Mayor Kevin McCarthy - Democratic Mayors

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty delivered his first State of the City Address, reflecting on his first ten months in office and outlining his priorities moving forward. Mayor McCarty’s priorities include homelessness, housing, youth, and public safety.

Mayor McCarty reported that homelessness in the city has decreased by 30% from 2022 to 2024, a result of targeted strategies to expand shelter capacity and create pathways to permanent housing. The city currently provides roughly 1,700 beds for unhoused residents, with plans to add 500 more within the following year. He announced the launch of the new Robin Moore Tiny Home Grant Program, which will allow churches and nonprofit organizations to host city-purchased tiny homes on their properties, expanding community-led housing solutions.

To further tackle housing affordability, Mayor McCarty announced his proposal for a citywide real estate transfer tax targeting high-volume property sales. The measure, which he plans to place on the November 2026 ballot, is projected to generate up to $9 million annually. Funds would support down payment and rental assistance for working families, as well as the construction of additional tiny home communities and affordable housing.

Mayor McCarty highlighted progress under Measure L, the voter-approved initiative that has doubled funding for youth programs and secured support for at least five years of expanded opportunities for young people across Sacramento. He highlighted the importance of new economic development projects, including the downtown railyards and the future Sac Republic FC stadium, in sustaining long-term funding for youth and community programs.

Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.

More State of the City Addresses

Las Vegas, Nevada

Mayor Shelley Berkley

Mayor Shelley Berkley delivered her State of the City Address, looking to the future and outlining how Las Vegas will continue to be a leading city that assists those in need, creates new opportunities, and provides safe and beautiful neighborhoods and amenities. She emphasized the city’s continued focus on helping vulnerable residents through expanded services, including the MORE Team pilot program, which connects individuals experiencing homelessness with mental health professionals, health workers, and street medicine, as well as the new Community Court that prioritizes structure, monitoring, and resources over punitive approaches.

Nashville, Tennessee

Mayor Freddie O’Connell

In his State of the Metro Address, Mayor Freddie O’Connell described his vision for a Nashville that is affordable, safe, healthy, welcoming, and prosperous, a city for everyone, and emphasized that progress will be purposeful, even when it is not always loud or linear. He outlined steps his administration will take to make Nashville more affordable, including proposals to cut the grocery tax, expand access to childcare, support small businesses, create jobs, build more housing, and invest in children from birth.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Mayor Indya Kincannon

In her seventh State of the City Address, Mayor Indya Kincannon proposed a lean budget that continues to prioritize public safety, affordable housing, parks, and high-quality people-focused services. She also emphasized the importance of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars, noting that her budget proposal covers essential services without raising taxes, even as the city navigates inflation, rising costs, and broader economic uncertainty.