Even card rooms can open, again – outdoors, but not piercing, tattooing or non-medical electrolysis (you’ll still have to keep plucking out those hairs, yourself!)
Contra Costa County today aligned its COVID-19 social distancing health order with California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, so the county no longer has different reopening rules for businesses and activities beyond what the state requires or allows.
The change, effective at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, simplifies the plan for reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Contra Costa so that residents and local businesses can better understand and identify the steps we all need to take to keep ourselves, our families, workers and customers safer during the pandemic.
The update to Contra Costa’s health order does allow some additional businesses to reopen, following the state health guidelines for their industries:
- Personal care services that involve close contact with the face may begin operating outdoors, except for tattooing, piercing and nonmedical electrolysis
- Racetracks and cardrooms may operate outdoors
- Music, television and film production may resume
- Professional sports without live audiences may resume
These changes are consistent with Contra Costa’s placement in the purple tier of the state’s blueprint, indicating that COVID-19 is widespread in the county. When the data tracked by the state show sustained improvement for two weeks, the county will move into the red tier, allowing more businesses and activities to reopen.
Information about the state’s blueprint, including health guidelines for businesses and activities, which business sectors are not currently safe to operate in Contra Costa, and how the guidelines will change as the county makes progress against COVID-19, are all available at covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
Contra Costa’s current health orders retain health guidelines for social bubbles and structured contact between people from different households, face coverings and physical distancing. The FAQ and Safer Social Interactions pages at cchealth.org/coronavirus have information about keeping safer during the pandemic.
Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) continues to monitor data that show how the virus is spreading through our community, including hospitalizations and how the pandemic is impacting the county’s healthcare system. If there is a sudden surge in COVID-19 transmission in the future, the county may need to temporarily impose more restrictions to protect the public health.
One way Contra Costans can help keep our county’s healthcare system running smoothly is to get a flu vaccine – talk to your health provider about getting one. CCHS is also planning community vaccination clinics beginning in October.
Anyone who lives or works in Contra Costa can help make the county safer from COVID-19 and reopen more quickly is to get a fast, free COVID-19 test at a community testing site. The state has reduced the requirements for moving into less restrictive tiers for counties that test many people every day, and other Bay Area counties have already qualified for this benefit.
Make a COVID-19 testing appointment today by calling 1-844-421-0804 or booking online at cchealth.org/coronavirus – hit the “Get Tested” button. This site is also an official source for local information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Open in June when not allowed to be, ABC suspended license for not paying taxes, unlicensed sale of alcohol
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County
Martinez, Calif. – Kimberly Beatrice Dixon of Pittsburg (52-years-old) was charged today by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for a violation of the Contra Costa County Health Officer Order related to COVID-19. In addition, Dixon was charged for operating her bar with a suspended alcohol license. The case was investigated by the state Alcoholic Beverage and Control agents. The bar is located at 3742 Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg.
Dixon is the owner of Skorz Sports Bar in Pittsburg. Earlier this summer on June 11, the bar was open, and patrons were inside drinking alcohol. The bar was not deemed an essential business and therefore not allowed to be open. Currently, bars are not allowed to be open to the public. Further, earlier this year, ABC suspended Dixon’s license for the failure to pay taxes.
“Our office has received hundreds of complaints from the public reporting non-essential businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated District Attorney Diana Becton. “These businesses are putting the public’s health in jeopardy by violating the health officer orders. These orders are necessary to stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. We will continue to investigate reports of violations of the health officer order.”
The bartender at Skorz, Carla Kacprzak, was also charged with a misdemeanor violation for the unlicensed sale of alcohol.
Anyone with information about possible COVID-19 violations can report that information to the District Attorney’s Office via email at DA-ReportFraud@contracostada.org.
Case information: People v. Kimberly Beatrice Dixon and Carla Kacprzak, Docket Number 04-200281-4.
Read More25 bed facility for people with substance use disorders
WHAT: County leaders and health officials will hold a virtual ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 14 for the opening of the new Richmond Health & Wellness Center, a residential treatment and detox center for people with substance use disorders.
The Health & Wellness Center will primarily serve Medi-Cal eligible patients who live in Contra Costa County.
The facility, which is funded by Contra Costa Health Services through state and federal dollars and the implementation of the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, will have 10 detox beds dedicated to safe withdrawal from alcohol or drugs, as well as 15 residential beds for longer-term treatment. It will be operated by Westcare, a private nonprofit organization and it has been made possible through the advocacy of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board and people in recovery.
WHEN: The ribbon cutting and a virtual tour of the site will be held on Monday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. The center will open to clients on Sept. 16.
WHERE: The public can view the event online at WestCare’s YouTube channel. The facility itself is located at 208 23rd Street in Richmond.
Read MoreResults in 63 fewer homes built
BRENTWOOD, Calif., Sept. 11, 2020 – West Coast Home Builders, Inc., a development company owned by the Seeno family, and the Brentwood Union School District have entered into an agreement that opens the door for the district to acquire a prime piece of Bay Area real estate, well below market value, for the construction of a new elementary school.
School district staff recommended approval of the agreement, and the school board members unanimously approved the agreement on Aug. 19, 2020.
The Brentwood Union School District has been trying for years to find suitable land to build a much-needed elementary school to help relieve overcrowding at some of its elementary schools and accommodate future growth in the district. The agreement between West Coast Home Builders and the district is a significant step forward and an important opportunity toward making this new elementary school a reality.
The impact on the district will include reducing overcrowding, a lower student-teacher ratio, and reducing the use of portables.
“We’ve been negotiating a school site there for a very long time,” BUSD Board Trustee Emil Geddes confirmed. “We just hadn’t achieved the final solution with Seeno, until now.”
“We approved that we want that site,” he continued. “But we haven’t come to the final purchase price and agreement for the property.”
It will also mean 63 fewer homes will be built at the site, as was an option in the Vesting Tentative Map overlay. (See Site Plan above)
In 2016, Brentwood voters passed Measure B, a school bond measure that will fund much of the proposed elementary school construction costs. School construction costs have skyrocketed in California, so building a new school is very difficult for districts without some form of subsidy. In this case, West Coast Home Builders will be subsidizing the cost of the land, which is critical to making a new elementary school a reality.
The 11.35-acre school site is located within the proposed Bridle Gate community, west of Highway 4 (bypass) and south of Sand Creek Road in Brentwood, California. The proposed development will bring much-needed housing to the Bay Area, which has been chronically undersupplied for years, leading to the current affordability crisis. The project’s proximity to both highway and commercial areas, coupled with a school site that will be walkable for students and parents, also lowers environmental impacts to the area.
In a dramatic savings to the district, an appraiser will value the school site land as agricultural rather than residential. Residential land values are substantially higher than agricultural land values. This essentially means the district will be paying pennies on the dollar for the land. This is a true partnership between a growing school district and a longtime community builder, who is committed to supporting local schools and children.
The sale of this land to the district is contingent on West Coast Home Builders receiving the necessary environmental and project approvals from the Brentwood City Council for the Bridle Gate project. West Coast Home Builders has included this school site in its proposed development plan, and the city has included this school site in its environmental analysis of the housing project.
The project will be up for approval before the city council during a special meeting next Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m. According to California Government Ethics Law in Government Codes §§ 87100 and 87103 a public official may not make, participate in, or influence a governmental decision that will have a reasonably foreseeable and material financial effect on the official, the official’s immediate family, or any of the official’s financial interests. Because Councilwoman Claudette Staton’s personal residence is too close to the project site, she will have to recuse herself and not participate in voting on the project, as it could affect the value of her home. The decision will therefore be left up to the other four council members.
State Letter Says Staton Can’t Vote on Project
UPDATE: Upon request from the Herald, Staton provided a copy of the August 10, 2020 letter from the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to Brentwood Assistant City Attorney Katherine Wisinski which provides the reason why Staton cannot vote on the project due to her conflict of interest under the state’s Political Reform Act. In the letter, the FPPC asks the following question: “Under the Act, may Councilmember Staton take part in governmental decisions pertaining to a city development project that would involve the construction of hundreds of new homes, among other significant developments, and potentially affect property views, traffic levels, and air quality, given that she owns real property less than 1000 feet from the project site?”
The FPPC’s letter then answers the question writing, “No, given the scope and impacts of the project, as well as the proximity of Councilmember Staton’s real property, it is reasonably foreseeable that the project would have a material financial effect on Councilmember Staton’s property by changing its market value and income producing potential, and air quality. Accordingly, Councilmember Staton is disqualified from taking part in project decisions under the Act, and consequently must recuse herself from those decisions.” Read the entire four-page letter, here: FPPC Ltr re Staton Bridle Gate vote Final A-20-085
To read the agenda item and details click, here.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
’16 Measure B follow up, helping his budget etc.).
Read MoreThe League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and MapLight have launched Voter’s Edge, an unbiased online guide to elections covering federal, state, and local races in California. Voter’s Edge provides top-to-bottom ballot and campaign finance information in one easy-to-use site.
Using Voter’s Edge, you can:
- Access your entire ballot by entering your address.
- Get in-depth information on candidates, measures, and who supports them.
- Read explanations of ballot measures along with who supports, opposes, and funds them.
- Find out where, when, and how to vote, including local polling locations and vote centers.
- Keep track of your choices and save them for Election Day
- Access a Spanish language version of the website.
How does it work? Enter your zip code and your street address to access your complete ballot. Your address information is confidential. We are nonpartisan, nonprofit, and do not sell information. Privacy policy.
Read MoreSACRAMENTO – Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 408, authored by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield) into law. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to accept a certificate certifying that a veteran is disabled for the purpose of a disability license plate from a County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO) or the Department of Veteran Affairs (CalVet).
“On behalf of all the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, I’m very pleased that Governor Newsom signed AB 408, which continues to build on the promise that we have made to our veterans,” said Frazier. “Veterans shouldn’t have to wait months on end to see results from a system that owes them a huge debt of gratitude. This bill ensures that they will get the timely services that they deserve.”
This legislation is even timelier as it has become more difficult for veterans to receive documentation certifying their disability status from traditional Veterans Affairs (VA) offices. AB 408 allows for expedited service and a better running system, but also has the added benefit of getting veterans in to see their CVSO in order to check if they are receiving other benefits and services that they may be entitled to receive. The legislation will become law on January 1, 2021. For more information about the Disable Veteran license plates, click here.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff
The suspect involved in the vehicular homicide that occurred early Saturday morning near Buchanan Field Airport was formally charged today by the Contra Costa County D.A.’s Office with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury. 26-year-old Anthony Johnathan Buscemi of Pacheco remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. He is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail.
On Saturday, September 5, 2020, at about 1:14 AM, Deputy Sheriffs, along with the California Highway Patrol, were dispatched to a report of a body found at the 5000 block of Marsh Road in an unincorporated area north of Buchanan Field Airport.
Upon arrival, Deputies and CHP Officers located a deceased woman on the road. The CHP started the initial investigation due to evidence that she was struck by a vehicle. The victim was later identified as 35-year-old Shelly Stevens of Lafayette.
During an area check, a Deputy Sheriff found the suspect vehicle nearby. Based on initial findings and evidence, this incident was later classified as a vehicular homicide and the Office of the Sheriff took over the primary investigation.
Throughout the weekend, homicide detectives from the Sheriff’s Office authored and served multiple search warrants in Concord and Pacheco and questioned numerous people related to the case. Buscemi surrendered to detectives on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreToday is Labor Day. It’s a day to celebrate the workers of America, those who have helped our country to become the greatest nation on earth by showing up every day and getting the job done…whatever that job might be.
Labor Day also marks a political milestone. It is the unofficial start to campaign season, as those running for elected office ramp up operations to get their message out to voters.
Unfortunately, now more than ever, it is also the time when disinformation, lies, and omissions are pushed on social media and on “news” programs.
We have already seen this with the latest smear of President Donald Trump in a recent magazine article. In the article, it is claimed that the president is disdainful of veterans, and that he made remarks indicating such. Those pushing this ridiculous narrative ignore the fact that several people who were present where this supposedly took place have said the story is false, and that people with no love lost for Trump have discussed the event in depth and provided a completely different story.
The sad fact is, leftists in this country hate the president, hate America, hate law enforcement, and, if you support any of them, they hate you. They also hate the military, which makes the narrative they are pushing even more absurd, as they stake their claim for righteous indignation.
But we do not need to wonder who to believe. As the adage states, “Actions speak louder than words.” When you hear statements…and you’ll hear a lot more of them…about the president saying this or that, stop for a moment, and consider the actions of those making the claims, and compare them with the actions of the president.
President Trump has been the greatest friend to men and women who are serving, and who have served, in the military that they have ever had. Just a few of his accomplishments include:
- Supporting military spouses with increased job opportunities
- Supporting veterans’ access to educational opportunities, including online classes and STEM
- Dramatically improving the quality of care at the Veterans Administration
- Investing heavily in rebuilding the American military
- Signing into law the largest military pay raise in a decade
Trump’s opponents also have a record. A record of lying to a FISA court to obtain bogus warrants on members of Trump’s campaign team (including veterans), a record of lying about a “Russian conspiracy,” a record of lying about, and impeaching the President on, the Ukraine hoax, lying about Trump statements, and running a nonstop “orange man bad” narrative with their propaganda arm, the mainstream media.
Behind this latest nefarious hoax are two things. First, as I have already mentioned, is an intense hatred of the president and those that support him. Second, a desire to put doubt in the mind of Trump supporters, those who can see with their own eyes what the president has done for them, and to suppress their votes.
So, no matter what you hear over the next two months, remember the adage, “Actions speak louder than words,” then take a minute to look at what actions each side has taken. Your choice will be clear.
Crowder is a former reporter for the Herald.
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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff
Saturday morning at about 1:14 am, Deputy Sheriffs, along with the California Highway Patrol, were dispatched to a report of a body found at the 5000 block of Marsh Drive in an unincorporated area north of Buchanan Field Airport in Concord.
Upon arrival, Deputies and CHP Officers located a deceased female on the road.
The CHP started the initial investigation due to evidence that the female was struck by a vehicle.
During an area check, a Deputy Sheriff found the suspect vehicle nearby. Based on initial findings and evidence, this incident was later classified as a vehicular homicide and the Office of the Sheriff took over the primary investigation.
The victim is identified as 35-year-old Shelly Stevens of Lafayette.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
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