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• Newspaper attorney says law requires disclosure

• Supporters and detractors of Measure W hit streets of Lodi

• Irksome to some, pollution inspectors in San Joaquin County say they work to clean our air

• LUSD may spare almost 200 jobs from layoffs

• Galt elementary district to ask state for loan to close $3.4M budget gap

• Regional Roundup

• June Hartley pleads not guilty

• Accused teacher ordered to stay away from McNair High

• Clarifications

November 19th, 2009

• Logbook

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Operation: Christmas

• Corrections

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Chase ends in crash

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

November 18th, 2009

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

November 17th, 2009

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Regional Roundup

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Clarification

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

November 16th, 2009

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Public Meetings

November 14th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

November 12th, 2009

• Logbook

• Correction

• Robotics team at Jim Elliot invited to compete in Israel

• City of Lodi begins annual leaf removal program Monday

• Liberty Ranch construction at standstill as state pulls funds

• Will Lodi adopt a program that will allow volunteers to work at parks?

• With song and speech, veterans are recognized in Lodi

• 20 years later, Acampo man remembers the fall of the Berlin Wall

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (130)
• Obama is not a moderate (129)
• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved (94)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (60)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (49)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (45)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• The haves should help the have-nots (25)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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Improving Lodi without raising taxes

In 1952, California voters gave local cities and counties a new tool to create jobs and improve their communities.

They overwhelmingly approved Article XIII, Section 19 of the California Constitution, and thus Tax Increment Financing and the Community Redevelopment Law became California's only ongoing economic stimulus tool.

According to the California Redevelopment Association, the 397 active redevelopment agencies in the state annually generate 310,000 good-paying jobs, produce $32 billion in total economic activity annually, and $1.6 billion in annual state and local taxes.

While Lodi wrestles with the decision to create jobs through its redevelopment agency, what do some of the most conservative communities in the state — such as Fullerton, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, Coronado, Carlsbad and Poway — know that we don't know? Might it be that they realize that by retaining a greater share of taxes locally, this ensures economic growth and lower taxes?

Of the 164 cities in California with a population over 50,000, why is Lodi one of only eight without an active redevelopment area?

Measure W is the manifestation of the principle that local taxes (which we are going to pay one way or another) spent locally improves local services without raising taxes, which is why I support Measure W.

Glen Barnes
Lodi