The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors presented resolutions of recognition to Scott Walchek, founder NS president of Trov, a Danville-based on-demand insurance company, and to Sylvia Lewis vice president of Sigray Inc., a Pacheco-based X-ray technology company, for both companies being 2019 Innovation Award finalists and winners. Photo by Daniel Borsuk.

By Daniel Borsuk

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a status-quo $3.69 billion budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year at Tuesday’s meeting, but supervisors made more noise about the possibility they could be pushed to propose a countywide sales tax measure to cover rising labor and health care costs averaging about 3 percent for 2019-2020.

“We need some type of local tax revenue, but there is nothing under consideration right now,” Board Chair John Gioia of Richmond told the Contra Costa Herald after supervisors approved next fiscal year’s spending plan that attracted several critics of Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston’s $10 million budget increase request over recent charges one deputy had sexually and physically abused female inmates at the West County Detention Facility. That deputy has been dismissed by the sheriff.

When County Administrator David Twa initially presented the 2019-2020 tentative budget at an April 23 meeting, supervisors had sparingly talked around the tax issue idea, but at the May 7 meeting all five supervisors were more outspoken about the potential tax idea.

Citing how Alameda County produces $150 million in annual revenue from its sales tax, Gioia said, “We struggle with less.” In addition to Alameda County, San Mateo and San Francisco counties financially benefit from revenue coming from a sales tax.

“John is absolutely right, “said District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover. “We need another revenue source. We need to continue to grow our resources.”

District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis hinted she could possibly support a sales tax measure given the current state of the county’s inability to deliver public services while adequately fulfilling the financial and health benefit needs of employees. “We are leveraging our dollars and our employees. We can do better,” Burgis said.

Vice Chair Candace Andersen doubted a countywide sales tax measure would win voter support. “I don’t know how a sales tax measure would get passed by the voters,” the supervisor from Danville said.

Supervisors OK DA Investigators Association Labor Pact

Supervisors unanimously approved a new four-year labor contract with the District Attorney Investigators’ Association. Investigators will earn from $8,293.27 per month to $11,480.60 per month based on seniority. The contract runs from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023.

8-Unit Pacheco Townhouse Approved

Without opposition from the public, supervisors unanimously approved developer Andy Akay’s plans to construct an eight-unit townhouse subdivision development at 214 Center Ave. in Pacheco. The three-story development will be constructed on a vacant .49-acre parcel of property. Each unit will have a two-car garage. The two bedroom and three-bedroom units will have living areas of 2,199 square feet to 2,203 square feet each.

Chaplaincy Services Contract Approved

Supervisors also approved as a consent item a Sheriff-Coroner contract with the Bay Area Chaplains, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $162,000. The Bay Area Chaplains will provide chaplaincy services in adult detention facilities from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Services will include providing materials, counseling, bible studies, worship services and responding to crisis and emergencies involving inmates or staff.

Yvonne Waits
Nov. 22, 1939 – May 4, 2019

Yvonne Waits passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 4, 2019. She was born in San Francisco on November 22, 1939 to Walter and Roxie Mae Wilmot. Yvonne was a devoted wife to the late Calvin Waits for 36 years, and loving mom to her sons Charles Warren, Jr. (Claudia), Russell Warren (Cheryl) and the late Carl Warren. She was a caring grandmother to Sarah Warren, Jason Warren (Megan), Angelica Warren and Katelyn Warren-Murray (Victor).  She was a loving sister of Roberta Wagner and the late Larry and Walter Wilmoth, Norma Fava, Shirley Hill and Patricia Regan.

Yvonne was a proud resident of Antioch for 29 years, and a member of The Bay (Calvary Temple) Church and enjoyed playing Bunco with her card group. A special thank you to The Bay Church for their prayers, Vitas Hospice, and the gentle, compassionate care provided by her caregivers.

A celebration of her life will be held at The Bay Church (Calvary Temple) on Saturday, May 18th at 10:30 a.m., 4725 Evora Road, Concord, CA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Yvonne’s name to VITAS Hospice at Vitas.com.

The Delta Learning Center is honoring the twelve-year legacy of Tara Schleder McKnight, Executive Director of the Delta Learning Center, as she passes the torch to the new Executive Director, Shannon Starzyk. McKnight is leaving her position to join her husband who has moved his golf accessory business to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Under McKnight’s leadership the DLC expanded its support from foundations with continued support of local service organizations. The DLC was also able to offer tuition assistance to low income students; this flexibility is at the heart of the Delta Learning Center’s mission. As a service organization this has allowed the DLC to truly address individual family needs and provides a unique and valuable service to our community. Most other local tutoring options are businesses as opposed to nonprofits – or tutor with non-credentialed volunteers in group settings. During the great recession the Delta Learning Center came close to closing its doors – but the dedicated staff under McKnight’s leadership and board came up with creative ideas and grants that kept the DLC solvent.

Shannon Starzyk comes to the Delta Learning Center as a parent of three children who have benefited from the DLC’s program. Starzyk has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Jose State University, a Masters of Social Welfare in Child/Adolescent Social Welfare Policy at UCLA, Manga Cum Laude and has pursued a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at Saint Mary’s College of California. Starzyk has numerous training certifications. She is the owner operator of Starzyk Instruction Services, which provides training to Public Service Safety instructors throughout the State of California. Starzyk is the widow of a Martinez police officer who was killed in the line of duty.

The Delta Learning Center is Contra Costa County’s only nonprofit tutoring center with one on one tutoring and fully credentialed teachers. Since its start in 1976, more than 25,000 students have enrolled at DLC for help with their education. This is the 30th Anniversary of moving into to their building, which was specifically designed for tutoring and built by donations from the East County Community. Over the years DLC has been supported by grants from foundations and local business, gifts from service clubs and individuals, the City of Antioch and nominal fees for service.

The ribbon cutting and pass the torch ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at 275 W. Tregallas Road, across from the Post Office, in Antioch. The entire community is invited to stop by, particularly past board members, clients and supporters.

Kids and families will enjoy “Rollin’ with Rec” this summer during community events and special pop-up recreation programs scheduled at City parks around town. Thanks to one-time revenue funds and a joint public agency partnership with Tri-Delta Transit, the City of Antioch now has a mobile recreation bus that will visit City parks and community events. Sports equipment, large size games such as Jenga, arts & crafts, and a host of other recreation goodies will travel in the van so that kids can enjoy outdoor fun and healthy activities close to home.

City officials will introduce and unveil the bus at the Recreation & Health Expo on Saturday, May 11, 2019. A ribbon-cutting will take place that day at 9:45 am at the Antioch Community Center, 4703 Lone Tree Way. All residents are invited to come join City Officials and get a sneak peek at the van.

For more information about summer programs and the mobile van, call the Recreation Department at 925-776-3050.

C.J. Nickolas with gold medal from the 2018 World Taekwondo Federation competition in Greece. Photo courtesy of Ed Givans.

C.J. Nickolas, a senior in high school and a student at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch, is headed to Taekwondo Senior World Championships in Manchester, England later this month. He had to withdraw from Heritage High in Brentwood two days into his senior year because he was one of eight athletes in the United States to be picked up by the USA Taekwondo (USAT) to train full time abroad and enter the European Taekwondo Open circuit. The intention is to get those athletes ready for 2024 or 2028 Olympics.

However, Nickolas has defied the odds, outperformed the initial expectations, and is headed to the World Championships this year. A few other things have to fall into place for him to make it to the 2020 Olympics, but he is definitely on track.

Nickolas is the son of Edward Givans, owner of Givans Taekwondo in Antioch, where Nickolas trains, and Denise Nickolas of Brentwood.

“His mom and I are very proud of C.J.,” the elder Givans said. “It’s been exciting to see him advance in his skills and the competitions.”

Arriving at this place in his life was not happenstance or luck for Nickolas. He has put long hours, and extensive time into training over the years. Nickolas has made many sacrifices to get where he is and says that even in the setbacks and losses and injuries, he knows he has to continue the grind. He says he digs deep when it’s tough and keeps pressing his way.

Nickolas is finishing out his high school through an on-line school (CAVA) while he continues to train full time.

His travels in the past six months have taken him to compete in Greece, Poland, France, Croatia, Africa and Spain among other places.

He has one stop in Bulgaria before he heads back to England to train for Worlds. Then Nickolas will continue his grind to get to the coming Olympics.

Allen Payton contributed to this story.

In response to yesterday’s announcement by SEIU United Healthcare Workers, regarding launching a protest at Kaiser headquarters in Oakland, today at 5:00 p.m., John Nelson, Vice President Communications, Kaiser Permanente offered the following response.

Regarding the question about gardeners:

As we do with our other medical center campuses, Kaiser Permanente is engaging a professional commercial landscaping vendor at our remaining facilities in Northern California, giving all of our campuses the benefit of the most expert, efficient, and ecologically sound practices.

The decision about landscaping affects 63 employees, some of whom have already found other positions at Kaiser Permanente. We value these employees, and any affected employee who wishes to remain employed with Kaiser Permanente in a new role will be able to do so.

SEIU-UHW is making statements about Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to its employees that are misleading and incorrect. The truth is that Kaiser Permanente is growing and adding jobs overall. With more than 149,000 employees and 16,000 physicians, we have added more than 13,000 jobs in the state since 2016.  In fact, the number of our employees represented by SEIU-UHW has grown by more than 8,000 statewide since 2016.

On the planned labor activity:

Kaiser Permanente has been notified by SEIU-UHW leadership that the union plans to conduct informational picketing at several of our California offices and medical centers during May 2019. It’s important for our members and patients to know that informational picketing is not a strike and it does not impact our care delivery or operations. While this union is staging picketing, the physicians and employees of Kaiser Permanente will remain focused on the important work of delivering high-quality, affordable care to our members and improving the health of the communities we serve.

Kaiser Permanente started bargaining with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions in mid-April. We believe that by working together in partnership with the unions that represent our employees, we will continue to achieve the best results for our members, patients, and the communities who depend on Kaiser Permanente to provide high-quality, affordable health care — and help to keep Kaiser Permanente a great place to work for all. We reiterate our pledge to bargain in good faith and our commitment to reach fair and equitable agreements that provide our employees with excellent, market-competitive benefits and wages.

We are disappointed that some union leaders are choosing to make false allegations and pursue an adversarial, destructive approach as part of their bargaining strategy.