Post by Antioch residents on Next Door about the shooting Tuesday night, April 16, 2024. Courtesy of a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
Police seek suspect(s)
By Allen D. Payton
Following reports of gunshots heard in a neighborhood off Prewett Ranch Road east of Deer Valley Road and south of Lone Tree Way, late Tuesday night, and information shared from Next Door by residents, Interim Antioch Police Chief Brian Addington, was asked for details Wednesday morning.
He responded Wednesday afternoon with the following information:
Last night, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at approximately 11 PM, Antioch officers responded to a residence on the 5000 block of Oneida Way for the report of a man with a gun. As information was being taken by dispatch, officers began responding. During this time additional reports were received that shots had been fired.
When officers arrived, a female victim was found inside a residence suffering from a non-life threating gunshot wound. The female was transported to an area hospital for treatment where she was determined to be in stable condition.
During the investigation it was learned that several people were inside and outside of the residence when a vehicle drove by. Someone from inside the vehicle fired numerous shots at the residence, the female was struck, and the vehicle fled. It was also learned that this incident may have stemmed from an earlier argument between several people.
Numerous items determined to be evidence were collected at the scene. This case is being investigated by our Violent Crimes Investigations Unit. Anyone with information is asked to Contact Detective Cox at (925) 779-6866 or email: mailto:jcox@antiochca.gov.
Like mom and apple pie, the public library seems so intrinsically good that it should be beyond criticism. But like any institution that consumes millions of tax dollars, public libraries should not be free from scrutiny. And the facts are that neighborhood libraries have largely outlived their usefulness and no longer provide value for the public money spent on them.
In this fiscal year, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are collectively spending $270 million to operate their library systems, with some cities chipping in extra to finance extended operating hours. Contra Costa County is spending $20 million of state and county funds to build a new library in Bay Point, and El Cerrito voters may see a sales tax measure on the November ballot, part of which will go to building a new library as part of a transit-oriented development near a BART station.
The public library’s historical functions of lending physical books and enabling patrons to view reference materials are being made obsolete by digital technology. An increasing proportion of adults are consuming e-books and audiobooks in addition to or instead of printed books, with younger adults more likely to use these alternative formats.
In response, libraries have tried to reposition themselves as “third places:” alternatives to homes and offices where people can relax, learn, and socialize. But the private sector offers numerous third places of its own, with coffee houses being the most common.
In Walnut Creek, the public library has responded by adding its own coffee shop, but just a few minutes away, residents and visitors can relax and enjoy free wi-fi at the Capital One Café at no cost to taxpayers and without being required to buy a cup of joe.
While no third place used by the public can be guaranteed to be safe and clean, private operators have a stronger incentive to provide an attractive environment because they otherwise risk going out of business.
They also face fewer legal restraints in enforcing public decorum. A 1991 federal court decision prohibited a New Jersey public library from “barring patrons who are not reading, studying or using library materials, who harass or annoy others through noisy activities or by staring, or whose ‘bodily hygiene is so offensive’ that it is a nuisance to others.”
As the Antioch Herald reported in February, the Antioch library had to be temporarily closed after multiple incidents “including a couple having sex openly in the bathroom, a wanted criminal using a library computer who was later removed by Antioch police, a racist letter left on the service desk and intoxicated library patrons acting aggressively.” The Contra Costa Public Library, which operates the Antioch facility reopened it four days later after negotiating an emergency contract for private armed security and arranging for a patrol car to monitor the exterior.
Library advocates argue that their public terminals offer essential internet access to those in need. But some patrons use free internet access at the local library to view pornographic content, sometimes to the distress of other terminal users including children. And low-income individuals are eligible for the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program which provides a free smartphone with internet access.
Like local post offices, neighborhood libraries once served an important community function but are now becoming increasingly irrelevant. And, as with post offices, libraries continue to receive funding because they enjoy support from a relatively small but vocal segment of the population, while the rest of us are usually too reluctant to question their utility.
MarcJoffeis a federalism and state policy analyst at the Cato Institute.
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Emergency personnel respond to the same of a fatal collision in Antioch on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Photo by a resident who chose to remain anonymous. The car of the deceased 30-year-old male driver from Pittsburg. Photo: Art Ray, Bay News Video.
By Allen D. Payton
A two-vehicle crash in Antioch, Sunday afternoon, April 14, 2024, claimed the life of a man in his 30’s. According to his aunt he was from Pittsburg. The collision occurred in the intersection of Auto Center Drive and W. 10th Street, about 4:00 p.m.
Con Fire and Antioch Police personnel responded to the scene. According to Con Fire spokesman, Fire Prevention Captain Joe Ottolini, two other people were transported to local hospitals and at least one is in critical condition. He said there was one possible DOA. Interim Antioch Police Chief Brian Addington confirmed the fatality.
According to reports, the man was the driver of one of the cars and ran a red light causing the crash.
UPDATE: According to information provided by the Antioch Police Department, “This afternoon at 4:07 PM, the Antioch Police Dispatch Center began receiving multiple emergency calls reporting a major collision at the intersection of West 10th Street and Auto Center Drive.
Upon arrival, officers learned the driver of a blue Acura sedan was traveling northbound on Auto Center Drive, at a high rate of speed, approaching the intersection of West 10th Street. The Acura entered the intersection as a silver Lexus SUV was traveling westbound through the intersection (on West 10th Street), resulting in a “T-Bone” collision.
Police officers immediately administered first-aid at the scene to all the involved parties. Several fire engines from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District also responded and paramedics took over first-aid and life-saving efforts.
Unfortunately, the solo occupant and driver of the Acura sedan (a 30-year-old male) succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The driver and passenger in the SUV were removed from their vehicle and transported to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Antioch Police Department Accident Investigators responded to the scene and took over the investigation, which is still ongoing. This investigation is in its preliminary stages and evidence and witness statements are being collected at this time. The names of the involved parties are not being released pending proper notifications.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit at (925) 779-6864.”
Monica’s Riverview is located at 1 “I” (eye) Street, on the pier, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For more information see www.visitmonicas.com.
“…some officers have returned to work or will be returning, although some have been terminated.” – APOA attorney Mike Rains
UPDATE: As of Friday, April 12, 2024, APD has 77 current sworn officers of which 50 are on full duty status.
By Allen D. Payton
Following up on a February Herald article about the Antioch Police Officers still on paid leave for the investigation into the racist text scandal since last March, questions were emailed on Thursday evening, Feb. 8, 2024, to City Attorney Thomas L. Smith, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Human Resources Director Ana Chavez asking:
“How long can police officers or any city employee remain on paid administrative leave?
Since most of the officers merely received but didn’t send any of the text messages, what possible disciplinary actions can be taken against them?
When will the officers who merely received but didn’t send any text messages return to work? Have any of them, yet? If so, how many?
Can the investigation just go on indefinitely and the taxpayers continue to pay the officers on leave to not do their jobs?
Can’t the officers return to work as each one is deemed to have not committed any fireable offense?
Or do all of them have to wait to return to work until after the entire investigation has been completed?
Have any disciplinary actions been taken against any of the officers, yet? If so, how many? What did they include?
Have any of you been approached or pressured by any of the council members to keep the investigation open and not allow the officers to return to work – other than the public statements by the mayor and Councilwoman Torres-Walker that they want all of them fired?” (See related articles here and here)
No responses to those questions were received from the three city staff members.
At that time, out of 81 sworn officers on the Antioch police force, 31 were on some form of leave, most for the text investigation, leaving only 50 sworn officers actively working. As previously reported, most of the officers caught up in the scandal only received some of the text messages but didn’t send any. (See related articles here and here)
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in response to a resident claiming none of the officers were still on leave due to the text scandal, questions were sent to Reed, Interim Police Chief Brian Addington and Mike Rains, attorney for the Antioch Police Officers Association.
They were asked if that statement was correct, if all the officers had returned to work and if any of them had been terminated.
Reed responded simply, “The process is still ongoing.”
Addington wrote, “That is incorrect, but I can’t comment further.”
However, Rains shared more details. He wrote, “We have not resolved all the cases. Some are resolved, and some officers have returned to work or will be returning, although some have been terminated.”
“I won’t discuss the outcome of administrative cases until all are concluded, probably in a week – 10 days,” he added.
According to a post by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, entitled, “April Police Staffing Update”, of the 115 sworn officer positions approved in the city budget, there are currently 89 sworn officers on the force, including nine Community Service Officers. Of that amount 39 are patrol officers. His report also shares that there are six officer candidates currently in the Police Academy and seven more are preparing to enter the academy this month.
But it doesn’t mention how many sworn officers are currently active. A question was emailed early Thursday afternoon to both Reed and Addington asking how many of the 80 non-CSO sworn officers are currently active.
UPDATE #1: They did not respond before end-of-business hours on Thursday. However, when asked if he had any comment, APOA Vice President Sgt. Loren Bledsoe responded, “The APOA cannot comment on personnel matters; however, we look forward to the conclusion of the investigation so we can focus on rebuilding.”
UPDATE #2: On Friday, Interim Chief Addington provided the following department staffing details, writing, “As you may be aware, staffing levels can change daily. With that said, as of today, APD staffing levels are as follows:
115 – Authorized sworn staff
77 – Current sworn staff
5 – Modified duty (working but not able to work at full capacity)
By Antioch Recreation Department & Celebrate Antioch Foundation
Locations: Antioch Water Park & Waldie Plaza
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
From Earth Day to Arbor Day, let’s work together to build a stronger, cleaner, more beautiful Antioch! Join us for our kick-off event happening Saturday, April 20th to begin our service to the community. Choose to serve downtown near Waldie Plaza or at the Antioch Water Park before heading to the Antioch Community Center for a volunteer lunch. End the week with us on Arbor Day helping to reach our goal of planting over 100 trees throughout the city!
Volunteers helping to clean up our downtown area will check-in at 9am at the Nick Rodriquez Community Center at 213 F Street in historic, downtown Rivertown Others who want to plant flowers will meet check-in at 9:00am at the Antioch Water Park in Prewett Family Park at 4701 Lone Tree Way.
An Appreciation Lunch will be held for volunteers from 12pm-1pm at the water park.
Please bring work gloves. Bags and grabbers will be provided.
What is Earth Day?
First held globally on April 22, 1970, Earth Day promotes worldwide demonstrations of support for environmental protection. Attention is drawn to the achievements made by the environmental protection movement and awareness is brought to methods of protecting the Earth’s natural resources. Celebrated by billions around the world, Keep Antioch Beautiful is just one of the ways our community celebrates Earth Day.
What is Arbor Day?
First celebrated in the U.S. in 1872, Arbor Day encourages public attention to the importance of trees in our ecosystem. Planting, relocating, and even climbing trees are encouraged along with learning more about the myriad of ways trees function in our environment and help us all to exist.
This year’s community services:
Planting Flowers | Antioch Water Park | #10874
9:00am Check in
9:30-11:30 Planting Projects
12:00pm Volunteer Lunch
Trash Cleanup | Waldie Plaza | #10875
9:00am Check in
9:30-11:30 Trash Clean Up
12:00pm Volunteer Lunch
Planting over 60 trees | Hansen Park | #10876
Arbor Day – April 26, 2024
Ways to Get Involved:
Register for planting at the Antioch Water Park
Register for trash pickup in and around Waldie Plaza
Register to plant trees throughout the city on Arbor Day
Join in on our #KeepAntiochBeautiful campaign:
From Earth Day to Arbor Day (April 22nd – April 26th) show us how YOU and your family #KeepAntiochBeautiful. Post a picture of you, your family, friends, or coworkers performing an act of beautification for the city with the hashtag #KeepAntiochBeautiful AND tag the Antioch Recreation Department (@antiochrec_ca) to be entered into our raffle. On Arbor Day, three lucky entries will be chosen to each win a prize dedicated to them and their efforts toward the beautification of our lovely city!
Maps show the locations for the proposed Leung Property project in the Sand Creek Focus Area (left) and Rancho Meadows off E. 18th Street. Source: City of Antioch
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting, sans Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, the Antioch City Council heard about two proposed new-home developments, one in the Sand Creek Focus Area and one on the far north side of the city. The mayor was in Washington, D.C. for the annual American Public Transit Association Legislative Conference, representing Tri Delta Transit for which he currently serves as chair.
Not all of the council members were supportive of the Richland Communities – Leung Property project adjacent to The Ranch development but all four offered enthusiastic support for the DeNova Homes’ Rancho Meadows project.
Renderings of the proposed Leung Property project Clustered Single Family Detached homes. Source: Richland Communities.
435-Home Leung Property Project in Sand Creek
Kyle Masters with Richland Communities spoke about the proposed 160-acre project on what’s known as the Leung property in the Sand Creek area across Deer Valley Road and south from the Kaiser Antioch Medical Center. (See Agenda Item 6)
The developer is proposing 435 units which includes 50 conventional single family detached units, 385 clustered single family detached residential units, and 159 row townhomes, according to the staff report and developer’s presentation.
Renderings of the proposed Leung Property project Clustered Attached Townhomes. Source: Richland Communities.
“We’re looking at it more as an extension of our project, The Ranch project,” which is located just to the north. The first phase of that 1,100-home development was approved by the council last June. The proposed project is labeled, The Ranch – Phase 4.
“This provides more of a range of housing,” Masters continued. “A price point we may not have seen out there in Sand Creek. We see this as a second phase to The Ranch project.”
He said the project will, “provide a more affordable community. Lowering the entry point to homebuyers.”
Leung Property project Site Plan. Source: Richland Communities
During council discussion, District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica shared of his displeasure that neither developer had reached out to him prior to the council meeting.
“I really wish someone would have picked up the phone. But that didn’t occur. I learned of them by pulling up the agenda on Friday afternoon,” he stated. “So, developers, please communicate with us. Give me a call, so we have time to go over them and see how the developments will affect the community.”
Both District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock and and Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson, who chaired the meeting, spoke of the desire for inclusionary housing. District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker wanted to update the City’s General Plan which was last updated in 2003 before approving more housing in the Sand Creek area.
“The council adopted a housing element in 2023,” Acting Community Development Director and City Planner Steve Scudero responded. “We are almost to the point to bring a contract to hire a consultant to develop that (inclusionary housing) ordinance.”
Renderings of the proposed Leung Property project Clustered Single Family Detached homes. Source: Richland Communities.
“I live in a development that’s cluster housing. If you can figure out a way to make garbage service work, because it’s not working in my neighborhood,” Wilson shared.
“When I talk about inclusionary housing it doesn’t have to be there. It could be a credit for somewhere else,” Ogorchock added.
Asked by Wilson about not seeing any single-story homes in the plan, Masters responded. We’re just not at that level of detail, yet. We’re probably two to three years before coming back to you with this.”
“Most people are hoping we won’t be here, by then,” Torres-Walker responded. “But we’ll see what happens.”
Renderings of proposed Rancho Meadows Project homes. Source: DeNova Homes
143-Home Project with 6 Affordable Rental Units in Northeast Antioch
The other project proposed by DeNova Homes, is for a 143-home development off Vineyard Drive north of E. 18th Street. It includes six affordable rental units working with Yellow Roof Foundation. (See Agenda Item 7)
According to the city staff report, the residential development consists of 137 single family detached homes on approximately 2,600 square foot lots and six renter-occupied homes on 4,200 square foot lots designed for people who are at risk of being unhoused. The non-profit foundation is proposed to own and manage the six rentals.
Trent Sanson of DeNova Homes spoke during the presentation and responded to the councilmember’s questions.
Resident Andrew Becker, who usually opposes market-rate housing developments, spoke in support of the project.
During the council discussion Ogorchock spoke first saying, “I truly like the project. I think the lots are way small on this one. I think the park’s small. I’d like to see a bigger park. I’d also like to see a community garden.”
Agreeing with Torres-Walker, she said, “We have to have bathrooms in our parks.”
“I’m happy with Yellow Roof coming to town,” Ogorchock continued.
“I’d like to see walkability and trails,” she added.
Rancho Meadows Preliminary Development Plan. Source: DeNova Homes
Torres-Walker also liked Yellow Roof’s participation and hoped the homes would provide for transition into home ownership.
She advocated for larger sized back yards.
“I’m not a big supporter of gated communities,” Torres-Walker continued. “You can’t have a public park in a gated community. If it is, then you might want to rethink it being a gated community.”
“Is it affordable. I could be like everyone else saying you need a better paying job. People saying, ‘we need housing for all income levels. There has not been enough housing for low-income working families.
“15-minute cities. We use to live in those communities until we were pushed out with increasing rents,” Torres-Walker stated. “I just hope it actually has a pathway to home ownership.”
“I like the location…the fact that we’re doing this, that you put Yellow Roof in there,” Barbanica stated. “When a developer steps and does that and puts six units in there with ADU’s the money has to come from somewhere, either market-rate homes or smaller lots.
“You’re taking six units and saying, ‘come in here and pay whatever you can afford,’” he continued. “I do appreciate the fact that you are doing this in Antioch.”
“A little bit larger lots, if you can,” Barbanica added.
“They did call me, because it’s in my district…for the record,” Torres-Walker interjected.
First Floor Plan of the proposed Rancho Meadows rental homes which will be owned and managed by Yellow Roof Foundation. Source: DeNova Homes
“The individuals that go into these houses with lower rents, part of the money is set aside for them to get into home ownership,” Wilson inquired.
Confirming what she said, Sanson shared, “We try to keep it to a three-year program so people can get their financial affairs in order. We want to help more and more people that we can. Then they graduate on to home ownership.”
“I love that program but if you could add a couple more affordable units,” Wilson added. “I can support this project.”
Sanson then stated his company will work with city staff and include what was shared by the council members to finalize the project plan. Once ready, it will then be heard by the Planning Commission before returning to the council for a final vote.
