By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Office of Communications & Media, Contra Costa County
Improving the quality of life for Contra Costa County residents through diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible programs and services will be the center of the Board of Supervisors annual retreat discussion Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue in Pittsburg.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
“Ensuring we’re meeting community needs is always our focus,” said Board Chair Federal Glover, District 5 Supervisor. “The retreat offers an opportunity for us to anticipate economic factors and continue prioritizing resources accordingly to make sure we’re having the greatest impact through our services.”
Supervisors will receive an economic forecast from Beacon Economics. Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) Co-Directors Dr. Kendra Carr and Peter Kim will present a summary of ORESJ priorities for the coming year including new initiatives toward expanding equity, building office infrastructure and staffing, developing the Lived Experience Advisory Board, and proposed costs.Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans is also scheduled to speak.
The Board of Supervisors sets the direction of the County government and oversees its $5.5 billion budget to serve the 1.2 million residents of this diverse East Bay county with a “AAA” bond rating.
The Board meeting will be accessible in person at Council Chambers, Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg. The meeting will be televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, Astound Channels 32 & 1027, and can be seen live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov or www.contracostatv.org.
At 3:51 pm on Friday, January 19, 2024, BART Police received a call about a shooting that occurred on the platform of Pittsburg Center Station located at 2099 Railroad Avenue. The initial report was that a male suspect shot a male victim and fled the scene. The victim was taken to an area hospital and remains in critical condition.
A few hours later a second male victim who had also been shot showed up at an area hospital. The second victim remains in stable condition with a wound to his leg. BART PD is working to determine a motive for the shooting. At this point, investigators believe the shooting was not random.
The incident forced the shutdown of Pittsburg Center Station for approximately 4 1/2 hours so investigators could gather evidence. Investigators are also reviewing surveillance video captured by platform cameras at the station. The station was reopened and normal service restored.
A suspect was caught on surveillance camera dragging out a bag of stolen goods at the Brentwood Kohl’s store on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Source: Brentwood PD
Charged with five felonies, being held on $130,000 bail; Richmond PD assists
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, Brentwood Police officers were dispatched to a report of a theft at Kohl’s. When the first officer arrived, he saw two of the suspects get into a car, which was parked in front of the store. The officer recognized it as being a suspect car involved in multiple prior thefts from Kohl’s.
The suspect car, which was driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed, fled from officers on scene. Because the suspects were believed to be involved in multiple thefts, with a most recent theft of $20,000, Dispatch notified other agencies of the information regarding the suspects and the involved car.
About an hour after this incident, Richmond PD notified our Dispatch that they had located the car and had one of the occupants, identified as 25-year-old Maya Vernay Usher of Antioch, in custody.
Usher was positively identified as one of the suspects responsible for the thefts. Our investigation also determined Usher is responsible for being involved in thousands of dollars’ worth of thefts from Kohl’s Department stores in and outside Contra Costa County. Usher was placed under arrest for organized retail theft, evading police, and other related charges.
This investigation is ongoing, and we will continue to work diligently in holding the other involved suspects accountable. A special thank you to Richmond PD for their assistance in this investigation.
According to recentlybooked.com, she was charged with five felonies including burglary: second degree – shoplifting, evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, grand theft: money, labor, property – shoplifting, organized retail theft with intent to sell, exchange or return and conspiracy to commit a crime.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the 5’1”, 195-lb. Usher (born 11-16-1998) is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $130,000 bail and her next appearance in Contra Costa Superior Court is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.
According to localcrimenews.com, she was also arrested on June 12, 2021, by San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Deputies for grand theft.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Usher is a former Customer Service Representative for the Antioch Walmart store from Mar. 2017 to Jan. 2018, an Emergency Dispatcher for Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. in Oakland from Jan. 2018 to Dec. 2021, and has worked as a COVID technician for Bay Area PLS, a mobile phlebotomy company providing professional blood draws, vaccinations and Covid-19 testing, with no dates of employment provided.
Learn of the Advent during Sunday morning services
Candlelight Services at 7:00 pm and 11:30 pm
Join us at Golden Hills Community Church on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023. Come celebrate Jesus with us as we explore what this season of Advent is all about during our normal Sunday morning services at 8:30 am and 10:30 am. There will be no kids’ classes that morning. We encourage all ages to sit in the service with their family.
Then join us that night and worship the Lord during one of our annual Candlelight Services. We will sing Christmas songs of worship and hear from God’s Word as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!
Our first service will be inside the Sanctuary at 7:00 pm. We will offer ASL interpreting at this indoor service.
Our second service will be outside on the plaza at 11:30 pm. Please bring your own chair and wear something warm!
These services are for the whole family. Each service will last 30–45 minutes.
80Kg Gold Medalist Carl CJ Nickolas’ first flag run after he won the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC.
Former Heritage High student and son of former Antioch business owner Ed Givans is ranked #2 in the world
By Allen D. Payton
Former Brentwood resident and Heritage High student, Carl “CJ” Nickolas, has earned one of two spots for men on the U.S. Taekwondo team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris next summer. It follows him earning several medals this year. In June he won silver at the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was the first U.S. male taekwondo medal at the World Championships since 2009.
In addition, CJ won gold at the Pan American Games 2023 in Santiago, Chile in October, gold at the President’s Cup Pan America in Rio de Janeiro in September, and this month won bronze at the World Taekwondo Grand Prix 2023 Final in Manchester, England. He competes in the -80 kg division and as of October, CJ was ranked #3 in the world in the sport but is now #2.
According to the World Taekwondo Federation during his competition at this year’s Grand Prix Final, “In the bronze medal match…CJ Nickolas of the USA won bronze after facing Jordan’s two-time Grand Prix gold medalist and (Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist) Saleh Elsharabaty. The American kicked off the scoring with two push kicks to the body and later extended his lead in the closing 15 seconds with a head kick to take round one 8-2. Before contesting the second round, Elsharabaty, who had been struggling physically in the first round, conceded the match to Nickolas.”
“It was the event that qualified me for the Olympics,” CJ shared.
The 22-year-old, 6-foot-3½-inch athlete was a student at Heritage High School in Brentwood where he competed in track. Until he turned 18, CJ was trained by his father, Ed Givans, who previously owned Givans Taekwondo in Antioch but relocated to Las Vegas a few years ago. Yet, CJ credits his mother, Denise Nickolas, as his biggest inspiration. She still lives in Brentwood while their son has been living and training in Colorado since 2019 where he was a member of the USATKD Academy team. CJ recently moved to North Carolina where he trains at the United States Performance Center.
CJ Nickolas of Team USA took the Gold Medal in 80Kg Taekwondo competition bites his medal Rafael Nadal-style at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC.
CJ started taekwondo at age three with his whole family and began competing at age six but started to become serious about the sport around age 11. He has a history of experience and victories in his career which includes participation at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships, the 2022 Paris Grand Prix where he won bronze, and the 2021 and 2022 Pan American Championships in Cancún, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, respectively, at which he won back-to-back gold medals. CJ also won gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games held in Cali, Colombia.
“I won three bronze medals at the Grand Prix, which is a series of four competitions, this year,” he shared. “We knew going into the finals, all I needed to do was to have a solid performance, to qualify for the Olympic team. I was already locked in, and number two in the world.”
“But me being me, I wanted to make a statement,” CJ said with a laugh. “I had lost in the semi-finals. It was repachage, which allowed me to fight again for the bronze medal. Elsharabaty and I had been in the same division for so long but that was the first time we fought.”
“At this point I think I’ve beaten all the top guys in the division,” he stated. Except the number one ranked athlete, Simone Alessio of Italy.
CJ lost to him at the World Championships. Asked if he expects to face him again at the Olympics, CJ said with a chuckle, “I’ll either catch him at the semi-finals or finals – if he makes it.”
He has an older sister who is supportive of him, just like his parents.
“And my coach, as well, Gareth Brown, who I’ve been with since 2019. He’s been imperative to my development as an athlete and as a man, from age 17 to now. He’s British and moved his entire family to America to serve the team. He was originally the coach for the British Olympic Taekwondo team and was at the forefront of the development of the academy program in Colorado.”
CJ on the medal stand at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in May 2023. Photo by Jose Villalpando, U.S. Performance Center
Mom, Denise was asked if she’ll be attending the Olympic games next summer to watch her son in person.
“You bet. I wouldn’t miss it,” she replied. “His competition is Friday, August 9, 2024. Near the Champs-Elysées in the heart of Paris.”
“The whole experience has been surreal,” Denise stated. “Am I super surprised? No. CJ has always been the hardest working person I know. He’s always said this is where he’d end up. So, here we are.”
She referred to a 2020 Herald article (AH) which mentioned him preparing for the 2020, then the 2024 or 2028 Olympics.
“It’s definitely not luck,” she continued. “He’s worked his butt off all these years. I’m pretty proud of him.”
“You know it’s always been a dream of his and his will is greater than anything,” Dad, Ed stated. “He was supposed to go to the Olympics in 2020 but he grew from 5’10” to over 6’3” and he couldn’t hold the weight for his division. Then they extended the Olympics for a year because of COVID and there was no way he was going to be able to hold that weight for a year.”
“Then they told him he was going to be too small for the -80 kg division and now he’s number two in the world,” Givans shared. “So, I made a movie about the two of us entitled ‘The Journey of Dreams’ about me overcoming PTSD and him making his way to the Olympics. We’re waiting for the outcome next summer before finishing the film.”
Asked if he’s going to the Olympics to watch his son Givans said simply, “I’m going.”
“I’m just proud of him. He’s worked so hard for it,” he continued. “Going to the Olympics is extremely hard. They only take two men and two women from each team except the host country’s team. In 2028 since we’re hosting the Olympics, we can take four each. But being in the top two in the U.S. is extremely hard.”
CJ takes it all in following his quarter final match at the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in May 2023. Photo by Jose Villalpando, U.S. Performance Center
CJ has his own Wikipedia page and athlete’s page on the Team USA website, where more photos can be viewed of the athlete in action. He has a rare anomaly in his C1 vertebrae called “os odontoideum” yet, it hasn’t stopped CJ from competing. His hobbies include film analysis, photography and singing.
CJ offered “A big thank you to my family and all those who supported me over the years. I could not be here without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
“I feel like I’m watching my own journey roll out. I’m having so much fun,” he continued. “It’s so entertaining to see where God puts me with the people I meet.”
“I just want to be the best person I can be and keep working as hard as I can, so I can continue to be blessed with these opportunities,” CJ added.
Her third DUI arrest this year; cited and released
By Brentwood Police Department
Alcohol and stolen gun confiscated during traffic stop on Dec. 10, 2023. Photo: Brentwood PD
Last weekend, on December 10, 2023, a Brentwood officer was patrolling the area of Heidorn Ranch and Kohl’s Drive when he pulled a car over for not having a front license plate and suspended registration. When he contacted the driver, identified as 20-year-old Arrieanna Renel Snell, Jr. of Antioch, he determined she was driving under the influence of alcohol. The officer also noticed an open bottle of tequila behind the passenger’s seat.
Upon contacting the passenger, identified as 23-year-old Jai Royale Williams of Oakland, the officer located a stolen gun in the car.
Snell was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and Williams was placed under arrest for being in possession of the stolen gun. Both were transported to the County Jail for booking.
According to vinelink.com, Snell was cited and released and Williams is out of custody with no charges filed. According to localcrimenews.com, she was also arrested for driving with a license suspended for drunk driving. Earlier this year, Snell was arrested twice for assault upon a peace officer, DUI alcohol/drugs and for DUI alcohol with blood alcohol content above .08 percent.
Reaching across 22 prisons in four states, Pastor Chris Mullen, a Discovery Bay resident, has touched the lives of tens of thousands of prisoners. The unique journey that led him to this position is nothing less than remarkable.
Pastor Chris has walked a tumultuous path with a familiarity that extends to the prison gates. His journey into the dark realms of drugs and dealing began at the age of twelve, escalating to his first incarceration at fifteen when he set fire to a teacher’s classroom, fueled by a sense of perceived injustice. As the years unfolded, he found himself in a relentless cycle of criminality, convinced that his mission was merely to excel as a drug dealer, viewing the revolving prison doors as an unfortunate norm. Serving a total of six years behind bars, Chris’s redemption journey began with a spiritual awakening—a “tug on his heart” echoing through the confines of his San Quentin cell as volunteers sang Christmas carols, sparking the rekindling of his faith.
Amidst a history marked by recurring encounters with the legal system, one of Chris’ parole violations unfolded in a harrowing incident—a collision with a police car during a traffic stop while under the influence.
Years later, he was arrested again. Faced with the consequences of his actions, he recognized the urgent need for a transformative change. Upon his release, Chris sought assistance for his struggles with substance abuse and, in a pivotal moment, rededicated his life to a path guided by faith in God.
In 1999, facing denial to serve in San Quentin State Prison, Pastor Chris secured access to the California Division of Juvenile Justice. For years, he dedicated one day a month to this mission without financial compensation until he felt a compelling calling to take a leap of faith. After fervent prayer, he courageously resigned from his high-paying job, navigating the challenges of the Great Recession in 2009 with no backup plan, solely driven by his commitment to serving the inmate community. Throughout this transformative period, he relied on donations of free food from food banks and churches to make ends meet.
Inspired by his pastor’s definition of mercy as ‘not getting what we deserve’ and grace as ‘getting what we don’t deserve,’ Chris named his prison ministry “Mercy and Grace”. Based in Livermore, the ministry is a beacon of hope within correctional facilities, offering inmates the transformative power of compassion and unmerited favor. It is a 501c3 non-profit corporation registered in the State of California.
Mercy and Grace Ministries has since expanded its reach to outside California, to Utah, Idaho and Florida, with preparations underway to launch their Idaho Region. Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pastor Chris’ sermons found a unique platform on the Division of Rehabilitative Programs Television, broadcast on Inmate TV across every state prison in California. Additionally, the ministry actively engages with inmates through a robust letter-writing program, connecting with men and women in California and Idaho, as well as women in Utah. The organization thrives with 60 passionate volunteers, fueling impactful change behind bars.
To extend his service to a broader audience, Pastor Chris enlisted the help of a translator to connect with Spanish-speaking prisoners. Leveraging available resources, he had his sermons translated and shared in Spanish over 100 times. In the past six months, the Spanish arm of Mercy and Grace Ministries was launched, with dedicated individuals now delivering the Good News in a second language.
In a society that often turns its back on the demographic of prisoners, Pastor Chris stands as a beacon of unwavering commitment to the overlooked. In a candid conversation, when remarking on the gravity of crimes committed by some in his congregation, he responded with a touch of humor, saying, “All of the guys I work with are in there for jaywalking.”
His experiences are far from lighthearted, though, as he has braved the chaos of violent gang clashes, enduring the ominous rain of powder rounds from guard turrets, and even donned the weight of body armor. Despite these challenges, Pastor Chris remains undeterred in his mission, extending a compassionate hand to those that society often chooses to forget.
Rendering of a proposed Glydways micro-transit system station. Source: CCTA
Using Glydways’ electric, autonomous vehicles holding up to 4 passengers using dedicated guideways
Will pursue regional, state, federal funds for estimated $450 million project
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and Tri Delta Transit are marking another milestone in the innovative East Contra Costa County Dynamic Personal Micro Transit (DPMT) Project. Today, CCTA and Tri Delta Transit are announcing a partnership with East County Connection Partners, LLC (ECCP), made up of transportation innovators Glydways and Plenary Americas, and lead construction contractor Flatiron.
DPMT is a cutting-edge technology. It provides on-demand and autonomous transportation for up to four passengers. These zero-emission electric vehicles travel in narrow, dedicated guideways to minimize the space needed to operate the system.
East County DPMT Conceptual Route Map. Source: CCTA
The DPMT Project is a 28-mile, multi-city, on-demand transit option designed to meet the diverse mobility needs of people in Eastern Contra Costa County. ECCP will help bring the vision of a safe, on-demand, single-party, transportation system into reality with its zero-emission, autonomous, four-person Glydcars. These electric vehicles travel in narrow, dedicated elevated or at-grade guideways, making more efficient use of space, substantially cutting operational costs, and providing a sustainable option that aligns with local, regional, and state emission reduction goals. The Glydcars are designed with convenience in mind, with enough space for passengers to easily travel with their luggage or bikes. The vehicles are also fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide enough room to comfortably fit a wheelchair.
The shuttles will be fully separated from traffic and are a closed system, autonomous, electric, public micro transit solution. They will be on a virtual rail, with tires on their own pathways. It will be near Highway 4 but not in the median.
East County DPMT proposed station locations map. Source: CCTA
This new, fare-based transit solution will help alleviate the increasing congestion on Highway 4 in East County. The project also aims to enhance transit accessibility in East County by improving connections to existing options such as BART and local bus services.
In Spring 2021, the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley and Pittsburg completed the East County DPMT Feasibility Study (Study) to support a potential micro-transit deployment with Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in East Contra Costa County. Subsequently, the CCTA and Tri Delta Transit partnered to evaluate the potential deployment of the East County DPMT project.
ECCP specializes in a revolutionary on-demand public transportation system. CCTA in partnership with Tri Delta Transit, selected ECCP as the preferred vendor for the DPMT project after a comprehensive evaluation process. CCTA, Tri Delta Transit, and ECCP will work together to deliver an initial viable segment of the larger project through a unique public-private partnership (P3).
“We’re very excited about this project and believe it will significantly improve the quality of life in our community,” said CCTA Board Chair Federal Glover. “It’s a bold step towards a more sustainable and accessible future for Contra Costa.”
To actualize that future, CCTA and Tri Delta Transit determined last year that engaging a private sector partner to collaborate with would be the most beneficial strategy. The P3 approach has proven to be a highly efficient agreement, allowing for smoother delivery and deployment of transportation projects. P3s unlock the ability to quickly mobilize the resources required for state-of-the-art, effective, and sustainable transportation solutions, such as the DPMT project.
As East Contra Costa County prepares for extensive population growth and an increasingly overburdened and congested Highway 4, DPMT offers an opportunity to relieve congestion on the freeway and local arterials.
“This partnership is a significant milestone for us,” said Tri Delta Transit Board Chair, Lamar Thorpe. “By working with ECCP, we can leverage their expertise in innovative transportation technologies to better serve East County residents.”
While CCTA and Tri Delta Transit will now need to pursue regional, state and federal funding to support the project, the announcement of this partnership is the first step in the process. The Feasibility Study included a high-level cost estimate of $450M for the conceptual alignment shown in that study. The cost estimate is subject to change as it needs to be validated as the project progresses. During SPDA Phase 1, the ECCP will work collaboratively with CCTA, Tri Delta Transit and the East County cities to select an initial viable segment. The work will include developing the cost estimate and funding plan for this initial segment.
