By Patrick McCarran

Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

The primary reason to buy now is that mortgage rates are still at historic lows. This is driven largely by the continuing market corrections after the Fed pulled back on their bond purchases and the stock market continues to stabilize. However unbelievable low rates will not last forever and can increase literally overnight. The Fed has made it clear that they plan to continue to raise the prime rate and while this does not directly effect mortgage rates it will effect the banks bottom line and almost definitely trigger an increase in interest rates.

We tend to make financial plans looking backward, learning the lessons of our past experiences but ignoring the future. That’s why we don’t buy stocks at the “bottom” but instead when they are “hot”.

East Contra Costa housing is still in my opinion undervalued and not a “Hot Market”, yet.

The why you should own is relatively easy. Rents will continue to rise and are unpredictable, when you own you know what the payments will be and it your home not the landlord to dictate rules. Mortgage interest is still the largest deduction for the middle class. Mortgage interest rates remain historically low and there is affair amount of inventory from which to choose. Long-term homeownership continues to be one of the best ways for the typical American to build wealth.

So what’s holding you back? Down Payment? Many people are intimidated by the widely publicized 20-percent down-payment requirement. They don’t realize that there are many federal programs designed to help homebuyers, and even those who have lost their homes to foreclosure.
For example, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have loans available to first-time buyers with as little as 3-percent down payment and the FHA has similar programs that require 3.5 percent down and payment. If you qualify there are a number of programs and grants that can help with the down payment. With a seller credit for closing costs I have gotten buyers into a home for as little as $1500 out of pocket. For veterans, the VA program has no-down-payment loans available for qualifying military members and veterans that can close with almost no out of pocket money.

Why wait? What’s the worst that could happen if you buy a home now? You’ve already seen it, the 2007 mortgage crisis. It will take generations, if ever, before the government lets the banking systems get that far out of hand again. It is far more likely that home prices will steadily climb as they have been. Americans are getting back to work and leading the global economy out of stagnation. So don’t be blinded to the future by your past experiences. The American population will continue to grow and build families of all types, creating more demand for housing. Don’t view your home as a trading vehicle or a one-way-up investment. Instead, look at the home-ownership benefits that are mostly forgotten by today’s potential homebuyers — the chance to build equity (instead of throwing rent down the drain) and the opportunity to customize your own environment.

That’s what has always motivated Americans to own their own home. And it isn’t going to change in the long run.

If you want to get started or have any questions give a call or send me an email and Debra Westlund (925) 783-2052 and Patrick McCarran will be happy to help you get started, set up an action plan for today or the future.  The time is now give us a call.

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

© 2016 Mason-McDuffie Real Estate is an independently owned and operated franchise of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.

The Antioch Historical Society Museum’s Sports Legends Hall will be hosting an opportunity to meet and greet the 2015 Antioch High School Panther championship football team at the Antioch Historical Riverview room, January 11, 2016 at 6:00 PM.

The Antioch Sports Legends Museum and the Panthers are partnering up to sell raffle tickets to win a chance for a pair of tickets to the Super Bowl 50th NFL Hall of Fame luncheon. The luncheon, honoring Raider Super Bowl winning coach John Madden, will also feature Joe Montana, Joe Namath, as well as an estimated 150 “Yellow Jackets” who will be in attendance.

This once in a lifetime event will take place at the Hilton Hotel on Union Square in San Francisco on February 5th, 2016, during the week of Super Bowl 50.

The HOF raffle proceeds will be split with the Antioch Historical Society Museum’s Sports Legends Hall and the Antioch Panther football team programs. Each raffle ticket cost $50.00 for a chance to win a pair (2) of tickets to the HOF luncheon,you need not be present to win. The raffle ticket drawing for the HOF luncheon will be held at the The Antioch Sports Legends HOF at Legends Hall, January 13, 2016 at 1:30.

The night will also feature video highlights of the Antioch Panther’s 44-42 come from behind win in the 97th Big Little Game over Pittsburg, with appetizers and soft drinks being served. Panther gear and other items will be auctioned and raffled off with all proceeds going to the BVAL Championship Panthers. Admission is free, open to the public and all donations are greatly appreciated. If you are unable to attend and would like to buy a HOF raffle ticket for a chance to the NFL 50th Super Bowl luncheon, call Antioch Sports Legends coordinator Tom Lamothe at 925-639-2536.

A special thanks to Bob Linscheid AHS ’71 – CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce for his generous donation.

The City of Antioch and Antioch Unified School District along with community partners and sponsors, will present its 8th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration in the Deer Valley High School Theater, located at 4700 Lone Tree Way, on January 18, 2016, from 1:00-3:00 PM.

This citywide celebration was created in 2009 by the late Antioch City Council Member Reggie Moore who passed away February 2014 from cancer. He desired to celebrate Dr. King’s historical contributions by bringing the entire community of Antioch together in addition to creating a scholarship program for high school and middle school students. Prior to Reggie Moore’s passing he handed the task of keeping this event going to Wade Harper who at the time was a Council Member. Antioch’s Mayor Harper and Antioch Unified School District Board President Diane Gibson-Gray continue the celebration with the support of businesses and community leaders.

This year’s theme is Moving Beyond the Dream, a Salute to Greatness. The celebration will include presentation of the scholarships to the top three winners in High School and Middle School who competed in the Essay and Art Contest, various student performances, Praise Dance, Youth Comedian Leonard “The KYD” Jackson, Bay Area Gospel artist Lawrence Mathews and Keynote Speaker, three-time Super Bowl Champion and former SF 49er William “Bubba” Paris.

This event is sponsored by the City of Antioch, Antioch Unified School District, Antioch Community Foundation, County Supervisor Federal Glover, Pacific Gas & Electric, Mayor Wade Harper, Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch and more.

For more information please visit http://art4antioch.org/MLKEvent.asp or contact Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897 or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org.

Great news for college bound seniors – Travis Credit Union announced today that it will award twenty, $1,500 scholarships.

Travis Credit Union encourages all graduating seniors to apply.  Each applicant must be a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, bound for a two–or four–year college or university and a member of Travis Credit Union in good standing.  Students who live in Travis Credit Union’s twelve-county service region and are not yet members may join the credit union and apply for a scholarship at the same time.

“In the last 12 years, we have received a tremendous response from young members who have exhibited a commitment to academic excellence and community service.  We look forward to recognizing even more of our deserving young members this year,” says Barry Nelson, Travis Credit Union’s president and CEO.

The Travis Credit Union Board of Directors established the scholarship program in 2004 and named it the Mary Keith Duff Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of a long-time board member, who passed away in December 2004.

Scholarship applications are available at any branch location or online at Travis Credit Union’s website at www.traviscu.org.  In addition to a completed application other requirements include: a 250-word essay, a certified high school transcript and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.

Completed applications must be received no later than the close of business Monday, March 7, 2016.

“As a credit union, we are founded on the philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ and we stand behind the principles that promote human development and social responsibility,” adds Nelson.  “Offering these scholarships is just one way Travis Credit Union adds value for our members and is assisting them with the increasing cost of higher education while reinforcing our commitment to their financial success.”

Headquartered in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving those who live or work in Contra Costa, Alameda, Colusa, Merced Napa, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union is the 13th largest credit union in California with more than 177,000 members and more than $2.5 billion in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties, Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful commitment to its members and the community; its solid, secure history; and its long-standing track record of dedicated service.

Travis has branches in Antioch at 2721 Lone Tree Way in the Terraces Shopping Center and 5819 Lone Tree Way, Suite A in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center.

Kamaljot Kaur

By Corporal Powell Meads, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On January 6th, 2016 at approximately 8:43 a.m., Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to Tobin World, located at 2310 Country Hills Drive in Antioch, for a child abuse report. School administration reported that a Teacher’s Aide had assaulted a student, on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 and that video of the assault had surfaced on the internet. Arriving Officers contacted and interviewed school staff members, other student witnesses, and the victim, a 9-year-old resident of Oakland.

The victim did not have any visible injuries or complaints of pain.

After conducting interviews and reviewing the cell phone recording of the incident, Officers determined that a felony child abuse had occurred.

The Teacher’s Aide was identified as Kamaljot Kaur, a 26 year old Antioch resident. Kaur was contacted at her residence in Antioch and was taken into custody. There is no picture available at this time.

Anyone who may have witnessed this assault is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778- 2441.

To see the video posted on the Bay Area KRON-TV Channel 4 news website, click here.

By Allen Payton

A special meeting of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) will be held, tonight, Wednesday, January 6, 2016, to discuss a proposed transportation tax, in addition to Measure J, the current half-cent sales tax for transportation in the county. That tax, approved by voters in 2004, is projected to collect approximately $2.5 billion over its life and will expire at the end of 2034.

The CCTA is expected to seek voter approval for a new half-cent transportation sales tax, that if approved, could raise more than $2 billion dollars over 30 years. The board will discuss development of a Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP) for a proposed ballot measure, and ways to seek and obtain input from the public and various organizations.

According to the authority’s December 16, 2015 agenda, “Recognizing the benefits realized through Measure C and Measure J, and the continuing needs for transportation improvements throughout Contra Costa County, the Authority at its meeting in March 2015 directed staff to develop a plan for development of a possible TEP to be considered for placement on the ballot in November 2016 or a later general election.”

Following are the three agenda items for tonight’s meeting dealing with the proposed tax:

1.1  Development of a Potential Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP) – Approve Revised TEP Process Timeline.

1.2  Development of a Potential Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP) – Introduction to Special Meetings of the Authority Board.

1.3  Presentation and Discussion of “A Community Vision for a New Transportation Tax” Prepared by a Growing Coalition of Environmental, Labor, Transportation, Housing, Social Justice, Faith, Civic and other Public Interest Groups.

That presentation includes a list of proposals for the new transportation tax measure, such as Incentivizing Sustainable, Equitable Development; Local and Regional Transit; Growth Management, which includes prohibiting “sprawl-­inducing projects: These include, among others, the James Donlon Extension, Camino Tassajara Expansion, and Highway 239,” the proposed route between Brentwood and I-5 in Tracy; Global Warming Solutions, stating “Contra Costa should take leadership to exceed the State of California’s mandated reductions for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs);” Good Local Jobs; Complete Streets, meaning “options for all modes of transportation;” Regional Trail Network; and Accountability and Public Benefits.

The public will have the opportunity to speak on each agenda item.

The meeting is scheduled to be audio cast live on the CCTA website on January 6, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. To listen to the audio cast or download the meeting materials, please visit the Public Meetings page of our website. (Please note that the meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. or immediately following the Planning Committee Meeting, whichever is later.) To view a copy of the meeting agenda, click here.

CCTA meetings are held at 2999 Oak Road, Suite 100 in Walnut Creek. The Board Members from East County are Supervisor Federal Glover, Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor and Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick.

By Allen Payton

Finally. Antioch has a gated housing community being proposed for development. This is not just any gated community, but one by Blackhawk in partnership with the Nunns of Brentwood who built Apple Hill Estates and other projects in the city to our east.

While it’s not the same as Apple Hill or Blackhawk in the San Ramon Valley, at least it’s a gated community with some nice amenities and homes that are projected to sell in the $500,000 to $600,000 range, which will help improve home values throughout Antioch.

The project, known as the Vineyards at Sand Creek, two years in the planning process, comes before the Antioch Planning Commission, tonight, Wednesday, January 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, for review and possible approval. It is proposed for land that is currently planned as a business park on the most southeastern edge of the city that borders Brentwood, along what will be the extension of Heidorn Ranch Road, and Sand Creek Road on the south side, and the planned extension of Hillcrest Avenue on the west side.

It includes 641 homes on 4,200 to 5,160 square foot lots, which doesn’t fit within my previous stated desire for larger homes on larger lots in the  Sand Creek Focus Area of the City’s General Plan, formerly known as Future Urban Area 1 or FUA-1. However, it makes sense, as that area is adjacent to what is proposed to be mixed use development, including high-density housing on the Brentwood side, next to a future BART station and commercial development along Highway 4, next to the Sand Creek Road interchange. Plus, again, the homes will be in a gated community, which does fit within my previously stated desires for the area, along with upscale homes and senior communities.

Also, this project will provide the extension to the needed infrastructure to the entire focus area, specifically the sewer line and a section of Sand Creek Road. It is located across the street, of the planned extension of Hillcrest Avenue, from the previously approved Aviano Farms.

A little background for those concerned about all the new houses. When I was on the City Council from 1994-98 a total of 8,900 homes were planned for the area. Today that number is down to about 4,000 and possibly fewer, after learning in a recent discussion with representatives of Richland, which owns the land known as The Ranch, across Deer Valley Road from the Kaiser Medical Center, and was slated for 1,667 homes. They told me that number will be closer to 1,100 homes, instead. So, the total number of homes for the 2,700 acrea Sand Creek Focus Area, inside the city limits and inside the Urban Limit Line, which cuts off 65% of land in the county from subdivision development (no more than one home per five acres), definitely fits within reason and the long-term plans for Antioch and East County.

Since the land – approved by voters – for the Roddy Ranch housing project has been sold to the East Bay Regional Park District, there won’t be a gated community of 640 half-acre, upscale homes around a PGA golf course, to help pay for the needed infrastructure of roads, water and sewer line extensions for the area, nor $1 million for Antioch schools or $1 million for the Highway 4 bypass/extension. It was not “just another subdivision” as Mayor Wade Harper said, when he argued it was better to just have “open space to serve the people of Northern California” when he and the council let it go a few years back. So, the infrastructure costs need to be borne by the other developments in the Sand Creek focus area. (Frankly, I hope and believe the Roddy Ranch project – which was going to be the Blackhawk of Antioch – can and should still be built, some day, as it will make sense, once the infrastructure is extended closer to the project area. But, that’s another subject for another column another day).

The Vineyards project replaces those 640 units lost when the Roddy Ranch project went away, to help pay for the needed infrastructure for the area. The extension of Sand Creek Road, which will eventually connect to the current end of Dallas Ranch Road, will provide another major access to both Kaiser Medical Center and Highway 4 in Brentwood, reducing traffic impacts on Lone Tree Way.

Plus, an economic study has shown there is more than enough land in Antioch for commercial development and employment. Specifically, the proposed Resolution in the City Staff report states “in May 2015, the City hired EPS to prepare the ‘Implications for Economic Development of the Proposed General Plan Amendment for the Promenade/Vineyards at Sand Creek Project’ (the ‘Economic Study’). The Economic Study concluded that: (1) The City currently has workspace development capacity of approximately 23.3 million square feet; (2) On an aggregate basis, the City has substantial development capacity for job growth requiring office/commercial and business park/industrial space; (3) Comparison of available City employment areas indicates that there are areas that are better and will be more competitive in attracting economic development than the Sand Creek Focus Area; and (4) Overall, the proposed change in General Plan designation (from Business Park to Residential) will not negatively affect the City’s ability to attract new economic development.

The project will also be required to create an assessment district to pay for police, with each home paying an annual fee, as the Aviano Farms project was required to do.

Finally, the fact that Blackhawk wants to build in Antioch says a lot and sends a message to the greater Bay Area that our city is coming back and on the road to economic recovery and hopefully, a safer one, as well. While we still have a long way to go, and the homes, if approved won’t be under construction for another few years, by then things can and should not only be better for the new home buyers, but for those of us who live here, now.

Also, hopefully, the project will attract business owners with their businesses to Antioch, to create jobs and employ our people who currently commute out of town each work day.

However, this should be the last project proposed for the Sand Creek Focus Area, approved by the Planning Commission and City Council, until a final plan for the area is put in place, which isn’t expected to be completed until later this year.

A public, joint workshop on the area, with both the Council and Commission, is planned for January 20th at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

To view the agenda for tonight’s Planning Commission meeting, click here. The Vineyards project and complete staff report is listed under item #3.

Jeff Belle, courtesy of the Contra Costa County Board of Education

By Allen Payton

Research by Barbara Zivica, a regular, contributing columnist for the Herald, revealed that on August 17, 2015, following an investigation by the California Medical Board that began in 2010 and a prosecution by the California Attorney General’s office, Contra Costa County School Board Trustee Jeff Belle admitted he “is not now, nor has ever been, licensed by the Respiratory Care Board of California” and agreed to pay a fine of $8,200 in a settlement.

According to the Stipulated Citation and Order, before the Respiratory Care Board, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California, Belle violated “Business and Professions Code section 3760, subdivisions (a) and (c) and 3761, subdivision (a), by misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care without a current and valid license in California.”

Those sections state “no person shall represent himself or herself to be a respiratory care practitioner…or use the abbreviation or letters ‘R.C.P.’…without a current and valid license issued under this chapter” and “granted under this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.” The maximum penalty for doing so is $15,000.

According to the Cause for Citation, Belle applied for a license as a respiratory care practitioner in California on December 24, 2010 and completed the “Board’s Statement of Understanding acknowledging he understood the following:

‘During the application period, the applicant shall be identified as a ‘Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant’ and may only practice with a valid work permit while under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed respiratory care practitioner.’

‘No person who has not been licensed by the Board shall engage in the practice of respiratory care despite holding a CRT or RRT credential.’

‘No person shall engage in the practice of respiratory care or represent him/herself as such through verbal claim, sign advertisement, letterhead, business care, badge/name tag, or representation unless he or she holds a valid license issued by the Board.’”

Yet, the Citation further states that “Jeffery Johura Belle was and is not licensed to practice respiratory care in the State of California nor was ever issued a work permit. On May 23, 2015, Subject’s (Belle’s) application for licensure was deemed abandoned as he failed to complete the application process.”

The investigation conducted by the California Medical Board, whose findings were forwarded to the state Respiratory Care Board, found that Belle “was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the business, Respiratory Clinical Institute (RCI), which provided tutorial and clinical rotation services to students who were completing their respiratory care studies using an online program. On March 2, 2012, the Subject appeared for an interview with the Medical Board investigator wearing a white lab coat, a name badge and a stethoscope. During the interview, the Subject introduces himself as Jeffery Belle, Respiratory Care Practitioner. On the lab coat was an embroidered patch and name badge that identified the Subject as ‘RCP.’ Subject also provided advertising and contractual/student materials to the investigator. Within the signature block of the Tutorial Agreement between RCI and the Student, the Subject is identified as an ‘RCP.’

During the interview, the Medical Board investigator informed Belle that “he was illegally representing himself as a respiratory care practitioner and again educated the Subject with the laws that govern the practice of respiratory care in the State of California.”

Belle then “signed an affidavit on March 30, 2012, stating he would no longer represent himself as a respiratory care practitioner in California.”

As part of his settlement with the state, Belle was ordered to “immediately cease and desist any and all unlicensed activities pursuant to the Respiratory Care Practice Act” and to “pay civil penalties in the amount of $8,200…to the Board” for “misrepresenting himself as a respiratory care practitioner and engaging in the practice of respiratory care in California without a valid license.”

He is to make payments of $136.66 per month for five years from the date of the decision and if Belle “fails to make a monthly payment, the remaining amount of costs shall be immediately due and payable,” that the “filing of bankruptcy…shall not relieve (him) of his responsibility to reimburse the Board” and “the Board will collect cost recovery from the Franchise Tax Board, Internal Revenue Service, or by any other means of attachment of earned wages legally available to the Board.”

In spite of the citation and order, and Belle signing the affidavit in 2012, as of January 6, 2016, on his LinkedIn account it states the following:

President/Senior Lecturer

Respiratory Clinical Institutes

January 2008 – April 2011 (3 years 4 months)Sacramento, Contra Costa County, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Oakland

Company founder and leader in training respiratory care students through clinical rotations, clinical coordination and partnerships. Established and Trained over 100 students at 10 clinical sites. Attained a student passage rate on National Board Exams of 93 percentile. The Gold Standard in Clinical Education!

Respiratory Care Specialist ( RRT)

Registered Lobbyist and Contract Practitioner

January 1999 – 2008 (9 years)CA, WA, OR, AR, TX, AZ, OK, NM,VI

Served as contract therapist with a speciality in adult critical care and pulmonary diagnostics at various hospitals, clinics and outpatient medical facilities from the U. S. Virgin Islands to Northern California. In addition, I worked as a contract lobbyist in Washington, D.C. for various companies.

Prior to entering the race for County School Board, in 2014, Belle claimed to have been licensed in other states as a respiratory care practitioner and stated he didn’t need a license in California in order to teach in the state, since he wasn’t actually practicing medicine, and that only his students were.

Belle is currently being prosecuted by the Contra Costa District Attorney for lying on his candidate ballot statement, during his 2014 election to the County School Board and faces a maximum fine of $1,000 for that violation if found guilty. Belle stated he had a “Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science,” but had not completed his course work, according to the college. He has pled not guilty and his next court date is set for 8:45 a.m., February 11, 2016 in Martinez. For more information about that case click here.

Barbara Zivica contributed this report.