Theresa Clift
@tclift.bsky.social
Senior reporter for @sacbee_news.
Fan of local accountability journalism, breakfast sandwiches.
@SacBeeGuild chair.
DMs open.
Fan of local accountability journalism, breakfast sandwiches.
@SacBeeGuild chair.
DMs open.
My latest
The landlord was living in Oakland on July 4, when the fireworks were set off, the suit alleges.
Sacramento fined landlord $38,000 after tenant set off fireworks. Now he’s suing
The landlord was living in Oakland on July 4, when the fireworks were set off, the suit alleges.
bit.ly
December 23, 2025 at 10:31 PM
My latest
This happens every year but @arianelange.bsky.social turns it into a necessary and gut wrenching read www.sacbee.com/news/local/h...
Mourners remember nearly 200 who died homeless in Sacramento County this year
Homeless people and their advocates gathered for a vigil in Sacramento — and passed around gear to survive frigid winter nights.
www.sacbee.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This happens every year but @arianelange.bsky.social turns it into a necessary and gut wrenching read www.sacbee.com/news/local/h...
Forgot to post, but in October, I hit 7 years at the Sacramento Bee and in June I hit 12 years as a professional journalist.
It's still the best profession in the world.
It's still the best profession in the world.
December 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Forgot to post, but in October, I hit 7 years at the Sacramento Bee and in June I hit 12 years as a professional journalist.
It's still the best profession in the world.
It's still the best profession in the world.
New: City of Folsom paid $700K to two former officers who alleged racism while on the police force.
Among the allegations, at the shooting range, a sergeant dragged a female officer across the dirt. He denied the allegation and is still on the force.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Among the allegations, at the shooting range, a sergeant dragged a female officer across the dirt. He denied the allegation and is still on the force.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Folsom pays $700K in discrimination suits, now has no Asian American police officers
The city signed the settlement agreements earlier this month with Asian American two cops who alleged they were harassed while on the force.
www.sacbee.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
New: City of Folsom paid $700K to two former officers who alleged racism while on the police force.
Among the allegations, at the shooting range, a sergeant dragged a female officer across the dirt. He denied the allegation and is still on the force.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Among the allegations, at the shooting range, a sergeant dragged a female officer across the dirt. He denied the allegation and is still on the force.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
PSA: Don't go to Sacramento City Hall on Christmas
December 19, 2025 at 7:04 PM
PSA: Don't go to Sacramento City Hall on Christmas
Roseville police officers are set to receive 6.75% raises next year — the highest annual raises in at least the last four years.
City Council to consider it tonight.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
City Council to consider it tonight.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Roseville police officers set to get biggest raises in over four years. How much?
The Roseville City Council will consider the raises during its meeting Wednesday.
www.sacbee.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Roseville police officers are set to receive 6.75% raises next year — the highest annual raises in at least the last four years.
City Council to consider it tonight.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
City Council to consider it tonight.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Theresa Clift
Emails obtained by The Sacramento Bee show that she raised concerns about “absurd” and “disrespectful” treatment only weeks before her departure.
Sacramento paid police watchdog director $270k after ‘horrible treatment’ allegations
Emails obtained by The Sacramento Bee show that she raised concerns about “absurd” and “disrespectful” treatment only weeks before her departure.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Emails obtained by The Sacramento Bee show that she raised concerns about “absurd” and “disrespectful” treatment only weeks before her departure.
ICYMI: My in-depth series on homeless shelter spending.
Sacramento is spending millions on shelters that are getting only 1 in 5 guests into housing.
With Renee C. Byer
Story 1: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 2: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 3: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Sacramento is spending millions on shelters that are getting only 1 in 5 guests into housing.
With Renee C. Byer
Story 1: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 2: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 3: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Sacramento spent $120 million in 5 years on homeless shelters. Has it worked?
A $64 million shelter is under construction now, as Sacramento doubles down on the approach.
www.sacbee.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
ICYMI: My in-depth series on homeless shelter spending.
Sacramento is spending millions on shelters that are getting only 1 in 5 guests into housing.
With Renee C. Byer
Story 1: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 2: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 3: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Sacramento is spending millions on shelters that are getting only 1 in 5 guests into housing.
With Renee C. Byer
Story 1: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 2: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Story 3: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
ICYMI part 1
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NEW: The city and county of Sacramento have spent $120M of state and federal funding in the last 5 years to build and run 8 large shelters.
They've housed 1 in 5 of the guests.
A new $64M shelter opens soon.
1st in a 3 part series, with Renee C. Byer
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
They've housed 1 in 5 of the guests.
A new $64M shelter opens soon.
1st in a 3 part series, with Renee C. Byer
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Sacramento spent $120 million in 5 years on homeless shelters. Has it worked?
A $64 million shelter is under construction now, as Sacramento doubles down on the approach.
www.sacbee.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
ICYMI part 1
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Part 3 ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Rental assistance may be a way to help more people, experts say.
20% of Sacramento shelter guests go on to permanent housing. Is there a better way?
Rental assistance may be a way to help more people, experts say.
bit.ly
December 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Part 3 ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Part 2 ⬇️⬇️⬇️
The 13-acre property is in North Highlands.
Overpay or ‘perfect site’? County to open its most expensive homeless shelter
The 13-acre property is in North Highlands.
bit.ly
December 12, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Part 2 ⬇️⬇️⬇️
I went on CapRadio Insight yesterday to talk about my story on Sacramento's unannounced homeless shelter deaths
www.capradio.org/news/insight...
Story ICYMI: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
www.capradio.org/news/insight...
Story ICYMI: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Pandemic Spike in Sac Home Values | Overdose Deaths in Sac Shelters | Be Brave Bold Robot’s 20th Anniversary Album
Home values are going up across the Sacramento region. A new investigation looks at overdose deaths in local homeless shelters. Finally, a Sacramento band releases its 20th anniversary album.
www.capradio.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I went on CapRadio Insight yesterday to talk about my story on Sacramento's unannounced homeless shelter deaths
www.capradio.org/news/insight...
Story ICYMI: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
www.capradio.org/news/insight...
Story ICYMI: www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
NEW: The city and county of Sacramento have spent $120M of state and federal funding in the last 5 years to build and run 8 large shelters.
They've housed 1 in 5 of the guests.
A new $64M shelter opens soon.
1st in a 3 part series, with Renee C. Byer
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
They've housed 1 in 5 of the guests.
A new $64M shelter opens soon.
1st in a 3 part series, with Renee C. Byer
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Sacramento spent $120 million in 5 years on homeless shelters. Has it worked?
A $64 million shelter is under construction now, as Sacramento doubles down on the approach.
www.sacbee.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
NEW: The city and county of Sacramento have spent $120M of state and federal funding in the last 5 years to build and run 8 large shelters.
They've housed 1 in 5 of the guests.
A new $64M shelter opens soon.
1st in a 3 part series, with Renee C. Byer
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
They've housed 1 in 5 of the guests.
A new $64M shelter opens soon.
1st in a 3 part series, with Renee C. Byer
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Lawsuit says Rancho Cordova illegally OKed Highway 50 billboard for city-tied entity
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Lawsuit says Rancho Cordova illegally OKed Highway 50 billboard for city-tied entity
The council voted 4-1 to approve the new billboard in early October.
www.sacbee.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Lawsuit says Rancho Cordova illegally OKed Highway 50 billboard for city-tied entity
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Theresa Clift
A Sacramento Bee Public Records Act request revealed the names of six people who died of drug overdoses, or apparent drug overdoses, at these government facilities.
These are the six Sacramento homeless people who died in government-run shelters
A Sacramento Bee Public Records Act request revealed the names of six people who died of drug overdoses, or apparent drug overdoses, at these government facilities.
bit.ly
December 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A Sacramento Bee Public Records Act request revealed the names of six people who died of drug overdoses, or apparent drug overdoses, at these government facilities.
Reposted by Theresa Clift
Wildly fluctuating info on Sacramento's homeless population. In 2024, elected officials cited the PIT count and said homelessness had dropped almost 30%. Now, a local nonprofit says we're back up to almost 9,000 homeless people. 🤷🏻♀️ via @tclift.bsky.social
Sacramento County now has nearly 9,000 homeless people, new data show
Sacramento Steps Forward published the data using a different methodology than the Point in Time count.
www.sacbee.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Wildly fluctuating info on Sacramento's homeless population. In 2024, elected officials cited the PIT count and said homelessness had dropped almost 30%. Now, a local nonprofit says we're back up to almost 9,000 homeless people. 🤷🏻♀️ via @tclift.bsky.social
Under new planned federal cuts, Sacramento could lose 1,037 housing units, currently home to about 1,431 people.
California, other states sued the Trump administration over it yesterday.
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...
California, other states sued the Trump administration over it yesterday.
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...
Newsom sues over feds’ homeless housing cuts that target Sacramento programs
The cuts could hit 1,431 Sacramento residents — many disabled or elderly — especially hard.
www.sacbee.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Under new planned federal cuts, Sacramento could lose 1,037 housing units, currently home to about 1,431 people.
California, other states sued the Trump administration over it yesterday.
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...
California, other states sued the Trump administration over it yesterday.
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Theresa Clift
Bee Lao was the second person to die on Marysville Boulevard this year and the fourth person since last January. I spoke with one of the loved ones who are bearing the cost of this dangerous road: his 14-year-old daughter, Sophia. www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
A Sacramento dad was the second person to die on Marysville Boulevard in 2025
Bee Lao, a pedestrian, was the fourth person killed on Marysville Boulevard in North Sacramento since January 2024.
www.sacbee.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Bee Lao was the second person to die on Marysville Boulevard this year and the fourth person since last January. I spoke with one of the loved ones who are bearing the cost of this dangerous road: his 14-year-old daughter, Sophia. www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
New: At least six people died of overdoses or apparent overdoses at drug-free city and county of Sacramento shelters in the last two years, since Jan. 1., 2024.
None were announced to the public and some weren't even announced to local electeds.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
None were announced to the public and some weren't even announced to local electeds.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
How drugs have claimed the lives of homeless while in Sacramento-run shelters
Six have died from drug overdoses in Sacramento city and county shelters in the last two years. Would changes in policy help prevent them?
www.sacbee.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
New: At least six people died of overdoses or apparent overdoses at drug-free city and county of Sacramento shelters in the last two years, since Jan. 1., 2024.
None were announced to the public and some weren't even announced to local electeds.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
None were announced to the public and some weren't even announced to local electeds.
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Davis to pay $18 million to woman who slipped, fell on damaged sidewalk
Via Daniel Lempres
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Wow - these are usually well under 1M
Via Daniel Lempres
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Wow - these are usually well under 1M
Davis to pay $18 million to woman who slipped, fell on damaged sidewalk
The lawyer who sued the city on the woman’s behalf hopes the settlement spurs it to adopt a more proactive policy for sidewalk repairs.
www.sacbee.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Davis to pay $18 million to woman who slipped, fell on damaged sidewalk
Via Daniel Lempres
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Wow - these are usually well under 1M
Via Daniel Lempres
www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Wow - these are usually well under 1M
Reposted by Theresa Clift
In June 2021, Sacramento was the first city in the Central Valley to adopt such a law.
Sacramento rolls back all-electric building law passed just years ago
In June 2021, Sacramento was the first city in the Central Valley to adopt such a law.
bit.ly
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
In June 2021, Sacramento was the first city in the Central Valley to adopt such a law.
Some professional news:
I now have a new beat at the SacBee - Regional Watchdog Reporter.
In this role, I'll work with beat reporters to dig into things in the city/county of Sacramento AND its suburbs.
We are also hiring several other positions:
www.linkedin.com/posts/chris-...
I now have a new beat at the SacBee - Regional Watchdog Reporter.
In this role, I'll work with beat reporters to dig into things in the city/county of Sacramento AND its suburbs.
We are also hiring several other positions:
www.linkedin.com/posts/chris-...
Our evolution at The Sacramento Bee continues! We're looking for a proven newsroom leader and group of hard-charging journalists to join Theresa Clift, Ishani Desai and Daniel Lempres on our new… ...
Our evolution at The Sacramento Bee continues! We're looking for a proven newsroom leader and group of hard-charging journalists to join Theresa Clift, Ishani Desai and Daniel Lempres on our new Local...
www.linkedin.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Some professional news:
I now have a new beat at the SacBee - Regional Watchdog Reporter.
In this role, I'll work with beat reporters to dig into things in the city/county of Sacramento AND its suburbs.
We are also hiring several other positions:
www.linkedin.com/posts/chris-...
I now have a new beat at the SacBee - Regional Watchdog Reporter.
In this role, I'll work with beat reporters to dig into things in the city/county of Sacramento AND its suburbs.
We are also hiring several other positions:
www.linkedin.com/posts/chris-...
Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff arrested by FBI public corruption probe
Scoop from Lia Russell, Sharon Bernstein
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...
Scoop from Lia Russell, Sharon Bernstein
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...
Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff arrested by FBI public corruption probe
Dana Williamson served as Gavin Newsom’s top aide until December 2024.
www.sacbee.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff arrested by FBI public corruption probe
Scoop from Lia Russell, Sharon Bernstein
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...
Scoop from Lia Russell, Sharon Bernstein
www.sacbee.com/news/politic...