Editor,
Strategic civic engagement allows citizens opportunities to affect change and provides an opportunity to ensure their voices matter and are heard. One way to effectively “think globally and act locally” is through service on the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury.
The civil grand jury is comprised of citizens who volunteer for a term of one year and investigate the effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and integrity of local government agencies including the county, cities, schools and special districts. My personal experience serving three terms has been educational, fulfilling and an investment resulting in findings and constructive recommendations issued by those grand juries to shine a light on, and improve, our agencies.
Past grand juries have issued timely and topical reports such as evaluation of how San Mateo County schools responded to the epinephrine auto-injector law, determination of whether our county is at risk of a large measles outbreak, evaluation of unfunded county pension liabilities, and analysis of our emergency alert system.
Those interested in serving on the civil grand jury can visit the Superior Court website at sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/civil-grand-jury-application.pdf to view the application for the 2026-2027 term. Applications are accepted all year, however, those for the next term are due March 30.
Colleen A.R. You
Belmont
The letter writer is a board member of the San Mateo County Association of Grand Jurors.
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