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Vallejo council hears state, federal lobbying firms and agrees to revisit legislative platform at goal-setting
Summary
Aiken Gump, Capital Advocacy Partners and Gonzales & Son briefed Vallejo council on federal, state and public-safety advocacy work. Council directed staff to bring the firms into the goal-setting process and to schedule a special session to update the city’s legislative platform for 2026.
Vallejo’s full slate of legislative advocacy partners described their work and recent wins to the City Council, which directed staff to involve the firms in a forthcoming goal-setting process and follow up with a special meeting to update the municipal legislative platform.
Sydney Wilson of the city manager’s office introduced the firms and explained the platform’s role: to provide guide rails that allow staff and advocates to act rapidly on time-sensitive state and federal bills while preserving council authority on new policy questions. Susan Lehi, partner at Akin Gump, outlined federal monitoring, earmark and appropriations work; she said Congressman Garamendi has requested FY27 funding for Vallejo waterfront restoration and a police leadership program.
Mary Bergstrom of Capital Advocacy Partners described CAP’s track record securing federal and state grants for the Vallejo Police Department, including competitive community project funding and programs supporting officer wellness and violence reduction. She told council CAP helped win more than $4.8 million in 2025 awards and reported crime reductions for 2024–25 in several categories.
Paul Gonzales, representing Gonzales & Son at the state level, reviewed how member-request and appropriations work has returned state funding to Vallejo and said his firm reads and monitors nearly every bill in Sacramento on the city’s behalf.
Council members asked about funding sources for a new police headquarters, metrics for contractor performance, and how the three firms coordinate. Firms said there are no single grants for station construction but community project funding, HUD categories and creative package-building can offset costs; they also described monthly or weekly reporting routines and said they coordinate when issues cross state and federal jurisdictions.
Council direction: members agreed to invite the firms to observe the council goal-setting session, then hold a follow-up special meeting to update the legislative platform. Staff will return with scheduling and a clear engagement plan.
