Author: Rob Turner
An Open and Shut Case
The front doors of the State Capitol first opened before Edison invented the light bulb. It’s time to shed some light on why they were locked in 2014 and correct this Capitol offense.
Plane Spotting
At airports throughout the world, creative new observation decks are giving both locals and travelers a first-class view of the friendly skies. Let’s find a way to get a similar venture off the ground at Sacramento International.
The Brutalist Truth
Sacramento is brimming with optimism these days, but a proposal to spend up to $80 million to fix one of our city’s worst buildings is recklessly pessimistic. It’s time for this plan to exit stage left.
Gimme Shelter
In Pittsburgh, a local music collective converted an everyday bus shelter into a pint-sized jazz club this past summer. Here’s why we should create our own sidewalk symphony.
A State of Disrepair
The state of California is trying to decide if it’s going to spend $155 million to repair an office building that cost $15 million to construct. Isn’t there a better solution? We’re glad you asked.
Q&A with Bill Mueller, CEO of Valley Vision
They say it takes a village, but when local political and business leaders need help, it takes Valley Vision. This Sacramento-based nonprofit was founded in 1994 to assist public and private organizations in solving complex regional issues. And this November, it will host an event called Region Rising with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Valley Vision CEO Bill Mueller talks about civic cooperation, creating a “fun” public policy conference, and how this area can become the “best place to live on the planet.”
Death Takes a Holiday: Sugar Skulls for Day of the Dead
A local baker applies her cake decorating skills to sugar skulls for the joyful Day of the Dead.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
For decades, civic and state leaders have tried—and failed—to conjure a Capitol Mall worthy of its namesake building. Now is the time to sharpen our focus on our city’s grandest gateway.
Tree Mail
When Melbourne, Australia, assigned each of its trees an individual email address, they hoped residents would write in to report damaged or dying trees. Instead, the elms, oaks and others received an altogether unexpected form of communication -- love letters. We think Melbourne is barking up the right tree.
Q&A with Richard Florida, author of ‘Who’s Your City?’
In 2002, with his best-selling book The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida kick-started a national conversation about how cities can attract the kind of people that will help them grow and compete. A professor of business and creativity at the University of Toronto, his new book, Who’s Your City?, focuses on helping people choose the city that fits them best. He tells Sactown why our geography and diversity will help propel Sacramento to new heights. 
Aqua Duck
Since 2007, a Dutch artist’s massive rubber ducks have been enthralling audiences in coastal and river cities around the world, bringing both whimsy and tangible economic impacts. Why don’t we take a quack at it?
Farm-to-Freeway?
As Sacramento’s farm-to-fork identity takes root, now is the time to replant our region’s biggest farmers’ market in a location that honors our agricultural heritage, not “cements” it.
When Public Art Fails
As the debate about public art and money reaches a fever pitch in Sacramento, part of the conversation needs to focus on the larger civic cost when this kind of art fails. Here’s why the biggest public art debacle in our city’s history may also be one of its greatest opportunities.
Silo Night
Port cities like Buffalo and Minneapolis are turning crop storage silos into star attractions. It’s time for this port city to find the culture in agriculture and start making the most of these concrete canvases.
Nightmare on Elm Streets
Long before we became known as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, Sacramentans beamed with pride at the moniker the City of Trees. But one of the trees responsible for that label is disappearing at an alarming rate. Here’s why we need to stem the losses before it’s too late.
For the Record
From Cleveland to Nashville, music-themed museums draw huge numbers across the country, but each is limited by the genre it celebrates. We should create the ultimate music museum by honoring the ultimate music institution: Tower Records.
Bruce Monighan Q&A
In December, local architect Bruce Monighan took on the role of Sacramento’s Urban Design Manager. He shares his vision for creating a distinctive regional style, using steel shipping containers in architecture, attracting the next generation of downtown dwellers (hello, flexible micro-apartments), and building a city for the 22nd century.
Zoo Station
For years, the concept of a passenger train running from Old Sacramento to the Sacramento Zoo has been stalled by one obstacle after the next. Now is the time to get this wild idea back on track.
Topping off the Town
Cities like Paris, St. Louis and Seattle are instantly recognizable worldwide, not because of office buildings, but for iconic observation towers that scrape the sky. It’s time to top off Sacramento’s skyline with an architectural exclamation point.
Project Runway
Sacramento to London? Beijing? Austin, maybe? Cities all across the country are aggressively pursuing new nonstop flights in a race to lure new companies and keep the ones they already have. Here’s why it’s critical that we help SMF to Score More Flights.
Right as Rain
This year, California was hit by a serious drought, with more dry spells predicted in coming decades. It’s time to get creative and save water for a non-rainy day by building our own tower of showers.
Park Toppers
In densely populated cities around the country, public parks are highly treasured, but new green space is hard to find. That’s why more cities are starting to look up.
A Little Less Conversation
For decades, Sacramento’s political leaders have watched windows of opportunity slam shut as they talk until they’re blue in the face. Now we have a chance to let our current and future mayors do exactly what we elect them to do—lead.
The Aggie Express
Civic leaders around the world are working hard to attract the best and brightest young minds to their respective cities. Meanwhile, we’re losing thousands per year. Here’s how to get back on the right track.
The Nuclear Options
It’s been 25 years since Sacramento’s sole nuclear power plant was shuttered. Other cities have turned their aging cooling towers into hot commodities. Maybe we can, too.
Google Eyes
We’ve proven that we can come together to help launch successful small businesses. Now let’s get creative about attracting some new Googles here, too.
Green is the New Black
With few public options for recycling in Sacramento, it’s time to trash our old way of thinking and create some stylish new ways to make our streets and parks as clean as our conscience.
Bold Sacramento
With the new arena coming to downtown, Old Sacramento has an opportunity to shine like never before. Here are a few ideas to turn something old into something bold.
Farm to Snack
In Chicago and Philadelphia, entrepreneurs are turning the vending machine concept on its head by offering everything from locally made snacks to farm-fresh salads. Why not turn our region's own bounty into the ultimate fast food?
Troubled Waters
The historic Capitol fountain has been standing sentry in front of our city’s most celebrated building since the 1920s, but empty symbolism has kept the water from flowing for years. This is one drought that we can actually do something about.
Painting the Town
In cities around the world, artists are using large building façades as blank canvases, transforming urban blocks into massive outdoor museums. With an abundance of local buildings that fit the bill, it’s time to curate our own civic gallery.
A Walk on the Wild Side
This may be the City of Trees, but when it comes to getting a good look at these majestic plants, we humans are a vertically challenged bunch. Let’s take a walk among giants.
Return of the JFDI
Thanks to some bold thinkers, Sacramento is on the verge of a civic renaissance, the likes of which it hasn’t seen since the Transcontinental Railroad. But at least one big project-in-waiting could derail a brighter future for the arts.
Bridge Party
Many of us here are proud of our River City status, even though it’s no secret that we’ve never connected with our riverfront the way we should. But in cities like Portland and Pasadena, people have found a way to turn some of their oldest structures—their bridges—into their newest attractions.
A Sleeping Green Giant
A decade ago, Joe Genshlea envisioned an urban park downtown that would rival the biggest and best in America. A lack of political courage and leadership stopped it in its tracks. Here’s why we need to revive it, and why there’s no time to waste.
A River Runs Through It
The Sacramento region exists largely because of its rivers, yet we still rarely connect with them. So let’s take a cue from Tahoe and Portland, which give their residents and tourists a window into the secret lives of their wild waterways.
They Say It’s My Birthday
A long-lost culinary favorite returns to the capital city. One former devotee can’t wait.
Spin City
Around the world, cities are dressing up their skylines and energizing downtowns and waterfronts with shiny new observation wheels. This is one idea that Sacramento should take out for a spin.
Looking for a Square Deal
Once the site of Sacramento’s most ambitious building project, 301 Capitol Mall may be in play again. But will it rise to the occasion? Here’s why CalPERS holds the future of our grandest boulevard in its hands.
#HereWeBuild
The Kings are staying and Sacramento finally has a shot at getting the urban core it deserves. We have a few ideas for it.
On Sale Now!
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