S.J. deputy D.A. takes on community issues
San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Robert Martinelli is working to improve the quality of life for area residents by not only tackling homelessness, but several other community issues such as public nuisances, gang abatement, illegal fireworks education and truancy.
In February, District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar assigned Martinelli to oversee neighborhood services for the northern part of the county which includes Lodi, Lockeford, Woodbridge, Thornton, Linden and Morada.
“It’s something I’m really enjoying and it’s something that’s brand new for our office,” Martinelli said.
Martinelli has served as a deputy district attorney for San Joaquin County for 16 years. Prior to becoming a neighborhood deputy district attorney, his assignment was gang prosecution.
Martinelli decided to take on his new role because he thought it would be a way to help people.
The objective is to use traditional criminal prosecution and add innovative strategies to solve quality-oflife issues that are important to the public, Martinelli said.
“From experience, I think what people are doing in July and August is they’re waiting to make their vacation plans the week before they go somewhere or a day or two before they go somewhere,” Forrest said.
Visits from business travelers remain steady throughout the year, an aspect of Lodi tourism that seems to fall under the radar, Forrest said.
“No matter what month of the year it is, travelers come in to say one or two nights,” Forrest said. “Usually they are single travelers. They’ve come to San Joaquin County for work reasons. They’re consultants or they have contracts. They want to see clients, and they don’t want to stay in Stockton or Sacramento.”
Forrest pointed out that international travelers also play a role in Lodi’s growing tourism.
Forrest said he gets guests from the United Kingdom every month and occasionally from Asia.
Forrest also draws guests from the Bay Area, Reno, Southern California and Oregon.
According to Forrest, Greater Lodi has over 100 offerings for bed and breakfast and vacation rentals for those visiting the area.
However, Lodi is sill underserved when it comes to lodging for the tens of thousands of people that visit Lodi annually, Forrest said.