Learning Curve
New councilman gets lessons in public’s frustrations
By Jeff Harris
June 2025
Six months into his new job, Phil Pluckebaum confirmed two facts.
“People do not perceive Sacramento as clean and safe,” he says. “Until we address this fundamental issue, the Downtown core, which is our economic engine, will not revitalize.”
The new City Council representative for Downtown, Midtown and East Sacramento continues, “We have failed in terms of addressing the deteriorating conditions of our roads and infrastructure generally. Can we just please start by fixing the (expletive) potholes?”
Pluckebaum already knows it takes money to make improvements. He knows it takes at least five council votes to address even basic needs. In recent years before Pluckebaum’s 2024 election, the City Council ignored many basic improvements.
Pluckebaum wants more code enforcement, including ordinances often ignored by unhoused people.
Unfortunately, he says, “We can’t recruit new people to code and police positions. Young people are not attracted to these jobs. We currently don’t have enough staff to get the job done.”
Getting City Council to approve more law enforcement resources is a heavy lift. That’s worth considering when councilmembers plot their re-election campaigns.
For Pluckebaum, one focus is on housing for all income levels. He advocates a strategy called “Streamline Sacramento,” which would loosen rules on development and ease building department policies involving permits and inspections. Pluckebaum supports more density in neighborhoods zoned residential.
Leaf blowers are another problem. Pluckebaum wants them banned or shifted to electric and vacuum gear with subsidies if necessary.
These are familiar concerns to me from my years as Pluckebaum’s predecessor on City Council. I directed passage of a partial leaf blower ban during poor air quality days. The law was never enforced. Pluckebaum faces similar challenges.
The Downtown councilmember disagrees with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to return state workers to offices at least four days per week, starting in July. Local businesses may cheer the return, but not Pluckebaum.
“It makes no sense to force people to travel to work if they do as good a job from their home,” he says. “I would like to see our Downtown core attract larger businesses other than government and health care to get more people Downtown.”
Of course, those other workers might prefer remote work, just like state employees.
Pluckebaum and I are collaborating on “Pops in the Park” to keep the summer music tradition alive. He’s bringing a jazz festival back to Old Sac.
“I didn’t realize that the job encompassed being an events management company,” Pluckebaum says.
The new councilman recognizes the city’s precarious budget dilemma. He knows City Hall fails at providing many basic services. He calls the current situation a “managed retreat” and predicts a long rebuilding period. Success will require new ideas.
Can Pluckebaum rise to the occasion and be effective against these problems with City Council colleagues distracted by disparate political agendas?
“I’m only human,” he says. “But I want to do this job for many years. I’m just getting started.”
Jeff Harris represented District 3 on City Council from 2014 to 2022. He can be reached at cadence@mycci.net. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
