My wish list for the New Year

As we near the dawn of a new year, I am sure many of you are like me and you will look back on the year that has passed and wonder where the time went. Some of you will also make the dreaded New Year's resolution. In doing so, you will probably forget, or at least want to, the resolutions that you made at this time last year.

For me, I prefer goals for the year. I learned long ago that setting realistic goals is much more satisfying than resolving to do something that I haven't done since I was 22, like exercise regularly. I know it isn't going to happen, so why bother telling myself that it will?

With some of my goals, I hang a carrot at the end so that I have a bit of motivation. An example is that several years ago, I wanted new golf clubs. While I could have purchased them, there really was no need because I just wasn't very good. So my goal for the year was to get my golf handicap below 10, without cheating, and then I could purchase the new clubs. I achieved that goal, got the new clubs and in the process played more golf, something I really enjoy.

A goal that I have for 2009 is to work hard each day. The carrot for me in this one is that I will get to spend more time actually relaxing with my family and not worrying about what has not been done.

Another goal for 2009 is to continue with this column. While this goal comes without the carrot, I enjoy it, so I want to work hard so it continues. What makes this goal different from most that I set is that it is out of my control. If the editor of this paper finds the column tired and old, I may not make it. So to avoid that, I will do my best to give you information that you might not have.

Along with my personal goals, there are some things that I hope will happen in 2009. These are different from the goals because there is little or nothing that I can do to make them happen. Here are a few that pertain to Lodi.

I hope that our city council finds a way to stabilize our electric rates. As I have written about several times and as this paper reported recently, Lodi's electric rates, coupled with a tough economy, are hurting people. Council member Susan Hitchcock recently told me that people don't look at the details of the bill like I do; they just look at the total. While she is probably right, it is the total that is hurting people and the fluctuations are probably hurting them more. I hope the city council changes the monthly energy cost adjustment (the "ECA") to a semiannual adjustment. This will help residents as well as businesses.

I hope that DeBenedetti Park finally gets started, if not built. While I have no idea where the money will come from to build it, it is nearly criminal that our Parks and Recreation impact fee fund has over $2 million in it yet we cannot get this park started. How they will pay to mow the grass is another story, and the plastic field-turf isn't the answer. Someone needs to remind them that the plastic stuff costs over $1 million for a football field, requires maintenance and has a life of 15 years or less.

I hope Pig Lake gets saved before the nature area is flooded. The nature area at Lodi Lake is a jewel that we cannot lose. $25,000 gets a fix that will last until we can get additional money for a more permanent fix. If the levee breaks, the cost will be much greater.

I hope the city council finally realizes that financially supporting the Downtown Lodi Business Partnership is a huge waste of money. Here's a question for you: As a voter, what do you think is more important, the Lodi Lake Nature Area or a contribution to the Downtown Lodi Business Partnership?

I hope Measure W passes in March. Lodi needs a redevelopment area like other cities in California. Without it, we are letting too many of our dollars go to Sacramento, where they are lost in the inefficiencies of a government that is really out of control.

Finally, I hope that my USC Trojans win the Rose Bowl and that 2009 is a wonderful year for you and your family.

Happy New Year!

John Johnson, CFA is a Lodi-based business appraiser. You can reach Mr. Johnson at john@johnejohnson.com or at (209) 369-1451.

Reader Feedback

Neo wrote on Jan 4, 2009 8:24 PM:

" Well at least USC won... don`t know about the rest of your hopes.. "

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s & w 500 wrote on Jan 2, 2009 6:00 PM:

" I hope the city will stop OVER CHARGING US FOR SERVICES NOT DELIVERED, and that the council and Electric Utility Dept will understand that most of us are broke, trying to pay taxes so EVERYONE has a nice education, WIC, and other state/fed programs that should be terminated NOW.

Tired of working too hard, wishing there was more work, and tired of being low-balled by unqaulified people.

Happy New Year! "

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Trojans win the Rose Bowl; Pig's Lake is saved; Measure W passes

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