Will learn about Inclement Weather Prep for El Niño, hold Closed Session on lawsuits by pipeline company, Sand Creek area developer, plus, City Attorney performance evaluation, lease of Lynn House
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, the Antioch City Council will hold public hearings on the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Update including Junior Accessory Dwelling Units and a vote on the related fee agreement, vote to remove Commissioner Porshe Taylor from the City of Antioch Police Oversight Commission for lack of attendance and receive a presentation on Inclement Weather Preparation for El Niño.
First, beginning at 4:30 p.m., the Council will hold a Closed Session meeting to discuss three lawsuits including by the natural gas pipeline company, Sand Creek area developer Lucia Albers, whose 294-unit Albers Ranch project was approved unanimously by the Council in January 2025, plus, a federal civil rights case alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act. In addition, the Council will consider leasing the Lynn House former public art gallery site located on W. 1st Street, across from the Amtrak Station to the City’s poet laureate. Finally, they will provide City Attorney Lori Asuncion with her performance evaluation.
The Albers Ranch Lawsuit
Albers claims the process she was made to go through was unfair and discriminatory, she was singled out and treated differently than other Sand Creek developers as an Hispanic, female immigrant and the fees her project is required to pay cause her to be unable to sell to a homebuilder.
Inclement Weather Preparation Presentation
Under Item 16. the Council will receive a presentation on the City of Antioch Inclement Weather Preparation for El Niño and significant winter storm impacts. It could include additional warning, transport or shelter support for Vulnerable Populations among Antioch residents.
Consent Calendar
On the Consent Calendar under item 17.16, the Council will consider approving the second amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement with Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. in the amount of $1,300,000 for a total contract amount of $8,002,928 for Professional Engineering Services; and authorizing a FY27 General Fund budget amendment in the amount of $625,000. (See page 81)
Regular Agenda
Under items 18.1 and 18.2, the Council will hold public hearings on the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Update and vote on a new related fee schedule. (See page 259)
Under Item 19.1 the Council will consider Budget adjustments due to $1.8 million in additional funds from significant budget savings in spite of $1.4 million in lower revenues, primarily consisting of Sales tax under budget by $438,657 and Measure W Sales Tax was $681,967 under budget. (See page 320)
Under item 19.3, the Council will consider approving the Tentative Agreement with the Antioch Police Sworn Management Association. (See page 343)
Finally, under Item 19.5, the Council will vote on removing Chairperson Porshe Taylor from the City of Antioch Police Oversight Commission for lack of attendance. (See page 423)
According to the City staff report, “No member of a board or commission may have more than three consecutive absences, nor miss 20% or more of regularly scheduled meetings during any rolling 12-month period (except the Administrative Appeals Board). A person in violation of these standards may apply to the Mayor for relief from these requirements based on unusual or extenuating circumstances. (Antioch Municipal Code §2-5.206).
“Commissioner Taylor has missed nine (9) meetings in the last year, including six (6) consecutive from August through November.”
An effort to reach Taylor for explanation of her absences was unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil (center) with new Officers (L-R) Kailil King, Salae Carter, Andres Garibay, Brando Fabian and Bobby Kinard and new leaders, Corporal Brandon Bushby and Sgt. Zachary Sampson following their oaths of office Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. All photos by Allen D. Payton
Brings total to 90 sworn out of 105 budgeted, 9 more in the academy
By Allen D. Payton
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, the Antioch Police Department celebrated the promotions of two leaders and addition of five new officers during a ceremony in the Community Room at the police facility. Joined by family, friends, fellow officers, Mayor Pro Tem Don Freitas and city staff members, Chief Joe Vigil introduced each of the seven and read about their background.
Chief Vigil welcomes the seven honorees and their family, friends, fellow officers and others to the Oath of Office Ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2026.
He then administered the Oath of Office and the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Oath of Honor to the group.
Chief Vigil administers the Oaths of Office (left) and Honor (right).
A post on the Antioch Police Facebook page on Wednesday reads, “BIG DAY FOR APD! Yesterday, we had the honor of swearing in 5 new officers, welcoming a new Sergeant, and celebrating the promotion of Corporal Bushby! Please join us in congratulating: Sergeant Zachary Sampson, Corporal Brandon Bushby, Officer Andres Garibay, Officer Salae Carter, Officer Bobby Kinard, Officer Kailil King and Officer Brando Fabian.”
Vigil read the bio for each, followed by the individual pinning of their new badge and Vigil gave each the opportunity to share their thoughts.
Sgt. Zachary Sampson is introduced and congratulated by Chief Vigil and pinned by his wife.
Sergeant Zachary Sampson
Sergeant Sampson was born and raised in Antioch and graduated from Deer Valley High School. Sgt. Sampson would join the U.S. Air Force and serve as a Combat Search and Rescue, rescue aviator. He would later attend Los Medanos college where he would earn an AS degree in Aviation Operations. Shortly after he would transfet to and attend CSU Sacramento where he worked towards a degree in Homeland Security.
Sgt. Sampson would go on to work for the San Leandro Police Department where he would spend 12 years there before coming to us. In those 12 years he would work multiple assignments as a SWAT operator, Field Training Officer, Crime Scene Technician and a Robbery/Homicide Detective.
Sgt. Sampson is married to his high school sweetheart and they have two children. In his free time, he enjoys camping, fitness, fast cars – “fast cars?” Vigil asked with a smile on his face; travel, food and music.
A fun fact about Sgt. Sampson, he was stopped by Antioch PD in 2007 for doing donuts in the Deer Valley High School parking lot, in his dad’s station wagon.
Sampson was then pinned by his wife and offered his appreciation for the new position. (See video)
Corporal Brandon Bushby is introduced by Chief Vigil and pinned by his sister.
Corporal Brandon Bushby
Corporal Bushby was born in Berkeley and raised in the East Bay. He played baseball and football at Albany High School. While in high school, he also became a Police Explorer with the El Cerrito Police Department. After graduating, he accepted a part-time position with El Cerrito as a Police Cadet while attending classes at Diablo Valley College (DVC).
Corporal Bushby attended the Napa Valley College Police Academy. Shortly after graduating in 2014, he was hired as a police office with the Stockton Police Department.
During his time at SPD, he would spend most of his time assigned to patrol, working graveyard shifts alongside his partner, Johnny. He would also serve as a Field Training Officer.
Corporal Busby joined the Antioch Police Department in 2019. Since joining the department, he has served in several assignments, including the Honor Guard, Mobile Field Force, Firearms Instructor, and Field Training Officer. His favorite assignment, however, was serving as a K-9 handler alongside his partner, Canine Nox.
Brandon is honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as a Corporal and looks forward to the responsibilities and challenges that come with this new role. He remains committed to leading by example, supporting his fellow officers, and continuing to serve the Antioch community with integrity and professionalism.
Bushby was pinned by his sister before sharing his appreciation for the promotion. (See video)
Officer Salae Carter is introduced by Chief Vigil and pinned by her mother.
Officer Salae Carter
Salae was born in Oakland and moved to Oakley in 2015. She graduated from Cal State East Bay in 2024 and received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Her main interest was Crime Scene Investigation and that’s what led her to become a police officer. Prior to joining APD, she worked as a Security Supervisor at the Sun Valley Mall in Concord. In her free time, she likes to spend it with family and friends. She also enjoys eating and trying new foods.
Carter had her mother pin on her new badge before sharing her thoughts on the new position. (See video)
Officer Brando Fabian is introduced by Chief Vigil and pinned by his fiancée.
Officer Brando Fabian
Brando was born and raised in Antioch but recently moved to Modesto. He graduated from Freedom High School in 2016. Some of his hobbies on his off time include soccer, Muay Thai, restoring electronics and cutting hair.
Fabian had his fiancée pin on his badge before offering thanks for his new position. (See video)
Officer Andres Garibay is introduced by Chief Vigil and pinned by his wife as their sons look on.
Officer Andres Garibay
Andres was born in Pittsburg and raised in Oakley. He graduated from Freedom High School in 2011, and shortly after joined the U.S. Army, as an infantryman from 2011-2014. Prior to joining APD, he worked at Walmart handling theft investigations. In his free time, enjoys watching sports and spending time with his wife and kids.
Fun fact: Andres is in an exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Garibay was pinned with his badge by his wife with their sons standing by before he also offered appreciation for his new position. (See video)
Officer Bobby Kinard is introduced by Chief Vigil and pinned by his mother.
Officer Bobby Kinard
Bobby was born in Oakland and raised in Pittsburg and Antioch. After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves. In his downtime, he enjoys recreational sports, cooking and spending time with his family. Bobby is looking forward to serving the citizens of Antioch and building relationships with the community.
Kinard had his mother pin on his new badge before offering thanks for his new position. (See video)
Officer Kailil King is introduced by Chief Vigil and pinned by his girlfriend.
Officer Kailil King
Kialil was born in the Bay Area and grew up in East Palo Alto. Shortly after he moved to Lodi and graduated from Lincoln High. While in high school, he met his girlfriend and has been with her for 10 years. After graduation, he attended Delta College and graduated with an associate’s degree in social arts. Kailil then attended Unitech College and graduated with in 2022 with a degree in Licensed Vocational Nursing. In his free time, he likes to spend it with his friends and family. His hobbies include bowling and playing video games. He also enjoys traveling with his girlfriend and taking pictures of all the places he’s visited.
King had his girlfriend pin on his badge before offering appreciation for his new position. (See video)
90 Sworn on the Force
According to Vigil, that brings the total of sworn officers in the department to 90 out of 105 in the City’s budget. “There will be four more at the end of November and then five more in the academy graduating in March,” he added.
The APD Facebook post concludes with, “We are proud to welcome our newest officers and celebrate these well-deserved accomplishments. Here’s to new beginnings, continued growth, and serving the Antioch community!”
Claim Sutter stalling at the bargaining table for patient care improvements
See UPDATE:Sutter responds: “We are disappointed that CNA chose to call for picketing in this early stage of contract bargaining…”
By Chuleenan Svetvilas, Communications Specialist, California Nurses Association / National Nurses United
Nurses and health care workers at 13 facilities across Northern California will hold informational pickets the week of Nov. 9, announced California Nurses Association (CNA) and CNA affiliate Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union (CHEU) today.
Nurses notified their employer on Oct. 29 that they would hold informational pickets across the region. Sutter nurses have been in negotiations since early August 2026 for a new contract with little to no movement on key issues. The RNs and health care workers are urging management to invest in nursing staff and agree to a contract that provides:
-Improved core staffing and safety;
Protections for RNs and patients against untested AI systems in healthcare; and
Provisions that guarantee recruitment and retention of nurses.
“After three months at the table with Sutter, and dozens of proposals presented, it is clear that management is not taking us seriously,” said Jessica Fernandez, RNin the ICU at Sutter Delta Medical Center. “Sutter needs to show up to negotiations prepared with meaningful responses, not excuses and delays.”
“Sutter’s reputation precedes itself when it comes to negotiations,” said Richelle Mas, RN in the telemetry unit at Mills Peninsula Medical Center. “We know that Sutter has a track record of prioritizing their bottom line over patient safety and proper staffing at the bedside. We need to take a stand now.”
Who: Registered nurses and health care workers at 13 Sutter Health facilities
What: Informational pickets and strikes for patient safety and a fair contract
When: Nov. 9-13, see below of dates and specific times
Where: See below for location information
California Nurses Association represents more than 10,000 nurses and health care workers across Sutter hospitals in Northern California.
Picket time and location:
Tuesday, Nov. 10
Sutter Delta Medical Center
3901 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
UPDATE: Sutter Health Responds
In response, a Sutter Health spokesperson said, “Sutter respects our employee’s rights to participate in lawful picketing, but we also believe the most meaningful progress for our nurses will come through continued good-faith engagement at the bargaining table. We are disappointed that CNA chose to call for picketing in this early stage of contract bargaining, when proposals on key topics like wages have yet to be exchanged.
“Sutter is committed to continue working constructively with the union on health benefits, wages, and other important issues under discussion, and we encourage CNA to remain focused on that work as well. Our hospitals and care sites will remain open and focused on providing safe, high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
About CAN/NNU
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
Nearly half of American voters have a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. And Alzheimer’s will touch even more families in the years ahead, as the number of Americans living with the fatal disease nearly doubles by 2050.
Thankfully, scientists are developing new tools to help diagnose and manage Alzheimer’s. Among the most promising are blood tests that could help millions of Americans receive diagnoses earlier — so they can start treatment sooner.
But it’s not enough for these tools to exist. Patients need access to these promising tests as soon as they’re approved. For that to happen, Congress will need to pass legislation ensuring Medicare can cover new screening tests — and cut the red tape that currently risks preventing Alzheimer’s patients from getting the care they need.
A bipartisan bill, the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, would do precisely that. The bill offers lawmakers an opportunity to remove a barrier standing between patients and earlier diagnosis, potentially allowing patients to get valuable time back.
Historically, Alzheimer’s was difficult to diagnose. Initial symptoms can be hard to recognize, particularly among older adults experiencing general cognitive decline. Doctors had to rely on a combination of medical history, physical exams, brain scans, and cerebrospinal fluid testing.
As a result, it can take patients over three years after symptoms first emerge to receive an official diagnosis.
Now, new tools are emerging that could dramatically speed up this timeline. Last year, the FDA cleared the first blood test used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s. The test detects biological markers in the blood associated with the disease, offering an easier and less invasive testing option. In the future, doctors could use similar blood tests as screening tools to identify Alzheimer’s far earlier — long before symptoms worsen.
That kind of earlier diagnosis can make an enormous difference.
For one, it gives families more time to plan and prepare for the financial and caregiving burdens that come with Alzheimer’s. Long-term care services can cost $72,800 to $115,000 annually. Many family members of patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias become caregivers themselves, collectively providing more than 19 billion hours of unpaid care worth over $446 billion.
Alzheimer’s damages the connections between brain cells. Once those neurons are lost, they can’t be repaired or regenerated. Alzheimer’s treatments therefore generally focus on preventing damage and slowing the disease’s progression. And after a certain point, patients simply aren’t eligible for treatment anymore.
Yet for patients to benefit from recent diagnostic advances, Medicare needs to cover them.
Policymakers shouldn’t stop there, though. As Alzheimer’s science continues to advance, Medicare needs to keep pace by removing unnecessary barriers and ensuring that patients can actually access the new diagnostics and treatments that researchers develop.
We increasingly have the tools to change the trajectory of early-stage Alzheimer’s. But first, we must ensure that patients can access those tools in time. Doing so would create wide ripple effects of positive impact on millions of individuals and families facing this staggering diagnosis.
Kenneth E. Thorpe, PhD, is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Health Policy at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and the honorary Chair of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. This piece originally ran in DCJournal.com.
Antioch Police and Con Fire personnel responded to the scene of the fatal collision in the eastbound lanes of Highway 4 between Pittsburg and Antioch Monday morning, Dec. 22, 2025. Video screenshot courtesy of Spotlight CoCoCounty.
Labeled “accidental death” of 27-year-old Phoenix Corwen Dunn
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, California — An independent review into a law enforcement-involved fatal incident in December 2025 determined that criminal charges are not warranted in the accidental death of 27-year-old Phoenix Corwen Dunn in the City of Antioch.
The incident began around 10:30 am on December 22, 2025. A security guard at the Comfort Inn (now Antioch Inn & Suites) called 911 to report that a man (later identified as Phoenix Dunn) had pulled a fire alarm and fled. The guard chased Dunn to the nearby bowling alley. The guard tried to detain Dunn, but a struggle ensued, and Dunn broke free and ran behind a Kaiser Permanente Delta Fair Medical Offices near the bowling alley. An Antioch police officer, dispatched to the scene after the 911 call, spotted Dunn in the Kaiser parking lot. Dunn then climbed over a fence and made his way onto State Route 4 near the Somersville Road offramp.
Source: Alameda County DA Report
Dunn ran across several lanes of the freeway in moderate to heavy traffic. In the left lane (Number 1 Lane), Dunn was struck by a county car driven by Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office Inspector Sean Eriksen, who was on-duty at the time. A California Highway Patrol officer driving directly behind Eriksen witnessed the collisions. A bystander who was also driving on the freeway, pulled over and performed life-saving aid on Dunn, but Dunn was pronounced dead at 10:49 am. The county coroner later ruled Dunn’s death an accident. Eriksen, who suffered minor injuries, stayed at the scene and gave a voluntary statement. (See related articles here and here)
The California Highway Patrol spent about six months reconstructing the crash. It found the car in proper working order, and there was no evidence that Eriksen was impaired, distracted or driving unsafely. Witnesses and video showed that Dunn entered the freeway suddenly, where pedestrians are prohibited, and the CHP concluded the crash was unavoidable.
Source: Alameda County DA Report
Following the fatal incident, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office requested the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office to conduct an independent review, because the incident involved one of its own employees, Senior Inspector Sean Eriksen.
Under California law, an accidental death is not a crime. Murder or manslaughter charges require proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a driver acted with malice or criminal negligence. After reviewing the full record, Alameda County District Attorney’s Office found no such evidence and concluded that no further criminal inquiry is warranted. The full report is available on the Contra Costa District Attorney’s website.
According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, nine-inch tall, 165-pound Dunn was White, a resident of Castro Valley and had been arrested on Oct. 2, 2025, by Dublin Police for indecent exposure after illegally occupying a dwelling.
Victim Linda Woolridge was a mother of two. Photo source: GoFundMe
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, California — On November 4, 2026, a Contra Costa County jury found 40-year-old Alexander Pedro Mayorga of Antioch guilty on all counts in a drunk-driving crash that killed bicyclist Linda Alize Wooldridge.
On the night of July 27, 2024, Ms. Wooldridge, 29, was riding her bicycle in a marked shared bike lane along Lone Tree Way in Antioch when she was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Mayorga, approximately 650 feet from the intersection of Lone Tree Way and Sagebrush Drive. Following the collision, Mayorga continued driving and subsequently crashed into two signal poles at the intersection, disabling his vehicle. Ms. Wooldridge died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision. (See related articles here, here and here)
Mayorga was convicted by a jury of:
• Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated [PC 191.5(a)]
• Driving under the influence causing injury [VC 23153(a)]
• Driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more causing injury [VC 23153(b)]
• Hit-and-run driving resulting in death [VC 20001(b)(2)]
The jury also found all special allegations true:
• Fleeing the scene of the crime [VC 20001(c)]
• Personal infliction of Great Bodily Injury [PC 969f]
• Personal infliction of Great Bodily Injury [PC 12022.7a]
• Blood Alcohol Content of .20 percent or more [VC 23556]
After the verdict, the trial on the alleged aggravating factors was heard by Judge Hanni Fakhoury without a jury. On November 5th, Judge Fakhoury found beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Wooldridge was a particularly vulnerable victim under California Rules of Court, rule 4.421(a)(3).
District Attorney Diana Becton said: “Drunk driving is a choice, and this verdict shows that choice has consequences. The victim’s family has suffered a loss that no verdict can undo, but they have seen the defendant held accountable. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones.”
Sentencing is scheduled for December 12th at 8:30 am at the A.F. Bray Courts Building in Martinez. Mayorga remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney MacKenzie Savage and marks the first trial and conviction for the District Attorney’s Impaired Motorist Prosecution and Crimes (IMPACT) Team, a specialized unit dedicated exclusively to prosecuting serious DUI fatality and injury cases. The team is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. IMPACT prosecutors also partner with the statewide Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) Training Program to train prosecutors and investigators, and work with law enforcement agencies on best practices for handling DUI cases.
Case No. 04-24-01793 | The People of the State of California v. Alexander Pedro Mayorga
According to the Antioch Police Department’s CitizenRIMS Arrests list, five men were arrested this past week for either felony aggravated assault or felony domestic violence.
On Halloween night, Oct. 31, 2026, at 6:42 p.m. 39-year-old Christopher Alexander Mayorga was arrested in the 1100 block Of James Donlon Blvd. He is described as Hispanic six-foot, one-inch tall and 200 pounds, and was charged with false imprisonment and inflicting corporal injury on spouse/cohabitant/dating relationship – aggravated (F). Case Number: 26-10546.
According to localcrimenews.com Mayorga has a history of arrests dating back to 2013 including on Sept. 3rd for battery on a spouse, cohabitant, or former spouse – warrants or holds only, robbery, burglary and removing, destroying or damaging a wireless communication device to prevent summoning assistance or law enforcement.
On Thursday, Nov. 5 at 3:00 p.m. 45-year-old Kenneth Darron Hopes was arrested in the 3100 block of Lone Tree Way. He is described as Black or African American, six-foot tall, 250 pounds and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm – aggravated (F) and second-degree burglary/breaking and entering (F). Case Number: 26-10356.
According to localcrimenews.com, Hopes has a history of arrests dating back to 2014, including three more times for domestic violence, plus, DUI. According to the Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, Nov. 6 at 9:21 a.m. he bonded out of custody.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, at 11:28 p.m., 65-year-old Mark Alexander Lynch was arrested in the 3100 block of Contra Loma Blvd. He is described as White, five-foot, eight-inches tall and 220 pounds, and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm – aggravated (F). Case Number: 26-10753.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Lynch was born Jan. 21, 1961, is described as Hispanic and 180 pounds, is also described as White, and is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $30,000 bail.
On Friday, Nov. 6 at 11:00 p.m., 22-year-old Jesus Lopez Cabrera was arrested in the 2700 block of W. Tregallas Road. He’s described as Hispanic, five-foot, three-inches tall and 140 pounds and was charged with assault with a firearm on a person – aggravated (F) and threatening a crime with intent to terrorize (F). Case Number: 26-10774.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Lopez Cabrera was born July 4, 2004, and is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $55,000 bail.
Finally, this morning, Saturday, Nov. 7 at 10:00 a.m., 47-year-old Roy Jackson, III was arrested in the 2200 block of Sycamore Drive. He is described as Black or African American, six-foot, one-inch tall, 205 pounds and was charged with kidnapping (F), assault with a deadly weapon with force: possible great bodily injury (F) and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant/dating relationship – aggravated (F). Case Number: 26-10792.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Jackson was born April 13, 1979, and is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on $100,000 bail.
