“I’m trying to keep our officers as healthy as possible, for as long as possible, to keep our community as safe as possible.” – Antioch Police Chief Brooks

“We are still filing criminal cases against violent or serious felonies and some misdemeanors like domestic violence,” – Scott Alonso, PIO, CCDA’s Office

By Allen Payton

In response to questions asked and concerns expressed by residents about how crime and criminals are being dealt with during the coronavirus pandemic and shelter in place, the Herald reached out to Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office.

When asked what the Antioch Police Department is doing right now to fight crime and if they are not responding to certain calls, Chief Brooks responded, “Antioch police officers are still responding to all serious, emergency, and in-progress calls.  Other calls for service like suspicious circumstances or low-level crimes without suspect information may result in an officer not responding.  Instead, these are being handled by telephone or by filing an online report.  When appropriate, we are still taking reports, we are still making arrests, and we are still filing cases with the DA’s office.”

“I can understand residents’ frustration with these new temporary protocols, as they are accustomed to receiving full service from us. However, during this global pandemic, we are all figuring out ways to adjust to the health threat we are facing and change our daily routines to fit current circumstances,” he continued. “The general public is being ordered to stay at home and only go out to conduct essential business.  They can control the social distancing around them when out in public or choose what they will or won’t touch.  Police officers don’t have those same safeguards.”

“In an effort to keep our officers safe and healthy, we are trying to limit their exposure to situations that are truly necessary.  This in turn helps keep our community members healthy as well,” Brooks explained. “Think about it, officers can contact multiple people on duty from various lifestyles, with unsanitary hygiene habits, or who may be sick or have been exposed to someone who was sick.  By limiting the number of people officers contact, it reduces the likelihood that the officer will get infected, or the officer infecting others if they are asymptomatic.”

“We have taken several steps to reduce the number of officers who may be quarantined if any of them get exposed to COVID-19 or becomes ill. But there are a number of police agencies that have upwards of 20% of their police officers out of work due to illness or quarantine.  For us that would amount to 22 officers out of work. Such a hit would have drastic effects on our ability to respond to emergency or life-threatening calls,” he explained. “So, I’m trying to keep our officers as healthy as possible, for as long as possible, to keep our community as safe as possible.”

“Nothing in our world is normal right now, and we are all being asked to make sacrifices.  When this virus is under control and these orders are lifted, service levels will be restored.  Until then, I ask for everyone’s patience and understanding as we all do the best we can,” Brooks concluded.

District Attorney’s Office Actions

When asked what is happening with those who are arrested, Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer for the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office responded, “We are working with our justice partners to lower the jail population. As you may know the Judicial Council…issued new rules on bail effective April 13. (See related article) We are still filing criminal cases against violent or serious felonies and some misdemeanors like domestic violence.”

“The local agencies are citing and releasing certain individuals. We are also not filing non-serious cases at this time,” he continued. “Defendants are also making motions in court to be released and plead their case for release pending final disposition. We are usually not objecting to an ‘OR’ release (release on your own recognizance).”

Hold first ever online, virtual meeting

By Allen Payton

The Antioch Unified School District Board of Trustees held their first virtual, online meeting on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 due to the coronavirus/COVID-19-related shelter in place. It was a “light agenda” as Board President Diane Gibson-Grey explained, due to the long-distance learning by all the students in the district. (See the complete agenda, here) (Watch the meeting on their YouTube channel)

They approved allowing construction on the final work on Antioch High School from the Measure B bond funds. The board also approved the School Plan for Student Achievement Second Interim Report dealing with the district’s finances.

During discussion of items pulled from the Consent calendar, Trustee Crystal Sawyer-White asked about a contract with Learned and Associates, to complete work (Agenda Item 9.O.) and a possible conflict of interest, since the owner, Chris Learned used to work for the district.

The $50,000 consulting services contract includes:

• Representing the District with the completion of the 400 wing project at Antioch High School,
• Representing the District with remediation work on the Administration/Library Building at Antioch High School,
• Assisting the District with developing, implementing, and providing construction management for the recent $10.7 million bond sale,
• Representing the District on project closeout to assure final DSA approval, and
• Providing the District assistance on the sale of surplus property.

“Our director of facilities recently left the district,” Deputy Superintendent Jessica Romeo said. “There is still some work to be done. Mr. Learned knows our district and does know construction. So, I reached out to him to see if he could help us.”

“I noticed his company is located in Nevada. Is there someone else locally we could hire?” Sawyer-White asked.

“I didn’t go out to bid on this because I know Mr. Learned would be coming down, here to work on this.” Romeo said.

The item passed 4-1 with Sawyer-White voting no.

On agenda item 9.P., an increase in an existing agreement with Marzano Resources for professional development by $1,500, Sawyer-White had some concerns.

“I researched this particular bidder and he’s located out of state,” she stated. “Due to COVID-19 I would think this is on hold.

“This is for next year, actually it’s continued work. We have been working with Marzano this year and last. This is actually for next year. We just needed to bring back an addendum to it,” Romeo responded. “It’s for professional development both for teachers and administrators. It goes through 2021. If there is some reason we can’t do the August 3rd date we won’t be charged for it and it will be held at a later date.”

Trustee Ellie Householder had an issue with the matter, as well.

“I just want to let folks know I’m going to be voting no on this,” she said. “Before the shelter in place…I was in touch with the superintendent for an expenditure report for LCAP funds. It was going to be an item for discussion on the agenda for the meeting that was cancelled. I know it’s not of utmost important, right now. I don’t feel comfortable voting on anything with LCAP funds until I get the expenditure report.”

The item was approved 4-1 with Householder voting no.

Approved School Plan for Student Achievement at Three Schools

Also, on the agenda was a report on the 2019-2020 School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) Second Interim Report.

According to the staff report, each district school shall establish a school site council to develop, approve, and annually review and update an SPSA for schools that participate in state and federal categorical programs. The Board shall…review and approve each school’s SPSA.

Each of the following schools participate in a federal categorical program(s) and are designated as schoolwide programs (SWP).  SWP schools are not required to identify specific students as eligible to participate in programming, nor are they required to ensure that Title I services are supplementary.  This flexibility allows schools to maximize the impact of federal investment in support of all students that align with school and district goals outlined in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).  Staff has reviewed the plans to ensure that funding is used appropriately to support student achievement as required by California Education Code.

Plans for following schools were approved by their elected School Site Councils and are attached for your approval: Marsh Elementary School, Mno Grant Elementary School and Live Oak High School

The SPSAs were originally Board approved in May 2019.  The original plans did not include Title I carryover funds that were released for allocation in November 2019.  These updated plans simply reflect changes to include allocations with carryover funds.

In response to a question by Householder about the impact the shelter in place would have on the district’s finances, Romeo explained, that the state’s “advice, right now is to be as cautious as possible, regarding spending. We expected the COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) to go down. With the unemployment rate I expect that COLA to go down further.”

Sawyer-White also asked about the impact.

Romeo mentioned funds from the federal stimulus that will help the district.

“To be prepared for the distance learning, I think we need to consider laptops, Chrome books. Are we going to consider going more 21st Century?” Sawyer-White asked.

“A lot of our textbook publishers we work with are going to be publishing digital books,” said Associate Superintendent Christine Ibanez. “Long term…we will have more capability of digital learning and blended learning model.”

“If we can find some silver lining in all this, this is one of them,” she continued. “This has given us the opportunity to expand and explore those options.”

The motion passed 5-0.

Approved Allowing Construction at Antioch High During Shelter in Place

The only other major agenda item, that required immediate action, was item 13A – Resolution No. 2019-20-38 Designating Certain District Construction Projects as an Essential Governmental Function and Delegating Authority for the Superintendent or her Designee to Make Such Determinations on Such Construction Projects as are Necessary to Comply with State and Local Health & Safety Orders Issued in Response to COVID-19.

Deputy Superintendent Romeo explained, “under the shelter in place in Contra Costa County there is an exception for construction. The project for the 400 Wing was well on its way. I spoke with the general contractor, and they have stringent social distancing practices in place.”

Householder wanted to add a provision that the resolution remain in place until the shelter in place is lifted.

“The resolution would only be until the shelter in place is lifted,” Romeo explained. “That would be fine. It does it anyway. But that would be fine to put it in place.”

Gibson-Gray seconded the motion for discussion.

“Is this the final project for Antioch High School?” asked Sawyer-White. “This has been going on since I was elected.”

“This is the final project…the end of the Measure B money,” Romeo explained.

The motion failed on a 2-3 vote, with Gibson-Gray, and Trustees Mary Rocha and Gary Hack dissenting.

“I would ask the board if there is a motion to approve the resolution,” Romeo stated.

Gibson-Gray then made a new motion without the provision Householder wanted. It passed 5-0.

“Thank you to Trustee Hack for reminding me of my job. Since I was elected it’s been a state of chaos,” Gibson-Gray said.

“If you have items for the agenda, please email those to either me or Superintendent Anello,” Gibson-Gray then said.

But Sawyer-White wanted to propose one related to the COVID-19 situation, during the meeting.

“Some of the parents are asking, they’re online, now,” Sawyer-White said.

“If it’s an essential item, go ahead,” said Gibson-Gray.

“I’m concerned about the safety of staff. There’s a non-profit willing to donate gear,” Sawyer-White said.

“I’m going to step in here,” said Gibson-Gray. “Future agenda items are supposed to be one sentence.”

“Protective gear. I’m concerned,” Sawyer-White responded.

“We can put it as an item for discussion then the board gives direction for staff,” Anello said.

“OK. Thank you,” Sawyer-White said.

“Does the board want to put it on a future agenda?” Gibson-Gray asked.

“Yes,” Sawyer-White responded.

Rocha asked whether it was something staff could handle.

“I just want to caution the board, you can’t discuss whether we want something on the agenda or not,” Anello said.

“We will place it on a future agenda,” Gibson-Gray then said in response.

The board then adjourned the meeting on a 5-0 vote at 8:00 p.m.

 

11 temporary emergency rules include $0 statewide bail for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies during COVID-19 pandemic to “safely reduce jail populations”

By Blaine Corren, Senior Communications and Public Affairs Analyst, California Judicial Council

VIA TELECONFERENCE—At its meeting on Monday, April 6, 2020, the Judicial Council of California approved 11 temporary emergency rules, including setting bail statewide at $0 for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies to “safely reduce jail populations” and staying eviction and foreclosure proceedings to protect Californians from losing their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the second emergency council meeting of court and branch leaders from around the state to consider further measures to ensure California courts—which remain open as “essential services” under Gov. Newsom’s stay-home executive order—can meet stringent health directives while also providing due process and access to justice.

“We are at this point truly with no guidance in history, law, or precedent,” said Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the council. “And to say that there is no playbook is a gross understatement of the situation. In developing these rules, we listened to suggestions from our justice system partners, the public, and the courts, and we greatly appreciate all of the input. Working with our court stakeholders, I’m confident we can preserve the rule of law and protect the rights of victims, the accused, litigants, families and children, and all who seek justice. It’s truly a team effort.”

The council received and considered more than 100 written comments on the new rules from judges, public defenders, district attorneys, law enforcement, legal aid and advocacy groups, unions, attorneys, court reporters, interpreters, and other justice system partners.

Among the actions the council approved, to go into effect immediately:

• Suspend the entry of defaults in eviction cases;
• Suspend judicial foreclosures;
• Allow courts to require judicial proceedings and court operations be conducted remotely, with the defendant’s consent in criminal proceedings;
• Adopt a statewide emergency bail schedule that sets bail at $0 for most misdemeanor and lower-level felony offenses;
• Allow defendants to appear via counsel or remote technologies for pretrial criminal hearings;
• Prioritize hearings and orders in juvenile justice proceedings and set a structure for remote hearings and continuances
• Extend the timeframes for specified temporary restraining orders;
• Extend the statutes of limitations governing civil actions; and
• Allow electronic depositions in civil cases.

The council previously approved a number of temporary measures at its first emergency meeting Mar. 28 to give courts flexibility to continue to provide essential services to the public while protecting health and safety during the pandemic.

For a complete list of emergency orders taken by the California court system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, see the California Courts Newsroom.

About the Judicial Council

Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice. Judicial Council staff implements the council’s policies.

By Allen Payton

As of Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) is reporting a total of 442 cases of COVID-19/coronavirus, and two more deaths for a total of 7 in the county. There are 29 people diagnosed with the virus currently hospitalized, a decrease of three since Friday.

A total of 5,831 people have been tested for the virus. To see the all the statistics provided by CCHS, click here.

Ridership down 93% – “Ridership is now at 7% of what is usual” – General Manager Bob Powers

As the Bay Area counties have now extended mandatory shelter in place orders, BART service needs to be reduced to match demand, increase essential rebuilding projects, save costs, and maintain reliable service based on staffing levels. Starting Wednesday, April 8, Monday-Friday service will run every 30 minutes until further notice.  Ridership data shows social distancing remains possible on all trains with this change.  Effectively, every other train is being cancelled Monday-Friday.

Reducing service also allows greater flexibility to maintain stable service should BART employees need to take time off due to illness or to care for children and family members.

This move will potentially save the operating budget $3-7 million per month. The savings is realized by shifting employees to capital improvement projects that are not funded by the operating budget. BART is using this time of historically low ridership to focus on essential infrastructure projects that typically are very disruptive to riders or can only be accomplished during overnight hours. These rebuilding efforts have been designated as essential public works projects per the region’s public health orders issued in response to the coronavirus.

3-line service will start earlier in the evening

Starting Wednesday, BART will move up the time the Warm Springs-Daly City (Green) and Richmond-Millbrae (Red) lines that provide direct service to/from San Francisco end and 3-line service begins.  This will allow for a longer work window for power cable replacement in San Francisco.  The last two train dispatches in both directions on these lines will be cancelled and single tracking in San Francisco will begin around 8pm.

• The last Warm Springs-Daly City (Green) line train departs Warm Springs at 5:16pm and arrives at Daly City at 6:26pm.  It then departs Daly City at 6:43pm and arrives at Warm Springs at 7:54pm.
• The last Richmond-Millbrae (Red) line train departs Richmond at 5:41pm and arrives at Millbrae 6:51pm. It then departs at Millbrae at 7:18pm and arrives at Richmond at 8:24pm.

There is only one hole in the new 30-minute schedule.  It is on the Red line departing from Millbrae at 6:18pm. To avoid this gap, customers should board the SFO shuttle from Millbrae at 6pm and connect with the Antioch line train at SFO at 6:26pm and then transfer at MacArthur at 7:10pm to the Richmond train.

Plan your trip to avoid waiting

PDFs of the new schedule will be available on bart.gov tomorrow (Tuesday). Riders can use the PDF schedule to start planning their trips and what time they should arrive at the station to avoid a long wait.  Riders can also check real time departures before heading to the station.   Staff is updating the online Trip Planner to reflect the new service plan and to show every other train as cancelled.
For personalized trip planning assistance, call the Transit Information Center at 510-465-2278 from 8am-6pm, Monday-Friday.

“Ridership is now at 7% of what is usual, and these changes allow us to increase essential rebuilding projects while also ensuring we can provide reliable and predictable service,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “With so many unknowns about the length of the shelter in place orders and the timing of recovery, we must take steps to protect the operating budget while also protecting our ability to run service every 30 minutes.”

A change in the BART schedule can only be implemented by doubling headways (train frequency) because the service plan is tied to operational patterns such as timed transfers and train operator reporting times and locations.  This is the reason why we can’t go to 20 or 24 minute headways Monday-Friday.

Weekend service unchanged

Weekend service will remain unchanged.  The decision to not change weekend service at this time is to avoid doubling weekend headways. Reducing service on the weekend would mean Saturday service would need to go to 40-minute headways and Sunday service would go to 48-minute headways. At this time, that level of service reduction is not something BART is ready to implement but may need to do so in the future if circumstances change.

Shifting workers to rebuilding projects

Running fewer trains means crews can be redeployed to other projects.  Maintenance and Engineering staff can now increase the hours of cable replacement in San Francisco and begin work on cable replacement in the East Bay and crews can perform relighting work in the Caldecott BART Tunnel. Train car mechanics can now be put into Fleet of the Future training.
This plan calls for up to 400 employees to be shifted to capital projects. However, this number can change if employees are pulled off a project to prioritize passenger service if staffing levels reduce.
Early FY21 budget estimates show a bleak scenario of possible budget shortfalls of $258 million to $452 million.  The federal stimulus funds will help bridge some of the gap, but it is not expected to fill all of it moving forward.

Summary of temporary service cuts to date

• Extra commute trains on the Antioch-SFO (yellow) line were eliminated on Thursday March 19.
• Monday-Friday service is 5am-9pm (previously 5am-Midnight) began on Monday, March 23.
• Saturday-Sunday service is 8am-9pm (previously Saturday service started at 6am) began on Saturday, March 28.
• Starting Wednesday, April 8, Monday-Friday service will run every 30 minutes systemwide all day, with 3-line service beginning earlier in the evening and single tracking in San Francisco starting at around 8pm.

 

By Antioch Unified School District

This weekend, Antioch Unified Staff worked to get more than 2,500 laptops ready for student distribution beginning Monday.

“We are all learning new skills…#ProudToBeAUSD #TogetherWeCan” wrote Superintendent Stephanie Anello in a post on Facebook. Some of the laptops were donated and the rest were from Antioch schools, she shared. Each one is being loaned to a student for their use during the shelter in place due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

Donations were made by two Antioch businesses, K2GC and Antioch Coin and Jewelry Pawn Showroom, as well as Bay Area Community Resources, Anello added.

For students in need of a technology device while schools are closed, we will be utilizing the following schedule for check-out. We apologize in advance as this may be inconvenient for some families, but if you have children in separate grade spans, we ask you to attend the day your grade is scheduled. Unfortunately, this may mean more than one trip per family.

A parent/guardian must attend to pick up a device. When you come to pick up a device, please bring your child’s student ID number. If you do not know your child’s student ID number, please refer to the letter you may have already received or will be receiving from AUSD regarding online distance learning.

All pick-ups will occur at Antioch Middle School located at 1500 D. Street. The devices will be grab and go style in the pick-up/drop-off loop and parents should not get out of their cars. If you are walking, we ask that you line up in the designated area and are cognizant of social distancing space.

You may come at any time during the pick-up window. However, we anticipate that there will be a shorter wait time if you are able to come later in your scheduled pick-up window.
Please note that students in Special Day Class will be contacted individually next week to pick up a device (if appropriate to their learning needs) or an assistive technology device to meet their individualized needs.

Monday April 6th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Seniors

Monday April 6th 1:00 – 5:00 pm Juniors

Tuesday April 7th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Sophomores

Tuesday April 7th 1:00 – 5:00 pm Freshman

Wednesday April 8th 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 8th Grade

Wednesday April 8th 1:00 – 5:00 pm 6th and 7th Grade

Thursday April 9th 9:00 am – 3:00 pm 4th and 5th Grade

Friday April 10th 9:00 am – 3:00 pm TK – 3rd Grade

We hope you are all well and, again, thank you for your continued kindness and support.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Antioch Police Department

A couple people thought it would be a good idea to drive stolen cars through our city last night…

The first, a Nissan Altima stolen from Walnut Creek, was spotted on Lemontree double-parked in the roadway. We swooped in and the driver gave right-up (just like you’re supposed to do).

The second, a Chevy Trailblazer stolen from Newark, was spotted on the freeway by one of our observant coppers. Initially, he did exactly what he was supposed to do, and pulled over when the red and blues came on, but that was about it. He refused to get out of the car, so we tried negotiating with him for a while, which can be pretty tense on an active freeway. When nothing seemed to work, we got some help from canine extraordinaire Purcy. Once out of the car, he tried to provoke us into a horrible outcome, by pointing a dark object (simulating a handgun), which we quickly figured out was a cellphone. Your officers showed tremendous restraint and were able to bring this situation to a safe conclusion, when it could have been very, very bad.

People often use stolen cars to commit more serious crimes because they think it’ll be more difficult to track them down. Nobody deserves to have their car stolen and we won’t stand for it in Antioch. Two more stolen cars returned to their rightful owners, two more arrests, and the town was a little bit safer.

And then…

We heard a call where a vehicle was wanted for an aggravated assault over in Pittsburg. Our officers found the car in the Rivertown-area and detained the driver, who was turned over to our friends at the Pittsburg Police Department.

We often scan the radio channels of our neighboring cities so we can all help each other out. It’s how we pitch-in to keep East County safe, because we are #AntiochStrong. #AntiochPD.
#AntiochPDK9. #PittsburgPD. #Purcy

By Allen Payton

As of Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. Antioch has 24 of the 386 cases of coronavirus/COVID-19 in the county, according to the Contra Costa Health Services new coronavirus dashboard on their website. Antioch is tied with Concord for the fifth most out of the 19 cities and seven communities included in the list, followed next by San Ramon with 23, San Pablo with 22 and Brentwood with 21 cases.

In a post on Sunday, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board off Supervisors Candace Andersen shared the following information: “Contra Costa County Health’s Dashboard is now breaking down COVID-19 cases by city. Please keep in mind that this is not per capita, and our cities all have different sized populations. It shows there is “community spread” throughout the County. Please continue to Shelter in Home, and put on a mask or face covering those limited times you are out in public.”  So far 5,240 people have been tested

UPDATE: the dashboard now provides a statistic showing cases per 100,000 population for each city and community, with a countywide average of 33.