The local election had its share of surprises
It’s been an interesting election, to say the least. There were some surprises, even locally. Take the upset victory by Shakir Khan in District 4, which covers most of Lodi’s eastside, for example.
Councilwoman Joanne Mounce was the incumbent looking for a recordtying fifth term. But it was not to be. She finished third in the newly drawn district. At press time, she had garnered fewer than 400 votes out of about 1,700 total ballots cast, according to the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters. Ironically, Mounce has a major fan base throughout the city — but (apparently) not in the district where she lives.
She probably would have easily won re-election in an at-large contest, which is how things were done up until two years ago. Khan says once seated he plans to meet with the city manager and department heads so he “can better understand how I can be effective in addressing the homelessness and crime issues in the city, in general, but in (his) district specifically.” He also said, “I campaigned to be a voice for Lodi’s Eastside and I will be diligent in working to find solutions to the issues of homeless, crime, blight and a lack of job opportunities so the whole community can benefit.”
Khan declined to comment on his legal problems with the sheriff. As you will recall, Khan was arrested by the sheriff recently, charged with money laundering, among other crimes.
District 4 candidate Natalie Bowman said of her political campaign, “It was a wonderful, challenging experience. I’m extremely proud of our team. We brought awareness to preventative social services.”
Ramon Yepez, who came in second in the District 4 race, at first declined to comment. However, he later said, “My only comment is that I have realized that the result says more about the voters than it does about the candidates.”
SHOWTIME: Last week we mentioned that Penny Beckman would like to have the whole world know about two Lodi police officers’ recent acts of heroism. One saved a person from a train and another from a house fire. Well, we’re happy to report that Officer Erika Urrea recently made an appearance on the Kelly Clarkson TV show because of her actions to save a man whose wheelchair was stuck on the railroad tracks, with a train fast approaching. The segment hasn’t aired yet, but should soon. Chief Sierra Brucia said of Urrea, “We continue to be proud of Erika’s accomplishments and heroic actions. She is an amazing representative of our department and the kinds of employees we have.”
CLOSING: Here we go again. Lodi restauranteurs, among others, are bracing for the unthinkable: being ordered to close, again, for inside dining, starting this Friday. They were given the heads-up during a virtual meeting with county health officials and District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar last week. It’s all happening thanks to spiking COVID-19 numbers. But are they really spiking?
Restaurant owners were reportedly told part of the problem is with the state not being able to receive test data from the county’s contract lab, which skews the totals. Woodbridge Crossing owner Steve Ding posted a video online where he asks people to contact the governor and state representatives, alerting them to the reporting discrepancy. If restaurants are made to close again, they will probably stay closed through the rest of the year, predicts Pietro’s Trattoria owner Jim Murdaca. Jim is disgusted by the thought of shutting down again. “Prove to me that indoor dining is causing it (infections),” he says emphatically.
OPENING: Andy and Jennifer Pappas, owners of Papapavlo’s in Stockton, say they plan to open their new Lodi restaurant at the corner of School and Lockeford after Thanksgiving. They said they should be open for take-out and limited outdoor dining if COVID restrictions don’t allow for indoor service. Next door will be the Mad Dog and Pepper bakery café, owned by the same folks who have the Corner Scone bakery a few blocks away. Pappas says the new bakery probably won’t open until the end of January or so.
BIG NEWS: Lodi was in the news recently, for all the wrong reasons. The L. A. Times published a story last week (front page, top of the fold, no less) recounting September’s “Defund the Lodi PD” protest in Lodi. The piece was not kind to our town. Here are some excerpts: “I feel like I am in Alabama prior to the civil rights [movement],” Pastor Nelson RabellGonzález of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church said of Lodi. Lodi Unified school teacher Kat Ellis participated in the march and claimed in the article that she was harassed online afterwards. Ellis claimed in the article that people even called the school district office, demanding she be fired. “This city would like to think they can fear-monger people,” Ellis was quoted as saying. City Councilwoman Joanne Mounce said in the piece, “Back in the 1950s we were not a community that welcomed diversity.”
The September protest was peaceful, but ugly in places. It attracted counter-protestors, many reportedly from out of town. Racial slurs were vomited up. Tensions were high. Police from Lodi and other nearby agencies were out in force, and they, thankfully, were able to keep parties separated.
Others interviewed by the Times said they don’t believe the counter-protesters represent the vast majority of Lodians. Eighteen-year old Vine Sanchez, who helped organize the march, was quoted as saying, “The majority of people aren’t hateful like that.” Some people who read the Times article said it was one-sided and didn’t reflect the true values of Lodi. Others think it was a “hit piece” against Lodi.
But some agree with the Times article. One reader wrote us to say, “Hate and ignorance appear very alive in our little sundowner haven. Why do people still pretend that life here isn’t what it seems? Our administrators and civic leaders say and do nothing to push back or provide solutions to the problem.” Actually, city leaders did condemn the racial slurs and behavior. City Manager Steve Schwabauer said at the time, “Nothing we saw leading up to the protests justified or could ever justify the vile language used against protesters who were unarmed, peaceful and organized.”
LUNCH TROUBLE :A Washington School cafeteria employee tested positive for the COVID-19 virus recently. The lunch program there was temporarily suspended. Kids and families were redirected to another school while Washington School’s facility was sanitized, according to LUSD publicist Chelsea Vongehr.
ON THE RUN: The Lodi Park and Recreation Department is sponsoring the “Free Range Turkey Trot,” a virtual walk or run event this Thanksgiving. “You pick your distance, submit your miles, and let’s get Lodi moving over 1000 miles during Thanksgiving week,” their website says. Signups can be done online.
LAST LAUGH: With it taking days to determine the final Electoral College vote count, someone wrote: “With all the stress eating, I may reach 270 before either of the candidates.”
——— Steve is a former newspaper publisher and lifelong Lodian whose column appears most Tuesdays in the News-Sentinel. Write to Steve at aboutlodi@gmail.com.