Will the real Susan Hitchcock please stand up!  Part 1

Let’s give some political background of Susan Hitchcock. While on the Planning Commission for 14 years she approval the City’s General Plan which included the residential development of the corner parcel of Hutchins and Harney. For 9 years, she has been a councilmember and Chairs the Green Belt Task Force. The proposed Green Belt or Community Separator is 1/2 mile North and 1/2 South of Armstrong Road. This is county land and not in Lodi’s sphere of influence.

Let’s enlarge on the Green Belt. It’s a high priority for Lodians to have a separator between us and Stockton; we don’t want Lodi to blur into Stockton. Susan has used this Green Belt as a tool to get elected and re-elected. Green Belt, Green Belt, Green Belt that is all she talks about during campaigning. So, let us review her campaign promises. If you go to city hall and ask for recent minutes of the Green Belt Task Force, there aren’t any. Susan has alienated the county board of supervisors, and property owners to the point that they will no longer negotiate with her as Chair. Susan comes to the meetings with only her vision of the Green Belt and imposes what she wants and accepts no other alternative. Susan’s not a team player, she unable to build consensus, she is ineffective and therefore, the other members of the group have walked away from the table. With Susan Hitchcock at the helm for 22 years, we are no closer to a green belt than we were 40 years ago.

Then Along came Mayor Joanne Mounce with her positive attitude towards every challenge. She listens to the concerns of all sides, works with what she is given, facilitates a meaningful agreement and fulfills the vision of her constituents. Joanne stepped in and started mending the damage that had been done by Susan. Joanne opened dialog with the county board of supervisors and property owners. They came back to the table and now after 2 years of negotiating they have come to a tentative agreement that all parties concerned can live with. Mayor Mounce would like the recommendation to be annexed into Lodi’s General Plan. Mayor Joanne Mounce helped giving the citizen’s of Lodi what they have been asking their council to do for 40 years. Every one is happy, well almost everyone. 

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