A petition drive by a group opposed to the city of Elk Grove, Northern California enabling the Wilton Rancheria to buy land in an unfinished mall in the city and put a casino there have gotten enough signatures, they say, to put a measure on the ballot invalidating that action by the city council.
They claim to have gathered 14,000 signatures, which is more than the number required to put the measure on the ballot: 8,900. There is no official verification of that claim at this point.
The petitioners have been gathering signatures for about two weeks. They seek to invalidate an October 12 vote by the council that released the Howard Hughes Company (HHC) from an agreement with the city and allowed it to sell part of the mall property to the tribe, to be used for a $400 million casino if the tribe is able to put the 36 acres into trust. Currently the Bureau of Indian Affairs is reviewing the tribe’s application. The tribe achieved federal recognition in 2009. If the city council’s permission is withdrawn that would probably stop the process since land that is encumbered can’t be put into trust. The mall is currently unfinished and no work has been done on it for several years.
Now businesses in the area that want the casino are striking back, claiming that the petition could prevent the Outlet Collection at Elk Grove mall from being completed. They have enlisted outgoing Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis and a Sacramento-based group, Region Business, and its Executive Director Joshua Wood to record robo calls to local residents.
The calls urge people who might have signed the petitions but now want to remove their signatures to contact city hall.
One of the robo calls goes like this: “Hello this is Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis, calling to warn you about paid petitioners coming to your door asking you to sign a petition. Please don’t sign. Whatever they may tell you, this is a campaign to kill the new Outlet Collection Mall.”
So far, 600 people have responded by asking that their signatures be removed.
Region Business is also sending out mailers to Elk Grover voters.
The deadline to submit the petitions is November 28. If enough signatures quality, an election would probably be held next June. It could potentially cost the city $1 million for a special election.
At this point, no one knows who is financing the petition drive although it is being conducted by Arnol Petition Services. Not even the people gathering the names know who is paying their salaries.
Signature gatherer Ezekiel Raygoza told KCRA 3: “I really wish I knew to say who’s in charge, but I’m not too sure who’s in charge.” He added, “Whenever they tell me to go somewhere, there’s someone who will take my papers from me. They check them, make sure they’re registered to vote, make sure it’s all good and then they pay me.”
There is a group called Protect Elk Grove that several months ago launched and website, made robo calls and hand delivered flyers opposing the casino. That group’s funding source is also unknown.
The petitioners have been accused of getting signatures under false pretenses. Critics have confronted the petitioners several times at a local Wal-Mart.
One person who wants her signature removed is Faye Amos, who told KCRA 3: “She was quite pushy, and I should have read it but I didn’t.” She added, “I told them I felt they were very dishonest and not telling the full story to the people that they asked to sign.”
Last the Howard Hughes Corporation issued this statement: “The Howard Hughes Corporation is extremely concerned that an outside organization has hired paid workers that are not part of the community who are engaged in gathering petition signatures with scare tactics intended to block a project that is a crucial catalyst for growth for Elk Grove and The Outlet Collection. We will work closely with local stakeholders, the city and others to ensure that Elk Grove’s future rests with those best suited to lead and serve the community’s long-term interests.”
