One dead bird, five sentinel chickens test positive for virus, all in Oakley
By Contra Costa Health
A Contra Costa resident died this month from West Nile virus infection, underscoring the need for everyone in the county to take precautions against mosquito-borne illness.
The death of an adult man who lived in East County was reported to the county on July 16. It was the first West Nile virus-related death reported in Contra Costa since 2006.
“This is a tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss.” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy county health officer. “This death also reinforces how important it is to reduce risk of West Nile virus infection by reducing our exposure to mosquitos.”
Contra Costa Health’s (CCH) Communicable Disease Program is investigating the case and has not determined where the person became infected. To preserve medical privacy, CCH will not release further details about the case.
The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Contra District (District) has detected other recent evidence of the virus’s presence in East County. One dead bird and five sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, all located in Oakley. According to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, “Chickens serve as valuable sentinel animals since they are not effective amplifying hosts, and they develop a short and relatively low viremia compared to other bird species when infected by WNV.”
Certain birds can become infected with West Nile virus, and when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected. An infected mosquito can spread the virus to a human or other animal through a single bite. The infection can be dangerous to humans, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or rash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Contra Costa County resident to West Nile virus,” said Paula Macedo, Ph.D., district general manager. “This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and supporting community efforts to control mosquito populations.”
West Nile virus activity is typically higher during the summer months. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the District recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:
DEET
Picaridin
The repellent version of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
IR3535
Always follow the instructions on the label when using insect repellent. Wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors where mosquitoes are present, often at dawn and dusk, can reduce exposed skin and reduce the risk of mosquito bites. And dumping out any amount of standing water in front and backyards and scrubbing the inside of each container to remove mosquito eggs can also help lower the risk of mosquitoes.
The District provides public health services to Contra Costa County residents including a mosquito service of inspection and control upon request. Request a District service by phone at 925-685-9301 or online at www.contracostamosquito.com. Click on “I Want to” at the top of the webpage, then select “Request Services” from the drop-down menu.
Contra Costa County residents can help the District identify areas of potential WNV risk by reporting dead birds to the California Dead Bird Call Center by phone at 1-877-968-2473 or online at westnile.ca.gov. Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus in a particular area. By reporting dead birds, residents provide the District with critical information that allows District employees to set mosquito traps near the site of the dead bird to look for infected mosquitoes. If those mosquitos are found, the District will take timely action to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for neighboring residents.
A state worker cleans out an encampment under a freeway overpass. Gov. Gavin Newsom contributes to the effort following the announcement of his executive order on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Video screenshots. Source: Office of the CA Governor
Following U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Encourages local governments to adopt similar policies
“We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.” – Gov. Newsom
What you need to know: Governor Newsom today issued an executive order directing state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and safety of Californians experiencing homelessness. The Governor’s order, which follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass, also urges local governments to use substantial funding provided by the state to take similar action.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Building on California’s ongoing work and unprecedented investments to address the decades-long issue of homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies that urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and well-being of all Californians.
With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v Johnson, local governments now have the tools and authority to address dangerous encampments and help provide those residing in encampments with the resources they need.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same. The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.” said Newsom. “We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.”
The governor’s executive order directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal.
Governor Newsom has made record-level investments to address the housing crisis, investing over $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including billions of dollars in funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and wrap-around support to people living in encampments. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, these investments helped lift more than 165,000 people out of homelessness and into interim or permanent housing.
California blueprint
Governor Newsom’s order directs state agencies and departments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing encampment policy. Since July 2021, California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments, and has removed 248,275 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects. Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
The order encourages local governments to emulate the state’s successful model to adopt local policies and to use all available resources, including those provided by the state’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs, to address encampments within their jurisdictions.
Proposition 1 funding available for local governments
Governor Newsom also encourages local governments to apply for the newly available $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1 to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.
Proposition 1 includes two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services, and historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. The state also recently released the Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Services Act: Housing Supports Primer (July 2024) for counties, which explains how to spend the projected $950 million annual BHSA revenue on housing interventions.
Unprecedented investments to support communities
Governor Newsom is tackling California’s homelessness crisis head-on. Since he took office, the state has developed a Statewide Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness and the Governor has demanded unprecedented accountability from local governments to do their part to end the homelessness crisis through regionally coordinated action plans. The Governor has also pioneered nation-leading homeless and housing reforms and invested more than $24 billion to address this crisis with state and local support, including $4.85 billion for Homeless, Housing Assistance and Prevention Grants for local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion for Homekey to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness.
WHEREAS California is experiencing a homelessness crisis decades in the making, with over 180,000 people estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state; and WHEREAS within the first year of my Administration I fast-tracked the development of shelter through Executive Order N-23-20, which directed departments to assess and facilitate the use of available state land and resources for short-term emergency homeless shelters; and WHEREAS since the beginning of my Administration, the State has made unprecedented investments to address the homelessness crisis head on, investing more than $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including $4.85 billion in flexible funding to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness through Homekey; and
WHEREAS the State has redoubled its commitment to holding local jurisdictions accountable to reduce homelessness, including by strengthening and enforcing requirements that local jurisdictions plan for their fair share of housing and by conditioning state homelessness funding on rigorous reporting and measurable performance metrics; and
WHEREAS it is imperative to act with urgency to address dangerous encampments, which subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use, harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources; and
WHEREAS while every jurisdiction must do more to address encampments, state and local agencies taking proactive steps to remove encampments have been stymied in those efforts by lawsuits and injunctions, leaving officials without the tools or guidance necessary to address the crisis on their streets; and
WHEREAS in September 2023, I called on the United States Supreme Court to grant review in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson to clarify that state and local officials can take reasonable actions to resolve encampments while respecting the humanity of all Californians; and
WHEREAS in June 2024 the Supreme Court overturned Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent that restricted the government’s authority to enforce laws regulating encampments, recognizing that jurisdictions may tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness; and
WHEREAS with the threat of these types of injunctions removed, there is no longer any barrier to local governments utilizing the substantial resources provided by the State, in tandem with federal and local resources, to address encampments with both urgency and humanity, or excuse for not doing so; and WHEREAS guidelines that prioritize offers of shelter and services as a first step to resolving any encampment best respect the dignity of every Californian and provide meaningful paths to ending homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Interagency Council on Homelessness leads California’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation maintains a policy directive that prioritizes removal of encampments that pose threats to life, health, and safety, while partnering with local governments and nonprofit providers to facilitate offers of shelter and supportive services in advance of a removal; and WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation has, since July 2021, removed 11,188 encampments and 248,275 cubic yards of debris from these encampments along the state rights of way.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:
a. Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.
b. Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.
c. Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal
d. Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.
e. Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.
2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.
3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order. This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of July.
A thief can be seen on JCPenney store surveillance video smashing jewelry display cases on June 15, 2024. Video screenshot. Source: APD
Smash and grab robbery occurred June 15th, APD just learned of it
By Antioch Police Department
Community, take a good look at these videos and help us find the man behind this jewelry smash and grab that happened at JCPenney in the Slatten Ranch shopping center off Slatten Ranch Road and Empire Avenue.
We were just made aware of this theft that happened on June 15th. Antioch police officers responded to an alarm call just after 10:00 p.m. from the JCPenney on Slatten Ranch Road. Officers reviewed the store surveillance video which shows the suspect approaching the glass jewelry cases, taking a hammer or tool, smashing the glass and taking off with nearly half-a-million dollars in jewelry.
The suspect was also seen on video walking into the store at 8:25 p.m. and hiding in the store for a few hours before committing the crime. If you have any information about the identity of the suspect, please contact Detective Cole Shaffer cshaffer@antiochca.gov or (925) 481-8604.
Ncal-Olympics-02 – Denise and CJ Nickolas in 2009. (Left) 80Kg Gold Medalist Carl CJ Nickolas’ first flag run after he won the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC. (Center) Ncal-Olympics and Ncal-Olympics-01 CJ Nickolas at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October 2023. Photo credit by Mark Reis, USOPC (Right)
A nurse from Antioch has nurtured her 22-year-old son’s taekwondo ambitions since he was 3
Expected to compete for gold, CJ Nickolas, a former Heritage High student, was first trained by his father at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch
By Elizabeth Schainbaum, Manager, Regional Content, Corporation Communications, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Over the years, wound care nurse Denise Nickolas would talk with colleagues about her kids’ sports activities — just as others would talk about their own kids.
Most colleagues didn’t realize her kids were different. They didn’t know how seriously athletic they were after he won a medal in World Taekwondo Championship in May 2023 when her son, CJ, received publicity as he vied for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
CJ is competing in the Paris Olympics in taekwondo on August 9, 2024. The 22-year-old is ranked second in the world.
“She doesn’t go around telling just anyone how he ranked at tournaments,” said Daniella White, a colleague who has cheered Nickolas on through CJ’s injuries and other challenges. “If someone asks, she will humbly share how well he did. That’s not to say she wasn’t overly proud or excited for him, but she just continued to show humility in the process.”
Kaiser Permanente fan club
Nickolas is happy everyone knows now.
“Everyone is so excited, and they asked why I didn’t say anything,” said Nickolas, who was a gymnast in college and also achieved a taekwondo black belt during her son’s practices. “They’ve been so supportive and even started a Teams group to cheer us on and check the progress of his Olympic bid.”
Her boss, Darci Walker, is a big fan.
“I remember her sharing one of CJ’s competitions where he won first place, and he moved the entire crowd and audience by singing the national anthem. The whole stadium joined in and sang together,” Walker recalled. “This was a very proud moment that Denise shared with me. When I watched the video on her phone, it brought me to tears as well. We are all excited for CJ and their entire family.”
A ‘family-friendly’ organization
Nickolas has worked at Kaiser Permanente since 2001. Since then, as a single mom, she’s juggled full-time work with 2 kids who were competitive athletes.
Her older daughter, now 24, was an elite gymnast for a long time. She pivoted to diving, and that was the sport she did in college.
Her kids’ sports often required traveling to competitions. Nickolas said her managers and colleagues have been supportive and accommodating when she’s had to take time off, evenn last minute.
“Kaiser Permanente is absolutely a family-friendly organization,” she said. “I was able to have the life I wanted with my kids because of Kaiser Permanente.”
To make it work, she would essentially work two part-time jobs and lived just 10 minutes from the hospital.
She would start the morning at the Antioch Medical Center and then take the kids to their practices. Later, she would work another shift with Home Health Department.
“I was exhausted, but it was worth it, totally worth it,” Nickolas said. “I’m so grateful.”
Walker said Nickolas also worked hard to make it work. She coordinated well with colleagues before she would travel so there were no bumps with patient care. When she returned, she was ready to get back into the swing of work.
Going for gold
Nickolas followed this routine for years. She realized in 2007 that CJ, who had been doing taekwondo for three years at that point, had a future in competitive sports.
At the age of three, he said he wanted to do martial arts. She hesitated because she was against combat sports at the time.
She pushed that feeling aside because she could see how eager he was to do it. She steered him to taekwondo because it was included in Ivy League sports programs and was an Olympic sport.
When he was about six, she noticed he was intense and focused. She checked in with the coach.
“’Am I just proud or is he really good?’” she recalled saying. “The coach said, ‘No, he’s really as good as you think he is.’”
That coach, until CJ turned 18, was his father, Ed Givans, who previously owned and trained his son at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch which he relocated to Las Vegas in 2018.
Many injuries later, including a broken toe that she said Kaiser Permanente did an excellent job of repairing, he’s now going for Olympic gold.
Nickolas will be there watching, with her Kaiser Permanente colleagues rooting for her son.
“I can’t believe this day has come,” she said. “He’s worked so hard, but it still feels so surreal.”
U.S. News & World Report’s annual study rates Kaiser hospitals in the top 10 to 20% in U.S. for treating heart attacks, strokes, other challenging medical conditions
By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
OAKLAND, CA – Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s hospitals are rated among the best in the nation for treating heart attacks, strokes, and other medical conditions.
Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are recognized as “high-performing” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 Best Hospitals annual report in part due to the evidence-based treatments and comprehensive care and support provided to patients.
Nearly 5,000 hospitals participated in the study, which analyzes hospital performance for 15 specialty care areas and 20 procedures and conditions. The “high performing” designation — defined as top 10% to 20% in the United States – honors those hospitals that consistently deliver high-quality care when treating complex medical conditions.
“Our Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are continually recognized as leaders in the nation for providing our members and patients with exceptional care leading to positive health outcomes,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Our dedicated clinicians and care teams always strive to meet our patients’ health care needs as we work to improve their overall health and well-being.”
Kaiser Permanente patients receive coordinated and evidence-based care through an integrated system designed to put their health care needs above all else.
18 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals rated high-performing for cardiac care
Nearly 700,000 people die of heart disease every year – or 1 in every 5 deaths – so the treatment provided is critical to saving lives. Kaiser Permanente cardiologists and heart surgeons have experience treating a broad range of heart conditions and performing life-saving procedures. And our connected system allows them to share knowledge across locations and specialties.
According to the U.S. News & World Report’s ratings, 18 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are recognized as “high performing” for the treatment of either congestive heart failure or heart attacks.
“Our physicians and care teams not only excel at the routine procedures, but also the more specialized complex medical needs of our patients and members,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “We take pride in our ability to deliver innovative, nation-leading quality of care, helping our patients recover quickly so they can resume their normal activities and lead healthy lives.”
Ratings help inform decision-making about care
The annual ratings and rankings are designed to help patients and their health care providers make informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
Twenty Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are “high performing” in at least one of the 35 measures examined, including the treatment of stroke, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia.
In addition:
Six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are ranked among the top 60 hospitals out of more than 400 considered in California: The Kaiser Permanente Oakland, Richmond, Roseville, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and South Sacramento hospitals are all ranked among the state’s best.
Kaiser Permanente Oakland and Richmond hospitals are among the top 10% in the metropolitan area of San Francisco and the state of California for delivering safe, high-quality care.
Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara and Roseville hospitals are among the top 10% of hospitals in Northern California for delivering safe, high-quality care.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo hospital is ranked 28th in the nation for rehabilitation out of nearly 5,000 hospitals evaluated. It’s also the second-highest ranked rehabilitation hospital in Northern California and the 4th highest in the state.
Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento is rated among the Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access.
In its hospital analysis, U.S. News & World Report uses publicly available data such as volume, mortality rates, infection rates, staffing levels, and patient satisfaction rates, among other factors.
The Antioch Amtrak station is scheduled to be decommissioned in the fourth quarter of 2025. The council will vote to oppose the closure Tuesday night. Herald file photos.
Resolution doesn’t mention former city manager’s name
Will consider approving $340K for another year of the 2024-25 Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program; potential creation of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Officer position
Proclamation recognizing Antioch-Chichibu Sister City delegation from Japan
By Allen D. Payton
Sixteen months after the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors voted to decommission the Antioch Amtrak station, during their meeting on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Antioch City Council will consider approving a resolution to send a message opposing the closure. It’s almost two years after then-City Manager Con Johnson learned of the proposed closure from SJJPA staff and in turn informed Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe.
In spite of the mayor saying at the end of the last council meeting he wanted to include the name of former city manager Ron Bernal, who Hernandez-Thorpe has repeatedly accused of approving the closure which Bernal denies and has been proven false through public records, the mayor’s opponent in the November election is not named in the resolution. (See related article)
According to the City staff report on the item (#9 on the agenda), “The Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop began providing service to the east Contra Costa County region in Antioch on October 28, 1994. The Stop is served by the San Joaquins line that operates passenger rail service between Oakland and Bakersfield.
According to ridership data, the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop has provided approximately 106,000 on-boards and 118,200 off-boards between July 2016 and January of 2024. This equates to a daily average of 82 combined boarding types.
The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority was established after the passage of Assembly Bill 1779 on August 30, 2012. This bill enabled local and regional agencies the ability to protect the San Joaquins rail service throughout the region.
On March 24, 2023, the SJJPA voted to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station). The decision to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) did not have a comprehensive community engagement process nor an analysis concerning the impacts of their decision.
The decommissioning of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) will have an immediate negative impact on the local disadvantaged community which include low-income people of color, seniors, veterans, and small businesses that rely on the station.”
Following is the resolution of opposition prepared for discussion and adoption by the city council:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANTIOCH OPPOSING THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE ANTIOCH-PITTSBURG SAN JOAQUINS PASSENGER STOP (AMTRAK STATION) IN ANTIOCH
WHEREAS, the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) in Antioch, CA, has been a vital transportation hub for residents and visitors, providing essential connectivity to regional and national destinations since it;
WHEREAS, the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) has provided approximately 106,000 on-boardings and 118,200 off-boardings between July 2016 and January 2024 that equates to a daily average of 82 combined boardings;
WHEREAS, the City of Antioch is committed to maintaining and enhancing its transportation infrastructure to ensure the mobility, safety, and well-being of its residents and to support the City’s economic vitality and quality of life;
WHEREAS, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority was established after AB 1779 was passed by the State Legislature on August 30, 2012, to enable local and regional agencies to protect the San Joaquin Rail Service throughout the San Joaquin Corridor;
WHEREAS, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority voted to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) on March 24, 2023, at Robert J. Cabral Station South Hall Meeting Room 949 East Channel Street Stockton, CA 95202 without providing official notice to the City government or people of Antioch;
WHEREAS, the decision to decommission the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) did not have a comprehensive community engagement process nor an analysis concerning the impacts of the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) on riders who utilize the station to travel to and from the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station);
WHEREAS, the decommissioning of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) will have an immediate negative impact on the local disadvantaged communities which include low-income people of color, seniors, veterans, and small businesses that rely on the station;
WHEREAS, the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) would adversely affect the quality of life in Antioch; and
WHEREAS, the decommissioning of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) impacts the City of Antioch and other regional municipalities from accessing state funding that is associated with having a transportation corridor.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Antioch, California, hereby opposes the closing of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) in Antioch and urges Amtrak, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, and relevant stakeholders to explore all possible alternatives to keep the station open and operational.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Antioch calls upon federal, state, and local officials to join in opposition to the closure of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) and to advocate for the continued operation and investment in this critical transportation asset.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution will be transmitted to the Governor of California, members of the California State Legislature, the United States Congress, the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, and other relevant parties to underscore the City of Antioch’s strong opposition to the closing of the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station), protest the decision of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority to close the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station), and call on the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority to not eliminate regular service to the Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station) but rather operate both the Oakley and Antioch-Pittsburg San Joaquins Passenger Stop (Amtrak Station).
Proclamation Recognizing Antioch-Chichibu Sister City Delegation from Japan
At the beginning of the meeting, the council will vote to adopt a Proclamation in Honor of Welcoming the Visiting Delegation from Antioch’s Sister City of Chichibu, Saitama, Japan. The group of 14, including 10 students and four adults, will stay with local host families while here for a 10-day tour.
Will Consider Approving $340,000 for the 2024-25 Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program
On the Consent Calendar, item K., the council will consider authorizing the Acting City Manager or designee to execute an agreement with Rubicon Programs to provide professional services from September 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025, for an amount not to exceed $340,000 for the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program.
According to the city staff report, the program “began as a pilot initiative in November 2022 and has completed its first two cohorts…recruited young adults ages 18-26 and employed 20 underemployed, underserved and underestimated participants who faced multiple barriers, including justice involvement, homelessness and the foster care system. Participants underwent 60 hours of workforce development training before placement…(and) ongoing professional development…throughout their part-time employment. Participants were placed in the Public Works Department of the City of Antioch to practice, learn and hone skills that would equip the for future employment.”
Potential Creation of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Officer Position
At District 1 Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker’s request the council will consider the potential creation of a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Officer position under agenda item #10. No information about the proposed position is provided in the city staff report including its purpose, in what department it would be placed and who the person would answer to. The report only shows, “The recommended action has no fiscal impact at this time.” But if the position is created, a salary and benefits package will be developed for it.
Across the country, government agencies, universities and businesses have been either cutting back or completely abandoning their DEI efforts due to significant backlash and the passage of new state laws according to a May 2024 report by Forbes.
According to an article on The Wharton School website, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that began during the racial reckoning of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd renewed demands for social justice, are being pulled apart by political and cultural shifts,” and “more than 30 states have introduced laws banning or limiting DEI initiatives, and many companies are cutting their DEI teams.”
At a time the city council members are 60% Black even though according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Black residents make up only 19.5% of the city’s population as of July 1, 2023, and the city staff has included two Black police chiefs, one permanent, one interim, a Black city attorney, two Black city managers, one permanent and the current one acting, and the Director of the Human Relations Department is an Hispanic woman, people are wondering why the position is even necessary.
The council is being asked to discuss the proposal and offer direction to staff.
The council meeting begins with a Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. in which includes conference with legal counsel on a lawsuit against the city, real property negotiation for the sale of the building at 275 W. Tregallas Road across from the Antioch Main Post Office that currently houses the Delta Learning Center, and the Public Employment – Recruitment of the City Manager.
Regular Session begins at 7:00 p.m. Council meetings can be watched livestream on the City’s website, on Comcast local cable channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99, or in person inside the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street in historic, downtown Rivertown.
Former Antioch Mayor Don Freitas will run for the City Council in District 3. Photo source: Facebook posted on June 12, 2022. Map: City of Antioch
Don Freitas to seek District 3 seat after Ogorchock gerrymandered out
By Allen D. Payton
In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, former Antioch Mayor Don Freitas announced he will seek election to the city council in District 3, this year.
He wrote, “Let me state that I am a candidate for the Antioch City Council, District 3 seat on November 5th, 2024. As a life long resident of Antioch I have had the privilege of of [sic] representing our community in a number of elected and appointed positions such as Mayor from 2000 to 2008.The direction of our City by the current Mayor Lamar Thorpe and some members of the present Council for the last several years has been an unmitigated disaster. And today, the Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury has factually documented many of the issues facing us in a report entitled “Challenges Facing the City of Antioch”. It is a must read!!! I am asking all registered voters in Antioch to ‘vote for change’ in this election. We need new leadership that is concerned about the betterment of our residents instead of the political ambitions of a few elected officials that have effectively damaged our community…And on November 5th support much needed positive change in Antioch.”
Freitas was referring to the Civil Grand Jury’s investigation into three areas of concern including turnover in city leadership, city employee vacancies and possible Brown Act (state open meeting law) violations by Mayor Lamar Hernández-Thorpe and Councilwomen Monica Wilson and Tamisha Torres-Walker, as outlined in a January 2024 letter from the Contra Costa District Attorney to Antioch’s Acting City Manager.
The District 3 council seat is open since incumbent Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock is precluded from running for re-election as the current council majority of the aforementioned three members gerrymandered her out of the district while redrawing and approving the council map in March 2022. They drew the boundary line between Districts 3 and 4 around the neighborhood in which Ogorchock lives, moving it into District 4. In Nov. 2022 she ran unsuccessfully against Wilson, who continues to represent District 4. (See related articles here and here and City Council Districts Map here)
Before the 69-year-old Freitas was elected to the city council in 1998, he served 16 years on the Contra Costa Water District Board of Directors. In 2008, he lost re-election as mayor to Jim Davis in a four-way race with two write-in candidates (including this reporter). In 2012 Freitas retired as the County’s Clean Water Manager and attempted a comeback in the race for mayor but placed third in a four-man race behind Wade Harper, who was elected, and the late-Councilman Gary Agopian. (See related article)
Prior to Freitas serving on the city council, his wife, Cathryn, served as a councilwoman from 1986 to 1994. Freitas graduated from Antioch High School in the Class of 1973 and from U.C. Davis in 1978. The couple has one adult son, Patrick.
Efforts to reach Freitas for further comment were unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Juan Garcia was one of 828 students in San Joaquin County to receive the State Seal of Biliteracy in 2023. Courtesy of San Joaquin County Office of Education
The State Seal of Biliteracy is a gold, embossed seal that can be affixed to a student’s high school diploma or transcript. It is awarded to recognize a student for achieving a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in both English and another language. California first began awarding the State Seal of Biliteracy in 2012.
What is the benefit of obtaining a State Seal of Biliteracy?
The State Seal of Biliteracy validates students’ hard work to learn more than one language. It can be shown to colleges and potential employers, to prove that you can speak, read and write in at least one language, in addition to English. Some colleges may give academic credit to students for the seal. In addition, some organizations, such as Language Testing International, award scholarships to seal recipients.
In one study, partially funded by the U.S. Department of Education and focused on a school district in New Mexico, students who earned a Seal of Biliteracy enrolled in four-year colleges at higher rates than their peers who did not earn the seal.
Source: CA Dept of Education
What languages does the State Seal of Biliteracy recognize?
The State Seal of Biliteracy can be awarded in any language other than English. The most common language recognized with a Seal of Biliteracy in 2022-23 was Spanish, followed by French, Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese), Japanese, American Sign Language, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog and German, in that order.
The state has also awarded the seal in many other languages, including Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Czech, Farsi, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Igbo, Indonesian, Italian, Latin, Mixteco, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Urdu and Yurok, among others.
Do all public schools in California offer the State Seal of Biliteracy?
All public schools are eligible to participate, but participation is voluntary, not obligatory. In 2022-23, the latest school year for which data is available, 1,188 schools in 356 school districts or county offices of education awarded the seals. Check here to see if a school or district participates (click on the “Data” tab).
What can you do if your school does not yet participate?
You can contact a counselor, teacher or administrator at your school and share information about the State Seal of Biliteracy with them, to encourage them to participate.
How do you apply for the Seal of Biliteracy?
Contact your school counselor, principal or other administrator.
What are the requirements to prove you are proficient in a language other than English?
You must either complete coursework or take a test to prove proficiency.
For coursework, you must successfully complete a four-year course of study in a world language at the high school or college level and attain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in that course of study. In addition, you must demonstrate oral proficiency in the language comparable to that required to pass an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examination.
You also have the option to take one of four tests, instead of coursework:
Pass a world language Advanced Placement (AP) exam with a score of 3 or higher
Pass an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam with a score of 4 or higher
Pass both an ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) and an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) with scores of intermediate mid or higher
Pass an exam approved by the school district that meets the rigor of a four-year high school course of study in the language and assesses speaking, reading and writing in a language other than English at the proficient level or higher. These are most often used in the case of a language for which AP, IB, or ACTFL tests do not exist. A list of locally approved world language proficiency assessments is posted on the California Department of Education’s State Seal of Biliteracy web page under the “Assessments” tab.
Can courses completed in another country count toward coursework in another language?
Yes. High-school level courses in another country in a language other than English, with the equivalent of an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above, can count toward the coursework requirement. These might be courses completed as an exchange student, or courses completed in another country by a newcomer student before arriving in the U.S. They must be verified by a transcript.
What if a language doesn’t have a written or spoken component?
If a language does not have a written system, or is not spoken (for example, American Sign Language), the district can approve an assessment on the components of the language that are used.
What are the requirements to prove you are proficient in English?
You must either complete coursework or take a test to prove proficiency.
For coursework, you must complete all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in those classes.
You also have the option to take one of four tests to prove proficiency in English, instead of coursework:
Pass the California state standardized test (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) for English language arts administered in grade 11 at or above the “standard met” achievement level
Pass an English Advanced Placement exam (AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature or Composition, or AP Seminar) with a score of 3 or higher
Pass an English International Baccalaureate (IB) exam with a score of 4 or higher
Achieve a score of 480 or above on the evidence-based reading and writing section of the SAT.
What additional requirements do English learners have to complete?
In addition to the requirements mentioned above, students who are currently classified as English learners and have not yet been reclassified as proficient in English must attain an oral language composite score of level 4 on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).
Can you apply for a State Seal of Biliteracy in more than one language other than English?
Yes. You can earn seals in more than one language, as long as you fulfill the requirements to show a high level of proficiency in each language.
Are the requirements different for students who qualify for special education and have IEPs?
According to the California Department of Education, the requirements to obtain a State Seal of Biliteracy may be modified for a student with an individualized education program (IEP), if the student’s IEP team determines it is necessary. The CDE website says the IEP team should review the student’s assessment plan and transition plan and determine what assessment(s) to use and what score would indicate proficiency, based on the student’s IEP.
How many students typically receive the Seal of Biliteracy every year?
