CORRECTION – The standoff continues. Regrettably, a few hours after the posting of my first Watchdog column, I received an e-mail from Antioch City Manager Jim Jakel informing me that, unlike police management, the Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA) has NOT yet agreed to contribute to any part of their generous 3% at age 50 retirement package. The City of Antioch continues to pay the WHOLE tab, although APOA does have a reduced Medical after Retirement benefit for new hires. Nor has there been final agreement in regard to pay deferrals. Other employee groups, however, have a second lower tier.

Later this month the Antioch City Council will receive an update from City Manager Jim Jakel in regard to the need for an additional $737,000 cut in the budget. Negotiations, however, with the Antioch Police Officers Association are proving successful.

Police managers, who currently pay nothing into their retirement account, have now agreed to pay a 9% share, which will be phased in over the next few years. Additionally, the six officers given a layoff notice last month will be retained, paid for with non-city funds, including a $100,000 contribution by Auto Center owner Tom Nokes.

Understandably, the police officers union continues to have issues with the current understaffing and employee compensation. APOA didn’t receive a raise last year and has deferred the raise they were due to receive in January. Regrettably, their displeasure lead to the posting of an angry YouTube video and distribution of flyers giving out email addresses and phone numbers of council.

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Looking Forward to a Better One for Antioch

Many things occurred in Antioch this past year, some good, some not so good, and some bad.

We’ll start with The Bad – 12 murders. Five in December. Not a way to end off the year. Of course, I believe there’s a direct correlation to the 22 vacancies for sworn police officers, as well as the 23 Community Service Officers who were all laid off, in addition to the six officers recently given layoff notices, but who for now still have their jobs.

City revenues continued to decline. More budget cuts had to be made and more staff members laid off.

More people lost their homes to foreclosure, and more people were in need of food and clothing in Antioch.

Then there was The Not So Good. There was no 4th of July celebration or fireworks due to the lack of city funds. So the Council canceled them before seeking private funds. By the time a private group starting raising the funds and pursuing the effort, many of the police officers who would normally be in town that day and night had made other plans to be out of town. So it wasn’t to be this year.

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Negotiations between Police and City Continue, Acrimony Calms Down

By Allen Payton, Publisher

According to Antioch Councilman Brian Kalinowski, the six police officers who had received layoff notices before Christmas, still have their jobs.

In a December 30 email, Kalinowski stated “No one has been laid off. Date moved using other than city funds to try to work it out.”

The date he referred to is for negotiating the changes in the contract with the Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA).

When asked if it was because of the $100,000 provided by Tom Nokes, owner of the Antioch Auto Center, Kalinowski replied, “Among other money being tracked down. But yes.”

“[The] new date is January 21 to work it out,” he added. “I am confident we can hammer this out.”

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The Greatest News Ever Given

The lyrics in the old Christmas carol pretty much sum up the story of Christmas: “Hark the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn king! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.’” Because that’s how it’s described in the book of Luke, chapter 2 in the Bible.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby [Bethlehem], keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:8-14

As we celebrate Christmas, today, exchanging and opening presents, eating wonderful homemade food and watching classic Christmas movies, let’s remember what this holiday is really all about – celebrating the birthday of Jesus, the Christ.

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Michael Banks is suspected of murder

On December 20 at 5:13 p.m.  Antioch police responded to a report of a man down on Rockspring Way. Police found Arnold Muckleroy, 24, lying in the street, who appeared to have a suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Life–saving measures were taken, and he was transported to a local trauma center where he later died.

Police have determined the victim was driven to the location to meet some people who were in a ’90s era dark green Ford Escort with two doors, which was very dirty. The victim entered the vehicle, which contained several black males, according to police. Almost immediately upon entering the vehicle, shots were heard and the victim was pushed out of the car, which fled the area.

Michael Elijah Pulliambanks, aka Michael Banks, who is 18 years old, 6-foot-2, 164 pounds, is a suspect. A warrant has been issued for his arrest for attempted murder. The bail has been set at $500,000. The arrest warrant was issued prior to the victim dying. Detectives will be seeking an amendment to the warrant charging murder.

Banks is known to frequent the greater Bay and Sacramento areas and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who observes this suspect should call the local jurisdiction or the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441. Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact Sgt. Steve Bias at (925) 779-6929.

The murder is Antioch’s 11th homicide this year, which may be a record in this city of 105,000 people.

City officials may nix eBART if the Hillcrest Station doesn't include an agent, escalator and restrooms.

By Dave Roberts

The plan to construct an eBART line to Antioch in five years could become derailed if the station planned at Hillcrest Avenue and Highway 4 does not include a station agent, restrooms and an escalator. That threat was made by Councilman Brian Kalinowski at the December 14 council meeting, backed strongly by former Mayor Don Freitas, and not questioned by other council members.

BART Board Member (and former Antioch Mayor) Joel Keller told the council that there is not enough money in the $462 million project budget to provide the same amenities at Hillcrest as other BART stations, which have station agents, escalators and restrooms (although the restrooms in underground stations have been closed for national security).

But Kalinowski argued that the cost of a full station won’t be known until it’s designed and placed out to construction bidding. “It has to be the full option, and we see what the bids reveal and move from there,” he said. “If it can’t be included in the bid document, I direct city staff to bring back to the City Council a resolution to request the BART Board to not approve the bid to go out.

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The Public Utilities Commission recently approved placing a  natural gas-fired power plant on 22 acres of the old DuPont property on Bridgehead Road in Oakley near the border with Antioch.

Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover joined Oakley officials at the PUC meeting Dec. 16 to speak in favor of Oakley’s bid to approve the PG&E power plant proposal. “The City of Oakley will benefit greatly from the revenue generated by the energy plant,” said Glover, “and strengthen its financial foundation.”

In a posting on the Antioch Police Officers Association website titled “6 Police Officers Less in Antioch is Just the Beginning,” APOA President Tom Fuhrmann
discusses the recent layoffs and potential for more: