Elk Grove News Podcasts

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.

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...

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...

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 polic...

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 c...

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, rega...

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ma...

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.

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 yoursel...

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.

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.

As I watched Senator John McCain’s National Cathedral memorial service, I couldn’t help think about his lifelong, selfless contributions to our nation.

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 dwellin...

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.

Elk Grove Police remind the public when selling merchandise online, when meeting the buyer take extra precautions.

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.

What happens when a reader does not like a news story on an Elk Grove City Council member, who they voraciously protect?

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.

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.

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.