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By Eric Johnson
Published May 06, 2024

California Forever's proposed city (in blue) is located roughly halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento. California Forever's proposed city (in blue) is located roughly halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.

The California Exodus and California Forever, Redux

On January 29, The Newsletter ran a piece under the headline “The California Exodus and ‘California Forever’.” Both of these big stories moved significantly over the past week, and we revisit them today. 

Also, as always: Peruse your cureated local News Feed; learn about a local nonprofit doing good work; and check out our Recipe of the Week.


Brand New City on the Delta Takes a Step Forward

Last Tuesday, the company that plans to build a high-tech, green, walkable city of 400,000 in rural Solano County announced that it had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The story involves an insane amount of money, some insanely powerful billionaires, and a detailed set of plans that appear to be quite sane, if not visionary. Here, amid well-earned controversy, we offer two pieces that consider the project on its own terms. 


California Forever: Building a New Community From the Ground Up

A view of the Helen Madere Memorial Bridge crossing the Sacramento River at Rio Vista in Solano County, California.
We take a closer look at ambitious plans to build a new community of up to 400,000 residents in Solano County.

California Forever CEO on Democracy and City Planning

California Forever CEO Jan Sramek announces that he has gathered enough signatures to get his plan on the November ballot in Solano County.
Jan Sramek disavows techno-libertarian 'Network State,' explains why master-planned cities are All-American, and talks of his love for walkable communities.


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Yolo County's Homepage

Direct your browser to https://yolo.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Yolo County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!


They're Coming Back to Cali

The California Department of Finance announced this week that the state’s population rose last year, after declining in both 2021 and 2022. 


Is the ‘California Exodus’ Over?

San Jose is finally working to fix its housing shortage, as are many California cities. This could help quell the hoards heading out of state.
Despite predictions that the party on the West Coast is winding down, California’s population increased last year for the first time since 2020.

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 Spring! cookbook.


Happy Cinco de Mayo! Time to dig into this fruity salsa

Fresh strawberries combine with oranges and chilies for a fruity spring salsa
NEW! Fresh strawberry-orange salsa with green onions


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Get to Know a Group

Big Brothers Big Sisters logo Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brother Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong, enduring, professionally supported mentorship. The chapter serves Sacramento and Yolo counties, as well as southern Placer County.

→ Learn more

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From Our Media Allies

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The Dirt logo Yolo Nonprofits Net $1.6m on Big Day of Giving

May 2, 2024, was Big Day of Giving in the Sacramento region – and it was a very big day for the Yolo County nonprofits that participated, as they raised a collective $1.6 million.

West Sacramento News Ledger logo Yolo Farm to Fork Welcomes New President

Christine Polycarpe Replaces Former President Suzanne Falzone.

The Dirt logo Square One: Woodland Library’s Makerspace

At the Woodland Public Library, a community makerspace provides new, tactile learning opportunities in arts and engineering.

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Recent Local News

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• Student Encampment Set Up In UC Davis Memorial Union Quad

Divestment tops list of five demands issued by encampment organizers.

(05/06/2024) → The California Aggie

• KDVS Celebrates 60 Years

A look back, and a look ahead, for UC Davis student-run radio station KDVS.

(05/06/2024) → UC Davis Magazine

• Yolo Community Foundation Announces Endowed Fund

An initial donation of $1.3 million established a new All Things Right & Relevant endowment for grants to support career development for those living with mental health diagnoses.

(05/04/2024) → Daily Democrat

• Big Day of Giving Raises $13 Million

The Sacramento Region Community Foundation announced the May 2 Big Day of Giving had raised $13.2 million in donations to 826 nonprofits in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties.

(05/03/2024) → Roseville Today

• Dual Enrollment Earns College Credits

The Winters Joint Unified School District signed a dual enrollment agreement with Yuba Community College District opening a path for Winters High School students to earn college credits.

(05/02/2024) → Winters Express

• City of Sacramento Releases Budget Plan to Close Deficit With Cuts, Fee Increases

Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan on Tuesday released a budget proposal outlining a plan to close the $66 million deficit staff warned of a couple months ago by increasing fees and cutting services. 

(05/02/2024) → CapPublicRadio

• May Day for Palestine’ Event Held at UC Davis

Hundreds of people attended a May 1 event held in the quad outside the Memorial Union on the UC Davis campus.

(05/01/2024) → Daily Democrat

• Police Accountability Commission Considers Facial Recognition Software Use

The Police Accountability Commission for the City of Davis considered use of facial recognition software by the Davis Police Department, noting concerns about reliability and potential harm to the community.

(04/30/2024) → The California Aggie
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Recent Statewide News

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• Metal Detectors, Fear, Frustration. College Commencements Altered Amid Gaza War Protests

At many universities across the country, graduation for the Class of 2024 will feel more like making it through airport security than a procession through a free-flowing campus green or a cheering stadium crowd.

(05/04/2024) → Los Angeles Times

• How Congress Is Letting Die an Internet Connectivity Lifeline for Millions

More than half of the U.S. House supports a bill to extend the funds, but it can’t get out of committee.

(05/04/2024) → CalMatters

• California's Population Increased Last Year for First Time Since 2020

During the much-ballyhooed “California exodus” amid the pandemic, remote workers moved to other states where they could live for a fraction of the cost compared to cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco.

(04/29/2024) → Los Angeles Times
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Government Announcements

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Image of United States seal. United States   (05/05/2024)

Palmer Candy Company Recalls White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk

Palmer Candy Company, Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling its "White Coated Confectionary Items" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immu
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/03/2024)

Chuao Chocolatier Recalls Its: .39 oz /11 Gram Potato Chip Mini Bar Lot 4022 Due to Undeclared Hazelnuts

May 3, 2024, Chuao Chocolatier is voluntarily recalling a single production of Potato Chip mini bar .39oz/11 gram LOT 4022 because some packages may contain undeclared hazelnut. People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reactio
Image of City of Woodland seal. City of Woodland   (05/03/2024)

Annual Senior Resource Fair Scheduled for Thursday, May 23

Free event will feature over 70 organizations and is open to all
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/03/2024)

Hormel Foods Sales, LLC Recalls a Limited Number of Planters® Honey Roasted Peanuts 4 Oz. and Planters® Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts 8.75 Oz. Because of Possible Health Risk

Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited number of two PLANTERS products that were produced at one of its facilities in April. This recall only impacts two retailers in five states. These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (05/02/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
Sen. Dodd Comments on President’s Berryessa Snow Mountain Expansion

Thursday, May 2, 2024SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today on President Joe Bidens expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument an action Sen. Dodd encouraged with his own resolution before the state Legislature: Berryessa Snow Mountain is one of the most scenic and diverse landscapes in all of Northern California, and the presidents expansion of …
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/02/2024)

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Pork Chorizo Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

WASHINGTON, May. 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of raw pork chorizo products...
Image of City of Woodland seal. City of Woodland   (05/01/2024)

Final Hearing Draft Comprehensive Zoning Code Available for Review

Planning Commission scheduled to consider the document at their May 16 meeting
Image of United States seal. United States   (05/01/2024)

Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2024 - Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7...
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (04/30/2024)

Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry CA Assembly 04:
Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry Bill to Empower Survivors of Sexual Assault Against Predators and Their Employers Passes Assembly Judiciary Committee

Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry Bill to Empower Survivors of Sexual Assault Against Predators and Their Employers Passes Assembly Judiciary Committee robbee Tue, 04/30/2024 - 14:35 John Ferrera Chief of Staff 916-402-8900 John.Ferrera@asm.ca.gov Tuesday, April 30, 2024 SACRAMENTO, CA Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) announced today that Assembly Bill 2587 passed the Assembly Committee on Judiciary. AB 2587 builds upon Californias …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (04/30/2024)

Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry CA Assembly 04:
Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry’s Pregnancy Leave for Educators Act Passes Assembly Education Committee

Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Currys Pregnancy Leave for Educators Act Passes Assembly Education Committee robbee Tue, 04/30/2024 - 14:28 John Ferrera Chief of Staff 916-402-8900 John.Ferrera@asm.ca.gov Tuesday, April 30, 2024 SACRAMENTO, CA Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D- Winters) announced today that her Assembly Bill 2901 passed the Assembly Education Committee. This landmark legislation will grant public school employees up to …