Inside the T-Mobile store at the Crossings Center on Deer Valley Road in Antioch. Photo from Googlemaps.

By Interim Lt. John Fortner #3264, Antioch Police Field Services Division Patrol Watch Commander

Outside of T-Mobile store robbed Friday morning, May 4, 2018.

On Friday, May 4, 2018 at 10:33 am, Antioch Police officers were dispatched to 3333 Deer Valley Road , near the Safeway store, on the report of an armed robbery. Witnesses reported that four armed suspects entered the T-Mobile business and stole several cell phones. Afterwards, the suspects entered a vehicle and fled from the area. Antioch officers located the vehicle westbound on Highway 4 and a vehicle pursuit ensued.

The vehicle was followed into the City of Oakland and was ultimately recovered on a surface street. The vehicle was unoccupied at the time officers located and contacted it. At this time no suspects have been arrested in connection with this crime. During the course of this incident no officers or civilians were injured.

The robbery is currently under investigation and no further information will be released at this time.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Division. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Land Use Plan for the proposed Zeka Ranch new home project on the west end of the Sand Creek Focus Area. Courtesy of The Zeka Group.

Calls it an abuse of the process; their plan protects environment, saves trees and open space

This past Friday, April 27, Richland Communities submitted an initiative to compete with one currently being circulated for signatures by the environmental community, both of which seek to stop the Zeka Ranch project from being developed on the western end of the Sand Creek area. Richland is the developer of “The Ranch” project with the planned 1,307 homes on 500 acres and is now proposing to reduce that by 130 homes. It will require the neighboring Zeka Ranch to become permanent open space. (See related article, here).

The Zeka Group, owners of the 640-acre Zeka Ranch property on which they plan to build a 400-upscale home community, responded to the latest attack against their property, their plans and their rights with the following statement:

The Zeka Group has been part of the ongoing growth and development plans for the City of Antioch since 1992.  The Zeka Group participated in the development and implementation of the 2003 General Plan and has been an integral participant and contributor to the development of Future Urban Area (FUA) #1 and the subsequent Sand Creek Specific Plan Study area, now known as the Sand Creek Focus Area, as well.

Rendering of proposed homes at the Zeka Ranch project in the Sand Creek area.

As a responsible developer and contributor to the Antioch Community the Zeka Ranch project was the first and only development which developed a footprint that was 1) sensitive to the preservation of trees, 2) maintained habitat zones for the Alameda Whip Snake, migration corridors and setbacks to Sand Creek and 3) focused on the preservation of predominate ridgeline elements.

The Zeka Group accomplished this desired planning technique by engaging H.T. Harvey and Associates Ecological Consultants, a well-known and respected firm, specializing in biological resource assessment and determination. H.T. Harvey prepared a full biological assessment (BA) for the entire Zeka Ranch project. The assessment was utilized as a planning tool to judiciously place the final development footprint to minimize and avoid biological assets identified within the final BA. The BA was generated at great cost to the Zeka Group, but their management team spearheaded by Louisa Kao felt that the unique setting and geography of the site warranted such consideration.

In addition, plans for the Zeka Ranch were created by the same architect and land planner that laid out the map for Blackhawk, Doug Dahlin of the Dahlin Group. The Zeka Group hired his firm to ensure the highest quality of new home development in Antioch, and which will contribute to the long-term success of the city. The plans have been reduced from 1,100 homes on the 640 acres.

“We are committed to Antioch’s success and environmental protection and have been since we first purchased the property from the Higgins family,” said Louisa Zee Kao, President of The Zeka Group. But, this must be a win-win situation. Instead, Richland wants a win-lose situation, where they win, and we lose.”

Rendering of a proposed floor and lot plan at Zeka Ranch.

The Zeka Group has invested over $20 million into Antioch by purchasing the property, paying property taxes, developing plans, and paying city fees, all while following the guidelines as set down by the voters of the county, the voters of Antioch, city staff, the East Bay Regional Parks District, planning commissioners and city council members.

“This initiative by Richland is unfair, self-serving, mainly benefiting only one land owner, and at our expense,” Kao continued. “This is an abuse of the initiative process, and will result in the devaluation of our property, and all the surrounding properties, eliminating their voter-approved right to build the kind of homes Antioch needs for its future success and prosperity.”

Regarding the other initiative backed by the environmental groups, entitled “Let Antioch Voters Decide: The Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative,” it is mislabeled. (See related article, here). The voters of the county and of Antioch have already decided, twice and both times their vote has allowed for new home building in the Sand Creek area. Furthermore, Sand Creek will not be saved if the homes aren’t built, because it will remain on private property, inaccessible to the public. With the development plans, the City of Antioch is requiring setbacks to the creek, and an adjacent trail system that will connect to the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve to the west of the Sand Creek Focus Area. The plans will allow public access to the Sand Creek watershed.

“Most importantly, these initiatives will not help fulfill the long-term economic plans the City of Antioch has had for over 20 years. The public should not be misled by either of them,” Kao concluded.

The Zeka Group looks forward to continuing its responsible development in the Antioch community as it continues to grow and flourish, with the development of Zeka Ranch.

By John Crowder

On Saturday, April 28, the East County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held its annual Image and Scholarship Awards Banquet at the Lone Tree Golf and Event Center in Antioch.

Victoria Adams, President, East County NAACP welcomed everyone in attendance before speaking to the importance of the organization’s mission to future generations.  “We have a duty to teach those who are coming behind us,” she said.  “We must grab the next generation by the hand, and insist that they learn,” she continued.  “We must never ever lose sight of our past, our present, and our future.”

Antioch City Council Member Monica Wilson, Mistress of Ceremonies for the event, followed Adams.  Wilson, the first African American woman to sit on the Antioch City Council, spoke about legacy, referring to her own grandmother’s legacy and the importance of this generation passing on a legacy to the next generation.

The first award of the evening, the Image Award for Education, was presented to Stephon Cartwright, Vice Principal of Antioch High School.  In accepting the award, Cartwright said, “I don’t think I’m doing anything special, I think I’m doing what is expected of me.”  After expressing his appreciation for the parents of his students, he said, “I treat the children as if each one of them was my own, and I have aspirations for each of them.”

The Image Award for Humanitarian Services went to Willie Moffett, Jr.

“I am so humbled to receive this humanitarian award,” Moffett, Jr., said. “There are many out there in the trenches, helping others,” as he pointed out several such individuals in the room.

Pastor Henry L. Perkins, M. Div., First Baptist Church, received the Image Award for Religious Affairs.  The program related that Perkins, “has pastored the First Baptist Church of Pittsburg for the past 26 years, where he labors to serve the needs of the community in a holistic way emphasizing the mandate to make lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The Image Award for Veteran’s Affairs was given to Chief Hospital Corpsman Odessa Lefrancois, E7, USN (ret.).  Lefrancois said that, while she appreciates people thanking veterans for their service, she wants to see veterans given jobs.  She then called on Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton, the first woman and the first African American to hold that office, to say a few words.

The President’s/Labor Award was presented to the evening’s Keynote Speaker and Civil Rights Activist William “Bill” Lucy.  Lucy emphasized the importance of meaningful work.  “We need to make it possible for some of our young folk who are standing on the corner to participate in apprenticeship programs, to participate in job training programs,” he said.  “We have a moral obligation to help those who want to, to find jobs.”

The final group of awards, presented by Willie Mims, Education Chair of the East County NAACP, were given to local students.  Receiving the awards were  Zachary Moseley, Omoteleola Onipede, Jamil Edwards, Chinyere Oha, Marielena Benavides, Keyvon Carmouche, and Isaiah Youngblood.

Following the presentation, Youngblood, who received the Darnell Turner Memorial Scholar Award, said, “This award proves to me that my efforts are not in vain, that I am moving in the right direction to success.  I’d like to thank my mother and father, along with my teachers for contributing to my success.”

Youngblood, a Senior at Heritage High School in Brentwood, is planning to attend either Howard University or Chapman University.

Aerial photo of the area west of Deer Valley Road in the Sand Creek Focus Area of Antioch planned for new home subdivisions. From Antioch Community to Save Sand Creek Facebook page.

On Wednesday, May 3, organizers for the Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative issued the following statement in response to the new, competing initiative backed by Richland Communities, the developer of the project known as “The Ranch” project in the Sand Creek Focus Area on the south side of Antioch: (See related article, here.)

As you know we’re collecting signatures for our “Let Antioch Voters Decide: The Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative,” to give Antioch residents a voice in what takes place on the southern edge of the city between Kaiser and Black Diamond Mines.  We hope to complete our signature gathering in the next 3-4 weeks but will continue collecting until we’re sure we have enough signatures. (See related article, here.)

Yesterday, Southern California developer Richland Communities, “The Ranch” project developers, announced that they’ve submitted a “West Sand Creek” Initiative to the City of Antioch for title and summary.  Their efforts do not change our coalition’s efforts to gather signatures and qualify our “Let Antioch Voters Decide: The Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative.”

• Richland’s initiative is a complicated measure which will take some time to review. We’ll tell you more about it before long.
• Typically competing initiatives are meant to confuse voters.
• It changes and scales back Richland’s 1300-house project somewhat but, if approved, would also approve their project with a development agreement and before environmental review is completed.
• It would invalidate our “Let Antioch Voters Decide: The Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative” which is more protective.

Media reports suggest that Richland expects to begin signature gathering immediately. In fact, it may be several weeks before they can begin.  The initiative was stamped “received” by the City Clerk April 27, 2018, three days ago.  The City Attorney has 15 days to provide title and summary which the City Clerk conveys to the proponent. For our initiative, they took the full 15 days. Then a legal notice must be printed in a newspaper of record, and initiative petitions printed.

It’s now even more important that we continue and speed up our efforts to gather signatures for our “Let Antioch Voters Decide: The Sand Creek Area Protection Initiative.” Signature gathering will get more complicated when the Richland initiative is on the street.

The car driven by one woman that struck and injured the other woman on Sunday, April 29, 2018. Photos by Allen Payton

By Allen Payton

What appeared to be a quarrel between two women over a man, resulted in an injury collision of one and the arrest of the other in downtown Antioch, Sunday afternoon, April 29. One woman, age 19, drove her car into the other, striking her and pinning her against a parked pickup truck. However, no charges were filed by the Contra Costa District Attorney due to a lack of evidence the driver intended to hit the other woman.

An Antioch Police officer interviews the female driver of the car that struck the other woman, as the owners of the truck that was hit, look on.

The female driver of the car drove into the other female, who was on foot, and pinned her against a Ford F-150 truck that was parked in the lot on W. 2nd Street across from City Hall. The injured female, age 21 according to her sister, was transported to a local hospital. According to people on the scene it was a case of the injured female being with her ex-boyfriend, who is the current boyfriend of the other female.

A video of what happened prior to the collision was provided to Antioch Police. But, it only showed what occurred among the two women and the man, prior to the collision. It does not show the collision.

According to Antioch Police Lt. Desmond Bittner on Wednesday afternoon, “The responsible, the female driving the car, who hit the victim was arrested that day, but will be released if she hasn’t been already.”

Antioch detectives presented the case to the District Attorney’s office on Wednesday.

“But, no charges were filed by the D.A., for lack of sufficient evidence that the use of the vehicle was an intentional act,” Bittner said. “For felony charges to be filed, there has to be convincing evidence.”

The damaged truck and shoes of the injured woman.

“The lady who was hit wanted to fight the other lady in the car,” he explained. “The lady who was driving the car didn’t want to fight. So, she tried to leave the parking lot at a high rate of speed. We don’t know what type of fight it was, if it was going to be physical or just an argument.”

“There were at least three witnesses and according to at least two, plus the driver, it appears that it was an accident or that the lady who was hit jumped in front of the vehicle that struck her,” Bittner stated. “The only one who is claiming that it was intentional was the lady who was hit.”

Asked if detectives were still investigating he responded, “If something else comes about, if new information is discovered, we will reopen the case. For now, it is closed.”