Audio – Opponents of Old Town Elk Grove’s Oak Rose project brainstorm to block supportive housing
On January 10, 2024, the Elk Grove City Council will once again consider approving the controversial Oak Rose project. The supportive housing project has generated considerable controversy, including a fair housing lawsuit against Elk Grove by California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
As part of their efforts, about two dozen Elk Grove residents have vocally opposed the project, which is meant to help people into permanent housing. The opponents held a brainstorming session on January 3, 2024, on how to prevent the project from commencing in Elk Grove’s Old Town district.
This recording of most of the session was provided to Elk Grove News by meeting participants who asked not to be identified. Of note, there was no agenda or formal moderator for the session.
Below are the time marks for highlighted comments. The audio can be heard in the video below.
To best scroll the video using the time markers for ease of use, view it directly here on YouTube.
00:00 Opening remarks
2:15 Speaker claims prowler in Old Town from winter sanctuary
3:30 AG Rob Bonta intimidating the city council
4:10 If the city council approves the project, ‘we have to take them out’
5:00 Planning Commissioner Juan Fernandez comments on the project
6:00 Randy Bekker remarks on the effects of the project on Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove
9:30 Mr. Bekker recites a letter sent to the mayor, city council expressing disappointment
15:15 Staff report issued on Friday on the agenda will provide more details of project recommendation
17:00 What are we going to do now?
21:55 Discussion of the staff recommendation to approve the Oak Rose project
23:15 Shouldn’t the five city council members be hounded? You need three council members to say no
25:09 Rod [Brewer] is worthless
28:30 We don’t know if the city has made an offer to the Oak Rose developer
31:15 Does anyone know the background of the city attorney? [Jonathan Hobbs]
33:00 Discussion of a recent court hearing where the judge approved an amendment to the lawsuit
34:15 Elk Grove Planning Commissioner Juan Fernandez leaves the meeting
35:30 Suggestion to make placards saying Oak Rose will house schizophrenic and substance abusers
37:10 If the city council approves this, we’re going to vote them out of office
41:50 Write the mayor and city council on your thoughts
42:24 We’ll hire an attorney to sue the city council for what they are doing against us
43:10 Who is social media savvy here?
44:00 Why haven’t we been informed about the ongoing negotiations?
49:25 What do you want to do to stop the project?
51:15 Suggestion of four actions – write letters, make posters, protest, and influence the city council
54:20 Question for Randy Bekker – what happens next?
