During their meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the Antioch City Council voted unanimously to approve the following proclamation recognizing Homelessness Awareness Month in November.
HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH
November 2025
WHEREAS, November is recognized as Homelessness Awareness Month across the United States to recognize the numerous reasons people become homeless, the challenges faced by adults, young adults, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, and to mobilize community-wide efforts toward lasting solutions;
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch recognizes that homelessness impacts individuals and families from all walks of life;
WHEREAS, research shows that criminalizing homelessness worsens the crisis and deepens existing racial inequities and systemic disparities;
WHEREAS, according to the January 2025 Point-in-Time count, the City of Antioch had the highest number of unsheltered individuals in Contra Costa County – 246 persons, representing approximately 11.6 percent of the countywide total – a significant decrease from 413 persons counted in 2024;
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch, through the Opportunity Village program, is providing interim housing and supportive services for 37 Devpar, specific, encampment residents and their 25 dogs;
and WHEREAS, the City of Antioch is committed to working in coordination with Contra Costa County and local organizations to provide housing, shelter, supportive services, and basic resources to all people experiencing homelessness.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, hereby proclaim November 2025 as “Homelessness Awareness Month” and encourage all City of Antioch citizens, partners and businesses to recognize the need for, and commit to building and sustaining, a coordinated and equity-driven continuum of care that meets the complex needs of people experiencing homelessness, rooted in dignity, equity, and hope. NOVEMBER 4, 2025
RON BERNAL, Mayor
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “November is National Homelessness Awareness Month and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. SAMHSA works in partnership with federal, state and local partners and national experts to provide training on housing, treatment and recovery models focused on adults, children, and families who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have serious mental illness and/or serious emotional disturbance, and substance use. These partnerships contribute to housing stability, recovery, and ending homelessness. SAMHSA also supports the field through technical assistance to states and localities, treatment systems and individual providers on these issues.”
Joyce Turner (left) sitting courtside before the Warriors’ game on October 17, 2025, and with her daughter, Julie and 11-year-old grandson, Marcos in front of the Steph Curry poster at Chase Center. Photos: An Elderly Wish Foundation
With daughter and grandson
By Mary Chapman & Nora vonUbin, An Elderly Wish Foundation
When Joyce Turner from Antioch was told she had terminal cancer, she contacted An Elderly Wish Foundation. She wrote that her wish was to go with her daughter and grandson, to meet Steph Curry in San Francisco at the Oracle Arena. Joyce claims to be his #1 Fan because her every room in her house proves it. Joyce said, “seeing him in person would be an absolute dream come true!”
Joyce Turner with her Steph Curry memorabilia at her home in Antioch.
On Friday, October 17,2025, An Elderly Wish Foundation “made her dream come true!” Joyce, her daughter, Julie and grandson, Marcos (age 11) were ushered into Oracle Arena, at a specific spot on the court to watch #30 practice. Joyce was thrilled the evening included having Steph sign her own 2015 Championship Jersey! Another thrill was to have her grandson stand with the entire Warriors Team for the anthem.
Joyce Turner with AEWF’s Janice vonUbin (left) and Mary Chapman (rear) and Turner’s, caregiver and her son.
Our non-profit foundation loved granting this special wish for Joyce with assistance from Velma Wilson.
AEWF grants wishes to seniors, 50 years or older, who have been diagnosed with a serious or chronic illness and live in Contra Costa County. For more information visit www.elderlywish.org.
Join the Antioch Police Department, Downtown Antioch Association and the Rotary Club of the Delta-Antioch this Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, for a Community Clean-Up in Antioch’s Rivertown Business District.
Let’s come together to beautify our city and make a positive impact. It’s a great opportunity to give back and connect with local business owners.
Meet at 10:00 AM at Prime Vintage Realty, 340 W. 2nd Street in historic downtown.
Veteran’s Appreciation Night next Monday, November 10, 2025, from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Enjoy great food and drinks with Smash Burgers from Chef Jeff. Help us give back to our local heroes. 10% of all proceeds will be donated to the Delta Veterans Group.
Renderings of the proposed Wildflower Station Row Townhomes. Source: DeNova Homes
Will again consider Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 project by troubled developer Tuesday night
Learn how state law is forcing Council to approve new housing developments
By Allen D. Payton
After the Antioch City Council held a public hearing during their meeting on Sept. 23, 2025, on the proposed Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 Multifamily Residential Project by troubled DeNova Homes, postponed a decision until their meeting last Tuesday, Oct. 28, but split 2-2, with District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker was absent, the Council will once again consider the project during a special meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
The council meeting is scheduled then instead of the regular day of the second Tuesday of each month due to the Veterans Day holiday on Nov. 11th.
It will be the third time the Council will consider the project by the embattled developer, whose father and son leaders were indicted in April on charges of bribing an Antioch city councilman last year. (See related articles here, here and here). During last Tuesday’s meeting, Antioch resident Melissa Case named former Councilman Mike Barbanica as the target of the attempted bribe but who has repeatedly told the Herald he will not speak about an open investigation. So, the target could also have been former Mayor Lamar Hernández-Thorpe.
Rendering of proposed Wildflower Station Back-Back Townhomes. Source: DeNova Homes.
Council Approved Developers’ Other Townhomes Project on Oct. 28
Like DeNova Homes’ Slatten Ranch Townhomes Project, approved last Tuesday night on a 3-1 vote, with District 3 Councilman Don Freitas voting against, the Council is expected to also approve the Wildflower Station project because it, too, was submitted under SB330 which basically ties the councilmembers’ hands. The law gives certain protections to developments that follow the law’s procedures. (See below)
Both Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha and District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson complained during last week’s council meeting about the state forcing the councilmembers to approve the project. Yet, Wilson along with Freitas, voted against it. The Council then voted 4-0 to continue the item until tomorrow night’s meeting which Torres-Walker is expected to attend and potentially break the tie vote.
Antioch’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation of between 2023-31 shows the quantity of units in each of four income categories for a total of 3,106 new units that must be approved by the City Council. Source: Association of Bay Area Governments
State Housing Law Forces Councilmembers to Approve New Developments – HAA, HCA, RHNA
Retroactively “freezes” residential zoning standards to what they were on January 1, 2018.
Does not allow jurisdictions to enforce moratoriums or growth control measures on new housing development.
Prevents jurisdictions from imposing or enforcing new design standards on housing projects that are not “objective”.
Plus, “The HCA strengthens the Housing Accountability Act – HAA – (Gov. Code §65589.5) which states that a housing development project that complies with the objective standards of the general plan and zoning ordinance must be approved by the agency, unless the agency is able to make written findings based on the preponderance of the evidence in the record that either: 1) the local government has already met its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) requirement (Antioch hasn’t); 2) there is an impact to the public health and safety and this impact cannot be mitigated; 3) the property is agricultural land (it’s not); 4) the approval of the project would violate State or Federal law and this violation cannot be mitigated; or, 5) the project is inconsistent with the zoning and land use designation and not identified in the general plan housing element RHNA inventory (it isn’t).”
According to a Sept. 2020 Technical Assistance Advisory by the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Division of Housing Policy Development, the HAA “establishes limitations to a local government’s ability to deny, reduce the density of, or make infeasible housing development projects, emergency shelters, or farmworker housing that are consistent with objective local development standards and contribute to meeting housing need.”
In addition, the Advisory explains that SB330/HCA “set forth vesting rights for projects that use a new pre-application process,” which both townhome projects did. Most of the bill’s provisions were to sunset on January 1, 2025, but they were extended until January 1, 2030, with the passage of SB8.
The RHNA – now referred to as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation – requires the City of Antioch to approve 3,016 new homes in four income categories between 2023 and 2031. (See related articles here and here, and chart above)
Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 Site Map. Source: City of Antioch
Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 Project
The proposed Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 Multifamily Residential Project is a 159-unit townhome-style condominium development. It is planned for the four-parcel, 10.35 acre vacant property near the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Deer Valley Road and bordered by Wildflower Drive to the east and the road next to the KFC restaurant in the Hillcrest Crossroads shopping center which also serves the existing condo development.
According to the City staff report for the agenda item, #6, the proposed project consists of a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map to create 19 residential lots for 19 three-story buildings, containing 159 new townhome condominiums in two different building styles: “back-to-back” and row townhome-style. Both styles of townhomes include individual one-car or two-car garages with the living areas primarily on the second and third levels above the garage parking.
Proposed Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 Project Site Map. Source: DeNova Homes
The proposed project would include a total of 2.8 acres of landscaping and open space, consisting of two open play areas and open space for bioretention. The play areas would include 25 additional parking spaces with another 57 surplus shared parking spaces with the adjacent Wildflower Station development. The 159 residential units would consist of a mix of two- and three-bedrooms units, ranging in size from 1,135 to 1,381 square feet.
The project site was part of the larger 23-acre Wildflower Station project that includes 22 single family homes (on the ridgeline above), the 98-condominium stacked flat homes immediately adjacent and planned commercial development that was entitled in 2018. The single-family homes and condos were built, but the commercial parcels along Hillcrest Avenue (the current project site) weren’t and the land sat undeveloped.
In 2023, the City Council revised the General Plan and rezoned the four parcels to High Density Residential District (R-25). The proposed project would result in a density of approximately 20 du/ac.
The project was also submitted in 2023 as a Preliminary Housing Application under SB330.
Con Fire Quarterly Report
Before the item is heard, the Council will receive the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District – Quarterly Report presentation by Fire Chief Lewis Broschard.
The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. They can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website and the City’s YouTube Channel, on Comcast Cable Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
Antioch Police tend to the victim of a shooting on Sunday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Spotlight CoCoCounty
By Lt. Joe Njoroge #7052, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On Sunday, November 2, 2025, just after 4:30 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 300 block of Sunset Drive. Upon arrival, officers located a 9-year-old boy who had been struck by gunfire.
Officers immediately provided medical aid until personnel from Con Fire arrived. The victim was transported by helicopter from nearby Bidwell High School to a local hospital where he is being treated for injuries determined to be non-life-threatening.
Through the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as a 17-year-old male who was later taken into custody.
UPDATE 1: According to KTVU reporter Henry K. Lee in a post on X, the 17-year-old saw a man at a smoke shop on Sunset Drive “in Antioch with whom he has ongoing feud. Teen fires numerous shots (opens fire inside business), missing his target – and instead hitting 9yo boy in neck while victim is in back room of his uncle’s shop.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at tips@antiochca.gov.
As federal SNAP food benefits are cut during shutdown
EL CONDADO SE PREPARA PARA APOYAR A LOS RESIDENTES CUYOS BENEFICIOS DE ALIMENTOS ESTÁN SIENDO REDUCIDOS
El condado se prepara para distribuir tarjetas de débito para comestibles a 107,000 inscritos en CalFresh
By Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia
Contra Costa County is stepping up to help our neediest County residents due to the Federal government’s failure to fund its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which is called CalFresh here in California. SNAP serves 1 in 8 Americans and is a major part of our nation’s social safety net.
Failing to fund this benefit threatens the food security of 107,000 County residents, 55% of whom are children and seniors. The average monthly benefit for a family of 3 is $573 per month.
The Federal Government’s failure to fund SNAP benefits also threatens the financial sustainability of 706 retailers (most are locally owned neighborhood markets) who sell groceries to CalFresh families.
Our Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) has developed a plan to distribute debit cards to CalFresh enrollees who live in our County. These debit cards, whose value will be similar to a family’s existing benefit amount, will be distributed soon at a date to be announced at our busiest EHSD lobbies at:
EHSD and the County Sheriff’s Office are partnering to ensure security of debit cards and safety at these locations.
Subject to the Board of Supervisors vote next Tuesday, where we will declare a Local Emergency, we plan to allocate up to $21 million out of our rainy day reserves to fund these benefits for the month of November. We are able to do this because of our County’s responsible fiscal management and AAA bond rating.
Food boxes for needy families, even those who are not CalFresh enrollees, will be available starting Monday, November 3rd, at these same four locations. Needy families, regardless of immigration status, are welcome to come by.
If anyone needs food now, go to the Contra Costa/Solano Food Bank’s Find Food in My City Link to see where to pick up free food near where you live.
A Federal Court decision on Saturday ruled that the Trump Administration must continue to fund SNAP food benefits using contingency funds during the government shutdown. However, it is unclear when debit cards used by enrollees can be reloaded with the November benefit amount. It can take one to two weeks to do this.
That’s why the County is moving forward with its plan to support hard working families who rely on this vital food benefit.
We continue to work with our Federal legislators to advocate for an immediate end to the harmful government shutdown.
Español
El Condado de Contra Costa está tomando medidas para ayudar a nuestros residentes más necesitados debido a la falta de financiamiento del gobierno federal para su programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP), conocido en California como CalFresh. SNAP atiende a 1 de cada 8 estadounidenses y es una parte fundamental de la red de seguridad social de nuestra nación.
No financiar este beneficio pone en riesgo la seguridad alimentaria de 107,000 residentes del condado, de los cuales el 55% son niños y personas mayores. El beneficio mensual promedio para una familia de tres personas es de $573 por mes.
La falta de financiamiento del gobierno federal para los beneficios de SNAP también amenaza la sostenibilidad financiera de 706 minoristas (la mayoría son mercados locales de vecindario) que venden alimentos a las familias que usan CalFresh.
Nuestro Departamento de Empleo y Servicios Humanos (EHSD) ha desarrollado un plan para distribuir tarjetas de débito a los inscritos en CalFresh que viven en nuestro condado. Estas tarjetas, cuyo valor será similar al monto actual del beneficio familiar, se distribuirán pronto en una fecha que se anunciará en las siguientes oficinas más concurridas del EHSD:
4545 Delta Fair Blvd., Antioch
151 Linus Pauling Dr., Hercules
400 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill
1305 MacDonald Ave., Richmond
El EHSD y la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado están colaborando para garantizar la seguridad de las tarjetas de débito y la seguridad en estos lugares.
Sujeto a la votación de la Junta de Supervisores el próximo martes, donde se declarará una Emergencia Local, planeamos asignar hasta $21 millones de nuestras reservas de emergencia para financiar estos beneficios durante el mes de noviembre. Podemos hacerlo gracias a la gestión fiscal responsable de nuestro condado y a nuestra calificación crediticia AAA.
Las cajas de alimentos para familias necesitadas, incluso para aquellas que no están inscritas en CalFresh, estarán disponibles a partir del lunes 3 de noviembre en los mismos cuatro lugares. Las familias necesitadas, sin importar su estatus migratorio, son bienvenidas a acudir.
Si alguien necesita alimentos ahora, puede visitar el enlace Find Food in My City del Banco de Alimentos de Contra Costa/Solano para saber dónde recoger alimentos gratuitos cerca de su domicilio.
Una decisión del tribunal federal el sábado dictaminó que la Administración Trump debe continuar financiando los beneficios alimentarios de SNAP utilizando fondos de contingencia durante el cierre del gobierno. Sin embargo, no está claro cuándo podrán recargarse las tarjetas de débito con el monto del beneficio de noviembre. Esto podría tardar de una a dos semanas.
Por eso, el condado avanza con su plan para apoyar a las familias trabajadoras que dependen de este beneficio alimentario vital.
Seguimos trabajando con nuestros legisladores federales para abogar por el fin inmediato del perjudicial cierre del gobierno.
