Land Park attorney and city Design Commission Vice Chair Phyllis Newton is running for the District 4 seat on the City Council – so far a much-coveted seat since Rob Fong declared in October that he would not be running for re-election. Newton, 55, said she decided to run for the City Council because she feels passionately about the city and has been civically engaged for almost a decade. “I have watched the City Council very closely and have been concerned about factionalism and the lack of collaboration that I think impedes progress,” Newton said Wednesday. Newton said she believes she will bring maturity and judgement to the City Council and the ability to work collaboratively with h

Bootleg Banquet Sacramento is host to several thousand food facilities, the majority of which are sit-down restaurants, fast food franchise outlets, and independently operated sandwich, coffee, baked goods, and dessert shops. Also making up a notable percentage of Sacramento's food facilities are mobile vendors and caterers, insitutional providers such as schools, churches, and care homes, and of course grocery and other food markets. Whatever your feelings you may have in regards to the sophistication or quality of fare available in Sacramento, one cannot argue that we lack opportunities to eat. Even a flat broke, destitute transient has choices in this area, what with Loaves and Fishes,

Honorable Mayor Johnson and Members of the City Council, I address you as the former Vice Chair of your Design Review and Preservation Board and a member of the Sacramento Old City Association's Board of Directors. The Sacramento Old City Association opposes the City Council redistricting map proposed for adoption at your September 6, 2011 meeting. As I expressed in my August 8 and 23 testimony, SOCA believes that a single City Councilmember should represent the entire Central City, both the old and the new. But a compromise is possible that would correct a significant portion of this problem, while maintaining a cohesive Council District 3. Moving the Railyards into the new Council Dist

Sacramento County elected officials approved a budget Thursday that could result in more than 200 employee layoffs, according to county budget officer Tom Burkart. These layoffs for the 2011/2012 fiscal year are in addition to the 1,299 layoffs the county has made since the 2008/2009 fiscal year, said county spokeswoman Chris Andis. She added that 1,299 people were actually laid off as opposed to job positions being cut. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors balanced its budget for the 2011/2012 fiscal year on Thursday afternoon, closing out a $90 million shortfall. The county has a general fund of $1.9 billion and a total budget of roughly $3.5 billion. The approved budget is a f

The Sacramento City Council discussed Thursday how to make major changes to city operations in the next few years to resolve the city’s long-term imbalance where costs outpace revenues. The city’s $39 million gap for the 2011/2012 fiscal year is part of an ongoing trend of budget shortfalls. Multi-million budget gaps will remain until fiscal year 2015/2016 as a result of the city’s imbalanced finances, according to predictions by city officials. “We need to set the expectation of what the City Council wants to provide for the residents and the businesses of this city,” Interim Deputy City Manager Betty Masuoka said. Seven council members were at the budget meeting – Mayor Kevin Johnson

The Brown Act is not currently enforceable, according to an attorney and lobbyist for the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Thomas Newton discussed the status of the state’s law on transparency for local government meetings at a forum on open government held at Pacific McGeorge School of Law Wednesday. About 30 people attended the talk, which was a Sunshine Week event. Local library associations and the Sacramento County League of Women Voters sponsored the event. Sunshine Week, which technically ended March 19, is an annual effort to promote transparency in government. Newton said the state is not currently reimbursing local governments for the costs of creating and posting m

La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency has been named Business Woman of the Year by the Sacramento chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. “I am truly humbled to be chosen for this wonderful award,” said Ms. Dozier. “I feel privileged to be in a position that allows me to make a positive difference for people who are most in need of help to better their lives. I could not have achieved this honor without the support of my wonderful family and the dedication of those with whom I am fortunate to work with SHRA.” Ms. Dozier oversees redevelopment and community development strategies in the City and County of Sacramento, and the

The region’s Metro Pulse program, managed by the Sacramento Metro Chamber, today received international acclaim for its impact in promoting success and growth of Sacramento’s region’s businesses. At the Business Retention & Expansion International Conference being held in New Orleans, Metro Pulse was given the BR&E Project/Program Impact Award, in part for its high-volume outreach effort. Over the last three years, Metro Pulse has conducted nearly 5,000 business visits and business walks where economic development and business officials meet directly with owners and managers of retail, commercial, service and manufacturing businesses of all sizes. In the award citation, Metro Pulse prog

Students and faculty discussed the state of Sacramento's local governance today at the Sacramento State University Union. The event was a panel discussion led by three Sacramento State professors: Communications Professor Barbara O’Connor, Professor Tim Hodson from the Center for California Studies, and Public Policy Professor Ted Lascher. The discussion focused on the historical context and rationale for updating the city charter, which dates back 80 years. Professors O’Connor and Hodson opened the discussion by explaining Sacramento’s roots as a progressive city that emphasized a “collegial” form of government. But as the city grows, O’Connor explained, this system becomes harder. “In