Sacramento City Council and Future City Manager Maraskeshia Smith,
For far too long, Meadowview has been deliberately underserved and neglected. For the past 40–50 years, elected officials have failed—or outright refused—to take meaningful action to develop the vacant lots scattered throughout our community.
The visible signs of this neglect are everywhere:
• Raggedy roads and crumbling infrastructure
• Empty and overgrown lots left untouched for decades
• Broken, outdated signage
• Incomplete projects that never see completion
• Neglected recreation fields and public spaces
Meanwhile, the City finds ways to spend millions elsewhere:
• $6 million was invested to remodel the interior of the MLK Library, yet the surrounding neighborhood remains surrounded by undeveloped and blighted lots that have sat idle for over 40 years.
• $12 million was spent on 102 acres of inaccessible land south of Meadowview Road under the pretense of creating affordable housing and services for the unhoused. Years later, nothing has been done—and now we are told it will be another 5–10 years before any progress.
No money or space seems to be available to build the desperately needed housing our community has been waiting for—but somehow, there’s funding for vacant land acquisitions, contract increases, and projects that don’t serve Meadowview residents.
The Mayor and City Council are driving Sacramento straight into financial disaster. Every new contract increase proves your inability to manage our tax dollars responsibly. Have you forgotten the $60 million deficit looming in 2026–2027? Instead of tightening the budget, you keep throwing money at contractors and digging the hole deeper. Stop the reckless spending—before you bankrupt the city.
In neighborhoods like Meadowview, we have dealt with empty lots and unoccupied properties for decades. These long-neglected parcels bring dumping, crime, and blight, while preventing the new housing and investment that our community needs. It is past time to hold absentee owners accountable and push them to put their land and buildings back into use. Such a measure would generate funds for neighborhood improvements and finally break the cycle of neglect.
This is not just neglect—it is intentional disinvestment. Meadowview deserves more than broken promises and delayed plans. Our community deserves real investment, real development, and real accountability—now, not five or ten years from now.
This is a respectful yet firm reminder: while you are often referred to as leaders, your true role is that of public servants. Over the years, I’ve observed the conduct of those in elected office, and it seems that too many have lost sight of this fundamental duty—or worse, have chosen to disregard it entirely.
Your responsibility is to serve the needs of the people, not to pursue personal gain or political ambition. The trust placed in you by the public is not a blank check—it is a sacred duty to lead with integrity, honesty, and transparency.
I urge each of you to take a moment for honest self-reflection. Are you truly doing everything in your power to act ethically and serve the public interest? Or have you become one of the many who prioritize self-interest over service?
The public is watching, and history will remember. Be the servant-leaders our communities deserve. Your decisions reveal your true identity.
Supporting resources:
• Sacramento’s failure to prioritize Meadowview development: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpV_CB0Avv8
• Promises made but not delivered on city land acquisitions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggXIJB4XCq4
Sincerely,
M. Kamau, Meadowview District 8
Dear Sacramento City Council,
As you look ahead, please also look back at what has made Sacramento—and our whole region—so livable. At the top of that list is the American River Parkway, often called our region’s crown jewel. Its enduring value comes from a simple promise embedded in the American River Parkway Plan: enable recreation while safeguarding the Parkway’s essential, naturalistic character. The City of Sacramento has long recognized and referenced this Plan in its own General Plan—because the Parkway crosses jurisdictions and requires unified stewardship.
The Parkway Plan’s core direction is clear: balance flood control, habitat, water quality, and passive recreation; keep development minimal and appropriate to a natural setting; and protect native vegetation and wildlife corridors. These are not abstract ideals—they’re practical standards that have kept the Parkway special.
Please reaffirm the City’s commitment to those standards as you shape future planning:
1. Hold the line on encroachment and visual intrusion next to the Parkway. Adjacent uses should be designed, scaled, and screened so they do not degrade the Parkway’s aesthetics or ecological function.
2. Require Parkway-compatible design for any proposal along the corridor: low-impact lighting, non-reflective materials, appropriate setbacks, and landscaping with native species.
3. Coordinate early with County Regional Parks and sister agencies to ensure projects support habitat connectivity and avoid impairing flood conveyance. The Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP) aligns with and implements the Parkway Plan and is designed to keep these goals on track.
4. Maintain and enforce corridor protections so modifications near the Parkway do not undercut its “Wild and Scenic” stewardship responsibilities for the Lower American River.
Sacramento can model how a world-class city grows without diminishing the nature that defines it. Please do not weaken the protections that have preserved the Parkway’s natural qualities for generations. Instead, use this moment to strengthen them—so our children can continue to live with nature at the heart of our local identity.
Thank you for your leadership.
Best regards,
Mark Berry
SARA Board Member and Vice-President
As the City of Sacramento considers current goals and priorities, the continued preservation of the Lower American River Parkway must remain a top priority. This is a treasured natural asset that is valued and used daily by city residents, community, and visitors to our region and state. Drawing individuals, families, and groups into the boundaries the city to access this natural open space (which is disappearing and must be preserved and restored where needed). The health and well-being of the community is tied to the health and well-being of the parkway, river, and nature. Please ensure the City priorities include and recommits your support to protecting and preserving the American River Parkway as a healthy, thriving natural parkway for residents and visitors alike.
I'm a resident of District 4 and a leader with Strong SacTown, a local community group part of the national Strong Towns Movement. Funding and street safety are our two biggest hurdles, so I urge you to prioritize:
1. Transparent accounting, such as including the lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and making the budget and ACFR documents accessible to laypeople to understand.
2. Provide Safer Streets, such as the completion of the Street Design Standards update, completion of the Signal Timing update (including LPIs and green wave timing), implementing "No Right Turn on Red" as citywide policy, implement Parking Benefit Districts, reevaluate, streamline, and expand the Creative Crosswalks civilian program, reduce barriers for community groups to get approved for street closure permits, and adding day lighting wherever required
I agree with Kay Crumb, especially on the inclusion of lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and completing the Street Design Standards update so that every new and rebuilt street will be safer.
I'm a resident of District 4 and a member of Strong SacTown. I am agreeing with Kay’s comment and urging you to prioritize the previously mentioned:
1. Transparent accounting, such as including the lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and making the budget and ACFR documents accessible to laypeople to understand.
2. Provide Safer Streets, such as the completion of the Street Design Standards update, completion of the Signal Timing update (including LPIs and green wave timing), implementing "No Right Turn on Red" as citywide policy, implement Parking Benefit Districts, reevaluate, streamline, and expand the Creative Crosswalks civilian program, and reducing barriers for community groups to get approved for street closure permits.
Additionally, enforcing the recently implemented ‘Daylighting’ law whether it’s by ticketing or signage.
I'm a resident of District 6 and a member of Strong SacTown. Funding and street safety are our two biggest hurdles, so I urge you to prioritize:
1. Transparent accounting, such as including the lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and making the budget and ACFR documents accessible to laypeople to understand.
2. Provide Safer Streets, such as the completion of the Street Design Standards update, completion of the Signal Timing update (including LPIs and green wave timing), implementing "No Right Turn on Red" as citywide policy, implement Parking Benefit Districts, reevaluate, streamline, and expand the Creative Crosswalks civilian program, reduce barriers for community groups to get approved for street closure permits, and adding day lighting wherever required.
With the anticipated city revenue shortfall that may be in part be attributable to significant State and Federal cutbacks, I urge to maintain support for the American River Parkway and related supports. The Parkway is enjoyed by over 5 million visitors a year of all income levels and ages. The small investment in the Parkway provides a significant return. Families of all traditions, nationalities, and income levels are able to enjoy the Parkway at a time when strained family budgets preclude other recreational and educational opportunities. Single parent households are unable to provide children with the opportunities to experience nature firsthand. The unique and diverse American River Parkway affords families these opportunities for the modest cost of an entry fee or no cost at all. Due to the severity of cutbacks at all government levels, and loss of employment opportunities, working parents, who work full time at minimum paying jobs, are unable to make ends meet. A day at the park on the American River Parkway provides the mental and spiritual reprieve for families struggling economically. The American River Parkway is an enchanting place and a treasure we in the Sacramento region are able to enjoy and access easily. Unlike other communities where the beach or other beautiful locations are for the privileged few, the Parkway provides an opportunity to experience the national and state designated American River at all income levels. While I readily recognize that there are vitally needed services that the city is tasked with funding, the Parkway must be one of these priorities. The return on investment to the American River Parkway provides thousands of families with unparalleled recreational and educational opportunities. If I may share a personal note. I grew up in the City of Sacramento. My mom was a single mom struggling financially to raise two sons. She worked at a fast-food restaurant because she spoke limited English. The American River Parkway was only a few minutes away from our one-bedroom apartment. The Parkway became a refuge for us. Where we could experience a family day away from the confines of our cramped apartment. The Parkway was a treasure hunt day where we could possibly encounter a myriad of wild life, age-old trees to climb, root to run and wade in the cool clean water of the American River. Please continue to fund the American River Parkway to continue to keep safe, sanity and accessible for all families who cherish an opportunity to enjoy a time together basking in the natural and majestic beauty of the vast and varied American River Parkway. Respectfully, Sergio Diaz, Mother Lode Sierra Club Member, Attorney at Law
Low-income housing for families, the affordable rate is still too high for families, and both parents are working and then a childcare issue exist. A better rating system for families to get priority on vacancies, funding deposit, or 1st month's rent and financial assistance for 3 months.
I am concerned about vacant building, that are not being remodeled or sold they are causing blight in the neighborhood. Owners of the property should take the property more seriously, and remodel for sell, or at least clean up property for sell. I have several vacant buildings on Stockton Blvd, and on Broadway near Alhambra, the market on MLK Blvd where homeless people recently were moved out. Any vacant lot should be cleared, and not an eye sore for the community.
Priority Concerns for the Neighborhood:
1.Colonial Library restored by Dec 2026 for the community to regain services and usage of the library computers, community room and other outside areas that serve an enrichment program for the youth to develop an advisory board to the Friends and Leadership at the library.
2. Aggies (UC Davis) University of Pacifico should have a youth introduction into employment or careers, to pursue in the future, A community college in this area would be better for young people and families may enjoy an opportunity for education in a career, or pursue a degree
3. Obviously we need to maintain our infrastructure in this area, Streets lights and proper street markings, better lighting of areas that are to dark, police patrols are adequate and provide a safer environment for families, sewers and energy cost keep to a minimum. Our schools should be adequately, refurbished and upkeep should be better, thanks for the 2 new schools, that was a great start. We still need a neighborhood library, a building a structure of some size that could be an educational component for the community, help families grow in different ways culturally, career, business and a care zone for non-profits to share their services and components.
I would like to see a large industry come into the neighborhood, with jobs and funds to help grow the area into a marketable resource for Sacramento.
Please do not go to Sun Spa, located at 6804 Fruitridge Rd #A
Sacramento, CA, 95820, as well as q spa, located at 4215 Norwood avenue, suite #12, sacramento, ca, 95838, They will all claim that they are too busy for you.
Sacramento City Council and Future City Manager Maraskeshia Smith,
For far too long, Meadowview has been deliberately underserved and neglected. For the past 40–50 years, elected officials have failed—or outright refused—to take meaningful action to develop the vacant lots scattered throughout our community.
The visible signs of this neglect are everywhere:
• Raggedy roads and crumbling infrastructure
• Empty and overgrown lots left untouched for decades
• Broken, outdated signage
• Incomplete projects that never see completion
• Neglected recreation fields and public spaces
Meanwhile, the City finds ways to spend millions elsewhere:
• $6 million was invested to remodel the interior of the MLK Library, yet the surrounding neighborhood remains surrounded by undeveloped and blighted lots that have sat idle for over 40 years.
• $12 million was spent on 102 acres of inaccessible land south of Meadowview Road under the pretense of creating affordable housing and services for the unhoused. Years later, nothing has been done—and now we are told it will be another 5–10 years before any progress.
No money or space seems to be available to build the desperately needed housing our community has been waiting for—but somehow, there’s funding for vacant land acquisitions, contract increases, and projects that don’t serve Meadowview residents.
The Mayor and City Council are driving Sacramento straight into financial disaster. Every new contract increase proves your inability to manage our tax dollars responsibly. Have you forgotten the $60 million deficit looming in 2026–2027? Instead of tightening the budget, you keep throwing money at contractors and digging the hole deeper. Stop the reckless spending—before you bankrupt the city.
In neighborhoods like Meadowview, we have dealt with empty lots and unoccupied properties for decades. These long-neglected parcels bring dumping, crime, and blight, while preventing the new housing and investment that our community needs. It is past time to hold absentee owners accountable and push them to put their land and buildings back into use. Such a measure would generate funds for neighborhood improvements and finally break the cycle of neglect.
This is not just neglect—it is intentional disinvestment. Meadowview deserves more than broken promises and delayed plans. Our community deserves real investment, real development, and real accountability—now, not five or ten years from now.
This is a respectful yet firm reminder: while you are often referred to as leaders, your true role is that of public servants. Over the years, I’ve observed the conduct of those in elected office, and it seems that too many have lost sight of this fundamental duty—or worse, have chosen to disregard it entirely.
Your responsibility is to serve the needs of the people, not to pursue personal gain or political ambition. The trust placed in you by the public is not a blank check—it is a sacred duty to lead with integrity, honesty, and transparency.
I urge each of you to take a moment for honest self-reflection. Are you truly doing everything in your power to act ethically and serve the public interest? Or have you become one of the many who prioritize self-interest over service?
The public is watching, and history will remember. Be the servant-leaders our communities deserve. Your decisions reveal your true identity.
Supporting resources:
• Sacramento’s failure to prioritize Meadowview development: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpV_CB0Avv8
• Promises made but not delivered on city land acquisitions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggXIJB4XCq4
Sincerely,
M. Kamau, Meadowview District 8
Dear Sacramento City Council,
As you look ahead, please also look back at what has made Sacramento—and our whole region—so livable. At the top of that list is the American River Parkway, often called our region’s crown jewel. Its enduring value comes from a simple promise embedded in the American River Parkway Plan: enable recreation while safeguarding the Parkway’s essential, naturalistic character. The City of Sacramento has long recognized and referenced this Plan in its own General Plan—because the Parkway crosses jurisdictions and requires unified stewardship.
The Parkway Plan’s core direction is clear: balance flood control, habitat, water quality, and passive recreation; keep development minimal and appropriate to a natural setting; and protect native vegetation and wildlife corridors. These are not abstract ideals—they’re practical standards that have kept the Parkway special.
Please reaffirm the City’s commitment to those standards as you shape future planning:
1. Hold the line on encroachment and visual intrusion next to the Parkway. Adjacent uses should be designed, scaled, and screened so they do not degrade the Parkway’s aesthetics or ecological function.
2. Require Parkway-compatible design for any proposal along the corridor: low-impact lighting, non-reflective materials, appropriate setbacks, and landscaping with native species.
3. Coordinate early with County Regional Parks and sister agencies to ensure projects support habitat connectivity and avoid impairing flood conveyance. The Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP) aligns with and implements the Parkway Plan and is designed to keep these goals on track.
4. Maintain and enforce corridor protections so modifications near the Parkway do not undercut its “Wild and Scenic” stewardship responsibilities for the Lower American River.
Sacramento can model how a world-class city grows without diminishing the nature that defines it. Please do not weaken the protections that have preserved the Parkway’s natural qualities for generations. Instead, use this moment to strengthen them—so our children can continue to live with nature at the heart of our local identity.
Thank you for your leadership.
Best regards,
Mark Berry
SARA Board Member and Vice-President
As the City of Sacramento considers current goals and priorities, the continued preservation of the Lower American River Parkway must remain a top priority. This is a treasured natural asset that is valued and used daily by city residents, community, and visitors to our region and state. Drawing individuals, families, and groups into the boundaries the city to access this natural open space (which is disappearing and must be preserved and restored where needed). The health and well-being of the community is tied to the health and well-being of the parkway, river, and nature. Please ensure the City priorities include and recommits your support to protecting and preserving the American River Parkway as a healthy, thriving natural parkway for residents and visitors alike.
I agree with Kay's comment!
I'm a resident of District 4 and a leader with Strong SacTown, a local community group part of the national Strong Towns Movement. Funding and street safety are our two biggest hurdles, so I urge you to prioritize:
1. Transparent accounting, such as including the lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and making the budget and ACFR documents accessible to laypeople to understand.
2. Provide Safer Streets, such as the completion of the Street Design Standards update, completion of the Signal Timing update (including LPIs and green wave timing), implementing "No Right Turn on Red" as citywide policy, implement Parking Benefit Districts, reevaluate, streamline, and expand the Creative Crosswalks civilian program, reduce barriers for community groups to get approved for street closure permits, and adding day lighting wherever required
I agree with Kay Crumb, especially on the inclusion of lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and completing the Street Design Standards update so that every new and rebuilt street will be safer.
I agree with Kay's comment.
I'm a resident of District 4 and a member of Strong SacTown. I am agreeing with Kay’s comment and urging you to prioritize the previously mentioned:
1. Transparent accounting, such as including the lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and making the budget and ACFR documents accessible to laypeople to understand.
2. Provide Safer Streets, such as the completion of the Street Design Standards update, completion of the Signal Timing update (including LPIs and green wave timing), implementing "No Right Turn on Red" as citywide policy, implement Parking Benefit Districts, reevaluate, streamline, and expand the Creative Crosswalks civilian program, and reducing barriers for community groups to get approved for street closure permits.
Additionally, enforcing the recently implemented ‘Daylighting’ law whether it’s by ticketing or signage.
I'm a resident of District 6 and a member of Strong SacTown. Funding and street safety are our two biggest hurdles, so I urge you to prioritize:
1. Transparent accounting, such as including the lifecycle maintenance costs for all proposed projects, and making the budget and ACFR documents accessible to laypeople to understand.
2. Provide Safer Streets, such as the completion of the Street Design Standards update, completion of the Signal Timing update (including LPIs and green wave timing), implementing "No Right Turn on Red" as citywide policy, implement Parking Benefit Districts, reevaluate, streamline, and expand the Creative Crosswalks civilian program, reduce barriers for community groups to get approved for street closure permits, and adding day lighting wherever required.
With the anticipated city revenue shortfall that may be in part be attributable to significant State and Federal cutbacks, I urge to maintain support for the American River Parkway and related supports. The Parkway is enjoyed by over 5 million visitors a year of all income levels and ages. The small investment in the Parkway provides a significant return. Families of all traditions, nationalities, and income levels are able to enjoy the Parkway at a time when strained family budgets preclude other recreational and educational opportunities. Single parent households are unable to provide children with the opportunities to experience nature firsthand. The unique and diverse American River Parkway affords families these opportunities for the modest cost of an entry fee or no cost at all. Due to the severity of cutbacks at all government levels, and loss of employment opportunities, working parents, who work full time at minimum paying jobs, are unable to make ends meet. A day at the park on the American River Parkway provides the mental and spiritual reprieve for families struggling economically. The American River Parkway is an enchanting place and a treasure we in the Sacramento region are able to enjoy and access easily. Unlike other communities where the beach or other beautiful locations are for the privileged few, the Parkway provides an opportunity to experience the national and state designated American River at all income levels. While I readily recognize that there are vitally needed services that the city is tasked with funding, the Parkway must be one of these priorities. The return on investment to the American River Parkway provides thousands of families with unparalleled recreational and educational opportunities. If I may share a personal note. I grew up in the City of Sacramento. My mom was a single mom struggling financially to raise two sons. She worked at a fast-food restaurant because she spoke limited English. The American River Parkway was only a few minutes away from our one-bedroom apartment. The Parkway became a refuge for us. Where we could experience a family day away from the confines of our cramped apartment. The Parkway was a treasure hunt day where we could possibly encounter a myriad of wild life, age-old trees to climb, root to run and wade in the cool clean water of the American River. Please continue to fund the American River Parkway to continue to keep safe, sanity and accessible for all families who cherish an opportunity to enjoy a time together basking in the natural and majestic beauty of the vast and varied American River Parkway. Respectfully, Sergio Diaz, Mother Lode Sierra Club Member, Attorney at Law
Low-income housing for families, the affordable rate is still too high for families, and both parents are working and then a childcare issue exist. A better rating system for families to get priority on vacancies, funding deposit, or 1st month's rent and financial assistance for 3 months.
I am concerned about vacant building, that are not being remodeled or sold they are causing blight in the neighborhood. Owners of the property should take the property more seriously, and remodel for sell, or at least clean up property for sell. I have several vacant buildings on Stockton Blvd, and on Broadway near Alhambra, the market on MLK Blvd where homeless people recently were moved out. Any vacant lot should be cleared, and not an eye sore for the community.
Priority Concerns for the Neighborhood:
1.Colonial Library restored by Dec 2026 for the community to regain services and usage of the library computers, community room and other outside areas that serve an enrichment program for the youth to develop an advisory board to the Friends and Leadership at the library.
2. Aggies (UC Davis) University of Pacifico should have a youth introduction into employment or careers, to pursue in the future, A community college in this area would be better for young people and families may enjoy an opportunity for education in a career, or pursue a degree
3. Obviously we need to maintain our infrastructure in this area, Streets lights and proper street markings, better lighting of areas that are to dark, police patrols are adequate and provide a safer environment for families, sewers and energy cost keep to a minimum. Our schools should be adequately, refurbished and upkeep should be better, thanks for the 2 new schools, that was a great start. We still need a neighborhood library, a building a structure of some size that could be an educational component for the community, help families grow in different ways culturally, career, business and a care zone for non-profits to share their services and components.
I would like to see a large industry come into the neighborhood, with jobs and funds to help grow the area into a marketable resource for Sacramento.
Please do not go to Sun Spa, located at 6804 Fruitridge Rd #A
Sacramento, CA, 95820, as well as q spa, located at 4215 Norwood avenue, suite #12, sacramento, ca, 95838, They will all claim that they are too busy for you.