Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen (left, and council members Darren Suen and Stephanie Nguyen. |
In response to comments made by an organizer of a recall effort, the mayor of Elk Grove and two council members have refuted claims attributed to them they have said are incorrect.
Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, who is the subject of a recall effort, issued a statement saying statements by Ms. Sai Vang of Elk Grove Hmong Americans (EGHA) are not correct. In a video statement and story, Vang said council members Stephanie Nguyen and Darren Suen agreed with their assertion that comments made by Singh-Allen during last year's heated Elk Grove mayoral election were racist.
Singh-Allen, who won last year's mayoral race, has issued her statement with Ms. Mia Foster, a co-founder and former member of EGHA but subsequently left the organization said, "We have been working together for several months establishing a relationship and moving forward together. We’ve progressed beyond old misunderstandings and impressions of each other and wish we would’ve came together sooner for positive and productive dialogue. This work continues and we invite everyone to join us and heal our community. We both welcome everyone with open hearts."
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Nguyen and Suen, who endorsed Singh-Allen over former mayor Steve Ly refuted the claims made about them, saying the mayor is not racist. Suen said, "I do not believe Mayor Singh-Allen is racist. I don’t agree with Ms. Vang’s statement about me. Several months ago, we had one conversation that acknowledged their feelings and a unanimous desire to move forward."
In her statement, Nguyen noted she facilitated a meeting between the mayor and EGHA and asserted Singh-Allen is not as stated by the EGHA.
Nguyen said, "Several months ago, I reached out to Elk Grove Hmong Americans (EGHA) as an opportunity to have a conversation. The increase in Hate Crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander communities impacts us all, and only together can we combat these crimes. I then coordinated a meeting with Mayor Bobbie Singh Allen and EGHA in hopes that the two sides could find understanding of each other and find a path to move forward, together. It's unfortunate that this continues. Mayor Bobbie Singh Allen is not a racist and I have never said she is a racist. I do hope that the two sides can find a way to move forward for the good of our community."
The effort against Singh-Allen started last March, and after the language was qualifying in May, organizers by statute are given until October 21 to gather about 11,000 registered voter signatures. If the signatures are not secured by the deadline, the recall effort with not be placed on a special election ballot.
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