STOCKTON, Calif. (KCRA) —A San Joaquin County grand jury said the city is not doing enough to help people in South Stockton. A newly released report said city leaders are neglecting the south side.
The area south of the Crosstown Freeway is home to roughly one-third of Stockton's more than 300,000 residents.
"Anybody that's ever driven through South Stockton automatically knows it's underserved," South Stockton resident Ralph White said.
White, who used to serve on the Stockton City Council, said it's something he's been fighting for years.
"South Stockton has a lot of vacant land, and I've been saying all this time, nobody is going to invest in an area that is underserved," White said.
The grand jury's investigation found South Stockton suffers from blight, poverty and includes many deteriorating houses.
Jurors urged the City Council to push for a more equitable distribution of city resources in the area.
"A lot of things they should be doing they never do," South Stockton resident Thomas Randle said.
The investigation found many civil and religious groups are working to make positive changes in the area, but they said only city government has the resources.
"The grand jury is right -- for years, South Stockton has been neglected by city officials and city planners as (they) continue to expand in the north and forgot about the south," Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva said.
The Stockton City Council must submit a response to each finding and a recommendation in the report.
Poster Comment:
A grand jury? Does anyone here have any details? None of this makes sense.