Major Milestone Reached on Highway 4 Widening Project

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) are widening State Route 4 (SR-4) through Pittsburg and Antioch. A major part of this project involves the reconfiguration of the G Street interchange to remove the on-ramp and off-ramp at G Street and to construct a new wider G Street bridge for local traffic.

On March 12, the project will reach a major milestone with the permanent closure of the highway ramps at G Street. The westbound ramp will close at 11:00 pm on Monday, March 12. The eastbound ramp will close at 11:00 pm on Tuesday, March 13. Prior to closing the eastbound off-ramp, operational improvements will be made to the eastbound off-ramp at Contra Loma Boulevard.

The reconfiguration of G Street will be combined with a full service interchange at Contra Loma planned for project completion in spring 2015. Together, these changes will provide better access to the highway and improve local traffic circulation.

Caltrans and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority have been working with the City of Antioch and the Antioch Unified School District to notify residents of this construction and provide safe routes to school.

Signs will be in place to direct motorists to alternate routes. Please be alert and carefully follow all directional signs when encountering detours.

Motorists are advised to expect delays and allow extra time for their commute. Please drive with caution through the detour and leave a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the highways. For the most current information on all SR-4 corridor closures please visit our web site at: http://widensr4.org.

By Antioch Police

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 shortly after a young male suspect attempted to commit a residential burglary, the effectiveness of our Neighborhood Watch Program proved just how useful it truly is. The burglary suspect repeatedly rang a front door bell and then knocked on the door. When the resident didn’t answer the door, the suspect attempted to kick in the front door. The resident yelled at the suspect and the suspect fled on foot.

Soon thereafter an officer arrived in the area, located the suspect and then the chase was on. A neighbor, who happened to be a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain, had witnessed the attempted burglary and she started to follow the suspect while driving her vehicle. She temporarily lost sight of the fleeing suspect, but soon relocated him as she came across the pursuing officer. The Neighborhood Block Captain noticed that the suspect had quite a lead on the pursuing officer, so she pulled up alongside the officer and ordered him into her car. The pursuing officer happily obliged and the Neighborhood Block Captain drove the officer up next to the fleeing suspect and the officer promptly jumped out of the car and pounced on the surprised would be burglar. The suspect was arrested without incident thanks to the assistance of the Neighborhood Watch Block Captain.

A Neighborhood Watch Program can put the “Neighbor” back into a neighborhood by creating a sense of community. It brings citizens and law enforcement together to reduce crime. Neighborhood Watch allows us, community members and the police department, to effectively communicate about criminal activity in a particular neighborhood. It provides a network or set of contacts throughout the community, which serves to enhance the communication between the citizens and members of the police department.

This is an example of how a concerned neighbor helped multiply the resources of the police department, which in-turn helps reduce the incidence of crime and improves the quality of life for all.

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By Acting Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

Shahin Ahoorai (In-Custody)

On 2/11/2012, at about 9:14 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the Antioch Women’s Club (509 ‘G’ Street) for a report of shots fired. They arrived and found two (2) victims, including a 49 year old woman, and 26 year-old man, suffering from gunshot wounds. Preliminary investigation revealed the victims were attendees of a religious baptism reception. Individuals present at that reception began physically fighting with a lone male victim in the street, in what has been determined to be a gang-related assault. When the victims tried to separate the parties involved in the fight, at least two of the involved individuals produced handguns and began shooting. Both gunshot wound victims were hit by errant gunfire and transported to local hospitals for non life-threatening wounds.

Zachary Cook

Subsequent investigation led to the identification of Shahin Ahoorai, a resident of Oakley and San Jose. Ahoorai was located by investigators at his jobsite in the city of Santa Clara and arrested. During a subsequent interview, he confessed to his involvement in the incident, and also admitted being the getaway vehicle driver. He remains in-custody at the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez on three million four hundred thirty-three thousand dollars bail ($3,433,000). The investigation also led to the identification of Zachary Cook and Raul “Jo Jo” Pena, both residents of Oakley, as co-participants in this incident.

On 2/21/2012, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed multiple felony charges against Ahoorai, Cook, and Pena, including: Two (2) counts of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and enhancements for being criminal street gang members.

Cook and Pena are currently at-large and believed to be concealing themselves from law enforcement. Both have felony warrants for charged offenses and should be considered armed and dangerous. Investigators are currently following up on several leads regarding their whereabouts, but are seeking the public’s help in this endeavor.

Raul "Jo Jo" Pena

Anyone with information regarding this incident, or the whereabouts of Cook and Pena are asked to contact Detective Mike Mellone, (925) 779-6930, or the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center, (925) 778-2441. Anonymous tips can also be made to Bay Area Crime Stoppers via their toll free tip-line, (800) 222-TIPS, or website, bayareacrimestopers.org. Anonymous text-tips can also be sent to 274637 with the word “CRIMES” in the subject line.

By James Ott

This November Antioch voters may not have to bother with electing a new mayor. On Tuesday City Council voted 4 to 0 (Brian Kalinowski absent) to place a measure on the June 5 ballot that would replace the elected mayor’s position with a annual rotating mayoral seat among the council members.

Of the 482 incorporated California cities, only 149 still have a directly elected mayor. 14 cities in Contra Costa County have a rotating mayoral seat, with only Antioch, Brentwood, Richmond, Martinez, and San Ramon still directly electing their mayor. Antioch has had a directly elected mayor since 1972, but the position was rotated prior to that.

“Being the current mayor, you might think I would be against this, but I support it because it gives five different individuals the chance to share their ideas,” said Mayor Jim Davis, whose four-year-term ends this year.

The idea to switch to a rotating mayor was brought before the council at the previous council meeting by former council member Martha Parsons, who said that the change would benefit Antioch by “giving us a different vision” more often than every four years.

As far as power is concerned, the mayor has the same voting rights with other council members, is a member of the Delta Diablo Sanitation District board and represents Antioch at the annual county Mayor’s Conference. The mayor also helps the city manager prepare each council meeting agenda.

The mayor and all council members get a $450 monthly salary, but the mayor alone gets a $100 monthly travel stipend and $50 per month for communication expenses.

If a majority of Antioch voters pass the ballot measure in June, all candidates for Mayor will have to run for a council seat instead.

The council also voted to place another measure on the June ballot that would let the voters decide if the city clerk and city treasurer should become appointed by the council instead of elected. One ballot measure would have cost the city $105,000, so the council members said they felt it was a good cost savings to put both on the June ballot together as the two measures will cost an additional $10,000.

Also at the meeting:

* The city voted 4-0 to hire three full-time and up to five per diem officers to the city’s police force. According to Police Chief Allan Cantando, the per diem officers will be retired policemen who will be half the cost of community service officers for the positions because they will not receive benefits.

Cantando was quick to point out that the per diem hires will also only work about half the hours of community service officers, but he thinks they will be a big help to the police force until more money is secured for more permanent hires.

* The council voted to seek an alternate funding source for the $90,000 per year cost of watering the Lone Tree Golf Course. The course is seeing lean times due to the downturn in the economy and the building of newer golf courses in the area.

* The city reached an agreement with current computer gaming and internet access stores in town by voting to allow them to continue operations while the city implements an Urgency Zoning Ordinance to decide how to zone and manage such businesses in the future.

T’s Internet Cafe, who’s owner Tricia Simmons was present at the meeting, had previously caught the city’s attention when complaints of illegal activity were claimed against it. City staff claimed that police service calls to the area around T’s went from 137 calls from February to August 2008 to 240 calls in that same time in 2009.

The city will initiate a 45-day study to determine how to zone and regulate such businesses in the future. While the study is ongoing, no similar business will be allowed to open in Antioch.

The computer gaming and internet access stores asked for no changes to the current staff suggestions on how to move forward, except that they wish to remain open until 2 a.m. Simmons and a representative for another internet gaming store both said that they should be allowed to stay open till 2 a.m., just like other bars and restaurants in the city. The council approved the staff recommendations minus the 2 a.m. closing time.

Using Transportation Alternatives Can Help Cut Commute Costs

With gas prices continuing to rise in the Bay Area, 511 is reminding travelers about the numerous transportation options available to help cut their commute costs.

Recent surveys and news articles are reporting that Californians are paying almost $5 for a gallon of regular gas. To help alleviate the cost of driving alone, 511 encourages Bay Area commuters to consider the following:

• Join a carpool. Carpool with a co-worker or friend, or find a carpool partner using the 511 RideMatch Service and split driving costs among two or more people. This free service has helped thousands of Bay Area residents to find carpool partners.

• Start or join a vanpool. Share the cost of commuting with several others. Vanpools have 7 – 15 passengers and are ideal for those who commute more than 20 miles one way. The vanpool page at 511.org offers a list of vanpools with available seats. The 511 Team can also help you test ride a vanpool for free or start a new vanpool. For details, call 511 and say “rideshare” and request a rideshare operator who can provide more information or visit 511 Vanpool.

• Ride your bike to work. With spring approaching, consider leaving your car at home and riding your bike to work. 511’s Bicycling pages feature maps and information about bicycle parking, taking bikes on transit, finding a Bike Buddy, bicycle safety, and more.

• Ride the bus, ferry or train. You can qualify for pre-tax deductions and other incentives. Plus, the 511 Transit Trip Planner or the new 511 Transit App can help commuters find the fastest route home.

“511 offers many tools and tips to help commuters find the best travel options, including information on benefits and rewards for using alternatives to driving alone,” said Adrienne J. Tissier, chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). “Our 511 Rideshare site also features a Carpool Calculator so you can calculate your annual commute costs as a solo driver as well as the potential savings by adding riders.”

In addition to many travel-related tools and features, 511 services include carpool and vanpool formation assistance, employer consultations for the development of worksite transportation programs, and information to help commuters navigate the nine-county Bay Area. Operators are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., for assistance. For more information, call 511 or visit 511.org.

511 Rideshare maintains an expanding database exceeding 45,000 San Francisco Bay Area commuters. The 511 RideMatch Service helps Bay Area residents find carpools and vanpools, and provides online tools for commuters to earn rewards while tracking their travel patterns and reducing their CO2 emissions.

511 Rideshare provides free assistance to Bay Area companies in planning and developing customized commute programs. Its mission is to reduce traffic congestion, clean the air, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

About 511
511 is a one-stop phone and web source for up-to-the-minute Bay Area traffic, transit, rideshare and bicycling information. It’s free of charge and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the nine-county Bay Area. Call 511 or visit 511.org. 511 is managed by a partnership of public agencies led by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Transportation.

About 511 Rideshare
511 Rideshare is a free web and phone service funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. For more information, visit the Rideshare page at 511.org.

The Antioch Police Department received multiple 911 calls on May 1 at 8 a.m. regarding a vehicle that struck a house on Linden lane. Officers discovered that an out-of-control Dodge Durango had crashed into multiple cars on Spanos Street and ultimately came to rest inside a residence on Linden Lane.

The Durango left the roadway on Spanos Street, crashed through a wooden fence, struck the rear of a house and came to rest inside a bedroom. The residents were home, but not in the bedroom at the time of the crash and were not injured.

One of the four vehicles that were struck on Spanos Street was occupied. The driver had to be extricated from that vehicle and was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The driver of the Dodge Durango fled the scene prior to the arrival of the police. While investigating this incident, police received a call from the owner of the Durango, advising that he had been robbed at gunpoint on Contra Loma Boulevard. The victim of the robbery was not injured.