Lodi still deserves a fair share of Delta College bond proceeds

We think San Joaquin Delta Community College has a lot to lose if no Measure L bond money is allocated to Lodi next month.

By now, everyone knows the campaign for Measure L was oversold back in 2004. It's clear that $250 million was not enough to fulfill even a portion the promises made. There's little value in rehashing the mistakes of the past — but there is value in working hard to make amends.

With only $66 million of the $250 million bond money left for Lodi, Manteca and Tracy/Mountain House, a real campus is not possible without another bond issue.

There's not enough money left to appease voters with the Blue Shield Building. That apparently will cost nearly $55 million. Although that building has been reported to be available for less, it has to conform to the standards of the Field Act — the one-size-fits-all earthquake safety standards California puts on public school buildings.

So what can be done in Lodi?

Buried in the options is an apparent offer by an unnamed developer to sell the college 15 acres for $4 million. The land is apparently located in southwest Lodi "near Wal-Mart," according to the Delta administrator heading up the "bond team."

In an ideal world, another Delta campus in Lodi wouldn't be so close to the main campus on Pacific Avenue in north Stockton. But our ideals went out the window a long time ago.

A land purchase is the least Lodi should settle for.

The drive to the main campus in Stockton is an impediment to many Lodian's aspirations of higher education. Whether by bus or by car, the corner of Kettleman Lane and Lower Sacramento Road is much easier to reach from anywhere in Lodi than Pacific Avenue.

Careful readers may have noticed here our use of "apparent" and "apparently." Because the college is negotiating real estate deals with various developers, the board is allowed to discuss these matters secretly.

But is secrecy a must?

A Delta campus will enhance the value of any development. We would urge the board, the administration and the developers to be as transparent as possible in order to restore faith with the voters who are paying the bills now and will be in the future.

The final allocations of Measure L money are set for discussion Oct. 6 at a workshop on the main Delta campus, followed by a vote Oct. 7.

A month later, voters will have a chance to put some new blood on the Delta board.

It's tempting to delay a decision until the new board takes office, but new members will have to come up to speed. Even then, the decisions won't be easier.

This board and its bond team need to make a commitment to the people of Lodi.

Without one, we predict the devil himself will be worried about global warming before another Delta bond passes in Lodi.

Lodi News-Sentinel