By Lee Ballesteros

The Save the Yard campaign to build a Town Square on the former Beede Lumber Yard site in downtown Antioch has begun the effort anew to gather signatures to give the people of Antioch a voice in the decision for the future of this historic site.

Volunteers are needed. The Kick-Off of for signature gathering for the petition will be at this year’s Antioch Cruise Night on October 15, 2016 from 3PM to 11PM.

Dedicated people are needed to help gather signatures and training will be available. Even if you only have an hour of time to give, it would be appreciated. It’ll be a whole lot of fun if you would like to help and have a bit of time to volunteer. You can also just come down to enjoy the event and sign the petition.

The Save the Yard campaign will be collecting signatures over the next couple of months to ensure the people of Antioch have the ability to vote on such an important issue. It is the belief of the Save the Yard committee that this waterfront parcel, located at the entrance to the Historic Rivertown district of Downtown Antioch, should be enhanced to benefit all of our community. The Town Square Initiative has been forced by the City leaders who would rather sell our most valuable asset to a developer for high density housing. Don’t let this happen.

Lend your voice to this pivotal effort. Volunteer, today and help make the Town Square Initiative a success. The Cruise Night on October 15th, from 3PM to 11PM , is just the beginning. If you are able to donate some of your time please contact Antonio Hernandez at (925) 437-2058 or antoniohernandez@mail.com.

Editor:

I have lived my entire life in East County, and I’ve been on the School Board for over 30 years. I’ve seen our community change a lot during that time, and learned that certain qualities make people into great leaders. I’m here to tell you that Steve Barr is a great leader and I hope you vote for him this election for County Supervisor.

I served with Steve for five years on the School Board. His knowledge about our community and many of the different issues we face, from complex budgeting to keeping our families safe, was always there. But I was also struck by his patience and ability to work with all sides on some very tough issues. He doesn’t just talk about bringing people together- he has the background to do it effectively.

And that’s what we need at the County, representing us and bringing us the resources our community needs. Many people don’t realize the important role the County plays in our lives, but let me assure you that we need a real leader like Steve Barr in that seat pushing for us and making sure East Contra Costa isn’t just an afterthought. Please join me this election and vote for Steve Barr for County Supervisor.

Joanne Byer

Board Member, Liberty Union High School District

Editor:

This letter is to enthusiastically support Steve Barr for county supervisor! As a former superintendent of the Liberty Union High School District, I had the very good fortune to work with Steve when he provided dynamic leadership as a member of the Board of Trustees.

In all regards, I found Steve’s honesty, integrity, intellect, optimism, compassion, and determination to make a positive difference to be truly exceptional qualities.

The LUHSD Governing Board is fortunate to have outstanding, dedicated, and committed members. Steve not only continued that tradition — he significantly enhanced it. His unwavering focus on providing the best academic education and personal growth for ALL students was inspirational.

Fiscal responsibility was another of Steve’s major emphasis. His leadership helped to create policies and procedures that ensured the efficient management of all finances. Accountability and transparency were of the highest priority for Steve.

During times of high stress and high stakes decision-making, Steve was at his best. After seeking and considering input from all stakeholders, he was able to objectively, and thoroughly, analyze all aspects of issues before making an informed decision.

Steve was an incredible advocate for all students. He promoted safe schools in which all students could flourish in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust. College prep, vocational, special education, and agriculture programs were all strongly promoted by Steve.

I am confident Steve will exhibit these same qualities and provide the same high quality leadership as a member of the County Board of Supervisors.

Dan Smith

Retired Superintendent

Liberty Union High School District

By Derrick Burts

The California Nurses Association, the American Sexual Health Association, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health all agree: Californians should vote yes on Proposition 60 this November 8.

Prop. 60 is also endorsed by California Church Impact, the public policy arm of the California Council of Churches, representing more than 5,000 congregations in the state.

Prop. 60 will protect the health of California’s young men and women who are exposed routinely and illegally to sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV, by their employers in the adult film industry. The law already requires condoms to be used in porn films. But industry bosses defy the law and require their performers to engage in unprotected sex because they believe condoms don’t sell films. It’s all about their profits, not the health of their workers.

The porn industry’s reckless business practices result in high rates of STDs among its workers. Adult film performers are 64 times more likely to contract gonorrhea than young people in the general population. Gonorrhea is also increasingly resistant to treatment with antibiotics.

And the performers don’t just have sex with their on-screen partners. They have lives off-camera and can infect members of the general public. The reality is that what happens in the porn studios doesn’t always stay in the studios.

Prop. 60 would give Cal/OSHA, the state’s workplace safety agency, additional tools to enforce the existing condom-use rules to protect not only workers but all Californians.

The American Medical Association and the California Medical Association support condom use in adult films and the vigorous enforcement of the rule. Workers in other occupations have workplace protections. Adult film performers deserve the same. It’s only fair.

On November 8, vote yes on Prop. 60 to protect the young men and women of California.

Burts is a former adult film performer and an advocate for performer protection. He lives in California with his fiancé and their infant son.

By Allen Payton

Some voters, including this writer, are wondering why we don’t have our copy of the State Voter Information Guide, yet, since absentee ballots are being mailed, beginning this week, and we already have a copy of the county voter information guide. (Yes, I know that was a run-on sentence. So, apologies to my high school English teacher, Jo Fyfe).

According to the California Secretary of State’s Elections Division, mailing of the State Voter Information Guides started on September 29th and ends on October 18th.

The Secretary of State’s office mails the state guides to voters who are registered before the 60-day cut off. After that the counties mail them out.

If you don’t receive one by October 18th, call 1-800-345-VOTE to get a hard copy mailed to you. In the meantime, you can read or listen to the information in the guide online at http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/en/alt-versions/.

Editor:

As a Brentwood farmer, I have watched Steve Barr work through many East County issues, and his thoroughness and balance has always impressed me. Steve has always had the ability to see the greater picture, and make decisions which will work most effectively for the community at large. Steve’s decisions have helped East County’s quality of life through his long-time support of the establishment of agriculture conservation easements which will help ensure the future of agriculture in the East County.

Steve has also voiced strong support for value-added agricultural enterprises such as wineries, farmers’ markets, fruit stands and u-picks. These enterprises will help the local farm economy develop their own markets and increase sustainability. Steve’s volunteer work as lead organizer of the Brentwood Cornfest helped cement his relationship between the ag community and the urban city.

Steve’s experience as an independent businessman has given him an understanding and perspective of the greater community’s relationship between business, jobs and government. As Contra Costa County Supervisor, Steve Barr will use his experience and his insightfulness to make decisions which will be best for the entire community now and in the long run.

Mark Dwelley

Partner, Dwelley Famly Farms

Brentwood

Candidates running for County Supervisor in District 5 and Contra Costa Community College District Ward 5, both of which include all or a portion of Antioch will debate in a forum in Pittsburg, Thursday night, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

By Raymond Odunlami

Nine candidates running for various offices in East County received the recommendation from a coalition of African-American faith based leaders in the East County. The need for the coalition and subsequent recommendation was brought about by the necessity to address the highly contentious state of race relations. That, coupled with what has been called the most divisive political campaign season in the history of this country the coalition felt the need to act.

The coalition conducted interviews over a two period where all candidates who attended were asked their opinion on several issues. At the conclusion of the interviews deliberations were held by the faith leaders, after which it was decided to urge the East County electorate to support the following candidates who have promised to best support the community:

Federal Glover for Supervisor District 5
Dianne Burgis for Supervisor District 3
Sean Wright for Mayor of Antioch
Monica Wilson for City of Antioch City Council
Lamar Thorpe for City of Antioch City Council
Jelani Killings for City of Pittsburg City Council
Juan Banales for City of Pittsburg City Council
Laura Canciamilla for Pittsburg Unified School District Trustee
In addition to the recommendation above, the coalition also decided to urge all East County residents to support Hillary Clinton for President of the United States of America.

The coalition as a unit is not affiliated with any particular organization, religious or otherwise. It is a non-binding association of religious leaders who live and serve in East Contra Costa County. For more information or questions, contact Odessa Lefrancois at otmcgahee@comcast.net.