Accountability

Civic startup shows real-time performance of city governments
 150 150 Alexandra Bjerg
By:

In a time of scarce resources and looming bankruptcies, cities are increasingly turning to Big Data to become more efficient. Into this space is where civic startups are putting some Silicon Valley innovation and know-how into making government work better.

read more
State parks scandal leaves questions about budgeting unanswered
 150 150 Cheryl Getuiza
By:

As the intrigue of the state parks department’s surprise surplus grows, the story could highlight a bigger problem with our state’s budget process.

read more
Critical initiative focuses government on results
 150 150 Zabrae Valentine
By:

California once again finds itself in the vortex of a leadership vacuum. Public trust and confidence in government are at record lows – as is our performance in critical areas that matter most to Californians: education, job creation, and public safety. To fix our state, we must revamp how budgets and policy decisions are made and implemented and how leaders are kept accountable.

read more
Governor could improve voters’ trust in government
 150 150 David Davenport & Lenny Mendonca
By:

Gov. Jerry Brown says he has 600 bills on his desk, but many he will not sign because “there’s not 600 problems that we need those solutions for.” We suggest he locate and sign two bills, SB14 and SB15, that help solve two of his biggest problems: the annual budget mess and the lack of public trust in Sacramento’s leadership, which voters say are closely linked.

read more
AB109 offers significant state prison reform
 150 150 Kathy Jett
By:

AB109 is the unassuming name for the single most significant reform in a century to California’s prison system and the state’s approach to criminal justice. Beginning Oct. 1, anyone convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual and/or non-serious criminal offenses (a.k.a. triple nons) will head to county jail instead of state prison. Anyone up for parole on a similar offense will be supervised by county officials.

read more
Latest Field Poll another reason to support ‘Smart Government’
 150 150 Gina Baleria
By:

California voters remain fed up with their legislature, as seen in the latest Field Poll, which finds that people have little confidence in the body charged with passing laws and budgeting taxpayer dollars. Their support for the governor, however, remains steady.

read more
Common sense helps move California forward
 150 150 Caroline Vance
By:

Mention of the dysfunctions and malfunctions of California state government prompted chuckles from the audience at The Commonwealth Club on Thursday, at a panel discussion on government openness and accountability.

read more