Dear Editor:

The City of Antioch needs to face some of our key problem areas and failures head on or continue its downward spiral as the kids now call Antioch the “New East Richmond.”

The Code Enforcement program has continued to be a major dismal failure. Even though they have the ability to fine absentee slumlords $1,000 per day penalties, in addition to contracting the clean up which could then be placed on their annual tax bill for payment.

No more excuses. This program needs a major overhaul. Section 8 over all is a good program, helping those that need a little extra support, but there are three- to four percent of the approximately 2,000 Section 8 homes that are creating all the major problems and multiple police calls. These same out of town slumlords need to be held accountable similar to the Section 8 program in Pittsburg, where you get two strikes and you’re out. No more rent money for these slumlords. It’s not that complicated.

Antioch has also now become the dumping ground for panhandlers. They are everywhere. Safeway, Wells Fargo and just about every freeway off ramp. Why? Because Pittsburg, Oakley and Brentwood have all cracked down on this problem 100% and Antioch has sat by and done nothing.

If our Antioch officials will just take the lead and follow other successful programs that are already in place in other surrounding communities, I think there is still hope for a major turnaround for Antioch.

If not we will be the New East Richmond or maybe even worse.

Greg Feere

Antioch

The Antioch Police Department is excited to announce the 62nd installment of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. This is a collaborative community effort which involves active participation from The Antioch Police Department Crime Prevention Commission; Neighborhood Watch Program; Volunteers in Police Service; community volunteers and the Public Works Department.

The 62nd Neighborhood Cleanup event will occur on Saturday, August 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Park on Larkspur Drive. Please meet in the parking lot on Larkspur Drive.

The City of Antioch Neighborhood Cleanup program is not just for residential neighborhoods. It is a program that will change venues on a monthly basis and it will include business and commercial areas as well. Neighborhoods that are free of trash and refuse are inviting, and a clean community instills a sense of community pride.

Volunteers will receive instructions and the equipment necessary to accomplish the goal. The targeted area is within walking distance. Excluding inclement weather, future Neighborhood Cleanup events are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month and the locations will be announced in advance.

Remember, cleaning up your neighborhood can make life better for your family, your neighbors and your community.

New Antioch Police Officers Corey Blumberg, Jacob Ewart and Rishi Negi are administered the oath of office by Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen as Chief Allan Cantando looks on, during a ceremony on Thursday, July 30, 2015.

By Allen Payton

On the day that thousands turned out at the Oracle Arena for the memorial service of Hayward Detective and Brentwood resident Scott Lunger, three new police officers took the oath of office in Antioch, Thursday afternoon.

Corey Blumberg, Jacob Ewart and Rishi Negi were sworn in to their new positions by Antioch City Clerk Arne Simonsen during a brief ceremony attended by their family, friends, fellow officers and council members at the Antioch Police Facility in downtown.

Chief Allan Cantando gave each of them the opportunity to speak.

Rishi Negi gets his badged pinned on his uniform by his father Rajan.

“Thank you to my wife and parents for putting up with me, supporting me through all the tests and physical agility,” Blumberg said. “And to the city of Antioch for giving me the opportunity and believing in me that I can do this career.”

Ewart spoke of the academy being a “very stressful experience.”

“I want to thank you for supporting me and Chief and the City of Antioch for believing in me,” he stated.

“I want to thank my mom for getting up each day and making me breakfast,” Negi said to laughter of the audience. “And to my girlfriend…for sending me motivational stuff.”

Cantando then shared his thoughts.

“During the conversation I had with these men before the ceremony, we talked about the events of today,” he said, referring to Lunger’s service, which he attended. “They’re coming to a department where our officers are amazing. Our Field Training Officers are second to none. In a city that has challenges with crime, they are here to help them succeed. You have a supportive city as you start a fun, long, but challenging career.”

“Very few get to be sitting where these gentlemen are sitting today. They are the cream of the crop,” said Cantando. “We are not going to lower our standards to hire more officers. Because that’s when problems happen.”

“We are a family and we care about our own and we want everyone to go home at night,” he added.

That brings the total number of sworn officers on the Antioch force to 90.

According to Cantando, there are two more recruits currently in the academy who will graduate in November and two laterals from allied agencies, who are undergoing background check. Those last two could be on the force in the next two months.

By Barbara Zivica

The City of Antioch is mandated to cut water usage by 28% due to the current drought in California. Why then is the Council approving so many new housing projects instead of temporarily halting residential development based on lack of water to service new homes and an inadequately staffed Police Department? It’s been done before.

Remember Measure K (November 2005) which asked voters to approve Antioch’s own urban limit line? Antioch already had a “Residential Development Allocation” ordinance which limited the number of housing units allocated to not more than 600 units per year with certain exceptions e.g. existing exemptions to remain in place and, also exempt from the allocation limit, dwelling units constructed in the immediate vicinity of mass transit stations. Measure K, which passed by 59.70%, prohibited the Council from approving any new allocations in 2006 and 2007, and reduced the number of allocations from 3,000 to 2,000 which could be approved until 2010.

To see what I’m talking about in regard to new development just take a look at the latest City Manager’s weekly report (CityMgr072315) which lists the following housing projects: Almondridge East Subdivision 8880 – a 81 single family home development by KB Homes, DeNova Homes Mixed Use project (8 acres multi-family and 2.2 acres single family residential, Laurel Ranch, a 186 unit housing development by Richland Communities, Nelson Ranch Unit 1 – a 102 unit housing development by Standard Pacific Housing, Oakley Knolls Subdivision – a 31 lot development by Discovery Homes, and Park Ridge Phase 1 – a 123 housing development by Davidon Homes. Note also that two homeowner associations (Contra Loma Estates and Golden Bow Estates) have applied for a permit to privatize their interior roads and install security gates and fencing at the entrances to their subdivision.

The Council is ignoring the water shortage, the understaffed Police Department, the fact that Highway 4 is still being widened, eBART to Antioch has yet to be completed and we currently don’t have ferry service. What Antioch needs now is a temporary moratorium on new residential development, a new mayor and a less acquiescent Council.

By Acting Lieutenant Tom Fuhrmann, Antioch Police Department

On June 17, 2015 at about 12:27 AM, Antioch Police Officers responded to the 1800 Block of Cavallo Road for a report of shots fired. Officers arrived and located three people suffering from gunshot wounds. Two of the subjects were declared deceased at the scene and the third person, a 44-year-old female from Antioch, was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

During the investigation of this case it was learned that one of the deceased subjects, 25-year-old Clydedale Hoskin of Antioch, and two other suspects, Julian Johnson, age 26 out of San Pablo and Miguel Gutierrez, age 25 out of Antioch, approached a group of people in the 1800 Block of Cavallo Road and attempted to rob the group at gunpoint. During the robbery Hoskin fired rounds at the person who suffered non-life threatening injuries.

One of the victims of the robbery was armed with a firearm and shot at Hoskin to protect the other people being robbed, ultimately killing Hoskin. Gutierrez then fired at the group and fatally wounded a female victim, 28-year-old Adrian Craig of Antioch. During the investigation it was learned that Teresa O’Sullivan of Antioch (44-years-old) aided the suspects in this case after the murder.

Gutierrez was taken into custody by Antioch Police Detectives on July 9th without incident and was being held on unrelated charges. Johnson turned himself in to Antioch Police Detectives on July 24th. Gutierrez and Johnson are in custody and being held without bail.

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed Murder, Attempted Murder, Robbery and Weapons charges against Gutierrez and Johnson.

The District Attorney’s Office also filed Accessory to Murder After the Fact and Weapons charges against O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan was taken into custody by Antioch Police Detectives on July 28th without incident and is being held on $650,000 bail.

This is Antioch’s second and third homicidesof 2015.

No further information is being released at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case can reach Detective James Colley at (925) 779-6922. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

The Antioch Police Activities League will be hosting the first “Legos and the Law” activity on Saturday, August 22, 2015. From 9-11 am, Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando and other members of the police department will be on hand to help Antioch residents between the ages of 5-10 build some cool Lego creations.

Who: Antioch residents ages 5 to 10 with a parent or guardian

When: Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Where: Antioch Police Department’s Community Room

Refreshments will be provided.

This event is only for the first 25 children who RSVP. No walk-ins will be allowed to participate. To register please call (925) 779-6875.

Friday, July 3 is the busiest day of the year for Smart & Final. Last year, the company sold 621% more private label hamburger patties, 470% more hot dog buns and 300% more red cups on that day alone.

Smart & Final has affectionately coined the days leading up to the summer holiday weekend as “Engagement Days,” which were all-hands-on-deck, this year with more associates and company executives from all levels chipping in to handle the crowd rush. Even Smart & Final CEO, Dave Hirz—a former bag boy himself— took part in the fun by stocking shelves, ringing up customers, and even gathering all the carts in the parking lot.

On Thursday, July 2, as a way to show appreciation for customers and commitment to their communities, Smart & Final partnered with Feeding America, this year to package and donate food and everyday staples for families in need. Their Antioch store, just opened in May, provided packages for100 families in the Antioch community.

Smart & Final is a value-oriented food and everyday staples retailer for household and business customers. Smart & Final Extra!, one of the company’s newest store concepts, is designed to enhance the household consumer’s shopping experience and also includes changes to benefit business customers. The Extra! Stores are much larger and carry a greatly expanded selection of products in key categories like produce, fresh meat, frozen foods, dairy, deli and grocery basics like cereal, yogurt, bread and snacks. In addition, they have everything that small businesses, clubs and organizations need on a daily basis.

The Antioch Smart & Final Extra! store and is located at 2638 Somersville Road on the outside of the Somersville Towne Center.