Small business owner calls California Northstate University's full-page advertisement 'fake news'

At the Wednesday, October 23 Elk Grove City Council meeting, one local small business co-owner characterized a public relations campaign by California Northstate University (CNU) as filled with half-truths and was "fake news."

The comments were made during the public comment section of the meeting and came from David Brown, who along with his wife owns Dreaming Dog Brewery in Elk Grove's Stonelake Landing shopping center on the city's far west side. The Brown's along with several small business owners in that same shopping center face eviction and what they say is harassment from CNU, which is their landlord, so as to facilitate CNUs proposed $900 million 400-bed hospital.

In his comments, Brown noted CNU's President Alvin Cheung told him they did not appreciate negative comments made by him and other affected small business owners about their treatment. Brown noted that CNU has launched a public relations campaign that was filled with misrepresentations.

Among the tactics used in their campaign, CNU purchased a full-page color advertisement in the July 24 edition of the Elk Grove Citizen (see below). 

"I am here to declare this 'fake news' to coin a favorite phrase of the day," Brown told the Elk Grove City Council.

Brown's entire commentary can be viewed in the video. 

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