Elk Grove News Podcasts

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...