The City Council of Sacramento convened on July 1, 2025, to address significant community concerns regarding the proposed expansion of the Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) in the railroad area. The meeting highlighted strong opposition from local residents and advocacy groups, particularly regarding the limited provision of affordable housing in the development plan.

During the public comment section, a resident expressed frustration over the EIFD proposal, which allocates only 3.9% of the total housing to be affordable. This resident, along with 134 neighbors, submitted a formal protest against the expansion, emphasizing the need for more substantial affordable housing options in Sacramento. They argued that the current proposal fails to address the city's pressing homelessness crisis and called for a reevaluation of the deal to better align with the Sacramento Regional Housing Needs Allocation.

Sonia Carabel, representing Unite Here Local 49, echoed these sentiments, stating that the EIFD deal would allocate $92 million in taxpayer funds to a project that only requires 6% of its housing to be affordable. Carabel highlighted the struggles faced by hospitality workers in the city, who often find themselves choosing between basic necessities due to the high cost of living. She stressed that the solution to the housing crisis lies not in criminalizing homelessness but in providing adequate housing and services.

Both speakers underscored the importance of community involvement in shaping housing policies and urged the city to reconsider the current proposal to ensure it meets the needs of all residents, particularly those most affected by the housing crisis. The discussions at the meeting reflect a growing demand for more inclusive and equitable housing solutions in Sacramento as the city continues to develop its downtown area.

The City Council's next steps remain to be seen as they consider the feedback from the community and the implications of the EIFD expansion on Sacramento's housing landscape.