By Jeanne Falla

Just about everyone, including presidential candidates, agrees that children need responsible fathers. If a noncustodial parent is able to help raise a child, most believe he or she should be held accountable, even if this could mean ending up on a most wanted poster. Yet the reality is too many barriers exist in our society which actually oppose father involvement.

Let’s suppose Mary gets pregnant by John, her unemployed boyfriend, and both later break up. John, himself the son of an absent dad, visits the baby bringing diapers and seeks joint custody. Yet when John’s day in court arrives, his offer to play Mr. Mom is met with resistance from Mary and the family court system where he is served with a summons to pay thousands in child support or go to jail. In the end, John gives up his fight to co-parent and ends up the absent father no one wants because he feels the system is stacked against him. Unfortunately, scenarios like this which alienate dads and men in general happen all too often.

The push for strong child support and domestic violence protections began with good intentions: to safeguard women and children from violent and financially deadbeat men. But father absence must be addressed by engaging men, not keeping them away due to the actions of a few bad apples. The problem is family breakdown often gets blamed on only men (and not also women) behaving badly, perpetuating the punitive “man bad, woman victim” mindset which discourages active fathering lest a man fail to properly change a diaper. Yet the supermom mindset actually hurts women’s equality because women can’t and shouldn’t be expected to do everything and it’s time, of course, for men to step up to the parenting plate.

Studies show joint custody households, where fathers tend to be actively involved parents, get higher child support awards than sole custody households. This follows the logic that parenting is a job and needs to be seen as one – expecting dads to be responsible without the right to co-rule the roost is no less unfair than expecting a full day’s worth of work without the right to fair working conditions. Leveling the playing field for dads by strengthening joint custody laws and reforming the family courts would do much to help bring back men to the home.

In the end, what we need is a type of social and legal system that’s balanced, where the child’s rights trump those of the mother or father. However, while striving towards this goal, let’s not distance dads from children. If you would like to support advocacy efforts to strengthen father involvement, contact Fathers and Families at www.fathersandfamilies.org.

Falla is a Citizen Advocate Program Organizer with Fathers & Families and a daughter of a divorced dad.

By Lieutenant Pat Welch, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 7:45 p.m., a detective from the Antioch Police Department was flagged down by two subjects standing next to a stopped vehicle at the intersection of Wilbur Avenue and A Street in Antioch.

Both victims, a 19 year old Antioch resident and a 47 year old Pittsburg resident, had apparent gunshot wounds and were yelling for assistance. The vehicle they were standing near also had several bullet holes in it.

The shooting did not occur at this location and both victims were somewhat uncooperative. They were both transported by ambulance to local hospitals with non life threatening wounds.

The investigation is ongoing and the location of the actual shooting is unknown at this time.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Walter Ruehlig

In an email message, today, Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig announced he will be running for the Antioch City Council in the November election.

Following is the full text of his email:

After requisite soul-searching and vigorous discussions with my better half, I have decided to run for Antioch City Council. It was a tough decision.

Firstly, I respect and like my colleagues on the School Board. I will sorely miss them and the transformational work we’ve undertaken.

Secondly, challenging times as they are for education, city governance is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Thirdly, I buck conventional wisdom which says to run in mid term with no held office at stake.

Why, then, run?  Well, the School Board seems on pretty firm footing governance wise. It boasts district-wide  academic performance increases (API) in seven of the last eight years and is a state trailblazer on small career based learning academies.

On the other hand, the Council is losing three term Brian Kalinowski.  It could conceivably lose yet another member, contingent upon the Mayor’s race. Given a shortage of some 30 sworn police officers, a budget down from 47 to 34 million dollars, and a tattered image as the capital of smoke shops the city is at a crossroads. It can’t afford a leadership misstep.

I think I offer a blend of tested governance skills, balanced temperment and fresh, independent perspective. I get along without always going along and seamlessly work with all stripes. Civilly stirring the pot with questions and imagination comes naturally.

Importantly, my wife and I also live by the motto, without fear or favor; not bullied or bought. What you see is what you get; I run on my own merits and bow to no political machines or agendas.

Why announce now? Frankly, I want to give plenty of notice for those interested in possibly replacing me on the Board.

I started my public service 44 years ago teaching English for the Peace Corps in an electricity-less village in Turkey. I have  traditional core values and appreciate a smaller, more hospitable Antioch but realize we can’t turn back the clock. We need vision and a cosmopolitan approach of modeling best practices from other towns that have navigated explosive growth.

My approach is fundamentals. I want to see Antioch once again a destination and not a departure point. My motivation comes from growing up in Great Neck, Long Island where people would drop a note at your door asking you to call them if you ever moved. Getting a home there was that desirable.

My agenda will be reduced crime, particularly runaway burglaries; revitalizing a demoralized business climate and city services and regulating rentals and blight.

We have so many blessings, from our myriad good citizens to our notable community center, El Campanil, Historical Museum, churches, schools, parks, adjacent river, mountain, undulating streets and hills. Yes, we have had some severe bumps on our road but Antioch’s journey holds such promise.

Call me at 756-7628 or e-mail me at walter.ruehlig@gmail.com with your ideas.

I accept this challenge with gusto and would be honored by your support in my quest for the Antioch we all dream of.

Walter Ruehlig

Antioch

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is holding a joint Trade Show and Mixer on Thursday, June 28th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, 4800 Golf Course Road, Antioch. The trade show/mixer is open to the public at no charge. The trade show tables are sold out, but businesses can get on the waiting list by calling (925) 757-1800. Tables are $50 for members and $100 for non-Chamber members.

The Antioch Salvation Army will hold its Summer Day Camp, June 18-August 10, 2012 at The Salvation Army, Antioch Corps and Community Center.

What is Summer DayCamp? DayCamp is a Summer Activities program for children grades K-6.

What are the daily operating hours? Day Camp hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

What will my child do in Day Camp? In Day Camp your child will study lessons which celebrate cultural differences and family values; as well as lessons in Reading, Writing, and Math. Day Camp also includes weekly outings to places that might include; Marine World, The Zoo, The Jungle, etc. They will also have daily crafts, activities, movies, rallies, special guests and performances, games, sports and physical fitness.

How much does it cost? The cost of Summer Day Camp is $95.00 per week with a one time registration fee of $20.00 (there is a $10.00 per child tuition discount for siblings).

What is included in this cost? The weekly program fee covers your child’s daily crafts and T shirt,

Also included in the weekly fee is breakfast, lunch and snacks daily.

You can help a child go to Day Camp.

For more information and applications; call Tabitha or Maria at The Antioch Salvation Army (925) 778-0808 or Denise at (925)778-0303.

These are the three questions many of us are asking in the current economy.. The answer however is a very individual decision. Which choice is best for you depends on a variety of factors including your long term goals, the amount you are “upside down” in comparison to loan amount and market value.

Many more lenders are now offering modifications to homeowners in distress. These are generally what I consider more of a temporary solution as the banks seldom offer principal reductions. Usually the bank will offer to lower you payment over a fixed period of time. The problem with these terms is that without a principle reduction you are not building equity. In today’s market where a homes value may be upside down or have a negative equity of over 70% current appreciation projections show it would take years just to break even on the balance of the loan. This makes your situation like a long term lease.

Foreclosure or simply walking away from the home is another option. There are of course pros and cons to this approach. The legal repercussions can vary depending on each individual’s situation. California is a non-recourse state and has what is called a one action rule which basically states that if your homes is foreclosed and sold by the trustee that is the only recourse for the lender. Which means, generally speaking you can walk away with little or no legal consequence. These rules can apply to primary homes and second or investment property. I would definitely advise anyone seeking foreclosure to seek legal advise for there individual scenarios.

If you are considering a default I highly suggest you look into a short sale an option. Choosing a short sale will put you back in control of your life and when you need to move. A Short Sale is when the borrower/owner sells a property during a pre-foreclosure process. It is called a short sale because the owner will sell the property “short” of the balance owed on the note not because it is quick. Because a short sale is perceived as a proactive choice by the borrower the credit compiling agencies tend to score it higher than a foreclosure or a deed-in-lieu.

I would always advise my clients to seek advise from an attorney under bankruptcy protection a well. Many homeowners have incurred a substantial amount of debt in this economy and a bankruptcy may be a good option to help you afford to keep your home by eliminating burdensome debt. Although legally you may not need to pursue a short sale after the bankruptcy, in regard to credit building it is still a good option.

Let me be clear, I am not advocating to anyone to ignore their financial obligations. What I am saying is that you should look at your own situation and make the decision that is best for YOU and your family and not the bank. It is very important that you should be informed about your options and possible consequences.

Remember to always seek legal and tax advice before making any decisions and if you have any questions or need more information please call, and let me help you make the best real estate decisions.

Loan modification, Short Sale or Strategic Default Which one is right for you? Call me today for a no obligation one hour consultation to discuss and compare your options.

Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor and can be reached at (925) 899-5536 or wwwpatrickmccarran.com. Prudential California Realty is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

By Acting Lt. Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Department Support Services Division

The Antioch Police Department is investigating a shooting death that occurred on Saturday morning, June 9, 2012 in the intersection of West 9^th and I Streets. Two men were shot, and one died at the scene. The deceased victim’s name is being withheld pending the notification of his family members.

Police received the call at 2:42 a.m. The shooting occurred after a graduation party at a nearby residence.

This information is preliminary as the investigation is still on-going.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Desmond Bittner at (925)779-6939.