Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership program receives $400K

The Resilient Workforce Program invests in opportunities that advance job quality, environmental resilience

By Anna Champe, Communications Manager, California Workforce Development Board

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB), in partnership with the Labor & Workforce Development Agency, recently awarded $33,155,915 to nine projects across the state to advance High Road Training Partnerships (HRTPs) that move underserved populations into better jobs.

Monday’s funding announcement is part of a larger, multi-level investment to advance state workforce development efforts to prioritize equity, quality jobs, and climate resilience

while meeting regional labor market needs. With the addition of these nine new projects, California is investing more than $260 million in nearly 100 active state-funded HRTPs.

The Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership received $400,000 in RWF funding in Spring/Summer 2022.

“Funding for existing HRTPs, which invest in industry-led worker-informed efforts, deliver on Governor Newsom’s promise of a California for All,” said California Workforce Development Board Chief Deputy Director Curtis Notsinneh. “California continues to lead the nation in investments that recognize and lift up a middle-class, while meeting the skills needs of our employers to stay competitive and innovative.”

Projects receiving funding include:

• $7.5 million for High Road to Tribal Forest Restoration and Stewardship – expands job pathways with living wages for underserved tribal and rural populations, including tree and native plant nursery work, forest health, and forest and meadow restoration.
• $5.1 million for Early Care & Education Pathways to Success – this existing apprenticeship program will expand to new under-sourced regions and serve 655 new apprentices to earn certifications in education serving Pre-K to Third-grade students.
• $5 million for Vocational English as a Second Language Home Care Immersion Training Program – Homebridge will partner with SEIU Local 2015 to provide language skills and advanced home care training to immigrant, refugee, and formerly incarcerated populations. Participants will immediately earn $25 an hour after graduating and have opportunities for advancement.
• $5 million for Dental Assistant Training Program – will scale successful earn-as-you-learn bootcamps to more regions and fill the gap between unlicensed dental assistants and licensed Registered Dental Assistants. Target populations include low-wage workers, communities of color, youth, immigrants, and workers without a college degree.

Contra Costa Harnessing Change: Refinery Transition Partnership (CCRTP)

Contra Costa County (CCC) communities, particularly low-income communities of color, bear major health burdens inflicted by the refineries and their toxic emissions. Additionally, the Bay Area refineries emit significant amounts of climate warming greenhouse gasses, posing one of the state’s most significant challenges to climate resilience. As California works to establish a carbon neutral economy, the oil refining sector will unavoidably undergo a massive transition. This transition is already taking place in CCC, where two of the four refineries are transitioning to biofuels, resulting in a significant workforce reduction–most notably at the Marathon Martinez Refinery, which laid off approximately 700 workers in 2020.

The Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership (CCRTP) is the first effort to bring together frontline workers and community organizations to plan for refinery transition. CCCRTP brings together CCC oil refinery workers, the refinery community, allies, and high-road industry stakeholders to develop shared strategies to prepare for this significant economic shift, including leading research and developing policy recommendations to support refinery communities and workers, as well as the development of a regional high-road economic development vision to advance CCC’s economic resilience as the state transitions to a low-carbon economy.

This project addresses the critical need to plan for economic transition in one of California’s most oil-industry dependent counties, through deep engagement and shared visioning led by impacted workers and community members themselves, in partnership with the broader community of stakeholders.

Project Highlights

• Strengthen the CCRTP for the long-term, as a coalition of frontline workers, community organizations and allies.

• Complete and publish a detailed report and recommendations on planning for refinery transition in the Bay Area.

• Complete and publish a Contra Costa High Road Economic Development Vision.

Key Partners

• Contra Costa Central Labor Council
• BlueGreen Alliance Foundation
• United Steelworkers District 12
• United Steelworkers Local 5
• UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 342
• Asian Pacific Environmental Network
• California Labor Federation, Workforce & Economic Development (WED)
• UC Berkeley Labor Center

A complete list of awardees can be found on CWDB’s website.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

SB644 allows 24-hour hotel booking cancellations with full refund

By Steven Harmon, Office of State Senator Steve Glazer

SACRAMENTO – Consumers will be able to make cancellations with a full refund, at no charge, up to 24 hours after they make a booking with hotels, short-term rentals and third-party booking services if they book at least 72 hours before their stay under a bill signed Tuesday by Governor Gavin Newsom.

“This first-in-the-nation law will end the confusing maze of misleading cancellation policies for lodging on the Internet,” said Senator Glazer (D-Orinda, CA7), author of the bill, SB 644. “Now, consumers will have a chance to correct mistakes and cancel bookings they hadn’t intended to make and get a full refund.”

According to the California Legislative Information website, the new law reads as follows:

“SEC. 3. CHAPTER  2. Hotel and Private Residence Rental Reservation Refunds

A hosting platform, hotel, third-party booking service, or short-term rental shall allow a reservation for a hotel accommodation or a short-term rental located in California to be canceled without penalty for at least 24 hours after the reservation is confirmed if the reservation is made 72 hours or more before the time of check-in.

1748.82.

 (a) If a consumer cancels a reservation pursuant to Section 1748.81, the hosting platform, hotel, third-party booking service, or short-term rental shall issue a refund to a consumer of all amounts paid to the hosting platform, hotel, third-party booking service, or short-term rental to the original form of payment within 30 days of the cancellation of the reservation.

(b) The refund required by this section shall include a refund of all fees charged to the consumer for optional services.”

Glazer represents most of Contra Costa County.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Supes Gioia, Burgis lead Contra Costa Resilient Shoreline Ad Hoc Committee

Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom

By Ryan Hernandez, Principal Planner, Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development

With warmer temperatures and more extreme weather, sea level rise modeling indicates Contra Costa County’s shoreline, which includes a variety of residential, business, industrial, infrastructure and natural sites, can expect to be subject to more severe and frequent flooding.

To address sea level rise, the Board established the Contra Costa Resilient Shoreline Ad Hoc Committee at the May 16, 2023, Board of Supervisors meeting. Supervisor John Gioia, whose district borders the San Francisco Bay, was appointed as Chair, and Supervisor Diane Burgis, whose district borders the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Funded through Measure X, the Committee will develop recommendations to the Board on work the County can do to plan for sea level rise and improve shoreline resiliency, which could potentially include a sea level rise resilience and adaptation plan. This would build on the County’s past work on collaborative regional efforts to characterize sea level rise risks with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the Delta Stewardship Council.

The Plan could include recommendations for built and natural infrastructure improvements and potential land use planning changes, implementation strategies, and participatory engagement opportunities for stakeholders. With the creation of this Committee, the County will be better prepared to adapt to rising sea levels with strategies specific to the current and future needs of Contra Costa communities.

The Contra Costa Resilient Shoreline Ad Hoc Committee’s first meeting will occur on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom with in-person meeting locations listed in the published agenda packet. To sign up for email updates, visit the Contra Costa Legistar website.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Between Lone Tree Way and Sand Creek Road

Single-lane closures Wed.-Sat. nights, Oct. 11-14

By City of Brentwood

The construction of the Mokelumne Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing span over State Route 4 (“SR4”) in Brentwood requires a temporary nighttime freeway closure in both directions for two consecutive nights.  Additionally, there will be single lane closures for several subsequent nights.   

 The highway will be closed in both directions, between Lone Tree Way and Sand Creek Road on the following dates/times:   

Monday, October 9, 2023 from 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., the following morning.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 from 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., the following morning.

Detours will be in place as follows:

Eastbound traffic will be directed to exit at Lone Tree Way, go eastbound to Shady Willow Lane, then southbound on Shady Willow Lane to Sand Creek Road, before proceeding westbound on Sand Creek Road to the eastbound State Route 4 on-ramp.

Westbound traffic will exit on Sand Creek Road and go eastbound on Sand Creek Road to Shady Willow Lane, then northbound on Shady Willow Lane to Lone Tree Way, and proceed westbound on Lone Tree Way to the westbound State Route 4 on-ramp.

There will be single-lane closures in the eastbound and westbound directions on the following dates/times:

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 from 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., the following morning.

Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m., the following morning.

Friday, October 13, 2023 from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m., the following morning.

Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 11:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m., the following morning.

Visit the Mokelumne Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing web site for more information on the project.

Blames greed for challenges renters face; takes swipes at two council members who haven’t supported the council majority’s “progressive” policies

“You’re either with us, standing with us, making a difference or you’re not.” – Mayor Lamar Thorpe

By Allen D. Payton

Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe held a ceremony and press conference on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, to sign and celebrate the passing of the City’s anti-tenant harassment and retaliation ordinance. He was joined by representatives of the organizations which lobbied the council to approve the ordinance which finally passed 3-1 in August, including David Sharples of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action and Rhea Laughlin of Rising Juntos, Rev. Millie Phillips of East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE), and Judith Ortiz of Monument Impact, as well as. (See ORDINANCE NO. 2232-C-S PROHIBITING RETALIATION AGAINST AND HARASSMENT OF RESIDENTIAL TENANTS)

Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker and District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson joined Thorpe in voting for the ordinance, while District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock voted against and District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica, a property manager in Antioch, recused himself on the matter.

A post on Thorpe’s official Facebook page on Friday shared about the ceremony and ordinance: “On Thursday, Mayor Thorpe signed sweeping legislation to protect Antioch families, preventing more families from falling into homelessness. As homelessness continues to rise in California, Antioch become one of a handful of cities in the state to pass legislative tenant protections to prevent individuals and families from falling into homelessness.”

After he signed the ordinance, the post claims he “presented each organization with a Certificate of Recognition for their tireless efforts to enact Anti-Tenant Harassment laws.”

At the beginning of his remarks, Thorpe introduced the City’s new Rent Program Specialist Delia Pedroza, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and City Attorney Thomas L. Smith. None of the other council members attended. Ogorchock said she didn’t know about it and wasn’t invited. When it was pointed out that she had voted against the ordinance the District 3 Councilwoman responded, “I don’t get invited to any of them” referring to the mayor’s press conferences.

Thorpe Gets Animated During His Remarks

“We do these because in fact these are a big deal. When I was on the city council for four years…there really wasn’t much to celebrate,” the mayor stated during his almost 20-minute speech offered in both English and Spanish, as he usually does.

“Everybody here is a hardworking person. No one is trying to just get by,” he continued. “But every day, I see this, every single day, because of greed and lack of political will, opportunity keeps slips away from the average American that’s standing here, today. It doesn’t matter if you’re white, Black, brown, Asian. Wages continue to be stagnant as inflation continues to kick all of our butts.”

Thorpe then spoke of the strike at Kaiser and their profits over the past five years.

“I share this because it’s an example of why we’re here, today. Greed,” he said. “As a few in our country continue to take everything, we’re here fighting for crumbs. So, I believe it’s government’s moral responsibility…to protect one of our most basic needs. Housing.”

“So, today in Antioch, we make a bold step in joining a handful of cities…in California to enact anti-housing displacement laws. All we’re trying to do is keep people in their homes” Thorpe exclaimed. “So, with these laws we’re setting a baseline that tells bad actors, you have to join good, decent landlords in treating your tenants with dignity and respect. Period.”

“No longer will it be acceptable in the City of Antioch to pay for services and not be allowed to use them like a swimming pool or a laundry room,” he said, providing details form the ordinance. “No longer will it be acceptable in the City of Antioch to use the threat of eviction as a weapon against you. No longer is it acceptable in the City of Antioch for you to fear organizing, to form a tenant association and stand up for your rights.”

“Listen, housing insecurity is a real thing for every single individual here. I did not know I was housing insecure. Apparently, when you spend more than 50% of your income, you’re considered housing insecure,” Thorpe shared. “That means we’re all one paycheck, one bad thing happening that lands you at Kaiser, from being homeless.”

“So, I’m thankful, I’m truly thankful for the progressive city council that has made the decision to stand with all of you,” he stated getting animated. “And when I say progressive city council, I’ll just be honest, I’m only talking about Councilwoman Monica Wilson and Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker. Every progressive policy that we’ve passed in this city that changes your life, that gives you an additional protection, passed on a 3-2 vote or a 3-1-1 vote. I want to be very clear about that because you’ve got to remember who’s standing on your corner. You’re either with us, standing with us, making a difference or you’re not.”

“It was almost a year to the date on Oct. 16, 2022, we all stood over there off of…L Street, to celebrate the welcoming of rent stabilization in this city,” Thorpe continued. “You’re either with us, standing with us, making a difference or you’re not. There’s more work to do. And I expect everyone here…to join us. I expect while we get just cause (another requested eviction protection ordinance), irrespective of what the political climate may be or what it may be convenient to do or not to do that we stand united for the right thing.”

In response to a comment from someone he said, “Oh, it is happening. But the clown show is coming, too. I’m just going to point it out. Next year is an election year. They’re coming.”

Thorpe then read his prepared remarks in Spanish.

See video of Thorpe’s comments.

The video does not show Thorpe was asked any questions by the media, and he only mentioned Telemundo was in attendance. (This reporter was invited but unable to attend).

ACCE Praises Ordinance

In tweets on X on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, ACCE wrote, “ANTIOCH REJOICE Yesterday Antioch Mayor @LamarThorpe signed the Tenant Anti Harassment Ordinance #TAHO into law, ensuring that victims of landlord abuse have protections to defend themselves!

ACCE Twitter/X posts on Friday, Oct. 6 – For months Antioch renters at Delta Pines faced harassment, lack of repairs & excessive car towing by their property manager. With the passage of #TAHO abusive landlords & property managers can be held accountable for harassing tenants – this is what progress looks like!”

Thorpe shared later, the ordinance goes into effect Oct. 13th, 30 days after the second reading.

Patti Jo Woolcott passed away September 20, 2023, in Pioneer, Ca at the age of 74. She was born on December 9, 1948, in Taft, Ca to Roy and Josephine Bennett.

Patti is survived by her spouse Cameron Woolcott Jr. of Pioneer, CA, daughter; Tammi Ziel of Antioch, CA, Grandchildren: Tyler Ziel, Zachary Ziel, Emily Mason and brother; Bob Bennett of Pittsburg, CA

She was preceded in death by her parents Roy Lee Bennett and Josephine V. Pinneo. 

At the family’s request, there will be no services at this time. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting  www.danerimortuary.com and signing the guestbook. Donations can be made to Rusty Fun Co: Amador Animal Shelter.

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By Allen D. Payton

After the donation and relocation of the Red Caboose from the former restaurant of the same name, by the family of the late owners, Jim and Phyllis Boccio, to the Antioch Historical Museum, earlier this year, work continues on the old rail car to prepare it for public use.

Painting was done last month by Steve Corpuz of Redwood Painting Company in Pittsburg

“The next steps will be an ADA lift coming from Canada, plus the porch and fencing around it, TV’s inside showing railroad history and videos of the relocation from Fulton Shipyard Road,” said project coordinator Tom Menasco.

Once the work is completed, it will be available for “tours for school kids, and possible rentals including children’s birthday parties, business meetings and special occasions,” he added.

To date, contractors have donated and provided discounted services to the tune of over $200,000,” Menasco shared. “We’ve raised about $87,000, so far. It will be a $300-$350,000 project by the time it’s done.”

The dedication is expected sometime in early November. To donate to the effort visit www.antiochhistoricalmuseum.org/donations/. The museum is located at 1500 W. Fourth Street and is open for visitors on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information call (925) 757-1326.

Joins other cities in ending the practice to avoid hate speech, abuse

Torres-Walker blames politics for fellow councilmembers’ votes; Barbanica calls her comment “ridiculous”

East County Rabbi responds to hate speech during Brentwood Council meeting

By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, the Antioch City Council by a vote of 3-1-1 decided to not return to allowing call-in public comments via Zoom the same night the Brentwood City Council received a call filled with anti-semitic hate speech.

Antioch joins other cities throughout the state ending the remote public comments due to the abuse of the medium which increased in use during the response to COVID. But Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker who voted against the motion wasn’t happy about it and accused her fellow council members of voting based on politics, with District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson, who voted to abstain, running for State Assembly, District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica running for County Supervisor and Mayor Lamar Thorpe facing re-election next year. (District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock’s seat is up for election next year, as well but she can’t run for it, as she was moved into District 4 due to gerrymandering during last year’s council redistricting process).

Following public comments on the item, Torres-Walker was the only council member to speak on the matter arguing in favor of allowing public comments via teleconferencing. (See 3:09:30 mark of meeting video)

“I keep asking for it to come back. If the council has to be here, the council has to be here. We ran to show up and there’s a large public that want to be here. There are rules that have been made up as we go. There’s a large part of the public that can’t be here in person”

“If we can’t take time to listen to the people whose business we’re doing then none of us should be up here. So, I think at least the public should be able to participate and teleconference in,” Torres-Walker said.

“I sat here for almost three years with people calling in over Zoom calling me everything but a child of God, grossly misinformed all the time, and I was told to get a thick skin. Nobody wanted to vote to take teleconferencing away until they started experiencing that same backlash. Now, it’s like if someone wants to talk crap to me they gotta show up in person. They should be able to use teleconferencing to do it and we all need to get a thick skin…and we should bring teleconferencing back for the public.”

“We are not making up rules as they go along. They’ve been written in the agenda for some time,” Thorpe responded. “Not making two comments at the meeting was pointed out by the City Clerk’s Office. We just didn’t enforce the rule and I was pointed out that we needed to enforce the rule by the City Clerk’s Office.”

Barbanica then moved approval, seconded by Ogorchock to continue holding city council, board and commission meetings in person without teleconferencing. Without any further discussion, the motion was adopted.

But it was at the end of the meeting, during the Council Communications and Future Agena Items portion, that Torres-Walker took a swipe at her fellow council members for their decision saying, “I’ve always been against ending teleconferencing. Because no matter whether I like to hear what the public has to say or not, I listen. Tonight, I think what we just saw was like, replay this because you just got to see people say they don’t want to hear you. And so, because we are coming up on an election year, they’re going to want to hear from you when they’re knocking on your doors, canvassing your neighborhood and they’re going to want to have your vote when you go to the ballot. So, I’m going to keep asking for this to keep coming back whether we vote for it or not.” She asked for the matter to return to a future council meeting agenda for further discussion. (See 3:36:04 mark of meeting video)

Her accusation didn’t sit well with Barbanica, who said later, “That was a ridiculous comment by her. Absolutely ridiculous. Let’s not allow people to abuse the system and target people.”

“So, if Tamisha doesn’t get her way, she’s going to weaponize others of us running for office?” he asked. “We never did that to her. I could not believe she made that statement.”

“As she was making that statement, the Brentwood Council fell victim to exactly the reason we made the decision to not to return to public comments by Zoom. It was abused,” the District 3 Councilman continued. “We had people appearing to be intoxicated, singing, using profanity. There are other cities that are having religious groups, etcetera being singled out. I was told by city administration that other cities have experienced people going on Zoom making pro-Nazi, anti-semitic comments, faking their names, using names of famous Nazis. That was the exact thing we were concerned with.”

“It was done during COVID when people couldn’t attend meetings in person,” he explained. “This has nothing to do with elections. We are still making sure people are heard. To sit at home and hide behind your keyboard and use Zoom as a weapon to spread hate speech and your own personal hate was never the intent.”

“Lamar and I had it happen to us during subcommittee meetings,” Barbanica shared. “They tried to put photographs up on the screen. We killed it. But it showed me right there how people have abused the system. When I was at Cal Cities, they had a talk about it, that people were weaponizing it for their own hate speech.”

Racist Comments on Zoom Call-In During Brentwood Council Meeting

An Oct. 1st tweet on X by the Brentwood Press confirmed Barbanica’s comment. It reads, “at our City Council meeting (Tuesday) night, a man called in to talk about kosher soap developed in Germany. He was cut off as this comment did not seem to be on topic, and he yelled, ‘Heil Hitler! White Power!’ before hanging up.” A resident submitted a letter to the editor decrying the hate speech.

According to an Oct. 4 ContraCosta.News report, Brentwood Mayor Joel Bryant apologized to the public for hearing the comment and Brentwood City Manager Tim Ogden issued a statement condemning the hate speech.

Brentwood Rabbi Responds

In response to the comments made during the Brentwood City Council meeting, Rabbi Peretz Goldshmid, Director of Chabad of the Delta said, “When it’s dark outside you don’t need to be told you need a flashlight. This is the time to call for everyone to stand up and say something positive in response.”

“When one idiot talks, we need a thousand people to stand up and respond. Instead of the story being hate speech it should be about the thousand people offering good speech,” he continued. “The only way to stop the damage is with positivity in general and specifically about this incident.”

Peretz issued the following statement on Oct. 4:

“Positivity is the best weapon against antisemitism. Such awful sentiments must be responded to! Every individual, and especially those with a platform, should make a clear statement that we do not accept such behavior and that, on the contrary, we stand with the Jewish community and all that stands for good.

When we do, the attempted attacker will learn that negativity will always be met with an outpouring of positivity. So, I invite you to be part of the positive response! 

It is also important to remember that antisemitism is not just a problem for the Jewish community. It is a problem for all of us. When we stand up against antisemitism, we stand up for justice and equality for all people.”

Walnut Creek City Council Also Ends Remote Public Comments Remote public comments during Walnut Creek City Council meetings were also discontinued City Manager Dan Buckshi announced during his report on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. He said council meeting public comments have been hijacked throughout the state