By Susan Bonilla
Assemblywoman, 11th District

Wednesday, the Democratic members of the Legislature passed the State’s budget. This budget was on-time, it was balanced, and we were able to exercise a majority vote to pass the budget for the first time since the 1930s. The voters of California made this possible by removing the 2/3 budget vote requirements when they passed proposition 25 last November.

Governor Brown vetoed the budget plan, saying that without additional revenue, he would pursue more cuts to education and public safety, putting us on the road to a dangerously uncertain future. Our educators and teachers cannot adequately plan for the coming school year without a stable budget plan put in place immediately. After multiple years of severe budget cuts we cannot expect our schools to absorb billions more in reductions without unacceptable impacts upon the children and young people of California.

We can’t fix a $25 billion deficit in one year without doing irreparable harm to our children in California. To solve all the structural issues, we need a multi-year plan that does not continue to catch education in the middle. The budget the Democrats submitted may not contain all the elements the Governor seeks, but it is the best solution to protect our children and public safety.

The on-time budget, while not the path we preferred, solves the remaining deficit for this budget year. It includes a $600 million reserve, and puts California on a path toward eliminating the structural deficit with continued commitment to corrective budget actions in the next few years. The on-time budget is balanced through the use of one-time solutions, including deferrals and realistic assumptions regarding already higher revenues.

It completes the work we began in March when the Democratic legislature voted to enact 9 billion dollars of very difficult cuts primarily to Health and Human Services and Higher Education, disproportionally impacting California’s children.

Assembly Democrats have agreed all along with the Governor that a balanced approach of cuts and voter-approved tax extensions was the best way to address this year’s and the state’s long-term budget deficit. California voters should be allowed to extend existing revenues. The repeated refusal of Legislative Republicans to support the Governor’s original budget plan has left Democrats with few options.

We desperately need to establish some cell phone etiquette in this country. I am so tired of standing in line behind someone at the checkout stand at Safeway who is talking on the phone about something terribly earth-shattering, like what she was wearing last night at the party, and completely ignoring the poor checker trying to do her job.

This happened to me just today. The checker asked for the woman’s Club Card, a question the woman would not have missed had she been paying any attention. But since she was talking non-stop on the phone, she did not scan her card. When the bill was totaled, the woman was then very irate that the total was more than she expected, and it took another 5 minutes for her to check out because the checker had to re-ring some items to show their prices to her.

Well, OK. If you’re not going to pay attention to what’s going on around you, you might miss some important stuff.

And don’t even get me started on texting. You’ve probably seen the woman on YouTube who is texting while walking, and texts herself right into a fountain. I call that swift justice.

Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I think people should be respectful and courteous when conducting transactions in a store, at the doctor’s office, at the bank, or pretty much anywhere people are engaged in business-related communications. For that matter, what can be so all-fired important that you have to either have a phone in your ear yakking while you are shopping or you have to be texting while you’re walking down the street?

What did these people do before cell phones? How did they cope? Was life so completely bereft of joy and happiness because they couldn’t broadcast their most trivial thought every moment of the day?

In this 21st century of Facebook, Twitter, cell phone conversations, texting and other non-contact sports, maybe it’s time to return to some 20th century social interaction that doesn’t require any technology.

So here’s what I propose: let’s try talking to each other face-to-face. When you’re in the grocery store, at the gas station, in the bank, at the mall, hang up the phone, stop texting and smile at the person next to you. Strike up a conversation with someone in line with you. Talk to the nice checker as she’s ringing up your purchases. Wish her a nice day for a change.

Hey – at least it’s a start.

Shelley Daley

According to the City of Antioch’s revised Special Revenue, Capital Projects, Enterprise and Internal Service Funds budget presented to Council in the May 24, 2011 study session, the city’s planning to spend the funds which came from passage of Measure WW (the East Bay Regional Park District Bond which provided funds to improve regional parks, trails and recreational facilities) for the following projects: Fishing Pier Pavilion, Prewett Park Eastern Parking Lot, Parks and Rec Security Cameras, Deerfield and Eagleridge Park playground equipment and a new lighting system for the driving range at the Lone Tree Golf Course ($247,000).

There are a number of golf courses in East County but the Lone Tree Golf Course, established in 1934 as a 9-hole course and expanded to 18 holes in the early ’50s is unique in that it’s owned by the City of Antioch.

In March of 2001 the City Council approved a plan to replace the clubhouse with a larger building, which would quadruple banquet space and add locker rooms and conference space. The $4 million project was to be paid mostly through bonds that would be paid back by green fees and income from the banquet room, restaurant and bar.

Regrettably, the 2001 ABAG Lease revenue bonds are currently outstanding for $5,305,000 and have a final maturity in 2031. The golf course, undoubtedly affected by the tough economy, is currently behind in its reimbursement for the debt service.

As for the Antioch Unified School District, their board just put out to bid a project consisting of the removal of the existing swimming pool and diving pool finishes at Antioch High School, something that has been talked about for a number of years that were far better economically.

The timing of the bid announcement is interesting due to the fact that the state budget is still in flux. In fact the board, who held a special budget study session in February considered three scenarios at their meeting.

Scenario 1 assumes the governor’s budget passes as proposed, resulting in a $320,00 reduction in funding from 2010-11 levels. Scenario 2 assumes the special election to extend taxes fails, impacting the district by another $5.9 million. In the 3rd scenario, the district assumes the special election doesn’t pass and Prop. 98 is suspended by the legislature to allow the state to fund schools below the level required by law, the district then sustaining an additional funding reduction of $632 per student, which equates to over $11.2 million.

AUSD does admit it has sizable reserves but – due to the fact that 87% of their general fund budget is utilized for salary and benefits of district personnel if the funding reduction as calculated in the third scenario should occur – the district would lose 12.5% of its current fund, which would result in cuts to district personnel and programs.

The display of indifference to human suffering by Alameda police and firemen during the drowning of Raymond Zack is reminiscent of a case I handled in Contra Costa County.

On July 19, 2009, I begged the Human Resources Director to use “wise managerial discretion in preventing what could be a catastrophic mistake should XXX deteriorate to an irreversible physical condition.” As union steward, I was writing a letter on behalf of a county employee of the Employment and Human Services Department who was experiencing major life difficulties.

In a one and a half-year period, XXX saw the death of her mother and brother, hospitalization of her husband and foreclosure of her home. The string of tragedies weakened her physical and emotional well-being resulting in frequent absences from work. Due to the absences, her salary was not enough to cover a $24.61 automatic deduction payment share towards her medical insurance, a benefit available to all county employees.

The County Auditor sent a deficit notice to her foreclosed home even though the paycheck issued by the same County Auditor had always been sent to her work. Unaware of the situation, XXX made no payment and her medical insurance was cancelled. According to county policy, it could not be re-instated until the next benefit enrollment period one year later.

XXX faced an impossible vicious cycle. She needed daily medication to function. Without medical insurance she had to buy her own medicine. However, without medication, she was too sick to work and earn enough money to pay for medication. In desperation, XXX applied for Medi-Cal from the very department she worked in. XXX was told in a denial letter that since her employer provided medical insurance, she was not entitled to public assistance.

I was called to represent XXX for excessive absences. I appealed for re-instatement of her medical insurance as a solution to her attendance issues. I sent, via certified mail, my own personal check to pay for the unpaid balance. The check was returned.

For one year, XXX struggled with sporadic work attendance. When benefit enrollment time came, she was eager to again receive medical insurance and, finally, resolve medical and attendance issues. However, simultaneous to the re-instatement of her medical insurance, XXX was fired for excessive absences. Again, I begged; this time, to the Director of the Employment and Human Services Department, for a one month chance to prove that, with medical insurance and medication, XXX can maintain acceptable attendance.

To all efforts, I repeatedly heard a resounding “NO” from the Human Resources Director, Personnel Benefits Manager, Director and Assistant Director of Employment and Human Services Department, the five members of the Merit Board and the State Administrative Law Judge.

Employment termination was not the final tragedy. XXX died in February 2011 at the age of 42; apparently from irreversible deterioration of her physical condition.

Sadly, we cannot undo her untimely death. We can only hope for a county government that does not enshrine callous protocol and policy over justice and compassion.

Cynthia Ruehlig

There will be a public hearing on Wednesday, June 8th at 5:30 p.m. in the Delta Diablo Sanitation District board room at 2500 Antioch-Pittsburgh Highway, Antioch.

You should have received a Notice of Proposed Sewer Service Charge Increases, informing us of a proposed 7.5% increase in fees. That breaks down to 4.8% for costs of treatment, capital improvements etc and 2.7% to begin funding a dedicated reserve fund to pay for advanced wastewater treatment facilities to meet new regulatory requirements.

I’m opposed the this excessive rate increase for the following reasons:

The Board previously approved a 4.6% increase in wastewater sewer service charges and recycled water service charges for the fiscal year ending June 2010, and at the April 2010 meeting approved a 4.8% rate increase for sewer service charges for FY 2010/11. Note, expenses increased 9% (2010 vs. 2009) while revenues increased by 18%.

In 2009 the district paid off the 2001 COP and the 2000 revenue bonds and did not issue any new bonded debt. Also at the July 2010 Board meeting, the Board adopted a Retiree Health Funding Plan and employees agreed to start contributing 1 % of their salaries to the fund with the % to increase to 3% by July 2012. (Terms of the bargaining units MOU with the District was extended by 3 years to June 30, 2018)

Another rate increase is not warranted at the present time.

By Elizabeth Rimbault

With the changing of political representatives every two years and city managers averaging every five years, some issues become lost in history and eventually misrepresented by people that were not around when the issue was discussed. I don’t believe original intent should be changed or lost just because city records of the past failed to be totally clear. One such issue is the participation of the Antioch Historical Society as a beneficiary of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) or Motel Tax.

For many years by virtue of ordinance the City of Antioch charged a motel tax of 7 percent and used the income in the general fund. In the early 1990’s a 3 percent increase in the tax was proposed to support the arts, culture and history in the City of Antioch. An advisory ballot measure was written by then City Attorney Bill Galstan, which asked if the citizens of Antioch would support increasing the motel tax by 3% with the proceeds being used to support the arts, culture and history activities within the community.

The members of the Historical Society soundly supported the measure and worked diligently for its passage. Society members wrote some of the arguments in favor of the measure in the ballot packet. The president of the Historical Society was appointed to the Civic Arts Commission to represent the interest of the Society in the programs that would be funded by the tax.

After its passage and confirmation by the council led by Mayor Joel Keller in 1992, the president of the Historical Society dropped off the Civic Arts Commission due to illness. The Arts Commission continued on, spending the tax that in early years harvested a range between $120,000 and $160,000 for the fund, however frequently forgetting the support and inclusion of the Historical Society.

When it became obvious the commission would continue to ignore the Historical Society that by all intent was included in the fund, former Mayor Verne Roberts and historical member Jim Boccio went to the mayor and City Manager Lee Walton and petitioned to have the situation corrected. An admission the Society had dropped through the cracks was made and a $5,000 annual stipend was immediately budgeted from the fund for the Historical Society. Over the years the amount increased to $6,000, and then under Mayor Don Freitas it was increased to $12,000. In addition to the money from the fund, the water bill for the grounds at the museum was waived.

In the late 1990’s with further discussion, all parties were reminded that the Arts, Culture and History Fund was established by an “advisory” ballot measure, which meant in times of extreme financial difficulty the entire fund could be diverted to the General Fund of the city. Several other things changed by the new century when the Civic Arts Commission was disbanded, the arts program was placed under City Manager Ramsey, and funding for historical became part of the recreation budget. Regardless of those changes, the Antioch Historical Society noted the financial difficulties of the city two years ago and voluntarily removed the stipend from their own budget.

In direct conflict with rather harsh statements made by City Manager Jim Jakel at the April Council meeting, the Society has not received the stipend now in two years. They have continued to receive free water for the grounds and have worked diligently to be good stewards of that water, being the lowest usage of any non-profit in the city receiving water. All of this having been said, the Society members understand and approve of the Council limiting the motel tax fund to the $18,000 brought in this recession year, and further limiting those funds to the preservation of the Lynn House Art Gallery that the City owns and is responsible for.

What is not understood is why the Historical Society has been singled out for the loss of all water from the water fund. Between the ball fields, the Senior Center and the Historical Museum, the museum has the least amount of usage, and provides a major asset to the culture of this community for free to all citizens. Last year the city subsidized the Water Park for over $850,000, and this budget subsidizes the Water Park for another $300,000-plus. But the children of downtown Antioch will rarely be able to travel to Southeast Antioch, or afford the fee for entry this summer, while the museum will welcome them inside twice a week, and to our grounds all week long, with no fee at all.

With the help and support of the community from the original ballot measure in 1992, to the continued support of citizens through donations, volunteers and attending our fundraisers, the Society has been able to provide a state award-winning museum to this community, and has directed our last three years of grants to paying for bus transportation from every elementary school to the museum as we partner with our schools for education.

In years of recession the council and the city needs the continued support of all of our non-profits to preserve the human element of our community. The council does not need to single out one organization in what appears punitive against a group that has only worked to support, and validate the work of our council for the benefit of it’s citizens.

As a former councilmember and mayor pro tem, I know what I voted for in July of 1992, confirming the use of the 3 percent TOT for the Arts, Culture and Historical Fund, and I remember clearly the original intent of the ballot measure. I hope and pray that with the intent of continuing that mutual partnership for the benefit of the community, that the council will reverse its prior decision and restore the water usage for the grounds at the Antioch Historical Society Museum.

Since the 1990s Antioch and Brentwood commuters have been waiting for a thoroughfare known as the Buchanan Bypass, which would run from the intersection of Somersville Road and James Donlon Boulevard to Kirker Pass in Pittsburg. Better cross it off the wish list.

Although, as previously stated by former Mayor Donald Freitas, James Donlon was expanded at Somersille to include lighting, median divides and turnouts and Discovery Builders, owned by Albert Seeno, III,  built out James Donlon about half a mile west of Somersville as part of agreements for the Black Diamond Estates, the bypass will probably never be built.

Both the Thomas family, which owns the land where the bypass would cut through, and Save Mount Diablo vehemently oppose the project.

As residents know, Antioch and Pittsburg, where Seeno rules the roost, have had our differences in the past and apparently problems are still ongoing.

Recently City Staff recommended that Council authorize amending the capital improvement budget to include the Markley Creek Culvert Crossing Project (a “bridge” to go over the creek which is on Somersille between Buchanan and James Donlon where the former Antioch and Contra Costa landfills were located), pay California Dept. of Fish and Game the $92,880 mitigation fee that Discovery Builders is now refusing to pay and amend the 2010-11 budget to include a transfer in the amount of $1,000,000 from Project Area #1 to the Capital Improvement Capital Projects Fund and in the alternative from the Gas Tax fund if Agency funds are not available.

City Council Member Wade Harper, however, recused himself from the vote regarding possible litigation claiming that since Seeno donated to his campaign he has a conflict of interest. Interesting since he neither owns a home or property within 500 feet of the land in litigation nor, to my knowledge, has any personal financial interest.

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.

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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