Sacramento mayor delivers first state of the city address

Sacramento mayor Kevin McCarty delivered his first State of the City address Monday, speaking about the city’s efforts to combat homelessness, actions to increase access to home ownership, public safety, programming for the city’s youth and he shared a few announcements about the city’s future.McCarty began his remarks by honoring the bystanders who stepped in to help the three crew members on board the medical helicopter that crashed on Highway 50 earlier this month.Using a question-and-answer style format, the mayor announced his plans to put a ballot measure before Sacramento voters in 2026 to fund housing related initiatives. Those efforts include a proposed new down payment assistance program for first time homebuyers, efforts to increase the number of tiny homes available for people experiencing homelessness and efforts to help renters at risk of eviction avoid losing their housing. If approved, the measure would rework the city’s real estate transfer tax for high price tag real estate sales to generate funds for those initiatives. It would need city council approval before being put to a vote.“We think having a fair adjustment is something that we can put before the voters,” McCarty told KCRA 3 in an interview Monday afternoon following the address.There are fewer people in their 20s and 30s, he said, who own homes in Sacramento compared to similar cities. McCarty believes homeownership not only brings greater investment to neighborhoods but helps attract and keep workers in the city.“We’re still in the fleshing out era this,” he said. “We want to help people in Sacramento, who are here, buy a home.”Additionally, McCarty said he believes the tiny home model for homelessness response is working, noting the number of people experiencing homelessness is down 30% from 2022 to now and that the city is on pace to have 2,200 shelter beds available within the next year.According to the mayor, the cost of the tiny home itself and the infrastructure needed to support it is drastically less than larger scale congregate solutions.“I want to serve more people, not less, and so the tiny home option really does that,” he said. “The homeless individuals we’ve spoken to, they like this model because — like you and I — we want to go home tonight and have a key, a door, a lock, some security, some dignity, maybe have a pet. And so if you’re in these big shelter facilities, these big congregate settings, you don’t have any of that.” Separately, McCarty announced his intention to have the American River Parkway Trail complete from Folsom to Freeport by 2030 and made his plans to formally pitch the city to Major League Baseball to be the home of one of the league’s expected expansion teams.According to the mayor, the league is considering adding two new teams in the next five to 10 years, one on the East Coast and one on the West with Sacramento, Portland and Salt Lake City being considered early frontrunners. “One thing that we have that no one else has is a team here today,” he said, referencing the Athletics’ temporary stay in West Sacramento before heading to Las Vegas. “I know that we can dramatically increase our odds of being in the mix in the finals if we support Major League Baseball here the next couple of years.”He asked baseball fans to ramp up participation and said he and West Sacramento mayor Martha Guerrero are working together to attract corporate sponsors and local businesses alike to get involved in the effort, adding they’re already thinking about a new stadium.“We’re trying to just reiterate that we’re MLB ready,” he said. He said while professional sports are fun and bring a liveliness to the city, they’re also revenue generators; Revenue that’s needed to fund [public safety, youth programs and continue growing the budget. The mayor is nearing his first year in office. The State of the City marked the early milestone.“I’m really proud of Sacramento. I’m excited to be our mayor, and we are a city on the rise,” he said. “We certainly have our challenges, but we’re going in the right direction. I’m very upbeat about our future.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento mayor Kevin McCarty delivered his first State of the City address Monday, speaking about the city’s efforts to combat homelessness, actions to increase access to home ownership, public safety, programming for the city’s youth and he shared a few announcements about the city’s future.

McCarty began his remarks by honoring the bystanders who stepped in to help the three crew members on board the medical helicopter that crashed on Highway 50 earlier this month.

Using a question-and-answer style format, the mayor announced his plans to put a ballot measure before Sacramento voters in 2026 to fund housing related initiatives.

Those efforts include a proposed new down payment assistance program for first time homebuyers, efforts to increase the number of tiny homes available for people experiencing homelessness and efforts to help renters at risk of eviction avoid losing their housing.

If approved, the measure would rework the city’s real estate transfer tax for high price tag real estate sales to generate funds for those initiatives. It would need city council approval before being put to a vote.

“We think having a fair adjustment is something that we can put before the voters,” McCarty told KCRA 3 in an interview Monday afternoon following the address.

There are fewer people in their 20s and 30s, he said, who own homes in Sacramento compared to similar cities. McCarty believes homeownership not only brings greater investment to neighborhoods but helps attract and keep workers in the city.

“We’re still in the fleshing out era this,” he said. “We want to help people in Sacramento, who are here, buy a home.”

Additionally, McCarty said he believes the tiny home model for homelessness response is working, noting the number of people experiencing homelessness is down 30% from 2022 to now and that the city is on pace to have 2,200 shelter beds available within the next year.

According to the mayor, the cost of the tiny home itself and the infrastructure needed to support it is drastically less than larger scale congregate solutions.

“I want to serve more people, not less, and so the tiny home option really does that,” he said. “The homeless individuals we’ve spoken to, they like this model because — like you and I — we want to go home tonight and have a key, a door, a lock, some security, some dignity, maybe have a pet. And so if you’re in these big shelter facilities, these big congregate settings, you don’t have any of that.”

Separately, McCarty announced his intention to have the American River Parkway Trail complete from Folsom to Freeport by 2030 and made his plans to formally pitch the city to Major League Baseball to be the home of one of the league’s expected expansion teams.

According to the mayor, the league is considering adding two new teams in the next five to 10 years, one on the East Coast and one on the West with Sacramento, Portland and Salt Lake City being considered early frontrunners.

“One thing that we have that no one else has is a team here today,” he said, referencing the Athletics’ temporary stay in West Sacramento before heading to Las Vegas. “I know that we can dramatically increase our odds of being in the mix in the finals if we support Major League Baseball here the next couple of years.”

He asked baseball fans to ramp up participation and said he and West Sacramento mayor Martha Guerrero are working together to attract corporate sponsors and local businesses alike to get involved in the effort, adding they’re already thinking about a new stadium.

“We’re trying to just reiterate that we’re MLB ready,” he said.

He said while professional sports are fun and bring a liveliness to the city, they’re also revenue generators; Revenue that’s needed to fund [public safety, youth programs and continue growing the budget.

The mayor is nearing his first year in office. The State of the City marked the early milestone.

“I’m really proud of Sacramento. I’m excited to be our mayor, and we are a city on the rise,” he said. “We certainly have our challenges, but we’re going in the right direction. I’m very upbeat about our future.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel