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Redevelopment is the best hope for our east Lodi community
Saturday, February 28, 2009 6:21 AM PST
In my years as a police officer for the Lodi Police Department and later as chief, I saw first-hand the frustration Eastside residents had with blight, crime and gangs.
My authority then was limited to upholding the law and trying to mediate disputes between neighbors. As chief, I implemented community-oriented policing and built a partnership with Lodi's residents.
Now, as a member of the Lodi City Council in my seventh year, I have the opportunity to address these pleas for help in another way through the Lodi Community Improvement Project, the city's redevelopment plan.
But first, Lodi voters on Tuesday must approve Measure W. Passing measure W will put into motion a plan to help east Lodi more than anything that's been tried before. The redevelopment project area represents one-forth of the city's population, more that half (54 percent) of its crime and about three-fourths of its code enforcement cases. It requires a disproportionate amount of the city's resources to deal with these issues.
Redevelopment isn't the cure-all. It is, however, the best method available to us in fixing many of these problems. In many cases, it will take years before we have enough money to address these needs. But in time, we will have the money to make east Lodi a better place from which we will all benefit.
The City Council has taken the steps to keep and attract jobs in Lodi. We managed to keep Blue Shield in Lodi, and adopted an enterprise zone in which businesses receive state tax benefits.
We have taken steps to pull the city and the Lodi Electric Utility from the brink of insolvency. Although they were difficult decisions, they made the city more creditworthy and are beginning to pay dividends for the community.
Four of us on the City Council saw redevelopment as a good choice for Lodi when we adopted the Lodi Community Improvement Project on July 2, 2008. It's good when the city can provide better services to the community without a tax increase. That's why it's difficult to hear opponents make Chicken Little-type arguments in an attempt to defeat Measure W. The fact is, redevelopment is the best hope for east Lodi, and it doesn't cost taxpayers one dime.
Measure W opponents have distorted the issues and overlooked the many benefits that redevelopment will bring to our city. The plan specifically calls for improving water and sewer systems and storm drains, and upgrading street lighting. It also will provide funds for fixing sidewalks and repairing streets along commercial corridors.
The plan calls for the same improvements in neighborhoods, along with sound walls near railroad tracks, upgraded alleys and safer bicycle routes.
It calls for using redevelopment money to remediate contaminated groundwater, provide additional parks and recreation facilities, and possibly build a new library and/or animal shelter.
It calls for using new money to help low-and moderate-income residents find affordable housing. These methods include a down-payment assistance program, a housing rehabilitation loan program and finding additional affordable housing for seniors. The goal is to enhance economic vitality in east Lodi.
Those who oppose Measure W are working to defeat these programs. There is no other significant source of money available to accomplish these goals. The State of California has shifted nearly $30 million of Lodi property tax out of our city and into state programs in the last 15 years. Redevelopment is the best way for Lodi to capture a greater share of our property tax, and we will use these funds to help our city.
I have spent 37 years protecting Lodi and trying to make it a better place to live. I have not seen a better tool than redevelopment to accomplish that. The entire community will benefit by reducing the volume of police and code-enforcement calls to east Lodi. Redevelopment will free up money to provide services for all of Lodi, not just those needing extra attention. My fear is that these changes may never happen without the additional funding stream provided by redevelopment.
Measure W is an investment in the future of Lodi. It will provide funding for three-plus decades and will enable the city to greatly improve the level of service our citizens deserve. If you believe in doing what's best for Lodi's future and taking a step that helps stimulate a more vibrant community, you'll join me in voting "Yes on Measure W" on Tuesday, March 3.
Larry Hansen is the mayor of Lodi.
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Giovanina wrote on Mar 3, 2009 8:48 PM:
edumacation wrote on Mar 2, 2009 3:41 PM:
Don't search for menial, clerical, or unskilled labor jobs. I am always looking for self-starters and productive individuals. "
OTH wrote on Mar 2, 2009 3:02 PM:
wudbridgGal wrote on Mar 2, 2009 2:05 PM:
goandmake wrote on Mar 2, 2009 7:09 AM:
We all have observed over the many years that government programs never really work... you think we would learn.
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1 Cor. 1:25 "
t jefferson wrote on Mar 2, 2009 6:28 AM:
t jefferson wrote on Mar 2, 2009 6:27 AM:
Common - Those in the know, know and those who don't don't. In this litigious society this is not the forum to air this type of info. "
edumacation wrote on Mar 1, 2009 1:41 PM:
Look at this link:
10 Gang Members Arrested in ICE-led Operation in Charlotte N.C.
http://www.dhs.gov/ximgtn/enforcement/
Alien gangbangers will leave and their supporters will try to exit ASAP. Homeland Security will not play games with them. Show me your legal ID. "
edumacation wrote on Mar 1, 2009 1:35 PM:
I am voting "NO on W" for financial stability, accountability and responsibility. "
dragonfaire wrote on Mar 1, 2009 11:21 AM:
lodidian wrote on Feb 28, 2009 8:49 PM:
Chicken Little here.
I ask you and the other three council members ( nic Ms Mounce) to reflect on how the council has managed the city's projects over the past few years.
"Not one more dime"---sound familiar?
WID water purchase
Wal*Mart Supercenter drag
DeBennetti Park--
Skate Park.
Downtown parking garage revenue.
I could go on but----
I am encouraging all to vote no on W even though I think an RDA could be good for Lodi. I am voting no because based on the councils past performance.
Be honest! This council can't manage a lemonade stand never mind an RDA and the money involved.
Let it go! "
commonsense1 wrote on Feb 28, 2009 5:27 PM:
ZZ wrote on Feb 28, 2009 3:39 PM:
Mr. Wood will be working for Redevelopment if MEASURE W Passes,
VOTE NO ON MEASURE W. "
ZZ wrote on Feb 28, 2009 2:59 PM:
I will say again there is more crime on the other side of the tracks, look at the map of crime in the Lodi News Paper, and Mr. Wood left a mess, 800 open cases for the new Code Enforcement to clean up and it only took a little while to get that down to 400 cases, so he could justify BLIGHT. Oh by the was Mr. Wood is going to be working for Redevelopment Department if measure M passes. "
El Rushbo wrote on Feb 28, 2009 12:42 PM:
t jefferson wrote on Feb 28, 2009 6:34 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.