Elk Grove Police Arrest Three Shooting Suspects

March 7, 2014 | Elk Grove Police Dept. Press Release

On Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 8:27 p.m., officers responded to the area of Criollo Court and Haflinger Way regarding an individual who had been shot.  Upon arrival, officers located 19-year-old Alec Fjeldstad lying on the street next to a parked vehicle.  Fjeldstad was suffering from gunshot wounds to the abdomen and had facial injuries. 

Tiffany Lai

Emergency medical personnel arrived and began providing treatment to Fjeldstad.  Fjeldstad  was transported to a local area hospital with injuries that were described as being serious/critical.  Based on information provided by witnesses, officers determined that the suspects, who were described as two African-American males, 18-20 years of age, wearing dark clothing, had fled on foot.   Responding officers established a perimeter and  CHP's helicopter (H20) provided air support.

During the investigative process, officers developed information that a red Ford Mustang with a tan convertible top may have been involved in the shooting.  CHP's helicopter (H20) located a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle parked in the 5000 block of Fox Trotter Way that showed signs of being recently driven. 

Elijah Graham

EGPD officers responded to the area and detained three men who were associated with the Ford Mustang and another vehicle.  As the investigation continued, officers were able to determined that Fjeldstad had been contacted by 19-year-old Tiffany LAI (Elk Grove resident) and arranged a meeting to purchase a controlled substance.  Prior to meeting Fjeldstad at a designated location, LAI was picked up by 20-year-old Elijah GRAHAM (Sacramento resident) and 19-year-old Avalon CLARK (Elk Grove resident) in a red Ford Mustang.  LAI, GRAHAM and CLARK all conspired to commit an armed robbery of Fjeldstad upon his arrival at the designated location.

Fjeldstad drove to the location with another passenger and parked his 

Avalon Clark

vehicle.  LAI arrived on foot after being dropped off by the suspects.  Once LAI was with Fjeldstad, she communicated with GRAHAM and CLARK.  GRAHAM and CLARK, who were both armed with handguns, approached the parked vehicle on foot.  GRAHAM confronted Fjeldstad at gunpoint on the driver's side of the vehicle.  A struggle ensued  between Fjeldstad and the two suspects.  During the struggle, Fjeldstad was shot in the abdomen and suffered facial injuries.  GRAHAM and CLARK fled the area on foot.  Officers later determined that GRAHAM and CLARK were two of the three men who were detained on Fox Trotter Way. 

All three suspects were arrested on charges of PC 664/187 (Attempted Murder) and PC 664/211 (Attempted Robbery).  A subsequent search of an Elk Grove residence led to recovery of two handguns believed to have been used in the shooting and additional evidence.   

Anyone with additional information regarding this crime is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department Dispatch Center at (916) 714-5115 or the Elk Grove Police Department Detectives Bureau at (916) 478-8060.

13:26 | 6 comments | Read More

Opinion -This Madness Has to Stop

March 7, 2014 |

Ed. note - This following opinion piece was posted as a comment to an earlier story. The writer of this, who asked to use a pseudonym, has been verified. Mayor Davis has an open-ended invitation to address the concerns expressed here. 

___

By Robert Johnson

After all of the poor judgments and idiotic statements coming from our mayor, I can't believe he continues to put his foot in his mouth yet again with the article in Wednesday's Citizen about all the monies poorly spent being "investments in our city's future."

I'm finally convinced he's actually lost his mind.

$1.1 million dollars of our (my) tax money spent on a Sphere of Influence plan that was as poorly presented and planned as the rest of our city. Of course it was defeated soundly. Our city has yet to build ANYTHING of SUBSTANCE that we can be proud of. Our city is a connection of rooftops and strip malls, many half empty. Yet, our mayor says our $1.1 million was wisely spent because we now have an "environmental document."

I want to throw up!

He mentions the $1 million of our (my) tax dollars spent on the UPRR property in Old Town. It's seldom used and as far as I know has not created any income, except for what the mayor may have received in donations to his campaign(s) at the monthly "hot dog-o-rama's" he holds, evidently free from rental fees and associated costs. I don't see any money coming in from this "investment."

Let's not forget the $1.4 million on our new "occtopussian" civic center. We have absolutely NOTHING to show for that fiasco, but as Davis says, "As a good steward of resources, it's our job to prioritize what's important to the city."

Further, the mayor states that the $14 million or our (my) tax dollars to be spent on this new civic center "will present a return up to 500 percent."

I need an explanation for that one. How does a civic center create a return of 500 percent? Are we going to have women of ill-repute wandering the hallways creating city capital?

How about the $700,000 just approved for "feasibility study" for a swim center and water park. A week later it's discovered a swim center has already been approved just north of our borders, yet no discussion of this even though city staff said they were aware of it prior to advancing the $700,000 to a firm that has NO EXPERIENCE in planning or building such a facility.

Now we hear the only large undeveloped area within the city is being planned. According to the mayor the area will be master planned (like Madeira?) to create an influx of jobs to alleviate the commute of many residents. At the same time the city's planning director has stated that the area will be 70 percent new homes.

And let's not forget the $100 million of our (my) tax dollars planned to build a MLS soccer stadium to bring in residents from hundreds of miles to create income for BJ's, McDonald's and the Holiday Inn Express.

This man and his companions will bankrupt this city with such ill-fated plans.

This madness has to stop! 

After all of the poor judgments and idiotic statements coming from our mayor, I can't believe he continues to put his foot in his mouth yet again with the article in Wednesday's Citizen about all the monies poorly spent being "investments in our city's future."

I'm finally convinced he's actually lost his mind.

$1.1 million dollars of our (my) tax money spent on a Sphere of Influence plan that was as poorly presented and planned as the rest of our city. Of course it was defeated soundly. Our city has yet to build ANYTHING of SUBSTANCE that we can be proud of. Our city is a connection of rooftops and strip malls, many half empty. Yet, our mayor says our $1.1 million was wisely spent because we now have an "environmental document."

I want to throw up!

He mentions the $1 million of our (my) tax dollars spent on the UPRR property in Old Town. It's seldom used and as far as I know has not created any income, except for what the mayor may have received in donations to his campaign(s) at the monthly "hot dog-o-rama's" he holds, evidently free from rental fees and associated costs. I don't see any money coming in from this "investment."

Let's not forget the $1.4 million on our new "occtopussian" civic center. We have absolutely NOTHING to show for that fiasco, but as Davis says, "As a good steward of resources, it's our job to prioritize what's important to the city."

Further, the mayor states that the $14 million or our (my) tax dollars to be spent on this new civic center "will present a return up to 500%."

I need an explanation for that one. How does a civic center create a return of 500%? Are we going to have women of ill-repute wandering the hallways creating city capital?

How about the $700,000 just approved for "feasibility study" for a swim center and water park. A week later it's discovered a swim center has already been approved just south of our borders, yet no discussion of this even though city staff said they were aware of it prior to advancing the $700,000 to a firm that has NO EXPERIENCE in planning or building such a facility.

Now we hear the only large undeveloped area within the city is being planned. According to the mayor the area will be master planned (like Madeira?)to create an influx of jobs to alleviate the commute of many residents. At the same time the city's planning director has stated that the area will be 70% new homes.

And let's not forget the $100 million of our (my) tax dollars planned to build a MLS soccer stadium to bring in residents from hundreds of miles to create income for BJ's, McDonald's and the Holiday Inn Express.

This man and his companions will bankrupt this city with such ill-fated plans.

This madness has to stop! - See more at: http://www.elkgrovenews.net/2014/03/emir-of-katsina-formally-invited-to-elk.html#sthash.F1Av1IEd.dpuf

After all of the poor judgments and idiotic statements coming from our mayor, I can't believe he continues to put his foot in his mouth yet again with the article in Wednesday's Citizen about all the monies poorly spent being "investments in our city's future."

I'm finally convinced he's actually lost his mind.

$1.1 million dollars of our (my) tax money spent on a Sphere of Influence plan that was as poorly presented and planned as the rest of our city. Of course it was defeated soundly. Our city has yet to build ANYTHING of SUBSTANCE that we can be proud of. Our city is a connection of rooftops and strip malls, many half empty. Yet, our mayor says our $1.1 million was wisely spent because we now have an "environmental document."

I want to throw up!

He mentions the $1 million of our (my) tax dollars spent on the UPRR property in Old Town. It's seldom used and as far as I know has not created any income, except for what the mayor may have received in donations to his campaign(s) at the monthly "hot dog-o-rama's" he holds, evidently free from rental fees and associated costs. I don't see any money coming in from this "investment."

Let's not forget the $1.4 million on our new "occtopussian" civic center. We have absolutely NOTHING to show for that fiasco, but as Davis says, "As a good steward of resources, it's our job to prioritize what's important to the city."

Further, the mayor states that the $14 million or our (my) tax dollars to be spent on this new civic center "will present a return up to 500%."

I need an explanation for that one. How does a civic center create a return of 500%? Are we going to have women of ill-repute wandering the hallways creating city capital?

How about the $700,000 just approved for "feasibility study" for a swim center and water park. A week later it's discovered a swim center has already been approved just south of our borders, yet no discussion of this even though city staff said they were aware of it prior to advancing the $700,000 to a firm that has NO EXPERIENCE in planning or building such a facility.

Now we hear the only large undeveloped area within the city is being planned. According to the mayor the area will be master planned (like Madeira?)to create an influx of jobs to alleviate the commute of many residents. At the same time the city's planning director has stated that the area will be 70% new homes.

And let's not forget the $100 million of our (my) tax dollars planned to build a MLS soccer stadium to bring in residents from hundreds of miles to create income for BJ's, McDonald's and the Holiday Inn Express.

This man and his companions will bankrupt this city with such ill-fated plans.

This madness has to stop! - See more at: http://www.elkgrovenews.net/2014/03/emir-of-katsina-formally-invited-to-elk.html#sthash.F1Av1IEd.dpuf

After all of the poor judgments and idiotic statements coming from our mayor, I can't believe he continues to put his foot in his mouth yet again with the article in Wednesday's Citizen about all the monies poorly spent being "investments in our city's future."

I'm finally convinced he's actually lost his mind.

$1.1 million dollars of our (my) tax money spent on a Sphere of Influence plan that was as poorly presented and planned as the rest of our city. Of course it was defeated soundly. Our city has yet to build ANYTHING of SUBSTANCE that we can be proud of. Our city is a connection of rooftops and strip malls, many half empty. Yet, our mayor says our $1.1 million was wisely spent because we now have an "environmental document."

I want to throw up!

He mentions the $1 million of our (my) tax dollars spent on the UPRR property in Old Town. It's seldom used and as far as I know has not created any income, except for what the mayor may have received in donations to his campaign(s) at the monthly "hot dog-o-rama's" he holds, evidently free from rental fees and associated costs. I don't see any money coming in from this "investment."

Let's not forget the $1.4 million on our new "occtopussian" civic center. We have absolutely NOTHING to show for that fiasco, but as Davis says, "As a good steward of resources, it's our job to prioritize what's important to the city."

Further, the mayor states that the $14 million or our (my) tax dollars to be spent on this new civic center "will present a return up to 500%."

I need an explanation for that one. How does a civic center create a return of 500%? Are we going to have women of ill-repute wandering the hallways creating city capital?

How about the $700,000 just approved for "feasibility study" for a swim center and water park. A week later it's discovered a swim center has already been approved just south of our borders, yet no discussion of this even though city staff said they were aware of it prior to advancing the $700,000 to a firm that has NO EXPERIENCE in planning or building such a facility.

Now we hear the only large undeveloped area within the city is being planned. According to the mayor the area will be master planned (like Madeira?)to create an influx of jobs to alleviate the commute of many residents. At the same time the city's planning director has stated that the area will be 70% new homes.

And let's not forget the $100 million of our (my) tax dollars planned to build a MLS soccer stadium to bring in residents from hundreds of miles to create income for BJ's, McDonald's and the Holiday Inn Express.

This man and his companions will bankrupt this city with such ill-fated plans.

This madness has to stop! - See more at: http://www.elkgrovenews.net/2014/03/emir-of-katsina-formally-invited-to-elk.html#sthash.F1Av1IEd.dpuf

After all of the poor judgments and idiotic statements coming from our mayor, I can't believe he continues to put his foot in his mouth yet again with the article in Wednesday's Citizen about all the monies poorly spent being "investments in our city's future."

I'm finally convinced he's actually lost his mind.

$1.1 million dollars of our (my) tax money spent on a Sphere of Influence plan that was as poorly presented and planned as the rest of our city. Of course it was defeated soundly. Our city has yet to build ANYTHING of SUBSTANCE that we can be proud of. Our city is a connection of rooftops and strip malls, many half empty. Yet, our mayor says our $1.1 million was wisely spent because we now have an "environmental document."

I want to throw up!

He mentions the $1 million of our (my) tax dollars spent on the UPRR property in Old Town. It's seldom used and as far as I know has not created any income, except for what the mayor may have received in donations to his campaign(s) at the monthly "hot dog-o-rama's" he holds, evidently free from rental fees and associated costs. I don't see any money coming in from this "investment."

Let's not forget the $1.4 million on our new "occtopussian" civic center. We have absolutely NOTHING to show for that fiasco, but as Davis says, "As a good steward of resources, it's our job to prioritize what's important to the city."

Further, the mayor states that the $14 million or our (my) tax dollars to be spent on this new civic center "will present a return up to 500%."

I need an explanation for that one. How does a civic center create a return of 500%? Are we going to have women of ill-repute wandering the hallways creating city capital?

How about the $700,000 just approved for "feasibility study" for a swim center and water park. A week later it's discovered a swim center has already been approved just south of our borders, yet no discussion of this even though city staff said they were aware of it prior to advancing the $700,000 to a firm that has NO EXPERIENCE in planning or building such a facility.

Now we hear the only large undeveloped area within the city is being planned. According to the mayor the area will be master planned (like Madeira?)to create an influx of jobs to alleviate the commute of many residents. At the same time the city's planning director has stated that the area will be 70% new homes.

And let's not forget the $100 million of our (my) tax dollars planned to build a MLS soccer stadium to bring in residents from hundreds of miles to create income for BJ's, McDonald's and the Holiday Inn Express.

This man and his companions will bankrupt this city with such ill-fated plans.

This madness has to stop! - See more at: http://www.elkgrovenews.net/2014/03/emir-of-katsina-formally-invited-to-elk.html#sthash.F1Av1IEd.dpuf

After all of the poor judgments and idiotic statements coming from our mayor, I can't believe he continues to put his foot in his mouth yet again with the article in Wednesday's Citizen about all the monies poorly spent being "investments in our city's future."

I'm finally convinced he's actually lost his mind.

$1.1 million dollars of our (my) tax money spent on a Sphere of Influence plan that was as poorly presented and planned as the rest of our city. Of course it was defeated soundly. Our city has yet to build ANYTHING of SUBSTANCE that we can be proud of. Our city is a connection of rooftops and strip malls, many half empty. Yet, our mayor says our $1.1 million was wisely spent because we now have an "environmental document."

I want to throw up!

He mentions the $1 million of our (my) tax dollars spent on the UPRR property in Old Town. It's seldom used and as far as I know has not created any income, except for what the mayor may have received in donations to his campaign(s) at the monthly "hot dog-o-rama's" he holds, evidently free from rental fees and associated costs. I don't see any money coming in from this "investment."

Let's not forget the $1.4 million on our new "occtopussian" civic center. We have absolutely NOTHING to show for that fiasco, but as Davis says, "As a good steward of resources, it's our job to prioritize what's important to the city."

Further, the mayor states that the $14 million or our (my) tax dollars to be spent on this new civic center "will present a return up to 500%."

I need an explanation for that one. How does a civic center create a return of 500%? Are we going to have women of ill-repute wandering the hallways creating city capital?

How about the $700,000 just approved for "feasibility study" for a swim center and water park. A week later it's discovered a swim center has already been approved just south of our borders, yet no discussion of this even though city staff said they were aware of it prior to advancing the $700,000 to a firm that has NO EXPERIENCE in planning or building such a facility.

Now we hear the only large undeveloped area within the city is being planned. According to the mayor the area will be master planned (like Madeira?)to create an influx of jobs to alleviate the commute of many residents. At the same time the city's planning director has stated that the area will be 70% new homes.

And let's not forget the $100 million of our (my) tax dollars planned to build a MLS soccer stadium to bring in residents from hundreds of miles to create income for BJ's, McDonald's and the Holiday Inn Express.

This man and his companions will bankrupt this city with such ill-fated plans.

This madness has to stop! - See more at: http://www.elkgrovenews.net/2014/03/emir-of-katsina-formally-invited-to-elk.html#sthash.F1Av1IEd.dpuf

09:10 | 20 comments | Read More

Elk Grove Police Searching For Shooting Suspects

DEVELOPING | March 6, 2014 |  UPDATED 10:30 p.m., 

11:05 p.m. Elk Grove Police have detained three men in the 5000 block of Fox Trotter Way related to the shooting on Dartmoor Court.

Elk Grove Police are searching for two shooting suspects this evening. 

The shooting occurred on the 9800 block of Dartmoor Way on the city's west side. The shooting victim has been taken to an area hospital with several gunshot wounds.

The two suspects described as black males approx. 18-20 years of age, wearing dark clothing who fled on foot. CHP helicopter is assisting in search. 

According to Elk Grove Police spokesman Officer Christopher Trim, officers responded at 8:27 p.m. to a report of a shooting. Responding officers found a male with gunshot wounds to the abdomen. 

There is currently no information on the age or condition of the victim. The victim was reportedly standing near a vehicle when he was shot. 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/06/6216653/elk-grove-police-search-for-shooting.html#storylink=cpy

22:18 | 2 comments | Read More

The Fresh Market to Close Elk Grove, Two Other Area Stores

March 6, 2014 |

A victim of slow sales, three area Fresh Market store's, including one in Elk Grove, will be closing next week according to a store employee who received a layoff notice today. The Elk Grove store has been opened for less than one year.

According to the employee, the layoffs will be effective next week at which time the Elk Grove, Roseville and Sacramento stores will be shuttered. The Elk Grove store is located on Laguna Boulevard and Bruceville Road and currently operates in a portion of the space formerly by the Save Mart grocery store.

The laid-off employee said that the company will pay them through this May. A store employee named David refused to comment if the store was closing, if employees had received layoff notices and disconnected the call when asked for a referral to the company's corporate office. 

The North Carolina-based company entered the market in October by opening its first Northern California store in Roseveille. The Fresh Market closing follows the second chain in recent years to unsuccessfully enter the Northern California market following British retailing giants Tesco's Fresh and Easy stores which closed last fall just as The Fresh Market's Elk Grove store was opening. 

16:32 | 15 comments | Read More

Knife Wielding Suspect Robs Elk Grove Store

March 6, 2014 |

A knife wielding man robbed an Elk Grove retailer yesterday morning.

According to Elk Grove Police, an unknown suspect entered the Mail and More store at 5050 Laguna Blvd. and confronted an employee while holding a knife. The suspect demanded money from the employee who gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash from the register.

The suspect, who was described as black male adult in his 20's, 5'10", 200 lbs., wearing a black hat, black sweatshirt with gray sleeves, black pants and tennis shoes, fled the store on foot. 

The employee was not injured during the robbery.

09:38 | 1 comments | Read More

Chaires, Ly Featured Speakers at Elk Grove Democratic Club Meeting

March 6, 2014 | UPDATED

Two of the three contenders for the City of Elk Grove's District Four City Council seat will be featured speakers at next week's Elk Grove-South County Democratic Club meeting.

Chaires, who is an Elk Grove Planning Commissioner and Ly, a Trustee with the Elk Grove Unified School District, are seeking the full four year term of the District Four seat. That seat is currently occupied by Bob Trigg who was appointed last year to fill the vacancy when Gary Davis vacated the seat upon election as mayor.

A third candidate for the position, Charles S. Shanks, has not yet responded to the club's invitation to speak.

The Chaires-Ly race has resulted in alliances that have split Democrats on the Elk Grove City Council with Chaires being supported by Vice Mayor Jim Cooper and Ly backed by Davis. Chaires was appointed to the planning commission by Cooper while Ly and Davis shared campaign resources during their respective 2012 campaigns.

While both candidates will make presentations next week, club members will not vote on an endorsement until some future meeting. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Elk Grove Public Library on Elk Grove Boulevard.

The meeting is open to the public. 

00:32 | 2 comments | Read More

New Map Reveals Tunnels Will Supply Water For Agribusiness, Fracking

By Dan Bacher | March 5, 2014 |

Much of the area that the oil industry could frack for oil and natural gas in California is located in and near toxic, drainage-impaired land farmed by corporate agribusiness interests on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, Restore the Delta and Food and Water Watch revealed on March 4. (The map can be viewed here. )

The groups, who oppose Governor Jerry Brown’s Bay Delta Conservation Plan to build the peripheral tunnels, released a new map that shows that 35-mile long twin tunnels would mainly supply water to the largest agribusiness users of Delta water exports, land impaired by toxic selenium concentrations that make farming unsustainable, and the oil and gas basins where the energy industry could expand the environmentally destructive practice of fracking (hydraulic fracturing). 

The map was released at a time when Governor Brown is fast-tracking the construction of the peripheral tunnels and backing the fracking of California. In September, Brown signed Senate Fran Pavley’s Senate Bill 4, legislation that anti-fracking opponents say gives the green light to fracking in California. 

Before Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 4, Brown accepted at least $2.49 million in financial donations over the past several years from oil and natural gas interests, according to public records on file with the Secretary of State’s Office and the California Fair Political Practices Commission. 

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta (RTD), told reporters in a teleconference the significance behind the map. 

“This map shows a remarkable overlay of where our water is going, how the public subsidizes unsustainable crops on drainage-impaired lands, selenium concentrations that pose a threat to the public, and underlying oil deposits that could be fracked with water from the governor’s tunnels," she said. “Unsustainable farming has damaged these lands. And the taxpayers have been subsidizing it.” 

“The fracking sites line up perfectly in the Valley with where the governor wants to export this water,” added Steve Hopcraft, a spokesman for Restore the Delta. 

Barrigan-Parrilla said fracking is another “water intensive industry” in the San Joaquin Valley that will further contaminate groundwater supplies already impaired by selenium, nitrates, pesticides and other pollutants. 

 

“The governor's plan describes water for fracking via the proposed peripheral tunnels as a beneficial use,” she stated, referring to the BDCP website. “Beneficial for whom? The peripheral tunnels would benefit unsustainable corporate agribusiness in one region and potentially the energy industry – at the expense of everyday Californians.” 

Barrigan-Parrilla said the map shows the largest agricultural users of water exported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta "all are irrigating land impaired by concentrations of selenium that will make farming increasingly unsustainable. These drainage-impaired lands, however, sit on top of oil and gas basins that underlie the San Joaquin Valley.” 

“The $60 billion tunnel project will not benefit the SF-Bay Delta estuary, or its surrounding communities and urban areas. It will not benefit San Joaquin farming communities that do not have access to clean drinking water. And it will not benefit urban ratepayers within the Metropolitan Water District or the Santa Clara Water District, as they will pay for a disproportionate share of the tunnels project,” she stated. 

She also said methods of energy extraction, including fracking and steam extraction, require “significant quantities of water and produce contaminated water, which would further render San Joaquin Valley groundwater basins unusable for farm community residents who already do not have access to clean drinking water.“ 

22:46 | 1 comments | Read More

Elk Grove Receives Favorable Classification in Study of 2,000 American Cities

March 5, 2014 |

Cosmopolitan suburb. 

That was the classification the City of Elk Grove was placed in by a study recently released by the Demand Institute. The study, titled a Tale of 2,000 Cities, examined the American city's future prospects through the lens of  the recent housing crash. 

The study established nine categories including affluent metroburbs, cosmopolitan suburbs, traditional suburbs, vacations/retirement destinations, historic skyline cities, transitional cities, deflated bubble communities, challenged communities and endangered communities.

A cosmopolitan suburb is defined as a "fast growing, contemporary suburbs that offer distinctive services and wide-ranging amenities." Nearby cities such as Galt received the same classification while Roseville was classified as a traditional suburb and Sacramento was a transitional city.

Cosmopolitan suburbs are described in the study as "small towns located on the outskirts of large metropolitan areas, represent some of the fastest-growing communities in the country. Some tripled in size between 2000 and 2012, and together they have grown by a median of 67 percent since 2000—eight times faster than the median for the 2,200 cities and towns analyzed." 

The study also noted that "Cosmopolitan Suburbs grew so fast during the housing bubble— 51 percent from 2000 to peak—that the foreclosure rate when prices crashed was higher than average. Today, more than one household in ten says it owes more on its mortgage than the home is worth, compared with one in 17 nationally." 

Initiated three years ago, the study sought to examine how the housing market has affected American communities.  

Among some of the conclusions of the study are that the upswing in housing prices over the last two years were investor driven and not indicative of future trends, housing prices increases over the next five years will be modest with a supply and demand equilibrium being established, and about 50 percent of the communities studied are still struggling to recover from the effects of the Great Recession. 

According to their estimates, California will register a six percent housing price gain between 2012 and 2015 and a 15 percent gain between 2012 and 2018. California is forecast for the 45th spot out of 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Sacramento-Arden Arcade-Roseville area ranked better coming in 15th place out of the 50 largest American metropolitan areas. The study predicts housing prices will increase 13 percent between 2012 and 2015 and 25 percent between 2012 and 2018.

The complete study can be viewed here. A more complete description of cosmopolitan suburbs can be found starting on page 37.  

   

15:00 | 0 comments | Read More

In The Mayor's Words - 'This is Your House'

March 5, 2014 |

Since taking over as Elk Grove's first directly elected Mayor in December 2012, Gary Davis has opened nearly every city council meeting the same way. The Mayor says to the audience "this is your house," or something to that effect.

At the February 26, 2014 meeting, the Mayor seemed to hedge on those words.

00:05 | 29 comments | Read More

Elk Grove to Hold One Day Youth Fair

March 4, 2014 |

The City of Elk Grove will host a one day youth fair on Saturday, March 22. The event will showcase of  community service, employment, health and wellness, and entertainment opportunities— for the city's youth. 

Local teens ages 13 to 19 are encouraged to attend the resource fair hosted by the Elk Grove Youth Commission, and help spread the word.  

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and provide an opportunity for teens to meet face-to-face with representatives from nearly 20 local organizations offering community service credit, internships and jobs, and activities for teens in Elk Grove.  Teens can earn community service hours for participating in the event.  Lunch will be provided.  Pre-registration is required.  

What:	Elk Grove Youth Fair
When:	Saturday, March 22 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where:	City of Elk Grove Council Chambers 8400 Laguna Palms Way, Elk Grove

For more information or to register, visit www.elkgrovecity.org/youth-commission/fair.asp or call City of Elk Grove Youth Advisor Angela Frost at 916-478-2203 or afrost@elkgrovecity.org. 

19:58 | 0 comments | Read More

Emir of Katsina Formally Invited to Elk Grove by Mayor

UPDATED  1745

March 3, 2014 |

Updates in blue.

In documents obtained from the City of Elk Grove, a letter with the signature of Mayor Gary Davis dated January 28, 2014 extends a formal invitation to the Emir of Katsina, HRH, (Dr.) Abdulmumini Usman, CFR, to visit and enter into a sister city agreement with the city.

The letter with the Mayor's signature says "We would love to invite you to come visit Elk Grove to formalize this sister city agreement. Per discussion, we would like to host this initial visit and exchange week during the week of March 20, 2014. We are very excited for you to visit. Please communicate how many people will travel with you so we can start planning events, meetings and an itinerary of things for you to do while here."

See the Mayor's letter and formal sister city agreement below.

Contacted by text message, Davis said he was in a meeting and could not respond to an offer to comment on the letter and proposed agreement until after 5 p.m today. Should the Mayor respond, this post will be immediately updated. 

Mayor Davis said the following via text message:

"The letter is consistent with my thoughts at the last Council Meeting. It is since then these serious matters have come to light and why I asked the City Manager to cancel it. Clearly this potenital relationship was not vetted thoroughly, if at all."

Click to enlarge.

 

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Suspected Movie Pirate Cited at Elk Grove Theater

March 3, 2014 |

A Sacramento man was cited Friday after he allegedly thought popcorn was not quite enough for his evening movie.

According to Elk Grove Police, 31-year old Iwalani Tootoo was placed under a citizen's arrest after he was observed recording a movie with his cell phone at the Century Laguna 16 Theaters on Big Horn Boulevard. The suspect was arrested, issued a misdemeanor citation, then released. 

No word on which movie he was alleged attempting to record.

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Statement From Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis Regarding Proposed Sister City Visit

March 1, 2014 |

Elk Grove Mayor Davis has requested the following statement be posted regarding the proposed sister city relationship and visit by the Emir of Katsina, Nigeria. Below is the Mayor's statement.

___________________________________________

I have asked the City Manager to cancel the proposed Sister City relationship with Katsina. It is clear that this was not properly vetted and is not the type of city with which we want to bond with. I believe the Sister City Committee, our staff, and I have learned a great deal from this experience and will be more hands on in the future so that we don't get into this situation again. 

s/Mayor Gary Davis

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California Family Farmers Band Together to Halt Fracking

By Dan Bacher | March 1, 2014 | 

California family farmers, now struggling with a record drought that has been exacerbated by poor management of the state's reservoirs and rivers by the state and federal governments, are calling on Governor Jerry Brown to place a moratorium on the water-intensive oil and gas extraction process known as fracking or hydraulic fracturing. 

Governor Brown currently supports the expansion of environmentally destructive fracking operations in California, as well as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to build the fish-killing peripheral tunnels. 

On the afternoon of February 26, Shafter almond farmer Tom Frantz, California State Grange President Bob McFarland and Monterey County vintner Paula Getzelman of Tre Gatti Vineyards delivered a petition to Governor Brown’s office signed by 145 California farmers calling for a moratorium on fracking, according to a news release from Food and Water Watch and the Center for Biological Diversity, members of Californians Against Fracking. 

“Water is the lifeblood of a farm — without clean, affordable water we cannot grow food,” said Shafter almond farmer Tom Frantz, who caught on video the illegal dumping of fracking wastewater in an unlined pit next to an almond orchard. “This drought has already put many of California’s small and midsized farms on the brink. To allow fracking on some of California’s most fertile agricultural land will further devastate California’s bucolic heritage. I don’t think this is the legacy that Governor Brown wants to leave behind.” 

As a result of Frantz's video, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board on November 15, 2013 ordered an oil company, Vintage Production California LLC, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Company, to pay a $60,000 penalty for discharging hydraulic fracturing fluid into an unlined sump in violation of the California Water Code. 

The groups said California’s drought is "particularly devastating" to the state’s farmers who grow the bulk of America’s fruits, vegetables and nuts, especially those in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys. 

"The State Water Project recently announced that it would be cutting off water deliveries for the first time in its 54-year history, and the federal government announced last week that farmers should expect to receive no water from the Central Valley Project. Additionally, the price for water has increased tenfold, from $135 an acre-foot last year to $1,350 an acre-foot in the second week of February," the release stated. 

California State Grange President Bob McFarland pointed out the impact of the drought on farmers and the economy. 

“When farmers cannot irrigate their land, their workers lose their jobs and local economies suffer," said McFarland. "Some never recover. Much of the world relies on the excellent produce and nuts grown in California, and our water should be used to grow this food and feed people, not wasted in a toxic extraction process to produce oil to be shipped overseas.” 

Jerome Waag, head chef of the legendary Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, joined the farmers to deliver a fracking moratorium petition signed by 171 chefs, restaurateurs, brewers, purveyors, retailers and winemakers from across California, including some of the most celebrated chefs in the world such as Alice Waters, Stuart Brioza, Chris Cosentino, Dominique Crenn, Suzanne Goin, Joyce Goldstein, Daniel Patterson and Annie Somerville, according to the two groups. 

On February 14, President Obama, accompanied by Governor Jerry Brown, visited the San Joaquin Valley to pledge $183 million in existing federal funds and to ask Congress for $1 billion in additional funds, linking the drought to climate change. Unfortunately, the only farmers he met with were corporate mega-growers irrigating drainage impaired lands on the west of the Valley - and he didn't meet with family farmers from the Delta, Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley and elsewhere throughout the state. 

Ironically, Governor Brown, who has declared a drought emergency in California, continues to back Senator Fran Pavley's SB 4, the "green light for fracking" legislation he signed into law in September. This legislation paves the way for expanded fracking and other forms of extreme oil extraction from the Monterey Shale, believed to hold as much as 13 billion barrels of crude oil, according to the groups. 

The Monterey Shale sits beneath some of California’s most prized farmland. Extracting the estimated 13 billion barrels of oil would release about 7.7 billion more metric tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, further destabilizing our climate and exacerbating droughts, according to the release. 

“In the short term, fracking makes competition for California’s water even more fierce, which could have a significant negative effect on farmers, ranchers and vintners,” said Paula Getzelman, owner of Tre Gatti Vineyards in Monterey County. “But the long-term consequences of fracking are even more devastating. California needs to be investing in the people who cultivate the land and feed people, not the oil companies that threaten to pollute our land, water and communities.” 

The oil industry in California has constantly claimed that fracking for oil and natural gas is "safe" and doesn't harm the environment. 

"An honest appraisal of the science and common sense around hydraulic fracturing leads to a conclusion the technology we’ve used without harm in California for 60 plus years is safe and its benefits a blessing," said Catherine Reheis-Boyd, President of the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) and former Chair of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Blue Ribbon Task Force to create so-called "marine protected areas" in Southern California, in 2013. "Oil drilling activities in California are strictly regulated by several agencies and the state’s oil producers are working closely with the government to develop even stronger protections to ensure the vast potential of the Monterey Shale can be realized. 

The groups, chefs and farmers contest this claim, noting that fracking, along with related drilling, wastewater disposal and other extraction methods like acidizing, has raised serious environmental and public health concerns across the country. Wastewater from fracking and drilling operations is regularly dumped or leaked into waterways, putting Central Valley salmon, Delta fish populations and ocean fisheries in danger. 

A recent study in the United Kingdom also found that pollution, such as diesel exhaust common in fracking operations, can harm bees. Tom Frantz recently captured video of bees pollinating almond trees adjacent to drilling operations. 

California, with more than 80,000 farms producing about $45 billion in annual profits, is the nation’s largest farm state, and agriculture is California’s leading industry. In states including Pennsylvania, Colorado and Ohio, grazing animals have gotten sick and died after drinking fracking runoff and water from farm wells near fracking operations. In California's Kern County, one farmer lost millions of dollars worth of almond and pistachio crops from groundwater contamination from a nearby oil and gas operation, the groups point out. 

“California needs an immediate halt to fracking to protect our state’s precious water from this toxic technique,” said Brian Nowicki of the Center for Biological Diversity. “To safeguard our farmers and others affected by our state’s crippling drought, Governor Brown should halt fracking in our state to protect the air we breathe and the water we so desperately need.” 

“Farmers are vital to a healthy food system and a healthy economy and they must be protected,” said Adam Scow, California campaigns director for Food & Water Watch. “We call on Governor Brown to place a moratorium on fracking to protect California farmers from the severe threat of fracking.” 

The petition was organized in conjunction with Food & Water Watch, the Center for Biological Diversity and other members of the statewide coalition Californians Against Fracking. 

Californians Against Fracking and other organizations will hold a massive rally in Sacramento on March 15 to press for a halt to fracking in the state. The event will take place at 1 PM at the California State Capitol, 1315 10th St., Sacramento, CA 95814. 

"Already, well over a thousand Californians have signed up to attend Don't Frack California, which will be the largest anti-fracking mobilization in California history -- but we need to make this rally even bigger," urged Zack Malitz of CREDO Action. Click here to RSVP

Since the launch of Californians Against Fracking in May 2013, more than 200,000 petitions have been signed urging Governor Brown to ban fracking in California. Farmers, environmental justice groups, public health advocates, local elected officials, students, celebrities and many others are calling on Governor Brown to halt fracking in California. More information can be found at californiansagainstfracking.org. 

Californians Against Fracking is a coalition of environmental, business, health, agriculture, labor, political and environmental justice organizations working to win a statewide ban on fracking in California. 

The farmer petition and list of farmers who have signed can be found here. 

The chef petition and list of chefs who have signed can be found here. 

Photos from the February 26 meeting and letter delivery to Governor Brown can be found at http://fwwat.ch/1eqgOIO. 

Photo courtesy of Food and Water Watch and Center for Biological Diversity. 

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