SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As a member of his neighborhood association, Richard Falcon said he cares deeply for the area he lives in South of downtown Sacramento, and why he’s still troubled by how city officials informed him he wouldn’t have a city council member representing his area for two years because of redistricting.
“You don’t have representation, and you will eventually, but just not right now,” Falcon said. “But don’t you worry, we’re going to take care of you. And we were extremely frustrated by that.”
It’s the first time the City of Sacramento has dealt with deferred voting areas that were implemented with the election in 2022.
Because of newly drawn lines created from the latest census count and the current election cycle, nearly 60,000 residents are without a council member until early 2025.
Instead, they are represented by the Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who represents all Sacramento residents.
Falcon said nine months into the change, he doesn’t feel like his community always gets the attention it deserves.
Giving the example of funding they normally get for an annual event having to come as an extension and courtesy from a council member who doesn’t represent them.
“I have to tell you, I don’t think it would have come if not for this neighborhood really standing up for its rights,” Falcon said. “To say hey we want to be treated fairly, equitably and as well as anybody else is within this city.”
Chinua Rhodes is the director of community engagement for the mayor and said they are working hard to make sure all areas receive equal attention, including adding new staff.
“We’ve had two other staff members who’ve come on to do the extra work,” Rhodes said. “We have Jocelyn Navarro and we have Miesha Ross. These folks are coming in putting extra effort to the areas, while also still getting the same representation from the mayor.”
Rhodes said the efforts extend to physically being present in the community.
“Community meetings, town halls, we have coffee office hours inside of the deferred areas, and we are knocking on doors making sure we are inviting everyone,” Rhodes said. “Now, does that get everybody, possibly not, but we’re making the effort to make sure that we’re getting out there.”
Falcon said he’s looking forward to Jan. 2025 when he’ll have a City Council member representing him again and hopes city officials will look at the redistricting process.
“I think the city charter needs to be revisited,” Falcon said. “We could take a look at that now and see, based on the lessons we learned from this one, what can we change 10 years from now.”
Until then, he said he’ll keep working to help his community like he’s done for decades.