CA FWD NEWS

The plan was simple: come up with a model for a coordinated, combined effort between nonprofits, agencies, businesses and schools to combat drop-out and low matriculation rates, both areas Tulare consistently ranks near the bottom statistically among California counties.

Rodriguez says government needs to find more effective ways to serve and engage people. At El Concilio, he and his team see and help folks from all walks of life – people dealing with different and difficult challenges and issues.

Last Friday, the courts handed another legal victory to the Citizen’s Redistricting Commission when U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson dismissed the GOP-led challenge to the new district maps drawn last year by the non-partisan group.

Lopez wants government to stiffen penalties for businesses that break workplace laws, as well as streamline standards and complaint procedures to ensure workers have a voice. “You have to be a lawyer to understand them,” she says. “People lose so much time. People lose confidence in the system.”

A group of students from San Francisco State University have seen their tuitions rise by more than $1,000 since they began their college careers, putting college and the future it can bring more and more out of reach for many young people.

The Presidential Google town hall held last week might end up as just another a tech gimmick to spread messaging. But, if used effectively, Google’s Hangouts could help local governments to not only become more transparent but more interactive on the web.

It’s a simple equation that is all too often overlooked because the benefits are not all immediate. It is clearly the strongest solution, however.

Here we are 100 years removed from the creation of the ballot initiative process, discussing the need to reform the ballot initiative system in order to again help regain the citizen’s voice in government from wealthy special interests.