Elk Grove News Podcasts

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.

Students of politics understand a great quote can become immortalized while others become bludgeoning tools.

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...

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.

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.

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.

This week had plenty of national political and American democracy news, but there was one piece of great significance. 

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.

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.

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...

This week another warning was issued about the possibility of significant civil disruptions and worse.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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? 

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 sh...

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.

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!    

Recent smash and grab robberies in California are international news. These brazen organized robberies will be campaign issues.

During 2021 there were many things to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

One positive, if you can call it that, of the COVID 19 pandemic has been greater civic participation, particularly with school boards.

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.

Earlier this year the Elk Grove planning commission added three new members. They were added not because of resignations, but by a power play.

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.