On Sunday, June 23rd at approximately 10:33 PM, officers were dispatched to the report of an auto versus pedestrian collision on Lone Tree Way near Black Diamond Drive. When officers arrived, they located the pedestrian, a 71-year-old male resident of Antioch, suffering from life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, the man did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that collided with the pedestrian remained on scene and cooperated in the investigation.
The preliminary investigation and witness statements revealed that the man was crossing Lone Tree Way, in the crosswalk, against the don’t walk signal when the collision occurred. Impairment does not appear to be a factor in this collision and the man’s identity is being withheld pending notification to his next of kin.
The Antioch Police Department’s Traffic Division is handling this investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Josh Egan at 925-204-1587 or jegan@antiochca.gov.
Includes reallocating downtown road money for homeless, will also vote on 5-year Capital Improvement Program, services, discuss creating DEIB officer staff position
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting tomorrow night, June 25, 2024, the Antioch City Council will vote on which sideshow ordinance they want, including one that targets spectators, the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program budget, spending $6.45 million for homeless services and development of affordable housing, including reallocating $611,000 from the Downtown Roadway Project fund, and discuss the Amtrak Station closure.
NOTE: A previous version of this report had included both the $4,050,000 and $610,896 that was included twice in the staff report and they had been incorrectly added to the total.
In addition, the council will also discuss multiple council member proposed agenda items, including creating a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) officer staff position and a Health and Safety Analyst position for the Human Resources Department at the request of District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker. They will also have a discussion on street cameras, and the potentially developing a policy on the use of native plant species for new development at the request of District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock.
$6.4 Million for Homeless Services, Affordable Housing
The state requires cities with former redevelopment agencies to use the remaining funds for affordable housing, referring to as Housing Successor funds. As of 2023, the City of Antioch hadapproximately $7.3 millionavailable to subsidize units in the 0-50 percent Area Median Income (AMI) affordability level, including units for the unhoused or family housing.
According to the staff report for the agenda item #10, the City of Antioch serves as the Housing Successor to the Antioch Development Agency. The council will vote on the funding recommendations of the CDBG Committee approving $4,050,000 in Housing Successor funding for homeless services and development of affordable housing.
Funds for the Downtown Roadway Project, approved by the city council in 2020, were intended to rehabilitate roadways, replace damaged sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and install Americans with Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps to improve the quality of life for Antioch residents.
According to the City staff report, the council will be asked to vote on the funding recommendations of the CDBG Committee, made up of District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica and Torres-Walker, and adopt the resolution approving the substantial amendments to the FY 2023-24 Action Plan Downtown Roadway Project to reallocate $395,346.34 and the FY 2021-22 Action Plan to reallocate $215,549.85 of remaining funds in the Downtown Roadway Project for a total of $610,896.19 to be utilized for the development of affordable supportive housing for extremely low-income and homeless households.
In addition, the council will vote on the funding recommendations of the CDBG Committee and adopt the resolution approving the FY 2024-25 City of Antioch Action Plan, which encompasses CDBG Entitlement funds, prior year reallocated funds, use of CDBG Corona Virus funds, PLHA, EECBG and Housing Successor funds totaling $6,454,180 to address identified high priority needs of lower income residents of the City of Antioch. UPDATE: That amount includes both the aforementioned $4,050,000 and $610,896.19 amounts.
The meeting begins at 6:15 PM with a closed session in which they council will discuss recruitment of the city manager and a civil rights lawsuit by one the four young men convicted, earlier this year of a 2021 murder in Antioch, and others who claim they were targeted by police officers who sent the racist text messages.
That will be followed by the regular session at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers at 200 H Street, in historic, downtown Rivertown.
General public comments can be made at either the beginning or end of the council meeting, specific comments can be made on each agenda item or if you wish to provide a written public comment, you may email them to cityclerk@antiochca.gov, by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Written public comments received by 3:00 p.m. the day of the City Council Meeting will be shared with the City Council before the meeting; entered into the public record; and available to the public upon request. However, they will not be read during the City Council Meeting.
Angela Priscilla Fierro died in a fatal collision in Antioch on July 6, 2023. Herald file photos.
While passenger in car driven recklessly by ex-boyfriend she had a restraining order against
Antioch PD investigating, submitting to DA for review
Dear Antioch Herald,
I am writing to you with a heavy heart and a plea for justice. Angela Fierro, a 20-year-old resident of Antioch, tragically lost her life in a car accident on July 6, 2023. This was no ordinary accident; it was a preventable tragedy that has left a family grieving and a community in shock.
Angela was not just a statistic; she was a daughter, a friend, and a mother to a one-year-old child. Her life was cut short due to the reckless actions of another—a person who should have never been behind the wheel. Angela had a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, who, despite this legal barrier, forced his way into her vehicle and drove it recklessly until it crashed.
The details of the incident are harrowing. Angela was fighting for her life, without a seatbelt, as she struggled against the man who had no right to be there. Her friend, a passenger in the car, sustained severe injuries, and the driver of the other vehicle involved also suffered from the collision¹. Yet, the man responsible for this chaos walked away without immediate consequences.
We turn to you, Antioch Herald, to help us amplify our call for justice. Angela’s story deserves to be heard, and her family’s plea for accountability must not go unanswered. We urge you to cover this story, to shed light on the circumstances that led to Angela’s untimely death, and to join us in our quest for justice.
Amidst their profound grief over Angela’s untimely departure, her family was also grappling with the emotional and financial strain of arranging her funeral. As time marches on, the Antioch Police Department remains inactive, failing to apprehend the person responsible for the accident that claimed Angela’s life. Despite the existence of a restraining order against him, and the police’s acknowledgment of his culpability in forcibly entering Angela’s vehicle—endangering her and her friend—he remains unapprehended. The delay in justice only compounds the family’s anguish and the community’s unrest.
By bringing Angela’s story into the public eye, we aim to catalyze action from the Antioch Police Department and draw attention to the lack of response and professionalism that has been displayed thus far.
In memory of Angela, we ask for your support. Please help us ensure that her passing is not in vain and that such a tragedy does not occur to another innocent life.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Bryan Cendejas-Bravo (a friend of Marisela Madrigal, Angela’s sister).
——————-
Editor’s Note: The letter was shared with Interim Antioch Police Chief Brian Addington who was asked to provide whatever details he could about the case and any investigation into the incident.
He said, “it’s still an active case and we will be submitting it to the DA for their review.”
But he couldn’t comment further on it. Mr. Cendejas-Bravo was provided that information.
VSET participating officers meeting before the enforcement action on June 20, 2024. Photos: Antioch PD
By Antioch Police Department
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the Vehicle Theft Suppression Enforcement Team (VSET) operation in Antioch was a huge success! Here are the highlights:
14 police agencies participated with 50 officers total
115 enforcement stops conducted
10 arrests made
3 occupied stolen vehicles recovered
11 abandoned stolen vehicles found
2 firearms seized
1 dirt bike impounded
4 probation searches conducted
4 failures to yield, all resulting in arrests and no injuries
Kudos to the VSET, a dedicated CHP-Contra Costa County task force, and the 14 participating police agencies for their relentless efforts in recovering stolen vehicles and apprehending auto thieves. Each month, they bring proactive enforcement to our communities, ensuring safety and security on our roads. Let’s continue to support their efforts in keeping our streets safe!
New Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Michael Nieto. Photo source: Office of the Governor of California
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, his appointment of 15 Superior Court Judges, which include one in Contra Costa County; two in Los Angeles County; one in Marin County; one in Napa County; one in Riverside County; one in Sacramento County; three in San Diego County; one in San Francisco County; two in San Joaquin County; one in San Mateo County; and one in Santa Clara County.
Michael Nieto, of Contra Costa County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Nieto has served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office since 2022 and has been a Deputy District Attorney there since 1997.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Nieto worked in private practice as an associate attorney for McCutcheon Doyle Brown & Enersen from June 1994 to Dec. 1996 and earned a Bachelors of Arts in Government from Harvard University.
He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco since 2013. Nieto earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law (formerly Hastings), San Francisco. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Clare Maier. Nieto is a Democrat.
The annual compensation for each of the judicial positions is $238,479.
Community Ambassadors meeting. Photo: CCC Elections Division
“Contra Costa County is home to one of the safest, most secure, and transparent election systems in the nation.”
By Contra Costa Elections Division
In light of a growing tide of election misinformation, the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department is taking a stand. The Elections Division is launching a far-reaching marketing and community engagement campaign this week to reassure voters of election integrity and security by shining a light on the comprehensive steps taken to deliver on that promise.
“Elections are more secure than ever and we’re proud of Contra Costa County’s reputation for fair and secure elections. We have to make sure our voters know about the work we’re doing and have the information that inspires faith in our elections,” says Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa Registrar of Voters.
Asked for examples of election misinformation in Contra Costa County, the Election Division’s Community and Media Relations Coordinator Dawn Kruger responded, “Unfortunately, we’ve seen and heard lots of misinformation on social media and media comment sections as well as at community meetings.
Some of the most common misconceptions and questions we get are about voter registration requirements, voting by mail, how we prevent voter fraud, and how we secure election technology.
Thanks to the 48 election security safeguards we have in place, elections are more secure than ever, and we want to show voters everything the Contra Costa County Elections Division does to protect their vote. That’s why we’ve compiled all the information voters may want to know and made it available to the public. Voters can get clear and accurate information and responses to some of the most common questions about election security at www.secure-election.org/facts.”
Source: CCC Elections Division
Marketing Campaign
A multi-faceted marketing campaign is in place to deliver that message. In addition to county-wide advertising in print, television, radio and digital media, the campaign also includes the recruitment and training of nearly 100 election ambassadors who have volunteered to carry forward the election integrity message through social media channels and speaking engagements around the county. A companion website, www.secure-election.org, has also been launched, which includes a comprehensive collection of videos, fact sheets, Q&As and social media graphics illustrating how Contra Costa County protects its elections. All this is complemented by opportunities for the public to observe election activities and the county’s award-winning Certified Election Observer program.
“While trust in Contra Costa County elections is high, we’re facing a growing tide of mis- and disinformation that confuses voters and undermines the legitimacy of our elections,” said Kruger. “This voter education campaign fights those myths with solid facts and information, equipping volunteers in our community with a host of tools to help put the real story out there about how safe elections are.”
Contra Costa County was one of 10 election divisions nationwide to be awarded a grant to improve its election processes and chose to pilot this voter education work. The ambitious and robust campaign is expected to reach every resident of the county multiple times and in different ways, hammering home the many steps and precautions in place to ensure only eligible voters vote, that every legitimate vote is counted, and that the county’s election system is secure from fraud. The campaign is predicated on transparency, inviting the public to look more closely at how elections are handled and the exhaustive efforts to protect them.
The first wave of election integrity advertising will run June – July and a second wave will run September – October. These advertisements will coincide with the ambassador’s social media efforts and speaking engagements. Any organization interested in scheduling an ambassador speaking engagement can email info@contracostavote.org. For more information about the campaign and election security, visit secure-election.org.
See the film, hear from and meet the actors; tickets on sale July 26
Former Antioch, Walnut Creek resident is a producer of the tour
By Allen D. Payton
Cast members from the classic baseball movie “The Sandlot”, known to be one of the most famous of all time, are coming to Walnut Creek, California on Saturday, August 24th, 2024. 30 years after The Sandlot’s 1993 debut, a few of those former kids, now men in their 40s, are celebrating the film’s lasting power and its devoted fans.
Featuring Tom “smalls” Guiry, Chauncey “squints” Leopardi, Marty “yeah yeah” York, and possibly others of the original cast will be in person to watch the film that found its way into so many baseball fans’ hearts.
After the movie the cast will describe events and activities while on the set as well as tell anecdotes of their experiences, behind-the-scenes stories and why it is still a great memory to them. The audience will also be engaged in an interaction for a question-and-answer session with the cast members. VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to meet personally with the cast members and get pictures and autographs with them.
Andrew Lenz, of NuWorlds Productions, is one of the producers of the Sandlot Anniversary Tour and is excited to bring it to his hometown area.
“I was born and grew up in Walnut Creek and Antioch. So, this area means a lot to me,” he said.
Lenz graduated from Las Lomas High School in 1984.
“My parents then moved to Antioch,” he shared. “I went to college at Diablo Valley and worked in San Francisco so at the time I had to drive to Concord to catch BART and then to Antioch every day for two years. So, I remember what it was like back then and how it has changed since!”
He was an actor and actually performed years ago in the same theater where this performance will be held.
“So, it is very nostalgic for me,” Lenz added.
About the tour, the St. Louis Post Dispatch wrote, “THANKS to the boys of summer – nine wonderful child actors – and a sweetly nostalgic story well told by writer-director David Mickey Evans, The Sandlot is a winner.”
