Screenshot of El Campanil Theatre building listing on realty.com 9/2/26.
But wasn’t placed on council meeting agenda for discussion and vote
Council voted unanimously both times to just receive and file annual reports of available funds from developer fees
“We did talk to the current owner that he would entertain a sale to the City…we got blind-sided…” – Councilwoman Torres-Walker on this year’s efforts for the City to buy the building
By Allen D. Payton
In response to questions sent to Antioch City staff multiple times beginning Friday, August 28 and to staff and council members on Friday, Sept. 4, it was learned by the Herald on Tuesday, Sept. 8, that the City had more than enough funds to purchase the El Campanil Theatre in both 2023 before the first sale to a private owner, and prior to this year’s sale, as well.
In fact, according to a staff report to the council on Dec. 9, 2025, the City had over $7 million by June 30, 2025, sitting in a fund, as District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker recently claimed, that can be used to “acquire existing buildings with the intent to convert them into Community Centers.” That is more than enough to have covered the $1.5 million asking price by the current owner and seller. In addition, by June 30, 2023, the month after the first sale of the theater to a private party closed, the City had almost $5.5 million in that same fund. Plus, the Fiscal Year 2021-22 report shows as of June 30, 2022, the fund had a balance of over $4.2 million. So, the City also had enough funds to purchase the theater in 2023 for the $800,000 asking price. (See fourth subsection of related article)
Source: City of Antioch
Questions to Staff and Council if Development Fees Could Be Used to Purchase Theater, More
The questions were sent to City Attorney Lori Asuncion (pronounced uh-SUN-shun), Acting Community & Economic Development Director Kevin Scudero and Acting City Manager Ana Cortez, but since they had not yet responded by Friday night, Sept. 4, those same questions plus, a few more, were then emailed to them, the mayor and all four council members, and City PIO Jaden Baird. Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas informed the Herald last Wednesday that he would be out of town and unreachable for the following two weeks, and an auto-response email shared that Baird is no longer with the City of Antioch.
They were informed of what Torres-Walker said, that she and Freitas were looking into having the City use development impact fees to purchase the El Campanil Theater and she said there are millions of dollars just sitting there. They were also informed that after researching it on the state’s website, this reporter could not find any legal limitations under the definition of “other civic and community facilities.” They were then provided with a link to the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s webpage regarding the impact fees, Residential Impact Fees in California | California Department of Housing and Community Development and asked the following questions:
“Can they be used by the City to purchase the El Campanil Theatre building? How much in impact fees collected does the City currently have? Why are they sitting there? What were they collected for? What nexus was determined in the study?” and “can the City change the use of the funds after the fact?” They were also asked, “what else can the funds be used for?”
Source: City of Antioch
Development Impact Fees Available to Acquire Community Centers
Scudero responded Tuesday evening with, “The development impact fee program adopted by the city in 2014 accounts for Community Center Expansion as part of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Development Impact Fee. This fee could be used to construct new Community Centers or acquire existing buildings with the intent to convert them into Community Centers.”
He continued writing, “Here is the link to the annual AB 1600 reports that the city files detailing the amount of development impact fees collected and expended in each fiscal year: https://www.antiochca.gov/299/AB1600-Reports.
“That page also has the 2014 study that details the fee program and cost allocation for the fees collected. We are currently in the process of updating the development impact fee study which will involve looking at the current needs of the city and identifying new projects that will need to be constructed to accommodate new development.”
According to the League of California Cities, “A development impact fee is a monetary exaction other than a tax or special assessment that is charged by a local governmental agency to an applicant in connection with approval of a development project for the purpose of defraying all or a portion of the cost of public facilities related to the…project.”
According to City staff, Assembly Bill (AB) 1600, passed in 1987, is part of California statutes that “are collectively known as the ‘Mitigation Fee Act’ and imposes specific requirements on cities that chose to collect development fees” including issuing an annual report within six months of the end of the fiscal year.
The fees can only be “Collected for Capital Facility, Equipment, and Infrastructure Improvements, Cannot Fund Existing Needs…of the City’s existing population, and Must Be Based on a Rational Nexus” i.e. “a reasonable…connection, between new growth and development and the need for a new facility or improvement” and “must be structured such that the revenue generated does not exceed the cost of providing the facility or improvement for which the fee is imposed.”
There are four impact fees imposed on new development in the City: one for General Administration, another for Public Works, a third for Police Facilities and Equipment, and a fourth for Parks and Recreation Facilities, each with a separate, designated fund.
Source: City of Antioch
Council Aware of Fund Balances Last December and in December 2022 But Did Not Discuss Using Money
The latest report for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year presented to the Council during their Regular Meeting on Dec. 9, 2025 (see Item 6.Q.), shows an Ending Balance in the Parks and Rec (Fund 324) of $7,404,937.33. So, the City did have the money to purchase the El Campanil Theatre this year for the $1.5 million asking price.
Yet, during the Dec. 9th council meeting, that agenda item on the Consent Calendar was not pulled by any council member for the Council to discuss use of the funds before they voted 5-0 to receive and file the report as part of approving all but four other items. (See 5:27:15 mark of meeting video)
The report also shows that at the end of the 2022-23 Fiscal Year, which was on June 30, 2023, the fund had a balance of $5,491,281.75. In addition, the 2021-22 Fiscal Year report, which shows an Ending Balance of $4,218,197, was presented to the Council during their regular meeting on Dec. 13, 2022. (See Item 4.H.)
Thus, the City also had plenty of money to purchase the theater in 2023 and could have for just $800,000. Yet, during that meeting, the Council did not remove that item from the Consent Calendar either, to discuss use of the money available in the fund before voting 5-0 to receive the report and approve all the other items. (See 1:23:30 mark of meeting video)
Source: City of Antioch
One Councilmember Made Requests to Agendize Protection, But Not Purchase of El Campanil Theater
A montage of council meeting videos by the ContraCosta.news posted on the Facebook page, shows council members speaking about the theater and one repeatedly requesting to be placed on a future meeting agenda an item for protecting, but not purchasing it. During their meeting on May 13, 2025, under Council Communications and Future Agenda Items, District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson asked, “Can we have an agenda item on potential historical sites in the city and how we protect them?”
“Alright,” Mayor Ron Bernal said while taking notes.
“I put that on because I reached out to Councilman Freitas about this because I’m concerned about the El Campanil that it’s not a registered historical site…that someone could come in, purchase it and demolish it,” the councilwoman added.
Freitas responded, “So, I would just suggest we put, dash, because it really is El Campanil.”
“Specific to El Campanil,” Bernal interjected.
“Right?” Freitas asked Wilson. “Right,” she replied.
“So, the Carnegie is completely separate,” Bernal stated. He was referring to the building at 519 F Street, which, according to the Carnegie Libraries website, “has housed the Senior Citizens Center, City Recreation Department, and Antioch Historical Centers” and more recently was leased to a church.
Then during the council meeting on Nov. 4, 2025, Wilson reiterated, “I just wanted to remind or get an update on making sure our El Campanil Theatre is a historical landmark, and I think the Carnegie Library so nobody can come in and demolish it. I wanted to get an update on that.” She repeated the request during the council meeting on Feb. 20, 2026, saying while reading from notes, “Agendize historical sites in Antioch. I think this is getting confused with my other item in regards to identifying sites in Antioch and getting them on the California historical registry so we can protect them.”
Then, most recently, during their meeting last month, on August 25, Torres-Walker repeated what she said in her video posted on Facebook (referred to above) about Freitas and her discussing the theater since last year. But she did not request to place on a council meeting agenda the possible purchase of the theater as it was already in escrow.
Torres-Walker Explains What Transpired This Year
Screenshot of Torres-Walker video about the possible use of development impact fees by the City to purchase the El Campanil Theatre posted on her official Facebook page Aug. 24, 2026.
When reached for comment, Torres-Walker said the City did try to buy the theater building this year and shared details of what she, Freitas and City staff did in their efforts to purchase it, possibly using development impact fees in the Parks and Rec Fund.
“It was $8 million when I brought it up,” she stated referring to the balance in that fund.
About the sale she said, “How I found out this year was seeing a video on Instagram of the pastor in the theater,” (the same as this reporter).
“In July, it was me, Don, Ana Cortez, Shahad and Sharon and the conversation didn’t include ‘this needs to be a rushed process to stop a sale,’” Torres-Walker said referring to Freitas, the acting city manager, the City’s Recreation Department Director Shahad Wright, and current El Campanil Theatre Preservation Foundation board president Sharon Sobel Idul.
Based on the timeline shared by the pastor last week, the church’s offer was accepted after that meeting was held.
“I told Don, last year, we had to do something,” she continued. “I was told the theater was being sold to a church. But we found out that was the AMC (Deer Valley Theaters).” As previously reported, that building, located on Lone Tree Way, was sold to The Bay Area Pentacostals church, whose building in Pittsburg burned in 2022.
“We did talk to the current owner that he would entertain a sale to the City,” Torres-Walker stated referring to Tung Bui. (See related article) “It was brought up at the council that this needed to be a discussion. We have this 90-day list thing. So, it should be on the list that I’ve been asking for over the last 60 days.”
At the end of each council meeting agenda under Council Communications and Future Agenda Items, it reads, “any Council Member may place an item for discussion and direction on a future agenda. Timing determined by Mayor and City Manager – no longer than 90 days.”
However, that item is not included on Special Council Meeting agendas, and no request regarding discussing the theater was made at the end of the regular council meetings on May 12, May 26, June 9, June 23, July 28 or Aug. 11. Not until the Aug. 25th meeting was the theater brought up by Torres-Walker, as mentioned above, after the conditional sale to the church. (See related article) It was during the meeting on April 28th that the Council last discussed one item from their previous 90-Day List, which was to hold a joint meeting between the Council and the Police Oversight Commission.
“Ana Cortez did speak to the owner,” Torez-Walker added. “Me and Don were trying to see if he would entertain a sale to the City and I had questions for the owner because we knew it was on the market.”
“We were all blindsided, because the last conversation we had with Sharon was that the owner was excited about the City buying it and keeping it as an arts and cultural center for the city,” Torres-Walker stated.
“David Storrer told me about the development impact fees. I said, ‘is this a real option?’ He said he was going to look into it,” referring to the City’s then-Acting Community and Economic Development Director, “and he would talk to the Parks and Rec Director,” she continued. “I went to Don and told him about the development impact fees, that this would be an opportunity to bring the Carnegie Library back on and potentially purchase the El Campanil Theatre.”
“Don met with David Storrer, and they were going through legal to make sure it passed what David called, ‘the smell test,’” said Torres-Walker. “Conversations with David Storrer started back in March. David’s contract was terminated in June or July. But things were already in motion.”
“We met with Sharon in July at Monica’s,” the councilwoman stated. “Then conversations started with the City with either the seller or his broker. Ana said he was excited about being in conversations with the City about purchasing the theater and to move forward with an option from the City.”
“Then this video goes out by Pastor Eli of Legendary,” she shared. “I get it if you’re a private property owner, you’re going to go where the money is.”
“I was blind-sided because I didn’t know there was another offer on the table,” Torres-Walker exclaimed. “I thought we were in, right? I thought we were working things out.”
“This is not about being against any church. We can’t discriminate,” she stated. “It was never about a church; it was about preserving arts and culture in downtown. That was the goal before we even knew a sale was taking place.”
About using the development impact fees and what they can be used for Torres-Walker shared, “We have to think about how we’re spending taxpayer dollars. There was no specifics. It didn’t name any projects. It was broad enough terms to interpret what is allowed.”
Asked if she had received the statement from Scudero sent to the Herald she said, “No, I haven’t heard back from staff and I was unaware of Kevin making a statement.” However, the councilwoman was reminded of the annual reports received by the council, including the last one in December with the details of the balance in each fund.
“Once David Storrer left and Bessie was placed on leave and the conversation transferred to Ana, and Kevin was brought in and asked if he could find out about this. So, we’re all playing catch up,” Torres-Walker explained, referring to City Manager Bessie Scott who has been on paid leave since May 5th.
“Staff never tells us what monies can be used for. We have to ask,” the councilwoman stated. “David Storrer said, ‘I don’t know why council isn’t being informed you need to be spending this money.’ Because it is for improvements.”
“Once we found out about it, Councilman Freitas looked into using them,” said Torres-Walker. “The only reason we didn’t want to do a rush job is me and Mayor Pro Tem Freitas didn’t want it to be half-baked and brought to the council. Then we got caught in the trap that we didn’t know we had enough time and we got blind-sided by the sale.”
“We have to be careful speaking on the sale of private property,” she acknowledged. “Because if it puts the sale in jeopardy, we could face potential lawsuits if the sale to Legendary doesn’t go forward.”
“The option to work with the church if they get the keys on the 28th, you can only work together through collaboration,” Torres-Walker stated. “This issue has brought together unlikely partners because people care about this building.”
“I think the challenge I’m faced with is that I’ve been hearing some people say it’s the structure, I’ve heard others say it’s arts and culture. Either way it’s brought people together,” she added.
The councilwoman then switched her focus to the future of the city’s historic downtown, known as Rivertown.
“I think what we should focus on are what are the other opportunities,” she stated. “We’re still in conversations about security downtown, about the Economic Development Commission, Department and Director. We need to look at the mission and purpose of the commission. Oh, and the Rivertown Standing Committee – we have not met since I was elected. Even when me and Don started talking about meeting, the former council member before I was in, that was their thing, so, everyone else pulled out of the space. What we need is to talk about the standing committee and if it’s a pet project of a council member, it dies when they leave. It needs to be championed by the community.”
“Form an Ad Hoc committee and form a commission for Rivertown, downtown or whatever or a task force,” Torres-Walker continued. “Because an ad hoc committee gives council members free reign, rather than a standing committee which has to comply with the Brown Act, with notices and minutes, and two members who make a quorum, which limits the dialogue and people talking at us and us looking at information and people don’t want that right now.”
Again, Freitas informed the Herald last week that he will be unavailable while on vacation for two weeks. Once he has returned and if the City’s mayor pro tem offers any comments, they will be added to this article.
Bernal Was Not Asked to Agendize Purchase of Theater, Did Not Help Church
Mayor Bernal was asked if any of the council members had requested the matter of purchasing the El Campanil Theatre be placed on a meeting agenda for discussion in the past year to either take over the theater or purchase it. He responded simply, “No.”
Bernal was also asked if he was aware the theater was for sale this year before it went public last month. The mayor responded, “Yes. As Tamisha may have told you she, Don and Bessie were working together to find out more about it. I was not involved due to obvious Brown Act implications,” referring to the state’s Open Meeting Law.
Finally, he was asked if he helped the church purchase the theater as has been one of the rumors being spread to which he responded, “No.”
Questions for Current Owner
Questions were sent to current owner Tung Bui Tuesday evening asking if he spoke with Sobel Idul and Cortez or if his broker, Michael Temby did, and if he had anything else to share about what Torres-Walker said regarding entertaining an offer from the City. He was also asked, if it’s true, why he did not give the City enough time to make an offer. But he didn’t respond prior to publication time.
Questions for Theatre Board President
Similar questions were sent to foundation board president Sobel Idul Wednesday evening. But she did not respond prior to publication time.
Questions for Acting City Manager, Mayor
Cortez was appointed Acting City Manager effective May 6, 2026. Following receipt of the information from Scudero she was then asked via email Tuesday night and voicemail on Wednesday, since she was appointed acting city manager did any of the council members ask her to speak with the mayor about placing on a meeting agenda a discussion of using the funds from the Parks and Recreation Facilities Development Impact Fee to purchase the El Campanil Theatre, or were there any discussions about the matter outside of a council meeting with the mayor or council members.
Additional questions regarding what Torres-Walker shared were emailed to Cortez Wednesday evening.
She did not respond prior to publication time.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
50-year-old Carlos Armando Davenport of Pittsburg was arrested in the Antioch City Hall parking lot on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Photos: Antioch PD
50-year-old Pittsburg man
By Allen D. Payton
According to the Antioch Police Department, yesterday, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 3:29 p.m. an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) alert notified officers that a reported stolen U-Haul van had entered Antioch.
Officer Molina located the vehicle a short time later in the downtown area and attempted to stop it as it pulled into the City Hall parking lot. The driver got out of the vehicle and ran, leading Officer Molina on a foot pursuit.
Officer Molina caught up with the driver and took him into custody. The stolen vehicle was recovered.
ALPR cameras are one of the tools our officers use to help locate stolen vehicles and identify vehicles associated with criminal activity. In this case, the technology provided the alert, and Officer Molina’s quick response and police work led to the recovery of the vehicle and an arrest.
Another stolen vehicle recovered and another example of technology helping our officers respond quickly when it matters.
Screenshot of incident report on the CitizenRIMS map. Source: Antioch PD
“The van was reported stolen from the Concord U-Haul on Monument on Sept. 8th,” Mellone added and shared the suspect is 50-year-old “Carlos Armando Davenport of Pittsburg born 5/19/1976.”
He is charged with a felony for 148(A)(1) PC resisting arrest and possessing a stolen vehicle,496D(A) PC, for which he could face imprisonment for 16 months or two or three years or a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
Thanks to witness info, technology and detective work
Both held on $100,000 bail
By Lt. Michael Mellone, Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH, Calif. — The Antioch Police Department has arrested two 18-year-old Antioch residents following an investigation into the August 31 robbery of Antioch Jewelers on Wild Horse Road off Hillcrest Avenue.
At approximately 11:00 a.m. on August 31, Antioch Police officers responded to Antioch Jewelers after two masked suspects entered the business. One suspect sprayed the store owner with pepper spray while the second used a hammer to smash a glass jewelry display case. The suspects removed trays of jewelry and fled from the business.
An important break in the case came from witnesses who observed the suspects and their getaway vehicle. One witness was able to obtain the vehicle’s license plate and provide that information to police. That information, combined with investigative work by responding officers and the Antioch Police Department’s automated license plate reader system, helped investigators quickly develop leads associated with the suspect vehicle.
Later that day, officers and detectives located the suspect vehicle parked and unoccupied in Antioch. The vehicle was seized as evidence as detectives continued working to identify those responsible.
The following morning, September 1, Antioch Police detectives continued pursuing leads developed during the investigation and located 18-year-old Adrian Ramel Cortez in Antioch (born 11/22/2007). Detectives conducted surveillance as Cortez traveled through the city before coordinating with uniformed officers to take him into custody near West 4th and K streets.
Photo: Antioch PD
At the time of Cortez’s arrest, officers recovered a significant amount of jewelry from a bag he was carrying. The store owner later identified the recovered jewelry as property taken during the robbery. Officers also discovered a concealed .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun in Cortez’s possession following his arrest.
Detectives continued working the case after the first arrest. Additional investigative efforts led them to identify 18-year-old Zaimarri Tylann Williams of Antioch (born 3/16/2008) as the second suspect. On September 10, Antioch Police detectives served a search warrant at an Antioch residence as part of the continuing robbery investigation. Williams was located during the operation and taken into custody. Detectives also collected additional evidence associated with the investigation.
Cortez and Williams were arrested in connection with the robbery and are accused of violations including robbery (PC 211) and felony vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)).
This investigation highlights the value of community cooperation, technology, and persistent investigative work. The witness who recognized the importance of obtaining the suspect vehicle’s license plate provided officers with a critical piece of information at the very beginning of the investigation. APD’s automated license plate reader system helped detectives build upon that information, and investigators continued developing evidence that led to the identification and arrests of both suspects.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Arturo Becerra at (925) 779-6937 or email abecerra@antiochca.gov.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Case No.: 26-8297
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 145-pound Cortez is non-Hispanic, but also listed as unknown, and is being held in a Custody Alternative Facility on $100,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 16 at 8:30 a.m. in Dep’t. 5 in Martinez.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch tall 160-pound Williams is non-Hispanic, but also listed as Black, and is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility also on $100,000 bail.
Stand Up on the Delta by local non-profit connects U.S. veterans with community and critical services like housing and jobs
By Ella Sogomonian
Antioch, CA –Delta Veterans Group continues its mission to serve those who served our country. The local non-profit is inviting U.S. veterans on Friday, Sept.11 to the VFW Post 6435 in Antioch for the inaugural “Stand Up on the Delta”. This one-day event (video here) connects vets with medical treatment, housing, jobs, as well as mental health and drug counseling. In addition to these critical services, the event builds a sense of camaraderie for veterans who have a hard time creating a sense of community after they end their military service. DVG partners with East Bay Regional parks to take vets and their families fishing on the Delta shores. They will provide a backpack, collapsible fishing pole, tackle and lunch will be catered. Competitions, such as farthest cast, will also take place. There is a 50 veteran limit for the fishing experience.
“As a vet myself I understand how critical it is to extend a helping hand and create a welcoming space,” said J.R. Wilson, Founder of Delta Veterans Group. “Veterans serve their country and community so we give them a new mission to serve the community and these events bring them together to make that happen.”
Since 2015, the non-profit has helped more than thousands of veterans by finding permanent housing, serving over 23,000 meals, providing half-a-million-dollars in dental care, and sleeping bags.
Who: U.S. military veterans and their families
What: Stand Up on the Delta resource event
When: Friday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: TWO LOCATIONS: Resource fair at VFW Post 6435, 815 Fulton Shipyard Road Antioch, CA 94509 & fishing experience at Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline Pier at Bridgehead Road at Wilbur Avenue in Antioch, CA 94509
Photos: (Left) MTC (Right) Credit John Huseby, Caltrans
Carpools allowed in bus lane only during weekday peak periods
By Cindy Ramirez, CHP, Bart Ney, Caltrans and John Goodwin, Bay Area Toll Authority
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9, 2026. . . The California Highway Patrol, in partnership with Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority, this month will resume concentrated enforcement of the laws governing the westbound approach to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. This includes strict enforcement of vehicle-type and vehicle-occupancy laws in the bus/carpool lane that bypasses the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza at the far-right side of the roadway.
This lane — which can be accessed by traffic approaching the bridge from Interstate 80, Interstate 880 or West Grand Avenue — may be used by buses, motorcycles or carpools with three or more occupants during the weekday commute periods of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Only buses may lawfully use the lane at other times, including all day on Saturdays and Sundays. Drivers cited for improper use of the bus/carpool lane outside weekday commute hours are subject to a fine of $490 or more.
“The signs at access points to the lane are clear and unambiguous. They read ‘Buses Only,’” noted Lt. Ed Clarke of the CHP’s Oakland Area. “But many drivers have not consistently followed the rule in recent years.” The CHP, Caltrans and BATA agree that focused enforcement will help address ongoing violations, improve compliance with the posted restrictions, and ensure the lane remains available for its intended use.
Acting Caltrans District 4 Director and BATA Commissioner Doanh Nguyen reminds drivers that the toll booths at the Bay Bridge and other state-owned toll bridges will soon be a thing of the past. “The transition to open-road tolling already is underway, with the new system set to debut next year at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge,” he said. “The comprehensive reconfiguration of the approaches to every state-owned toll bridge will improve safety and efficiency by allowing drivers to pay their tolls without having to slow down to squeeze past the obsolete toll booths.”
BATA administers all toll revenues from the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Caltrans owns and operates the state highway system, including state-owned toll bridges such as the Bay Bridge.
La Policía de Caminos de California (CHP) se enfoca en el acceso al puente Bay Bridge para una campaña de reforzar el control
Los vehículos compartidos solo pueden circular por el carril de autobuses durante las horas pico de los días laborables
SAN FRANCISCO, 9 de septiembre de 2026. . . La Policía de Caminos de California (CHP), en colaboración con Caltrans y la Autoridad de Peajes del Área de la Bahía, reanudará este mes la aplicación intensiva de las leyes que rigen el acceso en dirección oeste al puente San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Esto incluye la aplicación estricta de las leyes sobre el tipo y la ocupación de vehículos en el carril para autobuses y vehículos compartidos que evita la plaza de cobro del puente San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge por el lado extremo derecho de la carretera.
Este carril — al que pueden acceder los vehículos que se acercan al puente desde la Interestatal 80, la Interestatal 880 o West Grand Avenue — puede ser utilizado por autobuses, motocicletas o vehículos compartidos con tres o más ocupantes durante días laborables en los horarios pico de 5 a.m. a 10 a.m. y 3 p.m. a 7 p.m. Solo los autobuses pueden utilizar el carril en otros momentos legalmente, incluyendo todo el día los sábados y domingos. Los conductores
que reciban una infracción por el uso indebido del carril para autobuses y vehículos compartidos fuera de los horarios pico de los días laborables están sujetos a una multa de $490 o más.
“Las señales en los puntos de acceso al carril son claras e inequívocas. Dicen ‘Solo autobuses’,” señaló el teniente Ed Clarke del Área de Oakland de la CHP. “Sin embargo, muchos conductores han omitido cumplir la norma de forma consistente en los últimos años.” La CHP, Caltrans y la BATA coinciden en que una aplicación rigurosa de la ley ayudará a abordar las infracciones continuas, mejorará el cumplimiento de las restricciones establecidas y garantizará que el carril siga disponible para el uso previsto.
El director interino del Distrito 4 de Caltrans y comisionado de la BATA, Doanh Nguyen, recuerda a los conductores que las casetas de cobro en el puente de la Bahía y otros puentes de cuota de propiedad estatal pronto pasarán a ser historia. “La transición al sistema de cobro de cuotas en carretera abierta ya está en marcha, y está previsto que el nuevo sistema entre en funcionamiento el próximo año en el puente Richmond-San Rafael. La reconfiguración integral de los accesos a todos los puentes de cuota de propiedad estatal mejorará la seguridad y la eficiencia, al permitir que los conductores paguen sus cuotas sin tener que reducir la velocidad para pasar por las casetas de cobro obsoletas.”
BATA administra los ingresos de peajes de los siete puentes de peaje de propiedad estatal en la región. Caltrans es propietario y opera el sistema de carreteras estatales, incluyendo los puentes de cuota de propiedad estatal como el puente Bay Bridge.
Two locations to serveas partof the 42nd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day
By City of Antioch Recreation Department
Do you wish to see less litter around our marine environment? Join California’s more than 35,000 volunteers in cleaning up local areas and waterways for the 42nd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.
Volunteer alongside your families, friends, coworkers, scout troops, school groups and service clubs. Help us preserve wildlife by taking trash out of the environment and our waterways.
Register now and be part of our group of volunteers at the Antioch Marina and the Antioch Water Park.
Volunteer letters can be used toward community service hours, youth community engagement requirements, college and scholarship applications, and much more.
The Antioch Recreation Department is happy to provide letters highlighting the volunteer hours completed for this event for any participant or organization. Please email La’Nae Jackson to inquire about how to receive your volunteer letter for yourself or your organization.
How to Volunteer
To register for the Antioch Marina site: Click Here
To register for the Antioch Water Park site: Click Here
Lovable new mascot will bring fun, fresh ideas and a helping hand to Safeway shoppers, stores and community events
By Kent Streeb, Director of Public Affairs & Communications, Safeway Northern California Division
PLEASANTON, Calif. – There’s a fuzzy new face zipping through Safeway aisles that shoppers will soon be seeing often. Safeway Northern California Market introduced Scoot™, the market’s lovable new mascot and goodwill ambassador. Fun, furry and always ready to help, Scoot will guide shoppers toward great savings, fresh finds and family-friendly fun at Safeway stores and community events throughout Northern California, Northern Nevada and Hawaii.
With bright red fur, a leafy green sprout, signature Safeway visor, and red sneakers, Scoot is easy to spot and hard to forget. Scoot loves kids, people and lending a helping hand. Scoot will appear at community events, support hunger-relief initiatives, champion charitable causes and create memorable experiences for children and families. Whether Scoot is pointing shoppers toward a can’t-miss deal, sharing a healthy fresh dinner idea, or greeting families at a neighborhood celebration, Scoot’s mission is simple: make shopping more helpful, more rewarding and a whole lot more fun.
“Scoot may be new, but what Scoot represents has been a part of Safeway for generations: helping people save money, serving neighborhoods and making quality, fresh food and products easier to find,” said Kelly Mullin, Regional President of Marketing and Merchandising for Albertsons Companies California Region. “Scoot brings that spirit to life in a joyful new way. We believe Scoot will quickly become a familiar and beloved friend to children, families and shoppers throughout the communities we serve.”
Your Shortcut to Savings & Fresh Finds
Scoot will serve as a friendly guide at Safeway, helping shoppers discover:
Special savings and featured promotions
Peak-season produce and fresh food favorites
Freshest dinner ideas
New products and unexpected finds
Opportunities to support local communities and important causes
Shoppers will encounter Scoot in Safeway advertising, on social media, at pop-ins to stores, and at special events. Scoot will help point customers toward featured offers, digital coupons and some of Safeway’s biggest deals.
Showing Up for the Community
Like Safeway, Scoot’s role will extend well beyond the grocery aisle. In 2025, Safeway in Northern California donated $55 million in food and financial support to charitable organizations serving local communities. From food drives and charitable campaigns, to store celebrations and family events, Scoot will bring energy, smiles and a spirit of service to community appearances that will reinforce Safeway’s longstanding commitment to supporting local organizations and helping our neighbors in need. To celebrate Scoot’s arrival, Safeway will donate $5,000 to a local nonprofit.
Follow Scoot’s Adventures
Follow Scoot on Instagram and TikTok at @safewaysscoot for savings tips, fresh discoveries, community appearances and behind-the-scenes fun.
ScootTM word and design trademarks are owned by subsidiaries of Albertsons Companies, Inc.
About Safeway
Safeway is one of the most well-recognized grocery retail brands with a long-standing reputation for quality and service, proudly serving Northern California since 1926. Today, the company operates over 283 stores across Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii, under various banners, including Andronico’s, Safeway, and Pak N’ Save.
Safeway’s Antioch store is located at 3365 Deer Valley Road in the Crossings Shopping Center.
DA Investigators searching for additional victims in multi-state case
Held on $600k bail, has history of arrests
2nd Antioch man arrested for human trafficking this year
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, CA – Investigators with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office are asking the public for help identifying and contacting victims in a years-long human trafficking investigation.
Raymond Jamar Brooks, 32, of Antioch, (born 5/28/1994) is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility on $600,000 bail, facing multiple charges related to human trafficking. The investigation into Brooks’ alleged offenses found that he engaged in commercial sex acts with minors and adult woman through force, fraud, coercion and other means associated with sex trafficking.
The investigation has already identified several victims, whose accounts have uncovered evidence of trafficking activity spanning multiple states. To protect their privacy and safety, their identities are being withheld as the investigation continues.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Brooks, or who has additional information about his alleged involvement in sex trafficking in California or elsewhere, is urged to contact Senior Inspector Ann Shiraishi of the Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force at (925) 917-6857 or ann.shiraishi@contracostada.org.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Tip Line at *69 (925) 957-8658 to leave a tip for law enforcement. Confidential support and resources are also available through Community Violence Solutions at 1 (800) 670-7273.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall Brooks is non-Hispanic but also listed as Black, he was booked into custody on July 22, 2026, at 8:17 p.m. and his next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. in Dep’t. 5 in Martinez.
According to localcrimenews.com, Brooks has a history of arrests dating back to 2017, including by Antioch Police on April 7 this year for disobeying a domestic relations court order and for warrants or holds only on Jan. 3, 2019. He was also arrested in 2020 by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, and by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for procuring another person for purpose of prostitution on Jan. 5, 2019, and for pimping in 2017.
He’s the second Antioch man arrested this year for human trafficking. It was announced in February, the arrest of 38-year-old Keith Earnest Haywood. He was arrested again on July 30th and according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Haywood is charged with pandering, pimping, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit. He is now being held on remand at the Marsh Creek Detention Facility with bail set at $100,000. Haywood’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 5 in Martinez.
Asregadoo was asked where Brooks was arrested and by what agency. He responded, “Brooks was arrested in Antioch on April 9, 2026, by the Contra Costa County Probation Department for a probation violation. The Contra Costa DA’s Office leads the investigation in this case, since it runs the Human Trafficking Task Force in partnership with local police, the FBI, and community groups.
“Brooks’s next court date is 9/11/26 at 8:30 am in Department 29 (Judge Glenn Kim) at the A.F. Bray Courts Building in Martinez. This is a setting date, where the judge, prosecutor and defense attorney schedule future court dates. It’s typically a brief, administrative hearing.”
As co-chair of the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, the District Attorney’s Office is committed to a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach in its work with survivors of human trafficking and all other victims of crime. Any victim who comes forward in response to this request will be offered supportive services and resources.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
