Budget Priorities and Sacramento's Future

By Mark R. Soble

As Mayor of Sacramento, Mark Soble will focus on budget priorities

Mark Soble strongly opposes tax increases to build a $540 million downtown sports arena

Mark Soble strongly opposes tax increases to build a $790 million light rail on Truxel Road in Natomas, favoring alternatives that minimize cost and maximize corridor mobility

Given the current budget crisis at all levels of government, Mark Soble disagrees with the city council's recent decision to further increase the salaries of the city's charter officers

Mark pledges to accept only half the Mayor's designated salary, and he'll give the remainder back to the city's general fund: Mark will do twice the job at half the cost!

In these tough economic times, Mark will make public safety his top budgetary priority, so that Sacramento can retain and recruit the best possible police and firefighters for our city

SACRAMENTO'S FUTURE

Sacramento faces exciting challenges in helping to fashion future development of the 240-acre Union Pacific rail yard, especially given the rail yard's proximity to the waterfront, port, and parts of Discovery Park: Mark will initiate special public planning forums, so that all Sacramento residents have a real chance to participate in our city's largest scale decision-making

Mark is excited by long-term visions of a massive downtown park, possibly anchored by an aquarium, planetarium, or expanded zoo, but Mark will also squarely acknowledge the reality of the current budget crisis, addressing the immediate needs of both the downtown core, as well as surrounding neighborhoods, for an intelligent balance of housing and jobs