The commission is a voluntary body appointed by the county Board of Supervisors that makes policy recommendations to the board and county staff regarding hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
WHO: The commission’s 14 members and alternates serve 4-year terms and include representatives from industry, labor, civic groups, environmental organizations, environmental engineers, the public and elected officials.
Open seats include the General Public Alternate and Environmental Organization Alternate seats. Alternates must be prepared to fill in as needed when commission members are not available to attend or vote.
Applicants must live or work in Contra Costa, have a demonstrated interest in hazardous materials issues, an understanding and commitment to the principles of environmental justice as defined in county policy, and be able to attend monthly meetings as needed. Candidates for the Environmental Organization Alternate seat should represent an environmental organization to which they belong.
HOW: Applications are available from Michael Kent, the executive assistant to the commission, at 925-250-3227 or mkent@cchealth.org, or from the Clerk of the Board at 1025 Escobar St., First Floor, in Martinez.
Creating the Blueprint is a key step in developing Plan Bay Area 2050+.
Public engagement is a fundamental element of the plan update process.
September 6th workshop in Contra Costa; Deadline for comment: September 7, 2023
The Plan Bay Area 2050+ Blueprint will integrate strategies across the four elements of the plan — the economy, the environment, housing and transportation — to create a more equitable and resilient future for all.
Beginning in summer 2023 and wrapping up in late 2024, staff will develop the Blueprint over two phases: the Draft Blueprint and the Final Blueprint. Given Plan Bay Area 2050’s solid foundation of 35 strategies, the Draft Blueprint phase for Plan Bay Area 2050+ will focus on making targeted refinements to select plan strategies. (See Plan Bay Area 2050 Executive Summary)
Assumptions for the select Blueprint strategies will be refined to reflect ongoing implementation efforts from Plan Bay Area 2050, while also leveraging findings from previous planning efforts that may be relevant to the post-COVID environment.
Equity and performance analyses will also be conducted during the Draft Blueprint phase to evaluate how the plan’s strategies are supporting progress towards making the Bay Area more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant for all.
Furthermore, Transit 2050+ — the comprehensive re-thinking of the six transit-related strategies in Plan Bay Area 2050’s transportation element — will develop an integrated regional transit network that will be incorporated into the Final Blueprint.
While still remaining fiscally constrained per federal planning requirements, the focused plan update approach will consider whether to pursue targeted updates to — or to reaffirm — the Regional Growth Forecast (while maintaining its forecast methodology), as well as to the External Forces, the Growth Geographies and the Needs and Revenue Forecasts.
Culminating in late 2024, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will consider adoption of the Final Blueprint, which will then move forward in the plan update process as the preferred alternative for environmental review.
Photo: Plan Bay Area
Getting Involved
Creating the Blueprint is a key first step toward updating the plan itself, and thus the Blueprint planning phase will require iteration and deep engagement of the public, partners and elected officials.
A first step in developing the Blueprint is to better understand what has changed as the region emerges from the pandemic. This summer, MTC and ABAG staff will be traveling across the region to speak to the community to understand how life has changed for individuals as the Bay Area enters the “new normal.”
MTC and ABAG are taking input from community members and partners to help inform the development of the Draft Blueprint.
You can make your voice heard in a variety of ways! Attend a pop-up workshop near you; participate in our survey; or submit comments via email, telephone or mail.
Find an event near you and join the conversation to help staff better understand how the last three years have impacted life across the Bay Area.
Participate in Our Survey
A first step in updating the plan is to better understand what has changed for you as the region emerges from the pandemic. MTC and ABAG want to learn how the “new normal” may be impacting your life.
The survey also will help inform the development of Transit 2050+, a parallel long-range planning effort that will produce a first-of-its-kind plan to re-envision the future of the public transit network in the nine-county Bay Area, and the expenditure plan for a potential transportation revenue measure. The revenue measure is key in advancing implementation of Plan Bay Area.
Join a Pop-up Workshop
This summer, MTC and ABAG staff will be traveling across the region to speak to the community to understand how life has changed for individuals as the Bay Area emerges from the pandemic. Attend a pop-up workshop near you and tell us what the “new normal” means to you.
For possible “crimes of moral turpitude” following federal grand jury indictment; APOA, Mayor Thorpe issue statements, he calls it “a dark day in our city’s history”; task force set up in parking lot of John Muir Health Brentwood Outpatient Center
By Allen D. Payton
According to an exclusive report by the Mercury News, the Antioch and Pittsburg police officers were arrested by the FBI during raids, Thursday morning, August, 17, 2023. The officers have been under investigation by both the FBI and Contra Costa DA’s Office since early 2022. That followed an indictment issued by the Federal Grand Jury in San Francisco on Wednesday. The details of the indictment have yet to be revealed but are expected to during a press conference scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today.
FBI task force drew a map of homes in the John Muir Health – Brentwood parking lot in preparation for their raids on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. Source chose to remain anonymous
Task Force Set Up at John Muir Health in Brentwood
According to a source who chose to remain anonymous, the FBI task force set up in the parking lot of John Muir Health’s Brentwood Outpatient Center on Balfour Road near Highway 4. There were about 20 cars carrying agents, two riot vehicles, and a Life Flight helicopter on stand-by.
As previously reported, the investigation was for alleged “crimes of moral turpitude” defined as “conduct that shocks the public conscience or, which does not fall within the moral standards held by the community.”
The names of the officers and details of their alleged crimes were inadvertently revealed in a report issued by the DA’s Office, earlier this year, that was not properly redacted.
The officers are being investigated “for violations of the following federal offenses; Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(A), distribution, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Section 843(b) illegal use of the mail in furtherance of narcotic trafficking; Title 18, USC, 1503 Obstruction of Justice; Section 846, attempt and conspiracy to commit the foregoing offenses; Section 241, Conspiracy for two or more persons to agree to injure, threaten, or intimidate a person in the United States in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege; and Section 242, a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. The CCCDAO is investigating these officers for assault under the color of authority, bribery, embezzlement, possession of controlled substances (steroids) for sale, knowing or offering any false or forged instruments, possession, and sales of assault weapons, and attempt and conspiracy to commit the foregoing offenses. The CCCDAO is also reviewing whether any of the above listed individuals have violated Penal Code (PC) section 745, the Racial Justice Act, which prohibits the use of race, ethnicity, or national origin by a law enforcement officer in pursuit of a conviction or sentence.”
The names of the officers under investigation by the FBI and DA revealed in the improperly redacted report were included in the following information:
“On 03/22/2022, the Honorable Presiding Judge Rebecca C. Hardie, Judge of the Superior Court of California, Contra Costa County, signed a search warrant under seal authored by CCCDAO Senior Inspector Larry J. Wallace for the seizure and search of the following cellular telephones: Pittsburg Police Officer Willie Glasper, (redacted phone number); Pittsburg Police Officer Brauli Rodriguez Jalapa, (redacted phone number); Pittsburg Police Officer Ernesto Juan Mejia-Orozco, (redacted phone number); Pittsburg Police Officer James Robert Anderson, (redacted phone number); Antioch Police Officer Ben C. Padilla, (redacted phone number); Antioch Police Officer Eric Rombough, (redacted phone number); Antioch Police Officer Devon Wenger, (redacted phone number); and Antioch Police Officer Andrea Rodriguez, (redacted phone number). The search warrants and affidavits were signed under seal and filed with the Martinez Superior Court.
On 03/22/22, the Honorable Laurel Beeler, United States Magistrate, Northern District of California, signed a federal search warrant under seal authored by FBI Special Agent (SA) Thuy Zoback for the seizure of the following cellular telephones: Pittsburg Police Officer Armando Montalvo; Pittsburg Police Officer Patrick Berhan; (now former) Antioch Police Officer Timothy Manly Williams; Antioch Police Officer Morteza Amiri, Antioch Police Officer Nicholas Shipilov; Antioch Police Officer Eric Rombough; Antioch Police Officer Daniel Harris; and Antioch Police Officer Calvin Prieto. The purpose of the search warrants were to seize electronic communications; such as, but not limited to the following: records and communications indicating the possession, use, purchase, sale, distribution, transfer, theft, and/or concealment of controlled substances, including books, receipts, notes, ledgers, pay and owe sheets, correspondence, records noting price, quantity, date and times when controlled substances were purchased, possessed, transferred, distributed, sold or concealed.
On 03/23/2022, sworn law enforcement members of the CCCDAO and the FBI retrieved the above listed cellular telephones from the above listed sworn law enforcement members of the Pittsburg and Antioch Police Departments. Law enforcement members from the CCCDAO and the FBI downloaded/extracted electronic cellular data communications from the above listed cellular telephones. A thorough review of the electronic cellular data communications took place for the past year.”
However, which officers were arrested Thursday morning has not yet been confirmed. The Antioch officers have been on paid administrative leave since the beginning of the investigation.
Antioch Police Officers Association Issues Statement
The Antioch Police Officers APOA issued a brief statement posted on their Facebook page Thursday morning. It reads, “The APOA has learned that several of our current and former members have been indicted by the FBI at the culmination of their investigation into members of the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments. We are saddened to learn of what has happened and look forward to the legal process playing itself out. We are committed to still providing quality service to the citizens of Antioch and also providing support for our members who are still working through this difficult time.
“Today is a dark day in our city’s history, as people trusted to uphold the law, allegedly breached that trust and were arrested by the FBI.
As our city absorbs this tragic news, we must come together as one. Today’s actions are the beginning of the end of a long and arduous process.
To those that have accused me and others of being anti-police for seeking to reform the Antioch Police Department, today’s arrests are demonstrative of the issues that have plagued the Antioch Police Department for decades.
Seeking to reform the Antioch Police Department is not anti-police, it is pro our residents, and pro officers that have served and continue to serve with honor.’
-Office of the Mayor”
Efforts to reach APOA’s attorney, Mike Rains, for comment were unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
On August 15, 2023 at approximately 3:25PM the Oakley Police Department was dispatched to Delta Vista Middle School because of two guardians being in a very heated verbal exchange with one another. After de-escalating the dispute one of our officers remained in the area.
Approximately 15 minutes later our officer became aware of another altercation occurring at the school and he was quickly intervening in the situation. Our officer was met by the same people being involved in a heated verbal altercation, but this time other people were yelling somebody was armed with a knife. Our officer called for emergency assistance, which prompted a fairly large police presence at the school. Our officer witnessed an adult female (Yvette Carmilla Brice 61, Antioch), armed with a knife, yelling at other adults. The female who had the knife was clearly angry and she seemed like she was ready to use the knife against the other adults. A gathering of school kids were also present.
Our officers moved in to get everybody separated and ensure the safety of the kids. As our officers took this action Brice moved closer to the people she was angry with and she moved the knife into an even more threatening position. Fearing a deadly situation was about to take place one of our officers drew his handgun and prepared to use it to protect the kids who were nearby. Our officers then forcibly took Brice into custody with nobody being hurt. As our officers were taking Brice into custody several students broke out into mutual combat type fights with each other, even while school staff and our officers were actively trying to keep the peace.
Our officers detained two female juveniles during this incident. The juveniles are aged 13 years old and 15 years old. The juveniles were not armed and were only engaged in mutual combat. The two juveniles were released to a family member and any Delta Vista student will be managed by the school district.
Brice was arrested for bringing a weapon onto school grounds, assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats.
What happened at Delta Vista Middle School is disheartening and unacceptable by all means. I am grateful nobody was hurt in this incident, and I am proud of our officer who had the presence of mind to make sure everything was going to be okay. This situation could have gone horribly wrong. I am thankful it did not turn out that way and I am grateful we had police officers and school staff members intervening and standing in the way of what could have happened. We urge the adults in our society to be good and positive role models. Today so many kids got to see positive role models at work and examples of what not to be.
Brice was booked into jail Tuesday night.
As of Wednesday morning, she had bonded out of custody.
A car spinning donuts at the Antioch boat ramp parking lot in July 2023 and an example of an automated license plate reader. Source: (left) Herald file photo and (right) Flock Safety
“We’re just not going to put up with it anymore,” Sean McCauley downtown Antioch business and property owner.
Barbanica requests process to hire private security guards begun last year to continue
By Allen D. Payton
During a meeting at Antioch City Hall, Tuesday, August 15, 2023, which included city staff, Rivertown business and property owners and District 3 Councilman Mike Barbanica, it was decided a solution to the problem of sideshows, cars doing donuts and gunfire in downtown, city-owned parking lots will be cameras and automated license plate readers.
In the meeting were Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, Police Lt. John Fortner, the owners of Monica’s Riverview and Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill, Sean McCauley, who owns several buildings in Rivertown, and Barbanica.
“It was a very productive meeting,” the District 3 councilman shared. “My position is still zero-tolerance and anyone participating in sideshows.”
“I made a request for license plates readers and cameras in the city-owned parking lots north of W. Second Street,” he stated. “I’m probably going to add the one next to the Senior Center, as well.”
“We’re just not going to put up with it anymore,” McCauley said. “We have meetings once a month. It’s a public private partnership.”
Barbanica said, “Sean has offered to pay for the equipment. But this is a city problem, and the city should pay for it.”
Asked if he’d requested it for next Tuesday’s council meeting agenda, Barbanica responded, “Requested it ASAP.”
Asked if it requires council action or if APD can pay for it from their budget, Fortner responded, “Both can technically happen. Historically, the PD has run with the city’s Community Camera Project, and we would budget for that. If a larger project cane up over $50K that has to go to council to be approved.”
Later, Barbanica spoke about the RFQ (Request for Quote) process for hiring private security guards approved by the city council last year.
As previously reported, during their meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, the Antioch City Council voted to adopt a resolution to develop a comprehensive Downtown/Rivertown Public Parking Lots Security Plan and authorize the City Manager to issue a Request for Qualifications for a private patrol security service either on and/or near Downtown/Rivertown Area City-Owned public parking lots or other designated downtown areas. District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock included other city owned parking lots in “southeast” in her motion which passed on a 5-0 vote.
“Four proposals were received in February for patrolling the downtown parking lots,” Barbanica shared. “I asked Kwame to follow up on that and continue the process.”
Later, Lynn Tei, who with her husband, Randy, owns Smith’s Landing said, “Something has to be done even if this isn’t the best solution to stop the craziness. But at least it’s something. We’ve added security on the weekends since we are getting so many calls asking if it is safe to come to the restaurant. Plus, we are concerned for our employees’ safety.”
Richard Hobin. Source: Hobin & Hobin LLP Attorneys at Law
ANTIOCH – On Friday August 11, 2023 Governor Newsom appointed Richard Hobin of Antioch to the 23rd District Agricultural Association, Contra Costa County Fair Board of Directors.
Hobin has been the owner and an attorney at Hobin & Hobin LLP since 1977. He served at the rank of O-3 in the U.S. Navy in 1974. Hobin is a member of the Lone Tree Golf Course Board of Directors, the Contra Costa County Bar Association, the California State Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Rotary Club of the Delta.
He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Fair CEO Joe Brengle stated that he is excited to have Hobin as a Board Member.
The next Contra Costa County Fair Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2023. For noard meeting agendas visit the Fair’s website at www.contracostafair.com.
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Contra Costa County Fair May 16 – 19, with the theme “To FAIR and Beyond”.
Championship contenders Troy Foulger #49 and Andrew Pearce #15p battling Randy Shafer #22 and Nick DeCarlo #17 in IMCA Modified competition. Photo by Katrina Kniss
By Candice Martin, DCRR Racing Media
Antioch, CA…On the heels of a successful Fan Appreciation Night and the well supported practice that followed, racing resumes this Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.
Back in action are the popular IMCA sanctioned Modifieds, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars, and the three divisions have just two point races left to go. Also competing will be the Delta Dwarf Cars and a special Print Club Mini Stock race.
Troy Foulger of Oakley and Bowers Motorsports weren’t necessarily planning to run for points this season, but that’s how it turned out. The team prefers to run at different venues when the bigger money is on the line, and frequently they leave with big prize money. In this case, the team started winning early on and found themselves leading two championship battles.
The Bowers name is synonymous with winning races at Antioch Speedway. From the days of the Hall of Fame duo Bill Bowers and JD Willis teaming up to win many Main Events and several championships to Billy Bowers and Foulger, they keep getting the job done.
In fact, the team had their Modified at the track for practice last week to try and pick up a little bit of speed. IMCA National rookie leader and State point leader Andrew Pearce of Oakley has won the last two races. That doesn’t sit well with the Bowers team.
Foulger still leads Pearce in the Modified ranks, 336-314, but the last win for Pearce gives him a 4 to 3 advantage in Main Event wins. The title will come down between these two, while reigning champion Nick DeCarlo of Martinez leads Jeff Browne of Oakley in the race for third, 214-186.
Just 30 points behind Browne you’ll find 2019 champion Buddy Kniss of Oakley. The popular Modified division has been at the Speedway since 1990, and this is the 34th championship run for the class.
IMCA Stock Car point leader Troy Foulger #49 battles Scott Foster #22s and Travis Dutra #22. Photo by Katrina Kniss
In the IMCA Stock Car ranks, Foulger again only has one driver to worry about. In this case, it’s Jason Robles of Rio Vista, who trails by 32 markers. Robles takes on a big role at the speedway as a primary track preparations expert, running the heavy equipment.
Jason is still looking for his first win of the season and has finished as high as second three times. Foulger, however, has won seven races, which has also helped propel him into the IMCA State point lead. It’s been a banner year for the team.
Jason’s son Kenneth Robles of Rio Vista has a solid hold on third in the standings as reigning champion Travis Dutra of Concord has fallen out of the battle. Dutra is only four points ahead of Oakley’s Scott Foster. Foster has been supporting the class pretty well this year as he picks up a little speed with each race.
You won’t find the DeCarlo name high in the point battle, but both Nick DeCarlo and Terry DeCarlo Jr of Martinez are Main Event winners in recent races.
Turning attention to the IMCA Sport Modified ranks, Jason Ryan Jr of Oakley is on a pace to collect a pair of championships. The IMCA State title seems well in hand after Ryan picked up his fourth Watsonville win last week.
However, the three-time Antioch winner has to contend with Kenny Shrader of Pacheco in the track title chase. Shrader got his third win last time out, keeping him four points out of the lead. This battle will go down to the wire.
IMCA Sport Modified title contender Mark Garner #76, Dylan Connelly #6 and Matt Pitts #16 racing hard. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Though he hasn’t won yet this season, Mark Garner of Antioch has been very consistent with six Top 5 efforts. He’s just nine points out of the lead and three ahead of three-time Antioch champion Trevor Clymens of Brentwood.
Jacob Mallet, Jr. is last year’s State champion, and he has a 23-point lead over Joseph Pato in the race for fifth. 28 points back in seventh is the top rookie, Billy Garner of Antioch.
We haven’t seen enough of the Delta Dwarf Cars this year, but we have a fierce battle on our hands between Chance Russell of Antioch and Devan Kammermann of Dublin. Russell leads by just four points going into this race. He is a one-time winner, while Kameramann has picked up two victories.
Quietly, Tracy’s Joe LeDuc has crept into third in the standings, 20 points ahead of David Michael Rosa of Antioch and 22 in front of Travis Day of Concord. Sean Catucci of Antioch was back at practice last week and making good laps as he’s set to return this week.
Last year’s Print Club Mini Stock championship runner-up, Laina Bales of Antioch, lined up some sponsorship to give the division a purse this week. They don’t normally pay down the entire field, but they will on this occasion.
There could be some visitors In town as drivers compete for the increased prize money. This race will also be an opportunity for the local drivers to get things in order as the West Coast Sport Compacts hit the speedway the following week with their competitive tour.
A look at the track points finds Tom Davis of Los Molinos with a solid hold on the lead, 85 points ahead of reigning champion Tom Brown of Santa Rosa. Davis has picked up six wins, but Brown has been shut out.
Brown took a tumble off of a ladder a few weeks ago and suffered a collapsed lung, taking him out of the most recent Antioch race. Brown won at Petaluma last week, keeping him on the path to winning his third championship in a row there.
Reigning Mini Stock champion Tom Brown #3r battles Chris Corder #68c, Tony Quinonez #73 and Dana Gardner #37. Photo by Katrina Kniss
At Antioch, Brown leads Tony Quinonez of Corning by 27 points in the race for second. Quininez got his first win of the season last time out. Top rookie David Carson is now fourth in the standings, just four points ahead of Pittsburgh’s Don Abitz and 19 in front of Dana Gardner of San Bruno.
The IMCA storylines are certainly interesting. Nobody has ever won two championships in the same season at the track, but Foulger has that in his crosshairs along with an unprecedented sixth Modified title.
There are also the close battles in the Delta Dwarf Cars and IMCA Sport Modifieds to consider. The drivers will be giving it all they have to try to move up a little bit higher in the standings. It’ll be a good night of racing from start to finish.
The gates will open at 4:00 with the first race starting at 6:00. Adult tickets are $20, Senior/Military $15, Kids (5-12) $15 and kids four and under free.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker caught up with California Gov. Gavin Newsom to see which of the Democratic leaders that oversee sanctuary states can do the most to accommodate their immigrant community at citizens’ expense.
Prior to Jan. 1, 2023, candidates for California police officers’ jobs were required to be either citizens or permanent residents to qualify. But a law Newsom signed, Senate Bill 960, opened law enforcement positions up to any California resident who possesses either a green card or a valid visa. The new law took effect January 1, 2023.
In July 2023, Pritzker signed HB3751, a bill similar to California’s, that will allow individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States to apply for the position of police officer, deputy sheriff or special policeman, subject to satisfying that job’s specified requirements. Illinois’ applicant pool would, like California’s, include deferred action for childhood arrival recipients (DACAs), lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and temporary protected status (TPS) holders.
Illinois has more than 35,000 DACAs and about 30,000 LPRs. By-state statistics on TPS are unavailable, but because that program has expanded dramatically since President Biden’s inauguration, it represents a significant total. Currently, 15 nations have been granted TPS, and if history is a guide, their status will never be revoked. Instead, the TPS designees’ list will grow longer. Pritzker’s folly will begin January 1, 2024.
Founded in 1915, the Illinois-based Fraternal Order of Police, the nation’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, strongly objected to HB3751. The group noted that police officers’ main function is to enforce the law and to ensure that people in their jurisdictions abide by all applicable laws. The union promised that it will “welcome these potential police recruits with open arms once their citizenship status is solidified, and look forward to the unique perspective they can bring to our profession.”
But the FOP asked what message does the legislation send when noncitizens become enforcers of our laws? “This is a potential crisis of confidence in law enforcement at a time when our officers need all of the public confidence they can get.” Making an important point that the FOP overlooked, Republican Illinois State Sen. Chapin Rose added: “It would be a ‘fundamental breach’ of democracy to allow noncitizens to arrest American citizens.”
Pritzker, in a half-truth-filled defense of his controversial legislation, said that about 20 years ago, post-9/11, Chicago and Illinois went on a hiring spree to safeguard against terrorist attacks. Those officers are now eligible for retirement and are leaving the force. Although Chicago’s crime rates are trending down this summer, they remain dangerously high. During a recent weekend, six people were shot and killed, and 27 others were wounded by gunfire, including innocent pedestrians.
Chicago’s police are increasingly frustrated by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s illogical limitations on their ability to carry out their duties. For example, officers can’t give chase to fleeing criminals because they’re suspected of having committed minor offenses. Under new Mayor Brandon Johnson, the road ahead for cops may be even rockier. Johnson promised during his campaign to eliminate Chicago’s gang database, a vital tool, and to redirect police funding to social services agencies. Johnson avoided using the phrase “defund the police,” but the end result will be the same. He also recently called events tantamount to riots just “large gatherings .”
If Newsom, Pritzker and Chicago’s administrators governed with more commonsense and less WOKENESS, Illinois and California wouldn’t have driven so many citizens out of those well-paid police jobs that include generous benefits packages. Often noncitizens’ backgrounds are murky; perhaps their ties to their homeland governments will outweigh their fealty to the U.S. If so, the bill put forth by Newsom and Pritzker will create long-term security risks.
