Sacramento news this week: CSU workers rally, Woodland flock cameras and more

From union rallies at Sacramento State to a major social media bill headed to the governor’s desk, this week brought developments that affect students, parents, homeowners and residents across the region. Here’s a quick catch-up on the stories you might have missed this week.

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• Workers at Sacramento State rallied Wednesday for a fair contract as the California State University Employees Union, which has been without a contract since July 1, pushes for a 9% annual raise over three years while the CSU has offered 1%. April Dunham-Filson, an environmental health and safety specialist at Stanislaus State, warned that workers are “ready to strike” if the CSU does not begin bargaining in good faith, saying employees are tired of working two or three jobs to make ends meet.

• The California Legislature approved Assembly Bill 1709, which would require social media companies to offer platforms to children under 16 without personalized algorithmic feeds or autoplaying videos, sending the measure to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk with a decision due by the end of September.

• Elk Grove is seeking resident feedback on what to do with the former library building at 8900 Elk Grove Blvd. and the former teen center at 8978 Elk Grove Blvd. The city is hosting community workshops Wednesday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. Sept. 16, with staff recommendations expected in December.

• Woodland Police Chief Ryan Kinnan defended the department’s use of Flock Safety license plate cameras before the City Council, calling the technology “absolutely a game changer” for investigations, even as residents renewed calls to cancel the city’s two-year contract extension.

• Local gardeners in the Sacramento region who are preparing fall plots should note that the region’s first fall frost is predicted for Thursday, Nov. 26, and the Almanac recommends planting earlier than normal, especially broccoli and fennel, this year.