Purchased at The 19th Hole; one of 16 NFL $1M Scratchers available statewide; 2nd million-dollar winner in Antioch in 3 years

Will give some to family, pursue “bucket list”, continue to work at Lowe’s

By Allen D. Payton

According to Eddie Beaudin, co-owner of The 19th Hole, Antioch’s only cardroom, one of their patrons, long-time Antioch resident Bruce Hilliard, bought a winning $1 million Lotto Scratcher last Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, out of the machine at the business.

“It was a $10, 49er-themed NFL Scratcher ticket that won,” Beaudin shared. “It’s pretty exciting.”

Beaudin’s partner, Steve Scudero, their wives, other patrons and friends of Hilliard, as well as Mayor Ron Bernal, gathered at The 19th Hole Friday, September 26, to celebrate his winnings.

Erin, one of the bartenders, who is Irish, said, “I was here when he won. I was his lucky charm!”

Asked what he planned to do with the funds, Hilliard said, “I’m setting up my great grandsons for college and will help out a couple family members, set some aside and enjoy life a little bit.”

About his granddaughter he said, “She said, ‘No’. They’re doing real well. One way or another they’re going to get a chunk of it.”

Hilliard also said he will continue working at Lowe’s on Auto Center Drive.

“It keeps me on an even keel,” he stated.

Asked how much he’d spent on the Lotto over the years Hilliard said he’s “been playing the Lotto forever. A lot of years.”

But it was his first $20 that day. He spent $10 on another Lotto ticket and $10 on the winner. He had to go the state Lottery’s district office in Richmond to cash it in. They said he’ll be receiving a check within four to six weeks.

“The federal government will take out $250,000,” he said. “That’s what they told me.”

Asked what else he’s going to spend the money on, a new car or a trip, Hilliard said, “I’m just taking it day by day. My truck is running good. I’m remodeling my house myself.”

“I’ll start doing some of my bucket list. Maybe take a cruise. Play Pebble Beach,” the avid golfer added.
“It’s something The 19th Hole has never experienced,” Beaudin stated. “Steve and myself have known Bruce for about 50 years, since the 1970’s. He always comes back and says ‘Hi’ to me and Steve. Bruce gives back to the community.”

He volunteered for the Stand Down on the Delta, earlier this month as an example.

“What a thing,” Beaudin continued. “I’m just glad it’s somebody here.”

“I just wish it was my wife,” he added with a laugh.

“I had to verify this with the state police. An officer came to visit me on Monday morning,” Beaudin explained. “He wanted to see footage of Bruce buying the ticket. We have 17 cameras in the place.”

Describing what he saw on the videos, the co-owner said, “Bruce had to validate it. He walks three steps. There’s no look on his face. Let’s go to another camera. He took three more steps and goes, ‘Yeah. Yeah!’” as Beaudine raised his hands.

“The biggest winners, here, before were $10,000, twice,” Beaudin shared. “We’ve been here 40 years in May as long as the Lottery,” which is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year.”

Second Million Dollar Winner in Antioch in 3 Years

“Three years ago the owner of the liquor store next door had a million dollar winner,” Beaudin stated. “

Owners Ajit Singh Sooch and Jagjit Singh Chawla of the liquor store next to The 19th Hole and the one in the 7-11 shopping center at Hillcrest Avenue and E. 18th Street, which had the other $1 million Lotto winner, attended Friday’s celebration.

“There are 16 million NFL team ticket winners statewide. We’re the first ones,” Beaudin exclaimed.
Scudero said in amazement, “He put just $10 in there. That’s a first. He plays more scratchers than anyone else. I just want to say congratulations, Bruce. It couldn’t happen to a better guy. I’m just happy it was a regular.”
Hilliard shared a few words to those in attendance saying, “I just want to say thank you all, especially to The 19th Hole and to the Lottery for loading the ticket.”

Representatives of the state Lottery, who were on hand said, “We didn’t load the machine. They did,” pointing to Beaudin and Scudero.

“And you’re a true Niner fan!” Eddie said.

“Congratulations Bruce. I’m just glad it wasn’t more money,” Bernal said with a laugh. “That ruins people. It was just the right amount of money.”

He will receive a check for $750,000 in about four to six weeks, Hilliard reiterated. The state doesn’t receive any of his winnings. The business that sold the ticket receives one-half percent of the winnings or $5,000, Sooch shared.

My family moved here in 1964. Except for 16 years in Oakley, he’s been here ever since.

“Bruce was a 1973 Antioch High grad and played wide receiver on the 1972 league championship Turkey Bowl team,” Beaudin shared about the winner.

“The game was played on Thanksgiving against Miramonte at DVC,” Scudero added.

Then all who wanted took photos with Hilliard next to the Lotto banner and machine which issued the winning ticket. The 19th Hole is located at 2746 W. Tregallas Road behind the Main Post Office.

One man from Oakley, both innocent bystanders

By Allen D. Payton

As previously reported, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at approximately 10:21 p.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls reporting shots fired in the area of D and W. 19th Streets. When officers arrived on scene, they located four victims suffering from gunshot wounds. All were men. Antioch police officers provided aid to the victims at the scene. Two victims died at the scene.

On Friday, September 26, 2025, Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs for the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, identified the two deceased men as Julio Castaneda, age 33, out of Oakley and Thomas Vega Espinoza, age 42, whose city of residence is unknown

They were initially reported as ages 23 and 37 years old.

Lt. Bill Whitaker confirmed the ages provided by Lee saying, “Those ages are correct. We didn’t have them 100 percent identified, initially. We got a bad name from a family member, and it wasn’t actually the right person.”

“Both were innocent victims and not even the intended targets,” he added.

The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit, responded to take over the investigation. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

Additional inquiries, tips, or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email at jcox@antiochca.gov.

Existing transportation funding strained by rising construction costs, population growth, potential decrease in state gas tax revenue

“115 of 1,374 bridges are rated poor/structurally deficient, with significant deterioration” – TRIP Report

By Carolyn Bonifas Kelly, Director of Communication & Research, TRIP

San Francisco, CA – While additional state and federal transportation funding is allowing California to repair and improve roads and bridges, a new report documents looming challenges including population growth, rising congestion, construction cost inflation and declining fuel-tax revenue. The report by The Road Information Program, TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit based in Washington, DC, examines California’s road and bridge conditions, congestion and reliability, highway safety, economic development, vehicle travel trends, and the impact of recent state and federal transportation funding increases.

The TRIP report, “Keeping California Mobile: Providing a Modern, Sustainable Transportation System in the Golden State,” finds that throughout the state, traffic fatalities have increased significantly in the last decade despite recent downward trends, 50 percent of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, five percent of locally and state-maintained bridges (20 feet or more in length) are rated poor/structurally deficient, and traffic congestion costs the state’s drivers $55 billion annually in lost time and wasted fuel. In addition to statewide data, the TRIP report includes regional pavement and bridge conditions, congestion data, highway safety data, and cost breakdowns for the Los Angeles, Riverside-San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco-Oakland and San Jose urban areas. 

The TRIP report finds that 73 percent of major locally and state-maintained roads in the San Francisco-Oakland urban area are in poor or mediocre condition, costing the average motorist an additional $1,106 each year in extra vehicle operating costs, including accelerated vehicle depreciation, additional repair costs, and increased fuel consumption and tire wear. Statewide, 28 percent of California’s major roads are in poor condition and 22 percent are in mediocre condition. TRIP estimates that the state’s drivers lose $24.2 billion annually in extra vehicle operating costs as a result of driving on deteriorated roads.

In the San Francisco-Oakland area, eight percent of bridges (115 of 1,374 bridges) are rated poor/structurally deficient, with significant deterioration to the bridge deck, supports or other major components. This includes locally and state-maintained bridges that are 20 feet or longer. Statewide, five percent of California’s bridges are rated poor/structurally deficient. Most bridges are designed to last 50 years before major overhaul or replacement. In California, 54 percent of the state’s bridges were built in 1969 or earlier.

According to the TRIP report, traffic congestion in the San Francisco-Oakland area causes 111 annual hours of delay for the average motorist and costs the average driver $3,406 annually in lost time and wasted fuel. On average, San Francisco-Oakland drivers waste 38 gallons of fuel annually due to congestion. Statewide, drivers lose $55 billion annually because of lost time and wasted fuel due to traffic congestion. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, vehicle travel in California dropped by as much as 41 percent in April 2020 (as compared to vehicle travel during the same month the previous year). By 2025, vehicle miles of travel in California had rebounded to five percent below 2019’s pre-pandemic levels. Congestion reduces job accessibility significantly. In California’s six largest metros, the number of jobs accessible within a 40-minute drive during peak hours were reduced by 44 percent in 2023 as a result of traffic congestion.

Traffic crashes in California claimed the lives of 24,508 people from 2019 to 2024. The state’s 2024 traffic fatality rate of 1.19 fatalities for every 100 million miles traveled was slightly lower than the national average of 1.2. The number of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in California spiked dramatically in 2020 and 2021 before falling each year from 2022 to 2024. But, despite recent progress, from 2014 to 2024 the number of traffic fatalities in California increased 24 percent and the state’s traffic fatality rate increased 29 percent. From 2019 to 2023, 30 percent of those killed in California crashes involving motorized vehicles were pedestrians or bicyclists. In the San Francisco-Oakland area, 36 percent of traffic fatalities between 2019 and 2023 (306 of 934) were pedestrians or bicyclists.

“California’s future depends on transportation infrastructure that can withstand the challenges of a changing climate and a growing population,” said Senator Dave Cortese, chair of the California Senate Transportation Committee. “These investments don’t just move people and goods—they cut emissions, strengthen communities, create jobs, and spur economic growth. The TRIP report makes clear that smart infrastructure investments are among the most powerful tools we have to support California’s workforce and drive long-term economic prosperity.”

Improvements to California’s roads, highways and bridges are funded by local, state and federal governments. In April 2017, the California legislature enacted SB 1 — the Road Repair and Accountability Act. SB 1 increased state revenues for transportation by increasing the state’s gasoline and diesel taxes, implementing a transportation investment fee on vehicles and initiating an annual fee on zero emission vehicles. SB 1 is estimated to increase state revenues for California’s transportation system by an average of $5.2 billion annually through to 2027. In addition to state transportation funding, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law on November 2021, provides $25.3 billion in federal funds to the state for highway and bridge investments in California over five years, representing a 29 percent increase in annual federal funding for roads and bridges in the state over the previous federal surface transportation program. The IIJA is set to expire on September 30, 2026.

“California’s transportation system is the backbone of our daily lives, connecting millions of people to work, school, and opportunity,” said Assemblymember Lori Wilson, chair of the California State Assembly Transportation Committee. “The TRIP report provides the proof points behind what we already know: our infrastructure needs are urgent and growing. As we transition to cleaner vehicles and more sustainable mobility, we must secure fair and reliable funding solutions to ensure tomorrow’s infrastructure serves Californians better than today’s.”

The ability of revenue from California’s motor fuel tax – a critical source of state transportation funds – to keep pace with the state’s future transportation needs is likely to erode as a result of increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, the increasing use of electric vehicles and inflation in highway construction costs. The Federal Highway Administration’s national highway construction cost index, which measures labor and materials cost, increased by 48 percent from the beginning of 2022 through the fourth quarter of 2024.

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) found that steps taken by California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including programs and policies that are targeted at increasing the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), increasing the use of lower-carbon fuels, and reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled will reduce state transportation revenues by $4.4 billion over the next decade. This reduction in state transportation spending which is projected to result in poorer road conditions. However, the recent federal rollbacks to California strict emissions requirements will impact these programs and policies.

“Our deteriorating transportation system costs Californians lives, time, and money,” said California Transportation Commissioner Joseph Cruz. “Every investment in improving and maintaining our roads, bridges, and transit networks is an investment in people. These projects don’t just build infrastructure – they create good jobs, support local economies, and ensure California’s workforce is at the center of the solution.”

The efficiency and condition of California’s transportation system, particularly its highways, is critical to the health of the state’s economy. In 2023 California’s freight system moved 1.4 billion tons of freight, valued at $2.8 trillion. From 2022 to 2050, freight moved annually in California by trucks is expected to increase 65 percent by weight and 100 percent by value (inflation-adjusted dollars). The design, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure in California supports approximately 420,000 full-time jobs across all sectors of the state economy. Approximately 7.1 million full-time jobs in California in key industries like tourism, retail sales, agriculture and manufacturing are dependent on the quality, safety and reliability of the state’s transportation infrastructure network.

“California’s transportation dollars are already being stretched thin by increased inflation in construction costs and declining fuel tax revenue,” said Dave Kearby, TRIP’s executive director. “Without additional transportation investment, needed projects that would make the state’s roads safer, smoother and more efficient will not move forward.”

SB771 attempts to curb online “hate speech”, awaits Newsom’s decision by Oct. 12; second effort in two years to limit online speech, first one failed

Computer & Communications Industry Association warns California bill “could undermine free speech online”

“It effectively incentivizes broad suppression of speech through the threat of legal action.” – TechNet

“sets stage for…fight” and “could create a messy, drawn-out legal battle” – Washington Examiner

CalChamber also opposes

By Allen D. Payton

SB 771, by State Senator Henry Stern, entitled “Personal rights: liability: social media platforms” has passed both the State Assembly and Senate and currently awaits the governor’s decision as of September 22, 2025, would allow fines of up to $1 million per violation for social media companies that generate more than $100 million in annual gross revenues, whose algorithms amplify content violating California’s civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. (Source: compliancehub.wiki)

The platforms could also face fines of up to three months of the platform’s gross revenue preceding the judgment for intentional violations, or up to $500,000 per violation for reckless violations, which is designed to address platforms that show disregard for potential harm without specific intent.

Newsom has until Oct. 12, 2025, to either sign or veto the bill. If he signed, bill would become operative on January 1, 2027, giving social media platforms time to prepare.

According to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest, “Existing law generally regulates social media platforms, including by requiring a social media company to post terms of service for each social media platform owned or operated by the company in a manner reasonably designed to inform all users of the social media platform of the existence and contents of the terms of service, as prescribed.

Existing law generally prohibits a person from using violence or intimidation to interfere with another person’s enjoyment of certain rights or because of certain attributes of that person, including the person’s political affiliation, race, or sexual orientation, and punishes violations of that law with certain civil penalties or as misdemeanors, as prescribed.

This bill would make a social media platform, as defined, that violates the above-referenced provisions of law relating to personal rights through its algorithms that relay content to users or aids, abets, acts in concert, or conspires in violation of those laws, or is a joint tortfeasor in an action alleging a violation of those laws, liable for specified civil penalties. The bill would declare its provisions to be severable and would declare attempted waiver of its provisions to be void and unenforceable.”

The bill specifically references violations of:

• Penal Code Sections 31 and 422.6 (hate crimes and interference with civil rights)
• Civil Code Section 51.7 (Ralph Civil Rights Act)
• Civil Code Section 51.9 (Civil rights protections against violence or intimidation)
• Civil Code Section 52 and 52.1 (Tom Bane Civil Rights Act)

According to a report by Reason.com, “The Legislature says the bill is needed because of a rise in documented hate crimes. It cites a report by the Human Rights Campaign that found “anti-LGBTQ+ disinformation and harmful rhetoric” increased by 400 percent following the passage of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill in 2022, as well as a report by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations that found that “hate crimes involving anti-immigrant slurs increased by 31 percent” in FY 2024, the highest number since tracking began in 2007.

“The bill additionally cites the Anti-Defamation League’s 2024 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which found an 893 percent increase in antisemitic incidents over the previous 10 years, and a 2023 study by nonprofit Global Witness, which found that paid advertisements promoting violence toward women were placed and distributed across social media platforms.”

However, the report continues, “the bill is sure to face scrutiny under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which largely protects platforms from being held liable for user speech.”

Sets State for Free Speech Fight

According to a Washington Examiner report, the bill “sets stage for free speech fight” and “could create a messy, drawn-out legal battle with multibillion-dollar tech companies over what people can post on their platforms.”

CCIA Warns California SB 771 Could Undermine Free Speech Online

The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), whose members include Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads; Google and Apple, is opposed to the bill. It testified in July “before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee…reiterating its opposition to SB 771. The association warns that the proposal could limit access to lawful content, discourage open dialogue online, and conflict with key constitutional and federal legal protections.

SB 771 would allow lawsuits against large social media platforms if their recommendation systems are accused of amplifying unlawful content targeting protected groups. But the bill’s broad language and legal uncertainty could force platforms to take down more content than necessary — not because it’s harmful, but to avoid the risk of litigation.

CCIA believes this approach would reduce the availability of protected speech and place platforms in a legally precarious position. The bill also raises serious concerns about First Amendment protections and may conflict with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online services from liability for content moderation carried out in good faith.

“We all want to create safer online spaces and are concerned that SB 771 takes the wrong approach,” said Aodhan Downey, State Policy Manager for CCIA. “The bill creates vague legal standards that could prompt platforms to over-remove content out of fear of lawsuits. That would limit access to important conversations and weaken free expression online. California lawmakers should reject this bill and pursue targeted, effective solutions that protect users while respecting constitutional rights.”

According to the company’s website, CCIA is an international, not-for-profit trade association representing a broad cross section of communications and technology firms. For more than 50 years, CCIA has promoted open markets, open systems, and open networks. CCIA members employ more than 1.6 million workers, invest more than $100 billion in research and development, and contribute trillions of dollars in productivity to the global economy.

TechNet, CalChamber Oppose SB771

In a July 10, 2025, letter to Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and who represents portions of Western Contra Costa County, TechNet, whose members include Comcast NBC Universal, Google and Meta, was joined by CCIA and the California Chamber of Commerce in writing, “TechNet and the following organizations must respectfully oppose SB 771, as it raises significant concerns about potential conflicts with longstanding internet law by exposing social media platforms to substantial liability, calculated in the billions, for user-generated content.

TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives that promotes the growth of the innovation economy by advocating a targeted policy agenda at the federal and 50-state level. TechNet’s diverse membership includes dynamic American businesses ranging from startups to the most iconic companies on the planet and represents over 4.5 million employees and countless customers in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, e commerce, the sharing and gig economies, advanced energy, transportation, cybersecurity, venture capital, and finance.

Although SB 771 does not explicitly mandate content removal, it effectively incentivizes broad suppression of speech through the threat of legal action. In practice, the elevated liability risk could compel platforms to take down content based solely on unsubstantiated allegations of violence. This dynamic sets the stage for a heckler’s veto, in which bad actors or politically motivated users can flag content they disagree with, knowing the platform may err on the side of removal to avoid potential lawsuits.

This bill’s implicit concern is harmful content. It is impossible for companies to identify and remove every potentially harmful piece of content because there’s no clear consensus on what exactly constitutes harmful content, apart from clearly illicit content. Determining what is harmful is highly subjective and varies from person to person, making it impossible to make such judgments on behalf of millions of users. Faced with this impossible task and the liability imposed by this bill, some platforms may decide to aggressively over restrict content that could be considered harmful.

Furthermore, platforms would need to evaluate whether to eliminate their fundamental features and functions, which are the reasons users go to their platforms, due to the legal risk involved. For instance, direct messaging features could potentially be misused for contacting and bullying other teens; such features would likely be removed.

Serious First Amendment concerns.

It is well established that the companies covered by this legislation have constitutional rights related to content moderation, including the right to curate, prioritize, and remove content in accordance with their terms of service. By exposing these companies to civil liability for content they do not remove, SB 771 creates a chilling effect on their editorial discretion. The significant, prescribed civil penalties – potentially amounting into the billions for each violation – would lead platforms to over-remove lawful content to mitigate legal exposure. Therefore, if this law passes, it will almost certainly be struck down in court (see NetChoice v Paxton) because it imposes liability on social media platforms for whether certain types of third-party content are shown to users, as well as the expressive choices social media platforms make in designing the user experience. This violates the First Amendment rights of users and social media platforms.

Moreover, the proposed liability framework likely conflicts with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides strong federal protections for platforms against civil liability for third-party content and for good-faith content moderation. Courts (see Twitter,inc V. Taamneh, 598 U.S.__ (2023)) have consistently upheld Section 230 as preempting state-level attempts to impose liability for content hosting or moderation decisions.

For these reasons, we respectfully oppose SB 771. If you have any questions regarding our position, please contact Robert Boykin at rboykin@technet.org or 408.898.7145.”

The letter was signed by Robert Boykin, Executive Director for California and the Southwest TechNet, Ronak Daylami attorney and Policy Advocate with the California Chamber of Commerce and Aodhan Downey of the CCIA.

Second Legislative Attempt to Limit Online Speech, First Failed in Court

This is the second attempt by the California legislature and Newsom to limit online speech in the last two years. Last year, AB2839 and AB2655 were signed into law, banning deceptive elections-related media, known as “deep-fakes”, in advertisements including those containing parody.

AB2839 would have “prohibited a person, committee, or other entity from knowingly distributing an advertisement or other election communication, as defined, that contains certain materially deceptive content, as defined, with malice, as defined, subject to specified exemptions. The bill would apply this prohibition within 120 days of an election in California and, in specified cases, 60 days after an election.”

AB2655 would have required “a large online platform, as defined, to block the posting of materially deceptive content related to elections in California, during specified periods before and after an election…and to label certain additional content inauthentic, fake, or false.”

However, parody website, The Babylon Bee sued the state and according to the Alliance Defending Freedom which represented the media outlet, “California officials agreed they cannot enforce one of those laws (AB2839) against The Babylon Bee and Kelly Chang Rickert, a California attorney and blogger, after a federal district court ruled that the law likely violates the First Amendment.” 

Contact Governor Newsom

To contact the governor’s office to offer your opinion on the legislation, use the website form at www.gov.ca.gov/contact and select Legislation Issues/Concerns in the drop down menu, mail Governor Gavin Newsom at 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814 or call (916) 445-2841.

Michael Mandy will serve until special election in November 2026

By Allen D. Payton

During a special meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Antioch City Council interviewed five candidates for City Clerk and appointed, on a 4-1 vote, Michael Mandy, an AT&T Premises Technician, who will serve until a special election next November. Voters will then decide who to elect for the remainder of the four-year term. The vacancy was created by the sudden departure on July 30th of Melissa Rhodes who was elected last November.

Before appointing Mandy, District 3 Councilman Don Freitas thanked all those who applied and said, “We really, truly appreciate you stepping forward and this isn’t the last time we see you. We have boards and commissions that need you.”

Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha then said, “Because this is a one-year appointment…there will be an election. This is a temporary appointment.” He then said, “Based on experience and what I wrote down. I make a motion to recommend Lori Ogorchock to the position and fill the term. Mayor Ron Bernal seconded the motion which died on a 2-0-3 vote, with Councilmembers Monica Wilson, Tamisha Torres-Walker and Freitas voting to abstain.

Then, Freitas made a motion to appoint Mandy which passed 4-1 with Rocha voting against.

Mandy Immediately Sworn In, Thanks Council, Goes to Work

Mandy was then joined by his wife Aurora as Bernal administered the oath of office. The new City Clerk then thanked the council and said, “I hope to make you proud for your selection. I appreciate it very much. Thank you very much.”

“This is very emotional. Thank you,” he added with laughter from him and the audience.

Following a brief council meeting recess, Mandy took his seat at the dais and a sign with his name was placed in front of him.

Mandy’s Background from his Application

In his application for the appointment Mandy provided information about his background. He wrote, “My name is Michael Mandy, and I am writing this letter to be considered for the position of City Clerk of the city of Antioch, California. (See application)

“n May, 1994 my wife and I moved into our house, which is near the southern end of Hillcrest Avenue. So I have been a resident of Antioch for over 30 years. We raised our two children here, and they both attended Diablo Vista, Dallas Ranch, and Deer Valley High schools.

I am very proud of the City of Antioch. I have spent many hours hiking at Black Diamond Mines and the adjacent Reservoir. My family loved the Rivertown Jamboree (RIP), 4th of July fireworks over the Delta, and recently attended the Rivertown Wine Walk & Artisan Faire this last May.

My family has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 3 generations. My father was an Independent Insurance Agent, and his office was in San Carlos. After school I would sit for hours in his office, doing office-type jobs, such as answering the phones, taking messages, organizing paperwork, typing and using the Copy machine. I learned professionalism, courtesy, and posess [sic] a high work ethic.

In 1995 we moved the family Insurance office from San Carlos to my home in Antioch. I was in business here until I sold the agency in 2013 to pursue other opportunities. Since then, I have been a Premises Technician for AT&T. My job duties have been going into peoples’ homes and installing High-speed Internet and climbing telephone poles to upgrade the telephone lines to Fiber.

I was also an active member in our Union, CWA District 9, Local 9417. Since 2013 I have been our garage’s Union Representative, and in 2019 was elected to serve on our Local’s Executive Board. My duties included attending all meetings, coordinating and assisting in our Local Elections, and approving budgets and company records.

I am Detail-oriented, as I love desk work. I excel at inputting data on computers, paperwork, and following up to make sure everything gets done and gets filed correctly. I am also very adept at dealing with the public, as my previous jobs involved face-to-face interactions.

I am very proud of my city and I would be thrilled to work with the City Administrators and help to contribute to the success of my city of Antioch. I believe that I would be very successful as a City Clerk.”

About the City Clerk’s Office

The City Clerk is the official keeper of the municipal records and is sometimes referred to as the historian of the community. City Clerk responsibilities include:

• Acting as the official custodian of records for the City and is responsible for all City Council agendas, minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and legal publications
• Coordinating Fair Political Practices Commission filings including the Statement of Economic Interests and Campaign Disclosures
• Acting as the service agent for the City regarding claims, subpoenas, and summons
• Overseeing the City’s records management, legislative history, bids, contracts, archives, election activities, and board/commission/committee programs

Communications directed to the City, its legislative bodies, and their members (i.e., City Council, Planning Commission) or City staff are public records and are subject to disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act and Brown Act unless exempt from disclosure under the applicable law.

The City Clerk’s Office is located on the Third Floor of City Hall at 200 H Street, Antioch, Monday–Friday, between 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. For more information email cityclerk@antiochca.gov or call (925) 779-7009.

DeNova Homes proposes 129-unit Slatten Ranch Townhomes Project, next to J.C. Penney store and 159-unit Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 Multifamily Residential Project on Hillcrest Avenue near Deer Valley Road

By Allen D. Payton

During their regular meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, the Antioch City Council will consider approving two new housing projects proposed by developer DeNova Homes whose co-founder and vice-president son accused of allegedly bribing a council member believed to be former Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe.

As previously reported, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced an indictment for alleged bribery of an Antioch Councilmember by the father and son, former and current, leaders of the Concord-based company. 

While the project applicant is Kathryn Watt, with DeNova Homes Inc., Dave Sanson is CEO Emeritus and a Co-Founder of the company, with his wife, and their son Trent is the company’s Vice President for Land Acquisition and Entitlements. Dave’s attorney Winston Chan claims his client had nothing to do with the alleged bribery, writing, “We are confident the facts will show that Dave is innocent, and that he was unfairly targeted.”

According to the company’s Chief Legal Officer, Dana Tsubota, “While Mr. (Dave) Sanson has been an important figure in the company’s history, he semi-retired in 2020 when he moved to Montana and he is no longer involved in the leadership or daily operations.”

In the indictment, the terms “he” and “him” are used to describe the unnamed councilmember, which could refer to either former Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe or former Councilman Mike Barbanica.

The alleged bribe was related to a previous project in Antioch, known as Aviano, a multi-phase, 533-unit single-family home residential development in the Sand Creek area on the south side of the city.

Slatten Ranch Townhomes Project

The first DeNova Homes project the Council will consider Tuesday night is the 129-unit Slatten Ranch Townhome Condominium Project. The application includes a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map for 17 residential lots for the 17 condominium buildings.

According to the City staff report for the agenda item, #4, the proposed 6.41-acre vacant project site is located north of Wicklow Way, east of Slatten Ranch Road, and west of Empire Avenue. The project site is located within the East Lone Tree Specific Plan (ELTSP), is designated as East Lone Tree Specific Plan Focus Area in the City of Antioch General Plan and the site is zoned

High Density Residential District (R-25) allowing for the development of multifamily housing with a density of 20 to 25 dwelling units (du)/acre.

Although the land was part of 200 acres designated by the City Council in 1998 for employment and commercial and development purposes, in February of 2023, the City of Antioch adopted the Housing Element EIR, which analyzed adoption and implementation of the City’s Sixth Cycle Housing Element Update (2023-2031), including the adoption and implementation of rezoning and General Plan amendments to accommodate the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), requiring 3,016 more housing units in Antioch between 2023 and 2031.

Each residential unit would include a two-car garage, and the centrally located play area would include 19 additional vehicle parking spaces. The 129 residential units would consist of a mix of two- and three-bedrooms units, ranging in size from 1,293 to 1,791 square feet.

The Row Townhome buildings include entryways with covered porches at the front elevations and garages at the rear elevations. The Back-to-Back (B2B) Townhome buildings will include entryways with covered porches and garages at both the front and rear elevations. Each building would have either five, six, eight or 10 units. Three Row Townhome floorplan types would be offered with two- and three-bedrooms, ranging in size from 1,432 to 1,791 square feet. Two B2B floorplan types would be offered with two- and three-bedrooms ranging in size from 1,293 to 1,414 square feet.

The proposed project would include a total of 1.77 acres of landscaping and open space, consisting of a 0.34-acre open play area, dog park, and open space for bio retention.

The project was submitted in 2023 as a Preliminary Housing Application under SB330 (The Housing Crisis Act of 2019). Through the Preliminary Application process put in place under SB 330, housing developments may only be subject to the ordinances and objective standards in effect at the time when a completed Preliminary Application is submitted.

Wildflower Station Townhomes 2

The second DeNova Homes project the Council will consider is a 159-unit townhome-style condominium development, known as Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 Multifamily Residential Project. It is planned for the four-parcel, 10.35 acre vacant property near the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Deer Valley Road and bordered by Wildflower Drive to the east and the road next to the KFC restaurant in the Hillcrest Crossroads shopping center which also serves the existing condo development.

According to the City staff report for the agenda item, #5, the proposed project consists of a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map to create 19 residential lots for 19 three-story buildings, containing 159 new townhome condominiums in two different building styles: “back-to-back” and row townhome-style. Both styles of townhomes include individual one-car or two-car garages with the living areas primarily on the second and third levels above the garage parking.

The proposed project would include a total of 2.8 acres of landscaping and open space, consisting of two open play areas and open space for bioretention. The play areas would include 25 additional parking spaces with another 57 surplus shared parking spaces with the adjacent Wildflower Station development. The 159 residential units would consist of a mix of two- and three-bedrooms units, ranging in size from 1,135 to 1,381 square feet.

The project site was part of the larger 23-acre Wildflower Station project that includes 22 single family homes (on the ridgeline above), the 98-condominium stacked flat homes immediately adjacent and planned commercial development that was entitled in 2018. The single-family homes and condos were built, but the commercial parcels along Hillcrest Avenue (the current project site) weren’t and the land sat undeveloped.

In 2023, the City Council revised the General Plan and rezoned the four parcels to High Density Residential District (R-25). The proposed project would result in a density of approximately 20 du/ac.

The project was also submitted in 2023 as a Preliminary Housing Application under SB330.

Meeting Information

The Council’s regular meeting will be preceded by a Closed Session meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. during which the Council will consider the use of the City-owned parking lot at the north end of G Street by developer Sean McCauley, owner of the adjacent property at 113 G Street, which is planned to be a restaurant. (See related article) That will be followed by a Special Meeting at 5:30 p.m. to appoint a new City Clerk. (See related article)

The meetings will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. They can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website and the City’s YouTube Channel, on Comcast Cable Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

Efforts to reach media representatives in the U.S. Attorney’s Office to verify if the investigation is ongoing or if settled, the disposition of the case were unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Effective immediately, MDRR’s residential recycling program will officially accept #2 plastic squeeze tubes in the blue recycling cart.

By Nicole Impagliazzo, Executive Director, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery

Pittsburg, California – Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR), an industry-leading company dedicated to diverting as much material as possible from landfills, is excited to announce a partnership with Colgate-Palmolive and Glacier robotics to gather data on the recovery of recyclable plastic squeeze tubes.

Colgate-Palmolive, an innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets, and our planet, pioneered the development of a first-of-its-kind recyclable tube made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), the same No. 2 plastic used for milk and detergent bottles, which launched in 2019. The company shared its patented technology and approach with tube suppliers, other brands, and interested parties. As of 2025, it is estimated that approximately 95% of toothpaste tubes and 85% of all HDPE tubes are designed for recycling, based on industry data compiled by Stina Inc., which leads the Plastic Squeeze Tube Recycling Project.

Now, using Glacier’s AI-powered cameras, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery will be able to collect real-time data on toothpaste tubes and other non-toothpaste tubes—like lotion and shampoo—coming through the facility.

“We are excited to partner with Colgate and Glacier. It represents a significant step forward in our mission to divert as much material as possible from landfills. By leveraging advanced technology, we can improve our recycling and communication practices and contribute to a greener future.” Kish Rajan, MDRR, CEO

Recycle Your Squeeze Tubes – Residential Program Expansion Alert!

Effective immediately, MDRR’s residential recycling program will officially accept #2 plastic squeeze tubes in the blue recycling cart.

#2 Lotion, Toothpaste, Sunscreen, and Cosmetic plastic squeeze tubes now go into the blue!

Before placing them in your cart, please be sure they are:

• Plastic (no metal tubes)
• As empty as possible
• With the cap on

Tubes should be placed loose in your blue recycling cart, not bagged.

This program expansion means that more of the items you use daily can stay out of the landfill and enter a recovery pathway, supporting a cleaner, greener community for everyone.

About Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery:

Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery serves our customers, communities, and environment responsibly by optimizing the use of discarded materials.

Today, Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery serves over 250,000 residents and thousands of businesses throughout Contra Costa, Napa, and Solano Counties. It combines excellence in customer service with competitive rates and operates recycling and recovery programs designed to increase sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery’s Material Resource Facility in Pittsburg, California, contains the area’s largest state-of-the-art recycling processing center and C+D line to keep items out of the landfill.

Our company continues to grow and change to prepare our communities for the future. Consistent with our business values, we invest in programs and technology that maximize diversion and maintain customer convenience and service.

By Matt J. Malone, Chief Counsel and PIO, Superior Court of California, Contra Costa County

The Contra Costa Superior Court is pleased to announce that Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Commissioner Andrew R. Verriere as the Court’s newest judge. He assumed his new role today and will preside in Department 11. His first judicial assignment will be at the George D. Carroll Courthouse in Richmond.

Judge Verriere has served the Court as a Commissioner since May 1, 2023, handling traffic, unlawful detainer, small claims, and domestic violence and civil harassment restraining order matters. While a Commissioner, he worked with the California Judges Association on proposed legislation to amend Penal Code section 1050 in infraction cases, helped establish a guardian ad litem roster for defendants in limited jurisdiction civil cases, and worked with the Traffic Committee to provide improved language access for traffic defendants who communicate primarily in languages other than English.

Prior to serving as Commissioner, Judge Verriere worked as a trial and appellate litigator in civil and probate matters. He was most recently a principal at Hartog, Baer, Zabronsky & Verriere APC, focusing on trust and estate litigation, conservatorship litigation, financial elder abuse, related litigation, and appeals. A highly-regarded speaker and instructor, he has presented to numerous trade organizations on topics of fiduciary duty, financial elder abuse, and discovery dispute resolution. Judge Verriere is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

Judge Verriere graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law and obtained his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Brian F. Haynes.