Lodi Eye
LodiEye provides additional information on trending stories / topics published by local media and shared on local social media accounts.
Lodi City Government: Communication Channel Effectiveness Analysis
Lodi's city government and its agencies operate a fragmented, uncoordinated communication ecosystem in which the most followed platform — the Lodi Police Department's Facebook page — is also the most demographically distorted, while the channel with the most critical utility content — Lodi Electric's Facebook page — has the fewest followers. The city's Notify Me® system on lodi.gov offers genuinely capable infrastructure for direct, algorithm-free civic notification, but it is almost certainly severely undersubscribed, buried in the website, available only in English, and unadvertised to the 40% of Lodi's population that is Hispanic and the 24.7% that speaks Spanish at home.
Civic Information in the Algorithm Age
For nearly two centuries, the local newspaper of general circulation functioned as a civic utility: the legally designated, commercially viable, geographically bounded channel through which government communicated with residents, fulfilled its due process obligations, and submitted to public scrutiny. That system is collapsing. What is replacing it — chiefly Facebook — is not a modernization. It is a structural regression that systematically fails the residents who most depend on civic information access.
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'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.
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.
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.
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
Hiring City Managers - Recruit or Promote?
California’s 482 incorporated cities rely on professional city managers to translate council directives into services that residents experience daily. Roughly 97% of the state’s municipalities operate under the council-manager form of government, compared with 48% nationally, so getting the hire right is mission-critical
Local News and Civil Grand Juries: WatchDogs on Local Government
County Civil Grand Juries and local newspapers pivotal roles in promoting government accountability and transparency. Their collaboration and independent efforts ensure that public officials and agencies are held to high standards and that citizens remain informed and empowered.
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.
Moss Adams Report - Recommendations
The implementation of Moss Adams' recommendations will fundamentally transform Lodi City Government's approach to transparency and accountability by establishing systematic oversight mechanisms, enhancing public access to information, and creating robust reporting systems that promote integrity and citizen trust.
Lodi City Budget: Fiscal Challenges
The City of Lodi, California, faces significant fiscal challenges as it implements budget cuts and cost-saving measures to address mounting financial pressures. Despite approving a $291 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, the city faces a projected $4.8 million structural deficit that is expected to emerge over the next five years.
Meyers Nave Investigates…
On May 6 in About Town: “Investigation”, Steve Mann reported “…law firm Meyers Nave was hired at the request of City Attorney Katie Lucchesi” to investigate matters related to City Manager Scott Carney’s allegations financial misconduct by Lodi City Council and Lodi city employees and whether Carney’s actions during a City Council Meeting warrant discipline. Several people have asked about Meyers Nave’s experience in city government investigations. The research report below provides some answers.
James Lindsay and the “Range Riders”
Per Steve Mann’s recent About Town article, John Lindsay, a “Range Rider / Senior Advisor” will be appointed Lodi’s acting City Manager.
What’s John Lindsay’s background?
Who are the “Range Riders”?