Councilmember Lisa Kaplan

We’re excited to share that a new bus shelter has been installed along Natomas Blvd at Del Paso Road near Inderkum High School and American River College Natomas campus. This bus route 11 stop, identified as a priority in SacRT’s Bus Stop Improvement Plan, serves more than 50 daily trips.

Councilmember Lisa Kaplan championed this improvement while previously serving on the SacRT Board, and the project was completed through a cost‑sharing partnership with the City of Sacramento, Government.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this upgrade possible for the students and riders who use this stop every day!

The City of Sacramento will expand its automated parking enforcement program this spring by deploying AI-assisted technology on three parking enforcement vehicles to identify vehicles illegally blocking bike lanes, with a focus on bike lanes and school zones citywide.

Beginning May 13, the City will launch a 60-day warning period for drivers illegally stopping or parking in bike lanes. Violators will receive warnings instead of citations as the City conducts public outreach and education about the new program. Live citations will begin July 13.

“This program is about safety,” said Megan Carter, the City’s Traffic Engineer. “Vehicles blocking bike lanes force people into traffic, reduce visibility and create unnecessary risks near schools, transit stops and busy corridors. The warning period gives drivers time to adjust before live enforcement begins.”

The initial rollout will include a focus on school zones in District 1, areas Councilmember Lisa Kaplan has consistently advocated for and prioritized for safety improvements.

Prior to implementing this technology, the City regularly received complaints regarding unsafe stopping and parking activity around Natomas schools, but enforcement was often limited by staffing capacity, timing and the volume of violations occurring during peak school travel periods.

“Keeping school zones safe for students and families is one of our highest priorities,” Kaplan said. “Too often, vehicles stopping in bike lanes and near intersections create dangerous conditions for children walking or biking to school. Expanding this enforcement program will help improve visibility, reduce conflicts and support safer streets in our neighborhoods. Thank you to our Public Works Director, Matt Eierman and his team for listening and collaborating to find a solution.”

Full media release listed below or can be found in a special mid-week newsletter later today or in Friday’s newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter at link in IG bio or email [email protected]

THURSDAY!! Join and the Wilton Rancheria, Birds and Benches Care Holder partner for a presentation, ” From the Sky to the Earth: Wilton Rancheria’s Cultural Connection with Birds” from the Tribe’s Traditional Ecologic Knowledge team. Our bird relatives are more than just pretty feathers and beautiful songs. They are deeply rooted in the origin stories and traditions of the Miwok and Nisenan people of Wilton Rancheria. Join us for a presentation about the relationship between our local Tribes and native birds.

Our Birds and Benches project in District 1 has partnered with the Wilton Rancheria as one of our Community Care Holder groups that will share their connection to the land, plants, birds, and other animals in the area. These discussions will help inspire and inform our Bench Artists as they create their designs. Link in the Eventbrite to register in their bio for this ZOOM presentation.

Tune into today’s City Council meetings at 2 PM & 5 PM via Sacramento Granicus!

You can also watch the Law & Legislation Committee meeting which begins at 11 am on Granicus.

Link in Instagram bio.

This morning, I had the honor of participating in the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the new STEAM Building at American River College alongside ARC President Dr. Lisa Cardoza, her incredible team, and community partners including Yolo Federal Credit Union, Natomas Unified School District, and Los Rios Community College District. We began the celebration with a meaningful land acknowledgment and blessing from Wilton Rancheria Tribe Vice Chair, Raquel Williams.

This was a full circle moment for me having been a part of the plan for this project, as a school board member. My first decision as a trustee, over 20 years ago, was to build Inderkum HS and then create a partnership between ARC, the North Natomas Public Library and Inderkum HS.

What makes this moment so significant is what this building represents for students and our entire community. For years, ARC Natomas was unable to offer science classes because there were no lab spaces available. Today, that barrier is gone.
The new 53,000 sq ft STEAM Center includes five state-of-the-art science wet labs and an art lab that will provide students with high-quality, hands-on learning experiences and essential stepping stones into high-demand careers.
We also heard from an Inderkum High School dual enrollment student in the CECA program. Their story was a powerful reminder that when we invest in education and access, we invest directly in the future of our young people.
This project is also a reflection of the strength of partnership and collaboration in our community. Meaningful progress happens when educators, local leaders, schools, and organizations come together with a shared commitment to invest in people and opportunity. That spirit of collaboration is something I deeply value because it creates lasting, positive change for the entire region.

This STEAM Center is more than an academic building — it is a community resource, a symbol of opportunity, and a reminder of what is possible. Congratulations

Happy Mother’s Day to every woman who shows up as a mother figure. Continue leading with a Mother’s heart. ❤️

I was honored to witness as they officially broke ground on their new restorative housing community in Oak Park yesterday, World of Wonder — a meaningful investment that will provide safe, stable, and supportive housing for women, children, and families while creating pathways for healing, restoration, and long-term transformation. By combining housing with performing and visual arts programming along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, this project will uplift lives through creativity, connection, and community.

I’m deeply grateful for Loren and Rachelle Ditmore and the entire City of Refuge team for their leadership and commitment to building something that truly serves people with dignity and care— something they have always done. A sincere thank you as well to for her $8m investment and support in helping make this vision a reality.

I’m proud to support initiatives like this because real change happens when we provide people with the housing, care, resources, and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and a true sense of belonging. That’s how we strengthen families, support the unhoused, and build a healthier future for our city.

A special recognition was given to Flossie Crump for her work in reclaiming this land, restoring its history, and honoring the lives lost while holding space for the healing of the families affected. In 1974, she became one of the first two Black female patrol officers in Sacramento Police Department history, breaking barriers for women in law enforcement during a time when policing was overwhelmingly male.
Crump went on to serve as a s*x crimes and homicide detective before advancing into county and state-level investigations, where she handled high-profile and deeply sensitive cases. She was also heavily involved in the investigation of Morris Solomon Jr., the “Homicidal Handyman of Oak Park,” and is widely believed to have played a pivotal role in connecting key evidence that helped bring the case together, even though she was never fully recognized for her contribution.

This was a special place to be yesterday & I’m grateful to have been a part. Congratulations!

TONIGHT
Thanks to all who continue to uplift our local artists and the incredible culture that makes Natomas so special!