Story from Elk Grove News rebuked, Elk Grove citizen tells city council many concerned about growing homelessness
During the Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Elk Grove City Council meeting, the mayor and city council heard comments rebuking an Elk Grove News story. The speaker said the city’s growing homeless population in Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove is worse than reported.
The comments from Jackie Perez appeared to address a February 13 Elk Grove News story about the city’s plan to open another winter sanctuary later this year at a yet-to-be-identified location. The current winter sanctuary in Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove drew resistance before its November 1, 2023 opening.
Although Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen does not usually respond to comments on non-agenda items, she instructed the city’s housing manager, Sarah Bontrager, to address the concerns.
During her comments, Ms. Bontrager downplayed any role the winter sanctuary, located at Waterman Road and Elk Grove Boulevard, might have with any increase in homelessness in Old Town-Historic Downtown Elk Grove.
Bontrager instead said any increase in Elk Grove’s homeless population is the result of policies in other communities. Perez’s entire commentary and Bontrager’s reply can be seen in the video.
