Join the fun and make a difference in your community on Saturday, April 18th; volunteer for 6th Annual Antioch’s Keep Antioch Beautiful event, from 8:30 – 11 AM. Following the cleanup, there will be a free volunteer lunch at East Bay Regional Contra Loma Park from 11:30AM – 1 PM.

Hundreds of volunteers will be out in mass on the fifth anniversary of Keep Antioch Beautiful. During the city’s economic downturn and as a result of the reduction of the hours of public services employees the city was in need of a good cleaning. The Keep Antioch Beautiful event was created to encourage residents to help clean up litter and garbage in their neighborhoods. In 2010, over 900 volunteers turned out for the first all-volunteer event. Over 11,740 pounds of trash was collected and deposited in Republic Services dumpsters, located at Antioch schools. Over 600 volunteers attended lunch provided by Honeywell. Sponsors, such as PG&E, Walmart, Target and others, provided funding so that city resources were fully funded.

The effort continues on Saturday, April 18th, with 12 check-in locations. Schools and students will be competing for participation prize money for their schools. There are 3 prizes, $500 for 1st Place, $300 for 2nd Place and $200 for 3rd Place, with prizes awarded to each level of high, middle and elementary schools – that’s $3,000 in participation prizes! Participation is not limited to students to count towards prizes; parents, grandparents, friends, etc. can register their efforts for an individual school. We count everyone who is working if they state a school to credit – not just students! Volunteers who check in at a school site will be cleaning up the neighborhoods surrounding their campuses as well as their campuses.

To register for the event or find out more information, visit www.art4antioch.org/Keep-Antioch-Beautiful.asp, email Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

Will urge Congress to pass long-term funding bill

With the national Highway Trust Fund nearly exhausted and the current federal transportation program set to expire May 31, Bay Area transportation leaders will “Stand Up for Transportation” in San Francisco on Thursday, April 9, which the American Public Transportation Association has designated National Infrastructure Day. More than a dozen transportation agency executives will call on Congress to pass a comprehensive transportation bill with predictable, long-term funding for highways, public transit and the rest of America’s transportation networks.

Who: Dave Cortese, MTC Chair and Santa Clara County Supervisor

Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, Executive Director, Transbay Joint Powers Authority

Arthur L. Dao, Executive Director, Alameda County Transportation Commission

Nuria Fernandez, General Manager and CEO, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Jim Hartnett, General Manager, Caltrain/SamTrans

Randell Iwasaki, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority

Nick Josefowitz, Member, BART Board of Directors

Jeff Morales, CEO, California High-Speed Rail Authority

Denis Mulligan, General Manager, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District

Chris Peeples, President, AC Transit Board of Directors

Ed Reiskin, Director of Transportation, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Bijan Sartipi, Director, Caltrans District 4

Michael Tree, Executive Director, Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority

What: Agency leaders will provide brief but detailed explanations of Bay Area transportation investments imperiled if Congress fails to pass a long-term surface transportation bill.

Watch this short video to learn more about this call to action: http://youtu.be/iiLrULOfy6U

When: Thursday, April 9, 2015, 1 p.m.

Where: Temporary Transbay Terminal, 200 Main Street between Howard & Folsom Streets, San Francisco

The public is urged to contact their Member of Congress and U.S. Senator to ask them to pass the bill. In Antioch, they include Congressmen Jerry McNerney and Mark DeSaulnier and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

Saying that action must be taken to reduce the power of special interests in the State Capitol, Senate candidate Steve Glazer called on his election opponent, Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, to join him in making five clean government promises.

These pledges include a refusal to accept gifts, meals and drinks from groups influencing the lawmaking process; a ban on accepting campaign contributions during times when most laws are passed; and a commitment to publicly release secret candidate questionnaires.

The pledge would also ban tax free Per Diem payments for work in the State Capitol on weekends and holidays when a legislator is not present, and a prohibition on giving special interest campaign contributions to family members in the form of payment for services.

“The power of special interests in the State Capitol need to be curtailed,” said Glazer. “These five simple reforms will improve public confidence in our lawmaking process by scaling back the corrosive influence of campaign contributions, gifts and secret agreements.”

“Voters expect an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay,” said Glazer. “It is wrong to receive tax free Per Diem expenses for work in the State Capitol when you are at home on weekends and holidays.” The Per Diem rate is set by the State Board of Control and is currently set at $168 per day. *1

In February, Glazer challenged Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla to sign a transparency pledge that would require public release of all answers to special interest questionnaires. Glazer has not filled out any of these surveys, but has posted his positions on numerous issues on his webpage for all to see at GlazerforSenate.com. Thus far, Bonilla has refused to share her secret answers.

“In the final days of each legislative year when hundreds of proposed laws hang in the balance, special interests shower lawmakers with campaign contributions, gifts, food and drinks,” said Glazer. “I support a ban on gifts at all times and a prohibition against taking campaign money from these lobbying entities during the most impactful time in the legislative calendar.”

“Taking these five clean government actions will make our lawmaking process have more integrity and be more transparent and honest. I will follow this Clean Government Pledge. I hope my opponent will do so as well.”

Glazer currently serves as the Mayor of Orinda and a Trustee of the California State University 23-campus system.

Senate District 7 includes the communities of Alamo, Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Byron, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, Dublin, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pacheco, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Sunol and Walnut Creek.

The general election will be held Tuesday, May 19.

*1 Sacramento Bee, January 15, 2015: “Under the state constitution, lawmakers receive daily tax-free living expenses on top of their salaries, as long as they are not out of session for more than three consecutive days. While the state Senate and Assembly usually meet on a Monday-Thursday schedule, the extra day will allow legislators to collect their per diem allowances over the holiday. The per diem rate rose slightly in October to $168, according to the Assembly Rules Committee, from $163 in the 2013-14 fiscal year.” Read more here.

Clean Government Pledge

Broad reform is needed to inject our lawmaking process with more integrity, transparency and honesty.

Today, special interests collude with candidates during an election on hidden promises in the form of secret candidate questionnaires.

These narrow interests shower elected officials with campaign contributions right before critical votes and provide them with gifts, including sports tickets, meals and drinks. Their campaign donations even go to support a lawmaker’s family.

Lawmakers supplement their state mandated salaries by arranging to be paid tax free Per Diem for working in the State Capitol on weekends and holidays when they are not even there. This is wrong!

We need to take important steps to limit the corrosive impact of special interest power and lawmaking abuse. I will follow this Clean Government Pledge. I hope my opponent will do so as well.

Clean Government Pledge

1. I will not accept any gift, including meals and beverages, from any special interest group who lobbies in the State Capitol.

2. I will publicly disclose every answer to any special interest questionnaire.

3. I will not pay family members from campaign contributions.

4. I will not accept any tax free Per Diem expense payments for work in the state Capitol on weekends and holidays.

5. I will not accept campaign contributions in the final 60 days of each legislative year from any individual or entity that has legislation under review. *1

*1 (July 15 – September 15 in first year of session and July 1 – August 30 in second year of legislative session)

Bonilla responds

In response, Bonilla offered the following:

“The influence of big money in politics is a serious problem – but half hearted campaign gimicks like Mr. Glazer’s ‘pledge’ won’t do anything to solve the problem. Real actions and real legislation will. I’ve taken a voluntary pay cut to help balance the budget and have been a steadfast supporter of the comprehensive clean money campaign finance reform bill in the legislature. While I’ve spent my career as a public servant championing important reforms like these – Glazer has spent his career as a high paid corporate political consultant helping special interests like big tobacco game the system.”

The election to fill the final 18 months of the unexpired term of now Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, will be held May 19.

 

By Allen Payton

“Amen” the new single by Antioch singer Toree McGee, was released on Tuesday, March 31 on iTunes, Google play, Amazon, and Spotify.

KRTY San Jose, 95.3 FM, has been playing it for the past several weeks or so and appeared at #1 on their “Hot 9 at 9” chart, four nights in a row.

The song is receiving positive reviews from listeners on iTunes.

“Amazing! This song is so much fun! Makes me want to dance and sing along! It has a great beat and the vocals are AMAZING! Can’t wait for the whole album to come out!” wrote one commenter.

“Great song and a wonderful voice,” stated another.

The 2004 Deer Valley High grad was trained for 10 years by local voice teacher, Nuhad Levasseur.

“I always knew Toree had the potential to be a huge country star, one day,” Levasseur said. “I’m so very proud of her and excited that her journey has started.”

Toree recently spent some time in Nashville, which helped advance her musical career.

“I’m waiting to hear back from Sony on the date for the full EP release date,” Toree stated.

To hear more of her country rock songs, visit her page on Reverb Nation at www.reverbnation.com/toreemcgee. To learn more about Toree, visit www.toreemcgee.com.

State’s Top Law Enforcement Official Adds to United Bipartisan Support for Bonilla Among Law Enforcement Leaders

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla announced today that her campaign has received the endorsement of California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

“Susan Bonilla has a proven record of advocating for smart, innovative approaches to serious issues like crime prevention, consumer protection and the fight for equality,” California Attorney General Kamala Harris said. “Susan Bonilla is my choice for State Senate.”

“I’m proud to have the support of Attorney General Kamala Harris,” Susan Bonilla said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with her in our efforts to crack down on child predators, protect seniors, and keep neighborhoods safe.”

Support from Harris adds to the unanimous support that Bonilla has received from public safety leaders across the region and the state. Bonilla’s wide and bi-partisan support from safety leaders includes:

Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson

Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston

Alameda Sheriff Greg Ahern

Peace Officers Research Association of California

California Association of Highway Patrolmen

California Professional Firefighters

Cal Fire Local 2881 – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Firefighters

Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs from Across the District

A full list of endorsements, as well as statements of support from public safety leaders, can be found at www.susanbonilla.com/endorsements.

By John Crowder

Two Deer Valley High School (DVHS) students, Devansh Vaid and Katia Williams, were awarded third place honors in the Math and Computer Science category of the Contra Costa County Science and Engineering Fair, held on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Their project, entitled, “Simple Calculus: The Transformation of an Oxymoron into a Reality,” was one of 262 entered in the competition from students throughout the county.

The student competition, in its eleventh year, is an Intel-affiliated science and engineering fair, in which winners advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The prestigious competition, which is the largest high school scientific research event in the world, brings together more than 1,500 students from about 70 countries and territories to compete for college scholarships, including one for $75,000.

The Contra Costa County’s fair was established when local businesses joined together with K-12 educators in 2005. This year the fair was held at Los Medanos College. 130 judges, each reviewing multiple projects, worked all day and into the evening the Friday before the awards ceremony in order to complete the difficult task of selecting the winners from among the many outstanding projects entered into the local competition.

For their project, Devansh, a junior, and Katia, a senior, who are both taking AP Calculus AB this year, created a new Calculus notation for basic principles, such as limits, derivatives, and integrals, that had visual connections to the logical concepts that they were taken from.

Both students found Calculus to be challenging, and noticed that many of their classmates did, as well. According to Katia, “We were able to make it through – and we love it- but we still saw others around us having lots of difficulty, and knew that many other students don’t even attempt Calculus because they know how challenging it will be.”

Devansh concurred with Katia’s assessment.

“Nobody will deny that Calculus is difficult,” he said. “But I saw no reason why that great, and almost magical, thing couldn’t be simpler.”

Devansh explained the project he and Katia worked on.

“Katia and I tackled the problem of making calculus easier, more aesthetically pleasing, and more approachable,” he stated. “We wanted to simplify the hardest things about Calculus and we found that it was the transition from logic to mathematics that made it so daunting. A lot of time, with traditional notation, things get lost in translation, and success is dependent on the student’s analysis of that translation rather than comprehending the problem.”

According to Katia, “If the notation looked like the type of problems students were solving, and reminded students of the logic by which they can solve the problem, concepts would be easier to grasp and would be understood on a deeper, and lasting, level.”

“Innovation, especially innovation and research in STEM fields, often needs tools like Calculus in order to occur at all. I believe our project helps us achieve this innovation,” she added.

Both students also had high praise for those who assisted them with their project.

“Ms. McClain, our AP (Advanced Placement) Calculus teacher, and Mr. Adkins, our AP Physics teacher, were both immensely helpful,” said Katia. “They both inspired us to begin the project, and guided us along the way.”

Devansh agreed that both teachers were, “immensely helpful,” and added that his parents, “were also an inspiration for me.”

The two students each spoke enthusiastically about their science fair experience.

“It was really humbling to be at the science fair,” said Devansh.

“It was definitely interesting,” added Katia. “It was a great learning experience, and I like to think that the judges’ reactions spoke to our level of innovation.”

Katia will be graduating this year, and plans to attend either U.C. Berkeley or UCLA in the fall. Meanwhile, Devansh will have another year at DVHS, where he believes he may be able to further expand upon the project he and Katia began this year.

Both students also said they wanted to encourage others to pursue an interest in science.

“Science and technology are the future,” said Devansh. Katia concurred.

“I would highly encourage any student with any inkling of an idea for research to enter the science fair as soon as they can,” she said.

Katia shared a final thought.

“I think that, as kids, we feel like we sometimes don’t have much to offer the world, but it is the exact opposite. We have everything to offer,” she exclaimed. “Adults are often tied down with jobs and responsibilities, but, as students, we have ideas and time. We don’t have to – and we shouldn’t – wait to innovate.”

By Allen Payton

Antioch Police responded to a domestic violence call at the home of County School Board Trustee Jeff Belle, late Saturday night. Belle was temporarily detained by police, but no arrest was made.

In a brief phone conversation with Belle’s wife, Carmen, at 10:49 p.m., she said Jeff got in her face, so she pushed him away. He grabbed her arm, so she slapped him and he slapped her back. She then called police.

Sunday UPDATE: Jeff Belle responded on Sunday, with a statement, refuting his wife’s allegations.

“I never touched her. She attacked me while I was reading in bed. God is my witness – I never touched her, instead she hit me several times. She was angry that her daughter didn’t return home,” he wrote in a text.

When asked if it was all her fault, he wrote, “Yes! I don’t fight with women or men. I don’t slander or curse others. I never raised my hand or voice.”

“I was not detained by police. In fact I was in the bed all the time they were here. I never slapped her, if I had, they would have arrested me,” he stated. “We should talk about issues of concern to the people. This is just bedroom drama.”

Detained does not mean arrested. It means the police had him for questioning, which could have occurred at the home, while he was in bed.

In a final comment about the incident, Carmen Belle wrote in a text, “Of course he blames everything on me. The police officer told Jeff to shut up. That he did not care who he knew, when he started to say he knows all the big people across the country.”

Check back for any updates from Antioch Police.