Housing & Development · Lodi, CA
Construction on Lodi's $11.8 million permanent homeless access center is projected to finish before the end of January 2027, but grants covering its $1.62 million annual operating costs expire after that year with no identified long-term funding source. San Joaquin County Supervisor Steve Ding is pushing to transfer ownership from the city to the county, though the proposal has not been formalized. The center, operated by Outreach Ministries International, has helped 103 people secure jobs since early 2025 and moved 277 into programs or housing since November 2024, while Lodi's unsheltered count dropped from 262 in 2024 to 133 in 2026. Mayor Ramon Yepez has questioned the center's effectiveness and whether the city can absorb projected costs rising to $2.13 million annually amid a forecast $5.4 million budget deficit by 2030-31.
Local Politics · San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair Sonny Dhaliwal delivered the annual State of the County address Wednesday at Great Wolf Lodge in Manteca, highlighting 2026 accomplishments under the theme "United in Service — Focused on Its Future." The county's point-in-time count found unsheltered homelessness declined 47% while sheltered homelessness rose 16%, and Public Works closed the Foothill Sanitary Landfill, consolidating operations at the North County Recycling Center with projected savings of $80 million over 15 years. Supervisors approved a $3 billion county budget in June amid warnings that federal H.R. 1 legislation could reduce health care services by 51%. The District Attorney's Office relocated its Family Justice Center to a larger Stockton facility and opened a 38-employee satellite office in Lathrop, while the Sheriff's Office celebrated opening the Dorothy J. Heisler Detention and Programs Facility in French Camp.
Local Business · Lodi, CA
Pacific Coast Producers, a Lodi-based fruit processing company, will receive $482,505 in federal specialty crop grant funding to promote the nutritional benefits of processed California peaches and pears. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Oct. 13 that it is awarding $86.6 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to fund 609 projects across 56 states and territories. Pacific Coast Producers' project, titled "Fueling Health: Educating Retail Registered Dietitians to Share the Benefits of California Processing Fruits," will develop educational resources including a toolkit for supermarket dietitians, cooking demonstrations, workshops, and nutrition research targeting dietitians in California and other states. The California Department of Food and Agriculture will distribute nearly $29 million through 60 subawards under the program.
Community News · Lodi, CA
Members of Lodi's American Legion Post 22 held a flag-raising ceremony Thursday to celebrate the reopening of the historic Legion Hall at 320 N. Washington after roughly three years of renovation by Diede Construction. The building, originally constructed in 1947 at a cost of $250,000, fell into disrepair after a February 2023 windstorm drove a tree from Lawrence Park through its southern wall. Diede Construction owner Steve Diede said the structure was nearly unsalvageable when acquired and emphasized its role as a community mainstay. The renovated hall is intended to host stage productions, concerts, dances, church conventions, athletic events, and banquets seating more than 500.
Community News · Lodi, CA
As of September 28, 2026, Lodi Public Library at 201 W. Locust Street in Lodi, CA is closed on Sundays. The bilingual notice (English/Spanish) informs residents of the ongoing weekly schedule change. Residents who previously visited the library on Sundays should plan alternative days for access.
Community News · Lodi, CA
The Lodi Access Center in Lodi, California, uses a low-barrier approach to serving people experiencing homelessness, with no requirements for sobriety, criminal history clearance, or pet restrictions. The center's director of operations Zac Edalgo and operations lead Justin Allen are both individuals who found recovery after years of struggle with addiction and homelessness. Kalisha Callahan, who spent approximately 10 years homeless in Lodi before entering the center in 2025, now has more than a year of sobriety, works at Home Depot, and lives at 2nd Step Living. Center director Johnny Coughran said employees regularly encounter people they knew from their own pasts on Lodi's streets.
Nearby · Local Politics · Stockton, CA
Stockton City Council District 5 voters will see two names on their Nov. 3 ballot, but only incumbent Brando Villapudua is actively campaigning. Challenger Desiree Lynch formally withdrew in August after being arrested amid a San Joaquin County District Attorney investigation into election fraud; she faces six felony charges including perjury and false voter registration. A judge rejected an effort to remove Lynch from the ballot, finding she qualified through primary votes. If Lynch receives the most votes, eligibility would be determined by a court, and any resulting vacancy would be filled by City Council appointment under the Stockton City Charter.
