East County residents are asked to participate and give their input

BART officials will hold the first ever telephone town hall meeting and webcast on Thursday, May 7, 2015 from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm to offer the public the opportunity to ask questions about BART’s budget which is currently being developed for adoption before July 2015.

BART’s proposed Fiscal Year 2016 Budget prioritizes efforts to increase passenger capacity, improve on-time performance and station cleanliness, and to address concerns raised by customers in the latest customer satisfaction survey.

BART officials will take questions from participants who call in live.  There is also an online webcast feature that allows you to submit a question in writing during the event and watch along live from a computer. You can also simply listen in if you would rather not ask a question. 

The telephone town hall will include a few quick polls to gauge the public’s priorities and an overview of the planned January 1, 2016, 3.4% inflation based fare increase to help fund new train cars, a new train control system, and a new maintenance facility.

“BART will still hold its official public meeting on the budget at the May 28th Board of Directors meeting at 5pm, but this is an opportunity for our riders to easily reach out to us with questions about the budget,” said BART Spokeswoman Alicia Trost.  “Earlier this year we held a Twitter Townhall and it proved to be a great medium to quickly provide answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.  A telephone townhall is another way to provide easy and convenient access to BART staff.”

BART has a combined operating and capital budget of almost $1.6 billion. The operating budget pays for things like running the trains, buying electricity and making routine repairs. The capital budget goes towards things like buying new rail cars, replacing escalators and earthquake safety retrofits.

Here’s what you need to know to participate:

• Sign up in advance to get an invitation to join (we will ask for your name, phone number and zip code).

• We will call the phone number you provide on May 7th at 6:30pm. Just answer our call to be automatically connected to the live Telephone Town Hall Meeting.

• A Spanish Simulcast is also available by dialing 888-400-9342 at 6:30pm on May 7th.

• If you would rather call into the townhall yourself without signing up in advance you can call 855-269-4484 at 6:30pm on May 7th.

• Finally, you can join our webcast to watch the event at 6:30pm on May 7th.

• Want more details about what is proposed in the budget before the event? Check out this article.

By Corporal Powell Meads, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Friday, May 1st, 2015 at approximately 6:28 PM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to a drive-by shooting that occurred at the intersection of “A” and East 19th Streets. The victim was driving with his family (Ages 60, 31, 11, and 7) when they were shot at by occupants of another vehicle for no apparent reason. The victim’s car was struck by gunfire, but no one inside was injured.

The victims provided Officers with a vehicle and suspect description, as well as a direction of flight. Officers in the area located the suspect vehicle parked a few blocks away in a residential neighborhood, and were able to detain several suspects in close proximity to the vehicle. The victims identified two of the detained suspects as being involved in the shooting, and they were taken into custody. The gun believed to be used in the shooting was also recovered.

The investigation is ongoing, and the names of the involved parties are being withheld during the investigation.

Anyone who may has information or witnessed this shooting is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441.

Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover’s Youth Summit is this Saturday, May 9th at Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg from 8-4.

Join KMEL Lady Ray and our keynote Speaker Shaun Derik for an amazing day. Workshops will be offered to help the youth find jobs, improving relationships, CPR, leadership, making a difference, having a healthier lifestyle, and video/photography skills are also available. Free breakfast and lunch will be provided, along with airbrush tattoos and manicures. Come see the latest Dance Offs as all Middle through high school students are welcome. You may qualify to receive an All summer Tri DeltaTransit bus pass by just showing up. Again, It’s all FREE. Visit D5YouthSummit.com for more information!

Glover represents District 5 on the Board of Supervisors, which includes a portion of Antioch.

Join members of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce for the 2015 Antioch State of the City Luncheon

Scheduled for Friday, May 29th from 12pm – 2:00pm at the Antioch Community Center, the featured speaker Antioch’s Mayor Wade Harper, joined by Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando and City Manager Steve Duran, who will share an informative presentation highlighting the exciting projects reaching fruition in our City.

This year, Mayor Harper is expected to share his vision regarding the many issues facing Antioch, potential solutions and the economic forecast for the rapidly changing face of Antioch’s local economy, and economic development.

Seating is limited and reservations are required. Food will be provided for all attendees. The price is $25 to RSVP. This event sells out quickly so RSVP early to guarantee your seat. Sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact the chamber to express your interest.

Title Sponsorship – $2500

Includes: 2 tables seating 8 per table, company logo in the program, sponsorship mention, and a promotional speaking opportunity at the event.

City Supporter Sponsorship – $1000

Includes: 1 table seating of 8, logo in the program and a sponsorship mention at the event.

Please contact the Antioch Chamber at (925) 757-1800 to express your interest or register online by clicking here.

If she wins on May 19, it will cost us an extra $1.3 million

By Allen Payton, Publisher

I wasn’t happy with the way the field of candidates was cleared of all Republicans, before and after filing closed in the Special State Senate election in District 7, to help Democrat Steve Glazer, have a better chance of winning. I wrote a lengthy and scathing analysis of how it happened, which you can read on the Herald website, by clicking here.

But, I believe Glazer, who is the Mayor of Orinda, when he told me he had nothing to do with it. So, to sit out the election in protest, as I had considered doing, and allow others to choose for me was just the wrong approach.

I thus had to do make an effort and do some work in considering whom I would vote for and whether or not I would endorse either of the candidates in the General Election, on May 19.

While there’s not much difference between Glazer and State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, in her final of three terms, under the old term limits, on the moral issues, which are important to me, there are some differences on other issues, such as taxes and spending.

CORRECTION & UPDATE: Bonilla’s record on the Concord City Council, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and in the State Assembly, has been marked with irresponsible votes on spending, including giving herself a 71% pay raise when she was mayor, and rich pay and retirement packages to government workers, such as giving police dispatchers a 21.5% pay raise. Bonilla also supported the 60% pay raise for the Board of Supervisors, in 2006, when it was voted on while she was campaigning for the seat, and which she accepted, once in office. All of this was done at the expense of us taxpayers. To be fair, she did take a pay cut in 2009 along with county employees, of two-percent. (An earlier and printed version of this editorial stated Bonilla had voted for the 60% pay raise, which was incorrect).

While Glazer hasn’t been tested at the state level, he has proven to be responsible with spending as part of the Orinda City Council.

I was concerned he would be, in effect, a man without a country, by being a fiscally conservative Democrat in Sacramento. But, as one of only 40 State Senators, where the margin for a two-thirds majority is pretty slim, he can actually be the deciding vote on a variety of issues, which can benefit our county.

The final issue that did it for me was that if Bonilla is elected to the Senate, there will be a special election to fill the rest of her term in the Assembly. That, according to County Clerk Joe Canciamilla, will cost Contra Costa taxpayers another $1.3 million, assuming both a primary and a general election. That figure doesn’t include the costs in Solano County, which makes up the other part of the Assembly District. That’s on top of the $2 million he estimates we’re spending for the current special election.

Bonilla said she was already planning to run for the State Senate seat, next year, when Mark DeSaulnier would have been termed out. But, he started this game of political musical chairs, when he was elected to Congress, last fall, in the middle of his final term in the State Senate.

But, Bonilla didn’t have to run, this year and by doing so, shows that she places her own political career above the interests of the taxpayers.

She could have either waited, or backed former Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, with whom Bonilla seems to agree with, more than she does Glazer.

Whoever wins this year will have to run, again, next year if they want to retain the seat. So, Bonilla can just wait until then to run, or run for something else. Better yet, she could take a break from public office for a few years and get a job in the private sector to see what it takes to create wealth and the impacts of the decisions she and her fellow legislators made.

I like Susan Bonilla, and have been on friendly terms with her. But, this is not about personality. It’s about whom we are going to rely on to vote in our best interest in the areas of spending and taxes.

I don’t know Steve Glazer and have only spoken with him on the phone a few times.

But, I believe he is the better choice, this year. If there’s a better candidate, with whom I agree more, next year, I’ll consider them, then. For now, Glazer is the best choice to represent us in the State Senate, offering a fresh perspective and an independent voice.

I’m voting for him for Senate on May 19 and recommend you do the same.