Serving the master, not the people - Why is Elk Grove having their E-Bike Rally workshop on a Tuesday morning?
The event it is held on the first day back to work for most people after a three-day holiday weekend.
On Tuesday, September 3, at 10 a.m., the city of Elk Grove is conducting a workshop on the new "E-Bike Rally." The event will be held at the Laguna Gateway Shopping Center.
The city's weekly email newsletter described the event as follows:
"Curious about electric bikes but not sure where to start? Find out how to borrow or buy an e-bike with the help of two new City programs at an E-Bike Rally on Tuesday, September 3 at 10 a.m. at the Laguna Gateway Shopping Center at the corner of Laguna and Big Horn Blvds. Test ride an e-bike, chat with local vendors, learn about incentive and lending programs from city staff. Hosted in partnership by the City of Elk Grove and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG)."
From our perspective, the timing of their rally is curious.
First, it is held on the first day back to work for most people after a three-day holiday weekend. Most adult prospective users work at 10 a.m. on a workday, especially given the high number of State of California workers in Elk Grove.
Sure, some people might be off work at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, but only a few. Some retirees might be available, but this group is too wise to risk life or limb riding a bike on all the drag strips throughout Elk Grove.
Many adult-aged students attend class or work part-time jobs to pay school expenses during this time slot. This weird scheduling is a huge missed opportunity.
To get the city's perspective, we emailed Elk Grove's public information officer on Friday - the day before a three-day weekend - asking about the timing of this event. We received an out-of-office auto-response.
We can't provide the reasoning for this schedule. City hall is abandoned on Friday afternoons even though those are official business hours.
We have a two-pronged theory for this odd scheduling. It involves Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen.
This event is scheduled for Tuesday morning so the local TV news crews can come for a segment to appear in the noon and evening news reports. Tuesdays after a three-day weekend are typically slow news days, so the TV talking heads will gladly show up and have filler for their hours of programming.
And here is a more important reason to schedule the event at 10 a.m. It is so the city's public relations machine can get widespread coverage, and more importantly, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen can take credit for a program she has no direct involvement with.
Remember, ballots arrive in a few weeks, and this is a great way to use taxpayers' money to politically promote Singh-Allen's reelection.
Naturally, the mayor might be too busy to attend - just like she said she was when she quit the regional homeless committee. But given the opportunity to mug for the camera and get free political advertising, would she pass up this golden opportunity?
We think not, but we'll know for sure tomorrow. Maybe the mayor will resist temptation.
Regardless, why didn't city hall schedule this event at a time when working people learn about this opportunity?
It just shows that the people at city hall serve their master, Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, and not the people who pay their salaries.
