California is launching a program to help community members directly influence and inform the ongoing Los Angeles area wildfire rebuilding and recovery.
Engaged California is an initiative that will bring Californians together to engage, interact and share ideas that can help shape government services and collectively create policy solutions.
“With this new initiative, the state will lead the nation in deliberative democracy, better ensuring decisions are centered on the people’s voices,” the governor’s office said in a statement issued Sunday. “As part of California’s all-in response to the firestorm, this pilot program is being launched now for survivors and the greater Los Angeles community.”
According to Newsom’s office, the program is modeled after successful digital democracy efforts in Taiwan, where digital tools were used to help increase consensus-building and build governance powered by the people. It is described by officials as “different from a poll or town hall and not designed to mimic social media.”
Instead, the platform will sit at the “intersection between technology, democracy and state government” to encourage more discussions as a new way to find common ground; this process is known as “deliberative democracy.”
“After years of development, I am excited to launch this new pilot program to help create a town hall for the modern era where Californians share their perspectives, concerns and ideas geared toward finding real solutions,” Gov. Newsom said. “We’re starting this effort by more directly involving Californians in the L.A. firestorm response and recovery.”
Read more about Engaged California here.
