Dear Editor:

There are many heroes among us but you rarely have an opportunity to meet them and you rarely ever hear the stories of those that have for years committed themselves to serving others in various capacities in their local communities. Well, approximately 6 weeks ago, I was in a bind and I searched through my archives of namesakes to see if I could find the best person to help me. The person that ended up helping me was not the first on my list to call.

My dilemma: One day, I made an agreement with a youth that if he worked diligently to improve his behaviors that he could earn an object of his choice after a set amount of time. Well, he is a 49’ers fan and he decided that he wanted memorabilia from the 49’ers. I thought no problem, you obtained an object for another student from his favorite team, and you can do it again. I bargained with this student to try and change his mind for various other objects and he had his mind and heart set on something from the SF 49’ers from earlier decades. So, I went about the process the normal way and I made phone calls so that I could obtain the object of my student’s affection the same as I had done in the past. Well, hit a wall and I was stuck! Literally, stuck! Panic did not set in yet as I had not exhausted all of my contacts.

I was going about the task in the normal way of gathering donations that was easy for me. Mind you, I was becoming a pest to some but that did not bother me as I was determined to find the object…any object from the 49’ers. Meanwhile, I was reaching the 3rd month of the agreement and the student was losing faith that I would not come through. I reminded him to be positive, continue to work hard and to not give up on his dream object. He replied: “OK” but it was not a confident OK. A few times, he gave me permission to forget about it. I knew that this student had experienced many disappointments in his life and I was not going to become another disappointment to him so I continued my quest.

I had a Plan B, but I did not want to use it and I had an aha moment! I was in my office thinking and reflecting and this one individual popped in my head out of the blue. I informed the student that I think I know someone that might be able to help me. His face lit up and he became excited and he wanted to listen in while I contacted this individual. Of course, I returned him back to class and instead made a second promise (yikes!) to make the phone call. The student became skeptical again and I made my phone call in faith.

This individual that I called grew up in Antioch and has a long and consistent history of supporting youth and community events. I remember a few years ago seeing him at the City Council meetings, intently involved on major issues that concerned the Antioch community. I also remember all of the events for others that required cooks and organizers and he was there for that. Mostly, I am talking about a phone call that I made to him requesting 49’ers memorabilia for my student and he did not hesitate and he responded with: “I will check and call you tonight or tomorrow”. The next day I received a phone call asking when I could come and pick up the object. I was happy and excited! My endless searching would come to an end and my student would get his object and I would remain the same; a person that did not give up on the seemingly almost impossible task of keeping a promise.

Who is this person I am alluding to? It is Tony Tiscareno the citizen that was appointed to the City Council this year. He made one of my students very happy by supplying me with a 49’ers piece of memorabilia that he so freely gave to me from his collection without any hesitation or second thought.

So, I think that if you are not familiar with Mr. Tiscareno, please take the time to chat with him if possible at the next City Council meeting or at the next community event. After all, building individuality in a well cemented seat as a City Council official is no easy feat and I am hoping that when all is said and done that you will come to know Mr. Tiscareno, as I have, a trusted citizen, a good family man, a good friend and someone that is not just another nice guy. I know that Mr. Tiscareno will vote his convictions on the hard issues and be on the side of the people. You never know when you may have to ask someone for support and don’t be surprised if the answers don’t come from people that you have already reached out too. I really appreciate Tony Tiscareno for having a kind heart for youth. In my line of work saying “no” is needed and necessary but this time it was not an option. Thanks Tony!!

Debra Vinson, Antioch

Dear Editor:

By now most readers have heard that East Bay Regional Parks is going to acquire the Roddy Ranch property from Jack and Donna Roddy. While some people may lament the loss of more housing subdivisions, I for one am delighted by the preservation of the beautiful ranch lands. The economic realities of the market place have created an opportunity for Jack and Donna to choose to preserve their legacy in the form of parklands. I congratulate them and the park district in being able to forge this monumental agreement.

It has been shown that the theory of building subdivision after subdivision would magically create jobs in the future, is faulty logic. When the voters spoke on the Roddy project to include it in the City’s urban limit line, the superior option of having a regional park was not one of the questions.  In my opinion the residents of the entire Northern California area are better served by a regional park under the stewardship of America’s premier park system (East Bay Regional Park District) than by yet another subdivision.

The purchase of Roddy Ranch by East Bay Regional Parks proves that even lands within the urban limit line can be preserved for future generations to enjoy.  With the experience of the successful preservation of Roddy Ranch, I will be urging the community to support maintaining the integrity of the urban limit line.

Wade Harper, Mayor of Antioch

Dear Editor:

In June, 2010 I personally went to the F.B.I. offices and submitted a written complaint concerning a number of reported police misconduct and suspected criminal activities by CNET’s Commander Norman Wielsch, Agent Louis Lombardi, private investigator Chris Butler used as their drug expert, and some Antioch Police detectives and officers. The complained of events included questioned search warrants raid (and some without search warrants), armed robberies, unaccounted for and stolen personal properties, false imprisonments of victims, violations of civil and constitutional rights, and many other reported and suspected civil and criminal violations by those identified law enforcement officers.

I also had complained about a March, 2008 suspected wrongful shooting death in Antioch due to the ‘Keystone Cops’ style of police raid upon the unarmed and obviously cooperative victim within his residence. CNET’s Commander Norman Wielsch and Agent Louis Lombardi were present in that case also, along with other involved area police officers.

In the spring of 2011, I also personally and in writing complained to the C.C.C. District Attorney, and his two assigned Inspectors/Investigators, providing them (and the F.B.I. as well) thereafter with additional documented questioned incidents, and the victims’ contact information for their assumed investigation purposes.

As part of my written and verbal complaints I also documented my alarm and fear that some future potential taking of innocent lives by some of these unrestrained rogue cops could occur, writing “These suspected rogue Cops must be stopped quickly before any more Victims are added to their suspected ……. scoreboard, and especially before death(s) of innocent civilians enter into their activities!“

Lo and behold, in March, 2012 two of those complained of (Antioch detectives/officers) shot and killed an unarmed civilian during their questioned attempted contact of the Victim.

As a result a Federal lawsuit has been filed by the victim’s parents in April, 2013 (Katherine Harvey and Richard Lopez, Sr., vs. Matthew Koch, Joshua Vincelet, City of Antioch, et al, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District, court cases #2:11-cv-01820-LKK-KJN and #C13-1610DMR-ADR) wherein, among other things, millions of dollars are sought from them and the City of Antioch. Under the law’s discovery rules the defendant officers complained of can be identified in these and other unrelated court cases (civil and criminal) via a legal demand from the D.A.’s and F.B.I.’s Offices (whom I had warned and complained to in writing).

From one of those armed home invasion robberies, where over $50,000 in jewelry and cash was reported stolen from the tied up victims (one a pregnant female), one of the stolen expensive watches was later recovered from one of the identified and involved Officer’s home in 2011. No other stolen or unaccounted for property is known to have been recovered since then. And, none of the other reported and identified Officers are known to have been criminally pursued or charged to this day! Why not?

In another of those complained of cases an Antioch business, the owners and employees, were raided by some of these rogue Antioch Police detectives/officers without a search warrant (which was coincidentally later questionably obtained hours later). The owners were arrested, surveillance camera(s) and computer(s) were turned around or off, employees were reported to be falsely imprisoned, and various reported civil and criminal violations occurred (most was captured on the store’s surveillance tapes).

No criminal complaint was ever filed against the victim owners or their business. In the spring of 2011 the victimized owners and other victims filed a Federal lawsuit, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District, against the City of Antioch and the rogue Officers involved (case #CV 11-01502 EMC). That matter is still pending in the legal arena. This is but another example of Taxpayers’ liability as a result of the reported and documented wrongdoing by the out of control rogue Antioch Police Detectives/Officers. To date there are no known criminal charges filed against any of the involved Officers! Why not?

In April, 2011 some victims reported that in August, 2010 some police officers (CNET’s Commander Norman Wielsch was identified as one of them) conducted an armed home invasion robbery of their Antioch residence. One of the most outrageous acts of that raid was making a female resident to completely strip off her clothes, to her bare skin, by an overly aggressive female officer, all in front of an observing male Officer, obviously just to further humiliate and victimize the helpless female resident. The Victims report that not one law enforcement type of contact, inquiry, or investigation has been made, even though this case also was reported to the D.A.’s and F.B.I.’s offices. Why not? Who or what is really being protected? And for what reason?

There are many fine and honest police officers working in our state, county and cities. But, there are some few officers who take it upon themselves to go rogue, with what appears to be no unaccountability to anyone and with some form of blanket insulation and immunity from investigation, arrest, and prosecution. Why? Instead the public should be protected from them! Any other non-Police person who would have done these types of things would have been shortly arrested and criminally charged. But, obviously, not the Police involved in similar questioned and/or criminal acts! What gives? Equal justice and application of the laws? Why not? Where can the public get these latent ‘keep out of jail’ for free immunity from?

CNET’s Commander Norman Wielsch, Agent Louis Lombardi, and private investigator Chris Butler were the only ones arrested and charged in certain limited cases. This is supposed to apparently satisfy the public, making them the obvious scapegoats for what other officers were also present and/or involved in. That is not good enough. Many of these other rogue officers are still out there working as your police officers, with full access to you, the public.

We plan to submit in the future more published details of complained of events, and other very serious matters, that are of great public concern. Are you, the public then just going to take it and allow it to continue? Well, we are not and neither should you.

Ralph A. Hernandez, P.I., Antioch

Aardvark Investigations & Consulting

Dear Editor,

During this time of high unemployment, very high cost of gas, food, utilities and an uncertain economy, it does not make sense for the City of Antioch to raise its sales taxes. The City will be creating another burden on residents already struggling to maintain a reasonable standard of living. Increasing the sales tax will not be a guaranteed reliable, steady stream of revenue. During low economic activity, City revenues decrease and the probability of more lay-offs of City employees remain a threat. New businesses would not view higher sales taxes as an incentive to locate in Antioch. We must attract more businesses, and in turn bring more jobs into the City.

Antioch must increase the number of Police Officers and Community Service Officers to address the crime that negatively impacts our quality of life. Code enforcement activity has to be increased to address blight.

Antioch needs a steady stream of revenue and I submit that since all businesses pay a license fee in order to do business in Antioch – then, non-owner occupied rental property dwellings should be included in this fee paying structure.  Rental property owners are running a business and it makes sense that the City should collect a license fee from them. This would be a reliable, steady stream of income that would provide an estimated $2.5 million per year based on a fee of $20.00 per unit, per month on approximately 11,000 rental units in this City.

Two initiatives have been proposed as potential ballot measures for this November 2013. One is a ½ cent sales tax increase and the other is the $20.00 per month, per unit business license fee.

Antioch voters; for a steady stream of funds for the City of Antioch, funding that will not be subject to a decrease/increase of sales taxes – please say “Yes” to a business license fee on non-owner occupied rental properties.

Marie Livingston, Antioch

Dear Editor

This Sunday marks the 21st anniversary of “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,” a silly name the CDC gave two doctors up in Lake Tahoe back in the 80’s, when 10 – 20% of the town of Incline Village became ill with the “flu” that has lasted now nearly 30 years. I know, I am one of those people lucky enough to still be alive to contact you (please see below).

Three decades later… yet no treatment, diagnostic marker; nor cure!

Please help us bring insight into our cause! An estimated 4 million Americans suffer every second, of every day… alone! Over 21 million worldwide!

The rest of the world however has other names: Natural Killer Cell Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: My-muscle, Algic-pain, Encephalo-brain,Myel-spinal cord & Itis-inflammation, etc… Then, we have Gulf War Illness and Lyme Disease too! It’s a big weekend for so many of us and our families that have done nothing to deserve living in hell.

Really appreciate you taking the time to view this!

Laura A Snow (Slatten)
Livermore, CA

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME/MYALGIC
ENCEPHALOMYELITIS AWARENESS POEM

Imagine a pain so severe that nothing is of comfort.
Unable to sleep; as bones dive through your skin,
with every toss & turn.

Imagine waking up, not being able to walk.
So tired; you’re unable to speak, nor comprehend.
Everything hurts!

Imagine no one believes!
Relying on your own ability from one moment to
the next, is no longer your option.

Imagine having the flu for twenty years.
Enjoying life’s pleasures only once or twice a year;
when you are able to fake it!

Imagine a life robbed; each day gets dimmer.
Days turn to night. And, the fog like the Bay sets in –
never clearing the way…

Imagine a world where there is no one around, but you…
in your bed with only your thoughts & memories;
of who you once were.

Imagine your only joy in life is an occasional phone call,
or the UPS man stopping by for a signature.

Imagine taking a shower, and feeling as though you
accomplished a new worlds record. Then, calling it a day.

Imagine a life filled with so much pain; tears just roll down
your face. A life without comfort. A life filled with fear.

Imagine living in your head,
because it’s the only place you can walk to…
besides; you’ll never get lost on your way back.

Imagine watching the world pass by,
without so much as a glance…
Youth turns it’s back; while life passes in the night.

Imagine having to ignore all of this,
so you don’t concern the only ones
that are still left to care. God Bless you!

Imagine being 35,
and still “looking good” so you are told,
but that doesn’t change a thing.

Imagine being ME!
or the millions of others who suffer daily with
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

How long must we suffer?

© L A SNOW
Retired in 1996, at the age of 33, as a Designer, Inventor and co-owner of a Publishing company (record & magazine) Still suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, since 1984. And, remains fully disabled at this time.

The Antioch City Council deserves kudos for moving the Fourth of July event from tier three to tier two in their official hierarchy of community support. This means that though the City still will not be the fiscal sponsoring agent, nor an equal paying partner, fortuitiously, they will not bill for event planning time. The only city billing will be for real and clearly extra costs; i.e., extra police manpower, public service workers, lost safety cones and the like.  

Dear Editor:

There is a season meant for talk and a season meant for action. Antioch has had it’s day lamenting runaway crime. Hand-wringing over back to back yearly bad news grabs needed attention but is ultimately just a temporary psychic release. It’s time now for townsfolk to take the bull by the horns.

The Friday Breakfast Club, a group of concerned citizens, has been working with an attorney on a ballot measure proposing a business tax levied on owners renting property in Antioch. The fees would be designated specifically for augmenting police services. Specific policy details, such as whether the first parcel is waived and/or what the precise fees should be, can be worked out by City Council and Staff. There is a growing general consensus, though, that renting property should be treated as a business and that any monies collected from licenses/fees should be police manpower targeted, with citizen oversight.

Let’s face a not so pretty picture. Since plummeting from 126 sworn officers to 89, with yearly attendant crime spikes of 30%, Antioch’s living a hellish page from the Wild West. Like others, I hold my breath coming home from a day trip or a vacation hoping my house has not been broken into.

This proposal generates tangible hope and seems the most pragmatic and least painful way of raising needed resources. Consider Antioch’s numbers; some 11,000 rental units, including 1,971 Section 8 homes and some out of town investment consortiums controlling literally scores of properties.

Other towns, like Daly City, Oakland, Pinole and Rancho Cordova have a property business fee.

Shouldn’t we likewise charge for the right of putting an investment shingle up in our town and using our public services? At, say $20 a month, we could potentially raise two to three million dollars annually for more sworn officers and/or in hiring for support less costly community service officers.

Yes, I despise taxes, fees and excessive government. I despise lawlessness even more, though. If government is not meant to insure law and order, then what is it there for?

Truth is, we are silently paying by not collectively acting. Paying through the nose, actually.

We are being robbed of peace of mind; of real property loss; of lost insurance deductibles; of lowered property values; and of the price of personal prevention initiatives. The ornamental gate I installed on my home’s

RV side cost me a cool $1,345. How about dog food for my trusty canine sentinel; alarm installation and fees; outside cameras and motion sensor costs? Yet with now ten successful and/or thwarted break ins in a three block area of my home over the past 15 months, I still justifiably worry without a moat around my castle.

I applaud the Friday Breakfast Club for going beyond complaining; implore the City Council to put a rental business fee unto an upcoming ballot; and urge citizens to carefully consider the alternative to inaction. As the ad goes, pay me now or pay me later. Passivity, as we’ve seen, comes with a price tag.

Walter Ruehlig

Antioch

Dear Editor:

As long as we citizens of Antioch have to lock our doors and windows, turn our alarms on, install motion lights, keep watch dogs and keep looking over our shoulders then the tax for police is a no-brainer.

Without the added police presence, our safety and that of our loved ones will be held in the hands of the criminal element- Those scum who prey on the unprotected.

I advocate for the 3/4% sales tax.

Richard Asadoorian

Antioch