Presented by Frank Ballesteros’ Madd Hatter Theater Company

Frank Ballesteros and his Madd Hatter Theater Company presents Alice in Wonderland play in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. The show continues this Friday through Saturday, July 28-30 at “The Green”(Louise Green’s) outdoor black-box theatre, 608 4th Street.

Tickets available at the door: Adults $12, Seniors $10, Students and children $8.

Doors open 6:30 p.m. and the play begins at 7:00 p.m.

Including two amendments by Thorpe, one by Ogorchock but she vote no

By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the Antioch City Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting retaliation and harassment against residential tenants on a 3-1 vote. District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica who is a real estate broker and owns a property management company said, “upon advice of the city attorney I’m going to recuse myself from this item.” District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock was the lone vote against the ordinance.

The ordinance is in response to requests by multiple residents at previous council meetings beginning last year.

Mayor Lamar Thorpe temporarily handed the gavel to Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker to run the meeting. While he limited public comments to 90 seconds on other items, he said he couldn’t do that for this item as it was a public hearing which allows for five minutes per public speaker.

According to the City staff report regarding the associated costs, “adoption of the ordinance will have direct and indirect fiscal impacts if the City engages in enforcement of the ordinance, either through the code enforcement process or through litigation. The proposed Ordinance may be enforced by an aggrieved tenant, an organization or other entity that represents the interests of aggrieved tenants, or the City.

At a minimum, an assistant city attorney or deputy city attorney position plus administrative support would be necessary for the City Attorney’s Office to provide support services to the public for this ordinance.”

According to an attorney who spoke as the proponent, the ordinance includes three things.

“It needs a reasonable standard for the violation. This ordinance includes things that are unique to Antioch including towing cars. Finally, it has a third element, remedies that can be used when the landlord violates the ordinance. They include attorney’s fees so tenants don’t have to pay out of pocket.”

“Here, there are aspects to the landlord. Any violation has to be done in bad faith,” he continued. “Bad faith conduct is the base line.”

“If it’s frivolous the landlord can collect attorney’s fees from the tenant,” the attorney added.

“You’re going to hear it’s unnecessary, it’s duplicative and doesn’t do anything,” he stated.

“There’s a talking point that tenants just need to be educated and I find that offensive,” the attorney continued. “The tenants know their rights. These tenants know the law and they know their living conditions. Thank you for putting on a great ordinance, tonight.”

The opponent was a representative of the California Apartment Association, that represents property owners in Antioch and Contra Costa County.

“It does fail to recognize some existing anti-harassment that are codified in state law,” she said. “We are redefining harassment and creating landmines.”

Speaking of one portion of the ordinance she stated, “there is a presumption of guilt. This provision blurs the burden of proof. It’s contradictory.”

One section she claimed was a backdoor to rent control as it allows for the claim any rent increase could be considered harassment.

“We ask you to reject this…and move forward with an inclusionary process,” she concluded.

Public Comments

During public comments several landlords spoke against the proposed ordinance in its current form and asked for changes before the council adopted it.

The first speaker was Joe Stokely, Sr., a rental property owner in Antioch. “I stand here before you confused and irritated. What is being proposed will produce a complete opposite affect than what the council is trying to accomplish. Why would anyone want to invest and want to continue owning rental property in the city facing a hostile environment.“You presume…all landlords are bad.”

“Please don’t make me have to go through the process at my age of selling my properties and invest elsewhere,” he concluded.

Another speaker, Ranae Callaway, branch manager of a mortgage company and representing the Delta Association of Realtors. She pointed out the “severe fines against landlords” included in the ordinance. “The ordinance does not provide a clear definition of bad faith or who will define it.”

Another speaker named James, said “My family has lived here for 100 years. For over 60 years we have provided below-market rate rentals in District 1. During those 60 years we’ve had four evictions.”

He asked for a progressive ordinance that respects both landlords and tenants. Let’s take the opportunity to collaborate…to develop an ordinance that works for everyone.”

Aeysha Corio, a Realtor, landlord and a City of Concord Planning Commissioner, spoke next saying, “I went over this ordinance. I do believe there needs to be protections for tenants. But it is incredibly unbalanced.”

“You got to find another way to deal with people who are violating people’s rights,” she continued and said, “I feel like this polarization of tenant vs. landlord needs to go. We should be working together.”

Antioch landlord and Realtor, Scott MacIntyre spoke next saying, “We already have laws in California. I myself am a very ethical housing provider. I follow the law and expect the city to follow the law, too. There are 14,000 homes in Antioch that are rentals. Don’t lump us in with a few very bad landlords.”

“It’s very ambiguous…very broad interpretation. I agree with it. Just want to see it tightened up,” he added.

Millie Phillips, a faith organizer that does tenants’ rights work in Contra Costa County, thanked the council “for an ordinance we can support.”

“They’re not saying every landlord is the same. They’ve talked about very specific landlords,” she stated. “All over the state there are laws that protect tenants that are working and are not affecting people who are not harassing. So, I don’t see the issue. Don’t do that kind of behavior and this ordinance will never apply to you. This is directed at the bad actors.”

Joe Stokley, Jr., of Stokley Properties with over 100 rentals in Antioch said if the council passes the ordinance, he would sell his properties and invest elsewhere.

Almost all of the remaining speakers were tenants in favor of the ordinance, including several members of Rising Juntos (formerly known as East County Regional Group) and Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) Action.

“You should take this up with corporate landlords who are making you look bad,” said another speaker to the landlords in attendance.

Speakers also asked for the council to adopt a Just Cause Eviction ordinance in September.

Council Discussion and Decision

During council discussion of the item Ogorchock spoke first saying, “My heart goes out to some of you who have to live in these conditions. But with this ordinance I do have some questions.”

She spoke of the difference between corporate ownership of rental property versus single-family homes.

“Bad faith needs to be defined because it’s in here, a lot,” she stated.

Ogorchock also spoke of part of the ordinance applying to single family homes and people who rent out rooms.

“Under presumption of guilt there’s no due process,” she continued.

“I don’t see in here anything about senior home care facilities,” Ogorchock stated.

“There is a lot of good, in here. But these are some of the things I’m pointing out,” she said.

“I also wrote in here, Measure O. Did we list any of these people paying under Measure O, did we advise them of these meetings?” Ogorchock asked.

She said the burden of proof shouldn’t all be on the owners and the fines in the ordinance were excessive.

“The complaints are mainly about the corporate owners,” Ogorchock explained. “Maybe we should be looking at changing some of the language in here, so it applies to corporate owners.”

She asked “for an ordinance that we can all live with.”

Torres-Walker said, “this is a hard decision to deal with. We have been dealing with this for three years. Mayor Thorpe attempted to have a meeting with landlords, non-profits. For some reason we couldn’t come to agreement at that point.”

“Not all landlords are slumlords,” she continued. “I’m one mortgage payment away from losing my house.”

“I feel like landlords abandoning their business in Antioch over public policy is trying to censor renters,” Torres-Walker continued. “I would hope those that do would work with first-time homebuyers.”

She then made a motion to approve the ordinance waiving the second reading with District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson seconding the motion.

Before the vote Thorpe asked questions about the sections of the ordinance

“I’m going to rent my guest room to a friend for six months. Does this mean I have to rent the room to someone else?” he asked.

“It’s providing a right to a renter to sublet to another,” City Attorney Thomas L. Smith said.

“What this is saying if I rent my home to a family, they can go sublet, even if I say they can’t do that?” Thorpe asked.

“A right to one-to-one replacement of a tenant. If you are a renter in a place and you have a roommate in a place, you would have the right to replace that roommate…with another person,” Smith responded.

“My concern is if I’m renting my house and I’m renting it to a family, and I say I just want this family…they have that right to rent out a guest room without my permission?” the mayor asked.

“It’s not that simple. You have a contract,” Smith explained. “It’s your contract that governs. But I will say with this provision your concern is who has that right. It is a fair concern to have.”

“I don’t think that’s right and the first thing I’m going to say is this is going to be a friendly amendment to change that provision,” Thorpe stated.

“Some of the landlords are concerned about subletting would automatically find the landlord out of compliance,” he then said.

“The housing services part was a concern if the definition allowed for unlimited subletting. If your amendment goes through it would be a moot point,” the representative for the California Apartments Association responded.

“The issue that was trying to be prevented, here is the landlord rents out to four people and two move out and the landlord requires the remaining tenants to pay the entire rent,” said the other attorney. “Generally, it’s one lease per rental unit. In a house you’ll have several tenants on one lease. This is not making landlord rent their guest rooms. This means one leaving one coming in.”

“The one-to-one thing, I’m still going to stick with my amendment,” Thorpe said.

“Oh, refuse to accept or acknowledge tenant’s payment. There were some valid points made here, today. We’re not supposed to accept rent during the eviction process,” he stated.

“You could add some language clarifying when landlords are going through the eviction process,” Smith responded.

“That will be my second amendment,” the mayor shared.

Ogorchock then asked Thorpe to add senior home care into the exemptions, to which he agreed.

“They would qualify under…hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, so it would make sense,” he stated.

Torres-Walker asked, “why” and “they’re renters?”

“Yes,” Ogorchock responded and explained how homes have five or six tenants, plus caregivers and live-in nurses.

Smith suggested a substitute motion with the mayor’s amendments which Torres-Walker did, seconded by Wilson and it passed 3-1 with Ogorchock voting no.

Torres-Walker then thanked Barbanica for recusing himself from the process, “which was absolutely the right thing to do.”

The audience erupted in cheers as they left the Council Chambers.

At Prewett Family Park with the Foodie Crew food trucks

The City of Antioch’s Summer Concert Series continues with Mercy & The Heart Beats performing at Prewett Family Park on Lone Tree Way, this Thursday evening, July 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The evening will include the Foodie Crew food trucks. Bring your lawn chairs and boogie shoes!

Mercy & The Heartbeats is a certain type of band that lives for the stage. Lives to entertain. Fueled by the smiles and energy of a crowd. Into this tradition steps Mercy & The Heartbeats, a dance band comprised of veteran musicians from some of the most popular and successful dance and touring bands in the Bay Area and beyond. If you’ve got Mercy, then you’ve got all your favorite songs – 70’s and 80’s classics, 90’s singalongs, and the most current radio hits. A band not to be missed! Learn more about the band at www.mercyandtheheartbeats.com,

Will cost $2.3 million over five years, but keeping it in-house will cost $1.9 million; will free up 2,200 hours of staff time for other work including street repairs and maintenance

By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the Antioch City Council voted 4-0-1 to contract out the cleanup of homeless encampments on City-owned property and rights-of-way. Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker, without comment, voted to abstain. While it will cost the City budget approximately $400,000 more over five years, it will save staff time allowing them to do other priority work in the city. The outside contractor will be hired at a later date.

According to the staff report on the item, “The Public Works Department currently handles all the homeless cleanup abatement throughout the City of Antioch on City owned property and rights-of-way. Cleanup work is accomplished by work crews from the Streets Maintenance division and NPDES division. All abatement cleanups on City owned property and streets are handled by a streets crew. An NPDES work crew handles all cleanups within the City’s creeks and retention basins.

In calendar year 2022, City staff spent 2,197 labor hours performing homeless encampment cleanups. The time and resources dedicated to these cleanups prevents both Streets and NPDES work crews from completing their regularly scheduled and State mandated maintenance work. For example, the Streets Crew must defer signs and striping work as well as pothole and in house road repairs. NPDES crews must sometimes defer County mandated fire break maintenance work within the City’s creeks and State regulated storm drain and creek maintenance.

Additionally high priority sewer repairs get put on hold which could increase the City’s liability if sewers overflow in addition to potential fines from the State.”

Multiple city workers spoke in favor of the contract due to them being robbed while cleaning up, having to sort through needles, being spit on and afraid for themselves and their families to shop at the Target in Antioch and go to the store in Pittsburg, instead.

“Our experience is in sewer…in storm. We shouldn’t have to calm down the person who we’re taking their home away,” one employee said.

“We have to have PD on every site we go to. PD can’t always stay. The guys are literally getting yelled at, cursed at,” said Jeff Cook. “This contract would allow the actual professionals do the job they’re trained to do. One of the officers passed out from fentanyl exposure.”

“We can agree this is not the right department to handle the solution,” resident and homeless advocate Andrew Becker said. “These men and women shouldn’t be put in this position. But I’m wondering why other departments that deal with homeless are not here for this presentation.”

According to Acting Public Works Director Scott Buenting, the estimated cost to keep the work in-house within the department over the next five years is $1,913,443. The estimated first-year cost is $455,000 with annual increases, for a total five-year cost of $2,316,360.

Council Discussion & Approval

District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock asked about the contract. “My concerns are almost 2,200 labor hours taken away from what they were hired to do,” she said. “I would like to move forward on the outside contract as soon as possible.

She then moved approval, seconded by District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica and it passed on 4-0-1 with Torres-Walker voting to abstain.

“We were in negotiations on this last year. Just for clarification this is something we agreed to,” Mayor Lamar Thorpe said.

Spiked in June to 100 motor vehicle thefts, on increasing trend

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Public Information Liaison Sgt. Price Kendall on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, from July 6 through 22, there were 42 reported stolen vehicles from all parts of the city. Most of the vehicles that were stolen were Hyundai’s and Kia’s.

However, one of the vehicles reported stolen is a Buick LaCrosse owned by Antioch resident Jennifer Grey. According to an NBC Bay Area TV news report on Monday the theft occurred during her visit to a veterinarian.

In a post on her Facebook page on Monday, Grey shared photos of her car and wrote, “STOLEN!-SHARE-STOLEN! 2017 Buick LaCrosse PREMIUM all-wheel drive, only 27,000 miles on it, stolen from the parking lot at East Hills Veterinary Hospital in Antioch ca.on Buchanan on 7/21/23 at around 4:40 p.m. Blue ice metallic, blacked out windows and a small skull with blue reflective eyes on the rear window. It’s got deep butterscotch leather interior, 27,000 Mi on it, and little black reflective protectors on the inside where you open the door so you don’t scratch the door handle nook area . License plate TRUCKUR although plate is probably gone now. You will not see another car like this one around the Bay Area. The police and I happen to believe that this car will not be dismantled it will be sold so the likelihood of it traveling the Bay Area freeways is fairly great. If you see this car please call 911 Antioch ca. police immediately and give the above time and date information and then let me know. Thank you for your time and attention I really appreciate it.”

According to the Antioch Police 2023 Crime Statistics so far, this year, there have been 405 motor vehicle thefts through June. They averaged 61 per month through May then increased to 100 vehicle thefts in June.

The 2022 Crime Statistics show there were a total of 62 motor vehicle thefts in July 2022 and a 650 in the city last year. That was an increase over 2021 in which there were 552 vehicle thefts in Antioch, in 2020 when there were 573, as well as the 610 in 2019 and 602 in 2018.

The most vehicle thefts in the city in the past 10 years was in 2013 with 1,217, followed by 1,096 in 2021, 1,024 in 2015, 1,023 in 2014, 988 in 2017, and 2016 with 916 motor vehicle thefts.

Online forums for both on Wednesday, July 26

By Marisa Greenberg, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) announces the selection of two finalists for the position of Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The finalists are: Amy Nichols and Dr. Tony Wold.

Two separate online forums have been scheduled for July 26, 2023. Employees, students, and community members are invited to attend the forums via Zoom. Each forum will last 60 minutes, beginning at 1:30 p.m., and will be recorded. A detailed public forum schedule, recordings of each forum, and an online survey to provide feedback on the candidates will be available on the District website at http://www.4cd.edu.

Amy Nichols currently serves as the Chief Business Official of the Roseland Public Schools, overseeing all fiscal and facility services for the Roseland School District and Roseland Charter School. She is driven to ensure that all students who wish to pursue higher learning are provided opportunities to do so. She is committed to fostering practices that construct a foundation of financial stability that will allow 4CD faculty and staff to craft educational and social opportunities that meet the needs of all students.

Amy’s own background was shaped by her time as a student at Diablo Valley College (DVC). She began her studies as a young student when she left high school early in order to pursue paid work. Amy was grateful that DVC gave her the options she needed to continue to learn while also working – an experience that fostered a lifetime love of learning. Twelve years after beginning her studies at DVC, Amy completed her Associate degree at DVC, and then earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Labor and Employer Relations at Penn State University. Amy holds a Master’s of Science in Project Management from the University of Wisconsin, and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Accountancy at California State Sacramento. Amy is also a credentialed teacher and holds the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) Chief Business Official (CBO) Certification.

Amy has been a dedicated educator for more than 20 years and has taught and supported curriculum development for adults at San Francisco State University’s College of Extended Learning, Mission Valley Regional Opportunity Program (ROP), and in a correctional education program offered through the Contra Costa County Office of Education. She transitioned to fiscal and business leadership roles in the California K-12 environment with roles as a Director of Technology Projects, Director of Technology and Senior Director of Procurement and Technology in the Acalanes Union High School District, Burlingame School District and Pleasanton Unified School District.

Amy believes strongly that sound financial management in educational agencies is critical for faculty and staff to successfully sustain and develop educational programs that support California’s diverse students.
She strives to provide collaborative, student focused leadership that keeps equity and transparency at the forefront of all activities.

Dr. Tony Wold has served multiple school districts as Associate Superintendent and Chief Business Officer in leadership roles in Business, Labor Negotiations, Student Services, and Student Assessment. His ability to align resources to support improved student achievement has improved student outcomes in diverse districts where over 90% of students received state and federal aid and higher socio-economic communities afforded experience in all district configurations.

Tony brings an extraordinary amount of educational experience both in and outside of the classroom, having also served as a teacher, site administrator, educational services director, and football coach in his educational career. Dr. Wold has a strong sense of the K-14 finance world and has been active in the California School Business Officials Association (CASBO), Coalition of Adequate School Housing (CASH), and serving as a mentor for aspiring Chief Business Officials. For the past year, Tony served as CBO in Residence for School Innovations & Achievement where his focus is on rebuilding systems to bring students back into schools to address the learning loss and changes in attendance behaviors resulting from the pandemic. In addition, Dr. Wold is the principal software design executive with DistrictOS, which is an agnostic SaaS platform that connects school district data systems together to allow for greater transparency in district operations to the public.

Dr. Wold recently served as Associate Superintendent, Business Services in West Contra Costa Unified School District, where he oversaw the daily operations and management of accounting, budget, purchasing, payroll, employee benefits, labor relations, school operations, athletics, safety, warehouse, transportation, nutrition services, and risk management. He was instrumental in the passing of the $575 million Measure R Bond in March 2020 and navigating a $49.9 million structural deficit to restore the District’s budget certification in collaboration with the District’s five labor associations.

A native of Redwood City, Tony received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (USC). He subsequently completed his School Business Management Certification and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at USC. He also earned Chief Business Official certifications from the Council of Great City Schools, and Lead Negotiators certification from the School Employers Association of California (SEAC).

Tony and his wife Lisa have been married for over 27 years and have one daughter who graduated from the University of San Francisco to join the educational system as a teacher.

About 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves a population of 1,200,997 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College with campuses in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon, and Los Medanos College with a campus in Pittsburg, and center in Brentwood. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.

Recovered Monday morning; conflicting information from agencies of what occurred; no investigation by APD

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Public Information Liaison Sgt. Price Kendall, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, the body of the man missing in the river last Friday during a boating mishap was found.

Con Fire spokeswoman, Assistant Fire Chief Tracie Dutter said, “Someone reported a possible deceased male on the rocks near Fulton Shipyard Road on Monday at 7:48 AM. We were requested by PD to assist in recovering the body. We were on scene assisting at about 8:20 a.m. and by 8:40 a.m. the recovery was completed.”

According to Deputy Gonzalez of the Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office, the man was identified as 58-year-old Douglas Cross from San Leandro, based on his driver’s license information.

As previously reported, according to Jimmy Lee, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs, “On Friday, July 21, 2023, at about 1:51 PM, deputy sheriffs from the Marine Patrol Unit were dispatched to assist the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the United States Coast Guard with searching for a missing boater who was apparently trying to push his 20-foot vessel to shore near the Fulton Shipyard on the San Joaquin River. The U.S. Coast Guard and Sheriff’s Office drone team were also involved in the search. The missing boater, who is not being identified at this time, was not located. (See video)

The Marine Patrol Unit continued the search on Saturday, he added.

However, according to Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Schnabel, “We suspended the search after searching until around 7:30 pm. One man had fallen overboard from a recreational boat and the other man jumped in after him attempting to get him out of the water leaving the vessel unmanned. Neither had life jackets. One man was recovered by a Good Samaritan and taken to a local boat ramp.”

Asked if an investigation was being conducted to determine what occurred and if the other man had been interviewed to get his side of the story, Sgt. Kendall responded, “No investigation is being conducted by the Antioch Police Department.”

Lee was asked the same question but did not respond prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.