Frank Troia in a photo from Facebook posted on May 27, 2024 (left), and from the GoFundMe page (right).
Family raising funds for “proper service” of 59-year-old Frank Troia suffering from severe brain damage
By Allen D. Payton
The sister of Frank Troia, an Antioch homeless resident, who was injured in a fight with a younger homeless man earlier this month, has organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his funeral as he is not expected to survive his injuries. The suspect, 34-year-old Brandon Rowlett, was arrested for attempted homicide. (See related article)
On the GoFundMe page Frank’s sister wrote, “My name is Mary Troia. My brother, Frank Troia, was a victim of assault on November 17, 2025. He was beaten with a weapon and has been hospitalized since. He has severe brain damage and has not regained consciousness. The doctors are giving our family time to come to terms with end of life.
Frank suffered from mental illness and was unhoused at the time of the assault. It occurred in Antioch, CA, and was covered by the Antioch Herald and the East Bay Times. Unfortunately, Frank has no assets and I am asking for any donations to cover any costs associated with proper services. Donations of any amount would be appreciated by my family. God bless you, and if unable to donate, please remember Frank in your prayers.”
Asked about her brother, Mary shared about him and their family, “Frank did attend Antioch High School. However, he did not graduate with his Class of 1984. He got a G.E.D. Frank is the youngest of four children, my brother, John Myers, the oldest, myself, then my sister Janet Troia and he followed her. Frank has a 36-year-old son, Frank, Jr.”
Asked if he was a Marine Corps veteran due to the flag on the wall behind him seen in a photo from Facebook, she replied, “He was not a vet our stepfather was. He is still in critical condition at this time.”
Customers drive through the Tunnels of Joy at the Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center. Photo by Allen D. Payton
Donations, 10% of specific sales support effort through Dec. 31
By Allie Packer
Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way has partnered with Tunnels of Joy to bring the spirit of the season to life—one car at a time. The restaurant transformed its drive-thru into a “Tunnel of Joy,” complete with Christmas lights, festive décor and live carolers. This special effort is to support six-year-old Angelo Venegas, a local child bravely battling brain cancer. Guests will find QR codes on signage and in carry-out bags, providing them an easy way to donate for Angelo through Dec. 31. Additionally, the restaurant will donate 10% of the sale of all Peppermint Chip Milkshake sales to support Angelo during the same time frame.
“We’re honored to partner with Tunnels of Joy to help bring light, hope and joy to families battling health challenges during the holiday season,” said Evan Hawthorne, local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Antioch at Lone Tree Way. “We invite our community to join us in celebrating the season and supporting a cause that truly touches the hearts of so many people in our community.
“Tunnels of Joy” is a Brentwood-based neighborhood group dedicated to raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Tunnels of Joy creates holiday light displays, featuring a walking path illuminated by lights and festive decorations.
Source: Tunnels of Joy
According to a post on the Tunnels of Joy Facebook page, “The reason for The Tunnels of Joy Season…ways to donate:
1. Venmo Donations go directly to the family. Just scan the QR Code.
2. Donation Boxes are located at Tunnels of Joy on La Costa Dr and Torrey Pines…you can also drop off letters to Angelo here.
3. Chick fil A on Lone Tree is donating a percentage of its Peppermint Shake sales to Angelo, now through Dec 31st.”
Chick-fil-A Antioch is located at 5705 Lone Tree Way in the Slatten Ranch Shopping Center, is open 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday.
During a special meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, instead of their regular meeting next Tuesday, the Antioch City Council will discuss reallocating a little over $9 million from budget savings for Fiscal Year 2024/25. In addition, the Council will honor Bob Franchetto, 2025-2026 Antioch Lifetime Veteran of the Year and Ricky Diaz, 2025-2026 Antioch Veteran of the Year who were recently recognized during the Veterans Day ceremony. (See related article)
During the Closed Session before the meeting, which begins at 3:00 p.m., the Council will discuss recruitment of a permanent City Attorney, the Trent Allen, et al. v. City of Antioch, et al., lawsuit, the City Manager’s performance evaluation and lease of the Lynn House Gallery on W. 1st Street.
Budget Savings Reallocation
According to the City staff report on the agenda item (#6), City revenues exceeded expenditures (surplus) by $9,034,582. But the true net surplus for the fiscal year end is $3,883,367 after reducing the total by $1,826,144 for Police Department CIP Re-Appropriated to FY 2025/26 and $3,325,071 for Encumbrances/Projects at 6/30/25 to be Rolled Over (Exhibits A & B).
The City received $1,054,449 higher than projected revenues and spent $10,445,898 less than projected for Fiscal Year 2025 which ended June 30th.
Expenditures were primarily reduced by:
$2,946,282 in salary savings from all unfilled positions, including $1,720,034 in non- Police salary savings;
$2,587,805 in project/purchase budgets not yet entirely spent. The carryforward of the budgets for these is included in the budget amendments total of the aforementioned $3,325,071;
$1,826,144 in Capital Improvement Plan budgets that were unspent and re-budgeted/carried forward to FY26 with adoption of the 5-year capital budget;
$737,266 in purchase orders not yet spent;
$661,726 less in operating subsidy to the Animal Shelter; and
$437,861 less in operating subsidy to Recreation Services.
In addition, the budget amendments include a $1,021,585 reduction in sales tax revenue based on the latest projections from the City’s sales tax consultant, $1,664,166 in salary savings that can be recognized thus far this fiscal year and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) revenues of $3,085,330 representing the balance of ARPA funds remaining on June 30th and projected interest earnings. All ARPA funds must be spent by December 31, 2026.
Even with the savings, the City is still facing a budget deficit of $11,657,947 next year even after the existing budgeted $5M transfer in from the Budget Stabilization Fund approved by City Council to be utilized in FY26. $5,151,215 of the deficit is attributable to the encumbrances and other budget items being rolled over, leaving a true remaining additional deficit (net of the $5M Budget Stabilization transfer) of $6,506,732 which will draw upon General Fund reserves to “balance” the budget.
Staff is recommending reallocating the FY24-25 savings as amendments to this fiscal year’s budgets for the General Fund as well as other City funds. (See Agenda Item 6 staff report and Exhibits A, B and C).
The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown, with the Special Meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. It can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website and the City’s YouTube Channel, on Comcast Cable Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
Issues statement calling it “reckless Republican funding bill” which passed 222-209
Reps. Garamendi, Harder, Senators Padilla & Schiff also vote against
Republicans called it a “damaging and unnecessary shutdown” and claim they “acted responsibly and stood with the nation from the start”
By Allen D. Payton
Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-10) released the following statement upon voting “no” on final passage of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (H.R. 5371) in the United States House of Representatives, which ended the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history.
“This Republican spending bill is an assault on the health care, wallets, and wellbeing of the constituents I represent and the American people. Since the start of the year, I have promised to stand up against Republican attacks and protect Americans’ health care. Rather than work with Democrats to negotiate a bipartisan spending bill that keeps care affordable, Republicans shut down the government. After playing politics with Americans’ lives and livelihoods for over a month, nothing in today’s so-called “deal” will make life better for working people than it was before the shutdown started. I continue to hear every day from people who are worried about how to get by and whether they will be able to afford quality health care for themselves and their families. My vote today was in support of and solidarity with these members of our community and millions more across the country whose livelihoods and health will suffer as a direct result of this cruel and reckless bill. Despite this outcome, I will continue to fight on to lower costs, protect health care, and preserve the rule of law.”
The bill, known as a Continuing Resolution, passed the Senate Monday on a 60-40 vote, following multiple previous votes, with eight Democrats joining 52 of the 53 Republicans. Both California’s U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D) and Adam Schiff (D) voted “no”. The original bill which passed the House in September was amended and had to return to the House for final votes.
It passed the House on Wednesday on a vote of 222-209 with six Democrats crossing the aisle to back the bill. Contra Costa County’s other Members of the House of Representatives, John Garamendi (D, CA-8) and Josh Harder (D, CA-9) also voted against the bill.
The House Appropriations Committee issued the following press release about the vote:
House Republicans Restore Order: Congress Passes Clean Funding Extension and Full-Year Appropriations Bills to Reopen Government
After a damaging and unnecessary shutdown that lasted 43 days, a funding extension that House Republicans called for and passed in September is finally headed to President Trump’s desk. Senate Democrats voted against this clean, nonpartisan measure 15 times over the course of the six weeks they held the government hostage.
In addition to the continuing resolution, Congress approved three full-year appropriations bills covering the Legislative Branch, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration.
Passage of this first tranche of bills is strong Article I progress for Appropriators, who have already advanced all twelve bills through the full committee. With the rest of the federal government now funded through January 30, 2026, the Appropriations Committee will continue working to move our remaining nine full-year bills across both chambers. This regular order momentum ends the era of backroom omnibus deals and puts taxpayers first.
While Democrat leadership and their progressive caucus determined that inflicting pain on the American people was their pathway forward, reason overturned their obstruction in the end. Republicans acted responsibly and stood with the nation from the start. Now, the Democrat shutdown is behind us, and Congress can refocus on the work the American people expect and deserve.”
Next, the bill will go to President Donald Trump, who plans to sign it tonight.
Use it for trips on BART, Tri Delta Transit, County Connection, WestCAT, AC Transit and more
Multi-agency trip to Mount Tamalpais State Park Dec. 14 to celebrate
By Carter Lavin, Co-Founder, Transbay Coalition
The Bay Area transit advocacy group Transbay Coalition, along with Seamless Bay Area and Hiking By Transit has launched new calculator, created by Evan Tschuy, to help show Bay Area residents how much they will save with the new Clipper 2.0 set to launch in December. It will automatically provide discounts of up to $2.85 per trip to people when they transfer between transit agencies (e.g. AC Transit to WestCAT, Muni to BART, VTA to Caltrain, SolTrans to the Ferry, The Vine to the Ferry, Sonoma County Transit to SMART, etc).
You are about to be able to save a bunch of money when taking transit in the Bay Area. Right now, when you transfer between bus and rail services, you generally have to pay the full fare for both legs of the trip, or if you’re lucky you might get a small discount. But starting in December, when you transfer between agencies, your fare gets reduced by $2.85 — down to potentially free — with the new Clipper 2.0.
Plus, under Clipper 2.0 you will be able to tap on to transit with your credit or debit card – no Clipper Card needed. So next time you want to bring friends, family, and out-of-town visitors onto transit with you, they don’t need to get a new card, they can just use their credit or debit card to tap in.
Bay Area transit trips are about to get a lot more affordable, and to help folks understand how much they’ll save, Transbay Coalition launched The Clipper 2.0 Savings Calculator with our friends at Hiking By Transit and Seamless Bay Area. Go to the Calculator, enter in the information about a trip you want to take that would require switching between agencies and check out how much you’ll save.
For Clipper 2.0 fares, the following rules are applied:
Each time you transfer to a new agency, your next fare is discounted up to:
Adult: $2.85
Youth & Senior/RTC: $1.40
Senior/RTC on BART: $1.10 (to reflect the further Senior/RTC fare discount on BART)
The discount value does not depend on your previous fare, so AC Transit ($2.50) to BART will give a $2.85 discount off of your BART fare
AC Transit is introducing a new transfer policy with Clipper 2.0, allowing one free transfer between local buses
Example of a trip from Antioch using Tri Delta Transit and BART to the Embarcadero Station in San Francisco. Source: Clipper 2.0 Calculator
Other agencies may have updated their transfer policies, but at this time this tool is not aware of any other changes. This tool does not take into account the transfer time limit; Clipper 2.0 interagency transfers have a 2-hour time limit from first tap, while Clipper 1.0 fares have various different time limits depending on the specific agency pairs.
Fares on the website are an estimation only, based on the current information provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. As some details have yet to be released, some assumptions have been made. This website will be updated as possible to reflect new information.
Multi-Agency Trip to Mt. Tamalpais State Park Dec. 14
To celebrate this big transit win, Hiking by Transit is hosting a multi-agency trip to Mount Tamalpais State Park on December 14th to celebrate.Come on out!
Plus, this Sunday, you’re invited to the garden party joint fundraiser for Transbay Coalition & Seamless Bay Area – get your tickets here.
The Transbay Coalition is a grassroots public transportation advocacy group championing bold near-term solutions to the Bay Area’s regional transportation crisis. Founded to campaign for dedicated bus-only lanes on the Bay Bridge and its approaches, we’re striving to create an equitable and efficient public transit system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about the Transbay Coalition
About Seamless Bay Area
Seamless Bay Area is a not-for-profit project whose mission is to transform the Bay Area’s fragmented and inconvenient public transit into a world-class, unified, equitable, and widely-used system by building a diverse movement for change and promoting policy reforms. Learn more about Seamless Bay Area
About Hiking by Transit
Hiking by Transit connects people in the Bay Area to our beautiful parks and preserves, car-free, by providing maps and hiking guides across the nine-county region and through advocacy for increased access and increased understanding. Visit Hiking by Transit
By Vanessa Vizard, Vizard Marketing & PR for CalKids
Contra Costa, CA — Contra Costa County families welcoming a new baby can also celebrate another milestone: their child’s very first scholarship. Through the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS), every child born in the state on or after July 1, 2022, automatically has a CalKIDS Scholarship Account waiting in their name — including more than $2 million in scholarship funds set aside for children in Contra Costa County alone.
CalKIDS is the nation’s largest children’s development account program, designed to support college and career training. For newborns and young children, the state invests up to $175 in a CalKIDS Scholarship Account:
$100 for being born in California (babies born July 1, 2023, or later; $25 for those born between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023)
$25 extra when parents claim the account online
$50 extra for linking the account to a ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan
That’s up to $175 already invested in a child’s future, long before applications, admissions essays, or financial aid forms come into play.
“At First 5 California, we recognize that supporting healthy development begins with a commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive,” said Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, Executive Director of First 5 California. “CalKIDS is a powerful way to show families that their child’s future matters from the very beginning.”
With August, September, and October among the most common birth months in California, thousands of families are becoming newly eligible for a CalKIDS Scholarship. It’s a timely opportunity for parents to take an easy first step that can grow into a lifelong advantage for their child’s education.
How to Claim Your Baby’s Scholarship
Claiming is quick, easy, and free at CalKIDS.org. Parents and guardians just need three pieces of information:
The county where their child was born
Their child’s date of birth
The 13-digit Local Registration Number (LRN) on the birth certificate, or the unique CalKIDS code mailed to their home
Once claimed, families can log in anytime to view balances, link a ScholarShare 529 Account, and learn how funds can be used. Eligible expenses include tuition and fees, required books and supplies, and computer equipment at accredited higher education institutions nationwide.
“I appreciate the forward thinking of CalKIDS by investing in the education of our next generation! Starting to save for college early will pay dividends in the long run,” said Contra Costa parent Joshua Tan.
Small Actions Make a Big Difference
Research shows that children with even small savings for higher education are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate. Education is also one of the most powerful tools to break the cycle of poverty — a college degree can nearly double lifetime earnings. By giving every child in California a first scholarship, CalKIDS brings that opportunity to families from day one and makes the path to higher education more attainable for millions.
Across California, CalKIDS is working with hospitals, county offices, and community partners like United Ways of California to ensure families know about this opportunity from the very beginning.
“Every child deserves the chance to dream big, and that starts from the moment they are born. CalKIDS is helping families of newborns begin saving for education and career training right away. United Ways of California is proud to support this effort, which aligns with our work to expand economic mobility and opportunity across the state,” said Mandy Nand, Associate Director of Economic Mobility, United Ways of California. “United Ways of California is thrilled to support CalKIDS. By providing funds to every newborn, California is giving families peace of mind and an important financial foundation for their child’s future. This effort reflects our mission to help families build stability and opportunity from the very start of life.”
Since its launch in 2022, CalKIDS has become the largest child development account program in the country. In addition to newborns, CalKIDS also created accounts for over 4 million public school students, accounting for more than 5 million children total with CalKIDS Scholarship Accounts and $2 billion invested. More than 700,000 families have claimed their scholarships, turning possibility into action.
Families can learn more and claim their baby’s first scholarship today at CalKIDS.org.
About CalKIDS: The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) is the nation’s largest child development account program, providing scholarships for higher education. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, and Chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, the program is designed to promote the pursuit of higher education statewide by empowering families to build assets, nurture savings habits, and raise their educational aspirations. Eligible public school students can receive CalKIDS Scholarships worth up to $1,500 and every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022, is awarded a CalKIDS Scholarship worth up to $175, ensuring more families have the resources needed to support their children’s education. To learn more, visit CalKIDS.org.
Over $107 million for Contra Costa projects including $46.9 million on Hwy 4 from Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch to Byron Highway near Brentwood
By Edward Barrera, Division Chief, Caltrans Public Affairs
In August, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved $3 billion in allocations to enhance safety and mobility across the state highway system and expand multimodal travel, including bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. Guided by Governor Gavin Newsom’s Build More, Faster – For All infrastructure agenda, these improvements will make California communities safer, cleaner and increase access to active transportation options.
Of the $3 billion allocated, $663 million derives from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 and approximately $2 billion from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA). The funds will serve as a catalyst to increase the capacity of the state’s transportation system, rehabilitate aging roadways and improve travel times, while balancing community impacts and promoting environmental benefits.
The “…investments reflect California’s long-term commitment to safer roads, smarter traffic management and expanded transportation choices that get people where they need to go,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy.
“The funds allocated…reflect the Commission’s commitment to investing taxpayer dollars strategically. These investments will improve the safety and reliability of the state’s transportation network and support a thriving economy by improving the movement of freight and reducing out-of-pocket expenses for all California,” said Darnell Grisby, Chair of the California Transportation Commission.
Projects in Contra Costa County approved by the Commission include:
$46,900,000 on SR-4 in and near Antioch and Brentwood, from Hillcrest Avenue to Byron Highway, to rehabilitate pavement and drainage systems, upgrade facilities to ADA standards, install Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), high-visibility crosswalks, bike loop detectors, and construct Class II bike lanes. This will extend pavement service life and improve ride quality.
$42,374,000 on I-680 in San Ramon and Danville, from Alcosta Boulevard to 0.1 mile north of Diablo Road, to rehabilitate pavement, upgrade guardrail, and upgrade facilities to ADA standards. This will extend pavement service life and improve ride quality.
$14,584,000 on SR-24 in Orinda, at the Caldecott Tunnel, to rehabilitate and upgrade the ventilation system in Bores 1, 2, and 3. This will ensure structural integrity and prolong tunnel service life.
$1,301,000 on SR-4 in Concord, 0.5 mile east of Port Chicago Highway, to reconstruct a failed slope embankment and repair a displaced down drain due to heavy rainfall in February and March 2025. Work includes installing Rock Slope Protection (RSP), and repairing the down drain, guardrail, and dike. This will enhance driver and pedestrian safety.
• $1,275,000 on SR-4 near Pittsburg, 0.3 mile west of Bailey Road, to reconstruct a slope embankment and repair a displaced down drain due to heavy rainfall in February and March 2025. Work includes installing Rock Slope Protection (RSP). This will improve roadway safety.
$999,000 on SR-24 in Lafayette, from 0.7 to 1.0 mile east of Acalanes Road, to rehabilitate pavement due to ponding and water seepage caused by heavy rainfall in February and March 2025, which led to cracking and settlement. This will extend pavement life and improve safety.
IIJA is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure to improve the sustainability and resiliency of our country’s energy, water, broadband and transportation systems. The total funding for California is nearly $54 billion. This includes investments to upgrade the state’s roads, bridges, rail, public transit, airports, ports, waterways and the electric vehicle charging network.
SB 1 has invested approximately $5 billion annually toward transportation projects since its adoption. It provides funding split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly, based on the availability of funds, including those partially funded by SB 1.
Visit build.ca.gov to learn more about transformative infrastructure projects happening in communities throughout the state.
AB 692 will prohibit ‘stay-or-pay’ contracts that trap nurses and other workers in exploitative debt arrangements with employers
By California Nurses Association
California Nurses Association (CNA), the largest union of registered nurses in the state of California, applauds Governor Gavin Newsom for taking action to protect workers from employers’ use of predatory debt contracts and signing Assembly Bill 692 (A.B. 692) into law on Monday, Oct. 13. A.B. 692 prohibits employers from requiring workers to pay a debt, fee, or penalty if the workers wants to leave their job, expressly making these kinds of exploitative workplace debt arrangements unlawful.
“California is taking a proactive step forward to support the thousands of nurses and nearly one in 12 workers who are in exploitative stay-or-pay contracts,” said Sandy Reding, RNand CNA president. “We are grateful for Assemblymember Kalra championing this bill and to Governor Newsom for stepping up with the labor movement to stand up to Trump’s assaults on worker protections. California leads the rest of the country by signing this bill into law.”
A.B. 692 was authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and sponsored by CNA, as well as a broad coalition of co-sponsoring organizations, including the California Federation of Labor Unions, California Employment Lawyers Association, Protect Borrowers, and the American Economic Liberties Project.
“It has been an honor to work with CNA in abolishing exploitative stay-or-pay contracts and stopping employers from creating debt to trap and intimidate workers,” said Assemblymember Kalra. “I am grateful Governor Newsom signed A.B. 692, ensuring workers are not coerced into employment debt agreements and can be empowered to leave bad jobs.”
“Today, Governor Newsom signed an important bill to ban employer debt traps and protect nurses, actors, athletes and so many other workers. Employers use training repayment schemes to trap workers in jobs with low wages, unsafe conditions, and abusive managers,” said California Labor Federation President Lorena Gonzalez. “It doesn’t matter if you work in a hospital or play professional sports, no worker should have to pay an employer back if they leave a job. We are proud of California’s progress that will help workers level the playing field.”
A.B. 692 addresses the growing number of employers that are using debt as an exploitative tool to trap workers in jobs, often with low wages and substandard working conditions, and to bust unions. Sometimes called “stay-or-pay” contracts, employers coerce workers into predatory arrangements that require the worker to pay an alleged debt or other financial penalty to their employer if the worker leaves their job before a prescribed period of time–whether the worker is fired, laid off, or quits. With the threat of having to pay back a debt or fee to their employer, “stay-or-pay” contracts indenture workers to remain at a job and chills workers from seeking better wages or working conditions.
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
