ANTIOCH, CA — The City of Antioch is alerting residents to a door-to-door scam in which individuals are falsely claiming that the city’s tap water is unsafe in an attempt to sell high-cost water filtration systems.
In a recent report, a resident was approached by a person claiming to test water quality. The individual presented a false test result alleging the presence of “13 cancer-causing contaminants” and attempted to pressure the resident into purchasing a reverse osmosis system. When the resident declined to provide personal information, the individual became aggressive.
“These individuals are not associated with the City of Antioch, or our Water Department,” said Ivona Kagin, Laboratory Supervisor at the Water Treatment Plant. “Tap water is tightly regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We want to reassure residents that Antioch’s drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state requirements. Details are published in our annual Consumer Confidence Report: https://www.antiochca.gov/583/Water-Treatment. If your water becomes unsafe to drink, the City of Antich will notify you and provide information on how to protect yourself.”
Residents are urged to follow these safety guidelines:
Do not allow unverified individuals into your home.
Always ask for official identification.
Look for a City of Antioch badge and marked city vehicle.
Call the Water Department at (925) 779-7060 to confirm if someone is a city employee.
Report aggressive or suspicious activity to the Antioch Police Department.
Kagin emphasized that legitimate city employees will never arrive unannounced. All official visits are scheduled in advance and conducted by trained staff with proper identification.
For more information about Antioch’s water quality or to verify any city-related service visit, please contact the Water Department directly or visit http://www.antiochca.gov/water.
Existing transportation funding strained by rising construction costs, population growth, potential decrease in state gas tax revenue
“115 of 1,374 bridges are rated poor/structurally deficient, with significant deterioration” – TRIP Report
By Carolyn Bonifas Kelly, Director of Communication & Research, TRIP
San Francisco, CA – While additional state and federal transportation funding is allowing California to repair and improve roads and bridges, a new report documents looming challenges including population growth, rising congestion, construction cost inflation and declining fuel-tax revenue. The report by The Road Information Program, TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit based in Washington, DC, examines California’s road and bridge conditions, congestion and reliability, highway safety, economic development, vehicle travel trends, and the impact of recent state and federal transportation funding increases.
The TRIP report, “Keeping California Mobile: Providing a Modern, Sustainable Transportation System in the Golden State,” finds that throughout the state, traffic fatalities have increased significantly in the last decade despite recent downward trends, 50 percent of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, five percent of locally and state-maintained bridges (20 feet or more in length) are rated poor/structurally deficient, and traffic congestion costs the state’s drivers $55 billion annually in lost time and wasted fuel. In addition to statewide data, the TRIP report includes regional pavement and bridge conditions, congestion data, highway safety data, and cost breakdowns for the Los Angeles, Riverside-San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco-Oakland and San Jose urban areas.
The TRIP report finds that 73 percent of major locally and state-maintained roads in the San Francisco-Oakland urban area are in poor or mediocre condition, costing the average motorist an additional $1,106 each year in extra vehicle operating costs, including accelerated vehicle depreciation, additional repair costs, and increased fuel consumption and tire wear. Statewide, 28 percent of California’s major roads are in poor condition and 22 percent are in mediocre condition. TRIP estimates that the state’s drivers lose $24.2 billion annually in extra vehicle operating costs as a result of driving on deteriorated roads.
In the San Francisco-Oakland area, eight percent of bridges (115 of 1,374 bridges) are rated poor/structurally deficient, with significant deterioration to the bridge deck, supports or other major components. This includes locally and state-maintained bridges that are 20 feet or longer. Statewide, five percent of California’s bridges are rated poor/structurally deficient. Most bridges are designed to last 50 years before major overhaul or replacement. In California, 54 percent of the state’s bridges were built in 1969 or earlier.
According to the TRIP report, traffic congestion in the San Francisco-Oakland area causes 111 annual hours of delay for the average motorist and costs the average driver $3,406 annually in lost time and wasted fuel. On average, San Francisco-Oakland drivers waste 38 gallons of fuel annually due to congestion. Statewide, drivers lose $55 billion annually because of lost time and wasted fuel due to traffic congestion. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, vehicle travel in California dropped by as much as 41 percent in April 2020 (as compared to vehicle travel during the same month the previous year).By 2025, vehicle miles of travel in California had rebounded to five percent below 2019’s pre-pandemic levels. Congestion reduces job accessibility significantly. In California’s six largest metros, the number of jobs accessible within a 40-minute drive during peak hours were reduced by 44 percent in 2023 as a result of traffic congestion.
Source: TRIP
Traffic crashes in California claimed the lives of 24,508 people from 2019 to 2024. The state’s 2024 traffic fatality rate of 1.19 fatalities for every 100 million miles traveled was slightly lower than the national average of 1.2. The number of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in California spiked dramatically in 2020 and 2021 before falling each year from 2022 to 2024. But, despite recent progress, from 2014 to 2024 the number of traffic fatalities in California increased 24 percent and the state’s traffic fatality rate increased 29 percent. From 2019 to 2023, 30 percent of those killed in California crashes involving motorized vehicles were pedestrians or bicyclists. In the San Francisco-Oakland area, 36 percent of traffic fatalities between 2019 and 2023 (306 of 934) were pedestrians or bicyclists.
“California’s future depends on transportation infrastructure that can withstand the challenges of a changing climate and a growing population,” said Senator Dave Cortese, chair of the California Senate Transportation Committee. “These investments don’t just move people and goods—they cut emissions, strengthen communities, create jobs, and spur economic growth. The TRIP report makes clear that smart infrastructure investments are among the most powerful tools we have to support California’s workforce and drive long-term economic prosperity.”
Improvements to California’s roads, highways and bridges are funded by local, state and federal governments. In April 2017, the California legislature enacted SB 1 — the Road Repair and Accountability Act. SB 1 increased state revenues for transportation by increasing the state’s gasoline and diesel taxes, implementing a transportation investment fee on vehicles and initiating an annual fee on zero emission vehicles. SB 1 is estimated to increase state revenues for California’s transportation system by an average of $5.2 billion annually through to 2027. In addition to state transportation funding, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law on November 2021, provides $25.3 billion in federal funds to the state for highway and bridge investments in California over five years, representing a 29 percent increase in annual federal funding for roads and bridges in the state over the previous federal surface transportation program. The IIJA is set to expire on September 30, 2026.
“California’s transportation system is the backbone of our daily lives, connecting millions of people to work, school, and opportunity,” said Assemblymember Lori Wilson, chair of the California State Assembly Transportation Committee. “The TRIP report provides the proof points behind what we already know: our infrastructure needs are urgent and growing. As we transition to cleaner vehicles and more sustainable mobility, we must secure fair and reliable funding solutions to ensure tomorrow’s infrastructure serves Californians better than today’s.”
The ability of revenue from California’s motor fuel tax – a critical source of state transportation funds – to keep pace with the state’s future transportation needs is likely to erode as a result of increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, the increasing use of electric vehicles and inflation in highway construction costs. The Federal Highway Administration’s national highway construction cost index, which measures labor and materials cost, increased by 48 percent from the beginning of 2022 through the fourth quarter of 2024.
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) found that steps taken by California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including programs and policies that are targeted at increasing the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), increasing the use of lower-carbon fuels, and reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled will reduce state transportation revenues by $4.4 billion over the next decade. This reduction in state transportation spending which is projected to result in poorer road conditions. However, the recent federal rollbacks to California strict emissions requirements will impact these programs and policies.
“Our deteriorating transportation system costs Californians lives, time, and money,” said California Transportation Commissioner Joseph Cruz. “Every investment in improving and maintaining our roads, bridges, and transit networks is an investment in people. These projects don’t just build infrastructure – they create good jobs, support local economies, and ensure California’s workforce is at the center of the solution.”
Source: TRIP
The efficiency and condition of California’s transportation system, particularly its highways, is critical to the health of the state’s economy. In 2023 California’s freight system moved 1.4 billion tons of freight, valued at $2.8 trillion. From 2022 to 2050, freight moved annually in California by trucks is expected to increase 65 percent by weight and 100 percent by value (inflation-adjusted dollars). The design, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure in California supports approximately 420,000 full-time jobs across all sectors of the state economy. Approximately 7.1 million full-time jobs in California in key industries like tourism, retail sales, agriculture and manufacturing are dependent on the quality, safety and reliability of the state’s transportation infrastructure network.
“California’s transportation dollars are already being stretched thin by increased inflation in construction costs and declining fuel tax revenue,” said Dave Kearby, TRIP’s executive director. “Without additional transportation investment, needed projects that would make the state’s roads safer, smoother and more efficient will not move forward.”
New Antioch City Clerk Michael Mandy takes his seat at the dais, next to Stephanie Cabrera-Brown, an Administrative Analyst in the Clerk’s Department, after being appointed by the City Council and sworn in Tuesday night, Sept. 23, 2025. Photos by Allen D. Payton
Michael Mandy will serve until special election in November 2026
By Allen D. Payton
During a special meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Antioch City Council interviewed five candidates for City Clerk and appointed, on a 4-1 vote, Michael Mandy, an AT&T Premises Technician, who will serve until a special election next November. Voters will then decide who to elect for the remainder of the four-year term. The vacancy was created by the sudden departure on July 30th of Melissa Rhodes who was elected last November.
Before appointing Mandy, District 3 Councilman Don Freitas thanked all those who applied and said, “We really, truly appreciate you stepping forward and this isn’t the last time we see you. We have boards and commissions that need you.”
Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha then said, “Because this is a one-year appointment…there will be an election. This is a temporary appointment.” He then said, “Based on experience and what I wrote down. I make a motion to recommend Lori Ogorchock to the position and fill the term. Mayor Ron Bernal seconded the motion which died on a 2-0-3 vote, with Councilmembers Monica Wilson, Tamisha Torres-Walker and Freitas voting to abstain.
Then, Freitas made a motion to appoint Mandy which passed 4-1 with Rocha voting against.
Mayor Ron Bernal administers the oath of office to and congratulates new City Clerk Michael Mandy as his wife Aurora looks on during the special City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
Mandy Immediately Sworn In, Thanks Council, Goes to Work
Mandy was then joined by his wife Aurora as Bernal administered the oath of office. The new City Clerk then thanked the council and said, “I hope to make you proud for your selection. I appreciate it very much. Thank you very much.”
“This is very emotional. Thank you,” he added with laughter from him and the audience.
Following a brief council meeting recess, Mandy took his seat at the dais and a sign with his name was placed in front of him.
Michael Mandy speaks to the City Council before being appointed during the City Clerk interview process on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.
Mandy’s Background from his Application
In his application for the appointment Mandy provided information about his background. He wrote, “My name is Michael Mandy, and I am writing this letter to be considered for the position of City Clerk of the city of Antioch, California. (See application)
“n May, 1994 my wife and I moved into our house, which is near the southern end of Hillcrest Avenue. So I have been a resident of Antioch for over 30 years. We raised our two children here, and they both attended Diablo Vista, Dallas Ranch, and Deer Valley High schools.
I am very proud of the City of Antioch. I have spent many hours hiking at Black Diamond Mines and the adjacent Reservoir. My family loved the Rivertown Jamboree (RIP), 4th of July fireworks over the Delta, and recently attended the Rivertown Wine Walk & Artisan Faire this last May.
My family has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 3 generations. My father was an Independent Insurance Agent, and his office was in San Carlos. After school I would sit for hours in his office, doing office-type jobs, such as answering the phones, taking messages, organizing paperwork, typing and using the Copy machine. I learned professionalism, courtesy, and posess [sic] a high work ethic.
In 1995 we moved the family Insurance office from San Carlos to my home in Antioch. I was in business here until I sold the agency in 2013 to pursue other opportunities. Since then, I have been a Premises Technician for AT&T. My job duties have been going into peoples’ homes and installing High-speed Internet and climbing telephone poles to upgrade the telephone lines to Fiber.
I was also an active member in our Union, CWA District 9, Local 9417. Since 2013 I have been our garage’s Union Representative, and in 2019 was elected to serve on our Local’s Executive Board. My duties included attending all meetings, coordinating and assisting in our Local Elections, and approving budgets and company records.
I am Detail-oriented, as I love desk work. I excel at inputting data on computers, paperwork, and following up to make sure everything gets done and gets filed correctly. I am also very adept at dealing with the public, as my previous jobs involved face-to-face interactions.
I am very proud of my city and I would be thrilled to work with the City Administrators and help to contribute to the success of my city of Antioch. I believe that I would be very successful as a City Clerk.”
About the City Clerk’s Office
The City Clerk is the official keeper of the municipal records and is sometimes referred to as the historian of the community. City Clerk responsibilities include:
Acting as the official custodian of records for the City and is responsible for all City Council agendas, minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and legal publications
Coordinating Fair Political Practices Commission filings including the Statement of Economic Interests and Campaign Disclosures
Acting as the service agent for the City regarding claims, subpoenas, and summons
Overseeing the City’s records management, legislative history, bids, contracts, archives, election activities, and board/commission/committee programs
Communications directed to the City, its legislative bodies, and their members (i.e., City Council, Planning Commission) or City staff are public records and are subject to disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act and Brown Act unless exempt from disclosure under the applicable law.
The City Clerk’s Office is located on the Third Floor of City Hall at 200 H Street, Antioch, Monday–Friday, between 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. For more information email cityclerk@antiochca.gov or call (925) 779-7009.
By City of Antioch Economic Development Department
The City of Antioch received funding from the National League of Cities (NLC) to pilot a grant program aimed at advancing local jobs through collaboration between Antioch businesses and nonprofits. The City invites teams of three or more Antioch-based small businesses and/or nonprofits to propose creative projects that will help residents, especially those with low incomes, find and grow in meaningful employment.
This is a pilot grant program. A total of $20,000 will be split between 2–4 selected teams ($5,000-$10,000 per team). All grant funds must be spent by June 1, 2026.
Will interview former councilwoman, former county supervisor’s chief of staff, AT&T technician, parking enforcement officer and barber
By Allen D. Payton
During a special meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night, Sept. 23, 2025, the Antioch City Council will interview five applicants and appoint one to fill the vacant City Clerk position for a little more than one year. An election will be held in November 2026 to fill the remaining two of the four-year term.
As previously reported, on July 30, 2025, City Clerk Melissa Rhodes, elected last November, submitted her written resignation effective immediately. At its meeting of August 12, 2025, the City Council directed that the vacancy be filled by appointment rather than by special election. State law requires that the appointment be made within 60 days of the vacancy, or no later than September 30, 2025. Then during it’s Aug. 26th meeting, the Council adopted the appointment process with applications due Thursday, September 11.
According to the City staff report for the agenda item #SM-1, a total of 14 Antioch voters picked up the application packet; two withdrew. As of the close of the application period, the City received five applications…submitted by (in alphabetical order by last name):
• Michael J. Mandy, an AT&T Premises Technician and 31-year Antioch resident;
• Vincent Manuel, the former Chief of Staff, Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover, who worked for four months as an Administrative Analyst in the Antioch City Clerk’s Office and is a 35-year Antioch resident. He also has served on the Antioch Planning Commission, as Chair of the Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commission and on the Antioch Board of Administrative Appeals.
• Eric Bao Xuan Nguyen, a Parking Enforcement Officer and six-year Antioch resident;
• Lori Ogorchock, former three-term Antioch Councilwoman, a retired, self-employed real estate agent, and 54-year Antioch resident; and
• Jerome Terrell, a barber and 12-year Antioch resident.
Staff is recommending that the City Council take the following action to fill the City Clerk vacancy:
1. Receive applicant presentations (up to five minutes). Each applicant will be called up (in alphabetical order) and given the opportunity to speak.
2. Once each applicant has spoken, the applicant will be escorted to the HR interview room.
3. Applicants will be called back into the chamber in alphabetical order to take
questions from the Council.
4. Each councilmember will ask one question, as indicated below.
5. After the conclusion of Council questions, public comment will be opened.
6. Upon conclusion of public comment, the Council will deliberate and will select a candidate upon motion approved by a simple majority.
7. The City Council will adopt the resolution appointing [name of appointee] as City Clerk through November 2026.
Proposed Interview Questions
Staff is suggesting is that, during the interviews, each Councilmember and the Mayor ask one question of each candidate. The following are five questions the City Council may consider asking:
• How does the applicant view the role of City Clerk?
• What knowledge does the applicant have of computer systems and electronic platforms that might be used in the City Clerk position?
• What is the specific role of the City Clerk under the Brown Act, California Government Code, and California Elections Code?
• How would the applicant balance outside interests, including other civic, community, and political interests, with their work as City Clerk?
• What assurance can the applicant provide that they will timely carry out their duties for the remainder of the term?
Following this question-and-answer period, the City Council should then open the matter for public comment. Upon the conclusion of public comment, the matter shall be before the City Council for its consideration and a vote.
The special meeting will be preceded by a Closed Session meeting at 4:00 p.m. and followed by the regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. They 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.
On Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at 7:30 AM the Antioch City Council will hold a special, closed session meeting on the recruitment of a permanent City Attorney. The new hire will replace current Interim City Attorney Derek Cole who has been serving in the position since Thomas L. Smith resigned the position in January, following a two-and-a-half hour Closed Session meeting by the council.
The meeting will begin in the Council Chambers at 200 H Street in Antioch’s downtown Rivertown and public comments will be heard before the Council adjourns to closed session. The Council will later return, and Cole will publicly state any reportable action.
NCQA annual report card gives the HMO 4.5 out of 5 stars
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the national evaluator of health insurance plans, has once again recognized Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) as one of the highest rated health plans in the nation and among the best in California for patient experience and quality of care.
Among health maintenance organizations (HMOs) offering Medi-Cal, CCHP was one of the top three plans in California to be awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars, the highest level awarded this year, on NCQA’s annual report card.
CCHP was also one of just 14 Medicaid plans in the United States to receive 4.5 out of 5 stars, achieving exceptionally high marks among patients for treatment and preventative care including children and women’s care and cancer screening.
“Being recognized among the nation’s top health plans is a huge accomplishment for our staff, providers and partners,” said Supervisor Candace Andersen, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “This rating shows that our community trusts and values the care that we provide and encourages us to keep pushing towards our goal to deliver high-quality care and improve the health of our community.”
For over 50 years, Contra Costa Health has provided high-quality, affordable coverage through CCHP. CCHP was the nation’s first federally qualified, state-licensed, county-sponsored HMO.
“I’m so proud of the work this team has done to enable us to get this excellent rating and to serve the people of Contra Costa County,” Contra Costa Health CEO Dr Grant Colfax said. “We will continue to address community health priorities,and we look forward to what we can accomplish together in this next year.”
CCHP’s high marks and recognition by NCQA are a direct result of the exemplary care and patient support provided by Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers, community clinics in CCHP’s community provider network, and CCH’s Public Health and Behavioral Health divisions. Altogether, CCHP touches about 271,000 members, including 265,000 Medi-Cal enrollees.
Visit Contra Costa Health Plan to learn more about CCHP, including how to enroll if you need healthcare, or call 1-800-211-8040 weekdays.
About NCQA: NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices. NCQA can also be found at Twitter/X @ncqa and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.
The City of Antioch is now accepting applications for the City Clerk position! The part-time position pays $1,900 per month plus benefits. The City Council will make their decision on the appointment at their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 23. The appointed City Clerk will serve through the beginning of December 2026 and if desire to continue serving must run for election that November for the remaining two years of the current term. (Please see related articles here and here)
The City Clerk is the official keeper of the municipal records and is sometimes referred to as the historian of the community. City Clerk responsibilities include:
Acting as the official custodian of records for the City and is responsible for all City Council agendas, minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and legal publications
Coordinating Fair Political Practices Commission filings including the Statement of Economic Interests and Campaign Disclosures
Acting as the service agent for the City regarding claims, subpoenas, and summons
Overseeing the City’s records management, legislative history, bids, contracts, archives, election activities, and board/commission/committee programs
Communications directed to the City, its legislative bodies, and their members (i.e., City Council, Planning Commission) or City staff are public records and are subject to disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act and Brown Act unless exempt from disclosure under the applicable law.
Stop by the Third Floor of City Hall with a valid government-issued ID to pick up your application in person at 200 H Street, Antioch, Monday–Friday, between 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
Appointments are strongly encouraged by emailing cityclerk@antiochca.gov or calling (925) 779-7009.
The filing deadline is Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 4:30 PM.
Efforts to reach City staff asking for details on the benefits of the position were unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates.
