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Revolving Door

Sacramento spends astonishing sums trying to address homelessness—more than $120 million in five years. Yet the crisis continues to dominate our streets, parks, business districts and neighborhoods.

A recent investigation by the Bee lays out where the money went and why the results were so limited. The findings deserve close attention from residents who wonder how so much public investment produces so little improvement.

The Bee’s reporting shows local strategy centered on building and operating shelters—large sites, tiny home villages, motel conversions and sanctioned camping areas. These projects consume enormous financial and administrative resources.

Mekong Moonshine

Binh Đào and his uncle, Tuong Đào, opened Đào Distillery and tasting room in 2024 to “better serve our community and bring awareness to Vietnamese culture,” Binh says. 

At the distillery and tasting room, customers try a traditional Vietnamese rice liquor from the Mekong Delta called rượu đế.

Similar to Japanese shochu or strong sake, the drink was considered moonshine in Vietnam. The Rancho Cordova distillery produces eight variations. 

For the Đào family, getting to Sacramento was an epic ordeal. 

It’s Personal

It’s Personal Bungalow remodel featured on Curtis Park Home Tour By Cecily Hastings March 2026 When Lori Richardson bought her Curtis Park bungalow in 2015, she wasn’t chasing a grand architectural vision. She wanted something simple and personal. “I bought the house...

Masterfully Mediterranean

Eight years ago, Allora was a new thing. Deneb Williams and Elizabeth-Rose Mandalou put together a fine-dining concept in a town where fine dining was thin. In the years since, Allora stayed true to its roots and found a restrained and beautiful approach to everything it does.

At Allora, every element feels special and curated. Every glass, every plate, every ingredient, every bottle of wine, every interaction. A night at Allora is a special thing not to be missed.

Like many fine-dining restaurants, Allora has a tasting menu where diners select three, four or five courses. I love the four-course option with appetizer, pasta, main and dessert paired with a novel European wine.

Walk, Don’t Ride

My friend has a habit that makes me proud to know him and fear for his safety. On the sidewalks of Midtown and Downtown, he stands his ground when a bicycle barrels toward him.

His courage should inspire all pedestrians. He earns dirty looks and obscenities from sidewalk cyclists, but so far no broken bones or concussions. He’s never been hit.

My friend doesn’t yell at sidewalk cyclists. He says, “Hey, this is a sidewalk.”

City Of Hope

Do you know how your local government works? If you have questions about city services, can you find the answers?

The city tries to be transparent and help residents find information and provide feedback. The city’s website, cityofsacramento.org, contains a wealth of information. But it takes the patience of an elephant to navigate.

The city’s IT department recently introduced an AI tool to help search. I kicked the tires and found the new system makes the website easier to navigate.

Growing Pains

Growing Pains

Maybe I was too harsh when I ridiculed the city for building a bicycle bridge across Interstate 5 with lousy concrete and misaligned rebar.

The bridge was a big screwup. But the city did right by residents when it told bridge contractors to jackhammer the new bridge and replace it with materials that meet spec and can stand for 75 years, as opposed to a decade or two.

The rebuilt bridge opened in December. This means the city managed to erect two bike bridges over I-5 and Riverside Boulevard in three years.

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