Ron Bernal is the only mayor-elect from Contra Costa County attending this year’s program.
Mayors will gain tools and training from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, Bloomberg Philanthropies, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School to set strategic priorities and build an effective city hall organization through the first 100 days in office.
The new class hails from 12 states and represents more than 5 million residents nationwide.
By Bloomberg Philanthropies
Cambridge, Massachusetts – (December 4, 2024) – This week, Mayor-elect Ron Bernal of Antioch, CA, is participating in the First 100 Days program at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Kennedy School. This program assists mayors in gaining the tools and training to help them set strategic priorities and build an effective city hall organization through the first 100 days in office. This year’s program is taking place from December 4–December 6, 2024.
In this year’s class, 24 new mayors from 11 states across the country will come together to receive world-class training from Harvard faculty, urban innovation and management experts, and other mayors on how to deliver for residents. Thanks to a generous gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, participation for mayors is fully funded, including tuition, accommodation, most meals, and airfare.
“The Bloomberg Center for Cities Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days equips newly elected U.S. mayors with the tools and techniques they need to lead as they begin their transition from campaigning to governing,” said James Anderson, who serves as the head of Government Innovation Programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “You only get to be the new kid on the block once — and this program helps ensure these mayors have ready access to insights from seasoned mayors, evidence about what works in leadership and public management, and connections to a peer group that is going through the same things. Alongside the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard, our team at Bloomberg Philanthropies together with the Institute of Politics and the U.S. Conference of Mayors support these new mayors in building effective, talented teams, forging citywide coalitions, and injecting their city hall organization with a culture of innovation so that in their critical, early days in office, they can set ambitious priorities and deliver.”
Day two of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Mayors program takes place in New York, Monday, July 15, 2024. Source: Bloomberg Philanthropies
Cities increasingly confront complex global challenges at the community level. The Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Program for New Mayors is designed to maximize mayors’ potential for innovation and problem-solving, equipping newly-elected leaders with the skills to make the most of their roles and improve residents’ quality of life. Through the program, mayors will receive training from Harvard faculty, urban innovation and management experts, and other mayors on how to set strategic citywide priorities, build effective city hall organizations, foster collaboration across departments and sectors, and deliver for residents—establishing a strong foundation for their administrations during their critical early days in office.
To kick off participation, the newly-elected U.S. mayors—collectively representing 11 states and over 5 million residents—will convene for a two-day immersive classroom experience at Harvard University. In addition to the core coursework and connection with peers, the Program for New Mayors provides opportunities for new mayors to share strategies with other mayors through the Bloomberg Center for Cities’ vast mayoral leadership network and learn about interventions that are already working effectively to better resident lives in other cities.
Program alumni have deployed the program’s learnings to lead their communities through unexpected crises, establish working coalitions with diverse stakeholders, and set ambitious goals to meet complex challenges — from tackling homelessness to improving housing access, critical water infrastructure, or government performance — in order to better serve residents’ needs.
The Program for New Mayors is housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, which serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. Founded in 2021 with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Center is part of Michael R. Bloomberg’s commitment to the University to help bolster the capabilities of mayors and their teams. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The Center is designed to have a widespread impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world.
The Program for New Mayors builds on the longstanding tradition of a seminar for new mayors that originated at Harvard’s Institute of Politics in 1975.
Members of the Third Class of the Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors changed 841 pronouns in county ordinances on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Video screenshot.
Replaces “he” or “she” with “they” or “them”
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County
(Martinez, CA) – In a unanimous vote, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has approved a significant update to the County Ordinance Code, removing gender-specific pronouns as part of ongoing efforts to modernize language and reflect the diversity of the community.
The ordinance code, which governs areas such as health and safety, administration, and land use, had not undergone a comprehensive review of its language since it was recodified in 1970. During this update, 841 instances of gender-specific pronouns were identified across more than 1,300 pages. Terms such as “he” were replaced with neutral descriptors like “the department head,” ensuring the code is inclusive and representative of all residents.
Source: Contra Costa County staff presentation
According to the Ordinance No. 2024-23, “SECTION II. Section 16-4.016 of the County Ordinance Code is amended to read: 16-4.016 Gender. Whenever a personal pronoun is used in the neutral gender, it shall include both the feminine and the masculine. ‘They/them’ shall indicate a singular individual, unless the context indicates the contrary.”
“Contra Costa County is a community for all, and our policies should reflect our dedication to serving everyone,” said Board Chair and District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover. “By updating the County Ordinance Code, we’re delivering on our commitment to create meaningful change that benefits all residents.”
The initiative marks a step toward broader modernization efforts, including plans to draft a policy mandating the use of gender-neutral language in all County policies and procedures, both existing and future.
“We are changing our county ordinances to reflect today’s reality and removing gender references turns the page on a practice that has no place in county policy,” said District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, Chair of the Board’s Equity Committee.
This update underscores the County’s commitment to responsive and representative governance.
“Removing gender-specific pronouns from the County Ordinance Code reflects Contra Costa County’s dedication to fairness and modernizing our practices,” said County Administrator Monica Nino. “This change ensures our policies and language honor the diversity of our community and promote dignity and respect for all.”
This project was sponsored by the County Administrator’s Office in partnership with the County Counsel’s Office with advice from the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice.
Antioch Police officers with members of the Vistalli family at their “Disney House” decorated for Christmas in 2021. Photo by AP
See over 35,000 lights and 70+ handmade wooden cut-outs
Special Guest Appearance by Belle for photos with guests
By Antioch Police Department
For 28 years, with the help of our family, friends and community, we have been providing holiday support to local families. Please help us continue our efforts this year during our Drive by Disney “Spirit & Support” at the home of Gary and Kristen Vistalli located at 3732 Colonial Court. The event will be held this Saturday, Dec. 7.
See have over 35,000 lights and 70+ wooden cut-outs all handmade and SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE by Belle who will be there taking photos with guests.
Herald file photo.
We’re collecting gift cards, new unwrapped toys, blankets, clothes including hats, gloves, scarves and socks, as well as money including Venmo payments. Items collected will be provided to the Antioch Police Department Giveaway Event for Antioch residents. Our goal is 100 families or even more!
We REALLY need items for TEENS!
Drive by and drop off between the hours of 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm. If you cannot come by in person, please consider a monetary donation or if local, we can arrange a pick-up. Just let us know. We truly appreciate your generosity for so many in need.
While working to increase ridership currently averaging on weekdays about 40% of pre-COVID figures
By Bay Area Rapid Transit District
As BART strives to increase ridership, which is averaging about 40% of weekday pre-COVID figures, BART fares will increase January 1, 2025, to keep pace with inflation so that the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations.
Fares will increase 5.5 percent on New Year’s Day. The increase is tied to the rate of inflation minus a half-percentage point. It’s the second such increase – the first took effect January 1, 2024.
The average fare will increase 25 cents, from $4.47 to $4.72. BART’s fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/25 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2025 date for their trip.
“We understand that price increases are never welcome, but BART fares remain a vital source of funds even with ridership lower than they were before the pandemic,” said BART Board Vice President Mark Foley. “My Board colleagues and I voted in June 2023 to spread necessary fare increases over two years rather than catching up all at once. At the same time, we voted to increase the Clipper START means-based discount from 20 percent to 50 percent to help those most in need.”
The fare increase is expected to raise about $14 million per year for operations. Combined with the previous year’s fare adjustment, BART will use this $30 million per year to fund train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence, and capital projects such as the Next Generation Fare Gates project.
Discounts available for those who are eligible
The regional Clipper START program is an important resource for low-income riders of BART and other Bay Area transit systems. The program is for adult riders with a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less. Administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, program participants receive a personalized Clipper card that cuts half the cost of fares on more than 20 transit systems.
Limited income riders get 50% off with Clipper START.
The RTC Clipper card is a version of Clipper created for passengers under 65 with qualifying disabilities to provide 62.5% off.
Regular, predictable increases a long-term strategy
January’s fare increase is the latest adjustment in a strategy to provide BART funding while providing riders predictable, scaled changes to the costs of riding. In 2004, BART first implemented this inflation-based fare increase program that calls for small, regular, less-than-inflation increases every two years, allowing fares to keep up with the cost of providing reliable and safe service.
BART is also much less expensive than driving on a cost per mile basis. The Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate for driver is 67 cents per mile; BART riders pay an average of 27 cents per mile, 60% less than the cost of driving.
Outdated funding model
BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations. Even with the fare increase, BART is facing a $35 million operating deficit in FY26 and $385 million in FY27. Since BART’s outdated model of relying on passenger fares to pay most operating costs is no longer feasible because of remote work, the agency must modernize its funding sources to better match other transit systems throughout the country that receive larger amounts of public funding. BART needs a more reliable long-term source of operating funding and continues to advocate at the federal, state, and regional levels for the permanent funding needed to sustainably provide the quality transit service the Bay Area needs.
Addressing BART’s ongoing financial crisis will take a variety of solutions including securing new revenue and continuing to find internal cost savings. BART costs have grown at a rate lower than inflation, showing we have held the line on spending. We have implemented a service schedule that better matches ridership, and we are running shorter trains, reducing traction power consumption and maintenance costs.
Founder and Director of Mau Loa Ohana dance studio in Antioch, Monique Castaneda’s love of life and personal relationship with God didn’t come to an end with her death. Monique passed away on November 23, 2024, at the age of 58 after a courageous fight with Polymyositis and B Cell Lymphoma, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy of sharing the Aloha Spirit and living their lives to the fullest.
Monique was born on May 5, 1966 in Oakland, California, graduated from Presentation High School in Berkeley and worked at Wells Fargo Bank retiring at an early age to be a full-time mother.
Monique lived a purpose driven life by uplifting those in need through dance and was a disciple for Christ sharing her love for God through praise and dance. She founded the annual “Hula Away The Cancer Ho’ike” in 2010 to fundraise for The American Cancer Society, Relay for Life and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital donating thousands of dollars for cancer research.
Her final show was held on October 12, 2024, at Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre.
Monique’s passions were her love for God, family, fashion, fitness, travel and Mau Loa Ohana. Her loving personality was contagious to everyone she met. The hula studio was her happy place and those that Walked-In, Hula-Out with the Aloha Spirit.
Monique is survived by her loving husband, Raul; daughters Alexsandra and Kiana; son-in-law Gregory; grandson Oliver; Sisters Joyce and Tina; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Church window the arrested burglar broke using an axe on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. Photos: Antioch PD
“But the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
Used axe to break in
By Antioch Police Department
When the pastor at First Family Church on Contra Loma responded to check an alarm in the early hours of Thanksgiving he was not expecting to confront a burglar, but that’s what happened. When the burglar saw his wicked deeds had been discovered he decided to fight with the pastor instead of repent. What he did not know was the pastor would win this battle of good and evil, and he held down the perp until APD arrived and placed the man in custody.
We are thankful today that the pastor was uninjured during this incident and hopeful that with amazing community members like we have been highlighting lately, we can turn the tide on crime in our city.
The axe in the photo was used to break a window on the church which is how the burglar entered.
