Cat leash law ruffles fur of Lodi owners

Cat owners across Lodi got their fur ruffled over a new cat leash law, which was passed by the Lodi City Council in 1979.

Essentially, the ordinance required cat owners to have a leash around their kitty's neck whenever it was outside. Easier said than done, according to local residents who were interviewed by reporters for the "Lodi News-Sentinel" and the "Lodi Life and Times" newspapers. In fact, most people indicated they would not abide by the new law.

The new ordinance defined the first three violations as infractions, accompanied by monetary fines. After the third offense, the violation would become a misdemeanor.

Lodi's new City Attorney, Ronald Stein, was credited with coming up with the idea.

An editorial in the November 27, 1979, edition of the "Lodi Life and Times" read:

"That new kitty leash law is enough to make a cat laugh."

In fact, it is enough to make the whole state of California laugh, which it appears it is doing.

In case you haven't heard, our new city attorney, Ron Stein, and our beloved city council have been busy cooking up what looks like the most ridiculous law ever passed in this day and age. It ranks high with others, like no spitting on the sidewalk or no singing in the shower.

It was everyone's hope that those days of lawmaking were gone forever. No such luck.

No doubt this new city ordinance will go on the books and stay there. Period.

It is literally impossible to enforce the law in that who can catch a cat when he wants to? And who wants to?

In economically unstable times, when municipal expenditures are under public scrutiny, doesn't it seem just a little wasteful to have our poundmaster and his assistant chasing cats with no leash?

Surely our city fathers have much better ways to spend their time. And our city attorney must, if he doesn't, feel foolish.

This new ordinance is anything but the cat's meow.

The ordinance was subsequently repealed.

Fire Department: Turn off water

Water pressure, or the lack of it, was a serious problem for Lodi's fire department during the summer months.

George Polensky

George Polensky, chief of Lodi's volunteer department, requested the "Lodi News" to print an article asking town folks to shut off their water faucets during a fire. The water supply, which wasn't too great during the summer anyway, dangerously dwindled when a fire broke out in town.

"When fire breaks out, every bit of water is needed to keep the fire from becoming a conflagration which might sweep the town, especially during such weather as we have been having," the News article said.

Lodi citizens always knew when there was a fire because a horn mounted at the top of the water tank would blast, calling all volunteers to the station. The siren was also a signal for residents to turn off their yard hoses and faucets. "With the blowing of the siren all water not absolutely needed in the running of the house should be shut off," the article warned. "This applies especially to lawn and garden watering. It should be shut off until two blasts are sounded at the station, which indicate that the fire is well under control and all the danger is past."

Apparently, during the town's last fire lawn sprinklers were seen in operation all across town.

"While it is true that our modern equipment no longer depends on tank pressure, there must be plenty of water in the tanks and mains to draw from, and the safe way is to stop watering and allow all the water pumped into the wells to be at the disposal of the fire department," the newspaper admonished.

In a front page editorial of the same edition, editors wrote to their readers:

"The warning of the fire department regarding the practice of some Lodi people of letting water run on their lawns and gardens while the fire laddies are fighting fire, should be heeded.

When the fire siren blows, shut off all water, except possibly such a small amount as you absolutely need for housework, and be chary of what you use in the house until you know that the fire is under control."

Lou Peters helps FBI crack mob plot

Lodi Pontiac-Cadillac auto dealership owner Lou Peters helped FBI agents crack an organized crime effort to buy a dozen California auto dealerships, it was revealed August 1, 1979.

Peters uncovered the plot by reputed Mafia leader Joseph Bonanno Sr. and his sons when a local contractor approached Peters in 1977 with an offer to buy his dealership. When Peters told the man he wasn't interested in selling the agency, he was told the previously secret buyer was one Salvatore "Bill" Bonanno.

After saying his dealership was worth about $1 million, Peters indicated he might sell the place for $2 million. A week later Peters was told the price "might be acceptable" to Bonanno and a meeting was arranged in San Jose between Bill Bonanno and his younger brother, Joseph Bonanno, Jr.

During the meeting Peters was told the Bonanno family intended to set up car dealerships and leasing agencies through central California and in Vallejo, and that they wanted Peters to be their general manager.

Peters went to authorities and eventually went undercover for the FBI. He developed a close relationship with the Bonanno family and was considered one of their "sons."

Had the deals gone through, an estimated $30 million was to be spent on the agencies. The senior Bonanno, one-time head of an organized crime family in New York, filed suit in federal court alleging illegal wiretapping.

The Bonannos eventually were convicted and sent to federal prison, thanks to the help and information provided by Peters.

The story took a strange twist several years later when Peters discovered he had inoperable cancer, an affliction he later died of. There were skeptics who didn't believe he died but was put into the FBI's federal witness protection program.

Peters bought the Lodi car agency, then Tokay Motors, from Dick Benson in 1970. He was active in several civic areas, including an unsuccessful 1976 bid for a city council seat and his appointment as foreman of the San Joaquin Grand Jury during its 1976-77 session.

Some still believe Peters lives in witness protection.

Underwater monopoly game makes history

After more than 1,000 hours of round-the-clock underwater Monopoly play beginning June 11, members of Lodi's Five Fathom Club emerged from their swimming pool play room on July 24, 1976, ... world record-holders, they thought.

Club members thought they had won the record for continuous underwater Monopoly play, in all logging some 1,008 hours, however once all the facts and figures were presented to the Guinness Book of World Records, their bid was rejected on a technicality.

It was their quest to take the place of Penn State University in that book. The record had been 511 hours. In order to secure the world record standing, members of the club continued playing in two-hour shifts.

Despite the record-setting failure, the club's members were proud of the fact that they had raised $3,000 in pledges and donations for the March of Dimes.

The game itself was donated by Parker Bros., makers of the Monopoly board game. The specially designed underwater game was sent back to the company for use by other underwater game-playing enthusiasts.

Although the club started with about 140 active participants, there were only 20 left when the playing ended. About 500 games were played during the 42 days of the contest.

The event was not without its problems. At one point, water had to be drained to just above the heads of participants because of a chemical reaction caused by the metal chairs in the pool. Another time the water became clouded and officials believe pranksters put soap in the water.

The pool was located to the rear of the Lodi Skin diving School, on the corner of Hutchins and Lockeford, owned and operated by Roland and Carol Mounce.

Mrs. Mounce said it about $500 in pool chemicals. Otherwise, middle-of-the-night cancellations of players also proved to be a problem. The hardest part for the Mounces was having strangers in their back yard all night long.

First published: Thursday, September 28, 2006

Reader Feedback

Addendum to cat fence wrote on Oct 12, 2006 8:14 AM:

" Lodi girl's cat fence is a good idea for CERTAIN homeowners with the RIGHT kind of fence who want to shell out 150.00 for one. Be advised to look at the fine print and make sure it fits your kind of fence, if you have one. It works well on some but there are limitations on others. "

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