To raise concerns during Wednesday meeting that the regulation is bad policy that will increase housing costs, disrupt renters, and push housing providers to sell properties

BAAQMD’s actions part of effort to convert California homes to electric powered heat pumps for water heaters and HVAC systems

Contra Costa Supervisors Carlson, Gioia serve on BAAQMD Board

By Keegan Coleman, Actum

SAN FRANCISCO – Hundreds of rental housing providers, property owners and representatives from local rental housing affiliates across the nine counties that fall under the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) jurisdiction – including the counties of Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma – will gather at the BAAQMD Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, October 7, to testify in opposition to the district’s gas appliance ban and make clear that the regulation is bad housing policy.

Background & Timeline

The Air District Board of Directors is considering changes to Regulation 9, Rules 4 and 6 which are intended to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from residential and commercial furnaces and water heaters in buildings in the Bay Area.

According to the Water Heater Rule Draft Amendments Overview, “The amendments are designed to make compliance with the rule more affordable by providing exemptions for low-income property owners and addressing situations where installing a compliant water heater would be particularly expensive. The draft amendments and supporting material can be found at: baaqmd.gov/building-appliances.”

According to the District’s Notice of Public Hearing issued on Friday, Oct. 2nd, “On March 15, 2023, the Air District adopted amendments to Rule 9-4: Nitrogen Oxides from Fan Type Residential Central Furnaces and Rule 9-6: Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Emissions from Natural Gas Fired Boilers and Water Heaters that govern point of sale emission standards for small, typically residential and commercial, water and space heating systems.

The Board then conducted a public hearing on June 21, 2023, in which they directed staff to submit the current versions of Rule 9-4 and Rule 9-6 to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA and the California Air Resources Board for inclusion in the State Implementation Plan (SIP). 

At their meeting on Nov. 4, 2026, the Air District Board of Directors will consider changes to Rule 9-6 for water heaters. The changes being considered would, if approved, provide for some exemptions to the zero-nitrogen oxides standard and would extend the compliance date. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard and is also accessible via Zoom on the Air District’s website.

According to the Appliance Rules Concept Paper Overview, “To make the transition fair and practical, the Air District is working on 2026 flexibility amendments that could:

• Allow continued sales of small (≤35-gallon) gas water heaters for a limited time.

• Provide exemptions for low-income homeowners and some small business types.

• Permit contractors to purchase and install temporary “loaner” water heaters for emergencies

• Grant extra time or exemptions for homes needing major electrical upgrades, water heater relocation, or hydronic systems”

According to the District’s Fact Sheet on the proposed amendments, “The amended rules will affect Bay Area households that use natural gas appliances — roughly 2/3 of all households currently. The rule amendments will apply only to new appliances, and do not mandate retrofitting of existing appliances and the current timeline is as follows:

• 2027* – only zero NOx small tank type 75k BTU/hr water heaters can be sold or installed in the Bay Area.
• 2029 – only zero NOx furnaces less than 175k BTU/hr can be sold or installed in the Bay Area.
• 2031 – only zero NOx large commercial water heaters, tank type 75k to 2M BTU/hr and tankless water heaters, typically large commercial and multifamily water heaters can be sold or installed in the Bay Area.

*The Board of Directors will consider flexibility amendments in 2026 and potentially adjust the timeline with a later compliance deadline.”

According to the Rule Development History;

• In December of 2024, Air District staff presented an informational update on the implementation readiness of the zero NOx requirements for residential water heaters (Rule 9-6) to the Air District Board of Directors.
• In April of 2025, Air District staff presented to the Stationary Source Committee to share proposed next steps and potential flexibilities and amendments to Rule 9-6 (2027 compliance date) based on the IWG’s findings. The second phase of the IWG 2.0 will commence in late-2025 and will focus on furnaces Rule 9-4 (2029 compliance date).

So, the Air Board will consider the proposed amendments to Rule 9-4 at a later date.

Public Comments for Oct. 7th Meeting

During general public comments speakers will urge the Board to reconsider the regulation, warning that the mandate would impose high new costs on rental housing communities, create logistical and construction challenges for older and space-constrained properties, disrupt renters, and further strain a region already facing one of the nation’s most severe housing affordability crises. If Item 16 is pulled from the Consent Calendar, there will be another opportunity for public comments on the Stationary Source Committee’s report (see the Committee’s Item 5 on page 176 of the Board meeting agenda, entitled, State and Regional Efforts to Advance the Equitable Transition to Clean Appliances).

Representatives from organizations including Better Housing Policies, Business and Housing Network, Santa Clara Association of Realtors, San Mateo County Association of Realtors, East Bay Rental Housing Association, Berkeley Property Owners Association, California Rental Housing Association, South County Business Alliance, Silicon Valley Business Alliance, and Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute will attend the meeting to emphasize to the Board that while clean-air goals are important, this regulation takes the wrong approach by shifting costly infrastructure burdens onto housing providers and, ultimately, renters.

Stationary Source Committee Meeting Details

During the District’s Stationary Source Committee meeting on September 9 2026, Chaired by Contra Costa County District 4 Supervisor Ken Carlson, and whose Vice Chair is Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, “Richard Chien, Planning and Climate Protection Manager, gave the staff presentation entitled, State and Regional Efforts to Advance the Equitable Transition to Clean Appliances, including: abbreviations; outline; major players in the clean appliance transition; spotlight on California Heat Pump Partnership; spotlight on Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) – heat pump water heater (HPWH) for hard-to-reach households, contractor readiness, building department support; spotlight on Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E); spotlight on load serving entities – funding support, permitting support; Senate Bill (SB) 222 – The Heat Pump Access Act, entitled, “Residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC systems” (which Newsom signed into law on Sept. 28th); spotlight on Sprint to 9-6 – communications and outreach; spotlight on equitable building decarbonization; and Air District outreach and education.

“Jane Elias, Manager of Energy Programs with Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Association of Bay Area Governments, and Nik Kaestner, Senior Building Decarbonization Coordinator with the San Francisco Environment Department, provided additional context after the presentation.”

Before the presentation, the District’s Executive Officer and Air Pollution Control Officer Philip Fine explained to the committee members that the agenda item wasn’t Rule 9-4 or 9-6 which the Board will consider in November.

Chien shared about the California Heat Pump (Public-Private) Partnership Blueprint which is pushing to increase the number of housing units that install heat pumps throughout the state. “The 2025 California Energy Code (effective Jan 1, 2026) encourages heat pumps for both space and water heating and supports all‑electric new construction. California has committed to a clean energy future for all through groundbreaking building decarbonization efforts, including Governor Newsom’s goal to install 6 million heat pumps throughout the state by 2030.”

“Unlike traditional fossil gas systems, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat rather than generate it, making them highly efficient while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution,” the Blueprint claims.

According to the HVAC Laboratory, “At its core, a heat pump is an electrically powered appliance that moves heat between the indoors and outdoors. Unlike a furnace that burns fuel or a standard electric heater that converts electricity directly into warmth, a heat pump captures existing heat from the air—or even the ground—and relocates it. In heating mode, the outdoor unit extracts thermal energy from the outside air and brings it inside; even when temperatures drop into the 40s or 30s, there’s enough ambient heat to collect. Come summer, the cycle flips. The system acts just like a central air conditioner, pulling heat from your living spaces and expelling it outdoors.”

According to ElectrifyCalc, “California homeowners can expect to pay $5,500–$12,000 installed for a 2–3 ton air-source heat pump in 2026 — and with the Section 25C federal tax credit (30%, up to $2,000), HEEHRA (High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act) rebates up to $8,000, and California’s own TECH Clean CA program offering $1,000–$4,000, the net cost after stacking incentives can drop below $2,000 for income-qualified households.”

According to EnergyStar.gov, a heat pump water heater “takes the heat from surrounding air and transfers it to water in an enclosed tank.”

Chien also spoke about BayREN, the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, which is “a coalition of the Bay Area’s nine counties…partnering to promote resource efficiency at the regional level, focusing on energy, water and greenhouse gas reduction.” They are working to provide resources, such as “an express permitting form template and standardized information materials for city websites.”

He also spoke about what PG&E is doing to help streamline the installation of heat pumps including zero-interest loans. Finally, Chien spoke on the Equitable Decarbonization Program overseen by the California Energy Commission which includes the Initial Community Focus Areas of Western and Eastern Contra Costa and others in the Bay Area.

He, the other presenters and District staff then answered questions of the committee members followed by public comments on the item.

No action was taken on the information item. (See video of the committee meeting)

WHAT: BAAQMD Board of Directors Meeting

WHEN: Wednesday, October 7, 2026  10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 375 Beale Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105

WHO: Noni Richen, Board President, Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute

Derek Barnes, CEO, East Bay Rental Housing Association

Krista Gulbransen, Executive Director, Berkeley Property Owners Association

Public Comment Deadline Nov. 1st

The District is seeking public comments on the Proposed Rule Language and Preliminary Staff Report ahead of the Board of Directors meeting on November 4th. The public comment period for the proposed amendment to Rule 9-6 will close on November 1st at 6 PM. Online comments must be submitted through the Air District’s public comment tool to be considered. Under Air District policy, we cannot consider comments on regulations that are submitted by email. Written comments can also be submitted by mail to Rule Development, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 375 Beale Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105. Verbal comments are welcome up to the day of and during the Public Hearing.

For more information about the Board meeting see Agenda Packet and about the BAAQMD visit www.baaqmd.gov.

System’s Medicare, Medicaid, commercial health plans also rated highest in CA for overall quality

Kaiser Permanente had more 5-star or 4.5-star plans than any other health care organization for 11th ratings cycle in a row

By Elissa Harrington, Sr. Media Relations & PR Rep and Kerri Leedy, Media and Public Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

OAKLAND, Calif., September 16, 2026 – Kaiser Permanente Northern California is one of only two health care systems in the nation to have its Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health plans receive 5 out of 5 stars for overall quality, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2026 Health Plan Ratings.

Only 18 plans in the nation, approximately 2%, received a 5-star rating. The only other health care system in the nation to have its Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health plans receive 5 out of 5 stars was Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States.

NCQA also rates Kaiser Permanente Northern California health plans as best in California for overall treatment, prevention, and patient experience. No other health plan in Northern California received a 5-star rating.

“Kaiser Permanente Northern California continues to deliver high-value care that improves health care outcomes and betters the lives of our members and patients every day,” said Mike Bowers, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Our health plans are continuously rated the highest because of our unwavering commitment to providing coordinated care and exceptional service.”

For 2026, NCQA rated nearly 1,000 plans – commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid – for quality and service nationwide. All of Kaiser Permanente’s commercial and Medicare plans received the highest rating, or were tied for the highest rating, in all the geographic regions we serve. Kaiser Permanente had more 5-star or 4.5-star plans than any other health care organization for the 11th ratings cycle in a row.

“This recognition reflects the dedication and clinical excellence of our physicians, nurses, and care teams, who consistently deliver the highest-quality care to our patients and the communities we serve,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “Kaiser Permanente Northern California is proud to be one of only two health care systems in the nation, alongside Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States, to have its Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health plans all receive NCQA’s highest rating.”

NCQA is a national, private not-for-profit organization that surveys health plans for performance in a wide range of clinical service measures including consumer experience, prevention, population health and treatment.

NCQA primarily used the 2025 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, or HEDIS®, to establish its ratings. HEDIS is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care.

The 2026 ratings and methodology are posted on the NCQA’s website at https://reportcards.ncqa.org/health-plans. See Kaiser Permanente Northern California ratings at Health Plans – NCQA.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.9 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

This year’s theme: “Americans Stand Ready”

By Federal Emergency Management Agency

Each September, FEMA’s Ready Campaign celebrates National Preparedness Month. Since 2004, the campaign has taken the month to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies. The month is a great time to take small steps to make a big difference in being prepared.

This year’s theme is, “Americans Stand Ready.”

The theme reflects the spirit of unity, resilience and resourcefulness that make our country strong. It’s a reminder that each of us can make a difference by taking proactive steps before a disaster strikes, and encouraging loved ones to do the same, Americans can contribute to the safety and security of the entire nation.

Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility, and disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, anywhere, and sometimes without warning.

For more than 20 years, FEMA’s Ready Campaign has sponsored and managed National Preparedness Month (NPM). National Preparedness Month is an annual September observance to encourage Americans to prepare for disasters and emergencies that could happen anywhere and at any time.

This year’s theme, Americans Stand Ready, echoes the can-do American spirit of resourcefulness and duty. The campaign focuses on. distinct ideas that capture how Americans take pride in their ability to protect themselves and their families and work together to recover from disasters:  

• Americans stand ready to uphold our patriotic duty: When individuals are prepared and self-reliant, we can bolster the work our brave first responders do to help people on their worst day. 
• Americans stand ready to protect our family and friends: We know best how to keep our loved ones safe when things go wrong.
• Americans stand ready to help our communities: Taking a proactive approach to get your community ready contributes to the nation’s resilience.

Throughout the month of September, the Ready Campaign will share easy, affordable steps to take to stand ready, no matter what comes. Take a few simple steps this month to help keep you and your family ready:

• Be in the know. Make sure you know where to get information when you need it most. Download the FEMA App to get emergency safety alerts and resources.
• Make a plan to keep you and your family safe and prepared. The plan should include emergency contact information, emergency meeting places and medical information.
• Build a kit with the essential items your family needs to stay safe and comfortable if something happens. (See FEMA’s Ready.gov Recommended Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit checklist)
• Be there for your community. From volunteering in your community to learning skills like first aid and CPR, you can take steps to prepare for disasters and keep your family safe and make your neighborhood and community more resilient. Take a training course through FEMA’s Training and Education Program, the American Red Cross, or your local emergency management agency to build or gain skills to protect yourself, family, friends and community.

FEMA’s Ready Campaign educates and empowers Americans to take some simple steps to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies, including those from natural hazards and man-made disasters. Ready asks individuals to do three key things: get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and appropriate responses. Everyone should have some basic supplies on hand in order to survive several days if an emergency occurs.

The list of emergency supply kit items is only a starting point. It is important that individuals review this list and consider the unique needs of their family, including pets, for items to include. Individuals should also consider having at least two emergency supply kits, one full kit at home and smaller portable kits in their workplace, vehicle or other places they spend time.

More than 500 swimmers, volunteers and supporters expected

Over $7 million raised by Bay Area Swim to support pediatric cancer research and survivorship programs at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals

By Jenifer Howard, Swim Across America – San Francisco

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host the 21st annual Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area Open Water Swim on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The iconic 1.5-mile point-to-point swim starts at Little Marina Green, 3650 Yacht Road, in San Francisco, and finishes in Aquatic Park. Swimmers, volunteers and kayakers are invited to participate and help raise funds for pediatric cancer research and patient care supporting the swim’s beneficiary UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in Oakland and San Francisco. Those who cannot participate in person can still make waves to fight cancer through SAA My Way, Swim Across America’s virtual option. To register, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/sanfrancisco.

Established in 2006, Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area has granted more than $7 million to support the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals’ Oakland Research Institute and the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program. Each year, the charity swim brings together more than 500 swimmers, volunteers, spectators and supporters, along with Olympians and other special guests, for one of the Bay Area’s most memorable open water events.

“For 20 years, this community has shown what can happen when individuals take something they love — swimming — and turn it into a way to help families facing cancer,” said Laura Hovden, co-event director of Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area. “More than $7 million has gone directly to our local UCSF programs because swimmers, volunteers, kayakers, donors and teams keep showing up year after year. Our swim is about coming together, making waves and giving patients more hope and researchers more funds to make a difference.”

Few embody that commitment more than longtime swimmer, former San Francisco event director and three-time cancer survivor Susan Helmrich, captain of Team Susan Survives and one of this year’s leading fundraisers.

This year marks 49 years since Susan Helmrich’s first cancer diagnosis. She was just 21 years old when she was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Her second cancer diagnosis came 28 years ago. In 2009, she faced cancer for a third time and underwent a 6½-hour Whipple procedure for neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, followed by 23 days at Stanford Hospital.

Through it all, Susan has made raising money for cancer research a central part of her life. Throughout the years, Team Susan Survives has raised more than $1 million for local pediatric cancer research programs. As Susan approaches her 71st birthday, she has set an ambitious goal for this year: recruit 71 swimmers, kayakers, runners, cyclists, yogis, dancers, hikers, walkers and other supporters to Team Susan Survives and together raise $171,000 through the open water swim and SAA My Way.

“I am honored and proud to have survived cancer three times, and I want nothing more than to have anyone who ever gets a cancer diagnosis have the chance to live and survive as I have,” Susan said. “As the years go on, I realize that I am committed more than ever to raising money to help investigators, researchers, physicians and support services find a cure for cancer in our lifetime.”

Susan Helmrich is also swimming in memory of her mother, Edna Helmrich, who passed away in 2019 at age 92 and was herself a 53-year breast cancer survivor.

“She was my role model and my hero,” Susan said. “This year, I’m hoping that friends, old and new, from near and far will join me and Team Susan Survives to raise money for pediatric cancer research at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland.”

Another team entering the San Francisco Bay this year will be carrying the memory of someone deeply loved.

Team Batt Bunch, also known as KeckCrewSF, is captained by Mike Keck and will swim in honor and memory of Brian Batt, husband of Rene and father of swimmers Amelia and Sarah Batt. The team has participated in Swim Across America for many years, but its fight against cancer became profoundly personal when Brian was diagnosed with cancer.

Even while undergoing treatment, Brian remained determined to be there for his daughters. He scheduled his treatment so he could travel to England when Amelia and Sarah participated in an English Channel relay in 2022, where Amelia had the honor of touching France for the team, and again for their Loch Lomond swim in 2024. During treatment, Brian continued showing up at Aquatic Park to cheer the girls on during their training swims. Brian succumbed to cancer in the fall of 2025.

“Brian fought with strength, courage and dignity, and he kept showing up for his family through all of it,” Mike Keck said. “For years, we swam with Swim Across America to fight cancer. Then that fight became very real for our family and our team. Brian is missed terribly, but we will carry on just like he did, and we hope what we do can help spare other families from experiencing that same loss.”

The money raised by swimmers such as Helmrich, Keck and their teammates is already helping scientists at UCSF pursue promising new approaches to pediatric cancer.

Julie Saba, M.D., Ph.D., a UCSF pediatric oncologist, cancer researcher and director of the Swim Across America-supported research laboratory at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, leads research examining the genetic and metabolic drivers of childhood cancers. Her research team has identified important genetic drivers of neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, and has shown that disrupting the gene’s activity can prevent neuroblastoma cells from forming tumors. This research could ultimately offer a new avenue for targeting cancers in which the AF1q gene plays a role. Swim Across America funding helped support this work.

Saba also leads the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Swimmers, now in its eighth year participating in the San Francisco event.

“Without Swim Across America, I could not undertake the high-risk, high-reward studies that we believe hold benefit for the children and adults with cancer of tomorrow,” Saba said. “Nonprofit support of research is more important than ever.”

For Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area Co-Event Director Jackie NeJaime, the connection between the swimmers and researchers is what makes the event especially powerful.

“Our swimmers get to see exactly why their fundraising matters,” Jackie said. “Researchers like Dr. Saba are pursuing ideas that might otherwise struggle to get early funding, while our survivorship programs are helping young people long after their cancer treatment ends. When we swim from Little Marina Green to Aquatic Park, we know where the money is going and the impact this community is helping make.”

The event is also inspiring a new generation of swimmers to get involved.

Friends of Armada, captained by Julie Herson, returns for its third year with youth competitive swimmers from Albany Armada Aquatics Club. The team has already raised more than $17,000 during its involvement with Swim Across America and is working to raise even more this year for UCSF patients, physicians and researchers.

Also returning is UCSF Team Newborn, captained by Tom Shimotake, M.D., which will mark its 15th year participating in the San Francisco Bay swim. The team is made up of friends and supporters of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Intensive Care Nursery who share a commitment to fighting childhood cancer. Nearly one-quarter of pediatric malignancies are diagnosed during the first year of life, giving the team’s mission a particularly close connection to the patients its members serve.

Among the San Francisco community’s other leading fundraisers this year is Berkeley marathon swimmer Maya Merhige, who completed both the North Channel and Strait of Gibraltar this summer as part of her quest to complete the Oceans Seven. Merhige will be away at college on the day of the San Francisco swim but continues to raise funds for Swim Across America and its cancer research mission.

From cancer survivors to families swimming in memory of loved ones, young competitive swimmers and UCSF physicians and researchers, the September 12 swim will bring together hundreds with a shared goal: using the waters of San Francisco Bay to help create better outcomes for people facing cancer.

“Whether this is your first open water swim or you’ve been swimming in the Bay for decades, there is a place for you in this community,” Laura Hovden noted. “Swim, kayak, volunteer, create your own SAA My Way activity or support someone who is participating. Every person can help us make waves to fight cancer.”

Nationally, Swim Across America has raised more than $150 million for cancer research since its founding in 1987 and has helped fund clinical trials that contributed to the FDA-approved cancer immunotherapy medications Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. In the past year, Swim Across America funded a breakthrough clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that showed that immunotherapy alone could successfully treat certain types of cancer. The organization also recently awarded two first-of-its-kind gene editing innovation grants to the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, advancing novel CRISPR gene and base editing techniques used in targeted therapies, immunotherapies and cellular therapies. Swim Across America supports more than 60 cancer research projects annually, has eight named Swim Across America labs, and supports work at many of the nation’s leading cancer institutions.

For more information, to join as a swimmer, volunteer or kayaker, or to participate virtually or donate to Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area, visit swimacrossamerica.org/sanfrancisco.

Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With open water and pool swims in 27 communities across the United States – from Nantucket to under the Golden Gate Bridge – Swim Across America, along with the help of thousands of swimmers and volunteers nationwide, and past and current Olympians, is helping find better treatments and a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. To learn more, visit swimacrossamerica.org.

Community celebration September 23rd

By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch

ANTIOCH, CA — The City of Antioch and BAART Programs Antioch have launched a new partnership aimed at expanding access to opioid treatment and recovery services while addressing community concerns related to safety and quality-of-life conditions surrounding the Bay Area Addiction Recovery Treatment (BAART) Programs Antioch facility on Sunset Lane.

According to MethadoneCenters.com, “BAART Programs Antioch is…considered one of the most reliable methadone clinics in California. What is special about this clinic is that it offers evidence-based approaches, backed by medication-assisted treatment services when it comes to battling opioid disorders. The staff at this clinic believes that supporting patients is of utmost importance because they need as many helpful resources around them as possible in order for a successful recovery process to occur, not only of their family and friends, but also doctors, nurses and psychologists. The main medication is methadone which is given orally. Methadone relieves patients of pain and speeds up their recovery. The goal is to help patients achieve a full recovery so they can continue their everyday lives.”

Supported by opioid settlement funds, the partnership will expand weekend treatment access and provide patient navigation and financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured Antioch residents. The partnership will also strengthen referrals from the City’s Angelo Quinto Community Response Team (AQCRT) and provide additional security during expanded service hours.

The coordinated effort is designed to connect more residents with treatment and recovery resources while promoting a safer and better-supported environment for patients, neighboring businesses and the surrounding community.

“Our community has raised concerns, and we have listened,” said Alicia Espinoza, Public Safety Manager for the City of Antioch’s Community Services Department. “This partnership is about moving from concerns to solutions — connecting people to treatment while strengthening safety, accountability and quality of life for the surrounding community.” 

History & Challenges

Before the BAART Programs Antioch facility opened in the late 1990’s, the Antioch City Council worked to find the organization another location in the city that wasn’t adjacent to a residential neighborhood. The City spent approximately $850,000 in a legal battle but lost because the location is zoned for medical uses.

Since then, there have been challenges including shoplifting in the nearby shopping center where Raley’s was located believed to be associated with the facility’s clientele.

“BAART Programs is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care while being a responsible community partner,” said Tracy Hern, Treatment Center Director for BAART Programs Antioch. “We appreciate the City of Antioch’s collaboration and shared commitment to increasing access to treatment, supporting recovery and creating positive outcomes for residents.” 

The partnership builds upon operational improvements and community engagement efforts undertaken by BAART Programs Antioch over the past year under new local leadership. The agreement establishes expanded services along with performance and reporting expectations to help ensure accountability and measure progress. 

Community Partnership Celebration

The City of Antioch and BAART Programs will commemorate the partnership with a community event:

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 2:00 p.m.

BAART Programs Antioch – 3707 Sunset Lane

The event will bring together City leadership, BAART Programs, Public Safety and Community Resources/AQCRT representatives, neighboring businesses, community partners and residents. The program will include brief remarks, refreshments, community resources and a ceremonial recognition of the partnership.

About BAART Programs

BAART Programs provides evidence-based treatment and recovery support services for individuals with opioid use disorder. Through medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and care coordination, BAART helps individuals achieve lasting recovery while promoting healthier communities. BAART Programs is part of BayMark Health Services, a national leader in addiction treatment and recovery services.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Monique Binkley Smith, Manager, Media Relations, Sutter Health 

ANTIOCH, Calif., (August 18, 2026) Sutter Health has named Rick Moreland, MBA, as chief executive officer of Sutter Delta Medical Center, effective Aug. 24.

In this role, Moreland will report directly to Christina Oh, president of Sutter Health’s Greater San Francisco and East Bay Division, and will serve as dyad partner to Harish Rengarajan, M.D., chief medical executive of Sutter Delta Medical Center, who joined the hospital in February.

“Rick is a proven healthcare leader with deep operational expertise and a strong commitment to quality, access and patient-centered care,” said Oh. “Over the past year, he has provided steady leadership during a period of transition while helping advance key organizational priorities, strengthen performance and support our physicians, caregivers and staff. I am confident Rick will build on Sutter Delta’s strong foundation and continue delivering exceptional care to the East Contra Costa County communities we serve.”

Moreland brings more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience across acute care hospitals, ambulatory services, service line operations and healthcare transformation. He most recently served as interim chief executive officer and executive of operations at Sutter Delta Medical Center, where he provided executive leadership during a period of organizational transition while maintaining a strong focus on quality, patient access, workforce engagement and financial stewardship.

Under Moreland’s leadership, Sutter Delta maintained its Leapfrog “A” Hospital Safety Grade, achieved American College of Cardiology accreditation and advanced operational performance through improvements in patient throughput and organizational execution.

Prior to joining Sutter Health in 2025, Moreland served as executive of operations for perioperative and surgical services at the University of Vermont Medical Center and Children’s Hospital, where he oversaw operations across Vermont’s largest academic health system.

His previous leadership roles include chief operating officer at Dignity Health’s Mercy Medical Center in Merced, Calif., where he led operations across a multi-campus medical center, rural health clinics, a cancer center and ambulatory surgery services. He also held leadership positions at Adventist Health Rideout and Stanford Health Care, where he helped launch innovative cardiovascular and surgical programs and led major service line growth initiatives.

Moreland holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Capella University and a bachelor’s degree in community studies from Humphreys University.

About Sutter Health

Sutter Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system dedicated to providing comprehensive care throughout California. Guided by a commitment to advancing innovative patient care, healthy outcomes and community partnerships, Sutter is pursuing a bold plan to reach more people and make excellent healthcare more connected, accessible and personalized.

Today, its dedicated team of more than 64,000 employees and clinicians and 15,000+ affiliated physicians care for more than 3.6 million patients and are united by a shared focus on expanding care to serve more

patients. Sutter delivers exceptional and affordable care through its hospitals, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care clinics, telehealth, home health and hospice services.

Recognized nationally for its workplace culture, Sutter Health has been named to Modern Healthcare’s 2026 Best Places to Work in Healthcare list and Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2026. Learn more about how Sutter Health is transforming care at sutterhealth.org and vitals.sutterhealth.org.

By Trish Heaney, Marketing and Communications Manager, Steve Spraitzar, Public Relations, and Tyler McCarthy, Outreach Associate, White Pony Express

ANTIOCH, Calif. – White Pony Express (WPE) and Kaiser Permanente partnered to hold a Drive-Thru Giveaway Saturday on August 1, 2026, at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center, distributing groceries and essential goods to 200 local families while marking a milestone of 32 million meals rescued and delivered to Contra Costa County residents since WPE’s founding.

Families were connected to the event through 20 Antioch-based nonprofit partners served by WPE. Each family received two bags of fresh groceries along with hygiene kits, toys, children’s books, and treats. In total, WPE distributed 5,075 pounds of groceries and more than 2,500 hygiene and beauty kits and children’s gifts.

“Extraordinary things are possible when we commit to the shared belief that every one of us belongs to one human family and when one person thrives, we all thrive,” said White Pony Express CEO Eve Birge. “This drive-thru is more than a giveaway — it’s a celebration of a community showing up for itself, with love at the center.”

Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal, who attended the event, pointed to White Pony Express’s outsized role in the city.

“I didn’t realize Antioch gets the most food from White Pony Express out of the whole county,” Bernal said. “This is a great way to address not just food insecurity but having quality food for people — because that’s really the missing element.”

Antioch Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker, a longtime WPE community partner, echoed that sentiment.

“White Pony Express has always showed up and showed out and made sure our families had what they needed,” Walker said. “You bring White Pony Express together with Kaiser Permanente, you get two organizations that are caring for people in very practical ways to make sure their families are healthy.”

Events like the August 1st giveaway come as food insecurity continues to climb across Contra Costa County driven by CalFresh cuts, rising grocery and housing costs, and stagnant wages.

White Pony Express was founded on the idea that hunger is not caused by a lack of food, but by a failure to connect existing surplus with the people who need it. Each day, WPE’s staff and 2,000+ volunteers rescue fresh food and essential goods from local grocers, farms, and businesses and deliver it within 24 hours to families across the county — a model that allows the organization to scale and respond quickly as hunger grows more widespread.

About White Pony Express

White Pony Express is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner on a simple, radical belief: hunger is not a scarcity problem, it’s a logistics problem. Our mission is to end hunger and poverty by delivering the abundance already all around us to our neighbors in need — with love. Every day, WPE’s staff and 2,000+ volunteers rescue fresh, healthy food and essential goods from local grocers, farms, and businesses, redistributing it within 24 hours to families across Contra Costa County. To date, we’ve recovered and delivered more than 38 million pounds of food through partnerships with 140+ nonprofits, schools and faith-based organizations, guided by the mantra “all of us taking care of all of us”.

Including Antioch resident, an LMC student

By Elissa Harrington, Senior Media Relations & Public Relations Representative, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Stephanie Ponce, an Antioch resident and student at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, spent her summer interning at the Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center. 

She applied for the eight-week paid summer internship program, earning $25.09-$29.16 per hour, after taking a college course that piqued her interest in medicine.

“This is an amazing opportunity to see if health care is for you,” said Ponce. “There are many jobs in health care that aren’t just working with patients, but also administrative roles.”

Ponce is one of more than 300 interns who participated in Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH program. The paid internship gives high school and college aged students exposure to careers in health care at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical offices. They learn practical skills and receive mentoring from health care professionals.

Ponce said she did administrative work and had the chance to shadow pediatric nurses. She watched one nurse help a child who was scared to get a shot. “I saw how she comforted the patient during a shot. She stayed there, talked to them, and explained what the medication was and how it was going to work.”

Jessica Chambers is a Program Coordinator for the KP LAUNCH program at the Antioch Medical Center. She helped with scheduling and coordinated with the departments on how to provide opportunities for the interns to learn and grow.

“We educated the interns on a variety of different topics,” said Chambers. “We have different people who come out and tell them a little bit about their departments or their jobs.”

Chambers said it was important to keep the interns engaged every day and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills. “We gave the interns an opportunity to see what it looks like in real life. We also had a variety of different guest speakers, because every journey is not the same,” she said.

Ponce said she has always loved helping people, and this internship confirmed she’s on the right career path: “It reinforced my love for health care and doing a people-facing job like this.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.