Against son of opponent in 2022 school board race

Announces endorsements of former State Superintendent Tom Torlakson, Contra Costa County Building and Construction Trades Council, local unions

Uses “Educator” title in approved ballot designation without 4-year college degree, teaching credential or saying where she teaches

By Allen D. Payton

After unsuccessfully seeking a seat on the Antioch School Board in 2022, this year, current Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Dominique King has switched to running for the Antioch City Council in District 2, instead. She both formed her committee and based it in San Jose, where her treasurer is located, and filed her intent to run last September, then King began raising funds in November. Launching without a public announcement other than on her campaign’s Facebook page, she held a campaign kickoff in May. King’s ballot designation is Businesswoman, Educator, Consultant and the campaign theme is “Moving Antioch Forward Together”.

However, while she is a volunteer educational advocate for families, King doesn’t have a four-year college degree or teaching credential, which are required to be a teacher in California, nor will say where she teaches. King also won’t say to what position she currently holds that the title of “Consultant” refers.

Asked why she switched her focus from education to city issues, King said, “While the responsibilities of the school board and city council differ, my life experiences, deep community involvement, professional background, and widely available data reveal the intrinsic connection between challenges in our educational system and broader societal issues such as public safety, housing instability, economic disparity, infrastructure challenges and the erosion of community connectedness. Addressing these interconnected problems is central to my daily work within the community. I am running for Antioch City Council, District 2, to address these challenges through collaboration, budget-consciousness, transparency, and an inclusive approach to move Antioch forward together.”

On Friday, Aug. 16, King’s campaign issued the following announcement of her major endorsements as well as other information about the candidate:

“Since her campaign kickoff in May, Dominique King has garnered broad support from across the city and the county that includes elected officials, community leaders, working families, advocates, and small business owners. King has also raised almost $25,000. With growing support from all sides of Antioch and the county, Dominique King is honored to officially announce the endorsements of former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, former City of Antioch Chief of Police Steven Ford, Contra Costa County Building and Construction Trades Council, labor affiliates: IBEW Local 302, Boilermakers Local 549, Iron Workers Local 378, UA Plumbers, Steamfitters Local 159, SEIU-UHW and many more listed on her website.”

“I am pleased to endorse Dominique King for the Antioch City Council. She has a clear vision for our community combined with extensive positive energy,” said Torlakson. “She has a deep passion for public service and for helping our youth and families. Dominique’s leadership skills will help us greatly during these challenging times.”

The press release continued, “This endorsement from Torlakson, who started his public service on the dais of the Antioch City Council, shows the campaign is building strong momentum towards November.

“King’s priorities include public safety, economic growth, housing, infrastructure, and community engagement,” here announcement shared. “As a proactive and compassionate leader, she is committed to working tirelessly to create a safer, more equitable, and prosperous future for all members of the community.”

“Be a part of Moving Antioch Forward Together this November and join the movement!”

Community Service

“King currently serves as Chair of the Antioch Parks and Recreation Commission, where she has been busy taking on an array of issues, including working on the Rivertown Community Space, a project instrumental in beginning the efforts to revitalize the historic downtown area,” her campaign press release continued. “For the last seven years, King has volunteered and supported Antioch families through educational advocacy by helping families with children who need additional educational support, including children with special needs. She is also a board member for the Delta Learning Center in Antioch and established the first Antioch group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.”

Education, Business and Work Experience, Family

According to her LinkedIn profile, King earned an associate’s degree in psychology from Los Medanos College and since June 2022 has been Chief Information Officer for the Oscar Grant Foundation, the organization named for the young man shot and killed by BART Police on New Year’s Day 2009. King shared that she is his mother’s goddaughter. About the organization she shared, “The foundation operates in the East Bay and collaborates with other organizations throughout Contra Costa County.”

In addition, since 2019, King and her husband Kenneth, an Alameda County Deputy Sheriff, have owned Lean In With The Kings, in which their “mission is to educate couples and families on how to foster healthy relationships.” She also continues to write as a columnist for the Clayton and Concord Pioneer newspaper, which is how she lists herself on the campaign finance report. (See below)

King says she and her husband chose Antioch and its community to raise their three children including two currently in the Antioch Unified School District.

Questions Go Unanswered, Won’t Say How She’s Considered an Educator, Consultant

Kiing was asked how she is considered an educator, where she teaches without a four-year degree and a teaching credential, and where she performs the volunteer work mentioned in her campaign’s press release and if that’s done at the Delta Learning Center. She was also asked to which position on her LinkedIn profile does the title consultant refer.

Without answering the questions directly, King responded, “My ballot designation was reviewed and approved. I trust that if I had not met the necessary requirements during the local and county election review process, my designation would have been rejected. My role on the Delta Learning Center Board is distinct from my independent work as an educational advocate.”

King was asked again on Friday afternoon, Aug. 23, how she can be considered an “Educator” and where does she teach, since she doesn’t have a four-year degree nor a teaching credential, or if her teaching is done through the Lean in With the Kings business.

The dictionary definition was shared with her of, “a person who provides instruction or education; a teacher” and that the NEA has a Code of Ethics for Educators, which are for their members who are credentialed teachers. – Code of Ethics for Educators | NEA  The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has Educator Rules of Conduct and Responsibilities. www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/rules-of-conduct 

Finally, King was informed that according to EdSource.org to be a teacher in California and “To earn a preliminary teaching credential a teacher must have:

• A bachelor’s degree.
• Completed an accredited teacher preparation program.
• Completed 600 hours of student teaching.
• Been fingerprinted and passed a background check.
• Taken required tests or completed university-approved coursework.
• Completed a course or passed a test on the provisions and principles of the U.S. Constitution.
• Earned a recommendation from their teacher preparation program.”

So, while the use of the term for her ballot designation may have been approved, if she hasn’t done what is listed above isn’t it misleading to the voters.

King was also asked again about the major for her Associates degree from LMC, if she you changed it from International Business, as was included in the article about her 2022 campaign, to Psychology, as it shows on her LinkedIn profile, and if so, when did she change it and when did she earn her AA.

Finally, King was asked again on Friday, August 23rd which position on her LinkedIn profile refers to her ballot designation title of “Consultant”, if it’s a paid or volunteer position, and does it apply to what was written in her press release: “For the last seven years, King has volunteered and supported Antioch families through educational advocacy by helping families with children who need additional educational support, including children with special needs.” She was given one more opportunity late Sunday night, Aug. 25th to respond by noon, today, Monday, August 26th. But she did not respond prior to publication time at 5:55 p.m.

Campaign Finances Show Help from Husband, One Union, Business Owners, Activists, Politicians

Although her campaign claims to have raised $25,000, King’s Form 460 finance reports show she raised $5,342 last year and $12,683 for a total of $18,025. King’s largest contributors include $5,000 from her husband, $2,000 from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 302 Community Candidates PAC; $1,000 from political campaign consultant Melody Howe Weintraub of Lafayette, listed as the consultant, owner of Winning Results; $700 from Gigi Crowder of Antioch, listed as the Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness Contra Costa and $500 from Best Consulting, LLC in Walnut Creek.

In addition, King received $350 from Antioch School Board Area 2 Trustee Dr. Jag Lathan, $250 from Brentwood Councilwoman Jovita Mendoza, $198 from Antioch Police Oversight Commissioner Harry Thurston, plus, $300 from Frank Sterling, $150 from Devin Williams and $125 from Patricia Granados all of whom speak regularly during public comments at most council meetings; and $100 each from Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson, former Antioch City Manager Cornelius “Con” Johnson and Antioch School Board Area 4 Trustee candidate Olga Smith. King also raised $2,535 in contributions of less than $100 and loaned her campaign $300.

Of the contributions of $100 or more, not including the funds from her husband and from the IBEW, totaling $8,160 as of June 30th, King received $3,836 or 47% from within Antioch and $4,324 or 53% from outside the city.

As of June 30th, King’s campaign had spent $7,893.84 leaving her with an Ending Cash Balance of $9,292.06. Most of her Payments Made were to businesses outside of Antioch and the largest expenses were $2,650 to Eldridge Political Partners in San Jose, of which President and Founder Jordan Eldridge is serving as her campaign treasurer; $2,500 to Iconic Strategies, Inc. of Hayward for consulting; $1,200 to Sumthing Antioch restaurant for a fundraiser, and $1,000 to Kingdom Graphix in Antioch.

Other than one minor mistake in the Per Election To Date total for the contributions from Jag Lathan, which doesn’t change the totals, King’s campaign finance reports are accurate and comply with legal disclosure requirements. She responded, “I will work with my campaign treasurer to review and either verify or correct the Per Election To Date total to accurately reflect a donor’s contribution.”

King was asked if she had raised an additional $7,000 since the end of June, if so, from whom were the major contributions received, if they were from some of the unions that have endorsed her, as well as for the amounts. Finally, she was asked to provide the names and amounts for contributions of $500 or more since June 30th. She responded, “Additional funds were raised, including contributions from personal funds, individual donors and endorsing unions.” See Form 460 reports for 0101-12312023 and 0101-063023.

For more information about King’s campaign visit www.dominiqueking4antioch.com or email votedominiqueking@gmail.com.

As previously reported, King faces one opponent in the race, former Antioch High School principal Louie Rocha, whose mother is Antioch School Board Area 5 Trustee Mary Rocha. The election is November 5th.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

By Allen D. Payton

During a ceremony at the Antioch Police Facility on Monday, August 26, 2024, Interim Chief Brian Addington administered the oath of office to new Captain Joe Vigil and the department’s new Officer Michael Roy, Jr., a lateral hire from the Oakland Police Department.

In the past two years, Vigil has served in both an acting capacity for the position and as acting police chief, prior to Addington being hired earlier this year.

“As we continue to work on rebuilding our police department it brings fresh opportunities,” the chief said.
About Vigil and Roy he said, “They had the love support and continued encouragement from their families and co-workers to get them to this point.”

Addington then read from prepared remarks about each of the two men:

Captain Joe Vigil

Captain Joe Vigil (pronounced “vee-hill”) is a dedicated law enforcement professional with 25 years of distinguished service. Throughout his career, he has served with the Sacramento, Richmond and Antioch Police Departments, contributing his expertise and leadership to various roles. Captain Vigil has been an instructor in multiple disciplines, coordinated extensive training programs, and successfully led numerous units as an experienced investigator. He has also earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Cal State Long Beach. 

 Over the past year, Captain Vigil has overseen the Support Services Bureau, where he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision. His commitment to professional development is further evidenced by his recent completion of the Commission on Police Officers Standards and Training’s (POST) Command College, positioning him as a leader prepared to meet the complex challenges of modern policing.

For over a year, he served as the acting Captain and Acting Police Chief. August 2023 through February 2024 – acting Chief. This was an incredibly challenging assignment, but it truly highlights his unwavering character and deep commitment to serving the community and our department with dedication and integrity. His willingness to tackle such difficult tasks exemplifies the kind of leadership and resilience that inspires us all.

Beyond his professional achievements, Captain Vigil has been married for almost twenty years and has three beautiful children. He is well-rounded and enjoys reading, cycling, and cherishing time with family and friends.

A fun fact about Captain Vigil is his passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he would train every day if he could.

“Less than one percent of our profession graduates from POST Command College,” Addington also shared.

Vigil had his father, Joe Vigil, Sr., who he referred to as “Pops” pin the new Captain’s badge to his uniform.

He said, “I’m not a man of a lot of words, so, I’ll keep it short and sweet. First and foremost, I want to thank my family, all the admin, here, Chief, everyone on the city side. Believe it or not, everyone in this room at some point or another I’ve had the obligation and opportunity to work with have helped me get here, good, bad or indifferent and I’m truly grateful for each and everyone of you. Thank you very much.”

Michael Roy, Jr. – Lateral Police Officer

Michael was born in Stockton, California, where he grew up. During high school, he played football and wrestled. Before becoming a police officer, Michael was a commercial truck driver.

Michael is a lateral police officer with almost two years of experience with the Oakland Police Department, where he served with distinction.

Michael is married, and he has a beautiful two-year-old daughter.

Fun Fact: He loves lifting weights and spending time with his family and is a huge 49ers fan.
Roy asked his best friend Will Wynhamer to pin on his badge.

He also offered a few words saying, “I’m 27 years old. I’m very happy that you’ve given me this opportunity. I want to bridge the gap between civilian and law enforcement.”

Oath of Honor

The two men were then administered the International Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Oath of Honor by Addington, committing themselves to the “highest ethical standards in law enforcement” he said. That was followed by a reception and photos with family and friends.

Addington later shared that he expects to swear in two more officers in about two weeks.

The Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame who are celebrating its 17th year of distinguished athletes, will induct its Class of 2024 on October 5th at Lone Tree Golf Course & Event Center in Antioch. The Hall of Fame Gala starting at 5pm will honor 13 talented individual athletes, one former coach, one community leader and one outstanding team.

This year’s inductees (including the high school they attended and their graduating year) are Bob Garrison, All-Around Male Athlete (Antioch 1996); Jasmine Cox, All-Around Female Athlete (Deer Valley 2008); Jenna Carvajal, Individual Female Athlete, Cross Country (Deer Valley 2005); Sheena Wellman, Individual Female Athlete, Swimming (Deer Valley 2001); Kendra Rowland, Individual Female Athlete, Volleyball (Deer Valley 2007); Carrie Tucker, Individual Female Athlete, Swimming (Antioch 1993); Taiwan Jones, Individual Male Athlete, Football (Deer Valley 2007); John Murphy, Individual Male Athlete, Football (Antioch 1986); Trevor Graifman, Individual Male Athlete, Diving (Antioch 2008); Josh Winfield (posthumous), Individual Male Athlete, Track & Field (Deer Valley 2008); Jason Stephens, Individual Male Athlete, Swimming (Antioch 1994); Ben McCorriston, Individual Male Athlete, Wrestling (Antioch 2005); Gerald Circo, Individual Male Athlete, Special Recognition (Antioch 1962); Rich Woods, Outstanding Coach, Football (Deer Valley 2004-2015); Gordon Gravelle, Community Leader; 2004-2005 Antioch Boys Wrestling Team, Outstanding Team.

A limited number of tickets are now on sale to the public. The price for each ticket is $90. Tickets can be purchased on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1pm – 4pm in the museum office located at 1500 West 4th Street in Antioch. Or by calling (925) 238-0565 or email us at sportslegends@comcast.net. Visit us at www.antiochsportslegends.com

This dinner event sells out! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to support this year’s ‘Best of the Best’ athletes from Antioch and Deer Valley High School.

Complete bio’s and pictures will be unveiled on Saturday, October 5th along with the display cases inside our museum featuring our inductees’ sports history journeys.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our Class of 2024 athletes!

Presented by the CA Office of Traffic Safety, CA Department of Transportation & iHeart Media

Entry deadline: Aug. 29

WHAT: The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) are teaming up with iHeartMedia to announce a statewide contest for a chance to win up to $500 in cash gift cards and prizes. To enter, participants will share with us how they are a traffic safety champion and make a commitment to safe road behaviors. This contest is only open to individuals who are legal U.S. residents of the State of California. Any participants ages 14 and up can enter the contest. For participants under the age of 18 years old, a parent/guardian must sign the registration form.

WHY: Twelve people are killed on California roads every day. The roads are shared by drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, electric scooters, and other mobility assistance devices such as wheelchairs. When we’re on the road, every action we take gets us to a safer place. Safe roads depend on all of us. The objective is to encourage others to share how they watch out for one another as we start a movement for safer roads together.

WHEN: Contest and submission period: Now through 11:59 p.m. PDT on August 29, 2024.

Winner notification: September 2024/Public Winner Announcement: September 2024.

WHERE: Visit the Go Safely California website for more details and to enter today! https://gosafelyca.org/safer-roads-contest/

WHO: The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS)

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

*All prizes courtesy of iHeartMedia

For two-year term, an assistant city department head from Seattle, with no experience as city manager or assistant city manager

“Let’s just keep it real, there is no such thing as fair when the social construct we live in was created by white people for the benefit of white people only- to the detriment of every one else” – Antioch City Manager candidate finalist Bessie Marie Scott on Facebook

“We’re 70 days from an election as of Tuesday and this should not be decided by this council…There were some qualified candidates that along the way removed themselves from the process.” – Councilman Mike Barbanica

By Allen D. Payton

With just 70 days to go before the election, during their meeting on Tuesday night, August 27, 2024, the Antioch City Council will consider voting to hire a new city manager, and without first introducing the candidate to the public. After violating the state Brown Act open meeting law by first, discussing then, voting to direct staff to hire the executive search firm during Closed Session earlier this year, according to an attorney with the First Amendment Coalition, the city council interviewed fewer than 10 candidates for the position following a nationwide search.

City Manager Candidate Bessie Marie Scott

According to the city staff report for the agenda item, #9, the council’s candidate of choice for city manager is Bessie M. Scott who has not previously worked as a city manager or assistant city manager for any other city. According to both the report and her LinkedIn profile, she is currently the Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety for the City of Seattle, Washington and has served in the position since April 2023.

Before being chosen as the finalist, she, along with other applicants, were introduced to the City’s department heads, according to District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica.

According to the department’s website, “The City of Seattle Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established to ‘help ensure the fairness and integrity of the police system as a whole in its delivery of law enforcement services by providing civilian auditing of the management, practices, and policies of the [Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Office of Police Accountability (OPA)] and oversee ongoing fidelity to organizational reforms implemented pursuant to the goals of the 2012 federal Consent Decree in United States of America v. City of Seattle, 12 Civ. 1282(JLR).’”

Prior to her current position, Scott worked for a little over three years for the Public Defender Association in Seattle, first as Chief of Staff then as Co-Executive Director of Operations. Prior to that, for a little over two years, Scott worked for the Seattle Community Police Commission, first as Policy Director then as Interim Executive Director. Her longest tenure was for six-and-a-half years for the Seattle Housing Authority where she worked, first, as the Senior Paralegal and Public Records Officer in the Legal Department. That was followed by a position as Senior Policy Analyst for the Office of Policy & Strategic Initiatives, then finally as Strategic Advisor for Rental Assistance Programs.

The staff report also shares, “She has public sector experience in various areas such as public safety, housing programs and municipal policy administration. In her current role, she ensures consistent policy interpretation across all functions of public safety, including Audits, Investigations, Policy and Standards and Compliance.

Accomplishments

More specifically, according to the city staff report, “Some of her career accomplishments include: Managed a Home from School Program, which was a pilot initiative that paired a Housing Choice Voucher with a family experiencing homelessness and living in a shelter near a school in Seattle. The program was a success and housed over 250 families in the first year.” She also “Managed a grant funded Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) Statewide Fair Housing Test Program.”

The proposed agreement does not yet include salary and benefit amounts as those will be finalized during negotiations at the Closed Session meeting on Tuesday night.

Honors

Scott was honored with the 2021 Changemaker of the Year Award from Voices & Visions, University of Washington, Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, in February 2021. The announcement on the college’s website for this year’s honorees and celebration, shares details about the award offers three phrases, Collective Wisdom, Brave Leadership and Rigorous Action. The description reads, “Amid the turbulence and challenges we see day-to-day, join us to celebrate leaders catalyzing positive change in our communities and public systems.  This moment calls for courageous leadership and rigorous action. Join us for an evening of discussion, discovery, and community.  Your participation helps raise critical funds to support the mission of the Evans School, fueling our ability to inspire public service and democratize public policy.”

Education

Scott earned an Executive Master of Public Administration – EMPA in 2020 from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington and took a Public Policy Analysis course in 2003 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She earned her undergraduate Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Law and Society/ Philosophy, with an emphasis in Criminal Justice/ Ethics and Public Policy from UC Santa Barbara in 2003.

If hired, Scott will be the City’s first African American female city manager.

Scott’s Controversial Social Media Posts

But the prospective city manager’s social media posts and comments are already causing a stir, as some of them include racially charged comments by Scott dating back to 2018 and more recently, advocacy for such matters as a “Free Palestine”.

X/Twitter Posts and Comments

In a reply to a Twitter/X post on Aug. 30, 2018, by Franklin Graham, son of Rev. Billy Graham, which reads, “Our nation is in trouble—and it’s because we have taken God out of everything. Follow if you agree,” Scott wrote on Oct. 5, 2018, “Please stop. You abandoned God a long time ago by supporting racists and bigots who help you preserve your whiteness. Stop using GOD to justify your ugly ways. See you in hell!”

A post on her Twitter/X account (https://x.com/bethalightmarie) on June 3, 2019, she wrote, “I’ve never hated a character @FelicityHuffman more. Life imitates…that white women are the problem…in real life. Because also who raises white men? #Beckydoes #thatswho #whitewomendobetter #ShameOnYou #CentralParkFive #reidtechnique #f—kkktrump (redacted by the Herald) @realDonaldTrump.”

In a February 16, 2020, post, in response to another post Scott wrote, “White parents just don’t know/care about what we go through worrying about our children being treated any kind of way due to their skin color. Sad. Infruriating. Unfair” and the word America with “kkk” in the middle as “amerikkka”.

A post on Jan. 6, 2021, reads, “You know what’s standing out to me more than these clever memes about today? The White silence on my timeline. #Allies What say you? I need some #Reparations #AccountabilityNow.”  

Facebook Posts and Comments

A post on March 31, 2019, on Scott’s personal Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bmariescott) of an article entitled, “What Happens When Poor Kids Are Taught Society Is Fair,” she wrote, “Let’s just keep it real, there is no such thing as fair when the social construct we live in was created by white people for the benefit of white people only- to the detriment of every one else and is upheld by systemic and institutional racism which is codified in law, carried out through disparate policy implementation and enforced and upheld by a justice system that acts as a gatekeeper for the halls of power. These are indisputable facts. Convince me otherwise, I’ll wait.” #spotthewhitelie #callitbyitsname #racism

In a July 4, 2019, Facebook post writing, “Siiiiigh” in response to an article entitled, “How to Celebrate the 4th of July When America is a Constant Disappointment” with the sub-headline which reads, “If you feel like patriotism is morally repugnant right now, you’d be correct.”

In a Facebook post on July 5, 2019, of an article with a list of “15 Books Every American Needs to Read to Get the Full Story of Our Nation which included, “Transgender History – The Roots of Today’s Revolution” she wrote, “Some light Summer reading”.

A June 6, 2022, she posted on Facebook about being “the angry black woman”, “To [sic] many times to count.”

One of her more recent and innocuous posts was on Dec. 31, 2023, and reads: “The aftermath. 2023. Feeling so blessed and incredibly grateful to my tribe. My camera roll is wild- so much good stuff! Going forward into 2024 with a humble spirit and a full heart knowing that there is much work to be done if we are to be in our humanity. Free people read freely. Oppression is the root cause of conflict. Everyone should have access to housing and healthcare. Water rights for all. Free Palestine.

And the list goes on. I hope we all love harder in 2024. Happy New Year to you!”

Only Barbanica Responds to Questions for City Council Members

All five councilmembers were asked via email Friday night why they would you hire someone without first introducing the candidate to community leaders, including those from city commissions, the Chamber of Commerce and non-profit organizations as has been done in the past, to get input from them before you vote.

They were also asked if there were no other candidates who have experience as a city manager or an assistant city manager for other cities.

The councilmembers were asked before narrowing down their choices to Ms. Scott, if they were aware of her rather controversial remarks on her own social media pages. Some of the comments above were shared with the councilmembers.

They were then asked if she is really the best candidate and the best fit for Antioch city manager out of those they interviewed. Finally, the councilmembers were asked, if they you really think someone so racially divisive is the right choice for Antioch city manager especially after our community has just gone through the upheaval from the racist text scandal caused by some of our police officers.

Barbanica responded, “My position has been all along this should have been a public hiring. There should have been full transparency as the public needs to be apprised of the progress of the hiring all along. I said that publicly so the public could be made aware of who we were considering. The public went from knowing absolutely nothing about it to one day saying we have a final choice and we’re hiring a city manager and offering a person the job.”

“The public wasn’t aware we had a pool of applicants and that we had narrowed it down, where we were in the progress, and if we’re doing interviews. At one point all the department heads were allowed to do a meet and greet with multiple applicants. The public should have been made aware, so it didn’t come as big surprise.”

“Yes, that should have occurred,” referring to meetings between the final applicant and community leaders before the vote.

“This council should not be making the decision. This should be pushed out to the next council after the election. We have three seats that are up for election,” Barbanica continued. “We’re 70 days from an election as of Tuesday and this should not be decided by this council. It’s very likely that the overall direction of this council could be changing, depending on what the voters decide.”

Asked about the experience of other applicants he said, “There were some qualified candidates that along the way removed themselves from the process.”

“I have supported and continued to support leaving Kwame Reed in that position until the next city council is seated,” Barbanica stated. “At least bring him on as the interim city manager for the next couple of months and let the next council decide if they want to continue with him or start this search over.”

“I’m looking forward to hearing public comments on Tuesday night before I make my final decision,” he added.

When reached for comment, District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock said, “I will comment after Tuesday’s meeting and not before, because the vote hasn’t been disclosed and would be a Brown Act violation.”

Additional efforts to reach Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe were unsuccessful prior to publication time.

Meeting Times and Location

The Tuesday night meeting inside the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 200 H Street, begins with a Closed Session at 5:15 p.m. during which the council will discuss the appointment of the new city manager. The public will have the opportunity to speak during public comments on the items they will be discussing prior to the council adjourning into their closed-door meeting. The council members will also discuss an existing lawsuit and anticipated litigation followed by the performance evaluations of both Acting City Manager Reed and City Attorney Thomas L. Smith.

The regular meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. City Council meetings are televised live on Comcast channel 24, AT&T U-verse channel 99, or live stream on the City’s website. See the full agenda packet.

Memory of local cyclist Joe Shami inspired community to improve safety for bicyclists and motorists      

Paid for with public and private funds

By Annette Majerowicz, Communications Consultant, Full Court Press Communications for the California State Parks Foundation

Mount Diablo, CA – California State Parks Foundation, on Friday, celebrated the completion of 22 new bike turnouts at Mount Diablo State Park. There are now a total of 67 bike turnouts in the park. Bike turnouts allow bicyclists, who move at slower speeds as they pedal uphill, to pull out of the main traffic lane into their own lane so that vehicles can pass safely. 

The new turnouts were inspired by the memory of Joe Shami who was a passionate advocate for increasing safety for bicyclists and cars at Mount Diablo State Park. Known by locals as “The Legend of Mount Diablo,” Joe’s passion for Mount Diablo State Park and cycling was exemplified by over a decade of weekly trips up the mountain well into his 80s. 

“Tragically, Joe was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Lafayette,” said Randy Widera, Director of Programs of the California State Parks Foundation. “Although he is not with us today, Joe left a special gift in his will to California State Parks Foundation. This gift helped make these additional bike turnouts on Mount Diablo possible. We know Joe would be pleased that his generous gift is making Mount Diablo safer for bicyclists to enjoy.” 

California State Parks, California State Parks Foundation, and Mount Diablo Cyclists partnered to build the new bike turnouts. A total of $927,000 was raised for the project.

For many years, cycling at Mount Diablo State Park has been a popular — but dangerous — activity. From 2010 to 2014, there were an average of 23 car and bike collisions per year. According to California State Park officials, this also frequently resulted in road rage showdowns between drivers and riders. After the first turnouts were created, collisions dropped to three accidents in two years, and road rage significantly diminished.  

In an incredible show of dedication to this work, California State Parks allocated the same amount as Joe’s gift from the department’s annual roads allocation funding to this project. Taking this initial funding as a challenge, a passionate group of volunteers comprised of Alan Kalin, Mark Dedon, and Ted Trambley spent four months doing outreach in the park and at Peet’s Coffee in Danville with locals, cyclists, and visitors to raise additional funds.

“The new bike turnouts on Mount Diablo are a testament to Joe Shami’s inspirational life,” said Mark Dedon, Mt. Diablo Cyclists leadership team member. “The community understands the importance of the new turnouts for the safety of both bicyclists and motorists. People we spoke with were happy to contribute to make these turnouts a reality.”

Through their efforts and with the support of California State Parks Foundation, they inspired over 300 individuals, organizations, and companies to donate the additional funding needed to make the bike turnouts possible. (See brief bike turnout video)

California State Parks Foundation, an independent, member-supported nonprofit with over 50 years of history, is dedicated to protecting and preserving the California state park system for the benefit of all. We work in parks and in Sacramento with partners, park staff, and policymakers to address the challenges parks face. To make real and lasting change we are working to build a movement of people who enjoy and advocate for their parks now, and for future generations. Learn more at www.calparks.org, or find California State Parks Foundation on Facebook, or Instagram and Twitter (@calparks).

About Mount Diablo State Park

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area to the east of Walnut Creek, people have been drawn for generations to Mount Diablo for its spectacular views from the summit which extend over 100 miles in all directions on a clear day. Visitors have been attracted by the complex geology that has created amazing rock formations such as the “wind caves” at Rock City, and by the mountain’s variety of habitats which are home to over 600 species of plants and an amazing array of wildlife such as butterflies, bats and birds of prey, tarantulas, bobcats, lizards, snakes and deer.

In 2021 Mount Diablo celebrated its 100th year as a State Park. Though 100 years is a long history as a park, the importance of Mount Diablo was recognized long before that. For thousands of years Native Americans were the caretakers of this land. Many groups considered and treated the mountain as a sacred place and continue to do so today.

Since becoming a park in 1921, Mount Diablo has been protected as a natural area, and over the past 100 years the park has grown from only a few hundred acres to over 20,000 acres. Today it is a destination for those who would like to view wildlife and wildflowers, experience beautiful views, hike, camp, picnic, run, cycle, climb, ride horses, or gaze at the stars.

By Isiah Thompson, Departmental Community & Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Probation Department

Martinez, CA – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants interested in serving on its 20-member Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC). Regular meetings of the Council and other standing committees are held at least quarterly based on a schedule adopted by the Council; that schedule may be changed or augmented as needed. The following positions are vacant and will be held for a two-year term:

• Two (2) At-Large youth seats, 14 to 25 years old residing or working within Contra Costa County
• One (1) At-Large member residing or working within Contra Costa County

The JJCC is a multi-agency advisory body that contributes to the development and implementation of a countywide juvenile justice plan. It is composed of several critical parts; including, but not limited to, an assessment of existing law enforcement, probation, education, mental health, health, social services, drugs, alcohol, and youth resources, which specifically target both at-promise, as well as system involved youth, and their families.

The JJCC will also coordinate the work of governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in activities designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime and delinquency in the greater community.  Further, the JJCC will develop information and intelligence sharing systems to ensure county actions are fully coordinated and equipped to provide data and appropriate outcome measures.  The body is composed of the following members:

Twelve (12) Ex‐Officio Members:

• Chief Probation Officer, Chair
• District Attorney’s Office representative
• Public Defender’s Office representative
• Sheriff’s Office representative
• Board of Supervisors’ representative
• Employment and Human Services Department representative
• Behavioral Health Services (Mental health) representative
• County Alcohol and Drugs Division representative
• Public Health representative
• Juvenile Justice Commission Chair
• City Police Department representative (rotating between Richmond, Antioch, Concord)
• County Office of Education or School District representative

Eight (8) Additional Members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors:

• Four At-Large members residing or working within Contra Costa County
• Two Community-Based Organization representatives
• Two At-Large youth, 14 to 25 years old residing or working within Contra Costa County

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, September 20. All applicants who submit by the deadline will be invited to the public interview process conducted by the Public Protection Committee. This committee will then recommend a selection of applicants for the Board of Supervisors to appoint. Interviews with the Public Protection Committee will occur October 7, and appointments with the Board of Supervisors will occur on October 22.

Applications can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or visiting the County webpage at http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/. Completed applications should be emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us or mailed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Office at 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553.