By Juliet V. Casey Geary, Director of Marketing & Media Design, Los Medanos College
We are pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2026 César Chávez Awards is open. The awards celebrate the life of labor leader and human rights activist César Chávez and recognize East Contra Costa County community members who follow his example of service, activism and non-violent social change.
Nomination form and event details are available on the event web page. Nomination deadline is Wednesday, March 11.
Save the date for the awards ceremony, which this year will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 3 in the Student Union at the LMC Pittsburg Campus, 2700 E. Leland Road. The event is free and open to the public, though space is limited.
Values of César Chávez:
Service to Others: Empowering individuals by engendering self-determination, self-sufficiency and self-help, rather than charity.
Sacrifice: Recognizing the obligation every individual has to contribute to their community, despite having to endure great hardship.
Help the Most Needy: Supporting efforts to reach those in need, those dispossessed, and those most forgotten individuals.
Determination: Instilling an attitude that through steadfast commitment, patience, and optimism, people can overcome great adversity.
Non-violence: Achieving social and economic justice and equality through bold and courageous action.
Tolerance: Promoting and supporting ethnic and cultural diversity as a means toward informing and strengthening communities.
Respect for Life: Holding land, people, and all other forms of life in the highest regard.
Celebrating Community: Sharing expressions of cultural identity through art, song and dance.
Knowledge: Pursuing self-directed learning, the development of critical thinking, and constructive problem-solving.
Innovation: Creating strategies and tactics to resolve problems and situations that often seem insurmountable.
Awards recognize recipients in the following categories:
César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service
The César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service recognizes a local resident who demonstrates a long-standing commitment to service and who best represents the core values modeled by César Chávez: Service to Others, Sacrifice, Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-Violence, Acceptance of All People, Respect for Life and the Environment, Celebrating Community, Knowledge and Innovation.
East County Educator Award
The César Chávez East County Educator Award recognizes a member of the educational community who demonstrates the qualities of César Chávez and a commitment to student success and equity, particularly for students of color and those from low-income families.
Chávez Spirit Award
The César Chávez Spirit Award recognizes an emerging student leader who embodies the spirit of César Chávez and who within the past year affected change in the areas of advocacy and social justice.
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.
Antioch families, plan to hop on over to your neighborhood park for a community-wide egg hunt on Saturday, March 28th!
The Recreation Department invites residents to enjoy a free egg hunt and festive photos with the Easter Bunny at a park near you. We will be coming to each district in the city, so gather your baskets, bring your friends and neighbors, and celebrate the season right in your own backyard. Take a look at our list of parks to locate the park closest to you:
Former Antioch Community and Economic Development Director Zach Seal is no longer with the City as of Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Photo source: City of Antioch
Former interim director will return to the position; posting for new assistant city manager will occur soon
By Allen D. Payton
After just shy of six months on the job, the City of Antioch Community and Economic Development Director Zach Seal is longer in the position as of Tuesday, March 3, 2026. As previously reported, he started on Oct. 6, 2025.
When informed of Seal’s possible departure, City Manager Bessie Scott was asked, Tuesday afternoon, if Seal had been terminated and for any details. She did not respond. City PIO, Jaden Baird was asked about the matter, but he was not aware of it and said he would contact Scott.
A portion of the email sent by City Manager Scott to all City employees regarding the leadership change in the Community and Economic Development Department on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Screenshot courtesy of a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
Then thanks to a resident who shared a copy of it with the Herald at 7:59 PM and chose to remain anonymous, it was revealed that Scott sent the following email entitled, “Staffing Update: Community and Economic Development Department” to “All City Employees” at 5:55 PM:
Hello Team Antioch,
I want to share an important staffing update. As of today, Zach Seal, our Community and Economic Development Director, is no longer with the City. We thank him for his service during the time that he was here and wish him well in his future endeavors.
While leadership transitions are never easy, our focus remains on maintaining continuity in the important work of supporting Antioch’s economic growth and business community. In the meantime, we will be continuing with the ongoing economic development activities that are currently underway while we begin a formal recruitment process for a new Community and Economic Development Director. David Storer will be the Interim Community and Economic Development Director for the time being.
Economic development remains a top priority for the City. We will continue advancing efforts to attract investment, support local businesses, and position Antioch for long-term economic vitality.
I appreciate the professionalism and dedication our staff brings to this work every day. As we move through this transition, I will keep you informed of next steps in the recruitment process.
Thank you for your continued commitment to serving our community. ~Bessie
Bessie Marie Scott, EMPA, CIG
City Manager
————
However, no announcement was provided to the local media to inform the public.
The following questions were then sent to both Scott and Baird:
“Was he terminated or did he voluntarily resign?
Why after just six months on the job?
Did he not meet expectations?
Was he supposed to accomplish something that he didn’t?
What did he actually accomplish during his brief tenure?”
They were also asked for anything else they could share.
City Limited in What Can be Shared About Personnel Matters
UPDATE 1: In response, Baird wrote, “The City can confirm that Zach Seal is no longer employed with the City of Antioch. As the City Manager shared with staff earlier this evening, we thank him for his service during the time he was here and wish him well in his future endeavors.
“Due to the confidential nature of personnel matters, the City is not able to comment on the circumstances surrounding an employee’s separation, including whether it was a resignation or termination, performance-related matters, or internal discussions.
“Economic development work will continue uninterrupted. David Storer will serve as Interim Community and Economic Development Director while the City begins a formal recruitment process for the position.
“This reflects the information the City is able to provide at this time. Thank you for your understanding.”
Baird and Scott were pressed further and asked, “If he was terminated, did he have a severance clause in his employment agreement, was that triggered and how much is that costing the City?”
New City Attorney Lori Asuncion started on Monday. Asked last week if she had considered, lately hiring an assistant city manager, Scott responded, “Yes! Posting coming out soon.”
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
A handwritten sign in the window shows the Hidden Dragon Chinese restaurant on Lone Tree Way in Antioch is “no longer open for business.” Photos by Allen D. Payton
By Allen D. Payton
According to the Contra Costa Health Department’s Environmental Health Division, Hidden Dragon Chinese restaurant in Antioch was shut down last April for violations including insects, rodents referred to as rats and mice, birds or animals present. It was shut down again on Dec. 9th for some of the same problems. Both times the owners were instructed to, “Cease and Desist all food activities.”
Located at 4106 Lone Tree Way in the same shopping center at Dallas Ranch Road as the former Rite Aid and now closed Sherwin-Williams Paint Store, the restaurant reopened Dec. 12th following a re-inspection. Then, the owners voluntarily and permanently closed the restaurant in January. An Environmental Health inspector did not learn of that until attempting a re-inspection, yesterday, Monday, March 2, 2026.
The Food Facility Routine Inspection Report dated April 23, 2025, showed a Minor Violation for not having “6. Adequate hand-washing facilities: supplied and accessible. Minor Observations: A) Soap dispenser in employee restroom observed inoperative. B) No paper towels in wall-mounted dispenser in employee restroom. – Ensure all handwashing stations are accessible and stocked with soap and paper towels in mounted dispensers at all times. Corrective Action: Adequate facilities shall be provided for hand washing with soap & towels or drying device provided in dispensers; dispensers shall be maintained in good repair (113953, 113953.1, 113953.2).”
The Major Violation was listed as “22. No insects, rodents, birds or animals present.”
Source: Contra Costa Health Department Environmental Health Division
13. Food in good condition, safe and unadulterated Corrected On Site
Observations: Observed 1 bag of adulterated walnuts (rodent chew marks on bag) on shelf in dry-storage room.
– Discard all adulterated food products.
– Inspect facility for adulterated food (e.g. with rodent chew marks) and immediately discard.
– Protect food from contamination.
*Corrected on site: Operator discarded adulterated bag of walnuts.
Corrective Action: Any food is adulterated if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render it impure or injurious to health (113967, 113976, 113980, 113988, 113990, 114035, 114254.3).
22. No insects, rodents, birds or animals present
In addition, the report included details of the violations, including:
“A) Observed 1 dead rat on glue board on floor underneath shelving in dry storage area.
B) Observed 1 dead rat on glue board on floor underneath wooden cabinet behind front counter.
C) Observed 5 german cockroaches, and rodent fir on glue board placed on bottom shelf of prep table at cook line.
D) Observed 2 baited (and set off) wooden rat snap traps on drain board near high-temperature dish machine.
E) Observed rodent fur on wire shelving in dry-storage room.
F) Observed rat droppings”
The restaurant was again instructed to, “Cease and Desist all food activities.
– Remove dead rodents, dead cockroaches, and all rodent droppings from facility.
– Thoroughly clean and sanitize all affected areas (including but not limited to floors, shelves, dishes).
– Remove glue boards and snap traps from shelving and from dish-machine drain board. Do NOT place snap traps and glue boards on shelving or on drainboard for dishes.
– Obtain professional pest-control service. Email pest-control report to Daniel.Chavez@cchealth.org. Maintain copies of pest-control reports on site, available for review during inspections.”
County Health Staff Provide Details
When asked about the closure, Karl Fischer, Communications Coordinator for Contra Costa Health asked if there was a red placard in the window. When informed there was just a handwritten sign he said, “It sounds like they might have closed themselves. When we shut down a restaurant, we usually require them to post a red placard in the window.”
“Restaurants are required to close down if they don’t have water or if they have insects,” Fischer continued. “They might be shutting down because they know they have a problem and shouldn’t be serving food, right now.”
Contra Costa County uses a color-coded Placard Program for Permanent and Mobile Retail Food Facilities to publicly report the results of food safety inspections, which includes green, yellow and red placards. Colors are determined based upon inspection findings with green meaning Pass, yellow meaning Conditional Pass and Red meaning Closed. A white placard stands for Placard Pending.
“As soon as they take care of it, they’re back in business. After a day or two, they’ll call us for a reinspection,” he added.
When informed of the report in April 2025 Fischer said, “The restaurant also got shut down on Dec. 9th for rodents.”
According to Kristian Lucas, the County’s Director of Environmental Health, “We regularly encourage all food facilities to self-close when there are any major issues that may affect public health and their food service as a result. Therefore, it may very well be that this facility chose to close on their own volition if Env Health did not officially close the facility.”
In an email, Tim Kraus, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist for Contra Costa Health then shared, “We did not close them permanently. It appears Inspector Daniel Chavez attempted an inspection yesterday and found the same sign mentioned below. His report indicates he communicated with the former owner via text message, who indicated they closed permanently in January of their own volition. I’ve attached a copy of the report from yesterday since it doesn’t appear to have worked its way through to the website yet. I’ve also attached the 12/9 routine inspection that resulted in a closure and the 12/12 reinspection where they were re-opened.”
“The last activity prior to yesterday’s inspection attempt that I see in our system was the re-opening inspection on 12/12/25,” he added.
The restaurant was incorporated as Sweet Rice Union, LLC. But the owners’ names are not listed on the Bizapedia page.
Join the Kiwanis Club of the Delta-Antioch Club for the Annual Romano Marchetti Memorial Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, March 14th, 2026. Profits of the dinner, opportunity drawing and auction contribute to the support of Kiwanis community and youth charities.
The event will be held at the VFW Hall at 815 Fulton Shipyard Road in Antioch and begins at 5 PM with Social Hour and Silent Auction, 6 PM Dinner which includes two kinds of meat, pasta, baked beans, cole slaw, salad, ice cream and all the trimmings, catered by Chef Archie S&Q.
Plus, Opportunity Drawing and Live Auction!
Tickets are $60 each.
For tickets and information call: Archie Smith Jr. (510) 367-3452 archiesandq@gmail.com
Tickets are also available to purchase in person at Willow Park Mercantile 205 G Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.
Thank you to our sponsors! Dr. Ali Shirani Dentistry, Snug As a Bug, East Bay Community Foundation and Beswick Family Fund.
Kiwanis is the Premier Community Service Organization Celebrating over 110 years serving the Children of the World, One Child, and One Community at a Time.
The Antioch Police Department’s Sycamore Substation is located in the Sycamore Square shopping center at the corner of Sycamore Drive and L Street. Photos by Allen D. Payton
By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch
ANTIOCH, CA — The Antioch Police Department will host a grand opening ceremony for its new Sycamore Substation in the Sycamore Square shopping center on Wednesday, March 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
During their meeting on April 22, 2025, the Antioch City Council voted 5-0 to approve an 18-month lease agreement between the City of Antioch and Yahya Korin Sycamore Square, LLC for a Police Department Substation located at 1084 Sycamore Drive, at a cost not to exceed $33,127.50.
As previously reported by the Herald, the total approved by the council includes Lease Costs for monthly rent of $1.00 for three months and $840.00 for 15 months for a total of $12,603.00.
In addition, the council approved spending $10,524.50 for the City’s 50% share of the total $21,049.00 cost for Ballistic Glass and Installation as well as Substation Setup Costs including one-time expenditures for furnishings, signage, technology and operational readiness for $10,000.00.
The new substation represents a strategic investment in public safety infrastructure and community-based policing in Antioch. The project was supported in part by a $25,000 award through the Contra Costa County Community Impact Fund. The funding was recommended by District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis and jointly supported by District 5 Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, with each district contributing $12,500.
The funding was recommended for approval by Burgis and approved by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. The allocation supports the department’s continued efforts to strengthen neighborhood safety and improve response capabilities in Eastern Contra Costa County.
City Manager Bessie Marie Scott expressed appreciation for the County’s partnership, stating, “I want to express our sincere gratitude for your decision to allocate funding to our police department for the Substation in Sycamore. Your commitment to public safety and to ensuring that our officers have the resources they need to serve our community is deeply appreciated. This investment strengthens not only the department, but the wellbeing of our neighborhoods as a whole. Thank you for your leadership, your responsiveness to community needs here in Antioch, and your dedication to keeping our city safe.”
The grand opening event will include brief remarks from City and County representatives and an opportunity to tour the facility.
The BART Board voted to close all stations serving East County if the proposed Nov. sales tax measure fails. Source: BART
Contra Costa’s 4 representatives vote to adoptAlternative Service Plan to balance budget including 1,170 employee layoffs
Ridership still down 50% post-COVID
ByAllen D. Payton
On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, the BART Board of Directors, on vote of 8-1, adopted an Alternative Service Plan outlining specific budget balancing details to solve a $376M deficit for the next fiscal year if no new funds become available to BART. According to a District press release, BART is facing a structural deficit of $350M to $400M because ridership is still down 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels and BART’s current funding model relies heavily on passenger fares.
As previously reported by the Herald, the stations on the list for potential Phase 1 closure in January 2027 include the 10 lowest ridership stations: North Concord, Orinda, Pittsburg Center, Oakland International Airport, West Dublin/Pleasanton, Castro Valley, San Bruno, South Hayward, South San Francisco and Warm Springs/South Fremont.
Phase 2 Closures Include Antioch and Pittsburg/Bay Point Stations
The Phase 2 – July 2027 Segment Closure Scenario, Contingent on Phase 1 implementation, would result in a 70% reduction in train hours and 25% reduction in system miles; Segment closures would stop service on most system segments opened after 1976: Yellow line service would end at Concord, shuttering the Pittsburg/Bay Point and Antioch Stations; Orange line service would end at Bay Fair,; Blue line service would be discontinued shuttering the West Dublin/Pleasanton Station; Most stations south of Daly City would be closed except for direct service to SFO would continue for revenue retention; Service continues to Milpitas and Berryessa due to terms of BART/VTA agreements.
Based on Proposed Transit Tax Measure Failing
The plan is based on the assumption a sales tax increase measure proposed for the November ballot in five Bay Area counties fails. As previously reported, voters would be asked to consider a one-half sales tax increase in Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and a one-cent sales tax increase in San Francisco County. The 14-year regional transportation sales tax would generate approximately $980 million annually with 60 percent dedicated to preserving service on BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit, as well as San Francisco Bay Ferry and smaller transit agencies providing service in the five counties to keep buses, trains and ferries moving, including WestCat, County Connection and Tri Delta Transit. About one-third of the revenue would go to Contra Costa Transportation Authority, Santa Clara VTA, SamTrans and the Alameda County Transportation Commission, with flexibility to use funds for transit capital, operations, or road paving projects on roads with regular bus service.
Also, as previously reported, an effort is underway to gather signatures to place the measure on the ballot. The sales tax increase would be in addition to the half-cent sales tax for BART operations in Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco counties in place since the 1960’s.
Motion and Vote Details
Following public comments and discussion among the Board members a vote was taken on the following motion: The Board adopts the attached Resolution “In the Matter of Initially Approving an Alternative Service Plan to Take Effect January 2027 in the Event the Connect Bay Area Measure Fails to Receive Voter Approval at the Statewide General Election on November 3, 2026 and BART is Unable to Secure Other Revenue Sources.”
The motion was made by District 4 Director Robert Raburn, seconded by District 1 Director Matt Rinn, and passed on a vote of 8-1 with the additional support of District 7 Director Victor Flores, District 2 Director Mark Foley, District 3 Director Barnali Gosh, District 8 Director Janice Li, Board Vice President and District 9 Director Edward Wright and Board President and District 5 Director Melissa Hernandez.
District 6 Director Liz Ames was the only member of the Board of Directors to vote “No”.
Foley represents portions of Central County and all of East County, Rinn represents portions of Central Contra Costa County, all of Lamorinda and most of the San Ramon Valley, Gosh represents all of West County and Hernandez represents portions of San Ramon.
Approved Plan Details
The plan includes specific cuts and financial strategies needed to balance both the FY27 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) and FY28 (July 1, 2027-June 30, 2028) budgets. The plan includes service cuts, station closures, fare increases, a 40% reduction in system support services, laying off 1,170 employees and a series of deferrals and one-time resources. The plan does not name specific stations to be closed and makes clear the BART Board will be responsible for all decisions on station closures. You can read the Alternative Service Plan resolution, resolution attachment and presentation to the BART Board.
BART has already made budget cuts across all departments and instituted a series of cost controls, including rightsizing service, labor savings, operational efficiencies, and reducing BART’s office space footprint. At the same time, BART has also worked to increase revenue by installing new fare gates, leasing out BART parking lots, and offering new fare products such as Clipper BayPass. View a detailed list of cost savings implement by BART at bart.gov/fiscalcliff.
Alternative Service Plan Details
To take place in January 2027:
3-line service (Yellow, Blue, and Orange line service only, with limited peak service in only the peak commute direction on the Red and Green lines).
30-minute frequencies on every line.
Closing at 9 pm seven days a week.
This service plan represents a 63% reduction in train hours.
30% fare and parking fee increases (the estimated average fare would increase from $4.98 to $6.38).
Target approximately $30M in savings over 6 months from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions.
Continue deferrals of priority capital allocations and retiree medical contributions.
Balance remainder of FY27 with one-time resources and financial deferrals.
Following the January 2027 cuts, staff will continuously assess ridership and revenue impacts and the performance of all District functions to determine if further reductions can be safely and legally implemented.
To take place in July 2027 if feasibly safe:
Target over $175M in annual cost reductions through a cumulative 70% reduction in service hours:
Maintain 3-line service, 30-minute frequencies on each line, closing at 9pm.
Close up to 15 stations and/or up to 25% of system track miles.
The BART Board will be responsible for all decisions on station or line segment closures.
Increase fares and parking fees up to a cumulative 50%. The estimated average fare would increase to $7.26.
Target annual operating expense savings of more than a cumulative $130M from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions.
Continue to defer retiree health contributions; defer most remaining capital allocations.
Contingency:
If at any point it is determined BART can’t safely or legally operate with available resources, stop passenger service.
Use existing District tax revenues to secure system assets.
Work to determine system’s future.
Use of the State Loan
BART can’t use state loan money to avoid station closures and service cuts if no new revenue becomes available because without new revenue, there is no way to pay the loan back. The state loan primarily helps with cash flow if a November 2026 transit funding measure is successful. It is a bridge loan that gives BART reassurances money will be available to continue to deliver the best service possible until the sales tax dollars from the successful ballot measure become available for BART’s use. This is projected to happen in July 2027 but could take longer. If a funding measure succeeds, BART will use $97M in loan funds to help balance the FY27 budget.
The Slatten Ranch Shopping Center on Lone Tree Way at Highway 4 in Antioch has been sold. Photos by Allen D. Payton
Sterling Organization expands portfolio with acquisition
Named after the late John Slatten and family
Sterling Organization, a vertically integrated private equity real estate investment firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, has added another asset to its national retail portfolio with the acquisition of Slatten Ranch Shopping Center (“Slatten Ranch”), located at 5709 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, California, a San Francisco MSA submarket. The purchase was made on behalf of Sterling’s $600 million institutional value-add fund, Sterling Value Add Partners IV (SVAP IV).
The 118,187-square-foot shopping center, named for long-time Antioch resident and business owner, the late John Slatten and his family, where their farm was once located, is shadow anchored by a 142,000-square-foot Target, which ranks among the top performing stores in the U.S. The center is leased to tenants including Burlington, Five Below, Sephora and Harbor Freight Tools, plus a mix of daily needs retailers. The shopping center sits along Highway 4 and Lone Tree Way, where more than 81,000 vehicles pass daily. Slatten Ranch draws a robust consumer base, and within a three-mile radius of the property, there are more than 122,000 residents with average household incomes exceeding $168,000.
The Target store and parking lot are not part of the purchase which also does not include the stores in the neighboring Empire Shopping Center, where Old Navy, PetSmart and Office Depot are located.
“Opportunities like Slatten Ranch don’t come along often in a market like this. Slatten Ranch is a high-quality asset that benefits from the draw of Target while offering immediate actionable upside with over 30,000 square feet of well-positioned vacant space. Our team is looking forward to executing our business plan and delivering strong results for our investor partners,” said Jordan Fried, Principal at Sterling Organization. “We’d like to thank Ryan Nickelson with LRG Investors, as well as Eric Kathrein, Gleb Lvovich, Geoff Tranchina, Andrew Spangenberg and the JLL team for their collective efforts and professionalism on this transaction,” added Mr. Fried.
“We are thrilled to add Slatten Ranch Shopping Center to our value-add portfolio,” said Bob Dake, Principal at Sterling Organization. “This acquisition presented the opportunity to purchase a market-leading, Target shadow-anchored asset in a densely populated and high-growth Northern California Bay Area submarket. Our team looks forward to filling the existing vacancies and increasing the occupancy rate at the property from 72% to our goal of 100% during our hold period. We also intend to improve both property operations and tenant mix to better serve the community,” he added.
Vacancies available for lease range from 5,627 to 27,000 square feet. Leasing inquiries can be directed to leasing@sterlingorganization.com.
With the addition of Slatten Ranch, Sterling Organization and its affiliates now own 82 properties nationwide, totaling more than 13 million square feet and exceeding $3 billion in value. The firm continues to actively seek new investments and currently has more than $1 billion in aggregate buying power across its various strategies. Acquisition and disposition inquiries may be sent to investments@sterlingorganization.com.
For more information about the new owner of the shopping center visit sterlingorganization.com.
