CCISCO and the PICO National Network released the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement last night to launch a joint investigation into the mortgage crisis:

As clergy and faith leaders on the front lines of what has come to feel like a never-ending housing crisis, we applaud President Obama’s announcement last night that he will be launching a federal investigation into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the crisis.

This is a positive development for the millions of families whose lives have been affected by the reckless conduct of the nation’s largest banks, and for the thousands of everyday people who organized and fought to make last night’s announcement happen. We commend the leadership and courage of Attorneys General Schneiderman, Harris, Biden and others who have continued to demand a stronger settlement and launched their own investigations into the banks.

We will continue to organize to make sure that this investigation holds those responsible for the economic crisis accountable and provides meaningful relief for homeowners commensurate with the scale of the misconduct.

This is the first step towards reaching the broader goal of $300 billion in principal reduction and an additional $50 billion in restitution for those who have lost their homes, especially targeted to the hardest-hit communities. We also need the President to act immediately to make sure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stop standing in the way of reducing underwater mortgage debt. Only with these pieces in place will we begin to see the housing market, our economy, and our communities make a lasting recovery.

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The Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) is a federation of 25 religious congregations, 7 different denominations, representing 35,000 families in Contra Costa County. CCISCO is an active member of the PICO National Network and the New Bottom Line Campaign (www.newbottomline.com)

PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through a network of 48 member federations and 10 state networks. More information at www.piconetwork.org.

CCISCO
202 G St., Suite 1 – Mailing: P. O. Box 883
Antioch, CA 94509
P: (925) 779-9302
F: (925) 779-9303
www.ccisco.org

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla encourages all high school seniors and their families to apply for a college scholarship from the revised Cal Grant program before the March 2, 2012 deadline.

Below are local workshops for students and parents can attend to receive assistance in applying for the Cal Grant. Qualifying students receive from the State of California Cal Grant awards, which provide full financing for tuition and fees at the California State University or the University of California.

Awards are also given to community college students and students entering private California colleges. Students attending community colleges have until September 2nd to submit a Cal Grant application.

Students must apply for a Cal Grant by submitting a Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form and a Cal Grant Grade Point Average Verification Form. With a Cal Grant, students can be awarded up to $12,192 per year for University of California campus, up to $5,472 per year at California State University campus or $9,708 per year at an independent campus to pay for college or career technical learning, depending on the cost of their college or university, their financial need and the type of grant.

Cal Grants do not have to be repaid. For more information on the Cal Grant Program, how to obtain an application, or how to fill out an application, high school students can contact their college counselors, or call the California Student Aid Commission at 1-888-224-7268. Additionally, the commission has a web site at www.csac.ca.gov, and the website for the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) can be found http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. You can also contact Bonilla’s office at 925-521-1511.

1/30/12
6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Pittsburg High School
250 School Street
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Danni Le
925-473-2390

2/6/12
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Deer Valley High School
4700 Lone Tree Way
Antioch, CA 94531
Pamela Price
925-756-6792

In order to prepare an annual budget, all departments in the City of Antioch are required to submit requests for appropriations to the City Manager by April 1st. In turn, the City Manager must present a proposed budget to City Council for review prior to June 30th, the close of the city’s fiscal year.

At mid-period of the budget cycle, the City Council reviews the budget and makes adjustments as needed, which is why at the January 24th council meeting, members are being presented with the following financial information for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.

The report noted the following:

• The City has experienced significant declines in the General Fund revenue.
• Property tax revenues decreased 27.5% over two years.
• Sales tax decreased 6% over 2 years and development fees decreased 8% from prior period.
• On the positive side, “business type” activities increased the City’s net assets by $7,049,234, mainly attributable to approved water and sewer rates increases that took effect July 1, 2010, as well as savings in personnel costs and contractual services.
• Therefore, total expenses declined from $90,498,792 in 2010 to $87,506,225 in 2011.
• Additionally, total long term outstanding debt obligations for governmental activities decreased by $247,980, and total long-term obligations for business type activities decreased by $814,293 during the current fiscal year.
• The total net increase in the City’s investment in capital assets for the current fiscal year was $3,476,339. Among the significant construction commitments were $2.9 million towards the Marina Launch Ramp and Markley Creek Culvert projects.
• Overall, the City’s total long term outstanding debt at the end of the fiscal year was $48,992,561. $30,710,000 representing bonds secured solely by specified revenue sources (i.e. revenue bonds), $10,980,498 representing tax allocation bonds and $3,435,545 representing loans payable and $3,866,518 representing leases payable.
• At the end of fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, the fund balance of Antioch’s General Fund increased by $1,038,047, primarily attributable to higher than projected revenues (primarily motor vehicle in lieu and sales tax) and lower than anticipated expenditures (primarily contractual services).
• The City appropriated $92,420 of Genal Fund assigned fund balance for spending in the 2011-2012 fiscal year budget.

By Walter Ruehlig
School Board Trustee, Antioch Unified School District

I often get asked by concerned community members as to what single attention can best advance education? It’s a complex challenge that, truth be told, defies single remedy.

Actually, education can be likened to a three-legged stool, with any one unstable leg, student, teacher or parent, causing potential wobble. The student needs exercise discipline and motivation; the teacher effective communication, passion, rigor, relevancy and classroom management; the parent guidance and strict vigilance.

Needless to say, volumes have been written extolling the crucial role of good teachers. Substantial data, in fact, indicates that a child having three consecutive years with high performing teachers has a virtual lock on succeeding. Given three years with mediocre or poor teachers, the adverse is also more likely true.

Hence, we place great premium on recruiting, and then peer training, the best teachers available. The fact remains, though, that like police officers, dentists, or landscapers, for that matter, there will always be the good, the bad and the ugly in the mix.

One thing, though, that rests firmly in our personal control is effective parenting.

Every three years the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development examines fifteen year olds in the worlds’ leading industrialized nations through the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Reading comprehension and the ability to use what has been learned in math and science to solve real problems is tested.

The U.S., once among educational world leaders, sadly now scores in the middle of the pack, right above Cyprus, and far trailing Finland, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Compelled to find some success denominators, in 2009 the PISA team went beyond the classroom and interviewed 5,000 parents to find out what they were doing. The conclusion shows that students whose parents often read to them during their first years of primary school, performed, regardless of socio-economic status, significantly better. The average difference was 25 points or the equivalent of half a year of schooling.

Little surprise as competent parenting was never, we’d agree, a spectator sport. Spending time with your children by talking, playing, or sharing a family meal, is the most priceless treasure youth can inherit. Reading to your child, though, now there is true ‘quality time.’ Stress, then, the written word by having books and magazines around the house. Lead by example and read to yourself as well.

If you can’t get involved in helping with homework, at least show an interest and ask what your child is doing. Check into School Loop, which allows you to computer monitor your child’s attendance, homework and grades. Let them know you are involved and consider education paramount. Praise and reward their efforts, for filling their bucket of self-esteem insures it can never run short. Know your child’s associations and keep them busy.

“Hanging out” and boredom germinate mischief. Contrarily, youth involved in clubs and organized activities channel their energy with a positively reinforcing circle of friends. Though I think ‘tiger parenting’ can be taken, like anything, to excess, and that some free time is needed to keep childhood from uber- seriousness, it is o.k. to keep expectations high.

Truth be, I am a zealot on parental involvement because I have been hit by lightning twice on family matters. I grew up in Great Neck, Long Island in a predominantly Jewish town. The prevailing question wasn’t ‘if’ college, but ‘what’ college. Little wonder, neighbors routinely entered professions like accounting, dentistry or law or started profitable businesses like furrier or jewelry.

I owe gratitude, then, to my blue collar dad, a chef, for sacrificing so we could move from working-class Queens into a community where expectations were unlimited. I then married a Filippina and, double bingo, again saw the effects of a parental culture dead set on education. Though the Academic Performance Index (API) for Antioch is 727 out of a possible 1,000, with 800 the California goal, the Filippino sub-set scores 835.

Certainly, its’ not Asian Wheaties the kids are eating for breakfast that makes such a profound difference. Credit family values. Of course, there is no substitute for an inspired teacher. We can’t, though, put all our marbles there. We also need better parents. They will inexorably make our teachers better.

As Shakespeare said, “the voice of parents is the voice of god, for to their children they are heaven’s lieutenants.” Teach your children well. After all, isn’t it a funny thing how fortunate parents who have conscientious children usually have fortunate children who have conscientious parents?

Join the fun and your fellow 49er fans at Humphrey’s on the Delta and watch the Niners play (beat) the New York Giants in the playoffs, on Sunday, January 22 at 3:30 p.m.  Humphrey’s is located at 1 Marina Plaza, at the foot of L Street, overlooking the river in Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown. Get there early to watch the Ravens vs. Patriots game at Noon (to see who the Niners will face in the Super Bowl) for the best seats, have lunch, watch both games, then stay for a victory dinner!

Three or four possible shooters being sought by police

By Lt. Scott Willeford, Antioch Police Department

On Saturday night, January 21, 2012 at 10:36 p.m. Antioch police officers responded to the 5000 block of Wilmont Court, off Judsonville Drive and Golf Course Road in Antioch, for a subject who had been shot. While officers were en-route, police received several other calls of 70 to 80 subjects at the residence with many of them running away. On arrival officers found a total of six gunshot victims at the scene.

Numerous emergency personnel were on scene to triage the multiple victims. The victims were transported to various hospitals in the area by ground and air ambulances. At least one was taken by helicopter from Hansen Park on Nortonville Way and Hansen Drive, according to neighbors of the park.

Due to the large number of subjects and injured parties involved, Antioch Police received assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department and Brentwood Police Department to help the injured, secure the scene and identify the parties involved.

The preliminary investigation revealed the residents were having a large sweet 16 party for their daughter. An argument broke out in the garage area between two groups of subjects; there were approximately 30 to 40 party goers in the garage. Weapons were brandished and numerous shots were fired from multiple guns hitting the subjects listed below.

· 13 year old male Antioch resident

· 21 year old female Antioch resident

· 18 year old male Antioch resident

· 16 year old male Antioch resident

· 16 year old male Antioch resident

· 18 year old male Brentwood resident

The victims’ injuries range from superficial graze wounds to a possible fractured leg and abdomen wound. Some of the victims have been released from the hospital while others are currently in surgery.

The Antioch police are still actively investigating the case and following up on all leads.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. Anyone with information please call the Antioch Police Department at 778-2441.

By Amy Claire

The January 18 meeting of the Antioch Unified School District Board of Education included a report on the District’s audited financial statements for the previous school year..

“We look at a number of transactions throughout the year. The audit went very smoothly,” said Jeffrey Jensen, a representative from the auditing firm, to the board members. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation of staff members and district employees during the process.

The report was almost entirely positive.

“We did not have any audit adjustments, so that’s always good news,” said Jensen. “We didn’t have any uncorrected misstatements, either.”

District procedures and records were found to be adequate and accurate, and there were “no compliance-questioned costs” associated with the spending of funds acquired through voter-approved taxes. “Your internal control structure is operating the way you would like to see.”

A few issues were noted – one regarding compliance with state regulations, another regarding attendance and a third regarding Associated Student Body (ASB) issues. Jensen said that these were only minor concerns, and he did not go into detail about them during the meeting. “You had a clean audit this year.”

Tim Forrester, Associate Superintendent of Business and Operations, acknowledged the contribution that each staff member makes each day toward maintaining good accounting practices. “A clean audit report is a one-night look at all the good work that everybody does,” he said.

The firm, Crowe Horwath, served as an independent auditor to ensure that the District’s accounting and financial statements were done correctly.

The next school board meetings will be held on February 8 and February 22, at 7:00 pm, at 510 G Street in Antioch.