Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg will be hosting a series of panel discussions this week in lieu of a traditional State of the City speech.
The panels — which focus on the music economy, homelessness and housing, and environmental goals in Sacramento — will feature “industry experts and community leaders” and be moderated by Steinberg, the city said.
The panels are open to the public, though venue spaces are expected to be limited and the city is encouraging those interested in participating to watch online (here's information on how to watch).
Here’s the schedule for the week, and more information about each event can be found below:
Economic development and music in Sacramento
On Monday at 6 p.m., Steinberg will hold a panel discussion about economic development and the music scene in Sacramento. Held at a vacant space on the 700 block of K Street, panelists will include Tina Lee-Voght, the city’s first nighttime economy manager, and Megan Van Voorhis, the city’s director of convention and cultural services, among others.
Ahead of the panel discussion, the city released the results of its first-ever study of the local music economy. Findings included a need for more live music performance venues and concerns over city licensing requirements which make it difficult to open new businesses. It also found that Sacramento’s music scene is more white and male compared to the general population of the city.
Monday’s panel will “focus on how the city can take a more entrepreneurial approach to live performance and activating underutilized spaces in our commercial corridors,” city officials said in a news release Saturday.
Housing and homelessness in Sacramento
On Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Steinberg will hold a panel focused on homelessness and housing in Sacramento. Speakers will include the CEOs of WellSpace Health and HOPE Cooperative, representatives from the city manager’s office and Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester, among others.
City officials said panelists will be discussing a “new response to homelessness” that would create an alternative resource to calling the police when a crime has not occurred.
Earlier this month, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho threatened legal action against the city over what he called the “public nuisance” presented by the current population of unsheltered residents. In a letter dated Aug. 7, the DA gave the city 30 days to act on a list of 18 requests. The list includes opening emergency shelter spaces and an audit on spending for homeless services.
Steinberg publicly pushed back, holding a press conference from City Council chambers and calling the action a “political stunt.” He added that the city is already working on many of the issues identified by the DA and that following all the demands would cripple the city financially.
Meeting environmental goals
The last panel in the series will be held on Friday at 9 a.m., focused on the 2024 Sacramento ballot. Panelists will include Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, Sacramento State President J. Luke Wood and Executive Director of SacACT Gabby Trejo, among others.
Panelists will discuss “creating a long-term source of funding” that would help the city develop more affordable housing and boost transit options. They’ll also be discussing how the city can better meet its climate goals.
The discussion will be held at ARY Place Apartments on S Street, a new affordable mixed-income community.
Where to watch
Those interested in watching the panels can do so by visiting the city’s website, or Steinberg’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Traditionally, Steinberg (and other Sacramento mayors) give an annual State of the City speech to update residents on significant new initiatives. This year, Gov. Gavin Newsom also opted for a series of events across the state in lieu of a traditional State of the State speech.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the time at which Wednesday's panel will occur. It has since been updated.
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today
