Accountability journalism for the corridors California forgot.
209 · East Bay · Solano County · 707
The 9th Circuit handed three Napa wineries a live First Amendment case on April 13–14 — the case is now back in district court. The Solano County public defender strike has crossed 60 days with no resolution. Abode Services is delivering homeless services in Solano County through a contract selection process nobody has independently audited. Turlock’s 30-day window to respond to a state housing element violation notice expired this week. DFP noticed all of it.
On April 13–14, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of First Amendment retaliation claims brought by Hoopes Vineyard, Smith-Madrone, and Summit Lake against Napa County. The wineries allege that facially neutral land-use enforcement was deployed as retaliation for publicly criticizing county permit policies. The case now returns to federal district court with those claims alive. Two days earlier, the California Court of Appeal, 1st District, granted Hoopes a temporary stay halting collection of a $3.96 million judgment — including $1.53M in civil penalties at $1,250/day for 1,220 days and $2.25M in attorney’s fees — hours before the county could move to enforce. Pacific Legal Foundation is co-counsel. The constitutional challenge from Smith-Madrone and Summit Lake targeting the county’s permit-policy framework was also revived. DFP’s next question: how many other Small Winery Exemption holders have received enforcement notices since the Hoopes case became public? That CPRA is more urgent than ever.
The Teamsters Local 150 strike began February 28. Public defenders and deputy district attorneys remain without a contract (expired approximately October 2025). The county’s offer: 3%–2%–1% COLA over three years. The union’s position: Solano defenders earn an average 20% below Bay Area counterparts and 14% below neighboring counties including Contra Costa, Marin, and Napa. Work-to-rule is in effect: existing cases are maintained, but no new client intake. Striking attorneys have warned supervisors that “chaos is looming.” The county has ratified other union contracts during this same period.
Edition 2 Follow-UpAbode Services has announced it is providing homeless services in Solano County under the contested contract. Executive Director DeShawn Waters resigned February 23 after panelists alleged he pressured them to benefit his former employer. A second panel was convened and also recommended Abode — giving the firm a higher score than the tainted first review. No independent audit of either process has been publicly initiated. Program Manager Michael Wilson is serving as interim director. The county has, in effect, ratified the original outcome.
Edition 2 Follow-UpGovernor Newsom issued a final violation notice to Turlock and 14 other communities on March 25. The 30-day response window expired approximately April 24. Turlock officials stated they had been working with a consultant and awaiting HCD clarification before resubmitting. No public announcement of compliance or further state action has been made. The next step if cities do not comply: referral to the California Attorney General. Turlock previously blocked ~$270,000 in shelter grant funds in 2024, forcing a men’s shelter to close for one month.
Vallejo City Council voted 5–2 on April 14 to approve a temporary MOU with the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. The preview casino will operate inside modular buildings already on the tribe’s 160-acre site near Interstate 80 and Highway 37. Class II slot machines were previously approved by federal courts. City revenue: more than $1M over three years. A 15% local hire requirement and a White Slough environmental cleanup contribution are included. The tribe’s larger $700M casino-resort remains in federal limbo: the Trump DOI rescinded Biden-era approval and initiated reconsideration. A DOI ruling on gaming eligibility is expected this summer. Four competing tribes are litigating the tribal territory claim simultaneously.
The Bureau of Reclamation announced its initial 2026 CVP allocation on February 27: south-of-Delta agricultural contractors receive 15% of contracted supply. Municipal and industrial users receive 65%. The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority called it “disappointing and concerning.” On March 2, the Center for Biological Diversity and co-plaintiffs sued Reclamation for exceeding incidental take limits for Central Valley steelhead and North American green sturgeon. A second NGO lawsuit challenges the December 2025 Action 5 Record of Decision. 209-area growers face a season of fallowed fields.
The City of Vallejo released a Request for Proposals for an independent police auditor on April 28. The auditor will audit use-of-force and bias incidents, make policy and training recommendations, and review investigatory reports. City Manager Andrew Murray resigned April 8. Harry Black has been appointed interim city manager. The Police Oversight and Accountability Commission is conducting its most consequential work — complaint policy and auditor selection — without permanent executive leadership. The POAC has no investigatory or subpoena powers, but the auditor position could change its reach.
The 707’s most urgent accountability stories right now are not on Main Street — they’re in federal court, in the school district books, and in a police oversight commission that just started moving without anyone watching.
The 9th Circuit’s April 13–14 reversal reopens the question for every small winery that faced Napa County enforcement after publicly criticizing county policy. Hoopes, Smith-Madrone, and Summit Lake now have live retaliation and constitutional claims. Pacific Legal Foundation is involved. The Hoopes $3.96M judgment is temporarily stayed.
POAC released an RFP for an independent police auditor on April 28. City Manager Murray out April 8. Interim Harry Black in place. The commission is operating without permanent executive backing. Its complaint policy and auditor selection are now the two biggest accountability tests in Vallejo.
California assigned a fiscal adviser to Santa Rosa City Schools (12,500 students) in January 2026. The district approved $34.1M in cuts in February. In March it self-certified a “positive” financial status — but soaring special education costs remain structurally unresolved. Santa Rosa would be only the 11th district in state history to enter receivership if it fails again.
Mayacamas charter school in downtown Napa entered its second year with 129 students against a 220-student projection. Below-projection enrollment means below-projection ADA funding. An anti-SLAPP motion by Mayacamas to dismiss NVUSD’s lawsuit was denied after oral argument February 10. Former NCOE Superintendent Barbara Nemko is a named defendant.
Sonoma County has more districts in financial distress than any other county in California as of March 2026. Rincon Valley Union School District approved $6M in cuts including 44+ certificated and 16+ classified positions for 2026–27. Root cause across every case: enrollment falls, ADA funding falls, costs do not.
“The second scoring panel reached the same conclusion as the compromised first — and no one has audited either process.”
DFP On The Record · Vol. 1 No. 3 · May 2026
| Jurisdiction | Request | Statute | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock City Clerk | City’s formal written response to HCD final violation notice; all communications with HCD between April 1 and May 1, 2026 | Gov. Code § 65585 | Now |
| CAP Solano JPA | Formal contract ratification documents for Abode Services; second scoring panel member identities; any communications between panel members and DeShawn Waters or Abode representatives | Gov. Code § 6250 | Now |
| Solano Co. Public Defender | Current count of criminal defendants without public defender appointment; any Sixth Amendment dismissal motions filed in Solano Superior Court during the strike period | Gov. Code § 6250 | Now |
| Vallejo City Clerk | All responses received to April 28 police auditor RFP; all communications re: City Manager Murray’s April 8 separation | Gov. Code § 6250 | Queue |
| Napa Co. Planning | All Small Winery Exemption enforcement notices issued 2022–2026; any communications re: policy changes affecting SWE holders | Gov. Code § 6250 | Queue |
The Trump DOI rescinded Biden-era land-into-trust approval and initiated reconsideration of the Scotts Valley Tribe’s $700M casino-resort eligibility. A ruling is expected this summer. Four competing tribes are simultaneously litigating territorial claims. The preview casino MOU is the tribe’s bridge strategy. Watch BIA dockets.
The Police Oversight and Accountability Commission is conducting its first substantive accountability work — complaint policy and auditor search — with no permanent city manager. Interim Harry Black’s posture on the POAC process is unknown. The auditor selection will be the first real test of whether the city’s oversight infrastructure has institutional support.
Santa Rosa City Schools self-certified “positive” financial status in March while special education costs remain structurally unresolved. The summer budget cycle is the next filing. If the district cannot demonstrate genuine structural balance, the state fiscal adviser escalates. Receivership would be the 11th in state history.