The Better Future Files

For more months than Second Thoughts cares to tally, the news has been mostly bad, bad and more bad. Especially when it comes to cities, counties and special districts placing more of a burden on the people whose money they collect in exchange for services.

But when times get tough, the tough get going.

People are making extra efforts to keep their communities together. A few have started nonprofits, some have sponsored charity drives, and others have taken over where cities have left off.

In that spirit, The Better Future Files will share stories of locals going above and beyond.

The first in the dossier comes from Stockton (courtesy the Record's Mike Fitzgerald). And though it's not from Tracy per se, I think it's a story of a community doing something positive that Tracy residents can take a lot from.