Legislation, Redistricting, Street Faire, and more
Once in a great while, We the People have an opportunity to do something to help our greater community. Faithful readers of this column will take stock of the many times we have opposed legislation on the basis of it being very onerous to business. It seems the state legislature is very draconian when it comes to Agriculture and all Small Businesses which many farms are both.
Redistricting is a process when we the people have an opportunity to make our voice stronger. And the time is now, the Redistricting Advisory Group is seeking input from all over the state to consider “redrawing” the voting district lines. In essence, the system provides a way. But they need the “why” from we the people to act. Should our county have its own representative?
There is a survey coming to citizens in the next few months. Sadly, many people will discard it through lack of understanding of what it can mean to them as a taxpayer, job holder, and certainly a business owner. Please take the time to respond to the survey and consider these facts and the IMPORTANT opportunity to help ourselves.
Currently, the Assembly District we are in is gerrymandered in such a way that is not beneficial to Lodi.
Our district is made up of a great geographic portion of South Sacramento, all of Elk Grove, Galt, and then Lodi. The VOTING population of District 9 is around 490,000 of which Lodi is 13 percent. The vast majority of voters are in South Sacramento and Elk Grove. Their economy is not dependent upon small businesses like ours nor do they have as much agriculture. Our number one industry is Ag in Lodi, and ditto for San Joaquin County. Do we need an economically healthy ag industry? ABSOLUTELY!
Ag makes Lodi, and the Billions of dollars it creates in primary jobs and secondary jobs such as eateries, hotels, weddings, tourism, and sales tax for the city. The bottom-line question then in this redistricting opportunity is, “Do we as a voting block do ourselves a big favor by being our own voting district or a part of another with much of the ag lands that make up San Joaquin County? There is a district to our east and south, District 12 that is more ag-oriented. It is filled with north-central valley businesses that are like us, with whom we have a lot more in common compared to south Sacramento. Nice people up there, but their needs are different than ours and vice-a-versa. Therefore, a representative from our area, who walks and drives our streets, breathes our air, knows us because they live here, in our county, maybe even in Lodi
San Joaquin County is big enough to be its own district or align with another that has Ag as its number one industry, has a valley distinction, and similar interests to ours. I’m not telling you how to vote. But I am challenging you to understand what’s at stake for our own progress and prosperity.
Opportunities to learn more are: Sponsored by the State Redistricting Advisory Group. Here you can listen, learn and voice your opinions.
- 8/17/2021 4:00-5:00 Public Outreach Meeting SJC Admin Building Rm 430
- 9/15/2021 5:30-6:30 Public Outreach Meeting Tracy City Hall, Council Chambers
- 9/29/2021 2:30-3:30 Public Outreach meeting Lodi: Hutchins Street Square, Kirst
California Citizens Redistricting Commission Meetings (They Draw the Lines for Districts)
- 8/4/2021 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Community Interest Input Meeting Statewide
- 8/25/2021 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Community Interest Input Meeting Statewide
Join through Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 864 7370 2309 Passcode: 162420
Mobile: + 1 669 900 9128 US or 888 475 4499 US
