Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton is presented with her Achievers Award by NOBLE San Francisco Area President and BART Police Deputy Chief Ja’Son Scott at the annual luncheon on Oct. 30, 2024. Photo courtesy of DA Becton.
Receives Achievers Award at annual SF Chapter luncheon
The event was held at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Oakland and had the theme of “Staying the Course, Supporting Justice for the Next Generation.” During his welcoming remarks Chapter President Ja’Son Scott, Deputy Chief of the BART Police Department, said the theme, “emphasizes our collective commitment to fostering a brighter future for our leaders in law enforcement and our communities.”
“Today, we come together not only to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our honorees, but also to reaffirm our dedication to justice and equity for the next generation,” he continued. “Your presence here is a testament to our shared mission and the important role each of us plays in shaping a more just society.”
The luncheon’s Keynote Speaker was Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and author of Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do.
In a Nov. 18th post on her campaign Facebook page Becton wrote, “I am deeply humbled and honored to be recognized by NOBLE, National Association [sic] of Black Law Enforcement, San Francisco Area Chapter, with the esteemed Achievers Award, alongside distinguished honorees Janieth Glenn-Davis, Jonni Redick, Sean Washington, and Margaret Dixon.”
Glenn-Davis is the retired Deputy Chief for the BART Police Department, Redick is the retired Assistant Chief of the California Highway Patrol and Washington is Chief of Police for Fremont. Dixon was honored with the NOBLE Partner Award and is a retired Oakland Police Officer.
CCDA Becton participated in the NOBLE presentation panel.Photo: DA Becton campaign Facebook page
In addition, that same day Becton shared, “Law enforcement representatives from the Bay Area participated in a discussion with me, offering expertise on human trafficking activities, trends, and enforcement tactics.”
According to the organization’s website, founded in September 1976, “The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives™, also known as NOBLE®, consists of community leaders united in our mission to promote justice, equity, and excellence in the administration of justice.” Their slogan is “Justice by Action.”
First time candidates for Antioch School Board, Dee Brown in Trustee Area 3 and Olga Cobos-Smith in Trustee Area 4 continue to lead in their races and appear headed for victory. Photos: 2024 campaigns
Brown, Cobos-Smith, Rojas, Jr., and Scales-Preston appear to all be headed for victory
No changes in Antioch mayor, city council races
84,200 unprocessed ballots remain, but ballots can still arrive until next Tuesday
“I feel very validated. I’m really excited. The one thing we should all be able to coalesce around is our children. They’re our future.” – Olga Cobos-Smith
By Allen D. Payton
As of Friday, November 8, 2024, at 3:25:03 p.m., with 84,200 unprocessed ballots remaining to be counted in the county the Contra Costa Elections Division released the latest results update. It shows the leaders on Tuesday night in the races for Antioch School Board Areas 3 and 4, City Treasurer and District 5 County Supervisor have expanded their leads over their respective rivals. In addition, the leaders in the races for Mayor of Antioch and City Council Districts 2 and 3 remain comfortably ahead of their opponents.
Antioch School Board
In the Antioch School Board Area 3 race, newcomer Dee Brown expanded her lead over former AUSD district leader and principal Scott Bergerhouse to 415 votes, with 3,869 or 52.83% of the vote to his 3,454 or 47.17%. In the Area 4 race, another newcomer, Olga Cobos-Smith, expanded her lead over incumbent Gary Hack, who didn’t appear to have done any campaigning, to 1,174 votes, with 3,923 or 58.8% to his 2,749 votes or 41.2% of the vote. If the numbers hold, they will join Area 1 Trustee Antonio Hernandez who ran unopposed for his second term on the board.
Source: Contra Costa Elections
When reached for comment, Cobos-Smith said about her expected victory, “I feel very validated. I’ve been watching the board for a long time and been very dismayed, since my granddaughter was in second grade. At that time, I was still working full-time and I didn’t have the time to give. She’s in ninth grade, now.”
“I found the residents in Area 4 are equally as frustrated with how things are going and are on board with some of the things I want to remedy,” the first-time candidate shared. “The teachers are also on board. I’m really excited.”
Cobos-Smith said during the campaign she was asked which political side in Antioch she’s on and if she was supported by the mayor.
“I found it very offensive. It didn’t allow me to stand on my own,” she stated. “The one thing we should all be able to coalesce around is our children. They’re our future.”
About hiring a new, permanent district superintendent Cobos-Smith said, “I’m really looking forward to getting started. When working in San Francisco we had a system which gathered input from stakeholders. I am very hopeful that we can create a similar system where we can have the community, teachers and stakeholders give their input in hiring the next superintendent. That includes the voters, but especially, the teachers.”
Cobos-Smith said she grew up all over California and moved to Antioch from San Francisco where her only daughter attended college and is now a pharmacist at Walgreens. Following her daughter and family’s move a few years earlier, she moved to Antioch in 2018.
“Thank you, Area 4. I’m ready for change and I believe you are, too. You voted for me,” Cobos-Smith added.
An effort to reach Brown was unsuccessful prior to publication time.
Source: Contra Costa Elections
City Treasurer
In the closest multi-candidate race in Antioch, for City Treasurer, to replace the outgoing incumbent Lauren Posada, newcomer Jorge Rojas, Jr. expanded his lead to 1,736 votes over his closest opponent, District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, and to 1,801 votes over former mayor Jim Davis. So far, Rojas has 11,878 votes or 37.01%, Ogorchock has 10,142 or 31.6% and Davis trails slightly behind with 10,077 votes or 31.4% of the vote.
Source: Contra Costa Elections
County Supervisor District 5
In what was the closest race affecting Antioch, to replace incumbent District 5 Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover, who chose not to run for a sixth term, Pittsburg Councilwoman Shanelle Scales-Preston expanded her lead over Antioch District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica to 1,843 votes, after he had closed a 700+ vote gap on Election Night to just 67 votes early Wednesday morning. She now has 33,610 votes or 51.41% to his 31,767 votes or 48.59% of the vote.
Mayor
In the race for Mayor of Antioch, challenger Ron Bernal continues expanding his dominating lead over incumbent Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe to 11,127 votes, with 21,578 or 62.77% to the current mayor’s 10,381 votes or 30.3%. Second-time mayoral candidate Rakesh Christian remains in a distant third place with 2,377 votes or 6.94% of the vote.
The incumbent gave his concession speech on Tuesday night. Bernal announced his victory Thursday afternoon. (See related articles here and here)
Source: Contra Costa Elections
City Council
In the race for District 2 City Council, to fill the seat of Barbanica who chose to run for higher office, former Antioch High principal Louie Rocha maintains his strong lead over Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Dominique King to 1,369 votes with 4,472 or 59.04% to her 3,103 votes or 40.96% of the vote. Finally, in the only other multi-candidate race in Antioch, for District 3 City Council, to replace the gerrymandered out Ogorchock, former mayor Don Freitas continues to lead his two opponents with more votes than theirs combined. His closest rival, newcomer Adddison Peterson, is 1,104 votes behind and Board of Administrative Appeals Vice Chair and second time council candidate, Antwon Webster remains in third place 1,791 votes behind the leader. Freitas currently has 4,821 votes or 50.39%, Peterson has 2,717 or 28.4% and Webster has 2,030 votes or 21.22% of the vote.
Estimated Number of Unprocessed Ballots in County
Following are the ballot statistics from the Contra Costa County Elections Division of the Clerk-Recorder’s Office, also as of Friday, November 8, 2024, at 3:25:03 p.m. that are unprocessed and remain to be counted:
Ballots voted at a voting location – 200
Vote-by-mail ballots received on or before Election Day – 60,000
Vote-by-mail ballots received after Election Day – 10,000
However, according to Melissa Hickok, Executive Assistant to Registrar of Voters Kristen Connelly, that total will change.
“We’re still receiving ballots that were postmarked by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day through next Tuesday, Nov. 12th,” she shared. Hickok also said the Elections office staff will be taking off for the three-day holiday weekend, due to Veterans Day on Monday. Ballot processing will resume on Tuesday.
The next results update is expected on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. The Elections office has 28 days to complete the process to certify the election.
11/7/24 UPDATE: As of 12:43 p.m. the County Elections office claims 191,700 unprocessed ballots remaining to be counted
As of Wednesday; no breakdowns by city; could affect outcomes in Antioch School Board Area 3 Trustee race and District 5 Board of Supervisors election
By Allen D. Payton
According to Dawn Kruger, Media Outreach Coordinator for the Elections Division of the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, as of Wednesday morning there were still as many as 90,000 ballots remaining to be counted in the county.
“We had tallied 291,000 ballots as of Election Day. All the ballots received at the polling places, those were counted on Election Night, except for the Vote By Mail ballots submitted in their sealed envelopes at polling places,” she stated.
Those are part of “the upwards of 90,000 ballots we received included from Drop Boxes which were picked up last on Tuesday afternoon. Those still have to be processed with signature verification, then extraction, then tally,” Kruger explained.
Asked about the additional ballots from the Drop Boxes she said, “The boxes were locked at 8:00 p.m. and the ballots were picked up the following morning.”
“We expect to add all those ballots to the results on Friday’s update,” Kruger stated. “But we continue to receive ballots placed in the mail on Election Day which can be received up to seven days following, which is Tuesday, the 12th.
“We’ll have a better understanding this afternoon.” Kruger added. “By tomorrow afternoon at end of the day, we’ll have more of an exact count up on our website.”
She also shared they do not have a breakdown by city of remaining ballots to be counted.
Unofficial results for the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election as of the update at 1:18 a.m. Nov. 6th. Source: Contra Costa Elections Division
The additional ballots could affect the outcome in close races such as in the Antioch School Board Area 3 Trustee race in which Dee Brown is leading Scott Bergerhouse by 204 votes. It could also change the results in the Board of Supervisors District 5 race in which Pittsburg Councilwoman Shanelle Scales-Preston and Antioch Councilman Mike Barbanica are separated by just 67 votes.
11/7/24 UPDATE: Estimated Number of Unprocessed Ballots in County
According to the Contra Costa Elections office, the estimated number of unprocessed ballots as of 12:43 p.m. on Thursday, total 191,700:
Ballots voted at a voting location – 200
Vote-by-mail ballots received on or before Election Day – 170,000
Vote-by-mail ballots received after Election Day – 6,500
By Brooke Converse, PIO, Contra Costa County Library
The Contra Costa County Library is piloting a new program designed to give patrons access to the Concord Library on Sundays when the branch is normally closed. Patrons who sign up for the service in advance will be able to enter the Concord Library between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sundays beginning December 1. There will not be any staff on site, but two security guards will be present to ensure that only patrons who have signed up for the service are entering the library.
Patrons can browse the collection and check out books, return items, pick up holds, connect to Wi-Fi, and use the space for studying or reading.
“We know our patrons would like the libraries to be open more and especially on Sundays,” said County Librarian Alison McKee. “We don’t have the budget to staff the libraries on Sundays, but this pilot offers an alternative solution that, if successful, could expand to other branches in the future.”
“The Library is such an important resource in our communities,” said District IV Supervisor Ken Carlson. “Having self-service hours on Sundays will give more people the opportunity to use libraries more often.”
To sign up for the service, patrons must have a library card in good standing, a valid ID, attend an in-person orientation, and sign the user agreement. Approved patrons will scan their library card at the door and use a unique PIN code to enter.
The Library will assess the pilot program after six months and consider expansion.
“We are very excited to have a pilot program on Sundays that rewards our residents with self-service, which goes with our spirit of being in concordance with one another to build a community with trust and cooperation,” said Concord Mayor Edi Birsan.
Services not available will include computers, printing, scanning, and photocopying, restrooms, LINK+ pickups, and returns, use of the community meeting room, and the Friends bookstore.
The first open Sunday will be December 1, but patrons must sign up for the service in advance. Sign-ups are available now. To get started visit, ccclib.org/self-service-sundays.
Martinez, CA — In an age where there’s so much information available to us, why would the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office start a podcast?
The answer is simple: to inform the public on legal issues that directly impact our community. The approach of the Cross-Examination podcast is one that focuses on depth and detail, wrapped up in engaging discussions.
Cross-Examination aims to unpack the complexities of the criminal justice system, shine a light on important public safety topics, and foster transparency in law enforcement as it applies to residents in Contra Costa County.
The debut episode features District Attorney Diana Becton in a conversation with hosts Ted Asregadoo and Deputy District Attorney Brian Feinberg. Together, they explore the vital role of the District Attorney’s Office in seeking justice, maintaining public safety, and balancing these responsibilities with the need for reform.
Other episodes delve into timely and relevant topics, such as retail theft. Chief of Inspectors Arnold Threets shares insights from real-world cases and discusses crime prevention strategies, while criminologist Dr. Samuel DeWitt examines how media coverage influences public perception of crime.
By launching this podcast, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is providing a way for the public to gain a better understanding of the criminal justice system from multiple angles. District Attorney Diana Becton said, “I think podcasts about the kind of work our local government does — especially the District Attorney’s Office — will be beneficial in building trust by fostering stronger community relations through deep discussions about issues related to public safety.”
Cross-Examination is available now on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and other podcast platforms.
With experience in law enforcement, private sector and government he offers common-sense views unlike his left-leaning opponent
By Allen D. Payton, Publisher
In the race for Contra Costa County Supervisor District 5 seat held by Federal Glover who is retiring after six consecutive terms, Antioch Councilman Mike Barbanica is clearly the best choice to replace him. He faces Pittsburg Councilwoman Shanell Scales-Preston in the November run-off, after both made it past the four-candidate March primary election. The district includes the county’s northern waterfront cities and communities from the Senator John A. Nejedly-Antioch Bridge in East County to Hercules in West County.
Scales-Preston is Too Socialist and Progressive
Scales-Preston has some applicable experience having served as a councilmember and rotated vice mayor and mayor for the City of Pittsburg for the past six years, as well as on the four transportation boards serving East County, three for just the past two years, as past president and current member of the East Bay League of California Cities, and chair of the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee. That committee worked with the now defunct healthcare district where Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe was the executive director for which the County Board of Supervisors settled with two of his female employees over sexual harassment claims for $350,000.
According to her bio on the City of Pittsburg’s website, Scales-Preston grew up in the City of Pittsburg graduated from Pittsburg High School and earned a degree in Political Science with an option in Pre-Law from Cal State East Bay. Her career has been in government, working for over 20 years as a staff member for both former Congressman George Miller and now Congressman Mark DeSaulnier.
That’s one of the challenges I have with Scales-Preston. Unlike her current boss, DeSaulnier who was a restaurateur in Concord before getting elected to local, then state and now federal office, Shanelle hasn’t worked in the private sector. So, she can’t truly understand what it takes to create jobs or wealth and grow the economy. That’s what is one of the key issues that needs to be addressed in District 5, especially along the waterfront.
Another issue I have with Scales-Preston is her political alliances and from whom she has accepted and promotes endorsements. They include Our Revolution East Bay, which according to their website, ourrevolutioneastbay.org, is “a progressive political organization that emerged from the historic Bernie Sanders campaign.” Sanders for decades described himself as a democratic socialist and has been the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate, except when now-Vice President Kamala Harris was serving. Those are not the kind of bigger, more expensive government views we need on the Board of Supervisors.
That brings up another issue, the blatant injection of partisan politics into local, non-partisan races, which I’ve harped on for the past 12 years, ever since Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson put her face and name on one side of a mailer and Obama’s on the other. Scales-Preston’s running a billboard ad on Highway 4 in Antioch with her face on one side of the ad and Harris’ on the other side. That’s completely inappropriate, and unnecessarily, and foolishly divisive. Scales-Preston also touts the endorsements of several Democratic Party organizations, including the State Party which surprisingly is opposing Prop. 36, the anti-crime measure, on the November ballot.
Finally, the other alliance and endorsement Scales-Preston promotes in her campaign is from the nation’s top abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. As I called out District Attorney Diana Becton for doing the same in 2022, I’m calling out Shanelle. Why would a Black woman take the endorsement of an organization founded in racist eugenics which by Margaret Sanger who spoke about and worked to eliminate the Black and brown races, which includes Hispanics, and has been very successful. Because the majority of abortions in the U.S. each year are by Black and Hispanic mothers. That’s why Planned Parenthood continues to focus and located their so-called “clinics” in neighborhoods with high populations of African- and Hispanic Americans. Scales-Preston is literally siding with the organization that continues to work against her own people of color. (Please see Margaret Sanger: Ambitious Feminist and Racist Eugenicist, https://womanisrational.uchicago.edu/2022/09/21/margaret-sanger-the-duality-of-a-ambitious-feminist-and-racist-eugenicist/)
While I like her and find that she’s a nice lady in our few conversations, Shanelle is seriously misdirected in her thinking and views and needs some experience with a job in the private sector before running either for re-election or higher office, again.
Backed by the Badge, Councilman, Former Cop, Business Owner Barbanica is Better and Best for the Board
Barbanica, on the other hand, has a much broader career experience having served as an officer and retired lieutenant after 21 years with the Pittsburg Police Department, where he helped fight against eight dirty cops, one of whom is still in prison for murder. He also worked as a sexual assault detective and a homicide detective, where he “helped women in the worst times of their lives,” Barbanica stated. That included saving a 13-year-old girl from repeated sexual assaults from an older man. He also ran the traffic division, oversaw not only Code Enforcement and all the other specialized enforcement units, including gangs, alcohol and tobacco, and street-level drug dealing teams.
He developed and led a six-officer team for six years, that worked on violent and street-level crime, which was reduced by almost 24% over a few years. Barbanica also ran the K-9 and Field Training Officer programs, and the Emergency Operations Center working with the FBI after 9-11 to prevent any terrorist attacks inside local industrial plants.
For the past 19 years he’s owned a successful, local real estate business in both residential and commercial sales, property ownership and management, the appropriately named Blue Line Property Real Estate & Management. That has given him the experience of dealing with renters and owners, understanding the issues that both sides have to deal with.
For the past four years, Barbanica has also served on the embattled Antioch City Council where he’s been the mature voice of reason in spite of the chaos, cronyism and corruption in which he did not participate. Nor can he be blamed for it, as he was on the short end of a variety of 3-2 and 4-1 votes while at the same time he was able to push for and successfully obtain majority votes in favor of his proposals, such as body cameras for police officers and dash cams for their vehicles, and tougher penalties for sideshows. In fact, Barbanica was the one who found common ground with the mayor to include penalties for advertisers planners, participants and spectators, as well.
He also pushed for expanding Antioch’s Code Enforcement by seven officers, doubling it to 14.
Barbanica has developed private-sector solutions to the challenge of homelessness in our county. He worked to revise the existing HUD contract with the County “to make it more palatable for owners to want to do business with homeless residents,” he said. “The program was actually my wife’s idea. We started with one single mom with her children, one of whom is disabled, and who are still housed with us, today.”
They expanded it to include homeless veterans.
“We work with seven different agencies to get people off the street and today, we have over 575 people housed that were facing homelessness or instability, who now have a roof over their head,” the candidate shared.
Barbanica’s platform focuses on his top priorities which are public safety, homelessness and blight.
Asked about economic development he said, “It’s always a constant. But we have to deal with the other issues, first. If we want business to come here, we have to provide them a place where their business will thrive.”
Regarding the Northern Waterfront Initiative, “It needs retooling,” Barbanica stated. “Because the zoning doesn’t match the long-term plans and developers have struggled and are very frustrated with the County. I’m going to be an advocate to develop that area and work with those developers but balance it with the concerns for the environment.” He will also work on the Green Empowerment Zone, “to bring green jobs into our county to boost our local economy,” he added.
Barbanica also worked to bringing in 1,100 new, upscale homes in the Sand Creek area of Antioch in which “both sides, the developer and the environmental community, specifically Save Mt. Diablo, were satisfied,” following multiple meetings.
About transportation, he says supports extending BART to Tracy and back to Pleasanton, as well as completing the Highway 4 bypass / extension and building Route 239 from Brentwood to Tracy to connect Highway 4 to I-5, 205 and 580, “an East Bay loop” he said. It will permanently open East County for economic development. “Finally, it’s being planned after being on the books for almost 65 years,” Barbanica added.
Not surprisingly, he has the support of law enforcement, including Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston, the Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Association, Contra Costa County District Attorney Investigators’ Association, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, PORAC – Police Officers Research Association of California, as well as the Police Officers Associations of Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord, Martinez, Hercules, Brentwood, Clayton, Moraga, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Richmond and Walnut Creek and the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County.
Regarding the police scandals that affected both the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments, one thing needs to be clarified. When Antioch’s mayor and one councilwoman were irresponsibly and publicly calling for all 35 Antioch officers caught up in the racist text scandal to be fired – most of whom merely received the texts, but didn’t send any, and before the investigations were completed, and most returned to their jobs – Barbanica was again, the voice of reason. He said he, the mayor and other council members needed to shut their mouths and let the investigators work through the process, and not give the dirty, guilty cops anything they could use to keep their jobs, such as claiming their terminations were politically motivated. Yet, his opposition has been attempting to twist his words to mean something he didn’t.
One additional thing I like about him, having dealt and worked with with him in a councilman-reporter relationship for the past four years, Barbanica is available and responds to phone calls, texts and emails including any and all questions no matter how challenging. I respect that in an elected official.
“I truly believe the media’s responsibility is to keep government and politicians honest, and the people informed,” he stated. I completely agree.
On a personal note, Barbanica is married to Kristine, they have three children and six grandchildren, most of whom live in the area. Two of his children have followed him into law enforcement as his son is a Pittsburg Police Officer who “works my old beat with the same call sign assigned to it,” Barbanica shared. His youngest daughter is a prosecutor in another county in California. His older daughter is a physician’s assistant.
For the benefit of the northern portion and all of Contra Costa County, please join me in supporting Mike Barbanica as our next Supervisor representing District 5.
By Kristin B. Connelly, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters & Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
The Contra Costa Elections Division would like residents to know that our staff and volunteers are ready for Election Day! Five Early Voting Sites will be open beginning Friday, November 1st and polling places will be open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th.
Voters can still return their ballots by mail, postmarked on or before Election Day – make sure to check mailboxes for pick up times – or drop their ballot off at one of the County’s 43 official drop boxes before 8:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th, to ensure we receive your ballot on time.
“We encourage voters to vote early if they can,” said Kristin B. Connelly, the County’s top Elections Official. “Voting early means voters have less stress around rushing to vote before the deadline and finding time on one day to vote. Even if voters wait until just before Election Day, or on Election Day to cast their vote, there are plenty of options for Contra Costa County residents to ensure that their voices are heard at the ballot box.”
In-Person Services If you prefer to vote in person or need in-person services to cast your ballot, Contra Costa County residents will have early voting options at five Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county beginning today, November 1st.
All registered Contra Costa voters will be able to vote at any of the Regional Early Voting locations, which will be open Friday November 1st from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; and Monday, November 4th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Here are the locations of Contra Costa’s Regional Early Voting sites: • Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street, Brentwood • Pittsburg Library-Community Room, 80 Power Avenue, Pittsburg • Richmond Library-Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond • San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Boulevard., Alamo • Walnut Creek City Hall, 1666 North Main Street., Walnut Creek
Polling Places Polling places will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Please check the back of your Voter Information Guide for your assigned polling place or go to our website and check “My Voting Information.”
Drive-Thru Drop Off Drive-thru drop-off will be available at the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office on Monday, November 4th from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Conditional Voter Registration If you missed the voter registration deadline, you still can register and vote in-person using Conditional Voter Registration. It is a one-stop opportunity to register and cast your ballot and is available at our office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez, Regional Early Voting sites, and all polling places.
Accessible Voting Equipment and Additional Language Access Official ballots and voting instructions are provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Voting equipment with accessible features is available at every in-person voting location for voters who may need assistance due to a disability. Additional language resources are available through ballot translation guides which are available online and at in-person voting locations.
Be Prepared If you vote in person, many voters find it helpful to come prepared. Make your choices ahead of time and bring your pre-marked Sample Ballot to the polls to help you save time. Copies of the Voter Information Guide are available at the polls and the information is also available online.
Leave the Campaign T-Shirts, Buttons, and Hats at Home Please remember that voters have the right to cast a ballot free from intimidation or distraction. Electioneering, including wearing anything with a candidate’s name on it, is prohibited within 100 feet of any voting location. Anyone wearing items with a candidate’s name will be asked to remove or cover them while they are at the voting location. Please help our poll workers by refraining from electioneering and leave your campaign t-shirts, buttons and hats at home.
For more information on voting options for the General Election, visit www.contracostavote.gov or call 925.335.7800.
Governor Newsom awards $130.7 million in Round 3 of program to help 18 California communities
Also creating a collaborative program between the state and targeted communities to streamline the cleanup of encampments
SACRAMENTO – Oct. 4, 2024 — Expanding the state’s unprecedented support for local communities to create new housing and address homelessness, Governor Newsom announced Friday, the state is awarding $130.7 million to 18 local governments to clear homeless encampments and provide shelter, care and support. The grants are from Round 3 of the Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) awards from the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Governor also announced new accountability measures, requiring award recipients to adhere to all state housing and homeless laws — as well as remain in compliance with their Housing Elements — or risk losing funding and face other enforcement actions.
The Round 3 funds awarded Friday will go to 12 cities, four counties and two Continuums of Care (CoCs) and are intended to resolve critical encampment concerns and address the housing and health and safety needs of 3,364 people living in encampments, and permanently house 1,565 people.
Of the total amount, the City of Antioch will receive $6,812,686, the City of Richmond was awarded $9,336,746 and the County of Contra Costa was granted $5,708,516. Of the 18 agencies, Contra Costa County scored the highest followed by Richmond.
“We’re supporting local communities’ efforts to get people out of encampments and connected with care and housing across the state. It’s important and urgent work that requires everyone to do their part. The state has committed more than $27 billion to help local governments tackle the homelessness crisis — and we want to see $27 billion worth of results,” said Governor Newsom.
Source: CA Dept of HCD
$1 billion in funding to clear encampments
Governor Newsom has made unprecedented investments to address the housing and homelessness crises, with $40 billion invested to help communities create more housing and $27 billion provided to communities for homelessness. Today’s new grants are part of the state’s $1 billion Encampment Resolution Funds (ERF), which help communities address dangerous encampments and support people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
So far, the program has invested $737 million for 109 projects or encampments across 21 counties, 41 cities and 5 CoCs to help 20,888 people throughout the state, helping 20,888 people transition out of homelessness.
“These grants will ensure local communities take a person-centered, trauma-informed approach as they help their most vulnerable residents transition to safe and stable housing,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “The Encampment Resolution Fund grants are infusing critical resources in communities up and down California so that unhoused Californians can access the essential housing and supportive services they need to achieve long-term stability.”
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Greater accountability
As a condition of receiving the funding, the awardees must agree to increased accountability and compliance measures. These new accountability measures build on the current requirements that all grantees adhere to state and federal laws, rules, and regulations related to construction, health and safety, labor, fair employment practices, environmental protection, equal opportunity, fair housing, and all other matters applicable and/or related to the ERF program.
The Governor’s new measures expressly require local governments to maintain a compliant housing element, as well as adhere to all planning, permitting, entitlement, fair housing, and homelessness laws.
Non-compliance with these measures may result in the state revoking and clawing back awarded funds in addition to potential enforcement actions by the state’s Housing Accountability Unit. This ensures that grant recipients remain accountable and protects state funding.
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Care, compassion, collaboration
Today’s announcement follows the Governor’s executive order urging local governments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (CalTrans) existing encampment policy.
Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
Since July 2021, California has cleared more than 12,000 encampments and has removed 267,611 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects.
Source: Office of the CA Governor
Delegated Maintenance Agreements
The Governor also announced today a new collaborative program that will help streamline the cleanup of encampments by establishing agreements between the state and targeted local communities. The agreements will remove jurisdictional boundaries and allow locals to address encampments on state property and receive reimbursement for their efforts.
Below are the other 10 cities, three counties and two Continuums of Care awarded Round 3 ERF grants:
City of Berkeley – $5,395,637
City of Carlsbad – $2,994,225
City of Los Angeles – $11,351,281
City of Palm Springs – $5,106,731
City of Petaluma – $8,098,978
City of Redlands — $5,341,800
City of Sacramento — 18,199,661
City of San Jose —- $4,821,083
City of Victorville — $6,365,070
City of Visalia —- $3,000,000
County of Riverside — $12,612,779
County of San Bernardino — $11,000,000
City and County of San Francisco – $7,975,486
Humboldt County — Continuum of Care – $3,784,294
Pasadena – Continuum of Care – $2,772,801
“Our team is energized by this opportunity to help bring people-centered, Housing First solutions to Californians who are unsheltered throughout the state,” said Gustavo Velasquez, Director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which has administered ERF since the start of the 2024-25 fiscal year. “Combined with the investments in permanent supportive housing made possible by voter approval of Proposition 1, the state has unprecedented momentum to make monumental progress on a crisis of homelessness that has been growing for decades.”
The awards announced Friday utilize all remaining FY 2023-24 ERF funds. An additional appropriation of $150 million in the FY 2024-25 State Budget allowed HCD to award all eligible ERF Round 3, Window 2 applicants. The budget also included $100 million in ERF funds for FY 2025-26, bringing to $1 billion this investment to address encampments through proven housing solutions.
Each agency was required to apply for the ERF program.
The grants will provide stable, safe housing for individuals living in encampments in their respective communities. The awarded proposals will assist individuals living in encampments with compassion and dignity by providing a range of housing solutions: permanent housing; interim housing for individuals seeking coordinated entry system resources or housing vouchers; housing navigation services and rapid rehousing subsidies; support for accessing permanent housing by providing security deposits and other moving expenses; and allowing awardees to acquire property for housing.
Pablo Espinoza, Deputy Director of Communications, CA Department of HCD Mediaand Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
