By Diana Oyler, Sr. Deputy, Contra Costa County Administrator’s Office & Office of Communications & Media
(Martinez, CA) – Contra Costa County is seeking applicants to fill one vacancy on the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District Board of Trustees. County residents age 18 and older are encouraged to apply. The appointment, made by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, will be for a two or four-year term beginning January 7, 2027.
Established in 1927, the District provides public health services throughout Contra Costa County by controlling mosquitoes, rats, skunks, yellowjackets and other vectors that can transmit disease. These efforts help protect public health and prevent outbreaks that could disrupt recreational, residential, agricultural and industrial activities.
The District Board of Trustees meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every other month in Concord. Trustees receive a $100 monthly expense stipend, contingent on meeting attendance.
Applications are available by calling the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at (925) 655-2000 or by visiting https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418. Completed applications must be submitted to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St., Martinez, CA 94553, by 5 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2026.
Applicants should be available to participate in public interviews conducted virtually via Zoom on Monday, November 23, 2026.
– Student proficiency in math and English language arts rose slightly, though remains below pre-Covid levels, according to newly released California standardized test scores.
– Achievement gaps persist between Black and Latino students and white and Asian students.
– It’s likely still too early to see improvements from investments in early literacy.
California students’ proficiency in math and English language arts follows the same trend in 2026 as the past few years: incremental improvement from the year prior, with the majority of students below grade-level standards.
The state’s release of 2025-26 student test scores on Thursday showed slight growth in several areas, but California still hasn’t reached the elusive milestone of raising scores back to pre-Covid levels.
In English language arts, 49.3% of students scored proficient or advanced in 2025-26, up just a half percentage point from the previous year, according to the latest standardized test results released Thursday.
In math, the number of students earning a proficient or advanced score increased by 1.2 percentage points, with 38.4% earning proficient or advanced.
Prior to the pandemic, in 2018-19, 51.7% of California students met or exceeded state standards in English language arts, and 39.7% were proficient in math.
Fewer students — 36% — achieved a proficient or advanced score on the science test, though it was the subject with the most improvement. The portion of students meeting standards in science rose 3.3 percentage points since last year, and 6.1 points since before the pandemic.
“Today’s results tell a story of continued progress, but also of the work that remains ahead,” Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, said in a statement. “Our responsibility now is to build on this momentum and ensure that progress reaches every student and every community.”
Black and Latino students made larger gains than white and Asian students but yawning racial and ethnic achievement gaps remain. Black students were the only group to surpass pre-pandemic proficiency levels in both math and English.
While education leaders are often encouraged by academic growth, the pace of growth — half a percent to a little over a percent in most cases — is “unacceptable,” said Troy Flint, chief information officer at the California School Boards Association.
“It does not suggest that we have the right strategic or operational infrastructure in place to properly support our school districts and county offices of education in accelerating student achievement,” Flint said. “We need serious reforms to state level education governance and operations and assessment, or we will never deliver for our kids at the level that we need.”
Disparities persist among different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic groups
The number of proficient Black and Latino students remains far below their white and Asian peers, and similar gaps exist between students based on income.
The number of Black students reaching proficiency in English language arts increased 0.9 percentage points from last year to 33.7%. The number of proficient Latino students rose to 39.6%, a gain of 0.8 percentage points from last year. Asian students’ proficiency fell by 0.9 percentage points to 73.5%. About 61.7% of white students scored proficient in English language arts, a figure essentially flat from the prior year.
In math, about 21.5% of Black students scored proficient, a 1.5 percentage-point improvement from 2025, the highest jump across the four student groups. About 27% of the state’s Latino students scored proficient, 1.2 percentage points higher than 2025. Asian students (70.5% math proficiency) and white students (51.4%) saw more modest growth.
Although socioeconomically disadvantaged students improved in both subjects, most still did not meet standards. About six in 10 (61.1%) did not meet the English standards. Nearly three in four (72.6%) did not meet the math standards.
The achievement gap between students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and the rest of their peers remains at about 30 percentage points in both subjects.
Melissa Valenzuela-Stookey, research director at EdTrust West, called the test scores “sobering.”
“Once again, the results show glaring gaps in outcomes for Black and Latino students, Native American students, English learners and students from low-income households, which suggests that our systems still aren’t providing the supports and opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” Valenzuela-Stookey said.
No improvement in early reading yet
The percentage of California third graders who scored proficient or advanced on the English language arts test stayed flat, from 44.2% in 2024-25 to 44.1% in 2025-26.
The state has invested millions in improving how schools teach children to read, but it is likely too soon to see many results from the new policies. Last year, schools began screening all students in grades K-2 for risk of reading difficulties to provide support for kids who need it.
The children who benefited from that last year won’t take standardized tests until this school year. The State Board of Education only recently approved a list of literacy training programs for districts to use.
“While the state has gotten a lot more focused on improving reading, it’s not surprising it wouldn’t have an impact yet,” said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice and one of the advocates that pushed for the reading reforms. “The earliest you would see impacts from those policies directly would be this school year.”
English language proficiency
More than 133,000 English learners —15.4% — tested as proficient on the English Language Proficiency Assessment for California (ELPAC) in 2025-26. Under a new state law, those students are now eligible to be automatically reclassified as fluent and proficient in English. The percentage of English learners who achieved proficiency was similar to last school year.
English learners who have not yet achieved proficiency in English tend to do poorly on standardized tests, but once they are reclassified as fluent in English, they often do better on tests than native English speakers.
In 2025-26, 60.9% of former English learners achieved proficiency in English language arts, compared to 53.5% of native English speakers.
Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together, a nonprofit advocacy group for English learners, said the scores show that the state needs to do more work to make sure English learners have full access to the curriculum in all subjects and to move more students to proficiency.
“Students who become proficient in English do not stop becoming part of the English learner success story,” Hernandez said.
Dashboard released simultaneously
For the first time this year, the California Department of Education released the test scores at the same time as the “dashboard,” the state’s accountability system. The dashboard measures schools’ improvement over time on test scores and on other measures, such as graduation, college and career readiness, suspension and chronic absenteeism.
The state gives schools a color of the rainbow ranging from red (signaling the least achievement or improvement), orange, yellow, green and blue (signaling the highest achievement).
The state gave schools an overall score of orange for English language arts, and yellow for math and science.
Jessica Sawko, director of education at Children Now, advocated for science to be included in the state’s accountability system because she said science helps prepare students for college and career.
She said it was “heartening” to hear that there was improvement in science scores, but the percentage of students achieving proficiency is much too low.
“Here we are at not even 40% of kids achieving proficiency or better. That’s more than half of the kids not there yet, and yet we’re at a yellow?” she said.
Antioch Unified School District’s Performance OverviewChart
By Diana Oyler, Sr. Deputy, Contra Costa County Administrator’s Office & Office of Communications & Media
(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants for the Public Law Library Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees was established pursuant to State law and County Ordinance to maintain a law library in Martinez.
The Board of Trustees is the governing body for the Law Library with the authority to determine personnel, fiscal, and administrative policies to fulfill the legal information needs of the community. County residents who are members of the State Bar and have an interest in public policy and library administration are encouraged to apply for this non-paid volunteer opportunity. The County Board of Supervisors will appoint to fill one vacancy for a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2027 and ending on Dec. 31, 2027. The Board of Trustees hold monthly in-person meetings in Martinez.
Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St., Martinez, CA 94553 no later than by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.
Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews to be conducted virtually via Zoom on Monday, November 23, 2026.
More information about the Contra Costa Public Law Library can be obtained by calling Director Amreet Sandhu at (925) 646-2783 or director@ll.cccounty.us, or visiting the Law Library website at http://www.cccpllib.org.
UC Multi-campus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPI) project for salinity management adaptation by UC Davis (MAIN), UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and UC Merced
By Brett Milligan, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design Director, Metamorphic Landscapes Lab & Maggie Gallagher, Geography Graduate Group,University of California, Davis
The Just Transitions in the Delta research team cordially invites the public to attend the project’s final public workshop and interactive exhibition at the Jean Harvie Community Center in Walnut Grove, CA on Thursday, November 5th from 9:00am – 4:00pm.
In addition, an interactive exhibition of research findings will be open to the public at the Jean Harvie Center from Tuesday, November 3rd – Saturday November 7th from 11:00am – 3:00pm.
For the past four years, the Just Transitions in the Delta Project has explored climate change and salinity management adaptation scenarios for the Delta with multiple communities, experts and public participants, and designed six Delta climate adaptation scenarios based on this public input. On November 5th, the project team – including interdisciplinary experts from across four UC campuses – will present the results of modeling of the future effects of these scenarios, as well as comparison of their performance across key social, ecological, and economic indicators.
However, salinity intrusion into the Delta was a challenge and first measured in the 1800’s and early 1900’s according to the California Water and Environmental Modeling Forum and, according to a 2010 Contra Costa Water District report, it was primarily natural and “the result of tides that move seawater into the system and are controlled in large part by the amount of fresh water passing through the system.” Much of the additional challenge today is due to the upstream and in-Delta diversion of fresh water for agricultural, residential and commercial uses, as well as south Delta pumping according to the Delta Stewardship Council.
The term Just Transition is used in the domains of climate, energy, and environmental justice and refers to efforts to reduce inequity in society. This project seeks to advance such efforts by democratizing science and decision making in the Delta through a participatory scenario planning process. This method of public engagement provides opportunities for all communities affected by Delta policy and planning outcomes to contribute to and inform efforts to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
The workshop and interactive public exhibition will focus on sharing the final outcomes of the project with the public, and receiving input on future directions for Delta climate adaptation and participatory planning. All workshop and exhibition participants will have an opportunity to cast their vote for the most preferred scenario.
Please join us for the exhibition, the workshop, or both!
Open House Exhibition: Daily, Tuesday November 3rd – Saturday November 7th, 11:00am – 3:00pm
All project content and research findings will be on display in an open gallery setting, with opportunities to immerse yourself in the future visions of the Delta at your own pace. The exhibit will consist of detailed scenario visualizations and interactive digital models that reveal how scenarios compare across a range of publicly defined criteria. Participants can cast their vote for most preferred scenario through an interactive water component of the exhibition.
Public Workshop: Thursday November 5th, 9:00am – 4:00pm (open gallery and reception from 9-10am)
This more structured event will include presentations by the project team, breakout sessions on focused topics, and group discussions. All activities will be aimed at sharing and reviewing the results of the project’s scenario planning process, with time for reflection on what was learned by all who have participated in the project. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Savor Local Flavors. Support Local Kids. Strengthen Our Community.
By Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch
It’s that time of the year friends. The Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch is excited to announce the date to our next Restaurant Tour is November 1st!
Tickets are just a $20 which gets you sizable samples from each of our 11 restaurants. Believe us when we say you will not leave this event hungry. All proceeds benefit local charities.
Food and drinks are not allowed to leave each restaurant and tickets cannot be shared.
Make sure to get your ticket punched to be eligible to win a prize.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kay Power at (925) 202-3519.
The Martins, the broken window of David’s rental car and one of his cameras that was stolen containing a photo of the bride, Antioch resident, Jenna Wesenhagen-Banks. Source: GoFundMe
Antioch native David Martin, Jr. seeks public’s help for return of photos, hard drives and equipment or replacement
By Kirsten Mitchell, Communications Associate, GoFundMe
The newlyweds Jenna Wesenhagen-Banks and Nick Banks on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Photo by Carla Taylor Acevedo on Facebook
An Antioch couple’s wedding photos were reportedly stolen from their photographer’s rental car in Oakland just three days after their ceremony, and now the community is helping them try to recover those memories. David Martin, Jr., an Antioch native now based in Southern California, returned to photograph Jenna and Nick Banks’ October 4 wedding. According to the GoFundMe, thieves took nearly all the equipment he uses to support his family, along with drives holding years of work and the only copies of the couple’s wedding photos. Loved ones are asking for help finding the stolen drives and memory cards while raising funds to replace his gear and refund the couple if their photos aren’t recovered.
“What should have been a lifetime of cherished memories vanished in an instant. David is devastated, not only by the loss of his livelihood, but by the thought that Jenna and Nick may never get to relive the most important moments of their special day. Cameras can be replaced. A wedding day cannot.”
In a video on the GoFundMe page entitled “Restore David’s Livelihood”, Martin, who owns David Martin Jr. Photography according to his Facebook page, and is based in Orange County, CA according to his website, says, “I “lost…80% of my equipment.”
According to a KTVU FOX2 news report, break-in of his rental car in downtown Oakland happened days after the wedding in which “gear worth $35,000, including two cameras, lenses, a drone, a laptop as well as a hard drive and memory cards with the couple’s photos” were taken.
Post on GoFundMeby Lina Martin for David Martin
“On October 7, David Martin, a hardworking photographer and family man, had his vehicle broken into in Oakland. Thieves stole nearly all of his professional photography equipment, including cameras, lenses, drone, a laptop, accessories and hard drives holding years of irreplaceable work.
“In a matter of minutes, David lost the tools he depends on to support his family.
“The most heartbreaking part is that the stolen memory cards and hard drive held the only copies of Jenna and Nick Banks’ wedding photos. The couple had been married just three days earlier, on October 4. What should have been a lifetime of cherished memories vanished in an instant. David is devastated, not only by the loss of his livelihood, but by the thought that Jenna and Nick may never get to relive the most important moments of their special day. Cameras can be replaced. A wedding day cannot.
“David is doing everything he can to make it right. If the photos aren’t recovered, he will refund Jenna and Nick in full. He’ll also photograph them again, at no cost, in their wedding attire so they have something beautiful to hold on to.
“The theft also hit David in the middle of a video project in the Bay Area. All of the footage he had already captured was lost, which means he has to reshoot from scratch and cover the cost of travel all over again, on top of replacing his gear.
“For 12 years, David has photographed weddings, families, and milestones for people across Los Angeles and Orange County. Photography isn’t just his passion. It’s how he puts food on the table for his family.”
Where your donation goes
“Your support will replace the cameras, lenses, lighting, drone, laptop, accessories and storage David needs to get back to work, cover the travel costs of reshooting his lost video project, and help fund a full refund to Jenna and Nick if their photos can’t be recovered.”
Help us find the photos
“There’s still a chance the drives turn up. If you see cameras, lenses, laptops, or hard drives being sold in the Oakland area, on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, or anywhere else, please reach out through the “Contact” button on this page. A police report has been filed (RD# 26-042959). Getting those drives and or SD/Express cards back is the only way Jenna and Nick get their wedding photos.”
How you can help
“Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. If you can’t donate, please share this page. The more people who see it, the better the chance someone spots the stolen gear.
“Let’s come together and help David get back behind the camera.
“Thank you for supporting David and his family.”
—————
As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, $14,215 has been raised from 54 donations of the total goal of $16,000.
A member of the public speaks after midnight during the Antioch City Council meeting on the topic of the Statement of Investment Policy as the few remaining audience members hold signs and Gaza flags and fight sleep early Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 2026. Video screenshot.
Would exclude investments in aerospace, coal, oil and gas, specifically in Chevron and BP, as well as Caterpillar whose heavy equipment products have been used in Gaza demolition
“I’m not sure this is right for primetime.” – Mayor Pro Tem Don Freitas
“…we exist within a genocidal government that invests in the military industrial complex…that also sells weapons to other genocidal governments. It is a conundrum because we’re existing right now on stolen, colonized land.” – Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker
“I’m not in support of changing our policy.” – Mayor Ron Bernal
By Allen D. Payton
Just before midnight Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Antioch City Council voted 4-0, with District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson absent, to extend the meeting that is usually to end by 11:00 p.m., until 1:00 a.m., to take up the matter of a proposed “Ethical Investing” policy that excludes certain industries and specific companies, because some of their products are used by Israel in Gaza. The proposals were developed by a work group that included City Treasurer Jorge Rojas, Jr., the City’s investment advisor, and three members of Contra Costa Divest, an activist group opposed to investing in oil, natural gas and coal, and more. But no decision was reached as council members said the proposed policy was too broad, they did not have enough information and shared concerns that it gave the City Treasurer too much power.
Proposed Policy Language
Under Section IV, entitled, “Ethical Investing”, the proposed policy includes the following language:
“It is the City’s objective to integrate socially responsible and ethical investing into investment decisions to the extent practicable and possible as a way to make a positive impact on human rights by minimizing potential investment exposure to abuses such as slavery, apartheid or genocide. The City will not invest in industries that are known to harm human health or the environment. Section VI outlines prohibited investments under this objective.
“Nothing in section VI shall restrict the City Treasurer from determining additional specific companies that do not comply with socially responsible and ethical investing. The City Treasurer will periodically review the City’s investment portfolio against current known facts and circumstances from trusted sources for any potential investments held that would not be considered socially responsible or ethical and notify the investment advisor to divest as soon as it is economically practical.
“Previously held investments that are not consistent with the criteria defined and prohibited in Section VI will be liquidated prior to maturity if and only if the sale would not result in a financial loss for the City. If the early sale would result in a financial loss to the City, the investment will be held until either (1) the time at which it can be sold without a loss or (2) until maturity.
Section VI, subsection 3. entitled “Socially Responsible and Ethical Investment Exclusions” includes the following proposed language:
“a. The City will not invest in any companies that produce alcohol for public consumption or tobacco products [defined by Bloomberg sectors: Beverages-Wine/Spirits, Brewery, Tobacco].
b. The City will not invest in any aerospace and defense companies, including those that produce or manufacture firearms, and ammunition, explosives, and military electronics [defined by Bloomberg sectors: Firearms & Ammunition, Explosives, Electronics-Military].
c. The City will not invest in any private prisons [defined by Bloomberg sector: Private Prisons].
d. The City will not invest in companies that produce or manufacture coal, oil and gas, oil and gas services and pipelines [defined by Bloomberg sector: Coal, Oil & Gas, Oil & Gas Services, Pipelines].
e. The City will not invest in these specific companies:
i. Chevron Corp
ii. Caterpillar Inc
iii. Lockheed Martin Corp
iv. BP PLC
f. Any companies the City Treasurer deems not socially responsible or ethical upon verification with trusted sources, and subsequently notified in writing to the investment advisor and approved by the City Council.”
The Council heard from the public and then discussed the matter.
Public Comments
All but one member of the public spoke in favor of the proposed City investment policy changes. Only this reporter, speaking as an Antioch resident, spoke against some aspects of the proposal.
I said, “First, this new, controversial investment policy should not be decided by the Council after midnight when most residents have already gone to bed and can’t participate. But if you’re going to make a decision tonight, I don’t think it’s unethical to invest in aerospace, such as SpaceX. What are they doing wrong? Nor is it unethical to invest in oil or gas which we all use every day, and specifically Chevron which directly employs 1,200 people at the refinery in Richmond and an additional estimated 1,800 contractors, some of which I’m sure live in Antioch. But guess what? They’re not here tonight to speak on this matter because they’re probably in bed already getting ready to go to work tomorrow.”
“As for Caterpillar…other than the fact their products are being used in Gaza, how can you blame a company for what others do with their products? Where does that start, where does that end?” I asked.
“Also, I would a add to the end of subsection ‘f.’ regarding giving the City Treasurer the power, to add the words, ‘and approved by the City Council.’ Because the current City Treasurer was not elected by the people with their knowledge that he would be given this much power or anybody. It should wait until after the next election if you’re going to apply that,” I concluded.
Council Discussion But No Decision
District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha was first on the dais to speak saying, “I’m impressed with where we are from our previous conversations. I’m happy to see there’s a working group come together. When I’m looking through the document the one question I have…it does seem somewhat of a subjective thought about the City Treasurer.”
“So, one individual is going to determine what we’re going to do as a City?” he asked.
Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas then said, “I have questions for Justin (Resuello from PFMAM the City’s investment advisor). Amended item number six. Defined by Bloomberg. We don’t have a copy.”
“As part of our…monitoring…we use Bloomberg terminals,” Resuello responded. “We want to make it very clear that Bloomberg…We’re trying to be very explicit and we’re using Bloomberg.”
“So, the United States of America is the largest manufacturer of weapons. So, with that, how can we invest in bonds?” Freitas asked.
“The United States is not a company,” Resuello responded.
“The government has contracts with all the companies that manufacture bombs and weapons,” the District 3 councilman pointed out.
“We could still invest in U.S. bonds because they’re not companies,” the investment advisor stated.
“Even though they invest, buy and distribute all war materials to Israel, in this case, it keeps coming up,” Freitas continued. “It’s peculiar to me that you can make a distinction between the two. That’s the problem I have with the policy. It’s so broad that if we’re going to be in compliance with it, it’s very clear the City won’t invest in any of these. I don’t know how you distinguish.”
City Finance Director Dawn Merchant said, “The government according to Bloomberg is not defined as an aerospace or defense company. It is a government agency.”
Regarding oil, coal and gas he said, “The United States leases our land.”
“To me, the policy is too broad,” he stated. “There’s nothing from Bloomberg attached here.”
“I’m absolutely opposed to the City Treasurer making decisions. He can make recommendations. It’s up to the City Council…to set policy,” Freitas continued. “That’s another very big issue I have.”
“I applaud the people who have gotten together. But it’s just too broad for me,” he said. “I like the language, ‘the City will not invest in industries that will harm health and the environment’.”
“You could change ‘F’ that whatever companies the Treasurer deems is unethical will bring back to the Council for discussion,” Merchant interjected but added, “It’s the elected City Treasurer’s role. It’s not the Council’s role.”
“I think that’s an improvement,” Freitas responded.
“That’s why I brought it up. That would have to be modified,” Rocha added.
“What kind of impact has such an investment policy had for other agencies?” Freitas asked Resuello.
“I couldn’t say these socially responsible investment policies…had a positive or negative result,” the investment advisor responded. “They are fee neutral.”
“Those portfolios have outperformed non-ESG portfolios over the last 10 years. But if you turn the clock back…non-ESG strategies outperformed ESG portfolios from say 2005 to 2020,” Resuello stated.
When pressed further on the difference by Freitas, he said, “Within one basis point.”
“So, one-one-hundredth. OK,” Freitas responded.
“There would be about an $11,000 loss if we sold one of the investments right now,” Merchant shared, speaking of the City’s investment in Lockheed Martin.
“It’s scheduled to mature in August 2028,” Resuello explained.
District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker spoke next saying, “I guess what my brain is telling me at almost one in the morning. I guess what Mayor Pro Tem Freitas is saying is that we exist within a genocidal government that invests in the military industrial complex…that also sells weapons to other genocidal governments. It is a conundrum because we’re existing right now on stolen, colonized land. So, I can see how we can get to that conclusion. We are currently under a genocidal government. So, the argument would be what difference would this policy make if we are going to invest in America anyway when the American government consistently is investing in the military?”
“I support the policy as is, with the change, obviously around the Treasurer,” she stated then asked, “Things do have to come back to the Council as recommendations to make final, yes or no?”
“The City Treasurer has complete autonomy to make the decision with the investment advisor,” Merchant stated.
“The Treasurer is an elected official with these duties already. What we’re talking about is stripping the elected official of his duties. So, wouldn’t we need a completely different conversation about that?” Torres-Walker.
“Yes,” City Attorney Lori Asuncion responded.
“The Constitution of the State of California determines the duties of an elected City Treasurer,” Freitas said. “I don’t think we’re changing the Constitution of the State of California.”
Mayor Ron Bernal was the last council member to speak on the matter saying, “I’d like to thank everyone who was part of the discussion, city staff. I understand the importance of the genocide discussion and the claim. I guess the thing I’ve always had challenge with…if I look around the world…there are atrocities happening, now, not just in Gaza and by Israel.”
“The four…corporations that have been picked out, when there’s a list of many, many companies that provide weapons…all kinds of suppliers that supply Israel with…equipment, with all kinds of things,” he continued. “A U.N. report…2025…Human Rights Office database identified 158 companies involved in specified activities of Israel settlements. So, picking out four specific companies that are listed here, to me there are many companies that could have been listed, as well. I just believe that the list is too long and too broad to try to capture it for this purpose. I also agree…the City Treasurer should not have…to me, again, nothing towards Jorge. But anybody in that position it gives too much authority.”
“I’m not in support of changing our policy. I think we stay with what we currently have as a policy,” Bernal stated.
Merchant then proposed language for the City Treasurer clause.
“In section four it says, ‘nothing in section six restricts the City Treasurer.’ That would have to change because we’re doing exactly that,” Freitas stated.
Merchant responded with more defined language.
“It’s 12:51 so, it’s going to die without a second or die without a majority vote,” Torres-Walker said and made a motion to “approve the policy with the exceptions recommended by Finance Director Dawn Merchant.” But no one seconded the motion.
“Because I have hesitancy,” Freitas interjected. “It really is Lockheed. I’m willing to keep Lockheed there but delete the other three. I can live with that. I would like this to come back on a quarterly basis. I want to know if this will be the policy. My concern, it’s too broad…and there needs to be oversight. I’m willing to try for a year. But it needs to come back in a year.”
Bernal then mentioned the clause regarding, “not investing in industries that are known to harm human health or the environment.”
“I’m willing to support your recommended changes,” Torres-Walker said to Freitas.
Merchant said what Bernal quoted is a broad description.
But he reiterated, “In industries that are known to harm human health or the environment. That includes pretty much everything. I’d like to strike that statement. It’s too broad.”
“My concern is it’s too broad,” Freitas reiterated. “The committee has worked this far. I’d say, ‘go back’. This is the first time the council has heard it. I’m not sure this is right for primetime. I think, really, you need to go back, and various members of the council, I don’t think you’re going to get a second or three votes of council, right now.”
“I think it needs to come back with what the Bloomberg directions are,” he added.
“I’d like to see the specific statutory, what the City Treasurer can and can’t do under state law…what the responsibilities the Treasurer has” Bernal added.
With no other motion the council ended discussion of the matter.
During their meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Antioch City Council on a vote of 4-0, with District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson absent, approved the following proclamation:
PROCLAMATION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, honor survivors, remember those who have lost their lives, and reaffirm our commitment to ending domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than one in three women and more than one in six men in the United States have experienced physical violence, contact sexual violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetimes, underscoring the need for prevention, survivor support, and community action; and
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch recognizes that every person deserves to live free from violence and fear, and that preventing domestic violence requires shared responsibility, education, and community action to promote safety, dignity, and healthy relationships; and
WHEREAS, survivors benefit from compassionate, accessible support, including safety planning, advocacy, counseling, shelter, and connections to resources, and community partners play a vital role in helping individuals and families move toward healing and stability; and
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch encourages residents, service providers, and community partners to stand together in support of survivors, raise awareness of available resources, and strengthen efforts to prevent domestic violence and create a safer community for all; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, on behalf of the Antioch City Council, do hereby proclaim October 2026 as DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH and encourage our community to support survivors and work together to end domestic violence.
