The Antioch High School Marching Band during a performance. Photo courtesy of Courtney Emery.
By Courtney Emery (Trantham), Music Department Lead, Antioch USD, Music Teacher, Antioch High School and Antioch Middle School
The Antioch High School Marching Band and Choir are planning an educational trip to New Orleans, LA in March 2025. We chose New Orleans because of its rich musical history and culture, especially as New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz.
The trip will be five days and four nights and will include a performance in Jackson Square, a clinic at Loyola University, viewing a private jazz performance at the historic Preservation Hall, a visit to the New Orleans Jazz Museum, a steamboat dinner jazz cruise and more.
The students will be traveling from Antioch to New Orleans via airplane. Many of our students have not been out of the state before, let alone on an airplane. This is sure to be an experience they will remember for life.
As many of our students are unable to afford the cost of the trip, we are holding several fundraisers to help raise money. They include:
Car Wash on 5/25/24 from 9:30am-2:00pm at Les Schwab Tire (89 Carol Lane, Oakley) (Weather permitting – will cancel if it rains).
Walkathon at AHS on 6/1/24, more details TBA
Any person wishing to sponsor a student in need through a financial donation is welcome to email me at CourtneyEmery@antiochschools.net.
“Flat Rate” decision accelerates California’s clean energy transition
May 09, 2024 – SAN FRANCISCO – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved a proposal to reduce the price of residential electricity through a new billing structure mandated by the state Legislature in Assembly Bill 205. This billing adjustment introduces a flat rate bill component and reduces the electricity usage rate. It lowers overall electricity bills on average for lower-income households and those living in regions most impacted by extreme weather events, while accelerating California’s clean energy transition by making electrification more affordable for all.
That’s in spite of the concerns of ratepayers and state legislators who, earlier this year, scrambled to repeal or modify the bill to avoid rates being based on income. The CPUC later scrapped the income-based utility bill scheme proposed by California’s largest utilities including PG&E. (See related articles here and here)
According to the approved proposal, “Today, California’s investor-owned electric utilities recover nearly all costs of providing electricity service through the volumetric (cost per unit) portion of each residential customer’s bill. However, a large portion of these costs are fixed costs that do not directly vary based on the electricity usage of the customer from whom the revenue is being collected, such as the costs of installing final line transformers that make it possible for customers to access the grid. Most utilities nationwide and many publicly-owned utilities in California assess fixed charges on customer bills to recover these fixed costs, consistent with the general ratemaking principle that rates should be based on cost causation
“As directed by Assembly Bill 205, this decision authorizes all investor[1]owned utilities to change the structure of residential customer bills by shifting the recovery of a portion of fixed costs from volumetric rates to a separate, fixed amount on bills without changing the total costs that utilities may recover from customers. As a result, this decision reduces the volumetric price of electricity (in cents per kilowatt hour) for all residential customers of investor-owned utilities.
The new billing structure more evenly allocates fixed costs among customers and will encourage customers to adopt electric vehicles and replace gas appliances with electric appliances because it will be less expensive to charge electric vehicles and operate electric appliances.
“This decision adopts a gradual, incremental approach to implementing Assembly Bill 205 requirements, including the requirement to offer income-graduated fixed charge amounts. The adopted billing structure will offer discounts based on the existing income-verification processes of the utilities’ California Alternate Rates for Energy and Family Electric Rate Assistance programs. The Commission will consider improvements to the new billing structure based on the initial results of implementation and a working group proposal in the next phase of this proceeding.
“Parties to this proceeding concurrently proposed how to implement the requirements of Assembly Bill 205. This decision adopts elements of several party proposals rather than adopting one party’s proposal.”
“This new billing structure puts us further on the path toward a decarbonized future, while enhancing affordability for low-income customers and those most impacted from climate change-driven heat events,” said CPUC President Alice Reynolds. “This billing adjustment makes it cheaper across the board for customers to charge an electric vehicle or run an electric heat pump, which will spur greater uptake of these technologies that are essential to transitioning us away from fossil fuels.”
Under the new billing structure:
The usage rate for electricity will be reduced by 5 to 7 cents per kilowatt-hour for all residential customers.
This change makes it more affordable for everyone to electrify homes and vehicles, regardless of income or location, because the price of charging an electric vehicle or running a heat pump is cheaper.
A portion of the fixed infrastructure costs—such as maintaining power lines and equipment— will be moved from the usage rate to a separate line item called the “Flat Rate” on customer bills.
The flat rate will be $24.15 per month, with low-income customers and customers living in deed-restricted affordable housing eligible for discounted flat rates of $6 or $12.
Customers enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) low-income assistance program will benefit from a discounted flat rate of $6 per month. Customers enrolled in the Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA), as well as those residing in deed-restricted affordable housing with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income, will qualify for a discounted flat rate of $12 per month.
The new billing structure does not introduce any additional fees or generate extra profits for utilities. Instead, it redistributes existing costs among customers. This approach aligns with billing practices employed across the nation and by most other utilities in California.
In the coming months, the CPUC will collaborate with investor-owned utilities on a customer communications plan to educate customers about the new billing structure. The new billing structure will be implemented starting in late 2025 and early 2026.
More information is available on the Docket Card and CPUC webpage for the proceeding.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), GoMentum Station and Bay Area LEEDS joined forces to host the ninth annual Redefining Mobility Summit. Transportation officials from regional, state and federal agencies gathered with private industry innovators, local youth and workforce development experts in San Ramon’s Bishop Ranch business park to share vital information aimed to advance mobility. Autonomous vehicles took center stage as Glydways, BEEP and May Mobility unveiled transit options of the future in the Demonstration Exhibit Zone.
“This year’s panel topics: fostering public trust for new innovations like autonomous vehicles, connecting communities through technology, building the workforce of the future, and solving the challenges of our transportation systems are the very touchstones CCTA embraces every day to improve the quality of lives for those who live and work in Contra Costa County,” said CCTA Vice Chair and Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe.
The summit included a youth showcase where high school aged students shared their STEM projects and the midday Demonstration Exhibit Zone, which was powered by smart, clean generators supplied by Richmond-based Moxion. All the day’s activities connected the dots between innovation and future benefits not just for transportation but for the region.
“Innovation in transportation leads to improved productivity, enhanced trade, infrastructure development, increased regional commerce and job creation—all of which contribute to economic growth,” Contra Costa Supervisor Candace Andersen said.
Information on 2.7 million public employees from 2,518 agencies and 54 pension plans
Shows 15 police officers in Contra Costa County were paid more than $500,000 in 2022, including the highest to El Cerrito Police Chief at over $850,000 plus, 10 others from his dep’t
Also, shows highest paid in Antioch PD was a Captain at $476,018.55
Highest paid in the state was Vallejo Police Chief at $953,396.61
Transparent California, the state’s largest database of public pay and pension data, has completed data collection efforts for records detailing 2022 employee compensation and pension payments made by almost all public agencies in our state!
In the last year we’ve added data on 2.7 million public employees obtained from 2,518 agencies, and 1.4 million pension records from 54 pension plans to our database. Added to our existing data from the last decade results in a total of 42 million records available on the site. All obtained from the agency’s own pay data using requests made under the California Public Records Act, all are available online for free to anyone with an interest at http://transparentcalifornia.com.
Pay and benefit costs are the single largest expense in our government. Transparent California’s site provides members of the public with unprecedented visibility into that spending. Knowing how government employees are personally benefiting from state and local spending is critical to ensuring true accountability in our government.
In 2022 over a million public employees, and over 125,000 pension recipients, enjoyed compensation packages totaling over $100,000 per year. Using the data available we can see the City Manager in Norco was provided total compensation of $539,705, the school superintendent in Ontario-Montclair was paid $643,796, and a police lieutenant in Vallejo made $839,798.
(Editor’s Note: According to an April 2021 ABC7 News report, Vallejo Police Lieutenant Herman Robinson, a 47-year employee with the department was fired. According to an April 2022 Vallejo Sun report, an arbitrator ordered Robinson be reinstated with back pay and be paid an additional 10% interest on his back pay. He “was one of the most highly paid city of Vallejo employees and received $179,590 in base pay and $196,941 in overtime pay for calendar year 2020, according to Transparent California, a website that tracks California government worker salaries. With benefits included, Robinson earned $547,403.68.”
Thus, the $839,798 Robinson was paid in 2022 included two years of compensation and the 10% interest on the back pay.)
UPDATE: That information was shared with Transparent California’s Director of Research, Todd Maddison. In response he wrote, “Thanks, appreciate the background. We are rarely if ever given the ‘story’ behind any particular pay data, and with over 4 million records a year to collect we usually don’t investigate unless someone feels the number is erroneous. We do offer agencies the ability to make a note if they want so site users don’t think an outlier is ‘normal pay’, but we’re rarely taken up on that.
Meanwhile, in 2022 there were 67 police employees who made total pay only (excluding benefits) of over $400,000. I’ve attached a spreadsheet of police employees in case you’re interested.”
That spreadsheet shows the highest paid police officer in Contra Costa County in 2022 was Richmond Police Sergeant Florencio Rivera, whose total compensation was $512,432. A total of 15 officers in the county were paid more than $500,000 each, with 11 of them from the El Cerrito PD.
The Transparent California website gives ordinary taxpayers access to such data, illuminating the spending that drive state and local government deficits, including the $73 billion in red ink being projected by the state.
Data collection for 2023 compensation is now starting. Those who want to monitor specific agencies can subscribe (free) or support the effort by sponsoring data collection from that agency.
Maddison noted, “2022 data collection was a great achievement. We’re particularly proud our small donor funded team lapped the State Controller’s Office’s government-funded effort in K-12 education, collecting data from 1055 districts to their 424. We’re focused on giving the people of California the data they deserve to see how their tax dollars are being spent.”
A complete Antioch School Board was in attendance for both the closed session and regular meeting, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. They applauded the district employees of the year. But Superintendent Stephanie Anello was absent and still out on sick leave. Video screenshot.
Before evaluating Anello; with her absence Board President Hernandez again unable to conduct her evaluation
By Allen D. Payton
During a closed session meeting on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) Board was anything but unified as a vote to terminate Superintendent Stephanie Anello’s contract failed two-three. While how each trustee voted was not reported out by Board President Antonio Hernandez, it can safely be assumed he was joined by Trustee Jag Lathan in supporting the motion and it was opposed by Trustees Mary Rocha, Gary Hack and Dr. Clyde Lewis, Jr.
It was Hernandez’s third attempt in three weeks to hold the closed session board meeting to discipline, dismiss or release Anello followed by her performance evaluation. The superintendent was still out on sick leave, for a total of two weeks as of today, foiling his efforts for the latter agenda item. (See related articles here and here)
The closed-door meeting, which is required for personnel matters, began at 6:00 p.m. and was attended by all five board members, following one public comment by Kim Atkinson, a Purchasing Technician for the school district. She is the wife of union leader Brian Atkinson, president of the Antioch Chapter 85 of the California Schools Employee Association. He also holds the position of Assistant Regional Representative for the statewide union.
District employee Kim Atkinson speaks during public comments prior to the AUSD board closed session meeting on Wed. May 8, 2024. Video screenshot.
“Who is running our district, right now?” she asked. “We are in crisis without a leader. Kenny Turnage was at a school district golf tournament, last Friday. Is this how the district handles administrative leaves? Do we need to have the state step in?”
“Liz (Robbins – the District’s Chief Business Official) brought Kenny Turnage to the office. I was terrified,” Atkinson continued. “On the video you can see he walked out with files. What files does he need when he’s on administrative leave?”
However, it was the annual Antioch Rotary Golf Tournament that Turnage attended at the Lone Tree Golf Course.
Following the closed session, which lasted about 50 minutes, the board held a special Recognitions session that was to begin at 6:45 p.m. but started late.
District Teachers, Classified Representatives of the Year Honored
Before the regular meeting began, AUSD Teacher of the Year Nicole Vicknair of Bidwell Continuation High School and runner up Samantha Marquardt of Marsh Elementary were honored by Associate Superintendent of Educational Services Christine Ibarra. (See related article) Vicknair is also one of the finalists for the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year, which will be determined later this year.
In addition, Danielle French was honored as the 2024 Classified Representative of the Year, as well as finalists, Lisa Bagwell and Jezebel “Jijie” Siao.
The meeting took a brief break for photos of the award winners and board members, as well as refreshments.
Hernandez Announces Failed Closed Session Vote to Terminate Anello
At 7:15 p.m., Hernandez called the meeting back to order and reported out of closed session. He said, “A motion and second to terminate the superintendent’s contract were made. The vote was two-three, and the motion did not pass. However, Hernandez did not say how each individual board member voted.
During public comments by district staff, Brian Atkinson spoke saying, “The executive board of our chapter took a vote of no-confidence for the cabinet.”
He then mentioned “the desk on the roof”, which is one of the complaints against Turnage. “They called it a joke. Two people thought it was funny. That’s in the paperwork” referring to the findings from one of two district investigations into the matter.
His wife Kim then spoke again repeating much of what she had said earlier.
That was followed by shouts from those in attendance of, “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now,” which weren’t gaveled down by Hernandez.
Rocha Warns of Impact on Bonds from District Turmoil
Toward the end of the meeting, under Agenda Item 22 entitled Rocha read from prepared remarks warning of the impact on the bond ratings from the current district turmoil. She said, “I’d like to make my own statement, explain and clear some facts. I’m just making a statement.”
“As to the special board meetings, from one day to the next I was told to come to a meeting. It was my birthday weekend. I was not contacted by the board chair and I’m the co-chair,” Rocha added.
Lewis said, “I do want to clarify, I found out about the first board meeting, I wasn’t available for both of those meetings. I found out the day of. I think the way it’s painted in the media I refused. No. I found out the day of.”
UPDATE: In a post on his Facebook page, Thursday morning, Lewis offered additional information about the special meetings. He wrote, “I want to thank everyone who reached out to check on me since last night, you are truly appreciated.
Just for clarity, there were questions about why I was not in attendance for the unilaterally called special board meetings. In both instances, I was informed of the meeting the day of the meeting was set to occur. Professional courtesy and collaborative leadership would (or should at least) dictate that scheduling a meeting should begin with identifying availability.
I’m not saying these decisions are politically motivated or informed, but I’m not, not saying that either.” #keepitabuck #politicalpressurerevealed
Stockton murder suspect Carlos Palacios was arrested in Antioch on Monday, May 6, 2024. Photo: Stockton PD
Residents told to shelter in place; Antioch Police, US Marshals assist; Stockton PD won’t say why Carlos Lara-Palacios was in Antioch; has history of arrests
By Stockton Police Department
On March 18, 2024, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Officers responded to the area of E. Market Street and South E Street on a report of a person shot. Officers arrived on scene and located a 40-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers attempted life-saving measures until AMR transported him to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Homicide Detectives were called out to assume the investigation.
Source: Stockton PD
On March 21, Stockton Police posted the following on the department’s Facebook page providing details about the suspect:
“Parolee At Large – CDCR #BT4446 WHO: Carlos Palacios AGE: 28 GENDER: Male HEIGHT: 5’7″ WEIGHT: 152 HAIR: Brown EYES: Brown
Palacios absconded parole supervision on 11/09/2023. He has an active parolee-at-large warrant and an outstanding warrant for PC 245(a)(2) Assault with a deadly weapon.
The CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and Stockton Crime Stoppers Inc. encourage anyone with information regarding this person to come forward and provide information.
You can submit anonymous tips to Stockton Crime Stoppers by:
TALK – Call Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600
DOWNLOAD the P3 Tips Mobile App and submit tips anonymously
Stockton Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward of up to $10,000 for ANY information that leads to an arrest!”
Our Detectives have continued to work diligently on this case since the homicide occurred. An arrest warrant was issued for Palacios in connection to this homicide. On May 6, 2024, with the assistance of our US Marshal Task Force partners, Palacios was taken into custody in Antioch, CA.
Palacios was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail for homicide charges.
This remains an ongoing investigation.
Asked why he was in Antioch at the time of his arrest and why his name doesn’t appear as an inmate in the San Joaquin County Jail, Stockton Police Officer David Scott of the Office of the Chief of Police – Public Information Office responded, “Due to the integrity of the investigation, we cannot confirm that information at this time. That will be a part of the investigation process.”
UPDATE: Scott later added, “He is booked under a hyphenated last name, Carlos Lara-Palacios. Booking #24-06780.”
According to the SJ County Sheriff’s Office, his full name is Carlos Alberto Lara Palacios, and he is being held on no bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. in Stockton Court Dept. 2, then again, on May 24 at 8:30 a.m.
According to localcrimenews.com, Lara Palacios has a history of arrests dating back to 2017 all by the SJ Co. Sheriff’s Department including for multiple weapons and drugs charges, as well as for robbery, Inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, vehicle theft, caretaker theft from elder adult over $400, other vehicle charges, reckless driving and evading police.
reckless driving and evading police.
5/13/24 UPDATE: Stockton Police Department further shared on Monday, May 13, 2024, “Details and specifics revolving around Carlos Palacios’ arrest remain under investigation. We cannot confirm at this time why he was in Antioch, but it is being investigated by detectives. Thank you.”
Students between classes at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Credit: Ashley Bolter / EdSource
Some have been exempt from paying out-of-state tuition since 2001
By Zaidee Stavely, EdSource – Republished with permission
More than 20 years ago, California passed a law allowing some undocumented immigrant students to attend college with in-state tuition, if they meet certain requirements.
But immigrant rights advocates say many students who should have been eligible have been wrongfully denied in-state tuition because of confusion over requirements, misinformation and different interpretations of the law at different college campuses.
“We lose that incredible brain power and colleges are losing enrollment,” said Nancy Jodaitis, director of higher education for Immigrants Rising, a nonprofit organization that advocates for undocumented people to achieve educational and career goals.
Immigrants Rising brought together officials from all three public college systems — California Community Colleges, California State University and University of California — to discuss and agree on answers to frequently-asked questions about the law.
Source: Immigrants Rising
The result is a document called the Systemwide AB 540 FAQ, which all three systems have now signed. The document includes answers to 59 questions, such as:
What if a student graduated from a California high school (completing three years’ worth of high school credits), but did not attend three years at a California high school?
Does a student have to take classes full time for their attendance to count?
Does all their coursework have to be taken at the same school?
Spokespeople from UC, CSU and California Community Colleges all celebrated the document.
Paul Feist, vice chancellor of communications and marketing for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, said the document is particularly important because there are several different laws regarding the nonresident tuition exemption.
The first bill exempting some undocumented immigrants from out-of-state tuition, Assembly Bill 540, was signed into law in 2001. Since then, three other bills have been passed to expand the law, in 2014, 2017 and 2022.
“While the intent was to expand access to AB 540 financial assistance, they had the unintended effect of making it more difficult to navigate,” Feist said. “This FAQ is designed to provide clearer explanations and provide additional resources in advising students.”
Under current California law, students who are undocumented or have temporary protection from deportation such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, are eligible for in-state tuition and state financial aid, if they attended at least three years of high school, adult school or community college in California and obtained a high school diploma or equivalent, an associate degree or fulfilled the minimum requirements to transfer to a UC or CSU.
Access to state financial aid and in-state tuition can be a critical factor for undocumented students, who are barred from receiving federal financial aid. Without the law in place, some of them would be charged tuition rates for international students, often much higher than in-state tuition.
“This is huge,” said Maria Gutierrez, a college counselor at Chabot College in Hayward and a doctoral student at San Francisco State University. “It helps us be aligned and have something in writing.” Before the FAQ document, Gutierrez says college staff in charge of approving exemptions from out-of-state tuition were sometimes afraid to make decisions without written proof of how to interpret the law.
Gutierrez herself has benefited from AB 540. She came to the U.S. when she was 5 years old on a visa, which later expired. She attended elementary, middle and most of high school in California. She also graduated from high school in California. But when she applied to attend community college in California, different campuses disagreed on whether she was eligible for in-state tuition because she had spent two years of high school in Utah. At the time, a second law had recently been passed to allow colleges to consider years of attendance in elementary and middle school for AB 540 eligibility.
“One college that I went to in So Cal, I was approved for AB 540. When I had to go back to the Bay Area, I was not approved for AB 540. So then I was confused that there was this inconsistency,” Gutierrez said.
A few years later, when she applied to transfer to a four-year college, both UC and CSU campuses told her she was not eligible for in-state tuition, even though by then, a law had passed that clarified that attendance at community college could be counted toward the requirements. She spent a semester paying out-of-state tuition at San Jose State University, before the university finally acknowledged she was legally eligible for in-state tuition.
As a college counselor, Gutierrez continues to meet students who have been incorrectly told they are not eligible for in-state tuition.
“It’s crazy because in reality it hasn’t changed much,” she said. However, she said, the financial burden is harder now, because most students graduating from high school cannot apply for work permits under DACA, because the government has not accepted new applications since 2017.
“I see my students now and I see the struggles they’re going through. If I didn’t have DACA, I honestly don’t think I would be where I am now,” Gutierrez said. “There’s no way that I would’ve been able to pay nonresident fees or wait for whoever it is that is determining that to learn what they need to do for me to be able to go to college.”
Advocates say they hope the document will help colleges give correct information and avoid students having to research on their own for information.
California also recently streamlined the process for undocumented students to apply for financial aid and exemption from in-state tuition on the same application when they fill out the California Dream Act application. In the past, students had to both fill out a California Dream Act application and an AB 540 affidavit form for each college. Now, the AB 540 form will be part of the same application.
Diana Aguilar-Cruz said that change is significant. Aguilar-Cruz is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health at Cal State Fullerton. When she first began her undergraduate education at Cal Poly Pomona, she was charged nonresident tuition, which was almost double the in-state tuition. She had immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico City in 2015, when she was 14 years old, and lived with her grandmother in Baldwin Park while attending high school.
She had completed a California Dream Act application, but no one told her she also had to complete a separate form. After researching it herself online, she found the form and completed it, at which point the university finally changed her tuition to in-state.
“If I didn’t find it in my Google search, would I be paying in-state tuition for my four years of college?” Aguilar-Cruz said. “I always think to myself, what would have happened if I was a more fearful student or a student who did not have a strong support system at home?”
According to the Renewing the Dream page on the California Student Aid Commission’s website, “In 2021-22, only 29% to 30% of undocumented college students who applied for financial aid through the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) ultimately enrolled in school. Moreover, only 14% of California’s estimated undocumented student population in postsecondary education ultimately received state financial aid.”
The event will support former Center for the San Francisco 49ers and Antioch native Jeremy Newberry’s non-profit organization, Newberry’s B.L.O.C.K. which stands for Benefiting Leagues Offering Children Kindness. It provides underprivileged children the opportunity to participate in sports by sponsoring scholarships and equipment to youth programs. For more information visit www.facebook.com/NewberrysBlock.
