Dear Editor:

Pastor/minister Dr. Lamont A. Francies, also Counselor for Antioch Unified School District currently at Black Diamond Middle School campus, is the subject of community outcry this week as word of his “Antioch Unified School District 8th Grade African American Promotion Ceremony” began to spread on blogs and social media.

Starting with a column by Barbara Zivica in the online version of the Antioch Herald, entitled “Watchdog – Black only graduation ceremony in Antioch violates Supreme Court decision” published Sunday, May 31st, 2015 at 12:43 a.m.Barbara Zivica provides as support for her piece a photo image of a flier for the event and of an wmail containing it. The email was from an ASUD email address and addressed to other ASUD email addresses and included the text of the flyer as well as contact Information for Dr. Francies at his AUSD email and phone number. The flyer, clearly stating that it was an “Antioch Unified School District 8th Grade African-American Promotion Ceremony” also, like the email, includes Dr. Francies as the contact at his AUSD Email and Phone Number.

A subsequent article in the Antioch Herald by John Crowder entitled “African-American 8th grade promotion ceremony in Antioch raises concerns, organizer explains” on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 at 5:33 p.m., related information from interviews and comments from various ASUD officials and Dr. Francies, indicating that the event was not intentionally sanctioned as an official ASUD sponsored event. Some even defending the event as appropriate, but not as an AUSD sponsored event. It was also noted that similar promotion celebration events have been held at Holy Rosary church.

In another Article on East County Today entitled “AUSD Explains ‘African American Promotion Ceremony’ flier” on June 6th, more comments as well as questions and answers from various AUSD officials were presented. The article includes an Editorial comment which expresses the opinion that the event was not endorsed or sponsored by AUSD and the district does not want to take any responsibility for it.

In further research I found an Article in the Contra Costa Times archive from 2/4/2014 by Trine Gallegos entitled “Antioch Middle School honors MLK and its top students, too,” in which were excerpts of an interview with Dr. Francies about an Antioch Middle School event honoring MLK combined with an “African-American Honor Roll Banquet”. Quoted in the article, Dr. Francies, repeated several times, the benefits to the community. He is sometimes referring to it as community and occasionally as African-American community as if they are synonymous.

It is my opinion that pastor/minister, Dr. Lamont A. Francies, who is also a counselor at Black Diamond Middle school, and as such a part of the school administrative staff for the school district, is the root of the controversy. I believe that this man is violating the trust of the community, by promoting his social and religious beliefs on the students under his and others responsibility. I believe that in his capacity as an educator, he is there to serve all students by furthering their education and achievements, regardless of their ethnicity or religious beliefs. I fear that the school district has been hijacked for one individual’s personal social and religious agendas.

The AUSD needs to take responsibility for the actions of its staff and deal with the problem by not only clarifying policy but acting on breaches of policy with expedience and authority. Dr. Francies should be fired from his position in order to bring the trust lost from all of the community back into the equation.

Lately, we hear the phrase “celebrate diversity” quite often, and I support the idea that we should celebrate the differences in us that makes us individuals. It is a very important cultural and heritage based concept. But we as a community are trying to make the celebration of diversity the evidence of equality. Diversity and equality by their standard definition are complete opposite concepts.

Dr. King was a very inspirational speaker and very significant catalyst to the creation of Civil Rights Act. His one speech, that I think is most often quoted is the “I Have a Dream” speech. In that speech he lays out what is his definition of equality. It was not treated “different.” It was not treated “better.” It was not “reparation.” It was “equality.” Equal treatment for all. I truly believe he is looking down on us now and shaking his head at what we as a community have done with his dream.

We are failing our community, children and future generations, by claiming diversity defines and demonstrates equality instead of doing the right thing inclusively by them. Civil Rights are about all of the things that we share equally and not about trying to compensate for current or historical inequities. Neither is it about celebrating diversity and emphasizing the individual or the group. It is about sharing and celebrating in equality, all of things that we have or should have in common. One nation created equal.

Doug Knowles, Antioch

Dear Editor:

Hi, everyone I wanted to reach out and ask y’all what you think about an idea I have. I went by the Hudsons yesterday and had a moment to chat with a young lady that was collecting signatures for the recall and speed bumps. We chatted about how there is a group on the 11th block that looks out for the neighborhood and I expressed that I also was part of a smaller group on the 13th block. This made me wonder how I can make my city better. If I may digress slightly and briefly.

I’m an engineer, Eagle Scout and former Marine. The information that is being gathered is a huge asset to our cause of making our city a safe and desirable place to live. So, when I was over seas I was involved in some of the nastiest urban combat that our forces have ever seen but we made head way and took the cities back for the people to live safely and not in fear.

We would do things like walk and talks to get to know the people and show that we were approachable. We also frequently went to gathering places of the population, such as mosque, souks and bazarres to make contact with the population and the heads of households.

So, how can this help Antioch? Well, what I want to propose is if there aren’t any objections and that it’s all legal, why can’t we use the info gathered to start a real community watch program? This is an opportunity where we can have neighborhoods, all over the city, talking to one another and could work with our community policing officer with the APD to empower the people to take back our city.

I know from experience that if you empower the people and can get them all (the good guys) communicating you will have faster and lasting results that will make their communities safer and will give the enforcement agency, in this case APD, a better means in targeting problems and problem locations. This will empower us and create better community relationships with our police department and will make our city safe.

I would want to use this info to build on what formal neighborhood watch programs we have currently and do real meetings and classes once a month with APD and different parts of town to get the intel we can gather, to the people who can do something about it. So, if this sounds enticing let me know. Thanks for your time.

Patrick Wright

Antioch

By Barbara Zivica

Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. Why, therefore, did Pamela Price, a Student Support Counselor at Dallas Ranch Middle School, send out a notification of an Antioch Unified School District 8th grade African-American Promotion Ceremony, held on Friday night, May 29th at the Delta Bay Church of Christ?

Plus, the contact person was Dr. Lamont Francies, a counselor at Black Diamond Middle School, whose AUSD phone number and email address were included in both Price’s notification and a flyer promoting the event.

This, folks is discriminatory. There should only be one ceremony endorsed by the school district for all the graduating middle school students. Period. End of discussion.

If you feel the same way about this as I do, notify the members of the Antioch Unified School District Board of Trustees:

Claire Smith, President – term ends 12/2016 – crcdsmith@yahoo.com

Diane Gibson Gray, V.P. – term ends 12/2016 – Diane@DianeGibsonGray.com

Barbara Cowan (married to Richard Asadoorian former trustee of the CCC School Board) – her term also ends 12/2016 – barbarajean.cowan@gmail.com

Walter Ruehlig – term ends 12/2018 – Walter.Ruehlig@gmail.com

Debra Vinson – term ends 12/2018 – debravinson@gmail.com

By Barbara Zivica

The current Contra Costa County Governing Board Member for District 5 is controversial Jeff Belle who, as reported by this newspaper, has a long history of legal problems both civil and criminal.

Unfortunately, his term does not expire until November 29, 2018. Is there anyway to boot him out of office prior to when his term in office ends? Perhaps there is.

One of requirements of holding office is that he reside within the district to which he was elected to represent. Hearing that he had moved out of Antioch, I contacted Karen Sakata, County Superintendent of Schools, and inquired as to his present address. She advised me that they currently only have a P.O. Box for Belle, which shows a lack of due diligence on their part.

I then contacted the Contra Costa County Elections Board to see if he had violated AB1676 requiring that a person elected to a non-judicial public office for a county, city or school district maintain his or her domicile within the jurisdiction within which voters are qualified to vote for the office during his or her term of office.

Any person who violates this provision is required to immediately forfeit his or her office and would be disqualified from holding any state or local public office for a period of four years. In addition, if persons serving terms of office that commence on or after November 2, 2010 violate the domicile requirement, such violation is punishable by either a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 or a fine not to exceed $1,000, imprisonment in a county jail for no more than 6 months, or by both fine and imprisonment.

According to the county elections office, if Belle’s registration card at the time he ran for office shows an Antioch address and he has not notified the elections office of his change(s) of residency within the district he has committed perjury, in addition to already lying on his ballot statement about having a college degree.

NOTE: Board members receive a stipend of $463.05/month, benefits and mileage. The total conference budget for the 2014-15 school year for all five board members is $10,000. The proposed conference budget for the 2015-16 school year is $15,000 for all five board members.

Dear Editor:

During a debate with Assemblymember Susan Bonilla on KQED Forum, last week, State Senate candidate Steve Glazer claimed:

“I have not sent out any mail. And I’ve not put on any radio ads or TV ads.”

That’s quite unusual for any campaign – even one for City Council or a Water Board, never mind a State Senate campaign in a competitive district.

How can Glazer not spend a dime on voter communication that’s part and parcel to nearly all political campaigns?

Because he relies exclusively on independent expenditures by special interests in a too-cute-by-half strategy that flirts with the law.

Those interests are shattering all records. As of last night, they have spent a record $4 million on his campaign:

– LA Republican developer Bill Bloomfield has now spent $ $1,771,013.95 [$596,000 in the first election, $8,400 in direct contributions from Bloomfield and his wife and $ $1,119,149.36since the March 17 election]

– JobsPAC, described by the Sacramento Bee as a political committee funded by tobacco, drug, and oil companies, has spent $1,242,322.85 [$376,476.53 in the first election and $865,846.32 since March 17]

– Charter Schools IE has spent $856,375.39 [$175,207.09 in the first election and $681,168.30 since March 17]

– EdVoice has spent $710,685.79  [$36,794.93 in the first election and $673,890.86 since March 17]

– Govern for CA Action Committee has spent $11,549.84, all since April 29

– Koch Brothers affiliated Independent Women’s Voice has spent $8,600 since May 6.

Meanwhile, as for the candidates:

– Glazer has raised $255,500.00 since March 17.

– Susan Bonilla reported $749,501.69 since March 17.

So how does the Glazer strategy work? Simple. Glazer posts information on his Facebook page and website. And bingo – they instantly become mail pieces and TV ads. In the last few weeks, this has included “letters” from his wife, his daughter, and even Glazer himself that turned into direct mail pieces. This is a far cry from the days when IE’s typically took images off a candidate’s website; Glazer knowingly posts this information directly for IE use since he admits his campaign has no direct mail, TV or radio effort.

(Glazer’s patron saint, GOP LA developer Bill Bloomfield, even owns and operates the website www.steveglazer.com).

So don’t believe Glazer’s consultant-talk about “special interests.” Without them, he’d have no campaign. And he knows it.

Steven Maviglio, Spokesman, Working Families Opposing Glazer for Senate 2015

Working Families Opposing Glazer for Senate 2015 is sponsored by labor organizations.  Major funding by California State Council of Service Employees Political Committee and California Teachers Association Independent Expenditure Committee.  Not authorized by a candidate or committee controlled by a candidate. 

National Police Week this year is May 10 – 16. Unlike some cities who are giving their cops a hard time, Antioch residents are pleading for more cops. Unfortunately this is the current staffing situation according to a report given to Council by Police Chief Cantando.

STAFFING:

102 authorized sworn positions including the Chief.

87 full time positions are filled

12 sworn vacancies

3 recruits began the police academy on January 26th

They are set to graduate July 24, 2015

1 lateral officer candidate is in background process

1 entry level applicant is in background process

2 entry level applicants will begin the police academy on May 18^th.

The Chief reported that violent crime is down 13.6%, property crime down 6.6%, arson down 57.1% and total arrests up 21.3% (juvenile arrests down 20.7% and adult arrests up 20.5%)

Supervisor Glover healing from transplant surgery

NOTE: Due to the fact that County Supervisor Federal Glover, whose term is up in December 2016, has been critically ill, recently having had a heart and kidney transplant, I decided to research what would occur if a county or city council member were to become deceased or critically ill.

According to the county’s media person. county counsel advised her that being a general law county, means that if county supervisor is absent due to illness he/she continues to hold the seat, no matter how long the illness continues. If a vacancy occurs in the Board of Supervisors, by death or otherwise, the Governor has the responsibility to fill the vacancy. The appointee holds office until the election and qualification of a successor.

No special election is called. It takes place during the election cycle prior to when the original office holder’s term ends. (Charter cities can establish their own rules for filling a vacancy.) Fortunately, County Supervisor Federal Glover is said to be recovering quickly.

In Antioch in these situations the council would declare the seat vacant and either appoint a registered voter in Antioch to fill the position or call for a special election to fill the remainder of the term.

If she wins on May 19, it will cost us an extra $1.3 million

By Allen Payton, Publisher

I wasn’t happy with the way the field of candidates was cleared of all Republicans, before and after filing closed in the Special State Senate election in District 7, to help Democrat Steve Glazer, have a better chance of winning. I wrote a lengthy and scathing analysis of how it happened, which you can read on the Herald website, by clicking here.

But, I believe Glazer, who is the Mayor of Orinda, when he told me he had nothing to do with it. So, to sit out the election in protest, as I had considered doing, and allow others to choose for me was just the wrong approach.

I thus had to do make an effort and do some work in considering whom I would vote for and whether or not I would endorse either of the candidates in the General Election, on May 19.

While there’s not much difference between Glazer and State Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, in her final of three terms, under the old term limits, on the moral issues, which are important to me, there are some differences on other issues, such as taxes and spending.

CORRECTION & UPDATE: Bonilla’s record on the Concord City Council, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and in the State Assembly, has been marked with irresponsible votes on spending, including giving herself a 71% pay raise when she was mayor, and rich pay and retirement packages to government workers, such as giving police dispatchers a 21.5% pay raise. Bonilla also supported the 60% pay raise for the Board of Supervisors, in 2006, when it was voted on while she was campaigning for the seat, and which she accepted, once in office. All of this was done at the expense of us taxpayers. To be fair, she did take a pay cut in 2009 along with county employees, of two-percent. (An earlier and printed version of this editorial stated Bonilla had voted for the 60% pay raise, which was incorrect).

While Glazer hasn’t been tested at the state level, he has proven to be responsible with spending as part of the Orinda City Council.

I was concerned he would be, in effect, a man without a country, by being a fiscally conservative Democrat in Sacramento. But, as one of only 40 State Senators, where the margin for a two-thirds majority is pretty slim, he can actually be the deciding vote on a variety of issues, which can benefit our county.

The final issue that did it for me was that if Bonilla is elected to the Senate, there will be a special election to fill the rest of her term in the Assembly. That, according to County Clerk Joe Canciamilla, will cost Contra Costa taxpayers another $1.3 million, assuming both a primary and a general election. That figure doesn’t include the costs in Solano County, which makes up the other part of the Assembly District. That’s on top of the $2 million he estimates we’re spending for the current special election.

Bonilla said she was already planning to run for the State Senate seat, next year, when Mark DeSaulnier would have been termed out. But, he started this game of political musical chairs, when he was elected to Congress, last fall, in the middle of his final term in the State Senate.

But, Bonilla didn’t have to run, this year and by doing so, shows that she places her own political career above the interests of the taxpayers.

She could have either waited, or backed former Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, with whom Bonilla seems to agree with, more than she does Glazer.

Whoever wins this year will have to run, again, next year if they want to retain the seat. So, Bonilla can just wait until then to run, or run for something else. Better yet, she could take a break from public office for a few years and get a job in the private sector to see what it takes to create wealth and the impacts of the decisions she and her fellow legislators made.

I like Susan Bonilla, and have been on friendly terms with her. But, this is not about personality. It’s about whom we are going to rely on to vote in our best interest in the areas of spending and taxes.

I don’t know Steve Glazer and have only spoken with him on the phone a few times.

But, I believe he is the better choice, this year. If there’s a better candidate, with whom I agree more, next year, I’ll consider them, then. For now, Glazer is the best choice to represent us in the State Senate, offering a fresh perspective and an independent voice.

I’m voting for him for Senate on May 19 and recommend you do the same.

By Barbara Zivica

The Antioch City Council has held several budget meetings, with more to come on May 12th and 26th, prior to presentation of the whole budget on June 23rd.

I won’t get into the facts and figures presented by the city’s finance director because I’m up to date on that subject matter. I did, however, became alarmed when Antioch resident and real estate broker Mark Jordan, asked where the city would find the money to deal with under funded retirement accounts. The solution he offered was to convert the city into a charter city and begin charging transfer fees on real property, two bad ideas that apparently drew favorable responses from Mayor Harper and Council Member Tiscareno who then asked City Manager Duran for more information. Let’s take a look at Mr. Jordan’s “solutions:”

Although Mr. Jordan is correct in stating that only charter cities may impose a real property transfer tax, both general law and charter cities have the power to tax. Currently the property transfer tax is limited to $1.10 per $1,000 with it split 50/50 between the county and city. If a charter city increases its property transfer tax, the county gets the full $1.10 per $1,000 and the city keeps the amount it sets above $1.10. The amount of revenue the charter city would receive depends on how many existing and new homes are sold and resold.

General Law Cities vs. Charter Cities

Just a few of the many differences are: General law cities are governed by a city council of five members, charter cities can provide for any form of government including the “strong mayor” and city manager forms (No wonder Harper is interested in this form of government although he did back off on his recent request for a mayor’s office assistant position.)

General law cities elections are conducted in accordance with the California elections code. Charter cites are not bound by the election code and can establish own election dates, rules and procedures. They can also establish their own criteria for city officers (provided do not violate the U.S. Constitution), set term limits, set council members salaries.

General law cities do not allow any public officer to expend and no candidate to accept public money for the purpose of seeking elected office. Charter cities permit public financing of election campaigns.

General law cities may not pass ordinances within five days of introduction unless an urgency ordinance (Mayor Harper and the council did that on 12/27/12 in order to evade a new voter approved state law increasing pension formulas for new public employees.)

Ordinances can only be passed at a regular meeting and must be read in full at time of introduction and passage. Charter cities can establish own procedures for enacting local ordinances.

General law cities require a majority of city council constitutes a quorum for transaction of business and all ordinances, resolutions, and orders for payment of money require a recorded majority vote of total membership of the council. Specific legislation requires super-majority votes for certain actions. Charter cities may establish their own procedures and quorum requirements. However, certain legislation requiring super majority votes is applicable to charter cities.

General law cities are required to have competitive bidding for public works contracts over $5,000. Such contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Charter cities are not required to comply with bidding statues provided the city charter or city ordinance exempts the city from such statues and the subject matter of the bid constitutes a municipal affair.

General law cities must in general pay prevailing wages on public works projects over $1,000. In July 2012 the California Supreme Court ruled that the state’s charter cities are not required to pay prevailing wages under state law for local public works projects funded by local funds.

General law city zoning ordinances must be consistent with the general plan. Charter city zoning orders are not required to be consistent with the general plan unless the city has adopted a consistency requirement by charter or ordinance.