Indexes
November 21st, 2009
November 20th, 2009
November 19th, 2009
November 18th, 2009
November 17th, 2009
November 16th, 2009
November 14th, 2009
The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
- The country's mess is our fault (170)
- Obama is not a moderate (130)
- Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (73)
- Public health care is a Christian option (65)
- Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (50)
- The haves should help the have-nots (30)
- Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
- Government-run health care is a bad idea (25)
- Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (18)
- Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)
ADVERTISEMENT
Paula Fernandez, the city of Lodi transportation manager and senior traffic engineer, answers questions about possible cuts to the transit system at the LOEL Center's Garden Room on Thursday morning. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)
Lodi, still grappling with transit cuts, seeks input
Hands flew in to the air at LOEL Center after Paula Fernandez, Lodi's transportation manager, asked how many people use Lodi's bus system to get to church on Sundays.
"There is a high population of old, disabled and elderly people in Lodi, so it's a vital service," Lodi resident Celeste Overby said. "When I heard evenings or Sundays may be eliminated altogether, that won't work for me, and I assume it won't work for others."
Overby, who uses a wheelchair, depends on Lodi's bus system to get to church four days a week. She was one of 20 people who crowded into a room at the LOEL Center to give city staff feedback on the proposed cuts.
The city is grappling with how to cut $373,000 from the city's transit budget. The cuts will begin Nov. 1 and continue through the end of the city's fiscal year, which is June 30, 2010. About a month ago, the city found out that when the state legislature passed its budget, it included 20 percent less in funding than the city expected to receive.
City staff laid out recommendations on how to cut the transit budget at a Lodi City Council shirtsleeve meeting Tuesday. Below are some of the options:
To find out how these changes would affect riders, Fernandez said the city is holding another public meeting and interviewing riders on the bus. The council will receive public comment and possibly vote on the issue at its Oct. 21 meeting.
City staff is still working on the best way to make the cuts while keeping core service, Fernandez said. Instead of limiting weekday service from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the council asked staff to change the end time to 6:10 p.m. The council also asked staff to look into providing service at least on Saturday from 9 to 3 p.m., so customers will be able to make at least one weekend trip.
Lodi resident Kimberly Froberg depends on Dial-a-Ride to get around town in her wheelchair, and she wanted to be at the meeting to let city officials know about all the people who use public transportation.
"I'm here to make sure people like Celeste are not denied the right to go to work or school because of some city official making a decision," she said.
In a denim jacket covered in colorful decorative buttons, Froberg said it is important she can hang out with friends or visit families on the weekend.
Meetings at a glance
The city still has two public meetings to discuss the proposed budget cuts.— 8 a.m. Oct. 15 at Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins Street. The city's Senior Commission will be holding the meeting.
— 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at Carnegie Forum, 305 W. Pine Street. This will be a Lodi City Council public hearing, and the council will be able to vote on the cuts at this meeting.
The city will be offering free rides for people wanting to attend the meeting. They just have to call Dial-a-Ride in advance to make a reservation.
News-Sentinel staff
"I have nieces and nephews who have all their parties, and I don't want to miss them growing up," she said. "I'm tired of being second-class."
Transportation Planner Julia Tyack said the city will consider several of the ideas mentioned at the meeting, including posting fliers for the next meeting in Spanish to reach out to the Hispanic community. One person in the group suggested the city see if it can cut costs by not serving Woodbridge.
Fernandez said where the city does cut services, it will try to let customers know about alternatives. She is looking into what churches offer rides to their members, and whether insurance and Medi-Cal will pay for transportation to get patients to dialysis.
Lodi resident Gloria Brosnikoff said that eliminating buses on Sunday would inconvenience many of the elderly.
"You are going to get old one of these days, too. Not everyone stays young forever. I just hope they don't do it, because I'd be stuck," Brosnikoff said.
Even though Raymond Cook lives near the bus station, he is worried about students, especially women and children, who come home after work and would have to walk in the dark or take a cab if the buses weren't around.
He would like to see the city cut the hours earlier in the morning and keep hours later in the evening. He also is hoping the city does keep service on Saturday.
Carlos Gonzales said he depends on the bus and is also concerned about some of his friends' jobs who work for the city.
"I use it everyday," he said. "I use it to get to work or go shopping. It's important transportation, especially for Hispanics."
Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blogs/citybuzz.
Search for Ads 
Today’s Print Ads 
RSS Feeds
Reader Feedback
RADMAN1 wrote on Oct 9, 2009 8:16 PM:
RADMAN1 wrote on Oct 9, 2009 7:57 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Oct 9, 2009 4:44 PM:
ordinarycitizen wrote on Oct 9, 2009 11:38 AM:
Mazie wrote on Oct 9, 2009 10:55 AM:
T & C wrote on Oct 9, 2009 6:08 AM:
Option B at least gives bus riders limited Saturday service.
Posting a SIGN on the inside window of the bus station's "Front and Rear" entry doors alerting passengers (In English & Spanish) that there is "NO" bus service on Furlough or Holidays at least helps passengers go home, rather then to wait for a bus that is "Not" going to arrive!
It is the responsibility of everyone to know how to read the English Language but we all know that is not the case. Dual language notice serves the 2 largest groups of passengers. "
Comments on this story are now closed.