After initially saying no to a request for daily downloads of the CalAccess database, Sec. Bowen came around and agreed to implement exactly that by Labor Day. Read More
Categories: Government
These are challenging days for local government, but every crisis brings opportunity. Read More
Categories: Government
Long Beach is known for its port, its aquarium, and the permanently docked Queen Mary. But one more thing should be added to that list: it’s a classic example of local governments – in this case schools – working together. Read More
Categories: Education, Government
Is technology bringing government closer to the people? The answer is "possibly." Read More
Categories: Californians, Government
As more and more data is analyzed from last November’s election, the impact of the recently-enacted Online Voter Registration (OVR) in California continues to crystallize. Read More
Categories: Elections, Government
To say finances for local governments in California are challenging, is a drastic understatement. Read More
Categories: Economy, Government
According to the annual “Following the Money” report, having dropped from 43rd to 49th place, California is only slightly more open about how it spends money than North Dakota. Read More
Categories: Government, Transparency
California Forward Wednesday released the State of Transparency in California, an analysis which explores the core issues of governmental accountability and transparency in the Golden State. Read More
Categories: Government, Transparency
More than a quarter of California cities hold their municipal elections in off-cycles or off-years, meaning they don’t coincide with state and federal elections in June and November of even-numbered years. As a result, citizens in city of Los Angeles, for example, essentially suffer through a perpetual election season. Read More
Categories: Elections, Government
One week from Monday marks the start of Sunshine Week, a global recognition of transparency efforts and an opportunity for watchdog organization to issue scorecard reports on local municipalities, states, and countries. Examples are all around us as to why such a week is necessary. It's an ideal as a standard but the gap between desire and reality is quite large. Read More
Categories: Government, Accountability, Transparency
With their developing super-majority, Assembly Democrats have turned their attention (once again) to something they’re calling “initiative reform” and more than a few people—on both sides of the aisle—are worried. Read More
Categories: Government
In an effort to speed up this process of technological innovation in government, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom has partnered with Code for America to launch the Citizenville Challenge. Read More
Categories: Government
The city of Anaheim hopes to make it easier to communicate with the City Council by providing Spanish translation services at meetings. Read More
Categories: Government
Millennials, those born between 1980 and 2000, make up the fastest growing and most diverse generation in history. By the 2020 presidential election, by which time all members of this generation will be of voting age, Millennials will represent nearly 40 percent of all eligible voters nationwide. Read More
Categories: Government
We know what you’re thinking. Didn’t we just have an election? Yes, we did. But in some parts of California, another election already looms. Read More
Categories: Government
President Barack Obama brought up several topics that gave us something to chew on, but one thing that particularly made us stop and think were his proposals on preschool education Read More
Categories: Education, Government
The country’s eyes are trained squarely on the election process in 2013. President Obama’s State of the Union speech confirmed as much when he announced a bi-partisan commission to conduct election oversight across the country. Read More
Categories: Elections, Government
Help has arrived for California communities working hard trying to find solutions to local problems but frustrated in their efforts to get organized. Read More
Categories: Government
As public agencies are being pushed to release more data, a report from the Center for Technology in Government (CTG) looks at what governments should consider before implementing transparency initiatives to ensure efforts have a valuable impact on good governance and public utility. Read More
Categories: Government, Transparency
A group called Verified Voting works to make sure that not only do people have the ability to vote but that it is properly counted when they do. They are currently working with Los Angeles on a widescale upgrade to voting technology. Read More
Categories: Government