Free Weston Ranch. That’s the rallying cry of this small community in South West Stockton.
Or, what used to be unincorporated French Camp. It is now a part of the City of Stockton, the incorporation taking place when the 11,000-unit development project was approved and was detached from San Joaquin County in the process.
Today, a growing number of residents are sending out the rallying cry to “free Weston Ranch.” These are residents who are increasingly disgruntled over issues that include “isolation” and ongoing problem with services.
The group, called Free Weston Ranch, has its own Facebook page – search for the group’s name – to get to it where you are asked to click on a link if you want to join, and someone will send a response to your request. There are currently nearly 500 members with 31 described as “new.”
The movement started about six years ago. The catalyst reportedly started with Weston Ranch resident Dale Fritchen who, when he was serving on the Stockton City Council, discovered that the fees or taxes being paid by residents of the former unincorporated French Camp community, which should have gone into a budget account just for Weston Ranch, were being taken by the city and put into the general fund to take care of public parks elsewhere in Stockton.
Fritchen relayed that information to Richard Smith who started the ball rolling for a “Free Weston Ranch.” Frustrated that the city did not want to end the practice of moving the money out of the Weston Ranch budget, and the community next to the county’s unincorporated area, the group is asking to go back to being a part of the county. Along the way, Smith gave presentations and started getting residents’ signatures.
The City of Stockton could not be reached for comment.
“We are a community of people exploring the option of detaching from the city of Stockton due to isolation and service issues as a whole,” one of the Facebook posts reads.
Since this is a “closed group,” only members can access and read members’ posts.
“If you have any questions, would like to schedule a meeting at your house, or just want to say hello, we are here for you. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list at freewestonranch@gmail.com, and if you would like to volunteer to help in any way, please send the mail with ‘I would like to volunteer,’” the post further states. There is also a link that you can click on to “learn more.”
