Issue: March 05, 2020

This week's cover feature looks at homelessness and mental health in California with stories on the agenda laid out by Gov. Gavin Newsom in his State of the State speech and on one family's struggle to get treatment for a loved one, plus an essay from Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

In News, Raheem F. Hosseini explores the city of Sacramento's latest bid to clear homeless camps, Scott Thomas Anderson updates a bill to fund more opioid addiction treatment and Graham Womack writes about a new study that suggests the Trump administration's crackdown is increasing substance abuse among immigrants. We also have a story on how a coronavirus case in Northern California reveals problems with public health testing so far.

In Arts, Lindsay Oxford gives her take on the female-focused remake of High Fidelity and also profiles Sacramento surf-punk band Gamma People. In Stage, we have reviews of Hamlet at Sacramento Theatre Company and The Bluest Eye at Celebration Arts.

In the Garden column, Debbie Arrington previews several major events in the local gardening world, including the annual camellia contest.

In Voices, the city's first film commissioner declares her goal to make Sacramento a destination for movie and TV productions. SN&R president Jeff vonKaenel writes that politicians are avoiding inconvenient truths about health care. And I raise some concerns about the city's "Economic Gardening" program to boost small Sacramento companies.

As always, thanks for reading. To read the full stories, click the links below. But don't forget to pick up a print copy of SN&R for exclusive event picks and other content.

— Foon Rhee