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By Eric Johnson
Published Mar 18, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom looking troubled in a file photo. Gov. Gavin Newsom looking troubled in a file photo.

State of the State? We'll See.

Happy Monday.

As you may know, Gov. Gavin Newsom will not be giving his State of the State address this afternoon, as had been planned. That’s because Proposition 1, his $6.4 billion bond aimed at helping unhoused, mentally ill Californians get into shelter and treatment, is too close to call. 

Late last week, the governor's national PAC, Campaign for Democracy, sent an urgent request asking supporters to contact Democrats who have had faulty ballots rejected, and encourage them to get them fixed. This is a little-known maneuver known as a “cure,” which allows voters to correct ballots that have been rejected because of missing signatures or other errors after election day. (You can find out if your ballot was counted by following this link to the state’s Ballottrax service.)


Unhoused Individuals and Mental Health

Prop 1 is narrowly ahead as of Sunday night, and its opponents have conceded the race. Nevertheless, opposition from civil liberties groups and advocates for the mentally ill may have (almost?) derailed the measure.


Newsom’s Prop 1: Revolution or Return to Reason?

An assembly hall at Agnews Developmental Center in Santa Clara. Agnews was one of five hospitals that served California residents with developmental disabilities and mental illness, all of which were emptied in the misguided move toward “community care."
Prop 1 was designed to help unhoused people get off the streets by forcing them into treatment. That’s one reason it took two weeks of vote-counting to pass.

California's CARE Court System: Mental Health & Homelessness

Clinicians will have two weeks to decide whether a mentally ill person qualifies for the CARE Court system.
California’s CARE Court system, which compels treatment for people with severe mental illness, was launched in October 2023 despite efforts by civil liberties groups to stop it.

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 Winter! cookbook.


Crispy potatoes deserve Green Goddess dressing

The cutest little new potatoes are destined to be paired with the herbs at left: parsley, chives and dill.
NEW Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this delicious side dish


Impact Report Image for decorative use


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Community Emergency Response Volunteers logo Community Emergency Response Volunteers

Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula's mission is “to support local CERT programs, build public awareness about emergency preparedness, and promote the community's capacity to respond to natural disasters and man-made emergencies.”

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From Our Media Allies

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Salinas Valley Tribune logo Design Phase Now Complete for Gonzales Community Center Complex

City of Gonzales has announced that on Feb. 28 the design/build team of Otto Construction/WRNS Studio submitted 100% construction documents for the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex to the city for building code review by its building official.

Monterey County Weekly logo Salinas City Council Set to Appoint Rene Mendez as New City Manager.

After months of reviewing and interviewing several candidates, Salinas City Council is set to appoint Rene Mendez to lead the largest city on the Central Coast.

Monterey County Weekly logo Pacific Grove City Council Takes First Step Toward Switch to District Elections.

The City of Pacific Grove is on its way to switching from at-large to district elections, after the P.G. City Council voted 5-0 on Wednesday, March 6, to hire a demographer to study the makeup of P.G. residents—the first step…

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Highway 101 Northbound Near Chualar Set for Daytime Closures to Repair Culverts

Contracted crews have initiated repairs this week to drainage structures along northbound Highway 101.

Monterey County Weekly logo CSU Student Assistants Vote to Start a New Union Seeking Better Wages and Benefits.

The rising tide of unionization and successful bids by unions to secure more pay and benefits floated the hopes of California State University student assistants last year, envisioning that they too could be recognized and rewarded for their labor. On…

Monterey County Weekly logo The County’s Plan to Replace a Building in Seaside Promises to Be an Upgrade in Services and Aesthetics.

The planned new County of Monterey building in Seaside doesn’t have a name yet, nor has the county identified funding to build it, which the latest estimate pegs at $115 million. But what county officials do have is a vision.

Monterey County Weekly logo Sand City Is Trying to Create a Landmark That Will Both Define and Energize Its Core.

The vision for Sand City’s Art Park was hatched during the height of the pandemic, when the community still wanted to socialize, but also stay outside and at a distance.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Monterey County Educators celebrate Expanded Healthcare Services

Educators in Monterey County now have the affordable, local healthcare services they need and deserve thanks to an agreement between Salinas Valley Health and Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group (MCSIG).

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Recent Local News

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• CalTrans Highway 1 Slides Update

CalTrans continues to work on a 12 mile stretch of Highway 1 near Big Sur despite recent March rain events as daily resident car convoys continue.

(03/13/2024) → Monterey Herald

• Joby Acquires Ohio Manufacturing Facility

Joby Aviation purchased a factory in Ohio for the manufacture of parts for the company's assembly line in Marina.

(03/12/2024) → Monterey Herald

• Youth Alliance Distributes Donated Laptops

200 laptop computers were donated to Youth Alliance by AT&T, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Human-I-T, for distribution to Hollister and Gilroy residents lacking "digital basics".

(03/12/2024) → Benito Link

• Imjin Parkway Improvement Advances

The Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project has progressed, with tree and brush removal and temporary erosion control installed in preparation for construction work.

(03/11/2024) → Monterey Herald
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Recent Statewide News

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• California Speeds Plans to Empty San Quentin's Death Row

California prison officials announced they will move the last 457 condemned prisoners out of San Quentin's death row by summer. They will be transferred to other state prisons and housed in the general population.

(03/18/2024) → Los Angeles Times

• Alan G. Sieroty, Former State Senator Who Helped Create the Coastal Commission, Dies at 93

Sieroty, of Beverly Hills, served as a state Assembly member and senator, championing disability rights and efforts to protect California's coast.

(03/17/2024) → Los Angeles Times

• California Unlikely to Meet Landmark Goals for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

California will miss its goals unless it can increase emission reductions threefold, according to a new study.

(03/15/2024) → Los Angeles Times

• Q&A: How the 50-Year-Old Case That Transformed English Learner Education Began

An interview with Lucinda Lee Katz, the first grade teacher of the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case Lau vs. Nichols.

(03/14/2024) → EdSource
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Government Announcements

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Image of United States seal. United States   (03/16/2024)

Wenders LLC Recalls Trader Joes Nuts - 50% Less Sodium Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews Because of Possible Health Risk

Wenders LLC of Dublin, CA is recalling specific production lots of Trader Joes Nuts - 50% Less Sodium Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews - (SKU Number - 37884) Lot# T12139, T12140, T12141, and T12142 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (03/15/2024)

Roger Niello CA Senate 06:
Housing Reform Still Lacking as Governor Proposes Program Reductions

Housing Reform Still Lacking as Governor Proposes Program Reductions dimmital Fri, 03/15/2024 - 15:05
Image of State of California seal. State of California   (03/14/2024)

Lori Wilson CA Assembly 11:
Assemblywoman Lori Wilson Recognizes Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on the Assembly Floor

Thursday, March 14, 2024
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (03/14/2024)

Here’s how to track the results of the City’s $121 million in American Rescue Plan investments

The City of Sacramento recently launched an updated American Rescue Plan (ARP) Impact Hub, featuring new performance and equity dashboard reports. The performance dashboards provide a comprehensive overview of the outcomes and impacts of the City's ARP investments. They offer detailed insights into the progress and results of various ARP-funded projects, enabling residents to track [...] The post Heres how …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (03/14/2024)

St. Patrick’s Day races and parade will close streets across Sacramento. Here’s where

This upcoming St. Patricks Day weekend will see multiple events close various streets in across Sacramento. Saturday, March 16, will see the first of two races for Shamrockn, the annual 5k, 10k and half marathon event organized by Fleet Feet. Residents and motorists are advised to check the maps below and add extra time if they plan [...] The post …
Image of United States seal. United States   (03/13/2024)

Kick Ash Products Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almonds in Product

Kick Ash Products of Ellison Bay, WI is recalling Door County Love Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola with Lot #061241, because it may contain undeclared ALMONDS. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (03/13/2024)

Data report: How the City responded to homelessness March 4-10

The City of Sacramento has released its weekly progress report for the Citys Incident Management Team responding to homelessness. From March 4-10, the City of Sacramento received 729 calls to 311 customer service related to unsheltered individuals. Through the work of the IMT, 913 calls were closed, meaning that either the issue was remedied, compliance [...] The post Data report: …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (03/13/2024)

Sacramento City, County have helped house 25,000 people in last seven years

More than 25,000 people have moved from homeless to housed since 2017 through the efforts of Sacramento City and County, the leader of Sacramento Steps Forward told the City Council Tuesday. Progress on helping people exit homelessness has accelerated due to the increased efforts of both local governments during that period, including more emergency shelter [...] The post Sacramento City, …
Image of City of Sacramento seal. City of Sacramento   (03/13/2024)

City activates weather-respite center March 13-15

With the National Weather Service issuing a high-wind warning, the City of Sacramento is activating weather-respite operations at its Outreach and Engagement Center (3615 Auburn Blvd.). The OEC will provide weather respite from 5 p.m. Wednesday (March 13) to 11 a.m. Friday (March 15). Walk-ups will be accepted, with the OEC able to accommodate up to [...] The post City …
Image of United States seal. United States   (03/13/2024)

Taylor Farms Pacific Recalls Kroger Brand Ready-To-Eat Apple Walnut With Chicken Salad Bowl Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergen

WASHINGTON, March 13, 2024 - Taylor Farms Pacific, a Tracy, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 19,976 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) apple walnut with chicken salad bowl products due to misbranding...