Mold Remediation in Stockton, CA

It’s finally here — Election Day in San Joaquin County.

Here is some key information about voting, how to know whether your ballot was counted and the security of your polling place.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. If you are in line to cast your ballot before the polls close, you can still vote; it’s your legal right.

A complete list of voting locations can be found through your county’s Registrar of Voters. To check the one closest to you, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

Mail-in ballots may still be used, but they must carry a postmark no later than Nov. 5, 2024.

Drop boxes are open until 8 p.m. In Stockton, there’s a drive-through option at the Registrar of Voters office at 44 N. San Joaquin St. on Election Day.

You can register conditionally and vote in San Joaquin County at the Registrar of Voters’ Office. But you must meet the qualifications of a voter: be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old and has not been found mentally incompetent by a court.

Yes — but you will be given a “provisional ballot,” the provision being that your registration must be confirmed before your vote is counted.

You can check at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov.

“We secure our voting systems like democracy depends on it — because it does,” elections officials at the registrar of voters office said. “Voting is safe and secure in San Joaquin County,” which uses the Hart Verity Voting System.

Elections officials noted that San Joaquin County’s electronic voting machines and scanners are not connected to the internet and strict chain-of-custody procedures are followed.

Furthermore, the Justice Department will be monitoring voting in San Joaquin County.

While San Joaquin is the only county in California to receive federal monitoring on Election Day, it is one of 86 counties nationwide that will be observed by Justice department officials.

Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale said the poll monitors shouldn’t be any cause for alarm, though. They want to make sure the county is following language requirements outlined in Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act.

“We were just the lucky draw for the routine visits they do,” Hale said. “They haven’t been here in 20 years, so its normal for them to send people out and that’s all it is.

Mainly what they are looking at is that we do all of our 203 language requirements, which in San Joaquin County is the Spanish,” Hale added.

Voting officials are so confident of their security measures, they welcome anyone to be an observer.

At the polls or at tabulation locations, people are invited to observe — but there are rules. To name a few, observers have to behave in a professional manner, not communicate with any voter within 100 feet of a polling place about voter status or anything on the ballot, touch any balloting materials or interfere in any way.

To witness the votes being counted, the registrar’s office says you can go to its warehouse at 7585 S. Longe St. in Stockton.

Call the California Secretary of State’s voter hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

Stocktonia wants to hear from you.

Were there long lines on Election Day? Interruptions? Or did everything go smoothly?

Tell us about your experience by emailing us at info@asunewswell.org.

For live coverage throughout the day, come back to Stocktonia.org.

Stocktonia staff writer Edward Lopez contributed to this report.

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In June 2024, the UnidosUS HOME initiative awarded over $1.1 million to the winners of its national competition, Premio HOME, which aims to elevate and invest in organizations finding innovative solutions to America’s housing supply crisis. One of the 19 organizations recognized for their work was Stockton-based Visionary Home Builders of California, Inc. (VHB). Below you can learn more about VHB’s origins and how they are lifting up Latinos through homeownership in central California.

Visionary Home Builders of California, Inc. (VHB) was founded out of an overpowering desire to address the growing need for affordable housing for farmworker families. Our mission was driven by the recognition that housing stability is the foundation for overall well-being, economic empowerment, and community growth. VHB saw the potential to transform neighborhoods through housing development, advocacy, and strong partnerships with local organizations.

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In our community, the biggest barriers to homeownership are affordability, limited inventory, and lack of access to financial education. Many families struggle with the rising costs of homes and the stringent requirements for mortgage approval. This trend mirrors the national landscape, where income disparities and increasing housing prices have made homeownership a significant challenge for low- and middle-income households.

VHB’s mission is to provide affordable housing solutions that nurture stability and growth in underserved communities. We tailor our approach by collaborating closely with local stakeholders, understanding the unique challenges of each community, and offering housing opportunities that not only meet financial needs but also provide supportive services, such as financial literacy programs and homebuyer education, to ensure long-term success.

Since our founding, VHB has adapted to the evolving housing landscape by expanding our services from affordable housing development to include community revitalization projects, homeownership assistance programs, and advocacy for housing policy reform. As the housing crisis has intensified nationwide, we have strengthened our focus on sustainable development, including green building practices and leveraging new funding sources to maximize our impact.

We identified a critical need for accessible homeownership pathways for first-time buyers, especially those from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The lack of affordable housing stock and financial barriers to entry motivated us to seek the Premio HOME grant to help bridge this gap and provide families with the opportunity to achieve homeownership.

The Premio HOME grant has allowed us to explore down payment assistance options and support the pre-development of new affordable housing projects. It has also enhanced our ability to offer financial counseling and homebuyer education, equipping individuals and families with the tools they need to succeed in purchasing and maintaining their homes.

One of the most exciting innovations is modular and prefab housing, which offers cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions to the affordable housing crisis. By significantly reducing construction time and costs, these homes provide a scalable option to meet the growing demand for affordable housing.

VHB is looking to expand our footprint in underserved regions by increasing the production of both single-family and multi-family affordable housing units. We are also exploring partnerships to develop mixed-use projects that integrate housing with community services, creating vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods.

One powerful story involves a single mother who, after years of renting, enrolled in our homeownership education program. With the help of our financial counseling she was able to purchase her first home. Not only has this provided stability for her family, but she is now an advocate in her community, encouraging others to pursue their dreams of homeownership. This story reflects the ripple effect that affordable housing and homeownership can have, empowering individuals and strengthening entire communities.

STOCKTON, Calif. —

A community market that has been part of Stockton's fabric for decades is about to see some major changes.

At the corner of West Benjamin Holt Drive and Pacific Ave lies Podesto's Market & Deli, a 42-year-old supermarket with a legacy that is changing ownership.

"Podesto's has been family-owned forever. And it fits in perfectly. We know this area. My cousin and I were born and raised in Lodi, Stockton area, and it just seemed like a perfect fit," said Tyler Kidd, one of the new owners of Podestos.

Over the last year, Casey Rodacker and Tyler Kidd have made it their mission to acquire the locally successful deli, bakery and kitchen under Mar-Val Family of Stores.

The local chain opened its first store in Lodi in 1952 and now operates 13 stores in rural Northern California.

As they move to keep Podesto's local, the new owners noted that they're not changing anything else and have rehired the 65 workers under the new ownership to keep their product the same.

"Vegas is like the food capital of the world. But you know what I thought about all the time? Yes. The Dutch crunch is here. And so I'm here and I'm getting a sandwich," said Brittney Levi who after leaving Stockton for 10 years, has been trying to make up for lost time without her favorite sandwich, as she's moved back across the street.

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Golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), an invasive, non-native freshwater bivalve, was recently discovered in the Port of Stockton by California Department of Water Resources staff while conducting routine operations. Suspected golden mussels have also been identified at O’Neill Forebay in Merced County and are currently undergoing genetic testing for confirmation.

This discovery is the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America. The species poses a significant immediate threat to the ecological health of the Delta and all waters of the state, water conveyance systems, infrastructure and water quality.

In waterways where this species is present, heavy encrustations of golden mussels have blocked municipal and industrial water intakes, necessitated ongoing biofouling removal, harmed native species in the ecosystem, increased water clarity due to intense filter feeding, and diminished water quality.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California State Parks, California Department of Water Resources (DWR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and other state, federal, and local agencies regularly coordinate through the Aquatic Invasive Species program. This partnership aims to limit the spread of invasive species in California’s waterways, which cause damage to native species and the ecosystems they need to survive.

Golden mussels were likely introduced to California by a ship traveling from an international port. They are likely to spread throughout the Delta and through the water conveyance systems associated with it. Without containment, golden mussels are likely to spread to other freshwater bodies in California, and to other ports and inland waters of North America, and abroad.

Following the initial discovery of golden mussels in the Port of Stockton, observations of additional mussels have been made on monitoring equipment downstream. Species confirmation is pending for these organisms. Golden mussels are similar in appearance, biology, and impacts to quagga and zebra mussels and are a continued priority for prevention and containment in inland waters of Southern California and across the state.

Golden mussels are native to rivers and creeks of China and Southeast Asia. They are known to be established outside of their native range in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. The initial introductions to these countries were also likely the result of ships from biofouling on the hulls and/or ballast water release. In most cases, the invaded range has expanded upstream from the point of introduction and inland from ports through local, human-mediated pathways. Within the invaded range significant impacts are widely documented resulting from the dense colonization of golden mussels on hard surfaces.

The California Natural Resources Agency and its partners call upon everyone working and recreating in waters of the state to clean, drain and dry watercraft and equipment every time it is removed from a waterbody. This simple measure has served to prevent spreading quagga and zebra mussels and is equally effective in stopping the overland spread of golden mussels. DWR is now conducting boat inspections at O’Neill Forebay in an effort to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species.

CDFW is continuing to work with state, local, and federal agencies to enhance monitoring efforts, communicate additional detection and response information, and coordinate on potential next steps. Please report organisms observed in California suspected to be golden mussels to CDFW’s Invasive Species Program. Include the specific location of the observation, and at least one clear close-up photograph of the organism, and your contact information. Submit reports via one of the following options:

Online at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Report Via email to invasives@wildlife.ca.gov Via telephone to (866) 440-9530

To prevent the spread of invasive mussels, be sure to clean, drain and dry your boats. Learn more at California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways page, https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/StopQZ.

Photos courtesy of the Department of Water Resources

Media Contacts: Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714 Adeline Yee, California State Parks, Newsroom@parks.ca.gov Maggie Macias, California Department of Water Resources, media@water.ca.gov