County reports show 74.8% increase in Households Who Lost Their Housing, 81.1% increase in homelessness in Antioch

By Allen D. Payton

In a text for his campaign for Mayor of Antioch received on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, former city manager Ron Bernal is claiming, “Antioch’s Homelessness Crisis has increased 74% in the last four years!”
The text message reads further, “This is Ron Bernal, candidate to be Antioch’s Next mayor and I have a plan to tackle this crisis!

As your next mayor, we will:

• Expand mental health & addiction services
• Partner with nonprofits & faith groups for real solutions
• Build affordable, sustainable housing
  It’s time for change in Antioch!”

Antioch Households Who Lost Housing Increased 74.8% from 2022-23

To verify the accuracy of Bernal’s claims, a review of the reports by Contra Costa County Continuum of Care (CoC) and for the annual Point-In-Time homeless count was conducted. According to the 2022 CoC report 1,096 Antioch households lost their housing.

The 2023 CoC report shows 1,916 Antioch households lost their housing, a 74.8 percent increase over the previous year, supporting the first-time candidate’s claim.

Point-In-Time Counts Show 81.1% Increase in Antioch Homelessness

The County’s Point-In-Time (PIT) Count report for 2023 shows there were 334 homeless residents in Antioch compared to 228 in 2022, which was only a 40.3 percent increase. However, the 2024 PIT Count report shows there were 413 homeless residents in Antioch, a 23.7 percent increase over the previous year and an 81.1 percent increase since 2020 more than supporting Bernal’s campaign claim.

Bernal is challenging incumbent Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe who also face the third candidate in the race, Rakesh Christian who is running for the City’s top job for a second time.

The election is Tuesday, November 5th.

Has history of arrests including for pre-meditated murder, false imprisonment by violence, assault

By San Francisco Police Department

On July 24, 2024, at approximately 5:41 p.m., San Francisco Police officers from Mission Station responded to 16th and Mission streets regarding a shooting. Officers arrived on scene and located an adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers rendered aid and medics arrived on scene and transported the victim to the hospital for life-threatening injuries. Despite the lifesaving efforts of the emergency responders and medical staff, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased in the hospital.

The SFPD Homicide Detail is leading this investigation. Investigators developed probable cause to obtain arrest and search warrants regarding the murder.

On October 13, 2024, the SFPD Community Violence Reduction Team located and arrested a 37-year-old male, Luis Rebolledo, on the 600 block of Shaddick Drive in Antioch, California.

Rebolledo was transported to San Francisco County Jail and was booked for his arrest warrant for the homicide (187(a) PC).

According to the SF County Sheriff’s Office, he’s being held on no bail and is also charged with concealed firearm on a person, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, participation in a criminal street gang, possession of ammunition and attempted second degree robbery.

According to localcrimenews.com, the six-foot tall, 157-pound Rebolledo has a history of arrests dating back to 2015, including for pre-meditated murder, false imprisonment by violence, assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, assault with any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, multiple gun charges, DUI, hit-and-run and an usual charge of manufacture, importing or selling a billy, blackjack, sandbag, etc., which are considered leaded or other similar weapons.

On October 15, 2024, the SFPD Community Violence Reduction Team located and arrested a 30-year-old female, Giovanna Ramirez-Hernandez, in San Francisco. She was booked for attempted extortion and other charges related to the case.

Although an arrest has been made, this is an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous. SFPD Case# 240462539

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

In coordination with Genesis Church and Word of God/Palabra de Dios Christian Church.

UPDATE: The event has been cancelled due to the mayor having a scheduling conflict with a previous commitment to attend the Islamic Center of the Bay Area’s event the same night, and Ron Bernal was also committed to attending the other event. The third candidate in the race, Rakesh Christian also attended the Islamic Center event. More details later.

City ran deficits three out of four years he’s been mayor and are projected to increase

By Allen D. Payton

In the slate mailer entitled, “Budget Watchdogs Newsletter” received by voters this past week, which Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe’s campaign paid for him to appear on, he claims to be “A fighter for fiscal responsibility” and “has delivered balanced budgets over the last four years and helped build a rainy day fund of over $63 million.”

The first claim has been determined to be false while the second is considered accurate. The mayor was twice asked about both of his claims, but he did not respond.

Rainy Day Fund – Accurate
According to the City staff report for the General Fund Budget Stabilization Fund in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-25 Budget adopted by the council on June 13, 2023, “In fiscal year 2018, the City established a Budget Stabilization Fund to set aside monies for future budget variances, unexpected occurrences, emergencies and the like. General Fund reserves over 20% of unassigned fund balance were used to establish the fund and future General Fund unassigned reserves over 20% can be moved into this fund. Per City Council direction, beginning in fiscal year 2020, these funds will be used to pay the difference in the full Actuarial Determined Contribution for OPEB payments from the pay as you go costs currently made by the City to address the unfunded liability for OPEB.”

OPEB refers to Other Post-Employee Benefits for retirees.

When asked about the claim of the “rainy day fund” without mentioning who made it, City Finance Director Dawn Merchant responded, “I am not sure about the claim as we do not have a $63M rainy day fund. I can only assume that claim is adding the Stabilization Fund and General Fund reserves, however, again, I am not sure.”

She also shared, “As of 7/1/24, the Budget Stabilization Fund balance is $37,627,378.” On that same date, the General Fund reserves balance was $32,555,999. So, by adding the two the total was $70,183,377 which supports the mayor’s claim as accurate.

UPDATE: Later, Merchant shared, “The $32,555,999 beginning fund balance is based on the revised FY24 budget, so that is not an actual, that is a projected based on the FY24 budget. Once the books for 6/30 are wrapped up, we will have the actual ending 6/30/24 fund balance.”

Balanced Budgets Claim – False
However, Hernandez-Thorpe’s claim he “has delivered balanced budgets over the last four years” is false. Because the budgets approved by the City Council for the current and past two of the four years during his term as mayor, have spent or are spending more than the City has been or is receiving in sales, property and other tax revenues. The budgets include the following deficits:
$3,995,625 in FY2022-23.
$5,343,928 in FY 2023-24; and
$4,617,143 projected for the current, FY 2024-25.

That last amount is being covered by the Budget Stabilization Fund.

City Budget Projects Increasing Deficits
In addition, according to the General Fund Projections for 2023-2028 presented to the city council on June 11, 2024, the General Fund is projected to run the following deficits:
$12,995,259 in FY 2025-26;
$13,561,074 in FY 2026-27; and
$14,855,649 in FY 2027-28.

The first two are expected to be covered by transfers from the Budget Stabilization Fund, but it will only cover $1,253,902 in the third year of what could be Hernandez-Thorpe’s second term as mayor if he’s re-elected because that Fund will be depleted in FY 2028. That would result in a projected net deficit for the City of $13,601,748 by June 30, 2028, which would be covered by the General Fund reserve leaving it with an Ending Balance of just $17.4 million or 17.06% in reserves versus over 31% and 32% for the previous fiscal years.

The mayor faces two challengers in the campaign, former Antioch city manager, Ron Bernal and second-time candidate for mayor, Rakesh Christian.

The election is November 5th.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

47- and 20-year-old victims of 17th shooting in city since Sept. 3

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

On October 19, 2024, at approximately 9:07 PM, Antioch police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 2100 block of Peppertree Way. It was reported that at least one person suffered from a gunshot wound. Officers arrived on the scene and found a 47-year-old man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Officers on scene performed first aid until they were relieved by paramedics. The man was transported to a hospital where he is listed in critical but stable condition.

A second victim, a 20-year-old man, arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound. Through the investigation, it was determined the second victim was on scene of the initial shooting. The 20-year-old victim is in stable condition and expected to survive.

This case is in the preliminary stages and the names of the parties involved are not being released at this time.

It is the 17th shooting in Antioch since Sept. 3, which have resulted in two deaths, and the 12th in the Sycamore corridor. That area and Cavallo Road are the two “hot spots” in the city that the mayor’s $500,000 Violence Reduction Initiative approved by the city council last month is focused. (See related article)

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Nola Woods, Public Affairs Director, Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District

The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District (District) confirms more of the invasive mosquito species Aedes aegypti have been found earlier this month at various locations in Antioch. This mosquito species, which has the common name, the Yellow Fever mosquito, is capable of transmitting Zika, dengue fever, Chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses. In response, the District will continue to perform more door-to-door inspections on Saturdays in the area bordered by Highway 4 to the north, Bluerock Drive to the south, Lone Tree Way to the west, and Deer Valley Road to the east.

The District first identified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Antioch in late September, when they were collected during a backyard inspection. As additional trapping and inspections were conducted in the neighborhood, more invasive mosquitoes were found prompting the District to set mosquito traps throughout the area and conduct door-to-door inspections to determine how widespread the infestation is. During these inspections, we have found mosquito larvae (young mosquitoes) in common backyard items that can hold water, including potted plant saucers, buckets, wheelbarrows, fountains, and toys. As more adult and young mosquitoes are found, the District’s search area continues to expand.

“The fact that we continue to find young and adult mosquitoes as we expand our search area suggests this mosquito population may have been in Antioch for at least several months. We will continue to conduct surveillance and inspections until the weather cools this year and mosquito activity becomes less likely,” said Steve Schutz, Ph.D., Scientific Programs Manager.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are very small (about 1/4 inch), with black bodies and white stripes. They were first introduced to Southern California more than 10 years ago. Since then, they have moved from Southern California to Shasta County and are now established in 24 counties across the state. Because these mosquitoes lay sticky eggs above the water line in any size container that holds water, they can be transported to new areas easily and are often introduced through travel, particularly as people move from area to area and accidentally transport these mosquitoes in potted plants or other outdoor containers.

To reduce the risk of these mosquitoes, it is important that residents:

• Dump out any amount of standing water.
• Place liquid soap on a scrub brush, and scrub the now-empty bird baths, containers, outdoor pet dishes, garden pots, buckets, potted plant saucers, and anything else that can hold water outdoors to remove the stick eggs.
• Report any day-biting mosquitoes by calling the District at (925) 685-9301 or online.

Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District, an independent special district and public health agency, is located at 155 Mason Circle in Concord.

Claims Jovita Mendoza won’t respond to request to “revoke the flyer”; ally of Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson

Editor,

I am writing to clarify the situation of a political flyer that has been distributed including a photograph of Jovita Mendoza and myself.  In my position as a Priest of the Diocese of Oakland, the Pastor of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish of Antioch, and the Lead Chaplain for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, I am not allowed to support or endorse any candidate for public office nor give the impression that I do so.  The flyer in question gives the impression that I do support Jovita Mendoza for public office, and it is not true.  My consent and permission to make use of my photograph for that flyer was never sought or given.

More than a week ago, I sent her an email requesting that she revoke the flyer and clarify that she used my photograph with her fraudulently to suggest that as the fire chaplain (and possibly a priest) that I do in fact endorse and support her effort to win a seat on the Brentwood City Council.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  I write to you today to make sure that my parishioners, the members of our diocese, and the citizens of East County that I have not

violated the directives given to me by both my Bishop and the Fire Chief.  My hope is that this incident would give the citizens of Brentwood pause as to who this person really is and her disregard for ethics, professionalism, morality, and fitness for the position she seeks.

Father Robert Rien

Pastor

St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish

and

Lead Chaplain, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District