Archive for May, 2016

Former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem wants Burgis to stay on Parks Board, endorses Hardcastle for Supervisor

Friday, May 27th, 2016

Editor:

As a lifelong resident of Antioch, I have a few perspectives on the upcoming election for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor. I have watched the political career of Diane Burgis for some time. She is one of the best representatives on issues involving our environment. I am concerned though with her recent candidacy: is she just someone trying to climb the political ladder?

She was recruited and is backed by Supervisor Mary Piepho which isn’t necessarily a good thing, at a time when Piepho is part of the county’s numerous problems. She voted herself a 33% pay raise and then defended it when voting to reverse that decision. Piepho then wanted to double dip and get both a car allowance and mileage reimbursement because her district is so big. She even wanted Walnut Creek in her district during the redistricting process in 2011, but the rest of the Board wisely said “no”.

Burgis needs to stay on the East Bay Regional Parks District Board, as she was elected to in 2014 (half-way through her first term on the Oakley City Council) where she can use her expertise in protecting creeks, open space and trails and actually fulfill a commitment and serve a full term in office.

We desperately need to elect someone with broader experience on major issues like transportation, job creation and economic development, as well as protecting and improving the Delta. I’m supporting Doug Hardcastle for this elected office. Doug has over 15 years of proven leadership in office, and in this race experience matters most.

Hardcastle entered the race, last September and was willing to take on the incumbent and will help clean up the fiscal problems created by her and the rest of the current board. Piepho facing the real possibility of losing, decided against running for reelection in December.

Steve Barr of Brentwood may be a nice guy, but he seems to be another political opportunist running for higher office. He announced his candidacy only after Piepho backed out. I’m concerned the real reason he’s running is because he couldn’t get elected mayor in Brentwood in 2012, and can’t beat Bob Taylor this year, either.

In virtually every race this year, experience matters most, and Hardcastle is the most qualified. As you make your choice, consider if the person you’re voting for is running to be something or running to do something. I’m tired of seeing people elected who want to be something. Doug Hardcastle is running to do something which is why I’m urging you to join me in supporting him for County Supervisor.

Manny Soliz

Former Mayor Pro Tem & Councilmember

City of Antioch

Sidewalk Sale in Antioch’s downtown Rivertown on Saturday

Friday, May 27th, 2016

Rivertown May 2016

Memorial Day Celebration at Oak View Memorial Park in Antioch, Monday

Friday, May 27th, 2016

Memorial_Day_Antioch_2016

Former Save Mt. Diablo leader endorses Burgis for Supervisor

Thursday, May 26th, 2016

Editor:

District 3 needs to elect a champion for our environment and quality of life for people living in the county.  Diane Burgis – executive director of Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed and an elected Member of the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors – has a record of success in protecting the Delta, agricultural lands, open spaces, and wildlife.

Diane was recently inducted into the County Women’s Commission Hall of Fame.  She was named the Contra Costa Watershed Champion for her work in inspiring others to conserve our environment. She has been involved in the East Contra Costa Habitat Conservancy for eight years and served on the Delta Protection Commission.  No other candidate has the environmental leadership experience she offers. The League of Conservation Voters and Retired Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan endorse Diane, along with numerous environmental leaders including myself.

Voters that care about water, open spaces, and agricultural lands need to elect Diane Burgis for Contra Costa Supervisor.  She is the best candidate to represent residents of our community.  Visit her website at DianeBurgis.com.

Ron Brown

Retired Executive Director, Save Mount Diablo

Walnut Creek

Antioch School Board, by consensus, narrows field of Superintendent candidates to one

Thursday, May 26th, 2016

By Allen Payton

At the Antioch School Board meeting, last night (Wednesday, May 25, 2016) Board President Diane Gibson-Gray read the following statement about the search for a new superintendent, when reporting out from the closed session, earlier that day:

“The Board has narrowed the search to a finalist but no decision on actual employment has been made until the completion of negotiations on the terms of employment. The final decision would come with approval of the new superintendent’s contract which should be scheduled on or before the June 22, 2016 Board meeting. No candidate names will be released pending agreement on the contract and review of any additional information that may come to the attention of the Board.

All those interviewed have been notified of developments which have occurred to date.

Negotiations with the finalist will occur between now and the Board meeting. The Board will ask its attorney to develop a proposed contract with Board President Diane Gibson-Gray and Board Member Debra Vinson.”

In a subseqent email from Gibson-Gray, she wrote “The board reached a consensus on a final candidate. There was no vote to report out.”

The name of the candidate was not released.

“Once the contract has been negotiated it will be placed on a regular meeting agenda for a vote in public,” Gibson-Gray added. “Until then, the candidate name is confidential.”

Newly appointed Trustee Alonzo Terry has not been included in the board meetings regarding the search for a new superintendent. He is expected to take his seat on the board at their next regular meeting on June 8, following the required 30 days of the provisional appointment period.

When asked how the board can reach a consensus without a vote and if that’s legal, Gibson-Gray responded in an email, “The process is conducted using our board attorney. Not being an attorney, I cannot tell you about the legality of a consensus without a vote.”

Board Member Debra Vinson, who was asked the same question, said Gibson-Gray had been chosen to speak for the board on the matter.

A request was made to Gibson-Gray for the Board’s attorney to provide a legal opinion on the issue. Check back for that update.

East County group seeking solutions to fire district funding endorse Hardcastle for Supervisor

Thursday, May 26th, 2016
Members of the East County Voters for Equal Protection Phil Mora, Hal Bray, Rob Broocker and Bob Bay, with Doug Hardcastle (center) at the closed fire station in Discovery Bay.

Members of the East County Voters for Equal Protection Phil Mora, Hal Bray, Rob Broocker and Bob Bay, with Doug Hardcastle (center) at the closed fire station in Discovery Bay.

The East County Voters for Equal Protection (ECVEP), a group of residents who are working to find ways to fund the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District without a tax increase, have endorsed Oakley Councilman Doug Hardcastle in his race for Supervisor in District 3, for his support of their efforts.

The group supports reallocation of funds that other local agencies within the district boundaries, currently receive in property tax revenue. The fire protection district includes Oakley, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Byron and Knightsen, as well as the unincorporated areas of Clayton along Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory Roads.

“This can has been kicked down the road too many times,” said Rob Broocker, the group’s leader. “Doug recognizes that it’s time the local officials sat down and worked things out.”

Sign in the window of the closed Discovery Bay fire station.

Sign in the window of the closed Discovery Bay fire station.

At a recent meeting with Hardcastle at a closed fire station, in Discovery Bay, Broocker, a Santa Clara firefighter, painting contractor and Discovery Bay resident said, “Of two Discovery Bay Fire Stations one is closed. Even with a tax increase the second one can’t be guaranteed to be open, according to County Assessor Gus Kramer. At the same Discovery Bay Town Council meeting David Piepho said it will never be open due to the lack of funding.”

The group has met with board members and spoken before their meetings, as well communicated with other community leaders like Hardcastle, to get them to consider a reallocation plan instead of a third attempt at a tax increase.

“I appreciate the support of the East County Voters and look forward to continuing to work with them to find a solution to improving fire protection, without another tax increase,” Hardcastle said. “Our number one priority is safety of our families. You have to take this personal. You have to ask yourself, what if it was my house on fire or one of my family members in an accident? We deserve quicker response times for all of us.”

Speaking of the only current ECCFP board member who is also a candidate in the District 3 Supervisor’s race, Broocker stated “Steve Barr is not ready to step up and be a Supervisor if he can’t handle the job on the fire district board.”

At a candidates’ forum in Discovery Bay, Wednesday night, Barr said, “There is a task force that’s been formed. The first step the fire board has taken is do a study to find out what is the adequate number of fire stations in this district. That study, came in with a nine-station model. I think we’re on the right track. I’m hopeful this next measure or however it comes to you will be right.”

Hardcastle disagrees.

“We’ve had enough studies,” he responded. “People do not want to raise their taxes again. They tried it twice, already. It’s ridiculous they even tried it twice. We just need to learn how to spend our money properly.”

While the ECVEP is asking all the agencies within the bounds of the fire district to pitch in, Hardcastle only supports reallocating funds from the cities of Oakley and Brentwood, and the County, like was done with one-time money to re-open the fire station in Knightsen.

“I feel the only ones that have the ability to approve reallocation of money are our councils and the county,” he stated. “We just did it by funding the Knightsen fire station to get them open for 2017.”

That process was explained by another member of the group.

“When the self-appointed Task Force made their initial report to the fire board on October 21, 2015, they recommended emergency funding to open one fire station for a limited period of time,” stated Bryan Scott, a member of ECVEP. “They sought and obtained one-time funding from the cities of Brentwood and Oakley as well as the county.”

“The Task Force allocated the contributions from the cities and the county based on call volume to their respective areas,” he continued. “This came out to 49% for the city of Brentwood, 28% for the city of Oakley, and 23% for the county.”

“Using these same allocation percentages to increase fire district funding by $7.8 million would mean Brentwood would contribute $3,822,000, Oakley would contribute $2,184,000, and the county $1,794,000,” Scott explained.

Brentwood will pay a larger portion for two reasons. First, because they have a larger population than Oakley. Second, they receive a greater percentage of property tax, 16% than Oakley does at just 7%. Plus, they used part of funds set aside for fire protection on their police force, instead.

“We need the cities and county to pitch in to make this happen and in a fair way,” Hardcastle added. “It’s time to get this done.”

District 3 includes all of Oakley, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen and most of Antioch in East County, as well as Blackhawk, Diablo and Camino Tassajara in the San Ramon Valley. The election is June 7. For more information about Doug Hardcastle, visit www.doughardcastle.com or call the Campaign Headquarters at (925) 755-5053.

Antioch Police arrest four in Wednesday murder, identify victim

Thursday, May 26th, 2016

By Lieutenant Anthony Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department arrested two adult males and two juvenile (teenage) males yesterday in connection with the shooting homicide of Joseph Spencer of Richmond, Wednesday morning.

Detectives are still following up with additional witnesses, so no names, photos or further information will be provided at this time. The Antioch Police Department hopes to file this case with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office later this week. Further information will be provided once it becomes appropriate to do so.

Any further information will be provided by the Investigations Bureau at (925) 779-6939. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Woman seeks help in search for baby daughter and child’s father missing from Antioch, Sunday night

Thursday, May 26th, 2016

Car last seen on river road, late Sunday night

Kaylee Jackson, age 1 and her father Kyler Jackson.

Kaylee Jackson, age 1 and her father Kyler Jackson have been missing since Sunday night.

By Allen Payton

Stockton resident Jayonna Mason is asking for help from the police and public in locating her missing one-year-old daughter, Kaylee and the baby’s father, Kyler Jackson, age 23, who left Antioch Sunday night at 11 p.m. for Sacramento.

The couple has not been together in six months, but there are no problems between them, she said. This was the father’s time to have the baby and was merely driving back to his home in Sacramento with her.

He was then to bring Kaylee to Mason’s home in Stockton Monday night, but they never arrived.

The car is a silver colored, four door Ford Taurus, with license plate 4WVW944.

video of Jackson’s car can be seen from a security camera in Walnut Grove on Highway 160, along the Sacramento River, from later that night. But, that’s the last anyone has seen the Jacksons or the car.

Mason says both the Antioch Police and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Departments have been contacted and that an APD Detective is working with her.

According to Acting Lt. Tarra Nissen, Antioch Police are assisting the Sacramento Police Department on the case.

“We are only following up on any leads or information we can in our local jurisdiction,” she said. “Most of the information comes from the Sacramento PD. We have officers working on follow up in our own city.”

However, a Sergeant with the Sacramento Police Department said Antioch is the lead agency, and then provided additional details.

“We’ve been receiving media questions from throughout the region and handling calls,” said Sgt. Bryce Heinlein of the Sacramento Police Department. “This was originally reported to Antioch PD at 8:16 pm on Monday, May 23. Antioch PD is the lead agency and we are working with them.”

They began their investigation “After Kyler failed to show up at the baby’s mother’s residence in Stockton on May 23rd,” Heinlein added.

“As far as the investigation goes we went to a residence on San Jose Way in Sacramento which is a past listed address,” he continued. “We have no confirmation that he has lived there or currently. We have checked that residence several times this week and he hasn’t been there. Neighbors have not seen him.”

“Other agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, which governs the waterways, have been notified,” Heinlein stated. “Antioch PD will remain as the lead agency on this until all efforts by their department have been exhausted.”

Mason clarified what happened and the time sequence of events.

Kyler left her house in Stockton on Sunday afternoon after spending the whole weekend with her, Kaylee, her eight-year-old daughter and his other daughter.

“Then he drove to Oakland with the girls for an event. Then he went to watch the game at his cousin’s in West Oakland. Then he dropped off his daughter in East Oakland and then he came to Antioch to drop off Mason’s eight-year-old at her aunt’s house.

Then he left with Kaylee and headed home to Sacramento.

“I texted his phone on Sunday night at 12:10 a.m. and I said ‘why didn’t you text me’ because I hadn’t heard from him all day.” She expected him to text her by then.

“I texted his other phone at 12:12 a.m., ‘No text You all have a good day,’” Mason continued. But there was no response.

“Then I called his phone at 12:18 a.m. and he didn’t answer,” she stated.

She called his phone, again the next morning but it went straight to voicemail.

Then she called his cousin, wondering if Kyler had returned to Oakland. But, he didn’t answer. She has since spoken to the cousin and he’s helped her in the search.

Kyler usually has the girls on the weekend, and Mason has them during the week. But, because she’s been sick, he stayed with her last weekend and was supposed to have Kaylee this week.

“He didn’t have to bring her back, but, I knew he had to work this week and he would have brought her back, before Friday when we’re supposed to go to an event in San Francisco, together,” she stated.

Kyler’s mother called the Antioch Police and went to the police station on Monday.

“I talked to his mom and the police officer, while she was at the police station,” Mason said.

Mason says she called the Stockton Police about 6 p.m. on Monday and they went and met with her at her house, but didn’t take a report since it was out of their jurisdiction.

Mason and her family are out searching along the river road, today.

“They haven’t put up an Amber alert. The detective said ‘we have to wait,’” Mason said. “The U.S. Coast Guard said ‘there’s nothing we can do. We probed the water. That’s all we can do’” then they hung up. They didn’t search the whole river. I thought they did both sides, but they said ‘no’.”

She and her family are out on the river road, searching today.

If you have any information about this matter, please contact the Antioch Police at (925) 778-2441 or the Sacramento Police Department at (916) 264-5471.

 

Father Kyler and daughter Kaylee Jackson

Father Kyler and daughter Kaylee Jackson