Through the efforts of City of Sacramento Councilmember Rob Fong, the YMCA of Superior California, the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department and the Southside Park Neighborhood Association, the Southside Park Community Pool will be open for swimmers this summer from June 16 through Labor Day. “This is a great example of community partners working toward a common goal that benefits our most important citizens: our kids,” said Councilmember Rob Fong. “Opening Southside Park Community Pool would not have happened this summer without YMCA’s commitment to this community.” Last year, Councilmember Fong initiated discussions with the YMCA when it was apparent the City would have t

In an effort to help stimulate the local economy and encourage growth of area businesses, the City of Sacramento now offers a local business preference for city contracting opportunities. The incentive program gives a 2 percent bidding preference to local companies located within the city or unincorporated county of Sacramento. In addition to this new program, the city has also helped to streamline the contracting process through contracting changes and technology implementation. “We understand that our local business community’s viability is essential to an economic turnaround,” Jim Rinehart, Economic Development Director. “This local business preference encourages and supports local ven

Public Encouraged to complete online budget exercise The City of Sacramento released an online budget exercise that asks, “What should the role of City government be?” The brief budget exercise will provide the community an opportunity to share with the City what their priorities are in the following areas: - Economic Vitality - Healthy, Sustainable Environment - Leisure, Cultural and Social Opportunities - Reliable Infrastructure and Effective Mobility - Safe Community - Youth Opportunities and Education   The budget exercise results will be presented to the City Council during budget hearings in May and June. The budget exercise can be found on the front page of the City’s website at

To coincide with Valentine’s Day and the month of love, today the City of Sacramento launched the first ever What Do You Love About Sacramento? campaign. The promotion is designed to inspire people to recognize what the Capitol of California has going for it. Recently, the Mayor and Councilmembers were asked what they love about Sacramento. Watch the launch video below or at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7STcmZch5g. Now it is the community’s turn to answer that question in three words or less. Participants are asked to creatively respond to the question “What do you love about Sacramento?”, upload the video to YouTube, and then send the link to the CityExpress@cityofsacramento.org

Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Steps Forward will expand its emergency shelter program to meet additional demand. An additional 57 beds will be made available through expanded Winter Sanctuary and Motel Voucher programs. Councilmember Steve Cohn and Jay Schenirer met last week with Sacramento Steps Forward, Sacramento Housing Alliance, as well as homeless advocates, the faith community, and business leaders to discuss the critical need for additional winter shelter options. The added beds will double the existing capacity of the Motel Voucher program from 40 to 80 beds and increase the Winter Sanctuary program from 100 to 117 spaces per night. The additional beds are not fully funded for th