Attorney General Rob Bonta says state’s lawsuit against Elk Grove will proceed after city council fails to approve Oak Rose housing project
One of the immediate effects of last night’s postponement by the Elk Grove City Council of the Oak Rose supportive housing project came this afternoon.
In a statement issued this afternoon, California Attorney General Rob Bonta affirmed the state will continue pursuing its lawsuit against Elk Grove. After the July 2022 rejection of the 67-unit project in Old Town Elk Grove, led by Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newson, the state filed a fair housing lawsuit last May against the city.
Bonta’s statement said:
“The Elk Grove City Council has been put on notice on multiple occasions that denying approval of the Oak Rose Apartments is unlawful. Every single time, they have chosen to ignore those warnings, wasting precious time and public resources in the process. It is profoundly disappointing,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let me be clear about what’s at issue: The Oak Rose Apartments will create 66 apartments for Californians in need, built by workers paid under the state’s strong prevailing wage laws. At a time when California is facing a severe housing shortage, those homes are desperately needed. We will continue to move full speed ahead with our lawsuit against the City of Elk Grove.”
After hearing over 90 minutes of often threatening public comments at last night’s city council meeting, the five-member body postponed approving the project until the October 11 meeting. Elk Grove city attorney Jonathan Hobbs had recommended the city council approve the project, which was noted and hyper-linked in the attorney general’s statement.
The city council postponed their decision in part after they expressed indignation with the Oak Rose L.P. applicant, who did not appear at the meeting. The applicant is under no obligation to appear before the council.
Toward the end of last night’s hearing, Hobbs said legal proceedings would start on October 24. Hobbs tried to direct Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her four councilmen to act immediately.
Additionally, Hobbs said the cost to defend the lawsuit would be mid to high six figures. Furthermore, he said if Elk Grove loses, the price could triple, given the city could be obliged to pay the plaintiffs’ legal fees and punitive damages.
As reported earlier today, the city council will hold a closed-session meeting tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 to discuss the state’s and Oak Rose L.P.’s lawsuits.
