Takedown of Contra Costa Gangs Nets 35 Arrests and More Than 135 Pounds of Meth

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced the successful conclusion of Operation Red Reach, a coordinated law enforcement sweep that shut down a network of local and transnational gangs that dealt in narcotics and firearms, homicide and fraud in western Contra Costa County and nearby areas.

Search warrants were served in San Pablo, Richmond, El Sobrante, Pinole, Antioch, Pittsburg, San Rafael, Vallejo, Fairfield and Sacramento. Those arrested were booked into the San Pablo jail.

“We are fighting transnational gangs from one end of California to another,” Attorney General Harris said. “With the cooperation of local and federal law enforcement agencies, we’re going to outmuscle, outsmart and undo them.”

San Pablo Police Chief Walt Schuld added: “Exceptional collaboration among the California Department of Justice, local law enforcement, and the FBI has resulted in the successful dismantling of this violent street gang involved in high-level drug and gun trafficking. Our community is much safer due to the tireless efforts of the agents and officers.”

Operation Red Reach, which concluded today, resulted in 35 arrests and the seizure of more than 135 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 firearms – including two assault rifles – more than $86,500 in currency and six vehicles. Police are looking into two weapons that may be tied to a homicide.

Those arrested include Joseph Abbate, aka Sherman Fisher or Butch, an identified member of the criminal street gang known as the Nortenos, which has ties to the vicious prison gang Nuestra Familia.

Four of every 10 homicides that occur in California are gang-related, and more than 80 percent of the California cases in which relocation is required for the protection of witnesses involve gang violence.

Operation Red Reach began in February 2009 primarily to investigate the illegal activities of Abbate. As the probe developed, investigators identified his co-conspirators, who include other members of the Nortenos gang, members of local gangs, and members of a Mexican drug trafficking cartel.

The operation is the latest in a series of actions designed to attack gang violence. In February, agents arrested three associates of a Tijuana drug cartel in a murder-for-hire plot in Southern California. Last month, the Attorney General traveled to California’s border with Mexico with law enforcement leaders to underscore the problem of transnational gangs, and earlier this month, the Attorney General announced the creation of the first multi-agency gang task force in Tulare County.

The operation, as well as the arrests and searches over the last several weeks, were conducted, in co-operation with federal agents, by an inter-agency task force known as West-NET (for West Contra Costa County Narcotic Enforcement Team). Besides the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, other members of West-NET include the Contra Costa County Sheriff; police in San Pablo, Richmond, El Cerrito, and Kensington; and the Contra Costa Probation Office.

In these trying times the citizens of Antioch should have the ability to change the direction their lives are headed by taking courses that offer new career opportunities. However, with the state trying to cut funds to education, our Adult Program was closed, when our citizens need it the most.
We need to reconsider this in our current economic state for both the city and its citizens.

Our Adult Program should offer a non-traditional perspective to ensure that our adults have an understanding of how money works, how credit cards play a double edged game and principles of self reliance to blend with their career goals.

Our students as well would benefit from such an education since the state doesn’t have it in its curriculum for K-12. Here’s an opportunity for the city to fill the vacant storefronts with home grown entrepreneurs from our own schools.

Jack Yeager
Candidate for next School Board Election

Today, by a partisan 3-2 vote, the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments approved three Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) measures that help address serious abuses of the initiative process and give the public critical information they need when casting their ballot.

“California’s initiative process is broken,” said DeSaulnier. “The measures approved today attempt to restore the initiative process to what Governor Hiram Johnson intended in 1911. “Governor Johnson never envisioned that his initiative process would be dominated as it is today by special interests that often mislead voters.

“Simply stated, voters need to be better informed when they cast their votes. Voters need to know who is behind the initiatives and who is opposed to them. Petition circulators need to disclose whether they are being paid to gather signatures or are volunteers. It also only makes sense to require that initiatives be fiscally responsible and include funding when they create public costs.”

Below are summaries of the three legislative measures:

Senate Constitutional Amendment 4 prohibits initiative measures that increase state and local government costs from taking effect, unless the measure provides for the funding required to cover its costs.

Senate Bill 334 requires the Secretary of State’s ballot pamphlet to include a list of the five highest contributors of $50,000 or more in support of or opposed to each ballot measure.

Senate Bill 448 requires individual who circulate an initiative, referendum, or recall petition to wear a badge identifying him or her as a “paid signature gatherer” or “volunteer signature gatherer” and identifies if and where he or she is registered to vote.

James Madison wrote, “A people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.”

Secretary of State Debra Bowen, California State PTA, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, and California State Association of Counties support one or more of these measures. SB 448 will next be heard by the full Senate and the remaining two bills will be heard in Senate Appropriations Committee within the next few weeks.

DeSaulnier represents the Seventh Senate District, which includes Antioch and most of Contra Costa County.

Join Wells Fargo in celebrating local small businesses and building stronger community relationships on Friday May 13th from 10am to 2pm. Lunch is at 1 p.m. Wells Fargo is located at 1715 A Street in Antioch.

There will be food, giveaways, prizes and access to Wells Fargo specialists in merchant services, payroll services, business insurance, commercial lending and equipment financing.

For more information Contact Brandon Muhammad, Business Specialist, 925-757-5143, Brandon.Muhammad@wellsfargobank.com

I am happy to see that the Antioch Herald is back in print. I truly enjoy reading about what’s happening in my local community. As an educator who lives and works in Antioch, I could not help but notice that you had three articles pertaining to Deer Valley High and one for Dozier-Libby High, but none for Antioch High.

It brought back much of the frustration I use to feel in the past when I read the Herald because of the disproportionate coverage it gave to the various high schools in the Antioch community. Inclusiveness is central to the success of any newspaper. Like our sister schools, Antioch High School has many bright and talented young adults who are deserving of being given fair space in your newspaper.

I hope the Antioch Herald will take the time to be mindful of covering the special things that are happening in the local schools with more equity. Thank you.

Ms. Shawn Gilbert
AHS Teacher

Deer Valley High School Choirs will present their Spring Concert on Thursday, May 19th at 7PM at the DV Theater.

The concert will feature the DV Vocal Ensemble, Concert Choir, Divine Voices and Show Choir. Divine Voices will perform their Gold Award-Winning selections including Hold On! arranged by Moses Hoggan and Shenandoah, arranged by Darmon Meader. Show Choir will present their Gold Award-Winning Lion King Broadway Medley. The concert will also feature several soloists from the choir program. Admission is $5.

Photos by Luns Louie Photography

San Francisco Opera’s acclaimed production of Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love” will screen in high definition at the El Campanil Theatre (602 W. Second Street, Antioch), May 8 at 2 p.m.

This charming comedy is a celebration of innocence, so what setting could be better than a small Italian-American community in the Napa Valley, circa 1915? Tenor Ramón Vargas superbly embodies the role of the lovesick Nemorino, who according to the San Francisco Chronicle “gave a ravishing performance.” Soprano Inva Mula “[was] full of fire and temperament” as the beautiful Adina.

This is your chance to see this delightful opera with friends and family with this unique and affordable opera experience. Sung in Italian with English subtitles.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at El Campanil Theatre in advance or at the theater. For more information, call (925) 757-9500 or visit www.ElCampanilTheatre.com.

The Women of the Antioch Salvation Army of the Delta Cordially invite you to our 3rd Annual Afternoon Tea Party. Hostess – Major Jackie Smith. Guest Speaker: Major Colleen Riley, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries The Salvation Army Del Oro Division.

OUR THEME:Anything is Possible with God….Mark 10:27

**Please indicate your choices w/your RSVP

The Queen’s Tea ……………….$25.00
Treat yourself to this royal assortment of
delectables, sweets and savories, served on a 3 tiered tray

The Duchess …………………….$20.00
Take pleasure in this lavish assortment of
delectables, sweets and savories, served on a platter just for you

Kid’s Court Tea Party ………. $10.00
Royal fun for your little one, served on a Kid’s Court platter

Special “Silent Auction” for Beautiful Theme Baskets!

Please Join Us!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011, 11-2pm
The Antioch Salvation Army, Antioch Corps
525 E 18th Street, Antioch, CA 94509
RSVP with your Meal Choices
—Maria Rubio- (925)525-0326 OR e-mail chel_31@sbcglobal.net

All proceeds benefit the Salvation Army Summer Day Camp.
Make checks payable to: The Antioch Salvation Army