Washington, D.C.– Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s first stand-alone bill as a Member of Congress was passed on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act (H.R.1289) would add 44 acres of donated land to the Martinez historic site that celebrates the life and legacy of John Muir. This bipartisan legislation will improve access to the park and its scenic trails, including those on Mount Wanda, named for Muir’s eldest daughter. The John Muir National Historic Site, which includes the home where he lived, covers 330 acres of Contra Costa County. The bill was passed unanimously and can now proceed to the Senate, where Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced companion legislation.

“I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to create and preserve national park space for future generations to enjoy and to honor Contra Costa’s own John Muir. This historic site is the place where Muir, the father of the National Park system, championed the revolutionary idea that wild spaces should be set aside for all to enjoy. I look forward to seeing this bill passed by the Senate and signed into law,” said DeSaulnier.

“Our sincere thanks go out to Congressman DeSaulnier for such critical legislation. Muir often walked this land with his two daughters, to admire the coast live oak that grow there, as well as the annual wildflowers that punctuate its grassy hillsides. Expansion of the John Muir Historic Site will forever protect this beautiful property and allow future generations to share in the same delights as Muir’s daughters,” said Linus Eukel, Executive Director of the John Muir Land Trust.

“We are looking forward to this significant addition to John Muir National Historic Site, including expanded opportunities to protect these lands while providing opportunities to learn about these resources and the legacy of John Muir. This is particularly fitting as we enter into the Centennial of the National Park Service in 2016, and focus on reaching out to the next generation of park visitors, stewards and advocates this coming year. Our thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier and the John Muir Land Trust for making this expansion possible,” said Sue Fritzke, Acting Superintendent of the National Park Service.

This legislation was co-sponsored by 31 of Rep. DeSaulnier’ s colleagues from both sides of the aisle. Former Congressman George Miller, who previously represented California’s 11th District, has been a strong champion of this bill.

DeSaulnier represents part of Antioch in the U.S. House of Representatives. For more information about the John Muir National Historic Site click here.

By Detective Koch, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Wednesday, September 8, 2015 at approximately 12:30 AM, Antioch Police Department patrol officers responded to the 400 Block of San Joaquin Ave on a report of someone screaming with a gunshot heard. Patrol officers arrived and located a 32-year-old male victim who suffered from a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

During the course of the investigation, officers learned that Jess, aka “Jessie” Swanson was a person of interest. If you have any information as to Swanson’s whereabouts, please notify the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau or call 911. Swanson should be considered armed and dangerous. Please do not attempt to contact or detain Swanson without notifying the proper authorities.

This case is still being investigated by the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Hoffman with the Antioch Police Department at (925) 779-6931. You may also text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH.

By Nick Goodrich

The Antioch Police Department proudly announced the addition of two new police officers at a ceremony, on Monday evening. The ceremony was held at the Antioch Police Department Community Room, with the officers’ families present, and was presided over by Police Chief Allan Cantando.

Officers Daniel Harris and Jonathan Downey joined the Antioch Police Department as part of its effort to rebuild its staff to 102 sworn police officers. In addition, Officer Stacey Malsom, who has served as a distinguished dispatcher on the police force for 10 years, was promoted to Dispatch Supervisor.

“It’s a great day for the Antioch Police Department,” said Cantando. “We’ve promoted Stacey Malsom to Dispatch Supervisor, and we brought in two lateral police officers from the Sherriff’s Office, Officers Harris and Downey. They will help in the process of rebuilding our staff to 102 police officers, and we look forward to getting them off to our training program.”

The new additions to the Antioch Police Department arrive on the heels of three new officers in late July, one in June and the promotion of two others earlier this month. However, one of the new officers from July, resigned in August.

By Allen Payton

Organized by the Delta Veterans Group, led by the group’s President, J.R. Wilson, the Stand Down on the Delta 2015, the first ever of its kind in the county, was held this weekend at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch and attracted more than 300 veterans, seeking services, meals and a place to sleep, as well as a variety of volunteers, to help meet those needs. Many of the veterans are homeless and came from throughout the East Bay to attend.

A variety of organizations sponsored the event which started Friday and ends Monday, including Antioch’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6435, and their Ladies Auxiliary, Strategic Threat Management and Delta Tactical Training Group, Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation, AT&T and the Veterans Employment Committee, and was promoted in part by the Antioch Herald.

A variety of government agencies and organizations provided services throughout the weekend, including the DMV, Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services, Veterans Service Office, Adult and Aging Services, and Employment Development Department, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Employment and Human Services,  CalFresh/CalWORKs, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Assemblyman Jim Frazier, Los Medanos College, Cal State East Bay, Swords to Plowshares, Bay Area Legal Aid, Independent Living Resources, Shelter, Inc., Berkeley Food and Housing, Republic Services, Narcotics Anonymous and Catholic Charities of Solano County.

The veterans who attended were also treated to a variety of musical entertainment, including Wallee, Dixieland Welcome Band, Darlyn Pearl, Los Cavrones, The Illusions, Blue Hand Band, The O’Town Pasions, Galaxy Travis Air Force Base Band, Double Down, Entropy and Ethics, Billy Schaub, Tucker and Friends, Fleet Street Classics and Swamp Lizards.

A donation of $500 allowed for the purchase fishing equipment, giving a group of veterans the chance to do some fishing at Antioch’s Compy Compomizzo Fishing Pier in downtown. The veterans in attendance also had the opportunity to play video games in the Mobile Command Gaming truck.

Members of local service organizations, such as the Antioch Rotary Club, as well as Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock, Councilwoman Monica Wilson, who is on the Board of Directors for the Delta Veterans Group, and Councilman Tony Tiscareno volunteered to serve meals to the veterans throughout the weekend.

For more information visit www.DeltaVeteransGroup.org and to “like” and follow them on Facebook, click here.

By Allen Payton

The members of the State Senate and Assembly, representing Antioch, East County and Central Contra Costa County, all voted, this week, in favor of AB2X-15, the bill to allow for physician assisted suicide in California.

Labeled the End of Life Option Act, the bill, if signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, will allow a doctor to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to a mentally competent person who is diagnosed by two California physicians with having six months or less to live.

It passed the State Senate on a party line vote, with 23 Democrats, including Steve Glazer, who represents Antioch and was elected in a special election in June, voting in favor and 14 Republicans voting against. Two Democrats and one Republican didn’t vote.

Earlier in the week, the State Assembly passed it on a 44-35-1 vote, with Democrat Assemblymembers Jim Frazier, who represents Antioch, and Susan Bonilla from Concord, voting in favor. All but three Republicans voted against the bill. One of them was Catharine Baker, who was elected last year, representing the San Ramon Valley, and is the only Republican in the state legislature in the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Ten Democrats joined the other 25 Republicans in voting against the bill. One Democrat didn’t vote.

The bill, originally SB128 which was co-authored by Glazer, died in the Assembly, in July. It was resurrected with the new number. For the complete text of the bill and vote history, visit http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520162AB15.

To contact Gov. Brown’s office, visit https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php.

By Jerri Langlais

Finally, there’s some good news for the homeless in our community, starting this Sunday, September 13. Showerhouse Ministries, led by Ken Rickner, is bringing a shower trailer to L Street near the marina, in Antioch’s downtown, at 10:00 a.m. He has given the name Showers of Hope to the effort.

The trailer can be moved to different locations to provide showers and other items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and deodorant, and there will be other ministries coming alongside who will be bringing socks, underwear and clothing, and haircuts, for those who until now have had little or no access to bathing facilities and these other items. It will have two regular shower stalls and one larger one to accommodate handicapped persons.

While doing outreach on the streets, Ken saw the need for showers, and the brokenness, too, and felt the need to do something about it. And after much prayer, he had a vision of a trailer and heard the words “Showerhouse Ministries.”

Not knowing where to start, he heard the Lord say, “Go through one door at a time.” So he started working without plans or drawings and using his own money, he began the project starting with the purchase of a trailer and shower stalls in July, 2014.

A friend stepped forward and offered to help with plumbing needs, and he also called on the help of an electrician friend. Ken knew he was going to need fresh water storage, a pump to move the water, a heating system such as propane tanks, a generator for power, and waste water collection tanks, while providing privacy, all within a self-contained unit.

The project turned out to be a little more complex than Ken had anticipated, but he was compelled to continue. After approximately 10 months of building, the trailer is finished.

“Dialing it in and going through a bit of red tape took some time, but we are now ready to go,” Ken said. “I could not have done it without the help of a few individuals and the prayer support of others.”

He offers special thanks to the following who helped make the Showers of Hope a reality:

Mike and Chuckie from Butlers Plumbing, Brentwood

Frank with Salucci’s Electric, Oakley

Fred with Fred’s Welding, Oakley

Doug Hardcastley of Hardcastle’s RV, Oakley

Showerhouse Ministries Showers of Hope Kickoff — Sunday, Sept 13th, 2015, 10:00 AM, L Street near the marina, downtown Antioch

This is a new and growing ministry, and we want to network with other people and cities. There are many ways to be involved. Please feel free to contact us at Showerhouseministries.com or “like” their Facebook page by clicking here.

Washington, DC – Congressman DeSaulnier issued the following statement today in support of the Iran Nuclear Proposal, also known as the Iran Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA):

“As a freshman Member of Congress, I looked for every opportunity to study the proposed deal. I have fully reviewed the accord including the classified sections. I was personally briefed by President Obama and members of the National Security Council and have heard presentations from Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, an expert on nuclear matters. I have also received letters and testimony from experts including a letter sent by five Nobel laureates and veteran makers of nuclear arms and former White House science advisers who describe the deal as being far better than we could have imagined.

“On the opposing side, I traveled to Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Israeli leaders, scholars, and negotiators. I saw firsthand the conflict that has been ruminating in the Middle East for thousands of years, and I continue to staunchly support the U.S.-Israel relationship.

“Most importantly, I listened to residents of our district. Through a series of five town halls as well as mobile district office hours, phone calls, emails, and in-office meetings this summer, I heard the opinions of our community.

“At the heart of my decision is supporting a deal that best preserves long-term peace in the Middle East and creates security and stability for the United States. I believe this accord is our best option for achieving this goal.

“First, this proposal stands on its merits and is our best chance to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon; it increases the time it would take for Iran to build a nuclear weapon from 2-to-3 months to a year.

“Next, this historic accord is unanimously supported by the UN Security Council and has the backing of international organizations and countries across the political spectrum. Its enforcement will be strengthened by this unified front. If the United States walks away, the accord will either fall through or its enforcement will be significantly weakened.

“No one believes this proposal is perfect, but going it alone has not stopped Iran on their path toward a nuclear weapon. United Nations sanctions have fallen short. It is time we put diplomacy into action.”

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, represents California’s 11th District in the U.S. Congress, which includes part of Antioch. He can be contacted at his district office at (925) 933-2660, his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2095 or via email through his website at https://desaulnier.house.gov/contact.

By Allen Payton

After waiting more than 10 years to build a new housing project, planned for the south side of Antioch, next to Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, Aviano Farms, LLC, a partnership of DeNova Homes and Mike Serpa, was successful in obtaining council approval on a 5-0 vote, at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The development agreement, the council approved, includes 533 homes and will provide the needed improvements to the sewer line that serves the adjacent high school. The council approved the Use Permit for the first phase of the project, which consists of 127 homes. The council also changed the designation of the project from Adult Community Planned Development to a regular housing development, in which anyone can purchase a home.

Serpa spoke at the August 25th council meeting about the Sand Creek Master plan, which includes ballparks, and how his project is “the major infrastructure provider.”

“Dozier-Libbey [Medical High School] was a result of this project,” he stated.

He pointed out that they have already spent $4 million for species and environmental mitigation, and will be spending $2.5 million to extend Sand Creek Road and Hillcrest Avenue, which will both serve the new development, as well as the new sewer line.

“We’re asking you to reapprove a project that is not substantially different,” Serpa added. “This project is a good one. It’s done its civic duties.”

Also at the August 25th meeting, Tim Forrester, Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations for the Antioch Unified School District, spoke about both the land Serpa had set aside for Dozier-Libbey, as well as the sewer line.

“We started working with Mike Serpa in 2004 on Dozier-Libbey and was able to open in 2008,” he stated. “It brings us back about $1 million to pay us back. The temporary sewer line is failing. It’s running on propane.”

“The economy downturn did not allow us to finish the infrastructure,” Forrester continued. “We’re very amicable in our agreement with Aviano Farms. It will benefit Kaiser, as well, giving us a second way into a hospital.”

The public hearing was closed at the August 25th meeting, but not before a few residents spoke in favor of the project.

“I’ve lived in Antioch for 26 years,” said Robert Laxner. “I like this project.”

He mentioned the project’s 350 offsite acres set aside for open space.

Aaron Hodess, the Business Manager of the Plumbers and Steamfitters union, Local 159, said “We look forward to finally work in our city. I”ve got every confidence this will be a quality project.”

He also spoke of “opportunities for our youth and careers through apprenticeship.”

Kevin Van Buskirk read his statement, saying he lived in Antioch for 30 years and was concerned about the impact on police services. But, now he supports the project.

No one spoke against the development.

But, there was disagreement over three issues at the August 25th meeting. So, the council voted to give city staff and the developer two weeks to work out agreements on the police fee, the owner-occupation issue and a city requested hold-harmless indemnity clause in the development agreement.

The council, in approving the development agreement at Tuesday’s meeting, imposed an annual police services fee of $445 per home, which is a new requirement, never before imposed on a development in Antioch. They also required the formation of a homeowners association.

While the City wanted to require that no more than 30 percent of the homes be available for rent at any time, according to the staff report “following more thorough research, City staff no longer endorses this as a function of the City, but encourages the applicant to pursue any reasonable and lawful means to encourage greater owner occupancy.”

During Tuesday night’s meeting, Interim City Attorney Derek Cole said “the time for public challenge has come and gone.”

However, public comments were allowed.

Antioch resident Terry Ramus was the only one from the public to speak on the item. He spoke about development agreements, and how in the past the city had forgotten some things.

“I had hoped we have learned from our history,” Ramus said. “The times have changed. So, on this police services agreement, is that tight?”

“Perfect is not really what I’m asking for you to do,” he continued. “I’m asking for you to look at it with a fine-tooth comb and if you’re not comfortable with it, don’t vote for it tonight.”

Mayor Wade Harper responded.

“After a couple years, now of fine tooth combing and everything else, the matter is now before council.”

Councilwoman Mary Rocha added her thoughts.

“It will bring employment, better service for our schools, it will improve the road system,” she said. “This one is bringing us some extra items that will benefit the schools and city.”

“I am very comfortable that all parties have come to an agreement,” said Councilman Tony Tiscareno.

He then asked about the police fee.

Cole explained that the developer agreed to a Community Services District that levies a special tax, which is a Mello-Roos tax for police.

“Development must be revenue neutral and provide the 1.2 to 1.5 officers per thousand,” he stated. “One way or the other, the standard of providing police protection will exist. This developer has done everything they can to work with us, to date.”

“I like the variety of sizes of homes,” said Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock. “There are 5,000 square foot lots up to 10,000 square foot lots. I just want to make sure the infrastructure goes in.”

“I wanted to make sure we have enough money to pay for police, going forward,” said Harper. “That was important to me. This will be a wonderful, clean and safe neighborhood. If I could I would give the Aviano folks credit for working so well with the school district. I’m glad you’re getting this project done and thanks for being in our city.”

Rocha mentioned a possible local hire.

Then the council voted unanimously to approve the development agreement which lasts through 2029. The developer will have three years to form the Community Services District to pay for more police.