Dear Editor:

As a business owner and former CEO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce I came to the office of Mayor with a mindset to search through the budget and cut out the fat.  I found a city that runs with a very lean workforce and pays our non-police employees less than surrounding communities.  Any fat had already been trimmed during the recession to avoid bankruptcy.  I sat looking at a city with a revenue problem not a spending one.

To put this in perspective- Antioch has a population of 115,000 with an annual budget of $55 million compared to our neighboring city of Brentwood with a population of 65,000 and an annual budget of $59 million.  Brentwood pays more in property taxes than Antioch residents and they have more money to improve their city as a result.  As some of our residents have moved to Brentwood- they have chosen to tax themselves with a more expensive house and higher taxes.

Measure W gives us a choice to increase our financial ability to make our community safer, create more activities for our youth after school and to improve our quality of life.   A citizen’s oversight committee will help to hold future Council’s accountable and ensure that these vital resources are utilized appropriately.

We have an opportunity to come together to support a sales tax measure to raise the funds necessary to continue moving Antioch in the right direction and help us reach our full potential.  Please join me on November 6^th in voting Yes on Measure W.

Sincerely,

Mayor Sean Wright– City of Antioch

Rodney McClelland in a photo on his Facebook page posted Aug. 24, 2018.

By Allen Payton

After withdrawing from the race for the Antioch City Council in September due to stated personal reasons, (see related article) late Monday night, Antioch Parks and Recreation Commissioner Rodney McClelland announced that he has re-entered the race with the following statement via email. He explained those personal reasons and why he’s decided to return to the campaign.

“My name is Rodney McClelland, and I am running for Antioch City Council.  As many of you know, I suspended my campaign about a month ago for personal reasons.  At that time, taking this step appeared to be the appropriate action, as family issues were absorbing all my energy and the time that I felt I needed to run an effective campaign.

In the intervening month the family matters that I was dealing with have been resolved.  In addition, I’ve been approached by many individuals who, like me, love the city of Antioch and want to see it move in a positive direction.

I am the only candidate on the ballot that opposes Measure W.  I oppose this proposed tax increase because of the harm it will do to our many residents, senior citizens among them, who are on fixed incomes and cannot afford more taxes.  I oppose it because of the history of empty promises made by career politicians in our city who take taxpayer money and use it to fund high pensions that continue to drive us toward bankruptcy.  I oppose it because it will make our city even less competitive in attracting new businesses.

I will never apologize for putting family first, and that is what I did when I suspended my campaign.  Now that those issues have been resolved, I am reentering the race.  The citizens of Antioch deserve a choice for a different path other than ‘tax and spend.’  That is the choice that I offer, and I ask for your vote on November 6.”

The top two candidates of the six, including both incumbents will serve for two years, then face election again with the mayor and other two council members in 2020, when the new district elections will go into effect.

By Sergeant Matthew Koch, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 at 3:21 pm, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to the 2200 block of Peppertree Way on a report of a shooting that had just occurred. Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a 28-year-old male victim suffering from a single gunshot wound. It was discovered the responsible(s) fled the area prior to police arrival. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment where he was listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

At this time, officers are working on leads to develop suspect information.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. There will be no further information released regarding this case at this time.

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

Construction would begin in fall of 2019 with the new lot opening in fall of 2020

With full funding identified, BART is moving ahead with plans to nearly double the amount of parking at the Antioch Station.

The station has been a tremendous success since opening in late May and that has pushed the demand for parking in Antioch far beyond the space available.

Antioch Station currently has 1006 parking stalls. Another 800-plus spaces will be added under this plan.

“The response to the extension has been overwhelmingly positive, except for criticism about the lack of parking,” says BART Director Joel Keller, who represents East Contra Costa County. “We’ve made it a priority to ensure that every rider has access to the new service which takes drivers off the congested Highway 4 corridor.”

The plan calls for converting a plot of BART-owned land just east of the current lot into more than 800 additional parking spaces. 

The current daily ridership for the Antioch Station is 3,050 while the forecasted ridership before its opening was 2,270 trips.

The proposed parking lot cost is $16.4 million. Funding sources include the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, BART, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority.

BART will now work on the environmental impact and design.

Approval by the BART Board is required with the plan expected to go before Directors in late 2018 or early 2019.

Construction would begin in fall of 2019 with the new lot opening in fall of 2020.

Antioch High Panthers Quarterback #4 Senior, Willem Karnthong was under pressure throughout the 100th Big Little Game loss to the Pittsburg Pirates on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Photo by Luke Johnson

Pittsburg has won 66 percent of the rivalry’s 100 matchups

The Pirates’ #28, Senior Wide Receiver Steven Bratcher crosses the goal line for another score. Photo by Linda Johnson

By Luke Johnson

The Pirates derailed the Panthers, 42-10, in the annual Saturday afternoon contest.

Antioch has only won 27 Big Little Games, seven were ties. Additionally, the Panthers have lost 12 of the last 13 contests with Pittsburg.

“It’s terrific to be a part of this for the past 17 years as the head coach, but, man, I didn’t think I’d get to 100,” Pirates’ head coach Vic Galli said. “It’s pretty awesome. There was a lot riding on the game for both teams.”

Pittsburg (7-3, 4-1 BVAL) was without two-star players due to injuries: four-star defensive tackle Jacob Bandes (hip) and quarterback Tre Turner (ankle). However, the Pirates did not lose a step.

Their pass rush was able to contain Antioch (7-3, 2-3) quarterback Willem Karnthong, while Pittsburg’s Jerry Johnson threw for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburg’s Willie Harts III also played behind center and had one touchdown through the air and one on the ground.

“They’re so talented upfront,” said Antioch head coach John Lucido. “Without Bandes, we knew they were going to be tough.”

Lucido competed in the Big Little Game as a player for the Panthers in the early 90’s and said bad blood has boiled down between the two cities since then but, has maintained the rivalry’s rich history.

The North Coast Section announced Sunday that Pittsburg earned the No. 4 seed in the Open Division Playoff and Antioch received the No. 1 seed in the Division-I bracket. Both teams will rest this upcoming weekend.

See more game photos on Facebook.com/AntiochHeraldCA.

Antioch High Panthers varsity football team will host the Pittsburg High Pirates for the historic rivalry

By Luke Johnson

One of the greatest high school football rivalry games will likely decide who gets a playoff bid and who doesn’t.

“If we lose tomorrow, we shouldn’t be in the open division,” said Pittsburg head coach Vic Galli in an interview on Friday.

Beat Pitt sign on the Antioch side during the 2017 Big Little Game.

The No. 1 and 2 seeds for the North Coast Section Open Division appear to be locked in for De La Salle (9-0) and Liberty (9-0, 4-0 BVAL). In contention for potentially one of the other two seeds are Antioch (7-2, 2-2) and Pittsburg (6-3, 3-1), who play in the 100th Big Little Game today, Saturday, Oct. 27.

Galli said Antioch’s greatest strength is its quarterback Willem Karnthong, who has passed for 1,120 yards and rushed for 406 this season.

Karnthong has 43 career touchdown passes and is seven away from breaking the Panthers’ all-time record.

The Pirates have to overcome injuries from star players to win the contest. Washington-bound nose guard Jacob Bandes and starting quarterback Tre Turner are ruled out for the game.

“Pittsburg’s greatest strength is the front seven — specifically, that triangle that anchors the middle: [Jack] Lacy, Bandes and [De’Jon] Benton,” said Antioch quarterback coach Juan Corral. “All 3 of those guys are Top 5 all time in their school’s history at their positions.”

Another weapon in Pittsburg’s arsenal is Willie Harts III, who has scored touchdowns via passing, rushing, receiving, interception, kick return and punt return this season.

Other key players for the Panthers consist of wide receiver Gaudie Campbell and linebacker Vinny Ballardo. Campbell is tied for most all-time receiving touchdowns at Antioch with 18 and Ballardo has averaged 100-plus tackles per season since he was a sophomore.

Gametime is 1:30 p.m. at Antioch High School’s Eels Stadium located at w. 18th and L Streets.

Editor:

In June we mailed a letter to President Trump regarding some ideas and suggestions as to what needs to be done regarding the illegal immigrants unauthorized entries into the U.S.  It included the suggested taking away of the U.S. Foreign Aid from those Latin American countries who have done nothing to stop the illegals and they’re actually enabling them in their quests to enter the U.S. by any means.

About four weeks ago we received a written letter from the President himself wherein he mentioned his immigration policy positions. Just this past week he went on air and to the news media and stated that he was in fact going to take away those countries’ U.S. Foreign Aid if they continued to do nothing about the migrants’ course and efforts to enter the U.S. (as we had recommended to him back in our June letter).

We are honored that the President himself took our advice and has included it as part of his policy in dealing with the invasions by these illegal immigrants bent on invading American come hell or high water! We are proud to say that he listened, accepted our advice, and has acted upon our advice in order to protect us all.

We point out that our own City, Mayor and Council Members over these past two years have refused to listen or even act upon our sound advice, but not the President himself. Antioch has been ill served by our alleged public servants and elected officials, to the detriment of our community and public at large. That is also why we say that they should be ashamed of themselves and why the public cannot trust them either regarding what they say in pressing for Measure W’s passage (the Sales Tax increase they want). They are again fooling the public!

Thank you, President Trump for listening and taking our advice, when our own City officials just ignore its citizens and do not care! A couple of devoted Antioch residents at least have been heard at the highest level of government when needed in these troubled times to our country!

Ralph and Norma Hernandez

Antioch