State of downtown

San Francisco Giants president Larry Baer will be the keynote speaker at this week’s State of Downtown breakfast, so it’s pretty safe to assume that the proposed Kings arena is priority No. 1 for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership in 2012.

But downtown’s more than just a new arena, right?

Partnership executive director Mike Ault says last year was about finalizing “longtime priorities”: opening K Street to cars, relocating Greyhound’s station, and locking in the 700th K Street block development, which begins construction this spring.

This year, now, there are new possibilities. Such as what could go down at Westfield’s Downtown Plaza—“We’ve heard it’s for sale, but what really is the plan?” Ault asked—or all those cool small-business projects popping up, such as Blackbird Kitchen and Bar on Ninth Street.

“We’re seeing little things that, in a one-off, aren’t a big of a deal,” Ault said. “But when you start to see a collection of those things, change happens.

Also, he welcomes finally collaborating with the Midtown Business Association, now that new executive director Elizabeth Studebaker has arrived.

“I think the new leadership of the MBA really provides us a chance to work on our partnerships,” including marketing and teaming-up on garbage and graffiti cleanup and safety. “Our district ends at 16th Street,” he said, “but trash doesn’t stop.” The 2012 State of Downtown is Tuesday, January 17, at the Memorial Auditorium 1515 J Street, 8 a.m., $25-$65.