Couples being married by Assistant Clerk Recorder and Deputy Commissioner of Marriages Elizabeth Gutierrez (left) and by a Deputy Commissioner of Marriages (right) at the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office with stained glass windows in the background. Photos: CCC Clerk’s Office
By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
The Contra Costa County Clerk’s Office will be open to perform in-office wedding ceremonies on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, 2026. All 47 ceremony appointments have been reserved at this time due to the popularity of our Valentine’s Day Event.
“We know there is high demand for weddings on Valentine’s Day and we are grateful to our employees for being willing to work on a Saturday to create this opportunity for dozens of couples,” said Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Commissioner of Marriages. “Last year our team performed 52 Valentine’s Day ceremonies at our office on a Friday and this year we have already booked all 47 appointments for this special Saturday event.”
Typically, the County Clerk’s Office officiates Valentine’s Day ceremonies as part of the Destination Weddings program in a picturesque or historic location. Because Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, the staff will open the office for wedding services only to provide a memorable experience for couples wanting to get married on this sentimental day.
A marriage license must be obtained before a ceremony can be performed. Couples may purchase a marriage license the same day, prior to their Valentine’s Day ceremony at the County Clerk-Recorder’s office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. The fee for a public marriage license is $95, while a confidential license is $100. The Marriage Ceremony fee is $75. Couples who only wish to purchase a marriage license are invited to come to the office as this is one of our wedding services.
For more information about this event or other Clerk’s Office services, please visit http://www.contracostavote.gov or call 925-335-7900.
By Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media
(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking individuals with sound knowledge and experience in the field of public and private finance, to serve on the Treasury Oversight Committee (Committee) for the seat representing the Alternate County Board of Supervisors, Public Representative Seat 1, and Public Representative Seat 2 for term May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2030.
The Board of Supervisors established the Committee on November 14, 1995. The Committee’s duties include reviewing and monitoring the County Treasurer’s Annual Investment Policy, and ensuring an annual audit is conducted to determine the County Treasurer is in compliance with Government Code §§27130-27137.
To be considered, candidates must be County residents, may not be employed by an entity that has contributed to the reelection campaign of the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors in the previous three years, may not directly or indirectly raise money for the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors while a member of the Committee and may not work for bond underwriters, bond counsel, security brokerages or dealers, or financial services firms with whom the County Treasurer does business, either during his or her tenure on the Committee or for one year after leaving the Committee. (Government Code §27132.3).
The Committee meets bi-annually in March and September on the third Tuesday of the month at 3:00 p.m. at 625 Court St., Room B010, Martinez, CA 94553. Each meeting lasts approximately one hour.
Application forms can be obtained from the Contra Costa County Clerk of the Board by calling (925) 655-2000 or by clicking on the following link: Submit an Application Online. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553 no later than Thursday, March 5, 2026, by 5 p.m. Interviews will be held at the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) meeting, which will be conducted via Zoom at 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on March 23, 2026. More information about the Treasury Oversight Committee can be obtained by visiting the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/690/Treasury-Oversight-Committee.
By Denise P. Kalm, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association
Little more than five years after raising our sales taxes, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors is going back to the well. On Tuesday, they voted unanimously to move forward with another sales tax increase, further increasing the costs of everyday essentials and making the County even more unaffordable for seniors and working families alike. (See related article)
Although Supervisors express pride over how 2020 Measure X sales tax revenue was spent, many of us question whether the money is going to core government functions. A recent oversight report listed these Measure X funded projects: Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Democracy Initiative, African American Holistic Wellness Center & Resource Hub and a Guaranteed Income Pilot. While many readers may agree with these projects, many taxpayers do not, and so they should be privately funded.
As the accompanying graph shows, County revenues have risen sharply in recent years with the passage of the Measure X and increased federal grants to County programs. When I quoted statistics from this graph, Supervisors questioned my accuracy, so let me assure them that the numbers come from the County’s own audited financial reports and budget.
Source: CoCoTax
A large share of the increase relates to Medi-Cal, a federal/state program that funds healthcare for low-income residents. Contra Costa County has aggressively involved itself in Medi-Cal, creating a pioneering Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan to provide care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
Between 2020 and 2025, the cost of Contra Costa County’s Medi-Cal Plan surged 157% from less than $900 million to almost $2.3 billion. A major contributor to this growth was the decision to extend Medi-Cal benefits to adult undocumented immigrants. According to state data, over 30,000 undocumented Contra Costa adults were receiving free healthcare through Medi-Cal last year.
Until recently, this was not a financial problem for the county because it was able to shift the cost onto the state and federal governments. But now this is becoming more difficult with Congressional Republicans, the Trump Administration and even the state government restricting reimbursements for undocumented immigrant coverage.
To continue growing this program, the Supervisors are now looking to residents to cover the tab by adding 0.625% to our sales taxes Countywide.
I realize that neighbors have a variety of views about immigration. Personally, I think the US should allow more of the talented people we need as well as a program to allow temporary, migrant workers to come here, which might go to support their request to immigrate here legally.
While I am for legal immigration, I do not agree that local communities should be on the hook to provide free medical care to anyone who comes here and completes an application. That policy is unsustainable, and unfair to the rest of us who pay a lot of money for healthcare. There are hundreds of millions of people around the world who would love to come to northern California and not have to worry about our high cost of living, including our high healthcare costs.
While I think we should welcome new neighbors, we should expect them to either shoulder the costs of living here or find friends, relatives, and charitable organizations that will help them do so.
Finally, the pro-tax side may portray your yes vote as a way to resist Trump and DC Republicans. But I urge you to hold two opinions simultaneously that may seem contradictory yet aren’t: you can hate the Administration’s hostile treatment of immigrants while also believing that local government should be fiscally responsible. We have to manage our budgets carefully; those taking our tax money should be just as responsible.
If Supervisors are able to pass this sales tax in 2026 by a wide margin, there is every reason to think that they will come back for even more taxes in the years ahead with cities following them. We already know that a transit sales tax increase of 0.5% is likely to be on the November ballot, another case of failing to manage BART and AC Transit money prudently. So, I hope you’ll vote no in June, talk to your friends, and consider volunteering with our group to oppose this measure.
For more information about the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association visit www.cocotax.org.
To pay for healthcare costs, offsetting cuts in federal budget
If passed, Antioch’s sales tax rate would increase 0.625% to over 10%
By Allen D. Payton
During their regular, weekly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors decided to tell the taxpayers that they love our money by giving an early Valentine’s Day gift of a 5/8-cent sales tax increase measure on the June ballot. As a general tax, a simple majority of voters will have to give it their support in order to pass. If they do, it will generate an estimated $150 million per year for five years for a total of $750 million, intended to pay for healthcare for county residents impacted by federal budget cuts.
To adopt the sales tax ordinance a 4/5 vote of the Board was required but it passed unanimously. According to the proposed “2026 Retail Transactions (Sales) and Use Tax Ordinance”, all of the proceeds from the tax will be placed in the County’s general fund and used for purposes consistent with general fund expenditures of the County.
Screenshot of Board of Supervisors 5-0 vote on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, to adopt resolution placing sales tax increase on the June 2026 ballot.
Timeline to the Supes Vote
In the staff presentation for the proposed ordinance, the supervisors were provided with the timeline of events that led up to their vote: On November 18, 2025, the County Administrator’s Office offered a presentation on the State Budget and impacts of H.R.1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump which cuts healthcare expenditures. Then, on December 16th, the Health, Employment and Human Services departments provided an in-depth presentation on federal and state financial impacts. That was followed on January 20th by Board direction for seeking legislation allowing for an additional 0.625% general sales tax and development of a related taxing ordinance for a period of five years. Finally, during last Tuesday, February 3rd’s Board Retreat, presentations from Beacon Economics, the County Finance Director, California Welfare Director’s Association (CWDA) and the California Association of Public Hospitals & Health Systems (CAPH) were made to the Board.
Projected Sales Tax Levels by City
If the measure passes, the amount of sales tax collected in each city in the county will increase by 0.625% or 62.5 cents for each $100 spent on taxable items. The presentation shows the sales tax increase would cause 15 of the 19 cities in the county to be above the local sales tax cap, including the tax cap changes from SB1349. That law, passed in 2020, allowed Contra Costa County to impose a sales tax of up to 0.5% for transportation projects, which is exempt from the state’s 2% cap. According to an April 2025 Issue Brief on Sales and Use Tax by the California State Association of Counties, “Today, the statewide sales tax rate on eligible taxable goods is 7.25%.”
Some components of the state rate go to various local revenue funds.”
In addition, “Cities may impose a rate of up to one percent (1%).”
In California, the local sales tax cap is generally set at 3.5% above the 6% state sales tax rate for a total of 9.5%.
Following is the list of the new sales tax amounts by city if the county measure passes:
Source: Contra Costa County
The cities with the highest current sales tax rates in the state are Alameda and Albany at 10.75%. With the proposed Contra Costa sales tax increase, El Cerrito and Pinole would have the highest sales tax rate in both the county and state at 10.875%. Antioch would have the second highest in the county at 10.375%. That does not include other sales taxes that may be passed in 2026 including the regional transit tax slated for the November 2026 ballot, which would be an additional 0.5% Countywide. (See related article)
Gioia Offers Comments on Facebook, in TV Interview
In a post by John Gioia on his Facebook page, today, Feb. 11th, he shared a video of his comments during a KTVU FOX2 interview “about why a unanimous bi-partisan Board of Supervisors is placing a 5/8 cent temporary 5-year sales tax on this June’s ballot to protect our county’s hard working families from Trump’s devastating health, human services and food assistance cuts.”
“The average Contra Costan would pay about $10 per month to prevent over 50,000 people from losing healthcare and crowding emergency rooms that we all use and protecting emergency response times,” he added.
Resolution Details
The Resolution adopted by the Board includes the following clauses, “On July 4, 2025, the President signed H.R. 1, which enacted the deepest cuts in our country’s history to Medicaid and the federal food assistance programs;
“Medicaid and Medicare are the largest sources of revenue for the County’s public health and hospital/clinic system, which provide lifesaving and essential care to county residents, including Medi-Cal beneficiaries, Medicare recipients, and uninsured residents.
“H.R. 1 immediately freezes supplemental Medicaid funding and blocks the County from drawing down expected supplemental payments, producing escalating negative impacts on the County’s budget, while simultaneously making significant eligibility changes which will cause thousands of county residents to lose health coverage;
“Lack of health coverage often causes people to delay medical care resulting in sicker residents and will increase demand for emergency care sought by residents no longer able to access preventative healthcare after losing insurance coverage;
“More than 335,000 County residents rely on Medi-Cal for their health care, and the County is the primary health-care provider for this population;
“H.R. 1 also makes substantial reductions to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), limiting food assistance relied upon by approximately 110,000 county residents;
“As a result of the federal funding cuts and rising costs, the County projects annual revenue losses exceeding $300 million by 2029;
“The combination of decreased federal funding with the increased demands on the County’s healthcare and social services threatens ALL County services, from public safety to homeless services;
“An additional five-eighths of one cent countywide general transaction and use tax (sales tax) would generate an estimated $150 million annually for five years…”
Adopted Proposed Ballot Measure Language
The resolution also includes the proposed ballot measure language pending approval by the County Clerk’s Office:
“To help Contra Costa County address deep cuts in federal funding; support critical local services such as health care, supplemental food assistance, and other general county services; and reduce the risk of closures at Contra Costa’s regional hospital and health clinics, shall Contra Costa County adopt a five-eighths of one cent general sales tax for 5 years, providing an estimated $150,000,000 annually, not available to the federal government and subject to annual audits and independent citizens oversight?”
The primary election will be held Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Includes statewide offices, Congress, State Assembly, County Supervisor and others
Deadline: March 6 unless incumbent chooses to not run for re-election
By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
Today, Monday, February 9, the Candidate Filing Period for the June 2, 2026, Statewide Direct Primary Election begins, and nomination papers will be available for candidates running for Statewide Constitutional offices, United States Representative in Congress, Member of the State Assembly, County offices and Superior Court Judges. The nomination period runs through 5:00 pm Friday, March 6, 2026, unless an incumbent chooses to not run for re-election. The deadline is then extended by five days to 5:00 pm Wednesday, March 11th.
Offices up for election include the statewide positions of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner and Board of Equalization, District 2. Plus, elections for the House of Representatives, State Assembly, Board of Supervisors, Districts 1 and 4, Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Clerk-Recorder, Treasurer-Tax Collector and County Superintendent of Schools will be held in June, as well.
Papers for offices that are up for election will be available at the Contra Costa Elections Office, located at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez. County Elections staff are working with the City Clerk in Richmond to help implement the electoral reform passed by the voters of Richmond in 2024 requiring candidates for City Council and Mayor to file with the City of Richmond and run in the Primary.
For further information on the primary election and key dates, go to www.contracostavote.gov
“Election activities for the 2026 Primary are ramping up in Contra Costa County,” said Kristin B. Connelly, Contra Costa Registrar of Voters. “Candidate filing is an important first step in the election process, and our Candidate Services team is prepared to guide prospective candidates through key deadlines, requirements, and resources as they consider running for public office.”
Interested candidates can schedule an appointment through email at candidate.services@vote.cccounty.us or by calling 925-335-7800. Walk-ins are accepted, but subject to the availability of staff. Appointments are available on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Filing documents and information will be provided to interested constituents at their appointment. The process takes approximately 20 minutes.
Contra Costa Health’s Environmental Health Program is certified by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) as the LEA for Solid Waste in the county. The LEA ensures that all solid waste disposal facilities and medical waste generators comply with applicable local, state and federal codes and regulations.
The three-member panel hears matters related to solid waste enforcement, permits and appeals.
County residents who have an interest in public policy and solid waste management are encouraged to apply for this volunteer opportunity. Panelists receive a stipend of $50 on those days on which the panel meets. The County Board of Supervisors will appoint to fill three vacancies for a four-year term ending on March 31, 2030.
Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553 no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026. Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews via video conference on Monday, March 23, 2026.
For more information about the LEA Independent Hearing Panel, contact Tim Kraus, Contra Costa County Environmental Health, at (925) 608-5549 or Tim.Kraus@cchealth.org.
For sex trafficking, pimping, pandering and firearms offenses
21 agencies participate in 7-day “Operation Reclaim and Rebuild”in conjunction with January’s National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, California – The Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force wrapped a major statewide effort to contact survivors of human trafficking, apprehend their exploiters, and file charges against the exploiters’ offenses.
In conjunction with National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January, the Task Force collaborated with 21 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and five victim services provider partners for Operation Reclaim and Rebuild. The operation, active from January 25th through January 31st, 2026, conducted five separate anti-human trafficking operations throughout Contra Costa County. Their efforts produced 11 arrests of suspected exploiters for sex trafficking, pimping, pandering, and firearms offenses. Several other contacts resulted in new investigative leads and corroborating evidence in human trafficking cases.
“Operation Reclaim and Rebuild demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable members of our community and holding exploiters accountable,” District Attorney Diana Becton said. “The arrests made during this week-long operation send a clear message: human trafficking will not be tolerated in Contra Costa County.”
Twenty survivors of human trafficking were identified, all of whom had the opportunity to speak with a specialized human trafficking victim advocate and were offered services. Through collaborative efforts across multiple jurisdictions, three youth survivors were recovered in these operations, and investigations against their suspected traffickers are rapidly advancing.
The three suspects arrested are 53-year-old Malcom Ali Scott of Patterson (born 7/30/1972), 40-year-old Damiano Andres Wilson of San Carlos (born 8/20/1985) and 38-year-old Keith Earnest Haywood of Antioch (born 1/1/1988). (See Haywood’s charging document)
Scott and Wilson were arraigned Wednesday in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez, and Haywood is scheduled to be arraigned today, Thursday, February 5th at 1:30 pm in Martinez. The offenses center on human trafficking of a minor for a sex act, pandering of a minor, lewd acts upon a child, and various allegations related to possession of a firearm by a felon.
“Our priority is supporting survivors, ensuring they receive the help they need, and bringing their exploiters to justice,” said Task Force Director Katrina Natale.
Participating agencies included, in alphabetical order: Brentwood Police Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Church World Services, City of Pittsburg Code Enforcement Division, Community Violence Solutions, Concord Police Department, Contra Costa County Children and Family Services, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Contra Costa County Major Crimes Task Force, Contra Costa County Probation Department, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Hercules Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, Pinole Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Richmond Police Department, San Pablo Police Department, Victim Witness Assistance Program (CCCDA) and Walnut Creek Police Department.
The Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Forceis co-led by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and Community Violence Solutions, a community-based 24-hour service provider for survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking. Founded in 2018, the Task Force aims to eradicate all forms of human trafficking in Contra Costa County through collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts to identify and support victims of human trafficking, to hold traffickers accountable through effective prosecution, and to educate on and prevent human trafficking.
Suspect Details
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 295-pound Scott is Black and is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on $950,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 17 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 2 of Bay Superior Court in Richmond.
The five-foot, seven-inch tall, 155-pound Wilson is Black, and being held in the West County Detention Facility on $700,000 bail.
The six-foot, three-inch tall, 230-pound Haywood is Black and is also being held in the West County Detention Facility on the lower bail amount of $75,000.
According to recentlybooked.com, Wilson was arrested by Stockton Police on Jan. 29, 2025, for battery on a spouse, ex-spouse, date, etc. and false impersonation of another: special circumstances.
Information on the other eight suspects arrested was requested.
5:00 PM 2/5/26 UPDATE: However, Asregadoo responded, “We can’t release the suspects who were arrested until law enforcement brings cases over for review and a charging decision is made.”
Anyone with information on suspected human trafficking (sex or labor) or related crimes is encouraged to make a report to your local law enforcement agency or the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Tip Line (925) 957-8658. Those in need of supportive services are encouraged to contact Community Violence Solutions’ 24-hour hotline 1 (800) 670-7273.
Case No. 02-26-00290 | The People of the State of California v. Malcom Ali Scott
Case No. 04-26-00572 | The People of the State of California v. Damiano Andres Wilson
Case No. 01-26-00385 | The People of the State of California v. Keith Earnest Haywood
Vasco Road Delineator Work Area Map. Source: CCC Public Works Dep’t
By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works Department
February 3, 2026, Brentwood, CA – The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will repair delineators to enhance safety on Vasco Road between Camino Diablo and the Alameda County Line on Monday, February 9, 2026, barring unforeseen circumstances.The work will occur from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., weather permitting. The work will be scheduled to minimize impacts to commute traffic. Message boards will be posted to advise drivers of the scheduled work. A pilot car will be used to direct traffic through the work area. Drivers can expect delays of 20-30 minutes and are encouraged to use alternative routes.
About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:
The Contra County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) is responsible for the maintenance and operation of over 650 miles of roads, 79 miles of streams and channels, and over 150 County buildings. CCCPWD services include parks and recreation, sandbag distribution, flood control, road and facilities maintenance, and storm water management. CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at: www.cccpublicworks.org.
For more information contact Jenna Castro (916) 900-6623.
