Latest news with #LisaKaplan
CBS News
06-08-2025
- CBS News
Sacramento neighbors show major turnout for National Night Out
National Night Out brought neighbors across the Sacramento region together Tuesday through multiple events created to promote police-community partnerships. The annual event, designed to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and neighborhoods, was celebrated in events from south Sacramento to North Highlands. "It feels good knowing that we got a strong community, very vibrant. Great vibes," said DeJohn Cobbs, who just recently moved to north Natomas. "It's priceless," said Cathy Stevens, describing what the free activities for her 7-year-old daughter meant to their family. She said the sense of community from the north Natomas event, which included appearances by Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, and Sacramento Chief of Police Kathy Lester, was encouraging. "It's unbelievable. It's so good because the community still comes out like this," said Stevens. The annual event is in its 42nd year nationally. "It's not lost on us that usually when the police are introduced to people's lives, it's on a not-so-good day. You're calling 911, you're calling non-emergency because something bad happened. This gives the community a chance to connect with us on a personal level," said Anthony Gamble, Sacramento police spokesperson.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Audit questions Sacramento's homeless spending, motel program under scrutiny
There is new scrutiny over Sacramento's spending on homeless programs. A city audit reveals some inaccurate charges and questionable invoices from Step Up, the operator of the city's motel room program that helps keep families in crisis off the streets. Nicia Mars is surviving as a single mom living with her three children in a Sacramento motel room. "So I'm a basic single mom of three kids," Mars said. "I have a 17-year-old and then my two little ones. We got involved with the Step Up program. They've been helping us." Mars is one of thousands who have enrolled in the Sacramento city-funded program. This year is better than last year. "We were in our car waiting to get help," Mars said. "It took us a minute. It was hot last year. Car. Hotel. Car. Hotel." "It really is a crisis to get our most vulnerable off the streets," City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan said. Kaplan is concerned that a new city audit shows only 32% of enrollees in the city motel program go on to find permanent housing. The city auditor compared it favorably to programs like it. Kaplan wants better "Thirty-two percent that enter exit into positive housing," Kaplan said. "Now you and I, as we grew up, that's an 'F.' That says you're not succeeding." The city auditor also found in a sampling of receipts that the program host invoiced one charge for furniture delivered to Los Angeles, not Sacramento motels — the total cost was $4,760. The audit also identified over $50,000 in invoiced furniture and rental assistance expenses that were questionable. "How do we put controls in place so we don't have these mistakes?" Kaplan said. The city auditor will be presenting this audit to the full council on Tuesday. The council will then have the opportunity to put new rules in place, possibly tying funding to outcomes of permanent housing. "If this wasn't available, I don't know where I would be," Mars said. "It's hard."
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Sacramento proposes $10,000 fines for illegal fireworks and new curfew for July 4th
SACRAMENTO — Sacramento City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan is supporting new emergency regulations that would dramatically increase firework fines this year. Next week, city leaders will consider an emergency measure that increases the penalty by ten times the current amount for some first-time offenses. The proposal targets anyone caught with bottle rockets, firecrackers or any other fireworks that are illegal in California. Currently, the maximum fine for a first-time offense is $1,000. That penalty would be increased to $10,000 for anyone caught using fireworks in parks, schools, playgrounds, community centers and other critical infrastructure. "They're not cheap, so if you're spending $1,000, $2,000 on fireworks for some of these, then a $10,000 fine needs to be the deterrent," Kaplan said. The stiffer penalties are in response to the increase in fires seen during last year's Independence Day. The Sacramento Fire Department says that in 2023, there were 63 fires in the first five days of July. That number jumped to 111 last year, a 76% increase. Red Banes is a Natomas resident who supports the tougher fines. "It's something that's so important to have some teeth in this," he said. Fourth of July fireworks celebrations will also have a new curfew under the proposal. In Sacramento, it's typically not dark until around 9:30 p.m., and currently, fireworks can be set off until midnight. The proposed new rules would prohibit setting off fireworks after 10 p.m. "I don't want to limit the fun, but we have to do it in a safe and sane way," Kaplan said. Last year, the City of Sacramento issued 55 firework citations, which added up to a total of $100,000 in fines.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Sacramento City Council approves revised $1.6 million city budget
Sacramento city leaders have reached the culmination of a months-long process, voting to pass a revised $1.6 billion city budget and close a $62 million funding gap. In the revised budget, the City of Sacramento says it will not lay off any city employees. Though funding for vacant positions was cut, the mayor says no one is out of a job. "We adopted our budget, which was the number one thing cities must do every year. We had to make some tough decisions but by and large, residents won't see any major impacts in their communities," Mayor Kevin McCarty told CBS Sacramento after the vote. " We didn't adversely cut public safety funding from police and fire. The budget also restores money for youth violence prevention funding. However, ahead of the vote, what we heard in public comment was frustration and doubt from most of the public speakers who said the budget doesn't have enough money for the community or youth. Councilmembers Lisa Kaplan and Mai Vange opposed the revised budget. "I don't think we are doing what we need to do to be readily transparent, implement our values, and show a two-year budget when we know the minute this passes, which I know this will, that we are already $60 million in the hole," Kaplan said ahead of the vote. The mayor added that the council will be back to address a deficit next year, saying that the problems aren't over.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Here's which councilmembers are accepting or rejecting raises amid $44 million city budget deficit
SACRAMENTO — While the City of Sacramento considers a wide range of cuts to address a $44 million budget deficit, the mayor and city council are eyeing pay raises. An independent commission met last week, voting to raise the base salaries for Mayor Kevin McCarty and council members. The mayor would get a 12% increase, raising his salary from $164,000 to $184,000, while council members would get 8% each, raising their salaries from $102,000 to $111,000. Since that vote, some have weighed in on whether or not they would be rejecting a pay increase. "I'm waiting to see how it all works out," Mayor McCarty said. "We have a month to decide." Among the councilmembers, Lisa Kaplan confirmed to CBS13 that she will accept the raise. Roger Dickinson will also be taking the raise, but his office says he is exploring ways to redirect his salary increase to support his district directly. Councilmembers Mai Vang and Rick Jennings are rejecting the increases, citing struggling constituents and the budget deficit. We're waiting to hear back from the others.
