“How is it our responsibility to be the vaccine police!!” – Contra Costa restaurant owner
“the peak of the surge seems to have passed” – CC Health Services
“We can’t give you an exact percentage of cases that can be attributed to restaurants and the other high-risk venues covered in the order.” – CC Health Services spokesman
No “Metric” for ending latest order; county wants “significant portion” of 5-11 year-olds vaccinated
By Allen Payton
Shades of Nazi Brown Shirts will begin next week in Contra Costa County as patrons of restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues will hear something a similar to the phrase used during World War II by the Hitler-led German regime, “Your Papers, Please!” That’s because as of Wednesday, Sept. 22, by order of the county’s unelected health officer, Dr. Chris Farnitano, those types of businesses in the county must require patrons show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test in order to enter, even though “the peak of the surge seems to have passed” as mentioned in the press release from Contra Costa Health Services.
According to the press release, “The new order applies to businesses where people remove face coverings to eat or drink indoors, such as restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, and to gyms and other indoor fitness facilities, including yoga and dance studios, where patrons breathe more heavily due to exercise.”
The order was issued in the press release Tuesday afternoon which reads:
COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination or Test Required for Some Contra Costa Businesses
Contra Costa County joined San Francisco, Berkeley and other communities across the U.S. today with a countywide health order that increases COVID-19 safety in restaurants, gyms and other indoor businesses where there is elevated risk of the virus spreading.
The new order, effective September 22, requires patrons of these businesses to show proof they are fully vaccinated to enter indoor areas, or a negative COVID-19 test result from the past three days.
Contra Costa has endured a severe spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations this summer due to the increasing prevalence of the highly infectious delta variant of the virus and unvaccinated residents.
While the peak of the surge seems to have passed, data show the county’s daily case rate remains as high as it was last February. There were 15 COVID-related deaths in Contra Costa from August 25 to 31, and 20 from September 1 to 7, the two highest seven-day totals since March. Unvaccinated residents account for 95.9% of the county’s deaths so far.
COVID-19 case rates are about five times higher in unvaccinated county residents compared to fully vaccinated residents, hospitalization rates are approximately 16 times higher, and death rates are approximately 22 times higher.
“This order is necessary now to save lives, protect our overburdened healthcare system, and slow the pandemic enough to keep our schools open,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County Health Officer. “Reducing community transmission of the virus now is key to preventing future spikes in cases from overwhelming our county’s hospitals during the winter months.”
The new order applies to businesses where people remove face coverings to eat or drink indoors, such as restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, and to gyms and other indoor fitness facilities, including yoga and dance studios, where patrons breathe more heavily due to exercise.
The order also includes a requirement for workers in indoor areas of these businesses to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 by November 1 or test weekly for COVID-19.
To show proof of vaccination, patrons must show photo ID and their vaccination record cards from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), or copies or pictures of their cards. Documentation from healthcare providers will also be accepted, as will digital COVID-19 vaccine records issued by the State of California.
Visit myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov for a link to your digital vaccination, which can be downloaded on to your smartphone.
Visit cchealth.org/coronavirus for more information about this health order, or to find a safe, fast and free COVID-19 vaccination in Contra Costa County.
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Restauranteurs Respond
Restaurant owners in the county responded to the news with frustration. “How is it our responsibility to be the vaccine police!!” shared one owner who chose to remain anonymous.
“Kiss the restaurants good-bye,” said another, also anonymously.
However, another restaurant owner said anonymously, “We need to contribute to the pandemic to get better.”
Questions For Health Services
In response, questions were sent to county health services staff asking, “what percentage of COVID cases in the county can be attributed to restaurants, indoor entertainment venues and gyms, please?”
In addition, they were asked, “why not include what other countries are requiring for those who want to travel there, which is proof of having COVID within the past three months, since those folks have higher levels of antibodies than those who have been vaccinated, especially those who have been five to eight months ago?”
09/16/21 UPDATE: No Percentages of Impact from Affected Businesses
Contra Costa Public Health Services spokesman Will Harper responded with the following: “We can’t give you an exact percentage of cases that can be attributed to restaurants and the other high-risk venues covered in the order. Due to the nature of these businesses, it is not always possible to identify all the patrons who were exposed and infected by a case at one of these sites. What we can say is that indoor settings where people remove their masks, such as restaurants and bars, or where they breathe heavily, such as in a gym, increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. As the order states, outbreaks have been documented in bars, gyms, and restaurants in California this year.
Currently there is no scientific consensus on the strength or duration of natural immunity after a covid-19 infection, or how reliably to measure this. For now, we felt most confident in requiring proof of vaccination. Vaccination is still recommended for people who have had Covid-19 to boost their immunity and protect them from a repeat infection from Covid-19. We have clear data showing that vaccinated people are more protected the unvaccinated people, regardless or prior Covid-19 infection history.”
9/17/21 UPDATE: No “Metric” for Ending Latest Order, County Wants “Significant Portion” of 5-11 Year-Olds Vaccinated
A follow up question was sent asking what factors Dr. Farnitano will use to determine when this latest order will end.
Harper responded, “While we have not defined a specific metric at this time, the key measures we will be looking at to inform when it is safe to lift indoor masking requirements and venue verification and test requirements include the impact on our health care system (have our Covid-19 hospitalization and ICU levels returned to June, 2021 levels), the impact on schools (are significant numbers of students missing out on classroom time due to illness, isolation and quarantine) and our community vaccination rates (which will be crucial to preventing another surge if other public health measures are relaxed), especially if we are able to vaccinate a significant portion of the 5-11 year-old population once the vaccines are approved for them. California learned an unfortunate lesson that the vaccination rates we had in June were not sufficient to prevent a serious surge without other interventions like indoor masking in place.”
Additional Questions Go Unanswered
Additional questions were sent to Harper, asking, why do you want to vaccinate a significant portion of the 5-11 population when such a minuscule percentage of that age group are contracting the virus and a much smaller number have died?
In addition, he was asked about one of his previous responses, how can it both be that “Currently there is no scientific consensus on the strength or duration of natural immunity after a covid-19 infection, or how reliably to measure this” and “We have clear data showing that vaccinated people are more protected than unvaccinated people, regardless of prior Covid-19 infection history”?
Please check back later for any other updates to this report.
Read MoreInitial unofficial results for the Recall Election will be available shortly after 8:00 pm
By Dawn Kruger, Civic Outreach/Engagement Specialist, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
The first unofficial results report for the Gubernatorial Recall Election will be released shortly after at 8:00 pm on election night, September 14 and posted to the Elections Division website www.cocovote.us immediately afterward. The initial posted results will be Vote by Mail ballots that are returned through Monday, September 13 and in person early votes from prior to election day.
The second report, with results from the polls, will be issued at approximately 9:30 pm with subsequent updates approximately every half hour until all poll precincts have reported. The final unofficial election night report is expected to be issued by 1:00 am.
The first interim report will be posted by 5:00 pm on Friday, September 17 and will contain results from timely Vote by Mail ballots received on and after Election Day. The second interim report will be posted by 5:00 pm on Friday, September 24. Additional results will be posted each Friday afternoon up to certification which is expected to be October 8. All results remain unofficial until certification.
The availability of updated reports will be communicated via Twitter and Facebook. Changes to the reporting schedule, if any, will also be communicated on these social media sites.
The Contra Costa Elections Division social media pages are:
https://www.Twitter.com/CoCoElections
https://www.facebook.com/ContraCostaElections/
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Convicted felon with a two-decade history of violence, weapons violations, theft, attempted murder and resisting arrest.
By Scott Alonso, PIO, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney
Last week, defendant Paul Simmons (Muscat) of Richmond was sentenced to 27 years in state prison by the Honorable John Cope for the first degree, residential robbery of a female victim. On August 12, 2021, a Contra Costa County jury found Simmons guilty as charged for two felonies. The second felony was first degree burglary with a person present– both offenses were committed in 2018. The jury also found true the enhancements listed in the first charge against Simmons, use of a firearm. (See related article)
“What the victim experienced that morning is anyone’s worst nightmare—the defendant put her behind the barrel of a handgun, in her own bedroom, just feet away from her one- and three-year-old daughters. The evidence was overwhelming—after once trying to take the life of victim’s husband, the defendant tracked her down, invaded her home, and forever robbed her family of their sense of safety. The victim’s bravery, the first-rate investigation by Brentwood and Livermore PD, the jury’s verdict, and the Court’s well-reasoned sentence may finally help this family begin to feel safe again in their own home,” Deputy District Attorney Amy Bailey stated. DDA Bailey prosecuted the case on behalf of the People.
In the early morning of September 17, 2018, the victim woke up in her Brentwood home with her two young daughters when she noticed someone in her bathroom behind a curtain. She quickly realized the person in her bedroom was not her husband. The defendant was wearing a mask, armed with a handgun he stole from the victim’s closet. The defendant pointed the handgun at the victim and directed her downstairs. She was able to escape from him and she went up to her bedroom with her children to hide.
While the victim and her children hid in a closet, the defendant fled with multiple items from her home, including three of her husband’s firearms, an Apple Watch, Beats headphones, car keys and ammunition. The police investigation, conducted by the Brentwood Police Department, determined Simmons entered the victim’s garage first, then entered the home and eventually in the victim’s bedroom. The investigation also determined that Simmons searched for blueprints of the victim’s home days before he committed the robbery.
Five days later, the defendant was arrested by Livermore Police Department officers after he was inside a Rite Aid acting in a suspicious manner. The defendant was casing the Rite Aid and wearing a disguise and gave a fake name to the police. Police located some of the items from the victim’s home, including the victim’s husband’s handgun. The Livermore investigation also connected Simmons to a string of other burglaries in Livermore for which the defendant was convicted in Alameda County.
Five years before this robbery, the defendant tried to kill the victim’s then boyfriend, now husband in Livermore. Due to this shooting, the defendant was convicted of a serious felony, assault with a firearm. This 2014 conviction is a strike, and the judge imposed the strike during the sentencing of this case.
Case information: People v. Paul Victor Simmons (Muscat), Docket Number 05-200286-3.
Read MoreBy Dawn Kruger, Civic Outreach/Engagement Specialist, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department
The Contra Costa Elections Division would like to remind residents that the Division is taking great steps to make sure that voting in the September 14th Recall Election is as safe as possible. Health officials have said that voting by mail is the safest option. Voters are encouraged to return their ballot by mail postmarked on or before Election Day or drop their ballot off at one of the County’s 36 official drop boxes.
“For everyone’s safety, we are urging voters to vote by mail and to reserve in-person voting for those that require in-person services,” said Clerk-Recorder-Registrar Deborah Cooper, the County’s top Elections Official. “Voting by mail protects voters, poll workers and our volunteers by limiting personal contact. In person voting locations will follow health protocols, which may cause delays and lines due to social distancing. The easiest and fastest way to vote in this election is to cast the ballot that we sent to you returning it by mail or into one of our official ballot boxes located throughout the County.”
In-Person Services
If you need in-person services to cast your ballot, Contra Costa County residents have early voting options at eight Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county as of Friday, September 10th.
All registered Contra Costa voters will be able to vote at any of the locations, which will be open Monday September 13 from 11 am to 7 pm.
The sites are:
- Ambrose Community Center, 3105 Willow Pass Rd., Bay Point
- Antioch Community Center, 4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
- Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St., Brentwood
- El Cerrito City Hall, 10890 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito
- Fair Oaks Church, 1925 Risdon Rd., Concord
- Hyatt House Pleasant Hill, 2611 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill
- Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond
- San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Blvd., Alamo
Polling Places
Polling places will be open on Election Day, Tuesday September 14 from 7am to 8 pm. Please check the back of your Voter Information Guide for your polling place or go to our website and check “My Voting Information”.
Additional Drop-off Options
In addition to the Official Drop Boxes and Regional Voting Center sites, vote-by-mail ballots can also be dropped off at the Elections Division “Pop-up” Trailer locations on Monday September 13 at the following sites during the following times:
- Monument Crisis Center, 1990 Market St., Concord 9 am-10:30 am
- Contra Costa College, 2600 Mission Bell Dr., San Pablo 11 am-1:30 pm
- Richmond Civic Center, 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond 2 pm-3:30 pm
Drive through drop off will be available at the The Clerk-Recorder-Elections Offices on Saturday September 11th from 10 am-3 pm, Monday September 13th from 9 am-5pm and on Election day, September 14th from 7 am-8 pm.
Conditional Voter Registration
If you missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register and vote in person using Conditional Voter Registration. It is a one-stop opportunity to register and cast your ballot and is available at our office-555 Escobar Street in Martinez, Regional Early Voting sites, and all polling places on Election Day.
Accessible Voting Equipment and Additional Language Access
Official ballots and voting instructions are printed in English, Spanish and Chinese. Voting equipment with accessible features are available at every in-person voting location for voters who may need assistance due to a disability. Additional language resources are available through accessible vote by mail and ballot translation guides available online and at in person voting location.
Be Prepared
It helps to come prepared. Bring your Sample Ballot or Voter Information Guide to help you make your selections. Copies are also available at the polls and information is available online.
Leave the T-Shirts, Buttons, and Hats at Home
Please remember that voters have the right to cast a ballot free from intimidation or distraction. Electioneering, including wearing anything with a campaign slogan on it, is prohibited within 100 feet of any in-person voting location. Anyone wearing such campaign slogans will be asked to remove or cover them while they are in the voting location. Please help our poll workers by respecting the non-partisan nature of the voting locations.
Follow Safety Procedures
Protect your health and the health of other voters and election workers at voting locations by taking the following precautions:
VOTING LOCATION SAFETY CHECKLIST
For more information on voting options for the Recall Election, visit www.cocovote.us or call 925.335.7800.
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By CHP – Contra Costa
Friday afternoon at about 1:38 pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a four-vehicle crash on Hwy-4 westbound, east of Hillcrest Avenue. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, it was determined that four vehicles were involved. (A black Chevrolet Tahoe, a white Infiniti G37, a grey Toyota Corolla, and a white semi-truck trailer.)
It appears that the driver of the Infiniti drove between the semi-truck and the Chevrolet Tahoe and collided into the side of the Tahoe. The driver of the Tahoe (56-year-old male from Discovery Bay) lost control and veered the Tahoe across all lanes to the right side of the road and crashed into the guard rail. Then subsequently careened off the guard rail and back into the lanes where it was struck by the semi-truck, and then continued across the lanes towards the center divider, where it was then struck by the Toyota Corolla. Tragically the 56-year-old male driver from the Tahoe sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. No other drivers from the other vehicles involved were transported to any hospital. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male.
Alcohol or drugs are not suspected to be a factor in this collision. This collision is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it and have not yet spoken with CHP, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980.
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2015 Pittsburg High grad
By Stephanie Fox, Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – Seaman Apprentice Taylor Sledge, a native of Pittsburg, California, serves in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, California.
“I joined the Navy for my son,” said Sledge. “I also wanted more for myself, and I wanted to experience a new environment. The Navy provided those opportunities to me.”
Sledge joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Sledge serves with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC 6) in San Diego, working with one of the Navy’s most advanced helicopters, the MH-60S Knighthawk.
Growing up in Pittsburg, Sledge attended Encinal Junior and Senior High Schools and graduated in 2015. Today, Sledge uses the same skills and values learned in Pittsburg to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I was taught to be versatile,” said Sledge. “It’s important to be able to adapt to any new environment. It’s also important to just be a good person.”
These lessons have helped Sledge while serving in the Navy.
Navy pilots and aircrew at HSC 6 constantly train to ensure they are prepared for peacetime and warfighting missions. The mission set of the MH-60S includes anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, logistics support, personnel transport, humanitarian disaster relief, medical evacuation, support to Naval Special Warfare and organic airborne mine, countermeasures. MH-60S helicopters are also equipped with the ability to conduct replenishments at sea, search and rescue missions and enable other operations for the carrier strike group.
“For over 60 years, HSC 6 has provided all-weather rotary wing operations to America’s Navy,” said HSC 6 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Charles A. Chmielak. “Whether it’s recovering the astronauts of Apollo 14 after they returned to Earth or deploying around the world to preserve free and open sea lanes, our highly trained sailors have always answered the call, wherever and whenever the nation needs them.”
Serving in the Navy means Sledge is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus, rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy makes sure everyone is safe and everything is fair across the board by keeping the seas free,” said Sledge.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Sledge and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment is sticking with the military track,” said Sledge. “I’ve had a lot of different jobs in the past, but this is a position you have to keep working through and learning from. I’m proud of myself for staying the course.”
As Sledge and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me, serving in the Navy means teamwork,” added Sledge. “There’s a lot of teamwork and initiative that goes into service. Being able to be surrounded by like-minded people makes the work easier.”
Read MoreTo replace 12-story McBrien Building
By Daniel Borsuk
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors reacted swiftly to increasing interest among county workers to work in downtown Martinez by approving a $75 million budget and a $58,238,551 Design-Build Contract with Webcor Construction to raze the 60-year-old former 12-story administration building at 651 Pine Street and to erect a three-story office building and plaza that calls for the demolition of the old county jail. (See presentation)
Supervisors approved the contract on a 5-0 vote during their regular meeting on Tuesday. (See complete agenda)
The new, four-story County Administration Building on Escobar Street and Pine Street was completed last year, to replace the old, 12-story McBrien Building across the street that is slated to be demolished for the new three-story, 65,000 square foot office building. The new building will offer about 40,000 square feet of office space and 80 covered parking spaces on the ground floor and will be built. Both buildings were designed by the same firm, KMD Architects.
Over the muted protests of building preservationists like Sherill Grover of the Contra Costa Historical Preservation Coalition, Supervisors had already decided the costs were too far great and out of reach to rehabilitate and bring the present jail up to code. The jail was constructed in 1901.
When District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen asked why the jail cannot be preserved like old churches are preserved, Chief Assistant County Administrator Eric Angstadt answered by saying “it is cost prohibitive.” It would cost $1.2 million to $1.5 million to “fully remediate” the former jail, he said.
“A jail is a little bit different than preserving a church,” Angstadt added. He said the City of Martinez is not interested in preserving the old jail.
“This is really exciting!” exclaimed District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. She proposed that the new administration building exhibit somewhere photographs of all the supervisors in the county’s 171-year history and that a new time capsule be installed in the new building. The county was founded in 1850.
Angstadt said the Vermont granite used to construct the old jail could be cut and reused for the proposed plaza across the street from the 651 Pine St. office building. Plans are on the drawing boards to permanently close Pine Street to vehicular traffic, but that proposal requires City of Martinez approval. County officials expect the City of Martinez to close Pine Street.
“We have had strong interest for downtown office space,” said Angstadt. Among some of the potential tenants moving into the new 65,000 square foot three-story building are the County law library, sheriff, and probation.
Demolition of the old 651 Pine St. building will begin in November and should be completed by September,2022 said Angstadt. The new office building should be completed by April 2024.
COVID-19 UPDATE
Contra Costa County’s Deputy Health Officer Ori Tzvielli issued an optimistic picture on the COVID-19 scene in the county saying, “Our case numbers are coming down.”
According to the Contra Costa Public Health Department, the county’s COVID-19 case load is down 36.8 percent with 2,910 cases. The department also reported 186 persons are hospitalized with COVID-19. The hospitalization rate is down 11.2 percent.
On the vaccination front, the county is showing progress. The county’s vaccination rate is 84.4 percent in comparison to 73.1 percent nationally.
“The best thing you can do is to get vaccinated,” said Tzvielli. He expects five- to 11-year-olds to soon get the vaccine.
Set October 6 as Clean Air Day
To encourage Contra Costans to use public transit, supervisors passed a resolution setting October 6 as Clean Air Day. Last year more than 1.5 million persons rode free transit in the Bay Area.
Recognize Tom Aswad
Supervisors also recognized the retirement of Tom Aswad and his 22 years of service as founder of Discovery House, a 41-bed men’s residential treatment program.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
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San Quentin prison guard from Pittsburg, two others charged in Death Row contraband smuggling scheme
“The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.”
SAN FRANCISCO – Keith Christopher and Isaiah Wells appeared in federal court today to face the charge of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud using interstate wires, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair. A third co-defendant, Tanisa Smith-Symes, will appear tomorrow in federal court in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was arrested today.
According to the complaint, Christopher, 37, of Pittsburg, California, Smith-Symes, 45, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Wells, 32, of Tracy, California, conspired to smuggle cell phones into San Quentin State Prison’s East Block, where condemned inmates are housed. Cell phones create safety and security risks for prison employees and other inmates, and state law deems them contraband and prohibits their possession by inmates. Christopher is a Corrections Officer at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County. The complaint alleges that Smith-Symes worked with a Death Row inmate with whom she had a relationship to obtain the contraband phones and ship them to Wells, who then provided the phones to Christopher, who in turn smuggled them into the prison. Using this scheme, the complaint alleges that the conspirators successfully smuggled at least 25 phones into the prison and that the inmate working with Smith-Symes sold the phones inside the prison for up to $900 each. Smith-Symes sent bribery payments to Christopher through Wells and others whom Christopher had appointed to receive the money. The complaint further alleges that Christopher charged $500 as payment for each phone he smuggled into the prison.
The complaint filed against Christopher, Smith-Symes, and Wells charges each defendant with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud using interstate wires in violation of 18 USC §§ 1343, 1346, and 1349. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence following conviction, however, is imposed by a court only after the court’s consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 USC § 3553.
Christopher and Wells appeared today on the charges before United States Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim, who sits in San Francisco. They were released on bond and are scheduled to next appear in federal court on September 17, 2021.
Charges contained in a criminal complaint are mere allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Office of Internal Affairs.
Read MoreSemi-annual veterans support event at fairgrounds in Antioch will be replaced by Stand-Up on the Delta 2022
By Gerald “J.R.” Wilson, Jr., CEO & President, Delta Veterans Group Board of Directors
The Delta Veterans Group (DVG) Board of Directors, with deep sadness, had made the decision to postpone Stand Down on the Delta for 2021. The Board of Directors did not make this decision alone, but with the recommendation and guidance of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health to include our local Medical VA Outpatient Clinic in Martinez, Contra Costa County Health Department as well as our community partners.
The event to support local veterans has been held every other year, during odd-numbered years, at the Contra Costa Event Park (fairgrounds) in Antioch. During even-numbered years, a similar event is held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.
The DVG Board has elected to conduct a “Stand-Up on the Delta 2022” and has secured the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds for May 31 through June 8, 2022. The Stand-Up on the Delta will take place June 3-5, 2022, a three-day event.
Although Stand-Up on the Delta will be different than a traditional Stand Down event, it will provide many services that our veterans in the Bay Area need. This event will be opened to all veterans and will have service providers from our four-core areas (Health, Employment, Housing and Education). We still plan on having our “Fishing on the Delta”, Roller Skating, Car Show, Animal Care, Clothing, Legal Aid, Veteran Information Seminars, Veteran Legislative Seminars, Barbers, Bands, DMV, Health Fair, Dental, Vision and other essential services. The main difference is that there will be no overnight housing and the Stand-Up will be held every day from 8 AM to 6 PM.
The VA, on a national scale, has decided to step away from supporting 52 Stand Downs throughout the country, this year. As we watched the COVID-19 numbers increase daily, including among those who have been vaccinated, we became extremely concerned for the safety of our volunteers and veterans. Many of our service organizations and individual volunteers have informed us they would be unable to attend due to the increase in COVID-19 cases affecting their safety and the safety of their employees.
If you are a volunteer, watch your email in the late winter / early spring of 2022. We will be adding new time slots to reflect the new dates. The email will let you know when the website is ready for volunteer sign ups.
If you are a vendor or a service provider, we ask that you understand this was not an easy decision to postpone the Stand Down. We hope that you will keep in contact with your coordinator and accept our invitation to join us in June 2022 for “Stand Up on the Delta”.
If you are a veteran that has registered as a “Participant” we ask that you continue to stay safe, and we will continue to work with you towards Stand Up on the Delta (June 3-5, 2022) and your continuing journey.
We plan to hold our Stand Up on the Delta 2022 meetings, beginning in early in 2022, for a successful return to what we do best – providing “a Hand Up, not a Hand-Out” to all of our Veterans.
Hope to see you all safe and healthy in 2022!
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
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