City of Lodi

Our kids represent the future of local government. Today, Mrs. Nickel’s 5th grade class from Reese Elementary had the opportunity to explore their city’s government operations in an effort to inspire an interest in public service. The class joined Mayor Lisa Craig on a tour of City Hall and several City departments, including Public Works, Community Development, Parks and Rec, and the Police and Fire Departments. They even stood behind the speaker’s podium in the Council Chambers of Carnegie Forum, experiencing how it feels to give public comment at a City Council meeting. Thank you Mrs. Reese’s class for joining us, and we appreciate the city departments for taking time to share their work. Encouraging our youth to participate in local government fosters a stronger understanding of how government serves its residents, and inspires civic enagagement and careers which benefits the future of our community. #publicservice

Another local small business that is a must-visit is Casa Flores, a family-owned Mexican restaurant that was expanded to Lodi in 1997. Their amazing dishes like the green enchilada, fajitas and most recent addition of birria tacos are mouth-watering. The restaurant atmosphere along with their large patio makes you feel right at home. End your week with a dish from Casa Flores! 400 E Kettleman Ln, Suite 5 www.casafloreslodi.com 209-365-0559

Congratulations to Super Tortas Chilangas Lodi Ave. and CASA FLORES LODI for being recognized by Lodi City Council tonight, receiving proclamations as small businesses that have been in operation for more than 20 years. Local restaurants like these are valuable assets in our community that have fostered long-lasting relationships by providing camaraderie and tasty food. #SmallBusinessWeek

It's lunchtime! A perfect opportunity to discover Super Tortas Chilangas, a beloved establishment that has been serving East Lodi for more than 20 years. Known for its diverse array of flavors packed into each torta, Super Tortas has also been a cornerstone of the community since 2010, through the leadership of owner Monica Valenzuela. Swing by to meet Monica and savor the best torta in town today! 505 E Lodi Ave (209) 494-4488 https://lnkd.in/gDmrFUA2

More from the 2024 Small Business Walk with Mayor Craig. #SmallBusinessWeek

Mayor Lisa Craig took a stroll along West Pine Street today, to visit local shops and restaurants during #SmallBusinessWeek. In just four blocks, 12 businesses shared what’s going well and what they need support with. Thank you to Aligned Fitness & Pilates, Stay Sharp Barbershop, NJA Architecture, Golden Bear Physical Therapy Rehabilitation & Wellness, El Pazcifico Mexican Grill & Cantina, Lodi Community Art Center, The Rabbit Hole Trading Company, Thornton House Furniture, Pret, McKinleys, Inspire Coffee, and Jeremy Wine Company for a warm welcome and great conversation.

We're kicking off #SmallBusinessWeek with Little Lahore, an Authentic Pakistani Halal restaurant in Lodi. Little Lahore brings a soulful culinary experience and has become a staple for truly authentic flavors. The owner named it Little Lahore because it resembles Lahore, one of Pakistan’s largest cities, rich with foods from many cultures. Visit them today! 307 S. Central Ave www.littlelahore.com (209) 625-8978 https://lnkd.in/gfDp3M9Z

Lodi 360 - Kathy Grant, Watershed Program Coordinator Kathy Grant serves as the Watershed Program Coordinator for the City of Lodi. In her role, Kathy is responsible for spearheading various environmental outreach initiatives focused on conservation and education for the Mokelumne River Watershed and Lodi Lake. Among her notable projects are the Salmon in the Classroom and Storm Drain Detectives programs. Salmon in the Classroom is an innovative educational endeavor where Kathy works with local schools to provide students with a hands-on experience in salmon lifecycle studies. This program not only instills a sense of environmental stewardship among young learners but also offers a unique opportunity to observe and understand the biology and ecology of salmon. In the Storm Drain Detectives program, Kathy coordinates efforts to engage community members, especially youth, in monitoring the health of the Mokelumne River and Lodi Lake. Participants in this program learn about the impact of urban runoff on water quality and are trained to collect and analyze water samples. This initiative plays a crucial role in fostering community awareness and involvement in preserving water quality. Kathy's dedication to these programs reflects her commitment to environmental education and her passion for involving the community in sustainable watershed management practices. Her efforts contribute significantly to the City of Lodi's environmental objectives, particularly in promoting ecological awareness and conservation among its residents. Learn more about the Mokelumne Watershed here: https://lnkd.in/gQFBphzc

We are thrilled to announce that Chief Ricardo Garcia has officially been sworn in as the newest Chief of Police of the Lodi Police Department! Chief Garcia has been an integral part of our team since 2007, working his way up the ranks from Officer to Detective, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. Chief Garcia is a Lodi native and a proud graduate of Tokay High School. Today, as he took his oath, he was surrounded by the love and support of his friends, family, colleagues and community. Join us in congratulating Chief Garcia on this momentous occasion!

Join us in Shaping Our City's Future: Your Input Matters! We're excited to invite you to take part in a unique and interactive online budget simulation, hosted by the City of Lodi. This is your chance to have a say in how we allocate our resources and prioritize various programs and services. The "Balancing Act" simulation allows you to delve into the intricacies of budgeting with an $80 million cap. You'll find pre-set budgets for General Fund departments, alongside a selection of unfunded strategic priorities that you can choose to finance. Here's the challenge: feel free to add new services or boost existing budgets, but remember – for every increase, you must find a way to cut costs elsewhere to maintain a balanced budget. Your contributions are invaluable. The insights gathered from this exercise will be presented to the City Council around February 2024, during the Mid-Year Budget adoption. Your input will play a critical role in shaping the Fiscal Year 2024-25 operating budget. Ready to make an impact? Click here to start your budgeting journey: https://lnkd.in/g75HzqFh