An Antioch Police Officer seen punching homeless woman during an encampment abatement in Waldie Plaza after she bit him, causing her hat to fly off, on July 1, 2026. Video screenshot. Source: Facing Homelessness in Antioch
By Lt. Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On July 1, 2026, at about 9:35 a.m., the City of Antioch conducted a scheduled encampment abatement and cleanup at Waldie Plaza, located at 206 G St. Waldie Plaza is posted with City of Antioch signage advising that the area is subject to immediate abatement pursuant to Antioch Municipal Code § 5-1 and Penal Code § 647(e).
At the same time, BNSF Railway was conducting a separate encampment abatement on its adjacent railroad right-of-way. During that operation, several individuals who had been on BNSF property moved into the Waldie Plaza area.
Antioch Police officers were on scene to provide security and support while City Code Enforcement personnel and a contracted cleanup crew carried out the abatement.
Officers are routinely assigned to these operations to ensure the safety of City employees and contracted workers. Earlier this year, a contracted cleanup employee was assaulted while conducting a similar operation.
During the July 1 cleanup, a 41-year-old woman who had been on the adjacent BNSF property confronted members of the City’s contracted cleanup crew. Officers intervened and gave the woman repeated verbal commands to move away from the cleanup crew so the operation could safely continue. Despite warnings, she refused to comply with officers’ lawful commands.
As officers arrested the woman for interfering with their duties, she bit the shoulder of one of the arresting officers. The officer responded with a physical strike to stop the assault and placed her under arrest. She was taken into custody and later booked into the Contra Costa County Detention Facility on charges of resisting, delaying, or obstructing a law enforcement officer as well as resisting a law enforcement officer with violence. See related article.
As part of protocol, information about this incident is currently or in process of being submitted to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. Our DOJ consultant and the Antioch Police Department Internal Affairs Division have been advised of the incident. The department is in the process of assigning this incident to an independent investigator for review. As this is an active investigation, the officer involved will be placed on paid administrative leave.
Chief Vigil is releasing the following statement at this time:
“Any use of force by our officers is taken seriously. This incident will be fully reviewed under our use of force policy, state law, and our department’s current independent oversight framework.”
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center at (925) 778-2441.
Additional information or updates will be released by the Investigations Bureau as appropriate.
An Antioch Police Officer seen punching homeless woman during an encampment abatement in Waldie Plaza after she tried to bite him, causing her hat to fly off, on July 1, 2026. Video screenshots. Source: Facing Homelessness in Antioch
UPDATE 2:Admits she bit him, first
UPDATE 1: Antioch Police Department issues statement
By Allen D. Payton
A video posted on Monday afternoon, July 6, 2026, on the Facing Homelessness in Antioch & Community Connection’s Facebook page, shows a homeless woman getting punched in the head by an Antioch Police Officer, identified as Community Engagement Officer Nicholas Shipilov. She was struggling with him and another officer in Waldie Plaza as they were clearing the area in preparation for the Independence Day Celebration planned for Saturday, July 4th.
The post by local homeless advocate Nicole Gardner, Founder and Director of Facing Homelessness organization, is entitled, “Video of APD Community Engagement Officer Nicholas Shipilov punching an unhoused woman having a mental health crisis in the face during an illegal encampment sweep.”
In the video she says there was a homeless encampment sweep on July 1st that included both Waldie Plaza, which is a City park, and the railroad tracks. She said the APD Community Engagement Team and City’s Code Enforcement Officers were arresting the residents and telling them, “Ya’ll gotta go.” www.facebook.com/reel/1025054446734808
When asked by the person recording the video, “Why did you do that?” the officer said, “She bit me.”
Gardener referred to a previous video she posted on July 1st on the same page of her interaction with both City staff and homeless residents in Waldie Plaza. In it you can hear her asking if the residents were given proper notification. www.facebook.com/reel/880300225122640
The woman nicknamed Frenchie, was arrested.
In addition, a group of homeless residents were encamped last week on the steps and in front of City Hall. Lt. Michael Mellone said they were cleared out in time for the holiday activities which took place on W. 2nd Street, in the City Hall parking lot and in Waldie Plaza. The station for the parade judges, which included Gardner, was located on the sidewalk directly in front of City Hall. He said they had to be given a 48-hour notice.
When reached for further comment Gardner said about the woman, “She said she did try to bite him, first. She was released from custody this morning. She said her head still hurt. So, we’re going to take her to the hospital after she recovers her personal items from the police department.”
UPDATE 2: However, in an interview with NBC Bay Area News viewed later by the Herald, the woman, identified as Frenchie Hardy, said, “I bit him and he punched me in my face.”
About the officer Gardner, who is also an Antioch Parks and Recreation Commissioner, pointed out, “He was one of the officers who responded to the Angelo Quinto incident. He should have called the Crisis Response Team. They didn’t even call CORE. They need to coordinate better.” However, Waldie Plaza is treated differently.
Questions for Staff, Council
The following questions were emailed to City staff Monday evening, including Chief Joe Vigil, Acting City Manager Ana Cortez, City Attorney Lori Asuncion and PIO Jaden Baird, and again Tuesday afternoon.
“When did the incident occur?
“Was Officer Shipilov the one who punched the woman? If not, what is the officer’s name and is he a member of the Community Engagement Team?
“What is being or will be done about the incident? Will the officer be or has he been disciplined, especially in light of what the Dep’t and City went through and the lawsuits settled last year, and the class action lawsuit that appears to be continuing – Trent Allen, et al?
“Did he explain why it occurred? It appears she tried to bite him on his arm prior to the punch.
“What is the process for clearing homeless encampments?
“Does the 48-hour notice give to residents before removing them from an encampment have to be in writing?”
The same questions were sent to the mayor and council members.
Police Respond
Lt. Gary Lowther shared the following about the matter saying, “She was arrested for battery on a police officer and resisting, delaying and obstructing a peace officer and resisting with violence. The case was presented to the District Attorney’s Office.”
Asked about the officer he said, “Everything is still going through its normal channels of review.”
About the process for clearing homeless encampments Lowther said, “The signage in Waldie Plaza has language for immediate abatement. For other locations there’s a 48-hour notice with a piece of paper. Then they get in touch with CORE who will make contact with those folks during the couple of days.”
“The Crisis Response Team does not go along with Code Enforcement on abatements. It’s strictly enforcement,” he explained. “Public Works contracts out the clean-up and the personal items are stored for a couple of days, anything that isn’t deemed to be hazardous material.”
“BNSF was conducting a separate abatement along their railroad tracks at the same time. We weren’t involved in that,” Lowther stated.
“A press release is expected to be sent out soon,” he added.
Cortez responded later, “We are working on a response for you and will be in touch with you shortly.”
UPDATE 1: Antioch Police Department Statement on July 1 Use-of-Force Incident During Waldie Plaza Encampment Cleanup
By Lt. Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On July 1, 2026, at about 9:35 a.m., the City of Antioch conducted a scheduled encampment abatement and cleanup at Waldie Plaza, located at 206 G St. Waldie Plaza is posted with City of Antioch signage advising that the area is subject to immediate abatement pursuant to Antioch Municipal Code § 5-1 and Penal Code § 647(e).
At the same time, BNSF Railway was conducting a separate encampment abatement on its adjacent railroad right-of-way. During that operation, several individuals who had been on BNSF property moved into the Waldie Plaza area.
Antioch Police officers were on scene to provide security and support while City Code Enforcement personnel and a contracted cleanup crew carried out the abatement.
Officers are routinely assigned to these operations to ensure the safety of City employees and contracted workers. Earlier this year, a contracted cleanup employee was assaulted while conducting a similar operation.
During the July 1 cleanup, a 41-year-old woman who had been on the adjacent BNSF property confronted members of the City’s contracted cleanup crew. Officers intervened and gave the woman repeated verbal commands to move away from the cleanup crew so the operation could safely continue. Despite warnings, she refused to comply with officers’ lawful commands.
As officers arrested the woman for interfering with their duties, she bit the shoulder of one of the arresting officers. The officer responded with a physical strike to stop the assault and placed her under arrest. She was taken into custody and later booked into the Contra Costa County Detention Facility on charges of resisting, delaying, or obstructing a law enforcement officer as well as resisting a law enforcement officer with violence.
As part of protocol, information about this incident is currently or in process of being submitted to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. Our DOJ consultant and the Antioch Police Department Internal Affairs Division have been advised of the incident. The department is in the process of assigning this incident to an independent investigator for review. As this is an active investigation, the officer involved will be placed on paid administrative leave.
Chief Vigil is releasing the following statement at this time:
“Any use of force by our officers is taken seriously. This incident will be fully reviewed under our use of force policy, state law, and our department’s current independent oversight framework.”
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center at (925) 778-2441.
Additional information or updates will be released by the Investigations Bureau as appropriate.
———–
Please check back later for any additional updates to this report.
Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transitdemands transit agencies address waste, alternative funding sources and non-binding oversight loopholes before locking in a 14-year tax hike.
WALNUT CREEK, CA — A five-county coalition of taxpayer advocates, transit reformers and civic leaders today announced Monday, July 6, 2026, a campaign to defeat the regional transit sales tax slated for the November ballot. The newly formed Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit warns that the 14-year measure will push total sales tax rates up to or over a crushing 11 percent in nine Bay Area cities across Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties.
Authorized by SB 63 (Wiener, 2025), the measure seeks to raise sales taxes by a half-percent in four counties and a full one percent in San Francisco. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) projects the tax, at inception, will extract roughly $1 billion annually from the local economy and rising with inflation to surpass $14 billion over its term. This funding would come on top of the estimated $6 billion in tax and toll subsidies regional transit operators already receive each year.
Campaign organizers highlighted a strategic maneuver by the tax’s proponents, who utilized a citizens’ initiative route rather than having the MTC or transit districts place it on the ballot directly. This path lowers the voter approval threshold from the standard two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority.
“Bay Area voters are being asked to approve more than $14 billion in new taxes at a time when transit agencies are carrying fewer riders and receiving enormous subsidies,” said Marc Joffe, President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association and campaign committee member. “Before squeezing working families and seniors with sales tax rates of over 11 percent in some Bay Area cities and over 10 percent in many others, these agencies must explain why administrative overhead surged since 2019.”
“This measure locks taxpayers into an obsolete, pre-pandemic transit cost structure for 14 years, entirely ignoring how remote work and convenient, emerging transportation alternatives are reshaping regional mobility at no taxpayer expense,” said Gregg Dieguez of SHIFT-Bay Area, representing San Mateo County. “Furthermore, the oversight language in SB 63 is completely non-binding. It allows these agencies to continue wasteful business-as-usual operations with a guaranteed, unaccountable blank check.”
The committee emphasizes that defeating the measure will not shut down public transit. Instead, the coalition argues that the state should redirect a portion of the $1 billion annual cap-and-invest funds currently flowing to high-speed rail. They also propose pausing the region’s two largest capital megaprojects—BART’s Silicon Valley Phase II extension and Caltrain’s Portal downtown extension—to free up existing state and local dollars directly for operations while a leaner funding mechanism is designed for 2028. The committee notes that BART could potentially save hundreds of millions annually through targeted management actions alone, adding that the San Jose VTA does not require this funding for operations, labeling the measure a fiscal “hidden ball trick” to cover a bloated BART extension recently criticized by the Santa Clara County Grand Jury.
The Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit is actively recruiting volunteers, distributing lawn signs beginning in August, and accepting contributions at transitaccountability.com. The campaign website features a localized household tax calculator where residents across all five counties can instantly check the tax’s impact on their family.
About the Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit
The Committee for Affordable Bay Area Transit (CABAT) is a campaign committee sponsored by the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, a nonpartisan civic organization founded in 1937 and based in Walnut Creek. The committee has leadership and representation from all five counties affected by the so-called Connect Bay Area Transit sales tax: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. Contributions to the committee are not tax-deductible. The committee expects to amend its formal name to incorporate the official alphanumeric ballot designation of the “Connect Bay Area Transit” measure once assigned by election officials.
An Antioch Police K-9 Officer and SWAT Officer point their weapons at an apartment where the suspect was believed to be barricaded Saturday, July 4, 2026. Photos by Allen D. Payton
46-year-old Antioch resident
By Antioch Police Department
On Saturday, July 4, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Antioch Police Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a disturbance at an apartment in the 1600 block of Aster Drive at Crestview Drive off W. 10th Street, and a man inside who was possibly injured and bleeding.
Officers arrived and identified the man as Kevin Henry, a 46-year-old Antioch resident with an outstanding felony warrant for violating the terms of his post-release community supervision. This county probation program supervises certain individuals after their release from state prison.
Antioch Police and Con Fire personnel responded to the scene where Henry had barricaded himself in the apartment and threatened to burn down the complex.
According to Lt. Mike Mellone, “Police arrived on a disturbance call where someone was possibly injured inside an apartment. One person has an outstanding warrant for his arrest on an unrelated matter who is making threats to burn down the apartment building. Officers did see evidence the suspect had a gas can.”
“The County’s A3 Crisis Response Team and our crisis negotiator is speaking to him trying to get him to peacefully surrender,” he continued. “We conducted evacuations of the apartment complex.”
The Antioch Police Mobile Command Center was set up in a business parking lot at Auto Center Drive and W. 10th Street.
The street was blocked off in both directions and a Mobile Command Center was set up in a nearby business parking lot.
Officers attempted to persuade Henry to exit the apartment to receive medical treatment. He refused, barricaded himself inside, threatened to harm officers and to set the apartment on fire, and was seen in possession of a gasoline container. As a precaution, officers evacuated nearby apartment units. Antioch Police Crisis Negotiators and the APD SWAT team responded to the scene and negotiated with Henry throughout the afternoon. A mobile crisis response team from Contra Costa Health’s A3 (Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime) crisis program also responded to assist.
At approximately 4:09 p.m., Henry exited the apartment and surrendered to officers. He was immediately assessed by paramedics and transported to an area hospital for treatment. Once medically cleared, he will be booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on his outstanding warrant. Any additional charges will be reviewed in consultation with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
The Antioch Police Department thanks the Brentwood and Pittsburg Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit, Contra Costa Health’s A3 mobile crisis response team, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, and American Medical Response for their assistance. The department also thanks the residents and community members in the 1600 block of Aster Drive who assisted our personnel, and thanks all area residents for their patience while officers worked the scene.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441.
Anyone in Contra Costa County experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis can call the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center at (844) 844-5544, available 24 hours a day. Residents can also call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or dial 211 for information about local health and social services. www.cchealth.org/get-care/a3-crisis-response/a3-miles-hall-crisis-call-center.
Use common sense when parking and exiting your vehicle:
Take your vehicle’s key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
Park in well-lit areas if possible.
Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.
Thieves want vehicle parts and valuable items, too.
Radios and wheel covers aren’t the only popular stolen vehicle parts thieves take. They want whatever sells, from the mandated labeled parts to those that aren’t. Some of the most popular items stolen from vehicles include air bags, GPS units, cell phones, iPads, laptops, and purses. Parts like doors, engines and transmissions are stripped and sold.
While thefts declined last year, prevention starts with simple habits:
Keep valuables out of sight.
Lock your doors and roll up all windows.
Park in well-lit, visible areas.
Install a GPS tracker or recovery system
Use anti-theft tools
(steering wheel locks, alarms)
Always turn off your car and take your keys.
NEVER leave it running unattended.
A few seconds of prevention can save you the time, expense, and frustration of having your vehicle stolen.
Help protect your vehicle and don’t make it an easy target.
Public speakers – not all from Antioch – name four companies the City should divest from or not invest in claiming they’re part of Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza; if investments sold now there would be a loss
Work group to bring back proposed policy additions in 6 months with progress report in 3 months, as world’s two largest investment firms abandon them
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Antioch City Council unanimously agreed to move forward for future consideration liberal activist or “woke” practices in the City’s investment policy. The proposal was brought back after the council members failed to adopt the current investment policy on a 2-2 split vote during the June 9th Council meeting. Mayor Ron Bernal and Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas voted in favor, Councilwomen Monica Wilson and Tamisha Torres-Walker voted against, and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha was absent.
Referred to as Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) or Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing, the practice would, according to the City staff report for the item, #8 on the agenda, “filter out and exclude sectors and/or companies the City does not want to invest in. The current Policy includes two such prohibitions in Section V.3:a. which reads, ‘The City will not invest in any companies that produce alcohol for public consumption or tobacco products.’”
During the June 23rd meeting, the council directed staff to meet with a group, that has labeled itself Divest Contra Costa, to further develop proposed language, despite the world’s top two investment firms moving away from the practice that limits in which companies they can invest.
The group, which has no website, social media presences or a list of members, proposed the following language it wants added to the City’s investment policy:
“The City of Antioch will strive to invest its funds in ways that promote the wellbeing of our communities and our environment, favoring investment in entities that support the needs of peacetime daily life, in companies that offer renewable energy and other climate mitigation strategies, in companies with a strong environmental, labor, and social records, or in socially responsible community projects within our City.
“The City will refrain from investment in harmful industries such as tobacco, fossil fuels, mass incarceration or immigrant detention, and weaponry of any kind, or in companies with a consistent record of direct involvement in severe human rights violations such as slavery and prison labor, war crimes, illegal military occupation, racial segregation or apartheid.”
The challenge is how each of those categories will be defined and by whom, and the effort has specifically been to divest from companies based in Israel as the Left considers that country’s actions in Gaza an “illegal military occupation.”
In addition, space related companies use fossil fuels to power their rockets, and the Left is opposed to the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, which just issued its first public offering. Such a policy could prevent the City from investing in that or other similar companies and enjoying returns on investment from its growth.
According to the National and Legal Policy Center (NLPC), the world’s largest asset manager, “Blackrock was one of the pioneers of ESG investing, but in early 2025 abandoned “the ‘woke’ policies.” It was “the biggest sign yet that the vibe has shifted against liberal activism in the private sector.” In addition, NLPC reported in May 2026, “Vanguard, the second-largest index fund manager with approximately $10 trillion in assets under management, has similarly retreated in public posture while its index funds.”
According to the City staff report, while “there is no cost to adopt the draft policy attached, should the City choose to adopt an ESG investment practice, additional investment advisory fees could be incurred.
During Public Comments several speakers wore keffiyeh scarves and some members of the gallery held up a large poster. Video screenshots
Public Comments
During Public Comments, all who spoke supported adding such language to the City’s investment policy, with some wearing black-and-white checkered Palestinian and other keffiyehs, which are traditional head scarves worn in the Middle East and North Africa. They offered more details about the companies they don’t like, “in solidarity with Palestinians” and spoke against Israel’s military actions in Gaza as well as the U.S. military industrial companies that manufacture the arms being used. Others in the gallery held a Palestinian flag and wore a shirt with Palestinian flag colors. Three people held up a large poster showing a photo of children with the words, “Stop Investing in Our Genocide.” A speaker, who said his “family came from the West Bank where they currently reside” and runs a non-profit for Palestine, claimed those in the photo were in an orphan camp in Gaza.
“As a concerned world citizen, I have an obligation to stand up to injustice,” another speaker said.
A resident, who said he was “of Palestinian decent,” spoke of “specific exclusions” and mentioned companies he claimed “are tied to harm” that include some based or with operations in California: aerospace and defense contractor Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of construction and other equipment, Caterpillar, BP (British Petroleum) and Chevron, which relocated its headquarters from San Ramon to Houston, Texas at the end of 2024, due to the unfavorable government policies and opposition from those on the Left. He said his group wants the City instead “investing in” other projects such as the Homekey homeless hotel. That project will actually cost the City money and offer no return on investment for its portfolio.
The final man to speak and for a second time on the item, said he was from Concord and implored, “I think you need to realize that the litmus test for our humanity is what’s happening in Gaza and we’re funding it as well as Israel. Antioch has the choice…the chance the lead the way.” He said the Concord City Council “voted it down right away.”
Council Discussion and Decision
Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas asked staff about the amount the City receives from its investments. He mentioned a little over $2.1 million that the City will be receiving from “investments and rentals” in Fiscal Year 2027.
“That’s just in the General Fund,” City Finance Director Dawn Merchant responded. “All funds have investment income. But…every month the City Treasurer submits a Treasurer’s Report that lists all the investments, the security transactions and interest for that month, and a presentation twice a year from our investment advisor that gives portfolio earnings…year-to-date and from inception.”
“So, anyone who wants very detailed information about our investments they can look at our agenda, tonight?” the councilman asked. “Yes,” she stated.
District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker then asked about the current investments in three of the companies mentioned during Public Comments.
“The total, I assume this is cash value…Caterpillar, Chevron and Lockheed Martin…if the investments were sold there would be a loss. What is the total amount the City is making from these three investments…would it be a significant loss?” she asked.
“That’s the market value versus what the trade value would be,” Merchant responded. “There would be a loss.”
“There are two specific holdings for Caterpillar,” said the City’s investment advisor, Justin Resuello, Institutional Sales and Relationship Manager of PFM Asset Management (PFMAM). “The par value of both is…a little over $1.6 million and those mature in August 2028 and February 2029. Those currently present losses of approximately $1,274 and $17,103.”
“The two Chevron positions…both have a part of a little over $1.3 million,” he continued. “One matures Feb. 2028 and August 2028.” If sold now the City would lose about $500.
“The last position is one holding with Lockheed Martin that matures August 2028 with a par of about $600,000 and a current unrealized loss of about $5,000,” Resuello shared.
“So, these are all in that three-year end strategy. We’re pretty close to maturity,” he explained. “Our preference is still that the holdings are not sold at a loss. But…if that is what the Council wishes to do, we’ll act on your decision.”
“These amounts can change daily,” Finance Director Merchant interjected.
Torres-Wallker then said, “I think the question is, is the loss significant enough to not consider.”
“That’s up to Council discretion,” Merchant responded. “Any loss no matter what the amount, especially in our financial position. However,..if Council doesn’t want these investments…then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Torres-Walker then asked, “Is it possible to add additional language” to the section already prohibiting investments in tobacco and alcohol manufacturers. “I think this has already come up that we will not invest in companies that are involved in war crimes.”
“For the analytics that is used by investment companies, there’s no metric to say this company is involved in war crimes,” Merchant explained. “The language…that talks about apartheid, there’s not metric where they would be able to identify that. So, that’s where it gets a little bit tricky.” She then stated that the council could add sections from the proposed restrictions to the policy.
“As explained, this is not something that happens overnight. It’s taken some agencies up to a year to dial down on these investment strategies,” Merchant shared. “So, I don’t want to assume what the council majority will decide tonight.”
“I’m not saying that would be the direction of the council because it’s been a year people have been coming…asking,” Torres-Walker responded. “Your recommendation is that we take more time to develop a p policy. People are asking we immediately divest.”
“The recommendation would be to include language that investments that…fall from an exclusions list are either held until there is no loss or maturity, whichever occurs first,” Merchant stated.
Freitas then repeated what a member of the public said, who, “articulated what I think is part of the challenge for the city council…to adopt a clear, ethical investing policy, that we need to establish standards, that we need to have accountability. The word that I would use is making it doable.”
The councilman spoke of serving on the Contra Costa Water District Retirement Committee “back then in the “70’s, 80’s and 90’s apartheid was the issue. We needed to develop a policy…that can be followed…for accountability.” “Sometimes, one person’s opinion is not necessarily factual,” Freitas stated. “The investor needs to have clear, articulated standards so that he or she does not get crosswise with the council. Time and time again, people would come with their interpretation of some of the things. Some are very easy to understand what the situation is.”
“This is not an easy policy,” he continued. “It’s not finger pointing and saying, ‘no,’ to you and ‘yes,’ to you.’ It’s much more difficult. Because as a city council we have a legal and a fiduciary responsibility with regards to investments.”
“So, frankly, I believe…adopting a clear, ethical investing policy that has standards and accountability and from my perspective, doable…that should be the direction to City staff, to PMF (PFM) and I think Divest should identify two or three people on a periodic basis that there are discussions, so we hear some of the concerns…and those are taken into consideration…to develop a policy that we can live with.”
“I do think this is a situation that we need to take a look at. But we should not do it quickly,” Freitas stated. “I think we should do it methodically, I think it should be inclusive. I think this is a very, very important issue.”
District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson asked, “Can you add to that, a working group?”
“Two weeks ago, I suggested the City Manager, the Director of Finance, PFM and representatives from Divest,” Freitas responded. “That was, to me, a working group…so, they know what’s happening, questions can go back and forth and I have to believe a good, workable policy will have to come back to the City of Antioch.”
District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha said, “I think the City Treasurer should be part of this collaborative.”
“I agree,” Freitas said.
“I would like to know…what makes the most sense for the City of Antioch and what aligns with what we heard tonight,” Rocha continued. “There’s the SRI option and…the ESG option. One’s more complex than the other.” “What was suggested to me, was that we adopt the Treasurer’s Report, but that we are open to hearing, looking into and adopting some of the policies that have been discussed tonight. So, I think we would want to do a blend.”
Mayor Ron Bernal then asked City Treasurer Jorge Rojas, Jr., “to give us his thoughts on the policy.”
Rojas said, “We have the two options from PFM. We never said anything regarding potentially adopting an ethical investment policy. Pretty much Council is the one that makes that decision. We either wait for maturity dates, take the loss right now and go from there.”
Bernal asked him, “What would be your recommendation?”
Rojas responded, “My recommendation would be to adopt the policy that was recommended, last meeting, the investment policy, and like Louie was saying, take a look at it. Get back to it, revise it, perhaps…have that committee, take a look it perhaps every six months or so and then go from there.”
Torres-Walker then said, “I’m also getting the sense from the community, we’re under the gun, we need to pass this right now. I believe the council was made to believe there would be some outside penalties and that was clarified there are not any outside penalties and we do have discretion.”
“I do agree that the language we really want, and I hope the community agrees with this, and that is we do move forward with the recommendation, and we pass the (existing) policy,” the councilwoman continued. “Because it’s the City’s ordinance and we can change it any time.”
“There’s a legal requirement by the State that we have a Statement of Investment Policy with guidelines that meet State mandates,” Merchant explained.
“I do agree with putting some group together,” Torres-Walker stated. “I also agree with passing the policy as is while this group works together. But I will say government often pacifies people with ad hoc committees and work groups that lead nowhere. We can be back here in a year, two years, three years with still no…ethical investment language…no…policy and with no intent to ever have done so and that is not a process that I want to agree to tonight, if it is not something that City staff is going to commit to move forward and actually work with the community on because it would be doing a disservice to the residents and the public who showed up here, tonight.”
“So, I guess I’m curious to understand is there an intent to come back with a timeline…that things will start to move?” she asked. “So, that this is not just a way to get them out of the room.”
Freitas responded, “Let me just take a crack it” and made a motion to adopt a resolution to approve the Statement of Investment Policy, form the committee to start developing an ethical investment policy, and the council receives quarterly reports and at the end of six months, it comes back as a presentation to the city council, “where are we at, what are the issues and how do we move forward.”
Torres-Walker then asked to add to the motion, “I hear six months.”
“Quarterly, that’s what I meant,” Freitas said.
Rocha then seconded the motion.
“Select your three folks, and immediately, I mean tomorrow morning send an email saying these are our representatives that we would like to meet. Do not let this sit,” Torres-Walker implored those in the audience.
Without further discussion, the motion passed unanimously to applause from the public.
By Matt J. Malone, PIO, Contra Costa County Superior Court
The Contra Costa County Superior Court is pleased to announce the return of its Juvenile Dependency Mediation Program effective July 1, 2026.
Dependency mediation is a confidential, voluntary process that offers families and other participants an opportunity to resolve issues outside of a contested court hearing. The program is facilitated by specially trained, neutral mediators who do not make decisions or determine case outcomes. Instead, mediators guide productive discussions, help participants identify areas of agreement, and support the development of informed, mutually acceptable resolutions that prioritize the safety, well-being, and best interests of the child while also considering the safety of all family members.
As a program of the Juvenile Court, dependency mediation provides a collaborative forum where parents, child welfare professionals, and other involved parties can openly discuss concerns, explore potential solutions, and work toward agreements. Any agreement reached through mediation is submitted to the judicial officer for review and approval. Once approved, the agreement becomes an enforceable court order.
By encouraging communication and cooperative problem-solving, dependency mediation helps reduce conflict, promotes meaningful participation by all parties, and often resolves matters more efficiently than a contested hearing. The process also minimizes the emotional impact of litigation on children and families by focusing on the family’s strengths and supporting long-term collaboration in addressing the child’s needs.
Notice: All Contra Costa County Superior Court locations will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of Independence Day. Regular court operations will resume on Monday, July 6, 2026.
Will appear on Bay Area ballots across five counties including Contra Costa
By Jeff Cretan, West Advisors
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA — The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has announced that the Connect Bay Area regional transit funding measure has officially qualified for the November 2026 ballot after elections officials confirmed the campaign submitted enough valid signatures across Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
The announcement follows the Connect Bay Area campaign’s submission of more than 305,000 signatures in May, far exceeding the 186,000 valid signatures required to qualify the measure. The MTC’s official certification sent on June 30 declared that the registrars of voters across the five counties each conducted their individual county counts and submitted the results to the MTC and the total submitted far exceeded the qualification threshold.
The measure if adopted would increase the sales tax in Contra Costa, Alameda San Mateo and Santa Clara counties by a half cent and one cent in San Francisco County for 14 years. As previously reported, the measure would generate approximately $980 million annually across the five counties.
The success of this effort was built on one of the largest grassroots transit organizing efforts the region has ever seen and unprecedented support from business, labor, and community organizations across the Bay Area.
The Connect Bay Area five-county sales tax measure would provide long-term operational funding for major Bay Area transit agencies while supporting projects to strengthen and better connect transit systems across the region. It will protect major transit agencies like BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit from devastating service cuts, help VTA grow to better serve residents, workers, and businesses, and provide direct support to counties for transit improvements.
Connect Bay Area also strengthens accountability for transit agencies. SB 63 – the legislation authored by Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín that enabled Connect Bay Area – requires independent financial reviews, continued efficiency improvements, and stronger regional coordination before the measure even appears on the ballot.
The five counties that would be included in the tax measure vote. Source: Connect Bay Area
Unprecedented Grassroots, Labor and Business Support
The Connect Bay Area campaign has grown in support over the last several months with more than 80 elected officials and more than 90 labor, business, and advocacy organizations signing on in support. Major businesses from across the region helped raise more than $5.5 million to qualify the measure and prepare for the November election.
Since launching in January, Connect Bay Area mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers and advocates across Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. Supporters gathered signatures at transit stations, farmers markets, community events, neighborhood meetings, and major public gatherings throughout the Bay Area.
The overwhelming signature total that led to the measure’s qualification for the ballot reflects broad public support for transit and growing awareness of the urgency surrounding the future of Bay Area public transportation.
Without sustainable transit funding, the Bay Area could face catastrophic service reductions:
BART: Up to 15 station closures, elimination of two lines, and service cuts of up to 70%
Caltrain: Hourly train service, no weekend service, and weekday shutdowns after 9 p.m.
Muni: At least 20 bus routes eliminated and service reductions of 30% or more
AC Transit: Service cuts of at least 16%
The campaign will now turn its full attention toward the November election, building on the unprecedented coalition of volunteers, businesses, labor organizations, transit riders, and community advocates who helped qualify the measure.
About Connect Bay Area
The Connect Bay Area campaign is a five-county Regional Transit Measure on the November 2026 ballot. The measure would establish a 0.5% sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties and a 1% sales tax in San Francisco to provide additional support for Muni. It would provide long-term operational funding for major Bay Area transit agencies while supporting regional projects that strengthen transit throughout the region.
The Regional Transit Measure will:
Protect and improve service on BART, Muni, Caltrain, SamTrans, VTA, and AC Transit.
Prevent catastrophic transit service cuts across the Bay Area.
Reduce traffic congestion and emissions while supporting California’s climate goals.
Support the Bay Area economy by strengthening downtown recovery and regional mobility.
The measure includes strong accountability and oversight provisions, including independent financial reviews for every transit operator, regional coordination requirements to ensure systems work better together, and a citizen oversight committee to monitor spending and performance. A recent independent study required under SB 63 found Bay Area transit agencies have already achieved approximately $1 billion in operational efficiencies while identifying additional opportunities to improve service and reduce costs.
The Connect Bay Area Transit Committee is comprised of labor, business, and transit advocates, including Bay Area Council, SEIU 1021, ATU 1555, South Bay Labor Council, SPUR, and SAMCEDA, alongside an advocacy council of more than 20 organizations representing transit, housing, environmental, equity, senior, and disability organizations.
For more information about the Connect Bay Area campaign or to get involved, visit connectbayarea.com.
