Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Stockton is working to make sure development forces don’t create injustices for vulnerable residents in Manteca through the pending update of the city’s general plan.

The proposed update — besides a land use element that will support growth to 206,381 residents —includes adding numerous truck routes of which many will pass by neighborhoods such as Louise Avenue from Airport Way to Main Street and along Airport Way.

The diocese’s Environmental Justice Program is reaching out to impacted residents Friday, April 30, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. during a community workshop being conducted via Zoom.

You can register at bit.ly/mantecagp. 

Those staging the Zoom workshop are encouraging people to learn about Manteca’s general plan update and how it will shape the health of the community over the next 20 years.

Jonathan Pruitt, coordinator of the diocese’s Environmental Justice effort, pushed for a standalone environment justice workshop for the public on the general plan update during Tuesday’s joint planning commission and council meeting.

Pruitt inferred the city hadn’t pursued a robust environmental justice effort given there was only one specific meeting for that expressed purpose that occurred last week mid-day only among stakeholders that the public wasn’t able to attend.

Pruitt contended by not having a specific targeted workshop shows “environmental justice isn’t being taken seriously” by the city.

City staff noted that under state criteria, the entire city qualifies as a disadvantage community. They noted the city conducted 14 general plan advisory committee meetings that were open to the public and that diocese representatives were in attendance.

Still Pruitt said the city needs to engage the public more with stepped up outreach given the pandemic for punched a 15-month hole in the process.

Community Development Services Director Chris Erias agreed that even with the effort the city has done to date, additional public workshops made sense to make sure more people would have an opportunity to understand the general plan and its impacts.

Erias noted the current general plan actually doesn’t have to be updated until 2023 leaving ample time for more workshops.

Mayor Ben Cantu suggested the city conduct at least two more in-person workshops before the general plan goes before the planning commission and then the council for possible adoption.

If you have questions about Friday’s workshop being staged by the diocese contact Melissa Vargas (mevargas@ccstockton.org) or Jonathan Pruitt (jpruitt@ccstockton.org).

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com