Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Antioch council to discuss possible Israel-Hamas ceasefire resolution Tuesday

Monday, March 18th, 2024
Members of the Antioch City Council meeting audience wear pro-Palestinian keffiyeh scarves on Feb. 27, 2024. Photo by Allen D. Payton Former PLO and PNA leader Yasser Arafat wearing his iconic fishnet pattern keffiyeh in 2001. Source: ndawehistory.weebly.com

During special meeting; Ogorchock, Barbanica will not attend citing scheduling conflicts

By Allen D. Payton

During a special meeting called by Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe for Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the Antioch City Council, on a possible a ceasefire resolution for the Israel-Hamas War as proposed by District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker. (See meeting agenda)

Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker and residents wear pro-Palestinian keffiyeh scarves during public comments at the Antioch City Council meeting on Feb. 27, 2024. Video screenshots.

The council’s consideration follows requests by members of the public during recent Antioch Council meetings at which Torres-Walker, some speakers and members of the audience could be seen wearing black and white, fishnet pattern scarves known as keffiyehs. They have become a national symbol of pro-Palestinian activists in the Israel-Palestine conflict dating back to the 1936–1939 Arab revolt against the British. Former Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian National Authority (PNA) leader Yasser Arafat could regularly be seen wearing one.

A resident wearing a keffiyeh scarf speaks during public comments asking for a ceasefire resolution at the Antioch City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Video screenshot

This is perhaps the first time ever the council will delve into international matters and possibly give direction to the president and representatives in Congress. One idea is to tell the Biden Administration to not spend any tax dollars generated in Antioch on weapons sent to Israel.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the council will receive public comments, discuss the matter and provide direction to city staff on a possible proposed resolution.

Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock said she would not attend as she only learned of the special meeting in a text from Acting City Manager Kwame Reed over the weekend and had already made other plans. Councilman Mike Barbanica will also not be in attendance as he also has a scheduling conflict, which he said he told the mayor last Monday.

The agenda was just issued on Monday afternoon, March 18, 2024, complying with the 24-hour minimum notice requirement.

It also follows the Richmond City Council’s 5-1 vote last October to condemn Israel and support the “Palestinian People of Gaza”. Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia opposed the resolution writing, “The passage of any resolution, regardless of attempts to amend it, will only contribute to the divisiveness.” It also follows a requested resolution by members of the public and the Brentwood City Council last November, but it has not been placed on a meeting agenda, as of yet.

The Antioch Council meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street.

Male pedestrian dies from hit-and-run car collision early Sunday

Sunday, March 17th, 2024

By Lt. John Fortner, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Sunday, March 17, 2024, at 01:31 AM, the Antioch Police Department Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting a vehicle collision involving one male pedestrian in the area of 1800 Wilbur Avenue. Once officers arrived, they learned a Kia sedan struck an unknown male in the roadway. Afterwards, the driver fled the scene.

Officers rendered first aid until paramedics from the Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ConFire) arrived and took over. Unfortunately, the male victim succumbed to his injuries at the scene and was pronounced deceased by emergency medical personnel. The victim is not being identified at this time until next-of-kin notifications have been made.

During the preliminary investigation evidence and witness statements were collected. The investigation is currently active, and APD Accident Investigators assumed control of the Hit & Run collision investigation.

This investigation is ongoing, and we ask anyone with information to contact Sergeant R. Green (rgreen@antiochca.gov) or Officer J. Egan (jegan@antiochca.gov) of the Traffic Unit at 925-779-6864. You may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword ANTIOCH.

Park Middle School Cheerleaders take first at national competition

Sunday, March 17th, 2024
Park Middle School cheerleaders following their win on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Photos: Marie West

By Marie West, Head Cheer Coach, Park Middle School

Congratulations to the Park Middle School Cheerleaders for winning first place at the Rockstar-Justice League National Cheer and Dance Competition in Sacramento on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Over 50 teams participated in the national competition. Over 50 teams participated in the competition, one of six different cheerleading and dance events held across the country.

This is the first official cheer team at Park Middle School and the first middle school in Antioch Unified School District history to compete at a national cheer competition.

Way to make your school and AUSD proud! Go Spartans!

Police investigate suspicious death of burned body found Antioch

Sunday, March 17th, 2024

By Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau

On March 16, 2024, at approximately 6:51 PM, Antioch police officers responded to the rear of the 2900 block of Melon Court at the request of Con Fire for a reported fire coming from the area.

When officers arrived, they located a person deceased who had been severely burned. The cause of death is unknown. The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit took over the investigation.

The cause of death is pending an autopsy from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released.

Additional inquiries or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Palma at (925) 779-6876 or by emailing kpalma@antiochca.gov.

Antioch Council flies Pan-African, Black Liberation flag at city hall through Juneteenth

Saturday, March 16th, 2024
The Pan-African flag seen flying on pole at City Hall on Feb. 29, 2024. (Photo by Allen D. Payton) and the flag on display on the council dais during their Feb. 13, 2024, meeting. Video screenshot.

Originally intended to fly all February in honor of Black History Month

By Allen D. Payton

During their Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, meeting the Antioch City Council voted unanimously to display the Pan-African Flag at City Hall. The council then took a break and raised the flag on the City’s flagpole in recognition of Black History Month in the City of Antioch. However, before voting on the resolution, the council added an amendment to the motionto fly the flag until Juneteenth on June 19th, 2024. The flag had previously been displayed on the council dais during their Feb. 13th meeting.

Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe, Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker were dressed in African-style clothing. Earlier that day, during the ceremonial oath of office for new Interim Police Chief Brian Addington, the mayor shared he was wearing a Dashiki from Nigeria for the occasion later that evening. District 1 Councilman Mike Barbanica later said that the mayor provided him and District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock with African-style scarves to wear during the council meeting.

The council members were dressed in African-theme clothing during their meeting on Feb. 27, 2024. Video screenshot

According to the city staff report on the agenda item, “The City received a request from Antioch ACCE (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment) to fly the Pan-African Flag, also known as the Afro-American Flag and the Black Liberation Flag, at Antioch City Hall.

The Pan-African Flag is a tri-color flag consisting of three equal horizontal bands, which are red, black, and green. The three colors on the Pan-African Flag each have a symbolic meaning:

Red represents the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and that was shed for liberation.

Black represents people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation-state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag.

Green represents the abundant natural wealth of Africa.

The Pan-African Flag was adopted by the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) at a conference in New York City in 1920.”

The flag is also referred to as the Marcus Garvey flag after the Jamaican political activist, and founder and first President-General of the UNIA. According to the history of the flag on the UNIA website, “Alternatively, it has been explained by journalist Charles Mowbray White that Garvey proposed the colors for the following reasons: ‘Garvey said red because of sympathy for the ‘Reds of the world’, and the Green their sympathy for the Irish in their fight for freedom, and the Black- [for] the Negro.’”

Tashina Garrett was joined by other ACCE representatives as she spoke about the Pan-African Flag during public comments during the Antioch City Counci meeting on Feb. 27, 2024. Video screenshot

Before the council’s vote on the resolution, a group of residents representing ACCE gathered with Tashina Garrett who spoke during public comments and offered additional historical information about the flag.

“It was created to represent the people of the African diaspora and to symbolize Black liberation in the United States,” she said. “As flags symbolize the union of governance, people in territory, this flag was created to give Black people in America and the world over the symbol that unifies the diaspora. The red which symbolizes our blood that was shed. The black symbolizes those bodies that were beat and burned and everything else. And the green represents the land that was stolen. I appreciate you guys giving us the opportunity to even fly this flag.”

Thorpe said flying the flag would not preclude other flags from flying at City Hall and explained why it wasn’t flown until the last three days of Black History Month.

“This request came in from ACCE Antioch and they did submit it in a timely fashion. It should have been flown the entire month of February. The mayor messed up,” he stated. “Because we had a new process. I assumed it was an administrative process and we looked at the policy, again and I said, ‘Thomas (City Attorney Smith), you need to review this and send it to council. So, it came on to this meeting.”

He then made the request to fly it through June saying, “That’s my request for dropping the ball and making it up to ACCE Antioch.”

As Wilson was making a motion to fly the flag, Thorpe asked it be flown through the end of May. Someone in the audience suggested flying it until Juneteenth and Wilson changed her motion to include that. Barbanica seconded the motion and without further comments by council members it passed 5-0.

The council then took a brief recess to raise the flag on the pole outside City Hall.

(See 28:30 mark of council meeting video)

The council unanimously passed the following:

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANTIOCH DIRECTING STAFF TO FLY THE PAN-AFRICAN FLAG AT ANTIOCH CITY HALL THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024 IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

(with the amendment to display the Pan-African Flag until Juneteenth 2024)

WHEREAS, in 1920, the Pan-African Flag, also known as the Black Liberation Flag and the Afro-American Flag, was adopted by the UNIA at a conference in New York City;

WHEREAS, the Pan-African Flag is a tri-color flag consisting of three equal horizontal bands, which are red, black, and green;

WHEREAS, the three colors on the Pan-African Flag each have a symbolic meaning: Red represents the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and that was shed for liberation; Black represents people whose existence as a nation, though not a nation state, is affirmed by the existence of the flag; and

Green represents the abundant natural wealth of Africa;

WHEREAS, many of the residents, students, employees, and business owners within the City of Antioch who contribute to the enrichment of our City are a part of the African American community;

WHEREAS, African Americans serve as leaders in all professional fields, make contributions that strengthen the fabric of American society;

WHEREAS, African Americans should feel safe to learn, grow, work, and enjoy their lives without the fear of discrimination, harassment, or hate crimes;

WHEREAS, the African American civil rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done within our nation;

WHEREAS, the Pan-African Flag, also known as the Black Liberation Flag or Afro American Flag, has been used since the 1920’s as a symbol of freedom and unity;

WHEREAS, flying the Pan-African Flag at City Hall throughout the month of February further symbolizes the City’s celebration of diversity and support for the African American community;

WHEREAS, the Pan-African Flag has been raised around the world as a symbol of freedom, unity, inclusion, belonging, and hope for members of the African American community;

WHEREAS, the City of Antioch will be offered a Pan-African Flag by residents of its community who request to fly the flag at City Hall during Black History Month; and

WHEREAS, the City Council is open to considering similar requests to fly flags celebrating the efforts of other nationally recognized civil rights movements that strive for equal rights and equal protection under the law for groups that have historically endured and sought to overcome unlawful and unjust discrimination within our country.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Antioch hereby resolves as follows:

1. The Acting City Manager or designee is directed to fly the Pan-African Flag, also known as the Black Liberation Flag and the Afro-American Flag, at City Hall throughout the month of February 2024 in recognition of Black History Month in the City of Antioch.

2. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption.”

According to the City staff report, the flag was provided to the City by residents of the community.

With Hernandez-Thorpe, Torres-Walker absent Antioch council fails to approve ban on organizing sideshows

Saturday, March 16th, 2024
Councilman Barbanica speaks against the ordinance banning sideshow organizing during the Antioch Council meeting on March 12, 2024 for which both Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe and Councilwoman Torres-Walker were absent. (Video screenshot) Spectators watch a sideshow in Antioch on Sept. 24, 2023. Herald file photo.

Barbanica, Ogorchock want fines for spectators, greater penalties included

“This is doing really nothing. It is absolutely useless.” – Councilman Barbanica.

“I want this stronger. I’m not going to vote for it, this time.” – Councilwoman Ogorchock

“Yes, this is kind of a weak ordinance,” Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson

“You know how you get people? You hit them in the pocket…and hit hard.” – Police Oversight Commissioner Leslie May.

Public speaker says San Joaquin Co. Sheriff arrested 150 spectators, impounded 88 cars from sideshow.

By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the Antioch City Council failed to approve the second reading to adopt an ordinance banning organizing or advertising street racing, sideshows and reckless driving exhibitions. With Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker absent and Councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Lori Ogorchock changing positions on the matter, no motion was made by the three council members in attendance to adopt the new ordinance. The council had previously voted 5-0 to approve it at their Feb. 27, 2024, meeting, but the two councilmembers wanted a stronger ordinance with fines for those who attend sideshows and greater penalties. However, during the Nov. 14, 2023, meeting, the council majority opposed making it illegal to be a spectator at a sideshow.

District 2 Councilman Barbanica was the first member of the council to speak on the matter Tuesday night, under Item I on the Consent Calendar saying, “Yes, I voted for this when it came out initially. But it’s been no secret that I don’t think this goes nearly far enough. This is just a feel-good thing. The reality of it is, is our police department’s not truly going to be able to sit there and track down who organizes a side show. It could have been much more effective, a tool that was used much more effective if, in fact, we would have allowed our officers to cite. But unfortunately, there wasn’t an appetite for that. I think this is, it’s better than nothing but it’s pretty close to nothing. As we move forward with it, don’t expect to see a lot of citations issued for organizers, because the reality of it is determining who organizes something, how it’s put together is extremely difficult. So, it’s a tool on our books that we can all go, ‘woo, we did something’. We did almost nothing, here.”

District 3 Councilwoman Ogorchock agreed with her colleague saying, “I’m very frustrated with this ordinance, also. At our last council meeting when this was discussed I did vote for it because this is a beginning, it’s a start. But I was hoping the start would actually evolve into something.”

She then took City Attorney Thomas L. Smith to task stating, “I’m disappointed, right now, with the city attorney because I had a conversation with him, requesting that he reach out to other cities to find out what their ordinances were regarding the sideshows. Some of them have stricter ordinances than we have. I wanted it to go out across California to find out who else was doing different things within the state of California on this very specific issue.”

“Another part of the conversation was, we as a city, as we did with the rent control, we can make stricter ordinances of what the state makes,” Ogorchock continued. “This doesn’t mean anything, to me. This is just like a piece of paper saying we’ve got this ordinance. So, I want this stronger. I’m not going to vote for it, this time. It can’t pass, tonight. But if it comes back at another time it can pass at another time. But until we get some teeth behind this thing and make it to where these people are punished then I’m not going to vote for it just to have paper and say we have an ordinance. I’m not going to do it.”

During public comments, Leslie May, a member of the new Police Oversight Commission, said, “My goodness, I agree with Lori. This needs to have money. We need to put more money. You know how you get people? You hit them in the pocket…and hit hard.”

She also mentioned finding on Facebook “a link where these people are setting up sideshows. I called the mayor’s office. I think I got a call back from the police department and I told them where one big organizer was, located by Costco. They told me they couldn’t do anything about it.”

“The next time you rewrite this, you give the public a number directly into the police department to let them know and send a screenshot to let them know they’re planning this…so the police department can be prepared,” she added.

“Yes, this is kind of a weak ordinance,” Mayor Pro Tem Monica Wilson who chaired the meeting. “But I err on the side of I’d rather see something pass as a start. But this is probably going to be coming back.”

City Attorney Smith then said, “The discussion we had, previously was about misdemeanors and in fact, what we said was the misdemeanor was capped at $1,000 or six months in prison.” He then read from state law allowed either or both. “That’s what we have,” he added.

“What we did with the ordinance was, we found a gap,” Smith continued. “That was around the advertising as we noted in the ordinance, and we created a separate opportunity where we could apply that fine at the misdemeanor level. So, when we talked about the potential of what could happen to people who engage in sideshows, this ordinance provides an additional layer above and beyond what already exists. This is an additive tool. This is not something that is complete in terms of what the police officers have available to them when they encounter sideshows.”

Ogorchock responded saying, “Let’s talk about the misdemeanor. That’s the misdemeanor they get for driving. This is the misdemeanor for organizing. When we look…under remedies and penalties for rent control, we’ve added penalties to the rent control that the state had and we added more. We increased those fines. We’re not increasing anything, here.”

“It’s one of the things you and I talked about,” she said to Smith. “And I asked for another way to put more teeth behind this and to find out from other cities what other cities are doing.”

“We can put some teeth behind it and increase it. We can’t go lower than what the state says. We can increase it and that’s what I’m asking for,” Ogorchock reiterated.

Barbanica later said, “So, I actually had called…and hosted the meeting and Ms. May was in the meeting with me and she brought up the fact that we need to hit them in the pocketbook. While sitting in that meeting, I sent an email to the city manager and the mayor saying I want an ordinance brought in front of the council where we can actually cite people for attending these sideshows and there’s a financial penalty associated with that.”

“This has fallen way short of that,” he stated. “And each meeting I’ve pushed for let’s beef this up much more than it is. I can’t in good conscience just pass something just because, well, we want to say we did something. We want to hit the press tomorrow saying we did something. This is doing really nothing.”
“Having this in addition to an ordinance that we can hit folks in their pocketbook when they’re out there destroying city property, and so on, I would be all for that,” Barbanica continued. “But all this did was just weaken this thing down. It is absolutely useless. You’re not going to hear a motion or a second coming from me, tonight on this.”

Ogorchock offered her final comments on the matter stating, “At the last council meeting, it was talking about having to reimburse for services that have to go out and take from other areas of town. The instance that I brought up was there were two firetrucks that couldn’t get to calls, because of these sideshows. So, whoever organized the sideshow actually stopped our first responders. So, they need to be fined for the diminishing of our services or paying back for our services.”

Public Speaker Says San Joaquin Co. Sheriff Arrested 150 Spectators, Impounded 88 Cars from Sideshow

Wilson re-opened public comments on the item with both in favor of fines for spectators.

Resident Andrew Becker said, “I agree with the comments made. If you’re concerned about being fined at a sideshow don’t be at a sideshow.”

Another member of the public, Eddie Gomes with ACCE, spoke of what is done in San Joaquin County. “Sheriff Patrick Winthrop, and he arrested 150 people. It was on video. Had the buses. Took all their cars. 88 cars. They don’t get them back.”

“I mean, you want to hit them in the pocket, have them kids driving their mama’s car and get it taken,” he continued to applause from the audience. “Laws can have law enforcement and getting on the internet and finding out where it’s going to happen, beforehand. I wouldn’t say a word. I would just show up just like the sheriff with the buses, take them away.”

Following the final comments from the public, Wilson asked, “Is there a motion?” Barbanica responded, “No, there is not.”

Since none of the three council members made a motion to adopt the ordinance, Wilson stated, “So, it dies without a motion.”

Barbanica then said, “I apologize to the city staff for the work you put into this. I know this had to be a lot of work. But I was pretty clear along the way where I wanted to go but I understand your position.”

(See council meeting video beginning at the 1:16:00 mark)

Californians face higher electricity rates based on income

Saturday, March 16th, 2024

For households earning $28K per year or more; unless state legislature reverses course; 5 local legislators voted for bill

By Allen D. Payton

Bill Votes – AB-205 Energy. (ca.gov)

In 2022, the California legislature passed and Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB205 – Energy into law, which requires that the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) “shall, no later than July 1, 2024, authorize a fixed charge for default residential rates.” As a result, the CPUC is currently reviewing proposals for a tiered, fixed-price structure, as directed by the bill.

According to FOX Business, the state’s three main, investor-owned utilities – Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) – proposed a tiered rate plan: “Households earning $28,000-$69,000 would be charged an extra $20 to $34 per month. Those earning $69,000-$180,000 would pay $51 to $73 per month, and those earning more than $180,000 would pay a $85-to-$128 monthly surcharge.”

According to California Energy Markets, “The first version of the income-graduated fixed charge, or IGFC, could be implemented by SDG&E and SCE by 2026, according to Freedman. PG&E is in the process of changing its billing system, he said, so its implementation would likely be in 2027.”

That’s on top of the 13% increase for both electricity and natural gas rates for PG&E customers approved by a unanimous vote of the CPUC last November that went into effect on January 1, 2024. Plus, another vote on March 7 for $4-$6 in additional monthly fees for the typical ratepayer that will take effect in April, was approved for PG&E to recover $516 million in costs for wildfire mitigation, gas safety and electric modernization.

According to a Canary Media report, “The utilities are also proposing to significantly lower the per-kilowatt-hour charges that customers pay to counterbalance the big increase in fixed charges, and to structure both fixed and volumetric charges in a way that allows lower-income customers to save money overall. Still, the proposal, if enacted, would instantly make California the home of the nation’s highest monthly utility fixed fees, according to analysis by clean energy research firm EQ Research.”

The IGFC would require the CPUC to evaluate every ratepayer’s income annually in order to assess the appropriate fee.

Local Legislators Voted for Bill

Five of Contra Costa’s state legislators supported AB205 on party-line votes including Assemblymembers Tim Grayson, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Buffy Wicks, Lori Wilson and State Senator Nancy Skinner. The first four each voted for the bill, twice.

Assemblyman Jim Frazier didn’t vote on the bill in 2021 and State Senator Steve Glazer didn’t vote on AB205 during the State Senate’s floor vote in 2022. Newsom signed the bill into law on June 30, 2022.

Details of New Law

As of July 1, 2022, the applicable portion of the law now reads as follows:

SEC. 10. Section 739.9 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

(d)  The commission may adopt new, or expand existing, fixed charges for the purpose of collecting a reasonable portion of the fixed costs of providing electrical service to residential customers. The commission shall ensure that any approved charges do all of the following:

    (1) Reasonably reflect an appropriate portion of the different costs of serving small and large customers.

    (2) Not unreasonably impair incentives forconservation, energy efficiency, and beneficial electrification and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. 

    (3) Are set at levels that do not overburden low-income customers.

(e)(1) For the purposes of this section and Section 739.1, the commission may authorize fixed charges for any rate schedule applicable to a residential customer account. The fixed charge shall be established on an income-graduated basis with no fewer than three income thresholds so that a low-income ratepayer in each baseline territory would realize a lower average monthly bill without making any changes in usage. The commission shall, no later than July 1, 2024, authorize a fixed charge for default residential rates.

    (2) For purposes of this subdivision, ‘income-graduated’ means that low-income customers pay a smaller fixed charge than high-income customers.”

Source: Energy Sage published 3/10/24

Californians Pay 27% More for Electricity Than National Average

According to Energy Sage, California residents currently pay 31 cents per kilowatt-hour compared to the national average of 18 cents per kilowatt-hour. “On average, California residents spend about $256 per month on electricity. That adds up to $3,072 per year. That’s 27% higher than the national average electric bill of $2,426.” 

Effort to Reverse Course

Now, some members of the legislature are trying to backpedal on their votes and stop the IGFC increases from being approved. As they had unsuccessfully attempted last September, on Jan. 30, Republican lawmakers tried to bring an immediate vote to repeal AB 205 to the Senate floor, but Democrats who have the majority, voted to table the motion.

That same day, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, (D-Thousand Oaks) and 10 others introduced a bill to repeal AB205. According to Irwin’s press release about the new bill, “The CPUC has had the authority to implement a fixed rate charge, up to $10, since 2015, but has declined to do so. I see no need to rush now. It’s time to put some reasoning back into how we charge for electricity in California.” Bauer-Kahan is listed as a principal coauthor. It was also introduced in the State Senate.

According to the aforementioned Canary Media report, “The newly introduced bill, AB 1999, would limit the CPUC to adding a fixed charge of no greater than $10 a month on customers’ bills to pay for the rising costs of maintaining the state’s utility grids, regardless of household income.”

The bill is in the committee process, was referred to the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Electricity. If approved it will then head to the floors of both houses of the state legislature for votes and if passed, the bill will head to the governor’s desk for his signature or veto.

Service Pros Plumbers, Drill Tech are 2023 Antioch Businesses of the Year

Friday, March 15th, 2024
Service Pros Plumbers staff and equipment. Source: Antioch Chamber of Commerce
Tom Menasco, who nominated Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, with their team members, Shannon and Ann Creson, Dave Shupe, Brad Middleton and Darin Gossett, with Chamber Membership Director Jack Monroe. Source: Antioch Chamber of Commerce

To be honored at annual Chamber of Commerce Gala March 22

Antioch, CA – Among the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s annual award winners, Service Pros Plumbers was named Small Business of the Year, and Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring was named Large Business of the Year.

Small Business of the Year – Service Pros Plumbers 

Service Pros Plumbers, with their skills and dedication, actively contribute and volunteer in Antioch to support various charitable and community initiatives. Jason and Ana started this small business in Antioch in 2012 and have since expanded, creating employment opportunities within the community. Whenever help is needed, they respond promptly. They have aided numerous local organizations and charities, consistently offering their support. Their dedication to making a positive impact on the community remains unwavering.

Large Business of the Year – Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring

Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring is an Antioch based, family-owned company that employs 350 staff members in our local area and over 600 across the country. They actively support and participate in local organizations and events. Their generous donations greatly benefit our community. The owners quietly support many organizations, groups, and individuals without seeking praise or acknowledgment for their generosity. They provide help to those in need through their actions rather than seeking recognition. This quiet support benefits numerous people and makes a positive impact in the community. Their kindness and generosity make a difference in the lives of those they help.

Each of the winners will be honored at the Chamber’s annual Gala on Saturday, March 22, 2024 at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center. Tickets are $80 each or $640 for a reserved table of 8 and can be purchased on the Chamber’s website at www.antiochchamber.com.