The Abridged version:
- Sacramento-area lawmakers told regional civic leaders they are seeking bipartisan solutions to problems.
- Valley Vision’s 2025 Livability Summit explored the region’s greatest opportunities and challenges — housing, healthcare and affordability.
The Sacramento region is one of the fastest growing in the state, and legislators for the capital area said Wednesday they are working across party lines to address well-known growing pains.
State Sen. Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, and Assemblymember Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, appeared Wednesday at the 2025 Livability Summit, hosted by local nonprofit Valley Vision. About 300 civic leaders from the six-county region convened to assess the region’s current list of challenges and opportunities.
Both legislators are members of the newly formed Capital Caucus, a bipartisan group with eight members from the state Senate and Assembly.
During their time on stage, Niello and Krell touted their cooperative efforts in the Legislature, while acknowledging that the Sacramento area is often overshadowed by other parts of California at the Capitol. Area legislators formed the Capital Caucus in May, in part to address the “disadvantage” they say the Sacramento region has.
“I have always believed that the Sacramento region or the capital region has a bit of a … Rodney Dangerfield complex,” Niello said. “I don’t get no respect.”
The pair also said recent polling data from Valley Vision, released Tuesday, aligned with what they’re hearing from their constituents.
Housing, healthcare, affordability top region priorities
Results from the biennial livability poll found that across demographics, there is a growing agreement that additional housing is a priority for the region — 61% said it was a top issue. Second highest was accessible health care, selected by 50% of participants.
“Housing is clearly the number one issue,” Krell said. “Every single day, every step that we take, we need to think about what we’re doing to increase the supply of affordable housing. Really housing at all levels.”
And, she added, “Making sure that health clinics, hospitals and healthcare is accessible to all of my constituents is also front and center.”
Capital Caucus seeks bipartisan answers
Krell, a Democrat, and Niello, a Republican, shared the stage discussing bipartisan collaboration in the Legislature as the first day of a federal government shutdown dawned — the outcome of partisan deadlock in Washington.
Members of different parties, Niello and Krell proposed divergent solutions to the region’s issues. They also operate in a legislative body where Democrats hold a more than two-thirds majority.
“As a member of the minority I have to collaborate with my friends on the other side of the aisle,” Niello said.
Formation of the Capital Caucus in Sacramento aims to craft bipartisan solutions to the region’s issues.
“Ultimately, we all have the same job here and that’s to deliver for our constituents, to help improve people’s lives in our region, and we do that so much better when we do it together,” Krell said.
“It is up to us to raise the economic opportunity, the housing opportunities, the solutions to homelessness,” Niello said. “It’s up to us to provide that strength.”
Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.