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Progress in many areas for county during year
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Supervisor Robert Rickman

By ROBERT RICKMAN

County Supervisor


From our family neighborhoods and farms to our growing cities and small businesses, District 5 continues to reflect the best of San Joaquin County (SJC). The start of a new year gives us the opportunity to recognize the progress made close to home. As your County Supervisor, I am proud to represent District 5 and to share several of the accomplishments our county achieved in 2025.

 

Fiscal Optimization

Fiscal responsibility is not just a goal—it is a promise to our residents. By maintaining a structurally balanced budget, SJC continues to protect essential services while planning responsibly for the future. Our strong financial practices were once again affirmed by Standard & Poor’s, which upheld the County’s AA- credit rating with a stable outlook on our 2017 Certificates of Participation. Furthermore, SJC earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the second year in a row.

 

Quality of Life

County government plays a vital role in supporting everyday life—providing essential services, safety nets, and community infrastructure that residents count on. Highlights include:

• Approved funding for phase three of the South County Regional Park plan and participated in community outreach to obtain feedback.

• Funded the Animal Protection League (APL) free dog and cat vaccine and rabies clinic.

• Groundbreaking for the Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic Community Living Center.

• New floors and kitchen at the Larch Clover Community Center.

• New High School Summer Internship Program for the county.

• Meetings with California State University, Stanislaus to bring a university to South SJC.

• Tracy American Legion Post 172 and Ripon American Legion Post 190 building renovations due to funding received from SJC.

• $2.5 million awarded to local community organizations, many in District 5.

• SJC Public Works has launched NEXGEN311 – makes it easier to report service requests, track progress, and receive updates.

• Total of 62.2 miles of roadways resurfaced and sealed in District 5.

 

Expanded District 5 funding for local non-profits

$16,080 for the New Creation Bible Fellowship Pantry and Jacobson Elementary Food Distribution; $25,000 for 209 Tracy High School Wrestling Booster Club; $17,200 for Poorba Inc.; $18,000 for Mountain House Royal Kings; $10,825 for Ripon Chamber of Commerce; $12,000 for Mountain House Flag Football; $20,000 for Tracy Boys and Girls Club; $19,826 for Merrill F. West High School Cheerleading Program; $4,928 for Holy Ghost Parade and Festival; $10,745 for Tracy Reach; $10,780 for Escalon Strong Community Garden; $16,776 for Mountain House Chamber; $4,700 for Escalon Gather Around Main; $19,382 for Merrill F. West High School Football Program; $1,050 for Ripon High School Drone Program; $545 for Delta Charter FFA; $11,900 for Tracy High School Football Program; $18,668 for Tracy FFA Senior Project, $12,461 for Mountain House Scouting Foundation.

 

Homelessness

Homelessness is not driven by housing alone. Many individuals face complex challenges such as untreated mental illness, substance use disorders, and gaps in access to care. Over the past four years, San Joaquin County has responded with a comprehensive strategy, investing more than $200 million in solutions that include permanent supportive housing, emergency shelters, behavioral health treatment, hospital-based care, enhanced care management, and coordinated responses to calls for service. These investments reflect a balanced approach focused on both compassion and accountability. Highlights include:

• Broke ground on the San Joaquin Be Well Campus and received a $137 million grant for the development of the campus. Phase one will include dual diagnosis point of entry, a sobering center, medical detoxification, a psychiatric health facility, and a crisis stabilization unit, with a completion date of the summer of 2027.

• Last year, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved the creation of a Community Assessment, Response and Engagement (CARE) team. Since then, the outreach teams have connected with 770 people. Nearly five hundred of them are now linked to housing, healthcare, and recovery services. Eighty-five people have left the streets behind, many moving into permanent homes or reuniting with families.

• Approved $1.5 million of funding toward the completion of the Gospel Center Rescue Mission’s New Life Program Multi-Purpose Center.

• SJC Housing Authority and SJC Behavioral Health opened the Park Center Apartments – 50 units of permanent supportive housing.

 

Public Safety

Public safety remains the foundation of a strong and thriving community. From emergency response to prevention and preparedness, our County continues to invest in keeping families, neighborhoods, and businesses safe. I am deeply grateful to the dedicated first responders who put service above self every day. Highlights include:

• Secured an additional $1.3 million for the South County Fire Authority Regional Training Facility.

• SJC Office of Emergency Services and allied agencies’ drone training.

• Sheriff Department Dorothy J. Heisler Detention and Program Facility is operational.

• Approved and funded a new Countywide Cold Case Task Force.

• Added Correctional Health positions to adequately meet patient medical and mental health needs.

• Added positions to the Public Defender’s office.

• Approved funding for the Sheriff’s Office Training Facility.

• Adopted stricter fireworks ordinance.

 

Economic Development

A strong local economy is the foundation of opportunity in San Joaquin County—supporting jobs, small businesses, and long-term growth. Highlights include:

• Gross value of agricultural production for 2024 was more than $3.1 billion. Agricultural commodities were exported to over 90 countries.

• Stockton Airport added new weekly flights to Denver.

• Continuation of the Small Business Local Investment for Financial Thrive (LIFT) Initiative. Provides immediate relief to small businesses by reimbursing utility expenses.

• Received a six-million-dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to operate the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) through 2028.

• SJC WorkNet opened a new Tracy office.

• The Kola Energy Center battery storage facility west of Tracy is operational.

• ZeroAvia, a leading innovator in zero-emission aviation technology, will establish a research and development facility at Stockton Airport.

• Three new positions added to the Community Development Department.

 

Water Management

• SJC continues to stand united with the Delta Counties Coalition against the Governor’s highly controversial and outrageously expensive Delta Conveyance Project.

• Replaced a 52-foot concrete bridge over the South San Joaquin Irrigation District Canal – keeping water flowing safely and reliably across San Joaquin County.

• Partnering with state and federal agencies to fight the invasive golden mussels in our waterways.

 

Advocacy

A significant part of our work as County Supervisors happens beyond county lines—advocating in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. to ensure San Joaquin County’s priorities are heard and funded. Key efforts included:

• Officially register opposition to any PG&E rate increases. Collaborate with local advocates and legislators to support legislative efforts that protect our residents.

• Letter of support for SB 2, which would have repealed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) vote on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard amendments. CARB’s new policy could possibly reflect an increase in cost at the gas pumps ranging from .065-.085 cents per gallon.

• Due in large part to SJCOG’s One-Voice trip - $41.35 million in federal funding received for the I-580/Corral Hollow Road interchange project and Corral Hollow Road widening.

• Wrote a letter to the President of the California Public Utilities Commission, state representatives, and the governor, requesting a full review of PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that occurred in SJC.

• South County Fire Chief Randy Bradley and I met with several PG&E representatives at the PG&E Emergency Operations and Grid Control Center to discuss our concerns and the concerns of our residents in regard to PG&E’s PSPS.

• Letter to Governor Newsom urging his support for the inclusion of funding for the new Tracy Courthouse project.

 

Robert Rickman is the San Joaquin County Supervisor for District 5, which includes the City of Escalon.