Other organizers respond to additional questions, but not committee treasurer or assistant treasurer

“Tom (Hartrick) told me that the police advised him it’s a civil matter, not criminal. I was told that a police report was not filed.” – Kathy Cabrera, recall organizer

By Allen D. Payton

Since it was announced on May 11 that the recall of Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe failed, leaders of the official campaign committee and effort have refused to answer questions, until now. But some have still gone unanswered. Recall organizer claims it failed due to the theft of the committee’s funds and the estimated 11,000 signatures gathered, more than enough to force him to the ballot. (See related article)

According to one of the organizers, Kathy Cabrera, who served Thorpe with his recall petition on Sept. 24, 2021, the contractor who the committee hired and is accused of stealing $23,000 they paid him, plus signatures for both Thorpe’s and City Clerk Ellie Householder’s recalls is Bryan Schafer of Saginaw, Michigan and his company Blitz Canvassing. He and his associate, Kim Ridley of Flint, Michigan led the paid portion of the signature gathering effort. (See related articles here and here.)

An online search for Blitz Canvassing resulted in a website for a company by that name, which claims “to working major signature collection programs in Indiana, Arkansas, Nevada, Michigan and Maine.” But neither Schafer’s nor Ridley’s photos or names appear on it.

While the committee issued a statement on May 11, the deadline for submitting the signatures, it left many questions unanswered. According to the Form 410 filed by the Committee to Recall Mayor Lamar Thorpe on March 24, 2022, the principal officer was Clarke Wilson, one of the 20 proponents who signed the recall notice, who served as the titular head of the committee and is the husband of another recall proponent and outspoken critic of Thorpe, Velma Wilson. In addition, the report shows James Pringle served as the treasurer and Tom Hartrick as the assistant treasurer.  Committee to Recall Thorpe 410

Questions for Organizers

They, and other recall organizers, including Cabrera, Lindsey Amezcua and Arne Simsonsen, were sent the following questions on May 12 and again on May 20:

“What was the name of the company you paid? What is the man’s name who is the head of the company, please? Tom told me he left the state and went back to, I believe he said Michigan. Is that true? If so, how do you know that, who told you?

I’ve also been told that man was renting a home in Pittsburg and left his girlfriend behind, as well. Is that true?

Where or how did you find the company that you hired? Who recommended them to you?

What kind of track record do they have? Do you know if they lean left or right politically?

Can you please provide a copy of the contract?

Who has access to the committee’s bank account? Would that be Treasurer James Pringle, Assistant Treasurer Tom Hartrick and Principal Officer Clarke Wilson? Anyone else?

Did the signature gathering company also take the signature petitions for Householder’s recall? Or is that effort continuing?

Is there some legal remedy or recourse you can take since Ellie has a clear conflict of interest in denying the extension? Can it be appealed to a judge, the county clerk or Secretary of State?

What actions are being taken other than filing a police report? Do you have a copy of it that you can provide?

Will you start over trying to recall Thorpe in six months?”

The group was also asked who was included in the meeting when the recall signature gathering company was hired.

Today, they were also asked about the discrepancy between the company name Schafer gave and the one with the same name with the website mentioned above on which neither he nor his associate appear.

Simonsen Responds

Simonsen responded on May 12 with, “I can only answer one of your questions: Can it be appealed to a judge, the county clerk or Secretary of State? Once the filing date has passed, there is no recourse to a Judge. The County Clerk and the Secretary of State have no role in a municipal recall, initiative or ballot measure. The City Clerk is the final authority as the Elections Official unless you take the City Clerk to Court (and that would have to be prior to the filing date with a Writ of Mandamus).”

Simonsen was also asked on May 28, if the recall can restart sooner than six months since the signatures were not turned in to the city clerk. He responded that day, “I will double check, but I am sure that once the petitions are approved for circulation that the six months kick in.”

Amezcua Responds

Amezcua responded via text on May 12 writing, “At the moment, I have no desire to start over.  I do not know if there is a waiting period. I am not on the bank account. I was not at the interview when the company was hired. I did not write the press release. I’m sure you know me well enough by now to know I have no desire to be a spokesperson.”

“I was not involved in Tuesday’s conversation, so I cannot speak on what was/was not requested,” she continued.

“I personally am feeling an immensely heavy feeling of letting down everyone that was counting on us and have largely ignored my phone and social media,” Amezcua added.

Velma Wilson Responds for Her Husband

Velma Wilson said her husband Clarke just agreed to add his name as chairman of the recall, but the others didn’t include him in the decision making. “So, he doesn’t know” she said about the answers to the questions he was also asked.

Cabrera Provides More Details

Cabrera, who was also part of the discussion about the press release that was issued on May 11, responded to the questions she said she could answer on Tuesday, June 7.

Asked if any background check was done on Schafer, his company, and his associate Kim, Cabrera said, “yes and nothing came up. No criminal records. He had one trespassing complaint against him in Contra Costa County but that’s to be expected in his line of work.”

Asked about filing a police report she responded, “Tom (Hartrick) told me that the police advised him it’s a civil matter, not criminal. I was told that a police report was not filed. Why? I don’t know. That’s just what I was told. I was further advised that the process would require the hiring of a PI and Attorney and there are no more funds to do that.”

Asked who hired the contractor, Cabrera replied, “As far as I know it was a group effort. We had interviewed several different companies. This one was referred to us. Bryan was with the company that did the Newsom recall. I don’t know what was discussed as far as terms and conditions. It was just decided.”

“I gathered the information,” she continued. “I was calling around asking what services they provide, and what was the cost. I brought it back to the group and they made a decision.”

Asked if it was a group vote, Cabrera said, “yes. I personally wanted to go with another company. But the other companies said they didn’t have the time to take it on. This company did.”

As for which organizer handled what responsibility she said, “Lindsey handled the petitions and Tom was in charge of issuing the funds. I wasn’t on any bank accounts. I was a worker bee.”

Cabrera shared more about the paid contractors saying, “Kim had mentioned that she was working with West Coast Petitions out of Walnut Creek. But Bryan pulled her into the effort on the Thorpe recall.”

Asked if they were in a relationship and living in Pittsburg, and if Schafer took off and left Ridley behind as had been shared with the Herald by an Antioch resident, Cabrera responded, “No. She’s not his girlfriend. Kim’s married. They travel to where the work is, which is not unusual. It’s my understanding most of those being paid to gather signatures came from other areas, too. He rented a house in Pittsburg where the pro-signers were staying. It was an Air BnB. Supposedly, the landlord knew him, and they rented it month-to-month.”

Asked if Kim is still around and if, Cabrera said, “no. Bryan did take off to Michigan and left Kim behind she told Lindsey. But it’s my understanding she went to Monterey to work on the next job. That’s the last I heard.”

“Lindsey was trying to contact Bryan and Kim, the week the signatures were due. But they weren’t responding, from what I was told,” Cabrera continued. “We had someone go by the house in Pittsburg looking for them. A clean-up crew was there and said they all had left.”

“This is not what any of us wanted especially the estimated six people who busted their ass for months trying to get the signatures to get the recall on the ballot,” Cabrera added. “The solid six not only gave their money, but gave all of their time collecting signatures, attending council meetings, making the public aware, and anything and everything possible to make the recall happen.”

“There’s no plan to restart the recall at this time,” she stated. “I am just waiting to see what happens in November with the Districts 1 and 4 council elections.”

Attempts to reach Schafer for this article, using the 510-area phone number for him that is still active, were unsuccessful.

Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer Refuse to Respond

Neither Pringle nor Hartrick responded as of publication time.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Part of signatures organizers claim were stolen by paid contractor with those for Thorpe’s recall along with money to pay professional petitioners

By Allen D. Payton

The Committee for the Recall Antioch City Clerk Ellie Householder announced today, Monday, June 6, 2022, “that the required numbers of signatures for the recall were not collected” on the day of the deadline for submitting the 9,521 signatures of registered voters in the city required to place Householder’s name on the ballot. The effort to recall her from the Antioch School Board ended in early April. (See related article)

It follows on the heels of the failure of the recall effort against Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, last month, due to the alleged theft of the funds paid to the contractor to gather signatures and the signatures that had already been gathered. The leaders claimed they had gathered more than enough signatures to place Thorpe’s name on the ballot. (See related article)

Householder was served with recall papers to remove her from her position as city clerk on Nov. 30, 2021 and signature gathering began at the end of December. (See related articles here and here)

The committee’s statement offered an explanation for the failure of the Householder recall. It continues as follows:

The majority of Antioch citizens coming out to sign were focused on one thing, the Antioch Mayor Recall Lamar Thorpe petition. Many of the signers had simply never heard of Householder.

The primary reason for the Antioch City Clerk recall was to provide an incentive for Clerk Householder to correctly and efficiently handle the processing of the petition for the Recall Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe Petition; that objective was eventually achieved.

The petition for the City Clerk reads, “The grounds for the recall are as follows: You violated the California Public Records Act (Government Code 6253) by failing to provide a copy of a public document to the records department at Antioch City Hall and thus hindered a constituent from their right to inspect a public record. You rejected the first drafted petition to recall the Antioch mayor without including a statement of what alterations to the petition were necessary (Elections Code 11042(c)). You then rejected a second petition citing election code 107(b), which is not applicable to the recall effort. You ignored the proponents request to send your findings via email, instead choosing to send them via certified mail at a cost to the city and cited elections code 11224 as your reason to not email them. Election code 11224 refers to the certification process of approved petitions that have already been signed by registered voters and was erroneously cited. You omitted emails from a Public Records Request, once again violating the California Public Records Act. This misuse and misapplication of Election Codes and continued violations of Government Code 6253 illustrates your inability to do the job in which you were elected and warrants your removal.”

The mayor’s recall petition was first filed on September 24, 2021 and approved more than two months later on December 2, 2021. While the proponents of the Mayor’s Recall did make an error on the first filing, Clerk Householder used the full ten days, allowed by California Elections Code, to respond to their resubmission by US Postal Service. To extend the response timeline further, she the response was mailed on the afternoon of the 10th day by certified mail, even though the main proponent asked for a response by email. She continued to use the same process on the second and third filing, until she was served with her own Recall Petition. On the fourth filing, although she had a question regarding the intention to form a Campaign Finance Committee, not required to be in the filing, she called the main proponent for the answer and once it was provided, she verbally approved the petition and followed it up by an official email. The delay tactics ensured that the mayor’s recall petition was delayed again and again.

The relationship between the Clerk and the Mayor is well known, as showcased in a Thorpe/Householder TikTok video. The text overlay reads, “When the Mayor and City Clerk have each other’s back.” In it, Thorpe and Householder are seen standing next to each other behind the council dais, while he points to her and himself, mouths the words of a speaker saying “she’s my best friend. You mess with her, you mess with me, you mess with me, you mess with her. You mess with us, you better pray and run.” Watch the video on this link: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CdHkYhVDUIn/ (See related article)

Householder is the first elected official to be the subject of two local recalls. First as an Antioch Unified School Board Trustee and then as Antioch’s City Clerk. She is now the first elected official to not have two recall processes completed, but both recalls achieved their objective by holding her publicly accountable for her actions and misuse of power. It is hoped that the effort has helped Clerk Householder to understand that despite the close personal relationship she and Mayor Lamar Thorpe enjoy, she is expected to consider the relationship with her constituents to be her primary focus.

——————————-

Questions for Committee

The following questions were sent to Diane Gibson-Gray, one of the proponents for Householder’s recall. How many signatures were gathered for Householder’s recall? She responded, “I was not involved in the signature tally and I do not have that information.”

Gibson-Gray was also asked if some of the signatures gathered for Householder’s recall part of those the paid contractor stole and didn’t provide to the committee. She responded, “The paid signature gathers included Householder’s petition when gathering signatures for Thorpe in the hope that the Recall Antioch City Clerk Ellie Householder efforts would include fundraising, which did not occur. A Campaign Finance Committee was not formed as the $2,000 threshold for funds raised / expenses paid was not met.”

Recall organizers, Lindsey Amezcua was then asked if she knew how many signatures were gathered for Householder’s recall.

Amezcua responded, “only around 5,000 were collected. No one really put in the effort after the debacle with Thorpe’s (recall).”

She was also asked if the signatures for Householder’s recall were among those the contractor is accused of stealing. Amezcua responded, “Yes, the pro’s had pages for the clerk recall as well, that weren’t handed over. But they weren’t paid for any, so I can’t tell you how many they had.”

Householder chose to not respond to an effort asking if she had any comment about the committee’s announcement prior to publication time.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

While all active registered voters throughout California receive Vote by Mail (VBM) ballots, voters still have the option of voting in person on or before Election Day. Your County Elections Office is open for in-person voting beginning 29 days before the election and voters can cast their ballots in person up to and including Election Day.

To locate your designated polling place in Contra Costa County, use the My Voting Information tool or check the back cover of the Voter Information Guide mailed to you. The polls are open from 7am until 8pm.

Lynda Roberts, Marin County Registrar of Voters comments, “Voters should be familiar with their voting options in their county. Your County Voter Information Guide has a lot of great, detailed information about your voting options, times and locations. County websites are also a quick and easy way to get more information about in-person voting in your county.”

All election processes and procedures are open to the public for observation.

For more local information, go to your local county election official, who is your trusted source of nonpartisan election information.  Information on this topic as well as direct links to local elections offices can be found on our website, BayAreaVotes.org, or our Facebook page, Bay Area Votes.

A detailed Fact Sheet on In-Person Voting can be found on the webpage under Just the Facts.

By Allen D. Payton

Business owners in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown alerted others about a police action at a retail location on W. Second Street, Thursday morning.

According to Danville Police Chief Allan Shields, “at 11:13 am Danville officers served an arrest and a search warrant at 412 W. 2nd Street, a store front but not currently operating as a business. The warrant stemmed from a residential burglary that took place in the Town of Danville on April 9, 2022.”

Danville officers arrested Eddie Martinez, male, age 45 out of Antioch for the arrest warrant for burglary.

Asked what was stolen, Shields responded, “We don’t usually list the property that’s stolen.”

“In lieu of booking Mr. Martinez at the jail, he was admitted to the hospital on an unrelated issue. It had nothing to do with the arrest, today,” the chief continued.

Danville officers will be forwarding the case to the District Attorney and requesting prosecution for the original burglary case.

Asked if Martinez resisted arrest, Shields simply said “no.”

Danville Police were assisted by Sheriff’s Deputies and Antioch Police Officers, including a K-9 unit. But the police dog was not deployed.

Asked what happens after Martinez is released from the hospital, Shields said, “if the DA decides to file charges, they can issue him a notice to appear in court or another arrest warrant.”

Missing Oakley woman believed dead, ex-boyfriend, a fugitive shot and killed Wednesday

Police assisted by video from surveillance cameras, GPS in her car

Investigation and search continue, reward increased to $100,000

“…our daughter will remain alive in our minds and our hearts. We will continue to search for her until we find her.” – Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father

By Allen D. Payton

The case of missing Oakley woman Alexis Gabe, last seen in Antioch by her ex-boyfriend on Jan. 26, took a sad turn today as Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard announced she is believed to be a victim of a homicide and her ex-boyfriend, a suspect and wanted fugitive who fled to Washington state, was killed yesterday by officers following his attack on them.

“Our joint investigation has led us to believe that…Marshall Curtis Jones, a 27-year-old male resident of Antioch killed Alexis at his home on or about Jan. 26,” Beard stated during a press conference today, Thursday, June 2, 2022.

Last week, Oakley and Antioch police presented the case to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office who filed murder charges against Jones on May 26. Gabe has been missing since Jan. 26 and was last seen by Jones at his house on Benttree Way in Antioch. (See related articles here, here and here)

A post on the City of Oakley Facebook page on Thursday reads:

“The ex-boyfriend of Alexis Gabe, Marshall Curtis Jones, was killed yesterday (June 1, 2022) by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force as they attempted to arrest him in Washington. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene after charging at officers with a knife.

Oakley and Antioch police officers issued an arrest warrant on June 1, 2022, for Jones in Kent, Washington. The 27-year-old Antioch resident was charged with the murder of Alexis Gabe, the Oakley resident who disappeared in January 2022. Jones was the last person she saw before her disappearance.

Law enforcement officers from Seattle Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service were attempting to arrest Jones. As he produced a knife and charged at officers, marshals discharged their service weapons, killing Jones.”

The investigation is ongoing; more information will be released as it becomes available.

The $100,000 reward is still available and will be issued for information leading to the whereabouts of Alexis Gabe. Call (925) 625-7009 or email alexistips@ci.oakley.ca.us with any information about the case.”

“We had no idea he was capable of doing something like this to her. We didn’t want him dead. We wanted to look him in the eye and ask him way, ask him ‘where is Alexis?’” – Gwyn Gabe

Oakley Police Press Conference

“This is still an open investigation”, said Chief Beard during the press conference. “Our search for Alexis has been a very vigorous one. We have literally searched for her on land, sea and air will continue to do so.”

“I must announce at this time, we believe Alexis Gabe is the victim of a homicide,” he continued. “We believe that homicide occurred in the city of Antioch. The members of the Antioch Police Department with officer of the Oakley Police Department.”

Part of what has led us to believe Alexis is the victim of a homicide is the examination of a large amount of digital and forensic evidence,” Beard stated. “In conjunction with that is there is the fact that there are no signs of life anywhere for Alexis.”

He spoke of the evidence including, “the cell phone case that was found” with the help of volunteers from the Polly Klass Foundation and contained Jones’ DNA.

Additional evidence included “thousands of phone records…and an image of Marshall Jones being captured on several surveillance cameras that led him on a path from where Alexis’ vehicle was dumped in Oakley to his home on Benttree Lane on the evening of January 26, 2022,” the chief continued. “Further digital evidence was the fact that Alexis’ vehicle was equipped with a GPS system. An examination of that system showed a direct path from leading that vehicle from Marshall Jones’ house to where it was dumped on the night of Jan. 26, 2022.”

“Our joint investigation has led us to believe that…Marshall Curtis Jones, a 27-year-old male resident of Antioch killed Alexis at his home on or about Jan. 26,” Beard said. “Jones was very uncooperative during our joint investigation, and he has refused to speak with us, several times.”

Alexis’ Father Speaks

“What happened to Marshall was tragic and unexpected,” Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father said during the press conference with his wife, Rowena and their two sons by his side. “He was our daughter’s first love. They were together for three years. He became part of our family. We had no idea he was capable of doing something like this to her. We didn’t want him dead. We wanted him arrested to pay for his sins. We wanted to meet with him face to face. We wanted to look him in the eye and ask him way, ask him ‘where is Alexis?’”

“I know the police say our daughter’s gone,” Gabe continued. “But our daughter will remain alive in our minds and our hearts. We will continue to search for her until we find her.”

He then thanked the Oakley and Antioch police officers who assisted in the case.

“Oakley and Antioch PD have been working on this case for four months straight, with no stop. They invested so much, and they deserve all the credit. This is just in case someone else tries to schedule a press conference and takes full credit for what went down yesterday and the past four months.”

Contra Costa DA Becton held a press conference Thursday afternoon about the case. (See below)

Oakley Police Press Release

Following is the information provided in the Oakley Police Department’s press release about the case: “The ex-boyfriend of Alexis Gabe, Marshall Curtis Jones, was killed yesterday (June 1, 2022) by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force as they attempted to arrest him in Washington. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene after charging at officers with a knife. Oakley and Antioch police officers issued an arrest warrant on June 1, 2022, for Jones in Kent, Washington. The 27-year-old Antioch resident was charged with the murder of Alexis Gabe, the Oakley resident who disappeared in January 2022. Jones was the last person she saw before her disappearance. Law enforcement officers from Seattle Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service were attempting to arrest Jones. As he produced a knife and charged at officers, marshals discharged their service weapons, killing Jones.

Murder Suspect in the Alexis Gabe Case Killed Following Attack on Law Enforcement Officers The ex-boyfriend of Alexis Gabe, Marshall Curtis Jones, was killed yesterday (June 1, 2022) by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force as they attempted to arrest him in Washington. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene after charging at officers with a knife. Oakley and Antioch police officers issued an arrest warrant on June 1, 2022, for Jones in Kent, Washington. The 27-year-old Antioch resident was charged with the murder of Alexis Gabe, the Oakley resident who disappeared in January 2022. Jones was the last person she saw before her disappearance. Law enforcement officers from Seattle Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service were attempting to arrest Jones. As he produced a knife and charged at officers, marshals discharged their service weapons, killing Jones. The investigation is ongoing; more information will be released as it becomes available.”

Contra Costa DA Holds Press Conference Thursday Afternoon, Issues Statement

On Thursday afternoon, Contra Costa DA Diana Becton held a press conference at her office about the case and issued a statement about the case.

Following is the press release from Public Information Officer Ted Asregadoo:

“Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton filed a murder charge (PC 187) on May 26, 2022, against Marshall Curtis Jones, III for the killing of 24-year-old Oakley resident, Alexis Gabe. Yesterday evening, in Kent, Washington, Jones was shot and killed by law enforcement personnel during an attempted fugitive apprehension.

24-year-old Gabe was missing since January 26, 2022, after last being seen in Antioch. Due to the nature and scope of the investigation, Oakley Police requested investigative assistance from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and Antioch Police Department.

On April 25, 2022, Antioch Police Department authored a wiretap affidavit, which was signed by District Attorney Diana Becton, and presented to the Contra Costa Superior Court for approval. A wire and electronic interception of Jones’ cellular phone concluded on May 24th. Along with the phone intercept recordings, surveillance footage, cell data, and DNA evidence, investigators made a criminal referral to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office on May 25th.

After the criminal complaint was filed on May 26th, the DA’s Office, Antioch Police, Oakley Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Washington State authorities coordinated to apprehend Jones – who, during the course of the investigation, fled from Antioch to Kent, Washington.

On June 1, 2022, a fugitive task force attempted to arrest Jones inside an apartment where he was in hiding. Police announced themselves, and Jones reportedly opened the front door to the apartment and charged at officers while wielding a knife. He was shot by authorities. Police took immediate life-saving measures, but Jones died at the scene.

24-year-old Gabe has been missing since January 26, 2022, after last being seen in Antioch. Members of her family found her blue Infinity coupe about a mile from Gabe’s home on Trenton Street near Carrington Drive in Oakley the next day. The keys were still inside, and the vehicle was unlocked. Shortly thereafter, the Oakley Police Department started an investigation into the highly suspicious circumstances of Gabe’s disappearance.

Gabe’s former boyfriend, Marshall Curtis Jones, III became a focus of the investigation – which culminated in the wire and electronic interception of his cellular phone. Jones and Gabe had reportedly broken up in November 2021 but saw each other from time to time. Jones confirmed to investigators that he and Alexis were together at his home on Benttree Way in Antioch until 9 o’clock on the night she went missing, but that he witnessed her leaving his residence in the blue Infinity coupe she arrived in earlier.

Today, District Attorney Diana Becton said, ‘It’s been an emotionally wrenching time for the family, friends, and community. I, along with the police agencies who have worked tirelessly to bring justice to the Gabe family, wish to express our deepest condolences for the loss of their beloved daughter. My office will continue to seek justice in finding Alexis so her family can have a sense of closure to this tragic loss of life.’”

 

 

 

 

Cutline. Marshall Tucker in image from officer body cam footage. Source: Oakley PD

 

 

 

After six years, Councilwoman Torres-Walker’s efforts pay off

By Allen D. Payton

Today, Wednesday, June 1, Antioch District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker announced the city has been approved for a state Violence Intervention and Prevention grant of almost $1.8 million. The councilwoman has been working on the effort since before she was elected in 2020.

According to the Grant Program website, “CalVIP grants must be used to support, expand, and replicate evidence-based violence reduction initiatives that seek to interrupt cycles of violence.  Strategies eligible for funding could include but are not limited to: hospital-based violence intervention programs, evidence-based street outreach programs, and focused deterrence strategies.”

The grant will be issued by the California Board of State and Community Corrections. According to their website, the board’s responsibilities include, “the administration of a wide range of public safety, re-entry, violence reduction, and rehabilitative grants to state and local governments and community-based organizations.”

In a post on her official Facebook page, Torres-Walker wrote, “Leadership focused on the people and the solutions, not just the fight. I am pleased to announce that I received news from the City Manager’s office that the BSCC (Board of State and Community Corrections) has recently approved the City of Antioch CALVIP application for $1.794 million. On June 9, 2022, at 10:00 am, the BSCC Board of Directors is scheduled to vote and award the CALVIP funds to the City of Antioch.

This is so exciting as a local leader and resident who has been trying to bring California Violence Intervention and Prevention funds to Antioch since 2016.

Calvip grants must be used to support, expand, and replicate evidence-based violence reduction initiatives that seek to interrupt cycles of violence. Strategies eligible for funding could include but are not limited to hospital-based violence intervention programs, evidence-based street outreach programs, and focused deterrence strategies.

https://www.grants.ca.gov/…/california-violence…/

I would like to take this moment to appreciate all the individuals that work(ed) closely with me to make this possible.

Statement from Michelle Sinnott:

‘A piece of good news in the fight against gun violence: This morning I learned that the City of Antioch was awarded CalVIP funding for the first time. For those that do not know, I worked on behalf of Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety Washington Dc in partnership with these outstanding individuals to make this happen- Tamisha Torres-Walker, Keiland-Maurice Henderson and Tasha Johnson. With this funding, the City of Antioch will work in partnership with Advance Peace and Bonafide Sisterhood Inc and establish a Gun Violence Intervention program to combat the rise in gun violence we are seeing in Antioch. We are on our way to saving lives. Thank you @BSCC.CA.GOV for awarding the City of Antioch this grant.’

Statement from Tonyia Carter:

‘BONAFIDE SISTERHOOD INC. is grateful & honored to be awarded CalVIP Grant funds for our Neighborhood Hero Project. Working closely with the City of Antioch’s new department of Public Safety and Community Resources, Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, and the following partners: Moms Demand Action, Keiland-Maurice Henderson (NICJR), Tasha Johnson (Youth network manager). This effort to heal and save our community has been a great experience so far. Thanks to all who helped make this happen. Looking forward to the change to come.’ #Wedidit

To find out how to be more involved in these efforts contact me directly at twalker@antiochca.gov.”

Including $510,000 more in attack ads against Knox; Soros contributes $652,000

“This money will not drown out the voices of the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of local donors who have worked tirelessly side-by-side with me over the past 11 months to spread our campaign’s message…” – Deputy D.A. Mary Knox

By Allen D. Payton

The Washington, D.C.-based PAC funded by billionaire George Soros has received just over $1 million to help re-elect incumbent Contra Costa D.A. Diana Becton and defeat her challenger, Deputy D.A. Mary Knox. According to two campaign finance reports on Netfile.com submitted by the California Justice & Public Safety PAC date May 28, Soros contributed $652,000, the Smart Justice California Action Fund contributed $300,000 and M. Quinn Delaney of Piedmont contributed $50,000.

According to their website, Smart Justice California is “an alliance of donors and funders…helping to change the belief that prosecutors must be incarceration-driven by engaging voters and establishing a statewide candidate pipeline of justice reform champions.”

The report lists Delaney as retired. But according to the organization’s website, she “is the Founder and Board Chair of Akonadi Foundation, which supports the development of powerful social change movements to eliminate structural racism and create a racially just society. The Foundation funds primarily in Oakland with a focus on ending the criminalization of people of color.”

6/2/22 UPDATE & CORRECTION: That brings the total received by the PAC to $1,002,000 in the race, so far. (See related article)

It was previously reported that the $1 million in contributions was in addition to over $400,000 previously spent according to the PAC’s Form 496 reports dated May 14 for a total of more than $1.4 million in contributions. However, according to Alex Navarro-Mckay of New York-based Berlin Rosen campaigns said, “when the $400,000 was spent the PAC was incurring liabilities.” Asked when the ads started running, he responded, “right around there. May 13 or 14.”

That means the PAC spent over $400,000 on negative, digital attack ads against Knox before the funds were received on May 17, 26 and 27. Most media companies require political campaigns to pay in advance.

Of the latest amount received, almost $500,000 was spent on negative attack ads against Knox and another $10,050 was spent for digital ads against her. The PAC only spent $34,900 on digital ads to support Becton.

In response to those contributions and expenditures to defeat her, Knox released the following statement:

“An out-of-state billionaire along with special interest groups have now dropped an unprecedented $1M to defeat my campaign and influence voters for District Attorney in this local election.  Contra Costa voters will determine the outcome of this election and the future of public safety in Contra Costa County. This money will not drown out the voices of the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of local donors who have worked tirelessly side-by-side with me over the past 11 months to spread our campaign’s message,” said. “I have served this community for 37 years as a prosecutor. The bottom line is this, people in our community want to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Every day I talk to voters who are frustrated with D.A. Becton and want to see their District Attorney focused on public safety and crime reduction.”

As previously reported, Becton was asked if it is good to have so much out-of-county and out-of-state funds spent to influence an election in Contra Costa County, but she did not respond. Becton was also the beneficiary of spending by Soros during her first election campaign in 2018. (See related article)

Knox has served as a prosecutor in the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for 37 years and has extensive trial experience. Knox has earned the endorsement of every law enforcement agency in the County, as well as state and local organizations such as the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, PORAC, the California Narcotics Officers Association and the California Gang Investigators Association. Mary has advanced social justice while preventing crime in Contra Costa County.  She brought anti-bias training to the District Attorney’s Office and has fought to end discrimination against women in the Contra Costa County’s District Attorney’s Office.

Knox and Becton are the only candidates running for election as District Attorney.  Since this election will be won by a simple majority, the election of the next District Attorney of Contra Costa County will be determined by the votes cast on June 7, 2022.

“Don’t Tax the Sun” event is part of the largest ever submission of live and video-recorded public comments in CPUC history

Organizers claim tax will boost utility profits at the expense of clean energy needs 

San Francisco—Hundreds of solar workers, consumers, clean energy advocates, community leaders, conservationists, and climate activists will join together at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) headquarters building in San Francisco on Thursday to protest the CPUC’s latest proposal to tax rooftop solar and drastically reduce the credits consumers receive for selling their solar energy back to the grid.

After a brief rally, solar supporters will line up to give public comments during the CPUC meeting. In Los Angeles, another thousand solar supporters will record their video testimonials to submit to the CPUC. Combined, Thursday’s actions are expected to be the largest ever submission of live and video-recorded public comments in CPUC history.

• WHAT: 500+ ‘Don’t Tax the Sun’ rally and largest ever CPUC public comment submission
• WHEN: Thursday, June 2 at 11:00am PDT
• WHERE: CPUC headquarters at 505 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco where the CPUC will be opening its doors to in-person public comment.
• WHO:  Large and diverse coalition of solar supporters.
• VISUALS: Rally and more than 500 solar supporters lined-up to give public comments wearing bright red ‘Don’t Tax the Sun’ tee-shirts with signs and banners.

The CPUC is currently considering changes to “net energy metering,” the state policy that makes rooftop solar more affordable for consumers of all types by compensating them for the excess energy they produce and share with their neighbors. Currently 1.5 million consumers use net metering, including thousands of public schools, churches and affordable housing developments, and it is the main driver of California’s world-renowned rooftop solar market. As a result of net metering, working and middle class neighborhoods are just under half of the rooftop solar market and the fastest growing segment today.

Big utilities want to change the rules in their favor in order to eliminate a growing competitor, keep consumers stuck in utility monopolies, and maintain the need for costly and often dangerous transmission lines that are a key driver of utility profits and ratepayer costs.

Despite the overwhelming popularity of rooftop solar and net metering in California, the CPUC is considering a proposed decision, favored by investor-owned utilities, to implement a monthly solar penalty tax while also slashing credits consumers receive for their excess solar energy.

The CPUC had previously proposed a similar steep tax on rooftop solar and an immediate gutting of the credits of solar consumers. The unpopular proposed decision was shelved for an indefinite amount of time earlier this year after intense backlash and public disapproval from Governor Newsom. The CPUC’s recent ruling to re-open its net energy metering procedures seems again to be pursuing a tax, this time hidden and under a different name.

By contrast, solar supporters want to keep solar growing and affordable for all types of consumers, ensure California remains on track with its clean energy and land conservation goals, and accelerate the growth of solar plus storage to build a more resilient electric grid.

About Save California Solar

Save California Solar is a coalition formed to help ensure that rooftop solar continues to grow and benefit every Californian. Save CA Solar includes more than 600 diverse organizations and helped generate 150,000+ public comments submitted in support of net metering ahead of the CPUC proposed decision. Learn more at www.savecasolar.org.