By Concord Police Department
On November 15, at approximately 7:30 pm, a group of nine people entered the Iceberg Diamonds jewelry store inside the Sun Valley Mall in Concord, armed with hammers. They began smashing the glass display cases and stealing jewels. Employees tried to intervene and were kept back by the hammer wielding criminals. The suspects got away before police arrived. (See surveillance video)
Some customers inside the mall called reporting what they thought were gunshots heard, but in actuality, they heard the sounds of the hammers breaking glass. No shots were fired.
The case is under investigation by Concord PD Detectives. Anyone with information regarding this case may contact Detective Christine Corey with CPD’s Financial Crimes Unit at 925-603-5828. CPD Case #21-11268
Read MoreIncluding Antioch, Walnut Creek Kaiser workers; to continue Friday with different unions
Engineers on strike for 62 days, so far
By Renée Saldaña, Press Secretary, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West
Thousands of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) members have been joined by OPEIU Local 29, IFPTE Local 20 in a sympathy strike to demand that Kaiser stop its economic bullying and agree to a fair contract with the Local 39 Operating Engineers. Workers walked off the job and onto the strike line at 7 a.m., today, Thursday, November 18 until 7:00 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19 at Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Antioch, Walnut Creek and at various facilities across Northern California.
More than 40,000 workers from SEIU-UHW, OPEIU Local 29, and IFPTE Local 20 were prepared to walk out in support of the Local 39 engineers, making it the largest sympathy strike in the country.
“They’ve been out here all this time without a fair contract” said lifelong Antioch resident Kim Weiss, AMC Rep Chair or SEIU at Kaiser Antioch about the engineers. She works with cardiac and diabetes patients at the medical center. “We’re sympathy striking in solidarity. A total of 620 SEIU workers have been on strike at Antioch Kaiser, today.”
Healthcare workers wearing their uniforms planned to walk out onto the strike line, march, give speeches, distribute leaflets to passersby, hold signs and blow whistles in support of Kaiser engineers from Local 39.
“We are sympathy striking because Kaiser has lost its way and is putting its drive for profits over people, hurting our patients and union co-workers. The Local 39 engineers play a critical role in maintaining our facilities and the equipment we use to take care of patients,” said Ethan Ruskin, a health educator at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Jose. “Kaiser needs to put patients first and deliver a fair contract to the engineers.”
Earlier this week, healthcare workers representing SEIU-UHW’s 36,000 Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California voted by a 97% margin to authorize a one-day sympathy strike in solidarity with Kaiser engineers from Local 39 who have been on strike for two months.
Jobs affected by the sympathy strike vote include optometrists, clinical laboratory scientists, respiratory and x-ray technicians, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, surgical technicians, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomists, medical assistants, and housekeepers, among other positions.
Engineers on Strike for 62 Days So Far
According to those on strike in Antioch, 800 engineers in Northern California including 13 stationary engineers and six or seven clinical engineers at the Antioch Kaiser have been on strike for 62 days, as of Thursday.
They fix all the piping and all the medical equipment, from the life support systems to anything else mechanical.
Asked about the large, inflatable rat on display at the Antioch Kaiser strike, one of the union members said it referred to the Kaiser management and the “scab” workers doing their jobs while they’re on strike.
“They’ve brought in guys from out of state who have no training and paying them three times what they pay us,” the striker said.
“Think of the risk at which they’re placing the patients with the equipment that’s not being maintained for over two months,” said Mark Morucci, Chief Engineer at Kaiser Antioch.
Sympathy strikes are taking place at the following locations starting at 7 a.m. on November 18:
- ANTIOCH: Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center, 4501 Sand Creek Rd, Antioch CA 94531
- WALNUT CREEK: Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center, 1425 S Main St, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
- FREMONT: Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center, 39400 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538
- FRESNO: Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center, 7300 N Fresno St, Fresno, CA 93720
- MANTECA: Kaiser Permanente Manteca Medical Center, 1777 W. Yosemite Avenue, Manteca, 95337
- MODESTO: Kaiser Permanente Modesto Medical Center, 4601 Dale Road, Modesto, CA 95356
- OAKLAND: Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, 3600 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611
- REDWOOD CITY: Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center, 1150 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063
- RICHMOND: Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center, 901 Nevin Ave., Richmond, CA 94801
- ROSEVILLE: Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center, 1600 Eureka Rd, Roseville, CA 95661
- SACRAMENTO: Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center, 2025 Morse Ave, Sacramento, 95825
- SOUTH SACRAMENTO: Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, 6600 Bruceville Road, Sacramento, CA 95823
- SAN FRANCISCO: Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center, 2425 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA
- SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO: Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center, 1200 El Camino Real, S. San Francisco, CA 94080
- SAN JOSE: Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, 250 Hospital Parkway, San Jose, CA 95119
- SAN LEANDRO: Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center, 2500 Merced St, San Leandro, CA 94577
- SANTA CLARA: Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center, 710 Lawrence Expressway, Santa Clara CA 95051
- SANTA ROSA: Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa, 95403
- STOCKTON: Kaiser Permanente Stockton Medical Center, 7373 West Lane, Stockton CA 95210
- VACAVILLE: Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, 1 Quality Dr, Vacaville, CA 95688
- VALLEJO: Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, 975 Sereno Drive, Vallejo, CA 94589
Another sympathy strike will take place on Friday by the NUHW and the California Nurses Association.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreThe Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff has been searching for a missing woman in Bay Point since Wednesday morning, Nov. 17:
Adela “Dela” Peña
87-years-old, 5’1″, 90-100 pounds, with brown colored eyes and brown/gray hair. She was last seen wearing a light blue robe with snowmen on it, black or velvet colored sweat pants, and white sandals.
She is considered at-risk and family members said she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was last seen yesterday at her home on the 600 block of Victoria Court in Bay Point at about 8:40 PM.
Family members searched for Pena but could not find her. They later notified the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Sheriffs and the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team are continuing the search for her.
Anyone who has seen Pena or has any information is asked to contact Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441.
Read MoreBy Suzanne Iarla, Communications Analyst, City of Lafayette
On Friday, November 12, 2021, the Contra Costa Superior Court upheld the City of Lafayette’s approval of the Terraces of Lafayette project of the O’Brien Land Company. The project would build 315 apartments, including 63 affordable housing units, on a 22-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Deer Hill Road and Pleasant Hill Road. In its ruling, the Court rejected claims by Save Lafayette, a citizens group, and found that the City’s environmental review complied with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and that the Terraces project was consistent with the City’s General Plan.
The Terraces project has been in process for over ten years — the developer’s application dates back to March 2011. Since then, the City has worked to address community and regional concerns, including by considering a proposed alternative 44 single-family home project with a community park. The City approved the alternative project in 2015. Save Lafayette initiated the referendum process to overturn that approval in 2018.
After the alternative project was rejected by the voters, the City resumed processing the original Terraces project application. In compliance with the strict requirements of State law, including the Housing Accountability Act, the City approved the Terraces project in August 2020.
Save Lafayette sued in September 2020 to overturn the approval, in an effort to stop the Terraces project on environmental and General Plan consistency issues. After over a year of litigation, the Superior Court rejected Save Lafayette’s claims and affirmed that the City’s CEQA review and approval of the Project complied with the law. The Court’s ruling will become final unless Save Lafayette appeals within 60 days following the notice of entry of judgment.
Developer Calls Court Decision “Major Victory”
The developer issued their own press release announcing last Friday court’s decision:
In a major victory for housing rights, the Contra Costa Superior Court on Friday, Nov. 12 issued a ruling rejecting in full Save Lafayette’s lawsuit challenging the Terraces of Lafayette, a 315-unit apartment community by O’Brien Land Company. After nearly 10 years of processing and 120 public hearings, the Lafayette City Council approved the project by a 4-1 vote in August 2020.
“We have had many local people reach out to us to ask when they can rent an apartment at the Terraces,” said Dennis O’Brien of O’Brien Land Company. “The need for this type of housing is apparent, and we look forward to no further delays so we can provide homes for those individuals and families.”
The project site is adjacent to Highway 24 and located one mile from the Lafayette BART station. The Terraces is considered an affordable housing project under state housing law and will set aside 20%, or 63, of its dwelling units for lower income households. This will substantially assist Lafayette in meeting its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the lower income categories assigned to it by long-standing state law.
Despite the project’s robust legal protections under controlling state law, Save Lafayette has been opposing the project for years. The anti-development group also opposed a 44 single-family home compromise project by filing litigation and a ballot referendum that overturned the smaller project. Once the voters rejected the smaller project, O’Brien and the City of Lafayette resumed processing the apartments.
Although the affordable housing development included a full Environmental Impact Report, Save Lafayette’s lawsuit claimed the City’s approval of the project violated the California Environmental Quality Act, a law frequently employed by anti-development groups to challenge new housing. The lawsuit also claimed the project was not entitled to the protection of the Housing Accountability Act, which shields housing developments from changes in local land use laws after an application is deemed complete. The Superior Court rejected Save Lafayette’s arguments and agreed that the City complied with the law.
“When people ask why we have a housing crisis in California, they should look no further than this project for answers,” Bay Area Council Senior Vice President Matt Regan emphasized. “Over 10 years of foot dragging, goalpost moving, ballot measures and lawsuits, finally the construction of these much- needed homes can now begin. This saga highlights the need for more reforms to state law so that good housing projects no longer have to run this sort of gauntlet and can be approved swiftly and fairly.”
For more information on the project, visit www.lovelafayette.org/Terraces.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Chief Mission Officer at the Walnut Creek-based Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area
By Alexandra Rubin, Director of Communications, Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area
AstraZeneca, in partnership with Scientific American Custom Media, announced the winners of the third annual Cancer Community Awards (or C2 Awards). A part of the AstraZeneca YOUR Cancer program, the C2 Awards celebrate diverse individuals and organizations creating meaningful change in the lives of people with cancer and their loved ones.
Margaret Stauffer, LMFT, Chief Mission Officer at the Walnut Creek-based Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area was awarded The President’s Award at a virtual ceremony. This top honor is selected by AstraZeneca and honors those who make a tangible and inspiring difference for patients and their loved ones.
“As we commemorate 50 years since the National Cancer Act was signed and reflect upon the extraordinary progress made in treating this disease, we are inspired by this year’s winners and finalists,” said Chatrick Paul, Head of US Oncology, AstraZeneca.
“Though we still have more to do toward one day eliminating cancer mortality, especially amid a pandemic that has laid bare the disparities disproportionately faced by disadvantaged communities, these unsung heroes, through their selfless dedication, demonstrate what we can accomplish as one oncology community determined to create meaningful change for people with cancer.”
“I’m honored and humbled to be recognized by AstraZeneca for this award. There is so much great work being done in the world of cancer care and I’m proud to make a difference in the lives of people facing cancer every day,” said Ms. Stauffer.
Rob Tufel, MSW, MPH, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Support Community said, “It is such an honor to see Margaret recognized on the national level for her expertise and experience. Her work at Cancer Support Community has impacted thousands of cancer patients and their families and made a real difference in their quality of life.”
Watch the C2 Your Cancer award video, here.
About Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area
Cancer Support Community provides comprehensive, integrative care — including counseling, support groups, nutrition training, exercise classes, emergency financial assistance, and patient education programs — for people with cancer, their caregivers, and their families. Our evidence-based services enable cancer patients to partner with their medical teams to manage their treatment and recovery most effectively, increase their chances for survival, reduce their chances of recurrence, and provide for the highest possible quality of life. All CSC services are always provided free of charge and are being offered virtually during the pandemic. With services provided at our Walnut Creek center, in local medical centers throughout the Bay Area, and now in Antioch, we
serve more than 2,200 people annually. Visit www.cancersupport.net for more information.
About YOUR Cancer
The C2 Awards are part of the YOUR Cancer Program, a broader initiative launched by AstraZeneca to spotlight those at the forefront of cancer research and patient support who are contributing toward eliminating cancer as a cause of death. YOUR Cancer aims to convene, engage, and highlight the full breadth of the oncology community, utilizing four pillars: a digital partnership hub profiling community resources and perspectives, an awards program recognizing the unsung heroes of oncology, state-level roundtables with local policymakers and advocates, and media and speaking engagements profiling community oncology leaders.
Read MoreThe Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants who are interested in serving on its 20-member Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC). The JJCC currently has the following five (5) vacancies:
- At-Large Representative (3)
- Community Based Organization Representative (2)
The Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council is a multiagency advisory body that informs the development and implementation of a countywide juvenile justice plan composed of several critical parts, including, but not limited to an assessment of existing law enforcement, probation, education, mental health, health, social services, drug and alcohol and youth services resources, which specifically target both at-promise as well as system-involved youth, and their families.
The JJCC will also coordinate on a countywide basis the work of those governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in activities designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime and delinquency in the greater community, develop information and intelligence-sharing systems to ensure that county actions are fully coordinated, and provide data and appropriate outcome measures.
The Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council is composed of the following 20 members:
Ten (10) Ex‐Officio Members:
- Chief Probation Officer, as Chair
- District Attorney’s Office representative
- Public Defender’s Office representative
- Sheriff’s Office representative
- Board of Supervisors’ representative
- Employment and Human Services Department representative
- Behavioral Health Services representative
- Alcohol and Other Drugs Division representative
- Public Health representative
- Juvenile Justice Commission Chair
Ten (10) Additional Members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, as follows:
- City Police Department representative
- County Office of Education or a School District representative
- Four (4) At-Large members, residing or working within County of Contra Costa
- Two (2) Community-Based Organization representatives
- Two (2) At-Large youth, fourteen to twenty-five years old and residing or working within County of Contra Costa
Appointments to the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council will be for a term of two years. The JJCC meets monthly October through April, and bi-monthly the remainder of the year. Members have the option to serve on two (2) subcommittees that each currently meet on a monthly basis.
Applications will be due by 5 p.m. on December 3, 2021, and all timely applicants will be invited to the public interview process conducted by the Board of Supervisors’ Public Protection Committee: Supervisors Candace Andersen, District II, and Federal Glover, District V. This committee will then recommend a selection of applicants for Board of Supervisors to appoint to the Racial Justice Oversight Body.
Below is a complete timeline of this recruitment process to fill the five (5) vacant JJCC seats:
- December 3: Final Day of the Application Period, due by 5:00 p.m.
- December 16: Public Protection Committee Meeting: Interviews
- January 11: Board of Supervisors Appointments
Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or by visiting the County webpage at www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/. Completed applications should be emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us. Applications can also be mailed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Office at 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553.
Read More
Requires super majority to approve; Gioia, Glover vote no
Do approve body worn cameras for sheriff deputies.
By Daniel Borsuk
Going against the spirit of the 2020 voter-approved the early education-medical services-social needs message of the Measure X sales tax measure, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday narrowly rejected a proposal to spend a chunk of the initial $212. 5 million in one-time Measure X funds for Sheriff David Livingston’s department to hire additional deputies to beef up patrols especially in under-patrolled areas of the county.
Supervisors also learned the county would draw approximately $128.4 million in ongoing Measure X tax revenue a year for at least 2027.
On a 3 to 2 vote, with District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen, and board chair District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis casting votes calling for the expenditure of $6.4 million of Measure X funds for the hiring of patrol deputies designated for the under patrolled Bay Point, Saranap, and Rodeo areas, supervisors rejected a proposal to strengthen up patrols in those under-served areas of the county.
If approved, the proposal could have decreased response time by nearly 14 minutes and 21 seconds per call.
“Police and mental health services are my top priorities,” said District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville. “Body cameras and patrols are needed.”
However, due to supervisors’ rules, locally generated tax funds require a super majority vote of four or more supervisors. As a result, Andersen’s motion to increase patrols with Measure X funds failed.
Funds for the Sheriff’s Department are allowed in the measure that passed by over 58% of the vote last November. The ballot language read, “To keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers; provide timely fire and emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services, shall the Contra Costa County measure levying a ½ cent sales tax, exempting food sales, providing an estimated $81,000,000 annually for 20 years that the State cannot take, requiring fiscal accountability, with funds benefiting County residents, be adopted?” CCC_2021MeasureX_FullText
District 1 Supervisor John Gioia and District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover voted against the proposal to increase patrols. The 3-2 was insufficient for supervisors to designate Measure X for the hiring of additional deputies based on board of supervisors’ rules.
“I want funding for the sheriff to be part of the general fund budget discussion, not part of Measure X,” explained Supervisor Glover of Pittsburg. Gioia gave no clear reason why he voted against increasing deputy patrols, but earlier he had talked about bringing the item before the finance committee that he and District 4 Supervisor
“I support giving more money to the sheriff,” said board chair Diane Burgis of Brentwood. “We are under-funding protective services in the Eastern area of the county.”
Supervisors did approve on a 4 to 1 vote the expenditure of $2.5 million of Measure X revenues for body worn cameras for sheriff deputies. District 1 Supervisor Gioia cast the sole opposition vote, siding with more than 60 speakers opposed to the proposed allocation of any Measure X funds to the sheriff.
“Let’s keep the spirit of Measure X,” said Pittsburg resident Francisco Flores. “Please don’t treat this money as pork for the use of the sheriff.”
Supervisors also voted 5-0 to transfer $6 million in Measure X funds designated for Contra Costa County Health Center capital improvement projects like a parking garage to county services that are financially neglected like the county library system and childcare.
All of the 60 speakers opposed spending any Measure X tax revenue for the sheriff.
Speakers said spending Measure X money for law enforcement purposes violated the spirit of the November 2020 voter approved tax revenue measure designed to ramp up revenue for underfunded public health and social service programs and services.
“Let’s keep the spirit of Measure X alive,” said Pittsburg resident Francisco Flores, a member of the community action group ACCE.
“You must follow the funding requests of the advisory board,” pleaded Measure X Advisory Board Chair Mariana Moore.
Proposed Expenditures
Some of the county programs or capital projects proposed for Measure X funds include:
$40 million parking garage for the Contra Costa Regional Medical and Health Center in Martinez.
$17.2 million for East Contra Costa County Fire District fire station construction projects.
$5 million to modernize the psychiatric ward at the Contra Costa Regional Medical and Health Center in Martinez.
$1.2 million for the Racial Equity and Social Justice office.
$250,000 for arts and culture programs.
$740,000 for the San Ramon Fire Emergency Medical Service.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreBy Antonia Ehlers, PR and Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
In response to the planned healthcare worker strikes beginning today and tomorrow, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18 and 19, Kaiser Permanente issued the following statement:
We are extremely grateful for all our frontline health care workforce, whose commitment to providing care and service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been nothing short of inspiring. We recently reached successful agreements with dozens of unions that represent more than 60,000 Kaiser Permanente employees that demonstrate our commitment to providing excellent wages and benefits for all employees while meeting our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable care for our members and patients. These are market-leading contracts, reached through constructive and reasonable bargaining.
Bargaining with Local 39 IUOE
Kaiser Permanente has been bargaining in good faith with Local 39 IUOE, the union that represents about 600 Kaiser Permanente operating engineers, for several months. The union decided to call a strike and have kept employees out for more than two months. We are offering Local 39 employees wages that are similar to our other employees’ and that, on top of Local 39’s generous medical and the richest retirement benefits, will keep our engineers among the best compensated in their profession, at an average of more than $180,000 in total wages and benefits. We are not proposing any take-aways and our proposals do not differentiate between current and future employees. But union leadership wants more, asking for unreasonable increases far beyond any other union at Kaiser Permanente.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, after many hours bargaining on Tuesday and Wednesday, there is no movement in negotiations with Local 39. The union insists it receive much more – in some cases nearly 2 times more – than other union agreements covering Kaiser Permanente employees.
Michelle Gaskill-Hames, Senior Vice President of Hospital and Health Plan Operations for Kaiser Permanente Northern California spoke via video about the workers and patient care during the strike.
We are optimistic that we can resolve the remaining issues with Local 39 at the bargaining table and reach an agreement that continues to reward our employees and supports health care affordability, just as we have with several unions this week.
Sympathy strikes
As one of the largest health care union employers in the United States — with nearly 75% of our employees working under collective bargaining agreements — we fully understand solidarity among unions. But given the demands of Local 39, on top of the already market-leading compensation and highest retirement benefit of any represented employee in our organization, we believe that sympathy strikes are not appropriate in this case. We are asking our staff to choose to be there for our patients, and to come to work.
We question why leaders of other unions are asking their members to walk out on patients on Nov. 18 and 19 in sympathy for Local 39. This will not bring us closer to an agreement and most important, it is unfair to our members and patients to disrupt their care when they most need our employees to be there for them.
Several unions have submitted sympathy strike notices: SEIU-UHW, Local 20, and Local 29 on Thursday, November 18 and the California Nurses Association, Friday, November 19. Kaiser Permanente is not in bargaining with these unions, and each has a current contract. In fact, we have informed SEIU-UHW, Local 20, and Local 29 union leaders that we believe in accordance with their contracts, these sympathy strikes are not protected by law.
We are also in bargaining with NUHW, the union that represents our mental health professionals. NUHW has announced a one-day strike for Friday, November 19.
We have taken steps to ensure that our members and patients will continue to receive high-quality, safe care and service should these strikes occur.
We have prepared thoroughly to care for our patients in the event of a strike and are working diligently to reduce the impact.
- During the strike, care will be provided by physicians and experienced clinical managers and staff, with the support of trained and qualified contingency staff.
- Some non-urgent medical appointments or procedures may be affected, and we will reach out to patients to reschedule or convert appointments to phone or video if that is appropriate. We will not postpone any urgent or emergency care, or critical medical appointments.
- We encourage members to schedule an appointment should they need lab, optometry, or radiology services this week as some of our locations will be temporarily closed or operating with reduced hours. If a member has an urgent need for services, they should call the Appointment and Advice Call Center, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Some outpatient pharmacies will be temporarily closed from Nov. 18 and 19. If a member does not need their refill right away, any closed pharmacies will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 20. Our Mail Delivery pharmacy will remain open during the strike to order refills at kp.org or by phone.
- In the event an urgent prescription is needed and the outpatient pharmacy is closed, Kaiser Permanente staff will provide members with direction on how to fill their prescription at an open Kaiser Permanente pharmacy or at a retail pharmacy. Hospital pharmacies for inpatient care and critical infusion services will remain in operation.
- All our hospitals and emergency departments will continue to be open during a strike and remain safe places to receive care.
As this is an evolving situation, we will continue to communicate directly with our members and post updates on kp.org as they are available.
We are very sorry for any disruption members may experience as we take steps to ensure that we continue to provide high-quality, safe care during this union strike.
Kaiser Permanente is indisputably one of the most labor-friendly organizations in the United States.
Our history and our future are deeply connected to organized labor. Labor unions have always played an important role in our efforts to provide more people with access to high-quality care and to make care more affordable.
It’s unconscionable that union leaders would ask health care workers to walk away from the patients who need them and deliberately disrupt their care.
Read More
First time a father and daughter will receive an award together – the Lifetime Achievement Award for the legendary Latin jazz artist and The Queen of Percussion
By Allen Payton
Latin jazz legend native of Pittsburg, Pete Escovedo and his daughter, known as the Queen of Percussion, Sheila E. of Lafayette, will be honored with a 2021 Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award tonight, Nov. 17, 2021, as part of the 22nd Annual Latin GRAMMY week. The honorees will be celebrated during a private ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas.
In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, Nov. 14, Escovedo wrote, “This will be a night that will be precious to our family. My daughter and I #SheilaE will be receiving ‘The Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the #LatinGrammy2021. First time in history that a father and daughter received an award together at the same time. I am grateful and humbled to be acknowledged for all of my work over the years and a special thank you to all of the musicians that I was able to perform with. Many blessings – Pete.”
According to the Latin Grammy website, “The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities.”
The distinction is voted on by The Latin Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees.
To watch father and daughter Pete Escovedo and Sheila E. playing together is an unforgettable experience: two brilliant percussionists breathing in unison to the syncopated beat. Sheila E. was a little girl when she taught herself to play the drums and timbales by watching her father rehearse with his Latin jazz combo. The rest is history.
Born in Pittsburg, California in 1935, Pete Michael Escovedo fell in love with Afro-Caribbean music as a young man and decided to follow his passion, founding a jazz sextet with family members that evolved into the iconic Chicano rock band Azteca in 1972. Five years later, Escovedo launched a solo career, unifying elements of jazz, salsa and Latin soul under the elegant groove of his timbales. At 85 Pete continues touring, recording and creating critically acclaimed paintings in his home studio.
Born into a musical family in Oakland in 1957, Sheila Cecilia Escovedo made a name for herself in the late ’70s as the fiery percussionist with The George Duke Band. Global success followed when Prince asked her to join the Purple Rain sessions. Performing as part of Prince’s touring band, Sheila cooked up an exquisite hybrid of pop, funk and Latin that would anchor mega-hits “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre”.
Even though she continued performing with Prince onstage until his death, Sheila developed a sound of her own, inspired by her love of jazz, R&B and the Latin music tradition she learned from her father.
Ver a Pete Escovedo tocar junto a su hija Sheila E. es una experiencia inolvidable: dos percusionistas que respiran al unísono, conectados por el espíritu del ritmo. Pete Michael Escovedo se enamoró de la música afrocaribeña durante su juventud y, motivado por esa pasión, fundó un sexteto de jazz con integrantes de su familia que se transformó en 1972 en Azteca, la legendaria banda de rock chicano. Cinco años más tarde, Escovedo se lanzó como solista, unificando elementos de jazz, salsa y Latin soul bajo la elegante cadencia de sus timbales. Nacida en una familia de música Sheila Cecilia Escovedo se dio a conocer a fines de los años 70 como la apasionada percusionista de The George Duke Band. La fama internacional vino de la mano de Prince, que la invitó a participar en las sesiones del disco Purple Rain. Como integrante del grupo que acompañaba a Prince en vivo, Sheila desarrolló un exquisito híbrido de pop, funk y música latina que apoyó los extraordinarios éxitos “The Glamorous Life” y “A Love Bizarre”.
“We are delighted to recognize this remarkable group of legendary artists, who remain very active, with this year’s Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Awards,” said Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Their outstanding accomplishments have created a timeless legacy within the Latin music world and beyond, and we look forward to honoring and celebrating each of them during Latin GRAMMY Week as we return to Las Vegas this November with our resilient community of Latin music lovers.”
Post Video Announcing Award and Thanking Latin Recording Academy
In a video post on Facebook on June 24 the day the award was announced, Sheila wrote, “We are so honored, humbled, and grateful. Thank U Latin GRAMMYs and family Pete Escovedo #LatinGRAMMY.”
“Pops, oh. Congratulations,” she said.
“Congratulations to you and to me,” Pete responded. “What an achievement. Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Grammys.”
“We don’t even know what to say,” Sheila continued.
“I don’t know what to say,” Pete said.
“I’m receiving it and my father’s receiving it,” she stated. “. We’ve made history. They said they’ve never honored two people with the same name let alone a father and daughter.”
“So, it’s a first. Yeah,” Pete said.
“We are so honored. Thank you so much,” she said.
“That is so, so remarkable,” he said. “Yay.”
“Thank you, so much, Recording Academy, the Latin Recording Academy,” Sheila said.
“Yes, definitely,” Pete added.
“We are so humbled. Thank you,” she added.
They then congratulated each other again, and Sheila kissed her dad.
Wednesday from Las Vegas for the Award Presentation
On her Facebook page, on Wednesday, Sheila posted photos and wrote, “Love you, Pops. I am beyond grateful and humbled to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award from #latingrammy2021 Latin GRAMMYs alongside my hero, Pete Escovedo. This is an incredible honor, thank u, family.
Honored and so grateful to be here to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award today alongside my hero Pete Escovedo Latin GRAMMYs. Thank U, family.
This has been a beautiful and incredibly humbling day. Thank u, family. @momsandpopse @pete_escovedo Go to @947thewave’s bio to listen to my convo with @prescott947 #947thewave @sheilaedrummer and her father the legendary @pete_escovedo will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards. First time in history father & daughter! Sheila spoke to #prescott947 about what this means to her to share this particular honor with her Dad. #linkinbio “This has been a once in a lifetime day. Thank you, @latingrammys, we are honored and truly humbled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Love you, @momsandpopse @pete_escovedo, thank you for sharing this day with us, family,” she also wrote.
Also posted on her page was, “Feeling incredibly blessed. Pete Escovedo Latin GRAMMYs from my sis Zina Escovedo We are at the LATIN GRAMMYS!!! #PeteEscovedo and my seeeeester #SheilaE will be accepting a #LifetimeAchievementAward !! First time in history Father and Daughter!
More About Pete Escovedo
According to Escovedo’s website “Percussionist Pete Escovedo is an artist who broke down the barriers between Smooth Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz and contemporary music. His name has been synonymous in the music industry for more than 50 years. Pete is known worldwide for his live performances, session work and solo albums.
As a young boy he would sit on the steps of nightclubs and watch musicians play. Music became his outlet. When he was 15 years old, he began to also sketch and paint on wood or cardboard. Anything he could get his hands on he would start to draw.
Pete did not know that his love for music and art combined would change his life forever.
Over the years he has created an amazing body of artwork, created using mixed mediums, including oils, acrylics, latex, enamels, pencil and crayons.
A master of color, texture, and shape, Escovedo’s work explores the vibrancy of life with a thoughtful attention to detail.”
See his art at MrEGallery.com. In addition, Pete published a memoir entitled, “My Life In The Key of E”.
He and his wife Juanita have been married for 65 years and have three other children, Juan, Peter Michael and Zina. Read more about the Escovedo family, here.
More About Sheila E.
According to her Wikipedia page, Sheila E. is a percussionist, singer, author, and actress. She began her career in the mid-1970s as a percussionist and singer for The George Duke Band. After leaving the group in 1983, Sheila began a successful solo career, starting with her critically acclaimed debut album, which included the career-defining song, “The Glamorous Life“. She became a mainstream solo star in 1985 following the success of the singles “The Belle of St. Mark“, “Sister Fate“, and “A Love Bizarre” with the last becoming one of her signature songs. She is commonly referred to as The Queen of Percussion.
According to her website, “Guided by the forces of family, faith, and music, Sheila E. has made a name for herself as one of the most talented musical icons over the decades. With a fearless nature and a passion for sharing her gifts with others, Sheila truly follows the beat of her own drum. She touches the lives of so many, with her dynamic music career at the heart of everything. Sheila’s eagerness to share her music, openness as an author, and fire for her ministry make her such a relatable, inspirational figure for people of all ages.
Born into a musical family, Sheila Escovedo (Sheila E.) has been driven by an inner rhythm her entire life. As a young girl, she was immersed in the diverse music scenes of the Bay Area—influenced and inspired by her percussionist father Pete Escovedo; musical uncles Coke Escovedo, Alejandro Escovedo, Mario Escovedo, and Javier Escovedo; and godfather Tito Puente. Growing up in the Escovedo household, musical instruments were for everyone. “Nobody cared as long as you could keep time (or have a good time),” she writes in her memoir, The Beat Of My Own Drum.
Before Sheila had language, she had rhythm. When she was 3 years old, she developed a love for playing various musical instruments, feeling the most connected to the drums and other percussion instruments. Born into an environment filled with music, with music running through her veins, Sheila found an inner beat that fueled her every move. As a young child, she’d copy the hand movements of her father as he played the drums—planting the seed for what would quickly become her life’s passion.
At the age of 5, Sheila gave her first public performance for an audience of 3,000, appearing alongside her dad. It was while on that stage playing a drum solo that Sheila first realized she was going to be a percussionist. Five decades later, and the beat that has always driven her is showing no signs of slowing down. The famous drummer, singer, songwriter, author, humanitarian, and icon is following the beat of her own drum. She considers music to be the purest form of self-expression and the one true love of her life.”
Pete Writes About His Daughter
On December 22, 2020, Pete wrote about his daughter on his Facebook page, “On December 12th, 1957. Our first child was born, Sheila Escovedo. Our lives changed forever.
Sheila loved Jiffy commercials (if you’re reading this and you think its Jiffy Lube commercials – NO – It was for Peanut Butter) She would get so excited about hearing the commercial, that she would crawl back to the drums and hit them as hard as she could.
I kept all of the instruments in the front room (we didn’t have a big house and extra rooms to play in) So that’s where all of the congas, percussion and timbales lived. When Sheila watched me practice, she would mirror me because she was on the other side of the drums, so she learned how to play backwards. She would sit on the floor and stare at the drums as if she was mesmerized by the sounds that were coming out…
Little did she know, this was the beginning of her own future.
Sheila was very different as a little girl growing up, she wasn’t interested in barbie dolls, cute clothes, sewing or even tea parties with stuffed animals. She was in love with the sound of music, she lived by it, she breathed it and It became her world.
Through the years my little girl didn’t know at that time that only men played drums. The older she got she witnessed men not taking her seriously because they had never seen a girl play. I am sure they made many comments behind her back with whispers filling the room. But when she stepped on the stage, she owned it! No one could tell her anything, and by the end of the song, she would receive standing ovations.
I am a very proud father who didn’t see this coming. But God did. As parents you can’t ask for anything more. Healthy children, great wife and a blessed career.
I love having my children on my albums. Here is just a few…
‘Rhythm of the Night’ Released Sept. 2021
‘Back to the Bay’ Released 2018
Both albums produced by son #PeterMichaelEscovedo.”
The 2021 Latin Grammys presentation will air at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18 on Univision.
Read MoreSigned by Biden on Monday
Washington, DC – In response to President Joe Biden signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) issued the following statement on Monday, Nov. 15:
“Today, I had the privilege of joining President Biden as he signed into law the largest federal infrastructure investment in nearly a century. Americans called on us for action, and we answered ‘yes’ to rebuilding our communities, ‘yes’ to good union wages, ‘yes’ to expanding opportunity, and ‘yes’ to doing it all while tackling the climate crisis.
“Building back better is no longer just a promise, but a reality that Americans will see throughout their communities and across our nation. I am extremely proud that four bills I authored were encompassed in this historic law. As part of the law’s $65 billion broadband investment, the Digital Equity Act will provide $2.75 billion to help close gaps in broadband adoption and increase digital literacy. Connectivity and digital skills are essential for opening gateways to economic opportunity, and this funding is crucial for lifting up communities across the country – including many in my district. Additionally, the Cyber Sense Act and the Enhancing Grid Security Through Public-Private Partnerships Act will help bolster the cybersecurity of our electric utilities to better secure our grid as we confront a growing number of cyber threats. Finally, the Grid Hardening Act will dedicate $3 billion to modernize the electric grid, including upgrades to increase resiliency against wildfires.”
“Through investments such as the $55 billion allotted to update our drinking water infrastructure and $17 billion marked for ports and waterway enhancements, we will create an average of 1.5 million jobs per year over the next 10 years. Our roads and bridges will be repaired and rebuilt with an emphasis on climate change mitigation, and our commitment to reducing greenhouse emissions will be honored with the largest investment in public transit in our nation’s history.”
Rep. Jerry McNerney represents California’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Represents that includes portions of Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Sacramento Counties. For more information on the Congressman’s work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney.
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