SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, released the following statements on Tuesday after California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his first State of the State Address before a joint session of the Legislature.

“Governor Newsom inherited a high-speed rail project that is a mess. He showed he is ready to step up and take the reins as a leader, recognizing there needs to be wholesale changes. I appreciate his realistic and common-sense approach to this project.

The governor also has a soft spot in his heart for the intellectually and developmentally disabled and recognizes that we need to step up our game to better support the special needs community.”

The governor also announced he will appoint a new member to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors, with the expectation the new appointee will become chair. Frazier responded with the following statement:

“I applaud the decision to appoint Lenny Mendonca to the High-Speed Rail Authority Board with the governor’s intention that Mendonca become chairman. An investigation by State Auditor Elaine Howle revealed a pattern of repeated failures at the Authority, under the direction of current Chairman Dan Richard, with hundreds of millions in cost overruns and a lack of honesty and transparency. That is just one reason I have been advocating for a change in leadership. I have high hopes for Mr. Mendonca to lead the High-Speed Rail Authority to complete the scaled down project the governor outlined in his State of the State Address today. A change of leadership at the HSRA was long overdue.”

Regarding Newsom’s announcement on scaling back the twin Delta tunnels to a single tunnel project, Frazier, whose district encompasses a large portion of the Delta, issued the following statement:

“I’m grateful Governor Newsom has been willing to listen to local stakeholders in the battle for the future of the Delta. His unequivocal denunciation of the twin tunnels project is a step in the right direction. I look forward to working with the governor to convince him there are alternative water delivery solutions that are economical and can be delivered in a timely manner, nullifying the need for even a single tunnel.”

Assemblymember Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.

By Lt. Tarra Mendes, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 at approximately 11:33 PM, an Antioch Police Officer spotted a white Ford F250 and determined that the plates attached to it did not belong to that vehicle. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver fled, leading officers on a vehicle pursuit. The driver ultimately lost control of the vehicle crashed into a residence on Golden Bear Drive.

While attempting to take the suspect into custody, identified as 53-year-old Mark Dickinson of Antioch, he resisted and a police service dog assisted in taking him into custody. The vehicle was determined to be stolen out of Concord. No residents were injured as a result of the collision. The case is still currently under investigation.

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

See video by NBC Bay Area News, here.

Shot one officer in the head

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office the Contra Costa County District Attorney

On February 6, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant Mario Serrano of Antioch guilty of 13 counts, including the attempted murder of two Antioch Police Department officers, Thomas Smith and Scott Duggar. Serrano used a stolen shotgun to fire at police officers after a high-speed chase on May 4, 2016. Officer Thomas Smith was shot in the head with birdshot as a result of Serrano’s actions. The jury found multiple enhancements true against Serrano, including that he was armed with a firearm and the intentional discharge of a firearm. The jury also determined that Serrano’s attempted murder of the Antioch officers was premeditated. (See related article).

Serrano now faces a possible life term in state prison. Sentencing will occur on April 12, 2019 in front of the Honorable Nancy Davis – Department 20 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. The case originated in the Office’s Community Violence Reduction Unit.

“I am thankful that defendant Serrano has been held accountable for his actions. He endangered the lives of many innocent civilians simply because he believed that his girlfriend was cheating on him. I also commend Officer Smith and Officer Duggar, whose bravery put an end to the defendant’s incredibly violent and senseless crime spree,” stated Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell.

Serrano’s illegal activity started on May 2, 2016. He parked his car in the drive thru of a McDonald’s in Antioch to annoy his girlfriend who worked at that location. He later returned to the McDonald’s to smash the glass front doors with a lug wrench. After he left McDonald’s he went to the Mt. Diablo Landscape Center on the Pittsburg Antioch Highway where he doused his girlfriend’s car in gasoline and set the car on fire.

Between May 2 and May 4, Serrano broke into a house in Clayton off Marsh Creek Road. The residents were not home at the time. He ransacked the house and stole their shotgun and truck.

On May 4, 2016, in the early morning, Serrano drove the stolen truck and fired four shots at the same McDonald’s. One of the shot’s was fired into the Children’s Playland – no children were inside at the time of the shooting.

He fled the scene and drove to a residence in Pittsburg. He used the same shotgun to fire a shot through the window. Later that day Serrano carjacked a group of high school students and took a vehicle on Cummings Skyway and Franklin Canyon Road near Crockett.

Upon driving back to Antioch in the stolen car, police located the vehicle and began a pursuit. The pursuit continued into Pittsburg as Serrano fled from the officers. During rush hour traffic, Serrano crashed into a car at the intersection of Loveridge Road and East Leland Road in Pittsburg. After the crash, Serrano exited the vehicle with the shotgun and took a position of cover while he waited for officers to arrive. He began to shoot at the officers upon their arrival to the intersection. Serrano shot Officer Smith in the head with birdshot.

The guilty counts against Serrano found by the jury:

Count 1, Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 2, Assault with a Firearm Upon a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 3, Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 4, Assault with a Firearm Upon a Peace Officer

Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm

Count 5, Vandalism Over $400 in Damage

Count 6, Arson of Property of Another

Count 7, First Degree Residential Burglary

Count 8, Petty Theft Firearm (misdemeanor)

Count 9, Driving or Taking a Vehicle Without Consent

Count 10, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling

Count 11, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling

Count 12, Carjacking

Enhancement 1, Personal Use of a Firearm

Count 13, Fleeing a Pursuing Peace Officer’s Motor Vehicle While Driving Recklessly

Enhancement 1, Armed with Firearm

Case information: People v. Mario Guadalupe Serrano, Docket Number 05-171324-7

His only intern from Contra Costa County

University of California Davis senior, Sasha Jordan is interning for State Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) this spring.  Glazer, who represents the 7th Senate District including most of Contra Costa County and portions of Alameda County in the East Bay, currently has three interns but Jordan is the only intern from Contra Costa County.

Jordan is an Antioch resident and graduated from Deer Valley High School in 2015.  She began attending UC Davis that same fall.  While at Deer Valley she was active in the Performing Arts Academy. Jordan will graduate in June this year with a degree in Political Science and minor in Communications.

She had worked as a teen and young adult for the real estate company owned by her parents Mark and Cynthia Jordan, a local Certified Public Accountant and a local Attorney.  She also had worked for the University as a resident advisor during her sophomore year at the Tecero Dorms on campus.

Jordan is currently applying for fellowships at the State Capital in Sacramento and is looking forward to a career in government.

“I think it is a good thing to help other people and government is just one way to make a difference” she said.

Asked about what she’s doing for the Senator, currently, Jordan said, “Right now, I’m working at the front desk greeting visitors. I’ve done some research projects.”

Her internship will last until March 15, which is the end of the Winter Quarter.

After Jordan graduates, her “plan is to work at the Capitol.”

As for her long-term plans, she said, “If you ask my dad, it’s to be governor of California.”

On a more serious note, Jordan stated, “My hope is to make as much change and improvement in the lives of individuals in California.”

Asked about her Communications minor, she said, “Right now, I’m learning about media messages. I’ve taken some classes on political communication, which I think is important. Because if you want to make change, you need the public to know about the issues that are going on.”

Jordan will graduate at the end of the Spring Quarter in June.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Antioch author Debo Richards will be signing and selling copies of her book Songs of Redemption on Saturday, February 9 at the Solid Rock Café from 2:00-4:00 p.m. The restaurant is located at 422 W. 2nd Street in historic downtown Antioch.

Richards is a nursing instructor, owner of M&D Specialty Collections an African clothing, jewelry and art store on W. 2nd Street next door to the Solid Rock Café, and writes poetry and lyrics for songs.

Her husband is an artist whose paintings are on display in her store. According to her biography, she is blessed with wonderful children.

She is the apple of Gods eye, tried by fire and refined as gold. Her book Songs of Redemption testifies of the faithfulness of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

By Allen Payton

Authentic African cuisine is now served in Antioch at the new Afrique Restaurant. On January 21, 2019, owners Olakunle Ayodeji, Elizabeth Ayodeji-Falase who are from Nigeria, and their son Tunde Falase, launched their upscale restaurant where African décor, culture and hospitality abound. Located in the Orchard Square Business Complex, at 2370 Buchanan Road in the former La Plaza Mexican Restaurant location in Antioch, the restaurant features dining, entertainment and banquet services for parties of up to 65 guests.

On Tuesdays, Senior citizens will enjoy half off the price of food items. On Fridays guests will enjoy a “Friday Fiesta” after-work groove from 5-8 pm, with 20% off total-tab discounts and music in tribute to musician Hugh Masakela (“Grazing In The Grass”) circa 1968. Afrique, which is the French word for Africa, also offers entertainment on Saturdays and Sundays, as well.

Afrique Restaurant’s founder, Olakunle – whose nickname is “Flash” – operated a restaurant in his earlier life, and for 20 years he nursed the idea of building a restaurant serving authentic African cuisine. Finding the right location held back his dreams, but he kept searching and found Afrique’s location, now entirely renovated after complete reconstruction with all new decor. It was the perfect venue to launch his dreams. Now Flash and family offer their warm invitation to all in his native language: “E Kaabo” – “Welcome!”

Elizabeth serves as the Restaurant Manager/ Chief Cook and Tunde is the Floor Manager/ Server Supervisor in the family business.

Visiting cooks from different countries in Africa will be rotated by invitation, from time to time. Locally sourced ingredients like spinach, collard greens, okra, and jute leaf (ewedu) will come from the San Joaquin Valley, and beef and goat meat come from a nearby ranch. Authentic African spices are sourced from a bonded African food distributor in the Bay Area.

For more information, hours of operation, and the Afrique menu visit the website at AfriqueRestaurant.com to make online reservations and subscribe to email updates. Bring the family and head to Afrique Restaurant to enjoy the tastes, the flavors, the colors, hospitality and the fun of Africa few have savored.