Bullet casing markers at the scene of the shooting on Macauley Street in Antioch on Monday, June 3, 2024. Photo courtesy of Bay News Video
Police seek suspect
By Lt. D. Bittner #3252, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau
On June 3, 2024, at approximately 6:00 PM, Antioch police officers responded to the 1100 block of Macaulay Street on the report of a shooting.
When officers arrived, they located a male near the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately administered first-aid to the male, and he was ultimately transported to a local area hospital by paramedics where he was pronounced deceased. The male was later identified as 18-year-old Henry Granado II of Pittsburg.
The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit took over the investigation. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
Any tips or other information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Adam Duffy at (925) 779-6884 or by email mailto:aduffy@antiochca.gov.
Proposed $20 billion regional November bond measure seen as way to close the gap
By Kate Hartley, BAHFA & Justine Marcus, Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) and the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) released the Bay Area Affordable Housing Pipeline 2024 Report, last month, which analyzes affordable housing projects in various stages of predevelopment and identifies solutions for moving them toward completion. The updated research reveals there are now 433 projects in various stages of predevelopment that would create more than 40,896 affordable homes across the nine-county Bay Area. These would account for nearly a quarter of the 180,000 affordable homes the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) Plan determined are needed in the Bay Area by 2031. (See related articles here and here)
Affordable housing developments typically are supported by a capital “stack” investment that includes a commercial mortgage; Low-Income Housing Tax Credits; tax-exempt bonds; and additional local, regional and state dollars that fill the gap between the cost of the development and the financing secured through debt and equity. The new report calculates that the hundreds of Bay Area projects now in the predevelopment pipeline need $9.7 billion in public funds to move forward, and that a $20 billion regional bond measure proposed for the ballot in Bay Area counties this fall would help close this gap.
“We’ve been stuck in an affordable housing crisis that has overwhelmed the region. The November ballot presents an opportunity to unlock thousands of affordable homes for Bay Area residents,” said Heather Hood, VP and Northern California Market Leader at Enterprise. “We expect voters to have a chance to end our housing crisis and deliver the dignified, healthy homes the Bay Area community needs and deserves.”
Source: Enterprise Community Partners
The predevelopment pipeline includes projects in all nine Bay Area counties. These include more than 10,000 units in both Alameda and Santa Clara counties, with another 8,400 affordable homes pending development in San Francisco and more than 3,000 units in both San Mateo and Sonoma counties. Project pipelines in other Bay Area counties range from over 300 affordable homes in Solano County to 1,173 units in Marin County; nearly 1,500 homes in Napa County; and over 2,500 units in Contra Costa County. Each Bay Area city, town or county currently is working on its own to meet the challenges of housing affordability and homelessness.
“The need for affordable housing transcends jurisdictional boundaries. BAHFA’s proposed bond measure would finally allow our Bay Area to take a regional approach to a regional problem,” said BAHFA Director Kate Hartley. “With significant new resources for every county, we can build at scale, deliver equitable solutions, and create a better way to deliver the affordable homes Bay Area residents need.
Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $54 billion and created 873,000 homes across all 50 states – all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging.
About the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority
Established by the state legislature in 2019, BAHFA’s mandate is to create regional solutions that meet the Bay Area’s affordable housing needs. It is the first regional housing finance authority in California. BAHFA works together with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
Father’s Day themed activities Sunday, June 16; Juneteenth Free Park Day Wednesday, June 19
By Flora Csontos, Acting Public Information Specialist, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
Thank you to the estimated 6,000 attendees who celebrated the East Bay Regional Park District’s 90th Anniversary at ParkFest at Lake Chabot Regional Park on May 11 and enjoyed a fun event filled with music, performances, food, and more. What a great time celebrating nearly a century of preserving open space and providing East Bay residents with access to nature close to home. Join us for more fun events throughout the year celebrating 90 years of East Bay Regional Parks, including “Explore Your Parks” programs, festivals, story sessions, picnics, and much more. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years.
––––––––––
The largest creek restoration project in the Park District’s history was recently completed at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, which removed several culverts and opened up 3,000 feet of creek to a more natural run. It is also the largest creek daylighting project in the entire Bay Area.
The Alder and Leatherwood Creek Restoration and Public Access Project, previously referred to as the McCosker Project, provides natural habitat for special status or protected species, including the California red-legged frog, California foothill yellow-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, San Francisco dusky-footed wood rat, golden eagle, Cooper’s hawk, loggerhead shrike, northern harrier, and white-tailed kite. Water quality and streamflow were also improved by the project, providing new habitat for rainbow trout.
The project was made possible through $4 million in funding secured by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in the 2019 state budget. Additional funding came from the Park District’s voter-approved Measure WW and other state and federal grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wildlife Conservation Board, Coastal Conservancy, California State Parks, and voter-approved Propositions 1, 84, and 50 allocated by the California Natural Resources Agency.
Park District launches pilot program to streamline entry at Del Valle Regional Park. East Bay RegionalPark District began a new pilot project on Memorial Day weekend to expedite park entry at Del Valle on weekends and holidays. Entry to Del Valle Regional Park on busy weekends and holidays can be very challenging as visitors line up at the entry kiosk to pay for park admission and parking. With the pilot project, visitors will pay a single $10 flat fee to enter the park rather than individual fees based on park use. The $10 flat fee covers park parking, trailers, and dogs. Fishing and quagga inspection fees can be purchased at the marina area. The $10 flat fee does not apply to Regional Parks Foundation members, who receive free park entry/parking at all Regional Parks as part of membership benefits. To help expedite entry, a limited number of passes will also be available for pre-purchase online at www.ebparks.org/parks/del-valle/pre-purchase-parking. As vehicles approach the kiosk, there will be a separate line for pre-paid parking, staff, members, and residents. For up-to-date information or to provide feedback, visit www.ebparks.org/parks/del-valle.
––––––––––
Join the Park District to celebrate Juneteenth on June 19. The Park District is celebrating Juneteenth with a Free Park Day and special naturalist-led programs on Wednesday, June 19, which is a state and federal holiday. All are welcome! Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Join the Park District to celebrate and reflect. For more information, visit https://www.ebparks.org/we-celebrate/juneteenth.
––––––––––
A community meetingfor theBriones Pilot Project on June 15 will share feedback on the progress made in the past year and what’s ahead for the project in its second year. The meeting is a chance for attendees to share their views on the pilot project, too. The in-person meeting will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at the Alhambra Creek Staging Area of Briones Regional Park in Martinez. The Briones Pilot Project is a two-year project created to test new ways to safely share trails amongst bikers, hikers, and equestrians. The project also improves the trail experience for all users while protecting habitat, wildlife, and watersheds. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/Briones-Pilot-Project.
––––––––––
Enjoy Father’s Day at the East Bay Regional Park on June 16. Celebrate Father’s Day in nature or check out one of the themed activities planned in Regional Parks: Anthony Chabot Campfire: WILD Dads! at 8 p.m. at Anthony Chabot Family Campground, Father’s Day Celebration at 11 a.m. at the Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove, or Father’s Day Family Hike at 1:30 p.m. at Del Valle. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar?terms=Father’s+Day.
––––––––––
Celebrate Regional Parks at Lakeside Laps on July 20. Mark East Bay Regional Park District’s 90th and the Regional Parks Foundation’s 55th Anniversary with a 5k, 10k, or half marathon at Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley. The Regional Parks Foundation event is a fundraiser supporting East Bay Regional Parks. Come celebrate wellness, community, and the beauty of the Regional Parks while enjoying a run along the lake. For more information, visit www.regionalparksfoundation.org/news-events/lakeside-laps.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
People and police could be seen at the sideshow at Cavallo Road and Wilbur Avenue (above) and video screenshots of cars turning north onto Cavallo Road from eastbound E. 18th Street toward Wilbur Avenue (below) about 5:35 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Provided courtesy of an Antioch resident who chose to remain anonymous.
Spectators, participants challenged and threw items at police, opened fire hydrants, evidence of gunshots; CHP assists
Mayor vows to bring enforcement matter back to council after failure to pass any new ordinance in the past 9 months
By Allen D. Payton
According to witnesses, Facebook posts by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and a Sunday night report by Interim Antioch Police Chief Brian Addington, there were multiple sideshows in Antioch Saturday afternoon and evening, June 1, 2024. The mayor pegged the figure at 10 and said there were other sideshows in other East County cities, as well. Many times, participants in and spectators at a sideshow will relocate following police response, so, some of the sideshows most likely consisted of the same individuals just in different locations as mentioned by Addington.
The Chief wrote, “From about 2 pm to 9 pm, APD responded to about a dozen reports of sideshows at differing locations throughout the city. Officers responded to each report and continued to disrupt the activity, and the participants continued to different places, including areas outside of the city. Sideshow activity was also reported in Pittsburg.
As the afternoon wore on, the behavior of the sideshow participants and spectators took a turn for the worse. Their increasing belligerence was evident as they began to challenge our officers, even throwing items at them and opening fire hydrants. This unacceptable behavior was captured in several videos that have been posted online.
APD impounded six vehicles (30-day impound), and 11 were arrested/cited for sideshow activity or possession of a stolen vehicle. We also have evidence of gunshots during some of the events, and two stolen vehicles were recovered. No injuries were reported. Additional follow-up is being conducted, and additional impounds and arrests may occur. We are also actively working to identify the organizers.
APD Officers and dispatchers demonstrated exceptional professionalism in handling these calls. We thank our law enforcement partners in East County, including CHP, the Sheriff’s Office, Brentwood Police, and Pittsburg Police, for their support.”
Mayor Comments While on Trip in So Cal, Vows to Bring Back Ordinance for Council Adoption
Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe speaks about the Antioch sideshows from hotel room on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Facebook video screesnshot.
In a video posted on his official Facebook page on Saturday night from his hotel room while on a trip to the California water policy leadership summit – hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California which included a visit to the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, according to a post on his Instagram account – the mayor vowed to bring the matter back for the council to address it. The Facebook post reads, “Unprecedented Number of Sideshows Early Saturday Evening. I’m Urging the Antioch City Council to Quickly Pass Previously Rejected Sideshow Legislation.”
“This is very disappointing as this is an unprecedented event that has taken place in Eastern Contra Costa County,” he stated. “I asked the Chief to specifically zero in on what’s happening in Antioch. Since two o’clock our police officers have worked to combat 10 sideshows in the City of Antioch. They have successfully shut those down. While for some it may appear they may have gotten away, don’t forget Antioch has very, very good technology that…the police department utilizes in finding people, then arresting them then prosecuting them at the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.”
“This is a priority. No one has been immune from this. I received calls from several neighbors today who told me of a sideshow on Wildhorse by my home,” the mayor continued. “This is a good example of why the sideshow ordinance is so key. Unfortunately, the council decided to play politics and not pass the sideshow ordinance. This…gives law enforcement the tool to prosecute individuals on the front end who are organizing these types of events. Right now, the police department does not have that tool in place and I’m going to be bringing this back…so that we can get this ordinance passed.”
“I’ve been particularly disturbed by some of the videos I’ve seen. It’s unfortunate to see so many young people running around on the streets,” Hernandez-Thorpe stated. “All I can say is parents have a responsibility, too, and that is to ensure your young people have a respect for the law but more importantly have respect for other people’s quality of life. It’s not fair that we have to live with this kind of nonsense in our community. I know I’m not going to stand for it…I’m exceptionally proud of the Antioch Police Department for responding to these sideshows and trying to take them down as quickly as possible.”
“So, parents will be held accountable, too because in many of these instances these cars are registered to parents. So, you will be paying some hefty fines, as well, when we eventually find you and hold you accountable for these actions,” he added.
Post on Hernandez-Thorpe’s official Facebook page post on Sunday afternoon, June 2, 2024.
Then in a post on Sunday afternoon, Hernandez-Thorpe shared some of the details Addington reported above and additional information in a “2nd Update Regarding Unprecedented Number of Large Scale Sideshows Early Saturday Evening.” He wrote, “Yesterday’s unprecedented number of large scale sideshows were combated [sic] by the APD with support from CHP by around 9:00 p.m. As a result of APD’s efforts, 6 vehicles have been impounded and include fines, citations and impound fees. 11 individuals were arrested for sideshow activity, possession or [sic] (of) stolen cars. 2 stolen vehicles were recovered. Lastly, APD will be making additional arrests, issuing additional citations and impounding additional vehicles.”
Background
CORRECTION: Although a majority of council members, including Hernandez-Thorpe, supported targeting sideshow spectators when first discussed last October, during their Nov. 14, 2023, meeting, Ogorchock was absent, Torres-Walker questioned including making it illegal to be a spectator at a sideshow and Wilson opposed to it. Yet, the District 1 Councilwoman said, “at this point I’m not sure if, you know, if I support that. Tonight, we’re not voting for an ordinance, anyway. I have no problem supporting something coming back for review.” But at the end of the discussion she said, “I wouldn’t be against coming back with something focused on organizers but not spectators.” So, the mayor only had city staff return with an ordinance banning advertising and organizing sideshows.
The 2024 Point-in-Time Count identified 471 more people experiencing homelessness on a given night
Shows 75% have been homeless for 10 years or more
By Allen D. Payton
Homelessness in Contra Costa County increased by 471 people this past year according to the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) county staff and volunteers conducted in January. There were a total of 2,843 people experiencing homelessness on a given night in the county versus 2,372 in last year’s count. Of those amounts the unsheltered population increased 18.5% to 1,959 from 1,653 in 2023.
Each year Contra Costa Health Services’ Continuum of Care conducts the PIT, as an annual census and survey to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness in our county. It plays a crucial role in securing funding and improving our response to the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Statistics
The report shows 69% or 1,949 of the county’s homeless residents were unsheltered while 31% or 884 were in emergency shelter beds or transitional housing, with 39% of the unsheltered either outdoors or in tents, 11% in recreational vehicles (RV’s), 14% in cars and 5% in vans. Each of this year’s total figures were increases over last year’s count of 1,653 unsheltered and 719 in shelter beds.
The cities with the most unsheltered homeless people were Antioch with 413, followed by Richmond with 388, Concord with 173, Martinez with 158 and Pittsburg with 110. Antioch’s homeless population increased from 334 in 2023 and 238 in 2020 while Richmond’s decreased by 99 from 487, Concord decreased from 241, while Martinez increased from 140 and Pittsburg also increased from 58 last year.
The report shows East County had the highest homeless population at 39%, while West County had 31% and Central County which includes the San Ramon Valley had 30% of the homeless population in the county.
Source: CCHealth
The report shows 61% of the homeless were male, 38% female, and 0.6% identified as transgender or non-binary.
The racial makeup of the homeless consisted of 39% White, 33% Black, 15% Hispanic/Latino and 9% multiracial. All other races made up 5% or less.
Over half of the homeless population were aged 24-54 at 56%, while 29% were 55 and up, 7% were aged 18 to 24 and another 7% were under 18.
Under Population Characteristics, adult-only households made up the vast majority of the count at 95%, 57% were reported as chronically homeless, 5% were veterans, 15% of adults had been in foster care, and 45% of adults had spent one or more nights in jail or prison in the past year.
Under Self-Reported Health Conditions, the report shows 83% of households had at least one member with a disabling condition, 61% had a mental health condition, 59% had a substance use disorder, 49% had a chronic health condition, 49% had a physical disability, 17% were fleeing domestic violence and 1% had AIDS or HIV related illness.
The report also shows 75% had been homeless for 10 or more years, 10% from five to nine years, 11% from one to four years and 3% had been homeless for less than one year.
Under the Age First Experienced Homelessness, 52% did while age 25-49, 24% while age 18-24, 13% under age 18 and 12% at age 50 or older.
26% Increase in Shelter
The report provides some positive news that, “Contra Costa County increased temporary and permanent housing beds by 26% between 2023 and 2024” with gains in each of the five categories of Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing and Other Permanent Housing from a total of 2,833 beds in 2023 to 3,561 this year.
Richmond Received $8.6 Million State Grant
UPDATE 1: According to District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen’s weekly newsletter issued Friday, May 31st, “Some cities that sustained or strengthened efforts to address homelessness, particularly outreach, showed significant improvement, Richmond (-99) used an $8.6 million state grant to transition nearly 100 residents of a large encampment into housing. Concord (-68) has a homeless strategic plan and well-developed services for residents experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness, including case management, housing navigation, household budgeting, and short-term rental assistance.”
Antioch wasn’t one of those cities, as the council voted last year to spend up to $2 million to lease and operate a motel to provide transitional housing.
Andersen was the only supervisor or county staff member to so far provide the information about this year’s PIT Count to the public, other than the post of the report on the County’s website, as no press release was issued by Contra Costa Health on the matter.
Questions were emailed Monday morning, June 3rd, to Contra Costa Health and H3 staff, and all five supervisors asking why the information was being suppressed, how much money did county spend last year helping homeless residents get off the street and into transitional or permanent housing and if they know how much was spent by all of the cities in the county besides the $8.6 million grant in Richmond.
UPDATE 2: In a response later that morning, Contra Costa Health spokesman Karl Fischer wrote, “Contra Costa Health does not issue a media release regarding every report it produces. Most years, we do not issue a media release regarding data results from point-in-time counts.
The PIT infographic was posted at http://cchealth.org on Tuesday evening, May 28. Several of our media partners did publish the information later in the week, because they contacted our public information office requesting it, either before or after the graphic was posted, or because they found it on the website.
We’ve received your request for public records and will respond shortly.”
To date, the Contra Costa Health public information team has issued only one press release this year.
Methodology
The 2024 PIT Count methodology followed the Housing and Urban Development’s guidelines for a “night of” observational count followed by a random sample survey to gather demographic data and homeless experience.
US DOT awards Contra Costa Transportation Authority SMART grant to transform transportation for seniors and those with disabilities
By Lindy Johnson, Director of External Affairs, Contra Costa Transportation Authority
Thanks to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) now has a $1 million boost to enhance mobility options for seniors and those with disabilities. Contra Costa County officials gathered in Walnut Creek Friday, May 31, 2024, as Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced the federal Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) award. The SMART grant funding will be used to implement a centralized call center with access to all relevant transportation data, so seniors and paratransit users can make real time transit choices through an Accessibility Application (App). The primary goal of creating an Accessibility App is to address equity and access through data sharing and will to transform transit to better serve seniors and those with disabilities.
“The Accessibility App is a much-needed virtual tool as many transit agencies do not have paratransit or other accessible transit data with real-time service options,” CCTA Chair Newell Arnerich said. “Transit should be easy, accessible and efficient. Our new technology will enable transit operators to make the best use of passenger’s specific needs, so they can provide easy to access options for the most vulnerable members of our county.”
“There is a growing trend in the transit service industry to develop and use data to help enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and foster innovation,” CCTA Executive Director Tim Haile said. “CCTA is partnering with research engineers at UC Berkeley to use data to build the Accessibility App which will be made possible thanks to the SMART grant.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) discretionary grant program with $100 million appropriated annually for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026.
The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
Applying for a SMART grant is a competitive process, whereupon applications from all over the US are reviewed. Of the hundreds of applications submitted for funding, the US Department of Transportation saw the value in CCTA’s Accessibility App project and chose to support its development by awarding the project a $1 million grant.
“I am proud to have advocated for this funding for Contra Costa Transportation Authority that will help improve transportation accessibility and efficiency for members of our community, including seniors and individuals with disabilities,” said DeSaulnier. “I look forward to continuing to support CCTA as it implements this important App and continues its efforts to create a more convenient, accessible, and equitable transportation system across our district.”
County Supervisor Ken Carlson was on hand Friday to publicize existing pilot programs aimed to make transit easier for seniors and paratransit passengers. CCTA has partnered with other entities, such as the City of San Pablo, to connect senior and disabled transportation from San Pablo directly to county medical facilities in Martinez. CCTA also supports the Low-Income Fare Equity (LIFE) program to provide free rides to eligible paratransit users who are low-income earners.
The public can find out full details about CCTA’s existing and future accessibility programs as by going to https://ccta.net/accessibility/.
About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority:
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of 24 people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable.
