Curious reports from 2 Elk Grove Councilmen on their Cap-to-Cap junket; Meme coin pitch for tax dollars?

As is customary, at the end of the Elk Grove City Council meeting, the mayor and council members are to report on their activities since the last meeting on behalf of constituents. 

Mayor Singh-Allen invited Councilman Darren Suen, Vice Mayor Sergio Robles, Councilman Rod Brewer, and Councilman Kevin Spease to report to constituents. Even though the entire five-member body traveled on the taxpayers' dime (although not verified, Spease reportedly paid for his travel expenses) to Washington, DC, on the Sacramento Metropolitan Chambers' annual Cap-to-Cap junket, there was no mention of the journey or meetings they were supposed to participate in with federal officials on behalf of Elk Grove citizens. 

However, Mayor Singh-Allen took the opportunity to discuss her supposed constituent advocacy. After Singh-Allen made her report, Robles and Brewer suddenly changed their reports. 

Why?

The easiest explanation is that Brewer and Robles couldn't be bothered reporting to constituents who paid for the junket what they did in Washington, DC. Who wants to report on the extravagant buffet line or booze-soaked open bar cocktail parties?

Maybe Brewer and Robles realized their mistake after hearing Singh-Allen give her report. Given the control Singh-Allen has over the two and Suen, lest they come under her wrath for not giving the appearance that they were trying, however feebly, to conduct the people's business. 

Regardless, both of the mayor's proteges quickly conjured stories. Robles piped in first.

"I forget, because it feels like a long time," Robles, who most likely returned from the junket just one week earlier, said. "But I was able to help and lead a delegation of vice mayors, council members, and business leaders from around the region."

Roble said they visited the Mexican Embassy. While he did not say exactly what their mission was, he said the delegation discussed a "know your rights" campaign. 

Next up was Brewer, who made a two-minute-plus meandering and addle-minded presentation on transportation. As noted in Singh-Allen's commentary, Brewer accompanied the mayor on meetings about transportation issues.

Brewer said the meeting was conducted by former Charlotte, N.C., city councilmember Tariq Bokhari, who was recently sworn in as the deputy administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. Then, in a sign of his naivety, Brewer summarized Bokhari's comments to the group. 

"As a matter of fact, he [Bokhari] felt that the presentation we gave to him was pretty much a standard of what other transit agencies should, how they present, what they should present in terms of talking about their respective cities or metropolitan areas," Brewer stated.  

Here is a tip for Brewer - pull out your dictionary or smartphone and look up the word pandering, and no, we are not referring to the State of Georgia definition. The councilman will learn that it means "to cater to their desires or weaknesses, often in a way that is not genuine or beneficial for them." 

We have no doubt Bokhari told the delegation they were great. As sure as the sun sets in the west, you can be certain as he progresses in his appointed position, Bakhari will flatter other yokels like Brewer and forget their needs as soon as they leave the office. 

Even the mayor avoided reporting this false flattery. Can Brewer not see this?

Apparently not, given some Elk Grove elected officials' penchant for basking in the glow of pandering and false flattery.  

Interestingly, at about the same time Bokhari met with Singh-Allen, Brewer, and others in his delegation, the Charlotte City Council awarded the Charlotte Police Chief a six-figure settlement stemming from threats Bokhari made to the police chief. Bokhari and the police chief disagreed about the protective vests used by police officers. 

If Brewer believes in the false flattery of the Trump loyalist, have we got a meme coin pitch for tax dollars we'll make to him!