By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer

The n-word was displayed on a construction message board Saturday night at the corner of Laguna and Franklin boulevards in Elk Grove.

Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen confirmed that the sign belongs to a contractor from the Sacramento Sewer District working on the Harvest Water Project located at the Elk Grove intersection.

“This is shameful and unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our city,” Singh-Allen told The OBSERVER. “I want answers and accountability.”

The Sacramento Area Sewer District said it was notified Sunday evening that a construction sign associated with the Harvest Water Program at Laguna and Franklin was “maliciously manipulated to display a racial slur.”

“Upon being notified, we immediately took steps to rectify the situation,” the sewer district said in a statement.

The sewer district said the sign in question was promptly taken offline and that it will investigate how the “breach occurred.”

The sewer district added that it is taking proactive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

In an email, the sewer district said the act is not only reprehensible, but also fundamentally opposed to the values of inclusion, respect, and professionalism that the organization upholds.

“We deeply regret this incident and the harm it may have caused. Such actions undermine the trust we strive to build with the communities we serve, and we are addressing this issue with the seriousness it demands,” the sewer district said.

Erin Campbell, an OBSERVER photographer, drove to see the sign around 10 p.m. Saturday after a friend posted it on her social media.

“When I saw it my heart dropped. I instantly called my friends on FaceTime and showed them. I still can’t believe that in 2025 we [African Americans] have to deal with racist behavior,” Campbell said.

By Sunday morning, the sign was turned off and turned away from traffic.

The mayor said the city will update the public once it learns more and that it is working with the sewer district to investigate.

The city clarified that it does not own the message board and that as soon as it was notified of the incident, the sign was turned off.

“Elk Grove is no place for hate,” the city said in a statement. “The City Council and staff reaffirm our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful community for all. We stand united in rejecting, discouraging, and disapproving of any hate-based activity or conduct.”