How secure is the new moth-balled Elk Grove Promenade

In the immediate aftermath of General Growth Properties announcement that the long-awaited tax generating god, also know as the Elk Grove Promendade would stop construction, city fathers scrabbled hard to put lipstick on the pig.

But credit council member Sophia Scherman, acting with the proper post 9-11 security urgency, Scherman said security would be a high priority.

In a story published by the Bee, Scherman made a strong argument for security:

But she [Scherman] expressed fear that conditions would deteriorate at the mall, where parking lots are poured and future retail spaces are rising.

"I don't care how it's done," Scherman said. "I want security there. I don't want it to become a blight."

We couldn't agree more.

You GO SO Money!

Without adequate security, the Promenade is ripe as great place to dump unwanted furniture, large appliances and even unwanted large animals.

The Promenade could also easily become a hang out for the homeless and worse, various meth-heads and tweakers. Even if it is monitored, Elk Grove will have inherited a massive problem.

So what measures have been taken so far.

Though we are not security experts, it looks as though General Growth has not heeded the words of council person Scherman.

The best we cant tell is there is a person in a guard shack on Promenade Parkway who looks to have spent more time a the donut shop that the treadmill. There are no obvious surveillance cameras on any of the installed light post and there are no portable surveillance units that are so common in deserted subdivision throughout Elk Grove.

Unless they are flying U2's out Beale or employing the latest NSC spy satellite technology, there seems to be very little use of eyes in the sky.

The perimeter fences are flimsy in appearance and can be knocked over by a bunch of agitated senior citizens. We did not visit at night time so perhaps there are some vehicles patrolling the area. Lets hope so.

We hope council member Scherman can use her heft to get better security at the moth-balled Promenade before it is run over every meth-head and tweaker in the area.

Nothing like this portable surveillance unit was seen on the grounds of the Elk Grove Promenade construction site as of 3:00 pm today, Wednesday, August 18.

We hope council person Scherman makes good on her commitment to make General Properties secure this rather large crime magnet.