Shooting between two vehicles on Cavallo Road on Wednesday evening, Oct. 8, 2024, struck the County services building windows and a refrigerator inside. (See yellow circle). Left photo courtesy of Catrina Beverly. Center and right photos provided by a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
“No victims have come forward,” – Antioch Police Lt. John Fortner
16th shooting in city since Sept. 2nd
By Allen D. Payton
A shooting between occupants of two vehicles on Cavallo Road in Antioch, Tuesday evening, October 8, 2024, at about 6:30 p.m. struck the Contra Costa County Social Services building but no individuals.
“No victims have come forward,” said Antioch Police Lt. John Fortner. “We didn’t locate any victims, no hospital calls, nothing.”
“It was two cars going at each other,” he shared. “We’re still looking at video. Basically, what we have, it happened between the Mexican market and the County building in the street.”
Antioch Police investigated the Tuesday evening shooting on Cavallo Road north of E. 18th Street. Photo by a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
“There was a car on the roadway facing south, about the 1700 block of Cavallo, north of E. 18th Street. It was a lighter colored vehicle. A darker colored vehicle heading southbound slowed down as it neared the other vehicle. The occupants of one car started shooting at the other. Both cars ended up making U-turns in the middle of the street and heading northbound, with the darker colored vehicle turning first. So, the lighter colored car may have been chasing the other. We don’t know if it was an exchange or who started it.”
“We’re not aware of any buildings being struck,” he stated. But when informed of the photos provided to the Herald and shared by a resident on social media on Wednesday. Fortner then added, “I will confirm that and get back to you.”
Over $65,000 for research, polling, website and mailer saying Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe is “Unfit for Leadership”
By Allen D. Payton
A direct-mail hit piece arrived in Antioch residents’ mailboxes on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, against Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe saying he’s “Unfit for Leadership” and “Not Right for Antioch”. It was paid for by the California Real Estate Independent Expenditure Committee – California Association of REALTORS with the National Association of REALTORS® and California Association of REALTORS® as the “Committee’s Top Funders”.
According to the campaign finance report known as a Form 496, available through the Antioch City Clerk’s website, as of Oct. 8, 2024, the opposition campaign had spent $65,328.50 to defeat the incumbent, of which $40,000.00 paid for the mailer and a website, $17,312.50 for polling and $8,016.00 for research. (See CA Realtors Form 496)
Before independent expenditure committees spend money to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure, they will pay for research and then a conduct a poll or survey of likely voters to determine the level of support or opposition, and what issues they should highlight in a campaign to achieve their goals.
Front of the mailer against Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe paid for by the two Realtors associations that arrived in the mail on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. Photo provided by a reader.
The mailer highlights the mayor’s $350,000 sexual harassment claims settlement by the County in September 2022 and shows newspaper headlines and quotes from articles and editorials of his “intolerable misogynistic behavior” and include comments that, “He must resign” and “For the sake of the city, Thorpe should step aside.”
The mailer provides a website address of www.unfitforleadership.com which offers more details about Hernandez-Thorpe’s controversial behavior during his term as mayor with sub-headers of Sexual Harassment, Illegal Meetings, Selling His Office and Drunk Driving. The website shares information about the mayor’s political affairs consulting business, El Sereno Strategic Group, which, according to Bizpedia he formed on January 24, 2022. The company’s website includes a photo of Hernandez-Thorpe sitting in the Mayor’s Office at Antioch City Hall signing a City of Antioch certificate for someone and other photos from his official duties, including from some of his many press conferences.
Source: UnfitForLeadership.com opposition campaign website screenshot.
One premise of the opposition campaign website is that the mayor is “Trading On His Political Relationships… ‘cultivated’ while an elected official in Antioch should be used to benefit the Citizens of Antioch, not reserved for paying clients.”
Questions for Hernandez-Thorpe Go Unanswered
Hernandez-Thorpe was asked if he’d seen the mailer and website and had any comments about them. He was also asked about his business website and why he’s using photos from his official duties, specifically from inside the Mayor’s Office at City Hall to promote his company. Hernandez-Thorpe was also asked if he thinks it’s appropriate and doesn’t it create the appearance that the mayor is mixing his elected duties with his business activities. Most importantly, the mayor was asked if he does any business with any client who has had dealings with the City of Antioch and/or has been before the city council for a vote.
Multiple efforts to reach the mayor and his campaign consultant were unsuccessful prior to publication time on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
UPDATE: Up to $500,000, but only includes up to $200 per hour for outside agency officers, no double-time for Antioch Police officers
“This is a temporary measure. It is not a forever thing,” – Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe
“…we already have an understaffed, overworked police department,” – District 1 Councilwoman Torres-Walker in whose district all but one shooting occurred as her reason for opposing the double-time pay for Antioch officers.
Reverses tobacco retailer ordinance now allowing them to be sold or inherited
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the Antioch City Council, with District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica absent due to illness, voted 4-0 to approve a Violence Reduction Initiative with a budget of up to $500,000 and offering up to $200 to cover the costs of police officers and equipment from outside agencies, but not to offer Antioch’s officers double time, for now. Then, to ensure “Opportunity Lives Here” in Antioch, again for tobacco retail owners, the council barely passed on a 3-0-1 vote revision to the ordinance adopted in 2017 banning the sale or transfer to heirs of their businesses in the city as of Jan. 1, 2023. It was also the first council meeting for new City Manager Bessie Mae Scott who started on Monday.
Approve up to $500,000 for Violence Reduction Initiative, Pay up to $200 per Hour but Only for Outside Agency Personnel
Following public comments that questioned the expenditure of the funds for the Violence Reduction Initiative proposed in response to the rash of 15 shootings in September, mostly in the Sycamore corridor, District 1 Councilwoman Torres-Walker, in whose district all but one of the shootings occurred, was the first member to weigh in on the issue. (See related article)
According to the city staff report, the proposal had three parts: “1) Authorizing the payment of double-time for Antioch Police Officer’s Association Members for working extra shifts in designated areas of the City to reduce violence as directed by the Chief of Police or his/her designee; 2) Authorizing the City Manager to enter into agreements, approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office, to pay regional municipalities $200 per hour to send officers to work shifts in designated areas to reduce violence; and 3) Allocating up to $500,000 to fund this violence reduction initiative.”
“The double time for officers is for them to come in on their days office…to incentivize them…is what the double-time authorization is for,” the councilwoman stated “I don’t necessarily support the double-time. But I do support the use of outside support. What this really is to increase police presence in communities that need it most.”
Torres-Walker then went on another of her diatribes about her views on policing and public safety saying, “Had we invested up front in prevention of violence we wouldn’t need to invest in police” and if you want accountability, you’re not anti-police. “You don’t have to pander to Back the Blue, very dangerous individuals. You don’t want to be attacked by people who are very pro-police,” taking a swipe at a local police support Facebook group.
Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson then asked Antioch Police Captain Joe Vigil about double time versus outside agencies.
“The idea of having a balanced approached of having a bit of both…to supplement our police staffing,” he responded. “The whole point of this was to incentivize the officers to come in on their day off.”
“So, we don’t even know if any agency is going to help,” Wilson stated.
“No. We do. We have one and we have two in the works,” Hernandez-Thorpe interjected.
Ogorchock asked, “There will still be forced overtime?”
“It’s built into the schedule,” Vigil stated.
“Should we offer this to our officers before offering it to outside agencies?” she asked.
“Correct,” he said.
“It’s up to $500,000, correct?”
“Correct,” he responded.
“It’s being allocated as it’s being used, correct?” the councilwoman continued.
“Correct,” Vigil stated.
“Our officers are already working toward overtime, correct?” Torres-Walker asked.
“Correct,” the Police Captain said.
“This will be managed…to make sure people aren’t too tired,” the District 1 Councilwoman stated. “We aren’t obligated to offer overtime. But we could use money to bring in outside support.”
“This doesn’t have to be offered to our officers, first. I heard you say that, but I don’t think that’s accurate,” the mayor stated.
“No. It’s not. I apologize for the confusion,” Vigil responded. “There would be a schedule put out and built.”
“The main focus of this is outside agencies,” Hernandez-Thorpe stated. “I know it’s both. But the primary purpose that the chief has been working on is outside agencies. Our officers are already working overtime.”
“Since we already have an understaffed, overworked police department then we wouldn’t be discussing number one, but only number two and three (of the proposal),” Torres-Walker pointed out.
“But this is for the areas we’ve been talking about. They are doing overtime,” the mayor said.
“Some people are not coming in on their day off,” Torres-Walker stated.
“That’s the point of the incentive,” Hernandez-Thorpe explained.
“That would make (section) one moot because they’re already working toward overtime from the direction of the police chief. They’re just not coming in on their days off,” the councilwoman reiterated.
“My goal has always been the outside agencies. That’s the chief’s goal. What I hear the captain saying is for officers to come in on their days off, is that correct?” the mayor asked.
“I don’t support the double-time, but I do support incentivizing outside agencies,” Torres-Walker repeated.
“They already do get the overtime. We’re authorizing double-time,” Vigil shared in response to a question by Hernandez-Thorpe.
“While we may get outside agencies it doesn’t mean we’ll get every single day outside agency support,” the mayor explained. “This is a temporary measure. It is not a forever thing and I think…we’re not just talking about Sycamore, we’re talking about 18th and Cavallo. So, we’re talking about other hot spots in the community, and we don’t want it to spill over.”
“Whatever direction ya’ll want to go in, I’ll support,” Torres-Walker then said. “It’s not additional people. It’s maybe two people, three people.”
“Yes. Two, four,” Vigil responded.
“It’s not in addition. We’re still understaffed,” the councilwoman reiterated. “So, we can temporarily deter violence, then we’re over policing in one neighborhood and under policing in another neighborhood. I will just be interested to see what the results will be.”
“So, if are they coming in with their vehicles are they using our vehicles?
“These are not full shifts, they’re partial shifts around certain days and times,” Vigil said. “We do not reimburse them for after they leave…just for when they’re here and their equipment.”
Ogorchock then moved approval of the funding of up to $500,000 to fund double-time for both Antioch and outside agency officers.
“I get the council’s concerns about the officers’ overtime. We can either vote on these individually or set a parameter around the use of overtime,” the mayor then offered.
“I think it would be easier to vote on them separately,” said City Attorney Thomas L. Smith.
Ogorchock then withdrew her motion. “I still have concerns about the unions and our officers and how it has to be offered to them, first. I have a hard time dealing with the rest of it.”
“It’s not an issue,” Hernandez-Thorpe said. “The outside agencies, I really need the council to support this.”
Wilson then made a new motion to only approve the double-time for officers from outside agencies up to $200 per hour and spending up to $500,000. Torres-Walker seconded the motion.
“So, the goal is, you, mayor is going to go talk to the chief?” Torres-Walker asked.
“The city manager,” the mayor stated.
She will go talk to the chief about the issue of overtime for Antioch’s officers, Torres-Walker explained.
The motion then passed 4-0.
Tobacco Retailer Ordinance Revision
After voting on August 8, 2017, to not allow owners of tobacco retail businesses in Antioch to sell or transfer them to their heirs, the Antioch City Council reversed course during their Tuesday meeting. With very few public comments on the matter and although Barbanica had pushed the issue and the council members proposed postponing the item until he could be in attendance, the council went ahead and barely passed the revisions to the ordinance on a vote of 3-0-1, with Wilson abstaining.
During discussion on the item, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe said he was on the council in 2017 when the council voted for the original ordinance, as was Wilson and District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock. The ordinance passed at that time on a 3-0 vote with Hernandez-Thorpe and Wilson absent from the meeting. It prohibited new tobacco and paraphernalia retailers from opening in the city and those that were legally established prior to the adoption of the ordinance could not be sold or transferred after January 1, 2023. (See related article)
The mayor said the council voted for it because of the problems with youth buying tobacco products and crime at or near the business. But he said to a few of the business owners in the audience, “I’ve been to your business. It’s not a crime hub. But there are some that are in crime hubs.”
District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker said she was never in favor of preventing business owners from selling or passing them on to their heirs. Although Wilson said she thought her colleague made a good point about the business owners wanting to create generational wealth, she nevertheless would not support the revision to the ordinance.
Saturday afternoon, Oct. 5, 2024, Antioch Police Officer Loroño was conducting proactive patrol in a location known for stolen vehicles. He spotted an occupied suspicious vehicle. As Officer Loroño prepared to make contact, the suspect exited the vehicle and began walking away. Officer Loroño quickly confirmed the vehicle was stolen and pursued the suspect on foot when he refused to comply and fled while manipulating a satchel across his chest.
After a brief chase through multiple yards, community members called in to report the suspect’s direction, allowing dispatch to establish an effective perimeter. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter responded to assist, and Officer Loroño, who recognized the suspect from a previous encounter, continued coordinating the search.
A vigilant resident reported the suspect had discarded his satchel in a backyard. Officer Loroño recovered it, finding a loaded .45 caliber handgun inside. Meanwhile, Officer Marques and K-9 Cato joined the search. Cato successfully tracked the suspect to a front yard, where he was found hiding in a bush and surrendered to K-9 Cato.
Further investigation of the stolen vehicle uncovered additional .45 ammunition. The suspect, who was found to be on active probation, was safely apprehended and booked into county jail.
Outstanding teamwork and collaboration with our community made this arrest possible!
Plus, continuing crisis response team, expanding ShotSpotter coverage area, park improvements, more; new city manager’s first meeting in role
By Allen D. Payton
During new City Manager Bessie Mae Scott’s first meeting in her position on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the second to last one before the election, the Antioch City Council will consider spending $500K for a Violence Reduction Initiative, voting to spend $2.1 million to extend the crisis response team through next October, accept a $740,000 federal award to expand the City’s ShotSpotter coverage areas; continue the police officer recruiting incentive program and expand it to dispatchers; spending $1,577,200 for Marchetti Park Renovations and close to $337,000 for the new Jacobsen Park playground; discuss revisions to the overnight camping ordinance and adopting a community policing resolution.
Violence Reduction Initiative
According to the City staff report for the proposed Violence Reduction Initiative (item 10), following the 15 shootings in September that resulted in the deaths of two young Antioch men, the council is being asked to adopt a resolution “Authorizing the payment of double-time for Antioch Police Officer’s Association Members for working extra shifts in designated areas of the City to reduce violence as directed by the Chief of Police or his/her designee; 2) Authorizing the City Manager to enter into agreements, approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office, to pay regional municipalities $200 per hour to send officers to work shifts in designated areas to reduce violence; and 3) Allocating up to $500,000 to fund this violence reduction initiative.”
Police Officer & Dispatch Recruiting Incentive Program
The council will consider continuing the existing Police Officer Recruiting Incentive Program and introduce a $10,000 signing bonus for newly hired Police Dispatchers. (Item 1) They would be paid in two increments: $5,000 upon successful completion of the Dispatch Training Program and $5,000 upon successful completion of two (2) years of employment with the City of Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center. The council is also asked to authorize the necessary budget through June 30, 2025, of up to $350,000 to cover the program costs.
Community Policing ResolutionExpands Definition, Scope
Under agenda item 3, at the request of District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, the council will consider adopting a Community Policing resolution as the “Operant and Dominant Policing Philosophy of the City of Antioch.”
It would change and expand the traditional definition of community policing which is the system of allocating police officers to particular areas so that they become familiar with the local inhabitants. It also expands on the 2012 report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services which defines community policing as “a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime.”
Instead, the Whereas clause at the end of Torres-Walker’s draft resolution includes the following proposed language:
“Community policing is a comprehensive philosophy that guides policy and strategy aimed at achieving more effective and efficient crime control, reduced fear of crime, improved quality of life, and improved police services and police legitimacy through a proactive reliance on community resources that seeks to change crime causing conditions. This assumes a need for greater accountability of police, elected community leaders, and the community in general, along with greater public share in decision-making through the identification of service needs and priorities and a greater concern for civil rights and liberties.”
Meeting Details
The Council meeting inside the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, begins with a Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss three legal matters including a lawsuit, a possible lawsuit and negotiations with Con Fire regarding property located at East 18th and Wilson Streets.
The regular meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. and can be viewed live on Comcast channel 24, AT&T U-verse channel 99, or live stream on the City’s website.
Antioch High and Deer Valley High winners of Pitman Preview of Champions on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Photo: AUSD
By Antioch Unified School District
On Saturday, Sep 28, 2024, the Antioch and Deer Valley high school bands attended the first competition of the season and marched away winners. Held in Turlock, the bands snapped up a few trophies at the Pitman Preview of Champions, the first event in the Northern California Band Association‘s fall lineup of band reviews.
AHS: 1st place parade band division 3A and 4th place overall street percussion.
DVHS: 1st place parade band division 1A, 2nd place overall street percussion, and senior James Kyle Imperio won 1st place overall mace Drum Major.
The bands are separated into divisions based on the number of students in the bands and they compete against similarly sized schools.
DVHS Drum Major James Kyle Imperio and Band perform on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photos: AUSD
Delta Band Review The 35th Annual Delta Band Review on Saturday, Oct. 5th, Delta Band Review had a record number of participating schools with 26 entries competing.
In addition to the parade component, some also competed in concert and jazz competitions.
During this 35th event, Deer Valley cleaned up with first place parade band 1A, first place concert band division 2A, 2nd place overall drumline, and Drum Major Sweepstakes (James Kyle Imperio).
The Antioch High Band prepares to perform, and the Deer Valley High winning Drumline performs on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Photos AUSD
Antioch High kicked off the event but, as the host, was not eligible for awards.
Courtney Emery, AHS music director, thanked the many volunteers led by its band backers group and others.
Governor Newsom awards $130.7 million in Round 3 of program to help 18 California communities
Also creating a collaborative program between the state and targeted communities to streamline the cleanup of encampments
SACRAMENTO – Oct. 4, 2024 — Expanding the state’s unprecedented support for local communities to create new housing and address homelessness, Governor Newsom announced Friday, the state is awarding $130.7 million to 18 local governments to clear homeless encampments and provide shelter, care and support. The grants are from Round 3 of the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) awards from the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Governor also announced new accountability measures, requiring award recipients to adhere to all state housing and homeless laws — as well as remain in compliance with their Housing Elements — or risk losing funding and face other enforcement actions.
The Round 3 funds awarded Friday will go to 12 cities, four counties and two Continuums of Care (CoCs) and are intended to resolve critical encampment concerns and address the housing and health and safety needs of 3,364 people living in encampments, and permanently house 1,565 people.
Of the total amount, the City of Antioch will receive $6,812,686, the City of Richmond was awarded $9,336,746 and the County of Contra Costa was granted $5,708,516. Of the 18 agencies, Contra Costa County scored the highest followed by Richmond.
“We’re supporting local communities’ efforts to get people out of encampments and connected with care and housing across the state. It’s important and urgent work that requires everyone to do their part. The state has committed more than $27 billion to help local governments tackle the homelessness crisis — and we want to see $27 billion worth of results,” said Governor Newsom.
Source: CA Dept of HCD
$1 billion in funding to clear encampments
Governor Newsom has made unprecedented investments to address the housing and homelessness crises, with $40 billion invested to help communities create more housing and $27 billion provided to communities for homelessness. Today’s new grants are part of the state’s $1 billion Encampment Resolution Funds (ERF), which help communities address dangerous encampments and support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
So far, the program has invested $737 million for 109 projects or encampments across 21 counties, 41 cities and 5 CoCs to help 20,888 people throughout the state, helping 20,888 people transition out of homelessness.
“These grants will ensure local communities take a person-centered, trauma-informed approach as they help their most vulnerable residents transition to safe and stable housing,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “The Encampment Resolution Fund grants are infusing critical resources in communities up and down California so that unhoused Californians can access the essential housing and supportive services they need to achieve long-term stability.”
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Greater accountability
As a condition of receiving the funding, the awardees must agree to increased accountability and compliance measures. These new accountability measures build on the current requirements that all grantees adhere to state and federal laws, rules, and regulations related to construction, health and safety, labor, fair employment practices, environmental protection, equal opportunity, fair housing, and all other matters applicable and/or related to the ERF program.
The Governor’s new measures expressly require local governments to maintain a compliant housing element, as well as adhere to all planning, permitting, entitlement, fair housing, and homelessness laws.
Non-compliance with these measures may result in the state revoking and clawing back awarded funds in addition to potential enforcement actions by the state’s Housing Accountability Unit. This ensures that grant recipients remain accountable and protects state funding.
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Care, compassion, collaboration
Today’s announcement follows the Governor’s executive order urging local governments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (CalTrans) existing encampment policy.
Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
Since July 2021, California has cleared more than 12,000 encampments and has removed 267,611 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects.
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Delegated Maintenance Agreements
The Governor also announced today a new collaborative program that will help streamline the cleanup of encampments by establishing agreements between the state and targeted local communities. The agreements will remove jurisdictional boundaries and allow locals to address encampments on state property and receive reimbursement for their efforts.
Below are the other 10 cities, three counties and two Continuums of Care awarded Round 3 ERF grants:
City of Berkeley – $5,395,637
City of Carlsbad – $2,994,225
City of Los Angeles – $11,351,281
City of Palm Springs – $5,106,731
City of Petaluma – $8,098,978
City of Redlands — $5,341,800
City of Sacramento — 18,199,661
City of San Jose —- $4,821,083
City of Victorville — $6,365,070
City of Visalia —- $3,000,000
County of Riverside — $12,612,779
County of San Bernardino — $11,000,000
City and County of San Francisco – $7,975,486
Humboldt County — Continuum of Care – $3,784,294
Pasadena – Continuum of Care – $2,772,801
“Our team is energized by this opportunity to help bring people-centered, Housing First solutions to Californians who are unsheltered throughout the state,” said Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which has administered ERF since the start of the 2024-25 fiscal year. “Combined with the investments in permanent supportive housing made possible by voter approval of Proposition 1, the state has unprecedented momentum to make monumental progress on a crisis of homelessness that has been growing for decades.”
The awards announced Friday utilize all remaining FY 2023-24 ERF funds. An additional appropriation of $150 million in the FY 2024-25 State Budget allowed HCD to award all eligible ERF Round 3, Window 2 applicants. The budget also included $100 million in ERF funds for FY 2025-26, bringing to $1 billion this investment to address encampments through proven housing solutions.
Each agency was required to apply for the ERF program.
The grants will provide stable, safe housing for individuals living in encampments in their respective communities. The awarded proposals will assist individuals living in encampments with compassion and dignity by providing a range of housing solutions: permanent housing; interim housing for individuals seeking coordinated entry system resources or housing vouchers; housing navigation services and rapid rehousing subsidies; support for accessing permanent housing by providing security deposits and other moving expenses; and allowing awardees to acquire property for housing.
Pablo Espinoza, Deputy Director of Communications, CA Department of HCD Mediaand Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Pittsburg, Calif. – Los Medanos College (LMC) presents a special livestream production on CCTV of the Mustangs’ homecoming game against De Anza College Lions, 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 from the Pittsburg Campus, 2700 E. Leland Road.
The livestream includes a half-time show that debuts a special 50th Anniversary Tribute with historic images, musical score by the LMC Jazz Band, introduction by Contra Costa County Supervisor Ken Carlson, and commentary by former President Peter Garcia, President Pamela Ralston, author and art history professor Nick Nabas, and others.
“This tribute showcases the heart and soul of LMC that has endured from the first day we swung open the doors to students,” President Pamela Ralston said. “It captures the arc of our success through memories and stories of our alumni, dedicated faculty and staff, and students.”
Source: LMC
The tribute video, produced in partnership with Fallout Pictures, rounds out the homecoming game production, which includes a high-energy opener produced by CCTV’s Ronn Carter. The opener highlights the city of Pittsburg and its storied success as an economic driver for the East Bay. Gametime coverage also features announcing and color commentary by local sports broadcasters Tony Schultz and Dan Wall (an LMC alumnus), and contributions by LMC Experience student journalists Finn Atkin, Juan Cebreiros, and Lauren Gannod.
The homecoming game is Part II of a day of festivities that begins at the 11 a.m. party, hosted by legendary DJ Chuy Gomez of 102 Jams FM. The party will be held on the Pittsburg Campus in grassy area adjacent to Mustang Stadium.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.
