Sacramento County Business, Economy & Jobs Digest

A patchwork of bills are giving housing developers and local governments more options to reduce red tape for housing projects.

Locals for Affordable Housing aims to place a voter initiative on the November 2024 ballot modeled after Berkeley’s vacancy tax, which requires owners of homes that sit vacant more than six months to pay $3,000 for the first year and $6,000 every year after.

Citrus Heights’ planning commissioners unanimously approved plans to occupy a building on Arcadia Drive that formerly housed a nightclub.

Unions won major victories this session on pay for fast food and health care workers, benefits for strikers and bargaining rights. Business groups say that labor has too much power at the Capitol.

Hydrogen fueling stations will get 15 percent of funds in a state program — even though Californians own only about 12,000 hydrogen cars. The funds come from fees paid by drivers.

A last-minute legislative deal would raise pay for California health care workers while giving medical providers a guarantee that they won’t have to battle local measures on employee compensation.

Under the executive order signed Sept. 6, state agencies and departments are mandated to analyze potential threats to California’s energy infrastructure through generative artificial intelligence.

Caesar LaVey’s 267-square-foot apartment is tucked inside a sleek five-story building called Sonrisa, a new affordable housing community two blocks from the state Capitol in downtown Sacramento.

Governor Gavin Newsom has previously said price gouging by the oil industry could be partially to blame for spiking costs. Senate Bill X1-2 targets the issue, creating a new position, director of the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight, a position recently filled by Tai Milder.

The August issue of Sacramento Magazine is its last. The parent company of Sactown Magazine has bought the remaining assets from Sacramento Media. The acquisition included Sacramento Magazine’s subscription list.

Management laid off nine employees based in Sacramento and three employees in Chico who worked at North State Public Radio, which CapRadio operates.

No. 2 was Oregon, then New York, Washington, and Massachusetts. Worst place? North Carolina.

Valley Oak Press, Inc. has sold its eight community newspapers—including the Galt Herald and the Elk Grove Citizen—to Messenger Publishing Group. All papers will be Friday edition papers.

The long-awaited opening of California Burrito on Lichen Drive near Interstate 80 has finally arrived.

Local residents gathered in the community room at Galt Police Department to ask questions about legalizing commercial cannabis sales within city limits. The Galt City Council is considering whether to legalize cannabis businesses and has not made a final decision.

Galt Herald has vacated its offices on North Lincoln Way, where it first move in back in 1978. Bonnie Rodriguez, owner of the Herald and parent company Valley Oak Press, announced that the company has sold its publications to Messenger Publishing Group.

One day before classes were set to resume, teachers in the Sacramento City Unified School District received a 10% raise retroactive to July 2022, the result of an uncharacteristically speedy negotiation between the district and its teachers union.

The homeownership gap for Black people could worsen without affordable and attainable homeowners insurance.

Many farmworkers in Coachella Valley lack legal status as citizens and don't qualify for most federal and state disaster aid. Even a new $95 million storm assistance program for immigrants that Governor Gavin Newsom recently touted is out of reach because it pertains to the winter and spring storms and floods.

Two people wearing masks dart into a busy street in San Francisco. One of them hauls a big orange traffic cone. They sprint toward a driverless car and set the cone on the hood.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has closed two state prisons and he has plans to shut two more by 2025. A new contract for correctional officers offers new perks to the guards who stay.

From cultural-changing fashion brands to construction companies, Black-owned businesses have a profound impact on the Black community. And Black women are leading the charge, increasing their numbers to 52,374 businesses in just three years, according to Brookings Institute report.

Small business owners, entrepreneurs and business developers gathered at the African Marketplace in Florin Square for the third annual Small Business Success Summit.

The federal student loan payment pause is coming to an end. Here’s how to get ready to make payments again.

A slowdown in the Sacramento region rental apartment market in the 12-month period ending June 30 has led to the first average rent decline in 13 years, a new report shows. The report said average rent fell 2% in the four-county area of Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Placer counties.

A new incentive program in Elk Grove is designed to assist breweries, wineries and restaurants. Adopted by the Elk Grove City Council on Aug. 9, it is called the Brewery, Restaurant and Winery (BReW) Incentive Program.

The city of Placerville is looking for ways to attract more visitors. Councilmember John Clerici came up with the idea to transform the Bell Tower Plaza, located on Historic Main Street, into a wedding venue.

With only 12,000 hydrogen cars on the road, and just two models for sale, California lawmakers are debating how much state money should support them.

San Francisco isn’t going to take last week’s robotaxi decision by the California Public Utilities Commission lying down. Joined by the city's transit authority board, fire department and board of supervisors, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed motions on Wednesday to halt the unrestricted expansion of autonomous vehicles for commercial use.

Both Block Ice and Gläce Luxury Ice were founded on the same premise. Bartenders carefully select the spirits and mixers they use. Why mess those up with ice that will water down the drink quickly, or take on unpleasant flavors from the rest of the freezer?

Sacramento City Council reps Katie Valenzuela and Caity Maple were among eight people arrested in the Capitol swing space as state workers called for a new contract and higher pay.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants counties to spend some revenue from California’s so-called “millionaire’s tax” on the state’s homeless crisis. That alarms advocates for programs that are getting that money today.