Focusing on leadership, 2026 priorities

You may have already heard the exciting news that I've been appointed to serve as chair of the Placer County Board of Supervisors for 2026. It's an honor to have been selected for this role and to continue to serve District 2 and all of Placer County. It's important to take a moment and reflect about what it means to be a leader in local government because stepping into this role is about more than a title change, it's a continued commitment to integrity, transparency and collaboration with both my colleagues and constituents. The chair of the board position also serves as a key point of coordination. This includes my fellow board members, county leadership, city partners, state agencies, rural residents and other community organizations. The most meaningful progress that can be made is always the result of teamwork and partnering with those that bring knowledge and a commitment to public service, and I will remain committed to collaboration with the many different stakeholders from across the county on a variety of important topics as they arise. At the first meeting of 2026 where I assumed the chair position, I invited several leaders from a wide variety of political backgrounds, beliefs and faiths to attend and share in a moment of unity and collaboration. We all share one thing in common: We call Placer County home and we care deeply for the communities we serve. As leaders in our respective fields, it's imperative that we listen to one another and empower the people around us to engage in the local governance process. By ensuring that everybody gets a voice, we are fostering an environment that allows everyone to participate and feel represented. To that end, one of my first requests as chair was to ask the Board of Supervisors to bring back Zoom access for our residents. It is deeply important to me that our board remains accessible to every resident who wants to participate in their local government. Over the last year of not having Zoom access, feedback from residents has been that not everyone can attend meetings in person, whether it's because of work schedules, childcare, transportation challenges, health concerns or mobility limitations, and those barriers shouldn't prevent someone from having their voice heard. Bringing back a virtual option will make our meetings more open and accessible, and I encourage residents to take advantage of whichever option works best for them. The board is here to serve the people, and government works best when the community participates in the process. In the spirit of continuing to promote trust and transparency, I want to highlight some of my areas of focus for the coming year. One of the most vital legislative priorities this year will be to continue to advocate for greater local control for Placer County. Preserving local land use authority while looking for areas where we can partner with other counties and press for greater local power serves Placer County and our surrounding communities in the long run. I firmly believe decisions that impact us locally should be left in the hands of those who know their community best. In relation to our agricultural industry, we will continue to make strides in providing resources and protection for our local farmers and ranchers. This will come in the form of continued efforts to support legislation that protects our agricultural lands from foreign ownership, spotlighting farmer mental health legislation and seeking out any regulations within the county that can be rolled back to make it easier for those who work in the agriculture industry to provide their services and products. I'm also focused on a number of projects related to public safety: moving the forensics/crime lab forward, getting our new South Placer substation in Rocklin up and running, continuing to champion the Regional Public Safety Training Center and supporting our sheriff's office with their implementing of Prop. 36. The county will continue to prioritize the cleanup of the former PCSO Gun Range at the Titan I Missile site in Lincoln. So far, more than 12 tons of lead material has been recovered and recycled, and 441 truckloads of impacted soil has been safely transported to approved hazardous waste facilities. The work is 85-percent complete and is paused for the winter, but we expect cleanup to pick up again in the late spring/early summer. County staff is also evaluating whether additional remediation is needed beyond the original scope to make sure the site is fully addressed and ready for any potential future uses. As we lean in to 2026, I look forward to continuing to work with both my colleagues and the public to do great things for Placer County. I'm also aware that with our current national political climate, it can be easy to get wrapped up in divisiveness with those with whom we disagree. I want to send out a heartfelt encouragement to everyone reading to assume the best in others and to try and find areas of common ground. Together, we can all strive toward the same goal: working to keep Placer County a strong, beautiful and amazing place to live. Shanti Landon is the Placer County District 2 Supervisor.