Racial Equity Committee Meeting - March 3, 2026

The Racial Equity Committee of the City of Sacramento met on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 11:02 a.m. to 12:06 p.m. at City Hall. Chair Vang led the meeting, with members Jennings and Talamantes present (Member Guerra absent, Vice Chair Talamantes departed at 12:02 p.m.). The committee addressed two major discussion items: an update on the Sacramento Centered on Racial Equity (SCORE) Initiative and an update on the CityStart Initiative, including forwarding a blueprint to the City Council.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 (2026-00544): Approved the Racial Equity Committee Meeting Minutes from January 20, 2026, by a unanimous vote (3-0, with Guerra absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• On SCORE Initiative (Item 2):
  • Will Lambert (public speaker): Criticized the large gap between committee meetings (January to June) as a "recipe for failure" and expressed distrust in the city's commitment to racial equity, warning that terms like "deliberate speed" are delay tactics. He argued that funding is essential and that the city must show action, not just plans.
  • Cal Yee (Racial Equity Alliance): Urged committee members to affirm their commitment to community partnership and shared power, noting that the Alliance is an active implementation partner. He asked policymakers to clarify their vision and ensure sustained progress, especially through funding for the Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE).
  • Henry Harry (public speaker): Recalled past discrimination (e.g., Wells Fargo settlements) and emphasized the need for strong leadership (e.g., a video from the mayor) and a citizen committee to step up if budget cuts occur.
• On CityStart Initiative (Item 3):
  • Will Lambert: Criticized the lack of funding for the blueprint and questioned the city's commitment, noting that resistance to DEI existed before the current federal administration. He also objected to retreats and remote work pay raises.
  • Henry Harry: Stressed the importance of adequate police staffing and stable funding, arguing against an "either-or" choice between police and other programs. He encouraged citizen input on police funding.

Discussion Items

• Item 2: Update on SCORE Initiative (File ID: 2026-00586)

  • Presentations: Darnell Grisby and Malachi Seku Amen (California Urban Partnership / Sacramento Racial Equity Alliance) presented findings from a February 24 community forum. Key themes from the forum included: need for a sustainable funding structure, language access, trauma-informed engagement, stronger community accountability, leadership development, and addressing structural barriers (e.g., meeting times, late agenda releases). They advocated for a "both/and" strategy—pursuing external funding while maintaining a city commitment—and for preserving current ODE funding levels.
  • Staff Update: Aimée Zenzele Barnes (Diversity & Equity Manager) reported on the iterative process of the SCORE Work Plan, highlighting changes made after community input, such as adjusting phases and adding strategies. She noted that the work plan is dynamic and not meant to be static.
  • Committee Direction: Chair Vang directed staff to produce a response memo addressing the community's learning outcomes (e.g., funding, language access, trauma-informed approaches) and to schedule a special meeting (likely in April) before the budget adoption (June 9) to vote on the work plan. The committee stressed that the work must continue regardless of budget constraints and that the response memo should outline what the city can and cannot do, with alternatives.
  • Vice Chair Talamantes: Emphasized that the budget deficit ($62 million) requires a focus on what can be kept or done without dollars, not new spending.
  • Member Jennings: Supported the special meeting and urged it be held as soon as possible, not wait until late April or May.

• Item 3: Update on CityStart Initiative and Next Steps (File ID: 2026-00612)

  • Presentation: Ari Green (Community Engagement Analyst) presented the CityStart Blueprint, developed with a $75,000 grant from the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund (with Bloomberg Philanthropy's Greenwood Initiative). The blueprint is a roadmap to address Sacramento's Black wealth gap, focusing on workforce development, housing, and banking services. Recommendations include expanding guaranteed income programs, supporting local black developers, building philanthropic partnerships (SacLIFT), and engaging youth. A video of the May 2025 release was shown.
  • Committee Action: Member Jennings moved to forward the CityStart Blueprint to the City Council as an update; Vice Chair Talamantes seconded. The motion passed unanimously (3-0), with the committee acknowledging the work done.

Key Outcomes

• SCORE Initiative: The committee directed staff to produce a response memo to community feedback from the February 24 forum and to schedule a special meeting (target: April) to review the response and vote on the updated SCORE Work Plan before the June budget adoption.
• CityStart Initiative: The committee voted unanimously to forward the CityStart Blueprint to the City Council as an update on the initiative's status.
• No further committee comments or public comments on matters not on the agenda.
• Meeting adjourned at 12:06 p.m.