New Antioch Police Officer Jose Hernandez and Chief Allan Cantando following the oath of office ceremony, Monday, April 18, 2016

By Allen Payton

At a ceremony, Monday afternoon April 18, Antioch Mayor Wade Harper administered the oath of office to new Police Officer Jose Hernandez, as his family, friends and fellow officers and police department staff looked on.

“It is a pleasure to swear in a new police officer to the Antioch Police Department,” said Chief Allan Cantando. “He’s a lateral hire from the Kern County Sheriff’s Department. Other officers are very happy he’s coming on, with the work load alone.”

As his parents and sister watch Hernandez takes his oath of office, administered by Antioch Mayor Wade Harper.

Cantando then read Hernandez’ brief bio.

Hernandez grew up in Santa Maria, California when at age 19 he moved to Bakersfield where he became a Deputy Sheriff for Kern County. There he worked for four years in the jail, courts and on patrol.

He likes to travel, watch sports, mainly the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Clippers (which solicited playful boos from those in attendance at the ceremony). A fun fact Cantando read, was that Hernandez broke his left arm playing leap frog at age 15, but then says he became more mature and made wiser decisions.

“I just want to thank everyone who came out today, my family and friends, and for their support,” Hernandez said.

He then mentioned officers Jason Erickson and Kevin Tjahjadi, who had also worked for the Kern County Sheriff’s Department and were instrumental in recruiting him to the APD.

“I look forward to working here and helping out in any way I can,” he added.

Cantando then spoke to Hernandez’ parents.

“The men and women who are going to train your son are second to none,” he stated. “It’s going to be a lot of work, a lot of hours and time away from friends and family. Thank you for supporting him as he transitions into the Antioch Police Department.”

This brings the force back to 94 sworn officers, following the departure of an officer from the department, last month.

City Manager Steve Duran advised the Antioch City Council on Friday that he has promoted Ron Bernal to the position of Assistant City Manager effective April 17, 2016. He will also retain his department head responsibilities for Public Works and Engineering.

Bernal has served the City since 1998 and has been the Public Works Director and City Engineer since 2009. He worked for the City of Dixon, CA from 1984 to 1998.  He holds a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of California at Davis and is a registered civil engineer.

In a news release on Monday, Duran said “I couldn’t be more pleased to promote Ron to the position of Assistant City Manager. He is a terrific team player. Ron’s professional and personal knowledge of the City of Antioch and his exemplary track record of leadership in managing large, complex and multifaceted City operations make him worthy of his new responsibilities.”

The action is in response to the Council’s recent vote to fill the position with an existing member of city staff, who is also a department head. The vote included a $60,000 budget for both the Assistant City Manager position and for those in the departments affected. Mike Bechtholdt will take on some additional managerial responsibilities within Public Works and Lynne Filson will do likewise for Engineering.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the City of Antioch in this new role,” Bernal said. “I look forward to working with the City Manager on homelessness, economic development, emergency operation preparedness, protecting our water rights and other important issues facing our community.”

Duran asked the Council for the position to be filled as part of succession planning, for when he eventually retires.

“I hope to see Ron succeed me as City Manager a couple of years or so down the road,” Duran shared. “I will be leaning on Ron to chair a few interdepartmental task forces, such as on blight and homelessness. I also want to have Ron more involved in the budget process and economic development to help other staff and to round out his city-wide experience.”

Bernal and his wife Irma live in Antioch, and have a daughter and son. They became grandparents this year, with the birth of their grandson in January.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Editor:

Here we go again, folks. Another giveaway contract to BART unions. After a 15.8% salary increase in 2013, the BART board has now agreed to another 10.5% increase.

For that, we taxpayers got very little in exchange except for an agreement not to strike while the contract is in force.  What should have been a no-strike ever clause wasn’t part of the deal.

Unfortunately since its inception BART has been plagued by financial mismanagement.  Among other things it has set little or nothing aside for eventual capital replacement.  Instead it gave away all the money in wages and benefits making it the highest paid transportation system in the country.  It also has the highest fares.

The outrageous benefits were left untouched.  Total compensation (wages and benefits) for the average worker is over $100,000.  For a system crying poor mouth this makes no sense at all.

This new contract is to set the stage for a huge bond measure on the November ballot.  Claiming the system has reached the end of its useful life, BART says it needs $10 billion for capital improvements.  BART claims “its cars are the oldest big-city fleet in the United States”.  The truth, it’s the fourth youngest among fifteen similar system nationally.

And let’s not forget that they spent $486 million on a link to the Oakland airport replacing a completely satisfactory and efficient bus system.

To summarize, BART financial management has been a disaster from its inception.  The BART board has rolled over to the unions, giving away outrageous wages and benefits.  It has both the highest fares and wages/benefits in the country.  It has set little or nothing aside for capital replacement.  It expects the taxpayers to make up for its financial follies.

Until the BART board and unions wake up and renegotiate the contract it should not be given any more money to mismanage.

The Board must develop a reasonable financial plan and strategy (of which it has none).  It must develop some “backbone” when dealing/negotiating with its unions.

We are giving enough taxpayer subsidies already in sales and property taxes.  We shouldn’t give them any more to mismanage.

It’s time to vote no on any bond measure.

Ken Hambrick, Chairman

Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers

By Don Martin II

Serving notice to the competition that he will be a force in the A Modified division this season, Aaron Crowell won the 20 lap Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.  Fred Ryland returned and won the 20 lap B Modified finale, while Dan Gonderman grabbed the checkered flag in the non stop 20 lap Wingless Spec Sprint feature.  Richard Papenhausen rebounded from his season opening disappointment with a Late Model Main Event triumph, and Mike Gustafson won the Limited Late Model feature.

Aaron Crowell figures to be a major player in the A Modified point battle this year.  The 2004 division champion grabbed the lead in the Main Event and led a trio of past champions in posting the impressive victory in the season opener for the division.  It was Kellen Chadwick driving a good race to finish second ahead of 2014 champion Carl Berendsen II.  Josh Combs brought it home in fourth as double division racer Chester Kniss finished fifth in the 22 car field. Kniss blew a motor at the checkered flag.  Defending champion Scott Busby won the first heat race ahead of Norman Boeck, while Combs held off Jeff Thomas to win the second heat.  The third heat race win went to Mikey Slaney ahead of Crowell.

With his protege, Marcus Smith, landing a ride in the Richard Basden Spec Sprint this year, two time division champion  Dan Gonderman got the ride in Smith’s #28 car.  The second generation racer took full advantage of it by scoring an impressive victory in the Main Event.  Coming off of back to back Top 3 point efforts, Rick Panfili started his season off right by collecting another career best second place finish.  Panfili set the pace for 12 laps before being passed by the flying Gonderman.  His second place finish didn’t come easy with the division’s all time win leader, Jim Perry Jr., in hot pursuit for a hird place finish.  Past Chowchilla Speedway Spec Sprint Champion Brandon Burd brought it home with a fourth place finish.

After missing a race two weeks ago, 2015 B Modified champion Fred Ryland returned to remind the rest of the pack that he is still a force in the division.  Fred drove to his second feature win of the season, while wife Patti Ryland made it a Ryland Racing 1-2 finish at Bob Kempf’s checkered flag.  K.C. Keller collected a career best third place finish ahead of title hopeful Brian Pearce and Paul Mulder, who was making his season debut.  Pearce won his heat race ahead of Al Johnson, while F. Ryland beat P. Ryland in the other heat race.

The Late Models opened the night with a heat race duel between 2014 champion Richard Papenhausen and defending champion Jeff Decker.  Papenhausen made a last lap pass to grab the lead and win from Decker.  Coming off of his heat race win at the opener, Chester Kniss had high hopes of winning the feature from his front row start.  He led for several laps before steering issues dropped him back in the pack.  Papenhausen made his move from last starting to get the win ahead of Decker and David Newquist.  Kniss settle for fourth as Dennis Souza rounded out the Top 5.

Two time Limited Late Model champion Mike Gustafson was back behind the wheel of his familiar blue and yellow #2 Limited Late Model, and the division’s all time feature win leader looked as fast as ever in collecting the win in their 20 lap feature.  Previous winner Larry Damitz had to start in the back as per track rules, and his charge to the front was cut short as he pitted around the halfway mark of the race.  At that point, the red flag flew when Jim Freethy’s car caught fire.  As Gustafson led Mark Garner and rookie Kimo Oreta, Lori Brown’s fourth place run was cut short with mechanical issues.  The mechanical gremlins struck again as Garner’s run ended with a few laps remaining.  Gustasfson collected the win ahead of Oreta.  Garner and Brown were scored third and fourth, respectively.  Donny Richardson won the heat race ahead of Brown.

Racing continues at Antioch Speedway next week with Winged 360 Sprint Cars headlining along with A Modifieds, B Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars.  For further information, check the official Antioch Speedway website at www.antiochspeedway.com.

Antioch Speedway, Saturday, April 16

A Modifieds

Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Scott Busby, Josh Combs, Mikey Slaney.  Main Event (20 Laps)-Aaron Crowell, Kellen Chadwick, Carl Berendsen II, Combs, Chester Kniss.

B Modifieds

Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Brian Pearce, Fred Ryland.  Main Event (20 Laps)-F. Ryland, Patti Ryland, K.C. Keller, Pearce, Paul Mulder.

Wingless Spec Sprints

Main Event (20 Laps)-Dan Gonderman, Rick Panfili, Jim Perry Jr., Brandon Burd.

Late Models

Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Richard Papenhausen.  Main Event (20 Laps)-Papenhausen, Jeff Decker, David Newquist, Chester Kniss, Dennis Souza.

Limited Late Models

Heat Winner-Donny Richardson.  Main Event (20 Laps)-Mike Gustafson, Kimo Oreta, Mark Garner, Lori Brown.

DVHS 2015-16 Boys Soccer Team – Top row from left to right: Fabian Wence, Omar Alsugire, Edgard Morazan, Luke Fernandes, Christian Rodriguez, Ryan Eng, Jonathan Amavisca, Enrique Fajardo, Cameron Park, Isaiah Moreira, Coach Juan Tannus, Bottom row from left to right: Diego Ruiz, David Espiritu, Daniel Huerta, Armando Fajardo, Corey Alford, Rodolfo “Rury” Saucedo, José Navarro, and our Manager Alex Wilmes. Not pictured : Edgar Contreras.

By Allen Payton

At their annual awards banquet, the 18 members of the Deer Valley High School boys varsity team were presented with scholastic achievement awards. Each player was awarded by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and North Coast Section (NCS) with a Distinguished Scholastic Team Certificate of 3.33 GPA. Nine players earned a GPA of 3.5 or better.

“I think this is an outstanding accomplishment for our varsity team this year,” said Coach Juan Tannus. “Our school and I are very proud of this achievement.”

On Thursday, Contra Costa County, the Planning and Conservation League and Food and Water Watch, as well as two other Delta local agencies, Central Delta Water Agency and San Joaquin County announced they will file a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Met) over their plan to purchase several islands in the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary.

On March 14, 2016, Metropolitan Water District had filed a Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act for the purchase of the Delta islands, claiming the purchase was for Delta habitat restoration purposes.

However, Met’s General Manager, Jeff Kightlinger, admitted to the press at the time of the island purchase announcement that the islands could facilitate building the $15.7 billion Delta tunnels project championed by Governor Brown by “reducing eminent-domain needs and providing a storage place for construction dirt.”

In addition, Mr. Kightlinger made additional public statements regarding the uses and benefits of the Delta islands that contradicted the CEQA exemption statement.

At a rally in Stockton in support of the lawsuit, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director, Restore the Delta spoke.

“Based on this improper CEQA filling, we are calling on the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors to reverse the bad vote that they made at their General Manager’s urging to purchase the Delta islands,” she said. “Clearly, the purchase of the Delta islands is Met’s attempt to anchor the Delta tunnels in our region so that construction could begin, despite the fact that the plan is still not approved or financed.

“The $175 million purchase price for the Delta islands does not count the costs to Southern California ratepayers for the inevitable litigation that begins with today’s filing,” Barrigan-Parrilla continued. “If Met loses in court, they will not be able to ever sell these islands for the same price. That means Southern Californian water users will become owners of a very expensive duck habitat hundreds of miles to the north. Met will also be on the hook for maintenance of hundreds of miles of Delta levees, an ongoing cost that will be paid year after year by Southern California ratepayers.”

“Our 35,000 members from throughout California agree there are better ways for Southern California water agencies to plan for their water future.  More than 7500 area residents have already signed letters that will be sent to Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors urging them to drop the Delta islands purchase and to instead invest the $175 million in solutions that build sustainability in Southern California like storm water capture and water recycling,” she added. “Met has already spent nearly $100 million on Delta tunnels planning, but the process at the State Water Board has recently ground to a halt, and there is no financial plan between Met and agricultural water districts, like the SEC fined Westlands, as to who will pay what proportion of the $15.5 billion construction costs.”

For more information on Restore the Delta and their efforts to stop the Delta Tunnels, visit www.restorethedelta.org.