“Palindrome days tend to be popular days for weddings at our office” – Acting Assistant Clerk-Recorder Wilson

By Dawn Kruger, Civic Outreach/Engagement Specialist, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department

The Contra Costa County Clerk’s Office is gearing up for a very special day on “Twosday,” with additional ceremonies available for the public on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The Clerk-Recorder’s office has officiated weddings for couples on special palindrome dates in the past and traditionally, these days are very popular.  A palindrome day has the same numbers in the date forward and backward.

22 ceremonies will be performed at the Contra Costa County Clerk’s office, located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

“Palindrome days tend to be popular days for weddings at our office, and our staff is getting into the spirit this year with a very special “Twosday” coming up,” Acting Assistant Clerk-Recorder Laura Wilson said. “Sticking with the theme, we opened up additional appointments for county residents so we can officiate 22 appointments and they filled up almost immediately!”

Palindrome days don’t come around very often – this one only happens once each century – and when they do, the County Clerk’s Office sees an increase in wedding ceremony appointments.  The office is officiating almost double the number of ceremonies usually offered in order to accommodate interest.

As with all ceremony appointments currently being offered onsite, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office takes precautions to keep constituents and staff safe.  COVID-19 protocols will be in place.  Up to 5 guests may join the couple in the ceremony room.

All appointments for the “Twosday” ceremonies have been filled, and the County Clerk’s Office does not accept walk-in appointments at this time.

A marriage license must be obtained before a ceremony can be performed. Couples may purchase a license the same day as their ceremony appointment at the County Clerk’s office in Martinez. The fee for a public marriage license is $86, while a confidential license is $90. The civil marriage ceremony fee is $60.

For information about marriage license and ceremony services, go to https://www.ccclerkrec.us/ or call the office at 925-335-7900.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Suspect in armed robbery of the 7-11 store at the corner of Sunset Lane and Davison Drive arrested on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. Photos: APD

Robbed 7-11 of $25 using rock and knife

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, two purse snatchers and a suspect in an armed robbery of a convenience store were arrested over the weekend.

On Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, at 12:05 PM, officers responded to the area of Sycamore Drive and Auto Center Drive, for a report of a robbery. The victim’s purse was stolen. The next day at 2:21 PM Officer recognized the responsible, Donald Armour (age 22) and arrested him. The purse was located and returned to the victim. Unknown what city he is out of.

On Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3:25 AM officers responded to 3701 Sunset Lane (7-11) on a report of an armed robbery.  Dispatch advised a subject entered the store and demanded cash and was threatening the clerk with a rock and a knife.  The clerk handed over approximately $25.00 in cash. Upon officers’ arrival, the suspect, identified as Nathanael Hatfield (age 38) was still on scene. Hatfield was detained without incident. Hatfield was booked into MDF.

On Sunday, Feb. 20 at 12:59 PM a woman was walking in the 2300 block of Sequoia Drive when Masaiyah Sharp (age 18) approached her and forcibly took her purse from her and ran through the trail behind Sequoia Drive. Officers circulated the area and located Sharp. Sharp was transported to MDF.

Unknown what city these people are out of.

A’s waterfront stadium rendering. Source: Oakland A’s

Oakland City Council votes to certify Final EIR

By Oakland Athletics

On Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, the Oakland City Council voted to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for our waterfront ballpark project at Jack London Square. It follows las month’s unanimous vote by the Oakland Planning Commission recommending the council vote to certify the EIR.

This is a significant milestone for the project and comes after years of work with the City, local community members, and organizations to analyze and outline how our project will adhere to the highest of environmental standards. The project will clean up an industrial site with private dollars and return public access to the waterfront with more than 18 acres of public parks and open greenspace.

In addition, the council voted to approve a resolution requiring community benefits including local hire for jobs and to mitigate impacts to nearby neighborhoods, such as parking in Chinatown, and to West Oakland, following complaints by residents who spoke during the meeting from that neighborhood, as well as freight compatibility for the Port of Oakland.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf issued a statement praising the council action in which she said, “Tonight’s action is more than a milestone — it’s a giant leap forward in our shared mission to create a regional destination that gives back our waterfront to the public, connects a new vibrant neighborhood to our downtown, and provides tens of thousands of good union jobs for our residents — and it does it all while keeping our beloved A’s rooted in Oakland.

Now that the Final Environmental Impact Report has been certified, the floor is set for negotiating robust community benefits that our residents demand and deserve, as well as the final development agreement.

Tonight’s action is more than a milestone – it’s a giant leap forward in our shared mission to create a regional destination that gives back our waterfront to the public, connects a new vibrant neighborhood to our downtown, and provides tens of thousands good union jobs for our residents – and it does it all while keeping our beloved A’s rooted in Oakland.”

Oakland A’s waterfront stadium Entitlement Milestones. Source: Oakland A’s

Our waterfront ballpark is a once-in-a-generation project, creating transformative environmental and community benefits for Oakland, and setting the stage for more World Championships for our fans.

We thank our fans, community members, and civic leaders who shared their support during the EIR process and in public meetings. While this is the furthest we have come in securing a new ballpark in Oakland for the Athletics, we have more work to do. We now look forward to finalizing the development agreement and community benefits agreement before a vote later this year.

The city council will still have to approve a development agreement with the team, which is expected to occur sometime this summer, plus the A’s will need to obtain approvals on agreements with the Port, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and State Lands Commission.

To learn more about our waterfront ballpark at Jack London Square and the progress we’ve made to date, visit WeAreRooted.com.

Go A’s!

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Dr. Brian C. Richardson

By Anita Creamer, Sutter Health

For decades, February—Black History Month—has been a time to remember battles won and hurdles overcome. A crucial hurdle remains: Because of traditional disparities in delivery and access to healthcare, stroke continues to have a disproportionate effect on the African American community.

That’s why Brian C. Richardson, M.D., neurologist and medical director of Stroke Service at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, a Sutter Health affiliate, thinks February presents an opportunity to raise awareness of stroke and stroke prevention for Black Americans.

“Stroke can be prevented in Black Americans,” he says. “We need greater access to healthcare and treatment of underlying medical conditions. Getting better access to healthcare and managing risk factors for stroke can mitigate the risk of stroke dramatically for African Americans.”

Statistics are startling. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 50 percent more likely to have a stroke—a “brain attack,” in which blood stops bringing oxygen to the brain—than white adults, and Black men are 70 percent more likely to die from stroke.

Along with the higher prevalence of stroke and highest death rate from stroke than any other group, says Dr. Richardson, African Americans are predisposed to a range of underlying conditions that can contribute to stroke, including hypertension, or high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia and diabetes.

“Identifying and treating high blood pressure would have a significant effect in decreasing the prevalence of stroke in Black Americans,” he says. “If we can treat hypertension, we can reduce stroke in the African American community.”

Lowering the diastolic blood pressure (the lower number on the reading) by 5 mmHg can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 35%, he says.

And in general, living a healthy lifestyle—eating fresh foods, exercising, consuming less salt, not smoking and drinking less—can help prevent up to 80 percent of strokes.

“If people can consume five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, they’ll reduce their stroke risk by 30%,” Dr. Richardson says. “For Black Americans, that means we need to be able to find healthy, fresh food in our neighborhoods. Fast food isn’t the means to good health.”

To learn more about stroke prevention, risk factors and types of stroke, visit the American Stroke Association.

Supervisor Diane Burgis stand in front of a truck with nine yards of garbage illegally dumped on roads in the county during press conference in Antioch on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. Photo by Allen D. Payton

AB 2374 increases fines, adds teeth to state law on illegal dumping 

At a press conference today, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Antioch, Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (AD16-D-Orinda), District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis, the bill’s sponsor, and local county leaders announced the introduction of AB 2374. Entitled “Crimes against public health and safety: illegal dumping”, the bill was introduced in response to the rampant illegal dumping plaguing communities across California.

“The illegal dumping of trash, furniture, mattresses, appliances, and toxic materials is out of control in both our rural and urban areas – it isn’t just unsightly, it is putting the health of our communities and environment at risk,” said Bauer-Kahan. “Every Californian deserves the right to live in clean, garbage-free neighborhoods.”

“We started this out when we were trying to figure out how to handle it. That’s when we learned of the multiple agencies each responding,” said Burgis. “We formed a Think Tank of agencies in the county, plus East Bay Regional Park and our garbage haulers. And it’s expensive.”

“What people were doing was instead of taking it to the landfill or transfer station, they were just dumping it on the side of the road,” she stated. Pointing to the truck filled with items picked up along East County roads that was at the press conference Burgis said, “That’s nine yards, but they usually pick up 15 yards of large and small items in East County, each week.”

This bill builds upon previous legislative efforts of Bauer-Kahan and Contra Costa and Alameda Counties in 2019. These efforts provided funding to the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa to establish a pilot program for additional enforcement of illegal dumping laws in both counties. This program has been successful, but more tools in the arsenal to fight illegal dumping are necessary. Policies like increased enforcement, street lighting, and cameras throughout the East Bay region have also helped, however, California still lacks sufficient penalties to deter people from this harmful behavior.

AB 2374 raises fines on illegal dumping of commercial quantities up to $5,000 upon first conviction, up to $10,000 on a second conviction, and up to $20,000 on third or subsequent conviction. Additionally, this bill will give judges discretion to require the convicted to pay for the removal of their illegal dumping, suspend the business license of any individual convicted of dumping waste connected to their business, and allow for that person’s name and name of the business to be publicly displayed as convicted of illegal dumping.

“We want everyone to be doing the right thing, but there’s a limit to what we can do to educate and incentivize good behavior,” said Burgis. “It’s important for the public to understand that dumping has an impact on the quality of our drinking water, and that it disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. I applaud Bauer-Kahan for her efforts to empower us with the tools we need at the local level to start getting greater control of this problem.”

Contra Costa County District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, who also serves on the County’s Illegal Dumping Ad Hoc Committee, added, “Residents deserve beautiful land and clean neighborhoods to live and work in. We want to be sure that everyone, including commercial businesses, hear loud and clear that they cannot illegally dump in our community without hefty fines, hence the need for this legislation.”

“Illegal dumping is a plague on our entire state – impacting our most urban, suburban, and rural communities. In a pilot project in my Supervisorial District alone we’ve removed nearly 1,200 tons of trash from our streets. This legislation provides needed enforcement authority to combat illegal dumping and blight in our neighborhoods, while alleviating the unfair burden of clean up from residents and local businesses,” said Alameda County Supervisor and Board Vice President Nate Miley.

“By upping the fines and providing tools for the courts to publicly hold violators accountable for committing these acts, we disincentivize actors and create public knowledge on who not to work with,” Bauer-Kahan added. “I want to thank Contra Costa County for bringing this bill idea to my attention and look forward to getting it implemented statewide.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Reece was placed on paid administrative leave earlier this month for the second time in six months, only in position since Nov. 2020

Board promotes Executive Vice Chancellor to Interim Chancellor through June 2024 with $357,714 starting annual base salary

Two other administrators still on paid leave since last year

By Timothy Leong, 4CD Public Information Officer

Former 4CD Chancellor Dr. Bryan Reece. Source: 4CD

At their February 16, 2022, meeting, the Governing Board (Board) of the Contra Costa Community College District accepted the resignation of Dr. Bryan Reece, effective February 11, 2022. He began working for the District as the ninth permanent chancellor on November 1, 2020.

Reece was placed on paid administrative leave by a unanimous vote of the board during a closed session meeting earlier this month. It was the second time the board had done so, the first time occurring in September on a split vote of 3-0-1 with Area 5 Trustee Fernando Sandoval voting to abstain as he was attending the meeting via Zoom. (See related articles here and here)

In an email to faculty and staff, Jeffrey Michels, president of the United Faculty, wrote about the board’s decision to place Reece on paid leave for a second time.

“In the words of the Yankees’ Yogi Berra, ‘it’s like déjà vu all over again.’ Last week, with no public explanation besides citing ‘personnel matters,’ the District Governing Board voted unanimously to place Bryan Reece on ‘paid administrative leave,’ and they named Executive Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology Mojdeh Mehdizadeh acting chancellor.”

“Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on managers who don’t report to work certainly seems like a waste, but as we have noted in the past, these decisions are hard to evaluate since most of the facts are kept private,” Michels added

Mojdeh Mezhdizadeh. Photo: 4CD

He was also referring to two other senior administrators that are on paid administrative leave, placed there by Reece last year, Executive Vice Chancellor of Administration Eugene Huff and Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Dio Shipp. (See related article)

“The Governing Board and Dr. Reece have mutually decided to part ways,” said Governing Board President Dr. Judy E. Walters. “We thank Dr. Reece for his service to the District and wish him well as he relocates to Southern California to spend more time with his family.”

The Governing Board also approved a contract with Executive Vice Chancellor, Education and Technology, Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, to become the Interim Chancellor for the period of February 16, 2022, through June 30, 2024, at a starting annual base salary of $357,714. With more than 30 years of experience at the District, mostly in executive leadership roles, the Governing Board is confident Mojdeh provides the steady and stable leadership needed to help advance the District’s mission and vision.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Strategic Communications Officer Darryl Saffold, on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, at 7:33 AM officers were dispatched to the area of the Somersville Car Wash located at 3103 Delta Fair Boulevard in Antioch for a report of a shooting. The 55-year-old victim was shot in the right arm while he was in the front passenger side of his vehicle by an unknown assailant.

He was later transported to the hospital and reportedly had non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Herald first learned of the shooting about 8:00 am that morning and upon arrival at 8:30 a.m. the scene had already been cleared.

Publisher’s Note: This information was just received, today, Thursday, Feb. 17, but was first requested the morning of the incident, during the week when APD was ordered by the interim city manager to direct local media to obtain information about police matters in Antioch from the City’s public information officer. He, in turn, was directing us back to APD for information, leaving us in an intentional, unproductive circle – and worse, leaving the public uninformed. That issue was resolved on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Join Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and representatives from the Contra Costa County Elections Division for an important and timely conversation during the Voting in Contra Costa town hall on elections and mail-in ballots Friday, February 18, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.

To RSVP, click here before 10:00 a.m. Friday.