Lodi Eye
LodiEye provides additional information on trending stories / topics published by local media and shared on local social media accounts.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump's Sweeping Tariffs
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping global tariffs. The ruling invalidates the "reciprocal" tariffs from Liberation Day and the duties on Canada, Mexico, and China tied to fentanyl trafficking — but leaves sector-specific tariffs under other statutes in place.
On the Brink: The U.S.-Iran Crisis Explained
The United States and Iran stand at the most dangerous point in their four-decade adversarial relationship. President Trump has given Tehran 10 to 15 days to reach a “meaningful deal” on its nuclear program or face “really bad things,” while the Pentagon has assembled the largest concentration of air and naval power in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Lodi Planning Commission - February 25, 2026
The City of Lodi Planning Commission convenes for a regular meeting with one public hearing item: a Use Permit application (PL2025-020) by Lodi Christian Life to establish a church at 631 East Oak Street in the Industrial (M) zone. Staff recommends approval.
Who Is Aaron Busch? Lodi’s New Interim City Manager
The City of Lodi has appointed Aaron Busch, the recently retired city manager of Vacaville, CA, as its interim city manager — the latest chapter in a leadership crisis that has consumed City Hall for nearly a year and cost taxpayers over $1 million. The City Council discussed the interim recruitment in closed session on February 11 and is expected to formalize the appointment at its February 19 meeting.
Lodi City Council Meeting - February 18, 2026
This is a landmark transitional meeting for the City of Lodi featuring 40+ agenda items. The Council will bid farewell to Community Development Director John Della Monica and Interim City Manager James Lindsay, appoint a new Interim City Manager and City Treasurer, adopt the city’s first comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan, approve multiple labor agreements and executive compensation packages, conduct public hearings on water rates and electric utility discount programs, and adopt two ordinances amending the Municipal Code.
The El Paso Drone Crisis
On February 11, 2026, the FAA issued an unprecedented order closing all airspace within a 10-nautical-mile radius of El Paso International Airport for 10 days, citing “special security reasons.” The closure — the first of its kind since the September 11, 2001 attacks — grounded all commercial, cargo, and general aviation traffic, disrupting operations for nearly 700,000 residents and diverting emergency medical evacuation flights to Las Cruces, New Mexico, approximately 45 miles away.
Investor-Owned Homes in San Joaquin County & Lodi
California's most affordable counties have become magnets for real estate investors, and San Joaquin County—home to the Stockton-Lodi metropolitan area—is squarely in their sights. Nearly 20% of homes statewide are now owned by investors, with investor purchases accounting for 26.8% of all U.S. residential property sales in Q1 2025. San Joaquin County's relative affordability compared to the Bay Area and Sacramento makes it a prime target, with average home prices roughly 56% lower than in the Bay Area.
This report examines the scale of investor activity, verified ownership data, how investors affect home prices, and the potential consequences for Lodi residents and prospective homebuyers.
Lights Out - History of Movie Theaters in Lodi, California
For over a century, movie theaters have been woven into the fabric of Lodi’s identity—from a humble storefront nickelodeon on School Street in 1908 to the gleaming Streamline Moderne marquee that lit up West Lodi Avenue for 76 years. In January 2026, wrecking equipment arrived at the Sunset Theatre, closing the final chapter on one of Lodi’s most beloved landmarks. This is the full story of how movies came to Lodi, how downtown lost its picture palaces, and why the Sunset’s demolition matters.
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has been called "the twenty-six words that created the internet." Enacted in 1996, this law shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content while encouraging good-faith content moderation. Three decades later, it has become one of the most contested provisions in American technology policy, with both Republicans and Democrats calling for reform—but for fundamentally different reasons.
Plan Lodi — Comprehensive Planning Overview
The City of Lodi is undertaking a historic multi-year planning effort to shape the community’s future growth, housing, downtown vitality, and expansion. Through the Plan Lodi initiative, the Community Development Department is managing four interconnected planning programs, supported by ongoing modernization of the municipal code. This overview covers each initiative based on official City of Lodi sources.
California's Dangerous Driver Legislative Package
On February 2, 2026, a bipartisan group of California Assembly members announced a package of bills targeting dangerous drivers. The legislation focuses primarily on DUI accountability and closing justice system loopholes that have allowed drivers who killed people to keep clean records. This report examines the bills, compares them with demographic data on who is responsible for fatal crashes, and assesses whether the package addresses the full scope of California's traffic safety crisis.
The Great Decay
In 2025, two of the most influential critics of technology power published landmark books on the same crisis. Cory Doctorow’s Enshittification describes how platforms deliberately degrade quality once users are locked in. Tim Wu’s The Age of Extraction analyzes how platforms have become history’s most effective instruments of wealth extraction. This article examines both frameworks—their diagnoses, convergences, divergences, predicted future trends, and actionable recommendations for policymakers, technologists, and communities.
Lodi Improvement Committee - February 10, 2026
The Lodi Improvement Committee (LIC) will convene its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM. This report consolidates the full meeting agenda, minutes from two January 13, 2026 meetings, detailed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding allocations for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 program years totaling over $1.3 million in combined federal funds, year-over-year comparisons, and the committee’s adopted 2026 goals and task assignments.
TrumpRx: Comprehensive Overview
On February 5, 2026, the Trump administration launched TrumpRx.gov, offering discounted cash prices on 43 brand-name medications from five pharmaceutical companies, with 11 more companies expected soon. The platform operates under a Most-Favored-Nation (MFN)pricing model—ensuring U.S. consumers pay no more than the lowest prices charged in other wealthy nations. TrumpRx does not sell drugs directly; instead, it provides coupons or links to manufacturers' direct-to-consumer sites.
The Vanishing Family Wage
In 1975, a single-income family in Lodi could comfortably purchase a home, raise two children, and build savings on one wage earner’s salary from a local agricultural, manufacturing, or public-sector job. The median home cost roughly 2.5 times the median household income. Today, that same home costs more than 6 times the median household income, childcare alone can consume 20–30% of a family’s take-home pay, and the commute required to earn higher wages adds thousands of dollars in annual transportation costs.
Consumer Price Analysis - Lodi & San Joaquin County
Lodi and San Joaquin County residents face a convergence of economic forces driving consumer prices higher across virtually every spending category in early 2026. This analysis examines five interconnected pressure points: federal tariffs on imported goods, the weakening U.S. dollar, global oil market dynamics, California refinery shutdowns, and local utility rate structures. Together, these factors create a compounding effect that raises costs not just at the point of purchase, but throughout the entire supply chain.
Lodi's Current Finances and Projections for 2026-2027
The City of Lodi is navigating a challenging but manageable fiscal environment in FY 2025-26, characterized by a projected $4.8 million structural deficit over the next five years, rising pension costs, and the lingering effects of the business license tax refund issue. The mid-year budget report reveals a complex picture in which revenue shortfalls are offset by unexpected gains in interest income, careful use of prior-year fund balances, and strategic inter-fund transfers.
California Oil Industry: Refinery Closures, Pipeline Shutdowns, and the Road Ahead
California's petroleum sector is undergoing a structural transformation that is reshaping how oil is extracted, transported, and refined across the state. With major refinery closures eliminating approximately 17-20% of in-state capacity, critical pipelines shutting down, and an accelerating shift toward imported fuels, the state faces significant near-term price volatility and supply uncertainty.
Lodi's Congressional Representation Under Proposition 50
California's Proposition 50, passed by voters on November 4, 2025, has fundamentally reshaped congressional representation for Lodi residents. The city of approximately 68,000 residents—previously contained entirely within a single congressional district—will now be divided among three districts represented by Representatives Doris Matsui (CA-7), John Garamendi (CA-8), and Josh Harder (CA-9).
Colorado River Governors Summit and the San Joaquin Delta
This report discusses an unprecedented high-level summit on January 30, 2026 convened by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, bringing together governors from the seven Colorado River Basin states—California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico—to address the ongoing stalemate over post-2026 water allocation.