I am writing opposed to the city locating a homeless shelter (dubbed micro-community) in North Natomas at Arena and El Centro. The city has proven over and over that it cannot control the spillover impacts of it's homeless shelters. The result of this one will be no different.
The city's authority to place anything one that parcel without re-zoning and PUD amendments simply does not exist. The 2023 ordinance granted the city manager authority to skip some bidding rules, but did NOT grant the manager to ignore established land-use controls nor environmental review. The city knows this, but is trying to push it through as fast as possible, with hopes that it will not be challenged.
After spending a decade volunteering on various boards and committees to help shape North Natomas into a great community, I am disappointed that the city has decided to abandon the North Natomas districts.
This community pays the most taxes into the city, and it's development has funded numerous new city-wide projects and programs. However, North Natomas receives the lowest public safety services per capita, and it's impact is ever increasing.
Crime is increasing, and Police response has slowed. The homeless population may have reduced downtown, but it has increased 10-fold for North Natomas as the population is pushed North to us. We have open-air drug deals occurring in our local shopping centers, litter plaguing our sensitive streams, and we have given up many of our local walking trails due to safety concerns.
My wife and I have a toddler, and we play daily in the parks in Westshore and Sundance Lake. If the city chooses to locate a no-barrier homeless shelter within 500 feet of these parks and schools, it is not wrong to assume these parks and schools will see an increased visit rate from those experiencing addiction. In areas impacted by homeless shelters, used syringes and drug paraphernalia/residue are a legitimate concern. The safety of our children is not a bargaining chip the city should be gambling with.
The City must conduct a thorough financial audit of all departments, with particular scrutiny on funds directed toward homelessness programs and service providers. With billions of dollars in homelessness funding across California remaining unaccounted for or poorly tracked, Sacramento residents deserve full transparency on how local taxpayer dollars are being spent and whether those expenditures are producing measurable results.
The Mayor and City Council members must also exercise direct oversight, including audits and in-person inspections of shelters, facilities, and related operations, to ensure public funds and resources are not being wasted or mismanaged. Simply accepting reports at face value is not oversight. City leadership has a responsibility to verify, firsthand, that shelters and service facilities are operating effectively and that taxpayer dollars are producing real results.
It is equally troubling that the City continues to rely heavily on costly outside consultants while maintaining a capable municipal workforce. Overuse of consultants has led to contract overruns, weak accountability, and unnecessary spending. Taxpayer dollars should be directed toward essential services, infrastructure, and long-term stability — not inflated consulting contracts or speculative financial ventures.
Sacramento deserves disciplined budgeting, transparent multi-year financial planning, strict contract oversight, and leadership willing to hold itself to the same standards imposed on employees and residents.
The current trajectory is unsustainable. Shared sacrifice, a full financial audit, charter reform, and structural budget balance must begin now..
Sincerely,
Mikaili Kamau, Meadowview D-8
Mark Rodriguez, activist
at March 06, 2026 at 7:44pm PST
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.
I am writing opposed to the city locating a homeless shelter (dubbed micro-community) in North Natomas at Arena and El Centro. The city has proven over and over that it cannot control the spillover impacts of it's homeless shelters. The result of this one will be no different.
The city's authority to place anything one that parcel without re-zoning and PUD amendments simply does not exist. The 2023 ordinance granted the city manager authority to skip some bidding rules, but did NOT grant the manager to ignore established land-use controls nor environmental review. The city knows this, but is trying to push it through as fast as possible, with hopes that it will not be challenged.
After spending a decade volunteering on various boards and committees to help shape North Natomas into a great community, I am disappointed that the city has decided to abandon the North Natomas districts.
This community pays the most taxes into the city, and it's development has funded numerous new city-wide projects and programs. However, North Natomas receives the lowest public safety services per capita, and it's impact is ever increasing.
Crime is increasing, and Police response has slowed. The homeless population may have reduced downtown, but it has increased 10-fold for North Natomas as the population is pushed North to us. We have open-air drug deals occurring in our local shopping centers, litter plaguing our sensitive streams, and we have given up many of our local walking trails due to safety concerns.
My wife and I have a toddler, and we play daily in the parks in Westshore and Sundance Lake. If the city chooses to locate a no-barrier homeless shelter within 500 feet of these parks and schools, it is not wrong to assume these parks and schools will see an increased visit rate from those experiencing addiction. In areas impacted by homeless shelters, used syringes and drug paraphernalia/residue are a legitimate concern. The safety of our children is not a bargaining chip the city should be gambling with.
The City must conduct a thorough financial audit of all departments, with particular scrutiny on funds directed toward homelessness programs and service providers. With billions of dollars in homelessness funding across California remaining unaccounted for or poorly tracked, Sacramento residents deserve full transparency on how local taxpayer dollars are being spent and whether those expenditures are producing measurable results.
The Mayor and City Council members must also exercise direct oversight, including audits and in-person inspections of shelters, facilities, and related operations, to ensure public funds and resources are not being wasted or mismanaged. Simply accepting reports at face value is not oversight. City leadership has a responsibility to verify, firsthand, that shelters and service facilities are operating effectively and that taxpayer dollars are producing real results.
It is equally troubling that the City continues to rely heavily on costly outside consultants while maintaining a capable municipal workforce. Overuse of consultants has led to contract overruns, weak accountability, and unnecessary spending. Taxpayer dollars should be directed toward essential services, infrastructure, and long-term stability — not inflated consulting contracts or speculative financial ventures.
Sacramento deserves disciplined budgeting, transparent multi-year financial planning, strict contract oversight, and leadership willing to hold itself to the same standards imposed on employees and residents.
The current trajectory is unsustainable. Shared sacrifice, a full financial audit, charter reform, and structural budget balance must begin now..
Sincerely,
Mikaili Kamau, Meadowview D-8
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.