Public Trust and Ethics

Overview

Public Trust and Ethics

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence By Kelly Hoover

How Goleta empowers (and invites) people to get involved with local government

Even in a tight-knit city like Goleta, walking into a council meeting alone can be uncomfortable — much less getting up and speaking. If you’re a council member or city commissioner, you probably felt that same discomfort and uncertainty early on!

Article Special to Cal Cities By Matt Lehrman

Opinion: Local leaders have a responsibility to defend civic trust

“Trust in government isn’t built through authority alone,” writes civic facilitator Matt Lehrman. “Too often, local leaders focus on explaining decisions rather than engaging the public in shaping them. Governance works best when people see themselves as active participants, not outsiders to the process.”

Article Special to Cal Cities by Ben Goldblatt

Opinion: When choosing your next job, don’t overlook state and local government oversight

“In an age when cynicism runs amok, fairly holding government accountable is more important than ever before,” says oversight expert Ben Goldblatt. ”Plus, doing so can result in a rewarding career close to home that directly impacts your community.”

Article Features By Betsy Montiel

Should your city embrace GenAI? It’s complicated

Many cities have long used artificial intelligence for routine tasks. Some are seizing on advances in AI to further automate everyday tasks. But as with any new tool or policy, there are benefits and costs to using AI. Experts say it’s crucial for cities to have guardrails over anything AI produces.

Article Features By Ioli Filmeridis

New study sheds light on which local elected officials are likely to get harassed and why

Incivility has become normalized at the local level. But these incidents don’t affect everyone equally. A study of local elected officials in San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial Counties gives us a clearer picture of who gets harassed in Southern California and why. 

Article Legal Notes By Danielle Drossel

Help! I think a council member is bullying someone

Bullying in general can have far-reaching consequences. And although there is no law that prohibits bullying at work, bullying comes at a cost — an emotional cost for employees and a financial cost for employers. When the bully is an elected official, the stakes are even higher. 

Article Executive Director's Message By League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman

After the election comes the hard part

“At the local level, candidates regularly find themselves running against another community member,” writes Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman. “This familiarity may make it even more challenging to put aside the campaign mindset after the election is over and focus on uniting as a community.”

Article Features By Brian Lee-Mounger Hendershot

Welcome to the first AI election. Here’s what local officials need to know and can do to prepare

Experts are warning that artificial intelligence (AI) could undermine this year’s elections. But just what does that mean? Here’s what AI can do, the threats it poses to election security, and how local officials can help their communities prepare.

Article Features By Brian Lee-Mounger Hendershot

Anti-Asian hate crimes are down, but people are still worried. And for good reason

It’s easy to think of anti-Asian hate as a red or purple state problem. But most incidents occur here in California. Even though anti-Asian hate decreased in 2022, experts are warning this could be an aberration. Here’s what cities can do to mitigate the next wave of hate.

A group of mostly white men, and a few women, standing together for a photo in 1911.
Article Executive Director's Message By League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman

Cal Cities at 125: The issues change, our mission has not

Over 100 years ago, city leaders from throughout the state came together as the League of California Cities because they wanted to make a difference. “They sound much like the city officials I’m privileged to serve alongside today,” writes Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman.

A judge's gavel sitting on a desk.
Article Legal Notes By Matthew R. Silver, Lauren E. Brown, and Natalie Sahagun, Civica Law Group, APC

How does CARE Court, California’s new legal approach to behavioral health care, work?

The CARE Act takes a novel, albeit controversial, approach to mental health care. Unlike previous laws, it focuses on incentivizing long-term treatment rather than imprisonment or involuntary commitment. Seven counties have already begun implementation. The rest must follow suit in 2024.

A group of residents watching a Lakewood city council meeting in person..
Article Features By Jan Perkins and Dan Keen

Essential tips for effective city council meetings

Effective governance doesn’t happen by chance. There is a cadence to a successful meeting, with a long chain of steps that start well before the meeting starts. Here are some best practices for smoother, more effective council meetings that staff and elected officials alike can use.

A group of men and women posing for a picture next to podcasting equipment and cardboard cutouts of wildlife.
Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence By Ramiro Adeva

Agoura Hills podcast is a blueprint for community engagement

Agoura Hills once faced a familiar conundrum: How do you bridge the communications gap between a city and the people they serve? The Good Life Agoura Hills podcast is helping the city close that gap in a fun, cost-effective, and accessible way.

An aerial view of a suburban community.
Article Local Works By Jackie Krentzman

Gateway cities band together to bridge housing funding gaps

Approximately 4,000 affordable housing units in Southern California’s Gateway region have stalled due to funding shortfalls. A group of cities has formed an affordable housing trust fund, which they hope can close funding gaps — especially in small, under-resourced communities.

Article News from the Institute for Local Government By Erica L. Manuel

A new training helps cities turn ‘down the fires of contempt’

The rise in incivility, partisanship, and polarization is making it difficult for agencies to maintain the basic decorum needed to carry out their missions. ILG’s partnership and training with Braver Angels seeks to bridge the partisan divide and rebuild the social fabric.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence By Jessica Hill

Modesto leverages good data to help a growing homeless population

Around 80% of Stanislaus County’s homeless population lives in Modesto. City leaders know what services to provide. However, coordinating those services was difficult without good data. Inaccurate data can slow down services and drive up costs.

Article Local Works By Sarah Henry and Andrew Thomas

Alameda’s journey from restrictive to pro-housing policies

Alameda was the first Bay Area city to have its 2023-31 housing element certified by the state. How did a city that had restrictive and discriminatory land use regulations change its tune? For starters, it had a two-year conversation with the community about equity and housing.

Article Features By Doug Linkhart

Cities in California are making systemic changes to advance racial equity

In the U.S., public trust is tied not just to good governance and public outreach, but also historical issues of racism. To create change and increase trust, we need to change the structure of our systems.

Article Legal Notes By Breana Inoshita and Austin Cho

Litigation is taking California’s public trust doctrine from the waterfront to the forefront

The public trust doctrine was once limited to the management of shores, navigable waterways, and submerged lands. It once operated more as a background principle in California, but a 2018 legal decision has expanded the doctrine and opened the door to new litigation.

Article Solutions for Cities Alex Mellor

What cities need to know about naloxone distribution

Fentanyl is behind an alarming spike in drug overdose deaths. While more can be done at the state and federal levels to end this tragedy, cities have at least one tool at their disposal to help reduce the number of overdose deaths: naloxone.