My name is Damian Lynch and I write today in strong support of the FY 2024/2025 Sacramento City Budget proposal to create a new Entertainment Services Division that will consolidate all entertainment-related permitting (film, special events, and entertainment permits) into a single division. In doing so, the City will create a single point of entry for these services and increase staffing and capacity to support those activities within the City of Sacramento.
My name is Damian Lynch and I run a venue and delays have always been an issue with permitting and a single division would really help
Sacramento’s entertainment and nightlife operators strongly support this new division in the budget and it is a necessary step to realizing our potential to grow nightlife and entertainment in the City and help these businesses thrive.
ECOS (Environmental Council of Sacramento) opposes the City Manager’s proposed elimination of the City’s $1 million contribution to SacRT’s “RydeFreeRT” program for students. Student ridership has more than doubled since its inception five years ago, providing clean mobility options for students including internships and other opportunities. Our region consistently ranks in the top ten nationally for unhealthy air and RydeFreeRT has substantially reduced air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The City’s school districts have been contributing some funds for this program, and do not have large budget deficits; the City should negotiate increased contributions from them before summarily ending RydeFreeRT.
In addition, the City recently lost its “Climate Action Lead” staff. This position must be re-filled with a new hire in order for the City to keep its commitment to climate action, based on its passage of a “Climate Emergency Declaration” in 2019.
Sincerely,
Susan Herre AIA AICP
President of the Board of Directors
Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)
I oppose any budget cuts that may impact the important learning provided the Museum of Science and Curiosity. MOSAC has become a staple in our community for STEM learning. City funding is crucial for museums like MOSAC to provide learning opportunities. Both of my kids have attended MOSAC on field trips and individually. We love that our kids have a place to have fun and learn at the same time. Budget cuts would have a major impact on MOSAC's ability to maintain and expand learning opportunities.
I oppose the budget reduction item to eliminate free transit fare for students. This $1M is a great investment benefitting student attendance and transit ridership. If the city eliminates its contribution, it is likely other partners will too, causing failure of the entire SacRT RydeFree RT program.
Dear Sacramento City Manager Chen, Mayor Steinberg, and City Councilmembers,
It is essential that the city reverse its proposal to defund the RydeFreeRT youth transit pass program. This program has been shown, through a study published by the University of Texas, to have been successful in promoting transit ridership among K-12 students, both on trips to school as well as to other destinations. It was also shown to improve school attendance among students benefiting from the program. This program is essential for low income families, and serves our climate/environmental goals by promoting transit ridership among youth. I urge that this program be preserved.
Thank you,
John King
NOTE: The following is a copy of a letter emailed to the City yesterday. That letter is also attached to this comment and contains useful links that do not appear in this field:
Re: Call to Reject Two Inequitable FY24/25 Proposed Fee Increases
Dear Mayor Steinberg, Councilmember Talamantes and other members of the City Council,
I am a Sacramento attorney operating as a home business or “home occupation,” urging you to reject the two proposed FY24/25 home occupation fee increases (#175 and #176), which would disproportionately impact historically disadvantaged, marginalized communities.
According to data I cited on pages 4-5 of my related, September 11, 2023 letter, low-income, immigrant, minority and female residents are likely those hardest hit by the City’s unusually strict home occupation regulations, regulations that run counter to many of the City’s stated policy priorities—from equity to sustainability, livability to mobility, environmental to economic, and housing to youth opportunities.
Although the 2040 General Plan promises reform of those regulations, this could take some time, as the commitment of the plan’s related implementing action, LUP-A.11, is to “evaluate” reform options by as late as 2029.
Therefore, while reform is pending, I urge the Council to refrain from burdening this vulnerable group of residents still further by asking them to not only pay a “home occupation permit” fee that is more than 50% higher than the current high fee, but to pay a jaw-dropping, non-refundable minimum of $5,265 for the mere chance of obtaining an exception to any one of the problematic home occupation restrictions.
These fee increases are particularly concerning given the financial challenges often experienced by home businesses. A recent study found 43 percent of US home businesses earn $10,000 or less in annual gross receipts and cited evidence to support its conclusion (on p. 25) that “home-based entrepreneurs are more likely to be women and racial or ethnic minorities—groups that research has found are less able to access external sources of business financing.[fn]”
I would be happy to discuss this with any of you, and encourage you to contact me at (916) 692-5393 or tiffany@tiffanyclarklaw.com. Thank you.
Warmly,
Tiffany Clark
Attorney at Law
Law Office of Tiffany Clark
I oppose cutting any funding for the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC).
Dear City Council -
Please do not take away the funding for our Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC). I make it a point to be a member because I see how essential MOSAC is to our entire area.
I grew up in Portland, Oregon and my whole childhood and teenage years I loved going to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) there. For years I felt sorry not to have a museum like it in Sacramento (where I have now lived for 35 years and raised a family). We were excited to hear about the science museum and eagerly waited for it to open. It is so essential - not only for the area's school children but also for our tourism industry. It is perfectly located and the exhibits are great. We have really enjoyed the planetarium and look forward to future additions to the exhibits.
Please oh please continue to fund and to champion our Museum of Science and Curiosity. We need it to be fully funded for the good of all of Sacramento and neighboring communities.
Nancy Espinoza
747 Santa Ana Ave, Sacramento, CA 95838
Dear Sacramento City Manager Chen, Mayor Steinberg and City Councilmembers,
I am a Sacramento resident and I am emailing to demand the city walk back the budget cuts to the Sacramento RydeFreeRT Youth Program proposed by Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan and Mayor Darryl Steinberg!
The RYDE Free Youth Transit Program was originally pushed by then-City Councilman Jay Schenirer who noticed that 16 percent of Sacramento City Unified School District were “chronically absent”, citing getting to and from school as their main issues. After the City created the RydeFreeRT program a study released by the University of Texas, which evaluated SacRT RydeFreeRT fare-free transit for youth programs, found the innovative program achieved multiple key goals to increase transit ridership and school attendance. The students who benefit the most are low-income students who have no other transportation options, helping them make it to and from school. Thousands of students depend on the free City bus program for transportation every day and if that is taken away from them, we will see more students unable to attend school due to lack of transportation. Sac City Unified School District already has a high chronic absenteeism rate so this issue will only make the situation worse.
A recent Op-Ed by the Sacramento Bee on this proposal, titled “Sacramento just proposed a horrible budget idea that belongs at the back of the bus” sums up this proposal best: “A budget is an expression of a government’s values. Saving a small amount of money at the expense of parents, youth and schools and Regional Transit reveals a small mindset by Sacramento staff to recommend this.” Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan, Mayor Darryl Steinberg and the Sacramento City Council should look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves if this is how we want to treat our future generation under the guise of saving a budget.
Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan, Mayor Darryl Steinberg and the Sacramento City Council: do not punish our students for bad budget management, stop the proposed budget cut to the SacRT Ryde Free Youth Fare Program that would leave vulnerable students without access to crucial public transportation!”
On behalf of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA), I am writing today opposing the elimination of the SacRT Fare Free Transit Program as part of deliberation about the FY 24-25 budget. Since 2019, this innovative program has provided no-cost transportation to all 265,000 youth living in SacRT’s service area, from transitional Kindergarten to 12th grade, including home-schooled students, foster and unhoused youth. In 2023, student ridership had risen to 25% from 8% before the initiative launched.
This program is an essential service to Oak Park youth, with an important co-benefit of fostering lifelong transit use that protects air quality and public health. We urge that funding be preserved in the FY 24-25 budget to maintain this important program.
Thank you,
--Adrian Rehn
President, Oak Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA)
opna@oakparkna.com
Re: Sacramento City Council Agenda Discussion Item 9- Proposed City Budget
Sacramento City Budget & Audit Commissioners, City Council and City Manager,
We recognize the City has a difficult challenge with the budget and is working to find solutions to address the deficit. While tough choices will be made, Sac BHC believes access to public transportation is a vital for all residents especially our youth. Full funding for public transit is imperative to ensure that low-income and vulnerable communities have access to jobs, housing, health care, education, grocery stores, and childcare among other needs. Therefore, we do not agree with the line item in the proposed budget to Eliminate the Fare Free Transit Program which is the City of Sacramento’s contribution to Sacramento Regional Transit District. This program supports the free fare passes for students’ program and the elimination of this program will have an impact on the ability for students to get to school every day. Hundreds of students depend on the free City bus program for transportation to and from school daily. If that resource is removed, we will see more students unable to attend school to due lack of transportation. The elimination of this program will harm many families who depend on public transit to for daily needs therefore, we are asking that the elimination of the Fare Free Transit Program be removed from the list of budget cuts and remining funded.
On behalf of Cathy Creswell and myself, we write to urge the Council to reject the proposal to eliminate funding for the RdyeFreeRT program. This program provides free transportation to all school age children in the RT area including the City of Sacramento. For a modest investment of $1million, the City ensures access to school for all children including those from families with limited incomes. We can all agree that getting a good education is the foundation for well being and success. And this program has been proven to be successful not only in getting kids to school and other important after school programs and internships but also in address the City's climate and equity goals. The modest investment creates benefits significantly exceeding the City's investments. And this budget investment advances the City's commitment to youth, equity and economic prosperity for all. While we understand that some may argue this is not a City responsibility, we believe strongly that this is a joint responsibility for all public agencies--especially the City, RT and the School Districts. As parents in the City of Sacramento, we long benefited from the 4th R program which was City supported and provided safety and care for elementary school students before and after school. We were always proud of our City for making an investment in the children of Sacramento. We urge you to reject the cut and dig deep to find funding to continue the commitment to the RydeFreeRT program. thank you
E: Budget & Audit Committee Item #3 and City Council Agenda Item #9
Dear Council Members:
I urge you to reject the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate funding for the RydeFreeRT program for students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. This program increases access to education and opportunity for children throughout Sacramento and should be supported. We cannot afford to cut this Resource.
This email is to express my concern for the proposed budget cuts to the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC). As a resident of the Greater Sacramento Area, I support the growth and sustainability of learning centers like MOSAC. Cutting the budget that supports science learning for our community would have a detrimental impact on those who benefit from the important role MOSAC plays in our community to advance STEM learning.
Please do not reduce funding for our local museum.
MOSAC is ESSENTIAL to our community! Teachers, students, families, and lifelong learners all count on MOSAC as a source of fun and reliable learning for all things Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. The Sacramento community relies on MOSAC as a critical part of our cultural, economic, and workforce development ecosystem. Cutting city funding would have a major negative impact on the ability of MOSAC to provide educational programs to our community.
MOSAC admission and membership only cover 30 percent of operating costs. This is why financial support from the city in addition to ongoing support from our community is so important.
Please reconsider this budget cut and support MOSAC and its vital role in our community.
May 7, 2024
Sacramento City Budget and Audit Committee and City Council Members
RE: Budget & Audit Committee Item #3 and City Council Agenda Item #9
Dear Council Members:
On behalf of the Sacramento Housing Alliance, we urge you to reject the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate funding for the RydeFreeRT program for students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. This program increases access to education and opportunity for children throughout Sacramento and should be supported. This program is especially critical for the children of families with modest means including families in regulated affordable housing.
As frequently noted, budgets are a reflection of values and we urge Committee members to reject this cut and reaffirm the City’s commitment to equity and opportunity. The City’s prior commitment to this program was an example of Sacramento’s values of equity and inclusiveness and its commitment to our youth.
This program is highly successful and has significantly increased ridership of students, In addition, RT has identified the following other benefits:
increased mobility options to students, not just to get to and from school, but to internships and other activities;
addressing climate change through reduced emissions and vehicle miles traveled;
students have more reliable school transportation options and a path to economic prosperity.
reduced absenteeism resulting in additional state school funding.
Eliminating this funding is inconsistent with the City’s own Budget Guidelines (page 82 of the proposed budget) which require the budget reflect the Mayor and Council’s priorities, based on community input and should continue a community based budget process where city residents are engaged and educated on budget processes and provide feedback on budget priorities. The RydeFreeRT program is widely supported by the community and implements City priorities to support youth and equity.
The $1 million budget commitment is cost effective and provides significant benefits to students, families, our schools and the environment. We urge you to maintain the City’s commitment to this valuable program by continuing to fund it. While we recognize the City is facing a significant budget deficit, we urge you adopt a new budget that both addresses the shortfall but also maintains the City’s commitment to youth, equity, and community voice.
Reject the proposed cut to the RydeFreeRT program and ensure the City’s budget is a true reflection of City and Community values.
Where and how has the city mismanaged $66mil tax dollars? Who’s responsible, and why do they still have a job??
My name is Damian Lynch and I write today in strong support of the FY 2024/2025 Sacramento City Budget proposal to create a new Entertainment Services Division that will consolidate all entertainment-related permitting (film, special events, and entertainment permits) into a single division. In doing so, the City will create a single point of entry for these services and increase staffing and capacity to support those activities within the City of Sacramento.
My name is Damian Lynch and I run a venue and delays have always been an issue with permitting and a single division would really help
Sacramento’s entertainment and nightlife operators strongly support this new division in the budget and it is a necessary step to realizing our potential to grow nightlife and entertainment in the City and help these businesses thrive.
Thank you
To Sacramento City Council:
ECOS (Environmental Council of Sacramento) opposes the City Manager’s proposed elimination of the City’s $1 million contribution to SacRT’s “RydeFreeRT” program for students. Student ridership has more than doubled since its inception five years ago, providing clean mobility options for students including internships and other opportunities. Our region consistently ranks in the top ten nationally for unhealthy air and RydeFreeRT has substantially reduced air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The City’s school districts have been contributing some funds for this program, and do not have large budget deficits; the City should negotiate increased contributions from them before summarily ending RydeFreeRT.
In addition, the City recently lost its “Climate Action Lead” staff. This position must be re-filled with a new hire in order for the City to keep its commitment to climate action, based on its passage of a “Climate Emergency Declaration” in 2019.
Sincerely,
Susan Herre AIA AICP
President of the Board of Directors
Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)
I oppose any budget cuts that may impact the important learning provided the Museum of Science and Curiosity. MOSAC has become a staple in our community for STEM learning. City funding is crucial for museums like MOSAC to provide learning opportunities. Both of my kids have attended MOSAC on field trips and individually. We love that our kids have a place to have fun and learn at the same time. Budget cuts would have a major impact on MOSAC's ability to maintain and expand learning opportunities.
I oppose the budget reduction item to eliminate free transit fare for students. This $1M is a great investment benefitting student attendance and transit ridership. If the city eliminates its contribution, it is likely other partners will too, causing failure of the entire SacRT RydeFree RT program.
Dear Sacramento City Manager Chen, Mayor Steinberg, and City Councilmembers,
It is essential that the city reverse its proposal to defund the RydeFreeRT youth transit pass program. This program has been shown, through a study published by the University of Texas, to have been successful in promoting transit ridership among K-12 students, both on trips to school as well as to other destinations. It was also shown to improve school attendance among students benefiting from the program. This program is essential for low income families, and serves our climate/environmental goals by promoting transit ridership among youth. I urge that this program be preserved.
Thank you,
John King
NOTE: The following is a copy of a letter emailed to the City yesterday. That letter is also attached to this comment and contains useful links that do not appear in this field:
Re: Call to Reject Two Inequitable FY24/25 Proposed Fee Increases
Dear Mayor Steinberg, Councilmember Talamantes and other members of the City Council,
I am a Sacramento attorney operating as a home business or “home occupation,” urging you to reject the two proposed FY24/25 home occupation fee increases (#175 and #176), which would disproportionately impact historically disadvantaged, marginalized communities.
According to data I cited on pages 4-5 of my related, September 11, 2023 letter, low-income, immigrant, minority and female residents are likely those hardest hit by the City’s unusually strict home occupation regulations, regulations that run counter to many of the City’s stated policy priorities—from equity to sustainability, livability to mobility, environmental to economic, and housing to youth opportunities.
Although the 2040 General Plan promises reform of those regulations, this could take some time, as the commitment of the plan’s related implementing action, LUP-A.11, is to “evaluate” reform options by as late as 2029.
Therefore, while reform is pending, I urge the Council to refrain from burdening this vulnerable group of residents still further by asking them to not only pay a “home occupation permit” fee that is more than 50% higher than the current high fee, but to pay a jaw-dropping, non-refundable minimum of $5,265 for the mere chance of obtaining an exception to any one of the problematic home occupation restrictions.
These fee increases are particularly concerning given the financial challenges often experienced by home businesses. A recent study found 43 percent of US home businesses earn $10,000 or less in annual gross receipts and cited evidence to support its conclusion (on p. 25) that “home-based entrepreneurs are more likely to be women and racial or ethnic minorities—groups that research has found are less able to access external sources of business financing.[fn]”
I would be happy to discuss this with any of you, and encourage you to contact me at (916) 692-5393 or tiffany@tiffanyclarklaw.com. Thank you.
Warmly,
Tiffany Clark
Attorney at Law
Law Office of Tiffany Clark
Additional eComments received by the Office of City Clerk.
I oppose cutting any funding for the Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC).
Dear City Council -
Please do not take away the funding for our Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC). I make it a point to be a member because I see how essential MOSAC is to our entire area.
I grew up in Portland, Oregon and my whole childhood and teenage years I loved going to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) there. For years I felt sorry not to have a museum like it in Sacramento (where I have now lived for 35 years and raised a family). We were excited to hear about the science museum and eagerly waited for it to open. It is so essential - not only for the area's school children but also for our tourism industry. It is perfectly located and the exhibits are great. We have really enjoyed the planetarium and look forward to future additions to the exhibits.
Please oh please continue to fund and to champion our Museum of Science and Curiosity. We need it to be fully funded for the good of all of Sacramento and neighboring communities.
Nancy Espinoza
747 Santa Ana Ave, Sacramento, CA 95838
Dear Sacramento City Manager Chen, Mayor Steinberg and City Councilmembers,
I am a Sacramento resident and I am emailing to demand the city walk back the budget cuts to the Sacramento RydeFreeRT Youth Program proposed by Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan and Mayor Darryl Steinberg!
The RYDE Free Youth Transit Program was originally pushed by then-City Councilman Jay Schenirer who noticed that 16 percent of Sacramento City Unified School District were “chronically absent”, citing getting to and from school as their main issues. After the City created the RydeFreeRT program a study released by the University of Texas, which evaluated SacRT RydeFreeRT fare-free transit for youth programs, found the innovative program achieved multiple key goals to increase transit ridership and school attendance. The students who benefit the most are low-income students who have no other transportation options, helping them make it to and from school. Thousands of students depend on the free City bus program for transportation every day and if that is taken away from them, we will see more students unable to attend school due to lack of transportation. Sac City Unified School District already has a high chronic absenteeism rate so this issue will only make the situation worse.
A recent Op-Ed by the Sacramento Bee on this proposal, titled “Sacramento just proposed a horrible budget idea that belongs at the back of the bus” sums up this proposal best: “A budget is an expression of a government’s values. Saving a small amount of money at the expense of parents, youth and schools and Regional Transit reveals a small mindset by Sacramento staff to recommend this.” Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan, Mayor Darryl Steinberg and the Sacramento City Council should look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves if this is how we want to treat our future generation under the guise of saving a budget.
Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan, Mayor Darryl Steinberg and the Sacramento City Council: do not punish our students for bad budget management, stop the proposed budget cut to the SacRT Ryde Free Youth Fare Program that would leave vulnerable students without access to crucial public transportation!”
Sincerely,
Jose Navarro
On behalf of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA), I am writing today opposing the elimination of the SacRT Fare Free Transit Program as part of deliberation about the FY 24-25 budget. Since 2019, this innovative program has provided no-cost transportation to all 265,000 youth living in SacRT’s service area, from transitional Kindergarten to 12th grade, including home-schooled students, foster and unhoused youth. In 2023, student ridership had risen to 25% from 8% before the initiative launched.
This program is an essential service to Oak Park youth, with an important co-benefit of fostering lifelong transit use that protects air quality and public health. We urge that funding be preserved in the FY 24-25 budget to maintain this important program.
Thank you,
--Adrian Rehn
President, Oak Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA)
opna@oakparkna.com
Re: Sacramento City Council Agenda Discussion Item 9- Proposed City Budget
Sacramento City Budget & Audit Commissioners, City Council and City Manager,
We recognize the City has a difficult challenge with the budget and is working to find solutions to address the deficit. While tough choices will be made, Sac BHC believes access to public transportation is a vital for all residents especially our youth. Full funding for public transit is imperative to ensure that low-income and vulnerable communities have access to jobs, housing, health care, education, grocery stores, and childcare among other needs. Therefore, we do not agree with the line item in the proposed budget to Eliminate the Fare Free Transit Program which is the City of Sacramento’s contribution to Sacramento Regional Transit District. This program supports the free fare passes for students’ program and the elimination of this program will have an impact on the ability for students to get to school every day. Hundreds of students depend on the free City bus program for transportation to and from school daily. If that resource is removed, we will see more students unable to attend school to due lack of transportation. The elimination of this program will harm many families who depend on public transit to for daily needs therefore, we are asking that the elimination of the Fare Free Transit Program be removed from the list of budget cuts and remining funded.
Sincerely,
Sacramento Building Healthy Communities
Re: Budget & Audit Committee Item #3 and City Council Agenda Item #9 See attached
Sacramento Transit Advocates & Riders - Oppose Removing City Support For Student Free Fares.
Position Statement Attached
On behalf of Cathy Creswell and myself, we write to urge the Council to reject the proposal to eliminate funding for the RdyeFreeRT program. This program provides free transportation to all school age children in the RT area including the City of Sacramento. For a modest investment of $1million, the City ensures access to school for all children including those from families with limited incomes. We can all agree that getting a good education is the foundation for well being and success. And this program has been proven to be successful not only in getting kids to school and other important after school programs and internships but also in address the City's climate and equity goals. The modest investment creates benefits significantly exceeding the City's investments. And this budget investment advances the City's commitment to youth, equity and economic prosperity for all. While we understand that some may argue this is not a City responsibility, we believe strongly that this is a joint responsibility for all public agencies--especially the City, RT and the School Districts. As parents in the City of Sacramento, we long benefited from the 4th R program which was City supported and provided safety and care for elementary school students before and after school. We were always proud of our City for making an investment in the children of Sacramento. We urge you to reject the cut and dig deep to find funding to continue the commitment to the RydeFreeRT program. thank you
E: Budget & Audit Committee Item #3 and City Council Agenda Item #9
Dear Council Members:
I urge you to reject the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate funding for the RydeFreeRT program for students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. This program increases access to education and opportunity for children throughout Sacramento and should be supported. We cannot afford to cut this Resource.
Additional eComments received by the Office of City Clerk.
This email is to express my concern for the proposed budget cuts to the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC). As a resident of the Greater Sacramento Area, I support the growth and sustainability of learning centers like MOSAC. Cutting the budget that supports science learning for our community would have a detrimental impact on those who benefit from the important role MOSAC plays in our community to advance STEM learning.
Please do not reduce funding for our local museum.
MOSAC is ESSENTIAL to our community! Teachers, students, families, and lifelong learners all count on MOSAC as a source of fun and reliable learning for all things Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math. The Sacramento community relies on MOSAC as a critical part of our cultural, economic, and workforce development ecosystem. Cutting city funding would have a major negative impact on the ability of MOSAC to provide educational programs to our community.
MOSAC admission and membership only cover 30 percent of operating costs. This is why financial support from the city in addition to ongoing support from our community is so important.
Please reconsider this budget cut and support MOSAC and its vital role in our community.
eComments received by the Office of City Clerk.
May 7, 2024
Sacramento City Budget and Audit Committee and City Council Members
RE: Budget & Audit Committee Item #3 and City Council Agenda Item #9
Dear Council Members:
On behalf of the Sacramento Housing Alliance, we urge you to reject the City Manager’s proposal to eliminate funding for the RydeFreeRT program for students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. This program increases access to education and opportunity for children throughout Sacramento and should be supported. This program is especially critical for the children of families with modest means including families in regulated affordable housing.
As frequently noted, budgets are a reflection of values and we urge Committee members to reject this cut and reaffirm the City’s commitment to equity and opportunity. The City’s prior commitment to this program was an example of Sacramento’s values of equity and inclusiveness and its commitment to our youth.
This program is highly successful and has significantly increased ridership of students, In addition, RT has identified the following other benefits:
increased mobility options to students, not just to get to and from school, but to internships and other activities;
addressing climate change through reduced emissions and vehicle miles traveled;
students have more reliable school transportation options and a path to economic prosperity.
reduced absenteeism resulting in additional state school funding.
Eliminating this funding is inconsistent with the City’s own Budget Guidelines (page 82 of the proposed budget) which require the budget reflect the Mayor and Council’s priorities, based on community input and should continue a community based budget process where city residents are engaged and educated on budget processes and provide feedback on budget priorities. The RydeFreeRT program is widely supported by the community and implements City priorities to support youth and equity.
The $1 million budget commitment is cost effective and provides significant benefits to students, families, our schools and the environment. We urge you to maintain the City’s commitment to this valuable program by continuing to fund it. While we recognize the City is facing a significant budget deficit, we urge you adopt a new budget that both addresses the shortfall but also maintains the City’s commitment to youth, equity, and community voice.
Reject the proposed cut to the RydeFreeRT program and ensure the City’s budget is a true reflection of City and Community values.