Referred to as the River Town Square on the former Antioch Lumber Company lot
The City of Antioch is excited to announce the development of a new gathering place in downtown Antioch. We invite you to share your vision for the future central attraction of historic Rivertown. This new outdoor public space is uniquely situated along the Sacramento-San Joaquin River. It will benefit our diverse community by fostering a vibrant, thriving downtown.
As previously reported by the Herald, during the Nov. 23, 2021 Antioch City Council meeting, after years of advocating for a park and event center on the former Antioch Lumber Company lot in the city’s historic, downtown Rivertown, former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts and members of the group, Save The Yard, got the go ahead from the city council. All five council members agreed to pursue the idea during their meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 23.
Torres-Walker, Thorpe repeatedly interrupt city attorney during discussion
By Allen D. Payton
During Tuesday night’s Antioch Council meeting agenda on May 23, 2023, the council reviewed the City policy, for all of its departments, regarding the selection of contracted attorneys and the review, authorization and execution of all agreements for legal services and services to be provided by attorneys to the City. But the focus was revising the policy so that the council is not included.
Currently City Attorney Thomas L. Smith is charged with that responsibility based on the policy approved by the city council two years ago. But, last fall, the council, on a 3-2 vote, directed City Manager Con Johnson to hire an outside attorney for them on an invalid contract after Smith warned them three times not to, according to District 1 Councilman Mike Barbanica. That cost the city $39,000. (See related article)
According to the city staff report on the item, the Antioch City Council on February 26, 2021 approved the following:
“1. The City Attorney shall exercise discretion over the selection of all attorneys providing Legal Services, as defined herein, for the City including all of its departments.
2. [A]ll agreements for the provision of Legal Services, as defined herein, to the City, including all of its departments, or on behalf of the City that are to be paid by the City shall be submitted to the City Attorney for review and approval, and the City Attorney shall have the discretion to approve and execute all such agreements on behalf of the City when the City Attorney determines the agreement is consistent with Antioch Municipal Code, Title 3, Chapter 4, Article II. Any agreements for Legal Services to the City or on behalf of the City that are not approved by the City Attorney in writing shall be void.
3. [A]ll invoices for Legal Services, as defined herein, shall be required to be submitted to the City Attorney for review and payment through the City Attorney’s Office. No payment shall be made for Legal Services pursuant to existing or future agreements unless approved in writing by the City Attorney. Therefore, the budgeted amount for the City Attorney’ s Office shall include the amounts necessary for the payment of such invoices.”
“I think that pretty sums it all up,” said resident Andrew Becker during public comments on the item. “We approve ordinances in this city which are the law then we come to meetings, brazenly and we try to find a way to work around them. Whatever those determinations are you still have to live inside what the law is. You open us up…and you so brazenly do it. I voted for it with the understanding you would follow the laws in this city. Sometimes the law…means fixing it. But fixing it doesn’t mean circumventing it. Every time something comes to a vote we hear what the mayor says how he wants it to go and we take it. But for you to say we’re going to take our current policies and throw them out the window? For you to go on record and so brazenly say, we’ll figure out. The law? That’s how the healthcare district dissolved.”
“This item is being brought because this is a new policy. We adopted it as part of our police reform,” Thorpe said. “We wanted the city attorney to review the hiring of attorneys. In the past the police department just went and hired their own attorney. As has happened often, this policy binded us as a city council. But we’re the governing board.
“The California government code says the city attorney shall advise the council on all legal matters,” Smith interjected.
“We heard you the first time, thank you,” Thorpe responded. “This policy didn’t allow us to go get a second opinion. As a governing board…we should be able to do that.”
“The very same reason we created this policy is because the community is saying the police department’s internal affairs. Police shouldn’t review themselves,” Torres-Walker stated. “If we don’t trust what the city attorney is giving to us, we should have the right to get a second opinion without the city attorney. Our city attorney shouldn’t be able to hire an attorney to look into themselves.”
“Yes, it was a good policy in hindsight. But the council shouldn’t be included,” she added.
“I’d like to address that. If you don’t trust the people you’ve hired…” City Attorney Smith began saying.
“I don’t think we’re here for the council to get into a back and forth with the city attorney,” Torres-Walker said speaking over him. “I didn’t ask a question of the city attorney.”
Thorpe then allowed him to speak.
“I think it’s important what you said. If you don’t trust your city attorney, you have the ability to hire any city attorney you want. It only takes three votes,” Smith stated.
Torres-Walker interrupted him, again.
Thorpe stopped her and said, “I don’t want to get into a back and forth.”
“I just have to say is if there is a trust issue you can hire…” Smith began saying before being cut off, again.
“I think we’re all aware of that,” Thorpe responded.
“Perhaps the proper terminology isn’t a lack of trust but a disagreement with the advice being offered,” Torres-Walker clarified. “We should be able to seek outside counsel.”
“If we want a second opinion, we should be able to get a second opinion,” Thorpe said asking to have the policy revised.
“I went back and looked….I did not vote for it originally,” Ogorchock said. “I’m not in favor of this, now. He’s just reviewing the contract.”
“No. He would select the attorney,” Thorpe responded. “And we wanted this, and it included us. But I don’t think we should have to get a permission slip.”
“There has to be a city out there similar to ours,” Wilson said. “I can’t imagine there’s not a process that we can take to hire an attorney not of your choosing.”
“Before this policy, that was the case,” Thorpe responded. “If we wanted a second opinion, we could give direction to the city manager to hire an outside attorney. There are different examples. But I don’t want to go down that road. I’m just saying we shouldn’t be a part of this policy. All I’m asking is for that modification to this policy which I still think is a good policy.”
“I think we should go back and revise it,” Torres-Walker said. “There’s never been an instance when I didn’t trust our city attorney. So, I didn’t use the right language. But there was an instance when I didn’t trust the process. City Attorney, this isn’t me saying I don’t trust you. I should have used different language.”
Barbanica then said, “initially I was not for this. I’m fine with the policy the way it is, today.”
Ogorchock simply said, “no.”
Wilson supported revising the policy, agreeing with Thorpe and Torres-Walker that it should not apply to the city council. A revised policy will return for a future vote.
To celebrate Independence Day this year, sign up today to be part of the City of Antioch’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration and Parade on Saturday ! Schools, residents, and local teams and organizations are all welcome!
An officer in the top of the Antioch Police Department’s MRAP shot multiple non-lethal rounds into the Aster Drive apartment where the suspect had barricaded himself on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Herald file photo
By Allen D. Payton
At the request of Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, following comments from two members of the public, one who thought it was put to good use, the city council members discussed the police department’s MRAP military vehicle during their meeting Tuesday night, May 23, 2023. They agreed to keep it for now and at the request of District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica, APD staff will search for a non-military alternative.
The Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) military light tactical vehicle was donated to the City by the federal government. As previously reported, the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency’s 1033 program allows the Pentagon to give extra military equipment to local police departments across the United States. It’s part of their mission of disposing obsolete and unneeded excess property turned in by U.S. military units around the world. The type of property ranges from military-specific equipment and vehicles to generic office furniture, computers, medical items, and shop equipment. (See related article)
The department relabeled it a “Rescue Vehicle” and uses it for intense situations including stand-offs with armed suspects as occurred a few times in the past two years. (See related article)
“The only thing I would ask is, I don’t believe we need the tank,” Thorpe stated. “There are alternatives to the tank. I don’t think we need this. The MRAP was designed for something completely different. The MRAP was not designed for the streets of Antioch. Police officers are not trained with the MRAP. Given where we’re out I don’t think it looks good for Antioch. There’s no room for militarized equipment. I hope council can agree to that.”
“We would like to look at an alternative, too…moving into the 21st Century…if council is interested,” said Lt. Joe Vigil.
“There are armored vehicles that we can look at that keep our community safe,” District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica said. “I’m willing to do it…working with the chief, maybe the mayor pro tem, something that’s law enforcement based. There are plenty of them out there. I’m definitely willing to work with the chief and work through any proposals and bring it back to council for discussion.”
“I don’t necessarily know what the MRAP is used for. People say it looks scary,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker. “I do believe there is a necessity to use such a vehicle in the community…to keep people safe. While the council pursues a different vehicle that’s more suitable…that will come at a cost. The MRAP that we all want off the streets will stay in commission while trying to obtain a different vehicle.”
“Mayor Pro Tem, there are some options to reduce those costs. There are grant programs,” Vigil responded. “We are willing to explore every option.”
“I do believe the police department is capable of finding an alternative. I don’t believe it’s necessary to form a committee,” Thorpe said.
“It’s the policy that I’m concerned about,” Torres-Walker responded.
“Let’s separate those things,” Thorpe stated.
“Because it’s not coming from the military it will be purchased,” Vigil explained. “We would either sole-source or send out an RFP and bring it before council.”
“I think she’s talking about policy, when we deploy it,” Thorpe said. “And any policy for the police department would come before the Police Oversight Commission.”
“To clarify, the current vehicle stays in operation until we find another vehicle,” Barbanica stated.
“I’m open to that and to immediately appointing people to the Police Oversight Commission,” Torres-Walker said with a chuckle.
“As soon as my support is hired,” Thorpe responded. “I’m not a secretary. I don’t coordinate people’s schedules.”
City Attorney Thomas L. Smith asked for a motion and vote which Barbanica attempted to make. But because Thorpe said the policy included with the agenda item was incomplete, the item must return for a future council vote.
During Tuesday’s meeting on May 23, 2023, the Antioch City Council on a 5-0 vote approved an agreement with Brentwood-based One Day at a Time (ODAT) for support and replication of evidence-based violence reduction initiatives and programs that interrupt cycles of violence for $346,500 funded by a California Violence Intervention & Prevention (CalVIP) grant during the 2023-24 Fiscal Year.
“This initiative started with an idea from Councilwoman Torres-Walker,” said Mayor Thorpe. “We applied for this grant, we got this grant, and we get to decide how the work gets done.”
“Well, you know I’m excited about this. I’m also excited to find a partner,” Torres-Walker said. “This has been a long time coming. I want to mention Andrew Becker. I want to thank Andrew because we have a lot to address in this city. Gun-related violence is unacceptable, period. I came to this city in 2015 and I’ve been advocating…since 2015. You only get one chance to do it right.”
According to the city staff report, in February 2022, the City of Antioch applied for a three-year CalVIP grant from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to improve public health and safety by supporting effective violence reduction initiatives in Antioch, which is disproportionately impacted by violence, particularly group-member-involved homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults (Penal Code Sec. 14131(b)). The City of Antioch was awarded the CalVIP grant agreement from July 2022 through June 30, 2025, for a maximum amount of $1,794,116. Funds will be used to support, expand, and replicate evidence-based violence reduction initiatives that seek to interrupt cycles of violence. (See related article)
According to the BSCC webpage, “The State Legislature established the CalVIP Grant Program in 2017 to replace the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention grant program that began in 2007. CalVIP provides funding for cities and community-based organizations with the goal of reducing violence in the city and adjacent areas.
In October 2019 Governor Newsom signed the Break the Cycle of Violence Act (AB 1603). AB 1603 codified the establishment of CalVIP and defined its purpose: to improve public health and safety by supporting effective violence reduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence, particularly group-member involved homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults.
The Break the Cycle of Violence act specifies that CalVIP grants shall be used to support, expand and replicate evidence-based violence reduction initiatives. These initiatives should seek to interrupt cycles of violence and retaliation in order to reduce the incidence of homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults and shall be primarily focused on providing violence intervention services to the small segment of the population that is identified as having the highest risk of perpetrating or being victimized by violence in the near future.”
Presented by RFY Metropolis Dance and City of Antioch
The Pittsburg-based RFY Metropolis Dance and Academic Academy and City of Antioch’s Youth Services division of the Public Safety & Community Resources Department presents “A Night on Broadway” at the Nick Rodriguez Center in historic Rivertown, Wednesday afternoon, May 24 from 4:30-5:00 p.m. The event is free to attend.
Ken Johns #32 won his first Hobby Stock Main Event of the season. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Keldsen, Tuttle, Pearce, Mallet, Foulger also winners
By Candice Martin, DCRR Racing Media
Antioch, CA…May 19-20…Auto racing returned to the Contra Costa County Fair in a big way with two nights of racing. The Saturday night Figure 8 was a Main attraction. It was the first of six scheduled events for the popular race, and the win went to DJ Keldsen of Newman.
DJ Keldsen #01 returned for a thrilling Figure 8 victory. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Keldsen had the outside front row for the Figure 8 race, and he charged into the lead at the start ahead of Chester Kniss of Antioch and Jimmy Robbins of Concord. Both Robbins and Dakota Keldsen of Watsonville slipped past Kniss for second and third on the fourth lap. A close battle developed between Robbins and Dakota Keldsen with Robbins taking a wild ride into the infield on Lap 5 and falling back a couple of positions. Angela Brown of Antioch gained third at that point, but she and Dakota Keldsen had contact on Lap 10 as Kniss and Robbins moved into second and third. To that point, there had been plenty of close calls in the X, but it turned into a battle at the front for the win between DJ Keldsen and Kniss. When the checkered flag flew, Keldsen prevailed ahead of Kniss, Robbins, Dakota Keldsen and Tommy Clymens Jr of Oakley.
Ken Johns of Antioch picked up his first Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stock Main Event win of the season. The race was led early by third-generation racer Colten Haney of Brentwood with Johns in pursuit. They ran that way until Johns found an opening low in Turn 2 on the seventh lap to take over. Jared Baugh of Pittsburgh followed Johns into second. The race was run in rapid fashion on a hooked up racing surface. The leaders lapped several slower cars before a yellow flag waved on Lap 17. This didn’t stop Johns as he resumed command on the restart and went on to victory ahead of Baugh, Haney, Grayson Baca of Brentwood and Kevin Brown of Oakley.
Jacob Tuttle drove the Ted Finkenbinder #3 car to a Wingless Spec Sprint win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Piloting one of the two Ted Finkenbinder owned entries, Jacob Tuttle of Oakley prevailed in the 25 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event. Tuttle had the pole and charged into lead over WMR Midgets champion Blake Bower of Brentwood, who was also in a Finkenbinder car. Kevin Box of Bethel Island settled into an early third with reigning champion Shannon Newton of Elk Grove starting to pressure him for the position. The track was a bit dry with drivers preferring the lower line. Newton had just overtaken Box for the third position on Lap 16 when he began to smoke and lost power for the only yellow flag on Lap 17. Tuttle continued to lead Bower and Box on the restart, and they finished in that order as Jarrett Soares of Gilroy and James East of Oakley rounded out the Top 5.
National IMCA Rookie point leader Andrew Pearce #15p won the IMCA Modified feature. Photo by Katrina Kniss
IMCA National rookie point leader Andrew Pearce of Oakley won the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event. This was his first win of the season. Anthony Slaney of Martinez set the early pace ahead of Buddy Kniss of Oakley and Pearce. Pearce slipped underneath Kniss in Turn 4 on Lap 5 to gain second and set his sights on Slaney. By the midpoint of the race, there was a battle at the head of the pack. Pearce finally made an inside pass on the front stretch on Lap 16 to grab the lead, and he brought it home to victory from there. Slaney settled for second ahead of Kniss, Troy Foulger of Oakley and Timothy Allerdings of Prescott Valley, Arizona.
Troy Foulger #49 picked up another IMCA Stock Car Main Event win. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Troy Foulger of Oakley won the 25 lap IMCA Stock Car Main Event. It was Jason Robles of Rio Vista taking the early lead, but Foulger slipped underneath him in Turn 4 on Lap 2 to gain command. As Foulger began to pull away, Jason Robles was being challenged by son Kenneth for the second spot. The race for second place saw a back and forth battle during the late stages. Kenneth went low in Turn 4 to pass his father for the spot on Lap 19, but his father regained the position in Turn 2 a lap later. It was Foulger winning ahead of Jason Robles, Kenneth Robles, Scott Foster of Antioch and Travis Dutra of Concord.
Reigning State champion Jacob Mallet Jr #127 picked up his first IMCA Sport Modified win of the year. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Reigning IMCA Sport Modified State champion Jacob Mallet Jr of Oakley collected the win in the 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. Mallet had the pole position and raced into the early lead ahead of Mark Garner of Antioch. However, Joseph Pato of Oakley went low in Turn 4 on the third lap to take second. A yellow flag waved on Lap 3 for Trevor Clymens of Brentwood in Turn 4. Mallet continued to lead the restart ahead of Pato and Matt Pitts of Rodeo. As the lead duo pulled away from the pack, Pitts had his hands full in a close battle for third. Kenny Shrader at Pacheco got by with a low pass in Turn 2 on Lap 14. Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley found his way into fourth late, but Mallet drove a flawless race to collect the win. Pato settled for a career best second, followed by Shrader, Ryan and Garner .
The racetrack on Saturday for the Hobby Stocks, Figure 8 and Sport Modifieds was hooked up and fast, while the Friday surface for the Wingless Spec Sprints, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars was dry. The crew worked very hard to produce the fast-racing conditions on Saturday.
After a week off, the show returns on June 3rd. The Soares Memorial race is on the schedule, featuring the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Xtreme Limited Late Models and Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Antioch Speedway Race Results – May 19 & 20, 2023
Friday
Wingless Spec Sprints
FT Jacob Tuttle 15.715. Heat Winners (8 laps)-Jacob Tuttle, Blake Bower. Main Event (25 laps)-Jacob Tuttle, Blake Bower, Kevin Box, Jarrett Soares, James East, Anthony Bruno, Nathan Johnson, MacKenzie Newton, Steve Maionchi, Shannon Newton.
IMCA Modifieds
Heat Winner (8 laps)-Anthony Slaney. Main Event (20 laps)-Andrew Pearce, Anthony Slaney, Buddy Kniss, Troy Foulger, Timothy Allerdings, Tim Balding, Jeff Browne, Eric Berendsen.
IMCA Stock Car
Heat winner (8 laps)-Jason Robles. Main Event (25 laps)-Troy Foulger, Jason Robles, Kenneth Robles, Scott Foster, Travis Dutra, Jeff Bentancourt, Kimo Oreta.
Saturday
IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat Winners (20 laps)-Dylan Connolly, Trevor Clymens. Main Event (20 laps)-Jacob Mallet Jr, Joseph Pato, Kenny Shrader, Jason Ryan Jr, Mark Garner, Matt Pitts, Tom Fraser, Trevor Clymens, Billy Garner, Kelly Campanile.
Hobby Stocks
Heat Winners (8 laps)-James Graessle, Grayson Baca, Jared Baugh. Main Event (20 laps)-Ken Johns, Jared Baugh, Colten Haney, Grayson Baca, Kevin Brown, Jake Archibald, Taylor DeCarlo, Jess Paladino, Michaela Taylor, Rob Waldrop.
Figure 8
Main Event (15 laps)-DJ Keldsen, Chester Kniss, Jimmy Robbins, Dakota Keldsen, Tommy Clymens Jr, Angela Brown, Michaela Taylor, Mike Conley Jr, James Graessle, Dennis Keldsen.
The annual Antioch Memorial Day ceremonies and activities will be held Monday, May 29 in remembrance of those service men and women who gave their lives for our country at the Oak View Memorial Park Cemetery on 2500 E. 18th Street.
The day begins with a Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Antioch Rivertown Veterans Lion’s Club at 8:00 a.m. followed by the Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. Our speaker is Assemblyman Tim Grayson. We will also have youth speakers, followed by the Reading of the Names of Antioch Veterans that have passed away, an explanation of the 13 folds of a U.S. flag, the P.O.W. Table, recognition of our First Responders by laying a rose at their memorial and much more.
