By Allen Payton

As part of the recall process, Antioch Mayor Wade Harper had the opportunity to respond to the claims of the recall supporters.

Following is his official response to the Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition, with which he was served at the City Council meeting on January 13, 2015.

“As your Mayor and retired Police Lieutenant, reducing crime continues to be my top priority. Our families deserve to feel safe, that’s why I led the effort to approve Measure C – so Antioch would have the funds to hire more police officers. Our community united and we hired 10 new officers, which I personally swore in (Officers Mike Perez, Kyle Smith, J.B. Hulleman, Marcos Torres, Kenneth Krein, Scott Duggar, Amel Sahnic, Trak Keo-Vann, Ben Padilla and Matt Allendorph). We take pride in hiring the finest crime fighting officers. Aggressive hiring will continue. The cost of this recall may be up to $198,994.50 which could fund another 2 police officers. Under my leadership, Antioch has secured another $625,000 to hire 5 additional officers and our Police Department conducts weekly crime suppression operations – one of which resulted in 87 arrests in just a five-day period. Nothing is more important than keeping our neighborhoods and children safe. But to achieve that goal, it’s going to take all of us working together. We ended work furloughs city-wide and I believe great days are ahead. I respectfully ask that we unite as one community, to reject this recall, so we can continue this fight together.”

According to recall leader Rich Buongiorno, recall supporters were given the green light on Monday, February 9 to begin gathering the needed approximate 8,900 valid signatures of Antioch voters. They have 120 days to do so, in order to place the recall on the ballot. Should that occur, the election will be held some time later, this year.

The election will have two parts. The first will be a yes or no vote on recalling Harper. The second will be an election for a replacement candidate. Should Harper be recalled, the top vote-getter in the second part of the election will take his place as Mayor for the remainder of the term, through 2016.

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES:

There are no full freeway closures planned for this week.

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4 (SR4):

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of SR4 between California Avenue/Harbor Street and Bailey Road on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of SR4 between Hillcrest Avenue and the SR4/SR160 connector ramp on Friday evening from 11:59 pm to 6:00 am.

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of SR4 between Hillcrest Avenue and the SR4/SR160 connector ramp on Friday evening from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

State Route 160 (SR160):

There are no highway lane closures of SR160 planned for this week.

RAMP CLOSURES:

State Route 4 (SR4):

The SR4 westbound off ramp at Hillcrest Avenue will be closed on Friday evening from 11:59 pm to 4:00 am.

State Route 160 (SR160):

There are no ramp closures of SR160 planned for this week.

LOCAL STREET CLOSURES:

Contra Loma Boulevard will be closed in all directions between the SR4 on and off ramps on Thursday and Friday evenings from 11:59 pm to 5:00 am.

There will be single lane closures in the northbound and southbound directions of Contra Loma/L Street between Claudia Court and Fitzuren/Buchanan Road on Thursday and Friday evenings from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.

There will be single lane closures on Lone Tree Way in both directions between Canada Valley Road and Jeffery Way Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Please see the detour maps by clicking here. Hwy 4 Lane Closures Week of 2-14-15

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.

By Patrick McCarran, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

An offer has been accepted and a closing date has been set. Now the home is about to go through escrow. But what does that really mean? The following are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about escrow and the escrow process.

What is escrow?

Escrow is a process that begins when the offer papers are signed by both parties and ends when the loan is approved and both the buyer and seller have fulfilled all the necessary requirements. For instance the escrow company will obtain instructions from all parties such as the lender, the seller and the buyer. Once these instructions have been met or completed then the escrow company will redistributed to the involved parties such as the buyer will receive title or ownership of the property, the seller will receive funds, the sellers lender with be paid off and the buyers lender will receive loan documents that the buyer has agreed to repay.

What is an escrow holder?

The escrow holder is a neutral third party agent of the principals—buyer, seller, lender, and borrower—which facilitates the transfer of ownership by ensuring that the terms of the transaction are completed. This includes safeguarding all funds (including the buyer’s deposit) and documents. Once all the details have been settled, the escrow holder disburses the funds and documents to the appropriate parties.

What does the escrow have to do with items that must be done to the property before it is sold?

Escrow is also a process. The escrow company keeps track of various terms and conditions throughout the term of the contract and acts as an enforcer for both sides insuring that contract terms are honored. The escrow holder keeps track of obligations of the seller or buyer. For example, if the seller is required to supply a termite inspection, the escrow holder would make sure it is fulfilled before any funds are transferred to the seller. Findings in the termite inspection report must be corrected on or before the close of escrow.

How does the escrow company interact with the title company?

The escrow holder receives a complete ownership history of the property and any liens on record in the preliminary title report. Anything that is out of the ordinary, such as condo liens, judgments, etc., against the buyer and seller must be clarified prior to close of escrow.

Why does the escrow process take so long?

The escrow process can be any number of days depending on what is agreed upon between the buyer and the seller. To assure a timely closing, you can check with the escrow holder on specific items that will help move the process along. For example, the buyer should do things like inform the escrow holder of the name and phone number of his or her insurance agent as soon as possible. The homeowners insurance policy needs to be ordered early, so verification can be made with the lender. The lender will not fund a new loan without a homeowners policy. If there is a delay, the escrow process may be delayed. It also helps to make sure that the funds provided are “good” because the escrow will only close on cleared funds. You want to consider a more secure form of payment, rather than a personal check, which can take up to a week to process.

What happens with the check I give to the escrow company?

Most buyers think that their check will not be cashed until the close of escrow, but that is not the case. The check is cashed by the escrow company immediately, and held in a trust account. If anything out of the ordinary is to be done at the close of escrow with the seller’s proceeds, the escrow holder must be notified. A signed amendment is required for wiring funds or splitting proceeds.

If you have questions about the escrow process, confer with your real estate professionals who can help provide you with more detail with this or any other home buying or selling subject..

Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor and can be reached at (925) 899-5536, pmccarran@yahoo.com or www.CallPatrick.com.

© 2015 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties an independently owned and operated franchiseeof BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire HathawayHomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.®Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation

Sacramento – The California Massage Therapy Council has named Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla as Legislator of the Year for the 2014 legislative session.

Bonilla is recognized for her leadership and commitment as Chair of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, and for working with the community and stakeholders to sponsor a legislative package to improve professional standards in the massage therapy industry. AB 1147, The Massage Therapy Act of 2014, strengthens professional standards for legitimate massage therapy professionals and helps protect Californians who rely on the benefits of therapeutic massage. 

“All Californians should be proud of the work done by Assemblywoman Bonilla,” said California Massage Therapy Council Chair, Mark Dixon. “Assemblywoman Bonilla’s hands-on approach to understanding the issues that impact the safety and quality of life for many Californians is why we’ve named her Legislator of the Year. We share the same goals and commitment to protect the public and we are extremely appreciative of her willingness to tackle such a complex issue.

The Legislator of the Year is an annual award given by the Massage Therapy Council to lawmakers who show exemplary leadership on matters of public importance. Past legislators awarded were former State Senator Lou Correa and Senator Curren Price, Jr.

“I am honored to receive this distinguished award and thank the California Massage Therapy Council,” said Assemblywoman Bonilla (D-Concord). “Their tireless efforts have helped strengthen regulations to professionalize the massage therapy industry, in addition to increasing the safety of local communities across the state. I am proud of all the work we accomplished last year to ensure that trained and certified therapists can continue to play a vital healing role in our communities.”

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) was elected in November 2010 and represents California’s 14th Assembly District, which includes Contra Costa County and Solano County.She is currently a candidate for State Senate in the March 17 special election in District 7, which includes Antioch.

Delta Diablo Sanitation District is proud to have received the 2014 Public Outreach and Education Award from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA). DDSD is designated as the East Contra Costa Resource Recovery Agency.

Located on the Pittsburg-Antioch Highway, DDSD provides essential public health services to all residents and businesses in Antioch, Bay Point and Pittsburg.

In addition, the plant operates one of the largest industrial recycled water facilities in California producing an average of eight million gallons of recycled water for industrial power plant cooling, irrigation and landscape purposes, each day. They also manage the Delta Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility which serves 97,000 homes in East Contra Costa.

CASA Achievement Awards recognize extraordinary clean water services, programs, and projects of member agencies developing unique and innovative approaches to improving public health in the communities they serve. Delta Diablo was honored for creating the Jean-Michel Cousteau Global Water Education for Youth event. Held on February 12, 2014, the internationally-recognized environmentalist, explorer, educator and film producer, Jean-Michel Cousteau visited East Contra Costa and gave an environmental presentation to 1,200 high school students from three school districts.

The engaging presentation by Cousteau reflected his mission to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean’s vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet.

Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Donald Gill congratulates the local resource recovery agency for being publicly acknowledged by their industry peers for coordinating a unique event which included all logistics and raising sponsorship funds so there was no cost to students or school districts to participate.

“This special event allowed our students to interact with an internationally-recognized environmental steward and be inspired by his important messages about protecting their environment, our local waterways and pollution prevention. Moreover, it reflects Delta Diablo’s commitment to Linked Learning business-education programs in our high schools.”

Established in 1996, CASA Achievement Awards demonstrate the valuable commitment by wastewater agencies to provide clean water services for California communities. Roberta Larson, Executive Director of CASA said “Our members are dedicated to fostering public health through innovative solutions and unique approaches to ensuring effective engagement with the communities they serve. The awards program is an important opportunity to recognize their achievements.”

Cousteau’s presentation was filmed by Contra Costa Television and is next available for viewing at 4:00pm on Wednesday, February 25th under the title “Stewardship of the Oceans”.

For more information on Delta Diablo, visit www.ddsd.org.

Get a free bumper sticker to be eligible to win free prizes, all year

We, at the Antioch Herald, love Antioch! We’re looking for others who feel the same. So, this Valentine’s Day, for the first 150 readers who stop by our new office at 101 H Street, Waldie Plaza, Suite 3 in the old Casino Building in historic, downtown Rivertown, we’ll give you a free bumper/window sticker that expresses that sentiment. 

Put it on your car or in your window at your home or business. Then, if we spot it any time throughout the year, you will be eligible to receive a gift certificate from a local business.

So, who loves Antioch, like we do? Stop by and say “Hi” and “I love Antioch,” today and get your free sticker. We’re not always in. So be sure to leave a note with your name, number and the words “I love Antioch” under our door, if we aren’t. (They’re also available at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce office, next door, if we’re not in).

Then show your love for our city – the oldest city in the county – all year!

By Allen Payton

Holding signs that read “Don’t Buy Staples” and “The U.S. Mail is NOT for Sale” members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) were protesting in front of the Antioch Staples store, on Friday, January 30, as part of an ongoing effort to stop the office products chain from handling mail.

“We are here to protest the partnership with Staples without postal workers behind the counters providing mail service,” said Alan Menjivar the Lead Stop Staples Organizer.

“They are Staples employees without training, nor sworn to safeguard the mail and provide proper mail services,” he added

Postal workers are required to take 40 hours of classroom and 32 hours of on-the-job training to be qualified for the job.

“We’ve been protesting for a whole year after they started a pilot program for six months,” Menjivar said. “Then they changed to an approved shipper program to confuse the American people. But they’re still doing the same thing.”

This is about the 20th time they’ve protested at the Antioch Staples store. The workers at the protest are from all over the Bay Area.

“They’re here about every other week,” said Staples Store Manager Toreano Norris. But, that was all he could share, as he is not authorized to speak for the company.

Announced in November, 2013, Staples began a pilot program in 80 stores, for an exclusive shipping agreement with the U.S. Postal Service.

The union warned Staples in a letter from the APWU President, in January, 2014 after the program was implemented.

“But they ignored the letter,” Menjivar said. “So the protests began that same month.”

However, once the protests started, which included rallying their troops and enlisting the support of a couple teachers unions, Staples canceled the pilot program. All they do now is the same thing done at other stores, such as UPS stores, Postal Annex, Parcel Plus, and even Chevron gas stations, as well other office supply stores.

Now, it’s a national boycott. So, the protesters were attempting to get patrons from doing business at the Staples store. But, it didn’t appear to have any affect, as customers came and went, without any turning away.

Customers inside the store commented on the protest.

“It’s the unions. It’s just something they have to do to protect their benefits and their jobs. They have a very strong union. My wife worked for AT&T. She did the same thing for 35 years, with a protest every year,” said Joe Biernacki who lives in Pittsburg. “I like Staples and have been shopping here for years. That won’t stop me at all. I’m a union supporter. But no one’s going to stop me from getting my business done.”

“I came to do business and these people are trying to shove paper in my face. I’m getting sick of protests,” said Mike Steele from Discovery Bay.

The protesters admitted they don’t have a problem with the service being provided at Staples, as long as there’s a postal worker behind the counter. That’s because, according to Menjivar, the National Labor Relations Board has determined that mail dropped off at any Staples store is not considered U.S. mail until it’s in the possession of a postal worker.

“Staples has been providing the service in lieu of postal workers who work the window at the post office,” Menjivar explained. “The postal service has been removing the vending machines, reducing staffing and operational hours and inviting people to go to the stores, as late as 10:00 PM, instead.”

The mail delivered to Staples after the one collection for the day will remain there all night, unsecured, by not being in a processing facility, by law.

However, staff in the store shared that Staples staff were trained by USPS employees for the pilot program and that the mail is kept in a locked box with security cameras inside the store.

“Staples is closing stores nationwide, 225 in 2015,” he added. “So the impact is if the USPS reduces their service and then Staples closes their stores, then the people will have to go to the next closest post office or Staples in another community to get their mail handled.”

According to Menjivar, the current U.S. Postmaster General has been trying to privatize the postal service. The program with Staples was launched to determine if it would be cost effective to pursue a partnership with other retailers.

“He’s been trying to dismantle the postal service. But he’s on his way out,” said Menjivar. “The protest is having an effect, admitted by the Postmaster General. Other retailers are not signing up.”

“It’s [the Postal Service] in the Constitution,” said Ernest Johnson, a retiree from the Oakland Post Office. “What would a senior do, having to go two blocks, [to get their mail]. It wouldn’t make sense. This is a trend heading in the wrong direction.”

The first step has been to go after Staples, because they’re planning to expand the service into 1,500 Staples stores nationwide and because they’re the largest corporation involved in the mail business.

“So in essence, we’re working from the top down,” said Robert Laney an automation clerk in San Jose. “We’ll expand the fight to other corporations who are in the mail business. “

Speaking of the Staples employees who handle the mail Johnson stated, “They’re not sworn. They haven’t taken the oath.”

“Neither did they take the Civil Service Exam,” Laney added.

Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power states “The Congress shall have Power To…establish Post Offices and post Roads….”

It doesn’t say anything about privatizing the delivery of the mail nor contracting out the service to private companies.

The protesters plan to be out at the Antioch Staples again, this month.

In response to issue in Orinda

SB 200 will clarify that children of live-in employees such as caregivers, nannies, housekeepers and gardeners, can attend local schools where their parents live and work a majority of the work week

SACRAMENTO, CA —Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) this week introduced a bill to allow children to attend school where their live-in working parents reside. SB 200 would update California’s school residency laws to ensure that live-in workers, such as nannies, caregivers, maids, and gardeners, whose children live at their place of employment, are able to attend school in the district in which they work if they reside there for at least three days of the week.

“Many workers are required to live part or full-time with their employers to fulfill their duties while caring for others,” said Senator Ricardo Lara. “It is simply wrong to believe that certain workers are okay to hire for service-jobs but not okay for their children to attend local schools. This bill will keep families together and provide a fair shot for children of live-in workers to attend school conveniently where their parents work.”

“I am proud to stand with my colleague, Senator Lara, to support parents in enrolling their children in the school district in which they live and work for the majority of the school week,” said Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord), the principal co-author of the bill. “This bill will ensure equal educational access for children under these circumstances, with the intent of reducing the number of intimidating and demeaning investigative practices.” 

In November 2014, reports came out of a second grade child of a full-time nanny who was kicked out of her school after the district hired a private investigator. The investigator determined that despite the girl, named Vivian, living and residing in the district five days a week, where her mother worked, she was not a resident and they proceeded to kick her out of school.

Despite the district’s ability to grant the child residency due to her mother’s employment, the district initially refused to let the child continue attending school. The district’s decision put the family in a difficult situation, where the child would have to be separated from her mother or the mother would have to quit her job. After community outrage, the district reversed its decision, but required the employer to become a legal guardian of the child.

 “It is in a child’s best interest to reside with their parent, and attend school where the parent resides, when the parent resides in an employer’s home,” said Miriam Storch, the employer of Vivian’s mother Maria. “In Vivian’s case, her mother is a single parent so there is nowhere else for Vivian to go. This situation is not unique to Orinda and I applaud the Senator for addressing this critical issue.”

This is not an isolated problem. Across the state caregivers, nannies, and other workers whose jobs require them to stay overnight are faced with challenges over where their children can go to school. Districts across the state handle these issues differently.

For these workers, the nature of their employment effects far more than their commute. They should have the option to keep their family together and keep their children with them during the work week.

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) was elected in November 2010 and represents California’s 14th Assembly District, which includes Contra Costa County and Solano County.She is currently a candidate for State Senate in the March 17 special election in District 7, which includes Antioch.