By Josef Britschgi, Marketing & Communication Administrator, BAC Community Bank
Jerry Marquez
BAC Community Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Jerry Marquez to the role of Relationship Manager, leveraging years of expertise in serving the bank’s valued customers.
As an integral part of the BAC family for over eight years, Marquez has excelled in various roles, including branch management and central banking operations. This promotion reflects his outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service to the bank’s clients.
Marquez has a passion for building meaningful relationships within the community, a quality influenced by his growing up in a small farming town. He carries this spirit into his new role, embracing the small-town essence that has made BAC Community Bank a cornerstone of Antioch, Brentwood and surrounding Contra Costa communities.
As a Relationship Manager, Marquez will draw upon his wealth of experience to cater to the diverse financial needs of both existing and new bank customers. The bank is confident that he will excel in this capacity, ensuring that consumer and commercial clients continue to receive the best products, technology, and service that have defined BAC Community Bank’s commitment to excellence.
“We are confident that the passion, expertise, and dedication Jerry Marquez demonstrates will continue to contribute to the success of our clients and reinforce the position of BAC Community Bank as a trusted community financial institution,” said Eddie Lira, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer.
Marquez is excited to assume this new responsibility and looks forward to further strengthening the connections between BAC Community Bank and the communities it serves. “I am truly honored by this opportunity to serve as a Relationship Manager,” he shared. “My aim is to build enduring customer partnerships, providing each client with personalized financial solutions to help them achieve their goals.”
About BAC Community Bank
BAC Community Bank is California’s 10th oldest state-chartered bank. Established in 1965, BAC operates branch offices in Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and is identified as “one of the strongest financial institutions in the nation” by BauerFinancial, Inc.
The bank is centrally headquartered in Stockton, California, and is continuously recognized for banking excellence through local awards and banking industry accolades. The Antioch branch is located at 3448 Deer Valley Road.
BAC Community Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Equal Opportunity Employer. Member FDIC. More information is available online at www.bankbac.com.
The suspects were pulled over along an onramp to Highway 4 and all the merchandise was recovered on Wed., July 26, 2023. Photos by Brentwood PD
One was on felony probation with history of arrests
By Brentwood Police Department
More stolen merchandise recovered during the arrest. Photo: Brentwood PD
On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, around 1:00 PM, Brentwood officers were dispatched to the Streets of Brentwood for a theft from The Children’s Place in The Streets of Brentwood that just occurred.
On their way to the call, a Brentwood officer located the vehicle as it was attempting to flee and contacted the two suspects, identified as 30-year-old Paulosha Glasper (DOB 08-17-92) and 25-year-old Amoni Ponnellfontain both of Antioch.
Interestingly enough, the officer who pulled them over recognized one of them from a previous theft report he took at the Streets of Brentwood.
Officers recovered approximately $2,200 worth of stolen merchandise. Glasper who is on felony probation for theft, also had a warrant for burglary.
All of the property was returned to the stores, and Glasper and Ponnellfountain were placed under arrest for organized retail theft, and other charges. They were both transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Glasper was still in custody on July 31 at the West County Detention Center and expected to be released on Aug. 2. According to localcrimenews.com she has a history of arrests dating back to 2017 by multiple agencies for crimes including grand theft, DUI and shoplifting.
A special thank you to the Streets of Brentwood employee who provided the description and license plate of the suspect’s vehicle, which led to officers locating them.
Cars can be seen doing donuts in the Antioch boat launch parking lot and at W. 2nd and L Streets next to the Antioch Police station in front of officers late nights in July, 2023. Screenshots from videos by a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
“It’s happening at 11 p.m., 1 a.m., 3 a.m. No one sleeps in downtown anymore.” – Joy Motts, former Councilwoman and Rivertown resident
Says Torres-Walker ignoring complaints although pledged to work with Motts on downtown issues; Torres-Walker claims she has been in contact with chief and Rivertown residents
Barbanica setting up meeting with chief, proposes hiring retired cops to supplement APD
By Allen D. Payton
Rivertown residents are fed up with the donut-spinning cars in downtown Antioch intersections and at the boat launch parking lot at the end of L Street near the police station, almost every night. They want something done about it and are considering taking things into their own hands. (See videos here and here)
Former Councilwoman Joy Motts said their complaints have fallen on deaf ears as Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker in whose District 1 the illegal activities are occurring because “she never responds”. So, Motts reached out to District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica who is working to set up a meeting with residents and APD.
“This goes on every night, sometimes for hours… 11pm, 1am, 3am. No one sleeps in downtown anymore. It’s waking people up. And it happens during the day,” Motts said on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. “When they take off, they run through every stop sign. They are going to kill somebody, maybe one of my family or my neighbors. We are at our wits end.”
“Then yesterday, three motorcycles raced down W. 2nd Street by the (old lumber company) lot going 80,” she continued. “They’re in our neighborhoods during the day. Almost every intersection is covered with tire marks. It’s just lawlessness.”
“Because we’re a grid they just stream though the intersections running stop signs,” Motts stated. “Two of my daughter’s friends have been hit in their cars by people running stop signs. They got broadsided.” “They come down here nightly and it’s just terrorizing the whole downtown neighborhood,” she shared. “They spin around in the boat launch parking lot, and we can hear them blocks away. We’ve called the police and they say we’ll let the others on patrol know about it.”
Multiple tire marks can be seen in the boat launch parking lot at the end of L Street and in the intersection of W. 2nd & L Street next to the Antioch Police station on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Photos by Allen D. Payton
Motts Suggests Closing Access to Marina Area Parking Lots at Night
“I think they need to shut down the Marina and Smith’s Landing and boat launch parking lots at night. Ultimately, it’s a quality-of-life issue.
Asked if she’d contacted Torres-Walker who represents the area, Motts said, “she never responds to emails from any of us down here.”
“People are talking about hiring an attorney. People are talking about taking matters into their own hands which is a no-win situation and bad things could happen,” the former councilwoman shared. “They do this because they know they can with the reduced police force and there’s little to no enforcement.”
She believes the reduced police staffing level is a major contributor to the problem with currently 99 sworn officers on the force. That’s due to 16 vacancies of the 115 sworn approved in the budget. Plus, there are still 35 officers on paid leave due to the two investigations, including the one by the FBI and DA that began last year, and this year’s with the racist text scandal.
Motts said she contacted Barbanica who has suggested hiring retired police officers and a private security company.
“I’ve requested a meeting with the chief. Barbanica is working to get a meeting together to find solutions,” she added. “We need help.”
“My family has been here for over 100 years. and this is the first time we’re asking, ‘can we stay here?’” Motts exclaimed. “We’re afraid. When we slow down at a stop sign, we’re scared someone is going to fly through. We also hear gunfire a lot.”
“We pay taxes. We love our community. We love our downtown. We do events through Celebrate Antioch. We’re trying to improve things. But downtown, right now, is chaos,” she added.
Regarding “hiring of police personnel. We obviously have a shortage of police personnel, right now. In my opinion there are options,” he said. “It’s going to take years to get back up to staffing levels. He asked to have “a discussion…about hiring retired police officers that left in good standing. They can come in as non-sworn personnel. It’s much cheaper. There are no benefits involved. Essentially, they’re part-time employees. They can pick up the slack in investigations…in cold calls that come in, to free up the officers that are working the street for hot details.”
The department added two officers to the force in the past six months. Filling the vacancies at that rate will take four years. Plus, depending on how many officers are terminated following conclusion of the investigations, it will be more years to get to the 115 sworn officer positions.
When reached for comment Barbanica confirmed he’s been in contact with Police Chief Steve Ford to set up a meeting with Rivertown residents to discuss and find solutions to the challenges they’re facing.
Torres-Walker Pledged to Work With Motts on Downtown Issues
After last fall’s election Torres-Walker who committed to Motts to work with her to help the Rivertown area. As previously reported, following the first-hand recount of the ballots, Torres-Walker said to Motts, “I don’t think I can do this without you. You love Antioch and I want to partner with you. I don’t know what people downtown want. You do. I want you to tell me, advise me and I want to work with you.”
The City’s mayor pro tem was asked by voicemail and email Friday evening and Saturday morning if what Motts said was true, that Torres-Walker hasn’t responded to emails from Motts and other Rivertown residents about the issues affecting them. She was also asked if she had contacted any of the residents to meet with them and the police department to address their concerns.
In response Torres-Walker wrote Saturday morning, “I have been in communication with the chief and a handful of residents who live in and near the housing development on 4th Street near the police department regarding these kind of issues and gun violence.”
Con Fire’s first ever volunteer Chaplain Fr, Robert Rien.
By Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
We are pleased to announce that Father Robert Rien has accepted the newly created position of volunteer Fire Chaplain – lead as part of the fire district peer support program. He is the first-ever official Fire Chaplain for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. This appointment is effective immediately.
He has been the Pastor of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish in Antioch for the last 18 years. During that time, he served as Chaplain for the Antioch Police Department and for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. He holds the distinguished Master Chaplain Certification from the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
Father Robert Rien is a native of Oakland, California, and is a Priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland for the past 50 years. Ordained in 1974, he served parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa County. Three years after ordination, he served as the Catholic Chaplain for the 349th Military Air Lift Wing, stationed at Travis Air Force Base for five years.
Before being assigned to parishes in Contra Costa County in 2001, he served as Chaplain for the Oakland Fire Department. In addition to his other duties and responsibilities, he serves as Catholic Chaplain for both Sutter-Delta and Kaiser Deer Valley Hospitals.
Additionally, he serves as a Regional Chaplain for the East Bay Regional Park District and a Contra Costa County Peer Support Services Association member.
Father Robert currently resides in Antioch. When not tending to his parish, he enjoys reading, cooking, and watching the 49ers, Warriors, and Giants. He appreciates being with friends and loved ones.
Located in East County, Father Robert can be reached by email at Rrien@cccfpd.org. Please assist Father Robert in becoming familiar with the District and join us in making him a welcome part of the Con Fire team!
Don’t pay a fee to have your property taxes reduced
(Martinez, CA) – Many property owners throughout Contra Costa County are receiving an official looking document in the mail regarding a fee-based service to have their property’s taxable value reduced. Although these mailers have the appearance of an official government document, the correspondence is not from the Contra Costa County Assessor or any other Contra Costa County Office.
The California Attorney General’s Office has posted warnings to California property owners on their website about the practices of these companies. For more information, please visit the Attorney General’s Consumer Alert at https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/prop_tax_scam.
Current scam mailers are requiring both a $40 county filing fee with the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board for a formal appeal, and a contingent fee of 30% of any tax savings as a result of filing the application.
It is important for property owners to know that the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office does not charge a fee to complete an informal value review for our taxpayers.
Property owners who believe the current market value of their property is less than the assessed value, can file a FREE “Request for Value Review (Prop 8)” form with the Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office. Please visit our webpage at http://www.cccounty.us/assessor and select “Review Your Value” to find a downloadable application.
Funding to benefit regional water supply improvements and protection of critical bird populations
Expansion will increase capacity by 115,000 acre-feet, cost about $1.25 billion
The Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project Joint Powers Authority today (July 27, 2023) was notified that it will receive $10 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. The funding will be used to further the project’s goals of improving Bay Area and Central Valley water supply and supporting wildlife refuges along the Pacific Flyway, a vital migratory route for critical bird populations.
According to the National Audubon Society, each year at least one billion birds migrate along the flyway, which is only a fraction of those that used it a century ago. Wildlife refuges along the Pacific Flyway provide protection against habitat loss, water shortages, diminishing food sources and climate change.
Additionally, the expansion will increase the Los Vaqueros Reservoir capacity from 160,000 acre-feet to 275,000 acre-feet and add new and modified conveyance facilities to provide environmental, water supply reliability, operational flexibility, water quality and recreational benefits.
The dam will be increased by 55 feet from its current height of 226 feet to 281 feet from toe to crest.
“We are grateful to Reclamation for acknowledging the importance of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project and the role it will play in providing water supply reliability for 11 million customers and protection of critical bird populations from the Bay Area to the Central Valley,” said Board Chair Angela Ramirez Holmes. “Our partnership with Reclamation is invaluable and will help ensure quality of life now and for future generations.”
According to the project Fact Sheet, the total development and construction cost of the expansion is budgeted at approximately $980 million in 2022 dollars and $1.25 billion in escalated costs through the end of construction. Construction is expected to last from 2023 through 2030.
“We appreciate the ongoing federal support of this project that is vital to millions of Californians and key wildlife refuges,” said Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority Executive Director Taryn Ravazzini. “The allocation of these funds marks another milestone and allows the LVR JPA and its members to continue our progress toward regional resilience.”
Source: LVREP
About the LVRJPA
The Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was formed in 2021 and provides governance and administration for the Phase 2 Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project (Project). The Los Vaqueros Reservoir is an off-stream reservoir owned and operated by the Contra Costa Water District.
The Project will increase Bay Area and Central Valley water supply reliability, develop water supplies for wildlife refuges, and improve water quality while protecting Delta fisheries and providing additional Delta ecosystem benefits. When completed, it will increase the Los Vaqueros Reservoir capacity from 160,000 acre-feet to 275,000 acre-feet and add new and modified conveyance facilities to provide environmental, water supply reliability, operational flexibility, water quality, and recreational benefits.
Already bonded out of custody; others from Oakley, Brentwood
Public advisory on keeping your vehicle safe
By Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard
On July 25, 2023 at 6:10 PM Oakley Police officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Yellow Rose Circle for an attempted vehicle theft that had just occurred. The victim of the case interrupted the theft and the suspects fled the area. The victim followed the suspects and called us to provide details on what had happened and to update us on the whereabouts of the suspects. Our officers made contact with the suspects and stopped them. It was determined the suspects broke a window of the victim vehicle, which happened to be a Jeep equipped with a 6.4-liter engine. Also, in the suspects’ possession were blank, programmable Dodge key fobs.
There is currently a widespread problem, extending well outside of the Bay Area, involving Dodge/Jeep/RAM products that are primarily equipped with 6.4-liter engines. These products have become highly sought after by thieves for the purposes of using them in exhibition of speed events such as sideshows and these stolen vehicles have been known to be used to commit other crimes and they have often been documented to be involved in police pursuits.
A typical theft involves the suspects breaking a window to gain entry into the vehicle. The suspects then manipulate the vehicle into neutral so they can push it down the road a little ways. The thieves are equipped with a smart phone or tablet that allows them to tap into the onboard diagnostic electronics of the vehicle and they are able to manipulate the vehicle into starting up and driving away without the use of the actual electronic key that was supplied with the vehicle. Once the vehicle is in possession of the thieves they can program actual electronic keys to the vehicle and those keys can then be used just like the key that was supplied with the vehicle.
“I would normally not put such specific information out regarding the tactics and tools thieves use to steal because I do not want to be part of the “criminal education program”. This issue however, has become such a problem that I want potential victims to be aware of how vulnerable they are to this type of a theft. I encourage people with these types of vehicles to safeguard their vehicles by doing any one (or more) of the following:
Park in the garage
Equip your vehicle with battery disconnect devices (kill switch)
Use prominently displayed steering wheel locks
Use brake locks
If possible use another vehicle to block the preferred vehicle in place
Equip your home with legitimate security light/camera systems
Place hidden GPS devices in your vehicles (Apple air tags)
I am identifying the suspects in this case as Anthony Parson (21, of Oakley), Kyle Michael LaCosta Schmidt (20, born 1/20/2003 of Brentwood) and Brian Wayne Ray (20, of Antioch). All three suspects were booked into jail for this offense. Our investigators and the members of our Special Services Team are investigating this trio to see if their involvement goes into the much larger theft ring of these preferred vehicles, which again includes all 6.4-liter equipped Dodge/Jeep/RAM vehicles.
According to localcrimenews.com, Parson was also arrested by Contra Costa CHP on May 27, 2023 for DUI with Blood Alcohol Conent above. 08
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, LaCosta is 6’2”, Hispanic and was still in custody on Wednesday, being held on $20,000 bail. According to localcrimenews.com, LaCosta Schmidt was also arrested by Concord PD on May 29, 2021 for reckless driving.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Ray is White and bonded out of custody Wednesday night, July 26 at 10:43 p.m.
I will update the community on this issue if any developments occur. I know hard working residents buy their Chargers, Challengers, Hellcats, Scat Packs, Jeeps and RAMs to enjoy and use. I do not want your daily lives interrupted by criminal activity, I want you to continue to enjoy your vehicles so please take extra security measures as we work to determine the depth of this crime ring and work to bring it to an end. I highly encourage owners of these types of vehicles to contact their Dodge/Jeep/RAM dealer to get a RF Hub Module Software Update. I am informed this is the best factory preventative measure, for this problem, currently available.
The constantly changing maneuverings in the City of Antioch staff leadership positions continued recently as the Herald learned, today, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, that Acting City Manager Kwame Reed has appointed Parks & Recreation Director Brad Helfenberger as Acting Assistant City Manager. In addition, during Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Mayor Lamar Thorpe mentioned Kevin Scudero as the Acting Community Development Director. Reed confirmed on Wednesday he had appointed Scudero, who is a Senior Planner with the City, to the position.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Scudero has worked for the City for 20 years, first as an Associate Planner beginning in July 2003, then in his current position as of June 2021.
Helfenberger said his appointment was effective June 26, the Monday after Reed was appointed by the city council to his position, in addition to his role as the City’s Economic Development Director. As previously reported, that was Forrest Ebbs’ last day as acting city manager, before he left for a two-week vacation. His final day as community development director was July 14.
According to Helfenberger’s LinkedIn profile, he has been in his current position with the City’s Recreation Department since February 2021. Previously, he worked for the City of Emeryville, first as Recreation Supervisor for almost four years, then as the Recreation Manager from May 2014 until he was hired by Antioch.
“I’m happy to serve however I can best help the City,” Helfenberger said when reached for comment.
The three acting positions are in addition to Acting Public Works Director Scott Buenting and as of August 12, the appointment of an acting police chief following the retirement of current Chief Steve Ford on the 11th. The City is also currently without an assistant city attorney.
No photo could be found of the obviously camera-shy Scudero but an effort is underway to obtain one.
