RSK: They must be careful on penalizing landlords because of market conditions and other varying factors. I get the idea behind it, but no need to p

Sacramento is once again weighing a tax on vacant commercial property. City officials want to push owners of blighted buildings and long-empty parcels into action, and the City Council’s Law and Legislative Committee has now opened the discussion. On Wednesday, members emphasized that the talks are still in the very early stages, but they began laying the groundwork for either a vacancy tax, stronger code enforcement, or a mix of both.

Councilmember Caity Maple called it “the very, very, very beginning of the conversation,” adding that while the council could technically vote as early as January to place a measure on the June 2026 ballot, such a fast track is unlikely. Senior planner Greta Soos told the committee that narrowing which properties are targeted could improve voter support, which currently polls below the two-thirds threshold required. Business groups spoke against a tax, saying demand is market-driven, while activists argued it could finally force long-neglected lots into new use...

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RSK: They must be careful on penalizing landlords because of market conditions and other varying factors. I get the idea behind it, but no need to punish someone if they are following what the market gives them.