Seeks Public Input

Over the past year, BART has crafted a brand new bicycle plan that defines the strategies BART will pursue over the next 10 years to double the number of passengers who access stations by bike.  This is an update to BART’s first Bicycle Plan, published 10 years ago.

Approximately 4%, or about 14,000 passengers, currently reach BART stations each weekday by bicycle.  Building on the success of past BART bicycle access improvements, the growth in popularity of bicycle travel throughout the BART service area, and the significant improvements to bike travel recommended in this plan, this BART Bicycle Plan’s goal is to double this rate, to 8% by 2022, by transforming BART from a system that allows bikes to one that depends on them.

The plan focuses on five high-level issues each with multiple strategies:

•  Cyclist Circulation: Improve station circulation for passengers with bicycles
•  Plentiful Parking: Create world-class bicycle parking facilities
•  Beyond BART Boundaries: Help assure great bicycle access beyond BART’s boundaries
•  Bikes on BART: Optimize bicycle accommodations aboard trains
•  Persuasive Programs: Complement bicycle-supportive policies and facilities with support programs

“It’s been exciting to watch the popularity of bicycling to BART skyrocket” said Steve Beroldo, BART’s Bike Program Manager.  “We installed 65 bike rack spaces inside-the-station at 19th St/Oakland Station and within months they were full.  We added 30 more spaces there plus 30 new inside-the-station spaces at 12th St/Oakland City Center just to keep up with demand.”

The draft plan is available for review and comment at www.bart.gov/bikes through May 12, 2012.  Comments and suggestions related to the draft Bike Plan can be sent to bikes@bart.gov.

MTC SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Please direct all interested individuals to http://jobs.mtc.ca.gov/InternshipOpportunities/jobinternship.html.  We also appreciate your forwarding the information to any organizations or groups that may distribute.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is offering 13 Internships for the summer of 2012. For further information about and to apply for the positions, please see our website at http://jobs.mtc.ca.gov/InternshipOpportunities/jobinternship.html

Internships at MTC provide students with the opportunity to gain professional work experience in transportation planning, finance and operational projects.  Internships are generally full-time from June through September.

To qualify for an MTC internship, students must be enrolled at least part-time in a four-year undergraduate or graduate level curriculum. Individuals who have already graduated may be considered up to six (6) months post-graduation.

MTC is looking for personnel with a professional demeanor, the ability to work effectively with a variety of people, have an energetic attitude and are self-motivated.  Have excellent organizational, analytical skills and are detail-oriented.

Pay rate:  for undergraduate students: $14.50/hour, for graduate students: $18.75/hour.

TO APPLY:  go online to http://jobs.mtc.ca.gov/InternshipOpportunities/jobinternship.html.
Closing dates vary by position.

MTC IS AN EEO/AA EMPLOYER

By Acting Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department announced five individuals have been arrested in the March 31^st murder at Cruisers Saloon on A Street.

In custody are Antioch residents Giovanni Lopez, age 26, Juan Peter Herrera, age 22 and Pittsburg resident Raymond Wehr, also age 22. Also arrested was a 17 year old, male, Antioch resident and a 17 year old, male, Pittsburg resident.

All five subjects arrested have gang connections or are active gang members. It appears that the victim, Lizandro “Tony” Bertolazzi was an innocent victim and not involved in either fight.

The Antioch Police Department is not disclosing the identity of the person who fired the weapon in an effort to maintain the integrity of the on-going investigation.

The case has yet to be presented to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office and all those arrested are being held on probation or parole holds.

On March 31, 2012 at 1:36 a.m. Antioch police received a 911 call from Cruisers Saloon reporting that a shooting had just occurred. It appears that a group of males who had been kicked out of the bar earlier in the night, returned with baseball bats specifically with the intention of starting a fight. The fight started inside of the bar and then moved just outside of the front door to the bar. One of the males, who had been kicked out earlier, pulled out a handgun and fired at least one shot inside the bar. 

Bertolazzi, a 38 year old Antioch resident and veteran of the Marines, was inside the bar and was hit and died at the scene. He leaves behind his wife, who is serving in the Army, and four sons.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective James Stenger at (925) 779-6894.

By Allen Payton, Publisher

According to a KTVU, Channel 2 news report, squatters in a vacant home in Antioch have issued a restraining order against real estate agent Melissa Case who has the property listed for sale. Now she can’t be within 50 feet of the house.

Thanks to Antioch Herald reader Maria Pia for the heads up on this story.

For the complete story, click here.

Here’s the question that must be answered – who was the judge that approved the restraining order? Not only should the squatters be thrown out, so should that judge!

 

On Monday, April 16th, faith leaders, community members, and struggling homeowners will gather in one of the blocks hardest hit by foreclosures in Antioch to speak out in support of the Homeowners Due Process Bill, authored by Senators DeSaulnier and Pavley.  The bill, SB 1471 would provide additional due process protections to California homeowners.  These protections would include a requirement that all assignments of interests in real estate be recorded with the County recorder, a requirement that all homeowners going through the foreclosure process be given a single point of contact at their lending institution and make a specified statement of legislative intent regarding appropriate remedies under the bill for violations of the bill’s provisions.

“Struggling homeowners have been getting the run-around for far too long.  We have heard about the many challenges that people face in communicating with one person at the bank that will be held accountable for their loan modification application.  It is time to make sure this happens and SB 1471 will do just that, ” said Ken Kelly, a CCISCO leader and Antioch homeowner.

Thousands of homeowners across Contra Costa have experienced the failure of their banks to provide them with professional and consistent service as they have applied for loan modifications and undergone the foreclosure process.  These homeowners have faced, and continue to face, challenges with their banks around issues of robosigning, multiple points of contact giving inconsistent information and the failure of homeowners to be able to determine which entities claim to have an interest in their property.  Consequently, some homeowner’s have needlessly lost their homes and been subjected to processes by the banks that lack integrity.  The Homeowner’s Due Process Bill will ameliorate some of these problems to create the needed permanent reform that Californians need and deserve.

WHO: California Senator Mark DeSaulnier, faith and community leaders from CCISCO, and ACCE 

WHAT: Press Conference in Support of Homeowners Due Process Bill (SB 1471)

WHEN: Monday, April 16th at 10:00am

WHERE: 2401 Brittany Court, Antioch, CA 94509 (directions)

The Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) is a federation of 25 religious congregations, 7 different denominations, representing 35,000 families in Contra Costa County. CCISCO is an active member of the PICO National Network. 

CCISCO is a member of the New Bottom Line Coalition. The New Bottom Line is a national campaign fueled by a coalition of community organizations, congregations, labor unions, and individuals working together to build a movement that challenges established big bank interests on behalf of struggling and middle-class communities. 

 CCISCO, 202 G St., Suite 1 – Mailing: P. O. Box 883, Antioch, CA 94509, P: (925) 779-9302, F: (925) 779-9303,www.ccisco.org

By James Ott

Nearly 200 people crowded the new boat launch at the Antioch Marina to witness the inaugural ribbon cutting ceremony and the official opening of the boat launch last Saturday.

Citizens of Antioch, the U.S. Coast Guard, Antioch Police, Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrol and Jet Skiers were all on hand to watch the ceremony hosted by Antioch Deputy Director of Community Development Ryan Graham.

After the U.S. Coast Guard presented the U.S. flag on the water for the playing of the National Anthem, Graham spoke to the crowd about the new boat launch.

“This is really exciting,” said Graham. “It’s been a long time coming but… it’s a beautiful facility for the City of Antioch and this is one of many events we plan to have here.”

After the ceremony Diablo Jet Ski Action hosted a jet-ski race in front of nearby Humphrey’s Restaurant and the new boat ramp.

Saturday marked the end of eight years of planning, development and construction for the $3.7 million, state-of-the-art facility.

The facility has parking space for 129 boaters and thanks to another grant received back in January, the new launch will eventually have restrooms, a third boarding float and a payment kiosk.

The launch will be free until the payment kiosk is added, after which boaters will need to shell out $5 to launch their watercraft.

The project was funded in 2004 by a grant from the Department of Boating and Waterways.

Graham and other city leaders say the new facility will provide a better, safer alternative to the free-to-launch Fulton Shipyard Boat Ramp. Although City Council voted to keep it open while they and a core group of dedicated volunteers try to decide how best to update and clean up the decades-old boat ramp, its future is still unknown.

The unsteady future of the Fulton Shipyard boat launch remains an open wound for some Antioch residents, with some claiming the city only wants to shut down the Fulton facility to increase attendence, and thus spending, at the new facility.

Jim Boccio, owner of the Red Caboose – a restaurant near the Fulton boat ramp – was present Saturday to witness the opening of the new Antioch Marina Boat Launch.

“This new ramp is a tremendous facility, we hope that people will come to it,” said Boccio. “But we hope access will remain at both facilities.”

Rick Robinson, a resident of Antioch for 57 years and an attendee at Saturday’s event, agreed: “The more access to the river in Antioch, the better.”

Despite some opposition, overall reaction to the new marina boat launch has been positive.

24-year-old jet skier Johnny Barton was enamored with the new ramp that promises better access to the water for the sport he loves.

“It’s a beautiful day, it’s a beautiful facility and there’s a big turnout,” said Barton. “I think this will bring more people to the water.”

Twins Gabby and Molly Brodowski, 10, both had good things to say about the boat launch.

“It’ll be really good for the city” said Molly.

“It’s a better and safer launch,” said Gabby.

And they both agreed the day was, “really exciting.”

Perhaps one of the new boat launch’s biggest backers is Diablo Jet Ski Action Race Director Jim Lambert, who, until Saturday, had not had the chance to host a jet ski race on the waters of the city he grew up in for three years.

Lambert, who is also a Contra Costa County Sheriff Marine Patrolman, is big on water safety. Which is a big reason why he founded Diablo Jet Ski Action – to provide a safe outlet for speed on the water – and a big reason why he supports the new boat launch, which he said is much safer than the old Fulton facility.

“The new boat launch is incredible,” said Lambert. “Fulton wasn’t functional and safe enough for residents. This [new facility] is in the heart of downtown… [and] it’s completely lit up at night – it’s a five star facility – it really is.”

By Sergeant Tom Fuhrmann, Field Services Bureau Sergeant

LOCATION: Southbound Deer Valley Road north of Lone Tree Way

VICTIMS: Two female adults, one male adult and one17 year old male

On Sunday, April 8, 2012, at 1:23 a.m., Antioch Police received calls of a serious collision on Deer Valley Road north of Lone Tree Way. When officers arrived on scene they found a southbound two-door, black Toyota that had apparently been traveling at a high rate of speed while negotiating a curve and spun before striking a tree on the west side of the road with the driver’s side of the vehicle. The Toyota was torn in half on impact and two passengers were ejected while another passenger and the driver were trapped inside the vehicle. Fire personnel extracted the two trapped occupants. The driver and one of the ejected passengers were transported by helicopters to area hospitals. They were listed in stable condition at the time of this writing with facial and leg injuries. The other two victims were transported by ambulance to area hospitals with minor injuries and complaint of pain and were expected to be treated and released. All parties involved are expected to survive.

Alcohol is suspected to have contributed to the collision. The collision and the cause are under investigation. Names are being withheld as a courtesy pending notification of the victims’ relatives.

Anyone having information or having witnessed the collision are asked to contact Officer Martin at 779-6900 ext. 83343

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) are widening State Route 4 (SR-4) through Pittsburg and Antioch. As part of this construction work, the contractor will be closing a portion of North Park Boulevard at Loveridge Road on April 9, 2012. Access to and from Loveridge Road via North Park Boulevard will be closed for approximately 6 months. Signs will be in place to direct motorists to North Park Plaza per the attached sketch. The businesses in the North Park Plaza will remain open with normal business hours during the closure period.

Caltrans and CCTA appreciate your patience as we work to improve the highways. For the most current information on lane closures please visit our web site at: http://widensr4.org.