ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen delivered her sixth State of the City address March 31 at District56, highlighting a year of progress while outlining ongoing efforts she said are building momentum for Elk Grove’s future.

Addressing a crowd of elected officials, community leaders and regional representatives, Singh-Allen centered her remarks on this year’s theme of “Progress with Purpose.” Attendees included city council members, local district officials, Wilton Rancheria representatives, Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume and U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui.

Singh-Allen opened her address by highlighting Elk Grove’s recent recognition as a top-ranked city for its quality of life, noting the regional and national attention reflects years of intentional planning and steady work.

She also pointed to the city’s “financial strength” as a driver of its progress at a time when other communities face economic challenges.

“That kind of stability does not happen by accident,” Singh-Allen said. “It is the result of careful planning, responsible budgeting and a commitment to innovation and efficiency.”

Singh-Allen credited residents for advancing the city’s progress through their approval of Measure E in 2022, a 1% local sales tax that funds city services and programs.

“Measure E represents more than funding,” Singh-Allen said. “It represents trust, and we remain committed to stewarding those dollars responsibly, transparently and consistently in alignment with the needs and priorities our community has shared with us.”

Public safety remains the city’s top priority, said Singh-Allen, with efforts including the addition of a commercial enforcement officer to improve traffic conditions and the introduction of new technology such as automatic license plate readers and a drone first-responder program.

According to last year’s data shared during the address, automatic license plate readers identified 274 vehicles of interest, with about 30% leading to arrests. The drone program cleared 14% of calls without requiring a police patrol vehicle and reduced response times by 75%.

Singh-Allen thanked Police Chief Bobby Davis and the Elk Grove Police Department for their work in 2025, with officers having responded to nearly 100,000 calls for service while reducing overall crime by 2%.

Singh-Allen then called attention to community support efforts and housing progress as key markers of growth in Elk Grove over the past year.

She began by addressing economic challenges residents faced during last year’s government shutdown, which disrupted food benefits and impacted federal workers. Singh-Allen said the city, with support from Wilton Rancheria and local partners, helped to secure $131,000 in donations for the Elk Grove Food Bank to maintain services for residents in need.

Since then, Singh-Allen said, the city has expanded partnerships with other food banks and nonprofit Al-Misbaah to support a growing immigrant and refugee population through providing increased food distribution.

 

U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, District 7 incumbent, is pictured seated during Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen’s 2026 State of the City address at District56.

Addressing homelessness, Singh-Allen highlighted efforts such as the city’s Homeless Outreach Navigator program, encampment cleanups and emergency hotel vouchers for families. She said those measures contributed to a 65% reduction in homeless encampments citywide.

She also outlined progress toward establishing Elk Grove’s first permanent homeless shelter. The city has identified a site near Survey Road and East Stockton Boulevard, with design work underway and expected to be released later this year. The facility is targeted to open by fall 2028.

Affordable housing development saw significant gains over the past year, with the addition of 770 new units, the most in the city’s history, Singh-Allen said. The expansion includes projects such as Grace, Meadows and Adamstown House, transitional community homes, along with additional developments in the pipeline: The Lyla, The Pardes, MOSA and Coral Blossom Apartments.

“We understand the assignment,” she said. “And we’re getting things done.”

In celebration of Elk Grove’s diversity, the mayor recognized March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility during her address and presented a proclamation to Tristan Buzzini, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in gender-affirming care and a resident who serves on the city’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission.

“I have personally experienced the tremendous pride and appreciation that comes from our purposeful celebrations,” Singh-Allen said before presenting the proclamation.

 

Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen poses with Dr. Tristan Buzzini, holding a proclamation recognizing March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility during the 2026 State of the City address.

Traffic ranked among the top concerns Singh-Allen said she hears from residents, prompting her to recognize both recent improvements and upcoming projects aimed at easing congestion. She said results from the city’s traffic signal coordination project show a 21% reduction in average travel time, a 46% cut in signal delay, a 30% increase in average speeds and a 41% reduction in stops.

She added that infrastructure work already underway and planned includes a connection from Kammerer Road to Interstate 5, a new interchange at Whitelock Parkway and $10 million in pavement maintenance, along with improvements to ramps and key corridors to help alleviate crosstown traffic congestion.

For pedestrians and cyclists, construction continues on the Laguna Creek Trail overcrossing at Highway 99, expected to be completed later this summer. Singh-Allen also announced a recent partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) to launch the new yearlong Seniors Ride Free pilot program, which provides residents ages 62 or older bus rides within city limits at no cost.

Singh-Allen spotlighted sustainability efforts with continued work on the city’s climate action plan aimed at advancing cleaner energy and implementing more efficient infrastructure. She said those investments both help protect residents and attract businesses to support long-term economic growth.

The mayor outlined economic development efforts such as the BrEW program, which supports new restaurants and wineries with startup costs, and the latest Pitch Elk Grove competition, where Elk Grove-based startup Soar Optics won the top prize of $20,000. She acknowledged challenges such as the closure of an Amazon Fresh store and other local business closures but said it does not signal a slowdown in the city’s retail and dining sector, citing continued growth supported by small businesses and new additions such as Whole Foods, Yard House and Cattlemen’s.

She also underscored Apple as a “cornerstone employer” in the community, noting that thousands of residents work at its Elk Grove campus and that the company is investing in modernizing its facilities to remain in the area long-term.

 

Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen highlighted a year of progress while outlining ongoing efforts she said are building momentum for Elk Grove’s future during her 2026 State of the City address March 31.

“This kind of sustained investment sends a strong signal that Elk Grove remains a reliable, business friendly environment where global companies like Apple and ALLDATA can thrive,” Singh-Allen said.

Singh-Allen closed the address with assuring residents of continued city investment in public amenities, including the new state-of-the-art library coming to Main Street and improvements to streets in the historic district.

“Progress doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes leadership, partnership and community,” she said.

“Elk Grove continues to prove that when we move forward together, we can build a city that is safer, stronger and more inclusive, and full of opportunity. The state of our city is strong; the future is bright; the momentum is real,” Singh-Allen added.