Singh-Allen wants it both ways - One day she's for regionalism, the next its all about 'local control'

Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen supports both regionalism and local control. Which one is her real position? |

One trait of a successful politician is the ability to craft a specific message to a target audience. Occasionally, the shifting sands of messaging will find an elected official offering contradictory messages.

Such is the case for Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, who is perfecting this practice. Let's look at the contradictory messages Singh-Allen has provided in recent days.

People who have watched the mayor and her four city councilmen during the recent Oak Rose project picked up on two things - that the governing body has tried to shift blame, and they decried their supposed loss of local control on land use, particularly the controversial project. 

Throughout her September 27 commentary on the Oak Rose project, Ms. Singh-Allen repeatedly bemoaned the city's loss of local control. And for good measure, she threw shade at her Democratic political allies and a former city council colleague. 

Elk Grove is being scrutinized because, like most California municipalities, it has not met its RHNA goals - Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals. Further, approving a market-rate housing project in the Old Town special planning area showed an inconsistency in applying zoning standards for Old Town.

One trait of a successful politician is the ability to craft a specific message to a target audience. Occasionally, the shifting sands of messaging will find an elected official offering contradictory messages.

Such is the case for Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, who is perfecting this practice. Let's look at the contradictory messages Singh-Allen has provided in recent days.

People who have watched the mayor and her four city councilmen during the recent Oak Rose project picked up on two things - that the governing body has tried to shift blame, and they decried their supposed loss of local control on land use, particularly the controversial project. 

Throughout her September 27 commentary on the Oak Rose project, Ms. Singh-Allen repeatedly bemoaned the city's loss of local control. And for good measure, she threw shade at her Democratic political allies and a former city council colleague. 

Naturally, the mayor blamed the state for their power grab. Not surprisingly, the scrutiny the city is under is of their own making, not because supposed power-crazed bureaucrats and statewide officeholders are conspiring against them, as Mayor Singh-Allen would like Elk Grove residents to believe.

Elk Grove is being scrutinized because, like most California municipalities, it has not met its RHNA goals - Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals. Further, approving a market-rate housing project in the Old Town special planning area showed an inconsistency in applying zoning standards for Old Town.

If you dial back the calendar until September 14, you will see the mayor during the Sacramento Transporation Authority. During this meeting of this multi-jurisdictional body, there was a different message from Singh Allen - regional cooperation.

While discussing a possible countywide sales tax measure for Sacramento County transportation needs, Singh-Allen commended an idea being floated by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. That idea is to use a potential tax hike to not only fund transportation projects but to use the money to address regional homelessness and affordable housing. 

Singh-Allen said, "To Mayor Steinberg's credit, I think there is a lot of good ideas in there."

If you have any understanding of suburban municipalities nationally, they typically push back on having their constituents pay regional taxes that they perceive benefit large urbanized cities. This is as true in suburban Philadelphia as it is in Sacramento.

Regionalism is the antithesis of suburbs, which routinely exercise local control over everything from schools to land use. Elk Grove is no exception, especially given the comments from Singh-Allen and her four council members during the Oak Rose hearing.

Setting aside a discussion of the merits of Steinberg's regionalism, it is unlikely to gain traction in Citrus Heights, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova, and, yes, Elk Grove. So why the contradictory stances by Mayor Singh-Allen?

The local control argument for the Oak Rose opponents was a diversion. If you lack leadership skills like Singh-Allen, blame someone else for your shortcomings and hope your audience buys the story, which it appears they have so far.

So why the fawning over Steinberg's regional plan, which some will argue will primarily benefit the city of Sacramento? It could be as simple as Singh-Allen trying to cull political favor with Steinberg, who she likely views as someone who could help her when she runs for Congress. 

Align with Steinberg today and his regionalism, hoping it will help her in the future. We've seen Singh-Allen closely align herself with others, such as former Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly and former city councilmember Sophia Scherman, to help her political ambitions. 

We can't determine if Singh-Allen is for local control or regionalism, but only one can be her actual position. We suspect she will say anything to any audience that benefits her, even if it is contradictory.

Expect nothing less from Singh-Allen. 

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