On Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at 11:42pm, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on Highway 4 near Newport Drive in Discovery Bay. An unknown vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 4 struck a pedestrian and the driver of the suspect vehicle did not stop and fled the scene. The pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel.
On Thursday, November 22, 2023, at 3:03pm, CHP Contra Costa Officers arrested Javier Dominguez Ramirez (32-year-old from Antioch) in connection with the vehicle that struck and killed a pedestrian on Nov. 16. This crash occurred on westbound SR-4, west of Newport Drive. He is currently being held on a $50k bail at the Martinez Detention Facility for Felony Hit and Run.
Stolen Honda Accord in Discovery Bay and gun used in carjacking in Antioch on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. Photos: APD
CHP, Sheriff’s Office assist
By Antioch Police Department
On Tuesday morning, Nov. 21, 2023, at approximately 8:50 am, we began getting calls from employees reporting suspicious subjects wearing masks and looking into vehicles in the parking lot of 4041 Lone Tree Way in the Bluerock Center. As our patrol officers were driving to check them out, we got a call from a victim of an armed carjacking. The suspects were armed with a gun and took the victim’s Honda Accord.
Our dispatch center quickly began calling neighboring agencies and our patrol teams began searching the area. The vehicle and subjects were soon located in nearby Discovery Bay.
11/24/23UPDATE: According to Antioch Police spokesman Sgt. Price Kendall, the suspects were both 18-year-old males and booked into the Martinez Detention facility. “That is all we will be releasing,” he added.
We would like to thank all of the witnesses to this incident for quickly calling and to thank both CHP and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance leading to the quick arrests of these suspects. This is a great example of our community and neighboring agencies collaborating with us!
New EBRPD Equity Officer José G. González. Photo: EBRPD
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
After a nationwide search, the East Bay Regional Park District announces the appointment of José G. González as its new Equity Officer to lead diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the public agency. The East Bay Regional Park District’s mission is to preserve a rich heritage of natural and cultural resources and provide open space, parks, trails, safe and healthful recreation and environmental education. An environmental ethic guides the District in all of its activities. González begins in the role on December 18, 2023.
As the largest regional park district in the country, the park system spans Alameda and Contra Costa counties and serves an estimated 30 million visitors a year through park and trail access, visitor centers, and programs. Its workforce provides services that encompass 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails.
“We are pleased to share news of this pivotal role and welcome José González to help lead the East Bay Regional Park District to further strengthen its mission and impact and build upon successes as we continue to prioritize a strong, systemic approach to equity both in our workplace and services to the public,” said Sabrina B. Landreth, General Manager at the East Bay Regional Park District.
The new role will work to improve access to and use of the parks’ services for all community members and support inclusive programs, services, and public processes that reflect the tremendous diversity of our community. The position will also lead on programs and activities to help diversify our workforce, eliminate any systemic barriers to employment and promotion, and ensure equitable policies and best practices to make the agency an employer of choice as the District continuously seeks to build and retain a topnotch workforce.
“I am excited to join the East Bay Regional Park District as its inaugural Equity Officer. I look forward to bringing my experience from the local to the national level around equity in the conservation field and community in a way that showcases the opportunity and leadership that the Park District has been developing in this space for all of our community,” said González.
“Equity and inclusion begin from within, so I am thrilled and ready to support and lead the work that the Park District has prioritized for the agency to represent and reflect the diversity of its community,” added González.
González is a professional educator with training in the fields of education and conservation. He is the Founder of Latino Outdoors as well as a consultant at large. As a Partner at the Avarna Group and through his own consulting, his work focuses on Equity & Inclusion frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor, and conservation fields. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.
He received his B.A. at the University of California, Davis with teaching coursework at the Bilingual, Multicultural, Education Department at Sacramento State University. He received his M.S. at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. He serves as a board member at Parks CA and Resource Media, and as a Commissioner for the California Boating & Waterways Commission, among other leadership volunteer roles.
According to his profile on parkscalifornia.org, González is the Founder and Director Emeritus of Latino Outdoors. He is an experienced educator as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. As a Partner in the Avarna Group and through his own consulting, his work focuses on Equity & Inclusion frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor, and conservation fields. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Paid for primarily by federal stimulus funds, and taxpayer-supported Measure J county sales tax and bridge toll increases
This month, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) commemorates Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore’s 10 years of service alleviating congestion on Highway 24. Caldecott’s award-winning fourth bore was constructed on time and under budget at a cost of $417 million and finally allowed two permanently dedicated tunnels to service traffic in each direction. The passage was opened to traffic on November 15, 2013, successfully reducing travel times, enhancing safety for Caltrans maintenance workers, and improving mobility for those driving from east Contra Costa County to Oakland and San Francisco.
At the time of the groundbreaking on January 22, 2010, the shovel-ready Fourth Bore was the largest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stimulus funding in the nation of $194.3 million, a testament to the regional importance of the project and the hard work of the project team. Contra Costa County’s Measure J provided $125 million, the Bay Area Regional Measure 2 Bridge Toll increase provided $44.8 million, and the state provided $19.9 million.
“Ten years ago, we opened the fourth bore with much anticipated fanfare,” CCTA Chair Federal Glover said. “Many drivers today don’t remember when Caltrans workers had to shift the middle bore direction at least twice a day to provide lanes for peak commuters. On some weekdays the direction of the middle bore could change up to six times, which was so inefficient for the 160,000 daily drivers who used the Caldecott each day and unsafe for the workers who were responsible for changing lanes.”
Prior to the tunnel opening, Caltrans reported westbound motorists experienced 52,585 vehicle hours of delay a month. After the fourth bore opened in 2013, the vehicle hours of delay dropped to 12,020 – a 77 percent improvement. CCTA 2023 data shows a continued reduction in delays compared to 2013 data compiled before the tunnel opened. Eastbound delays show a 42 percent reduction of vehicle hours of delay, while westbound delays show an 80 percent improvement – meaning fewer hours drivers waste sitting in traffic. (See Fourth Bore Project Fact Sheet)
Officials and CCTA staff gather for the Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore ribbon cutting on Nov. 15, 2013. Photo: CCTA
“The Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore is a remarkable project that has served Bay Area drivers well since 2013,” CCTA Executive Director Timothy Haile said. “CCTA’s landmark project will continue to be a legacy for decades to come.”
About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering transportation infrastructure projects and programs throughout the County. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to manage traffic levels. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.
The Antioch Police Department had been awarded a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety for Traffic
Enforcement Program to increase safety on the roads. The Antioch Police Department was awarded a $60,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The grant will support our ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads.
The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:
• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.
• High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
• Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).
This funding will strengthen our commitment to public safety in our community, and we will be able to increase our efforts in making our roads safer for everyone and focus on critical areas such as distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding.
The grant program will run through September 2024.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Any questions please contact: Sgt. Rob Green, rgreen@ci.antioch.ca.us, 925-778-6864
Within only ten minutes, yesterday evening there were three armed robberies in residential neighborhoods of Antioch where the victims were all arriving home from work. Responding APD officers quickly linked the three robberies based on time element, along with the matching suspect and getaway vehicle descriptions. The suspects were reportedly armed with a handgun and rifle at the time of the robberies.
Later that evening, Officer Desiderio located a matching vehicle and conducted an enforcement stop. A search of the vehicle revealed stolen property from each of the three robberies. The five occupants of the vehicle were arrested, and two of the five provided false identification to officers. The true identities of these two were learned and they were found to have outstanding warrants for their arrest. All five were booked at the County Jail in Martinez.
11/24/23 UPDATE: According to Antioch Police spokesman Sgt. Price Kendall, “Of the five males arrested, three were 19 years old, one was 20, and one was 23. All five males were from Antioch and Brentwood. That is all we will be releasing.”
Officers wish to thank the victims and witnesses who came forward and gave an excellent description of the vehicle and suspects! Officers would also like to thank our hardworking APD dispatchers for the work they do in getting the information out quickly.
Want to join Officer Desiderio and his team to help keep Antioch safe? We are hiring entry-level, academy graduates, and lateral police officers, with academies starting in January and March of 2024. We offer an excellent pay and benefits package, CalPERS retirement pension, and a $30,000 signing bonus (amongst many other incentives). We are also hiring dispatchers now! Visit www.JoinAntiochPD.com for more information and be part of the change!
All entrance activity fees waived in East Bay Regional Parks
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
Thursday, November 16, 2023 (Oakland, CA) – Celebrate Green Friday, November 24, with an East Bay Regional Parks FREE Park Day. Green Friday provides healthy and fun ways to enjoy the day after Thanksgiving with family and friends.
On Green Friday, all entrance activity fees are waived in Regional Parks, including parking, dogs, horses, boat launching, and fishing, as well as entrance to Ardenwood Historic Farm. The fee waiver does not include state fees for fishing licenses and watercraft inspections or concessions, such as the Tilden Merry-Go-Round and Redwood Valley Railway steam train.
For the past nine years, the East Bay Regional Park District has celebrated Green Friday to encourage the public to spend time in nature.
Green Friday activities in Regional Parks include:
Hike It Off, 9:00 a.m. – Reinhardt Redwood, Oakland
Fall Scavenger Hunt, 9:00 a.m. – Sunol, Sunol
Green Friday Hike, 10:00 a.m. – Del Valle, Livermore
History Hike ABOVE the Mines!, 10:00 a.m. – Black Diamond Mines, Antioch
Farm Chores for Kids, 10:30 a.m. – Ardenwood, Fremont
Meet The Bunnies, 11:30 a.m. – Ardenwood, Fremont
Stilts, 1:30 p.m. – Ardenwood, Fremont
Woodland Wonderland, 3:30 p.m. – Del Valle, Livermore
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,300 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives more than 25 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Claims typical residential customer will pay $32.62 more for combined monthly electric and natural gas bill beginning January 1, 2024.
By CPUC
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, resolved Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) General Rate Case (GRC), which covers its operational and infrastructure revenue requirement for 2023-2026. The decision marks a crucial step in fortifying the future of California’s electric grid while prioritizing customer affordability.
Based on the evidence presented, the CPUC today unanimously approved the Alternate Proposed Decision of Commissioner John Reynolds. This decision approves investments in the safety and reliability of PG&E’s energy services. Inflation and a significant investment in undergrounding electric lines ranked among the top drivers in PG&E’s request. Over the past year and a half, numerous parties reviewed PG&E’s GRC request and provided input on each cost category and related proposed expenditures.
“I am proud of today’s decision because it represents the CPUC’s commitment to finding a reasonable balance in the face of incredibly challenging circumstances and competing objectives,” said Commissioner John Reynolds, who is assigned to the proceeding. “This decision ultimately represents both an historic investment in PG&E’s electric and natural gas systems as well as an expectation that PG&E must continue to be safer and more efficient. I am grateful to the many parties, and the scores of CPUC staffers, for their help as we grappled with this decision.”
Today’s decision propels PG&E’s energy infrastructure and operations into the future, addressing critical objectives such as mitigating wildfire risk, enhancing safety and reliability, and anticipating evolving electric grid demands. This comprehensive approach not only ensures PG&E’s capacity to maintain a safe and reliable energy system with a dedicated workforce, but also positions California for a more resilient energy future in the face of climate change. Moreover, the decision reflects rigorous oversight over hundreds of programs, and reduces PG&E’s request to more accurately reflect forecasts for prudent use of ratepayer funds.
Among the key initiatives covered in the decision:
Wildfire System Enhancement and Undergrounding
Approves 1,230 miles of electric line undergrounding, as well as 778 miles of covered conductor, totaling 2,008 hardened miles. This represents an historic opportunity for PG&E to invest in safer, reliable improvements for its customers while also achieving economies of scale to drive down costs; the revised undergrounding total also provides PG&E with a bridge to a future phase of undergrounding planning, through the Senate Bill 884 program.
Vegetation Management
Approves PG&E investing approximately $1.3 billion in vegetation management to reduce wildfire ignition risk and improve reliability on PG&E’s electrical system.
Capacity Upgrades
Approves PG&E investing more than $2.5 billion in upgrading the electric distribution system from 2023-2026, which will help prepare the grid to support initiatives for enhanced building electrification and new interconnections for electric vehicle charging stations and new housing and businesses.
“Today’s decision balances a myriad of competing interests—affordability, feasibility, safety, and reliability,” said CPUC President Alice Reynolds. “And in the face of increasingly turbulent climate-driven weather events, it gives PG&E the opportunity to prove it can underground electric lines at scale. This will allow PG&E to achieve economies of scale, drive down costs, and reduce wildfire risk.”
Setting the pathway for critical investments in PG&E’s system
For PG&E customers, this approval by the CPUC translates to a continued commitment to safe, reliable, and affordable energy services. The GRC ensures that every dollar invested contributes to more resilient energy infrastructure, offering customers lasting benefits. Moreover, stringent accountability measures are embedded within the decision, assuring customers that their investment yields tangible and accountable improvements in PG&E’s operations and services.
PG&E requested $15.4 billion for 2023; Thursday’s decision cut that amount substantially, by $1.8 billion. Today’s decision sets the 2023 revenue requirement at $13.5 billion, reflecting an 11 percent increase from the authorized 2022 revenue requirement. For the typical residential customer, their combined monthly electric and natural gas bill will increase by $32.62 or 12.8 percent, compared to PG&E’s request of $38.73 or 17.9 percent increase.
PG&E’s 2022 Authorized Revenue Requirement
Proposed 2023 Revenue Requirement
Percent Increase
Dollar Increase
$12.2 billion
PG&E Request
$15.4 billion
26%
$3.2 billion
Decision
$13.5 billion
11%
$1.3 billion
Customers can expect any changes to their bill to go into effect on January 1, 2024.
For further information on the proceeding, including today’s decision and a fact sheet, please visit the CPUC’s website.
About the California Public Utilities Commission
The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. Visit www.cpuc.ca.gov for more information.
