Lodi Eye
LodiEye provides additional information on trending stories / topics published by local media and shared on local social media accounts.
Councilman Ramon Yepez 2026 Vision For Lodi
As the year draws to a close, Lodi City Councilman Ramon Yepez has unveiled a bold roadmap for the city’s future—one that aims to marry innovation with responsiveness, and economic growth with social care.
The History of Zinfandel in Lodi: California's Zinfandel Capital
On October 15, 2025, the Lodi City Council officially proclaimed Lodi as the Zinfandel Capital of the World, acknowledging the region's historic vineyards and its production of a significant share of California's premium Zinfandel. This formal recognition solidifies what the region has long claimed, honoring over 150 years of winemaking heritage centered on America's most distinctive wine grape.
City Council Meeting Overview - Oct 15, 2025
The Council meets at 6:30 p.m. (Closed Session) and 7:00 p.m. (Regular Session) at the Carnegie Forum. The agenda includes labor negotiations in Closed Session; multiple proclamations and recognitions; a Consent Calendar with contracts, plan updates, funding appropriations, and appointments; a public hearing on Development Code amendments; and Regular Calendar presentations and discussions.
Lodi's Leadership Crisis: City Moves to Remove Carney
Lodi’s City Council has initiated proceedings to remove City Manager Scott Carney while Acting City Manager James Lindsay nears his CalPERS 960-hour cap, creating urgent pressure to finalize interim leadership and accelerate the permanent city manager search.
City Council Meeting - October 1, 2025
The Lodi City Council will convene its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Carnegie Forum, following a closed session beginning at 5:00 p.m. The closed session will address serious legal matters, including significant anticipated litigation involving City Manager Scott Carney.
Lodi Access Center: October 2025 Update
The Lodi Access Center permanent facility is currently under construction at 710 North Sacramento Street, with completion targeted for early 2026. However, the project faces significant cost overruns. Originally budgeted at $9.8 million, construction costs have increased to $11.8 million as of August 2025 due to unforeseen environmental issues.
Tree Lodi's 2025 Shade Tree Program is Open!
Lodi residents can greatly enhance their properties and reduce energy costs by participating in the 2025 Shade Tree Program, a community initiative from Tree Lodi, Lodi Electric Utility, and the City of Lodi. Starting September 1, 2025, every eligible household can receive up to three free shade trees, including personalized guidance for placement and planting.
Weekly Grocery Price Trends for Lodi Families (January–September 2025)
Families in Lodi and San Joaquin County have experienced a unique grocery price climate during 2025, diverging sharply from broader inflationary trends across California. Grocery prices in Lodi and throughout San Joaquin remain lower than other parts of the state.
Congressional Redistricting Analysis: Lodi's Representation Under Fire
The proposed congressional redistricting plan under California's Proposition 50 presents a stark choice between diluted local representation and broader democratic resistance to Republican gerrymandering. For Lodi and San Joaquin County, the consequences are profound and multifaceted.
Construction Costs Squeeze Lodi Homebuilders
Lodi homebuilders and contractors are grappling with a challenging economic landscape as federal tariff policies and heightened immigration enforcement drive up construction costs and extend project timelines, threatening to worsen the region's already acute housing shortage.
Lodi's Water Supply Status and Growth Plan
Lodi faces a complex water supply scenario as it pursues ambitious growth plans over the next five years while managing significant groundwater challenges in the critically overdrafted Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin. The city's diversified water portfolio provides near-term stability, but long-term sustainability requires careful management of both supply and demand.
Game Changer: Lodi and Sports Tourism
While neighboring cities like Stockton rake in millions from sports tourism and Tracy positions itself as the region's future athletic hub, Lodi finds itself at a crossroads. New research reveals the city possesses significant untapped potential to become a major player in San Joaquin County's booming sports tourism market — but only if strategic investments are made in the right facilities at the right time.
Fall/Winter 2025-26 Weather Forecast
Northern California and San Joaquin County are expected to experience a transitional weather pattern during Fall/Winter 2025-26. The overall forecast suggests average temperatures with a wetter-than-normal winter, though precipitation outlook varies between forecasting agencies.
Lodi's Community Development Block Grant Program: A Comprehensive Overview (2015-2025)
The City of Lodi has operated a robust Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program since 1985, focusing on enhancing quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents. The 2024 program year represents significant progress under the city's 2024-2028 Consolidated Plan, with $675,615 in federal funding supporting six strategic goals that collectively served 45,949 residents.
Lodi Positioned for Economic Transformation
The City of Lodi is experiencing unprecedented economic development momentum, with more than $1.2 billion in federal clean energy investments driving a comprehensive transformation that could fundamentally reshape the local economy, moving beyond its agricultural roots.
Lodi’s Shade Tree Program
The Lodi Shade Tree Program represents a successful partnership among the nonprofit organization Tree Lodi, the City of Lodi, and Lodi Electric Utility, which provides free shade trees to residents to reduce energy costs and enhance the urban canopy. This collaborative initiative has distributed over 2,000 trees during its four-year operation as of 2024-25, with approximately 500 trees delivered annually. The 2025 Shade Tree Program is expected to to launch in September.
Lance, Soll & Lunghard Audit of Lodi City Government
The City of Lodi underwent comprehensive financial reviews in FY 2023-24, including an independent audit by Lance, Soll & Lunghard, LLP (LSL) and a separate financial investigation by Kevin Harper, C.P.A. These reviews were conducted amid allegations of financial misconduct made by City Manager Scott Carney in April 2025
Lodi City Manager Investigation - July Update
The investigation into Scott Carney's allegations is still in progress and has not been concluded as of July 2025. The Moss Adams report was released to the public in June. This report reviews the key public facts related to Scott Carney’s allegations and the Lodi City Government’s investigation, and then compares the Moss Adams report and recommendations to Scott Carney’s allegations.
Lodi City Committees: History and Major Accomplishments
Lodi has a rich tradition of civic engagement through various committees and commissions, each established to address specific community needs. Over the decades, these bodies have played crucial roles in shaping Lodi’s cultural, economic, environmental, and civic landscape. This report covers the history of Lodi City Committees and Commissions and highlights their major achievements.
General Mills in Lodi
General Mills opened its Lodi plant in 1946, eventually employing 950 people and becoming a cornerstone of Lodi’s industrial employers. The plant was closed in 2015 due to excess capacity and supply chain efficiency as General Mills faced declining sales and profitability, forcing it to consider cost-cutting options — Project Catalyst…