Come join Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando on Saturday, March 10th from 9-11 A.M. in a casual setting to discuss public safety issues, crime statistics, etc. Captain Steve McConnell will also provide a brief presentation on Community and Problem Oriented Policing. Open communication about community issues is encouraged.

The location for this casual “Coffee with the Cops” workshop will be held in the Antioch Police Department Community Room located at 300 L Street. Members of the Antioch Crime Prevention Commission will be in attendance, and make themselves available to answer questions with a focus on enhancing Neighborhood Watch programs for Antioch residents.

The “Coffee with the Cops” concept was developed as a pilot program by the Antioch Police Department in an effort to improve communication between the Police Department and the citizens they serve. These meetings will consist of a “one-on-one” type format with a member of the police command staff and members of the community. The format of these meetings has been designed to be informative.

The Antioch Police Department is dedicated to promoting the quality of life in Antioch in partnership with our community, by proactively reducing crime with integrity and commitment to excellence.

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 32nd installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program on Saturday March 3, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Volunteers should report to Eagleridge Park located at 4200 Eagleridge Dr. Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events will be scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community! Collectively, “We”, everyone who works and lives in the City Antioch, can make a difference and improve the quality of life. It’s our community and it’s our chance to make a difference.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Cleanup program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from United Citizens for Better Neighborhoods (UCBN), community volunteers, and the Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program, Target Volunteers, Volunteers in Police Service, community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

For Young, Civic-Minded Scholars

Publius Fellowships are awarded to highly qualified college seniors, recent college graduates, and graduate students pursuing careers in politics, scholarship, or journalism. A stipend, travel expenses, and housing are included in the fellowship.

Since 1979, the Claremont Institute has brought together every summer the most talented young conservatives in America. For two weeks the Publius Fellows meet with distinguished scholars to study the distinctive moral and political principles of the American constitutional order. In intensive daily seminars and evening symposia, fellows discuss the great issues of American politics—from the Founding to the Civil War, the Progressive Era, the New Deal, the Great Society, and the enduring disputes of liberalism and conservatism in our time.

The Publius program takes its name from The Federalist Papers. Written in 1787-88 as a series of newspaper essays, The Federalist Papers remain the preeminent work of American political journalism. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay published the papers under the pen name “Publius,” a founder of the Roman republic. The Federalist addressed the crucial political question of their day, the ratification of the Constitution and the founding of the American republic. Publius drew on both political philosophy and the experience of statesmen to commend the Constitution as the basis of free and just government.

The 2012 Publius Fellowship will be held in Newport Beach, CA from June 22-July 7. The application deadline
is March 2. For the application requirements, click here. 

For a list of all former Publius Fellows (1979-2011), click here.

“The principles of the American Founding may be self-evident, but they are not always obvious and require an articulate defense in every generation.” —Brian Brenberg, 2007 Publius Fellow

For more information about the Claremont Institute’s Publius Fellowship, contact Ben Judge, Assistant Director of Programs, at bjudge@claremont.org, or call 909-621-6825.

By James Ott

While violent crime in Antioch declined 5.3 percent in 2011 compared with 2010 and its record breaking 13 murders, property crime has jumped over 25 percent, according to a presentation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting by Police Chief Allan Cantando.

Cantando said the cause of the sharp rise in property crimes, including increases of nearly 23 percent in burglary and 50 percent in theft, is hard to pinpoint because of a new online crime reporting system that simplifies the reporting of property crimes. “It’s difficult for me to say if it actually went up that much or if people are reporting more accurately,” said Cantando. “But those are the figures so those are what we have to live with.”

The increase in crimes like theft could also be related to the state’s release of some criminals from prison, he added. No direct explanation was provided for the more than 51 percent increase in arsons – 56 in 2011 versus 37 in 2010.

Despite the large uptick in non-violent crimes, total arrests last year were down an average of 8 percent. That is most likely a direct result of a reduced police force, said the chief. The department is currently looking to hire two new officers, although Cantando said that more are needed.

After the presentation, the council floated the idea of approving the hiring of more than two new officers – perhaps as many as five. Public Employees Union Local 1 and the Antioch Police Officer’s Association, however, are still in labor negotiations with the city. As many as 120 officer positions have been authorized, but due to budget constraints the city can only afford 92 sworn officers.

The council and police chief agreed that more funds are needed to hire more officers, lamenting the fact that the majority of voters seem reluctant to pay out of pocket to help the police force. Council Member Mary Rocha cited the rejection in November 2010 of the Measure P half-cent sales tax hike for public safety.

To view the complete police crime statistics presentation as part of the city council agenda or as part of the city council video, visit the city website at http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/CouncilMeetings/021412/

City Clerk and Treasurer on June ballot

Also at the meeting, the Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the June 2012 ballot to make the City Clerk and City Treasurer both appointed positions. Currently the two positions are elected. Salaries and benefits cost $12,000 to $20,000 per position, according to city staff. At a previous meeting the council decided that it would be more cost effective to have the positions be appointments by the city council rather than paid, elected positions.

The clerk and treasurer duties have been increasingly handled by professional staff and consultants. The cost of placing the measure on the June 2012 ballot is estimated at $105,000.

Former Antioch Council Member Martha Parsons suggested that Antioch adopt a rotating mayor’s position in which every elected council member would get a chance to serve as mayor of Antioch for one year, instead of electing a mayor for four years. Parsons said that the switch would provide Antioch with fresh views each time the mayoral seat was rotated to a new council member. She pointed out that only Brentwood, Martinez, San Ramon and Richmond have an elected mayor, while the other 14 cities in the county use the rotating system.

Mayor Davis added the item for council discussion and consideration at the next council meeting.

As part of the consent calendar, the council purchased a tractor through the National Joint Powers Alliance and Peterson CAT for $160,509 and entered into a 36-month lease with Xerox Corporation for $190,259 plus the unit cost per copy for copiers.

The council did not vote on entering into a contract with Raney Planning and Management for environmental document preparation for the WalMart expansion project. It also held off on filing a grant application with the state’s sustainable communities planning grant and incentive program to gain funding for a plan to upgrade the city’s downtown area.

Antioch resident Julie Young, who lives on and represents the residents of Mimona Court and Minona Drive, addressed the council about concerns with the new Neslon Ranch Park located behind her home. Young said that the park less than ten feet from her back fence is too close and poorly planned and that it threatens nearby residents’ privacy and safety. She claimed that she city staff were unresponsive to her attempts to resolve the issue.

The council will add the item to a future meeting agenda for discussion.

Curves In Antioch collects a decent amount from our members (last year we collected 1380 lbs of food and $625 cash for Loaves & Fishes), but we could do more with the community’s help.

Curves In Antioch participates in the March food drive in 3 ways –

1) we collect both physical food and virtual food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano

a: Any one can bring non-perishable food to drop off at the club. The food bank can not accept donations that are past their expiration/sell-by date. We make the arrangements to get all of the donations to the food bank from the club.

b: Any one can contribute to the virtual drive by going to this link – www.bit.ly/curvesfooddrive
They don’t have to go to the store, they don’t have to stop by the club, they can do it all from the comfort of their home as they finish reading the paper. The added benefit is that the food bank purchases the food at their discounted rates, so the money goes further.

2) for those that like to keep their money really, really local, we also collect for Loaves & Fishes.
Loaves and Fishes gets food from the food bank, but they also need cash to fund their operations and to buy things that are not available from the food bank. Loaves and Fishes has kitchen facilities in Pittsburg. They bring hot meals from their to dining rooms in both Antioch and Oakley, as well as Pittsburg and Martinez. There is no charge for the meals and anyone that needs may attend.

To encourage people to donate, Curves In Antioch also waives our sign up fee for people joining in March if they give a generous donation (a FULL bag of groceries, $25-30 to Loaves & Fishes, etc).

Again – any help you can give us to get people aware and dropping food/cash off or making a virtual donation is greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, the need is as great as ever.

So Big Preschool is non-profit, non-sectarian, parent cooperative preschool in Antioch, California. It was founded in 1955 by a group of doctors in East County and has been operating from the same building at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds since that time. We are licensed by the State of California and have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

So Big Co-op Preschool is dedicated to providing a warm and nurturing environment that helps each child develop emotionally, socially, intellectually and physically at his or her own pace. Our program is play based and encourages each child to question, to wonder, and to explore the environment in order to foster a lifelong love of learning. By involving parents at every level, families gain a sense of community, parent to parent support and the basis for future involvement in their child’s education.

Open House
March 6, 2012

5:30PM – 6:45PM
Followed by Parents Meeting at 7PM

Antioch, CA 94509
License # 070200750
Phone: 925-757-6474
Web: www.sobigpreschool.org

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Antioch/Pittsburg is just around the corner. Register your team by calling the American Cancer Society at This “celebration of life” brings the Antioch/Pittsburg community together in a united effort to celebrate the lives of those who have faced cancer, remember the loved ones lost and fight against the disease.

Former and current cancer patients and caretakers, those who have lost a loved one to cancer, families, businesses, civic organizations and the public are invited to take part in this exciting event. Relay For Life takes place from 10:00 am on Saturday, June 23rd to 10:00 am on Sunday, June 24th, 2012 at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, California.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a family-orientated event where participants enjoy the camaraderie of a team and also raise funds to help eliminate cancer. Participants camp out at the Relay site, and when they are not taking their turn walking, they take part in fun activities and enjoy local entertainment. The event helps communities celebrate those who have faced cancer, remember the loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

Teams from companies, churches, organizations, hospitals, and schools collect donations and can win individual and team prizes for their efforts.

“Relay For Life brings the progress against cancer to the forefront,” said Judy Dawson, Event Chair. “Many participants are our family, friends, and neighbors who have dealt with cancer themselves. Their environment is proof of the progress that has been not only reducing death rates, but also in the quality of life following cancer treatment.

“The funds raised enable us to continue our investment in the fight back against cancer through research, education, advocacy, and patient services,” said Judy Dawson. “Thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors like Starbucks and Wal-Mart, the money raised by participants goes directly to the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving programs.”

Information about how to form a team or become involved in Relay For Life is available by contacting Event Chair Judy Dawson: judy_dawson@att.net, 925-787-9021 or Event Co-Chair Michele Littlefield: mmm5864@comcast.net, 925-813-5274 or visit www.RelayFor Life.org/antiochca

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 with the national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States.