The Council will discuss pre-approved designs for the City’s ADU Accelerator Rebate Program. Rendering source: City of Antioch
Plus, approve ADU plan designs for program that ends this month, software purchase for SeeClickFix app
Nothing about sale of El Campanil Theatre
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, the Antioch City Council has a light agenda with just a few items of significance. They will discuss finalizing the name change of the Public Safety & Community Resources Department to the Community Services Department, as well as the titles for the staff positions, consider approving using two state grant funded temporary positions in that department and consider adopting pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit plans developed through the ADU Accelerator program which ends on Sept. 30. Finally, the Council will vote on purchasing software for the City’s SeeClickFix app.
But there is nothing on the agenda regarding the pending sale of the El Campanil Theatre to the dismay of residents who want and hope the City can take action to stop the sale. Some residents have organized a protest march from the theater to City Hall before the council meeting begins. (See related articles here, here and here)
Screenshot of the department’s page on the City’s website.
Name, Title Changes for Newest City Department, Positions
Under item 5 on the agenda, the Council will conduct a public hearing and introduce an ordinance to rename the Public Safety and Community Resources Department as the Community Services Department. In addition, the council will vote on approving the classification title changes from Public Safety and Community Resources Director to Community Services Director and Public Safety Manager to Community Engagement Manager, subject to completion of applicable labor-relations requirements.
As previously reported, at the urging of Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas, during their meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, (under agenda item 10) the Antioch City Council agreed to correct and clear up confusion of including the words “Public Safety” in the name of the newest department which is not part of police or fire services. Instead of its current name which was the brainchild of District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker who has an expanded definition of the term, it will be renamed simply, the Community Services Department. The councilmembers also voted to change the titles of the department’s staff. (See 6:39:50 mark of meeting video)
The council approved the new department in February 2022 on a 4-1 vote. At that time, Torres-Walker tried to redefine and expand the meaning of public safety. But the department’s name has caused confusion because the majority of people don’t define the term the same as she does.
According to the staff report for next Tuesday’s meeting, “As the department’s responsibilities continued to expand, the City Council also began discussing whether the department’s name accurately reflected its mission and public facing role. During several public and administrative discussions, Council considered various naming alternatives intended to better describe the department’s functions and distinguish its community-based services from the law enforcement responsibilities of the Antioch Police Department.”
Name Already Changed on City Website
The department’s page on the City’s website already has the new name in the header, but not in the text below, still including the word resources. That reads, “The City of Antioch’s Department of Community Services Resources is committed to building a safer, healthier, and more resilient community. We work to address the root causes of violence, strengthen opportunities for youth and families, and ensure housing stability for all residents. The Community Services Resources (CSRD) Department works to strengthen community well-being through prevention, intervention, and support services. CSRD houses the City’s Youth Services Network, Housing and Unhoused Services, and Violence Intervention & Prevention Division, providing programs and resources that promote safety, stability, and opportunity for all residents.”
Two Temporary State Grant-Funded Positions for the Renamed Department
Then under item 6, the Council will consider approving the establishment of two limited-term, grant-funded hourly positions to support the City’s direct implementation of community violence intervention, violence prevention, community outreach, case coordination, resource navigation, and community engagement activities. The proposed positions’ titles also retains the word resources: Community Resources Specialist.
The proposed hourly salary range for each of the positions is $39.54 – $48.07.
According to the staff report, the City has been awarded $2,034,800 through the Board of State and Community Corrections’ California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Program with an authorized grant period through Sept. 30, 2029. The approved grant provides funding for two positions to support implementation of the City’s community violence intervention and prevention activities.
The City’s nine pre-approved ADU plan design renderings. Source: City of Antioch
ADU Plans for Accelerator Program That Ends Sept. 30
Under item 4.I. on the Consent Calendar agenda, the Council will consider adopting pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans developed through the ADU Accelerator program. According to the ADU Accelerator Rebate Program information on the City’s website, ADUs are attached or detached residential dwelling units that provide complete independent living facilities for one or more persons on a lot with an existing (or proposed) primary residence.
The State Senate District 7 ADU Accelerator Program, piloted by former State Senator Steve Glazer, is composed of 15 cities in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Antioch.
The program provides individual rebates of up to $7,500 to property owners for new ADU units and up to $30,000 for new ADU units that are deed restricted to low-income households (minimum of 20 years.) As the purpose of the program is to encourage the construction of smaller ADU units, there will be no rebates for units over 1,000 square feet.
The City is matching the low-income rebate amounts with Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funding to double the rebates for low-income ADUs to encourage low-income ADU production in Antioch. Antioch homeowners will be able to access up to $30,000 for the construction of a low-income ADU less than 500 square feet.
However, according to the staff report for the agenda item, the rebate program provides individual rebates up to only $15,000 for ADUs that are deed restricted to low-income households (minimum of 20 years.) An email was sent to City staff over the holiday weekend asking which is the correct amount.
UPDATE 1 part 1: Acting Community and Economic Development Director Kevin Scudero responded Tuesday morning, “The ADU Accelerator Program offered up to $15,000 in rebates for the construction of ADU’s. The City of Antioch also had Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program (PLHA) funds allocated towards ADU’s and chose to provide matching funds for deed restricted affordable ADU’s to further incentivize their production. This is why you see the larger rebate number on our website.”
The City of Antioch was granted $216,228.77 for rebates, which was based upon a per capita calculation, and $50,000 to create free permit-ready or pre-approved plans for public use.
The second component of the ADU Accelerator program is the development and adoption of free pre-approved ADU plans which will be free for residents to use.
While the rebate program has been available to homeowners in Antioch since October 1, 2024, it will close September 30, 2026. Staff were also asked if the termination date is correct and if so, why is the council just now being asked to adopt the pre-approved plans.
UPDATE 1 part 2: Scudero also responded Tuesday morning, “Yes, the termination date is correct. In addition to the ADU rebates, the program also provided $50,000 in funding to develop pre-approved ADU Plans. The development of the pre-approved plans was on a dual track with the rebate program. The pre-approved plans are not specific to the ADU’s receiving rebates and will be available to anyone in the future who would like to construct an ADU in Antioch.”
Under item 4.H. on the Consent Calendar, the council will vote on approving an increase to the current Agreement with Tyler Technologies Enterprise Permitting & Licensing (EP&L) for recurring Software as a Service (SaaS) fees and additional support services for a total agreement amount not-to exceed $235,000 per year. The council is also being asked to memorializing the recurring SaaS services which automatically renew each year throughout the term of the contract, which is consistent with the Agreement but inaccurately described in the original resolution.
The software serves the City’s SeeClickFix Application Programming Interface (API).
According to the staff report, the Initial approval by City Council in January of 2021 authorized an amount not to exceed $800,000, for a term ending June 30, 2025. The addition of the SeeClickFix Application Programming Interface (API) allows increased functionality for Code Enforcement complaints that are submitted via the SeeClickFix system, improving Code Case creation and response times, and streamlined updates to the public on complaint status via SeeClickFix. We are in the testing phases currently, and plan to fully implement the API by or before the end of this calendar year.
Like a scene from the Apple MacIntosh computer “1984” Super Bowl TV commercial and during a night the council voted to approve what some are concerned is more Big Brother-type surveillance, Mayor Ron Bernal’s face looms large over the Antioch City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, as he participates remotely due to what he described as “a contagious illness.” Video screenshot.
Plus, 30 more police emergency radios; postpones contract expansion with U.S. DOJ police department monitor
Mayor Bernal participates remotely without prior notification but allowed due to “contagious illness”
“I want to get Flock out of Antioch,” Councilwoman Torres-Walker said then voted for the new AI-assisted license plate reader system.
By Allen D. Payton
During their Tuesday night meeting, Aug. 25, 2026, the Antioch City Council approved the purchase of AI-assisted technology systems for the police department, a one-year 3% COLA pay raise for police officers, traffic calming devices for Sycamore Drive and 30 more police emergency radios. The council postponed approving the contract expansion with U.S. DOJ police department monitor. They also received some good news about the City’s investments, received and approved the 2025 Annual Military Equipment Report from the police department and approved the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Bernal Participates Remotely Due to Illness
Only three council members attended in-person with Mayor Ron Bernal participating remotely, but his location was not included in the agenda as was required of District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker during the last two meetings. She participated remotely in the last council meeting from a resort and spa in Santa Cruz after proper notification. That followed her being denied the opportunity to participate in the prior meeting due to an error by Acting City Manager Ana Cortez, even though the councilwoman did provide her location prior to the meeting as required. However, different rules applied this time because Bernal was sick. (See related articles here, here and here)
Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas presided over the meeting, with only Torres-Walker and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha in attendance and District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson absent.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s meetings, which started with a Closed Session at 3:30 p.m., Bernal was asked to confirm his attendance by Freitas. The mayor, via Zoom said, “I affirm my attendance. I, Ron Bernal, Mayor of the City of Antioch, am unable to attend tonight’s meeting due to a contagious illness and am appearing remotely under just cause pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953.8.3. My wife, Irma, will be the only person, the only adult in the room with me and I will participate via both audio and visual technology throughout the entirety of the meeting. Mr. City Clerk, I ask that you please record my remote appearance under just cause, in the official meeting minutes for the record. Thank you.”
“So noted,” City Clerk Michael Mandy responded.
“And your attendance, roll call,” Freitas asked.
“My attendance is remote tonight so Mayor Pro Tem Freitas will be presiding over tonight’s meeting,” Bernal added.
“It is affirmative,” Freitas responded.
“The mayor has confirmed his attendance,” Mandy stated.
“I am present,” Bernal responded.
The council then entered Closed Session to discuss employee group contracts and nine potential lawsuits. That was followed by a Special Meeting Study Session on the Fiscal Year 2027-28 General Fund Budget at 5:30 p.m. which was followed by the Regular Meeting.
Regular Meeting
Bernal repeated his confirmation to participate remotely at the beginning of the Regular Meeting which was again noted by Mandy.
City Attorney Lori Asuncion said there was nothing to report out from Closed Session.
Resident Loretta Ezeife offers her appreciation and about her background after being appointed to the Sales Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee and then given the oath of office and congratulated by City Clerk Michael Mandy while surrounded by her family. Video screenshots.
The council then moved up Item 8 the appointment of Loretta Ezeife to the Sales Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee after Item 2 on the agenda. She was appointed on a 4-0 vote of the council. Ezeife then offered remarks and thanked the mayor for nominating her and was given the oath of office by City Clerk Mandy while she was surrounded by her family members.
City of Antioch Accrual Basis Earnings 2016-26. Source: PFM Asset Management
The council, under Item 5, received the Investment Performance Review presented by Justin Ressuelo, Institutional Sales and Relationship Manager of PFM Asset Management, the City’s advisors. The report shows the City has experienced Accrual Basis Earnings from its investments of almost $51 million over the past 10 years and earned $1.2 million in interest over the past three months, $4.9 million over the past year and $13.7 million over the past three years.
Traffic Calming Devices on Sycamore Drive
Rocha wanted to know why the traffic calming devices proposed for Sycamore Drive, under Item 6.H. on the Consent Calendar, were moved up ahead of those proposed for James Donlon Blvd.
“It will go out (for bid) this fall. Give us a year and we’ll have things laid out a bit better,” Public Works Director Scott Buenting stated.
Traffic Calming Devices and their locations in one of eight segments planned for Sycamore Drive. Source: City of Antioch
Bernal asked about other traffic calming throughout town in response to complaints about sideshows in intersections throughout the city.
“They’re not built into the traffic calming,” Buenting responded, “We’re working through some geometry about that. It’s not a one-size-fits-all. Most likely it’s going to be bringing out something in the middle of the intersection like a speed bump. These would be done with bolt-down apparatus. I want to get something rolled out here fairly soon…in a couple different areas…that need some sideshow deterrent.”
The Council then voted 4-0 to award the construction agreement to Martinez-based Cowan & Thompson Construction, Inc. in the amount of $488,511.94, with a $25,000 contingency for a total contract amount of $513,511.94 for the Sycamore Drive Traffic Calming Improvements Project. The devices will be placed in eight segments along the street and will include signs and raised traffic separator curb guidance systems with quick release delineator bases.
Council Postpones Decision on DOJ Settlement Agreement Monitoring Consultant
Under Item 6.K. on the Consent Calendar agenda, regarding paying for the monitoring consultant required by the settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) turned out to be a surprisingly controversial matter as Freitas expressed his adamant opposition.
According to the City staff report for the item, following the U.S. DOJ investigation into the Antioch Police Department beginning in April 2023, regarding text messages containing racist, sexist and discriminatory language. As a result in January 2025, the City, police department and U.S. DOJ entered into a Memorandum of Agreement requiring implementation of reforms related to constitutional policing, accountability systems, data collection, complaint investigations, community engagement, hiring practices, supervision and oversight.
A key requirement requires the City and U.S. DOJ to jointly select an Independent Consultant to provide technical assistance, compliance monitoring and implementation oversight.
On March 27, 2026, the City entered into a Settlement Agreement in the Allen, et al. civil rights class action lawsuit that incorporates many of the constitutional policing reforms and accountability measures already required under the DOJ Agreement and requires the existing DOJ Monitor also serve as the Monitor under the Allen Settlement Agreement. (See related articles here and here)
The council was asked to approve the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with MS Investigative Services and Consulting, LLC, to expand the scope of services to include Independent Monitoring services required under the Allen Settlement Agreement and authorizing additional compensation of $150,000 annually for monitoring services and the associated Fiscal Year 2026/27 General Fund budget amendment. If approved, the total compensation for the consultant would be $400,000 per year.
Bernal questioned paying the consultant monthly versus hourly.
Antioch Police Captain Shane Bower provided the staff report and answers to the council members’ questions.
“I have a very difficult time with a 71% increase, and I am absolutely opposed to $12,500 quarterly. He could be on vacation for a month and still get the $12,500,” Freitas stated. He also opposed paying the consultant hourly while driving from his home in Martinez to Antioch and instead wanted him to be paid the standard mileage rate.
“This is one of the most expensive consultant’s contract we have,” the Mayor Pro Tem added.
Bernal asked if the invoices can be brought back “to see how the billing has been going, so far.”
“Yes, I can bring that back,” Cortez stated.
“We have a five-year block of time. There’s a lot of additional work,” Bower responded.
“It’s in the report,” Freitas interjected.
“Mr. Sepulveda has already written the draft…that far exceeds the scope,” Bower said.
“It’s not my goal…to delay the satisfaction of the settlement,” Bernal responded.
“I support working with the existing consultant,” District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha stated. “Compensation seems to be the issue. It needs to be resolved.”
“Is that the standard in the City of Antioch? If it is it needs to come back for council discussion,” Freitas said about consultants being paid while driving to Antioch.
“There’s no doubt in my opinion that we need
“A majority of this agreement does not overlap with the DOJ agreement at all,” Police Chief Joe Vigil stated.
“As far as I’m concerned, there are concerns on the other side that we are dragging our feet. I’d hate to see us back in court,” said Torres-Walker.
“If a council member makes a request and it’s ignored, that causes a delay,” Freitas responded. “We also have a fiduciary responsibility, an oversight responsibility. I think those things need to be addressed.”
“I’m suggesting we are at risk of being in violation of the settlement agreement,” Torres-Walker stated and asked for a special meeting to discuss the matter.
Following agreement between Freitas and Cortez, the matter will return to a future council meeting for additional information and action.
Photo sources: (left) Flock Safety. (right) Axon.
Approves Police Department Technology Systems Purchase
Under Item 9. on the agenda, the Council received the staff report from Antioch Police Lt. Michael Mellone on the purchase of AI-assisted automated license plate recognition, in-car camera and integrated public safety technology systems. According to the staff report, the contract includes “55 fixed automated license plate recognition (ALPR) locations using Axon Outpost, six additional Axon Fleet 3 in-car video and mobile ALPR systems, and 120 Axon AI Assistant licenses for the Police Department, for a 49-month term beginning October 1, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $661,687.54.”
“I called for dash cameras so I’m glad there’ll be more of them throughout the city,” Torres-Walker stated. She then asked about Flock license plate recognition cameras and compliance.
“We are at the forefront of being compliant, not only with the Flock license plate readers,” Mellone responded. “We don’t share with ICE or any federal agencies. That data we collect in Antioch is staying here and not being shared with anyone else.”
“I’m excited to see there will be AI translation,” the councilwoman stated.
“It’s really cool. All the officer has to do is push a button on his body-worn camera and choose whatever language…and it will translate one-to-one,” Mellone explained.
During public comments, resident Kimberly Kit Bailey asked if the cameras “are only going to be in…the troubled areas or will they be all over the city?”
“They are in all locations of the city,” Mellone responded. “We try to cover all the major entry and exit points of town. All the major thoroughfares, all the major intersections. We’re not just concentrating on certain, specific neighborhoods.”
The next public speaker was Mike Katz-Lacabe, who said he is the Director of Oakland Privacy, described as “a citizens’ coalition that works statewide to defend the right to privacy, enhance public transparency and promote oversight regarding the use of surveillance techniques and equipment.” He said, “I urge a no vote…because the staff report does not provide enough information…to justify the $660,000. There was no competitive or comparison bidding process.” He also questioned “expansion of the surveillance program” and said APD’s claim that “Motorola is decommissioning their ALPR platform…is highly suspect” because “law enforcement agencies like L.A.P.D. are continuing to purchase and deploy…technology from Motorola.”
Katz-Lacabe further complained the “staff report lacks any analysis of the effectiveness of the currently deployed license plate readers.” He also said the technology could be and is being abused and used to stalk people.
Resident Frank Sterling, speaking via Zoom said, “I am concerned about mass surveillance. I’m learning more about Axon. But one thing I have been following…is the abuses are happening where people are taking advantage of the system. I think the possibility of abuse is still there.”
Mellone responded, “I think there are some very legitimate questions and concerns. I don’t think anyone in this room wants to have their movements tracked with specificity. I don’t think we want to live in that type of society. I know I certainly don’t. It does not track people. It tracks vehicle detections. It doesn’t track driver identity. It does not maintain a live location feed on a person.”
“Only an authorized investigator can review when and where a specific license plate was captured within the (30-day) retention period, and that search must have a legitimate purpose and it’s logged, audited and tracked,” he continued. “The system records a plate image, vehicle content image and visible vehicle characteristics and the time and location of a detection.”
He also said the information from the system is available to the public.
“I understand the community’s concerns around hyper-surveillance,” Torres-Walker stated. “My position is I want to get Flock out of Antioch and if moving forward with this Axon system is going to do that with potential…reviews along the way and some guardrails to make sure we are not violating civil liberties…then I can support that. My main position right now is I really want to see Flock eliminated,” she reiterated then asked about reporting to the council.
“We’re doing that now,” Mellone stated. “We have a website with the Fock data, in spite of how controversial that is. Anyone can go to our website…we have a transparency portal.” That can be found here: Flock Safety – Antioch CA PD Transparency Portal.
“With the Axon system, it’s a closed system,” he added.
The councilwoman then asked for reasons for the sole source purchase.
Mellone explained, “There are a few reasons. We’re already using Axon’s body-worn cameras. We’re already using their digital evidence platforms. We trusted Axon with our most sensitive digital evidence. We’ve never had a data breach. All of our personnel are trained in that system. I don’t have to run audits on multiple systems.”
Councilman Rocha spoke next saying, “I support the sole-source justification and the way it’s written. It is what’s most attractive to me.”
He then made the motion to approve the purchase, and as Torres-Walker took a moment to consider seconding after Freitas asked if she wanted to, Bernal said, “I’ll second it.”
Before the vote, Freitas asked, “When will they be implemented? The first phase, I guess?”
Mellone responded, “I don’t have the exact information, the timeline. I can report back to council on that. I don’t think it’s going to be a lengthy implementation.”
Referring to Torres-Walker’s comments Freitas then suggested an annual report to the council, “giving us the detailed information, positive or negative” and asked “the maker and seconder of the motion to add that…from the date the system is implemented.”
Both Rocha and Bernal agreed to the amendment to their motion.
Bernal then asked, “What is the timeline for moving away from Flock with this new system?”
“I think a lot of it depends on how soon we can get the new system up and running,” Mellone shared. He said he didn’t want to compromise existing investigations and asked if either he or the chief could return to the council with an implementation schedule. He also mentioned the additional cost for the Flock cameras as another motivation to replace them.
“So, would the Flock cameras go first, then? Would that be the strategy?” Bernal asked.
“I will make sure that the people involved…will replace the Flock cameras as a priority,” Mellone responded.
“The existing Flock contract we have another 12 months,” Chief Vigil stated.
“But we could end that,” Torres-Walker asked.
“I’d have to get with the City Attorney on ending that,” Vigil responded.
Freitas then asked that the police department leaders return in the next few weeks with answers to the council members questions.
The amended motion then passed on a 4-0 vote.
CCWD Water Supply Facilities Map. Antioch receives some of its water from CCWD.
Other Council Action
In other action, the Council voted 4-0 to approve the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and the Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The City’s water supply consists primarily of surface water diverted from the San Joaquin River and water purchased from Contra Costa Water District (CCWD). Untreated surface water from the San Joaquin River is pumped to the City’s Municipal Reservoir, where it is stored prior to treatment at the City’s Water Treatment Plant. This untreated surface water may also be routed to the Brackish Water Desalination Plant (BWDP).
Photos: (l-r) Motorola, Herald file, Antioch PD
Plus, except for Items 6.H. and 6.K., the Council also unanimously approved the Consent Calendar which included the following:
Item 6.I. – the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Antioch and the Antioch Police Officers’ Association including a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Fiscal Year 2026-27 at a cost of $661,430 and other matters;
Item 6.G. – the purchase of 30 additional Motorola APX N70 handheld two-way emergency radios for the police department’s communications, including accessories and five years of subscriber and device management services, from Motorola Solutions in an amount not to exceed $300,717.21;
Item 6.J. – received and approved the 2025 Annual Military Equipment Report from the police department. The equipment includes:
Armored Rescue Vehicle
Mobile Command Center box truck
Specialized Firearms and Ammunition:
A. Geissele Border Patrol Rifle. Quantity 26
B. Colt ArmaLite Rifle (AR)-15 rifle. Quantity 41
C. M4 AR-15 rifle. Quantity 6
D. Colt Commando Short Barrel (SB) rifle. Quantity 10
E. Heckler & Koch (H&K) UMP. Quantity 5
F. Remington 700 bolt action rifle. Quantity 5
G. Federal brand .223 caliber rifle ammunition. Quantity 326 cases
J. Cobalt Kinetics Scrambler Quick Detach Suppressor. Quantity 35
4. Kinetc Energy Projectile Launch Platforms and Projectiles
a. Penn Arms Model L140-4. Quantity 20.
b. Remington 870 Less lethal Shotgun. Quantity 2
i. Both have orange stocks and foregrips and are identified as non-lethal munition launchers.
c. Projectiles
i. Combined Tactical Systems (CTS) direct impact sponge round. Quantity 200
ii. CTS Frangible CS round. Quantity 60
iii. CTS Ferrett round. Quantity 100
iv. CTS LC5 Launching Cups. Quantity 4
v. CTS 2600 12-gauge launch cartridge. Quantity 60
According to the report, “The Antioch Police Department used specific military equipment in five incidents (in 2025). An audit…found no complaints regarding deploying or using the listed equipment. Internal audits of the listed equipment regarding deployment and use did not yield any policy violations or deployment concerns.”
Google, FBI partnering on lawsuit against major criminal scam syndicate in China
Google endorsing Harder’s Stop SCAMS Act to create all-of-government response to organized cybercrime
By Kevin Winslow, Communications Director, Office of Congressman Josh Harder
WASHINGTON – On Monday, June 15, 2026, Rep. Josh Harder (D, CA-09) announced that his anti-scam advocacy led to a major coordinated crackdown on international scammers. Google, major tech companies, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a lawsuit today against the China-linked cybercriminal network “Outsider Enterprise” alongside Google’s endorsement of Harder’s “Stop Schemes, Cyberfraud, Abuse, Manipulation, and Swindles Act” or Stop SCAMS Act, H.R. 7215, which would establish a government-wide task force to respond to cyberscams.
Organized crime rings are overwhelming law enforcement and victims alike:
Groups like Outsider Enterprise have created over 9,000 fake websites, 1 million fraudulent URLs, and supported over 2.5 million scam texts to Android users alone.
Californians lost as much as $2.5 billion to online scams in 2024, in the form of robocalls, texts, fake tax collections, phony job ads, card-declined alerts, and cryptocurrency schemes targeting seniors, veterans, and working families.
Severe scams like identity theft are growing rapidly and increasingly targeting previous victims multiple times.
“International cybercriminals are robbing our families of their hard-earned savings, and we need a permanent solution to bring them to justice,” said Rep. Harder. “My Stop SCAMS Act would bring every level of government together to aggressively crack down on scams and the organized crime rings behind them. I’m grateful to have Google’s support and look forward to partnering with law enforcement and industry partners to stop cyber scams once and for all.”
“We strongly support the Stop SCAMS Act,” said Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google General Counsel. “Shutting down scammers takes a coordinated effort, and this bill will help government agencies work better together to keep Americans safe. Thank you to Representatives Harder and Fitzpatrick for championing this vital consumer protection.”
How the Stop SCAMS Act cracks down on organized cybercrime:
New Task Force – Directs the FBI to organize a coordinated, government-wide task force to prevent and respond to modern scams.
Better Data – Aligns inter-agency actions, definitions, and data to improve the efficiency of scam-fighting efforts.
Prevention – Measures the effectiveness of scam prevention efforts and improves public education campaigns.
Harder represents California’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The new district boundaries under Prop 50 will include Antioch and other portions of Eastern Contra Costa County following the November election.
CCTA introduces Countywide Smart Signals Project at approximately 365 intersections, 15 in Antioch
By Lindy Johnson, Director of External Affairs & Mike Blasky, Communications, Contra Costa Transportation Authority
At a groundbreaking event in Danville on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) marked the advancement of its Countywide Smart Signals project, a countywide effort to modernize approximately 365 intersections and give local agencies better real-time tools to improve safety, reduce unnecessary stops, and help traffic move more smoothly on some of the county’s most important corridors.
The project spans all 19 cities and towns, along with unincorporated Contra Costa County, and focuses on major Routes of Regional Significance where upgraded equipment can strengthen coordination and improve day-to-day traffic operations across jurisdictions. Antioch has 15 locations along Wilbur Avenue, A Street, W. 10th Street, Auto Center Drive, Somersville and Buchanan Roads.
A special thank you to CCTA Senior Engineer Andy Dillard, whose work and leadership helped move this project from concept to construction. His experience, including his earlier work with the Town of Danville, has been instrumental in shaping a project that started with local needs and is now growing into a countywide system upgrade.
Key Features of the Smart Signals include:
Traffic Signal Synchronization
Makes traffic lights work together so drivers spend less time in traffic, reducing travel times and delays while enhancing safety.
Video/Radar Vehicle, Pedestrian, and Bicycle Detection
Uses sensors to locate approaching vehicles, people, and bikers, and automatically adjust traffic lights for safer crossings. Provides real-time traffic data so cities can spot issues, improve timing, and keep roads safe.
Emergency Vehicle Preemption
Gives green lights to fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances so they can reach emergencies more quickly.
Transit Signal Priority
Helps buses move through traffic more smoothly to stay on schedule.
High-Speed Network
Connects signals through high-speed links so they can share information instantly.
Remote-View Sensors
Lets engineers see what’s happening at intersections and respond faster to problems.
Battery Back-up Systems
Keep traffic signals up and running during power outages.
Smart Signal Key Features. Source: CCTA
“The Countywide Smart Signals project is about bringing our traffic signal system up to a modern standard and giving our cities and towns better tools to keep people moving safely and efficiently,” said Tim Haile, Executive Director of CCTA. “These upgrades will help intersections work better together, support safer crossings for people walking and biking, and create the connected foundation we need for better traffic management over time.”
Upgrades to traffic signals could include signal synchronization, vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle detection, emergency vehicle preemption, transit signal priority, high-speed network connections, remote-view sensors, and battery backup systems, depending on local jurisdiction needs. Initial upgrades will begin in communities such as Danville and Concord, with additional countywide work to follow.
“This is exactly the kind of countywide investment that delivers local value,” said Candace Andersen, Supervisor, District 2, Contra Costa County. “For residents, it means smarter coordination, safer intersections, and better support for emergency response and transit. For our local jurisdictions, it means modern tools and stronger connections along the corridors that matter most.”
“We are proud to host this groundbreaking in Danville and help launch an effort that will benefit communities across Contra Costa County,” said Newell Arnerich, Mayor of Danville. “Danville residents experience every day how important signal timing and traffic operations are to safety and quality of life. Projects like Countywide Smart Signals will help our communities manage traffic more effectively while improving conditions for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and first responders.”
“Modern, connected transportation infrastructure is essential to keeping our communities safe and moving. I’m proud to have secured more than $7 million in federal funds to ensure our community has cutting-edge technology to reduce commutes and ensure safety. Contra Costa is leading the nation in investments like Countywide Smart Signals to help improve mobility, reduce delay, and strengthen the transportation networks commuters rely on every day,” said Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, who represents California’s 10th Congressional District. “Today’s Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s Smart Signals project groundbreaking was many years in the making! I have been a proud champion of Smart Signals both here in Contra Costa and back on Capitol Hill where I have secured millions of federal dollars to bring this technology to our community. Thanks to this new project, CCTA will modernize traffic signals at more than 350 intersections throughout Contra Costa, implementing state-of-the-art Smart Signals technology to improve traffic flow and roadway safety to get CA-10 residents to and from home safely and quickly.”
CCTA says the project is designed to deliver three core benefits: safer travel, smoother trips, and better tools for cities and towns. Over time, the connected system is intended to support a broader countywide view of traffic conditions that can help agencies coordinate during major events and emergency situations. The project is funded at a total of $30.8 million through Measure J, local city contributions, as well as federal and state contributions.
We’re excited to see this work move forward and grateful to all of our city, county, regional, state, federal, and transit partners helping bring smarter infrastructure to Contra Costa County.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters to manage countywide transportation sales tax revenue and to implement voter-approved projects and programs. CCTA is responsible for planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure and services to keep Contra Costa County and the Bay Area moving. For more information visit Contra Costa Transportation Authority.
New DocAccess platform makes more than 4,000 city documents and 215,000 pages searchable, translatable and easier to use for residents of Antioch’s diverse community.
App required for Disability Assistance, charge after 30 minutes
By Jaden Baird, PIO, City of Antioch
ANTIOCH, CA — The City of Antioch has adopted DocAccess by CivicPlus to make public documents more accessible, searchable, and usable for residents, businesses, and community partners. The new platform transforms the city’s PDF files into WCAG-aligned HTML, helping Antioch advance its accessibility efforts under the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA Title II rule, 28 CFR Part 35. Originally tied to an April 24, 2026, compliance deadline for local governments serving populations of 50,000 or more, that deadline has since been extended to April 26, 2027. Antioch made this transition ahead of the updated deadline, reinforcing the City’s commitment to improving digital access and usability for the community.
The rollout reflects Antioch’s commitment to transparency and public service while also responding proactively to a new federal standard for accessible web information and services. With a population of 115,016, the City is ensuring that residents can more easily access the information they rely on, whether they are reviewing council materials, budgets, strategic plans, ordinances, or archived records.
In total, the City has made 4,045 documents and 215,574 pages accessible through DocAccess — including archived and legacy content that was previously difficult to navigate on a phone, assistive technology, or in a different language. The platform offers instant translation in 250+ languages, AI-powered search and plain-language Q&A, mobile-friendly viewing even for older, handwritten, or scanned documents, and 24/7 live visual interpretation through Aira.io at no cost to the public.
“We wanted to do more than check a compliance box,” said Brad Helfenberger, Information Systems Director. “Our residents deserve access that is clear, practical, and respectful of their time. DocAccess helps us deliver that — and it does it in a way that supports the many languages and devices people use every day.”
Antioch’s decision is especially timely given the city’s linguistic diversity. According to American Community Survey estimates, more than one-third of residents speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish and Tagalog among the most common. DocAccess supports that reality by allowing users to ask questions about documents in their preferred language, while also helping people find the information they need from a smartphone, tablet, or desktop.
Screenshots of DocAccess information on City’s website. Source: City of Antioch
The City also emphasized the role of human support in the launch. DocAccess is backed by both internal human-in-the-loop review and external accessibility experts, with support available in English and Spanish. Complimentary assistance time is available to any member of the public who needs help navigating documents, filling out forms, or understanding content. City officials said that even with fully remediated files, it is important to approach access with humility because public needs and questions can vary widely.
In addition, the platform’s analytics tools will help the City better understand which documents generate the most interest, which questions residents ask most often, and which languages are being used. Those insights will support data-informed transparency while preserving privacy: no AI model training is permitted on Antioch content, and analytics are limited to aggregated, de-identified usage data without IP tracking or behavioral profiling.
App Required for Disability Assistance, Charge After 30 Minutes
However, users of the Disability Assistance are required to download an app and pay for the service after 30 minutes of free live visual interpreting through Aira to help you access a document.
Try out the City’s DocAccess by visiting the Agendas & Minutes page on the City’s website.
Citizen RIMS includes calls for service, arrests, racial & identity profiling stats, security camera registration, extra patrol requests
Uses state-required politically charged terms including “Cisgender”, “Latinex” in Demographics of Stopped Individuals
By Allen D. Payton
According to an announcement issued by Lt. Mike Mellone of the Field Services Division, the Antioch Police Department (APD) is expanding public access to public safety information with the launch of Citizen RIMS, an online portal designed to promote open and honest communication and increase community awareness.
Citizen RIMS, which stands for Records and Incident Management System, a product of Sunridge Systems, is an interactive mapping and information platform that allows businesses, community members and stakeholders to view selected, disclosable public safety information by location, date range and incident type — while safeguarding privacy and protecting the integrity of active investigations.
A screenshot of Antioch Police Department’s Citizen RIMS website shows a report map with locations of Crime and Activity between Jan. 25-28, 2026.
What the Public Can View and Request Through Citizen RIMS
Through the portal, community members can:
View recent calls for service and incident activity displayed on an interactive map
View recent arrests published for public awareness
Voluntarily register home or business security cameras
Request extra patrols in an area, as staffing levels and call volume allow
Important Information About Portal Content
Citizen RIMS is intended to provide helpful, general public information; however, it does not display every incident or every detail. Certain information may be limited or excluded due to victim privacy considerations, confidentiality laws, or legal restrictions. Locations shown are approximate and intended for general awareness only. Information may be updated on a scheduled basis and may not reflect real-time operational activity
Recent Arrests: Arrest information is provided for public information purposes only. An arrest does not constitute a conviction. Charges and case status may change as investigations continue and cases move through the court process.
RIPA Stop-Data Statistics: Stop data is presented in a summarized, statistical format to help the community understand trends in traffic and pedestrian stops and to support transparency and accountability. The portal does not display confidential or personally identifying information.
A screenshot of one of the three reports on the Antioch Police 2025 Stop Data Statistics Chart of the department’s new Citizens RIMS website.
About the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA)
According to the APD Citizen RIMS site, “The Racial and Identity Profiling Act of 2015 (RIPA) is a California state law that requires law enforcement agencies to collect and report information on all traffic and pedestrian stops. The law is intended to increase transparency, address concerns about racial and identity profiling, and promote accountability in policing. Data collected includes the reason for the stop, actions taken, and the officer’s perception of the individual’s demographic characteristics. The California Department of Justice analyzes and publishes this information in statewide reports.”
Gender, Racial Terms Used
Demographics for Stopped Individuals provided in the Stop Data Statistics show categories labeled Cisgender man/boy, Cisgender woman/girl, Nonbinary, Transgender man/boy and Transgender woman/girl and charts for Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latine(x), Middle Eastern or South Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander and White.
APD Says Terms are State Mandated
Questions were sent to Chief Joe Vigil, Captain Desmond Bittner and Lt. Mike Mellone. Vigil is out of the office until next Monday.
They were asked if the terms are required by state law or FBI for reporting, if APD selected them or were they pre-loaded by Sunridge Systems, and if they can be changed are they willing. The three were also asked why not instead use the term “Biological” which more people understand and since most Hispanics and Latinos do not use the term “Latinex” and some find it offensive, why not instead use “Hispanic/Latino/a”.
Bittner responded, “Those terms are reporting requirements set by the California Department of Justice. I attached one of CAL DOJs reporting requirement updates from 2024 for reference.” (See pages 7-9 of RIPA Text of Modified Regulations)
2025 Statistics
For 2025, the report of shows of those stopped 38.4% were Black/African American, 28.8% were Hispanic/Latine(x), 24.9% were White, 3.9% were Asian, 3.2% were Middle Eastern/South Asian, 1% were Pacific Islander and 0.1% were Native American.
The Stop Data Statistics page provides additional detailed reports, including one entitled, “What are the reasons for stops?” That includes Reasons for Stops and Traffic Violation Type both by ethnicity and by gender identity. A third drop down report entitled, “What are the actions taken during stops” includes Actions Taken During Stops, Search Rates and Discovery Rates, also broken down by ethnicity and gender identity.
The Antioch Citizen RIMS portal is available at: https://antiochpd.citizenrims.com and is one of several tools APD uses to share information with the community.
For crimes in progress or emergencies, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency police services, call (925) 778-2441.
SB771 attempts to curb online “hate speech”, awaits Newsom’s decision by Oct. 12; second effort in two years to limit online speech, first one failed
Computer & Communications Industry Association warns California bill “could undermine free speech online”
“It effectively incentivizes broad suppression of speech through the threat of legal action.” – TechNet
“sets stage for…fight” and “could create a messy, drawn-out legal battle” – Washington Examiner
CalChamber also opposes
By Allen D. Payton
SB 771, by State Senator Henry Stern, entitled “Personal rights: liability: social media platforms” has passed both the State Assembly and Senate and currently awaits the governor’s decision as of September 22, 2025, would allow fines of up to $1 million per violation for social media companies that generate more than $100 million in annual gross revenues, whose algorithms amplify content violating California’s civil rights and anti-discrimination laws. (Source: compliancehub.wiki)
The platforms could also face fines of up to three months of the platform’s gross revenue preceding the judgment for intentional violations, or up to $500,000 per violation for reckless violations, which is designed to address platforms that show disregard for potential harm without specific intent.
Newsom has until Oct. 12, 2025, to either sign or veto the bill. If he signed, bill would become operative on January 1, 2027, giving social media platforms time to prepare.
According to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest, “Existing law generally regulates social media platforms, including by requiring a social media company to post terms of service for each social media platform owned or operated by the company in a manner reasonably designed to inform all users of the social media platform of the existence and contents of the terms of service, as prescribed.
Existing law generally prohibits a person from using violence or intimidation to interfere with another person’s enjoyment of certain rights or because of certain attributes of that person, including the person’s political affiliation, race, or sexual orientation, and punishes violations of that law with certain civil penalties or as misdemeanors, as prescribed.
This bill would make a social media platform, as defined, that violates the above-referenced provisions of law relating to personal rights through its algorithms that relay content to users or aids, abets, acts in concert, or conspires in violation of those laws, or is a joint tortfeasor in an action alleging a violation of those laws, liable for specified civil penalties. The bill would declare its provisions to be severable and would declare attempted waiver of its provisions to be void and unenforceable.”
The bill specifically references violations of:
Penal Code Sections 31 and 422.6 (hate crimes and interference with civil rights)
Civil Code Section 51.7 (Ralph Civil Rights Act)
Civil Code Section 51.9 (Civil rights protections against violence or intimidation)
Civil Code Section 52 and 52.1 (Tom Bane Civil Rights Act)
According to a report by Reason.com, “The Legislature says the bill is needed because of a rise in documented hate crimes. It cites a report by the Human Rights Campaign that found “anti-LGBTQ+ disinformation and harmful rhetoric” increased by 400 percent following the passage of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill in 2022, as well as a report by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations that found that “hate crimes involving anti-immigrant slurs increased by 31 percent” in FY 2024, the highest number since tracking began in 2007.
“The bill additionally cites the Anti-Defamation League’s 2024 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which found an 893 percent increase in antisemitic incidents over the previous 10 years, and a 2023 study by nonprofit Global Witness, which found that paid advertisements promoting violence toward women were placed and distributed across social media platforms.”
However, the report continues, “the bill is sure to face scrutiny under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which largely protects platforms from being held liable for user speech.”
Sets State for Free Speech Fight
According to a Washington Examiner report, the bill “sets stage for free speech fight” and “could create a messy, drawn-out legal battle with multibillion-dollar tech companies over what people can post on their platforms.”
CCIA Warns California SB 771 Could Undermine Free Speech Online
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), whose members include Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads; Google and Apple, is opposed to the bill. It testified in July “before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee…reiterating its opposition to SB 771. The association warns that the proposal could limit access to lawful content, discourage open dialogue online, and conflict with key constitutional and federal legal protections.
SB 771 would allow lawsuits against large social media platforms if their recommendation systems are accused of amplifying unlawful content targeting protected groups. But the bill’s broad language and legal uncertainty could force platforms to take down more content than necessary — not because it’s harmful, but to avoid the risk of litigation.
CCIA believes this approach would reduce the availability of protected speech and place platforms in a legally precarious position. The bill also raises serious concerns about First Amendment protections and may conflict with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online services from liability for content moderation carried out in good faith.
“We all want to create safer online spaces and are concerned that SB 771 takes the wrong approach,” said Aodhan Downey, State Policy Manager for CCIA. “The bill creates vague legal standards that could prompt platforms to over-remove content out of fear of lawsuits. That would limit access to important conversations and weaken free expression online. California lawmakers should reject this bill and pursue targeted, effective solutions that protect users while respecting constitutional rights.”
According to the company’s website, CCIA is an international, not-for-profit trade association representing a broad cross section of communications and technology firms. For more than 50 years, CCIA has promoted open markets, open systems, and open networks. CCIA members employ more than 1.6 million workers, invest more than $100 billion in research and development, and contribute trillions of dollars in productivity to the global economy.
TechNet, CalChamber Oppose SB771
In a July 10, 2025, letter to Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, and who represents portions of Western Contra Costa County, TechNet, whose members include Comcast NBC Universal, Google and Meta, was joined by CCIA and the California Chamber of Commerce in writing, “TechNet and the following organizations must respectfully oppose SB 771, as it raises significant concerns about potential conflicts with longstanding internet law by exposing social media platforms to substantial liability, calculated in the billions, for user-generated content.
TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives that promotes the growth of the innovation economy by advocating a targeted policy agenda at the federal and 50-state level. TechNet’s diverse membership includes dynamic American businesses ranging from startups to the most iconic companies on the planet and represents over 4.5 million employees and countless customers in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, e commerce, the sharing and gig economies, advanced energy, transportation, cybersecurity, venture capital, and finance.
Although SB 771 does not explicitly mandate content removal, it effectively incentivizes broad suppression of speech through the threat of legal action. In practice, the elevated liability risk could compel platforms to take down content based solely on unsubstantiated allegations of violence. This dynamic sets the stage for a heckler’s veto, in which bad actors or politically motivated users can flag content they disagree with, knowing the platform may err on the side of removal to avoid potential lawsuits.
This bill’s implicit concern is harmful content. It is impossible for companies to identify and remove every potentially harmful piece of content because there’s no clear consensus on what exactly constitutes harmful content, apart from clearly illicit content. Determining what is harmful is highly subjective and varies from person to person, making it impossible to make such judgments on behalf of millions of users. Faced with this impossible task and the liability imposed by this bill, some platforms may decide to aggressively over restrict content that could be considered harmful.
Furthermore, platforms would need to evaluate whether to eliminate their fundamental features and functions, which are the reasons users go to their platforms, due to the legal risk involved. For instance, direct messaging features could potentially be misused for contacting and bullying other teens; such features would likely be removed.
Serious First Amendment concerns.
It is well established that the companies covered by this legislation have constitutional rights related to content moderation, including the right to curate, prioritize, and remove content in accordance with their terms of service. By exposing these companies to civil liability for content they do not remove, SB 771 creates a chilling effect on their editorial discretion. The significant, prescribed civil penalties – potentially amounting into the billions for each violation – would lead platforms to over-remove lawful content to mitigate legal exposure. Therefore, if this law passes, it will almost certainly be struck down in court (see NetChoice v Paxton) because it imposes liability on social media platforms for whether certain types of third-party content are shown to users, as well as the expressive choices social media platforms make in designing the user experience. This violates the First Amendment rights of users and social media platforms.
Moreover, the proposed liability framework likely conflicts with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides strong federal protections for platforms against civil liability for third-party content and for good-faith content moderation. Courts (see Twitter,inc V. Taamneh, 598 U.S.__ (2023)) have consistently upheld Section 230 as preempting state-level attempts to impose liability for content hosting or moderation decisions.
For these reasons, we respectfully oppose SB 771. If you have any questions regarding our position, please contact Robert Boykin at rboykin@technet.org or 408.898.7145.”
The letter was signed by Robert Boykin, Executive Director for California and the Southwest TechNet, Ronak Daylami attorney and Policy Advocate with the California Chamber of Commerce and Aodhan Downey of the CCIA.
Second Legislative Attempt to Limit Online Speech, First Failed in Court
This is the second attempt by the California legislature and Newsom to limit online speech in the last two years. Last year, AB2839 and AB2655 were signed into law, banning deceptive elections-related media, known as “deep-fakes”, in advertisements including those containing parody.
AB2839 would have “prohibited a person, committee, or other entity from knowingly distributing an advertisement or other election communication, as defined, that contains certain materially deceptive content, as defined, with malice, as defined, subject to specified exemptions. The bill would apply this prohibition within 120 days of an election in California and, in specified cases, 60 days after an election.”
AB2655 would have required “a large online platform, as defined, to block the posting of materially deceptive content related to elections in California, during specified periods before and after an election…and to label certain additional content inauthentic, fake, or false.”
However, parody website, The Babylon Bee sued the state and according to the Alliance Defending Freedom which represented the media outlet, “California officials agreed they cannot enforce one of those laws (AB2839) against The Babylon Bee and Kelly Chang Rickert, a California attorney and blogger, after a federal district court ruled that the law likely violates the First Amendment.”
Contact Governor Newsom
To contact the governor’s office to offer your opinion on the legislation, use the website form at www.gov.ca.gov/contact and select Legislation Issues/Concerns in the drop down menu, mail Governor Gavin Newsom at 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814 or call (916) 445-2841.
The state-of-the-art Intuitive da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system will now be used as Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch. Photo: Sutter Delta
Robot-assisted surgery means advanced care is closer to home for local patients
By Monique Binkley Smith, Media Relations Manager, Sutter Health
ANTIOCH, CA – Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch, Calif., announced this month it is the first hospital in East Contra Costa County to implement the state-of-the-art robotic surgical system, the Intuitive da Vinci 5, revolutionizing advanced surgical care in the region and improving access for patients who previously had to travel an hour or more for certain surgical procedures.
A ribbon cutting and demonstration of the robot was held on Friday, May 23, 2025, with medical center leadership and local dignitaries including Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal and Mayor Pro Tem Louie Rocha.
SDMC Assistant Administrator Tim Bouslog, Sutter Greater East Bay Division Chief Medical Officer Dr. Matthew Dahnke, SDMC Chief Medical Executive Dr. Karin Shavelson, SDMC CEO Trevor Brand, Dr. Christopher Solis, Dr. Pascal Fuchshuber and Sutter Greater East Bay Division President Tosan Boyo before and after the ribbon cutting for the new surgical robot on Friday, May 23, 2025. Photos: Sutter Health
“This is a phenomenal investment on the part of Sutter Health that will benefit our residents in Eastern Contra Costa County for years to come,” said Sutter Delta CEO Trevor Brand. “Our new da Vinci 5 will enable our physicians to deliver a range of minimally invasive surgeries to our patients right here in our own community.”
The da Vinci 5 robotic surgery system represents a groundbreaking advancement in minimally invasive surgery, featuring more than 150 design improvements for enhanced precision, better instrument handling and advanced 3D HD visualization. Minimally invasive surgery has been shown to help reduce recovery times, minimize scarring and improve patient outcomes with sustained benefits.
“With this new technology, we’re able to improve care and outcomes for our patients at Sutter Delta,” said Christopher Solis, M.D., FACS, chair of Sutter Delta’s Department of Surgery and a surgeon with Sutter East Bay Medical Group.
What are the benefits of robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery?
Fewer complications and improved patient outcomes with sustained benefits
Shorter hospital stays means patients able to return home faster than ever before
Dramatically reduced post-operative pain, which typically means patients need less narcotic pain medication
Reduced recovery times
Minimal scarring
Robotic-assisted surgery has been demonstrated to generally result in fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and dramatically reduced post-operative pain for patients, which typically means patients need less narcotic pain medication. Patients are also often able to return home faster than ever before.
Sutter Delta Medical Center CEO Trevor Brand is congratulated by Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Photo: Sutter Health
“With the DV5 system in place, our surgical teams are well-equipped to handle complex cases close to home while providing the highest standard of care and safety to our patients,” said Sutter Delta Chief Medical Executive Karin Shavelson, M.D.
As Sutter Delta’s program expands, the new robotic system will allow the hospital’s surgical teams to handle more complex procedures in specializations including colorectal surgery, surgical oncology, general surgery, urology, gynecology and gynecologic oncology.
“This is a huge win for our community, and we’re proud to be the first in Eastern Contra Costa County to bring this DV5 and all its capabilities to our patients locally,” Brand said.
The first surgery at Sutter Delta using the new da Vinci 5 is scheduled for mid-June.
About Sutter Health
Sutter Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system dedicated to providing comprehensive care throughout California. Committed to health equity, community partnerships, and innovative, high-quality patient care, Sutter Health is pursuing a bold new plan to reach more people and make excellent healthcare more connected and accessible. Currently serving nearly 3.5 million patients, thanks to our dedicated team of more than 57,000 employees and clinicians, and 12,000+ affiliated physicians, with a unified focus on expanding care to serve more patients.
Sutter delivers exceptional and affordable care through its hospitals, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care clinics, telehealth, home health, and hospice services. Dedicated to transforming healthcare, at Sutter Health, getting better never stops.
