♪♪ For many of us, the beginning of 2023 starts with trying to figure out 'What is the new normal?'

What are the big issues and personalities that will dominate our headlines in 2023?

Joining us is the Sacramento Bee's California opinion editor, Marcos Bretón, and The Goldman State's journalist, Ed Goldman.

Marcos, what are the issues that you think will dominate our conversations in 2023?

In Sacramento, I think, um, the city is going to need to figure out what it's going to do with, uh, all its empty buildings downtown because we need to probably get around the idea that those state workers are not going to come back.

And what does a... what does an urban city do when it has planned for generations to fill a certain amount in office space and then the people occupying the office, uh, don't come back?

So, I think that's going to be a, uh, a major issue in the city.

In the county, uh, I think we're grappling with climate change and... and we're still not as, um, uh, informed as we need to be on... on what it takes to reverse the effects on the local level.

And we had some mixed success in the... in the... in the most recent election on that front, but... but some setbacks as well.

And in the state, uh, I think Gavin Newsom is going to spend the year insisting to people that he really doesn't want to be president when he really does.

So, that'll be fun to watch.

We're going to come back to that one, because I've got a question for you on that.

Ed, what do you think's going to dominate the headlines during this year?

Well, first of all, I won't be running for president.

I...

I'm 72, and just realized I'm too young.

Um, the, um- I think we're going to see our local politicians continue to play musical chairs.

Um, I...

I... I- Every time I read that somebody is leaving one office, but they're thinking of running for another one- especially in this... in this town- it's hysterical.

It's like, uh, at some point, you want to go, "Will one of you guys go get a job, an actual job?"

You know, go out there in the public or private sector and do something?

But no.

It's like, so, you're going to run- Uh, you'll run for that.

And then, when you get termed out, I'll run for your office, and then you can run for mine.

And we're just seeing people who are just- they're lifelong- they're career politicians.

And they accomplish, I think, next to nothing in Sacramento.

I really do.

I think that, uh, Darrell Steinberg will continue, uh, to ride his absolute success, uh, curing homelessness and crime in the city by accepting a judgeship.

I think there's going to be a scramble for his, uh, seat as soon as he, uh, does it.

And... and I've seen that one- our... our own Ryan Seacrest of um- "I'll host anything"- is already throwing his hat in the ring.

Roger Dickinson, uh, he'll run for anything at any time, every time.

[Laughter] I wanted to come back.

There's a... there's a lot of running in there that you just talked about.

I...

I want to come back to Gavin Newsom.

Marcos, you say that he- that the governor is going to be denying all year long his desire to run for president.

In other words, uh, "I...

I...

I have no interest and never thought about it at... at all."

Recently, I was back in Washington and a- uh, someone in jest, uh, partially, said, "Gee, the Democrats claim that if they only had enough money and they had controls over all the levers of power, they could solve everything and people would live in a utopia."

And then, he started to quote a litany of issues- transportation, homelessness, educational achievement, the environment- and the... the list went on for probably about 45 seconds of all of the things that California is either last or near-dead-last on, and said "The Democrats have a unified government led by Gavin Newsom.

Why should they be in charge of anything, given, uh, the state of California today?"

Uh, what would... what would you say, uh, in- that the governor really has to run on if he did decide to run for president?

Well, remember, this is going to be a shadow campaign.

So, in that sense, he doesn't need to run the way a... a conventional politician would.

He has identified his niche as being the, uh, telegenic attack dog for Democrats, uh, and has said openly that the Democrats have been too slow and too passive to respond to attacks from their Republican opponents.

And so, he's setting himself up to be the picture of, uh, Democratic virility and the, uh... the, uh- well, really, the well-quaffed spokesperson for democratic ideals.

And... and, listen, on this- on the topic of theatrics and... and sound bites, I mean, he's a champ.

He's- And he's been one throughout his career.

That's where he excels, uh, and those of us who know him know that, uh, that the, uh, the actual dirty details are... are a little harder to solve.

You know, you brought- One of the issues that you brought up was homelessness.

And homelessness continues to vex California, and in particular the Sacramento region.

Recently, there was a big announcement that the city and county- who the Bee has been highly critical of over the past several months- have finally gotten together and formed some sort of pact to address homelessness.

What can we expect to see in 2023?

Well, um, the... the details of the agreement call for the county to finally, uh- which they should have done ten years ago- um, really put a... a big effort behind, um, social workers and mental health workers being out in the field and, uh, funneling homeless people, or attempting to funnel people, from, uh, being on the street, uh, into services.

Now, it sounds straightforward, but it's really not.

Uh, it's... it's a really difficult thing to do.

I think, for the average, uh, voter and... and citizen, I think, um, uh- and I've said this before- that the... the pressure needs to remain on the county.

They're ten years late to the party on homelessness.

They've let Darrell Steinberg do all the heavy lifting in the last ten years, and they only reluctantly were brought to the negotiating table.

Uh, and I...

I have a...

I have a... a feeling that Sacramento accepts mediocrity, uh, in its elected officials, and there is no more mediocre, uh, body of elected officials in Sacramento than the Sacramento Board of Supervisors.

Phil Sterner, Patrick Kennedy, uh, um, just as alleged Democrats, have been utter failures on this issue, have been AWOL on this issue and only seem to care about when people criticize them.

So, I think the... the... the community needs to really focus the attention on them and making sure that they live up to their end of the deal.

Hmm.

Ed, if... if, uh, if we take Marcos' statement about how we seem to raise mediocrity here, is there anybody who you're looking forward to seeing more of in 2023 that may be a voice that can get something done or at least drive a conversation?

Well, I had actually, uh, mentioned this I think a couple of years ago on your show when Caity Maple and I- whom- whose name is spelled C-A-I-T-Y- I hope I'm pronouncing it right.

[Marcos] Yes.

[Ed] She just was elected to the city council and, um, I think she's going to be, uh, an absolute pistol on the council.

Uh, she's a- She was- She ran a rather fearless campaign against some very, very serious odds.

I absolutely agree with Marcos on, um, uh, the... the county.

Uh, what I think has been the... the biggest problem with homelessness in Sacramento is that politicians are simply concerned about it for optics.

I'm not saying that they don't have hearts or anything like that, but they... "Get them off the street.

We don't want to see them."

And I hear people talk about, uh, bringing in other businesses to Sacramento, relocation, uh... uh... uh, economic expansion.

And the fact is that they... they take a tour, they take a "FAM"- familiarization tour- of Sacramento, and they see tents and they see these people and... and... and, uh, uh, and that's what the politicians want to do, is like, "Let's... let's... let's, like, make it look prettier."

But as Marcos alludes to- and I absolutely agree with- the social services are the... are the things that are really lacking.

Uh, uh, I...

I know at Saint John's Program for Real Change, their mantra has been, um, if you are accepted into the program, uh, you have to sign, uh, a contract saying you're going to be off drugs, you're going to be off this, you're going to be off that.

And then, 18 months later, you emerge with an actual job.

And to me, it's... it's trying to actually heal people, uh, rather than just hide them away.

Hmm.

Interesting.

You know, one of the- Marcos, when you talk about the composition of the County Board of Supervisors, uh, uh, we are seeing, though, some changes in terms of who's holding power within the region.

For instance, for the first time in a couple of decades, we have a female majority city council in the city of Sacramento.

And in fact, in West Sacramento, the entire city council is female.

Is there anything that... that we should expect from seeing this changing of the guard- not just generationally- gender, generationally and otherwise, that might bring a different approach?

It's an interesting question.

Um, I think on this show a couple of years ago, I think one of my predictions was that we're going to see a generational change in Sacramento, and we're seeing it.

Um, and now the question is, um, uh, uh, can the- this new generation, uh, govern in a different way?

I think in the city, it's difficult because the city has refused- uh, the city... city voters have refused to change our system of governance.

And so, you have an unelected city manager who still wields a lot of power, uh, and who... who, um, uh, uh, is- has a different, uh, set of values and different, um, priorities, uh, and... and one of those priorities is to be worried about what citizens feel.

And a lot of citizens, unfortunately, in Sacramento are still in the mindset that they want the homeless out of their face.

Uh, and as long as we're stuck on that, as long as we never move beyond that or think more deeply than that, it's difficult to, um, imagine really meaningful change.

And so, it'll be up to this next generation- you know, Ed mentioned Caity Maple, Karina Talamantes is another- uh, uh, really young people who now are going to be sitting on the dais and learning that it's one thing to... to be an advocate, it's another thing to actually govern.

Well, that... that's an interesting point in itself, because, um, Ed had mentioned Darrell Steinberg a... a few moments ago and, uh, a lot of people are beginning to ask, "Well, what's next for Mayor Steinberg?"

And there's been talk about a... a judicial appointment or... or... or maybe something else.

Part of the shift that's gone on is that, uh, Mayor Steinberg, in his earlier years, was known to be at the... the... the bleeding edge of the left, and now, he's considered to be part of the establishment.

Are there any new ideas related to the issues that are facing us climate-wise, homelessness, and the other things that are at play- including the... the big one you talk about, which is the... the challenge of... of how to re-imagine downtowns- that are being talked about that we might see some action or progress on in 2023?

Well, I mean, I keep hearing from, uh, uh, people in... in... in business and tourism that, uh, we... we need to, um, admit that the... that the downtown workers are not coming back and we need to begin to repurposing these buildings.

Um, uh, but there are... there are enough, um, I think, enough interests in development who aren't... who aren't ready to go there yet and who... who see a... a... a tremendous amount of money that would have to be put up upfront to make those buildings, um, uh, be able to perform a different function.

So, these are issues that are very difficult.

Um, it's one thing to... to say it, and it's another thing to do it, and- but Sacramento- downtown Sacramento has a... has a terrible problem in that there just aren't enough people downtown.

Um, so... so, it's going to take more than good... good intentions to turn that around.

And you're talking about a council now that's very young and very inexperienced.

Um, and so, it's... it's... it's going to be really difficult for them to... to achieve that and... and to... to make some meaningful change on homelessness, when... when I don't think that the city manager is really on board, uh, for that, um, not... not in a real- not in the way they are.

Hmm.

Ed, you know, part, uh, part of this whole downtown issue that Marcos has described has to do with not just how we repurpose the buildings, but also what happens to the center of commerce.

What do you think are going to be some of the key challenges that businesses are going to be facing, uh, in the coming year?

Well, one of the issues that I think is kind of important is that I don't think the hybrid work model- and this- I'm saying this as somebody who's worked at home for 40 years, uh, so, I... I- it's like I don't have any skin in the game, but, uh, I do notice that, um, The Wall Street Journal, uh, just the other day had a front page article about the fact that all these corporations are now demanding that people come back to work.

I think that's actually- and it's easy for me to say, again, because nobody is calling me back to work.

Uh, um, uh, they just say, "Stay home," in fact.

But, uh, I think you're going to see that people are going to go back to work and I think a lot of the situations- uh, the... the situation that Marcos talks about with, um, repurposing the buildings and all that, I think it's good to have that plan in... in... in... in a book, uh, and have it... have it on a shelf and have it ready to pull out.

But I think those buildings are going to get filled up again, because as... as the private industry goes, so will the state, so... And one of the things about it, about working when I did work in places, is you learn so much more as a young worker by working around people who have either institutional memory or you can walk next door and say, "How do you do this thing?

I don't know how to do it."

And I think we're going to see the value of that come back.

It's going to be slow.

And I think that making- uh, using some of the buildings we have, uh, that are downtown that are not being used, um, there is a homelessness, uh, cure right there, uh, that we- It's just- It's- Some people are going to have to forego profits on leasing.

There's going to have to be subsidies from the city and county.

And Marcos is absolutely right about that, the county is a Johnny-come-lately on all these issues.

And I think that... that... that's going to be a pretty good stopgap, is using some of these buildings, uh, to help house the homeless and provide social services.

So, I don't think downtown is... is moribund as it appears.

And actually, if you go downtown during the week, the... the work week, it is still pretty lively.

It's, uh- It... it was- It went through a period right around COVID when it was- yeah, it was... it was dead.

It was like, uh, watching a dystopian sci fi movie.

But now, it's, uh, it's... it's pretty lively, and it wasn't just for the holidays.

It's interesting you mention that.

I just, uh, recently came back from San Francisco, and if I were to compare the two downtowns, Sacramento actually seems to have a little bit more of a pulse than downtown San Francisco.

I know that that sounds strange.

[Ed] No, I don't think so... [Scott] Marcos, when you... when you think about the business climate as well, what impact do you think that, um, the expectation that we're going to run a $25 billion deficit this year in the state budget- how's that going to impact, uh, employment and business within our region?

I mean, it's going to require people to be innovative again.

I mean, they've- People have depended on, uh, these major, um, handouts from the state because the money has been there.

Uh, and so, uh, I...

I think it's going to be a really challenging year, um, uh, for... for- But I think people- business leaders are up for it.

I think that, um, uh, that they- I...

I think that Sacramento still has a chance, um, to achieve some of the... the... the wins that... that seemed at hand right before COVID.

I haven't given up on the dream of a... of a Major League Soccer franchise in downtown Sacramento.

Uh, I think that's still a possibility.

Uh, and, uh, if that were secured, then the construction would begin on a stadium downtown and I think that that would be a real catalyst for... for what- [Scott] Well... Well, you know, interesting you mention that because, uh, there is still interest in soccer.

As a matter of fact, one of the things that's supposed to be coming here, uh, later this year that your paper just covered is the Homeless World Cup of soccer.

Uh, first time it's been played anywhere in the world since 2019, and it's coming right here to Sacramento.

It'll be here this summer.

And, uh, you know, it'll be a well-attended event.

And I think it'll prove again that... that, uh, that Sacramento turns out for events, that... that Sacramento, uh, is... is still a... a city that... that loves to gather.

And we lost some of that in the last couple of years, and, uh, I agree with Ed.

I think that- Uh, I work in an office, uh, and I've got a lot of- a lot of my colleagues, uh, uh, have not joined, uh, the... the... the... the collection of people about a mile down the road from our old headquarters.

And, uh, I think that the workplaces gain something from having people working collaboratively.

And I'm...

I'm...

I'm hoping that in 2023 it'll be a trend that people will come back to work.

Is there anything, Ed, that, uh, since- what most people would say- if not the end of COVID, has been the diminishment of COVID as, you know, the primary issue facing all of us, that has changed how we've lived, worked, you know, socialized that you expect, um, is still never going to go back to the way that it was and that we just have to resign ourselves, like Marcos was saying at the top of our conversation about office, that we just have to- that we haven't come to terms with yet, that's going to be different and... and in 2023, we're just going to have to deal with?

Well, I, um- I think one of the things we haven't talked about- so, it's going to sound like I'm off target and I apologize for that, but not really- um, is the fact that what I'd love to see, uh, resurrected is something that, uh, uh, uh, county super... county supervisor and city council, uh, tried to put forward probably 20 years ago.

And that was to make the city and the county one government, as it is in San Francisco.

And I think that's long overdue.

Uh, the county is- The county has... has become a bunch of cities.

When I first moved to Sacramento in 1976, it was really easy to remember the cities in Sacramento County.

They were the "FIGS" cities, uh- Folsom, Isleton, Galt and Sacramento.

Now, it's not at all.

It...

It's just...

It's just a complete- You have so many, uh, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, um, Rancho Cordova, and you've got a bunch of cities.

Well, as long as we're a bunch of cities, why don't we make the city and the... and the county- what's left over of the county- one entity.

City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento.

And from there, you can start solving real problems.

You can also probably get a number of the, uh, do-nothings off the county board, which would really be a good thing.

Uh, I don't think we have to resign ourselves to anything.

I think the human spirit, uh, which is very alive in Sacramento, does not simply resign to things.

And I think we'll see an actual uptick in this coming year.

And I'm maybe an optimist, but that's- it hasn't failed me yet.

Hmm.

Marcos, one thing we haven't talked about is sports.

You have any predictions for what's going to happen with the major teams that we follow here in Sacramento?

OK, I...

I know I'm going to regret this, but I'm going to go ahead and say it anyway, that I'm going to predict the Sacramento Kings will finally make it to the playoffs this year, have a winning record.

Um, uh, listen, I've...

I've bitten on this before in the last 16 years of... of dismal failures, but... but, uh, it... it seems that a change is finally at hand.

And that's good for Sacramento.

That's good for the downtown.

That's good for- I...

I...

I remember the last time they were good, uh, 16, 17 years ago.

Uh, it was a real rallying cry for the... for the region, but it was good for business.

It was good for my business.

It was good for a lot of businesses.

And... and so, I do think that... that the Kings have that ability to be a real, um, uh, source of pride, uh, and excitement.

And... and I think you're seeing that already.

And so, that's... that's my... that's my prediction that I hope I won't regret.

[Ed] I...

I would actually- Uh, I would...

I would...

I would agree with Marcos.

Uh, I do think the Kings need to make one significant trade, and that's, uh, Vivek Ranadivé, uh, the owner.

Uh, send him somewhere else, and they might very well, uh, succeed.

[Marcos] I...

I have fought that battle already.

[Laughing] [Scott] The- You know... You know, in, uh- When we talk about, um, Sacramento showing up for things and about the Kings, at least as, uh, they promised to play during the current season, and... and there is a lot of building hope and expectation.

Sacramento- You... you made an interesting comment, Marcos.

Sacramento was in the process of becoming something before COVID hit.

There was a lot of momentum and... and spirit going on.

What is it that, um, has kind of been put on the shelf because of the last three years that you're hoping to see us kind of move to the next level on in 2023 and beyond?

I mean, my hope, uh, is that we're going to, um, uh, build a bunch of buildings downtown where people can live.

Uh, and I've always felt that our downtown would have finally arrived when you see young people walk- you know, in the evening, walking their dogs, uh, around downtown.

Uh, and that would mean that the... that the... the blocks downtown that are currently not well-lit would be well-lit.

And when things are well-lit, they're- it is safer, it's a nicer place to be.

Uh, I think you're going to see- continue to see a lot of changes in the... the individual businesses that are downtown.

Some of them just, frankly, didn't make it, couldn't pay their rent.

Um, but the... the city will continue evolving.

And my hope is that someday soon, you'll see the NBA All-Star Game in... in Sacramento and... and you'll see a deep run in the playoffs to where we'll look like a... a very similar city to, uh, Milwaukee looked like a couple of years ago when their team won the NBA title.

And what we saw was Mardi Gras in Milwaukee, uh, and I think that that's good for the spirit of a downtown, and I hope that we experience that.

[Scott] Mardi Gras in Milwaukee.

Uh, I don't know what we'll call it- "Big Party in Sacramento."

[Ed] Soiree in Sacramento.

[Scott] Soiree in Sacramento.

[Ed] You know, uh- [Scott] And that will be the... And that will be the last word, Ed.

[Ed] OK. [Scott] Thank you...

Thank you both, and we will see how it all plays out.

And that's our show.

Thanks to our guests and thanks to you for watching Studio Sacramento.

I'm Scott Syphax.

See you next time right here on KVIE.

♪♪ All episodes of Studio Sacramento, along with other KVIE programs, are available to watch online at kvie.org/video.