Road to Reopening – A message from Anna M. Roth, Health Director, Contra Costa County

(June 6, 2020) Thanks to all your collective efforts and sacrifices for the health of the community, we are making progress in our fight against COVID-19. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

The state is permitting us and other counties to chart their own courses based on local conditions. We are now able to provide a timeline laying out when we are aiming for opening more businesses and allowing more activities. I hope this provides some clarity about our hoped next steps. We will be updating this document as we get further guidance from the state and in consideration of the status of COVID-19 in our community. Stay safe and we will all get through this together.

But the road map includes the caveat of “We hope to continue opening up the county but, may need to reconsider openings based on the course of the pandemic.”

However, the road map includes the caveat of “We hope to continue opening up the county, but may need to reconsider openings based on the course of the pandemic.” An email was sent to the county health services asking why churches/religious services are not included and when they will be. Please check back later for updates to this report.

For more information visit www.coronavirus.cchealth.org.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Curfew in Antioch will not be re-established

By Susan Shiu, Director, Office of Communications and Media, Contra Costa County 

(Martinez, CA) – County Administrator David J. Twa has signed the Order Rescinding a Countywide Curfew within Contra Costa County, effective as of 1:00 PM today, June 4, 2020.

The order states that “As Contra Costa County’s Administrator of Emergency Services, I have reviewed, on a daily basis, the conditions that necessitated the June 2, 2020, Countywide curfew.  At this point, it appears that the public order and safety has generally been restored in Contra Costa County and it is therefore appropriate to lift the emergency Countywide curfew.”

The order further states that “This action does not affect any city curfews that remain in effect.  Cities will make their own determination as to whether curfews continue to be needed within their commercial districts or other areas within those cities.”

“We all continue to want peaceful protests and encourage everyone to stay safe,” said Twa.

Read the Order Rescinding the Countywide Curfew.

Antioch residents were asking if there is still a curfew in our city. The answer, is no, as city officials rescinded the curfew order in Antioch on Wednesday afternoon. (See related article) However, Mayor Sean Wright, City Manager Ron Bernal and Police Chief T Brooks were asked if the city will reestablish a curfew in Antioch if there is still a credible threat as mentioned by Chief Brooks on Tuesday. The response from the city’s public information officer was “That we are aware of, there is no longer an active threat.” So, the curfew in Antioch will not be re-established.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

To the Citizens of Antioch:

There are times in the world and nation when we must all stand together. This week is one of those times. We mourn the needless loss of George Floyd. As we focus on the unconscionable actions of the police officers in Minneapolis, we must condemn police brutality and racism in all forms. As we watch the protests, anger and frustration of our fellow citizens, we must acknowledge that these emotions are not new. That they are deeply embedded in the fabric of our country due to a history of racism and bias that has compounded pain over time. We have talked of change but see the repetition of death and hurt that has found no resolution.

I empathize with the suffering of the African American community. I acknowledge that their frustration is real, and I can feel the anguish of another needless death. I am willing to stand in protest of racism and injustice. I am willing to listen and cooperate as we strive toward solutions that will make our community safer for every citizen. We strive to live in a city that is open to everyone, a place that we can truly call home. At this time, we need to do better and we will do better.

I see what a lot of politicians are putting out – more rhetoric about the problem and how we can change. As Antioch’s Mayor, I’m not going to pontificate on the problem nor its solution. Why? Because I don’t believe all of us fully understand the horrors of racism as it is manifested institutionally through systems of disproportionality and exclusion.

Many of us never experienced it, or even worse, some continue to pretend it doesn’t exist. What I do know, is that the anger, frustration and rage in our community is REAL. I am not condoning the use of violence, but we as a community must acknowledge the reality of being marginalized and misunderstood because of skin color. Racism is a cancer that must be properly diagnosed and treated. Failure to do so will result in the demise of us all. Our communities deserve leaders that will stand up and speak out against any form of racism. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

So, as your Mayor, I am not stating that I have all the answers but at this time I am willing to advocate. I want you to know that I am here, I stand with, by you and for you, and I’m willing to listen to what you have to say. I want to learn what it is like to walk in your shoes. I embrace you, and want to hear your thoughts on how we can make the city of Antioch a better place. A place that strives for the social, educational and economic equality for every resident. We endeavor to live and labor in a city that looks out for everyone, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age or your social economic status.

I’m hoping that we can begin discussing racism, openly and honestly, together in townhalls across the city. We desire to accomplish this after the Shelter in Place has been rescinded. In the meantime, I welcome your thoughts, your comments, and any and all suggestions on how to move forward with this dialogue. We are ONE Antioch, with common hopes, common dreams, and common desires seeking to arrive at a common destination. I am available at mayorseanwright@gmail.com and look forward to your input. Thank you.

Please stay safe.

Mayor Sean Wright

The curfew will be in effect each night from 6:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. ending June 8, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

By Rolando Bonilla, Public Information Officer, City of Antioch

Antioch, Calif., (June 2, 2020 5:10 PM) – Today, the City of Antioch has announced that it will extend its citywide curfew until 5:00 AM on Monday, June 8, 2020.

The curfew will begin each night at 6:00 PM and expire each morning at 5:00 AM. The Order will expire on Monday, June 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM.

Pursuant to this curfew, no persons shall be upon any public street, avenue, alley, park, way, or any other public place or upon unimproved private real property in the City of Antioch.

“The City continues to monitor the situation throughout the Bay Area,” said Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks. “Recently, we have received information that we have determined to be a credible threat to the City. However, in the interest of public safety, the City cannot comment further.”

According to Chief Brooks, the city manager has the sole authority to order a curfew. But, according to Mayor Sean Wright, Antioch City Manager Ron Bernal did so, yesterday with the advice of Wright and Brooks, with input from City Attorney Thomas Smith.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Plus, small outdoor gatherings, childcare and camps for all children, and libraries with curbside pickup; protests of up to 100 people with social distancing and masks also allowed (LOL – no, seriously. They’re “allowed” now)

By Kim McCarl, Communications Assistant, Contra Costa Health Services

Thanks to substantial progress being made in the fight against COVID-19, Contra Costa County residents can go back to work, shop at local retail stores, get childcare and hang out with small groups of loved ones starting June 3.

Indoor retail shopping, business offices, outdoor museums and pet grooming are among the businesses that will reopen in Contra Costa County under the latest shelter-in-place order released today. The order also permits services that don’t require close customer contact, such as housekeeping, car washes, plumbing and pet grooming.

The new health order also allows small outdoor social gatherings, as well as childcare and camps for all children, not just children of essential and allowed workers. Those childcare services and camps still can only have up to 12 children in stable cohorts.

Libraries can reopen for curbside pickup service and protests of up to 100 people will also be permitted. Religious services will be able to resume on June 15, although with some limitations. In the coming days, the County will be consulting with the state about reopening swimming pools and outdoor dining.

“This latest step toward reopening our county is a reflection of our successful collective effort as a community to limit the spread of the virus,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, the county’s health officer. “I know there’s a lot of frustration out there, but it’s important to keep in mind that interventions like social distancing have saved lives.”

To date, 37 people have died from COVID-19 in Contra Costa, a county with a population of 1.15 million people. Dr. Farnitano said had the county had not acted early and aggressively, enacting the initial shelter-in-place order on mid-March, ten times as many people would have died from the virus.

Contra Costa has made significant headway in meeting its five indicators for reopening. Aside from new cases and hospitalizations not increasing, all eight hospitals have attested they now have a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment, one of the five reopening indictors. Hospitals also have sufficient capacity to handle more patients. While progress has been made in testing, the county still needs to triple the amount of tests being done to reach its goal.

The latest health order follows previous relaxations of the shelter in place that allowed construction, real estate transactions, curbside retail and manufacturing, recreational activities like golf and tennis and reopening of outdoor businesses like nurseries.

This Order supersedes the May 18, 2020, Order of the Health Officer directing all individuals to shelter in place (“Prior Order”). This Order continues to restrict most activity, travel, and governmental and business functions to essential needs and to the Outdoor Activities and Outdoor Businesses that the prior Order allowed to resume.  But in light of progress achieved in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the County of Contra Costa (the “County”), the Order allows a limited number of Additional Businesses (as described in Section 15.n…and in Appendix C-1) and Additional Activities (as described in Section 15.o…and in Appendix C-2) to resume operating, subject to specified conditions and safety precautions to reduce associated risk of COVID-19 transmission.

What’s Allowed Now

Businesses include indoor retail, shopping malls, shopping centers and swap meets, manufacturing and logistics and warehouse facilities.

The additional activities now allowed include social gatherings of persons in a Social Bubble, as defined below, may take place if: the gathering takes place outside only, and the participants comply with all other applicable requirements under this Order. In addition, persons in social bubbles over 12 years of age are strongly encouraged to maintain social distancing from each other w ear face coverings

Finally, protests are also allowed now. Subject to requirements and restrictions of the local jurisdiction in which the protest takes place, persons may participate in protests if they wear Face Coverings and comply with Social Distancing Requirements, and attendance does not exceed 25 percent of the area’s maximum capacity or 100 persons, whichever is lower. (Editor’s Note: Seriously, that’s what the order includes. We will see if that part of the order is enforced).

As a condition of operating under this Order, the operators of all businesses must prepare or update, post, implement, and distribute to their personnel a Social Distancing Protocol for each of their facilities in the County frequented by personnel or members of the public.

An email asking if churches can reopen their administrative offices was sent to the spokesperson for the county health services. No response was received prior to publication. Please check back later for updates to this report.

To see the full order, click here. To see additional details on orders from the county health officer visit https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/health-orders. For more details about COVID-19 in Contra Costa County, visit cchealth.org/coronavirus.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Chief Tammany Brooks. Photo by APD.

A Message from Chief Tammany Brooks:

Police officers swear an oath and have a duty to preserve the sanctity of life, and to protect and serve every member of the public with professionalism, integrity, and respect. The murder of George Floyd by the police officers in Minneapolis hurts my heart, and I extend my deepest condolences to George Floyd’s family and loved ones. If you know me, you already know how I feel. For those who don’t, and I say this without any reservations, I absolutely condemn the actions (and inactions) of those former police officers. They were revolting and deeply disturbing.

As the Chief of Police, I believe it is my responsibility to talk about these events with my officers, ask the hard questions, and reflect on our own values and efforts to ensure our Police Department operates consistent with the values and expectations of our community. Our ongoing desire and effort to provide fair and impartial public safety services to EVERYONE in our community is founded on honest and genuine community relationships.

On behalf of the dedicated men and women of the Antioch Police Department, we want our community to know that that our core values include: Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability, Openness and Sensitivity. Each member of our Police Department is expected to understand and reflect the meaning of these values in their day-to-day work.

The hiring process for anyone looking to become an Antioch Police Officer is rigorous. If you are a bigot, racist, or a bully, then you will not work for the City of Antioch. Continuous training is also a top priority, and includes proper use of force, interpersonal communications, fair and impartial policing, and de-escalation techniques. None of our Police Officers has ever been trained to kneel onto anyone’s neck, and ALL are required to intervene if they see another Police Officer acting in a dangerous manner or behaving improperly.

During my 25 years in this profession, I have seen my share of tragedy and improper policing. I understand the damage that poor leadership, misaligned organizational culture, and inadequate training can do to a community, a police department, and individual Police Officers. I know the trust and support of our community is not to be taken for granted. When issues do arise, they are investigated and addressed appropriately. This is my commitment to you. Always has been – and always will be.

Being a Police Officer is a difficult but honorable profession. I am proud of the men and women who serve and protect the City of Antioch day-in and day-out. Every day we strive to improve community relationships, increase transparency, and earn the public’s trust. You deserve it.

Sincerely,

Chief T. Brooks

All photos by Leslie Reano.

By Leslie Reano and Antioch Police Department

“What a wonderful day today has been,” Lesli Reano an Instructional Aid for Special Needs with the Antioch Unified School District’s Community-Based Instruction program wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday, May 28, 2020. “Our AUSD CBI team had a parade for ALL our graduating young adults today. Our CBI teamed up and brought graduation signs, candy necklace and balloons to all 12 of our graduates. We then did a Graduation parade to each of their homes. The smiles that we saw from our students was priceless! We in CBI all want to thank our wonderful Police force for guiding us on our route to our kids’ homes! They went over and beyond! Thank you, Officer Calvin Prieto, Officer Andrea Rodriguez and Officer Ben Padilla you all were so fun, and your kindness will never be forgotten!! Thank you, Sergeant Smith for reaching out to Lieutenant Mendez and made this all happen. Shout out to our AUSD CBI Team!!!”

“Congratulations to our AUSD CBI graduates!!!” wrote the Antioch Police on their Facebook page. “APD was honored to be part of the graduation parade for the AUSD CBI program. The CBI Program, located on the Deer Valley High School campus, is a community-based instruction (CBI) program for 18- to 22-year-old students with special needs. The program is designed to assist students after earning their certificate of completion, transition into adult life, by helping them to become more independent within the community in the following four basic directions – Vocational Training, Community Access, Independent Living Skills, and Personal Development.

Please join us in congratulating these amazing graduates!”

The program also offers job coaching, Reano said.