Ron Bernal will challenge Hernandez-Thorpe on the issues of public safety, homeless, economic development and trust in government

“Antioch is in such crisis…I want a city government that people can trust…I want us to hold our heads high and be proud we’re from Antioch.” – Ron Bernal

By Allen D. Payton

On Thursday evening, Jan. 25, 2024, former Antioch City Manager Ron Bernal was joined by about 300 to 400 supporters to officially kick-off his campaign for Mayor of Antioch in the November election. He will be taking on one of his former bosses, Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, who Bernal served under for four-and-a-half years, with the campaign theme of “Change Starts Today”.

The event was hosted by local business and building owner Sean McCauley and his wife Maria at their Antioch home, located on the grounds of their Vino Olivo winery and business on Deer Valley Road.

During the reception, before the speeches began, Bernal greeted each of those who attended while they enjoyed catered hors d’eouvres and McCauley/Peterson wines, and took photos in front of three banners reading, “A Safer Antioch Starts Today,” “A Better Tomorrow Starts Today,” and “Change Starts Today”.

Former Mayor Don Freitas, who served as the master of ceremonies said, “I have to tell you that when a lot of people started talking about who’s going to run, (former City Councilwoman) Joy Motts said, ‘I have a candidate.’ I asked, ‘who?’ She said, ‘Ron Bernal.’ I said, ‘Outstanding.’ He knows how local government works.”

“There are over 300 of you here, tonight. Ron, I think it’s a testament to who you are and Sean, because people wanted to see your house,” Freitas said with a laugh.

He then introduced the many local officials, including some council members from neighboring East County cities, who were in attendance.

Speaking of his conversation with Bernal about his candidacy the former mayor said, “It’s the first time in a long time I said, ‘you know Ron, I have hope.’”

Before he introduced Pastor Steve Miner of Antioch’s Cornerstone Christian Center, where the Bernals attend, Freitas said, “a lot of us have been on our knees saying, ‘God, please, please.’”

“This is going to be long. It’s going to be difficult,” Miner stated before offering the invocation. He was then joined on the stage by Bernal, his wife, Irma, their daughter Ashley Pollard and daughter-in-law Michelle Bernal, so the pastor could pray for them, Antioch and the campaign. The Bernals’ son was working and unable to attend the event.

McCauley then introduced the candidate saying, “We all love and know Ron in this area, today. He’s my brother, I love him, and he loves this city. One of our biggest things was, what is it going to do to you and your family? He’s making great money with his consulting firm. The sacrifices they’ll make are going to be impactful. I want everyone to be behind Ron for the next eight months. It’s going to be war.”

“I asked him, ‘Why do you want to do this?’” McCauley continued. “He said to me because he loves this city.”

“I know it’s starting off with a bang, but it can’t fizzle out,” the host added.

Bernal then spoke saying, “I want this campaign to be something we can aspire to as Antioch. When I first came to work for this city 25 years ago…the first person I met was named Mike, he was an engineer. He asked my why I would come to Antioch. I told Mike, ‘I want to make a difference, here in Antioch, and I want to make it better…I made it my goal to make this place a better community.”

“Being in retirement, now for a couple years…I’m asked the same question by people out on the street that know me, the question is, ‘why in the world would you stay in Antioch?’” Bernal continued. “So, I tell people the same answer I said before. Because I want to make it a better place and want to improve it. But I have a second reason, now, and as Sean said, I love this community. I love the people of Antioch…my neighbors, my neighborhood…everything this place has to offer.”

He asked his supporters three questions and spoke of his three top priorities of safety, homeless and economic development: “Is Antioch a safe place to operate right now?” “No,” they replied. “Is Antioch a place that’s helping the homeless get off the streets?” “No,” was the response. “Is Antioch a place where economic development is thriving?” Again, they said, “No.”

“That’s the same conclusion I came to,” Bernal stated. “And what is driving me, those three main issues.”

“The first one being the safety of our community,” he shared. “I want our people…to not operate in fear…to be able to walk out and go shopping…go to a restaurant…pull out of an intersection and not worry about getting hit by a car speeding through…I want to see our police force get restored so that we can have safety on our streets.” That garnered the greatest applause.

“That’s the number one priority,” Bernal said.

“I want to address the homeless issue,” he said next. “They don’t deserve to be living on our streets…on parking lots, parked on Wilbur Avenue. We can partner with other agencies, with the county…to get the unhoused the resources they need…get them into interim and permanent housing and get the homeless off the streets of Antioch.”

“I love them, but I don’t want to see them having to live on the streets of Antioch,” Bernal added.

“The third thing that I think is important and the other two lead to it, is having a vibrant economic development in the city of Antioch, our blighted properties, the fact that businesses have to come to city hall and wait for permits because we don’t have a city staff that’s fully staffed, right now,” he stated. “We don’t have a full-time city manager, assistant city manager, community development director, public works director, city engineer, police chief. I could go on and on.”

“Wow,” some in the audience responded.

“We need those leadership positions filled so we can run this government efficiently and have the results that we want to see,” Bernal continued. “We need to put people who know what they’re doing, who are motivated…entrepreneurial, that are going to make a difference in this city.”

“The final thing I think we need to do is to be a good neighbor. I don’t think Antioch is necessarily a good neighbor to Oakley, Brentwood, to Pittsburg and the County, right now, because Antioch is in such crisis,” he stated. “As mayor, I want to work with the cities around us. I want to see us develop a relationship with the school district.”

“The final thing…I want a city government that people can trust,” Bernal said to a round of applause. “Government is not something you can trust. I’m going to commit to everybody here and everybody I meet to be honest, to have integrity and to be a person you can trust to do what I say I’m going to do and to lead this city in a way we can be proud of.”

“I want us to hold our heads high and be proud we’re from Antioch,” he continued. “I want this to be a place where we can raise our families, where our kids leave and want to come back.”

“Our campaign motto was chosen carefully and it’s ‘Change Starts Today,’” said Bernal. “I want people to know, when we as go out into this community, because it’s going to be a war, and we’re going to infiltrate Antioch, I want to listen to what people have to say, I want to hear their concerns, hear their problems. I want to see what we can do to help, immediately. But before we tell them what we’re going to do about changing this city, I want people to know they’re going to have hope. That’s the main thing I think is missing in Antioch, right now, is people cannot hope for a better tomorrow.”

He thanked those who attended and concluded by saying, “It humbles me to have all these people here supporting. I want you to know my family, my wife, Irma, we’re committed to doing this, together. Nine months ago she said, ‘babe, you’ve, got, we’ve gotta do something about this city’ and I said, ‘alright, what are we going to do?’ She goes, ‘I think you should run for mayor.’ I said, ‘alright.’ And we do it all, together so, I knew what she meant when she said, “we’ve got to do this.’ But we’re committed to doing this together. And it’s going to be a lot of work, but we’re ready for it.”

“Today, change starts,” the candidate stated. “And then we’re going to take this through the campaign, we’re going to take it to November, win the election, then we’re going to propel it into the new year with the change for 2025 for the City of Antioch.”

Irma then joined her husband on the stage.

He thanked the McCauleys “for opening their home up, today.”

“As you all know I haven’t done this before. But I’m learning very quickly. I want to thank all our volunteers…change starts, today,” he concluded.

As he ended his  speech, Bernal was greeted with chants of “Ron, Ron, Ron” from his supporters. (See his entire speech, here.)

“We’re going to win because you’re a part of this campaign. I believe in Ron’s leadership to make this a great place to live, learn, work, play and worship,” Freitas said to close out the event, quoting the City’s former Mission Statement that previously hung on the wall inside the Council Chambers.

Daughter Gives Tribute to Her Dad

Following the event, daughter Ashley posted on her Facebook page photos and a tribute to her father writing, “I may be biased but I can honestly say that I have the world’s greatest dad! He has always been the best example of what a godly man, husband, father and friend should be and tonight the support was overwhelming!

My dad has served as Antioch city manager, engineer, director of public works and assistant city manager for the last 18 years before retiring a few years ago…my parents had been praying about what was next for them and they both felt strongly that my dad’s time in Antioch wasn’t done!

So here he goes throwing his hat in the ring for Mayor of Antioch and I can’t think of anyone who knows the city better, has a proven track record of success, loves Antioch and also can lead with integrity and passion. To see 3 previous city mayors tonight there to support him along with 400 other people was a true testament to the impact he has made and the amount of people who truly believe he is the man for the job!

If you’re in Antioch, make sure and vote and if you’re not we are asking for prayers that if this is what God wants for my dad and the city of Antioch that it will be so clear and that my dad will have the wisdom he needs to get this huge job done!

I kinda love this guy, and so does everyone else who meets him!!!”

Bernal said he was born at Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley when his parents lived in Moraga. When he was five years old, they moved to Walnut Creek where he grew up. Bernal attended and graduated from Las Lomas High School where he played both baseball and football.

According to his personal Facebook page, Ron and Irma were married on June 7, 1986. They and their two children moved to Antioch in 1998. They also have four grandchildren. Bernal is 61 years old.

According to his LinkedIn profile he has owned Ron Bernal Consulting since January 2022. During his 25 years in Antioch, he served as city manager from March 2017 to December 2021, as Antioch’s Public Works Director and City Engineer from May 1998 to March 2017, and for his final 13 months in that position he also served as Assistant City Manager. Bernal earned a degree in Civil Engineering from U.C. Davis and is a Registered Civil Engineer with the State of California.

For more information about Bernal’s campaign visit ronbernal.org. So far, Hernandez-Thorpe is the only other candidate to file any campaign-related papers for the seat, which he did last September. Candidate filing opens in July and closes in August. The election will be held on November 5.

Qualify for District competition

By Wayne Steffen

Ten boys and girls ages 8 to 14 were named local champions of the 2024 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship and have earned the right to compete at the district level.  Antioch Council #3265 sponsored the local competition at Most Holy Rosary parish center. 

The champions are:

Age                     Boys                                         Girls

8                      Cristiano Pham                       Brianna Davenport

9                      Isaac Torres                            

10                    Isaac Ramirez             

11                                                                    Ruby du Pont

12                    Lex Magpoc                            Gabriella Matar

13                    Matthew Gallego                    Thalia Pham

14                    Jorge Aragon                                                             

Each of these winners will compete in the district competition to be held on February 10 with an eye toward moving on to county, state national, and international levels.

Council #3265 in Antioch, CA is one of 17,000 Knights of Columbus councils that make up the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today the approximately two million members of the Knights put their faith into action through a broad range of charitable causes locally, nationally, and internationally with financial contributions and hands-on service.      

Plus, Valentine’s Day special menu and music

Monica’s Riverview has announced they are reopening for dinner starting Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a new dinner menu.

Dinner reservations are available by phone at (925) 757-2272 or in person. Online reservations for dinner will be available Feb. 1

Their new cocktail menu is in development and coming soon.

Live music will continue on Friday and Saturday nights as well as during Saturday and Sunday Brunch.

Enjoy Valentine’s Day additional special and regular menus on Wednesday, Feb. 14 and dine to the sounds of jazz trio with Michael Cheadle in the dining room beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Monica’s has new brunch and lunch hours, as well. See website for details.

Monica’s Riverview is located on the pier at 1 I (“Eye”) Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. For more information see http://www.visitmonicas.com.

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To generate at least $1 to $2 billion annually; priorities include transit, safer streets and roads, resilience

Commissioners considering a variety of tax options

By John Goodwin & Rebecca Long, Metropolitan Transportation Commission

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024 voted to pursue legislation in Sacramento this year that would enable Bay Area voters to consider a transportation revenue measure as early as November 2026.

The proposed measure aims to advance a climate-friendly Bay Area transportation system that is safe, accessible and convenient for all. This includes preserving and enhancing public transit service; making transit faster, safer and easier to use; repairing local streets and roads; and improving mobility and access for all people, including pedestrians, bicyclists and scooter and wheelchair users.

The vote was approved unanimously by all members present. There are 21 commissioners with three non-voting members. Oakland Mayor Sheng Tao and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan who are voting members were both absent during the vote.

State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco earlier this month introduced what is known as a spot bill that will be used as the vehicle for authorizing placement of the proposed measure on a future ballot in each of the nine Bay Area counties. The first opportunity to amend Wiener’s Senate Bill 925 will be in mid-February.

While the Commission has not yet identified a revenue source for the proposed measure, MTC Chair and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza noted that he and his colleagues are considering a wide range of options.

“Voters traditionally have supported transportation through bridge tolls or sales taxes. Bridge tolls are not an option in this case and we think it’s smart to look at more than a regional sales tax. We’re proposing a few options so we have enough flexibility and enough time to get it right.”

Tax Options & Projected Revenue

Legislators, and MTC staff and commissioners, will consider several options for generating revenue. These may include a sales tax, an income tax, a payroll tax, a square footage based parcel tax, a Bay Area-specific vehicle registration surcharge with tiered rates based on the value of the vehicle or a regional vehicle-miles traveled charge (VMT) charge subject to prior adoption of a statewide road usage charge not sooner than 2030.  

MTC staff recommend raising at least $1 billion to $2 billion per year for robust investments in safe streets and other capital improvements, to improve and expand transit service, and to help Bay Area transit agencies operate their services. 

Goals of the Regional Transportation Measure

The revenue measure’s core goal is to advance a climate-friendly transportation system in the Bay Area that is safe, accessible and convenient for all. Focus areas include:

1. Protect and enhance transit service. Ensure that current resources are maintained and used effectively; and enhance service frequency and areas served.
2. Make transit faster, safer and easier to use. Create a seamless and convenient Bay Area transit system that attracts more riders by improving public safety on transit; implementing the Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan; and strengthening regional network management.
3. Enhance mobility and access for all. Make it safer and more accessible for people of all ages and abilities to get to where they need to go. Preserve and improve mobility for all transportation system users, including people walking, biking and wheeling.

Proposed Expenditure Categories

1. Transit transformation: sustain, expand and improve transit service for both current and future riders; accelerate customer-focused initiatives from the Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan and other service improvements that are high priorities for Bay Area voters and riders; and help fund the transition to zero-emission transit. 
2. Safe streets: transform local streets and roads to support safety, equity and climate goals, including through pothole repair, investments in bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, safe routes to transit and other safety enhancements.
3. Connectivity: fund mobility improvements that close gaps and relieve bottlenecks in the existing transportation network in a climate-neutral way.
4. Climate resilience: fund planning, design and/or construction work that protects transportation infrastructure and nearby communities from rising sea levels, flooding, wildfires and extreme heat.

Transportation Measure Highlights

This measure reflects feedback from Commissioners, key legislative leaders and other stakeholders, including:

• Improving transit coordination by strengthening MTC’s role as regional transit network manager;
• A focus on Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan (TAP) action items and other customer facing policies that would benefit from a regional approach, such as ambassadors to assist riders and support a safe atmosphere;
• Flexibility in the amount of revenue requested, as well as the way that funding could be generated;
• Flexibility in spending priorities as the region’s needs evolve with time; and
• The “North Star” vision statement, which includes greenhouse gas emission-reduction tools, such as:
  • A Transportation Demand Management mandate that encourages Bay Area employees to commute to work in ways other than driving to work alone; and 
  • A limitation on how money could be spent on highway-widening projects.

Just as MTC commissioners have proposed a range of tax options, so too have they identified multiple expenditure categories.

“We recognize that we’ll be asking voters to take on a heavy lift,” acknowledged Pedroza. “The big lesson from COVID is the need to transform both our transit network and the way we pay to operate it. But we also need to transform our local streets and roads to fix potholes and make the roads safer for walking and biking. We need to improve connectivity and do it in a way that doesn’t encourage people to drive more. And we need to make our transportation infrastructure more resilient to rising sea levels, flooding, wildfires and extreme heat.”

Measure Vision Statement

The Commissioners also adopted the following Vision Statement for the measure: “The Bay Area needs a world-class, reliable, affordable, efficient and connected transportation network that meets the needs of Bay Area residents, businesses and visitors while also helping combat the climate crisis; a public transit network that offers safe, clean, frequent, accessible, easy-to-navigate and reliable service, getting transit riders where they want and need to go safely, affordably, quickly and seamlessly; local roads are well maintained; and transit, biking, walking and wheeling are safe, convenient and competitive alternatives to driving; enhancing access to opportunity, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the region’s economy and improving quality of life.”

To learn more about the proposed tax measure click, here. To read the supporting documents considered by the Commissioners click, here.

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Open to the public

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Office of Communications & Media, Contra Costa County

Improving the quality of life for Contra Costa County residents through diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible programs and services will be the center of the Board of Supervisors annual retreat discussion Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue in Pittsburg.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

“Ensuring we’re meeting community needs is always our focus,” said Board Chair Federal Glover, District 5 Supervisor. “The retreat offers an opportunity for us to anticipate economic factors and continue prioritizing resources accordingly to make sure we’re having the greatest impact through our services.”  

Supervisors will receive an economic forecast from Beacon Economics. Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) Co-Directors Dr. Kendra Carr and Peter Kim will present a summary of ORESJ priorities for the coming year including new initiatives toward expanding equity, building office infrastructure and staffing, developing the Lived Experience Advisory Board, and proposed costs.Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans is also scheduled to speak.

The Board of Supervisors sets the direction of the County government and oversees its $5.5 billion budget to serve the 1.2 million residents of this diverse East Bay county with a “AAA” bond rating.

The Board meeting will be accessible in person at Council Chambers, Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg. The meeting will be televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, Astound Channels 32 & 1027, and can be seen live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov or www.contracostatv.org. 

For more information about Contra Costa County and its Board of Supervisors, visit the County’s website at www.contracosta.ca.gov or the webpage: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7283/Board-of-Supervisors.

To make your reservation visit www.smithslandingantioch.com/events.

Significant decline in number of highway violence incidents involving firearms on for second year in a row.

By Jaime Coffee, CHP Media Relations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In a significant milestone for public safety, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) documented a substantial reduction in the number of freeway shootings across the state.  The number of confirmed freeway shootings in California dropped from 349 to 274 last year – a reduction of more than 21% from the previous year and a 38% reduction from 2021.

In addition to the reduction in the number of freeway shootings, CHP data confirms the number of victims killed and injured in highway violence incidents also decreased.  Last year there were four people killed in freeways shootings, which is a 60% reduction from 2022.  Additionally, there was an 8% reduction in the number of people injured – from 74 to 68 last year.  Reflecting the good work that contributed to these reductions, the number of arrests by the CHP in freeways shootings increased nearly 9% from 2022.

“While this downward trend marks progress, let’s be clear: one life lost by gun violence is one too many,” said Governor Newsom. “California will remain relentless in our pursuit to improve public safety, reduce gun violence, and invest in smart crime-fighting strategies that deliver real results.”

 “Freeway shootings are serious crimes, and the CHP actively investigates every incident of highway violence,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “This accomplishment reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of our highways throughout California and fostering an environment where motorists can travel without fear.”

If you are driving on the freeway and a shooting takes place near you, you should remain calm, be a good witness and note any details such as vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers.  Maintain a safe distance from the suspect, and call 9-1-1 if possible, to report the incident and your current location.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

By Jen Vanya, Public Information Specialist, East Bay Regional Park District 

For the past 31 years, the East Bay Regional Park District has encouraged the public to explore their Regional Parks through its annual Trails Challenge program. The free program connects people with nature and healthy recreation by providing 20 designated trails for each year’s challenge.

The 2024 Guidebook includes 20 trails available for all levels of fitness, ranging from easy and moderate to challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs, and equestrians. Trails Challenge 2024 also offers increased accessibility with trails that have been evaluated and identified as usable by persons with mobility limitations.

To complete the challenge, hike five of the 20 trails, or 26.2 miles (the distance of a marathon) of trails within East Bay Regional Park District. You can submit your log, online or by mail, by December 1, 2024, and receive a commemorative pin, while supplies last.

Trails Challenge is made possible in partnership with the Regional Parks Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, who have both sponsored Trails Challenge since 2005.

Download the 2024 Trails Challenge and learn more at ebparks.org/TC.

Tips for the Trails

East Bay Regional Parks are popular with hikers, bikers, equestrians, and nature viewers, among others. Help keep trails enjoyable for all by following these tips for the trails:

• Hikers: Stay to the right and stay alert
• Bikers: Slow down around others and call out or ring your bell when passing
• Equestrians: Keep to the right around other trail users and let them know how to pass your horse safely

More tips for trail safety can be found on our Trails are for Everyone webpage: www.ebparks.org/about-us/whats-new/news/trails-are-everyone.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.