From the Publisher’s Desk

Inside Sacramento publishes 12 tons of local newspapers each month with our 80,000 printed copies. Our commitment to community print is among the most substantial in Northern California.

We also provide digital content, but our digital reach is about 25% of the print version. We’re bullish on the printed page.

Inside manages to buck the trend of printed words replaced by digital content. Our local advertising base gives us a tremendous advantage. I’m grateful for every advertising dollar that allows you to hold this free publication each month.

When I meet readers, they often tell me they love getting our top-quality local news in print. Many say it’s the only print product they read. Some enjoy Inside so much with their coffee they stretch out the experience the whole month.

No other local news outlet has covered the unsheltered crisis better than on our pages, a commitment we made in 2019. Sadly, most of the news has been grim if not hopeless.

But in recent months, we’ve seen changes that might turn the tide.

“Americans With No Address” is a new, compelling documentary on the national unsheltered crisis. I watched it on Amazon Prime and urge you to see it.

Produced by Robert Craig Films, the work dives deep into homelessness. The film was created from a three-week bus tour—starting in Sacramento—across 20 cities in 18 states. The filmmakers explore causes behind homelessness. And they find solutions.

Mayor Kevin McCarty took a bold step at his first full City Council meeting in December. He voted with five colleagues to fire City Manager Howard Chan.

We don’t know if McCarty led the revolt, or if the list of failures under Chan and former Mayor Darrell Steinberg prompted the council to remove the city’s chief operating officer. Councilmembers offered no explanations other than vague remarks about fresh starts.

There was only the final vote—6–3 against extending Chan’s contract for a ninth year. Rick Jennings, Lisa Kaplan and council newcomer Phil Pluckebaum voted to keep Chan. It would be nice to know the motives of all nine members. Their reasons would be instructive. But we got nothing.

Last year’s elections showed city voters are almost divided over how we want municipal leaders to address local challenges.

Mayor Kevin McCarty and Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum both won tight races. They bring fresh perspectives to City Council, along with newly elected Councilmember Roger Dickinson.

Whether your candidate won or lost, we should all hope and pray the new council can tackle the problems facing our city.

Steve Benson, one of Sacramento’s finest and most beloved men’s clothing store owners, died in September from complications of the motor neuron disorder ALS, or Lou Gehrigs’s disease. He was 76.

Steve founded S. Benson & Co. fine men’s clothing in 1995. The East Sac shop was a high-end boutique with exceptional style and inventory.

Treasured for his old-school service, Steve was expert at custom-fitting clients or helping choose ready-to-wear apparel. Fathers and sons became generational clients.

The Old Sacramento Waterfront has a vacant, dark hole instead of a beautiful dining spot with the best views in town. Mark and Stephanie Miller closed Rio City Café Aug. 3, ending 30 years as a family-run landmark.

The café’s landlord was the city of Sacramento. City officials didn’t maintain the building as required under lease terms. Most egregious was the city’s neglectful approach to the river deck that produced 70% of the restaurant’s revenue.

Rather than make repairs, the city ordered the deck closed for safety reasons. And the city rejected efforts by the Millers to fund a temporary measure to reopen the deck while permanent fixes were planned, approved and funded.