McNerney chats with Lodi leaders; gets rundown of city's major issues

Congressman Jerry McNerney swung through Lodi on Thursday where he learned about the city's issues.

The newly elected congressman said he would return to Washington excited about bringing more passenger rails to the Central Valley. McNerney said he'd also try to allocate federal dollars for Lodi's groundwater contamination cleanup.

City Manager Blair King said he gave McNerney a presentation on a number of Lodi's issues including the groundwater contamination cleanup, transportation needs, homeland security funding and Community Development Block Grants.

"We didn't delve deeply into any of the issues," King said. "We provided a broad-brush look at the issues."

McNerney also met with Mayor Bob Johnson, Vice Mayor JoAnne Mounce and other senior city staff.

The democratic congressman said the meeting was educational.

"I got an initial understanding of what the city is facing," he said.

McNerney said he discussed the issue of bringing a commuter train to Lodi. The Altamont Commuter Express train is considering expanding service from the Bay Area to Sacramento with a potential stop in Lodi. McNerney, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he was "excited" about the idea of bringing more passenger rail service to the Central Valley.

"It's an issue that is very important to the committee," he said.

He also said it was a possibility that he could help the city obtain federal funds to help with the PCE/TCE groundwater contamination cleanup.

Johnson said the meeting was a good chance to get to know the congressman and introduce him to the issues.

"It seemed he had an interest in many areas of our concern," Johnson said. "He seemed cognizant of the issue of light rail and seemed interested in seeing that move forward."

McNerney, an alternative energy specialist, was also interested in Lodi Electric Utility's alternative sources of power such as geothermal and wind, according to Johnson.

King said the purpose of the introductory meeting was not to elicit promises from the congressman.

"We weren't asking for anything, and we didn't expect anything," he said.

McNerney, who defeated incumbent Richard Pombo in November, said he was looking forward to working with Lodi officials in the future. The congressman from Pleasanton said he would spend his weekdays in Washington and his weekends in his home district.

Contact reporter Matt Brown at mattb@lodinews.com.

Key issues

Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) discussed a number of issues with Lodi city officials Thursday. Some of the key issues:
• Bringing commuter rail to Lodi.
• PCE/TCE groundwater contamination cleanup.
• Alternative energy.
• Homeland security funding.
• Community Development Block Grants.
— News-Sentinel staff.

First published: Friday, January 26, 2007

Reader Feedback

jose wrote on Jan 28, 2007 6:32 AM:

" Neighborhoods that were safe are now filled with loitering illegal males who congregate on the streets and get drunk. They urinate in public and cause considerable damage to other peoples property. These illegal camps in our neighborhoods are destroying the residential area on the eastside. The good news is a city in southern California passed a law that forbids renting to illegal people and the crime is punishable. call the City and complain!! Jose Garcia "

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T&C wrote on Jan 27, 2007 2:59 PM:

" The city council and management don't want us to know anything about them nor the way they geovern. That leaves them free to further plunder this town into financial oblivion. "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jan 26, 2007 10:12 PM:

" Great comments R.E.Goldstein. One would think that Jerry or his staff would have already brief'd him on the City of Lodi's issues. I guess that would be asking toooooooo much from our new Representative; being in touch with the local issues. "

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T & C wrote on Jan 26, 2007 5:48 PM:

" Those are the things our own city council representatives want, so they can bilk more federal money from the feed trough for themselves and the good ole boyz. McNerney was just as interested what the tall tales were that'd come from the mayor. You can see by the response to this blog how much people really care about Johnson and the pathetic city council and management. "

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R.G. Goldstein wrote on Jan 26, 2007 3:30 PM:

" Let me see....we have illegals running wild in the streets, we have the government unconstitutionally seizing private property, taxes out of control, government regulations burying businesses and Jerry McNebbish says we need another empty passenger train and windmills ? What a pitiful putz. "

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