State and Local Government Blog

California's State Legislature stepped up when Federal policies failed to pass any meaningful legislation, if at all, against gerrymandering. California instituted an independent commission to draw district lines in an effort to avoid partisanship and the appearance of unfair election practices. Also, as we read in the chapter California "performed poorly in the early 2000's, mired in a period of bitter partisanship and gridlock."(134) Perhaps this state is trying to redeem itself partially because at the state and federal levels there is always going to be a degree of partisanship, but if a state legislature is going to delegate some of its power to prevent partisanship from acting as a roadblock to the democratic process, then I think that it is doing its job of being a representative. After all a state legislature is a body of leaders that are elected, and called on to represent the values of their constituents and the state as a whole.

Serrano v. Priest was a case regarding California Public School funding, particularly how property tax dependence violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The argument was that a poor student is disadvantaged and discriminated against in California's public school system because his/her district does not receive the same funding as a school in a wealthier district. This case resulted in Proposition 13 in 1978, which from what I understand the California public school system is now more dependent on State funds than district property taxes.    

The relationship between citizens and my Community Partner, Redwood House, is supportive and based on respect. Redwood House is a satellite residential program of Caminar, which describes itself on its website as "a nonprofit, community based agency that has been empowering and supporting individuals and families to move toward resilience, wellness, and independence." ( caminar.org ) Their statement can be seen in action through their interactions with those they serve. The residents at Redwood House are encouraged to participate in a "wide selection of recovery-oriented groups, supportive and well-trained staff, excellent food, and plenty of opportunity for active engagement with the program." ( caminar.org/resources ) Also, citizens are encouraged to partake in Caminar's efforts by volunteering, and the various opportunities are listed on Caminar's website under the tab How to Help. This relates to chapter four because as the book states "volunteerism...

There is tension between state and local governments because of the state's attitude and treatment of local governments. The authors of the textbook end the introduction on page 234 by writing that states consider local governments "as just another special interest group" (234) rather than "treating them as partners in our federal system." (234) The states operate within a unitary system, placing states in a superior position with ultimate authority over local governments. Therefore, it is up to the states to decide how much power they are willing to devolve to localities, which is second-order devolution. This power dynamic causes tension between these different levels of government. However, this tension can be healthy for our overall political system. For example, there is a constant dialogue between local jurisdiction and states especially "over financial matters." (240) Also, regional relationships between local governments may be strengthened w...

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