinley Park in Sacramento. Built and maintained by everyday citizens as a gift to their city.
