As Lodi prepares to celebrate her 100th birthday, several historical news articles have been circulated by the City Clerk to Council members. Since I have advocated for Lodi’s eastside for over fifteen years, one article dated March 1, 1906 especially caught my eye. The headline of the Lodi New Sentinel read, “Incorporation of Lodi is a lively public issue” I found two things very ironic: (1) the sentinel still reads like the National Enquirer, and (2) the Eastside is still getting the shaft. The blurb claimed, “The eastside of town will receive no benefit from incorporation. The improvements will all go to the Westside.” And, so the pattern is set.

Recent headlines from the Lodi News Sentinel read, “Life on the Eastside dealing with gangs.” Neighbors on Lodi’s east Locust have been anything but living “Livable Loveable Lodi” A hand full of folks are mad as hell and justifiably so. City Hall has notoriously ignored these neighborhoods. Documents dating to 1906 validate this fact. In the “eastside” of Lodi there are many elements which exclusively plague these streets; sub-standard apartment complexes, overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure, and increased crime.

Even with all this, my perspective is that the eastside has much to contribute to the community and is certainly worth preserving. Others over the years have passionately believed as I do and have put their necks on the line to fight for the eastside. I salute them.

As I reflect, a few amazing citizens come to mind:

Virginia Snyder lobbied the Lodi City Council on March 17, 1993 forming the Eastside Improvement committee to help fight crime, drugs and blight in Lodi’s aging neighborhoods. Ms. Snyder led this committee to great success and the group is still a thriving commission of the City today. Her passion was sparked by the theft of her porch rug.

The Tokay Street neighbors took a real chance by banning together and suing an absentee landlord for allowing criminal activity in their property disturbing the quality of life for the surrounding neighbors. Barbara and Mike Flynn took the charge for this group and endured threats, lived in fear, and tolerated abuse for over a year. In the end, they set the stage for many other neighbors to take back their streets using the civil court system as their collaborator.

I think back about ten years ago and remember a dynamo lady by the name of Colleen Dixon, who rode every night with the police department to map out the city’s worst lit areas with the highest crime. As a result of Colleen’s efforts, the Eastside received street lights in a three phase city project. This changed the dynamics of the alleys in the oldest part of town and chased crime away. Thanks to Ms. Dixon for all her volunteer hours lighting up Lodi.

Kevin Suess invested time and energy into Landlord relations. John Young spent hours encouraging business owners to maintain clean and attractive store fronts. Paula Soto reached out to the diverse cultures on the eastside empowering citizens to form neighborhood watch groups. Dee Porter sparked relationships with gang members and started changes young lives through offering alternatives to gang lifestyles.

The list goes on with many eastside heroes...

Another hero has recently stepped up to the plate to help the eastside, David Neilson. Mr. Neilson is a thoughtful, articulate, collaborative man willing to give all of his time, energy, and enthusiasm to make positive changes to his neighborhood and the quality of life.

The eastside is a wonderful part of Lodi that needs a lot of help, and I am convinced that City Hall will, as history has proven, not step up with a miracle cure. But, one thing I know for sure is there will be many passionate concerned citizens willing to give of themselves to improve the eastside. And, with the help of City code enforcement, responsible developers, landlord accountability, and a caring community, I know the aging parts of town can be preserved.

As Margaret Mead once said.” Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

And after thinking about the eastside heroes I just mentioned, I am convinced shes right!