By US Media Group
Union and community leaders gathered Wednesday at Cesar Chavez Plaza to protest a $92 million proposal that would allocate taxpayer funds to the downtown railyards and a planned soccer stadium.
Opponents, rallying under the banner of “Stop the Railyards Ripoff,” contend that the proposal offers insufficient benefits in return for the investment. The Sacramento City Council is set to vote on the deal on June 10, which would direct funds toward public infrastructure improvements such as streets, sidewalks, utilities, and parks. The total cost for redeveloping the railyards and constructing the stadium is projected to exceed $321 million, with a majority of that cost expected to be covered by private funding.
The protest was organized by groups including Unite Here Local 49, the Sacramento Central Labor Council, SEIU USWW, and Sacramento Investment Without Displacement. Tamie Dramer from Organize Sacramento voiced concerns about job guarantees linked to the project, likening it to the Golden 1 Center, which also relied on taxpayer funding. “None of that so far has been guaranteed in this negotiated agreement that they have not disclosed to the public,” Dramer stressed in an interview with CBS 13 News.
Critics also argue that the deal is being rushed and could further strain the local economy amidst a significant budget deficit. They highlight that the development promises only 6% affordable housing within a planned 10,000 residential units.
In response, the Greater Sacramento Economic Council released a fact sheet outlining how the tax funds would be used in the railyards redevelopment project.
Mayor Kevin McCarty expressed strong support for the initiative, arguing it would revitalize an underutilized area. “Nothing is happening there now, as nothing’s happened there for the past 60 years,” McCarty stated. He emphasized that the plan represents a sound investment, clarifying that taxpayer subsidies would support infrastructure, not the stadium itself.
Republic FC President Todd Dunivant defended the project, characterizing it as a long-overdue transformation for a 244-acre site that has remained vacant for decades. “With the city’s budget shortfalls, the team is taking the lead to build sidewalks, streets, parks, and public infrastructure on behalf of the city and its taxpayers,” Dunivant said, emphasizing that they intend to transfer ownership of the completed infrastructure back to the city.
He also highlighted efforts to create a new neighborhood in The Railyards, claiming that nearly 45% of existing housing is affordable. “Tuesday’s vote is an opportunity for City Leaders to set the course for the future of Sacramento,” Dunivant said.
Mayor McCarty anticipates that construction on the stadium could begin this year, aiming for Republic FC to play there within two years. “Still, [we have] the goal that one day, we’ll have an MLS team here,” McCarty added. “I’m optimistic that this professional, albeit minor league team will graduate one day to MLS.”