Questions won’t be released until Special Council Workshop this Saturday, Jan. 20

By Allen Payton

Antioch City Manager Ron Bernal recently released the results of a taxpayer funded survey commissioned by his office last fall, which asked a variety of questions about issues such as police staffing and how to pay for it. The survey, conducted in October by the city’s public opinion firm Fairbanks, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, known as FM3 Research, was commissioned to assess resident perspectives on their quality of life, including community priorities and needs.

From October 18-24, 2017, FM3 completed 400 telephone interviews (on both landlines and cell phones) in English and Spanish with randomly selected likely November 2018 voters in the City of Antioch.

Referred to as a “Quality of Life community survey”, it shows Antioch residents want the City to do a better job improving public safety, and “maintaining and enhancing the community’s quality of life to reach the City’s full potential as a safe, clean, beautiful place to live,” according to the press release.

Mayor Sean Wright said he was not aware of the survey before it was done and paid for out of funds Bernal can use at his discretion.

Questions included asking residents if they would be willing to increase the current half-cent sales tax to a full one cent sales tax. While specific results for that question were not provided, the survey highlights (see below) show that 36% of respondents would definitely support a general sales tax measure, 27% would probably support it, and 4% were undecided but leaned toward yes in support of such a measure, for a total of 66% saying “yes” in some form. A general sales tax would only require a 50% plus one majority of voters to pass.

Main Highlights

The main results of the survey also show the following:

• Public safety, homelessness and blight are seen as the biggest problems facing the City.
• Seven in ten see a need for additional funding for services residents need and want.
• Respondents were asked about several potential revenue measures, with a cannabis tax showing support over the needed threshold.
• The most highly valued spending priorities of the proposed finance measure included public safety, water quality, financial stability and economic development.

“I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in this study,” said City Manager Ron Bernal. “It is very important to our new City leadership team that we invest in every neighborhood in our City, to ensure that every resident receives quality service.”

Residents strongly prioritize maintaining 911 police response and police officers patrolling City streets; ensuring water quality and safety; attracting and retaining businesses; and maintaining youth violence prevention programs.

Eighty-three percent of respondents also indicated maintaining Antioch’s financial stability was a top priority, with 70% agreeing that the City needs additional funding.

“I know the community continues to be concerned about crime in general, gangs and youth violence,” said Antioch Police Chief Tammany Brooks. “We must maintain 911 emergency response and increase investment in code enforcement.”

“This community feedback is extremely helpful. We want to continue to engage the public on these quality of life issues,” said City Manager Bernal. “These perspectives not only inform our City Council goal-setting, service delivery and budget planning, but help us to improve transparency and teamwork by making the community a true partner in our efforts to achieve government accountability, trust, safe neighborhoods and quality of life for all residents.”

“The Final Study including questions will be presented at the City Council Goal-Setting workshop on January 20th,” said FM3 Partner & COO Curtis Below. “FM3 will be there making the presentation and fielding questions from the Council.”

The following memo from FM3 “summarizes some of the key findings from that research. Antioch 2017 City Survey Highlights revised

Overall, many shared concerns about crime, homelessness, blight and the economy locally – and seven in ten perceived a need for additional funding to provide services that residents need and deserve. Overwhelming majorities rated a variety of services as important to them personally, including public safety, water quality, financial stability, gang prevention, and economic development. Accordingly, asked about several potential revenue measures, a cannabis tax and a sales tax yielded support above their required vote thresholds.

Among the survey’s specific key findings were the following:

Public safety, homelessness and blight are seen as the biggest problems facing the City. When asked to rank a series of potential problems on a scale of “extremely serious,” “very serious,” “somewhat serious” or “not too serious,” 71 identified crime, in general as “extremely” or “very serious,” and 65 percent said the same for both homelessness and gangs and youth violence. Other issues seen as top problems involved blight and illegal dumping, an empty downtown, a lack of good-paying 

Seven in ten see a need for additional funding for services residents need and want. Reflecting their perception of the seriousness of a variety of local challenges, a strong majority of respondents (70%) said that they see at least “some need” for additional City funding – and more than one-third (35%) see a “great need.”Respondents were asked about several potential revenue measures, with a cannabis tax showing support over the needed threshold. By contrast, a conceptual utility users tax, bond measure, and parcel tax each fell short of their required passage threshold. (EDITOR’s NOTE: The Council has voted to prevent any recreational marijuana/cannabis related businesses from operating or delivering their products in Antioch).

 

Two-thirds supported a potential general-purpose sales tax measure. In this survey, two-thirds (66%) of respondents expressed support for a potential sales tax measure, with more than one-third “definitely” voting yes. Fewer than half as many (30 percent) said they would vote “no” on the measure, with just 4 percent undecided. Such a measure would require a majority vote to pass.The most highly valued spending priorities of the proposed finance measure included public safety, water quality, financial stability and economic development. Survey respondents were asked to rank a series of proposed spending priorities and measure provisions in order of importance. As shown in Figure 5, respondents prioritized maintaining 911 emergency response and maintaining the number of police officers patrolling City streets most highly. In conclusion, the survey results suggest concerns about fundamental issues facing the City, such as crime, homelessness, and job opportunities. Most see at least some need for additional funding for the City to provide services residents need and deserve. At the same time, a strong majority appears open to supporting a local revenue measure, with maintenance of public safety services their highest priority for new funding.

Methodology: From October 18-24, 2017, FM3 completed 400 telephone interviews (on both landlines and cell phones) in English and Spanish with randomly selected likely November 2018 voters in the City of Antioch. The margin of sampling error for the study is ±4.9% at the 95% confidence level; margins of error for population subgroups within the sample will be higher (e.g., ±6.9% for half the sample). Due to rounding, not all totals will sum to 100%.”

Special Council Workshop

The Strategic Plan and Goal Setting Workshop will be held this Saturday, at 9:00 a.m. in the Antioch Community Center at Prewett Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way.

At about 12:47 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the Office of the Sheriff received information of a stolen vehicle in Pittsburg. A Deputy Sheriff spotted the stolen vehicle, a Ford F-250 pickup truck on Bailey Road. The Deputy followed the vehicle as it headed eastbound on Highway 4. The Deputy did not activate the emergency lights on his vehicle.

As the suspect took the Somersville Road exit, he immediately accelerated at a high speed. The Deputy then activated the emergency lights on his vehicle. Moments later, the suspect vehicle went through a red light at Somersville Road and collided into a Ford F-150 that was heading southbound.

Three people, including two children, were injured in the F-150. They were taken to local hospitals. The suspect, a 23-year-old Pittsburg resident, was also taken to a hospital. He is not being identified at this time.

According to Antioch Police Lt. Tarra Mendes, Antioch Police Officers responded to assist the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. The incident caused the closure of North and Southbound Somersville Road as well as the Eastbound Highway 4 off ramp to Somersville Road.

The countywide officer-involved protocol was invoked. The investigation is being handled by the D.A.’s Office, Office of the Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, and Antioch PD.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

From APD Facebook page

In the early morning hours on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, Antioch Police officers made contact with subjects in a vehicle at Jack’s Car wash in the 900 block of Fitzuren Road. As the officer first on scene began to drive away, the driver of the vehicle, a 34-year-old El Sobrante man, got out of his car and the officer heard something metal hit the ground.

When the officer re-contacted the man, he saw a firearm on the ground which was later determined to be loaded. The man was found to be a convicted felon, on community supervision, and he also had narcotics in his possession. He was later sent to county jail, and we were thankfully able to get another gun off the streets of our community!

According to the CHP – Contra Costa Facebook page, “This evening at about 6:15 pm, one of our CHP Officers was involved in a traffic collision at SR-4 eastbound and Port Chicago Highway (in Concord). He suffered major injuries, non-life threatening, and was transported to a local hospital. The scene is still active for the investigation. We have no further details at this time, but we will advise when we do. Thank you.”

Further reports on NBC Bay Area TV Channel 3 News and ABC7 News he was a motorcycle officer, and an SUV flipped an landed on the officer including a broken leg. It set off a chain reaction including at least eight cars and three separate crashes. It backed up traffic on Highway 4 for miles.

By Officer Eric Johnsen, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, January 14, 2018, at approximately 9:38 pm, an Antioch Police officer was travelling on E. 18th Street near Blossom Drive and Hillcrest Avenue, when he came upon a motorcyclist lying in the roadway. A 25-year-old male Oakley resident was found with major injuries. Life saving measures were attempted, but the male was later pronounced deceased at the scene by the Contra Costa County Fire Department. The Antioch Police Traffic Unit responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.

No further information will be released at this time. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact Officer Eric Johnsen at (925) 779-6900 Ext. 84265. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

Please check back later once the police have released the victim’s identity.

Couples can get married at the historic John Muir House by Clerk-Recorder officiants

Get hitched in style this year! The Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder office is offering a special venue for couples who wish to exchange wedding vows at a special location on Valentine’s Day.

The Clerk-Recorder Division, in partnership with the National Park Service, will host weddings at the historic John Muir House from 10:20 am to 3:20 pm on February 14th. There are 16 appointments available for this “Destination Wedding” opportunity.

“We are excited to partner with the National Park Service and the staff of the John Muir National Historic Site to offer couples the option of being married at this historic location on Valentine’s Day,” Clerk-Recorder Joe Canciamilla said. “It is with a great deal of local pride that we can highlight the history of our region and of Martinez while offering this memorable option for couples’ special day.”

“We think it’s great that the local community can use the grounds for a really special day,” said Jim MacDonald, Supervisory Park Ranger at the John Muir National Historic Site.

MacDonald shares a quote from Louisa Strentzel Muir, John Muir’s wife, that he says is applicable to what weddings represent.

“Now I know that neither time nor space can ever separate us, and that wherever you be, here or there, I am with you truly.”

Weddings will be held inside one of the well-decorated rooms of the Italianate Victorian-style home, which was built in 1882. The room features an elegant chandelier and grand piano, detailed architecture and a stunning backdrop for the ceremony with an archway in front of a window overlooking the property.

Couples interested in a ceremony at the John Muir House should call 925-335-7908.

Couples can also make appointments to have their Valentine’s Day wedding ceremony at the Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder Office, located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. The office features two beautifully appointed ceremony rooms adorned with handcrafted stained glass windows. Appointment times are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Walk-in couples are welcome and will be accommodated based on availability of ceremony rooms. Appointments are recommended, as Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for civil ceremonies.

Those looking to book a ceremony at Clerk-Recorder’s office can do so online at www.contracostacore.us.

A civil marriage ceremony is $60. Couples can obtain a public marriage license for $86 or a confidential license for $90.

To save time, marriage license applications are available for completion online at www.contracostacore.us prior to visiting the office and may also be purchased before the ceremony date.

For more information, contact Joseph Barton, Clerk-Recorder Services Supervisor at (925) 335-7928.

Identity of 43-year-old who was allegedly reaching for gun not yet released

From Pittsburg Police Facebook page

Late Friday night, Pittsburg Police Officers were called to Nation’s Hamburgers at 3789 Railroad Avenue after a community member reported a suspicious vehicle at the location. Officers were informed by the community member that a man seated inside the vehicle appeared to be conducting a drug deal with a person sitting inside another vehicle that had just left the area.

Several minutes later officers arrived at the restaurant and found the vehicle described by the community member. As two Pittsburg Police Officers walked towards the car, they saw a man seated in the driver’s seat. Shortly after reaching the vehicle, officers saw a handgun in the center console of the car and both officers immediately began instructing the man to place his hands up and not to touch the gun.

Initially the man did as instructed, and placed his hands on the steering wheel. As officers continued to give the man instructions not to reach for the firearm, the man dropped his right arm in an attempt to retrieve the handgun from the center console. As the man began to raise his hand back up, one of the officers fired his service weapon. The man was stuck and our officers immediately removed him from the car and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. He succumbed to his injuries at John Muir Hospital.

The man was 43-years-old and from Antioch. Our thoughts are with the man’s family during this difficult and tragic situation all around. We are also waiting to release his name, until his family has been notified.

The Contra Costa County Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was enacted and the Pittsburg Police Department has entered a joint investigation with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Today, Friday, January 12, 2018, Patrick Vanier, Supervising Prosecutor in Santa Clara County, and a candidate for Contra Costa County District Attorney issued the following statement:

“When I announced my candidacy for District Attorney last spring, I made it clear that my candidacy was not about me, but about bringing real reform to the office of District Attorney and instituting best practices to bring Contra Costa County’s criminal justice system into the 21st Century.  I was the first to declare my candidacy to challenge former DA Mark Peterson and I am proud to have started the dialogue for change.

A little more than a month later, Mark Peterson resigned from office.  Upon his resignation, the County initiated an appointment process to fill the vacancy. I was honored to be selected by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors as a finalist in that process.

During the appointment process in the summer and fall, I again made it clear that if a person was appointed who can bring progressive leadership to the office of District Attorney and will modernize and standardize how cases are prosecuted, I may not seek election.

Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors voted to appoint retired Judge Diana Becton to be District Attorney. (See related article) Although I was disappointed in not receiving the appointment, I respected the Supervisors’ decision as they recognized the importance of selecting a candidate from outside the dysfunction of the current office. While I was in this race to win, as I felt that I possess the skills this County needs, I also realize the importance of ensuring that change does indeed occur.

Over the past several months I have been following the developments within the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Diana Becton.  I believe she has undertaken a course of action to run the department in an honest and ethical manner and will utilize the latest technologies, data analytics, and community prosecution models to prevent crime and prosecute cases. I want this County to be focused on ensuring that change continues.

For these reasons, I have decided to withdraw from the race for Contra Costa County District Attorney and fully support and endorse Diana Becton.

I want to thank my supporters for their unflagging support and encouragement and I will be urging them to support Diana Becton.”

On his campaign website, Vanier said he offered “progressive leadership” to the people of Contra Costa County. With him out of the race the remaining candidates, currently are the appointed incumbent, Interim Contra Costa DA Becton and Contra Costa Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves, who entered the race last spring to take on Peterson, prior to his resignation and has the support of most law enforcement organizations in the county. If no other candidates enter the race the winner of the Primary Election in June will be elected. According to the County Elections Office website, the filing period for the election begins February 12 and ends March 9.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.