By Lieutenant Don La Due, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Thursday, May 29, 2014 the Antioch Police Department responded to a shooting call in the area of West 2nd Street and G Street. When officers arrived they found a 23-year-old male who had sustained gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local area hospital and is considered to be in stable condition. Information is limited at this time and officers are still at the scene collecting evidence. A gray or silver Honda or Nissan type vehicle seen leaving the area that contained two to four males. It’s not known at this time what that vehicle’s involvement was. The victim’s name or a possible motive is not being released at this time as the investigation is on-going.

Tips may be provided to the Investigations Bureau at (925) 779-6939. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Op-Ed

Bonds are an expensive form of debt and, like a home mortgage, are repaid with interest over time. Since 2002, Contra Costa Community College District voters have approved construction bonds totaling $406.5 million that, with interest, will cost taxpayers over one billion dollars. 

Now, with Measure E, the District is asking voters to approve a $450M bond that would update school facilities and add much needed infrastructure.

There’s just one huge hiccup. Measure E is missing language that secures equal opportunity for your friends, neighbors and family members in construction. The district had the opportunity to add this language back in February, but chose not to seize it sending a strong message to 83.5% of contractors in the community they need not apply here for jobs.

83.5% is the number of California construction workers who were NOT affiliated with a union in 2013.

So your friends, your neighbors and young, aspiring construction professionals don’t get a fair shot at local work under Measure E – at their livelihood, yet have to pay for it on their property tax bill. 

For years, Contra Costa Community College District operated with a construction bidding policy that ensured a fair playing field regardless of labor affiliation and delivered quality workmanship our community could count on.

Unfortunately, that ended in 2011 when a Project Labor Agreement policy that favors construction unions was adopted, discouraging 83.5% of local workers in the community from bidding on District jobs unless they signed on to the onerous union work rules required by the agreement.

On June 3, vote NO on Measure E for the Contra Costa Community College District. Give our deserving construction community a fair shot at local work.

Alex Aliferis

Executive Director

Contra Costa Taxpayers Association

Exciting arena events, a concert series, carnival rides, livestock, exhibits and more!

The Contra Costa County Fair opening day is Thursday May 29^th –Sunday, June 1^st

at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch.

I AM CHAMPION, HEAR ME ROAR, is the theme for a fun planned four day event for Fair-goers of all ages. The Contra Costa County Fair is the perfect place to enjoy live entertainment, exciting arena events, delicious food, carnival rides, animals, and hundreds of exhibits – all in a community-friendly environment and at affordable prices!

For main stage entertainment, the Fair’s 2014 concert series features:

Paperback Writer; a Beatles tribute and Rodeo House on Thursday May 29^th,

FOGHAT and Superbad performing on Friday May 30^th,

Life in the Fastlane; Songs of the Eagles, and The Spazmatics on Saturday May 31^st and

Hispanic Musical Celebration Sunday June 1^st with entertainment from 3pm – 9pm

All concerts are FREE with admission to the Fair.

While visiting the Fair, enjoy other highlights such Circus Imagination, Skip Banks, Circus Street, All Alaskan Racing Pigs, the Bird Man, Wood Carvers, Jeremy the Juggler our Wine Pavilion Stage, Roller Derby much more!

Visit www.contracostafair.com for more information including promos and discounts.

By Sergeant Mike Hulsey #2356, Antioch Police Community Policing Bureau

On Sunday, May 25, 2014, at 8:28 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the Duch Pride Gas and Food Mart at 507 E. 18th Street, for a subject reported to have been shot and his vehicle taken. Officers contacted the victim, a 23-year-old Antioch man, at the above location and he appeared to have a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The victim would only state that an unknown male shot him and took his vehicle. The victim was taken to John Muir Medical Center for treatment.

There are no suspects at this time and the case is still being investigated.

You may contact the Investigations Bureau at 925.779.6926 with any tips. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

To give kids the independence and ability to have a constructive, safe and fun summer, Tri Delta Transit will once again be offering a very unique, unlimited-ride Summer Youth Pass to kids age 17 and under. However, new this year is the inclusion of WestCat buses in West Contra Costa County to the Summer Youth Pass, which will allow kids to go even more places on public transit. Summer Youth Passes are now available.

The Summer Youth Pass, which is available for only $50, allows kids to ride all Tri Delta Transit and WestCat fixed route buses as often as they want from June 1 through August 31. “It’s the most economical pass we offer,” said Director of Marketing Mike Furnary. “The Summer Youth Pass provides three full months of rides for less than the price of one general public 31-day pass. But more importantly, by providing kids with the ability to get to our community’s many entertainment and educational outlets-as well as summer employment-we hope this will have a positive impact on our community.”

Tri Delta Transit has been able to keep the price of the Summer Youth Pass low thanks to a generous partnership with 511 Contra Costa. 511 Contra Costa is a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that promotes alternatives to the single occupant vehicle. The commute alternative group is providing a $10 subsidy for every pass sold this year.

What remains unique about Tri Delta Transit’s pass is its design. The pass is a colorful, silicone wristband. “We made the pass a wristband for two reasons,” said Furnary. “First, we wanted it to be something that would be fun to have and to wear. Second, we didn’t want parents worrying about their kids losing them. Once these passes are on kids’ wrists, they stay in place.” Traditional paper youth passes often get misplaced or run through the washing machine. When this happens, parents are out their purchase price and have to buy another one. “This pass is durable and totally waterproof so kids can shower and swim with them on and they’ll stay in place until they are physically removed.”

Tri Delta Transit’s Summer Youth Passes give kids a certain independence allowing them to get where they want to go without having to rely on their parents for a ride. “We call it the cure for summertime boredom,” said Furnary. “Not only will it take them to places they want to go but it will also provide them with discounts at restaurants and local hot spots.” However, it would appear that another huge benefit of the pass goes to parents who won’t have to constantly drive their kids everywhere this summer.
Summer Youth Passes can be purchased from Tri Delta Transit over the phone at 925-754-6622, online at www.TriDeltaTransit.com, or in person at their administrative offices located at 801 Wilbur Avenue in Antioch. Summer Youth Passes are now available.

Tri Delta Transit provides over 2,500,000 trips each year to a population of nearly 250,000 residents in the 225 square miles of Eastern Contra Costa County. Tri Delta Transit operates 13 local bus routes Monday – Friday, 4 local bus routes on weekends, express commuter service to BART, and door-to-door bus service for disabled and senior citizens.

For additional information about Tri Delta Transit, please visit www.trideltatransit.com.

By Sergeant Morefield, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at approximately 7:40 PM, Antioch Police Department patrol officers responded to a residence in the 4500 block of Horseshoe Circle on a report of a burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they found several subjects fleeing the home. One of the suspects was apprehended a short distance away in possession of a backpack full of fresh marijuana. During a security sweep of the victim residence, evidence of a large scale marijuana cultivation operation was located inside. Investigators were called in and ultimately seized approximately 530 marijuana plants from the home along with marijuana cultivation equipment. The case is still being investigated by the Antioch Police Department’s Special Operations Unit.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Mortimer with the Antioch Police Department at (925)779-6941. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This article was not published, last week, as it was confused for a police press release about another  shooting, earlier that same day.

By Sgt. Mike Hulsey, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Monday, May 19, 2014 at approximately 8:40 pm, Officers responded to the area of Sycamore Dr. for reports of gunshots heard in the area. Officers located the victim, a 21-year-old male, in the 1500 block of Sycamore Drive and he appeared to be suffering from gunshot wounds. Several bullet casings were also located in the area. The victim was transported to a local hospital in serious condition. There are no suspects at this time and the case is still being investigated.

You may text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By John Crowder

The Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) and the Antioch Education Association (AEA) announced that they have reached a tentative agreement in their recent labor talks at the AUSD School Board meeting on Wednesday, May 14th.

As recently as April 28th, the AEA had posted on their website an update expressing their dismay that AUSD had not yet made a salary proposal in the ongoing negotiations. On May 6th, however, both groups were able to reach agreement on all points that had been under consideration during the negotiating process.

Under the terms of the tentative agreement, teachers in the district are to receive two retroactive raises. The first is a 2% increase in “all salary schedules and advanced degree stipends in the Collective Bargaining Agreement” effective from July 1, 2013. The second is also a 2% increase on the same items and is effective from January 1, 2014. In addition, it was agreed that, “The extra duty schedule, stipends, hourly rate, period substitution, and all other rates of pay shall be increased by 4.04% effective July 1, 2014, effectively increasing payment for other teacher duties by the same rate as the salary raises negotiated during the talks.

Class size was another item negotiated during the meetings. Here, for grades K-3, the parties have agreed to reduce class sizes year-to-year, with an average class size of 29 pupils per site for those grades during the 2014-2015 school year, 28 during the 2015-2016 school year, and 27 for the 2016-2017 school year. Maximum class size for those years were also agreed to, of 30, 29, and 28 respectively.

The adoption of Common Core Standards by the state of California was also taken up during the bargaining process. Addressing this issue, the parties created a Memorandum of Understanding emphasizing their shared commitment to successful implementation of the program, which they jointly state will, “ensure that ALL students are ready for college, career, and citizenship in the 21^st century.” In order to accomplish this goal, AEA and AUSD have agreed to establish “an advisory Common Core Committee (CCC).” This committee, to be comprised of district members, teachers, and that may include up to two parents, is to meet at least four times per school year. Their primary role will be to “help guide the implementation of Common Core,” including staff development related to the implementation of the new standards.

Robert Stickler, President of the AEA, said, “AEA is pleased with the tentative agreement that was reached with AUSD on May 6th, 2014. I have heard many positive comments from teachers regarding the 4.04% raise and an increase to the district’s contribution to benefits. We are also happy that elementary teachers in grades kindergarten through third grade will have class size maximums written in the contract and that these maximums will reduce each year over the next 3 school years. The class size ratios for these grades will also be reduced. They will continue to be reduced further if the state’s projected Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is fully implemented over its 8 year time span.”

Antioch teachers are now in the process of voting for ratification of the agreement. The results of that vote are expected next Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Board is expected to vote on acceptance of the agreement as well.

In other news, the Board recognized employees for their outstanding service. Anndria Romo, who assists with Special Education at Diablo Vista Elementary School, was chosen as the Classified Representative of the year. Julie Verhoek, from Sutter Elementary, was Runner Up Teacher of the Year, and Kevin Jones, Antioch High School EDGE Academy, was selected as the Teacher of the Year.