By Lt. John Fortner, Antioch Police Field Services Division – Patrol

On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at 7:56 pm Antioch Police officers responded to the 1100 block of Sycamore Drive on reports of several gunshots being fired. Several officers responded immediately, and once on scene they searched the area.  Officers did not locate any victims struck by gunfire however, they located three businesses and one parked vehicle (unoccupied) that were struck by gunfire.  The suspects fled the area in a vehicle and were not located by police.

No gunshot victims have come forward or been identified at this time.  Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing.

UPDATE: Female grazed by gunshot, male shot multiple times

In shopping center parking lot at A and W. 18th Streets; city’s 13th shooting this month

By Allen D. Payton

According to reports from residents, two people were shot Sunday morning, in the shopping center parking lot at A and W. 18th Streets. According to Pulse Point, the incident was described as a Medical Emergency at 9:22 AM with multiple Con Fire units were dispatched and the scene was cleared by them by 10:40 AM.

Antioch Police arrived on scene and began their investigation. Bullet shell markings could be seen on the ground at the crime scene near a vehicle parked next to the Rite Aid store.

According to dispatch audio there were two men believed to be the suspects who left the scene: “Responsible number one, BMA (Black male adult), six-foot, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, grey shoes. (Unintelligible) number two, the driver, BMA, six-foot, wearing a red and white jacket, black shoes. (Unintelligible) number one was the shooter last seen on foot eastbound on 18th Street. I don’t know if he got back into the vehicle. No other information at this time. Use caution. Notify Antioch PD.”

This incident is the 13th shooting in Antioch this month. Two of the other 12 resulted in homicide including one on Friday. (See related articles here, here and here)

UPDATE: According to Lt. John Fortner of the Antioch Police Field Services Division – Patrol, “On 9/22/24, at 9:21am Antioch Police officers responded to the Antioch Square parking lot, located on A Street at East 18th Street, for reports of multiple gunshots being fired. Once officers arrived at the scene, they located a female adult victim with a non-life-threatening grazing gunshot wound, and a male adult victim who sustained multiple gunshot wounds.  The victims were administered first aid and transported to local area hospitals for medical care.  The male victim is listed in critical condition at this time.

“The suspect(s) fled the scene in a vehicle and were not contacted by police.  At this time witnesses are being contacted, evidence was collected from the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.”

There’s still time to get your tickets to the game and just a few spots remaining for kids to high-five the players in the tunnel. Call, today!

Police seek public’s help; city’s 12th homicide this year, 10 others determined to be murder

By Lt. Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division

As previously reported, on Friday, September 20th at approximately 12:27 p.m., Antioch police officers responded to the area of Cavallo Road and Sunset Drive for reports of shots fired in the area. When officers arrived on the scene, they found an 18-year-old man who had been shot at least once. It was later confirmed by police that he was shot in the head. Antioch police officers provided aid to the victim who was transported to a local hospital. The victim died from his injuries at the hospital.

The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to take over the investigation. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

The vehicle is a blue 1999-2002 GMC Sierra pickup truck with a tool rack and black rims. Investigators are asking for any information related to this vehicle or the incident.

Any tips or other information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email jcox@antiochca.gov.

According to the Antioch Police Department’s Crime Statistics there have been 10 murders this year though August. With the shooting homicide reported earlier this month the latest incident is the city’s 12th homicide of the year.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Plan must include improvements to safety for riders and Amtrak staff, preventing homeless encampments, financial commitment

“Antioch needs to make a commitment,” Supervisor Diane Burgis

“Don’t drop the stop” residents repeated

Only about 40 round-trip riderships a day from the Antioch-Pittsburg stop

“We weren’t invited by the city council…to make a presentation or we would have done so…there haven’t been any calls to action by the owner of the station” meaning the City of Antioch,” SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen.

By Allen D. Payton

During the meeting of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), which governs the Amtrak system to and through Antioch, on Friday, September 20, 2024, the Board of Directors received a presentation on a proposed plan by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe to keep the station open and heard an earful from Antioch residents and others. Many repeated the slogan, “Don’t drop the stop.” Only three of the board members were in attendance in the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chambers in Martinez, including Vice-Chair and Merced County Supervisor Rodrigo Espinosa, Contra Costa District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis and Tracy Mayor Nancy Young. Burgis represents portions of Antioch on the Board of Supervisors. The other SJJPA board members participated online via Zoom. (See meeting video)

As previously reported, the SJJPA Board voted to decommission the Antioch station during their March 24, 2023, meeting. It wasn’t until July this year that the Antioch City Council responded with a letter requesting the board change their vote and it wasn’t until last week that the mayor said he had a plan to address the SJJPA’s concerns with safety and homelessness at and near the station.

Closure of the Antioch station is now planned for mid- to late-2027, according to SJJPA staff. So, there’s time for a plan to be approved by the city council, which is expected to hear about it, next month, and to be implemented. That should give the SJJPA Board what they need to then go to BNSF Rail, which owns the rail line in and through Antioch, to request an exception to their rule requiring a six-mile distance between stations. The planned new Oakley Amtrak station is less than that distance from Antioch’s which gave the board another reason to close it.

“The lack of visible evidence by the City to improve the situation over the years, and the comments by the Amtrak Inspector General…made it difficult to not make a decision.” SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen

SJJPA Executive Director Says Issue Dates Back Almost 15 Years, There’s Been No Plan from City

SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen opened with a presentation on the history of the station and the reasons for the board’s decision for its decommissioning. She shared a system map showing the Amtrak San Joaquins routes and said, “some of these stations are in areas dealing with the same issues as Antioch,” including homelessness and crime.

“They have gone on for almost 15 years,” she stated. “They’ve gone on through different city councils, different mayors, different city managers, different staff. I would be hopeful to keep the station opened.”

“These discussions have been occurring long before the authority existed,” Mortensen continued. “They went on so long.”

Speaking of the lack of communication between the authority and the city and other agencies she said, “They can’t find a neat path of communication…by any of the communities,” referring to no email or paper trail as reported by the Herald from multiple public records requests. “We weren’t invited by the city council or any of the entities to make a presentation or we would have done so,” she added.

“The City of Antioch owns the station property,” Mortensen explained. “They have a long-term lease with the BNSF. A little over 80% of the passengers are heading east. It’s been asserted Antioch residents would lose their only access to jobs in the Bay Area. But Antioch residents have access to eBART. Granted it does not go into the Valley.”

She mentioned ridership is “about 40 round trips a day. Intercity ridership is different,” and “The six-mile spacing. That is true. However, the trains switch to the UP route just outside of here, in Martinez. They deal with spacing on a case-by-case basis. That track is governed by UP criteria.” Mortensen was referring to the shorter distance between the Oakland and Emeryville stations that she was asked about by the Herald.

Speaking of last year’s board meeting at which they voted to decommission the station she said, “The Board gave Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe an opportunity to give a presentation. The lack of visible evidence by the City to improve the situation over the years, and the comments by the Amtrak Inspector General…made it difficult to not make a decision.”

Tamika Smith has spent time over the past few years…trying to seek a solution,” Mortensen added before turning over the presentation to her.

“Over 10 years ago, about 15, Amtrak staff did meet with Antioch staff…and the words were, ‘rip out the platform’,” Smith stated. “The wheelchair lift was broken into and stolen, twice. The new one has been installed. But the homeless have defecated on the handle. The hazmat team has to be called out” to clean it up before being used.

She mentioned a “Lack of response by the Antioch Police department” and said, “representatives have met with different city managers. We met with the interim city manager and interim chief of police. During that meeting we agreed to anything that Antioch can do to make the station safer for passengers…and more importantly Amtrak staff.”

Mortensen responded saying, “There was no plan presented to staff at that time. We were very disappointed there was no plan to report out and present to you, today.”

“All of the calls for action…have been really been to protest the decision. That is understandable,” she continued. “But there haven’t been any calls to action by the owner of the station. There was a letter from the City of Pittsburg supporting keeping the station open. The Board left a lot of doors open in the decommissioning option. But all those options include keeping the Antioch station safer.”

Mortensen stated, “the goal was a future with an Antioch station open.”

Mayor Young read a statement from Chair and Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Hume, who was absent from the meeting.

“This board made the decision to open a new station in Oakley,” she read. “If certain steps were taken…heighten security for the safety of the passengers..we could then ask for an exception to BNSF on the spacing between the stations.”

“Any suggestion that an action has been undone…is inaccurate,” Hume’s statement continued. “We look forward to working with all parties.”

“I would have to echo many of what he said, here,” Young stated. “We made it clear…we’re not making a decision to not open Oakley. But we’re looking at opportunities to save…the station in Antioch.”

“We stressed the partnerships we have in other cities which keeps the stations open,” she continued. “So, we’re looking to Antioch to provide the answers…and number one the safety of the ridership but also the employees.”

“I’m very sensitive to those who are homeless. But we want to make sure we’re looking at options…to make that area safe,” Young said. “We asked if the City of Antioch would be open…to putting together a plan to keep the station open. I’m still hopeful. But it takes partnership.”

“There is possibility that there is something we can do to work out a solution…to go talk to BNSF so they can work out the spacing…and that we can salvage that and not continue with the decommissioning,” she added, concluding her remarks. That received a round of applause.

“(Acting City Manager) Kwame and myself do not have the authority to approve a plan. The city council has felt cut out by this process. That’s why I’m bringing it back to council,” – Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe

Mayor Presents Proposed Plan with List of Solutions

Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe then provided his presentation saying that the meeting was “certainly not the same as we had last year. This time we have the city of Antioch, here.” Speaking of the board’s vote and matters surroundin it he said, “There’s no sense in arguing over spilled milk.”

“I don’t know what meeting you had with the chief and Kwame. But our agreement was for me to come here today to present a plan,” he stated. “Kwame and myself do not have the authority to approve a plan. The city council has felt cut out by this process. That’s why I’m bringing it back to council but not at the next meeting because myself and Councilwoman Torres-Walker would be absent. So, it’s going to be on the agenda for the meeting in October.”

The mayor then read from the proposal which include, “Increase security presence,” during specific hours of the day. “Create a faire-only zone…to ensure only people who are supposed to be there.”

“Consistent enforcing of no encampment in the landscaping area,” the mayor continued.

“To show that photo from years ago…take a picture, today,” he complained to the SJJPA staff. (However, the Herald photos taken on July 4, 2024 – above – show a homeless resident’s tent in the landscaped area of the station and homeless residents sitting on the concrete bench).

The list also includes, “Decorative fencing around the landscape area to make it more difficult” for a homeless encampment there, the mayor shared.

“Please stop suggesting we haven’t been working on our train station,” Hernandez-Thorpe stated raising his voice.

Speaking of the homeless residents at or near the station he said, “We literally took those and put them in your hotel, Diane, in Pittsburg,” referring to the Delta Landing transitional housing facility at the former Motel 6 on Loveridge Road.

When asked by the acting SJJPA board chair if there were any other officials in the audience who wanted to speak, Hernandez-Thorpe said a representative from Congressman John Garamendi’s office was there and the congressman opposed the closure. But that person did not speak to the board. Antioch District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica was also in attendance but did not speak during the meeting.

Public Comments Include Complaints of Being Excluded from Process, Accusation of Racism, False Allegations

The SJJPA board members then heard comments from about 25 Antioch residents and others opposed to the Amtrak station’s closure many repeating the slogan, “Don’t drop the stop.”

Pittsburg resident Nicole Errington said, “I find it very offensive that homeless people are being blamed for what’s happening there,” and then read the letter from the Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans mentioned by Hernandez-Thorpe.

A woman representing ACCE Antioch (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action) said, “ACCE met with Diane Burgis team. She had no idea what we wanted to meet about. There’s been talks about this being in the works for the past 15 years. Everything’s being blamed on our new mayor, but he’s been making changes. He’s only been there for four years.” (Actually, Hernandez-Thorpe has been on the council for almost eight years).

“I find it very interesting that the community was not made aware. I find it interesting the blame of crime,” she continued. “You keep talking crime but where’s the actual numbers, please? Be nimble and keep the station opened.”

Eddie Gums, vice chair of ACCE Antioch, spoke about, “Amtrak employees being assaulted. That makes no sense. I ride the train regularly. It’s a joke. It comes down to being racist. In 15 years, you haven’t done anything to make things better. The root of the problem is the money…you want to take away from Antioch…to take away from the homeless. Oakley doesn’t care about the train. The game is over. When we fight, we win.”

Tashina Garrett, chair of ACCE Antioch said, “I’m here because of Ms. Burgis, Ms. Smith, all these people who want to share these lies. We finally had a meeting with Ms. Burgis. She tried to put things off on Ms. Smith. But we couldn’t have a meeting with her.”

“Ms. Mortensen, ‘who was in discussion about the station decommissioning? Why isn’t Amtrak helping out with the policing of the station as they do all others?’” she asked. “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired of Antioch being blamed…of Mayor Thorpe being blamed.”

Garrett mentioned during last year’s meeting that “Diane Burgis said, ‘Oh, yeah, this has been in the works for 10 years.’ Who are the people who made this decision?” She asked if it was, “Mike Barbanica who is running for Supervisor of Contra Costa County? Is it Back the Blue?” (Barbanica has only served on the city council for four years).

Another speaker said, “I heard of all these meetings with city staff, city council members, the chief of police. But where were the meetings with the public?”

“I’ve had the opportunity to compare crime for all the stations along the route,” a member of the Transbay Coalition said. “Antioch doesn’t stand out. Oakland-Jack London Square…is more affected by violent crime. Antioch is more affected by vehicle break-ins.”

Transbay Coalition. “Ultimately, the data are not there to support the crime at the Antioch station is enough to close the stop.”

Resident and homeless advocate Andrew Becker was the final member of the public to speak saying, “Amtrak came to Antioch in the ‘80’s but came to the United States in the ‘70’s. The San Joaquins line…doesn’t affect our community currently. In 1971 Amtrak decided to discontinue the San Joaquins line and move over to the Capitol Corridors.”

“State leaders took action and in 1974 to bring back that line. Why was there no stop in Antioch until the ‘80’s. Antioch used their redevelopment money to redevelop that site. There was siding there. In the 90’s the station facility was put in for space for a ticket agent, but it was never staffed. That’s Amtrak’s commitment to our community.”

“When Amtrak came to Antioch there were 40,000 residents. Now there are over 115,000 residents. Antioch has 40 census tracts, 17 of them are low-income.”

“We are disconnecting communities,” he stated.

“I do think the component of having city council buy-in and backing it up with a budget…that’s what will move things along.” – Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis

Board Member Comments.

Burgis spoke first saying, “In March of 2023 I attended my first meeting of the SJJPA and this issue came up and I spoke of this being a difficult situation and that if they were going to go forward with this, I would support Antioch…whether it was technology, finding some way.

I know people need a bad guy and I’ll take that if that’s my role.

The problem is in those 18 months I’ve asked staff several times ‘have you heard from Antioch.’” They did not say, ‘what do we need to do to fix this.’”

“I think what Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe recommended…is a good start. But the reason staff wanted to meet with city staff was for brainstorming…to talk about keeping the station opened or reopening it.”

“The next step is for the city council to be supportive if that and for them to fund it,” she continued.

“You’re right, Antioch is beautiful. Downtown is a wonderful place to bloom, and I support that. But we need to…we don’t want to leave people behind.”

“I’ve met with ACCE many, many times. So, if there was a misunderstanding, it’s because there’s a lot of issues I’ve met with ACCE about,” Burgis said.

“There’s no plans. She’s correct. We don’t have any solutions. We need commitments,” she continued. “We’re all ready to lean in. But it’s just what has been communicated is Antioch needs to make a commitment. I feel very encouraged about what Lamar has presented. I’m looking forward to it being voted on by the city council and funded.”

Board member Mayor Young of Tracy said, “We’re here, now, at this point, for solutions. My first meeting ever hearing about this was last March, as well. The discussion was about decommissioning.”

“We’re here as a board that deals with a whole rail line, not just one station,” she continued. “We sit on multiple transportation boards and we’re fighting for our communities, all the time.”

“What I petition for you all is that you’re working as passionately and diligently within Antioch,” Young said. “We have very current safety concerns. There are different places that have issues. But this right here focuses on Antioch. We’re at a starting point of solutions. The bottom line is you want to keep your stop in Antioch.”

“We want to make sure we’re on the same page as solutions,” she continued. “Believe me we’re hearing from the community. We’re not going to get into your own personal things with your city. What you do to help support that station…when you stand up for your area…you all have to be that powerful voice where it matters for your city.”

“Help us help you. Encourage the plan. Because this is going to save our station,” Young stated. “Then we’ll have something to go to BNSF.”

“We’re here because we hear you. The faster you get things done…let’s get things done, together. Support your own city. Make sure people aren’t defecating on the handle so they don’t have to call out the hazmat team. Help us help you,” she reiterated.

Board member and Stanislaus County Supervisor Vito Chiesa said, “I appreciate him going to take it to council. I think that was the understanding when he met with Chair Hume and Member Young. I’m a party to most of these decisions along the way. It boils down to me as a safety issue. For us to do otherwise without a commitment…Supervisor Burgis has said it once, twice to me, she wants to keep the station open. You have my commitment to listen. We want to keep the station open. The question is, ‘can we keep the station open?’ Help me help you.”

“Your voices were heard, today,” said acting Board Chair Espinosa. “I ran for this board to protect my community in Hanford. It takes an elected official to promote your city. If you can prove to us you have ridership that meets the demand, we’ll keep it open.”

Board member and Madera County Supervisor Leticia Gonzalez said, “I echo all of the comments. I am committed. I actually spoke to Mayor Lamar Thorpe on March 23rd. I was recently assigned to this commission. Safety is of major concern to all us. I am committed to working toward a solution for all of us.”

Conclusion: Formation of Working Group, Commitment from City Council

In an attempt to wrap up discussion on the matter, Mortensen then said, “We wanted to hear everything you shared, today. It’s welcome. The fight is needed. Moving forward we are committed…always being future focused is our motto. I will propose something to you…if you are comfortable. Everyone wants to go out of here with an active path. Would you consider setting up a committee…with a member of this board or whatever number you think, a member from the Antioch City Council, the Pittsburg City Council and member of the public? It’s just a thought to ensure further dialogue. If we could do it, together, fight it out, together, realize what we could do, together.”

“I think that’s a great idea. I would recommend that,” Burgis said.

Young also supported the proposal.

“OK. I will take that direction,” Mortensen responded.

“He can do his own plan. You would have a multi-disciplined group…in concert with that plan. It will take the council a couple meetings to hear a concept.”

Hernandez-Thorpe said, “I was under the impression I was going to get feedback from this board today on this plan. I’m all for the committee. But I want to stay focused on what I came here for. This is my proposal. I’m here for this.”

“They also want Amtrak involved. We can give so much input. But it’s really coming from the operators,” Burgis said.

“I know you need to understand if that’s a good enough plan to go forward with something,” Young said.

Smith said, “I would recommend we reconvene a meeting with your chief and the Amtrak Inspector…because what you presented today was more than what we heard earlier this week.”

“Just to make sure. We’ll have the meeting then I will present this to the council,” Hernandez-Thorpe asked.

“Yes,” SJJPA staff responded.

“I like the committee idea because it creates an institutional structure,” the mayor said. “I doesn’t have to be formal.”

“I do think the component of having city council buy-in and backing it up with a budget…that’s what will move things along,” Burgis stated.

“To keep the station open if we have to make investments, that’s what we’ll do,” Hernandez-Thorpe said. “I understand the public feels they’ve been misled. Trust is always going to be an issue.”

“I’d like to envision…that we are putting more people on trains and that they are using it to go to work, and more people are going west…to keep more people from cars on the road,” Burgis added.

“As you’re investing…for the community to invest in this treasure you’re trying to develop in downtown,” Young shared.

“I asked for a delay in decommissioning the station so we could present a plan,” the mayor responded. “Now, we have the opportunity to present a plan. It will include investments, as well.”

The SJJPA board then moved on to other business on the meeting agenda.

Following the meeting, Hernandez-Thorpe was asked for a copy of his proposed plan which he will be presenting to the city council next month. In addition, questions were sent to both Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Interim Police Chief Brian Addington asking for details from their meeting with Smith. None of them responded prior to publication time.

UPDATE 1: Later, Chief Addington said he and Reed met with Smith via Zoom on Tuesday, Sept. 17th and that he spoke with her about the need for increased safety, with possible private security at and near the station. For any other matters discussed during their meeting he left up to the city manager to share.

(See related articles here and here)

Please check back for any additional updates to this report.

Has life-threatening injuries; police seek unknown suspect

Mayor blames shootings on lack of jobs

By Lt. Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Friday, September 20, 2024, at approximately 12:27 P.M., Antioch police officers responded to the area of Cavallo Road and Sunset Drive for a report of shots fired. As officers were responding, additional callers reported that at least one person had been shot.

When officers arrived, they found an 18-year-old man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Officers immediately provided first aid to the victim until paramedics arrived. The victim was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries where he remains in critical condition.

This investigation is in its preliminary stages, and evidence and witness statements are being collected. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released.

The young man is the victim of the 12th shooting in Antioch, this month and the ninth in the past two weeks. Most of them occurred in the Sycamore Corridor across town from the location of this latest shooting. (See related article)

In a KTVU FOX2 news report on Tuesday, while participating in a labor union protest in Antioch, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe blamed the shootings on the lack of jobs saying, “people aren’t employed…they don’t have work.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Young, disabled, English learners and homeless students are coming back too slowly from effects, report states

By Emma Gallegos, EdSource.org, republished with permission

Nearly five years after Covid-19 began, a national report released Tuesday,  Sept. 17, 2024, shows that recovery from the pandemic for students will be a “long slog.”    

“The State of the American Student,” a report by the Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) states that the findings are “sobering, daunting, and discouraging,” and that the slow pace of recovery from the pandemic has left an indelible mark on education, with long-term implications for students’ income, racial inequity and social mobility in the United States. 

“If policymakers and educators do not get serious about ensuring these students have access to proven interventions, then we will continue to see the educational impact of the pandemic reverberate for many years, both in our schools and in our economy,” the report stated.

For the last three years, CRPE — a research organization out of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University — has released annual reports examining the academic, social, emotional and mental health effects of the pandemic on students. CRPE Executive Director Robin Lake said the reports were an attempt to ensure that schools wouldn’t go back to business as usual before students were “made whole.”

Fears that the pandemic would widen pre-existing opportunity gaps have come to fruition, according to the report’s summary of a wide span of research. The report focuses extra attention on certain groups: young children, disabled students, English learners and homeless students, and students who still lag far behind from where they would have been if not for the pandemic. Lake added these groups were largely not well served by schools before the pandemic began.

The report takes a sweeping look at the issues that have been harming students’ recovery since 2020, including chronic absenteeism, staffing shortages, poor teacher morale and student disengagement. These are all signs pointing to a pandemic recovery effort that will require a “long haul.”

Struggling students need more attention

Currently, schools are facing “gale-force” headwinds trying to address these challenges, the report states. Pandemic-era funding is drying up, declining school enrollment is stretching district finances, and many educators are facing burnout. But the worst part is that the problem is underappreciated, Lake said.

“Perhaps the most concerning thing to us is how little discussion there is about these problems,” Lake said. 

Politicians are not talking about pandemic recovery, especially when it comes to the groups that have been struggling the most, she said. For instance, CRPE pointed out how some states, including California, do a poor job communicating data about how students have fared since the pandemic.

Additionally, parents do not seem to know just how far behind their children are — thanks in part to grade inflation and some schools’ poor communication, Lake said.

USC’s Center for Economic and Social Research conducted interviews with the parents of disabled students.

One parent did not learn from the school that their child was failing two courses, making him ineligible to graduate from high school: “I didn’t know until we were in the process of graduation,” the parent told interviewers.

The number of students who are served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has skyrocketed in recent years. It dipped during the peak of the pandemic when school campuses were closed, but surged again as students returned to the classrooms. It’s not clear why, but different theories have emerged.

While it states that kindergartners who have not attended preschool are more likely to have academic and social struggles, including a rising number of behavioral issues and speech delays, the report notes that students who start school behind their peers may be being over-identified as having a disability or that the high numbers could be because students who might have simply been treading water in a previous era are now being correctly identified as having a disability.

The problems faced by disabled students exemplify many of the biggest struggles of pandemic recovery efforts in schools. Disabled students’ academic performance has long lagged behind other students, but that gap has widened in the wake of the pandemic. The teacher shortage is particularly acute among special education teachers, now that they are needed most. Meanwhile, some effective efforts, such as tutoring, are not reaching disabled students. Low expectations for students with disabilities is a crisis that has failed to garner proper attention and resources, Lake said.

One parent interviewed for the report said that getting help for their disabled students required constant fighting. “Multiple times, they promised in-person, in-school tutoring — which they just were understaffed and were never able to find anyone,” the parent said.

Another parent said that without speech therapy, their son with epilepsy fell behind in school during the pandemic.

“He fell further behind because my husband and I tried our best, but we can only do so much if you’re not a teacher, which is very frustrating,” the parent said in an interview.

Recovery solutions are straightforward

The strategies that helped schools recover have “not been rocket science,” Lake said. 

Many schools have been successful with programs such as tutoring, high-quality curricula, extending learning time and improving communication with parents. Some schools are making these strategies a permanent part of the school experience, which is good news: Tutoring and small-group instruction are some of the most powerful tools schools have at their disposal, the report states.

But scaling can be tricky, and many of the students who need help the most are not getting it, CRPE notes. Fewer than half of students who most needed that help enrolled in summer school, according to a Rand study, and just 1% of eligible students in Louisiana enrolled in a tutoring program for struggling readers.

The report recommends focusing on the specific needs of struggling students, such as students with a disability or English learners, rather than so-called average students. Addressing the issues that these students are struggling with will pay dividends for the broader student population, Lake said.

Some schools are demonstrating that recovery is possible, even if it’s not the dominant story right now. Students and educators alike are struggling, but there is a renewed understanding of the crucial role that school plays in a community. That has led to some schools rebuilding and strengthening that institution.

“During the pandemic, you remember, there was so much talk about more joyful education, more engaging, more flexible,” Lake said. “We think that that has actually taken hold.”

Emma Gallegos covers equity issues in education and is based in California’s Central Valley.

Blame mainly rests with San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority staff and board members

Antioch Public Works Department staff knew of closure in spring 2022 five months before city manager and mayor, but failed to inform them or other councilmembers

Former Antioch CM Con Johnson claims he informed Hernandez-Thorpe six months before SJJPA Board vote, says mayor directed him to not tell any councilmembers, neither informed public

SJJPA staff now says, “decommissioning is some 2.5 to 3 years out” instead of the end of 2025 and it’s “too early to coordinate options with regional transit agencies.”

Mayor to present plan to keep station opened at Friday SJJPA Board meeting before council has seen or approved it

By Allen D. Payton

On May 22, 2024, a rally was held at the Antioch Amtrak station location at 100 I Street at the corner of W. First Street, along the waterfront in the City’s historic Rivertown District, by community members affiliated with Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action and other organizations and attended by Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, to raise awareness about the impending closure. The councilwoman, in whose district the station is located, was quoted in a Local News Matters report saying, “I think someone needs to own up to this. I think somewhere the ball was dropped,” without naming anyone.

In an effort to both understand what occurred, who caused it and how to reverse the decision to close the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop, as it is officially known, a months-long investigation by the Herald resulted in the first article entitled, “Whodunnit? No proof any city staff member approved Antioch’s Amtrak station closure” was published in July. This article serves as a follow up, includes further research and reveals Torres-Walker is correct that “the ball was dropped” and it was mainly due to a lack of communication by the staff and board of directors of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), which governs the Amtrak San Joaquins Passenger Rail service between Bakersfield and Oakland and runs through Antioch. They failed to adequately inform the City of Antioch staff and council and the Tri Delta Transit staff and board.

In addition, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and then-City Manager Cornelius “Con” Johnson also dropped the ball by not informing the council members or the public prior to the vote on March 24, 2023, by the SJJPA Board of Directors to decommission the station, preventing Antioch and other East County residents from knowing about the vote and providing them the opportunity to speak out against it. The mayor repeatedly blamed former Antioch City Manager Ron Bernal, his opponent in the current mayoral election, for approving the closure, which the Herald’s first article on the matter proved to be false.

Finally, someone in the Antioch Public Works Department knew about the station closure in spring 2022 and dropped the ball by failing to either inform the city manager or council members at that time five or six months before Johnson was first informed of the impending SJJPA Board vote the following spring.

SJJPA Spokesman Claims “Discussions Regarding…Challenges in Antioch Began in 2017” City Staff Not Informed of Closure Until Fall 2022

According to the news report about the May 2024 rally, “David Lipari of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which works in collaboration with SJJPA, said discussions regarding the challenges in Antioch began in 2017.”  Yet, nowhere in any documentation provided in response to Public Records Act (PRA) requests to the SJJPA, City of Antioch, Tri Delta Transit and a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Amtrak, does it show any member of the Antioch City Council or staff knew about the proposed closure until January 2023.

Further research revealed the first time SJJPA staff informed any Antioch city manager of the station closure or decommissioning was in September 2022, during the first of three meetings between SJJPA Director of Rail Services, Tamika Smith, and then-City Manager Cornelius “Con” Johnson.

Johnson, in turn, informed Hernandez-Thorpe following that meeting and in January Johnson and then-Antioch Police Chief Steve Ford were preparing a presentation for the SJJPA Board meeting on January 25, 2023, after the mayor told Johnson he should provide it. That presentation and the proposed vote to close the station were postponed until the regular board meeting on March 24, 2023. But with Johnson being placed on administrative leave the week before, as previously reported, the mayor provided the presentation instead.

SJJPA Staff First Discussed Closure in 2021

That’s all in spite of the fact the first record of a discussion about a possible Antioch station closure was in emails between SJJPA Executive Director Stacey Mortensen and her staff members in June 2021. One of those emails revealed that a previous discussion of a possible closure had occurred, so, at least one or more of the SJJPA staff members knew closing the Antioch station was a possibility.

It’s also in spite of the fact that at that time SJJPA staff knew the policy of BNSF rail, which owns the tracks, was to not have stations too close together and that the location of the planned station in Oakley, just six miles away, was too close. Thus, another station had to be closed. Since problems continued at and around the Antioch station, including assaults on train conductors, calls for service to the Antioch Police and Amtrak Police for other crimes, fare evasion and homelessness, the Antioch-Pittsburg stop was an easy target.

Questions for SJJPA Executive Director Go Unanswered

Questions were emailed to Mortensen on August 19, 2024, asking the following: “Why did your agency not inform Tri Delta Transit about the possible decommissioning, whose board was voting for improvements to support the opening of the Oakley Station, and that it required the closure of the Antioch Station?

With whom did your staff, specifically then-Senior Planner David Ripperda, then-Director of Capital Projects Kevin Sheridan and/or SJJPA spokesman David Lipari discuss the closure of the Antioch station prior to your emails in June 2021?”

She was asked to provide copies of those communications and if they were by virtual meetings or phone calls, please include her and/or her staff’s notes from them and any and all emails about the Oakley and/or Antioch stations with BNSF.

Mortensen was shown the three emails about the matter between her and Ripperda, copied to other staff members and asked, “Did you ever find out ‘where the conversation with BN went after that’? What was the outcome? Did any member of your staff ever communicate in any way with any members of the City of Antioch Public Works Department between June 2021 and May 2022 about the decommissioning of the Antioch station? If so, what was said and how was it communicated?

She was informed that while the Herald was not provided with copies of any email communications about the closure of the station with anyone in that city department, it appears during that time period someone in that department was made aware of the possible station closure. That’s because language referring to the Amtrak station in previous years’ 5-Year Capital Improvement Program budgets, was removed for the 2022-27 CIP presented as a Draft to the city council in May 2022. But the Public Works Director at that time no longer works for the City of Antioch.

Mortensen was reminded that the staff report for the agenda item for the vote included misinformation that a previous Antioch city manager approved the decommissioning, which caused a political firestorm in Antioch because that former city manager, Ron Bernal, is now running for mayor against the incumbent who assumed he was the person to which Tamika Smith referred in her staff report. She was then provided with a link to the previous Herald article about the Antioch station decommissioning and it was pointed out to her that Smith never mentioned Bernal’s name and it was only mentioned by the mayor.

Mortensen was also reminded that her board members were never provided any documentation supporting the claim that a previous city manager or any City of Antioch staff member approved the closure, nor were given council direction to support it, before the board voted.

She was then asked, “why wouldn’t any of the board or your staff members question that, ask if that city manager was directed to support the decommissioning by the council and ask for the City of Antioch to provide a copy of the council resolution supporting it, before the board vote? Had they known the facts might one of them have voted differently and the decommissioning not move forward, since it only passed by the minimum number of votes?”

Mortensen was then reminded about the emails between Bernal and her following the March 24, 2023, board meeting in which he both denied ever approving the decommissioning and asking for Mortensen to correct the record. In her email response to him she wrote, “My understanding from the various parties was that the City had reluctantly agreed to the closure if the new landscaping and improvements (associated with the building removal) was not maintained and passenger and train crew safety issues did not improve. Somehow that did get attributed to you over the last couple years and if that is not accurate, I most certainly want to correct the record.” 

Yet, there is no written record to support that “understanding” provided in response to the Herald’s PRA requests. Mortensen was asked if she does have it to provide it.

She was then asked, “at a subsequent SJJPA board meeting did she ‘correct the record’ by issuing a public apology to Bernal and announcing that the information in the staff report was incorrect? If so, please provide the date of the board meeting at which it occurred and a link to the video. If not, will you do that at the board meeting on Sept. 20th in Martinez?”

It was pointed out to Mortensen in the Herald article, that Bernal says he only approved the demolition of the building at the station and there are records of that, and that it was the current Oakley City Manager who approved the decommissioning of the Antioch station, and that it appears her staff misunderstood and confused the two matters of the demolition and the decommission.

Mortensen was then asked regarding the matter of one of the reasons for closure, “why is BNSF claiming a six-mile distance between stations as their reason for the Antioch station closure when the Emeryville and Oakland stations are less than five miles apart?”

Because it appears there has been a serious lack of communication between SJJPA staff and the affected agencies regarding both the closure of the Antioch station and opening of the Oakley Station and there’s been significant turnover in both her staff and City of Antioch staff over the past few years, Mortensen was asked, “Who specifically on your staff is responsible for communicating with the other agencies about the closure of the Antioch station and the opening of the Oakley station? Do you have copies of any communication with Amtrak and/or BNSF about the two stations before or since the board vote? Do you have a copy of the BNSF policy about their distance requirements between stations? If so, she was asked to please provide them.

SJJPA Staff Member Responds Instead

Rather than answer the questions, Mortensen had Ariana Talosig, the Administrative Analyst for the Board and Committee respond. She wrote, “As stated in prior emails, we have reviewed our files and provided documentation in our possession regarding the decommissioning of the Antioch Station and a statement of the Agency’s position concerning the same.  In response to your specific question regarding outreach to transit agencies serving the area, because decommissioning is some 2.5 to 3 years out, it is too early to coordinate options with regional transit agencies.”

In addition, that same day, Talosig wrote, “The following is in response to your public records request dated June 15, 2024, for the following: “PRA request and additional questions on the closure of the Antioch Amtrak station.”

Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, SJRRC has located no additional records responsive to your request.

SJRRC will now consider your request closed. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the undersigned.

Thank you.”

Request for Copies of Notes from Virtual Meetings, Phone and Conference Calls Go Unfulfilled

In response because the original PRA request was for communications between agencies, not copies of notes of virtual meetings, and phone or conference calls Talosig was emailed the following: “While there may not be any additional emails to fulfill my request, perhaps there are notes by SJJPA staff from phone calls or virtual meetings with City of Antioch staff about the closure, specifically with anyone in the City’s Public Works Department and more specifically with Scott Buenting, and between June 2021 and May 2022, or any other agency staff member, including Amtrak and BNSF.

Please check with former Senior Planner David Ripperda, former Director of Capital Projects Kevin Sheridan and SJJPA spokesman David Lipari if they had any conversations like that. 

Also, it would be appreciated if you can please find out to whom Mr. Ripperda was referring when he wrote ‘discussions about closing Antioch’ in his June 25, 2021, email to Ms. Mortensen.”

More Questions for SJJPA Staff Go Unsanswered

In addition, on August 21st, Talosig was asked many of the same questions posed to Mortensen and a few new ones. She was asked, “Are you claiming that no member of the SJJPA staff took typed or handwritten notes from virtual meetings or phone or conference calls when speaking with anyone else about the possible closure of the Antioch Amtrak station? How does your staff and organization operate, based on memory? Surely that’s not the case.

If you have no records of notes on any communications with anyone on the City of Antioch staff (or any other agency) prior to the emails between Tamika Smith and then-City Manager Johnson in August 2022, about the closure of the Antioch station, even though your top staff claimed to have discussed the matter prior to the emails dated June 25, 2021, then please find out among whom those discussions were held for which they took and kept no notes and left them in the files of the authority. 

Also, what you shared is different than what was previously shared by Manager of Administration Jaclyn Miramontes who wrote, “The estimated date for Oakley is Q4 of 2025” which is a year away, not “some 2.5 to 3 years out.” Has the date since been changed? If so, when and by whom?

Finally, Talosig was asked, “why on such a major issue, did your agency staff not inform the local media in Antioch about the impending board vote at least a week before the meeting so the public could have been informed and could have spoken on the matter during public comments? Will you now adopt that as a policy and practice for the future for communities affected by board votes?”

Talosig responded on Aug. 27th with a few more documents showing emails between current Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Tamika Smith from Jan. 26th this year. She provided information in response to a question asked during a recent Antioch City Council meeting about the wheelchair lift writing it, “is in place and has been for months, it was previously stolen but is now in place and ready for use. Reed responded by asking her for a time “to discuss the parameters around the decision to close the station.”

But nothing showing any additional documentation about the station closure, who knew about it when and to whom anyone from the SJJPA spoke about it.

Talosig again wrote, “SJRRC will now consider your request closed. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the undersigned.”

She was asked to follow up with Mortensen to obtain answers to the questions posed to her but there has been no further response.

December 2021 Email Thread Shows Discussion of Double Tracking Between Martinez and Antioch

However, one new email thread dated December 13, 2021, was provided in response to the Herald’s latest PRA request to the SJJPA. It shows a brief conversation between then-Senior Planner Paul Herman and Daniel Hartman, a Project Manager at AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm.

Herman wrote, “We are in discussions with BNSF about the upcoming TIRCP application and I wanted to get a preliminary cost estimate from you for a potential project we are looking at to open up additional double tracking between Martinez and Antioch for the San Joaquins. The project would include a new universal crossover track at CP West Pittsburg between BNSF Stockton Sub and UP Tracy Sub and upgrading of the UP Tracy Sub track from Port Chicago to CP West Pittsburg. The UP track I believe needs PTC and to be upgraded from 40mph to 79mph. This isn’t an urgent item, but I wanted to get it on your radar now so that we can have this information ready in January. If you have some time later this week it may be good for us to do a quick 30 minute session looking at the location and talking the request through.”

TIRCP refers to the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. PTC stands for Positive Train Control systems which, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, “are designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zones, and movements of trains through switches left in the wrong position.”

But only double tracking east to the future Oakley station could help keep the Antioch station open.

Amtrak Has No Documentation of Discussions on Station Decommissioning

On July 25, 2024, an Amtrak FOIA Officer responded to the request on July 10th for copies of any and all communications between Amtrak staff and the following agencies / company regarding the closure / decommissioning of the Antioch Amtrak station between January 1, 2019 and March 30, 2023: San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, including Stacey Mortensen, David Riperda, Tamika Smith, David Lipari, Paul Herman, Autumn Gowan, Kevin Sheridan, and any others, plus, the City of Antioch, City of Oakley and BNSF Railway. (Date Range for Record Search: From 1/1/2019 To 3/30/2023). 

Rebecca Conner, Manager, Records and Information Management wrote, “We have no records responsive to this request.  Amtrak does not own the station in question.”

A new FOIA request was then submitted on Aug. 19, 2024, asking for copies of any and all communications between Amtrak staff and the following agencies / company regarding the Oakley Amtrak station between January 1, 2019 and March 30, 2023: San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, including Stacey Mortensen, David Riperda, Tamika Smith, David Lipari, Paul Herman, Autumn Gowan, Kevin Sheridan, and any others, plus, the City of Antioch, City of Oakley and BNSF Railway.

There had to have been at least some communication between Amtrak Police and SJJPA staff prior to their board meeting on March 24, 2023, because the SJJPA staff report and presentation on the item regarding the closure of the Antioch station included information on Amtrak Police calls for service at the Antioch station.

Conner was also asked, “Are you claiming Amtrak was never made aware of the station closure before the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority board voted for it on March 24, 2023? Which Amtrak staff members currently work with the SJJPA on the San Joaquins line that serves Antioch? Which staff members worked with them in 2021?” She was reminded that Tamika Smith worked there as the Senior Director, State Supported Services through March 2021 and was asked to provide their contact information, as well.

Conner responded on Aug. 21st, “We do not release names of staff members below the Executive Vice President (EVP) level. You are welcome to file an appeal, but I searched Amtrak for the responsive records and was told what I told you.”

She was then asked, “Even to the media? Are they not allowed to speak with someone from the media?” Conner was then asked to speak with those staff members to determine which of them communicated with SJJPA staff and City of Antioch staff and provide what was discussed and when.

She was also asked, “Do you still have access to Tamika Smith’s emails from when she worked there? Are you required to save email communications from previous staff after they no longer work for Amtrak?”

Because it’s important for both the public, as well as our local and federal elected officials to know, Conner was then asked to find out and ask those who did and/or do work with SJJPA, “Are you claiming Amtrak was never made aware of the Antioch station closure before the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority board voted for it on March 24, 2023?”

She was asked how and to whom to file an appeal and if Amtrak will have a representative at the Sept. 20 meeting of the SJJPA Board to answer questions from the public and/or board members.

Additional Information Requested

Later, the following was added to the second FOIA request: “any notes, written or typed, from any virtual meetings and/or phone or conference calls with any of the following, discussing either the Antioch station or Oakley station between January 1, 2019 and March 30, 2023: San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, including Stacey Mortensen, David Riperda, Tamika Smith, David Lipari, Paul Herman, Autumn Gowan, Kevin Sheridan, and any others, plus, the City of Antioch, City of Oakley and BNSF Railway.”

Conner responded on Aug. 22nd, “I sent you the only information we have on the Antioch closing” and suggested I communicate further with Olivia Irvin, Senior Public Relations Manager for Amtrak. She responded on Aug. 26th requesting the questions be sent to her. However, an email to her from the Herald with questions to Irvin hoping for a response before this Friday’s SJJPA Board meeting was discovered in this reporter’s Drafts folder on Wednesday night, Sept. 18. Nevertheless, the same questions posed to Conner were sent to her at that time.

Antioch Public Works Department Staff Knew of Closure by May 2022

According to current Acting Public Works Director Scott Buenting, someone informed him by May 2022 that the station was planned to be closed. That’s why the justification for the grant funding sought for the L Street Improvements project in the annual City of Antioch Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget for that year was changed. The language that had been included in previous years’ budgets referring to the Amtrak station was removed from the 2022-27 Draft CIP presented to the city council that month.

That year’s CIP was approved the following month by the council members without the language change for the L Street improvements being mentioned by either staff nor questions asked about it by the council members, during the May 24th meeting when the Draft 5-Year CIP was first presented nor during the June 14, 2022, meeting when the council adopted it.

Buenting was the Project Manager for the L Street Improvements project, and his name was listed on the project’s detail sheet in each year’s CIP since 2018. Then-Public Works Director John Samuelson’s name did not appear in any emails from the PRA request responses, but Buenting’s name did appear, dating back to the discussions of the station building demolition in 2019.

The agenda item, #SM-1, for the May 24, 2022, council meeting, for which District 2 Councilman and then-Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica was absent, reads, “It is recommended that the City Council review and provide feedback to staff regarding the draft 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 2022-2027.”

When asked by Hernandez-Thorpe about the L Street Improvements project being partially funded, Buenting said, “we do have some grant funding. We will be moving forward with a portion of this project.” In response to the mayor asking, “So, we’re still $9 million short?” Buenting replied, “Yes.” Hernandez-Thorpe then said, “A decade later and we’re still talking about grants.” Buenting responded, “We are somewhat limited to the types of funding we can use for these projects. Grants are the best way to go. But I’m sure we can look into providing some additional options.”

But there was no mention by Buenting or Samuelson, who was in attendance at the meeting, nor were there any questions from the mayor or city council members about the language change in the CIP, eliminating the Amtrak station as justification for the L Street Improvements project grant funds.

(See the 44:00 mark of council meeting video)

During the June 14, 2022, meeting, with the mayor absent and no discussion among or questions from council members, the CIP, item 7 on the agenda, was adopted on a 4-0 vote. (See 3:47:15 mark of council meeting video)

Samuelson, who now works for the City of Pittsburg, did not return phone calls about the matter.

Informed in Spring 2022 at Least Five Months Before City Manager Informed

However, after multiple efforts, when finally reached on Thursday, Sept. 19th, Buenting was asked if the language was changed due to the requirement that the grant funding was no longer tied to transit or if he was told the station would be closing. He explained that the change in the project justification language in the 2022-27 CIP for the L Street Improvements project was due to being informed of the Amtrak station’s impending closure.

“A lot of these conversations I wasn’t privy to,” Buenting stated when asked when he was informed and by whom. “I know that I heard that the Amtrak station was going to close in a meeting somehow. I know it wasn’t from the SJJPA. But I had knowledge of it, and I tried to clean things up in the CIP. I don’t remember when I heard the information.”

“There is a path to transit associated with this,” Buenting continued. “There is the ferry stop. We have transit with TriDelta. That’s what I was making my changes to.” So the grant funding for the L Street Improvements will still meet the requirement that it be tied to transit.

Asked if he would look in his and the department’s files for any notes from any phone or online meeting conversations about the Antioch station closure between June 2021 and May 2022 he responded, “I’ll look and the information will probably be with the city engineer at the time.” (That was Samuelson).

“I know it wasn’t me who had the conversation. I do not recall where I got it,” Buenting reiterated

Johnson Says He Immediately Informed Hernandez-Thorpe in Fall 2022, Says Mayor Directed Him to Not Tell Any Councilmember, Especially Barbanica and Ogorchock, Called them “Racist Karens”

But it wasn’t until September 2022 that then-City Manager Cornelious “Con” Johnson was informed of the Amtrak station closure by SJJPA staff. Following publication of the Herald’s first article about the closure, when did city staff know about it and who approved it, questions were emailed on Thursday, July 18, 2024, to the five council members and Con Johnson:

The councilmembers were asked, “when did you learn the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority was going to vote on closing the Antioch Amtrak station at either their January or March 2023 board meeting?”

Johnson was asked, “did you inform the other four council members at the time you informed the mayor after learning of the proposed closure by Tamika Smith of the SJJPA in September 2022?

Hernandez-Thorpe was asked, “once you learned of it from Con, did you inform the other council members or ask him to do so?”

The councilmembers were also asked, “were you aware that Con and Chief Ford were preparing a presentation for the SJJPA Board meeting in January 2023 and Were you aware the mayor was going to give the presentation at their March 2023 meeting?”

Johnson responded, “Once the SJJPA representative, Ms. Tamika Smith, notified me in September, I immediately contacted and informed Mayor Thorpe. In this matter, Mayor Thorpe was responsible for informing the remaining council members.”

“According to Mayor’s Thorpe’s strict directive to me and other department heads, all administrative matters had to go through and be approved by Mayor Thorpe,” the former city manager continued. “Mayor Thorpe directed me not to notify any council member, especially Councilmembers Michael Barbanica and Lori Ogorchock, who he referred to as ‘racist Karens’ without first seeking his approval. However, it was always my position to notify all the council members in accordance with city ordinances. Mayor Thorpe inferred, meddled and undermined the city manger’s responsibility on a daily basis.”

“In the SJJPA Amtrak closure matter, I informed and updated Mayor Thorpe on all administrative activities,” Johnson stated. “Mayor Thorpe was the sole arbiter, and he exclusively decided what information I should forward to the other city council members.”

“In the matter of council notifications, I don’t know if Mayor Thorpe later notified the other council members as requested by me on the SJJPA tentative decision to close the Antioch Amtrak station,” Johnson shared. “As previously stated, I notified Mayor Thorpe and City Attorney Thomas L. Smith during our weekly face-to-face meetings.”

“On March 17, 2023, the council unanimously voted to place me on administrative leave without either cause or justification. All city manager’s responsibilities were then transferred to the Community Development Director, Forrest Ebb,” the former city manager continued. “While on administrative leave, I was prohibited from making contact with the mayor, city council, city department directors and city staff. Mayor Thorpe, at no point or time, notified or informed me he was going to take over the responsibility of facilitating the previously scheduled presentation at the SJJPA Board meeting on March 24, 2023.”

“It is equally important that Mayor Thorpe was not authorized to give such a presentation because it was the sole responsibility of the city manager, since this matter was an administrative function,” Johnson added.

Only Ogorchock and Barbanica responded.

At Least Two Councilmembers Uninformed of Impending Station Closure Vote, Say They Found Out Through Rumor

Ogorchock responded, “I had no forewarning of the closure of the Amtrak station in Antioch.  I received an email just before the SJJPA’s meeting and happened to open it and saw that our station was on the agenda for closure.  I was in Mexico and logged into the Zoom meeting and listened to the portion of the meeting discussing our closure. Since I was not informed prior to this meeting I was not prepared to comment on this item.  Plus, being out of the country my network was not stable.”

“I had no idea any of this was happening. We were, at least I was, not aware of any presentation that Lamar was planning on giving,” she added.

When reached for comment, Barbanica said, “Con never told me. I’ve been trying to think back of how I learned of it. I know it was not from the city manager, at the time. He did not reveal the information to me. It wasn’t Lamar. If anything, it was mentioned in open session. I think it was an off the cuff comment. Con didn’t tell me about it, nor Lamar told me before I learned more about it through city gossip, not through city channels that it had occurred.”

“I don’t recall Lamar ever reaching out to me,” the District 3 councilman reiterated. “I do remember Lamar mentioning it in public. But that was after it was out to the public. I was never informed by the city or the mayor, anything formal this was occurring. As I recall, when I learned of it initially was through public rumor.”

More Questions for Hernandez-Thorpe Go Unanswered

Johnson’s emailed response was then sent to Hernandez-Thorpe with questions about. The mayor was asked if what the then-city manager said is correct that he immediately notified Hernandez-Thorpe after learning in Sept. 2022 from SJJPA’s Tamika Smith of the proposed closure of the Antioch Amtrak station. The mayor was also asked if what Johnson is also claiming correct that Hernandez-Thorpe directed him to not tell Barbanica and Ogorchock and if he referred to them as “racist Karens” as the reason given the city manager to keep the two council members uniformed.

The mayor was then asked if, as Johnson is claiming, he decided what information the city manager should forward to the other city council members about the Amtrak station closure and other matters, and if Hernandez-Thorpe had given Johnson and other department heads a ‘strict directive’ that all administrative matters had to go through and be approved by the mayor.

Informed that both council members said that he never informed them of the proposed Antioch Amtrak station closure and about the presentation he was preparing to make to the SJJPA Board of Directors, the mayor was asked why not and again, why he didn’t inform the public about it so they could attend the meeting either in person or online to speak against the closure.

But Hernandez-Thorpe did not respond.

Mayor Now Claims He Has Assurances from Board Chair & Member to Keep Station Open, Will Present Plan

As previously reported, last week, Hernandez-Thorpe posted an announcement on his campaign website that he had found a “Path Forward to Keep Antioch Amtrak Station Open” following a September 9th meeting with the chair and a member of the board. However, SJJPA spokesman David Lippari said the “discussion…does not alter the SJJPA board decision” last year to decommission the station.

In his announcement, the mayor wrote, “My office and city staff will develop a plan that I will present to the SJJPA on September 20, 2024, and to the City Council in early October.”

Lippari shared that a, “An information item regarding the Antioch Station has been agendized for the SJJPA board meeting on September 20, 2024.” That agenda item is number 5, listed as Information and entitled, “Antioch Station History and Update,” which will be provided by SJJPA Executive Director Mortensen.

At Least Two Councilmembers Not Informed of Proposed Plan to Keep Station Open

The other four council members were asked on Thursday, Sept. 19th if the mayor or Acting City Manager Reed had informed them of the proposed plan to keep the Amtrak station open. Only Ogorchock and Barbanica responded and both said, “No”.

SJJPA Board Meeting

The joint powers authority Board of Directors meeting will be held this Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Contra Costa County Administration Building in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez. The public will have the opportunity to speak. See the complete meeting agenda packet. To watch the meeting via Zoom, please see instructions, here: SJJPA September 20, 2024 Board Meeting – San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.