Would transfer tax revenue to county, eliminate Antioch Mayor Thorpe’s executive director job

On Monday, May 10, 2021, Assemblymember Jim Frazier’s (D-Fairfield) bill, AB 903, to dissolve the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District, unanimously passed the Assembly floor on a 70-0 vote. The district serves Pittsburg and Bay Point.

AB 903 will require Contra Costa County to be the successor of all rights and responsibilities of the district. AB 903 will also require the county to complete a property tax transfer process to ensure the transfer of the district’s health-related ad valorem property tax revenues to the county in order to operate the Los Medanos Area Health Plan Grant Program.

The Los Medanos Hospital closed in 1994 but the district, covering Pittsburg and Bay Point, has continued to exist, collecting property taxes and using the funds to pay for staff and provide grants to local organizations, direct service programs including a community garden and district sponsored programs including REading ADvantage for early literacy. The district’s 2020-21 Fiscal Year budget projected $1.13 million in tax revenue and $1.3 million in expenses.

“This bill effectively creates hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for badly needed healthcare services in the region. A lot of this funding comes from the savings on LMCHD’s extremely high administrative expenses, which topped 60% in some years,” said Frazier.

The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) has approved of the dissolution of the existing healthcare district, and Contra Costa County already serves the communities within district boundaries.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical shortfalls in healthcare and health services funding across the state. Communities of color have been especially impacted by the emergency,” said Frazier. “Now more than ever, we have seen the life-changing impacts of devoting every possible dollar to serving those we represent. AB 903 effectively creates hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for badly needed healthcare services in the region.”

“Comparable programs in the county average at about 15% admin cost, and rather than lose over half the funding to wasteful administrative expenses, AB 903 dedicates those dollars to the community,” Frazier added.

Part of the administrative expenses includes Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe’s executive director position which included an annual salary of $96,000 when he was hired in 2019, plus merit-based salary increases, according to the minutes of the Dec. 16, 2019 LMCHD Board meeting. He is also provided one hour of paid personal leave time for every 30 hours worked. When reached, previously about having his position eliminated if the bill is signed into law, Thorpe said he could find another job.

Previously, LMCHD Board President Patt Young challenged Frazier and his legislation, claiming he doesn’t represent but a portion of the healthcare district and that he is “taking political orders from your top political advisor in an effort to turn our district into a political slush fund for one of your top allies on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.” (See related article)

However, Assemblymember Tim Grayson, whose district includes most of the healthcare district, is the Principal couthor of the bill.

The bill requires passage by the State Senate and signing by the governor before it becomes law.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Balance budget based on keeping 879 positions unfilled

By Daniel Borsuk

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Tuesday to approve a $4.06 billion 2021-22 budget that increases staffing especially for public health, the sheriff-coroner and district attorney. It’s an increase of $80 million from the 2020-21 fiscal year budget of $3.98 billion.

During the 2021-22 fiscal year, county officials expect to spend $1.78 billion in local general funds and yet to be determined amount of Measure X sales tax funds that voters approved last November.

Supervisors learned President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will bring to Contra Costa County’s coffers $233 million over the next 24 months of which the first $116.5 million installment will be delivered later this month.

In addition, County Administrator Monica Nino said by keeping 879 positions unfilled the action will save the county $115 million and allows the county to achieve a balanced budget.  Nino cut one position from her staff, a person who was assigned to census outreach and activities, a position that is no longer needed since the census has been completed.

Among other staffing reductions or additions, three vacant positions in the Assessor’s Office will be eliminated, but the District Attorney’s Office will pick up one new position, a District Attorney Senior Inspector for Real Estate Fraud and Prosecution.

Twenty-five unfilled Employment and Human Services positions will be eliminated in Child Welfare and Community Services, but the Sheriff-Coroner can hire 10 deputies to be assigned to acute psychiatric and mental health in detention services.

Next fiscal year, 39 new mental health workers will be hired in Health Service’s to beef up the Mental Health Community Support Unit to enhance conservatorship and guardianship issues.

Public Comments, Complaints

Supervisors once again got an earful of complaints from citizens that supervisors still plan to fund Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston’s request to hire 10 deputies to be assigned to mental wards at the Martinez jail and Richmond detention center.

Speakers, including the mother of Miles Hall, who was killed by a police officer in Walnut Creek, requested supervisors not approve Sheriff-Coroner Livingston’s staffing request but to consider donating the funds to the non-profit Miles Hall Foundation.

Dan Geiger of the Budget Coalition objected to the request from the Sheriff-Coroner to hire 10 deputies because Sheriff-Coroner Livingston will have hired 24 new deputies over a two-year span.  “If the Sheriff needs 10 more sheriff deputies, he needs to find the money elsewhere in the budget,” Geiger said.

District 1 Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond responded to the sheriff-coroner’s critics by saying the county is bond by the Prison Law Office settlement to spend $250 million over 5 years to improve jail conditions for prisoners requiring mental health services.

“The reason why 10 deputies are being hired is due to the settlement to improve jail conditions and to comply with the Prison Law Office settlement,” Gioia said.

During the upcoming 2021-2022 fiscal year, Supervisor Gioia requested county officials provide reports on the potential closures of the Marsh Creek Detention Facility that houses 28 inmates and is staffed with 15 sworn and five non-sworn Sheriff’s Office employees, and on the future of juvenile hall.

Countywide Curb Ramp Project Contract Awarded to Second Lowest Bidder

Instead of approving the lowest bid, supervisors approved the second lowest bid of $1,172,074 from Sposeto Engineering Inc. when the lowest bidder, Burch Engineering & Construction, Inc. had given timely written notice to the county of a “mistake made in the filing of Burch’s bid and that it be relieved of the bid.”

Supervisors unanimously approved the Sposeto Engineering bid for the countywide curb ramp project. Burch Engineering & Construction Inc. had submitted a bid of $875,954 for the curb ramp project before alerting the county about an error in its bid.

Three other bids that were submitted for the project were Kerox Engineering Inc., $1,390,408; J.J.R. Construction Inc., $1,398,702; and FBD Vanguard Construction, Inc., $1,406,522.

Pay Respects to County Counsel Anderson and former Public Works Director Shiu

Supervisors paused to pay respects to two county employees, county counsel Sharon Anderson, who passed away on April 28 and former county Public Works Department Director Maurice Shiu, 74, who passed away recently from Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer.

Shiu, who was born in Guangzhog, China on Dec. 6, 1946, but moved with his parents to Hong Kong where upon graduation from high school  moved to the United States to attend the University of California at Berkeley where he received Bachelor’s of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Civil Engineering. He met his wife Esther at UC Berkley.

During his distinguished career at Public Works, Shiu’s major accomplishments included the Willow Pass Grade Project and the State Route 4 Bypass Project. He was president of the Contra Costa County Engineers Association.

Shiu retired in 2008.  He is survived by his wife Ester, two children – Perkin and Vanessa and his four grandchildren – Jaden, Justin, Noelle and Gabriella.

“It’s a loss to our county and our department,” said current Public Works Department Director Brian Balbas. “Maurice was very tactful and active in transportation.  He was very good at preparing me for the challenges that I face as Public Works Director.”

“He worked on the Highway 4 widening,” said District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover. “He was so brilliant on that project.  He was very helpful with me and he had a great sense of humor.”

For the past 37 years Sharon Anderson, a resident of Benicia and a graduate from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, has been known as a dedicated and hardworking lawyer for the county. She died on April 30. The cause of death was not released.

“She was such a wonderful person,” said District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff.

Upon recognizing Anderson’s leadership and mentoring skills District 5 Supervisor Glover said the county is in great shape legally and with its successor, most likely Assistant County Counsel Mary Ann Mason.

“Sharon was so well-grounded. What I loved about Sharon was that she did not take herself so seriously,” said District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville.  “I am grateful we have Mary Ann Mason.”

 

Publisher’s Note: Apologies for the late notice. But this program was just announced during the Antioch City Council meeting Tuesday night and the Herald just saw this posted on Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson’s Facebook page, today.

Both he and Councilwoman Torres-Walker posted about it on social media hours before APD press release issued; promote their previously announced proposals

By Allen Payton

In a post on his mayor’s Facebook page late Wednesday night, hours before the Antioch Police Department issued a press release about the incident, announced that the chief of police had informed him and Thorpe then went to the scene of the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old girl and spoke with neighbors. In addition, the mayor announced a special council meeting for next Tuesday to discuss gun violence in the city, instead of waiting for their regular meeting on May 28, as he had previously announced. (See related articles here and here)

In addition, District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker announced on her council Facebook page that she too had been informed of the homicide. Both the mayor and councilwoman used the opportunity to promote their anti-violence proposals. The other three council members did not post anything about the incident on their council Facebook pages.

Chief T Brooks informed the council members about the homicide in compliance with the new required protocol for the council members to be informed of critical incidents that occur in the city. However, no requirement for informing the public was including in the council’s vote. (See related articles here and here)

Following is the post by Thorpe last night:

“This evening the Chief of Police informed me about a homicide involving a 12 year old girl. This is an unfortunate situation as these events impact all of us.

I went to the neighborhood where this happened and spoke to a few neighbors. As a parent of an 11 year old, it’s emotionally difficult to learn about these kinds of incidents. You literally can’t stop thinking about your own child. As I was out there, I also saw the 12 year old’s mom searching and demanding answers. This is still an active investigation so that’s all I can say for now.

I want to personally thank our men and women in law enforcement for their work on this matter. While I was there a small but emotionally charged crowd gathered. Understandable, given the circumstances. Our officers worked to keep things peaceful and displayed incredible restraint under very difficult circumstances.

I had originally planned to bring additional youth programming measures to the May 25th Council meeting. Instead, I’ll be bringing those measures to a special meeting next Tuesday, May 18th including the creation of a Community Led Violence Prevention Task Force in partnership with Moms Demand Action – CA.

I’ll reiterate my message to young people, guns are not the answer to solving problems! Cease fire!”

In addition, District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker posted about the incident on her council Facebook page late Wednesday night prior to the APD issuing their press release. She wrote:

“Earlier this evening I found out about a homicide involving a 13-year-old girl. This makes me so angry because for the past 6 years I have been warning people that if we didn’t do something this particular kind of violence would escalate.

I can’t stop thinking about the loss of my baby brother to senseless violence and my heart is in the kneeling position for these families.

I am sure that during these difficult times that APD will be doing everything they can to bring closure to those harmed.

My hope however is that we can prevent this kind of senseless violence before it happens to another family.

Last week at the Mayors press conference I called for the creation of a Community Led Violence Prevention and intervention Task Force and I am hoping that my peers on the council will respond to this call to action with urgency.”

An email was sent to Thorpe, City Attorney Thomas Lloyd Smith, City Manager Ron Bernal and Police Chief T Brooks asking the following:

Do you think it’s appropriate for the mayor or any council member to use the info they receive from APD about critical incidents in our city to one, announce them on social media or anywhere else and two, to show up at the scene of the incident, prior to the official press release being issued?

Might this cause a challenge for both the police and a possible legal issue for the city should incorrect and premature information be released by either the mayor or one of the council members?

An additional email was sent to all those above and the other four council members asking similar questions, as well as the following:

Shouldn’t there be some kind of restrictions and limitation on the use and dissemination of the information received by council members from the APD about critical incidents that occur in the city, prior to the official release of that information to the public by the APD?

Thorpe Responds

7:00 P.M. UPDATE: In response, in an email Thursday afternoon, Thorpe wrote to the Herald while copying the other council members and city staff, “Asking the Mayor and City Council’s employees to weigh in on your editorializing related to our roles as elected officials is highly inappropriate. So we’re clear, my colleagues and I do not need a special permission slip from the police department or any other department for that matter about our decision making whether it’s on the dais or social media.

As mayor, I have a job to ensure our community is safe and I will do everything in my power to do so including showing up at active crime scenes, homeless encampments that are being actively cleared out, putting out information that I deem appropriate, and more.

We don’t have time for your editorializing and rumor mill operation. The City Manager, City Attorney, Chief, and I have jobs to do. Right now, our job is to figure out how a 12-year(-old) child was murdered, getting answers to the family as well as Antioch residents, bringing those responsible to justice, and preventing senseless murders like this from happening anywhere.

Respectfully,

The Mayor of Antioch”

The following questions and comments were then emailed to Thorpe and the others:

“Please point out what was opinion or rumor in the article I wrote quoting your and Tamisha’s Facebook posts verbatim. Did you not both post your comments hours before the APD press release was issued? Did you not both promote your previously announced anti-violence proposals? Did you not show up at the scene and speak with neighbors?”

“My questions were also appropriately directed to city staff because of the potential legal implications and interference in the police investigation your and Tamisha’s actions, both last night and possibly in the future, and/or those of other council members who jump out ahead of the official press release from the APD could mean for our city.”

Finally, the mayor was asked, “as for keeping our city safe and preventing senseless murders like this from happening – again, your words – how did showing up at the scene and posting your comments on social media before the official press release from APD was issued help accomplish that?”

Thorpe did not respond by 7:00 p.m., Thursday night. Attorney Smith’s email auto response shows he is out of the office until Monday. No responses were received from any of the others as of 7:00 p.m., Thursday night, either. Please check back later for any updates to this report.

For tickets click, here: Tickets – Antioch Speedway

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, April 12, 2021, at approximately 7:00 PM, Antioch police officers responded to the 1200 block of Oak Haven Way for a female that was shot.

Numerous officers responded to the scene. When officers arrived, they located a female victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound inside an upstairs bedroom. Evidence at the scene indicated the shooting occurred indoors. Officers immediately began administering first aid and called for emergency fire department and AMR paramedics.

Unfortunately, the female victim succumbed to her injuries and she was pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspect fled the scene and has not been contacted. Currently, there are no suspect leads.

Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes and Special Operations Units, responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

Currently, detectives are interviewing witnesses and working to identify any suspects or persons-of-interest. The investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected and evaluated.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Bledsoe at (925) 779-6884. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Police determine it was in self-defense

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Saturday, April 17, 2021, at about 7:52 am, Antioch Police patrol officers were dispatched to the 3100 Block of Contra Loma Boulevard for a shooting. It was determined that two neighbors were involved in an argument stemming from long term issues between the two. During the argument 70-year-old James Bain produced a knife and attempted to stab the 62-year-old male he was arguing with. The 62-year-old male was carrying a firearm and shot Bain as Bain was attempting to stab him. Bain was transported to a local trauma center where he remained in critical condition until May 12, 2021, when he died from the injuries he sustained during the shooting.

The 62-year-old male was originally arrested in this case but was later released once it was determined the shooting was in self-defense. We are not releasing the 62-year-old male’s name at this time.

Additional inquiries or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Gragg at (925) 779-6889 or by emailing rgragg@antiochca.gov. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

Would affect two potential wells in the city; no one from city reached out to owner for his input or to offer comments during meeting before council “consensus vote”; majority also supports county-wide moratorium

By Allen Payton

During their meeting on Tuesday night, May 11, 2021, a majority of Antioch City Council members expressed their support for a moratorium on oil and gas drilling inside the city limits. While the agenda item was only a discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson who proposed the matter, Council Members Tamisha Torres-Walker, Mike Barbanic and Lori Ogorchock supported directing the city attorney to return with a proposal for the council to vote on at a future meeting.

Wilson, Barbanica and Torres-Walker also expressed support for a countywide moratorium. Ogorchock was opposed. Mayor Lamar Thorpe didn’t express an opinion on either proposal.

The moratorium in Antioch would currently only affect one company, Sunset Explorations, owned by East County businessman Bob Nunn, who was not aware of Tuesday night’s agenda item until this reporter reached out to him for comment prior to the start of the meeting.

“I brought this item back up,” Wilson said. “It has two parts, first as a resolution as a city to call a moratorium and then a moratorium for the county. After hearing from many advocates in the community, I believe this is the time for it.”

In response to questions from the Herald, Nunn said he has “drilled a well in city limits a number of years ago”, but that “was a dry hole.” His company has also “filed a permit in the southeast corner of town that we have stalled,” and owns “mineral rights on FUA2 (Future Urban Area 2)” which is located north of Lone Tree Way and southwest of Highway 4, near the future extension of Laurel Road.

Nunn’s company also has a permitted site on the east side of Deer Valley Road just outside Antioch city limits, which started drilling three wells, three years ago.

Public Comments

Charles Davidson, who said he lives in Hercules, spoke about the oil drilling on Deer Valley Road. “The well’s owner denied the Air District’s inspector access to the site,” he claimed.

Antioch resident, Harry Thurston spoke in support of a county moratorium. “There has been limited oversight of this site by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Antioch citizens are at unacceptable risk,” he said. “It will lead to unrestricted oil drilling in East County. We should be stopping all oil extraction” and then spoke about “environmental justice”.

Another speaker, an Antioch resident who said she purchased her home in 2008, spoke against oil drilling. “I’m in an area I can breathe clean air and drink clean water,” she said. “I want to live in a place where no environmental injustices take place. We have everything in Antioch. You just need to promote the right businesses. I have seen firsthand the destruction of many places in the U.S. and around the world due to oil. It’s time to embrace wind and solar.”

Shoshana Wechsler spoke next saying, “I’m a coordinator of Sunflower Alliance…and a resident of unincorporated west county. The toxic emissions in unincorporated Contra Costa don’t stay there. They go wherever the wind blows them. The greenhouse gas emissions threaten everyone and everything on this planet. The permit application slipped through the cracks. Phase out the existing drilling on Deer Valley Road. Other cities have done that. They got it done. It’s Antioch’s chance to put the climate resiliency plans to work. Your forward momentum on this, lifts everyone up.”

Barbara Collins, a resident of East Contra Costa County wrote in favor of the moratorium.

Another public comment submitted read, “Does the city have any power to limit the mineral rights of owners in Antioch? Please stop all this posturing about oil wells.”

Council Discussion and Consensus Votes

The council then took up the matter.

“About a year ago this month, three of us voted and approved a Climate Action Resiliency Plan. This would go along with that,” Wilson stated. “We are committed to making sure we have a healthy city and are free from health risks. The action that we did a year ago moves us away from fossil fuel. We also discussed the climate in our Strategic Plan. This needs to be more than just an item we discuss. We need to call for a moratorium in our city and ask for our county to do the same.”

Asked to offer her input, the city’s Environmental Resources Coordinator, Julie Haas-Wajdowicz said, “I would definitely echo what Mayor Pro Tem Wilson says. So, I think we should support a moratorium. Additionally, I would look forward to working on a declaration of climate emergency.”

“I don’t have a whole lot of background in oil drilling,” she added.

“I would like to bring this back for council to discuss a ban on oil drilling,” Wilson said.

Thorpe then asked for a “consensus vote” of council members.

Torres-Walker, Barbanica and Ogorchock all said, “yes”.

“This is something we have to research and come back,” said City Attorney Thomas Smith. “To me it sounds like something that can go through the zoning process.”

Torres-Walker and Barbanica also added their support to Wilson’s efforts for a county-wide moratorium. When asked, Ogorchock said “no”.

Asked if they were prepared to pay Nunn for his mineral rights, Barbanica, Ogorchock and Wilson did not respond. Asked if she had reached out to Nunn or had asked city staff to, prior to the meeting, Wilson did not respond.