If You Believe in Democracy, Prove It
Local governments often avoid democratic constraint by soliciting public input and hosting workshops, but ultimately voting the way they intended to all along, which is not true democracy.
What Would Real Local Democracy Actually Require?
Local governments often engage in performative democracy, offering residents access to decision-making without granting them authority, while maintaining control and limiting public input to advisory gestures.
Monday Commentary: The Myth of 83 Percent Support for Measure J
Davis voters overwhelmingly renewed Measure J in 2020, but the context of the vote and the worsening housing crisis have led to mounting pressure from the state to demonstrate progress on housing production, and the city is now exploring whether to modify Measure J to meet state mandates while preserving local control.