Update:
Late breaking news! I just saw Mayor Jim Davis at the Memorial Day event and he said it’s on, no questions, for the 4th of July parade – he told the Chief of Police we really need to do this. Starting time is 10 a.m. on July 4 at 2nd and E streets in downtown Antioch. Parade participants can call me for event info (925) 756-7628 or e-mail me at walter.ruehlig@gmail.com. I will also put together an application for on-line posting.

———-
Aunt Millie, what next? Will they take Christmas away? I guess I just have to buck up, though, and realize times they are-a-changing. For a second straight year it looks like no Fourth of July celebration in historic Antioch.

Not to diminish the laudable efforts of Martha Parsons and Sue Davis, who gallantly rode to the rescue last year to salvage a march around Somersville Town Center. Nevertheless, we all know that parading around a mall can’t light a Roman candle to pirouetting around the Delta.

Admittedly, I’m a sucker for the likes of marching bands, Clydesdale horses, classic cars, dance troupes, Filipino folk dresses, Iowa Jima reeanactment floats and assorted clowns, real and perceived. Heck, what’s not to like about a red, white and blue birthday bash for 320 million folks? What inner child can’t yelp with delight at family barbecues, rockets red glare and lusty bars of Yankee Doodle Dandy?

Like a horse and carriage, love and marriage, the Fourth of July and the word celebration go hand in hand. Now some might argue, why celebrate in these hard times. I say, exactly, hard times are on us. Why wallow in the misery? Now’s precisely the time to, yes, prudently, and without touching the city coffers, have a little glee and remember our blessings.

So said, I’m trying to put together a streamlined parade with private backing. Understood, all the bells and whistles are out of the question as the whole extravaganza can run Antioch $90,000. Aerial pyrotechnics alone cost $1,000 a minute. Auto show, music stages, food booths and police coverage at double time and half can run up the tab.

I’ve been soberly putting out feelers for several weeks. I’d be willing to put together a morning parade to minimize crowd control issues. There would be no frills and a shortened route a la the Veterans Day affair. I’ve even had private security firms offer donated help and we’ve had portable restrooms generously donated in the past.

Challenge is, it’s, admittedly, late in the game that I discovered there was nothing planned this year. It is not my style to be unreasonable, to scramble, or to ask others to. I wholeheartedly commend our city staff for working so short-handed. I applaud our men and women in blue for the stellar job they are doing under the stress of acute under staffing and fully understand the police concern that even with private security they will be the ones who could get called into action.

I’m still hoping, though, that some compromise can be worked out for this year from city discussions in progress. If it can’t, then let our representatives know your interest in Fourth celebrations and maybe with longer planning we can get something cooking next year. Antioch is a patriotic town and has always boasted a certified blue ribbon Independence Day parade.

Daniel Webster would have smiled upon our past efforts as he said, “May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely than this our country.”

Walter Ruehlig

Dear Editor:

Some one is lying.

There was an interesting article in a newspaper recently about BART wanting to put a tax on us for new cars. Why weren’t they factored into Capital Improvements?

Every meeting I have attended, BART Board Member Joel Keller has said the 40-plus years the people of Antioch and East County have paid into BART has gone into running the system, not building the system out to us. Now they say they need new cars so they want to tax us AGAIN. Who is lying to us?

It is more likely all the money we have paid into BART has gone for ridiculous wages, pensions and Board Member perks. I say no more money until they stop lying and throwing e-BART at us. We want to see the books, and they need to show us where our money has gone.

Martin Fernandez

Life should always have such ‘problems.’ After the dust was settled on the recent Antioch Community Center build out at Prewett Park, 1.7 million dollars is left in the kitty. For that, thank the competitive bidding process in a moribund construction climate. $26 million was allocated but only $24 million spent. Next step, then, what to do with the windfall? For sure, we will work diligently to try and leverage the remainder with grants and matching corporate funds.

Count Antioch, by the way, as historically having hit bingo twice on Mello Roos construction. The bond payoff was originally projected to end by roughly 2026, but the first phase, the completion of Deer Valley High, Dallas Ranch and Black Diamond Middle, and five elementary schools met with both better than expected interest rates and likewise favorable state matching funds. Dallas Ranch, for example, a $29 million construction project, received 9.2 million dollars back from the state.

I am proud to say that I and the Board majority stuck to our fiscally prudent guns. It voted to use that manna from heaven returned for the schools not to do additional city projects at Prewett but, instead, to pay down the debt early, leaving a 2016 date. The question, with some, then arises as to why we don’t use this latest boon to even further accelerate the Bond payoff. Legalities and voter commitments step into the picture, though, and inhibit our overriding a mandate.

In 1989 the voters agreed to tax themselves on this special property tax.The commitment was to build the eight schools and to spend 50 million dollars on city capital improvement at Prewett. The City had a Master Plan that envisioned a water park, library, hiking trails, community center and so forth. It is the City Council decision what to build; the Mello-Roos Citizen Advisory Board merely has oversight over the allocated budget expenditures.

So where do we now sit? Unarguably, we’ve got 8 gorgeous schools, a water park and now the recent amphitheatre, city hall kiosk, community room, gymnasium, library annex, preschool classrooms, technology center, police substation, and burrowing owl habitat.

For perspective, let me share last week’s tour of a film crew from CBS-Channel 5. I am pleased to say the reception was enthusiastic. The reporter remarked on the natural beauty of the facility, which sublimely blends into the hills, and a liveliness which she expressed that she rarely sees at other community centers.

Indeed, Prewett was abuzz with activity that day and is already proving itself a valued community hub. As the real estate market starts to rebound, it is our hope that this civic touchstone will attract buyers to the area and positively affect prices.

Fact is, we have most of what was originally schemed. Granted, there is no lake or garden walking trails; nor is there, yet, the grand 30,000 square-foot library we hoped for. That, though, may be a blessing as staffing such a facility would have been a pickle given current times. As offset, we have built the facility so that potential add-on will be easy. When the state gets back on its feet they will invariably restart long deferred library construction, which, historically, they pay 2/3 costs of. Remember, we lost sponsoring by a hair’s breadth and should be next in line for funding come future go around.

Though we can’t dictate what to do with the money, the Mello-Roos Board eagerly wants to share citizen input with the City Fathers. To date, some ideas circulated include athletic turf fields, a BMX Park, doggie park, expanded library extension, electronic marquee, lazy river pool feature, and nature trails.

We intend to structure varied public feedback opportunities and welcome you to our next meeting July 11th, 7 p.m., at 510 G Street. You can also drop a note by City Hall or the Community Center or e-mail me at walter.ruehlig@gmail.com.

The Community Center adds another crown jewel to Antioch, alongside the likes of the Black Diamond Mines, San Joaquin River, El Campanil Theatre, and the Antioch Historical Museum. The next jewel in the tiara will be an occasion to further rejoice.

Walter Ruehlig
President, Antioch Mello Roos Citizen’s Advisory Board

The change from a two-principal to one principal administration at Deer Valley High is is a sound financial and management decision by the board.

The student numbers do not support this luxury as enrollment has dropped to around 2,700. Antioch High has about the same number and is doing well as a one principal school. A good administrator with a strong support staff can run an effective educational campus. Very few school districts in the state operate with this dual model.

I salute Dr. Gill and the Antioch School Board for making the tough decisions.

I would hope that this “outraged” group against the change would direct their efforts by lobbying the State Legislature in restoring a budget that will ensure no cuts, no shortened school year, no P.E., Arts, Music cuts, librarians and nurses restored, etc.

Richard Asadoorian

In these trying times the citizens of Antioch should have the ability to change the direction their lives are headed by taking courses that offer new career opportunities. However, with the state trying to cut funds to education, our Adult Program was closed, when our citizens need it the most.
We need to reconsider this in our current economic state for both the city and its citizens.

Our Adult Program should offer a non-traditional perspective to ensure that our adults have an understanding of how money works, how credit cards play a double edged game and principles of self reliance to blend with their career goals.

Our students as well would benefit from such an education since the state doesn’t have it in its curriculum for K-12. Here’s an opportunity for the city to fill the vacant storefronts with home grown entrepreneurs from our own schools.

Jack Yeager
Candidate for next School Board Election

I am happy to see that the Antioch Herald is back in print. I truly enjoy reading about what’s happening in my local community. As an educator who lives and works in Antioch, I could not help but notice that you had three articles pertaining to Deer Valley High and one for Dozier-Libby High, but none for Antioch High.

It brought back much of the frustration I use to feel in the past when I read the Herald because of the disproportionate coverage it gave to the various high schools in the Antioch community. Inclusiveness is central to the success of any newspaper. Like our sister schools, Antioch High School has many bright and talented young adults who are deserving of being given fair space in your newspaper.

I hope the Antioch Herald will take the time to be mindful of covering the special things that are happening in the local schools with more equity. Thank you.

Ms. Shawn Gilbert
AHS Teacher

Even on Private Property!

Dear Editor,

At last Tuesday’s City Council meeting, City Manager Jim Jakel slammed the Antioch Historical Society in an attempt to make it appear the Society was asking for special exemptions to ordinances. When the planning staff attempted to explain this new ordinance was never intended to impact “Non-Profits”, only for profit commercial events, she was talked over, silenced and the vote was forced through to the detriment of every non-profit in this community.

For those of you unclear about this ordinance: The City of Antioch now wants to collect a $50.00 permit fee from ALL private property owners whenever they plan an outside event on their private property. As if the fee wasn’t enough, the property owner must also post a $500.00 refundable security and clean-up fee. This ordinance impacts all non-profits, churches, property owners associations, commercial property, etc…. So the Holy Rosary Church Fall Festival will be tagged for a $500 security deposit, as well as the Antioch Historical Society Bar-B-Q, Woman’s Club if they attempt an outdoor garage sale, any church white elephant sale in their parking lots, etc…etc…

No consideration is given to the fact the groups owns their own parking lot or grounds. None given to the fact they clean their own properties and have never used city streets or crews to clean. None given to them providing their own security on their property. And the one I love most is completely ignoring the law suits and court settlements last year when the Board of Supervisors had to pay the settlement to a private property owner for charging him permits and fees for holding outdoor political fundraisers at his own home.

The non-profits of this community are attempting to raise funds to provide the charitable services the City Government is no longer able to support or fund. These permit fees and security deposits can frequently be in excess of the profits made. Not to mention I find them to be a total violation of your private property rights as land owners.

In his attempt to discredit the objections of the Historical Society, Mr. Jakel stated the City gives them $12,000 every year. Let’s be real clear on this subject. The citizens of Antioch VOTED for the Transient (Motel) Tax for 3% to fund the Arts and History. It was a City managers decision years ago to shift that burden into the Recreation Department Budget. Two years ago seeing the economic pickel the city was in the historical society voluntarily removed the annual stipend from our budget. The Soceity has received nothing from the city in two years.

Three years ago the Council voted to provide CDBG funds (Federal money intended for community groups) to the society to improve the heating downstairs. The staff switched that to Obama funds and created such an obstacle course it took us two years just to get the heating system and we still haven’t been able to jump through all the hoops for the upgrade to the handicapped restroom. How’s that for instant community funding to enhance the economy.

The city fathers would have you believe all our economic problems are due to a 26% loss in revenue from the recession. However, I believe when we laid off the majority of our staff, we exceeded that amount in salaries saved. We no longer have a City Engineer, Head City Planner, Head Building Inspector, Assistant City Attorney, Assistant City manager, Economic Development Dept., no human resource director, deputy city clerk, only one secretary for the third floor, the City Treasurer and City clerk (both elected positions) have been cut to half time and the only full functioning department is the water department as the water funds collected are protected by law to be used by the water department only.

In 1982 we suffered a major recession with unprecedented foreclosures and bankruptcies. We did not desimate our city services to the point of being unable to provide basic services as they are today. I would suggest the loss of city services has more to do with a management style than with the loss of revenue from builders. When the City Manager’s answer to his budget is to create ordinances against the non-profits and private properties owners in the community, then the problem is clearly him and his management style, not the recession.

Time for the council to seek an interim manager steeped in financial background if they ever expect the threat of bankruptcy to leave the chambers. Time for a progressive individual that sees a future for us. Mr Jakel’s first department to dissolve was the neighborhood improvement department that was bringing money into the city. Wake up Council. It’s almost too late.

Elizabeth Rimbault, former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem

Only two schools from Contra Costa garnered the 2011 California Distinguished School Award. I proudly announce that both schools belong to Area 5 which I represent as Trustee for the Contra Costa County Board of Education.

A big applause goes to Bristow Middle School, Principal Russell Cornell and staff, Superintendent Merrill Grant and the Board Members of the Brentwood Union School District. This is the fifth time that a school from BUSD earned this distinction. Other winners include Edna Hill Middle in 2007, Brentwood Elementary in 2002, Ron Nunn Elementary in 2000 and Garin Elementary in 1998.

A well deserved kudos to Dozier Libbey Medical High School, Principal Nancie Castro and staff, Superintendent Donald Gill and the Board Members of the Antioch Unified School District. This is the fourth time that a school from AUSD earned this award. Other winners include Park Middle in 2001, Marsh Elementary in 1997 and Park Middle in 1996.

Congratulations!

Cynthia Ruehlig
Trustee for Area 5 of the Contra Costa County Board of Education. Area 5 includes Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley and parts of Antioch, Bay Point and Pittsburg.