Housing & Development · San Joaquin County
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved a five-year capital improvement plan projecting approximately $1.19 billion in investments across 13 major projects for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Projects span law and justice, health services, parks and recreation, roads, and county facilities, including continued construction of the SJ Be Well Campus and planning for a replacement facility housing the departments of Public Works, Community Development, and Environmental Health. About $258.7 million is expected from grants and state/federal funding, with the remainder from county funds and dedicated revenue sources. Individual projects remain subject to annual budget decisions, available funding, and required board approvals.
Local Politics · Stockton, CA
The Stockton City Council will consider two proposals on Tuesday, Oct. 14: a reconsideration of Jason Lee's vice mayor appointment and a new committee roster that would remove him as chair of the Audit Committee and exclude him from all council committees. The proposals follow months of public disagreements between Lee, Mayor Christina Fugazi, and other officials over government oversight and transparency, including a contentious Sept. 21 Audit Committee meeting about police records handling. Reconsidering the vice mayor appointment would not automatically remove Lee; the agenda acknowledges that legal authority to end his term early remains unresolved under the Stockton City Charter. The proposed committee changes could take effect with council approval regardless of any further action on the vice mayor title. A June 2025 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report titled "Governance in Turmoil" previously identified public infighting and leadership instability within the council.
Public Safety · Stockton, CA
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow called calls to ban Flock automated license plate readers "crap" in his monthly address, calling them the best law enforcement tool available and crediting them with a recent 20% drop in property crimes. Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden also endorsed the system, though he acknowledged one employee was fired in August after an internal investigation substantiated abuse of the cameras. As of July, Stockton had 120 Flock cameras along key roads, and the City Council voted unanimously in March to spend $3.2 million expanding the Flock relationship to include drones. The cameras helped identify three suspects in the Feb. 17 abduction and killing of Avtar Singh near Tracy; a $50,000 reward is offered for Alberto Alencastro, Alfonso Segura, and Barnabe Segura.
Crime · Lodi, CA
A 19-year-old Galt man, George Marquez, was arrested Sunday after two armed robberies in Lodi within less than an hour. Around 11 a.m., a juvenile selling an iPad via social media was robbed at gunpoint in the 1900 block of Wyndham; shortly after, a second victim had a gaming controller stolen in the 300 block of Culbertson Avenue. Police used security camera footage to identify the suspect's white SUV and found a Glock 19 airsoft gun and both stolen items during the stop near Harney Lane and Mills Avenue. Marquez was booked into county jail on two counts of robbery. The Lodi Police Department urged residents buying or selling online to meet in public, well-lit areas.
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Local Politics · San Joaquin County
Monday, Oct. 19 is the last day to register or update voter registration for the Nov. 3 General Election in San Joaquin County. Residents can register online at registertovote.ca.gov, pick up forms at local post offices, or hand-deliver completed forms by 5 p.m. to the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Office at 44 N. San Joaquin St., Suite 350, Stockton. Conditional Voter Registration begins Tuesday, Oct. 20 and remains available through Election Day for those who missed the deadline.
Public Safety · Lodi, CA
The Lodi Police Department discovered more than 1,000 flavored tobacco products during an Oct. 6 inspection of a retailer in the 200 block of West Lodi Avenue. The items, including tobacco pouches, flavored cigars, flavor-enhancing wraps, and flavored vape pens, were found in plain view and hidden locations throughout the store. Police said the business had been the subject of resident complaints about illegally selling flavored tobacco, and officials identified multiple violations and provided the owner a correction list. The inspection was funded through a partnership with the San Joaquin County Public Health Department and a California Department of Justice tobacco enforcement grant aimed at protecting youths.
Education · Stockton, CA
San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton will hold a virtual accreditation open forum from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, inviting students, employees and community members to share their perspectives. Participants can speak directly with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges review team evaluating the college. The forum is held via Zoom, with joining instructions available at a provided link.
