Dear Editor:

It seems no one would expect justice in Florida anymore and this is sending a wrong signal that Florida is becoming a Banana Republic.

I was appalled to hear the not guilty verdict of George Zimmerman when he had confessed getting out of his car to follow Trayvon Martin.He had a premonition that the boy was no good and at the end of the day, he took his life.

The case was already controversial from the onset as Zimmerman was not arrested or charged for several days. What kind of dysfunctional criminal justice system are we embracing in this country?

Ultimately, no amount of punishment will bring back Trayvon, but this is another hard slap on the face of the deceased boy’s parents.

This is the same Florida that found Casey Anthony not guilty with all the catalog of evidences against her. The family of Trayvon Martin has been let down by the criminal justice system, once again.

John Tanwani

Antioch

By Allen Payton, Publisher

The Roddy property on Antioch’s southern border, and just outside of the city limits totals about 1,800 acres.

The portion inside the city limits and within the county voter-approved and Antioch voter-approved Urban Limit Line is about 700 acres and includes the current Roddy Ranch Golf Course, as well as 640 Antioch voter-approved homes in what was planned to be a gated, upscale community with large lots.

Antioch needs the Roddy project. I’ve been calling it the Blackhawk of Antioch since the beginning, because it can do for Antioch, what Blackhawk did for the San Ramon Valley, specifically, attract business owners and executives to the half-acre, $500,000 and up homes – who will bring their businesses to our area and employ our people.

Without Blackhawk, there wouldn’t be Bishop Ranch, where both AT&T and Chevron have their headquarters and many other businesses are located.

Look to the east at what Brentwood did. They have Applehill Estates, a private, gated, upscale community, plus the four Somerset senior housing communities, and now Trilogy, and I recently learned three other gated communities. Plus, they have two communities built around golf courses along Balfour Road. Those attracted people to their community who have money, who spend it locally and brought their businesses to town and created local jobs.

With 65% of the land in Contra Costa outside the Urban Limit Line already, why can’t the Regional Park District just buy the land that’s in the Roddy partnership and expand the park system there and leave the rest which is inside the line, inside Antioch’s city limits and we can still have the upscale community we need? We can have both.

The good news is, according to Jack Roddy, who I spoke with the day after the Park District Board’s vote, the park district purchase is not a 100% done deal. So, we still can have both. Antioch leaders need to help make it happen.

Dear Editor:

I think last week’s strike by BART employees helped riders to experience the commitment and care the management has.

As a regular rider to and from work in SF, I was perplexed at first when the news of the greedy employees came to light but the management made life easier by providing free charter buses from Walnut Creek BART station and other stations. This act was great and I never missed work or got to work late during the five-day strike.

I also hope the greedy employees will be grateful to have job and one of them said he merely made $61,000 last year. How many people with Bachelor’s degree and hefty student loans make $61,000 a year? Such comments took away my sympathy, and besides, many of the station agents are just there for nothing because I have witnessed some rude attitudes from some.

Thank you BART management and please recruit new dependable employees within the 30-day window.

John Tanwani, Antioch

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

Before you decide how you’ll vote on the city’s proposed sales and business license tax measures, which will cost the City about $220,00 to put on the November ballot, consider the following:

There are 19 cities in our county. 12 cities, including Antioch have an 8.5% sales tax, 6 have a 9% sales tax and one (El Cerrito) a 9.5% sales tax. Do we want people to shop Antioch or do we want to tack on another a half cent sales tax increase on every purchase which could conceivable lead small businesses to raise prices, reduce wages, lay off employees or even close their doors for good?

As for the yet to drafted ballot measure to tax owners of rental properties ($240 a year for each rental unit for 1 to 25 units etc.) you may be amazed to know that when queried, City Manager Jim Jakel, told me the police department does not track calls for service based on rental or owner occupancy. Nor does the police department track how many calls for service at apartment complexes vs. calls to SFR units. They only track the number of calls for a particular address.

Rather than imposing a business license tax on residential properties, the City should reinstate the Rental Inspection Program, suspended due to staff reductions. The propose of that program was to proactively identify blighted, deteriorated and substandard rental housing stock, required property owner to address any code violations and was paid for by rental property owners through registration and inspection fees. Regrettably, the City is not currently recruiting Code Enforcement Officers. Currently there are only two contract officers in addition to Ryan Graham, Deputy of Community Development and Recreation who oversees the day to day operations of code enforcement and recreation.

Ironically, despite the Council’s focus on increasing revenues, Mayor Harper at his first State of the City speech declared the city’s employment figures are improving, housing values are rising and developers are starting to build again. In other words, the future looks bright with the exception of the State Dept. of Finance ordering the City as Successor Agency to reverse $708,958 in transfers made to the Marina Fund since January 1, 2011. The City is challenging this decision but the fiscal year 2013 budget reflects the relinquishment of the funds and a transfer in of $284,222 from the General Fund.

Antioch has also seen a 20% drop in crime during the first three months of 2013. The Police department currently has 87 fulltime police officers, 75 at full duty capacity, 12 not on full time capacity due to industrial injuries, an off duty injury and the field training program. The Dept. is authorized to hire up to 102. Four are in the academy, which are not accounted for in the 87 fulltime positions, leaving the department currently with 11 vacancies.

Additionally, the city is purchasing another 2 police dogs, bringing the total of dogs to 6, one for every shift. (Now if they’d just reinstitute the CAT team!)

On May 28tth the Council approved an increase in most fees charged by various City Departments e.g. fees for building permits, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, other construction, community development, land use, land cartelization and subdivision, engineering review and inspection, signs, regulatory permits, water usage public safety, recreation activities and various misc. fees. (Note: Water and Sewer Fund budget projections include rate increases as proposed in the Master fee Schedule to be presented to Council that evening.)

Now if only the City would make a strong effort to collect existing fees that are delinquent e.g. the Transit Occupancy Tax collected by hotels/motels. Rental Inspection fees, RV/Boat/Trailer permits for grandfathered properties – going after those with vehicles on the driveway/RV parking areas that aren’t grandfathered, Tidelands rent (Humphrey’s is a prime example of uncollected fees), and dog licensing (not proactive) just to name a few.

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