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By Eric Johnson
Published Aug 19, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom walks through a homeless camp with a garbage bag. Gov. Gavin Newsom walks through a homeless camp with a garbage bag. Image credit: Courtesy State of California

California Cracks Down on Homeless Camps & Crime

Just as California’s homelessness crisis and retail crime become central focuses of the presidential race, with Kamala Harris’s record as attorney general and district attorney being grossly mischaracterized, Gov. Gavin Newsom is delivering an old-fashioned crackdown.

The timing is almost certainly coincidental. Like Harris, Newsom has never been particularly soft on crime. As mayor of San Francisco, he initiated controversial policies to deal with the proliferation of unhoused individuals living on his city’s streets. 

The governor’s executive order two weeks ago, compelling state agencies to clear homeless encampments on state property and encouraging counties and municipalities to do the same, was consistent with positions that he’s held throughout his career. 

The first sentence of the  press release that accompanied the governor’s order stated that Newsom was “directing state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments with dignity and compassion.” As Chris Neklason points out below, Newsom has spent years laying the groundwork—and marshaling the money—to make such “compassionate coercion” possible. 


‘Compassionate Coercion’ and Public Safety

Elected officials need to balance the competing needs of a variety of constituents. In two historic moves over the past several weeks, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California legislature have enacted moves that have drawn harsh criticism from some civil-liberties groups, with California’s lawmakers advocating for individuals and businesses demanding civil order.

“I’m here on behalf of 40 million Californians who are fed up,” Newsom said of the camping ban, adding, “I’m one of them. I want to see results.” Tough talk that might seem like a political ploy if there was not a raft of recent legislation to back it up—and protect the vulnerable folks who will be affected.


California Cracks Down on Homeless Encampments

A homeless encampment in San Jose, California.
Nobody is happy with the current situation. Especially California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Proposition 36, AB 2943 & 1179: California Cracks Down On Crime

You know it's bad when they need to lock up the baby formula.
Californians are fed up with flash mob shoplifting, smash and grab theft and an alarming uptick in Fentanyl deaths.


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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!


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.


Fresh tomatoes in scones? Yes, please

Quartered Juliet tomatoes and thyme leaves add fresh flavor to these buttermilk scones.
New! Summery bread delicious for brunch or dinner


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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.

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West Sacramento Sun logo Schools Back in Action

Wednesday, Aug. 14, marked the first day of the 2024-25 school year, with administration and teachers preparing summer events, including the National Day of Social Action and a large-scale Back to School Resource + National Night Out Block Party at …

West Sacramento News Ledger logo Classic Car and Truck Show Returns to Yolo on Aug. 24

Join Yolo County Library and the Friends of the Yolo Branch Library for the Cruisin’ into the Next Chapter Classic Car and Truck Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24.

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City officials want to cut power to their partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) due to high rates

West Sacramento News Ledger logo Yolo County Launches Text Message Campaign for Employment and Farmworker Services

The Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, YoloWorks!, and the Yolo County Workforce Innovation Board are excited to announce the launch of a new text message campaign.

West Sacramento Sun logo Winters Theatre Company Announces 10-Minute Play Script Submissions

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(08/13/2024) → CalMatters
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Government Announcements

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Image of United States seal. United States   (08/16/2024)

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Ineligible Meat and Poultry Products Illegally Imported From the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for various meat and poultry products that were...
Image of United States seal. United States   (08/16/2024)

Perdue Foods LLC, Recalls Frozen, Ready-To-Eat Chicken Breast Nugget and Tender Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2024 - Perdue Foods LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 167,171 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken breast nugget and tender products that may be contaminated...
Image of United States seal. United States   (08/16/2024)

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ineligible Meat and Poultry Products Illegally Imported from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for various meat and poultry products that were...
Image of United States seal. United States   (08/16/2024)

Perdue Foods LLC, Recalls Frozen, Ready-To-Eat Chicken Breast Nugget and Tender Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2024 - Perdue Foods LLC, a Perry, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 167,171 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken breast nugget and tender products that may be contaminated...
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (08/15/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
Assembly Approves Sen. Dodd’s Vallejo Public Safety Bill

Thursday, August 15, 2024SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today the Assembly has unanimously approved his legislation that would help address chronic police staffing shortages in Vallejo by allowing qualified, retired law enforcement officers to work up to full-time for the Solano County Sheriffs Office, providing the additional deputies needed to aid Vallejo during the staffing emergency. Today we take …
Image of City of Woodland seal. City of Woodland   (08/13/2024)

Teen Pack Throwdown Dodgeball Tournament

Students 6th-8th grades get ready to participate in the upcoming Dodgeball tournament!
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (08/09/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
Sen. Dodd Comments on California Insurance Reform

Friday, August 9, 2024SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today regarding insurance marketplace rate reforms implemented by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara that were called for in Gov. Gavin Newsoms May budget revision: This is an important step forward, and Commissioner Lara and Gov. Newsom deserve credit for being proactive, said Sen. Dodd. Business as usual is clearly …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (08/09/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
Sen. Dodd Comments on California’s AI Partnership

Friday, August 9, 2024SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement today regarding the partnership reached by Gov. Gavin Newsom with California-based Nvidia to help prepare the state for opportunities and challenges posed by the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence. This kind of forward-looking collaboration with the private sector will help ensure California remains a leader in the new …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (08/08/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
August 2024 – District Report

August 2024 District ReportMonday, August 12, 2024 A Message from Bill Dodd Dear Neighbor, Students start returning to school this month as we in the Capitol make a final push on legislation to protect consumers from hidden fees, prevent wildfire and prepare for emerging AI technology, among many other topics. In this Issue: Wildfire Safety & Preparedness Delta Week Legislative …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (08/07/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
Sen. Dodd, Lawmakers to Designate ‘Willie Mays Highway’

Wednesday, August 7, 2024 SAN FRANCISCO In recognition of the contributions to sport and society made by the late baseball icon Willie Mays, Sens. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and other Bay Area legislators announced today a resolution to name a portion of Interstate 80 in San Francisco the Willie Mays Highway. Willie Mays career was nothing short …