Opening Next Month
New animal shelter prepares to open
About Town – FRIDAY, 6/12/26
The new animal shelter is tentatively slated to open next month, according to city spokesperson Nancy Sarieh, who says furniture is being moved into the building as we speak. The $13 million facility is on 27.91 acres of land at 1041 E. Auto Center Drive, directly south of Pixley Park. The new building will be 14,111 square feet and have the ability to house 30 cats and 27 dogs. The new shelter has been under construction for almost two years, breaking ground in September 2024. It will replace the woefully cramped and outdated pound on Kettleman Lane that opened some 68 years ago. Initial plans are for the shelter to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and employ about 20 people.
BALANCING ACT: The city’s general fund is patched for now, but a structural deficit looms large. Lodi’s new budget, which takes effect July 1, is technically balanced — but only through a series of short-term fixes. The harder question is what comes next. A structural deficit of roughly $4 million threatens the city’s financial footing in the years ahead, and city leaders are already staking out their approaches. Councilwoman Lisa Craig-Hensley says tax increases are off the table. Instead, she favors what she calls an “asset-based approach” — generating new revenue, reducing costs, and making better use of what the city already owns. “Leasing or selling property, expanding energy development, and encouraging public/private partnerships for infrastructure,” she said, outlining her priorities. Councilman Mikey Hothi is casting a wider net. He points to a potential cannabis tax, continued growth of the property tax base through economic development and new investment, and a more aggressive pursuit of state and federal funding. He also advocates hiring a lobbying firm dedicated full-time to identifying and securing outside dollars for the city. Mayor Ramon Yepez echoed the need for both restraint and growth. “We must continue reviewing city expenses, improving efficiency, and prioritizing essential services while avoiding unnecessary costs,” he said. “At the same time, we need to grow revenue by attracting more housing, supporting local businesses, and bringing higher-paying jobs to Lodi.” The deficit stems largely from recently approved employee agreements and pay raises, according to city spokeswoman Nancy Sarieh.
UPDATES: With America’s 250th birthday just weeks away, many residents are pulling Old Glory out of storage to display on their front porches. But what about flags that have seen better days? According to flag etiquette, worn or damaged American flags should be properly retired — not simply discarded.
American Legion Post 22 has made that easy for local residents. Thanks to an initiative launched a couple of years ago by Legionnaires Martin Jones and Jim and MaryAnn Jacobson, a retired flag collection box is now available at the Post’s offices at 400 E. Kettleman Lane in the Kettleman Station shopping center. The box is located in the foyer of Clearsuites Two, next door to the dental office, and is accessible Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. … After 34 years in the classroom — 28 of them at Tokay High School — math teacher Kelly Shannon has retired. Shannon’s dedication to high school mathematics left a lasting mark on the school community, and her colleagues and students celebrated her career milestone at the close of the school year. … The city council has approved several traffic and parking changes aimed at improving safety and flow. A multi-way stop will be installed at Pine Street and Cluff Avenue. Along Ham Lane, a 140-foot no-parking strip has been designated adjacent to Lakewood Elementary School’s parking lot. Additionally, angled parking on Washington Street and Sacramento Street will be converted to parallel parking.
BLUE ANGELS: Ever wonder who the pilots are who fly their planes over Memorial Day events and last Sunday’s Junior Giants opening day? They are Ken Cantrell, Stan Helmle, Dennis Holbrook, and Jim Woods. The quartet of pilots perform the “missing man” flyover during ceremonies at Cherokee Memorial Park and Lodi Historic Cemetery on Memorial Day each year. They also flew over the Corvettes of Lodi annual event in May. When Cantrell was a mere kid he flew a puddle-jumper across America, with the blessings of his parents. Helmle made his 3,353rd landing as a licensed pilot who has been flying for 57 years.
CLEANED UP: The number of homeless people is down in Lodi, down in the county and reportedly down nationwide. The number of tents and encampments dotting area freeways and freeway onramps has also decreased, according to the Stockton office of the Highway Patrol. In a social media post recently, the CHP crowed, “The CHP Stockton Area is pleased to report a 47% drop in the unsheltered population in San Joaquin County from 2024! This significant decrease can be attributed to the inception of our Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) and the close collaboration of Caltrans and our allied agencies.” The CHP credits the drop to unsheltered individuals being connected with permanent housing and shelter resources. It appears that homelessness mitigation efforts are working, at least in Lodi. Not cheap, but it’s working.
DEBT DECLINE: Household debt is heading in the right direction — at least in some corners of the country. A recent study from personal finance company WalletHub puts total U.S. household debt at roughly $18.79 trillion, but researchers found that debt actually declined in a number of cities between December 2025 and the end of March 2026. Stockton was among them. The average Stockton household carried $174,050 in debt as of March 31, down $3,243 from the end of last year. Citywide, total debt fell by more than $321 million over that same three-month stretch, landing at just under $17.85 billion. Nationally, the average household owed $155,607 at the close of the first quarter — still a hefty sum, but $14,804 below the all-time high. What about Lodi? That’s harder to pin down. Lodi and Stockton are typically grouped together for statistical purposes, which makes it difficult to pull out numbers specific to this city. WalletHub’s study didn’t include Lodi separately. The Federal Reserve data underlying the study has the same limitation. Still, if Stockton’s numbers are any indication, the broader trend in this region may be moving in a healthier direction. No reason for the reduction was given.
LAST LAUGH: Someone posted, “Looking for a married woman who feels cheated on, mad and scorned who is willing to sell her husband’s fishing equipment for cheap.”
---------------------------------
Steve is a former newspaper publisher and lifelong Lodian whose column appears most Tuesdays and Fridays in the News-Sentinel and at stevemann.substack.com. Write to Steve at aboutlodi@gmail.com.