Elk Grove News Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Elk Grove News
This is the podcast channel of www.ElkGroveNews.net - home to the Elk Grove News Minute and Elk Grove News Podcast. Elk Grove California's independent, non-corporate voice. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
Two traits of successful politicians are timing and exploiting opportunities. One Elk Grove elected official is proving to be a master of both as they jump on the latest bandwagon.
Band Wagonneer is a real word!
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This year’s Sacramento mayoral race has been Competitive and interesting. Notwithstanding low voter turnout, or because of it, Dr. Flo Cofer is headed to the November general election.
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Sometimes things happen that create an unintended irony. Such was the case during the September 27, 2023, Elk Grove city council meeting led by Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen.
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Unless you are a certain age, you probably never heard of Anita Bryant. A Miss America second runner-up, Bryant was a grade b-singer celebrity and TV commercial spokesperson for Florida Orange Juice. She was also a sparkplug in the 1970s to a bigger movement.
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Some time ago, a suggestion was made by an Elk Grove resident to the Elk Grove City Council that deserves serious consideration.
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Recently, the Elk Grove Citizen was sold for the second time in less than two years. It was purchased by the Messenger Publishing Group, owner of several community newspapers.
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Listeners of this podcast and Elk Grove News readers know we generally take a liberal stance on most issues.
On occasion, however, we find common ground with conservative politicians such as former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and her defense of the Constitution and American Democracy.
Closer to home, on one issue. we have found common ground with conservative Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley.
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A trait of most politicians and many of the bureaucrats serving them is deception. An example of this was Elk Grove City manager Jason Behrmann’s recent deceptive administrative report.
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Recently, Elk Grove has been hyping its oldest and original district, Old Town by renaming it Historic Downtown Elk Grove and Main Street.
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Most Elk Grove residents are familiar with the Old Town district. That special planning area is the origin of the city.
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At least twice a year, elected officials in California must report campaign contributions they received. Those so-called California 460 reports are revealing.
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By Dan Schmitt |
A couple days ago, a meme, written by a guy named John Coleman Ray, showed up on my Facebook page. One of my Facebook friends decided to share the meme, and that’s how it came to me. The meme simply said “Close our Borders. Let’s see how many shares we can get.”
It’s left to the reader to interpret what exactly the very short meme means. I’m pretty darn sure it’s not referring to the U.S./Canadian border, so it seems obvious to me the meme is referring to our southern border. I certainly understand the concern Americans have about our southern border where thousands of desperate people, mostly from Central American countries, have amassed in northern Mexico in hopes of escaping poverty, violence and political turmoil in their own countries.
But, when John Coleman Ray says, “Close our Borders,” it’s a fair assumption he thinks our southern border is wide open and those desperate Central American folks can enter the United States at any time, at any place and make their way to wherever they wish to go in our country. That of course is not true.
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Donald Trump’s continuing threat to American Democracy is well documented. Notwithstanding his criminal indictments, Trump is still the favored 2024 Republican nominee.
Should Trump win in 2024, what would a second term look like?
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A few weeks ago, former Republican Congresswoman and Donald Trump critic Liz Cheney made an obvious observation. Cheney said, "We're electing idiots."
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During Elk Grove's 23 years of cityhood, city council members and mayors often have been elected without reaching 50 percent.
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Ever since my Italian immigrant grandfather taught me how to pronounce the name of Detroit Tigers player Rocky Colavito, which he said were my first words, I have enjoyed Baseball.
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There has been a rebranding of Old Town Elk Grove. It’s new name is Historic Downtown Elk Grove. The renaming is part of a six-month marketing campaign by Explore Elk Grove.
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For the 2023 Fourth of July celebration, the Elk Grove Police is advising residents they can only respond to calls about illegal fireworks when callers provide an exact address.
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Hardly a week passes when Americans are not killed in mass shootings. Thirty years ago today, an event that was considered shocking spurred legislation to address mass shootings.
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Next week the current term of the United State Supreme Court will end, which means there will be rulings on a couple of significant cases. Those cases are Groff vs. Dejoy and Moore vs. Harper.
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Elk Grove has two large projects on the horizon – the mixed-use development called Project Elevate and the relocation of the Sacramento Zoo. At the end of the June 14, 2023 city council meeting, as members of the zoo subcommittee Councilmember Rod Brewer and Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen discussed the zoo project.
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Now that former president Donald Trump has been federally indicted on 37 charges, what happens if he is convicted?
If a conviction is upheld on appeal, and we have a Democratic president, will Trump be jailed?
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Two weeks ago, Elk Grove City Councilman Sergio Robles was arrested by Elk Grove Police for drunk driving. Since then, Robles has emphasized the police officers' professionalism during his arrest.
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A field representative who is also a local elected official. was recently arrested for drunk driving. What did Dr, Bera, a physician who understands the health sans safety hazards have to say about his employee's misbehavior?
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Texas Governor Gregg Abbott is expected to sign an interesting piece of legislation soon. Approved by Texas Republican legislators, the law allows the state to supersede most any local ordinance.
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During this week’s Elk Grove city council meeting, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen revealed some interesting information. Unfortuately, it is not something that is favorable for working families and consumers in Sacramento County.
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On this morning's edition of Cap Public Radio's Insight program, host Vicki Gonzalez interviewed noted San Francisco Chronicle legal correspondent Robert Egelko. One of the main focuses of the discussion was the lawsuit filed against the city of Elk Grove by Attorney General Rob Bonta for alleged violations of fair housing rules.
A reporter with over 50 years of field experience, Egelko cited other precedent-setting cases that said issues of a statewide concern override local ordinances.
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By Dan Schmitt |
I recently read an article that caused me to pause and ponder a fair bit. The author of the article discussed how racism and bigotry seem to be on the increase in certain parts of our country and in certain political circles.
He gave numerous examples of how racism and bigotry are evident and how they negatively affect people who are the recipients of such hatred.
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Even with her abhorrible rhetoric, Marjorie Taylor Greene is fulfilling one of her duties as a member of Congress. She is independently expressing her values and those of her constituents.
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Twenty nine ago, the world learned of the shocking Rwandan genocide that left over a half million dead people. There were many contributing factors to the genocide, one of which was a constant barrage of radio broadcast lies and disinformation.
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With no fanfare and virtually no public comment, the five Sacramento County Supervisors voted themselves a hefty pay raise this week.
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At the Wednesday, April 12th Elk Grove City Council meeting, what didn’t happen might have great significance.
After their closed session, Mayor Singh-Allen had no reportable actions on the several legal matters confronting the city.
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A 2004 Los Angeles Times story resurfaced this week. The story was about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s gift disclosure.
Embarrassed by the report, Thomas simply quit disclosing his gifts.
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This week saw another school shooting that killed six people, three of them 9-year-olds, in Nashville. Coincidentally, Washington Post had a lengthy and somewhat graphic - not gory - animation of what happens when AR 15 bullets shred a body.
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On April 1st, 2023, the City of Elk Grove will start collecting an additional one percent sales tax on almost every consumer purchase made in the city, in perpetuity.
The tax hike was narrowly approved by Elk Grove voters during the November 2022 general election. The city expects to collect about 23 million annually from the tax.
As part of their outreach effort, the city of Elk Grove has posted information on social media this week reminding consumers of the new tax.
On this edition of Elk Grove news, we’ll hear some of the comments posted on the city’s Instagram and Facebook page. Except for my voice, the others are computer generated.
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In case you didn’t catch it, the week of March 27 is transgender visibility week. Across social media, there is widespread support and probably some haters, but we won’t focus on that.
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By Lynn Wheat |
In this segment, as a long-time advocate for better planning, I am going to discuss the decisions of our past and current Mayor and Councilmembers. For many of the new listeners, I want to open with an email I sent to another previously engaged community member.
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Across social media and comments on sites like Elk Grove News, Attorney General Rob Bonta and the state of California have been attacked for their intervention in Elk Grove's denial of the Oak Rose supportive housing project.
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On Friday, March 10th, the Elk Grove City Council held its biennial retreat meeting. Several city staff members, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, and her four councilmen had an all-day meeting.
Even though the city complied with meeting notification requirements, it was not well publicized. They did the bare minimum.
On this joint edition of Elk Grove News podcasts and Lynn Wheat’s More Than Three Minutes, we chat with Lynn about her observations of that meeting.
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This week Governor Gavin Newsom promoted his More Housing, faster program. The program in part funds 1,200 tiny homes statewide and 350 in Sacramento.
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With a great deal of pride, the California city of Elk Grove and the Elk Grove Unified School District embraces its diversity.
While most have embraced the school district and the city’s diversity, this is a recent development.
As former Elk Grove City Council member and current Sacramento County Supervisor, Pat Hume acknowledged, it wasn’t long ago Elk Grove had an unsavory reputation. Hume was commenting after Elk Grove was rocked by a series of racially-motivated hate messages in the city in 2017.
Moving forward to 2023, Elk Grove finds itself fully engaged in the current round of culture wars which includes attacks against the LGBQT community and book bans.
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Every so often, a piece of legislation scarily catches the imagination. A recent example is from, not surprisingly, Florida Republicans who gave us the don’t say gay law and book bans.
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It is a rare occasion that we find ourselves in agreement with conservatives, but this week we had to agree with an assessment from Rep. Kevin Kiley.
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On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the Cosumnes Community Services District and the city of Elk Grove held the fourth and final presentation on how they want to spend the money generated by the voter-approved Measure E.
That measure will impose a new sales tax effective April 1 2023, on most consumer purchases in the city of Elk Grove.
The new tax levy will generate about 23 million dollars annually for the city of Elk Grove and the CCSD.
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we are providing an audio recording of that presentation.
Among the speakers after the opening remarks by Chrystal Love Lazard were Elk Grove City manager Jason Behrmann, Cosumnes Community Services District general manager Joshua Green, Elk Grove’s public works manager Jeff Werner, and the CCSD’s parks manager Phillip Lewis.
The presentation was held at Elk Grove’s District 56 facility.
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On Monday, February 27th , the Cosumnes Community Services District and the city of Elk Grove held the third of four presentations on how they want to spend the money generated by the voter approved Measure E.
That measure will impose a new sales tax effective April 1st 2023 on most consumer purchases in the city of elk grove.
The new tax levy will generate about 23 million dollars annually for the city of Elk Grove and the CCSD.
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we are providing an audio recording of that presentation.
Among the speakers were Elk Grove City manager Jason Behrmann, Cosumnes Community Services District general manager Joshua Green and Elk Grove’s housing manager Sarah Bontrager.
The presentation was held at Elk Grove’s District 56 facility.
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Have you ever thought about what motivates an individual to run for elected office?
It's worth contemplating.
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Representative George Santos has caught the imagination of Americans and not in a favorable way. Closer to home, Lodi City Councilmember Shakir Khan has run into a host of legal problems.
ElkGroveNews.net
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This weekend people will gather for the mid-winter celebration known as Super Bowl Sunday. We’ll be drinking suds and grubbing on wings as we watch the game. We’ll also watch the commercials and, of course, the all-important half time show.
In the 60s, 70s, 80s, and into the early 90s, halftime entertainment was often college marching bands and maybe a musician like Andy Williams or Al Hirt thrown in for some name recognition.
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On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the Cosumnes Community Services District and the City of Elk Grove held the first of four presentations on how they want to spend money generated by the voter-approved Measure E.
That measure will imposed a new sales tax, effective April 1, 2023, on most consumer purchases in the city of Elk Grove.
The new tax levy will generate about 23 million dollars for the city of Elk Grove and the CCSD.
On this edition of Elk Grove New Podcast, we are providing an audio recording of that presentation.
Among the speaker were Elk Grove City Manager Jason Behrmann, Elk Grove Police chief Bobby Davis, Cosumnes Fire Department Chief Felipe Rodriguez, and CCSD parks administrator Phil Lewis.
The presentation was held at Elk Grove’s District56 facility.
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This week the Sacramento City Council made the controversial decision approving the purchase a half million-dollar piece of military equipment. At the center of the controversy was newly elected Sacramento City Councilmember Caity Maple.
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By Dan Schmitt |
Back in my bartending days in the early 70s, I knew a history professor who was a regular patron at the bar, especially during happy hours. The good professor, with other happy hour imbibers, would discuss all sorts of issues of the day.
One heated topic was a discussion about economics, specifically communism, socialism, and capitalism.
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Elk Grove voters approved Measure E, which increased consumer taxes by at least 23 million dollars annually. As part of the Measure, Mayor Bobbie Singh Allen and her four councilmen promised to form a citizen’s oversight committee.
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A popular genre of science fiction in literature and movies is about dystopian futures. There is an innate curiosity to ponder how bad things could become.
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This week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is pushing a vote on his so-called fair tax proposal. The fair tax scheme is anything but.
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This week Elk Grove News marked its 15th anniversary. The website was launched on January 11, 2008.
It was not launched as a money-making endeavor, for popularity purposes, or to have the most followers or likes.
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This week Americans held their breath after learning about the injury of NFL player Damar Hamlin. The Buffalo Bills player suffered cardiac arrest on the field, and is thankfully recovering.
The incident is a reminder of the life threatening risks for football players on all levels.
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Politicians telling lies is nothing new, but a recent case has broken new ground.
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A couple of critical lessons attorneys learn are always to collect your client’s fee upfront, and when litigating, never ask a question you don’t know the answer to. This brings us to Elk Grove's two new city council members, Rod Brewer and Sergio Robles.
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By Dan Schmitt |
Last week, my wife and I, along with two friends Steve and Linda, saw the play “The Lost Claus” at the B Street Theater in midtown Sacramento. It was a delightful comedy about Santa, who is progressively being slowed down by the weight of living nearly 2000 years, and his elves, who are becoming increasingly exasperated by the burden of having to make more and more Christmas presents each year.
A couple of days later, while on my morning walk, I thought about the play, and those thoughts harkened me back to fond memories of the Christmases of my youth growing up in north-central Wisconsin. Here are a few of those memories.
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The term snowflake has been widely used by conservatives to denigrate liberals. When using this term, the implication is someone is as fragile as a snowflake.
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Donald Trump suffered another blow this week with Raphael Warnock’s reelection. It’s significant because statewide Georgia Republicans not tied to Trump were easily elected.
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In an earlier program, we discussed an important case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, Moore versus Harper.
That case will be heard next week.
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During 2022, there were many things to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Elk Grove voters have approved Measure E, a one percent sales tax increase for most purchases in the city. Elected officials and city executives made many promises, but will taxpayers know how the money is being spent on their behalf?
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Elk Grove City elected officials and bureaucrats have enjoyed a red-letter week.
First, the city hit the jackpot with the approval of Measure E, which means a quarter of a billion dollars over the next ten years.
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While election reporting typically highlights winning candidates, what about those who did not prevail?
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As the 2022 elections draw to a close and candidates await the results of several close races, we met with former Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly. On this edition of Elk Grove News podcasts, we discuss this and more with the Ly, like many of us, has been watching this election cycle with keen interest.
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In California’s top two systems, all four candidates in the State Senate District 10 and Assembly District 10 are Democrats.
No third party, much less any Republican candidates are to be found.
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Even though he is not on the November ballot, former Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly's 2020 controversy is a campaign issue, and ironically one candidate is being bludgeoned over it.
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This year, the will be at least two new Elk Grove City Council members. For certain, there will be new representatives in District 2 and District 4.
Last week District 4 candidates Giezi Bermudez and Sergio Robles were invited to make a recording regarding their candidacies. Below you will find the submission by Mr. Bermudez.
Mr. Robles did not respond to an email invitation to participate in the voter education event.
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It is very clear to me that we are in the process of losing our 233-year-old experiment in democracy. The Republican Party, led by Donald Trump, is attempting to systematically unravel our nation’s democracy and replace it with a one-party government that can remain in power indefinitely.
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This week, the Elk Grove City Council a Community Workforce and Training Agreement, which is really a PLA - project labor agreement. But how deep is union support?
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Many Elk Grove residents live in Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Ward 4. This year, Ward 4 voters can choose between challenger Derek Cressman and incumbent Rosanna Herber.
Both candidates were invited and submitted audio messages about their respective campaigns. We thank Mr. Cressman and Ms. Herber for focusing on their campaigns and participating.
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Many Elk Grove residents live in Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Ward 4. This year, Ward 4 voters can choose between incumbent Rosanna Herber and challenger Derek Cressman.
Both candidates were invited and submitted audio messages about their respective campaigns. We thank Mr. Cressman and Ms. Herber for focusing on their campaigns and participating.
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Elk Grove voters have at least four competitive races this election cycle, including State Senate District 8, Assembly District 10, Sacramento Supervisor District 5, and two city council races.
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This year, Elk Grove will have at least two new city council members representing Districts 2 and 4. In this three-part Elk Grove News Podcasts series, we are interviewing the three District 2 candidates.
In this edition, we talk with Michelle Kile.
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This year, Elk Grove will have at least two new city council members representing Districts 2 and 4. In this three-part Elk Grove News Podcasts series, we are interviewing the three District 2 candidates.
In this edition, we talk with Michelle Kile.
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This year, Elk Grove will have at least two new city council members representing Districts 2 and 4. In this three-part Elk Grove News Podcasts series, we are interviewing the three District 2 candidates.
In this edition, we talk with Rod Brewer.
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This year, Elk Grove will have at least two new city council members representing Districts 2 and 4. In this three-part Elk Grove News Podcasts series we are interviewing the three District 2 candidates.
In this edition, we talk with Felipe Martin.
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This was a crummy week for the City of Elk Grove, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her city council, and several candidates.
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Next week ballots arrive, and there is a critical item for Elk Grove voters. That would be Measure E, another City of Elk Grove scheme.
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Sacramento County voters are being asked to approve an $8.3 billion tax hike this fall. Who are the real beneficiaries?
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Elk Grove News net has been around for almost 15 years, and during that time, we established a solid dozen readers.
Among these dozen, there is one reader who has become our researcher.
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Elk Grove News net has been around for almost 15 years, and during that time, we established a solid dozen readers.
Among these dozen, there is one reader who has become our researcher.
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On Thursday, September 22, the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association – APAPA – co-hosted a town hall forum featuring California Assembly District 10 candidate Elk Grove City Council member Stephanie Nguyen.
The town hall was held at APAPAs Sacramento office.
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we have a recording of the forum, which featured Nguyen answering a series of questions.
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Over the last 60 years, much has changed in American life, most of it for the good. Bur recent actions by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott harken to less enlightened times.
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This year, there will be at least one new member on the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees. In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we speak with Michael Vargas who is one of two candidates running for the open seat in Area 2
This interview was recorded on Thursday September 15.
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Notwithstanding the COVID 19 pandemic negative effects on children’s academic progress, the Elk Grove Unified School District is running amuck.
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With the late summer heat wave, Elk Grove is operating a cooling center at the district 56 facility where participants must have face coverings.
But is there consistency in how the city treats those less fortunate?
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A regular Elk Grove News commenter noted it could be decades before the Southeast Connector Highway arrives in Elk Grove. It’s a fair point.
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The week the Elk Grove City Council held a special meeting and workshop on the proposed relocation of the Sacramento Zoo. The workshop was a wish list opportunity for participants.
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On Wednesday, August 17th, the City of Elk Grove held a special city council meeting and workshop on the proposed relocation of the Sacramento Zoo to Elk Grove.
The session lasted about two hours, which included about an hour of workshop activities.
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By Dan Schmitt |
Breakfast eaten and the bus boarded, Alberto stood on the sidewalk outside the hotel, face expressionless, and waved to us in a rather perfunctory manner followed by a low, tepid “Ciao.” At that moment, it seemed a more dejected man in all of Italy would have been impossible to find. On the other hand, Dario, our bus driver seemed eager to point out his countries many treasures.
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The City of Elk Grove has entered negotiations with Houston-based Hines Interests for development of the mixed-use Project Elevate on Elk Grove Boulevard.
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Notwithstanding Donald Trump’s dangerous cult, another threat looms for American democracy. An under the radar movement is seeking a so-called article five constitutional convention.
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In January 2020, The City of Elk Grove, California became a compassionate city. At least on paper.
During their January 8th meeting, the Sacramento suburb issued a proclamation advanced by a group called Compassionate Elk Grove.
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we will take a look at Elk Grove’s proclamation of compassion through a specific lens. That lens was the Elk Grove City Council July 27, 2022 denial of a supportive housing project meant to assist over 60 people to transition out of homelessness.
And we ask, is the Elk Grove Mayor and city council compassionate, cowardly or just 5 WASPs?
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As expected, this week the Elk Grove City Council rejected a supportive housing project to lift people out of homelessness.
Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, Vice Mayor Darren Suen and Council members Pat Hume, Stephanie Nguyen and Kevin Spease exposed their political cowardice and kowtowed to fear and ignorance.
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Previously we called Elk Grove a hick town because we are a semi urban community riddled with railroad crossings. Railroad crossing gate malfunctions are now a regular occurrence.
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By Dan Schmitt |
In 1867, Mark Twain journeyed a year throughout Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. During his travels, Twain wrote a collection of letters which were later to become one of his more important books, The Innocents Abroad. Towards the end of the book, Twain mused about the value of travel with these words, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."
Like Twain, I had come to value travel early in my adult life. During my teaching career, I must have told my social science students a thousand times, “Travel is the best education in the world.By experiencing first-hand other cultures, you’ll come to better understand your own. And, during your travels, you will be exposed to cultural experiences that will simultaneously perplex and enlighten you.”
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Oklahoma Senator James Lankford is blocking proposed federal legislation protecting interstate travel for abortions.
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Republican are expected to retake Congress during the 2022 mid-terms. The party in the White House usually loses seat.
But not always.
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Over the last few months, the City of Elk Grove and the Cosumnes Community Services District have sent slick mailers to Elk Grove residents. Why are these being sent? We will examine seemingly unrelated material and explain what is behind this campaign.
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The Independence Day killing of six people in Highland Park Illinois was another act of domestic terrorist.
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Thank you for listening to Elk Grove News Minute, which with this edition, we celebrate our fifth anniversary.
One part of American life that has substantially changed in five years has been the composition of the United States Supreme Court.
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By Lynn Wheat |
In January 2020, the Elk Grove City Council adopted a charter for compassion. How compassionate has the city been in following through on this commitment?
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Everyone loves a good laugh. But sometimes excessive laughter is inappropriate.
Over the last 18 months there has been a disturbing trend on the Elk Grove City Council.
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With most votes counted, it is apparent Elk Grove City Council members Stephanie Nguyen and Pat Hume will advance to the November election in their respective pursuit of the California Assembly and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and that means there will be at least two new Elk Grove City Council members.
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This week Sacramento County Voters made history. For the first time, two non-Anglo men were elected to county wide office.
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This is Dan Gougherty, and I have a confession. I’ll start by saying on the morning I turned 18 in August of 1976 I went to the Grosse Ile Michigan Township Hall and registered to vote.
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We made checklist of two specific questions asked of candidates in the races for District 8 State Senate, District 10 Assembly, and District 5 Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
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Phase one of the 2022 election season is in full swing with candidates, consultants and others are in launching attacks, and more significantly stretching reality.
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“Politics is like a vice amplifier, where everybody has a need for affirmation, a need to be important, to be recognized.”
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Responding to an attack advertisement launched against him, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors District 5 candidate Steve Ly held a news conference on May 11, 2022.
Yesterday voters in the District 5 area started receiving a mailer paid for by the California Association of Realtors. The mailer resurrected claims made against Ly during his 2020 Elk Grove Mayoral reelection campaign that he bullied women candidates.
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One year ago we posted a story on the Dobbs reproductive case. At the time we speculated the Supreme Court would overturn Roe versus Wade.
It was not hard to foresee this development, but don’t think this ends anti-choice efforts.
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Voters in Elk Grove and Sacramento will be making their selection for their new state senator during the june primary and November general elections.
Voters will choose between three Democrats. An independent committee of business interests has already targeted one of the candidates.
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we speak with one of those candidates Dave Jones. The former Assemblymember and State Insurance commissioner discusses the campaign being waged against him and other topics related to the June 7th primary election.
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Elk Grove News readers know we report on contributions received by candidates and elected officials. When asked by a reader why the answer is simple.
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A recent Twitter posting from a news editor offered an interesting thought, especially as it relates to political polling.
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On Thursday, April 21st, The Women Democrats of Sacramento County,National Women’s Political Caucus of Sacramento, and the Capital Women’s Campaign sponsored a debate for the three candidates -all Democrats - for the California State Senate District 8.
Those candidates are Angelique Ashby, Raffa Garcia, and Dave Jones.
The format was changed to a town hall-style meeting because one of the candidates, Sacramento Vice Mayor Ashby was diagnosed with COVID just hours prior to the event.
Rather than cancel the meeting, Ashby’s campaign manager Katie Nazlik spoke on her behalf. We wish the vice mayor a speedy recovery.
The discussion was moderated by the chairperson of the Sacramento County Democratic Party, Ms. Traci Stafford.
We have provided a list of the questions for a guide. Towards the middle of the discussion Stafford’s voice did not record property, so the list of questions can provide a point of reference.
There were five general topics covered in the forum
- Women’s issues
- Housing
- Climate Change
- Violent Crime
- And Equity
In addition to the prepared questions, there were questions submitted by the audience. We have not included that recording as the audience questions were inaudible.
We hope you find this recording useful as you determine how you will cast your vote.
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This year Sacramento County Voters will elect a new District attorney. The next district attorney will be only the third elected to the position in 28 years.
One of the candidates is Mr. Thien Ho, who has over years 20 years of experience with the Sacramento County District attorney's office. On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we’ll hear more from Ho on a variety of issues.
This interview was conducted on Wednesday, April 20.
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Like most communities, Elk Grove has a growing population of homeless people. In response, the city has formed a homeless task force.
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As Sacramento deals with the aftermath of the recent K Street shooting that left six dead, most of whom were innocent bystanders, the tragedy has created a potential pitfall for one office seeker.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we'll take a brief look at a possible dilemma Sacramento County District Attorney and California Attorney General candidate Ann Marie Schubert.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had countless effects worldwide. For a group of Elk Grove parents, the pandemic has led to their advocacy on behalf of Elk Grove Unified School District students
One group formed called The PACE Project – Parents Advocacy for Change in Education – has advocated on behalf of student and employees in the Elk Grove School District. Originally focused on returning students to classroom instruction, the parents have expanded their efforts.
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast we have a discussion with The Pace Project founders Erin Sommers, Joel Boyd and David Phommavong about their efforts. This is the first in a series of discussions planned with PACE.
This conversation was recorded in Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
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Under duress, this week the Sacramento City Council approved a ballot measure requiring that 60 percent of the city’s unhoused be provided shelter or face lawsuits.
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In the June 7 California Primary, Elk Grove and Sacramento residents will vote for their 10th District California Assembly representative.
There are five people vying to fill the open seat – One Republican and four Democratic candidates.
On this four-part Elk Grove News Podcast series we are calling Hear What They Have to Say, we will interview four of those candidates.
In this third edition, we speak with Democratic candidate, Elk Grove City Councilmember Stephanie Nguyen.
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In the June 7 California Primary, Elk Grove and Sacramento residents will vote for their 10thDistrict California Assembly representative.
There are five people vying to fill the open seat – One Republican and four Democratic candidates.
On this four-part Elk Grove News Podcast series, we are calling Hear What They Have to Say, we will interview four of those candidates.
In this third edition, we speak with Republican candidate, Mr. Eric Rigard.
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In the June 7 California Primary, Elk Grove and Sacramento residents will vote for their 10th District California Assembly representative.
There are five people vying to fill the open seat – One Republican and four Democratic candidates.
On this four-part Elk Grove News Podcasts series we are calling Hear What They Have to Say, we will interview four of those candidates.
In this first edition, we speak with Democratic candidate, the Reverend Dr. Tecoy Porter.
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In the June 7 California Primary, Elk Grove and Sacramento residents will vote for their 10th District California Assembly representative.
There are five people vying to fill the open seat – One Republican and four Democratic candidates.
On this four-part Elk Grove News Podcast series we are calling Hear What They Have to Say, we will interview four of those candidates.
In this first edition, we speak with Democratic candidate, Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra.
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In about a month California voters will start voting for candidates in the June primary. Among many choices, Sacramento and Elk Grove voters will narrow the field of candidates for the California Assembly.
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The California June Primary is about two months away, and we are just beginning to see some of the candidates playing their cards.
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Condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been one thing that has united Americans. Joining in has been any American-based multinational corporations that have paused their Russian operations.
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Next week the Elk Grove City Council will formally approve their pursuit of relocating the Sacramento zoo.
During their March 23 meeting, they will approve a memorandum of understanding, proudly announce the zoo is coming and of course, pat themselves on the back.
But there is a lot of work left, especially as it relates to construction costs before the zoo opens.
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As part of the March 10 zoo feasibility town hall meeting on Elk Grove's proposed zoo, city manager Jason Berhmann gave the following financing strategy presentation.
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This is the time of year when winter, such as we have it, quickly fades into spring.
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By Dan Schmitt |
Spring begins Mother Earth’s seasonal rotation. The sweet smell and vibrant colors of blooming flowers and blossoming trees permeate the air. The sun rises later and stays awake longer foreshadowing warmer days ahead.
And then there’s baseball.
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During a recent Elk Grove City Council meeting, city manager Jason Behrmann revealed the construction litigation for the aquatics center had been resolved.
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In three months California voters will make their selections in the 2022 primary election. Two Sacramento County-wide elections, in particular, are noteworthy.
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Elk Grove’s zoo took a giant step forward this week, albeit without prior public participation.
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One of this week’s interesting stories involved the Sacramento City Council which comes one year after an important event in Elk Grove.
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High inflation is affecting consumers. The US and its NATO allies are facing mounting tension with Russia, and many question the American president’s ability to face these challenges based on his age.
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This week saw the appointment of a new police chief in Elk Grove. It was announced in a press release from Elk Grove City Manager Jason Behrmann that was missing an element.
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Students of politics understand a great quote can become immortalized while others become bludgeoning tools.
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Nutsville was a pleasant, safe place to live. The residents of the small town were mostly friendly middle-class folks who went about their daily routines in a manner similar with that of people in any town USA. And like parents everywhere, Nutsville parents loved their children dearly, and they were determined to protect their kids from all matters of harm, real and perceived
It is crucial to see the banning of CRT for what it is: an attempt by some Republicans to make a race-based appeal to their base. It is a problem that doesn’t exist.
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Factions in political parties are nothing new. Recall the split between Goldwater and Rockefeller Republicans, or more recently the Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders riff.
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Late last week a Las Vegas, Nevada man was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on four federal charges of threatening a state election worker.
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One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a massive inflow of federal money to local governments. The most recent was from the American Rescue Plan Act.
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This week had plenty of national political and American democracy news, but there was one piece of great significance.
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At the recent Elk Grove City Council meeting there was the rarest of events – oversight. It happened during a presentation about the city's smart city plan.
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When the new political boundaries for Congressional, State Senate, and Assembly district were released last month, it set off a statewide cavalcade of jockeying among elected officials and office seekers.
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On January 6, 2021, one year ago, American democracy was under attack in a way not seen since the American Civil War. A mob inspired by former President Donald J. Trump stormed our nation’s capitol building in Washington D.C. and tried to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential elections.
Incited by Trump and the Big Lie about the election results, the mob was one of many pawns in Trump’s attempted coup. Are there others in our backyard?
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This week another warning was issued about the possibility of significant civil disruptions and worse.
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In recent days I met with others at Old Town Elk Grove’s first real destination, Dust Bowl Brewery. Even though they're on their shakedown cruise, they are navigating in the right direction.
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With just a few nights until Christmas, we extend this Season's Greeting to the executive bureaucrats who work so selflessly for taxpayers and the devoted politicians, when they are not posing for selfies, whose wisdom guides our fair city.
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The Christmas and holiday seasons are upon us and our thoughts naturally drift to meeting with family and friends. But there is an anniversary coming we should remind ourselves about.
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When former city manager Laura Gill was fired, Councilmember Pat Hume said in the media, the city needed a pair of fresh eyes to manage things.
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A few months ago Elk Grove announced with a splash that the city had entered into a six-month negotiation for the relocation of the Sacramento zoo. What has occurred since that announcement?
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By Dan Schmitt |
It might have been seen as a Greek tragedy, except that, unlike in Greek tragedies, the ending did not have to be a foregone conclusion. Rather, it was a prime example of how someone can do something so incredibly stupid, but that incredibly stupid something was protected by law.
That tragedy began on August 23rd of last year when Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot by the Kenosha, Wisconsin police.
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If there is one thing Elk Grove Mayor Singh-Allen has been consistent with since taking office it has been the use of social media. Despite its traps, politicians, our mayor included, find social media a necessity.
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The City of Elk Grove is pursuing an agreement that would relocate the Sacramento Zoo to the city's Southeast Policy Area. While the idea might be alluring, it could be a drag on taxpayers or future homeowners in the form of high Mello Roos fees. As they say at city hall though, Not My Money!
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Recent smash and grab robberies in California are international news. These brazen organized robberies will be campaign issues.
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During 2021 there were many things to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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One positive, if you can call it that, of the COVID 19 pandemic has been greater civic participation, particularly with school boards.
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Yesterday President Biden signed into law the $1.2 trillion-dollar Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework bill. The bill had the support of 13 Republicans, none of them Californians.
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Earlier this year the Elk Grove planning commission added three new members. They were added not because of resignations, but by a power play.
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Last week an Elk Grove resident broke her leg in five places after she, unfortunately, tumbled down the new hill at the newly opened District 56’s Preserve playground.
We wish her a speedy recovery.
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In 2022 voters in Sacramento County and Elk Grove will vote for representation in vastly different districts on the state and federal levels.
The work being done by the non-partisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission has revealed statewide maps that will have far-reaching electoral implications, and Sacramento is one area where Congressional maps could be far different than they have for the last ten years.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we discuss the congressional maps and possible implications for Elk Grove with Jeff Burdick, editor in chief for SacPolitico.com
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The COVID pandemic has been like nothing else in our lifetimes.
The most devasting effect has been the worldwide loss of life, but there are silver linings, especially for state and local governments.
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In the summer of 2020, an Elk Grove News reader discovered an illegal cement grinding operation at the site of the OSH hardware. That was a strong indicator of what happens at city hall.
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In about one year, Sacramento County will have a new district attorney. Whoever wins the race between Thein Ho or Alana Mathews will mark a new era following the 20 tenure of former DA Jan Scully and the eight-year tenure of Ann Marie Schubert, Scully’s hand-picked successor.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast we’ll hear answers to four of the ten questions during the forum that highlighted their priorities should they be elected District Attorney.
The forum was moderated by retired TV news reporter Lonnie Wong and was conducted via Zoom from the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs offices in Sacramento. This is an on-site recording.
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On Monday, October 25, a forum was held for the two candidates running for Sacramento County District attorney. Sponsored by four community groups, the two candidates, Thien Ho and Alana Mathews were asked 10 questions by moderator and retired renown Sacramento TV news reporter Lonnie Wong.
This is an audio recording of the entire forum.
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For anyone who lives east of Highway 99 in Elk Grove, and more specifically east of the Union Pacific tracks undoubtedly are stopped on almost a daily basis by trains.
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On his Twitter feed, renowned University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato documented lengthy delays receiving a mail-in ballot for this year’s Virginia gubernatorial race.
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The Elk Grove Police Department announced this week they received a one-year, two-hundred-thousand-dollar grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
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By Dan Schmitt |
During my teaching career, writing assignments were an integral part of my English and social studies curriculum. Often I would model the process by writing something on the same topic.
Here is a story used to help guide them to write a Halloween-time story.
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Elk Grove City Councilmember and Sacramento County Board of Supervisor candidate Pat Hume is chickening out by enlisting surrogates and parsing words when it comes to addressing the most pressing challenge to our democracy.
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Mitt Romney has had a political resurrection in the last few years. Following his 2012 loss to Barrack Obama, the Republican has been elected as a Utah Senator, voted to impeach Donald Trump and has become something of an elder statesmen.
But it is worth remembering what Romney told people attending a private fundraiser during the 2012 presidential election. This sort of double talk is also reportedly happening with a Sacramento area candidate.
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Democratic elected officials including Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and city council members Stephanie Nguyen and Darren Suen will host a fundraiser benefiting fellow Democrat, Representative Ami Bera.
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Sacramento Zoo’s announcement on their possible move to Elk Grove caught many by surprise. There is, however, a bit of irony how the project ended up in Elk Grove.
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In an interview this morning on Cap Radio's Insight program, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen revealed more information on the possible relocation of the Sacramento Zoo.
Last week zoo officials and city officials announced a six-month negotiation to move the 15-acre zoo to an undeveloped 60-acre site in Elk Grove. In her presentation, Singh-Allen noted the city was approached earlier in the summer by the Sacramento Zoological Society about the possible move.
Joining Singh-Allen on the interview was Sacramento City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela and Elizabeth Stallard, president of the Sacramento Zoological Society, operators of the facility. In the recording posted below, Singh-Allen addressed possible traffic implications on the zoo's location near the soon-to-open Sky River Casino.
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Two weeks ago was a rare moment of national unity on the 20th anniversary of the 9 -11 attacks. But as one Elk Grove, Calif. elected official noted, that unity quickly evaporated.
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During the post-pandemic American economic recovery, jobs in several classifications are being left unfilled.
One such job is school bus drivers.
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Once again we find ourselves referencing comments from former President George W. Bush. The former president made comments during a ceremony in Shanksville, Penn. marking the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.
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Twenty years ago today was horrific. We should always remember this day.
Upon our recent withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years, historians will dissect the misadventure that spanned four presidencies for generations.
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By Dan Schmitt |
As another US tragedy unfolds in Afghanistan, it is natural for Americans to be frustrated and angry at our government and to have this hidious gut feeling that nothing good can possibly come from this tragedy. After all, many of us saw a similar tragedy play out in Vietnam nearly fifty years ago.
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Just when you thought a state government couldn’t get crazier, it does.
And we aren’t talking about California.
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During the current California legislative session, there has been debate and votes on several laws addressing housing. Two notable pieces of legislation are Senate Bills 9 and 10, which are expected to be enacted.
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Elk Grove has grown quickly in its last 30 years because of affordable housing. Its regional role as a bedroom community started over 30 years ago and continued with its incorporation in 2000.
Now mind you, there is nothing inherently wrong with being a bedroom community.
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This week saw the end of America’s role in Afghanistan after 20 years of war. It is an unfortunate outcome, especially for the all souls lost or wounded.
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One of several lingering effects of Donald Trump has been the Big Lie. The big lie perpetrators have included cable news outlets One America News and Newsmax.
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Netflix has released a new documentary series called How to Become a Tyrant.
The six-part series offers a somewhat snarky playbook to becoming a tyrant with a focus on Adolf Hitler, Edi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Moammar Kadafi, Joseph Stalin, and Kim il Yung.
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This week’s there were a couple of encouraging developments.
First, with bi-partisan support, the U.S. Senate advanced the debate on President Biden’s massive infrastructure proposal.
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West Virginia’s Joe Manchin is one of the most powerful people in the U.S. Senate. The conservative Democratic senator is the crucial 50th person giving his party the majority.
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For the second time in less than 20 years, a California governor is facing a recall. Voters will answer yes or no if Gavin Newsom should continue as governor.
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By Lynn Wheat, Podcast Contributor |
On Thursday the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority will conduct a special meeting for the purpose of gathering comments on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
One of the programs within the plan is the so-called Harvest Water project. While this plan is meant to provide agricultural users with an alternate source of water, could the use of sewer water be dedicated for other purposes?
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Emboldened by recent SCOTUS decisions, the week President Biden fired Andrew Saul, Trump’s appointee heading the Social Security Administration.
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By Dan Schmitt |
One of my earliest memories involves reading. I was about three when I began crawling up on my father’s lap each Sunday morning and listening while he read the comics to me. Although I didn’t understand much about those comics at such a young age, listening to Dad chuckle as he read the likes of Beetle Bailey, Dagwood, and Blondie, and Bringing up Father made me understand that, somehow, words on a page were magical.
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We have reached the halfway point of 2021, and things for America are much better. But there could be dark clouds ahead.
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By Lynn Wheat |
The transparency, outreach, and messaging of the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority and its member agencies, including Elk Grove Water District and the City of Elk Grove, have not sufficiently engaged the public.
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This week I attended the funeral mass of the father of dear friends. Days before his 98th birthday, Patrick left a large family of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends.
Slán Leat
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By Lynn Wheat |
In a few days, the Elk Grove City Council will conduct a hearing on a new housing development in Elk Grove. Not only should the city council urge the project to be renamed to recognize a nearby landmark of international repute, but they should also take the opportunity to suggest the developers recognize and Elk Grove VIP.
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There was a significant development in what was Elk Grove’s largest ever proposed project.
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Elk Grove has many organizations providing crucial services to our community. Many of these groups are vital, yet there is one that has shriveled like an overcooked hotdog into irrelevancy.
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This week the Sacramento LAFCO allowed Elk Grove to annex about 600 acres into city limits. With this annexation, 60 acres of taxpayer-owned property in the affected area might be sold to a corporation.
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A year from now, the Supreme Court will issue what could be a landmark reproductive rights ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which could make it easier for states to essentially outlaw abortions.
If decided as predicted, the courts six conservative justices will allow many states to continue their goal of reenacting Jim Crow-era laws.
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Recently the city of Elk Grove’s public relation machinery has taken to social media bragging about the population growth over the last year. Growth, the smart kind, is welcome, but before the city council and city employee executives continue to laud themselves, they need to stand down.
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California has 11 Republican Congressmembers. Among those 11 are two of the most cowardly and thin-skinned in the entire Republican caucus and are from the Central Valley.
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This week's ouster of Liz Cheney from her leadership position in the Republican Congressional caucus oozed of cowardice. It also reveals other troubling aspects of Republican political philosophy that must go unaddressed.
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This Wednesday, the Elk Grove City Council is expected to adopt the city's housing plan. Unlike other communities throughout the state who also fulfill the legal mandate, Elk Grove's plan is lacking one key element for a large portion of our population.
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Recently the Elk Grove food bank has landed a permanent home.
This is good news. The Elk Grove and other food banks and their volunteers are admirable, but their work is a social barometer.
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By Dan Schmitt |
I bought my Ford 150 truck back in 1993, and, by all accounts, it was an excellent truck. And why wouldn’t it be? After all, it was brand-spanking new!
Fast forward to today, 28 years later. I still drive that truck, even though it’s no longer anything to be admired.
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This week we heard from two readers independently who shared identical recent interactions with the mayor and four city councilmembers.
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Over the last 20 years, the Elk Grove City Council has approved numerous useless consultant studies.
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This week an Elk Grove Planning commission hearing will consider several sites for low and very low-income housing.
One eight-acre parcel included in the city staff report is noteworthy.
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Recently interest in cryptocurrencies not called Bitcoin has escalated. Among the other coins spiking in price and popularity are Etherium and DogeCoin.
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The last several days have been tough for Republican Representative Matt Gaetz. The firebrand Floridian is reportedly under investigation on a variety of unsavory charges, including sex trafficking.
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Donald Trump has been out of office for almost three months, and we can’t help but wonder about his residual effects.
This week we inadvertently ran an eye-opening experiment.
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One of the cornerstones of American civil and judicial society is the presumption that every person under arrest is innocent until proven guilty.
So ingrained is this it is written into our Bill of Rights.
While we, as a nation, have not always practiced this freedom equally, it is one of those ideals that persist in our goal of making a more perfect union.
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An activity my family enjoys is camping. Starting as a teenager in Michigan, camping has been something I have enjoyed for over 50 years. Summer camping in California is almost always under clear skies.
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When you hear the term Women in Elk Grove politics, you probably think of elected officials, but that’s not the entire picture.
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By Dan Schmitt |
The tiny Kingdom of Lesotho sits high up in the barren, tree-starved, Drakensburg Mountains of southern Africa. It is a mostly rural country with hundreds of small villages scattered throughout the mountainous region. Because of its high elevation, Lesotho is sometimes called the “Switzerland of Africa.” Unlike that of many other African nations, Lesotho’s climate is very mild, pleasant actually, and it is not unusual for the upper elevations to experience snow in winter.
As pleasant as Lesotho’s climate is, the Basotho people are even more pleasant, despite the entrenched poverty that has gripped the country from its very beginnings. It was within that country and amongst those wonderful people that my wife and I found ourselves in the summer of 1979 as U.S. Peace Corps volunteers.
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For several months, people affiliated with the group Hmong Americans of Elk Grove have criticized and leveled allegations against Mayor Singh-Allen with claims of racism towards their community.
At this week’s city council meeting, they expanded their criticism. What are those ramifications?
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Public comment during government meetings offers people the opportunity to address their elected representatives. During Elk Grove city council meetings, speakers are given three minutes to address their thoughts.
Speakers often bring up problems they might be having with city services, law enforcement encounters, or ongoing issues.
A group of people who have been speaking repeatedly for the last several months during public comment repeatedly in opposition to Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen upped the ante during the March 10 meeting.
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In its 20 years as a city, the Elk Grove City Council has held hundreds of meetings. Many were routine, while several were contentious.
But in the last dozen or so years, maybe the most bizarre proceedings happened seven years ago in February 2014. What was unique about this meeting was that on its surface it was routine, but within a few days of its conclusion, things changed.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we’ll take a look back at that meeting, which we are calling Anything for his Royal Highness.
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There are many culprits causing, and societal problems stemming from California’s housing shortage. One troubling aspect is the lack of affordable units for families.
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The acronym B-S-A can mean a few things. For some, it’s the now tarnished Boy Scouts of America. Others will be reminded of long-gone 60s era British motorcycles
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By John Hull |
Have you noticed young men with helmets running around the high school football fields in Elk Grove? CIF’s attempt at a three to four-game season is now underway.
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This week in a non-binding vote the Elk Grove Planning Commission surprisingly denied California Northstate University’s request to amend the city’s general plan for their proposed 400-bed hospital.
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Elk Grove city council members recently filed campaign finance disclosures, including the two newest members, councilmember Kevin Spease and Mayor Bobbie Singh Allen
Not surprising both assumed huge five-digit debts to win their seats.
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Sacramento County Supervisor Don Notolli made it official on Friday – he will not seek an eight-term representing the 5th district. This opening will undoubtedly attract numerous candidates.
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The late January 2021 storms in Sacramento continues to have political implications, Particularly for Sacramento mayor Darrel Steinberg.
One of the effects has been several actions launched against Steinberg by the Sacramento Homeless Union. Earlier this week, the Union called on Steinberg to resign following the lack of shelter provided during the storm that resulted in the deaths of several unhoused individuals.
After Steinberg did not respond to their demands, today the group said it will launch a recall effort against Steinberg, who is in his second term as Sacramento mayor.
On Thursday, February 4 a zoom conference was held by the union outlining their plans to launch the recall of Steinberg.
The voice you will hear is Berkley-based attorney Anthony Prince who provided background and the reasons for their effort.
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As they have for several months, a group of people speaking during the Elk Grove city council meeting have pointedly criticized Mayor Bobbie Singh Allen.
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By Lynn Wheat |
During their January 27, 2021 meeting, the Elk Grove City Council will have a public hearing on the city’s long-planned and promised soccer and athletic fields on Grant Line Road.
In this edition of More Than Three Minutes podcast, an outline of the timetable of the project over the last several years is offered, insights into how it has been handled and asks important questions.
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This first month of 2021 has been historic for many reasons, not the least of which was Donald Trump’s attempted coup d’état. Aside from his impeachment, more accountability is crucial.
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By Dan Schmitt |
I believe the incident occurred in the summer of my 12th year. Like most teenage boys growing up in north-central Wisconsin during the early 1960’s, we six Schmitt boys lived a quasi-Huck Finn existence, or perhaps more exact, a quasi-Tom Sawyer existence. So, we were all boys, if you know what I mean?
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Two Republican members of the Elk Grove City Council have failed a basic test of leadership and courage. The leader of their party – Donald Trump – has perpetrated The Big Lie about the 2020 presidential election.
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This week's attempted coup d'etat incited by President Donald J. Trump was unlike any other event in American history save the Civil War and, beyond the impending impeachment and possibly invoking the 25th Amendment, should not go unaddressed.
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On January 6th, 2021 we will witness an attempted coup d'etat in America live and on TV. Donald Trump’s coup attempt is not surprising as he has openly expressed these intentions for months.
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People of a certain age will recognize the introductory music as the Birds Turn Turn Turn. The mid-60s hit was written by folk musician Pete Seger who adopted it from the Old Testament’s book of Ecclesiastes.
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The quiet of a Christmas morning in Nashville was shattered by an explosion making it the latest site of terrorism in America. Details about the bombing are scant and no group has claimed credit.
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Thank you for listening to this special edition of Elk Grove News Minute. Two years ago today, the proposed California Northstate University hospital project was unleashed on the public.
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California Assemblymember Jim Cooper’s announcement this week that he is exploring a run for Sacramento Sheriff came as no surprise.
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It has often been said that there are two certainties in life - death, and taxes. We might add a third, and that would be money in politics.
One California Assemblymember has voiced concern about the influence of special interest money in the life of Californians.
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By John Hull |
The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs prep sports in the state, came out with updated COVID-19 modifications for education-based athletics on Tuesday, Dec. 15. It is a bit voluminous, so allow me to give you the highlights of the latest directive.
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By Dan Schmitt |
Cal died six years ago from diabetes complications. We first met while bartending at the Reubens Restaurant in La Mesa, California in 1973. No one would have predicted that our initial encounter as bartenders would grow into a lifelong friendship that lasted until his death.
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Former Elk Grove City Councilmember Steve Detrick attended his last meeting on Wednesday, December 9 after 12 years of representing District 3.
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Listeners may recall the movie The Big Short about how so-called short-sellers made boatloads of money during the great recession housing collapse. A short seller bets that something of value will decline.
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Donald Trump lost his reelection bid and in about 52 days, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th American President. In spite of this, the 45th president of these great United States continues to insist the election was rigged and he is not a loser as confirmed by American voters.
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In a year dominated by a worldwide pandemic and politics, it has been difficult to find things to be thankful for in 2020 but there are some.
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This year Elk Grove voters directly elected the first Sikh-American woman mayor in the country, Bobbie Singh-Allen. A trustee on the Elk Grove Unified School District since 2012, Singh-Allen will be sworn in as Elk Grove Mayor on Wednesday, December 9, becoming only the third woman to serve on the Elk Grove city council and the first as directly elected mayor.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, Mayor-Elect Singh Allen discusses some of the responsibilities of being mayor and plans to deal with the COVID19 pandemic as she prepares for her new position.
This interview was recorded via Skype and we apologize for the static and other noise interference during this remote recording. Be assured Mayor-Elect Singh-Allen’s comments are audible.
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At the last meeting he would preside over the Elk Grove City Council, outgoing Mayor Steve Ly took the opportunity to laud his four council colleagues and city staff at last night's meeting.
Ly, who has first served as the District 4 councilmember starting in December 2014, and mayor two years later, lost his reelection bid this year to Bobbie Singh-Allen. With his exit from elected office, Ly ends an eight-year run starting in 2012 with his election to the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees.
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With the recent uptick of Coronavirus cases in Sacramento County and most of Northern California, the chance that high school sports will have a season is looking bleaker. In this edition of Elk Grove Sports Minute, I talk with long-time Sacramento Bee sportswriter Joe Davidson who is very knowledgeable take on the subject. Plus, Davidson talks about the big local sports story of 2020 locally, the number of area baseball players who are on Major League rosters.
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By Dan Schmitt |
I began my podcasts in a rather unexpected way about five years ago. I had occasionally written opinion pieces and autobiographical sketches for the Elk Grove News. One evening, Dan Gougherty, the owner and editor of the Elk Grove News, and I were sitting in a bar enjoying a few Pabst Blue Ribbons and discussing just about everything but nothing in particular.
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If you were to believe the Elk Grove City Council, there was a bogeyman that would haunt city council elections in 2020 and for years to come.
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By John Hull |
We’re about a week old on announcing this one, but former Elk Grove High School football player Kenny Wiggins was signed by the New York Giants on Nov. 3. Also, The California Community College Athletic Association’s Board of Directors voted on Friday morning to continue forward with the Contingency Plan.
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Notwithstanding recounts or judicial rulings favoring Donald Trump, it looks as though we can add the prefix, President-elect, to Joe Biden’s name. Like every President-elect before him, Biden will seek unity but there is already one obstacle he faces.
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This Halloween could be the scariest ever.
First, there is the COVID19 that has taken 229 thousand Americans because of Trump’s do-nothing, cavalier attitude toward the worldwide pandemic, but November could be more frightening.
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Brian Pastor discusses his candidacy for Elk Grove Mayor.
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Bobbie Singh-Allen discusses her candidacy for Elk Grove Mayor.
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As it was in 2018, this year’s Elk Grove mayoral race, has drawn the attention of an independent expenditure committee that has already spent $192,000 in opposition to incumbent mayor Steve Lee.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we discuss this year’s independent expenditure with Mayor Ly who offered a possible explanation of why he had drawn the California Association of Realtor’s Political action committee’s ire after he expressed concern following an unflattering mailer in 2018 they were party too.
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Did you know the Trump kowtowing Congressman Devin Nunes is tied to a Democratic Elk Grove elected official?
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By John Hull |
Dr. Brittany Vacura, a dentist with Elica Health, was the pitcher on the Franklin High School softball team from 2007-2009 and pitched collegiately at Occidental. She now treats homeless and low-income individuals in Sacramento. Also, Kyle Larson reinstated to NASCAR.
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With the backdrop of a hotly contested mayoral race, the COVID19 pandemic has deprived Elk Grove voters of the opportunity to hear all three candidates together in a public forum.
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On this year’s statewide California Ballot are 12 propositions, one of which is Proposition 20. That measure, which is supported by California Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D - Elk Grove) seeks to roll back some of the voter's approved criminal reforms.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we’ll discuss Prop 20 with BryRhonda Lyons, justice reporter with CalMatters.org.
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An important part of any political campaign is gathering endorsements from well-known individuals or respected organizations.
Our guest Jeff Burdick, who operates SactoPolitico.com, discusses some of the endorsements Buzz Patterson has received in his challenge of Rep. Ami Bera for California’s 7th Congressional district.
While the endorsements Patterson has received are not unique for a Republican, Burdick contacted 13 organizations, including the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee asking them if they were aware of some of the groups Patterson has associated with his campaign.
Burdick's story on Patterson and ties to his campaign can be read here.
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This week we learned of the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The plot by so-called Michigan militia members – and let's be straight here – this was a terrorist plot – so let's quit calling them a militia.
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By John Hull |
Did you know that 37 states are allowing their student/athletes to play sports right now? But, in California, there is just outdoor conditioning. Right now we should be talking about the halfway point in the high school football season, but no one has touched a football in California.
Today on the Sportsminute I talk with Rod Edmiston, the athletic director for the Elk Grove Unified School District. He, like many other coaches and athletic directors in the state, are frustrated that athletes can’t do some sort of scrimmaging.
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Major League Baseball is in its post-season right now. But for the seven MLB players from Elk Grove, their seasons are over.
This is part two of an interview with former Elk Grove High School baseball coach Jeff Carlson, who had seven of his former players on a Major League Baseball roster this season – Rowdy Tellez with the Blue Jays, Derek Hill with the Tigers, J.D.Davis with the Mets, David Freitas with the Brewers, Dom Nunez with the Rockies, Nick Madrigal with the White Sox and Carlson’s son, Dylan, with the Cardinals.
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As part of our election coverage of the 2020 Elk Grove Mayoral and City Council elections, we have invited candidates for District 1 and 3 to submit audio recordings. The candidates can discuss their candidacy at any length they desire.
In our second of the two-part series, you will hear from District 3 candidates Lynn Wheat, Kevin Spease, Alehandro Gutierrez-Duncan, and Amandeep Singh. The recordings are posted in the order received.
The fifth candidate in the race, Maureen Craft did not accept our invitation. The five candidates are running to fill the seat being vacated by Councilmember Steve Detrick.
Ballots start arriving in the mail this week, so please strengthen our representative democracy and vote for the candidates of your choice.
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As part of our election coverage of the 2020 Elk Grove Mayoral and City Council elections, we have invited candidates for District 1 and 3 to submit audio recordings. The candidates can discuss their candidacy at any length they desire.
In our second of the two-part series, you will hear from District 3 candidates Lynn Wheat, Kevin Spease, Alehandro Gutierrez-Duncan, and Amandeep Singh. The recordings are posted in the order received.
The fifth candidate in the race, Maureen Craft did not accept our invitation. The five candidates are running to fill the seat being vacated by Councilmember Steve Detrick.
Ballots start arriving in the mail this week, so please strengthen our representative democracy and vote for the candidates of your choice.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
As part of our election coverage of the 2020 Elk Grove Mayoral and City Council elections, we have invited candidates for District 1 and 3 to submit audio recordings. The candidates can discuss their candidacy at any length they desire.
In our second of the two-part series, you will hear from District 3 candidates Lynn Wheat, Kevin Spease, Alejandro Gutierrez-Duncan, and Amandeep Singh. The recordings are posted in the order received.
The fifth candidate in the race, Maureen Craft did not accept our invitation. The five candidates are running to fill the seat being vacated by Councilmember Steve Detrick.
Ballots start arriving in the mail this week, so please strengthen our representative democracy and vote for the candidates of your choice.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
As part of our election coverage of the 2020 Elk Grove Mayoral and City Council elections, we have invited candidates for District 1 and 3 to submit audio recordings. The candidates can discuss their candidacy at any length they desire.
In our second of the two-part series, you will hear from District 3 candidates Lynn Wheat, Kevin Spease, Alehandro Gutierrez-Duncan, and Amandeep Singh. The recordings are posted in the order received.
The fifth candidate in the race, Maureen Craft did not accept our invitation. The five candidates are running to fill the seat being vacated by Councilmember Steve Detrick.
Ballots start arriving in the mail this week, so please strengthen our representative democracy and vote for the candidates of your choice.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
As part of our election coverage of the 2020 Elk Grove Mayoral and City Council elections, we have invited candidates for District 1 and 3 to submit audio recordings. The candidates can discuss their candidacy at any length they desire.
In our first of the two-part series, you will hear from District 1 candidates incumbent Darren Suen and challenger Ali Moua. The recordings are posted in the order received.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
As part of our election coverage of the 2020 Elk Grove Mayoral and City Council elections, we have invited candidates for District 1 and 3 to submit audio recordings. The candidates can discuss their candidacy at any length they desire.
In our first of the two-part series, you will hear from District 1 candidates incumbent Darren Suen and challenger Ali Moua. The recordings are posted in the order received.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
Elections have real-life implications, and in 2020, this is especially true even for Elk Grove contests. There are important questions to ask candidates like do they support Social Security, Medicare, and clean air and water.
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As we post this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts recorded on the evening of Thursday, October 1, we must acknowledge the news of President Trump and the first lady’s COVID-19 diagnosis.
We wish them a speedy recovery and hope this serves as a stark reminder to follow medical and scientific protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly virus that has already killed over 200,000 fellow Americans and countless others worldwide.
Science matters.
In this edition, we have a discussion with Jeff Burdick who recently started SactoPolitico.com - a website focusing on Sacramento area politics.
Jeff discusses his recent story examining the dramatic changes in voter registration in Elk Grove and how it might affect the city’s new by-district elections, in District 3 in particular.
If Jeff’s name is familiar, he ran for the Democratic nomination for California’s Seventh Congressional District in the March 2020 primary against Representative Ami Bera.
The story referenced from SactoPolitico.com regarding Elk Grove voter registration can be viewed here.
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By John Hull |
Jeff and Caryn Carlson are proud Elk Grove parents. They’ve been watching over the past four years their oldest son Dylan rise from the ranks of an elite high school baseball player to that of prized rookie outfielder with the St. Louis Cardinals. Today I visit with Coach Carlson.
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On Tuesday, September 29, the Elk Grove Chamber of commerce, in association with the Elk Grove Citizen held a 2020 Elk Grove mayoral forum at the Wackford Center.
The event was mired with background noise from protestors outside the venue, and according to one person inside the forum, a deficient technological set up by the sponsors.
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast is an audio recording from that Zoom meeting.
The forum was originally scheduled for one hour but was cut short to about 48 minutes because of the poor audio quality.
Our recording is slightly less as several long pauses where there was no audio were cut. None of the comments have been removed for the recording.
The opening comments were from Waldo Herrera of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce.
Below is a guide to time marks in the audio, and responses from Mayor Steve Ly, Brian Pastor, and Bobbie Singh-Allen.
1:00 Opening remarks Waldo Herrera
2:20 Moderator introduction, David Herburger
1:36 Forum format
4:41 Opening statement - Bobbie Singh-Allen
7:36 Opening statement - Brian Pastor
9:43 Opening statement - Steve Ly
12:55 First question; Elk Grove's most pressing challenge
13:06 Singh-Allen response
16:23 Pastor response
17:54 Ly response
20:06 Second question; California Northstate Univiersity's proposed project
20:41 Pastor response
22:36 Ly response
24:17 Sing-Allen response
26:21 Third questions; Law enforcement and race relations
26:50 Ly response
30:02 Singh-Allen response
31:40 Pastor response
34:08 Fourth question; Jobs to homes imbalance
34:37 Singh-Allen response
36:49 Discussion of stopping forum because of protest background noise
37:31 Fourth question repeated
38:35 Pastor response
40:25 Ly response
42:53 Herrera comments on poor audio, interference from outside
43:41 Singh-Allen's closing remarks
45:25 Pastor closing remarks
46:05 Ly closing remarks
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Elk Grove’s 2020 mayoral race has been nothing, if not dramatic and we still have almost five more weeks. While the duo between Mayor Steve Ly and challenger Bobbie Singh-Allen has been the political talk of the town, there is a third candidate in the race, Brian Pastor.
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Elections have real implications, and in 2020, this is especially true even for Elk Grove contests and there is an important question to ask certain candidates.
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By John Hull |
It seems like it has become a daily habit…checking the daily numbers of Sacramento County people testing positive for COVID 19 virus. If we continue to see this data get smaller and smaller, then maybe, maybe life as we knew it prior to March 16, our first “Shelter-in-Place” declaration, will return.
Perhaps in the sports world, local students can go back to the classroom, our sports programs will get fired back up and maybe, just maybe, we can leave masks at home. Fans can attend games again and the cardboard cutouts in the seats can be returned to their rightful owner. (by the way, I have to admit it is funny to watch a batted ball him one of them in the photographed head)
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Yesterday was a sad day for our future of liberties and the great American experiment.
Godspeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
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Over the last several years, there has been a small but growing number of residents who have expressed concerns to the City of Elk Grove over the placement of so-called 5G cell antennas in the city.
5G which is the newest cell phone technology is being rolled out nationally, and several people in Elk Grove have expressed concern with what they say is it's negative health effects.
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By John Hull |
Today, I’ll continue the interview with my cousin, Dan Hull, who this weekend begins his 40th season of calling the play-by-play of high school football in Central Texas. As we heard from Dan in part one of this interview, the smaller high schools in Texas already have three and four games in the books, including their six-man football teams.
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By Dan Schmitt |
President Abraham Lincoln is best known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation which began the process of freedom for America’s slaves and for preserving the United States as one nation.
Because of those two nation-altering accomplishments, Lincoln is considered one of our greatest presidents. But, Abe Lincoln was so much more than those two events, especially on issues like scientific discovery.
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If you watched Thursday Night Football you saw fans, plenty of them, in Arrowhead Stadium, all socially-distanced in the NFL season opener. There were plenty of natural crowd sounds to make the football on TV experience worth watching.
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Often political movements fall victim to declining interest. An example of this was the Tea Party movement which died because it was manufactured by big money.
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By John Hull |
All NFL clubs cut their pre-season rosters from 80 to 53 players Saturday in preparation for the coming season. And, at this moment, only one Elk Grove-area athlete will be in a pro football uniform this weekend when the NFL kicks off its 2020 season.
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Not surprisingly, Donald Trump has disrespected another group. This time it is not the disabled, Black Americans, Latinos, Asians, or women.
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As they have every two years since 2012, in the next several weeks' Elk Grove voters will select the city’s directly elected mayor. By the look of things, this year’s mayoral election will be more controversial, contentious, and dare we say nastier than earlier contests.
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Cosumnes Oaks High School is very fortunate to have a man of integrity like athletic director George Smith. He is beginning his 32nd year of teaching, his fifth at Cosumnes Oaks. He has a stable of quality athletes and good students who will, later this year, field some very excellent teams.
Follow John Hull on Twitter @JohnHullEG
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We are pleased to announce to our readers and listeners noted Elk Grove sportswriter John Hull and his new podcast, Elk Grove Sports Minute. Those who follow Elk Grove sports will recall that Hull was the longtime sports editor of the Elk Grove Citizen and all-around good guy.
Please welcome John and we look forward to his updates on Elk Grove sports and professional athletes with local roots. For more updates, follow John on Twitter at @JohnHullEG.
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At the Wednesday night meeting of the Elk Grove City Council did Vice Mayor Steve Detrick validate claims made earlier that evening by community members that the city council is racist.
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Even though there were only a handful of comments compared to the August 12 session, during the Wednesday, August 26 Elk Grove City Council meeting speakers still presented arguments on the ongoing controversy between Mayor Steve Ly and Elk Grove Unified School District Trustee Bobbie-Singh-Allen who is challenging the two-term mayor.
Speaking during the public comments section of the meeting, the speakers called in mostly to claim the city is not addressing what they say are attacks being waged against the Hmong community by Singh-Allen. The controversy erupted after Singh-Allen posted social media comments that members of the Hmong-community say demeaned the culture calling them sheep and their patriarchal system was hostile towards women.
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With the restart of professional sports following the COVID19 shutdown, we’ve taken the opportunity to check in with sportswriter John Hull. As the former sports editor of the Elk Grove citizen, Hull has a deep knowledge of local sports and he will bring us up to date many of the professional athletes from Elk Grove.
In the first installment of a two-part podcast, Hull will update listeners about Elk Grove players now appearing in Major League Baseball.
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Among the interesting aspects of the race between Steve Ly and Bobbie Singh-Allen for Elk Grove mayor are their respective strengths. One factor in determining who will be next mayor is how those strengths are utilized and communicated with voters.
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This week Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly won the first of many skirmishes that will come in the next 75 or so days and the city council was able to pass along a political hot potato.
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On the evening of Friday, August 7, Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly issued an apology statement following weeks of claims of harassment and threats. The apology comes days before the Elk Grove City Council may censure the mayor.
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The looming Elk Grove mayoral showdown between Elk Grove Unified School District Trustee Bobbie Singh-Allen and Mayor Steve Ly could be defined by advantages each candidate brings to the battle
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Those of a certain age will recall the 1960s song Harper Valley PTA by Jeannie C. Riley which highlights small-town hypocrisy - something that is alive and well in Elk Grove.
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To say elected officeholders, especially low-level ones, are looking ahead for their next office is no surprise. Among many Elk Grove elected officials, there is no shortage of that trait.
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Recent events between Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly and his former campaign consultant Linda Vwj (Vu) have landed one of the more politically consequential movements in recent years - #MeToo - in Elk Grove.
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Twenty years ago today, on Saturday, July 1, 2000, Elk Grove became the first new city in California during the 21st century. In the time leading up to incorporation, Elk Grove voters were motivated to become a general law city with promises of enhanced public safety, and most notably, local control of land planning.
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Every four years, we hear how this presidential election is the most significant election of the era. The November 2020 elections may well be the year this prediction is true and three issues could influence every election from the top to the bottom of the ballot for American voters.
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During the June 24, 2020, Elk Grove City Council meeting, District 3 city council candidate Lynn Wheat thanks the city for adopting her budget review suggestion.
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The following podcast was submitted by DG Garcia. A long time and well-known activist, and advocate, Ms. Garcia shares her vision of why B.L.A.C.K. Lives Matter. Listen and take time to reflect.
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Like many sports fans, some politicians can be fair weather when it comes to their loyalties, especially to other elected officials. In Elk Grove, there has been one politician on the scene for several years who personifies this.
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Since the start of Elk Grove City Council’s COVID 19 teleconference meetings, a disturbing practice has emerged that has certain MAGA-like characteristics.
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In the aftermath of the death of Mr. George Floyd at the hands of police and the national conversation on police reform, Elk Grove Police Chief Timothy Albright addressed that topic and community relations during the Wednesday, June 10 Elk Grove City Council meeting.
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In California’s non-partisan local races, voters frequently ask candidates their party affiliation. In 2020 there is a far more urgent question for candidates running for office in Elk Grove and nationally.
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By Dan Schmitt |
The Nazi government of Adolf Hitler used the military to quash protests in Germany during the 1940s because thug dictators rule by fear. The world cried out to America, the voice of democracy, to condemn Hitler, and President Roosevelt responded.
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As a follow up to our recent podcast titled Did the City Council reaffirm Elk Grove’s redneck heritage, we will read comments from two Latina-Americans - one an immigrant and the other born and raised in Elk Grove who commented on the matter.
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The following is from Lynn Wheat, Elk Grove District 3 city council candidate. Ms. Wheat asked us for the opportunity to discuss an issue. If other candidates would like to opportunity to speak on an issue, please contact us for guidelines.
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Over the last several years, the City of Elk Grove has touted the racial, ethnic and religious diversity of it 175 thousand plus residents.
This diversity has been used not only to promote civic pride, but it has also been used as a marketing tool to promote its fledgling tourism and economic development efforts.
In the year 2020 Elk Grove is a far different city than it was 40 years ago.
Or is it?
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During the COVID 19 shelter in place order, we have seen the very best and, unfortunately, in recent days, the worst of humanity and I am not talking about Trump
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In November Sacramento County voters will be asked to approve a sales tax that will raise $8.4 billion for a variety of transportation projects. Measure A is proposed by the Multi-jurisdictional Sacramento Transportation Authority, the STA.
In opposition is a coalition calling itself the Sac County Residents against Measure A that is led by the Bruce Lee of the Sacramento County Taxpayers Association.
In our discussion Lee offers an overview of the proposed sales tax increase and discusses disparate groups that have aligned with them in opposition to the proposed tax increase.
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By Dan Schmitt |
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on people and will continue to do so for who knows how long. Understandable, many people are anxious and angry, especially the more than 35 million Americans who have lost jobs and have had to shutter businesses.
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In the legal business, a rainmaker is a person, usually a retired politician who is an attorney hired by a law firm, primarily to use their contacts and influence to generate new clients and the all-important billings.
The Sacramento white-shoe law firm of Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann and Girard seems to have planted a gratis rainmaker in Elk Gove City Hall.
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This November Sacramento County voters will be asked to approve Sacramento Transportation’s Authority’s Measure A – an $8 billion tax increase during the COVID19 economic depression.
The success of the measure falls in large part on the STA chair, Elk Grove city council member Darren Suen.
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On Thursday, May 14 the Sacramento Transportation Authority moved one step closer to placing Measure A on the November 2020 ballot.
If approved Measure A would impose $8 billion dollars in an additional sales taxes in Sacramento County. Although the measure will advance to the November ballot, during the proceedings, Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost voiced strenuously opposition to the plan. Among the concerns voiced by Frost was the negative affect a regressive tax has on low-income families.
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One of the interesting stories I’ve heard about mothers day comes from a sibling who spent many years of her Pacific Bell career working as a 411 operator.
Remember calling 411 and Ma Bell?
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I’ve been thinking about the $1,200 stimulus money that people are now receiving from the federal government. Over 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, and millions of small businesses have shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tens of millions of folks desperately need that financial assistance.
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Front-line medical public servants are to be commended during the COVID19 crisis. Some administrative public employees, however, according to Elk Grove’s official spokesperson are upset with extra duties during the crisis.
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On Tuesday, April 28, a joint information session was hosted by the City Elk Grove to offer information to residents on local governments' responses to the COVID19 pandemic.
Joining several representatives from Elk Grove were staff members from Sacramento county and the Cosumnes Community Services District.
In this edition, we are posting the entire session which lasted about one hour and fifteen minutes.
After brief introductory remarks by Elk Grove Mayor Steve Lee and Cosumnes Community Services District board president Orlando Fuentes, the meeting was conducted by Elk Grove City Clerk Jason Lindgren who directed real-time questions from participants. Also during the session there were questions answered on the Zoom platform where the meeting was conducted.
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In 2010 Elk Grove voters approved Measures K and L which established our current directly mayor for a two-year term by a strong majority. The measure to establish a directly elected mayor won with an overwhelming 78 percent majority.
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In politics, sometimes battles are waged in subtle ways that aren’t immediately visible. Such was the case in a battle waged by Elk Grove City Councilman Darren Suen and Vice Mayor Steve Detrick against Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly.
In this episode, we trace the battle which ended up with Ly outsmarting his city council colleagues Suen and Detrick.
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This week NASCAR Driver and Elk Grove's favorite son Kyle Larson committed an act of career self-immolation. In 2014 Larson was Elk Grove’s first key to the city recipient at the tender age of 21.
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In this expanded version of Elk Grove News Minute, our guest host and Major Leauge Baseball maven Steve Lee leads an interesting discussion on Al Kaline, the Detroit Tiger Hall of Fame member who died earlier this week. In addition, Lee and his guest discuss Kaline and the Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series championship.
If you're missing your sports or baseball fix, you might find this discussion on Kaline and the 1968 World Series right up your alley.
Our thanks to Steve Lee who directed this and was the creative force for this episode. This interview was conducted in the parameters of social distancing.
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The COVID 19 pandemic has exposed several failures in the American medical delivery system. It has also exposed failures in leadership in all levels of government. Some are very obvious like Donald Trump’s grotesque failures.
Other failures are less obvious, more subtle and not directly related to how the government has reacted to the crisis from the public health aspect. Rather the COVID 19 crisis exposed how some elected officials conduct their business over a span of time.
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By law, California elected and high-ranking public officials must annually disclose their economic interests. These disclosures show things like rental properties and gifts they have received.
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Lost in the declaration of the COVID19 pandemic, on March 12 the Elk Grove Police Department released a video of a June 2019 use of force incident. The video evidence and an internal investigation led to the termination of one officer and the resignation of a supervising officer.
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Many of my more seriously conservative family members and acquaintances are forever complaining about government overreach. They really get apoplectic when they talk about government intrusion in their lives. I even have one relative whose self-proclaimed motto is, “The damn government should stay the hell out of my life!” Usually, I just let him rant. I could argue with him, but it wouldn’t do any good.
Recently, this government intrusion issue crossed paths with the coronavirus pandemic we’re currently facing, and the two gave me food for thought.
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During Elk Grove’s ham-handed adoption of an eviction moratorium to help at-risk residential renters and small business owners, Republican council members Steve Detrick and Pat Hume showed how much they are like their hero - Donald Trump.
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In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast we talk with a colleague of ours in the Philippines, Paul Millano. We discuss some of the restrictions and living conditions they are living under 7,000 miles from California.
Millano, a technology employee providing services for many American companies discusses work demands BPO employees are encountering.
This interview was conducted on the late afternoon of March 24, California time, and in the morning time on March 25 in the Philippines via Skype.
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As four members of the Elk Grove City Council face a backlash over their votes to protect landlords at the expense of renters and small business owners, our guest expresses hope that compassion will prevail.
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With the recent events on the Elk Grove City Council regarding their denial of protection of families who are renters and small business owners, one community member says there needs to be an overhaul of the city's leadership.
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On Wednesday, March 18, the Elk Grove city council had an opportunity to address what is going to be a problem in the coming months – evictions. But slumlords may rule.
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Last year a contractor working for the City of Elk Grove’s tourism agency Explore Elk Grove filed a workplace sexual harassment lawsuit against the agency. In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts Kristen Berkery discusses the current status of the lawsuit and offers some encouragement - for contract workers in particular – who find themselves in a similar situation.
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On Sunday, March 15 California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a directive where, among other things drinking establishments like bar, brewpubs and wineries were asked to close.
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The week ending March 14, 2020, has been like few in American history, or at least in the last 75 years. We've seen panic buying by Americans and unprecedented actions by the World Health Organization.
But there was still one thing that really stood out.
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In response to the national emergency declared today and the Coronavirus pandemic, the Elk Grove Food Bank in coordination with the Laguna Sunrise Rotary Club in Elk Grove, Calif. is coordinating special services. Joining us is Marie Jacinto, executive director of the Elk Grove Food Bank services who will outline how the community can help.
Contribute via GoFundMe
Elk Grove Food Bank
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On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Congressman Dr. Ami Bera held a telephone town hall meeting. This meeting happened just hours after the World Health Organization announced the coronavirus is a worldwide pandemic. The sole topic of discussion of the town hall meeting was the coronavirus.
Joining Representative Bera was Sacramento County Health Director Dr. Peter Beilenson.
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By Dan Schmitt |
Now that the morning Sacramento Bee is delivered electronically, one part of the morning routine for many is still a cup of coffee. But like the morning news, delivery of that has changed as well.
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Political outsider Katie Valenzuela is maintaining a lead over establishment's incumbent Steve Hansen in the Sacramento City Council's District 4 race, and it could have implications in Elk Grove.
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In November 2020, Sacramento County Voters will be asked to consider raising sales taxes by one-half percent. The sales tax increase, Measure A, is proposed by the Sacramento Transportation Authority – the STA – to fund a variety of countywide transit needs.
If approved, Measure A would generate eight billion dollars over its 40-year life.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we are joined by former Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Cohn who is a member of SMART – Sacramento Metro Advocates for Rail and Transit who discusses how STA is proposing to spend the revenues.
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In Elk Grove, new job claims have as much credibility as a Trump Tweet.
In 2015 Former Mayor Gary Davis declared the Southeast Policy area - SEPA - the city’s employment center would generate 25,000 new jobs.
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For this edition of Elk Grove News Minute, longtime EGN commenter, satirist, and contributor DJ Blutarsky assists in an ode about one community member who has become a shell of their former self, or at least of the former self they presented to the public.
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A small audience at a project workshop, Elk Grove City Councilmember Stephnie Nguyen commented, is an indication that proponents have done their work, and the community is satisfied with the product. If those comments about inverse relations are correct, then Dignity Health's future hospital in Elk Grove has broad community support.
Nguyen made those comments before a handful of people at the end of a workshop she sponsored in cooperation with Dignity Health on their future hospital on Wymark Drive in Elk Grove's District56 civic center area. The workshop was held at Dignity's outpatient surgical facility on Wymark Drive.
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In 2020, Elk Grove voters will have a rare opportunity - elect a new member to take a seat on the Elk Grove City Council.
For only the third time since the city's 2000 incorporation, voters will have the chance to vote for a city councilmember without an incumbent on the ballot. That happened most recently for the District 4 seat in 2014, and in 2000 when the original city council was elected.
Given the interest in District 3, we have invited the four declared candidates to date to participate in a feature we are calling First Word. The four candidates are Maureen Craft, Amandeep Singh, Kevin Spease.
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In 2020, Elk Grove voters will have a rare opportunity - elect a new member to take a seat on the Elk Grove City Council.
For only the third time since the city's 2000 incorporation, voters will have the chance to vote for a city councilmember without an incumbent on the ballot. That happened most recently for the District 4 seat in 2014, and in 2000 when the original city council was elected.
Given the interest in District 3, we have invited the four declared candidates to date to participate in a feature we are calling First Word. The four candidates are Maureen Craft, Amandeep Singh, Kevin Spease.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
In 2020, Elk Grove voters will have a rare opportunity - elect a new member to take a seat on the Elk Grove City Council.
For only the third time since the city's 2000 incorporation, voters will have the chance to vote for a city councilmember without an incumbent on the ballot. That happened most recently for the District 4 seat in 2014, and in 2000 when the original city council was elected.
Given the interest in District 3, we have invited the four declared candidates to date to participate in a feature we are calling First Word. The four candidates are Maureen Craft, Amandeep Singh, Kevin Spease.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
In 2020, Elk Grove voters will have a rare opportunity - elect a new member to take a seat on the Elk Grove City Council.
For only the third time since the city's 2000 incorporation, voters will have the chance to vote for a city councilmember without an incumbent on the ballot. That happened most recently for the District 4 seat in 2014, and in 2000 when the original city council was elected.
Given the interest in District 3, we have invited the four declared candidates to date to participate in a feature we are calling First Word. The four candidates are Maureen Craft, Amandeep Singh, Kevin Spease.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
Syndicated columnists Mark Shields once noted every morning there are 100 American Senators who look in the mirror and see the next President of the United States. In today's political world, that pool of aspirants has expanded.
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The first of four Pizzeria town hall meetings organized for the benefit of California Northstate University (CNU) was held last night in Elk Grove City Council District 2. The meetings, which were organized by Sacramento-based business advocacy group Region Business, are meant to convey information about CNUs controversial proposed $900 million hospital in the Stonelake neighborhood.
This meeting held at Fat Mike's pizzeria on Grant Line Road drew about two dozen participants. Attending the meeting on behalf of CNU was its president and chief executive officer Alvin Cheung, spokesperson Brian Holloway, former Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis, and about a half dozen other representatives.
After introductory remarks by Elk Grove District 2 City Councilmember Pat Hume, the meeting was conducted by hospital project manager Paolo Diaz of San Francisco-based Fong and Chan.
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Documents released by the California Fair Political practices commission revealed surly behavior by the City of Elk Grove. Specifically, the city attorney’s office sanctioned surveillance and approved a taxpayer-funded smear-campaign against critics of the city.
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The following is an audio recording of the Sacramento Transportation Authority Board of Directors special meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
The special STA meeting was scheduled to hear presentations from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and the Sacramento Air Quality Management District.
The reports covered what affects proposed transit projects from a possible Sales Tax increase through the so-called measure A would have on air quality attainment.
The meeting was chaired by Elk Grove City Council member and STA chair Darren Suen
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Spring begins in March, the rebirth season. The sweet smell of blooming flowers and blossoming trees permeate the air. The sun rises later and stays awake longer foreshadowing warmer days ahead. And then there’s baseball. For more than 150 years, spring and baseball have been synonymous. Just like clockwork, when spring arises, players put on their cleats, grab their gloves, bats and balls, and the game of baseball begins anew.
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For many people in @CityofElkGrove, particularly on the city's westside, Old Town Elk Grove is like a distant cousin. Sure, you are related, but beyond that, do you really have any familiarity with them and do you even want to?
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Surrounded by family and supporters, on Saturday, January 25 Mr. Ali Moua announced he will challenge incumbent and fellow Democrat Darren Suen for the District 1 seat on the Elk Grove City Council.
Moua made the announcement in front of this Lakeside neighborhood residence with over 100 people in attendance.
Leading up to his statement, Moua was introduced by his wife Tou Vang and Maureen Craft, who is running for Elk Grove's District 3 seat on the city council. Also appearing in support of Mou was the president of the Elk Grove-South County, Karif Lawrence.
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This year Elk Grove City Council District 3 voters will have the opportunity to elect their representative on a by-district basis, and it will be the first city council contest since 2014 without an incumbent on the ballot.
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Halfway through the NBA season the Sacramento Kings by any realistic standard are eliminated from the playoffs.
This should come as no surprise given their zero and six start.
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The District56 aquatics center has become something of a sore point for the city of Elk Grove. Since its earliest planning stages, the project has been problematic.
The facility was over budget and open one year late. We have a discussion with David Anderson who is speaking out on behalf of one of the defendants. In our conversation, Anderson asserts among other things that the city council is not being told the whole story.
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By Dan Schmitt |
I was born the very day Harry Truman was elected president of the United States. Since my birth, the United States government has sent our military into conflicts 14 times.
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The January 8, 2020, Elk Grove City council meeting was one for the ages. Highlighting this meeting were false statements from the city council’s dean, District 2 representative, Pat Hume.
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One of the more interesting measures that may show up on the November 2020 ballot for Sacramento County voters is a proposed sales tax increase from the Sacramento Transportation Authority to fund a yet undecided number of countywide transportation projects.
Getting voter approval might be as tough as building a consensus between urban and suburban stakeholders just to get the measure on the ballot.
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Elk Grove’s District 56 is off to a rough start.
Last year the aquatics center opened one year late and over budget. Then on Christmas eve – the city’s new holiday tree went dark.
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In December the California State Auditor released a report on the Sacramento City Unified School District finances. The audit painted a bleak picture.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we have a discussion with Kevin Dayton about the findings of that audits and some of his recommendations beyond just belt-tightening on what could resolve and advert some of the problems the district is dealing with
Based in Monterey, California, Dayton is a policy and political consultant with 23 years of experience dealing with issues related to construction and development.
Dayton can be followed on Twitter at @DaytonPubPolicy.
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As the 2019 Holiday season winds down, it is always worth noting this is the time of year when charitable giving reaches its peak. Giving to charity is admirable, but many people might have less altruist motivations.
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Today, roughly, is Winter Solstice, the shortest daylight of the year. This is the day when mother earth tilts furthest away from the sun in the northern hemisphere. For all us remaining Druids, Celts and assorted pagans, this a day of celebration.
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Like many communities in California, Elk Grove is facing a tight housing market, and like many urban centers, homelessness is on the rise. And like many Californians, Elk Grove residents express concern about helping the homelessness, but just not in their neighborhood.
On Sunday, December 8, 2019, this and other topics were discussed in a meeting hosted by Elk Grove Councilmember Stephanie Nguyen on a proposed development along Bruceville Road in District 4.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we will look at one idea for a more even distribution of affordable and permanent supportive housing in Elk Grove, and attempt to answer the question, is it even possible?
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At the most recent Sacramento Transporation Authority meeting on Thursday, December 12, the one person allowed to speak during public comment, Ms. Rita Simmersbach, noted transit services officer by the City of West Sacramento. As you can hear from Ms. Simmersbach, she urged the STA to include this type of service should that multi-jurisdictional entity seek and gain the approval of a 40-year $8 billion sales tax measure for transit needs.
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In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts, we speak with Glenn Jackson Jr. and his mother Angela Jackson about their personal experiences related to transportation deficiencies in the Sacramento region and their real-life consequences. Mother and son have been advocating for better transit services to agencies like Sacramento Transporation Authority who is considering placing a sales tax increase on next year's ballot to fund countywide projects.
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Listeners may recall Robert Bork as the jurist nominated but not approved as a Supreme Court judge by President Ronald Reagan. Rejected for his extremist views, Bork tried to exact revenge against his perceived liberal enemies by writing Slouching toward Gomorrah.
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On Sunday, December 8, 2019, Elk Grove City Council member Stephanie Nguyen hosted a meeting addressing concerns in District 4 about affordable housing, and more specifically supportive housing.
The meeting was conducted by the city’s housing manager Sarah Bontrager who explained to constituents the various state requirement for Elk Grove. Bontrager also explained supportive housing, which could be an option for District 4
In this edition of Elk Grove News podcasts, the entire presentation has been recorded.
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Anyone who has heard a real estate pitch is familiar with the phrase location, location, location. This week California Northstate University made that pitch on it proposed hospital on Elk Grove’s far westside.2
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By Dan Schmitt |
Although I have lived in California for over 50 years, during the Holiday season I can't help but reflect on Christmas time with family and friends in my hometown of Schofield, Wisconsin.
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As daylight shortens, sleeping patterns are affected, and consequently, you might find yourself awake in the dead of the night. If you look at your phone at these times you might find political advertisements for California Assemblymember Jim Cooper.
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In 2016 The Sacramento Transportation Authority – the STA - placed a one half percent sales tax measure on the Sacramento county ballot to fund a variety of transportation projects. That measure was narrowly rejected by voters.
For 2020 the STA is again looking at placing a sales tax increase on the ballot. Our guest is is Glenda Marsh, a co-founder of SMART - Sacramento Metro Advocates for Rail and Transit.
Marsh will describe SMARTs advocacy of the STA for a possible sales tax increase and the transportation challenges in Sacramento County.
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As Americans prepare for the annual Thanksgiving celebration in the coming days, like others, we offer thanks. Our list is not inclusive of every person or event of significance, but this is a sampling of just a few things we offer thanks,
Of course, we offer thanks to all our contributors - written and otherwise, and most importantly our loyal readers and subscribers.
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During every Elk Grove city council meeting, there is an item on the agenda called the consent calendar. The calendar contains items of city business that are considered routine, non-controversial.
In this editions of Lynn Wheat’s podcast More Than Three Minutes, Wheat discusses this expenditure and other things hidden in the consent calendar.
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This week the McClatchy organization announced Saturday publication all of it daily's, including the Sacramento Bee, is being suspended which is unfortunate.
How we receive news that has changed substantially and the evolution continues, but sometimes not in a good way.
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In Sacramento County, there is a little-known agency whose profile will resurface like a cicada in the coming months. That agency is the Sacramento Transportation Authority – or the STA.
The STA is a multi-jurisdictional agency that disburses funds from a special county-wide sales tax for transportation projects. On Thursday, November 14, the STA held their monthly meeting to discuss the possibility of placing a sales tax increase on the November 2020 Sacramento County-wide ballot.
In this edition, we’ll give an overview of that meeting, listen to some of the public comments, and look at the challenges facing the STA with a possible sales tax measure on next year’s ballot
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This week Elk Grove city councilman Darren Suen held what was billed as a community meeting on California Northstate University’s controversial proposed hospital project. One of the people on hand to help Suen out of the difficult situation was Elk Grove city manager Jason Behrmann.
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In a session that lasted just under three hours, Elk Grove District 1 City Councilmember Darren Suen heard many pointed comments and questions from about 60 participants at a community meeting he conducted last night at the Dreaming Dog Brewery in Elk Grove's Stonelake neighborhood.
Although Suen heard comments on topics ranging from traffic to homelessness, the primary focus was on California Northstate University's (CNU) proposed $900 million 400-bed hospital. Plans for the hospital, which Suen participated in during the much-publicized formal announcement last December, has generated substantial controversy.
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With the switch to by-district elections in 2020, Elk Grove is in the midst of a subtle political change. With councilmembers elected by-district voters only, Mayor Steve Lee remains the only councilmember elected citywide.
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A few years ago, a documentary was released about the Enron scandal called The Smartest Guys in the room. It told the story of the hubris of people like Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. The title was apt because the Enron criminals thought they were smarter than everybody.
And for a while they were. Then things collapsed.
Although not criminally motivated like the Enron crew, the Elk Grove city council has a member who consistently reminds people – by waving his education credentials around, especially compared to his city council colleagues, that He is the smartest guy on the council, maybe all of the city hall too.
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With the Elk Grove City council’s recently adopted by-district voting, Mayor Steve Ly scored a big political victory.
With victory, there has to be a loser.
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One of California’s many pressing challenges – affordable housing – made an appearance at the Rancho Cordova City Council meeting.
During public comment, several residents from the Mobil Country Club community in Rancho Cordova spoke about rapidly escalating rents for their residences at their 479 space senior mobile home park. The speakers, all seniors on fixed incomes, made their appearance and asked the city council for assistance.
In this edition, we’ll hear all the comments made by the concerned residents. For reference, the meeting was conducted by Mayor Robert McGarvey whose voice will be heard intermittingly through the audio.
The comments were made during the Monday, October 21st Rancho Cordova City Council meeting.
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Last year Elk Grove city manager Jason Behrmann announced with great pride a new city hall department, The Office of Strategic Planning and Innovation. The new department was to be headed by a member of the city’s planning department, Christopher Jordan.
In this edition, we’ll take a look at one simple attempt to innovate that failed that we call an Innovation Nightmare – Christopher Jordan’s Folly.
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Recently the Latin term Quid pro quo has been thrust into the national lexicon by Trump. Loosely translated it means something for something.
This practice has been around Elk Grove since the city’s founding.
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On Friday, October 11, the City of Elk Grove issued a statement regarding litigation over construction delays and cost overruns on the recently open District56 aquatics center. Given the reluctance of governmental bodies to comment on pending litigation, issuing the statement was an unusual development.
In this edition, we have another conversation with Brian Erickson who as co-owner of Big B Construction is one of the defendants in the lawsuit.
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The next time you hear the Elk Grove City Council or member of the city's executive team make claims, you would be well-served to view them with a healthy measure of skepticism.
One such example of this is a recently released video by the city on the budget process.
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On Wednesday, October 9, proposed by-district voting maps were released during the Elk Grove city council meeting.
The news maps were drawn by National Demographics Corporation after the city council was compelled under threat of a lawsuit for their prolonged practice of violating civil and voter rights with their discriminatory at-large elections. Even though the city will change to by-district voting, our guest Kathy Engle has expressed concerns with the process and the methods of National Demographics Corporation in how the proposed maps were drawn.
Maps referenced in the podcast interview produced by NDC can be view here.
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Life, it has been said, can imitate art. Following a decade-old recommendation, former Elk Grove Citizen editor, Jeff Forward, has led us to an example that is apt for Elk Grove.
Jeff' - we should have taken up your recommendation long ago - better late than never!
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Even as he raised briefcases of cash from developers and labor unions this week, it appears Darren Suen is running scared as he seeks another term as the District 1 representative on the Elk Grove City Council.
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By Dan Schmitt |
The Laguna Creek Trail in Elk Grove begins near where Waterman Road intersects Bond Road and ends further up on Bond Road close to the California Family Fitness Center. The paved trail slinks like a garter snake along Laguna Creek for about 2 1/2 miles, and by all accounts, it’s a gem of a trail, well used by bikers, joggers, and walkers.
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During the 2019 Memorial Day weekend, the City of Elk Grove opened its long-awaited aquatic center at the newly named District56 complex. The opening of the facility was delayed by almost a year and was over budget.
In July of 2019 Elk Grove filed a lawsuit against many of the companies involved in the construction of the facility. One of these companies was Big B Construction.
Guests are Brian Erickson is a co-owner of Big B Construction and his project manager, Carlos DeLeon. Ericson and DeLeon will detail what they assert were faulty designs by the primary contractor.
Ericson also discusses the reason he thinks the city is pursuing the litigation and what happened when he addressed the Elk Grove city council at the September 11 meeting.
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Product launches can be a tricky thing.
Have a good product enter the market at the right time with the right message and it can be successful beyond imagination. Conversely, if you have a product with a poorly defined audience and a confusing message, it can be a huge setback.
Think of Apple's iPhone launch a little over a decade ago and Ford Motor's launch of the Edsel line about 60 years ago.
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A frequent guest on Elk Grove News Podcasts has been Lynn Wheat. A smart planning advocate, Wheat is now producing a podcast on land planning and other issues of interest in Elk Grove that she is calling More Than Three Minutes.
In this inaugural edition, Wheat will discuss a project in Elk Grove's Southeast Policy Area - SEPA - and its relationship to the 25,000 new jobs city leaders have promised.
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The history of Jim Crow laws in the United States, which included voters suppression, is among many blemishes on America's legacy. Through the hard work of civil rights activist, Jim Crow laws were removed, but vestiges and the attitudes that enabled the segregationist laws have not disappeared.
Even though it is touted for its diversity, the same mentality that institutionalized Jim Crow lingers in modern Elk Grove.
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Have you ever been stonewalled or the subject of ghosting?
Elk Grove resident Kathy Engle discusses public document requests she has made with the city of Elk Grove that give the appearance she is being stonewalled.
A request made on June 26, 2019 seeking emails from council member Darren Suen for only a two week period has not been fulfilled even though it was requested almost three months ago.
We will also discuss Engle’s other unfulfilled document requests as well
On this edition of Elk Grove News Podcasts.
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In a somewhat unusual moment at last night's Elk Grove City Council meeting, Vice Mayor pat Hume issued an apology to a well-regarded civil rights activist.
The comments from Hume came during the hearing on what is a contentious issue for Hume, the switch to by-district elections. The apology was to Amar Shergill who has been a longtime advocate of civil rights.
Hume reference the August 28 city council meeting and said he felt he is being forced against his will to address the civil rights concerns of individuals like Shergill. The context of Hume's comments which compelled the apology was not revealed by Hume or Shergill.
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As I mentioned in my last podcast, I like Facebook. It gives me an opportunity to dialogue with people I don’t know personally, and it allows me to get a sense of folks’ perspectives on important issues of the day.
Recently, a few of my more progressive and liberal Facebook friends have been somewhat agitated over the “Straight Pride Movement” and the parades and marches and rallies members of the movement are having across our country.
Frankly, I’m a little baffled by the movement myself. Apparently, the Straight Pride Movement was formed as a backlash against the LGBT Pride Movement. I guess the Straight Pride people feel sort of left out and are agitated themselves that they’re not getting the respect and equality they feel they deserve.
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In this edition, we continue our discussions with business owners in Elk Grove’s Stonelake Landing shopping center whose enterprises are being negatively affected by their landlord, California Northstate University and their proposed $900-million unfunded hospital project.
Steav Jordan is the co-owner of Barbarz Dreme barbershop. Jordan will tell us about his attempts to reach the Elk Grove City Council expressing his concerns and difficulties in dealing with his landlord, California Northstate University
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Our readers have been an invaluable source of tips, stories, and sarcasm. This week a reader made a worthy suggestion for the city of Elk Grove.
It was done in the context of Trump’s sharpie incident. If you’re listening to this podcast, you know the topic.
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Since the December 2018 announcement by California Northstate University of their plans to build a 400-bed hospital on the west side of Elk Grove, the project has been mired in a quagmire of controversy.
Today we talk with Matt Weaver who owns a business in the Stonelake Landing shopping center, which is owned by California Northstate University, about plans to demolishing the facility and kill several small businesses, several of which are minority-owned enterprises.
Weaver discusses his attempt to deal with California Northstate and how it has motivated him to consider more political involvement.
Also discussed is the involvement of former Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis as a community outreach representative for the school.
Recorded Wednesday, September 4.
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Although Labor Day has to come to mean the traditional end of summer for most Americans, Maureen Craft says we should not forget the real meaning of the holiday.
Maureen Craft is an Elk Grove resident and 2020 candidate for the Elk Grove City Council District 3.
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Although the domino theory that dominated American foreign relations for decades has been largely discredited, it could be an accurate indicator for changes to Elk Grove's power structure. One and a half out of three have fallen, so who will be the third?
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This week students from Cosumnes Oaks and Elk Grove high schools scored another victory in their quest to ban styrofoam products in Elk Grove. In the coming months, they will encounter a far tougher assignment.
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For their Wednesday August 28 meeting, the Elk Grove city council has a packed agenda.
Some of the items include the purchase of several hundred acres of land outside current city limits in their closed session
Millions of dollars of purchases hidden in the consent calender
And dealing with the threat of a lawsuit for their violation of civil rights.
Joining us today is Lynn Wheat, a watchdog of the Elk Grove city council who will paint a more complete picture of what’s going on at city hall.
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Over the last few years, one issue four members of the Elk Grove city council have been confronted with is the question of representation. Specifically, four council members Steve Detrick, Pat Hume, Stephanie Nguyen and Darren Suen have rejected calls that the city switch to by-district elections and representation.
Instead they have dug in their heels and support their less democratic at large system.
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On Wednesday, August 21, the Elk Grove City Council will hold a special meeting on behalf of California Northstate University and their proposed hospital. It is a crucial vote that will affect Elk Grove's future.
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Dayton and El Paso are the most recent cities affected by mass killings. A week earlier, it was Gilroy.
Over 30 people were murdered and dozens more wounded in those cities. Aside from the tragic loss of life, will these killings affect our daily lives?
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Many Americans know Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell. Many residents in Elk Grove know Mayor Steve Ly.
McConnell is a man with great power in Washington DC as the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate and by default, an international power broker. Outside of the Elk Grove area and a few pockets of supporters in Fresno and Minneapolis, Ly is not that well known and as an individual politician, has limited influence.
Throughout his long career, Republican McConnell, with recent exceptions to accommodate President Trump’s support of Putin and Russia’s interference in American elections is a rock rib conservative. You know, a law and order, voter suppression, state right’s sort of guy.
And even thought he has not displayed many of the supposed characteristics in his comparatively short political career, Ly is reputed to be a liberal member of the Democratic party.
On the surface these two elected officials appear to be polar opposites. But they do share a few important characteristics.
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By Dan Schmitt |
I like Facebook. It allows me to discuss and debate all sorts of issues with all sorts of people, most of whom I don’t even know. Of course, our current president, Donald Trump, continues to be a topic of much discussion. Trump supporters on Facebook offer up a host of reasons as to why they like the guy. The one I find most baffling is when they say he acts like a man.
Let that sink in for a moment, “Donald Trump acts like a man!”
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In just about every type of endeavor, especially sports there is a so-called GOAT - The Greatest of All Time. In the modern era, there are several GOATS. Boxing has Ali. Well, today is the birthday of one of those GOATS who is still going strong.
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One of the pressing political questions facing Democratic members of the U.S. Congress, as well as Democratic voters and the American public is whether or not President Donald Trump should be impeached.
In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we have that discussion with Jeff Burdick. A Democratic primary challenger to Rep. Ami Bera in California's 7th district, Burdick offers an assessment on that political question that stands in contrast to Bera's stated position.
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In what could be characterized as either a moment of honesty or more likely not understanding the implications of their words, Elk Grove's economic development director Darrell Doan unwittingly stepped into it this week.
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In this edition of Ya Gotta be Schmittin' Me, contributor Dan Schmitt discusses what will likely be one of the main topics in 2020 presidential and congressional campaigns, healthcare. As Schmitt points out, the "S" word has been pillared by generations of Republican politicians. But is America free of any socialist-type institutions or services?
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As a partisan candidate, having your party hold the presidency is usually viewed as an advantage, especially during a presidential election. But as we have seen since Donald Trump entered politics and the presidency, conventional wisdom has been tossed out like a stinky fish.
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If nothing else can be said about former Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis, it is he has taken the advice of former Chicago mayor, congressman, and Chief of Staff to President Obama, Rahn Emmanuel to heart. That advise, which Emanuel famously said in a Wall Street Journal interview was "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."
Although it is not quite a crisis, this week Davis seems to have exploited the for-profit California Northstate University's public relations quandary over their proposed $750 million hospital in Elk Grove's Stonelake neighborhood.
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Politicians trying to pass the buck is a universal occurrence. For the Elk Grove City Council, an example of this time-honored way of shirking leadership will be on display in the coming days under the guise of something that might not be immediately obvious.
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In the heady days leading up to Elk Grove's incorporation in 2000, there were three main rationales for cityhood. If you were around Elk Grove in those days, do you remember the three talking points being sold?
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By Dan Schmitt |
Yesterday morning, I stood on the corner of School Street and Elk Grove Boulevard, across from the Herberger Family Funeral Chapel in Elk Grove where the motorcade procession began to transport police Officer Tara O’Sullivan’s body to her memorial service at Bayside Adventure Church in Roseville.
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In politics, the actions of elected officials measure the political environment. Over the last six months, the Cosumnes Community Services District Board of Directors has become a vital forecasting gauge of Elk Grove's political landscape.
Will this forecast be accurate?
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In this edition, Jill Gonzales of @Wallethub discusses the decrease in aggregate credit card debt during the first quarter of 2019.
Although the first quarter debt decreased, Gonzales discusses what's ahead for the rest of the year. Additionally, Gonzales discusses the implications of the ongoing tariff wars and offers an analysis of how Elk Grove household credit card debt compares to other communities.
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Beautiful or atrocious?
Art or annoyance?
If the social media comments to date are any indication, the winner, as of now, is an annoying atrocity. Time will be the ultimate judge.
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In this edition, Cosumnes Community Services District Director Jaclyn Moreno discusses a proposal for the district to fund an extensive climate action plan study. Moreno outlines the environmental and economic benefits of funding a study that could lead to the adoption of a plan for the district.
The CCSD hearing on the matter will be heard at their Wednesday, June 19, 2019, regular meeting
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Set in Texas, Angel's Truth is the story of a young man accused and acquitted of a grisly double murder. After being acquitted, our protagonist, along with his public defender pursue the truth of who killed two teenage victims, one of which was Angel's former sweetheart.
Bob Irelan provides an overview of his first published novel. He also discusses future prospects for the story which included a possible screenplay.
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As required by law, the city of Elk Grove must produce a balanced budget ready for implementation by July 1, 2019. After examining the budget report, Elk Grove resident Lynn Wheat discusses some information she found.
Wheat has made additional inquiries seeking explanation of her findings to the city of Elk Grove. Depending on when she receives a response, an additional segment on the city’s 2020 budget may be produced.
On a side note, like every other city in the state, Elk Grove is required by law to produce a balanced budget. Keep that in mind when you hear a city council member brag that they have produced a balanced budget.
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For the last several election cycles California's 7th Congressional district has been a battlefield between Democratic and Republican candidates. While Rep. Ami Bera enjoyed a relatively easy reelection campaign in 2018 in part because of the so-called Blue Wave, 2020 could be a different landscape.
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By Dan Schmitt |
During my teaching career, I must have told my humanities and geography students a thousand times, “Travel is the best education in the world. By experiencing first-hand other cultures, you’ll come to better understand your own. And, during your travels, you will be exposed to cultural experiences that will simultaneously perplex and enlighten you.”
In 1995, the opportunity arose for me to help young minds experience what I had been preaching about travel for many years. In this podcast, I wrap up the rest of our Italian journey.
Listen to Part I of American Boys in Italy here.
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In May there were events - some self-inflicted and some out of their control - that turned the month for the quasi-government agency tasked with transforming the community into a tourist destination, Explore Elk Grove, into one they would rather forget. 1
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In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we meet with Elk Grove Planning Commissioner George Murphey.
The discussion centers on an event scheduled for Saturday, June 8 at Elk Grove City Hall that he and fellow planning commissioner Mackenzie Weiser helped organize. The event, called Tacos and Test Drives will allow participants to examine, test drive and learn about the vast array of non-fossil fuel vehicles.
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A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling could have serious implications for the business plan of the proposed Wilton Rancheria casino in Elk Grove, city coffers, and motorist.
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In this edition, we are joined by Elk Grove resident Kathy Engle who discusses documents she obtained that shed further light on the 400-bed hospital proposed by California North state University in Elk Grove’s Stonelake Neighborhood.
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Elk Grove's Swimmin' Hole, known formally as the Elk Grove Aquatics Center will hold a grand opening ceremony on Memorial Day Weekend. While city leaders will be strutting around like Baywatch lifeguards next Saturday at the over-budget facility, what happens in a few years?
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In this episode, we have a discussion with marketing professional Kristen Berkery who has filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court against the Visit Elk Grove tourism agency and their executive director, John "JT" Thompson.
Berkery alleges Thompson of using his position as executive director to sexually harass her.
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Every now and then political opponents can find common ground or at least common ground on governance practices. Such is the case for Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly, and City Council Member Pat Hume when he served his one term as mayor 10 years ago.
See companion video and story to this podcast here.
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This week the Sacramento LAFCO approved Elk Grove’s sphere of influence application for about 600-acres along Grant Line Road. The approval paves the way for Elk Grove to annex this parcel.
Alone this is not remarkable. What is noteworthy, however, is the ruse the Elk Grove City Council seemingly pulled on taxpayers.
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After a 34-year law enforcement career, Elk Grove Police Chief Bryan Noblett recently announced his retirement. A 10-year veteran of the Elk Grove Police Department, Noblett was the EGPD's third chief serving three years in that role.
In this edition, Noblett reflects on aspects of his career and what the future holds for Elk Grove Police.
Photo credit: Officer Jason Jimenez, EGPD
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In this edition, we are breaking our typical format on politics and current events and will discuss the 2019 NFL draft, specifically the Detroit Lions draft.
We will be discussing this with Logan Lamorandier, editor of Lionlowdown.com. Lamorandier gives grades on the Lions' draft, their 2019 prospects and more.
Lamorandier and also be followed on Twitter @LLamorandier and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LionLowdown/
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This week, the Elk Grove City Council decided to create a new place to squirrel money away, and called it the "Opportunity Fund." What might be one implication of this new fund?
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By Dan Schmitt |
During my teaching career, I must have told my humanities and geography students a thousand times, “Travel is the best education in the world. By experiencing first-hand other cultures, you’ll come to better understand your own. And, during your travels, you will be exposed to cultural experiences that will simultaneously perplex and enlighten you.”
In 1995, the opportunity arose for me to help young minds experience what I had been preaching about travel for many years.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/elk-grove-news/support
As part of National Volunteer Month, the Alzheimer Association of Northern California has recognized the contributions of Kathy Yee.
In this edition, Kathy discusses the challenges for families and caregivers of people with Alzheimer's. As a volunteer since 2015, Kathy discusses insights she and her children gained after caring for her late husband Ben who succumbed to the disease four years ago.
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Darrell Doan, Elk Grove's economic development director, as well as other personnel at Elk Grove City Hall need to stop wasting taxpayers dollars on frivolous and expensive advertising. Instead, money should be used to fix things like Elk Grove's crumbling roads.
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Ever since it was unveiled last December, the California Northstate University's proposed for-profit hospital has been a source of controversy.
Both CNU and Elk Grove city executive employees and council members would be well advised to heed to the words from South Bend Indiana mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttiegieg.
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In this edition, smart planning advocate Lynn Wheat discusses the recent traffic jam study and the conundrum for Elk Grove’s long sought expansion of city limits.
Wheat discusses how Elk Grove taxpayer could be on the hook for cost that in normal cities are paid by developers.
We start the conversation with Wheat providing an overview of the April 10 presentation by the Elk Grove Public Works Department on traffic congestion.
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In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, Kathy Engle of Neighbors Ensuring Stonelake Transparency, NEST, discusses the use of taxpayer money to purchase advertisements for the benefit of California Nothstate University, a for-profit educational institution headquartered in Elk Grove, Calif.
Also discussed are seemingly conflicting statements from the City of Elk Grove's economic development director Darrell Doan.
NEST is a group organized in opposition to a 400-bed, $750 million hospital proposed in Elk Grove's Stonelake neighborhood.
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The Wednesday, April 10 Elk Grove City Council meeting was one to remember.
At the end of the meeting with hardly no one in attendance, the city council heard an honest assessment of the city’s growing traffic congestion.
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In the last several weeks California Republican Congressman Devin Nunes has made quite a splash in social media - twitter specifically - and more recently in mainstream media for a couple of lawsuits he has filed.
Perhaps its a riff on the song Dog and Butterfly by Heart, except for Nunes its more like Cow and Bee.
In the case of the cow, the Fresno-area congressman filed a $250 million lawsuit against a Twitter parody Account called Devin Nunes Cow.
Apparently poor little Devin thinks it is unfair that he is on the receiving end of so much satirical commentary.
Nunes was understandably ridiculed for that lawsuit.
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This week casino watchdog group Stand Up For California filed another lawsuit challenging the Bureau of Indians Affairs over the proposed Wilton Rancheria casino in Elk Grove, California.
The issues raised for the plaintiff comes from documents the B I A was forced to release.
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The last several months for the proprietors of Elk Grove's Dreaming Dog Brewery have been two tails.
The first tale was of the successful launch and establishment by David and Elizabeth Brown of their popular brewery and tasting room located at the Stonelake Landing shopping center on the west side of Elk Grove. Their efforts to build a friendly, community-based gathering spot was recognized by the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce and awarded the Brown's with the 2018 Rookie Business of the Year.
The other tale came with the announcement by their landlord, California Northstate University, that as part of their proposed $750 million hospital, the shopping center where the brewery is located would be demolished. That news created a swirl of activity not only for residents in the nearby Stonelake and Lakeside neighborhoods but caught the Brown's by surprise as well.
In our conversation, along with brewery talk, David Brown discusses what the future may hold for the community gathering place that has quickly become a favorite for many Elk Grove residents.
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In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we have a discussion with Kathy Engle of Neighbors Ensuring Stonelake Transparency - NEST.
Led by Engle's public information requests, the citizens' group has started examining documents they have received from the city of Elk Grove. Engles discusses some of their initial findings showing the depth of the relationship between the city and the for-profit medical school who is proposing the $750 million hospital in Elk Grove's Stonelake neighborhood.
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While some view California's rapidly escalating housing costs as an impediment, one company from America's Natural State is taking a contrarian view and sees a golden opportunity in the Golden State.
Mountain Home, Arkansas-based Affordable Family Development (AFD) has announced its intent to pursue a manufactured housing site on a vacant parcel in Elk Grove. The parcel AFD purchased for their development is the long-vacant 18-acre site located on the northeast corner of Sheldon and Power Inn roads.
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As widely reported, Elk Grove recently updated its general plan.
The plan nibbles around the edges of one of California’s most pressing socio-economic problems – affordable housing. Elk Grove’s solution is predictable – cluster some rental units in a few areas and forget about it.
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Social media is part of our life, and for all its ills, at times it can be educational.
Such was the case in a recent series of tweets.
The tweets were about city council’s brushing off constituents.
— Kevin Dayton (@DaytonPubPolicy) March 22, 2019
I hear Los Angeles City Council is like this.
In fact, I remembered an old newspaper article about it and found it, in @latimes from 2005!
Also, a 2014 YouTube video:https://t.co/PEhIhKpq11https://t.co/Ebydf7F74q
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By Dan Schmitt |
I cannot begin to imagine how devastating it must be to discover that a loved one has been ruthlessly murdered. I cannot imagine the pain, the depression and the suffering family members and friends of murder victims go through as they wait for the execution of the person on death row who was found guilty of the heinous crimes.
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Based in Monterey, California, Dayton is a policy and political consultant with 22 years of experience dealing with Issues related to construction and development.
The discussion centers on the intersection of the California Environmental Quality Act, and project labor agreements as it relates to the $750 million hospital proposed in Elk Grove, Calif. by California Northstate University.
Dayton can be followed on Twitter at @DaytonPubPolicy.
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After weeks of bombardment from Elk Grove residents over the proposed 750 million dollar California Northstate university hospital, the Elk Grove city council had a respite this week.
Coming to their rescue was a host of big shot building trade union bosses, all of whom have contributed cash to the city council members.
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Be careful when doing online sales.
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Although the economy is doing relatively well, residents of Elk Grove, California are taking on more high-cost credit card debt. Those were the findings of a recently released study by Wallethub.com.
In this edition, we discuss the implications of this development with Wallethub.com's personal finance expert Jill Gonzales. Other findings from WalletHub's study can be viewed here.
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This week Trump crony Paul Manafort received one of his two sentences from his corruption and tax evasion convictions.
As it stands today, Manafort will be out in about three years having received nine months credit for time served.
Even if he receives a few more years at his next sentencing, Manafort got what amounts to slap on the wrist when you compared it to the maximum sentence he could have received.
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For years Pacific Gas and Electric – PG&E - have made thousands of dollars of campaign contributions to Elk Grove city council members.
Their interest in Elk Grove politics has always been something of a puzzlement.
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After a multi-year process, yesterday the Elk Grove City Council adopted the city's general plan update. As the name implies, a general plan is the road map of how the city of Elk Grove expects to develop for several years to come.
In this edition, we discuss the update, public comment on the adoption, and whether or not the city council took into consideration of any of the comments from residents during the entire process with smart planning advocate Lynn Wheat.
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In this edition we continue our discussion with Elk Grove, California resident and smart planning advocate Lynn Wheat.
The discussion looks at the differences between the updates for the general plan and zoning code.
Wheat discusses how the zoning code might be more important the general plan, and how a significant change to the zoning code has implications for major project now under consideration by the City of Elk Grove.
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Will elected officials on the Elk Grove City Council and Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees continue their blatant violation of civil and voters rights, be more interested in their own parochial interests, or do the right thing?
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Cosumnes Community Services District Director Jaclyn Moreno discusses the reasons why the district should have by-district elections during the Wednesday, February 20, 2019 CCSD meeting.
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This is the first installment in a three-part series with Mark Graham, who is a community watchdog on the placement of 5G cellular antennas.
In this segment, we discuss a possible conflict of interest between the City of Elk Grove and a cellular industry consultant hired by the city for their November 28 workshop on the placement of the antennas within the city.
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Podcast by Dan Schmitt
My best friend of forty-two years, Cal Robinson, died three years ago of complications caused by diabetes. No one, especially me, would have predicted that two such different young men would develop an endearing friendship that would last nearly a half-century, but it did.
I first met Cal in 1973 at the Reubens Restaurant in La Mesa, California. I was a bartender, and Cal had recently been hired as a bar boy, a position that involved washing glasses, refilling ice bins, keeping the bar clean, and when time allowed, learning the craft of bartending.
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The Elk Grove city council has offered full-throated support for the California Northstate University's proposed $750 million teaching-hospital, but they have underestimated opposition to the project.
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For roughly three-and-half years, Elk Grove has been updating the city's general plan. The general plan is roughly the blueprint on how the city will grow in the future.
In this edition of Elk Grove New Podcast, we have a discussion with one Elk Grove resident who has monitored the process from start to finish. The general plan was scheduled for approval by the Elk Grove City Council on Wednesday, February 13, but was removed for unknown reasons at the last minute.
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A high-placed source in Elk Grove’s political underground related a plot to appoint another Elk Grove city council member.
In this episode, we lay out how this scheme could happen.
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For hardcore NFL fans, tomorrow’s Super Bowl between the Pats and Rams is like Christmas morning. Football fanatics probably know there are only four teams who have never appeared in the Super Bowl.
The cocktail recipe is here.
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In this edition of Elk Grove News Podcast, we discuss one of the most misunderstood - especially as practiced by members of the Elk Grove City Council - regular items on their meeting agendas. An item that was supposed to inform the public has evolved into a perversion of the original intent.
Elk Grove resident and longtime city council observer, Lynn Wheat joins the conversation. Wheat explains the history of this item, and never one to be without worthy ideas, suggests a solution.
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By Dan Schmitt |
The United States is one of the few developed nations on earth that does not provide some form of universal, single-payer health care.
For clarification purposes, when referring to health care, the term universal means that all people within a country have coverage. The term Single-payer usually means that the federal government pays for everyone’s health care, with funding via a payroll tax similar to Social Security and Medicare.
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In the last several days, city hall tax collectors and mall mavens in Elk Grove received crushing news – the Outlet Collection at Elk Grove will never open. Not to worry though - help is on the way!
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In less than one month, plans for the demolition of two shopping centers in Elk Grove have been announced.
The first is the Stonelake Landings for the proposed $750 million for profit hospital on the city’s west side
The second is the demolition of the unfinished Outlet Collection, also known as the Ghost Mall.
With the Ghost Malls demise, questions from residents of the Stonelake neighborhood, who oppose the demolition of the Stonelake Landings, will abound.
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At the January 2019 Elk Grove City Council meeting, the city’s economic development director Darrell Doan made claims that make
Dr. Evil’s assertion that his father invented the question mark plausible.
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By Dan Schmitt
Numerous polls, just before the 2018 midterm election, showed that the number 1 issue on voters’ minds was access to affordable, quality health care. Actually, for more than a half-century, access to good health care has been elusive for many Americans. One might say it’s been a case of the “Haves and the Have-Nots.”
The “Health Care Haves” are the wealthy who have the financial resources to purchase their own health care insurance, people who can afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, employees who are fortunate enough to get decent health care insurance through their employers, and folks on Medicaid and Medicare. Still, many Americans fall into the category of the “Have-Nots.” The most recent estimates show that 44 million Americans have no health insurance and 38 million Americans have inadequate health insurance.
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Is the Elk Grove City hall payroll getting fat?
A casual examination of recent events and job listings would say yes.
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As we enter 2019, there will be scads of stories that will develop during the year.
However, there are a few stories that have developed this year and before, that will continue into 2019. The outcome of these ongoing stories will have the most influence in shaping the future of Elk Grove, California.
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The Christmas holiday season is the favorite time of year for many people. After all, if we have learned only one thing from Christmas movies on Hallmark or Lifetime, it's that wishes do come true at this time of year.
From Elk Grove News.
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By Dan Schmitt
No season is quite like Christmas for welling up memories. And no Christmas season is more indelibly locked into my memory than the one that occurred back in 1958. I grew up the third of seven kids in the small central Wisconsin town of Schofield. My parents were products of the Great Depression and World War II and disciplined differently. Six of the seven Schmitt kids were boys, and we were all boys, if you know what I mean!
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On Wednesday, December 12, at the request of public works director Bob Murdock, the Elk Grove City Council approved additional funding of $1.4 million to cover cost overruns on the civic center aquatics facility.
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Latest episode of Elk Grove News
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By Dan Schmitt
I suppose my journey began one afternoon during Christmas break in 1964 when I was 16. One of the few activities my friends and I did indoors during the cold, snowy north-central Wisconsin winters was play basketball. We were at the YMCA in my hometown when “THEY” arrived and put a dent in my sheltered existence.
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Like many people, I had the good opportunity to shake the hand of an American President.
In my case, it was the recently departed George H. W. Bush. To be clear when I met the 41st American President he was not yet in office.
In fact, it was at the point when he was coming to widespread attention national attention.
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On Wednesday November 28, the Elk Grove City council held a workshop meeting to discuss the advent of the latest advancement in cell phone technology, so-called 5 G.
During the four-hour session, testimony was heard on the implications of the new technology from legal, public works, public health, technological, and economic development perspectives.
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Over the next few weeks elected officials will be taking their oaths for office. Now is a good as time as to remind these officials their first priority is to represent, and, as needed, aid constituents.
Along these lines two people recently told us why they voted for Congressman Ami Bera and State senator Richard Pan.
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By Dan Schmitt
Some years ago in the town of Elk Grove there lived a very unhappy young man named Joseph. Joseph had been afforded all the blessings and opportunities bestowed upon him and most other young people residing in Elk Grove. But still, he was so very unhappy and pined to anyone who would lend an ear that there had to be more to life than what he had so far experienced.
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Thanksgiving is that time of year where people meet, argue politics with that crazy brother-in-law or Uncle, watch the Detroit Lions get their heads handed to them - again, and if there is any time left, give thanks for what matters the most.
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In elections, there are metaphorical winners and losers, and the recent one in Elk Grove was no exception. So who was the biggest loser in this Elk Grove election?
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What do all of the Elk Grove City Council and mayoral candidates have in common with Richard Nixon during his second run in 1968 for the President of the United States?
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In this edition, we have a discussion with Rod Brewer, who is seeking re-election to the Cosumnes Community Service District.
The discussion with Brewer was recorded at one of Elk Grove’s fine dining establishments so please excuse any background noise.
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In a few days, one of our favorite celebrations will be upon us, Halloween.
What isn’t there to like about carving a jack-o-lantern, and having kids come to your door shouting Trick or Treat? Over the last few years, however, there has been a full-frontal assault on this beloved holiday.
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In this edition we have a discussion with Elk Grove City Council member Stephanie Nguyen who is seeking the District 4 seat in this Novembers election.
A discussion with challenger Orlando Fuentes was posted in a previous podcast.
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This two-part series features talks with 2018 Elk Grove District 4 city council candidates Orlando Fuentes and Stephanie Nguyen.
The interviews are being posted based on a drawing conducted by Nguyen. Today the session with Fuentes is posted, and tomorrow the discussion with Nguyen will be available.
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This two-part series features talks with 2018 Elk Grove District 2 city council candidates Andres Ramos and Pat Hume.
The interviews are being posted based on a drawing conducted by Ramos. Today the session with Hume is posted and the discussion with Ramos was previously posted.
The same topics with Ramos and Hume were covered, with one question altered slightly for each candidate based on Hume's current status as an elected office holder.
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This two-part series features talks with 2018 Elk Grove District 2 city council candidates Andres Ramos and Pat Hume.
The interviews are being posted based on a drawing conducted by Ramos. Today the session with Ramos is posted, and tomorrow the discussion with Stafford will be available.
The same topics with Ramos and Hume were covered, with one question altered slightly for each candidate based on Hume's current status as an elected office holder.
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Who says the Halloween season is just for kids? With the campaign season collides with the Halloween season as it does every two year, you know the adults will be doing more tricks than just soaping windows.
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by Dan Schmitt
Anti-French sentiment in the United States has been around for as long as I can remember. Back in the 1950s, my father and other World War II veterans talked about how the French were not sufficiently thankful for liberating their country from German occupation.
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This two-part series concludes with a discussion featuring 2018 Elk Grove mayoral candidate Tracie Stafford.
The same topics were discussed with Stafford and one of her rivals, Darren Suen with one question altered slightly based on Suen's current status as an elected office holder.
The third candidate in the mayoral race, Steve Ly, declined an invitation to participate.
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This two-part series features talks with 2018 Elk Grove mayoral candidates Darren Suen and Tracie Stafford.
The interviews are being posted based on a drawing conducted by Suen. Today the session with Suen is posted, and tomorrow the discussion with Stafford will be available.
The same topics with Stafford and Suen were discussed, with one question altered slightly for each candidate based on Suen's current status as an elected office holder. 2018.
The third candidate in the mayoral race, Steve Ly, declined an invitation to participate.
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At the Wednesday, October 10, 2018 meeting of the Elk Grove City Council, according to one speaker, Mayor Steve flubbed-up bigly. Ly's flub was to give one male speaker an unusually long public comment.
As pointed out in the meeting, this was not the first time the mayor showed deference to male speakers while being dismissive of women. Along with Ly's flub, City Attorney Jonathan Hobbs got in on the evening's flob-athon as well.
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During the Wednesday, October 10, 2018 meeting of the Elk Grove City Council, Mayor Steve Ly denied that he allows men more time to speak than women during public comment. That criticism was leveled during the public comment section of the meeting.
Speaking to the council, Elk Grove resident Danessa Atiles noted that during public comment, one male speaker was engaged by both the council and police staff for over 30 minutes. The extended comment period and dialogue, which started delving into policy discussions that were not on the agenda, was allowed to proceed unabated by Ly and Elk Grove City Attorney Jonathan Hobbs.
By comparison, Atiles said that female speakers are regularly given short shrift
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By Dan Schmitt
The night wasn’t much different than all the other Halloween nights in the small Vermont town of Plainfield. A few straggling trick-or-treaters could be seen far in the distance, enjoying one last opportunity to add candy to their bags. The rush and swirl of leaves down a nearly vacant street broke the dark silence. Overhead, clouds darted across the black sky, pushed along by the cold, gushing autumn wind. The two street lights directly in front of the boys were out, had been for quite some time
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Voters of a certain age will remember a time when Polaroid Land camera's were cutting edge technology. In recent years Polaroid shots have enjoyed a revival thanks in part to hipsters.
Steve Ly has seemingly jumped on the hipster bandwagon as it applies to his mayoral reelection campaign as evidenced by his most recent mailer (see below). Additionally, he has gone retro or at least has tried, regarding endorsements from elected officials.
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In this edition of 'Ya Gotta Be Schmittin' Me' Dan Schmitt discusses the morning coffee ritual.
Coffee, like a little early morning exercise, just makes the rest of the day a whole lot better. There’s nothing easier than making coffee.
But what about other coffee lovers - how do they get their daily fix?
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The events of this last week revolving around the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination have been nothing short of extraordinary. But in all the hoopla, let's not forget the law and order logic of his Republican defenders.
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I’m a baby Boomer. If our parents, who lived through the Great Depression and fought in WWII, were members of the “Greatest Generation,” then people my age can be considered members of the “Privileged Generation.”
At no time in history, have so many people of one generation in one society lived such good lives as we Baby Boomers.
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On Tuesday, September 18, the Sacramento chapter of the League of Women Voters held a candidate forum for the Elk Grove City Council Districts 2 and 4 races.
The few voters who attended didn’t learn any new information or insight into the candidates, with one exception.
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On Tuesday, September 18, 2018, the Sacramento chapter of the League of Women Voters held a forum for the candidates for District 2 and 4 of the Elk Grove City Council.
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Catholic school education ended for the Schmitt kids with 8th-grade promotion. There were only two choices for high school in my small Wisconsin town, Catholic or public. My parents, being blessed or saddled, depending upon the day or event, with seven kids but little money opted for the public school.
Attending public high school did not end our Catholic obligations, however. Mom and Dad would march the family to church every Sunday, and we were still expected to confess our sins, but now only one Saturday a month.
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At the Wednesday, September 12 Elk Grove City council meeting Council member Pat Hume announced the city at this time would not explore placing a, quote, ‘IN God we trust’ plaque in the council chambers.
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Part I
I attended catholic grade school in the 1950s. To be a young Catholic in those days was to live in a perpetual state of fear. At least, that was the intent. The nuns and the priests constantly reminded us that we had to live a righteous life, or we would end up in hell. And I’m not talking about the modern-day metaphorical hell people so flippantly talk about, the one you create for yourself while still on earth if you stray too far from the good life. I’m talking the real McCoy: the abode of Satan, where one could spend an eternity down there baking in flames.
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The three candidates for Elk Grove Mayor, Steve Ly, Tracie Stafford, and Darren Suen, met for a forum on Saturday, September 8, 2018. This recording captures all questions given to the candidates and their answers.
The forum was hosted by Paula Lee of the Sacramento, California chapter Leauge of Women Voters.
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In this year’s Elk Grove mayoral election, Steve Ly and Darren Suen have more cash than the third candidate, Tracie Stafford. Nonetheless, Stafford has some money so she should not be written off. This race, we suspect, will turn on who best emotionally connects with voters on some level.
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As I watched Senator John McCain’s National Cathedral memorial service, I couldn’t help think about his lifelong, selfless contributions to our nation.
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California legislators wrapped up their session with their usual flurry of activity. Among the bills approved this week and sent to Governor Brown is Senate Bill 1416.
Authored by California State Senator Mike McGuire (D - Healdsburg), the bill establishes a procedure to use nuisance abatement liens or a special assessment to collect abatement costs and administrative costs related problem dwellings.
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by Dan Schmitt For most of my adult life, I’ve been a strong supporter of the death penalty. I believed that there were certain actions so heinous, like the murdering of another person, that those who commit such actions did not deserve to be a member of the human race, PERIOD.
Then, a couple years ago, I opened my beliefs about capital punishment up to examination.
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Elk Grove Police remind the public when selling merchandise online, when meeting the buyer take extra precautions.
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Well, our president is at it again. His latest insult was directed at Omarosa Manigault Newman, the ex White House aide whose recent book, “Unhinged” ruffled Trump’s feathers.
Using Twitter, Trump called Omarosa a “lowlife” and a “dog.” I guess he can’t help himself with the demeaning public comments about women, especially women who have the audacity to challenge or disagree with him.
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What happens when a reader does not like a news story on an Elk Grove City Council member, who they voraciously protect?
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Elk Grove, California candidate for the local recreation board was mentioned during the Thursday, August 16 edition of public radio affiliate KQED's Forum program. Moreno is one of 50 female candidates being featured on KQED's The Long Run show which is reporting on their respective candidacies.
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In the latest edition of "Ya gotta be Schmittin' me' Dan Schmitt recall one of several funny episodes of tending bar at Rueben's Restaurant in La Mesa, California.
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On occasion, politicians face will face a dilemma. This year, at least one member of the Elk Grove City Council will face one as they seek another term in office.
This year Pat Hume, the second-longest-tenured member of the city council faces a quandary.
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In Elk Grove News' newest feature, Dan Schmitt discusses flying two flags from a picku[ truck in "Ya gotta be Schmittin' me!"
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In the last year, Elk Grove has experienced a growth in its homeless population. It seems the population of in need people has quite grown before our eyes.
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In this week's edition, Elk Grove News contributor Dan Schmitt discusses the NFL players controversy on kneeling during the national anthem and their rights to free expression.
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