The two areas of Antioch where recreational marijuana related business will be allowed.

Two sections of town will be allowed to have any type of cannabis businesses including retail dispensaries, for now

By Allen Payton

At their meeting on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in spite of the overwhelming opposition from those who spoke against the item, the Antioch City Council voted 3-2 to approve a Cannabis Business Overlay District, allowing recreational marijuana related business in two sections of the city. Councilmembers Tony Tiscareno, who made the motion and Monica Wilson who seconded it, were joined by Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe to approve the ordinance. Mayor Sean Wright and Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, who was the most vocal opponent, voted against. Cannabis Business District Staff Report 05-22-18

The two areas where marijuana businesses could be allowed are in the Verne Roberts Circle area near Costco and the Wilbur Avenue corridor from A Street to the Antioch bridge. (See map above.) However, as Community Development Director Forrest Ebbs pointed out, “It does not permit, by right cannabis uses. Any cannabis business that wants to open in one of the shaded green areas would require a use permit from the city council and the council can deny.”

In addition, the council can come back later and add more restrictions to the types of marijuana businesses that could be allowed.

For now, all types, including retail are allowed, in spite of the concerns expressed by Police Chief Tammany Brooks, who warned of increases in violent crime due to the presence of “large amounts of cash and large amounts of marijuana.”

“From a law enforcement standpoint, we have a difficult time, especially on the retail side of the cannabis business…it’s always been on the illegal context,” he stated. “We do see the negative consequences of marijuana and other drugs…we see this as a taxing business on our resources. If we bring businesses in that could increase violent crime, and we’re talking about a cash only business…we have pizza delivery drivers who get robbed for a little money…”

Following public comments which were all opposed to the ordinance, as well as council discussion, Ogorchock made a motion to ban all uses, but it died without a second.

Wright said he was willing to allow research and manufacturing, only and wanted a ban on retail. Tiscareno, whose been a supporter of allowing marijuana businesses in Antioch as a revenue source “to pay for more police,” since 2012, said he supported retail for medical marijuana. But his motion for the ordinance without limitations approves the retail sales of recreational marijuana, as well.

Both the city staff and Antioch Planning Commission recommended the council adopt the ordinance.  However, the commission only passed it on a 3-2 vote, because two members were absent during the night of their meeting. Usually, four votes of the seven members are required to approve a recommendation to the council or oppose a matter.

Please check back later for more details and updates to this story.

This year, Antioch is excited to host an entire weekend of enjoyment for our local community to celebrate Memorial Day.

Softball Tournament of Heroes

The weekend starts off with the Delta Softball Tournament of Heroes at the Antioch Community Park May 26th and 27th, 2018 both days start at 8 A.M. On Saturday there will be an Opening Ceremony at 8 A.M. on Field One. This is a co-ed double elimination tournament and is the first for  the Antioch Memorial Day Celebration.

Memorial Day Services

On Monday the 28th, as in the past, there will be a Motorcycle Parade from Downtown Rivertown to the Oak View Memorial Park in Antioch, where we will hold our Memorial Day Services beginning at 10 A.M. Our Keynote Speaker will be Major General Bob Hipwell, U.S. Army (Ret.).

Free BBQ at VFW

That will be followed by a free BBQ at the Antioch VFW hosted by the Antioch VFW Post 6435.

Veteran Memorial Banners

We are also pleased to announce the Veteran Memorial Banner program as well.  Veterans Memorial Banners will be flown the length of L St. from 10th St. north to the Veterans Memorial at the entrance of the Marina.  A total of 34 Memorial Banners will be hung.  The Memorial Banners will hang until it is torn or worn at which time the Banner will be retired by the Antioch Veterans Community with dignity and respect, the applicant will be notified at that time.

For more information please visit www.deltaveteransgroup.org.

Candidates for the Contra Costa County District Attorney will speak from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29 at Los Medanos College.  The Candidates Forum, sponsored by the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, will be held in the college’s Recital Hall, 2700 East Leland Road in Pittsburg.

Candidates Diana Becton, Paul Graves and Lawrence Strauss will give a brief opening statement followed by prepared questions from the Chamber and screened questions from the audience. Questions will focus on current issues, such as the management of the District Attorney’s Office, public safety, and concerns of the business community. Gail Murray, longtime League member and former Walnut Creek mayor and BART Board member, will be the moderator.

The meeting is open to the public, but reservations are requested at mypittsburgchamber.org.

The League of Women Voters and the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce are jointly sponsoring the event to inform and educate voters. Neither the nonpartisan League nor the Pittsburg Chamber is endorsing any candidate. 

Opens Saturday, May 26

All active and retired military personnel with a current identification are invited to enjoy FREE ADMISSION at the Antioch Water Park on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018. The Antioch Water Park is located at 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, at Prewett Family Park. The park opens at 11:00am on Memorial Day and closes at 6:00pm.

The admission rate for family members and friends is only $16.00 per person and guests enjoy all the attractions at no additional charge.

The Antioch Water Park offers a unique family summer experience and creates life-long memories. There are five slides and five pools including a sport pool with obstacle course, a spray park for young children, picnic areas, shade trees, table tennis, and more.

To learn more about the Antioch Water Park please call 925-776-3070 or visit the City’s website at http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CitySvcs/Prewett/

The City of Antioch thanks all residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

An eBART train at the Antioch BART Station. Photo by BART.

The wait is almost over for East County residents.  BART to Antioch will open for passenger service on Saturday, May 26, 2018.  To celebrate, BART will hold a community ribbon-cutting celebration on Friday, May 25, 2018 at 11am at the new Antioch Station featuring free preview train rides and local entertainment.

New service is fast, clean, and comfortable

The service between the Pittsburg/Bay Point Station and Antioch is 10 miles long and adds two new stations.  The extension will be able to carry an estimated 2,400 people in each direction, per hour, during rush hours.

“This is a new dawn for transit in this part of the Bay Area,” said BART Director Joel Keller, who serves East Contra Costa County and led efforts to bring the extension to the region. “Making this visionary project a reality took the long-term dedication of East County residents, and the commitment of many local, regional, state, and federal leaders.”

BART to Antioch is part of the Highway 4 Widening Project, which expanded Highway 4 between Pittsburg and Brentwood. The combined project was designed to bring commute relief as soon as possible with minimal disruption to the traveling public.

The $525 million cost of the extension is about half of the $1 billion cost estimated for extending BART’s traditional electric-powered line.

Quiet DMU trains offer a smooth ride

The extension marks the first time BART is using Diesel Multiple Units or DMU train cars.  They meet the US Government’s strictest emissions standards and use renewable diesel, an advanced biofuel produced from bio-based sources such as vegetable oil.

The DMUs run on their own tracks in the median of State Route 4 and connect with the existing BART system at a Transfer Platform just east of the Pittsburg Bay Point Station. At the Transfer Platform, riders simply exit one train and walk across the platform to board the other train. BART passengers trying to reach the Pittsburg Center Station or the Antioch Station will remain in the BART train to reach the Transfer Platform. The Transfer Platform is only reachable by train. 

The trains boast a variety of amenities including digital signs, automated audio announcements, and modern climate control systems for those hot summer months.

Two new stations  

The new Pittsburg Center Station is located at the Railroad Avenue overpass of Highway 4 in Pittsburg. The new Antioch Station is located at 1600 Slatten Ranch Road in Antioch. Learn more about the stations and service in our FAQ.

Schedule

The BART to Antioch schedule has been incorporated into our QuickPlanner, which can be found on the bart.gov homepage. For schedules by line or by station, enter a date of May 26, 2018 or later.

Community celebration open house

The public is invited to share the excitement with us at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 25, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Antioch Station. Free preview train rides will be provided all day and into the evening. 

WHAT: Public celebration of the opening of BART to Antioch.

• There will be no BART service to event.
• Free shuttles will run between the Pittsburg/Bay Point and Antioch Stations between 9am and 9pm every 15 to 30 minutes. The shuttles will accommodate people with wheelchairs.
• Tri-Delta Transit‘s 300 bus also runs between the Pittsburg/Bay Point and Antioch Stations.
• Attendees will get free rides on the line’s new environmentally-friendly Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train.
• The rides will start in Antioch and will end at the transfer platform in Pittsburg.
• They will not stop at Pittsburg Center Station until after 3pm and will not connect to the main BART system.
• BART’s new Fleet of the Future train cars will be at the transfer platform for tours, but will not disembark.

WHERE: Antioch BART Station, 1600 Slatten Ranch Road
East of Hillcrest Avenue exit off Highway 4

WHEN: Friday, May 25, 2018
Ribbon cutting ceremony 11am-Noon
Free public train rides 1pm-8pm

Speakers will include BART General Manager Grace Crunican, BART Board members and regional elected officials and transportation leaders. Entertainment provided by the Pittsburg High School Jazz Combo and the Antioch High School Music Masters

Dear Editor:

Our heartfelt “Thank you” to the following gracious donors to our annual Royal Family Tea, which helps raise funds to send foster children to summer camp:

Girl Scouts Troop # 33670, Trinity Gunsmithing/Chris O’Connor, AMC Theaters, Julie Bretz, Jenness Park, The Queen Bee Quilt Shop, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Twin Palms/Alicia Powell, Spirit West Coast, Shirley Rudy, Clif Bars/Mary Morris, Pier 39, Camp Alta, Encore Gym, Cal Expo-California State Fair, Skipolini’s, Lucy’s Nail Salon, Boomers, Straw Hat Pizza, Sky High, Delta Athletic Club, Zephyr Grill & Bar, Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Work Wear, Rock-N-Jump, Jessica Billheimer- Doterra, Harvest Park Bowl, Eden Plains Nursery, Starbucks-Antioch, LiveVantage- Erica Turner & Joslyn Fenyes, B.J.’s, Delta Bowl, Pump it Up, Black Angus, Black Diamond Gym, Trader Joe’s, Stockton Ports, Oasis, Choices Case Management, Inc., Good Scents Florist, Of His Fold Photography-Rita Ortiz, Allen Payton & Antioch Herald/Delta RC Hobbies, Melissa Buell Photography, Pam Epstein, Transparent Productions-Spirit West Coast, Sunny Fenyes, Allendorph Family, Bricks4Kidz, Alert K-9, Shirashoni, Randall Chastain, Hook Line & Sinker, The Game Pizza Parlor, Golden Hills Community Church, Mason Gizard, Martha Facio, A Sweet Affaire Bakery, Le Gatea, Whole Foods-Walnut Creek, Alpine Bakery, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cheesecake Factory-Walnut Creek, Starbucks, and Kelly Summerour.

Without the support of our community, this event would not be possible. On behalf of the children we serve, and you have blessed, we humbly say, Thank you!

Sue & Dave Bowers, Directors

Royal Family Kids – Brentwood

The Contra Costa Elections Division reminds all residents that the deadline to register or re-register to vote in the June 5th Statewide Direct Primary Election is this Monday, May 21st.

To be eligible to register, a person must be a United States citizen, be at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction.

You must re-register if you have moved or changed your name (married, divorced, etc.).

To register, go online to http://registertovote.ca.gov, or pick up a paper card at any City Hall, post office, library or the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez.

You can check your voter registration status online at www.cocovote.us by clicking on the “My Voting Information” button.