Back on Track Community Services and Reimagine Antioch announced the Sycamore Safe Center, opening at 1088 Sycamore Drive, Antioch. The center is intended to connect residents with community resources, educational workshops, workforce opportunities, life-skills training, family support, and partner organizations.
Opening: Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 1:00–5:00 p.m.
Who it serves: Antioch residents and families. The opening is all-ages; ongoing age or residency restrictions have not been published.
How to connect: Call Back on Track Community Services at (925) 658-8278 or use the opening registration page.
Referral use: The center should function as a neighborhood access point for resource navigation and referrals. Community organizations are also being invited to provide on-site outreach.
Not publicly stated yet: Regular operating hours, formal intake steps, eligibility documentation, appointment requirements, program capacity, and waitlist limits. The 1:00–5:00 p.m. hours apply only to the opening event, not ongoing services.
Volunteers needed. For more information contact Yvette Williams at (925) 658-8278 or yvette4hope@gmail.com.
Nilton Serva, a self-proclaimed former “streetpreneur” and now entrepreneur, and his brother Dean were arrested Oct. 18, 2026, for battery on a family member. Source: APD CitizenRIMS & Nilton Serva’s website.
The younger says he’s a two-time Deer Valley High drop-out who claims to have turned his life around after twice spending time in jail, and has gone from “‘streetpreneur’ to a real entrepreneur,” paid public speaker
By Allen D. Payton
According to the Antioch Police Department’s CitizenRIMS, two men with the same last name were arrested early Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, for felony battery and one was also charged with misdemeanor obstructing or resisting a peace officer. The incident occurred at 1:52 AM in the 800 block of O Street.
Dean Jonathan Serva, age 30, is described as Hispanic, five-feet, six-inches tall and 175 pounds. He was charged with 243(d) Pc: Battery with serious bodily injury (F). His younger brother, Nilton Junior Serva, age 29, is also described as Hispanic, as well as five-feet, 10-inches tall and 290 pounds. He was also charged with243(d) Pc: Battery with serious bodily injury (F), as well as with 148(a)(1) Pc: Obstruct / resist / etc. a public or peace officer or emergency medical tech – simple (M). Case Number:26-10015.
At the same time and location, the CitizenRims Map shows a fight occurred and the disposition is described as report taken – felony and the call was closed at 7:55 AM
Both have the same Incident Number: 2610180021.
According to Antioch Police Lt. Bill Whitaker the felony battery was filed with the DA’s office, the two are brothers and the assault was against a family member but there were no major injuries.
Nilton Says He’s Gone From “‘Streetpreneur’ to a Real Entrepreneur” and Offers His Services as a Paid Public Speaker
A former Deer Valley High School student who says he dropped out twice, according to Nilton’s website about himself on which he provides details on his background, claims a “lifestyle shift from ‘streetpreneur’ to a real entrepreneur” and offers his services as a paid public speaker.
On the My Story page, Nilton shares that after dropping out of high school for a second time, he was first arrested at age 17 for residential burglary. After nine months in county jail and the Byron Boys Ranch, he was released. But he “could not find a job and got sucked back into his old ways. Within a couple of months, he got violated by his probation officer…was on house arrest for a month then he went back to court. He was sentenced to another 6-month program at Byron.”
While there, “He then focused on getting his high school credits and even got his high school equivalency there too,” Nilton’s story continues.
According to his LinkedIn profile, as of February this year Nilton is President of VC Unleashed, a global non‑profit for next‑generation investors, where he’s worked since June 2024, and since January this year he has also worked for San Francisco-based Finix in GTM (Go-To-Market) & Partnerships and has been an Angel Investor for Wefunder since January 2024.
In 2023, Nilton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from UCLA.
Source: Nilton Serva’s website.
UCLA Magazine Article
He also offered details about his background in a 2024 article on the UCLA Magazine website in which Nilton wrote, “I changed at UCLA. Became more structured. Because the standards were high, I had a choice: Meet them, or quit. And there was no way I was going to quit. I got into the Social Enterprise Academy and the Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program. I spoke to venture capitalists, fund managers. My professors provided amazing guidance. I began to see my path.
“I got pretty emotional at graduation, thinking about it all: every little fight I’d had, every mistake I’d made. But I viewed all of that as just the first chapter of my story.
“I will take UCLA with me wherever I go. And because of it, I’ll continue to write better and better chapters of my life.”.
Efforts to reach Nilton via the email address on his website and LinkedIn were unsuccessful.
If you know him, please ask him or his brother to contact the Herald at (925) 457-5324 or editor@antiochherald.com. Then check back later for any updates to this report.
Plus, get tips and reminders for voting in the November 3rd General Election
By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
Regional Early Voting Sites open today, Friday, October 30th with convenient times to vote in-person, and polling places are open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Voters can still return their ballots by mail, postmarked on or before Election Day – to ensure mailed ballots are received on time, voters mailing their ballots should go into the post office and ask for a postmark. To avoid stress and ensure the Elections office receives their ballot on time, voters can drop their ballot off at one of the County’s 43 official drop boxes before 8:00 PM on Election Day.
“We want Contra Costa Voters to know that they can vote their way with confidence,” said Kristin B. Connelly, the County’s Registrar of Voters. “The Elections office is here to ensure that your vote is counted and your voice is heard.”
In-Person Voter Services
If you prefer to vote in-person or need in-person services to cast your ballot, Contra Costa County residents have early voting options at five Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county.
All Contra Costa registered voters will be able to vote at any of the Regional Early Voting locations, which will be open Friday, October 30th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday, October 31st from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; and Monday, November 2nd from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Here are the locations of Contra Costa’s Regional Early Voting sites:
Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O’Hara Ave, Oakley
Pittsburg Library-Community Room, 80 Power Avenue, Pittsburg
Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond
San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Blvd., Alamo
Center for Community Arts Auditorium, 111 N Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek
Voters can also come to the Elections Office at 555 Escobar St in Martinez, Friday, October 30th from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday October 31st from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday November 2nd from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Election Day, Tuesday November 3rd from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Polling Places
Polling places will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Please go to our website and check “My Voting Information.” to find your assigned polling place.
Conditional Voter Registration
If you missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register and vote in-person using Conditional Voter Registration. It is a one-stop opportunity to register and cast your ballot and is available (1) at our office at 555 Escobar St in Martinez, (2) at Regional Early Voting sites, and (3) at all polling places.
Accessible Voting Equipment and Additional Language Access
Official ballots and voting instructions are provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Additional language resources are available through ballot translation guides which are available online and at all in-person voting locations. Ballot marking equipment with accessible features is available at every in-person voting location for voters who may need assistance.
Be Prepared
If you vote in-person, many voters find it helpful to come prepared. Make your choices ahead of time and bring your pre-marked Sample Ballot to the polls to help you save time. Copies of the Voter Information Guide are available at the polls and the information is also available online.
No Electioneering within 100 Feet of Polling Place – Leave Campaign T-Shirts, Buttons and Hats at Home
Please remember that voters have the right to cast a ballot free from intimidation or distraction. Under California law, electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet of any voting location. Anyone wearing items promoting any position in this election will be asked to remove or cover them while they are at the voting location. Please help our poll workers by refraining from electioneering and leave your campaign t-shirts, buttons, and hats at home.
For more information on voting options for the November 3rd General Election, visit www.contracostavote.gov or call 925.335.7800.
A voter casts a ballot during the presidential primary election on Super Tuesday in Oakland. Photo: Andrew Reed/EdSource
PRO: Teachers’ union leader says Prop. 3 would help lock in hard-won resources for student well-being
By Gloria Martinez, EdSource.org – republished with permission
When I was a special education teacher, I learned that one of the cruelest questions you can ask an underfunded school is: What can you afford to go without?
Before California voters passed Proposition 30 in 2012, this was not a hypothetical question. I saw firsthand how budget constraints affected students’ daily lives, especially in less affluent communities where resources were already stretched thin. Some schools lacked the counselors, school psychologists and social workers needed to recognize when a child was struggling. Teachers did what they could, but in classrooms of 30 or more students, we could not replace these trained professionals or meet every child’s needs alone.
By raising taxes on California’s highest earners (currently, couples earning more than $742,000), Proposition 30 generated additional revenue for public schools and higher education. In the years that followed, teachers across the state used collective bargaining to advocate for improvements that directly affected students and school communities: smaller class sizes, art and music programs, and mental health professionals who helped schools better support students’ overall well-being.
In Los Angeles, those resources also helped create conditions for educators to pursue further gains through common-good bargaining, including community schools, the Black Student Achievement Plan, and additional staffing. These were more than budget line items. They meant more readily available support for students, expanded opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds and from immigrant communities and communities of color, and greater capacity for schools to intervene when students and their families needed help.
Today, as voters consider Proposition 3, which would make these existing tax rates permanent for California’s highest-income earners, we must remember what it took to build that stronger foundation and what we stand to lose if it erodes.
If the tax rates expire in 2031, California would give its wealthiest households a massive tax cut and forgo an estimated $5 billion to $15 billion a year in state revenue. This financial pitfall will make it harder for school districts to sustain the programs and staffing students rely on, including mental health and student support services. Counselors, school psychologists and social workers — positions we worked to expand in our schools — could be at risk.
“If the tax rates expire in 2031, California would give its wealthiest households a massive tax cut and forgo an estimated $5 billion to $15 billion a year in state revenue.“
Protecting that investment is especially urgent as students face increasingly complex mental health challenges. For young people experiencing depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, school-based mental health services reach more than twice as many as primary care or child welfare services. For many students, school may be the most accessible place to find help.
Students also bring fears into school that originate far beyond campus. Immigration raids across California have exacerbated students’ anxieties about family separation, fears for parents’ safety, and difficulty concentrating in class. In moments like these, psychiatric social workers have provided students with weekly check-ins, psychological counseling and information about legal support services. They have also facilitated community circles where students can discuss unfolding events and how those events affect them.
If schools lose these professionals, students and families will have fewer places to turn for help. Families with the means to do so may be able to pay for private counseling, but families without those means can lose access to critical support altogether.
The gains made possible by Proposition 30 demonstrate what sustained public investment can achieve. Without continued funding that would come from Proposition 3, it’s hard to see how schools can maintain those hard-won gains, preserve mental health services and build the capacity they need to respond to students’ changing needs.
Years from now, our students will have to live with the consequences of the choices we make during this election. Children need more than academic instruction to thrive. They need the stability and support that allow them to recover from setbacks, develop confidence and imagine a future beyond their immediate challenges.
Proposition 3 will not magically fix California’s schools. But without this revenue, schools will struggle to maintain the staffing and programs our students deserve. The question we must ask is not simply what California can afford to fund, but what we are willing to risk going without.
Voters at a polling place. Credit: Andrew Reed / EdSource
CON: Taxpayers leader says California doesn’t need another forever tax
As statewide student enrollment declines
By Robert Gutierrez, EdSource.org – republished with permission
Proposition 3 asks voters to approve a massive tax increase that would not take effect until 2031, when California’s finances may look completely different from how they do today. Voters should reject Proposition 3 and keep their options open.
In 2031, there will be a new president in the Oval Office, a new governor, and a different political landscape in California — especially if voters approve Proposition 40 to impose a wealth tax that could prompt an exodus of the taxpayers targeted by Proposition 3.
The state also will have significantly fewer students in our public schools. The Department of Finance projects a decline of 710,500 students from 2026 through 2036, and by the midpoint of this decline, we undoubtedly will see some major changes in the education structure.
This is only the beginning of the list of unknowns. Other questions include:
Will Californians still be paying billions of dollars per year for a nonfunctioning “high-speed” railroad system in 2031, rather than prioritizing schools for that spending?
Will taxpayers still be paying for ineffective programs that haven’t solved homelessness?
Will startups launch in California, or take their jobs and economic benefits to states with more competitive tax rates?
In short, it makes no sense to amend the state constitution to commit to a tax increase now, five years in advance, when we have no idea what condition the state will be in when the tax would take effect.
What difference could five years make?
California’s finances can change substantially in a short period. Total state revenue for the current fiscal year is projected to be $21.5 billion higher than the amount collected five years earlier. The Department of Finance also recently reported that general fund revenue was running $5.5 billion above the projection used to draft the 2026-27 budget just six months earlier. This means the education funding guarantee will go up, too.
“It makes no sense to amend the state constitution to commit to a tax increase now, five years in advance, when we have no idea what condition the state will be in when the tax would take effect.“
Timing is only one of the problems. While Proposition 3 is marketed as a “tax extension” that would only affect high-income residents, the truth is that it’s a major tax increase that would hit millions of small businesses as well as high-income individuals. The result: California’s affordability crisis gets worse.
The small-business aspect of Proposition 3 hasn’t received enough attention. California’s tax structure does not neatly separate business income from personal income, and many small businesses operate as sole proprietorships, partnerships, or S corporations that report business earnings on personal income tax returns.
This means the higher tax rates imposed by Proposition 3 would increase taxes on many small businesses, ultimately leading to higher prices for customers, fewer job opportunities for workers, or both.
The Public Policy Institute of California reported in February that sole proprietorships accounted for more than 3 million California businesses in 2023. But the number of those businesses whose owners would be impacted by Proposition 3 depends on their taxable income.
To the extent that Proposition 3 would hit high-income earners, it would make California more reliant on the most volatile source of revenue, while simultaneously making it even more volatile by giving high-income residents a new incentive to leave the state.
California already imposes the nation’s highest personal income taxes and would have a top personal income tax rate of 10.3% on income over $1 million without Proposition 3. The state also imposes a 1.3% State Disability Insurance tax on all income from salaries and wages, bringing the top tax rate to 11.6% on those forms of income, without Proposition 3.
As for the issue of an “extension” versus an “increase,” the fact is clear: If Proposition 3 is approved, Californians will pay $5 billion to $15 billion a year more in state income tax than if the initiative is defeated (according to estimates by the Legislative Analyst’s Office). That’s an increase — and a very large one, at that.
Finally, the measure would continue the trend in which “temporary” taxes in California never seem to go away. As the proponents of Proposition 40 are discovering, voters are extremely distrustful of taxes described as temporary. Why? In large part because of Proposition 3 and its predecessor, Proposition 55 of 2016, asking voters to renew a tax originally described as a temporary charge to cover an emergency.
The ballot argument for the original initiative, Proposition 30 of 2012, said the taxes “are temporary, balanced and necessary to protect schools and safety” — one of the argument’s five mentions of the allegedly temporary nature.
With revenue arriving above projections and the state spending billions on questionable programs without proper controls or a review of effectiveness, it can no longer be said that California has a fiscal emergency.
The voters should give much-needed relief to small businesses and their customers, avoid making fiscal decisions prematurely, and let the “emergency tax” expire on schedule. Vote NO on Proposition 3.
Robert Gutierrez is president of the California Taxpayers Association, which is celebrating its 100th year of serving as the state’s largest and oldest association representing taxpayers in this state.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. EdSource welcomes commentaries representing diverse points of view.
By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations, Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
The first report of results will be released shortly after 8:00 PM on Election Night, Tuesday, November 3rd, and posted to the Elections website immediately afterward. The initial posted results will include counted Vote-by-Mail (VBM) ballots and in-person ballots from Regional Early Voting Sites.
The second report, with results from the polls, will be issued at approximately 9:30 PM with subsequent updates at least once an hour until all precincts have reported their votes from in-person voting. The final Election Night report is expected to be issued by 12:00 AM.
Typically, the Election Night report only represents approximately half of the total vote that our office ultimately will receive.
The first interim report will be posted by 5:00 PM on Friday, November 6th, and will contain additional results from Vote-by-Mail ballots received on or after Election Day as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. Additional results will be posted twice a week, by 5:00 PM until canvass activities have been completed. Any final signature cures submitted by the deadline will be included in the final report at certification on December 3rd, 2026.
The availability of updated reports will be communicated via X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, using the hashtag #CoCoVote. Changes to the reporting schedule, if any, also will be communicated on these social media sites.
The Contra Costa Elections Division social media pages are:
Local election results will also be available throughout Election Night on Contra Costa Television (CCTV) beginning at 8:00 PM on Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32, and AT&T U-Verse channel 99.
I live in Walnut Creek, and I’m voting for Jeff Frese for Congress in District 10. I recently posted on Nextdoor to ask my neighbors to give Frese a look before they fill out their ballots.
Mark DeSaulnier has been in Congress for twelve years. In that time, two of his bills became law. One named a post office. The other moved a park boundary. Twelve years is long enough to judge someone’s work, and that is the work.
Jeff Frese lives in Moraga. He isn’t a career politician, and the first thing on his list is one every parent in this county can get behind: no federal income tax on public school teachers. The people we trust with our kids all day shouldn’t need a second job to live in the towns where they teach.
Frese has challenged DeSaulnier to a debate. DeSaulnier won’t debate him. When you’ve never had to earn the vote, you never have to show up.
One party has held every statewide office in California since 2011. We pay the highest gas prices in the country. More people are leaving this state than any other, and the U-Haul one-way exodus is the receipt. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result hasn’t worked.
I’m not asking anyone to change parties. I’m asking them to consider hiring someone who will actually show up and do the job. Someone who will prioritize the interests of his constituents over his self-interest or his allegiance to any political party. Someone who is determined to act and to create a brighter future for our children and grandchildren. Talk is cheap. The time to act is now.
Ballots are due Tuesday, November 3. I’m voting for Jeff Frese, and I hope you’ll join me. For more information visit https://freseforcongress.com.
According to the Antioch Police Department’s CitizenRIMS Arrests list, 37-year-old Sienna Corren Currie, born Nov. 14, 1988, was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at 5:09 p.m. in the 400 Block of Lawton Avenue for felony battery.
She is described asBlack or African American,five-foot, three inches talland105 pounds, and ischarged with243(d) Pc: Battery with serious bodily injury (F), Case Number: 26-10459, Incident Number:2610280189. According to the CitizenRIMS Map, the call occurred at 4:49 p.m. when a fight occurred that resulted in the arrest. The call was closed at 7:43 p.m.
The battery is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment for two, three or four years.
Unhoused residents and homeless advocates join Mayor Ron Bernal and councilmembers for a photo with the proclamation Tuesday night, Oct. 27, 2026. Video screenshot
“251 individuals are experiencing homelessness in Antioch”
During their meeting on Tuesday night, Oct. 27, 2026, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved the following proclamation:
WHEREAS, November is recognized nationally as Homelessness Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of homelessness, recognize the experiences and challenges faced by adults, youth, young adults and families experiencing housing instability, and reaffirm our shared commitment to preventing and ending homelessness, and to mobilize community-wide efforts toward lasting solutions; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2026 Point-In-Time Count, an estimated 2,260 individuals are experiencing homelessness on a given night in Contra Costa County, and 251 individuals are experiencing homelessness in Antioch; and
WHEREAS, since 2020, Contra Costa County has seen an 79% increase in households with minor children, a 69% increase in seniors aged 65+, and a 53% increase in Transition Aged Youth (ages 18–24) accessing homeless services, and in 2026 in Contra Costa County, there were only 4,427 temporary and permanent housing beds for persons experiencing homelessness, a stark shortfall compared to the scale of need across our communities, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch recognizes that every person deserves dignity, compassion, and the opportunity to live in safe, stable, and affordable housing, and that addressing homelessness requires collaboration, prevention, community engagement, and access to supportive services; and
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch recognizes the important contributions of local service providers, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, faith-based organizations, community partners, and residents who work to support individuals experiencing homelessness and strengthen our community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch encourages residents, businesses, community organizations, and public agencies to increase awareness, promote understanding, challenge stigma, and work collaboratively to identify solutions that prevent homelessness, and expand access to housing and improve the well-being of all members of our community; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, hereby proclaim November 2026 as HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH in the City of Antioch and encourage all residents to join in raising awareness, fostering compassion, supporting local efforts, and working together to prevent and end homelessness in our community.
