We, The Jury

We, The Jury

We, The Jury Newly installed county group has power to investigate By Howard Schmidt August 2023 A new Sacramento County Grand Jury is on the job. The jury has the power and responsibility to investigate local government, improve efficiency and effectiveness, and...
Room At The Inn

Room At The Inn

In 2020, after struggling five years to secure financing, Sacramento County finally converted the former Courtyard Inn Motel in North Highlands to homeless housing. Today two new motel conversion projects targeted by the Board of Supervisors are expected to proceed at warp speed.

What changed?

California’s Homekey program. It provides funds to local governments to convert non-residential structures into homeless housing, which didn’t exist before 2020.

County staff is optimistic about the state funding application. If successful, the money requires completion of the conversion work within 12 months.

Jail Brake

Jail Brake

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors endured a controversial hearing last December about overcrowding and the quality of inmate care at the Downtown Main Jail and Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove.

Testimony pitted law enforcement supporters against social justice advocates. Supporters urged financial investment to improve jail conditions. Advocates argued against more money for incarceration.

In the background, warnings from a federal judge about constitutional rights violations at the jails drove concerns about a potential court-ordered mass release of prisoners.

Tensions flared. Supervisor Phil Serna said support for jail enhancements came from “fear mongering.” By a 3-2 vote, the supervisors compromised. They agreed to consider capital improvements and work toward incarceration alternatives.

Bad Blood

Bad Blood

Bad Blood Supervisors don’t hide their disagreements By Howard Schmidt May 2023 Many matters before the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors result in unanimous consent. But the current five-member board sometimes finds itself divided. The board is nonpartisan, but...
Smoother Landings

Smoother Landings

Traveling via Sacramento International Airport has its frustrations.

There’s the wait for the people-mover train to reach your gate at Concourse B. When it arrives, you crowd into compartments with other passengers and risk exposure to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Then there’s the lack of parking near both terminals. And the need to ride a shuttle bus to rental car agencies.

Now Sacramento County’s Department of Airports is doing something to remedy the situation with a $1.3 billion expansion. Besides improving infrastructure, the goal is to enhance the airport experience and accommodate projected passenger growth.

Board Games

Board Games

Serving on the Board of Supervisors requires more than attending meetings.

Each supervisor is assigned additional duties to represent the county on a number of regional boards and commissions that deal with issues such as transportation, air quality and criminal justice. There are assignments that involve internal committees within the county bureaucracy.

The board typically convenes to divvy up meeting assignments. This year was no exception.