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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.


California Local logo

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.


A treasured salad from Bulgaria with love

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


Impact Report Image for decorative use


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 First West Nile Virus Cases in Yolo County in 2024

The Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency’s Communicable Disease Program has confirmed the first two human cases of West Nile virus in Yolo County for 2024. Both individuals are residents of Woodland and required hospitalization.

The Dirt logo Back to School Bike Skills Training Program Across Yolo County

August means it’s time to head back to school, and for The Bike Campaign that means it’s time to start scheduling sessions for the Bike Skills Training Program with local elementary schools in Davis, Woodland, and Knights Landing for the …

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.

West Sacramento News Ledger logo Free Heart Screening for Youth Scheduled for Oct. 6

One in 300 youth has an undiagnosed heart condition that puts them at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. A free youth heart screening in Davis this fall will help identify young people who may be in that group.

  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Local News

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• Yolo County Considers a Mobile Food Ordinance

Yolo County is preparing an ordinance to mandate licensing requirements for mobile food vendors.

(08/25/2024) → Daily Democrat

• Winters Senior Center Grant Application Approved

In their August 6 meeting, the Winters City Council approved an application for a Community Development Block Grant for $3.25 million toward the construction of a new senior center.

(08/24/2024) → Winters Express

• Farmworker Resource Fair Set for September 6

Yolo County is sponsoring a Farmworker Resource Fair at Woodland Community College on September 6.

(08/24/2024) → Daily Democrat

• Public Input Sought for Yolo County Rural Community Investment Survey

Yolo County residents are asked to contribute to a County Department of Community Services survey to help prioritize rural infrastructure projects.

(08/23/2024) → Davis Enterprise

• Local Youth Demonstrate for Climate in Downtown Sacramento

Dozens of young people held a demonstration on August 17 in downtown Sacramento to protest the banking industry's contribution to the escalating effects of climate change.

(08/22/2024) → CapPublicRadio

• Sacramento Cannabis Market "Oversaturated"

A proposal to increase limits on total cannabis dispensaries in Sacramento was shelved following input from current dispensary owners who asserted the local market is oversaturated.

(08/21/2024) → CapPublicRadio

• CapRadio Audit Report Back Online

Sacramento State has put a corrected version of the CapRadio audit report online.

(08/20/2024) → The Sacramento Bee

• 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

• Sacramento Teens Experiencing Vaping Addiction

There's an increase of Sacramento area teens becoming addicted to nicotine.

(08/19/2024) → CapPublicRadio
  California Local Pin Marker  

Recent Statewide News

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• 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
  California Local Pin Marker  

Government Announcements

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Image of City of Woodland seal. City of Woodland   (08/22/2024)

DUI Checkpoint on Saturday 8/24/24

Woodland Police Department Holding DUI Checkpoint 8/24/24
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (08/22/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
"I've learned a lot more by LISTENING to people" / Senator Bill Dodd Looks Back on His Legislative Career

After 25 years as a local and state lawmaker and an astonishing 115 (and counting!) bills signed into law in his legislative career, State Senator Bill Dodd leaves the senate this fall, attributing his collaborative approach to lawmaking, the hard work of his loyal team, and his willingness to listen, as keys to his success as a policymaker. Click here …
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (08/20/2024)

Bill Dodd CA Senate 03:
Sen. Dodd: State Awards $4 Million for Local Wildfire Prevention Projects

Tuesday, August 20, 2024SACRAMENTO Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today that Cal Fires Wildfire Prevention Grants Program has awarded more than $4 million to North Bay communities pursuing fire-safety projects including hazardous fuels reduction, planning and education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouses gases. Protecting our communities from the devastating effects of climate-driven wildfire …
Image of City of Woodland seal. City of Woodland   (08/19/2024)

City Breaks Ground on Aquatic Center

New facility will expand aquatic opportunities, equity, and safety for Woodlanders of all ages.
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!