Sacramento is up for Mayoral and Council elections.  The last Mayor – Anne Rudin – was elected to only a part time position back in 2000 (which thankfully was changed to full time two years later).  But the situation of a part-time council remains and this is a time when almost every other city in California finally has a full-time staff.

Even though there are around 5,700 Sacramento city employees, a mere 9 of these are elected and able to make substantial decisions about the city’s future, one being the Mayor.  The other eight are city council members.  It’s even worse though as since they are viewed as part-time employees, their salaries reflect that and hence they have to have other jobs to make a full salary.  Indeed, their salaries are lower than some parking lot supervisors who are paid by the same city!

Meanwhile, at a recent Sacramento City Council meeting, members of the community piled in to voice their opinions on police reform, putting forward their recommendations.   Addressing the Community Policing Commission’s Accountability Ad Hoc committee, subject matters raised included: an increase in foot patrols (with a reduction in vehicle patrols), increasing communication between police and community on their protocols and encouraging offices to explain to bystanders what transpired in an incident they just witnessed.

These matters will be put to the Sacramento City Council and Mayor and thereafter possibly tell the city manager to guide the police department in the changes based on community input.