About GovUNLEASHED

GovUNLEASHED was created in response to California's historic municipal bankruptcy filings (Stockton, Vallejo, and San Bernardino) and the countless unfavorable audit reports from the California State Auditor concerning the operating practices of state and local government agencies. Our data-driven service offerings are designed to empower citizens. Together, we can hold elected officials accountable, and improve public confidence in government institutions and the public services they provide.

Our Produced Content

Follow host Woodrow Sanders III and his team as they analyze various state and local governments, their operating practices, and their public services and as they interview residents to learn about their public service experiences. These research efforts and State Municipal Report Card (SMRC) reviews collected through our website are then combined to produce a comprehensive report card on the government/municipality. Members have an opportunity to express their preferences on which governments/municipalities we will evaluate through our online voting portal.

Our democracy depends on a free press and the efforts of media organizations to keep the public informed. While many national and local news organizations endeavor to present a complete and accurate story, they sometimes miss this mark. The Shallow News segment remedies these situations by providing additional details, so that audiences can gain a deeper understanding of a story.

Production ended November 2022

While the focus of GovUNLEASHED is local and state government affairs, these guard rails do not apply here. The Not Quite Government segment examines all topics previously off-limits, including events happening at the federal government level and how that might affect us at the state level.

Production ended November 2022

The Second Chances segment highlights the life stories of defendants waiting to have their criminal cases adjudicated and parolees as they attempt to re-enter society after serving lengthy prison sentences. The general public is largely unaware of the challenges parolees face, and it is not surprising why such a large number of parolees become homeless, become addicted to illicit drugs, commit a crime that results in them going back to prison, or commit suicide.

Production ended November 2022

The Making the Grade segment awards grades to elected officials and department leaders based on how well they manage their departments and how well their policies and procedures fulfill the agency's mission. Grades are assigned by the host.

Production ended November 2022