Hume, Suen Commit to Delivering Elk Grove Race Relations Town Hall Meeting But Demur on Police Oversight

October 1, 2017 |  

At their Wednesday, September 27 regular meeting, Council Members Pat Hume, and Darren Suen committed to delivering a town hall meeting on how to repair damaged race relations in Elk Grove. The promise from Republican Hume and Democrat Suen came after an inquiry during public comment.  

That question, which was delivered Audrey Walker, who said she was following-up on extensive public input during the September 13 meeting (se video below). At that meeting, the City Council heard numerous pleas urging them to address what they characterized racist behavior in Elk Grove and indifference from the police force.

The possibility of conducting a town hall meeting was one of the solutions floated at the September 13 meeting. The requests at that meeting came following an incident where an African-American owned beauty salon in Old Town Elk Grove was targeted with a threatening and racist letter.  

"I would like to know what progress you made," Walker said. "Where are we at to establish a commission to address racial and social inequity." 

Walker also inquired about the establishment of a police oversight commission.

"How can we, the citizens of Elk Grove, be in on discussions to establish an independent police commission," she asked. "And I would like to know what progress has been made to plan a town hall."

Responding to Walker's queries were Hume and Suen who addressed the town hall question but avoided answering the inquiry on the establishment of an independent police oversight commission. 

Hume said he and Suen were "working behind the scenes" and had contacted possible facilitators to conduct the meeting. He said they would meet with them on Wednesday. October 11.

Suen said he had contacted the Elk Grove Unified School District and Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D - Elk Grove) to seek their participation. Acknowledging the process has been slow, Suen expressed confidence in organizing the event. 

"It is not going fast as we would like," he said. "But it is moving forward."