The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects (pictured).
Take no action to apprehend these persons yourself. If you have any information about this incident, please call 1-877-876-2455 (say “Law Enforcement”). Reference Case No. 4030903-ROBB. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
Efforts to reach Antioch Police Department PIO, Corporal Price Kendall for additional details were unsuccessful prior to publication time.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
From Board of Directors President Janice Li and General Manager Bob Powers:
BART is thankful for the recent action taken by the California State Legislature to restore $2 billion for the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. The program is vital in funding transformative capital improvements to modernize public transportation systems such as BART.
The fate of transit operating budgets, however, presents a do-or-die decision point.
Each day BART moves closer to plunging off the fiscal cliff if the State does not provide short-term financial aid to fund transit operations.
One-time federal funds are dwindling even with BART’s stringent cost controls and will be exhausted by early 2025. If transit operations funding is not included in this year’s State budget, BART must begin making severe cuts to service and staffing, as early as this year. The State has the opportunity – and the power – to sustain BART or let BART and the Bay Area economy fail. Here’s how failure looks:
Trains only once an hour.
No trains on weekends.
No trains after 9 p.m. on weeknights.
Reduced service to San Francisco International and Oakland International airports.
Some stations closed.
Entire lines potentially shuttered
Those who will pay the biggest price for these severe cuts are those who can afford it the least. Sixty-seven percent of BART riders identify as non-white. Forty-four percent do not have a vehicle. Thirty-one percent have an income of $50,000 or lower. Seven percent are disabled. If the State fails to act, those who rely on BART as a lifeline will be stranded.
Everyone will pay the price if BART fails – even those who don’t use it. Traffic stands to drastically worsen across our already congested roadways and bridges, and regional greenhouse gas emissions will increase, further fueling climate change. Just one trip in a car emits the same amount of C02 as thirty trips taken on BART.
Businesses will struggle to move their goods with thousands more vehicles on already strained roads. BART service cuts to SFO and OAK will make tourism and convention travel unpalatable.
The Bay Area is an economic engine for the entire state, which represents the fourth largest economy in the world. But the regional economy isn’t ironclad. It needs effective public transit – BART, Muni, and other agencies – to thrive.
BART staff, labor partners and Board are focused on increasing ridership by improving the system.
Some highlights:
Adding eight to 18 additional police officers to patrol trains each shift in addition to BART’s unarmed safety staff of Ambassadors, Crisis Intervention Specialists and Fare Inspectors on trains.
A September schedule change means no rider will wait more than 20 minutes for a scheduled train, including nights and weekends.
More than doubling the Clipper START discount for eligible low-income riders.
A project to install 700 new fare gates at all stations by 2026 to deter fare evasion and increase safety.
Thorough cleaning of train car interiors twice as often.
Increasing the number of deep-clean teams by 66% to scrub heavily used stations.
These hard-earned gains for riders would be wiped out by severe service cuts. It’s a recipe for a death spiral.
If the State fails to act, not only will BART fail, but Bay Area public transit will fail. Ninety percent of all transfer trips in the Bay Area involve a connection to BART.
For BART and the Bay Area we know and love to survive, we need State help NOW.
Speed table rendering from nacto.org and speed hump sign.
Directs staff on annual budget with funds for Emergency Operations Center, $500K more for homeless program
By Allen D. Payton
During the Consent Calendar portion of their meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, the Antioch City Council approved on a 5-0 vote, bids for the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Project for several locations throughout the city in response to requests from residents.
Example of a raised crosswalk. Source: saferoutesinfo.org
The council approved a $125,000 budget increase for the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Project using Measure J funds, from the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation. In addition, they awarded the contract to the lowest bidder, Consolidated Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $377,950.
The project is for the installation of traffic calming devices including speed hump, speed table and raised crosswalk system.
The City’s Public Works Department list shows the following nine streets that will receive the devices in Phase II: Asilomar Drive, Clearbrook Road, Country Hills Drive, Deerfield Drive, Garrow Drive, Gentrytown Drive, Longview Road, Prewett Ranch Drive and Tulip Drive. See NTCP report for maps and locations of the speed humps.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Devices Phase II list. Source: Antioch Public Works Department
2023-24 Budget Discussion
During discussion of the 2023-24 budget year, the council, after multiple, previous attempts by District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica, and supported by District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, to fund the police department’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the council voted 5-0 to do so. The council agreed to use one-time ARPA funds from the federal government’s COVID relief grant to the City.
Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker requested more money for the City’s Homekey program for the homeless.
“I’m good with the $2 million,” Mayor Lamar Thorpe said.
Ogorchock suggested it be increased to $2.5 million.
“What we’re telling the public, the partners is, we’re willing to commit $2.5 million,” the mayor explained.
Barbanica supported the increased amount, as did the rest of the council members.
The final budget will be brought back for a vote in June. The fiscal year begins July 1st.
Marsh Creek Road Bridge Replacement Project map. Source: CCC Public Works Dept.
By Kelly Kalfsbeek, PIO, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, CCC Public Works Department
The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will begin construction of the Marsh Creek Road Bridges Replacement Project starting on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, through March 2025, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will occur from 7 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), weather permitting. Work will take place on Marsh Creek Road at Bridges 143 and 145. Bridge 143 is located approximately 1.5 miles northwest of Deer Valley Road near the Clayton Palms Community. Bridge 145 is located approximately 3.0 miles east of Deer Valley Road near the road transition to Camino Diablo.
Traffic control will be used. Restrictions will be in place to minimize impacts during commuting hours. Message boards will alert drivers about the work. Drivers should expect delays through the construction zone and consider alternative routes during working hours.
The project will replace two (2) bridges on Marsh Creek Road with two (2) new concrete bridges. Work also includes reconstruction of the bridge approach roadways and construction of drainage facilities.
Funding for this project is provided by the federal Highway Bridge Program and local Gas Tax funds.
About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:
Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and other drainage and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution and Flood Control throughout the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at: www.cccpublicworks.org.
Possibly domestic violencerelated; City’s second homicide this month
By Lt. John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
On Thursday, May 25, 2023, at approximately 8:45 PM, the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center started receiving numerous 9-1-1 calls reporting multiple gunshots being fired at the 4400 block of Delta Fair Boulevard.
As officers were responding, witnesses called to report two victims were down on the ground and yelling for help. When officers arrived at the scene, they located two victims outside. One male victim was suffering from at least two gunshot wounds to his legs, and one female victim was suffering from what appeared to be two gunshot wounds to the head. Evidence at the scene indicated the incident occurred outdoors in front of several residences. Officers immediately began administering first aid and called for fire department and AMR paramedics. The 43-year-old male victim was transported to a local area hospital, and the 39-year-old female victim ultimately succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Prior to police arrival, the suspect fled the area in a vehicle and has not been contacted by police. During the preliminary investigation, it appears the victims and the suspect knew each other, and this homicide is likely domestic (violence) in nature.
Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Currently, detectives are interviewing witnesses and residents in the area and are working to identify any suspects or persons of interest. The investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected.
This is the City’s second homicide of the month.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Duffy, aduffy@antiochca.gov at (925) 779-6884, or Detective Gragg, rgragg@antiochca.gov at (925) 779-6889. You may also text-a-tip anonymously to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.
Mayor Thorpe chastises and points his finger at Councilwoman Ogorchock during discussion of the previous meeting minutes at the council meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Video screenshot
During discussion of previous council meeting vote on minutes; says he’s “not here to…appease white fragility”
By Allen D. Payton
After calling for the firing of the Antioch Police Officers involved in the racist text scandal last Friday, at Tuesday night’s Antioch City Council meeting, May 23, 2023, during discussion of Item A, which Mayor Lamar Thorpe removed from the Consent Calendar agenda, he requested the council reverse its previous 3-0 vote by Councilmembers Lori Ogorchock, Mike Barbanica and Monica Wilson, to have the city clerk add more details to the minutes with his verbatim comments during the April 11th council meeting. That was the night he yelled at a resident during public comments. The minutes described the mayor’s comments as, “Mayor Thorpe expressed his frustration with previous public comments and declared a recess at 7:55 P.M.” (See related article)
During the Consent Calendar at the beginning of the May 9th council meeting, for which Thorpe arrived an hour late and Torres-Walker was absent, Ogorchock said there were three people who had reached out to her saying, “the minutes did not reflect what was stated exactly under the mayor’s comments and his response. So, I’m asking that the comments come back with an accurate statement of what was said.”
“And I also received similar feedback from the public and that’s no reflection on the Clerk’s Office, at all,” Barbanica said. “But several people from the district that reached out to me requesting the same thing.”
Wilson, who was running the meeting as the ranking member, asked City Attorney Thomas L. Smith, “do you have anything to say on that point? Or we can just go ahead…”
“If that’s the wish of the council then the Clerk’s Office can make that adjustment,” he responded.
“Make that adjustment and bring those minutes back. OK,” Wilson stated.
“So, is that direction?” Smith asked.
“Yes,” Wilson responded.
The council then voted 3-0 to bring back the minutes from the April 9th meeting with the adjustment to Thorpe’s comments.
During last Tuesday night’s meeting, Thorpe objected and made a motion to rescind the previous vote to have the City Clerk’s Office change the April 9th meeting minutes. (See 46-minute mark of May 23rd council meeting video)
“The reason I’m doing this is because we typically do summary minutes. We have not gone outside of that,” he said. “If we’re going to start picking and choosing what we’re going to put in the minutes that are verbatim, then I’d ask that all the minutes come back and we review them and an put outbursts by Councilmember Ogorchock, we can put other things in there when I had to use the gavel.”
“So, if people want to play games, that’s fine. I’m not participating,” Thorpe added. “That’s my motion.”
“I don’t think we should do that. I think we should stick to the summary minutes format,” he later said in explaining his motion to Torres-Walker who seconded his motion.
Ogorchock then said, “This is not just a Councilmember Ogorchock thing, there were three votes, Mr. Mayor.”
“No, I’m pointing out your outburst,” Thorpe shot back.
“I didn’t have an outburst,” she responded.
“When you had your white privileged outburst and had your finger in my face,” he stated while pointing his finger at the councilwoman.
“I didn’t have a white privileged…” Ogorchock said as Thorpe continued by saying, “like (Arizona Governor) Jan Brewer did with Barack Obama, you absolutely did.”
When you had your finger in my face,” he repeated while again pointing his finger at her. “So…”
“Keep going,” she responded.
“No, I’m done. Now you’re turn,” the mayor said.
“I’m surprised you’re giving me time to talk. You gave me the floor and keep going,” Ogorchock retorted. “It was not just me. It was a 3-0 vote.”
“I didn’t say it was just you,” Thorpe stated.
“It was a 3-0 vote,” she repeated.
“OK,” he said.
“And the vote passed,” Ogorchock pointed out.
“And my motion was to rescind it,” Thorpe said.
In response to another question by Torres-Walker the mayor who became increasingly heated said, “this motion is to undo the political game they’re trying to play, here. That’s it. If it’s a no, then you want to play this game and have the minutes reflect the verbatim transcript which is more work on the Clerk’s Office, and unfair and unnecessary.”
“Because,” Thorpe continued while looking at and gesturing toward Ogorchock, “when you had your white privileged outburst I didn’t request that.”
She denied the accusation again and he repeated it, once more.
“So, I’m sorry. I’m not playing this game,” the mayor repeated. “So, please cast your votes.”
Following the 3-2 vote, with Wilson switching her position, to keep the summary of the incident in the council meeting minutes with Ogorchock and District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica voting no, Thorpe added, “Alright and just so we’re clear, I’m not here to cave or to, you know, appease white fragility. I’m not.”
District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica called for a special meeting as Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker looks on during their meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Video screenshot.
Garners support of two councilwomen
Barbanica says he and Torres-Walker developed 7-point plan
By Allen D. Payton
At the end of the Antioch City Council meeting, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, during Council Communications, District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica called for a special meeting to discuss when and how things are placed by the mayor onto a council agenda. He garnered the support of Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker and District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock. (See 3:43:43 mark of the meeting video)
Barbanica said, “last council meeting I asked for the tobacco ordinance to come back to this meeting. It did not. Mayor Pro Tem Torres-Walker and I had two meetings. I’m calling for a special meeting on Tuesday, 5-30-23 at 7 p.m.
As the councilman was speaking, Mayor Lamar Thorpe left his seat at the dais.
Barbanica continued to speak saying he wanted the meeting in order “to revamp how our agenda is handled for council to give all council members much more say in what is placed on the final agenda. We’ve put together a seven-point plan.”
Currently, the mayor sets each council meeting agenda working with the city manager.
“I agree with the special meeting to discuss the agenda,” Torres-Walker stated. “Since I’ve been on this council, I’ve had an issue with the six-month timeline for items being placed on the agenda.”
Ogorchock then said, “I’ll support that.”
“In terms of the agenda, I’ve been pretty transparent about delaying things,” Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe responded. “One of the biggest challenges is the budget. What we’ll start seeing is I was planning on calling a special meeting for a six-month review. I’ve asked the city attorney what’s a realistic timeline for staff. I’ve heard some of the concerns that staff has. So, I get it from staff, and I hear what they say with their concerns we’re frontloading items. Then we lost Con Johnson. So, I’ve been very clear I’ve slowed things down.”
“We now contract out a lot of these ordinances,” he added.
“And I understand your comments. But I made a simple request at the last meeting. The council majority supported it, but it didn’t happen,” Barbanica stated. “So, my request for a special meeting, stands, and we’re going to completely revamp how this agenda is developed so that the council majority has a greater say.”
“I’ll say, again, the ordinance is coming back,” Thorpe responded. “But I’ve got to work with staff.”
With three councilmembers supporting the call for a special meeting, it must occur, according to past advice from City Attorney Thomas L. Smith.
The special meeting has been set for next Tuesday.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching, and many Californians are preparing to kick off the summer with a holiday gathering or road trip. Forty-five people were killed in crashes in California during last year’s Memorial Day weekend, nearly a 30 percent increase from the same period in 2021. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has a plan to help people arrive to their destinations safely, while reducing the number of deadly crashes on the state’s roads.
Beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, May 26, the CHP will implement a statewide Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) in anticipation of the increased traffic that often accompanies a holiday weekend. The MEP will continue through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 29.
“The core mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the communities we serve,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “This holiday, motorists can expect to see additional CHP officers patrolling California’s roadways. All available uniformed members of this Department will be on patrol during this Memorial Day MEP. Our primary focus will be to enhance public safety, deter unsafe driving behavior, and when necessary, take appropriate enforcement action.”
In addition to assisting motorists and looking for traffic violations that often lead to serious injury or death, such as failure to wear a seat belt, speed, and distracted driving, CHP officers will be paying close attention to people who are suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs and/or alcohol.
CHP officers made nearly 900 DUI arrests during the Memorial Day MEP in 2022. Keep yourself and others who are on the road safe by designating a sober driver or using a ride-share service.
If you see or suspect an impaired driver, call 9-1-1 immediately. Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel. Your phone call may save someone’s life.
The CHP’s Memorial Day MEP coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ongoing Click It or Ticket campaign, which continues through
June 4. Seat belts save lives. Take two seconds to secure your safety and buckle up. The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
