Creating new jobs. Dealing with more budget cuts. A new Kings Arena. And downtown Sacramento development efforts. Sacramento State professor Bob Waste says those are at the top of the capital region’s list of local political issues for 2010.
But Waste says the region’s struggling economy will tie the hands of elected officials – as well as anyone running for office.
Waste: “If the cupboard is bare, all you can do is describe the cupboard, rather than deliver any of the plates. That’ll certainly limit what people can promise in terms of politics, and certainly limit what they can deliver.”
Waste also says Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson faces an uphill challenge to get his strong mayor initiative passed. That measure would shift power over City Hall’s day-to-day operations from the city manager to the mayor. But Waste says polls show it doesn’t appear to have much support so far.
