Retired Antioch High Principal, Louie Rocha is running for Antioch City Council in District 2. Photo courtesy of Louie Rocha for Antioch City Council District 2, 2024
To replace District 2 Councilman Barbanica who’s running for county supervisor
“I believe organizational change starts with change of leadership,” – Louie Rocha
By Allen D. Payton
Louie Rocha, the retired principal of Antioch High School, announced his campaign for the Antioch City Council in District 2, today, July 27, 2024. He is running for the open seat to replace current Councilman Mike Barbanica who chose to run for county supervisor, instead of re-election. Rocha is the son of former mayor and current school board trustee, Mary Rocha.
AUSD Trustee Mary Rocha presents her son, AHS Principal Louie Rocha with his “retirement diploma” during his final graduation ceremony in June 2022. Herald file photo
In a statement issued Saturday morning Rocha wrote, “I am a 55-year resident of our community. I grew up in the Mira Vista neighborhood in District 2 and graduated from Antioch High School in 1979.
Following college graduation from SDSU (San Diego State University) in 1984, I returned home to marry my wife, Tammy of 38 years, purchase our family home and raise our twin sons, Louis and Ruben.
I am the retired principal of Antioch High School who served our community as a teacher, football coach, counselor, and school administrator.
As a lifetime resident of Antioch, I have a vested interest in the future of our community. I am concerned about the current challenges that are impacting the health and safety of our residents. Decisions made today will determine the future of our beloved community. I have decided to run for City Council because I believe organizational change starts with change of leadership. Based on the Grand Jury report, there are numerous Brown Act and Human Resources violations that have resulted in high turnover of city staff due to a toxic work environment.
I am committed to restoring city leadership staffing and law enforcement staffing within the allocated resources for vacant positions.
I am committed to resolving the problems of today with long-term solutions that will create a safe, healthy and inclusive community for all of our residents and local businesses.
‘Focused on our Future’
Thank you,
Louie Rocha”
————–
The first-time candidate for public office also shared his resume showing his extensive background serving the Antioch community.
Employment: Program Coordinator, Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame Museum at Antioch Historical Society 2022-2024
Itinerant School Administrator AUSD 2023-2024
Retired Principal of Antioch High School. 2006-2022
Assistant Principal at Antioch High School 1999-2006
Varsity Football Coach at Antioch High School 1995-1999
School Guidance Counselor at Prospects High School 1996-1999
REACH Project Teacher / Counselor at Park Jr. High School 1985-1996
Elected Offices:
Antioch Community Foundation (ACF) Board Member/ Secretary 2022-2024
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)
Executive Committee 2022-2026
North Coast Section (NCS)
Executive Committee 2019-2024
President 2021-2023
American College Testing (ACT)
ACT State Organization President 2016-2018
Honors / Awards
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Congressional Record of Recognition, Principal of AHS College and Career Academies 2022
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Secondary School Principal of the Year 2017
Los Medanos Community College Cesar Chavez Educator Award 2016
President, Antioch Management Association (AMA) 2007-2010 (Serving AUSD employees)
Education: Saint Mary’s College, Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership 1992
San Diego State University, Bachelor of Arts Degree Psychology 1985
Los Medanos College, Associate of Sciences Degree 1982
Antioch High School, Graduation Diploma 1979
Faces At Least One Opponent
So far, Rocha, who is also a grandfather of four, is the only candidate to officially announce for the open seat. However, according to her campaign’s Facebook page discovered by the Herald, today, Dominique King, who unsuccessfully ran against Mary Rocha for school board in Area 5 in 2022, posted her campaign logo on Nov. 19, 2023, raised funds last December and held a campaign kick-off event on May 19th. According to the City Clerk’s campaign finance portal, King filed her Candidate Intention Statement on Sept. 29, 2023, and formed her committee on Oct. 17, last year.
Rocha said he doesn’t yet have a campaign website or Facebook page but is expected to have the setup by next week.
The filing period for the seat will be extended until Wednesday, Aug. 14th since the incumbent is not running for re-election.
Awards from California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Nationally recognized for excellence, Sutter network hospitals ranked among the best by U.S. News & World Report; Sutter Delta rated High Performing in six procedures and conditions
Named Gold Plus Receiving Center by American Heart Association
By Sutter Health
In the United States, nearly one of three American babies enters the world through a surgical birth. For some mothers, cesarean deliveries (C-sections) can be the safest or only way to deliver a healthy newborn. However, some women undergo surgery for no medical reason, exposing both mother and baby to potentially avoidable complications.
As data shows C-section rates above national health goals, many hospitals in California have responded. One example is the Sutter Health system. Teams from its hospitals have implemented initiatives and best practices to reduce C-section rates among first-time moms with low-risk births.
Recently, nine Sutter hospitals earned recognition by the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC). The CMQCC acknowledges hospitals for going above and beyond to provide high quality, safe care to California’s mothers, birthing people and newborns.
“Across our birthing centers, we promote evidence-based practices, and track and publicly report our C-section rates to continuously help drive improvements in maternity care,” said Dr. William Isenberg, Sutter Health chief medical & quality officer. “We’re proud of the work we’ve done to provide the best care possible for mothers and babies and are grateful to be honored for these efforts.”
Sutter Health hospitals recognized in the annual CMQCC Quality and Engagement Awards, include:
Superstar Award: Large Birth Volume Hospitals
This award recognizes hospitals that exhibit high levels of engagement with the CMQCC Maternal Data Center (MDC).
Awarded to hospitals that met and maintained California’s target rate for the NTSV (Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex) Cesarean Birth measure for three consecutive years.
Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center – Van Ness Campus
Sutter Coast Hospital
Sutter Davis Hospital
Sutter Delta Medical Center
Sutter’s Eden Medical Center
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
Quality & Sustainability Award: Quality Improvement Academy Collaborative Hospitals
Awarded to Q1 Academy-participating hospitals that met and maintained their target rate for their selected quality initiative.
Sutter’s Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
Currently, nearly all California birthing hospitals are active CMQCC members and are using the MDC to track maternity care performance and identify perinatal quality improvement opportunities. The Sutter Health system NTSV C-section Rate for a rolling 12 months ending May 2024 was 23.5%, below the California target rate of 23.6% as defined by the World Health Organization’s Health People 2030 guidance.
In total, CMQCC recognized 116 hospitals for their accomplishments in 2023. To see a full list of this year’s award winners and detailed descriptions of each award, please visit the CMQCC Awards page.
Nationally Recognized for Excellence Sutter Network Hospitals Including Sutter Delta Medical Center Ranked Among the Best by U.S. News & World Report
Hospitals, physicians and care teams in the Sutter network have a long history of providing exceptional care to patients across Northern California. Our focus on quality care has earned multiple honors from U.S. News & World Report. Three Sutter network hospitals were named among the Best in California for 2023-2024. In total, U.S. News & World Report recognized 13 Sutter hospital campuses for their performance across services including stroke, hip fracture, heart attack, maternity and more.
To help patients decide where to receive care, U.S. News & World Report generates hospital rankings by evaluating data on nearly 5,000 hospitals. To be nationally ranked in a specialty, a hospital must excel in caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients. For the 2023-24 High Performing Hospital Awards, USNWR rated Sutter Delta Medical Center, a general medical and surgical facility, for High Performing in six adult procedures and conditions. They include treating Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Kidney Failure, Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Pneumonia.
See all the USNWR 2023-24 High Performing Hospital Awards for Sutter Health hospital campuses, here.
Sutter Delta Among 5 Sutter Health Hospital Campuses to Earn High Praise From American Heart Association for Cardiac Care
Five Sutter hospital campuses received awards from the American Heart Association for their outstanding performance in the treatment of patients presenting to the hospital with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) – a specific kind of heart attack that can be caused by coronary artery disease.
Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center Davies campus– Gold Plus Receiving Center
Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center Van Ness campus – Gold Plus Receiving Center
Sutter Delta Medical Center – Gold Plus Receiving Center
Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit campus – Silver Plus Receiving Center
Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento – Silver Receiving Center
Recognition as a STEMI Receiving Center is designed to showcase hospitals that provide 24/7 support for STEMI. These important facilities coordinate with a network of referring hospitals and emergency medical services to provide guideline-directed STEMI care. All five campuses were also named on the STEMI Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, which aims to ensure that patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date care when hospitalized due to heart attack.
See all 23 awards earned by Sutter Health hospital campuses from the American Heart Association, here.
2024 Sutter Honors & Awards
In addition, Sutter Health shared all 2024 honors and awards received by their 10 hospitals including:
Forbes | Named Sutter Health among America’s Best Employers for Diversity. The honor recognizes companies dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Healthgrades | Recognized 10 Sutter hospital campuses as America’s Best Hospitals for 2024, based on quality measures including clinical outcomes, patient safety and patient experience. Four Sutter hospitals placed among the Top 50 in America for overall clinical quality. Additional Healthgrades honors, include:
Seven Sutter hospital campuses earned Outpatient Orthopedic achievements. The honor distinguishes these campuses as among the nation’s leading hospitals for outpatient orthopedic procedures.
Five Sutter hospitals recognized for Patient Safety Excellence and two Sutter campuses earned Outstanding Patient Experience honors.
Reputation.com | For the second consecutive year, Sutter Health was named a Healthcare System Leader in Reputation’s 2024 Healthcare Reputation Report, based on online patient sentiment. Additionally, more than 100 providers and 29 Sutter care locations achieved a reputation score of 800 or higher.
Newsweek | Named Sutter Health among America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity. The magazine examined publicly available data, held interviews and conducted an anonymous survey of 220,000 employees at companies across the country.
Webby Award: Scout by Sutter Health, a digital wellness tool for teens and young adults, was named Best App and Software in Health, Wellness and Fitness at the 28th Annual Webby Awards.
Leapfrog Group| Ten Sutter hospitals received an “A” or “B” grade in The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2024 Safety Grades, for providing safe, exceptional patient care.
The Chichibu, Japan delegation members met their host families and Sister City organization leaders during a brief Welcome Ceremony in the Council Chambers at Antioch City Hall on Monday afternoon, July 22, 2024. Photo by Allen D. Payton
10 students, four adults, including one teacher in town for 10 days of cultural exchange, tours
By Allen D. Payton
On Monday, July 22, a delegation of 14 people from Japan arrived in town as part of the Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization’s exchange program for a 10-day visit. They were given a warm welcome and greeted by applause from city staff and banners held by host family members at City Hall. The delegates are being treated to multiple events and tours in Antioch and San Francisco, ending with a Farewell Party and BBQ open to the public next Tuesday before flying home on Wednesday.
The Chichibu delegation arrived by tour bus at Antioch City Hall on Monday, July 22, 2024, to a warm welcome of applause by city staff and banners from host family members. Photos by Jon Davis
The delegates are staying with host families in Antioch and according to coordinator Jessica Davis, the organization’s vice president, “This year is extra fun for a few of our hosts and delegates because five of these Chichibu delegates are getting to stay with the family of the student that they hosted last summer.”
Established in 1967 to encourage friendship and cultural awareness between America and Japan, the volunteer run home stay exchange program alternates with delegations from Antioch visiting Japan in odd numbered years and the Chichibu delegation visiting Antioch in even numbered years. The relationship resulted in the naming of Chichibu Park in Antioch and Antioch Park in Chichubu.
The organization is part of the larger, Sister Cities International, “Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956,” as “a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit which serves as the national membership organization for individual sister cities, counties, and states across the United States. This network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in over 300 member communities with over 2,000 partnerships in more than 140 countries.”
The Chichibu delegates enjoyed lunch at Antioch’s Chichibu Park and a tour of Antioch High School. These and photos below by Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Organization
This year’s delegation includes four adults and 10 students:
Chino Suzuki, Chichibu City Hall Staff Member
Mayumi Fukushima, English teacher
Hitoshi Sahara, Chichibu-Antioch Sister City Member
Miyuki Ono, Chichibu-Antioch Sister City Member
Students
Airi Ono, daughter of Miyuki, age 10
Yui Imaizumi, age 12
Fumihiro Koike, age 13
Naruhi Kato, age 14
Ayano Wada, age 14
Hinata Masuda, age 14
Michika Teshigawara, age 14
Hiromi Ohama, age 16
Shizuku Ono, age 15, and
Miho Kaizaki, age 15
The Chichibu delegation toured the Black Diamond Mines in Antioch on Tuesday.
Itinerary
After arriving at SFO on Monday, the delegation enjoyed lunch at Sizzler in Pinole, then a brief welcome ceremony in Antioch City Hall for photos and meeting their host families.
On Tuesday they had a tour of the Black Diamond Mines in Antioch, followed by lunch at Chichibu Park. The group then toured the Antioch Water Treatment plant where they got to see the new brackish water desalination plant, then a tour of Antioch High School and the Antioch Historical Society Museum.
At the Antioch Historical Society Museum and in the Sports Legends wing on Tuesday.
They were officially recognized by the mayor and council during their meeting, and presented with the Proclamation approved that night. (See below)
Wednesday was Family Day, in which the host family and their guests were on their own. It ended with the official Welcome Dinner at Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill with the city council members. The delegates were each presented with gift bags filled with City of Antioch and other themed items. Thursday was another Family Day.
The delegates and host families took photos with Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and organization leaders, including Jessica Davis, left, Brad Helfenberger (second from left) and Antwon Webster (right). They were also given gift bags which included special-themed cookies donated by the Speakeasy Baking Co.
Today, Friday, July 26, 2024, the delegates enjoyed a tour of San Francisco with a trip down Lombard Street, visits to Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, lunch at Goodfella’s Pizza, a visit to Ghirardelli Square, a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands, and dinner at In-N-Out Burger.
Tomorrow, Saturday, the visitors from Chichibu will enjoy a pool party and potluck at the home of organization president, Antwon Webster followed by another Family Day on Sunday.
The delegates, host families and organization leaders visited the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39 on Friday, July 26, 2024.
On Monday morning, the delegation will be given a Delta Tour by boat from the pier near Smith’s Landing.
The public is invited to visit with the Chichibu delegation during the Farewell Party at the Antioch Waterpark on Tuesday. General Admission opens at 11:00 am, a BBQ dinner by local master John Davis will be served at 5:00 pm and optional Water Aerobics will be held from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm to work off dinner.
The 14 Sister City delegates from Chichibu with their host families will then meet up Wednesday morning at City Hall before departing for the SFO Airport for the flight home that afternoon.
The organization is led by Webster, Davis, Jim Davis, Treasurer, Abe Rodriguez, Public Relations, Hillary Tam, Youth Representative, and Members-at-Large Phyllis Fox and Brad Helfenberger who is also the city’s Director of Parks and Recreation and current Acting Assistant City Manager.
WHEREAS, In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower initiated a new international Sister City program for the purposes of cultural and economic exchange by establishing relationships between cities of similar size and economic base;
WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Mayor Verne Roberts traveled with the League of California Cities to six countries, including Japan, to investigate the possibility of establishing a Sister City relationship; and at the same time, Chichibu City was seeking a sister city in California;
WHEREAS, The two cities were likely candidates to be each other’s sister city as each city had manufacturing plants, were situated near a river, had a mountain in the vicinity, and were at the edge of the economic sphere of a large metropolitan area;
WHEREAS, In 1967, the City Council adopted a resolution formally accepting Chichibu as Antioch’s Sister City, with annual exchanges occurring every year beginning in 1971 with Antioch visiting Chichibu on odd numbered years and Chichibu visiting Antioch on even numbered years;
and WHEREAS, The 2024 delegation from Chichibu consists of 14 individuals including 10 youth, a teacher, a Chichibu City official, and two additional chaperones who will be visiting Antioch and the Bay Area from July 22-July 31, 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAMAR A. HERNADEZ-THORPE, Mayor of the City of Antioch, do hereby welcome the 2024 delegation visiting from Chichibu, Japan. Antioch places great value on the friendship with our Sister City that we’ve enjoyed for the past 57 years and look forward to continuing this fellowship for many years to come.
One dead bird, five sentinel chickens test positive for virus, all in Oakley
By Contra Costa Health
A Contra Costa resident died this month from West Nile virus infection, underscoring the need for everyone in the county to take precautions against mosquito-borne illness.
The death of an adult man who lived in East County was reported to the county on July 16. It was the first West Nile virus-related death reported in Contra Costa since 2006.
“This is a tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss.” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy county health officer. “This death also reinforces how important it is to reduce risk of West Nile virus infection by reducing our exposure to mosquitos.”
Contra Costa Health’s (CCH) Communicable Disease Program is investigating the case and has not determined where the person became infected. To preserve medical privacy, CCH will not release further details about the case.
The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Contra District (District) has detected other recent evidence of the virus’s presence in East County. One dead bird and five sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, all located in Oakley. According to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, “Chickens serve as valuable sentinel animals since they are not effective amplifying hosts, and they develop a short and relatively low viremia compared to other bird species when infected by WNV.”
Certain birds can become infected with West Nile virus, and when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected. An infected mosquito can spread the virus to a human or other animal through a single bite. The infection can be dangerous to humans, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or rash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Contra Costa County resident to West Nile virus,” said Paula Macedo, Ph.D., district general manager. “This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and supporting community efforts to control mosquito populations.”
West Nile virus activity is typically higher during the summer months. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the District recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:
DEET
Picaridin
The repellent version of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
IR3535
Always follow the instructions on the label when using insect repellent. Wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors where mosquitoes are present, often at dawn and dusk, can reduce exposed skin and reduce the risk of mosquito bites. And dumping out any amount of standing water in front and backyards and scrubbing the inside of each container to remove mosquito eggs can also help lower the risk of mosquitoes.
The District provides public health services to Contra Costa County residents including a mosquito service of inspection and control upon request. Request a District service by phone at 925-685-9301 or online at www.contracostamosquito.com. Click on “I Want to” at the top of the webpage, then select “Request Services” from the drop-down menu.
Contra Costa County residents can help the District identify areas of potential WNV risk by reporting dead birds to the California Dead Bird Call Center by phone at 1-877-968-2473 or online at westnile.ca.gov. Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus in a particular area. By reporting dead birds, residents provide the District with critical information that allows District employees to set mosquito traps near the site of the dead bird to look for infected mosquitoes. If those mosquitos are found, the District will take timely action to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for neighboring residents.
In honor of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics in Paris France, join us this Friday for OLYMPIC NIGHT, the 4th and final night in our Water Park After Dark series!
Don’t miss your chance to compete in Olympics Games to win an Olympic medal and prizes!
Enjoy a night swim until 8:45 pm and our tasty Specialty Menu Items with flavors from around the world!
A state worker cleans out an encampment under a freeway overpass. Gov. Gavin Newsom contributes to the effort following the announcement of his executive order on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Video screenshots. Source: Office of the CA Governor
Following U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Encourages local governments to adopt similar policies
“We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.” – Gov. Newsom
What you need to know: Governor Newsom today issued an executive order directing state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and safety of Californians experiencing homelessness. The Governor’s order, which follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass, also urges local governments to use substantial funding provided by the state to take similar action.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Building on California’s ongoing work and unprecedented investments to address the decades-long issue of homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies that urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and well-being of all Californians.
With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v Johnson, local governments now have the tools and authority to address dangerous encampments and help provide those residing in encampments with the resources they need.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same. The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.” said Newsom. “We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.”
The governor’s executive order directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal.
Governor Newsom has made record-level investments to address the housing crisis, investing over $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including billions of dollars in funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and wrap-around support to people living in encampments. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, these investments helped lift more than 165,000 people out of homelessness and into interim or permanent housing.
California blueprint
Governor Newsom’s order directs state agencies and departments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing encampment policy. Since July 2021, California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments, and has removed 248,275 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects. Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
The order encourages local governments to emulate the state’s successful model to adopt local policies and to use all available resources, including those provided by the state’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs, to address encampments within their jurisdictions.
Proposition 1 funding available for local governments
Governor Newsom also encourages local governments to apply for the newly available $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1 to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.
Proposition 1 includes two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services, and historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. The state also recently released the Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Services Act: Housing Supports Primer (July 2024) for counties, which explains how to spend the projected $950 million annual BHSA revenue on housing interventions.
Unprecedented investments to support communities
Governor Newsom is tackling California’s homelessness crisis head-on. Since he took office, the state has developed a Statewide Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness and the Governor has demanded unprecedented accountability from local governments to do their part to end the homelessness crisis through regionally coordinated action plans. The Governor has also pioneered nation-leading homeless and housing reforms and invested more than $24 billion to address this crisis with state and local support, including $4.85 billion for Homeless, Housing Assistance and Prevention Grants for local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion for Homekey to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness.
WHEREAS California is experiencing a homelessness crisis decades in the making, with over 180,000 people estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state; and WHEREAS within the first year of my Administration I fast-tracked the development of shelter through Executive Order N-23-20, which directed departments to assess and facilitate the use of available state land and resources for short-term emergency homeless shelters; and WHEREAS since the beginning of my Administration, the State has made unprecedented investments to address the homelessness crisis head on, investing more than $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including $4.85 billion in flexible funding to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness through Homekey; and
WHEREAS the State has redoubled its commitment to holding local jurisdictions accountable to reduce homelessness, including by strengthening and enforcing requirements that local jurisdictions plan for their fair share of housing and by conditioning state homelessness funding on rigorous reporting and measurable performance metrics; and
WHEREAS it is imperative to act with urgency to address dangerous encampments, which subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use, harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources; and
WHEREAS while every jurisdiction must do more to address encampments, state and local agencies taking proactive steps to remove encampments have been stymied in those efforts by lawsuits and injunctions, leaving officials without the tools or guidance necessary to address the crisis on their streets; and
WHEREAS in September 2023, I called on the United States Supreme Court to grant review in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson to clarify that state and local officials can take reasonable actions to resolve encampments while respecting the humanity of all Californians; and
WHEREAS in June 2024 the Supreme Court overturned Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent that restricted the government’s authority to enforce laws regulating encampments, recognizing that jurisdictions may tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness; and
WHEREAS with the threat of these types of injunctions removed, there is no longer any barrier to local governments utilizing the substantial resources provided by the State, in tandem with federal and local resources, to address encampments with both urgency and humanity, or excuse for not doing so; and WHEREAS guidelines that prioritize offers of shelter and services as a first step to resolving any encampment best respect the dignity of every Californian and provide meaningful paths to ending homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Interagency Council on Homelessness leads California’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation maintains a policy directive that prioritizes removal of encampments that pose threats to life, health, and safety, while partnering with local governments and nonprofit providers to facilitate offers of shelter and supportive services in advance of a removal; and WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation has, since July 2021, removed 11,188 encampments and 248,275 cubic yards of debris from these encampments along the state rights of way.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:
a. Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.
b. Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.
c. Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal
d. Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.
e. Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.
2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.
3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order. This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of July.
Registration is now open for the free youth 4th Annual Kendall Smith Basketball Camp on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
Improve your basketball skills this summer. Co-ed basketball camp for youth 7-17 years old athletes and non-athletes. Doors open at 8:30 am, the camp starts at 9:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm.
The event will be held in the gym at Smith’s alma mater, Deer Valley High School, 4700 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, where he played hoops before heading on to play for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, then into the pros, where he’s played for international teams and the Warriors G League team in Santa Cruz. (Learn more about his career).
Sponsored by Smith’s My Brothers Keeper 1K, to register visit Kendall Smith Basketball Camp. To be a sponsor, donate or volunteer email mybrotherskeepers925@gmail.com.
A thief can be seen on JCPenney store surveillance video smashing jewelry display cases on June 15, 2024. Video screenshot. Source: APD
Smash and grab robbery occurred June 15th, APD just learned of it
By Antioch Police Department
Community, take a good look at these videos and help us find the man behind this jewelry smash and grab that happened at JCPenney in the Slatten Ranch shopping center off Slatten Ranch Road and Empire Avenue.
We were just made aware of this theft that happened on June 15th. Antioch police officers responded to an alarm call just after 10:00 p.m. from the JCPenney on Slatten Ranch Road. Officers reviewed the store surveillance video which shows the suspect approaching the glass jewelry cases, taking a hammer or tool, smashing the glass and taking off with nearly half-a-million dollars in jewelry.
The suspect was also seen on video walking into the store at 8:25 p.m. and hiding in the store for a few hours before committing the crime. If you have any information about the identity of the suspect, please contact Detective Cole Shaffer cshaffer@antiochca.gov or (925) 481-8604.
