A new - and large - political action committee has its eyes set on Sacramento City Hall.
Tired of what they think are slow and outdated development processes, roughly 60 businesses and eight building trade groups have formed Region Builders. The committee is spearheaded by the influential Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange.
The group will enter into the political fray soon, recruiting and campaigning for candidates for next year's City Council races. Four seats are in play.
Don't expect the group to be too involved in the mayoral race, also set for next year. The committee is a strong ally of Mayor Kevin Johnson and it's appearing less and less likely that Johnson will face a serious challenge next year.
The committee will focus on what many in the building industry say is a city development department that has returned to days of red tape since a scandal involving improper permits in the Natomas flood zone rocked City Hall. To that end, Region Builders will push for streamlining the permitting process for construction projects and lowering permit fees for solar projects.
"There needs to be more building-friendly systems in place," said Scott Whyte, the committee's political director.
Region Builders is different - but shares many of the same views - as another group of local business interests known as the Sacramento 60. That group is also aligned with the mayor, has advocated for a more streamlined environment in the development department and is expected to support candidates in next year's council races as well.
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