By John Crowder

Following are the questions from this reporter and the answers provided by Antioch City Manager Steve Duran regarding city staff’s acknowledged discrepencies in police staffing levels, and city employee contract negotiations, this last year. (See the previous Herald article regarding this issue, here).

Q – I’m following up to see if you can provide me with the information about who was on the respective negotiating teams listed in my earlier email (see below), or direct me to whoever might have that information.

A – The current Negotiating Team for the City is Glenn Berkheimer of IEDA, Administrative Services Director Michelle Fitzer and Human Resources Analyst Denise Haskett.  For the Management Unit was Mike Bechtholdt and Ryan Graham.  For the Confidential Unit was Carol Cline and Tammy Leach.

Local 1’s current agreement was negotiated on behalf of the City by Glenn Berkheimer, former Human Resources Director Deborah McHenry, and Denise Haskett.  The Local 1 representatives were Roland Katz, Business Agent, and employee representatives Todd Northam, Wayne Burgess, Dennis Celoni, Brandon Chalk, Ron Colefield, and Manuel Hicks.

OE3’s current agreement was negotiated on behalf of the City by Austris Rungis of IEDA, Glenn Berkheimer (Letter Of Understanding 2011), and former Human Resources Director Deborah McHenry.  The OE3 representatives were Carl Carey, Chief Negotiator, and employee representatives Larry Munn, Annette Mefford, Harold Jirousky, and Phil Hoffmeister.

Q – Also, were you ever able to get H.R. to sort out the discrepancy with the police staffing numbers over the last couple of years? 

A – An error was discovered in the payroll report originally pulled.  Although the report showed 76 employees, in researching the question it was discovered that employees who had separated between the effective date of the information (October 2013) and the date the report was pulled from the payroll system (October 2014) were dropped from the report.  So, although the requested information was as of October 2013 it did not capture employees who had since separated.  The actual number, excluding per-diem employees and Trainees, was 84.  We have implemented a double checks and balance protocol in an attempt to ensure that this type of error does not occur again.

Q – Can you also tell me on what date management ratified the new MOU which was referred to during the last council meeting, in which they were said to have agreed to reinstatement of the 10% pay cut effective in January, 2015? 

A – Ms. Fitzer was notified of the Management Unit vote ratifying the Agreement on October 21, 2014.

Q – Finally, in reading the Management MOU and the letter regarding the economic triggers, I’d like to know on what basis you believe the trigger letter remained in effect after the sunset date?  This appears to be a separate agreement, covering a certain period of time during which a trigger would have provided for an increase in salary to management employees.  I don’t see that it is incorporated into the benefit agreement at all, or that its sunsetting could realistically be construed as a basis for the furloughs themselves ending. 

A – In accordance with current labor laws, all terms and conditions of employment found in a negotiated collective bargaining agreement (aka Memorandum of Understanding – MOU) remain in full force and effect until a successor Agreement is negotiated, or terms and conditions are imposed following the appropriate impasse procedures.  The Tentative Agreement with the Management Unit that included the trigger language mirrored the termination date of the Benefit Document Agreement – September 30, 2013.  The entire Tentative Agreement had that date, not just the trigger language section.  Had the trigger section specifically stated that the provision sunset on its own as of 9/30/13, the same argument would apply to the entire agreement that authorized the furloughs. However, again, the furlough was always tied to the trigger.  There is no separate language authorizing the furlough 10% salary reduction in the agreements. Therefore, the City would not have had any document to point to as authorization to continue the furlough salary reduction without agreement from the bargaining unit.  Had the City attempted to remove the trigger language outside of the collective bargaining process, or before the completion of bargaining and the appropriate impasse procedures, if necessary, the City would likely face a per se violation of the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act and an Unfair Labor Practice Charged filed with PERB.

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, January 21, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), who represents portions of Antioch in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced that he will serve on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee in the 114th Congress. Last week DeSaulnier announced his assignment to the Education & Workforce Committee.

“The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has broad authority to investigate matters and conduct aggressive oversight to maintain a well-functioning government and to keep the public informed. One of my top priorities in the California legislature was to ensure government is transparent, that proper oversight occurs, and that taxpayer dollars are judiciously used. I appreciate the opportunity to bring this experience to federal matters and look forward to working with Chairman Jason Chaffetz and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings and all of my colleagues on the Committee,” said Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11).

“With over 20 years of public service, Congressman DeSaulnier will bring strong leadership, expertise, and a fresh perspective to the Oversight Committee. I look forward to working with him to reach responsible solutions to the issues affecting our nation and ensure that the federal government works for the American people,” said Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Elijah Cummings.

“Rep. Mark DeSaulnier has been a stalwart leader in holding government accountable and protecting the interests of taxpayers and the public. He is incisive, persistent and fair.  He asks the right questions, the tough questions and expects nothing short of open, honest and complete answers. California taxpayers have benefited directly and immensely from his leadership on transparency, accountability and good government, and now all U.S. taxpayers will enjoy the same,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council.

For more information about Congressman DeSaulnier, visit his official House website by clicking here. To learn more about the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, click here.

Effort began following near death experience and vision

By Allen Payton

Four years ago, Debra Brown was given a vision.

“On September 17, 2010, a year to the date after I got out of the hospital from a near death experience, I had a vision that I was to start a restoration facility for victims of human trafficking,” she said. “I really didn’t know about human trafficking, and was completely unaware of its existence in our country. I did see the movie ‘Taken’ a year or so before but I thought it was a Hollywood thing and in another part of the world.”

“I was in my hot tub. Sentences started downloading in my head and it was a trip,” Brown stated. “’You will facilitate the opening of a safe house for victims of human trafficking in Contra Costa County’ were the first, exact words. The sentences continued. ‘Many people will come to help you’ and then ‘Many people will come to know Me through this’ and ‘You did not meet your husband by accident.” Then the next words were ‘I will provide the funding.’

Then a detailed floor plan of the facility was imprinted in her mind. She got out of the hot tub and went in the house and immediately began drawing the floor plan. Since then, an architect has drawn up the preliminary plans from what Debra drew.

It wasn’t the first time she had a supernatural experience.

“I had an out of body experience when I almost died and I was begging Jesus to take me,” Brown said. “I was looking down and saw the nurses and doctors around my bed, but was wondering why no one could hear me. In that instant I was back in my body and they were ambu-bagging me, giving me oxygen.”

“I didn’t tell anyone, right away,” she added. “Then I started feeling depressed that Jesus didn’t take me home to Heaven to be with him. Then I thought why would I want to go, I have a good life, a great family, a great job.”

Then she shared her experience with a Christian friend, who told her “He didn’t take you because He has a plan for you, a purpose for your life.”

Up until that time, Debra called herself a “holiday Christian” only attending church two times a year, Christmas and Easter. She started attending church and Bible study.

Now she knows what that plan is and she began working on it right away.

“We formed our non-profit, Pillars of Hope, and held our first board meeting within a month of the vision,” she added.

Since then Brown and the organization have been raising funds to build the safe house, which they hope will be the first of many and will locate it in Contra Costa County, as God told her to do.

They also spent the first year getting educated on the subject, including attending what’s known as a Freedom Summit, which is held every other year. The next one will be in May of 2015.

Surprisingly, the need is great in our county. It’s everywhere and in every state in this country. The Bay Area is in the top 10 areas for human trafficking in the country, according to the FBI.

“Unfortunately Antioch is seeing an increase in sex trafficking and parents need to be aware of the dangers out there to our kids” she stated. “Traffickers can make $250,000 to $300,000 per girl per year so nationwide there has been an immense increase in gang involvement. Unlike drugs, victims can be sold over and over.”

They have already helped and guided some victims to resources and look forward to being able to house them and really provide the restorative care that they all so desperately need. The organization regularly holds trainings to get awareness to the public and also to get their volunteers the necessary training to be able to work with the victims once their safe house opens.

About half of the trafficking victims are used for sex and the other are used for labor, including being forced to work in restaurants, nail salons, agriculture and as domestic servants to name a few.

Many of the labor victims are Hispanic and Asian. Shockingly, 72% of the identified sex trafficking victims are American citizens or legal residents, and many of them are teenage girls, but some are boys. The average age of entrance into sex trafficking in our county is 14, nationwide it’s 12.

But, the average age of rescue in Contra Costa is 17 ½ year old, which means the biggest need for restorative care for 17 and up.

They have a private investigator on the Pillars of Hope advisory board, who has helped rescue some girls who were victims. Earlier this year there was a Brentwood girl who went missing and was found in Oakland, being trafficked for sex.

There was another recent case of an Antioch girl who was abducted and later found in Stockton being trafficked for sex out of a hotel.

Former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman, Manny Soliz, Jr. is their financial planner and his wife Mary will soon be joining the board.

So far the organization has raised about $60,000 and are now pursuing grants, as they have a budget of $1 million to buy the house and provide the staffing. That’s just for the first phase.

“There’s nothing quite like this, that we’re doing, in the country,” Debra said enthusiastically. “Nothing of this magnitude. It’s going to be great.”

The first phase will be for (girls and) young women age 17 ½ and up, with counseling for trauma, specialized programs to help with the whole mental, physical and spiritual healing process, as well as job training and life skills. Future plans include a heavily-armed facility for at-risk girls and a facility for children under age 18.

The need is so great, as there are only a couple of specialized facilities in Northern California with so few beds. Some of the rescued victims are put in Foster care or group homes, but without restoration they end up running away and return to the street and back into “the life,” as it’s called, Brown added.

The next fundraiser for Pillars of Hope will be a crab feed on February 28, 2015 at the Pittsburg Senior Center. Pittsburg’s vice mayor, Sal Evola, and his team of crab masters, will be cooking again this year. To buy tickets or support the effort, call (925) 457-3977 or visit their website at www.pillarsofhope.us.

By Allen Payton

Recently opened Antioch Produce & Farmers Market now includes a butcher shop which offers halal meats, including lamb, goat, chicken and veal.

Owner Haroon Sherzai drives his truck early each morning to get the fresh fruits, vegetables and meats he offers in his store, which is located at 1625 A Street, behind Rite Aid and Wells Fargo Bank.

His produce is mostly from local farmers, Sherzai states. Halal meat is cut and prepared in such a way so it is permissible for Muslims to eat.

Antioch Produce is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

By Allen Payton

On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Supervisors voted to rescind the 33% pay raise that four had voted themselves in November, to avoid a referendum that had garnered almost 40,000 signatures.

I applaud the supervisors for correcting their mistake, which is what the original vote was. I also applaud both the Deputy Sheriffs and the members of Local 1, the county employees’ largest union, who led the referendum effort.

They were exercising our nation’s constitutionally-guaranteed rights “to Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances” and our state’s right to a referendum, giving the people the opportunity to undo bad government decisions.

The public was rightfully upset and it showed by how quickly the signature gatherers were able to obtain the necessary total to place the issue on the ballot.

But, the supervisors were able to prevent that from happening, by taking a new vote on the pay raise.

Unfortunately, it appears that some of the supervisors still didn’t get the message, as they continued to make arguments to support their original vote. The humorous thing was that they called it an “adjustment.”

The supervisors had already received a 60% pay raise in 2007, taking their salaries from about $59,000 to over $95,000. The 33% pay raise was on top of that and would have give them a total annual salary of over $127,000. They argued that had they received a 4% raise each year since then, it would have totaled 32%. But, that doesn’t take into account the fact that we had an economic downturn in 2008 and no pay raises were appropriate for years after that.

The bottom line is they were all elected knowing how much they would get paid and earning over $97,000 a year plus a generous benefits package, is pretty good, especially for a second household income for most of them.

Since it’s their responsibility to set their own salaries, the supervisors could have done it when the previous employee contracts came up for approval, and at the most, tied it to the San Francisco Area Consumer Price Index, instead of 70% of the salaries of Superior Court Judges, a position which requires not only a college degree but a law degree, as well. That’s seven years of college. As I touched on when I wrote about this subject, previously, there is no educational requirement to be a county supervisor.

Had they tied it to the CPI, they would have only received a 2.7% pay raise this year and a total of 14.5% since 2009. But, even that would have been too much, in light of the economic downturn and remember, when they raise their pay, it also increases their retirement benefits.

Trying to play catch up all in one fell swoop, years later was just not right and should never be attempted, again.

Hopefully, now they will follow the lead of the newest member of the Board of Supervisors, Candace Andersen, who is the only one to vote against the pay raise, and would only accept what the employees received of about 2-3%, this year.

We shall see. At least for now, the four supervisors, who voted for the raise, were reminded who’s really in charge, here. It’s we the people, and when they do something with which we disagree, we will rise up, take back control of our government, even if for a brief time, and set things straight.

By John Crowder

At the January 13, 2015 meeting of the Antioch City Council, members of the public spoke about a proposed card room ordinance and the feral cat situation, while Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock pushed for a future agenda item to discuss the hiring of Community Service Officers (CSO’s).

Card rooms

Stemming from direction given by the city council at a meeting last November, a proposed card room ordinance was presented by city staff. The proposed ordinance called for limiting the number of card rooms in Antioch to two, and requiring applicants desiring to operate a card room in Antioch to obtain a State Card Room License prior to the council considering such a request.

Also included in the staff report was a five-point letter received by the city on December 10, 2014, in which 30 prominent Antioch residents requested the council consider, “several options for strengthening our card room ordinance.” These included the following:

1. Asking voters about new licenses and any expansion of gambling

2. Consider what games are allowed and how many tables

3. The location of gambling

4. The process by which a license to conduct gambling is obtained

5. Providing the police department with enforcement tools

Steve Scudero, representing the card room 19^th Hole, noted that the state allowed them to expand from 6 to 8 tables with the approval of the council. He requested that a vote of the people not be required for such a “minor” change. He noted that he and his two partners were in their 31^st year of ownership of the 19^th Hole, and that, over the last 30 years, they had raised over $1.5 million for local charities.

Following Scudero’s comments, council member Mary Rocha immediately moved to accept the staff recommendation for the proposed ordinance. During discussion by the council, Mayor Wade Harper asked city attorney Lynn Tracy Nerland if the council would be able to “come back with some stronger language,” as referenced in the December 10 letter, if they were to approve the motion put forward by Rocha. Harper also emphasized that, “I don’t want to have any negative impact on the 19^th Hole.” Even so, Harper said, “I want to limit the card rooms from being within a certain [number of] feet of churches, schools, day cares, that type of thing.” Nerland recommended they approve the currently proposed ordinance, and come back with additional proposals at a later date. Following further discussion, the motion to approve the ordinance, as presented by city staff, was passed on a 5-0 vote. After the vote, staff was directed to bring back language that would restrict where card rooms would be placed, while ensuring that the 19^th Hole would not be negatively impacted by such a revision.

Feral cats

Also at the meeting, the council received an animal services update, focusing on the ordinance banning the feeding of feral cats except on one’s own private property. The update began with Antioch Police Chief Alan Cantando introducing Lieutenant Tony Morefield, currently managing Animal Services, and providing background. Cantando noted that the council had directed, several months ago, that staff meet with animal rights advocates concerned about the ordinance. Cantando thanked all who participated in the meetings, and noted the passion with which participants advocated for their cause.

Morefield started his presentation by stating that an ordinance was passed by the council in April of last year prohibiting the feeding of feral cats on other than someone’s own property. He said that, at that time, the council had directed staff to meet with groups conducting Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) programs, to see how such programs could be continued “under provisions” of the ordinance. He noted that several meetings had taken place.

Morefield summarized his written report by saying, “We did discuss a number of topics surrounding the issue of feral cats, but unfortunately, we were not able to come to a consensus on how to proceed.” He went on to say, “Essentially, these groups have made it clear to staff that they are in opposition to the ordinance.” Morefield continued, “Furthermore…it has become clear to staff that the advocate groups do not agree with the ordinance, nor are they wanting to conform to it. On the contrary, over these months, permanent cat feeding structures have been erected and subsequently removed, the regular feeding of feral cats continues…the blight of feeding feral cats is evident all over the downtown area, and ultimately, the feral cat population in Antioch persists.”

Following Morefield’s remarks, council member Tony Tiscareno, who said that he had been in attendance and observed one of the meetings between the feral cat advocates and city staff, asked if there had been any advocacy groups willing to work with the city within the confines of the ordinance. Morefield said that there was no site outside public lands that the advocacy groups found acceptable as a place to feed the animals.

During public comments, most speakers expressed opposition to the ordinance banning the feeding of feral cats. They focused on two main points, removing the ban on feeding and directing police resources to other areas.

Typical of the comments were those expressed by Karen Kops, President of Homeless Animals Response Program (HARP), who said, “A feeding ban and TNR is not compatible.” “We’re asking that the feeding ban of feral cats be repealed.” “Please do not spend any more money to impede the work of volunteers.”

With respect to allocation of police resources, Leslie Ward, among several others, said that Antioch should focus on its crime problem, including the numerous shootings that have taken place in the city, and not on feral cats.

Some of the speakers, though, did support the ordinance banning the feeding of the feral cats. Fred Hoskins said, “There’s a big ballyhoo again,” and that, “we’re going in circles.” He said these, “concerned citizens” should implement a, “Trap, Neuter, and Take Home” program. “Our city needs no more blight,” he said.

Paul Shore commended the council for adopting the ordinance, and for giving the feral cat advocates six months of discussions. Shore emphasized the number of birds killed each year by feral cats. He said, “It has been proven, TNR does not work in controlling feral cat predation.” “Well-fed cats are also predators. Even though they’re fed, that does not diminish their desire to hunt and kill,” he said. “Putting feeding stations is going to promote more cats in that area, and especially along the waterfront, it’s going to impact the birds. I strongly urge you to implement the ban.”

Lisa Kirk, of the Homeless Animal Lifeline Organization (HALO), brought up another issues. She said, “You do have 20,000 feral cats,” but the ordinance prevents the city from obtaining grants to deal with them.

Following the public comments, City Manager Steve Duran said, “I think the intent in the six months, which ended up being more than that, was to try to, within the context of the ordinance which was passed by the council, after much review, and much research and much testimony…the intent was to try and work within the contents of this ordinance to find a TNR group that would be willing to work with the city in that context.” “We felt that there could be a way to work with the most reasonable we could find of these groups to establish a certain number of feeding stations so the cats could be trapped. I think the problem in the whole thing is, what caused the problem in the first place, that led to the ordinance, is unfettered feeding of cats, along our very environmentally sensitive waterfront where there are species that cats naturally would hunt, not to mention the feces and the cleanup of the cat food and things like that. The problem is also…with rogue feeders.” He also said that the feral cat advocates drew, “a line in the sand,” taking the stand that the city must repeal the ordinance. Duran said there was hope to get something done, but not if people just “dig in their heels” on the ordinance, which he characterized as illogical, as it would lead to people “feeding cats anywhere, anytime,” and said there are currently people who just dump food for the cats in the middle of the street. “It’s irrational to think that if you just have, unfettered, no rules, that somehow it’s gonna make it better.”

Following Duran’s statement, Rocha, clearly frustrated, called for a neutral person to intercede, saying, “I think you need a mediator.” “We can’t continue to do this,” she said.

Rocha also said that she wanted to see HALO’s Lisa Kirk involved in any further meetings.

Following council discussion, the council agreed, on a 5-0 vote, to direct Duran to continue the dialogue with the respective TNR organizations, to include Lisa Kirk, and report back in three months.

Community Service Officers

During council comments, Ogorchock raised the topic of hiring additional CSO’s. She said that the elimination of furlough Friday’s had been proposed to be funded by Measure O at a council meeting in September of last year. With this now being funded by additional property taxes, that freed up about $440,000 which could be put toward the hiring of CSO’s. She stated that she wanted to see this added to the agenda at the next council meeting.

Following her statement, however, Harper began to comment, but then Duran, “through the mayor” said, that the council needs to agree to put something on the agenda. Harper then said, “it takes at least three of us to agree,” before an item can be placed on an upcoming agenda. “They have to have the council’s consensus and direction,” he said.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27. Council meetings are held at the council chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street. The meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. They can also be viewed live stream online at www.ci.antioch.ca.us.

By Allen Payton

Antioch residents joined together to celebrate the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the annual program in his honor, on Monday.

Held at Antioch High School’s Beede Auditorium, the event was started by the late Antioch Councilman Reggie Moore and this year featured a first-ever awarding of a scholarship in his honor and memory. Moore was the first African-American elected to the Antioch City Council. This year’s recipient was Claryssa Wilson.

The program, led by Master and Mistress of Ceremonies Caleb Harper and Claryssa Wilson, Antioch High Principal Louie Rocha welcomed all in attendance, followed by the invocation by Pastor Chris Williams of the new Church at Antioch. Velma Wilson then led in the singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing, also known as the Negro National Anthem followed by the presentation of colors by Antioch Boy Scouts Troop 153 and the singing of the National Anthem by Deer Valley High’s Divine Voices.

Mayor Wade Harper introduced the elected officials in the audience, who then shared their thoughts for the day.

The program continued with some musical and dance entertainment from Pray for the Children Chrous, Stepper Girlz and Antioch High’s Delta Rhythm Boys.

The young men from G.R.I.O.T. – Greatness Rediscovered In Our Time – then took the stage and recited their affirmation in unison.

Mayor Harper then introduced the keynote speaker for the day, former Oakland Raider Akili Calhoun, followed by a brief video about him.

Calhoun, who wore numbers 90 and 95, was a defensive tackle from 1992 to 1996, shared mostly about his life after football.

“I wanted to leave a legacy for my son. I was always focused on sports. I said ‘You know what, God, I need to take another route.’”

That route took him toward higher education. Calhoun earned a doctorate in psychology.

He then went on to mentored men in prison. But it made him depressed and he knew he had to get into a college setting.

Calhoun then became a college professor.

He said “I thought, Wow, I’m a professor!”

But his wife told him “You gotta give back.”

So, together, they started The Lettermen Project which mentors young men and helps them get into college.

Calhoun shared about one interaction with late Al Davis, the former owner of the Raiders.

Al Davis told me “You gotta practice, but you gotta do it when no one is looking.”

That’s what he shares with those he mentors.

Calhoun then invited those who were in the audience to join him on stage. He had each one introduce himself and share where they were attending school.

He referred to the young men as his generals helping build God’s Kingdom.

Calhoun finished with a reference to Dr. King.

“I’m trying to do what King would want me to do, reach them all and build a nation of educated people.”

His talk was followed by the announcement and presentation of scholarships to four students who won the MLK Day Essay Contest, as well as the Reginald L. Moore Scholarship presented to Claryssa Wilson.

The program concluded with Velma Wilson singing “We Are the World.”