Give away Callaway Epic Driver to veteran golfer with lowest score
On November 11, the Bentwood Golf Club gave more than 30 veterans a round of free golf to thank them for their service. Rex Choe, Chief Operating Officer and an Air Force veteran and sergeant, said “I wanted to do something special for the men and women who sacrifice so much for our country.”
The thirty veteran golfers also competed for a Callaway Epic Driver valued at $499. The winner, Al Bella of Brentwood, also an Air Force veteran and sergeant, won the the driver with a score of 65.5 (including his 11.5 handicap). Bella thanked the golf course for the recognition and was “happy to win the fabulous prize.”
Choe, who has been has at the golf course for a year, said “The community has supported us, and we want to give back whenever we can. I can think of no better way than to support our veterans.”
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Has volunteered as a Chapter and Post Service Officer for DAV Chapter 21 in Vallejo, American Legion Post 161 in Antioch and VFW Post 10789 in Brentwood
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier, D-Fairfied, honored Pittsburg resident and United States Air Force Senior Airman Archie Smith (Retired) as Assembly District 11’s 2020 Veteran of the Year.
“One of the best things I get to do every year is name the 11th AD Veteran of the Year to highlight the military service and contributions of a veteran resident of our district,” Frazier said. “Archie Smith is someone who often offers aid to others before they even think to ask. He is passionate about working with veterans and civic organizations to make a difference in our community. It is my honor to recognize U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen and veteran community advocate Archie Smith as this year’s Veteran of the Year.”
Smith was deployed overseas three times during his four years of service, twice to Bahrain and once to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, where he was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal for managing his weapons load crew through an emergency quick-turn munitions load resulting in the destruction of 40 Iraqi Air Defense Systems and one surface-to-air missile site. Exposures to Gulf War airborne toxins and job-related orthopedic injuries caused Smith to be discharged honorably with the rank of Senior Airman.
Following his service, Smith applied for disability benefits through the Disabled American Veterans Service Organization (DAV) and was offered a job with them as a Transitional and future National Service Officer and supervisor. For the next 12 years, working out of the Oakland and Sacramento offices, Archie provided hundreds of benefit seminars and record reviews to newly discharging veterans, traveling monthly to five different military bases in Northern California. Smith has represented hundreds of veterans at personnel hearings before administrative law judges with the Department of Veterans Affairs and has conducted thousands of interviews, teaching his interpretation of claims development.
Continuing his commitment to service while living in Pittsburg, Archie retired early and began volunteering as a Chapter and Post Service Officer for DAV Chapter 21 in Vallejo, American Legion Post 161 in Antioch and VFW Post 10789 in Brentwood. He also has volunteered more than 1,000 hours counseling veterans and their families, cooking for veterans at community events, and creating his own way of veteran outreach through targeted claims development seminars.
Since April 12, 2018, Smith has held the position of Director of Veterans Services for the Veterans Health Navigation Partnership (VHNP) between La Clinica and VFW Post 10789. This alliance started for two reasons: to help bring awareness of potential health care options at La Clinica, which is closer to our community’s veteran population than the Martinez VA Hospital, and to bring businesses and organizations who support veterans and family members together several times a year to network and learn about claims development and service organization membership, as well as one-on-one personal counseling sessions.
Along with conducting private interviews, phone calls, and responding to emails from veterans across the country, Smith has also conducted three target seminars, reaching a couple hundred of our community’s veterans and their families.
For nearly the last decade along with continued veteran service, Smith has also been the proud owner of Archie’s S&Q Smoked and BBQ Meats in Pittsburg. A true community staple of BBQ and famous sides, always willing to lend a hand at veteran and community events. If you have not tried it yet, best get yourself out there to order some of the best in town.
Smith joins a growing list of veterans tapped for the Assembly District 11 Veteran of the Year honor by Frazier, including Jeff Jewell, Derek McGinnis, Janet Wilson, Mike Brimer, Steve Todd, Enrico Cinquini, Jesse Branch and Ed Parisarda.
Read MoreRetail stores 100 people or 50% max;
Gyms reduced to 10% capacity;
Office workspaces must operate remotely;
No changes to indoor worship, theaters from previous order
In response to evidence that COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in Contra Costa, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today moved the county back into the red tier of its Blueprint for a Safer Economy, restoring more safety requirements to slow the virus and save lives.
The state’s action today adds these additional requirements, effective starting Friday, Nov. 13 in Contra Costa:
- Retail stores that operate indoors must scale back their maximum occupancy to 50% or 100 people, whichever is lower.
- Indoor shopping malls must reduce their occupancy and reduce the occupancy of food courts to 25% or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
- Office workspaces must operate remotely.
- Higher education institutions must keep indoor lectures and student gatherings to 25% occupancy or 100 people, whichever is fewer.
- Gyms and fitness centers must scale back their indoor occupancies to 10%.
- Communal indoor pools must close.
- Indoor family entertainment centers, such as bowling alleys, must close their indoor operations. Amusement parks cannot operate.
- Most live outdoor theatrical, musical or artistic performances are prohibited.
The average daily number of new, confirmed COVID-19 is on the rise in Contra Costa, and across the Bay Area and the U.S. Health officials urge county residents to consider how they are protecting themselves and their families from the virus, and what they can do to make the holiday season safer.
“The most critical way to protect against COVID-19 is to wear a face covering whenever you are near people who do not live with you, and whenever you go in a building that is not your home,” said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa Health Officer. “Face coverings help prevent people who do not know they are infected from spreading the virus to others. My mask protects you. Your mask protects me. Masks also provide some direct protection for the wearer.”
Most new COVID-19 cases in Contra Costa are spread within the home, with an infected member of a household passing the virus to people with whom they live. Face coverings in public reduce the risk of bringing COVID-19 into the home, where people usually do not mask or practice physical distancing.
Data from Contra Costa show that the average daily number of newly identified COVID-19 infections has risen steadily since the county entered the orange tier of the state’s plan on October 27.
On Tuesday, the 7-day average, per-capita number of new cases (the “adjusted case rate”) was 5.3 in Contra Costa, higher than permitted for counties in the orange tier for a second consecutive week. That triggered the county’s shift back into the more restrictive red tier, effective today.
Other data show an alarming rise in local cases. On Nov. 8, for example, there were 46 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Contra Costa – the highest one-day total since September.
In response to the data, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) issued a local health order last week that restored red-tier safety restrictions for a number of businesses and activities, though the county remained in the orange tier at the time.
Those changes remain in place today, including requirements for reduced occupancy during indoor worship services and for indoor dining and movie theaters, and the closure of bars that do not serve meals with alcohol. Cardrooms are required to operate outdoors only.
The tier change does not affect the ability of schools to reopen for in-person instruction, following state and local health guidelines. Outdoor playgrounds may also remain open.
Visit cchealth.org/coronavirus for local information about COVID-19. For questions about details of state or local health orders in Contra Costa County, visit our online FAQ or call 1-844-729-8410.
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By CHP – Contra Costa
CAR JAIL
Recently this vehicle and its driver had been reported numerous times driving recklessly within Contra Costa County. We located it while the driver was in the act and filming a video for an online/social media video channel . The driver was issued a citation on scene for reckless driving. Then a warrant was later issued to impound the vehicle for 30 DAYS due to the totality of the circumstances that were discovered.
Long story short; we do respond to these types of incidents around the county, we do conduct follow up investigation, and there are repercussions for reckless driving acts. This incident was a citation and 30 impound. Now you know. #instantkarma #dontdoit #chp
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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the April 11, 2019 death of 55-year-old Luc Toan Chanh Ciel of Richmond. The finding of the jury is that the death is a suicide.
The Coroner’s Jury reached the 10-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.
According to a Richmond Standard news report, Ciel, who had a restraining order against him for prior domestic violence incidents, was fatally shot by Richmond Police when he was stabbing his family members and turned on them.
According to a police statement, “Officers interrupted the suspect’s physical assault on a family member, then fired when the armed suspect ignored commands and advanced on them. The suspect was later pronounced deceased on scene. Officers rescued an adult female suffering from a laceration to her stomach and a male juvenile suffering from a laceration to his face.”
A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: Accident,Suicide, Natural Causes or At the hands of another person, other than by accident.
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Early election results show strong countywide support; 70,000 votes left to count in the county
This week’s election results saw a wide majority of county voters vote in support of Measure X. As of the Friday afternoon results update on November 6, 58% of ballots counted were in favor of the measure. The 0.5% general sales tax is intended to fund services that county residents most need.
Semi-Official Results – Update #1 can be found by clicking here.
Following the latest results, County Supervisor John Gioia remarked,“Recent firestorms and health impacts from COVID-19 have underscored the need for services like firefighting, access to health care, early childhood programming and other safety net services. Measure X creates a new sustainable revenue source, which the state cannot take away, allowing us to maintain and increase these and other essential services at a time when they’re needed most.”
Measure X was grounded in the County Needs Assessment developed through a working group comprised of county nonprofits, community organizations and labor unions. The report highlighted public- and community-provided services in greatest need of funding to better serve county residents and families.
Measure X, which only required a simple majority to pass, received extensive support across the county. “I am really appreciative that we had such a broad and diverse group of support for this measure, from labor unions, to nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, to the local business leaders,” said Josh Anijar of Contra Costa Central Labor and Co-Chair of the Working Group. “It’s not often that all of these groups come together to support a measure, but we all recognized the benefits Measure X will have for our county residents and workers.”
In a year that has left many county residents feeling insecure about meeting their most basic needs, the passage of Measure X will provide an opportunity to not only help service providers recover from the current crisis, but also address the long-term challenges they’ve faced.
“With Measure X election results moving in the right direction, a crucial next step is to establish a Measure X oversight body that holds supervisors accountable to efficiently and effectively spend the revenue as intended,” said Working Group Co-Chair and Ensuring Opportunity Senior Director Mariana Moore. “We look forward to providing community feedback to the board once the ballots are certified.”
Healthy and Safe Contra Costa, Yes on Measure X will generate an estimated $81 million annually to fund services most essential to Contra Costa County’s needs.
According to County Elections Office staff there are currently 70,000 ballots remaining to be counted, including 65,000 vote-by-mail ballots and 5,000 provisionals. The next update will be provided on Friday, November 13th at 5:00 p.m.
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Sandoval beating Enholm in college board Ward 5 seat; incumbent Gordon trailing former community college president Walters in Ward 2 seat;
Avila Farias leading incumbent in county Board of Education Area 3 race; incumbent Alleynne won’t claim victory yet in close race for Area 1
By Daniel Borsuk
Five-term Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors member Federal Glover won a sixth term of office on Tuesday, trouncing Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer by almost two-to-one with 34,649 votes to 17,861 votes for Kramer, according to the latest update from the Contra Costa Elections Division.
Glover told the Herald: “I want to thank the people for this opportunity to serve. I have to recognize the hard work that the people on the ground put into my campaign. I want to thank the people for their support for me over the years.”
Glover said he will work to provide the resources to “keep people safe from COVID-19.”
Over the upcoming four years Glover, a retired Dow Chemical worker who had served five years on the Pittsburg city council before starting his Board of Supervisors career, said he envisions the rollout of the Northern Waterfront Plan that will help ignite economic development along the county’s waterfront from Pinole to Oakley.
The supervisor said the recent announcement that Amazon will operate a 150,000 square foot operation at the Contra Costa Logistics Center in Oakley is a prime example of what the waterfront plan aims to create. The Amazon Fulfillment Center will create more than 2,000 jobs.
Kramer, who is currently involved in a Superior Court case for “willful or corrupt misconduct for making unwelcome sexual comments to people in his office” told the Contra Costa Herald about his election defeat. “I wish Federal well. I thought that the citizens of Contra Costa County deserved a choice and that I made that choice for them.”
The runoff election pitting Glover and Kramer was called when neither candidate mustered more than 50 percent of the vote in the March election when a third candidate, Martinez businessman and Planning Commissioner Sean Trambley also ran, splitting the vote.
Sandoval Beating Enholm for Community College Board Seat Ward 5
In another election race, Fernando Sandoval in his second attempt is defeating two-term Contra Costa Community College District Board Ward 5 Commissioner Greg Enholm drawing 26,836 of the votes to 22,279 votes for Enholm. Ward 5 includes Pittsburg, Oakley, and portions of Antioch, Brentwood, Byron, and Discovery Bay.
Sandoval, who campaigned for educational excellence and fiscal accountability, defeated the retired college professor Enholm. Sandoval said in a statement, “I’d like to acknowledge Greg Enholm for his service to the District. I am grateful to all the voters and my supporters for helping me to achieve this victory! I am excited to turn my policy platform of education equity, fiscal transparency, expansion of innovative online learning approaches and strengthening private/public partnerships into action. I plan to hold myself accountable to further these goals and to bring ‘Community’ back into the Community College District. Our students, faculty, staff and residents deserve this type of leadership and I look forward to working with my fellow trustees to take our district to the next level of excellence.”
An enthusiastic Sandoval told the Herald he was happy with the results and thinks the gap in votes will be too much for Enholm to overtake him.
UPDATE: When reached for comment Enholm responded, “It is very clear to me that voters are expressing their frustration and even anger about colleges and schools not having in-person classes for students. Both College Board incumbents, both County Board of Education incumbents, and many school district (K-5, K-12, and high school) incumbents could lose when the final vote totals are released. None of us incumbents caused the pandemic and we all made difficult decisions to assure safety of our students, staffs, and visitors by minimizing the risk of illness or death from the coronavirus. The voters have the right to remove incumbents from office for any reasons they choose.”
Walters Beating Gordon for College Board Ward 2 Seat
Career community college professional Judy Walters of Martinez, won the Ward 5 seat to the Contra Costa Community College District, with 37,776 votes or 49.6 percent of the total votes cast for the seat held by incumbent Vicki Gordon of Martinez who has been on the College Board since 2012. She garnered 28,095 votes or 36.9%, so far. John Michaelson also ran, collecting 10,270 votes for third place.
UPDATE: When reached for comment Walters responded Thursday night Nov. 5, “I am honored by the trust voters have placed in me to be their representative on the Contra Costa Community College Board. As promised, I will lead with integrity and use my experience to ensure the educational excellence of our colleges while keeping student success at the core of my decision-making.”
Ward 2 encompasses Lafayette, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Rodeo, Crockett, and parts of Alamo and Pleasant Hill.
County Board of Education Area 1 Race Too Close to Call
In the tight race for the Contra Costa County Board of Education Area 1 seat, incumbent Dr. Fatima Alleynne, had a narrow lead over challenger retired West Contra Costa Unified School District teacher Consuelo Lara, collecting 26,024 votes versus 25,586. “I do not feel comfortable claiming victory, as of yet,” she wrote in an email sent to the Herald. “Given the number of uncounted votes and how close the race is…I would prefer to wait for the process to conclude.”
The CCC Board of Education Area 1 includes El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, San Pablo, and parts of Pinole and Richmond.
Farias Leading Incumbent Chavez for County Board of Education Area 3 Seat
In another County Board of Education race, AnaMarie Avila Farias was leading with 30,257 votes or 52.9 percent of the votes over incumbent Vicki Chavez with 26,871 votes for the Area 3 seat. The Area 3 trustee represents Pacheco and parts of Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek. The former Martinez councilwoman, Farias had previously run unsuccessfully for Supervisor against Federal Glover in 2016.
Next Election Results Update Friday at 5:00 PM
The Contra Costa Elections Division is continuing to count the ballots that arrived by yesterday and will continue to arrive for as long as 17 more days including today. They have 28 days to finish the count and certify the election. So, final results may be as much as four weeks away. The next update of results is expected this Friday at 5:00 p.m.
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By Brentwood Police Department
It was the call that every officer dreads to hear…
On September 20, 2020, at around 2:54 AM, Brentwood officers responded to a residence in the 50 block of Havenwood Ave. to investigate a report of an unresponsive 2 year-old child, later identified as Jasani Kerry. His mother, 22-year-old Genesis Barrera-Galdamez, had found him unresponsive and telephoned emergency personnel.
When officers and emergency personnel arrived on scene, they performed CPR for several minutes, however, Jasani was ultimately declared deceased. The preliminary investigation revealed drug paraphernalia and illicit drugs that later tested positive for fentanyl in the presence of Jasani preceding his death. Weeks later, a Contra Costa County Coroner’s pathologist determined Jasani’s cause of death was due to acute fentanyl intoxication.
Following an extensive follow-up investigation, Brentwood investigators prepared an arrest warrant for Genesis charging her with murder.
On October 30, 2020 at around 3:30 PM, investigators located Genesis at the Comfort Inn Hotel located at 2436 Mahogany Way in Antioch and took her into custody without incident. Genesis was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on the outstanding arrest warrant.
Yesterday the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office formally charged Genesis with second-degree murder, possession of narcotics for sale, and child abuse resulting in death. Genesis is being held on $1.1 million dollar bail.
Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends who have been affected by this tragedy. The loss of any child is difficult for anyone to bear; we hope the arrest in this case can bring some peace to those affected.
Rest in peace Jasani.
Arraignment Scheduled For November 18
Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office Public Information Officer Scott Alonso issued the following about the case Thursday morning:
Earlier this week, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Genesis Barrera-Galdamez (22-year-old resident of Brentwood) for the death of her two-year-old son, Jasani Kerry, Jr. Barrera-Galdamez was also charged with felony child abuse and felony possession of Fentanyl to sell. Two enhancements were also filed tied to the child abuse charge against the defendant: willful harm causing injury and great bodily injury resulting in brain damage and paralysis. The young child consumed fentanyl under the care of Barrera-Galdamez. The child’s autopsy report later ruled the toddler’s death was caused by Acute Fentanyl Toxicity.
Brentwood Police Department investigated the case and presented it to our Office for filing. Homicide Unit Supervisor Derek Butts reviewed the investigation and filed the charges listed above.
“While the Defendant did not intend that her son Jasani die, the evidence shows that she was aware her Fentanyl possession and use was dangerous to human life and despite this knowledge, exposed Jasani to the danger which ultimately led to his death, stated Deputy District Attorney Butts. “Well known amongst abusers, Fentanyl is an exceptionally toxic and dangerous substance. The act of exposing people to or supplying others with Fentanyl, if death results, can lead to murder charges.”
In the early morning hours of September 20, the defendant called police and stated her son was not breathing and non-responsive. She told the police that her son appeared blue and his body was very cold. CPR performed at the scene by Brentwood Police Officers and continued by American Medical Response personnel for over 30 minutes did not revive the boy. Officers at the scene located multiple items of drug paraphernalia on and around the bed the Defendant shared with Jasani, including 13 grams of powdered Fentanyl, baggies and tin foil pieces containing Fentanyl residue and a torch lighter.
After Jasani’s death, Barrera-Galdamez attempted to sell Fentanyl to multiple parties. Brentwood Police Department officers obtained a warrant for the arrest of the defendant on October 29th. The following day, Barrera-Galdamez was arrested at the Comfort Inn in Antioch, where she was engaging in Fentanyl sales.
Barrera-Galdamez made her first appearance in court yesterday and she remains in custody with bail set at $1,100,000. Her arraignment on the charges was set for November 18th.
Case information: People v. Genesis Barrera-Galdamez, Docket Number 04-200626-0.
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With data from the past week showing a marked increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Contra Costa County, health officials are taking steps to protect the community with modest changes to local health orders.
Contra Costa entered the orange tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy on Oct. 27, triggering an expansion of community reopening activities in the county. But since that date, the average daily number of new cases in the county has grown substantially higher.
If the trend continues, the county is at risk of moving backward into the more-restrictive red tier of the state’s reopening plan as soon as next week. In the meantime, Contra Costa has amended its health orders to rein in some of the riskier indoor activities permitted under the orange tier in hopes of preventing outbreaks and keeping the county out of the red.
Contra Costa County’s health officer issued new orders today limiting the number of spectators allowed at professional and collegiate sporting events, while also reimposing restrictions on other high-risk activities.
The health order on sporting events limits the number of spectators at pro or college games to 25 people from no more than three different households. This is consistent with the County’s guidance on private social gatherings, said Dr. Chris Farnitano, the County’s health officer.
The health officer also issued another order restoring stricter limitations on high-risk activities, such as prolonged indoor gatherings and gatherings involving eating and drinking where masks must be removed. Wearing face coverings when around others from outside your household is one of the most effective ways people can stop the spread of COVID, Dr. Farnitano said.
Under the new order, select high-risk activities must be modified:
- Outdoor bars prohibited (except where allowed under restaurant guidance with drinks as part of a meal)
- Indoor dining allowed at a maximum of 25% occupancy or 100 people, whichever is fewer (down from 50% occupancy and 200 people)
- Indoor movie theaters can operate at a maximum 25% of occupancy or 100 people, whichever is fewer (down from 50% occupancy or 200 people)
- Religious services indoors allowed at a maximum 25% occupancy or 100 people, whichever is fewer (down from 50% occupancy or 200 people)
- Cardrooms and satellite wagering sites can’t operate indoors (they previously could operate indoors at 25% capacity)
“We believe these measures are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID in our community,” Dr. Farnitano said.
The state allows counties to impose stricter standards so local health departments can respond to circumstances in their communities. The order in Contra Costa will go into effect Friday, Nov. 6. Over the past months, the Bay Area counties have made the decisions they’ve felt best around opening or not opening businesses and activities. San Francisco pulled back on their timeline for opening last week. Alameda and Santa Clara have all taken a slower pace than the state tier system allows. All three of these counties are essentially operating at red tier level restrictions even though they are in orange or yellow tiers.
Contra Costa County is still in the orange tier, but case rates are increasing again into the more restrictive red-tier level. The most recent data show an adjusted rate of 4.9 daily cases per 100,000 people in Contra Costa – above the orange-tier benchmark of fewer than 4 per 100,000 people.
If those numbers hold for another week or increase, Contra Costa will move back into the more restrictive red tier.
In addition, there were 40 people hospitalized on Nov. 2 due to COVID in local hospitals, compared to a low point of 17 in mid-October.
For now, other activities not cited in the new order will still be allowed under orange-tier criteria, including indoor swimming pools and indoor family entertainment centers can continue “naturally distanced” activities, such as bowling alleys, escape rooms and climbing-wall gyms, at 25% occupancy.
For more information, visit cchealth.org/coronavirus.
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Lists seven accusations against him, including the charge Kramer is currently facing in court; claims he’s guilty although trial just began last week
“There’s nothing in the county’s accusation of sexual harassment. But rather ‘inappropriate behavior’. Period.” – Gus Kramer
Claims timing connected to revelation of county overpaying for Motel 6 in Pittsburg for homeless program
By Allen Payton
In a late campaign attack email sent by the Federal Glover for Supervisor 2020 campaign using the address “communityleaders@federalglover.com” on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31 it shows copies of a mailer sent out previously, referring to his opponent, Gus Kramer, as “Bad Boy Assessor” and listing the charges one of which he’s currently facing in court. It’s most of the same information Glover’s campaign also emailed out on Oct. 20.
The subject line of the first email reads, “Why we CANNOT vote for Gus Kramer – Who does this to women and remains in public office?” in an attempt to claim Kramer was guilty before his trial had begun, this past week. That email also included the following comment by Pittsburg Councilwoman Merle Craft:
It then shows three parts of the mailer with seven women, including Craft, Antioch Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, Pinole Mayor Pro Tem Norma Martinez-Rubin and former Hercules Mayor Myrna De Vera, making various accusations against Kramer.
The second email included the following statement and quote of the endorsement editorial by Dan Borenstein of the East Bay Times:
In an email on Sept. 16 sent out by Pittsburg “Councilmember Holland Barrett White” using the same email address, and also paid for by the Glover campaign, the subject line reads, “Misconduct, Sexual Harrassment – Why Gus Kramer isn’t fit for office”, also claiming Kramer is guilty before his trial began. That email then included Borenstein’s entire endorsement editorial
At the bottom of each email they read, “Paid for by Federal Glover for Supervisor 2020 – ID No 991595”.
Kramer Responds
“Sounds like attempted jury influencing,” Kramer said when reached for comment. “Or jury tampering, seriously and if anyone knows better it’s Federal Glover. Considering what his campaign is doing is a felony, this would not be his first felony.”
“He should condemn his campaign people for their blatantly immoral, illegal act trying to influence,” Kramer continued. “He should be standing up and apologizing for such an egregious act.”
“In 2018 when the Grand Jury was investigating the whole case, Borenstein wrote an editorial calling for my resignation,” Kramer explained. “Then that was sent to the Grand Jury Alumni Association which in turn sent out a newsletter with Borenstein’s editorial in it, verbatim highlighting all the action words such as ‘expunge’ and ‘sexual harassment’ that went to every Contra Costa Grand Jury member.”
“It was the most blatant attempt at jury influencing. I was so shocked. I sent DA Becton a letter about it and she did not respond or do anything about it,” he continued. “This type of thing Federal is doing now, is typical of their strong-arm tactics that Federal and his allies are known for.”
“The Times has been on Glover’s side and protecting him for re-election for years,” Kramer said. “Two years ago, Borenstein wrote an editorial that I should be removed from office claiming I was accused of sexual harassment when that was not true. I was accused of inappropriate conversations.”
“In this whole case, no one had any sex, he explained. “I never asked anyone out to dinner, coffee, lunch, anything. I never attempted to touch, kiss or hug anybody. I never used any bad words. I never described any body parts or functions. Yet, here we are, today because Margaret Eychner and her posse of friends from the Assessor’s Office conspired to weaponize the ‘metoo’ movement to get me to retire mid-term so she could be appointed by the Board of Supervisors as Assessor. There’s documented testimony on her part and on her supervisor’s part that saying that which has come out in court in the last three days. It’s a matter of court record.”
“I wrote a letter to the editor telling them they better retract it or I will sue them,” Kramer said. “On Sept. 6 they did. They retracted it. But they put it on page four or six on the lower left corner and the print was so small, smaller than their regular type, the size of a legal notice. They called it a correction, not a retraction.”
“There’s nothing in the county’s accusation of sexual harassment. But rather ‘inappropriate behavior’. Period,” he stated.
Claims Supervisors Withheld Evidence From Grand Jury
“The Board of Supervisors wouldn’t release to the Grand Jury the two reports done by two separate attorneys hired by the county to investigate the allegations,” Kramer claimed. “But they’ve been released in court, now. Both reports state that there was lack of any evidence of sexual harassment. They knew that if the Grand Jury would read them that they would not have pursued the accusation.”
“In addition, Nakano, the Grand Jury foreman, demonstrated his prejudice early on, and then later when he destroyed notes and recordings of their secret proceedings on the case that would have exonerated me,” he continued.
“The only thing the county and Board released to the Grand Jury were “some screenshots of texting that were cut and pasted out of context.” One of the two women who is accusing Kramer did not supply the entire thread of the texts.
“When the reports from the private investigators are finally made public, which the Board of Supervisors commissioned and now are in court, they, the County Civil Grand Jury, the East Bay Times and the District Attorney will be dutifully embarrassed,” Kramer said. “And they will owe me, and more importantly the citizens of Contra Costa County, a huge apology for this wonton waste of public funds for this malicious prosecution of your county Assessor who has been working hard for you.”
“They are also wasting the court’s time, which is backed up and unnecessarily exposing hundreds of people to COVID-19, to draw a jury, while this pandemic is going on,” he continued. “It just shows how desperate the Board of Supervisors are to get me out of office, and the conspiracy they’re pursuing with the District Attorney that is totally irresponsible.”
“They’re spending when all the Board has to do is they made a mistake, admit they violated the Brown Act and say they were sorry. I’m not looking for money,” Kramer said, referring to his own lawsuit against the county. “They’ve spent over $200,000 which is the cost of one Deputy Sheriff and one clerk. Because the Board is lying and conspiring behind closed doors, even though a violation of the Brown Act is not even a misdemeanor, it’s an infraction. But, once the Board conspired collectively to cover up the violation, and to spend public money to cover it up it immediately becomes a felony and a RICO violation added to the charge. The FBI should be in there investigating this.”
“Something that will come out in court, beginning tomorrow is the fact that Eychner got really upset and started complaining about me, when she admitted, actually bragged to multiple people in the office, that she had not one, but two married boyfriends, not referring to me,” he continued. “One of her boyfriends was a big, union rep and the other was a local elected official, and she got caught by their wives and she was all bummed about it, that she got caught. That will come out in court as all the people in the office are going to testify about this next week.
“The reason Glover sent out that email on Saturday, is in response to the fact I called him out for overspending by $4 to $5 million on the Motel 6 in Pittsburg to use for the homeless, which wasn’t publicly known until they released the appraisal this past week,” Kramer added. “That’s also a RICO violation as a waste of taxpayer funds. The Grand Jury should be all over that, too.” (See related article)
Kramer shared more in an Oct 15th post on his campaign website.
District 5 (V on the map, below) includes most or portions of the communities along Highway 4 in the northern part of the county. The election is Tuesday.
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