Our end-of-year holiday season was full of joy, stress, social engagements, family matters, work escapes and even work-related holiday activities. In a 31-day period, we dealt with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations with get-togethers, reunions, friends touching bases untouched for a year and parties and dinners. In 2025, we also faced weird weather, health challenges and political hangovers from the federal government shutdown and the seemingly daily shrill news alerts and commentary on the ever-changing and never-ending crisis of the moment. 

For over 20 days we had incessant tule fog, with a cold sunless sky and dreary gray days, sucking the joy out of any outdoor activity, even taking walks. The fog siege was broken only to be followed with a “bomb cyclone” in most of California. The weather people define this as “a powerful rapidly intensifying storm….creating strong winds, heavy rain and/or snow and flooding.” They were right about the result, but missed on some of the schedule. Over three days of storm, rain and ferocious winds undermined travel plans and gatherings. The good news? We really needed the water and snow.

In the age of social media, podcasts, extreme political partisanship and the absence of trusted sources in the media, there is a growing sense that government doesn’t work well. Some events this year reflect that. The federal government shutdown was finally ended with a simple compromise where food assistance programs were continued for a year instead of being immediately terminated with Christmas just days away. In addition, Congress agreed to have a clean vote on the issue of continuing aid to folks needing help with their affordable health care premiums. The president and leaders of Congress need to act as soon as possible in 2026 while millions of Americans are now struggling with these cost increases. It’s not a positive New Year’s message to say, “Happy New Year! Here’s your new huge increase in health care premium. Pay it or lose your coverage.”

But not everything the government does is poorly handled and lacks accountability. Last year serious malfeasance was revealed by the Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury.  StanCOG, the agency at issue here, moved quickly to dismiss those at fault and to bring in new leadership to get the agency up to speed again. This agency administers regional transportation funds. It is one of the most powerful but underappreciated agencies in the county. Once made aware of the issue, the StanCOG board acted decisively. That is how things should work in government. Discover the problem; analysis of the reasons why; and actions taken to redeem it. That’s exactly what StanCOG did.

Last month, Stanislaus County Supervisor Mani Grewal conducted an effort in his district to have residents identify and nominate “neighborhood heroes” – folks who work in their communities and neighborhoods to make things better. They don’t have partisan agendas. Supervisor Grewal alerted his district to such efforts in the hopes the people who worked on local problems both big and small would get some notice and appreciation for their efforts. Grewal asked his constituents to recommend the “heroes” in their own neighborhoods and communities.

The response was overwhelming with 61 neighborhood heroes selected for recognition. Over 300 of the heroes, their families and their neighbors attended the reception hosted by Supervisor Grewal where their contributions and work was acknowledged and praised.

Think of the added value here. A supervisorial district in Stanislaus County has over 100,000 residents. You take the time to find folks doing the work in their neighborhoods and communities and honor their contributions. The heroes see they are not alone. Next year Supervisor Grewal will do it again. That is good for all of us.

2026 is likely to be a year when many more local, state and national heroes are needed.  When given the opportunity tell them, “Thank you!” 

— This is a column by long-time local political consultant and public servant Mike Lynch. In the past he served as the chief of staff to then Congressman Gary Condit of Ceres.