Want to know what services and resources Antioch has to offer its residents? Join us, as the City of Antioch presents its annual, “Senior Resource Fair” in collaboration with the Antioch Senior Citizens Club. The “Senior Resource Fair” will be held at the Antioch Senior Center located at, 415 West 2nd Street, Antioch, CA. The date is set for Friday, September 29th, 2017. The event will run between 9:00-11:00 am.

This event will be full of information for seniors, such as senior services, housing, medical practices and various vendors that will display their products and provide informational pamphlets. We will provide refreshments and snacks to all attendees at no cost, although, a monetary donation will be asked, with all proceeds being donated to the Antioch Senior Citizens Club. While this is tailored to our older, mature residents, we welcome all interested residents to our event.

“The Annual Antioch Senior Resource Fair is a great opportunity for the community to meet and network with service providers,” said Anibal Hidalgo. In 2016, we had a great turn out and our goal is to always improve year after year. Among the many benefits of sharing resources within the community, Hidalgo says that “this event creates a bridge between residents of Antioch and local business and organization.”

As an incentive to those that visit us, free Tote Bags embroidered with the City of Antioch and the Antioch Senior Citizens Club logos will be available to the first 150 visitors.

The City of Antioch Department of Recreation strives in unifying and strengthening our community by creating quality experiences that inspire lifelong learning. Through our partnership with the Antioch Senior Citizens Club, we create year-round events that promote community engagement and fun-filled moments as well as hold strong to the values of the Recreation Department for the City of Antioch. The Senior Resource Fair is one of the many events that we coordinate to support and give back to the community. So please join us.

Interested in being a vendor at our Senior Resource Fair, please contact Anibal Hidalgo, Recreation Coordinator, at ahidalgo@ci.antioch.ca.us or 925-779-7076.

Antioch Community Centers are ready to greet you if you need to escape the heat during the next few days. The Antioch Senior Center is a recognized cooling station and is open to all residents from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.  There is plenty of room and residents can visit and keep cool at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center during senior center hours. 

The Antioch Community Center at 4703 Lone Tree Way is open for all residents from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm; the lobby is a great place to rest and visit.  The community center will be open on Saturday and Sunday until 5:00 pm if anyone needs a place to get out of the heat.

The Antioch Water Park is open Friday, September 1st from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Admission is only $4.00 per person.  On Saturday, Sunday and Monday the operating hours are 11:00 am – 6:00 pm; regular admission applies.  Monday, Labor Day, is half-price admission day for all visitors.  You can keep cool in the water for only $8.00 per person all day.  Come splash with us while you keep cool. There are five different pools and spray parks for all ages at the water park.

For additional help please call the Recreation Department at (925) 776-3050, ext. 0.

UPDATE: On Monday morning August 28, 2017, at about 1:14 AM, Israel Ayoko was safely located on Vasco Road by a citizen. He was transported to a local hospital for precautionary measures and is listed in stable condition. The Antioch Police Department and Israel’s family would like to thank the public for their assistance in locating him.  See original article, here.

By Corporal James Stenger 3604, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday August 27, 2017, at about 12:30 PM, 63-year-old Israel Ayoko left his residence in the 3100 block of Mountaire Drive in Antioch, to attend church in Oakland. Israel has the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s and easily becomes confused and/or lost. Israel also has a heart condition that requires him to take medication. He did not take his morning medication and could suffer a medical emergency if he does not get his medication within the next day. Israel did not show up to church in Oakland and has not been seen since he left his residence. His vehicle was seen travelling westbound on Highway 4 near Somersville Road at 1:03 PM.

Israel is described as a 63-year-old black male, 5’ 7” tall, 165 pounds, white hair, brown eyes, last seen wearing a blue buttoned up shirt with black pants. It is possible that he is also wearing a black suit jacket.

Israel is driving a white 2004, Toyota Sequoia SUV with a California license plate of 6KSH083.

We are asking the public for help in locating Israel. Please contact APD Dispatch at (925) 778-2441 if he is seen.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Lasts 45 days, two-year moratorium on Sept. 12 agenda

By Allen Payton

A standing room only crowd attended the Antioch Council meeting, Tuesday night August 8, over concerns about two main issues: an urgency ordinance preventing the conversion of seniors-only mobile home parks to all-ages housing, and the hiring of a new Animal Services manager.

Seniors-Only Mobile Home Park Urgency Ordinance

Interim City Attorney Derek Cole provided the staff report on the item.

“This is not a permanent ordinance. It’s more of a stop-gap. It only lasts for up to two years. Before that expires, we will have a permanent regulation or decide to…not have regulations.”

Because it is an urgency ordinance, the moratorium required a four-fifths vote.

It only takes affect for 45 days. Then the council has to extend it for the remainder of two years, Cole explained.

“The idea is that there may be some changes in availability of senior housing in this city, through mobile home parks, and that could have an affect on seniors, as to their quality of life,” he stated. “The impracticalities if a lease expires and someone has to move their mobile home. Some might not survive the move…without sustaining considerable damage.”

“The cost for moving these homes is prohibitive.,” Cole added.

“Anyone who is currently in a seniors-only mobile home park defined as 80% or more of occupied units of residents who are 55 years or older, it will not be able to convert to an all-ages facility,” he said, explaining the ordinance. “We can continue that up to two years. You start with an urgency ordinance then later extend it.”

Mobile home park resident, Al Ives was the first speaker in favor of the ordinance, and was granted 10 minutes as the main proponent during the public hearing.

“I’m a 23-year member resident of the Vista Diablo Mobile Home Park and also a member of the home owners board,” he stated. “It’s the law of the land as far as I’m concerned,” referring to keeping the parks seniors-only. He referred to “economic eviction.”

“Landlords keep raising rents until tenants can’t afford it,” Ives explained. “We’re a captive audience so to speak. There’s really no place to move and the expense, sheesh.”

He suggested rent control be considered separately, after the ordinance passed.

“The last mobile home park built in Contra Costa County was in 1985…in Antioch,” he stated. “Please don’t be scared of rent control. California has more than 220,000 mobile home spaces, more than 131,000 of those spaces are covered by rent control ordinances. Those include 11 parks in Concord and others in the county.”

A Vista Diablo park resident Lola Park shared her concerns and experience dealing with the owners.

“I’m a Realtor, as you know. I wear many hats,” she stated. “The park declined two applicants (for one of the mobile homes). The criteria for approval has changed. Why now?”

“I have been president of the homeowners’ association for 17 years,” Buck shared. “We feel this is in retaliation for us coming to you for help.”

Another resident, Gil Davis said that some families with children under age 18 have moved into the park.

“I believe the owners are trying to get in as many families with children so that when the moratorium ends, it will be easier to convert to an all-ages park,” he said.

Davis spoke of discrepancies in space rents of “$900, $1,100, $1,200” and the amount he’s paying of $1,300 a month.

“And that doesn’t include utilities,” he stated. “Some also are paying mortgages,” on their mobile homes.

“This always has been and should continue to be a senior housing community,” Davis concluded.

No one spoke against the item and the matter returned to the council for discussion.

Mayor Pro Tem Thorpe made the motion to adopt the ordinance and seconded by Councilwoman Monica Wilson.

“I’m in support of the motion and second,” said Councilman Tony Tiscareno. “I want to congratulate the group out here for your persistence. I’m very disappointed the owners and managers weren’t here. They’re not taking this as seriously. You are taking it seriously. This is your passion and this is your community. This is your home.”

He recommended that the staff considered the rest of the ordinance at the first meeting in September.

Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock shared of her own experience in visiting the park and what she saw.

“I was out there, today looking at the park,” she said. “I was appalled at how the park managers are taking care of the park. There’s a lot of liabilities waiting to happen. The owners of this park need to be held accountable. It’s appalling. Shame on them.”

Mayor Sean Wright said, “we have a lot of sympathy and compassion for you and I thank you for coming.”

The council then voted 5-0 to approve the 45-day moratorium to a loud round of applause from the public.

“It is a 45-day moratorium and we will have it on the first council meeting in September, so we will see you then,” Wright added.

Click here, to read about the council’s approval of hiring a new Animal Services Manager.

The deadline for purchasing a ticket to the 40th reunion off the Antioch High Class of 1977 has been extended to September 1. So, for the classmates who were always late to class and have waited to purchase their tickets, don’t worry. There’s still time and you won’t be sent to detention.

The reunion will be held at the Antioch Community Center.  All information can be found at https://www.ahs77reunion.com/.  Classmates are also welcome to join the reunion Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AHS77reunion40/.

By John Crowder

At the June 13 meeting of the Antioch City Council, councilmembers vowed to have city staff take immediate steps to provide relief for residents of the Vista Diablo Mobile Estates. The direction to staff was in response to complaints that the seniors living in that community were being taken advantage of by the mobile home park owner.

Listed as a regular agenda item at the evening meeting was the receipt of a report and the opportunity to provide direction to staff regarding creation of a Senior Mobile Home Housing Zoning District.  When the item was reached, Interim City Attorney Derek Cole began the report by discussing the history of federal laws prohibiting discrimination in public housing.  He explained that, while federal law broadly prohibits discrimination, an exception was carved out in the late 1980’s for “housing for older people.”  Following this exception being established, senior communities (age 55 and older) began to be developed.  Eventually, cities began creating mandatory senior only zoning districts.

According to the staff report submitted to the City Council, the purpose of the agenda item was to provide information to members of the City Council surrounding this issue, and determine if the council desired city staff to pursue such an ordinance for at least one mobile home park in Antioch, the Vista Diablo park.

The staff report also provided some history regarding the Vista Diablo Park and the City of Antioch.  According to the report, “In 2007, the City and owner of this mobile home park entered into a settlement agreement…in which, under the threat of litigation, the owner agreed to continue to operate as a senior community (as it had done since 1978) for at least ten more years.  (The ten-year period expires on October 9 of this year).  Subject to further review, we believe that at least this mobile home park could be subject to any overlay district the Council may wish to create.”

Following the presentation, a dozen Antioch residents came forward to voice their support for the enactment of such an ordinance.

Lola Buck, President of Vista Diablo Homeowners Association, led off with her presentation.  She informed the Council that there are 150 homes in the park, that the homes themselves are owned by the residents, and that they pay rent for the land upon which they sit.

“We are here tonight to ask for your help,” Buck said.

She noted that the agreement of 2007 will expire in 2017, and said that in 2007 residents of the park were threatened with the park being turned into a family park and the raising of rents.  Now that the agreement was expiring she said residents feared that management would try to convert it to an all-age park.

“Our rents are the highest in Contra Costa County of mobile home parks,” Buck stated.

She also complained that there is a lack of maintenance by the owners, and increasing rents, which results in decreasing equities of the homes.  She urged the council to vote in favor of establishing a senior-only ordinance to protect the residents of the park.

Following comments by another eleven speakers, including Kip Stevens, who likened the management of the park to “slum lords” who “want to take advantage of the elderly,” and others who discussed rising rents negatively impacting fixed-income Seniors, the Council took up the matter.

Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Thorpe, moving beyond the requested relief of a seniors-only ordinance, asked the City Attorney about the possibility of rent control.   After being informed that rent control could be considered, Thorpe responded, “I hope so,” to loud applause from those in attendance.  Thorpe concluded his remarks by saying that he would do anything he could to support [the seniors.]

Council Member Tony Tiscareno echoed the sentiments expressed by Thorpe.

“I want to make sure we are protecting the folks out there,” he said. “The previous city council was trying to do the right thing to protect you…I’m here with you as well.”

Council Member Lori Ogorchock expressed her appreciation for those speaking at the meeting.  “I’m very impressed with the speakers tonight,” she said.  Noting her agreement with the comments made by Thorpe, she said that she believed it was proper to institute an urgency ordinance.  “We do have to look at rent control,” she also said, mentioning that she knew of several people in the mobile home park who had to move because of rate increases.

Council Member Monica Wilson echoed the comments by Ogorchock, then said, she was “appalled” by some of what she’d heard.

“I don’t want to do a ten-year moratorium, I want to protect them,” she continued. “I don’t want somebody else to come back ten years from now.”

Wilson also said that the matter required urgency on the part of the city council.

Mayor Sean Wright brought the discussion to a conclusion, saying “I think you’ve heard loud and clear from Council that we would like to move forward with an overlay.”

After further discussion with the city attorney regarding a consideration of rent control as well, Wright stated, “You have the support of the council.”

As the agenda item was informational, the council then voted, unanimously, to receive and file the report.