Mayor Lamar Thorpe and Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker were absent from the May 9, 2023 council meeting during the Consent Calender portion. Thorpe arrived an hour late. Video screenshot.
After Ogorchock switched positions in March; Thorpe hour late to meeting without explanation
By Allen D. Payton
With the final vote to revise the Antioch tobacco products sales ban ordinance on the Consent Calendar during Tuesday night’s meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker was absent and Mayor Lamar Thorpe was an hour late to the meeting. That left the vote up to the other three council members, including District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson who opposed the changes. During the March 28th meeting District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock reversed her previous support for the entire ban, joining Torres-Walker and District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica. The motion to adopt the revised ordinance failed on a 2-1 vote with Wilson voting against.
According to the staff report on the agenda item, Section C. of the current ordinance reads, “No tobacco retailer shall sell, offer for sale, possess with the intent to sell, offer in exchange for any form of consideration, or provide at no cost any of the following: (1) Any package of fewer than twenty little cigars; (2) Any package of fewer than six cigars; and (3) Any package of cigarettes, little cigars, or cigars at a price that is less than ten dollars per package, including applicable fees and taxes.”
Retailers had complained to the city council that they were unfairly targeted and there wasn’t a level playing field with retailers in neighboring cities. As a result, that section was removed in the revised ordinance which the council passed 3-2.
But the failure of the second reading of the ordinance leaves that section in place and any revisions to the ordinance requires the council to start the process again.
A separate effort to remove the ban on the sale or transfer to family members of tobacco retailers in the city was sent back to the Planning Commission for review and a recommendation vote. That will return to the city council for a decision at a future meeting.
Antioch’s first constable and mayor, Roswell Butler Hard and The Hard House on Front (now First) Street. Photos courtesy of Antioch Historical Society.
Historian says he helped start the fire in the City’s Chinatown to protect his home
By Allen D. Payton
The Roswell Butler Hard House is one of the remaining historic buildings in Antioch’s downtown Rivertown, and it was built and owned by the city’s first mayor. The Hard House is a state landmark as it was the location of the first meeting of the city’s board of directors on February 6, 1872 – the date of the City’s incorporation. Hard was the first president of the board, which later became the city council, and the brass plaque from the state for the building is currently at the Antioch Historical Museum.
Located at 815 W. First Street, the building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 30, 1993, was once going to be donated to a non-profit organization, Friends of the Hard House. The group planned to reinforce it to earthquake standards and completely restore the building. Other ideas were to turn it into a bistro or offices. But the City dragged its feet and the non-profit’s effort ended as the members got older and the man who was going to do the construction fell ill, and their organization lost its non-profit status from the IRS.
Then the state disbanded all redevelopment agencies in California and tried to take control of the Hard House, as money from the City’s redevelopment agency had been spent to purchase the home. But since it sits on the same lot as the Lynn House, next door, and the lot would have to be subdivided, first, the City was able to keep the Hard House.
Since then, Mayor Lamar Thorpe has proposed using it as office space for the council members, which he suggested at their meeting on Nov. 23, 2021.
The Hard House on W. First Street, today (May 11, 2023). Photo by Allen D. Payton
Burning Chinatown to Protect Hard’s House
According to former Councilwoman Elizabeth Rimbault, a former member of the Antioch Historical Society and co-author of the history book entitled Images of America: Antioch, Mr. Hard was also the city’s first constable and is the one who instigated setting the fire in the Chinese laundry in 1876. But the fire didn’t start there, she shared. It started in the white residents’ area of W. First, Second and Third Streets and was heading toward Chinatown. Two-thirds of the city was already burned down when Hard and others started the fire in the Chinese laundry as a backfire, to keep it from reaching his house on the other side of Chinatown.
They got away with it because the Chinese residents didn’t own the land nor the buildings because by state law they couldn’t, at that time. It was owned by white residents including Hard. But the Chinese residents did own the businesses inside the buildings.
In June 2021, Thorpe and the four other council members signed a resolution they adopted the previous month, apologizing on behalf of the city’s residents for their racism against Chinese immigrants in the late 1800’s including the burning down of the city’s Chinatown. But the resolution didn’t mention the actions of Hard and others nor the reason behind it. (See related article)
Hard was so mean, Rimbault shared, that he literally chased Rev. William Wiggin Smith, one of the community’s two founders, off of his own property. Smith’s original farm was built before Hard built his house right next door and they shared a fence line. When Smith was out of town, Hard would put Smith’s wife and children out on the street trying to evict them and take over their property. Finally, Smith had enough and over a three-day period, he and his son dismantled his farmhouse and moved it on ox-pulled sleds south of the John Marsh estate and rebuilt it there. It was called the Mountain House. That’s where Mountain House Road and the community in San Joaquin County derive their name.
On a side note, after his twin brother, Joseph Horton Smith, died, William bought the point (now called Rodger’s Point where the City’s old boat ramp is located across from the former Red Caboose Restaurant on Fulton Shipyard Road) and lived there, as well.
Rimbault wanted to make sure the Hard House is recognized for its historic value to Antioch and to set the record straight on the burning of Antioch’s Chinatown. But she doesn’t want Mr. Hard recognized. “Because he was a mean son-of-a- you know what,” Rimbault added.
San Francisco—BART riders and others who have stopped using the system or reduced their use dramatically say they would return in significant numbers if crime, safety and cleanliness issues are addressed, according to new polling released today by the Bay Area Council. Concerns about crime far outweigh remote work as the reason they are not riding. The findings offer an encouraging path forward for a system that is teetering on the brink of a fiscal cliff as BART ridership hovers at historic lows following the pandemic.
A Bay Area Council analysis of the poll findings suggests that by taking a much stronger and swifter approach to crime, safety and cleanliness, BART could see up to 300,000 more trips over the course of the workweek, pushing ridership above 50% of pre-pandemic levels.
Key Findings
79% say they feel more comfortable riding BART when there is a uniformed police officer or security present
73% say BART should prioritize adding more uniformed police on trains and in stations
62% say BART should improve fare gates to prevent fare evaders; 66% want fare gates to fully enclose station entrances
79% say BART should eject people from the system that violate the passenger code of conduct, which prohibits drugs, smoking, drinking and other illegal or unacceptable behavior
65% say BART should focus on core operations and leave social service issues to other public agencies
90% put high priority on more frequent cleaning
74% feel things in the Bay Area have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track
Riders and residents overall are crystal clear about what the main barriers are for them to returning to BART. Among all respondents, including those that never or rarely ride BART, 78% said they would ride BART more often if it was significantly cleaner and safer. This number is particularly striking when compared to the far fewer 46% of respondents who stated they would ride BART more often if they had to commute to work or school more frequently.
There is similar enthusiasm for returning to BART among the 37% of respondents who were regular BART riders before the pandemic but have since dramatically curtailed their use of the system or dropped off completely. These riders may represent BART’s best opportunity to bring more riders back to the system more regularly, with 59% saying they would ride BART a lot more often with safety and cleanliness improvements. But they also generally harbor much stronger levels of dissatisfaction with the system than others who are not BART riders.
“There can be no higher priority for BART and the future survival of the system than to direct every ounce of energy and resources into making the system safer and cleaner,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council, which was instrumental in the creation of BART in the 1950s and has long been a champion for the system. “We specifically call on BART to immediately and significantly increase police and security personnel on trains, vigorously enforce the rider code of conduct, and install new fare gates within a year. BART must treat this like a crisis, because it is a crisis. BART is the mass transit backbone of our region and there’s too much at stake for BART and our region not to be more aggressive in addressing the reasons legions of riders are staying away. BART deserves credit for recent moves to increase police presence and ramp up cleaning, but riders and others are saying they must do more and they must do it now.”
The concerns about safety and cleanliness are reflected in overall sour views of the system, with 49% giving BART an unfavorable rating compared to 30% for SF MUNI, 23% for AC Transit and 15% for Caltrain. The poll by EMC Research surveyed 1,000 residents in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and northern San Mateo counties encompassing BART’s service area. The poll has a margin of error of +/-3.1 percentage points.
Having a more visible police presence across the system is critical to bringing riders back. A vast majority of all those surveyed say they want more police officers on trains and in stations, they want more frequent cleaning of train cars and stations, and they want BART to strictly enforce an existing code of rider conduct which outlaws gate-hopping fare cheats, drinking and smoking, drug use and other illegal and dangerous behaviors.
These attitudes shouldn’t come as a big surprise. According to the poll, 53% of residents know of someone who has been a victim of crime on BART, 46% say they have witnessed crime on BART, and 18% say they personally have been a victim on crime on BART. Meanwhile, 44% of BART riders said they have never or rarely seen a police officer.
Expanded portfolio brings a strong mix of larger well-known beverages along with smaller local brands to be delivered by award-winning, locally owned beer and beverage distributor
Antioch, California, May 10, 2023 – Markstein Sales Company, the largest woman-owned and operated wholesale beverage distributor in Northern California, announced today that it has bolstered its product portfolio through the purchase of key brand distribution rights for multiple products from Bay Area Distributing. Through this agreement, Markstein will now be able to provide its customers with even more well-known national brands, as well as local brands, ensuring that all quality beer and beverages have the same opportunity for purchase on the store shelves.
Both Markstein and Bay Area Distributing have deep roots and commitment to their local communities. Bay Area Distributing was established in 1972 by Ken Sodo who recently announced his retirement from the company. Likewise, Markstein has been a strong supporter of the Northern California community for more than 100 years and has grown and expanded its business to service more than 3,000 retail accounts in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
“We wish Ken the best of luck in his retirement as he trusts Markstein to continue bringing the community a strong mix of large and small beverage brands,” said Laura Markstein, President of Markstein Sales Company. “As a company with more than 220 employees living locally, we are proud of supporting our community, whether that is through sponsoring events, funding local organizations, volunteering our time, or helping hard-working local beverage companies get on the coveted store shelf. We work in, live in, and love this community and we are always looking for ways to provide the best service, products, and support to the best region in the world.”
New Brands Coming to Markstein
Some of the additional brands Markstein will now be able to provide its customers include:
Alcoholic Beverages – Asahi, Bear Republic, Drakes, Dust Bowl, Famosa, Farmers, Full Circle, High Water, Shadow Puppet and Two Pictures
Non-Alcoholic Beverages – Calypso, Nestle and Poppi
About
Markstein Sales Company is a fourth-generation, woman-owned and operated wholesale beverage distributor based in Antioch, Calif. Founded in 1919 with just a horse, a wagon and six cases of beer, Markstein is now in its 103rd year and distributing over four million cases annually to 3000 plus retailers in the Bay Area. The company’s portfolio is composed of multiple world-class beers including the Anheuser-Busch InBev family of beers, several high-quality craft beers, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Markstein is known for outstanding customer service, dedication to their employees and commitment to the community, and was voted a 2021 Bay Area Top Workplace. The company continues to rank as best in class by retailers and is one of the top five largest Woman Owned Businesses in the Bay Area. More information can be found at https://www.marksteinsalescompany.com.
Review comes amidst allegations of bigoted text messages and other potentially discriminatory misconduct
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced initiating a civil rights investigation into the Antioch Police Department (APD). The investigation will seek to determine whether the law enforcement agency has engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing amid deeply concerning allegations relating to bigoted text messages and other potentially discriminatory misconduct. If, through this investigation, the Attorney General’s Office determines that unlawful activity or practices took place, the office will also determine what potential actions are needed to ensure comprehensive corrective action takes place at APD. (See related articles here and here)
“It is our job to protect and serve all of our communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Police departments are on the front lines of that fight every day as they work to safeguard the people of our state. However, where there are allegations of potentially pervasive bias or discrimination, it can undermine the trust that is critical for public safety and our justice system. It is our responsibility to ensure that we establish a culture of accountability, professionalism, and zero tolerance for hateful or racist behavior, on or off duty.”
Under the California Constitution and California Civil Code section 52.3, the Attorney General is authorized to conduct civil investigations into whether a law enforcement agency has engaged in a pattern or practice of violating state or federal law. As opposed to a criminal investigation into an individual incident or incidents, a pattern or practice investigation typically works to identify and, as appropriate, compel the correction of systemic violations of the constitutional rights of the community at large by a law enforcement agency. With regard to the Antioch Police Department, the Attorney General has made no determinations at this time about specific complaints, allegations, or the agency’s overall policies and practices. The Attorney General’s independent investigation of APD is separate from ongoing or potential administrative or criminal investigations at the local and federal levels.
As interaction and cooperation with the community is at the core of law enforcement’s work to provide public safety and create public trust, the Attorney General encourages anyone with information relevant to this investigation to contact the California Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section at Police-Practices@doj.ca.gov. Members of the public may also send information to the California Department of Justice in other languages. During the course of the investigation, attorneys and special agents at the California Department of Justice will work diligently to consider all relevant information, including from community members and organizations, local officials, oversight entities, Antioch Police Department, and individual officers.
Attorney General Bonta is committed to strengthening trust between local law enforcement and the communities they serve as one key part of the broader effort to increase public safety for all Californians. In February, Attorney General Bonta launched an investigation into allegations of excessive force at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Last year, the Attorney General assumed responsibility for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation related to contracts awarded to a local nonprofit. He worked with authorities in San Francisco to help ensure the continuation of local oversight efforts related to officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and severe uses of force. Attorney General Bonta also opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. In 2021, the Attorney General launched an independent review of the Torrance Police Department and secured a stipulated judgment against the Bakersfield Police Department requiring an extensive range of actions to promote public safety. Attorney General Bonta also established the Racial Justice Bureau within the Civil Rights Enforcement Section to, among other things, help address issues of implicit and explicit bias in policing.
The APD Rescue Vehicle, a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, is an example of military equipment periodically used by the department. Herald file photo.
By PIO Ashley Crandell, Antioch Police Department
On Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. the Antioch Police Department is hosting a community meeting pertaining to Assembly Bill (AB) 481 – Military Equipment Policy (#706) Annual Report.
This meeting allows the community the opportunity to discuss and ask questions regarding the annual military equipment report and the law enforcement agency’s funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment.
In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The Antioch Historical Society is pleased to announce a symposium in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It will take place on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Museum, 1500 W. 4th Street, in Antioch. Though the event is free, attendees will need to reserve a spot through Eventbrite or by calling the Museum at (925) 757-1326,
The topic of the historical symposium is “Asian American History in the Antioch Area: Trials and Triumphs.” The MC of the event will be Dr. Hans Ho. An esteemed lineup of Asian American leaders and authors will speak: Dr. Richard Tenaza, Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at University of the Pacific, and past president of the Filipino American National Historical Society Museum in Stockton; Professor Bruce Quan, retired lawyer and law professor in both California (UC Hastings) and China, author of Bitter Roots: Five generations of a Chinese family in America, about his and his family’s experiences; Ms. Marsha Cheung-Golangco, an author, speaker and consultant on environmental Feng Shui, Bay Area Region President of APAPA, and co-founder of Sustainable Contra Costa; and Professor Jean Pfaelzer, author of Driven Out: the forgotten war against Chinese Americans, one of the New York Times “100 Notable Books of the Year in 2007, plusa number of other titles; she appeared in the 2017 PBS documentary, “The Chinese Exclusion Act,” and she speaks on NPR and Pacifica on labor and immigration.
To kickoff the day’s program, the Museum will receive the official donation of a special framed proclamation. On April 14, 2020, at a news conference Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe signed a proclamation condemning hate against Asians and Pacific Islanders. When Thorpe heard about the experience of Alfred Chan of Oakland, WWII Navy veteran who was refused service in an Antioch restaurant in the 1940s, he presented the framed, signed proclamation to Chan in November 2022. Alfred Chan passed away earlier this year at 98 years of age. On behalf of his family, Chan’s son Ron will officially donate the proclamation to the Museum.
To promote access to effective civic engagement and service learning for 12th graders
AUSD is pleased to announce that we have been awarded the California Serves Grant, a total of $499,911.00 in grant monies. The 2022 California State Budget established the California Serves Program (California Education Code [EC] Section 51475), a collaboration between the California Department of Education (CDE) and CaliforniaVolunteers. The California Serves Program will promote access to effective service learning for students in grade twelve, with the goal of expanding access for high school graduates in obtaining a State Seal of Civic Engagement through service learning.
According to the CDA website, “On September 10, 2020, the State Board of Education adopted criteria and guidance to award a State Seal of Civic Engagement to California students who demonstrate excellence in civics education and participation, and an understanding of the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and the democratic system of government.” (Note: California has a Republican Form of Government, as required of all states to be admitted to the Union, and is guaranteed by the U.S. as written in Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution).
AUSD California Serves Grant Plan
The Learning through Serving project will implement a new two-course sequence to engage all AUSD students in meaningful civics education that incorporates high-quality democratic education, civic-mindedness, community engagement, and experiential learning through an evidence-based approach. The initiative will expand access and promote equity by allowing all AUSD 12th-grade students to complete the State Seal of Civics Education – a credential to which AUSD students currently do not have access.
With Learning through Serving, AUSD will finalize implementing a new course sequence for the senior year of high school, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. This sequence includes a newly approved Ethnic Studies course that pushes students to think more deeply about the world around them, including race, culture, interaction, civic engagement, and inspirational action to improve society. We will also create a new capstone project course to build onto the Ethnic Studies course, creating a year-long sequence for all Antioch seniors.
This new course sequence would become a required component of the program of study, with all AUSD 12th grade students completing the courses. Over the three-year project, an estimated 2,788 students will complete the courses across three high schools. Through increased engagement and opportunities for meaningful reflection, AUSD will indirectly address student connectedness, motivation, and participation. Additionally, the combination of professional development, education, training, and expanded course delivery will increase district-wide capacity to support long-term improvements in student academic, personal, and social-emotional outcomes.
