The Raley’s Food For Families and Feeding America Food Bank. Photo: Raley’s
Launches new 2026 infrastructure grant cycle to strengthen food access in communities it serves
New grant-funding round supports critical infrastructure needs at food banks and partner agencies throughout California and Nevada
By Carol Barsotti, Chief Communications Officer, The Raley’s Companies
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – For 40 years, Raley’s Food For Families has been a steadfast partner in the fight against hunger. Since 1986, the organization has donated more than 81 million dollars and 70 million pounds of wholesome, nutritious food to its existing network of 12 Feeding America food bank partners and their subsequent network of more than 2,400 agencies.
Now, as Raley’s Food For Families marks this significant anniversary, the organization is demonstrating its long-term dedication with the launch of its renewed 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program. The grant initiative builds on immediate hunger relief efforts by investing in infrastructure that enables sustained, meaningful impact for years to come.
“For four decades, Food For Families has been privileged to donate millions of pounds of food and to provide support to hungry families across our communities. This milestone is a moment to celebrate that impact and recommit to the long-term work of food security,” said Julie Teel, President of Food For Families Board of Directors. “By focusing on infrastructure, we’re strategically making funds available so these vital community partners can strengthen their ability to get food to those who need it most.”
Building on a Year of Impact
The new grant cycle builds on the success of the inaugural 2025 Infrastructure Grant Program, which distributed just over $340,000 to support critical needs identified by food banks and their partner agencies. The first funding round made a significant impact, including funds for refrigeration units, box trucks, forklifts, and pallet jacks, along with many smaller infrastructure items, such as shelving units.
“These investments directly translate to increased food access for families by allowing food bank staff and volunteers to work more efficiently, ultimately serving more people with the same resources. For example, a single pallet jack can save 76 manual trips per truckload,” said Teel. “The grant funding is a tangible example of the profound commitment Raley’s has made to the communities it serves.”
2026 Infrastructure Grant Cycle Details and Guidelines
The 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program will prioritize grants that directly increase food access rather than focus on food education. Eligible applicants include partner agencies, food pantries and closets affiliated with Raley’s Food For Families’ Feeding America food bank partners:
- Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano
- Alameda County Community Food Bank
- Central California Food Bank
- Food Bank for Monterey County
- Food Bank of Northern Nevada
- Feeding the Foothills
- Redwood Empire Food Bank
- Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
- Second Harvest Silicon Valley
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County
- Second Harvest of The Greater Valley
- Yolo Food Bank
As a way to celebrate and recognize its long-term food bank partner network, Raley’s will also highlight the work of one partner food bank each month throughout 2026. For more information about the 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program food bank partners should reach out to their Feeding America food bank partner.
“We’re honored to mark 40 years of food security leadership and real-world impact,” said Teel. “Raley’s Food For Families has remained committed in its mission to alleviate hunger by providing nutritious food to those in need. The organization’s longevity reflects a deep-rooted belief that food security is foundational to community health and opportunity.”
About Raley’s Food For Families
Raley’s Food For Families is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit, which provides food to Feeding America Food Bank Members and their network of more than 2,400 partner agencies. The organization serves the communities of Northern and Central California and Northern and Central Nevada through Raley’s, Raley’s O-N-E Markets, Bel Air Markets and Nob Hill Foods stores. Since 1986, the organization has donated over 81 million dollars and 70 million pounds of fresh, wholesome food to its partners. With a long commitment to local communities, Raley’s Food For Families continues to grow and thrive as an organization dedicated to alleviating hunger by providing nutritious food to those who need it most. For more information and to learn how to donate, visit www.foodforfamilies.org. Raley’s Food For Families tax ID is 68-0195082.
About Raley’s
Raley’s is a family-operated customer experience grocery company. Founded in 1935, Raley’s stores are the destination for the best fresh products, affordable offerings and personalized service. The company’s commitment to infusing life with health and happiness by changing the way the world eats, one plate at a time, has made it a trusted source for food, nutrition, and wellness. Raley’s strives to enhance transparency and education in the food system in order to help customers make more informed, healthy food choices. Raley’s operates 119 stores under four banners: Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods and Raley’s O-N-E Market. Making healthier offerings accessible to everyone, Raley’s has expanded beyond the store to operate grocery curbside pick-up and delivery in their nearby communities. Please visit at www.raleys.com for more information. Raley’s is a division of The Raley’s Companies.
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A Con Fire firefighter extinguishes the fire on of three cars involved in the fatal crash at the intersection of O’Hara Avenue and Laurel Road in Oakley on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Photo courtesy of ContraCosta.news
By Oakley Police Department
On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at approximately 10:24 AM an Oakley police officer was in the area of Main Street and Bridgehead Road. The Oakley officer knew the Antioch Police Department had been pursuing a gray Honda sedan east bound on 18th Street towards Oakley. The gray Honda had been reported as stolen vehicle to the Oakland Police Department on February 22, 2026. At the time the vehicle was stolen, it was reported that a firearm had been left in it.
The Antioch Police Department stopped pursuing the vehicle prior to it leaving the city limits and advised neighboring agencies the car was headed east bound. The Oakley officer remained in the area to keep an eye out for it. The Oakley officer saw the gray Honda enter Oakley at speeds of 80 MPH. The Oakley officer initiated a pursuit of the stolen Honda. The pursuit down Main Street passed the major intersections of Live Oak Avenue, Big Break Road, Empire Avenue, Teakwood Avenue, and Vintage Parkway. The driver of the stolen Honda drove in excessive speeds during the entire pursuit. The driver of the stolen Honda turned right onto south bound O’Hara Avenue.
An Oakley sergeant determined the pursuit should be terminated, and within just a few seconds of the decision to terminate the pursuit, the driver of the stolen Honda collided with another vehicle at the intersection of O’Hara Avenue and Laurel Road. The violent collision resulted in the death of the adult male driver (50, Oakley) of the other vehicle. The collision also resulted in the ejection of one of the occupants of the stolen Honda, a juvenile male. It was further determined the stolen Honda contained two additional juvenile males. All three juveniles who were in the stolen Honda were hospitalized with major injuries. Due to the fact all occupants of the stolen Honda were juveniles, we will not be identifying them.
A second vehicle was also struck by the stolen Honda incidental to the major collision.
The Oakley Police Department is conducting a parallel investigation with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the California Highway Patrol as per the Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Fatal Incident Protocol.
This incident is still under active investigation. We will update the public with appropriate information as it becomes available.
This is a tragic incident; the City of Oakley extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the driver who lost his life in this senseless incident.
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By Juliet Casey Geary, Director of Marketing and Media Design, Los Medanos College
Los Medanos College is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards, recognizing community civil rights and social justice champions, and students whose activism sets them apart as emerging leaders. The event is part of LMC’s yearlong acknowledgement of Black history (BHM 365) and raises support for the LMC Foundation African American Student Scholarship.
The Celebration luncheon begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, in the Student Union Conference Center of the Pittsburg Campus, 2700 E. Leland Road.
This year’s honorees:
Emerging Leadership Awards
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Emerging Leadership Award recognizes an LMC student or alumnus who embodies the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and, who within the past year, has made a significant difference on the LMC campus or in the local community through advocacy and social justice. Emerging leaders in our community exemplify the principles of Dr. King and affect social change. Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
LMC student Mina Jobe
Mina Jobe. All photos: LMC
Mina Jobe is a student leader and youth activist passionate about social justice, especially women’s and Indigenous rights. Drawing from her Irish, Japanese, and Yaqui heritage, she uses writing, art, and advocacy to raise awareness and uplift her community.
Through school projects and outreach, Mina works to create positive change and hopes to pursue a future dedicated to helping others.
Jobe also is an IMS Alumni Artist in Residence, BNV Alumni, and former PHS SLAM Club President. She has poured love, leadership, and selfless service into the Pittsburg Community for over 2 years. Jobe has participated in countless community open mics, been a community spokesperson at the Prodigies Youth Arts Showcase in 2025.
She has been a featured performer at the LMC Umoja / IMS Say it With Youth Chest Open Mic, and most recently was crowned the Prodigies Grand Slam Champion for 2025. Mina’s greatest contributions are the advice, agape love, and presence she offers Pittsburg youth.
LMC student Chijioke Onyeagucha
Chijioke Onyeaguch
Chijioke Onyeaguch was born Antioch California, the fifth of five siblings. His parents both immigrated to the Bay Area from Nigeria and always taught their children to work hard to achieve their dreams. In 2007, Onyeagucha says he was, “raised in the LMC Child Study Center for a little while.”
He returned to LMC in 2023 after graduating high school and competed in track and field for Diablo Valley College. He joined the Honors Program his first year and has served as an officer with the club for three years. Through his involvement with the program, he had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris in 2024.
At LMC he discovered his passion for writing and worked for LMC’s student-run news outlet, LMC Experience. As a journalist, Onyeagucha aims to bridge narrative with strategy, producing ethical journalism while understanding how media institutions evolve and influence public discourse. As a black journalist, he is committed to reshaping narratives that have historically misrepresented and marginalized communities of color. He is completing two associate degrees for transfer in journalism and business administration, while finishing his Honors Scholar Badge.
He recently presented research on modern forms of colonialism in Nigeria at the statewide Honors research symposium at UC Berkeley, which his parents were able to attend. His career goal is to create spaces within the media industry where strategic innovation coexists to uplift and support culture, so future generations can see themselves represented with depth. He also plans on a career in law.
Beloved Community Award
Tianna Hicks
Tianna Hicks, Vice President, Da Bigger Picture Non-Profit Foundation
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Award is presented to a local resident who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to service and who best represents the core values modeled by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Beloved Community Award is inspired by the term popularized by Dr. King – a global vision in which, as noted by The King Center: all people can share in the wealth of the earth; poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated; racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood; and love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. At the heart of the quest for the Beloved Community is agape love, which Dr. King described as “understanding, redeeming goodwill for all” – a love “seeking to preserve and create community.”
Tianna Hicks is a co-founder with her son, Najee Harris, and vice president of Da Bigger Picture Non-Profit Foundation, which aims to create access and opportunity for youth through community programs, school partnerships, and events that build confidence. The organization works to support families facing hunger and homelessness, provides resources to families in need with food giveaways, backpack and school supplies giveaways, toy drives, free youth camps, and a clothing closet to support the Antioch Unified School District students in need of interview, prom, graduation or special event attire.
Born in San Francisco, Hicks attended Philip and Sala Burton High School in San Francisco, and Fremont High School in Oakland. She graduated from P.I.M.A. Medical institute in Seattle, Wash., with a certificate of completion in medical assistance. Hicks then worked at Kaiser Permanent as a business representative from 2010 to 2016. She left Kaiser and moved to Birmingham, Alabama. to support her youngest son through college. She worked as a front desk medical receptionist for plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael S. Beckenstein, from 2016 to 2020. After her son graduated from college the pair moved back to California where she and her son formed Da Bigger Picture Non- Profit Foundation. The future goal for Da Bigger Picture is to expand services throughout the community, offering resources for families in need of mental health support groups for men and women.
Visionary Leadership Award
Dennisha Marsh, Executive Director, Parent of African American Achievement Collaborative Team
Dennisha Marsh
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Leadership Award recognizes a member of the East Contra Costa County community who demonstrates the qualities of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Visionary Leadership Award honors individuals who embody Dr. King’s strengths as a transformational, servant leader. Dr. King inspired others to shape the future articulated in his vision. He focused on the well-being, growth, and empowerment of others and the community he served. Dr. King said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
Dennisha Marsh is the executive director of the Parental African American Achievement Collaborative Team (PAAACT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to aligning essential educational and economic resources with underserved families in Contra Costa County.
She serves on several city and county commissions and advisory committees. She is a member and past chair of the Pittsburg Community Advisory Commission, which advises the City Council on community services, including parks, recreation, and public safety issues. Marsh has chaired the Pittsburg Measure M Oversight Committee and the Pittsburg Community Block Grant. She has served as an advisor for the Youth Advisory Commission and Public Safety.
Marsh serves on Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee for Contra Costa County, following her tenure on Los Medanos Health District elected board prior to its transition to county oversight, Library Commission, Measure X, East Bay Regional Park District Advisory Committee and Educational Chair for East County NAACP.
In the Pittsburg Unified School District, Marsh participated as a member of the District Advisory Council, the Bond Oversight Committee, and the Student Attendance Review Board. She was a member of the Economic Opportunity Council and the Racial Justice Task Force.
Marsh has played a crucial role in fostering communication among community stakeholders, leading to the reconstruction of educational facilities and the development of community gardens throughout the Pittsburg Unified School District. She has worked on summer STEM programs for youth and secured new equipment and signage for local schools. Her advocacy has also spurred local road repairs and policies aimed at enhancing community safety, including the installation of street speed bumps and the development of a skateboard park in the City of Pittsburg.
Marsh participated in community advocacy for the name Thurgood Marshall Regional Park, home of the Port Chicago 50, and took part in the Contra Costa Bar Association’s Task Force for the exoneration of the Port Chicago 50.
Marsh and her husband live in the City of Pittsburg, where they have a son who is in college.
Keynote Speaker
Kolette Simonton
Kolette Simonton, Director, City of Pittsburg Department of Recreation
Lifelong Pittsburg resident Kolette Simonton is committed to her community. A product of Pittsburg High School (Class of ’96, Student Body President), she honed her communication skills at CSU Sacramento, graduating in 2001 with a degree in Communications/Public Relations. Her early career included roles with the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, Contra Costa and San Jose Newspapers, KRON 4 News, and Changed Life Church, providing a strong foundation for her 18-year tenure with the City of Pittsburg. Today, she serves as the Director of Recreation.
Kolette’s leadership touches all aspects of Pittsburg’s recreational offerings. She oversees the Marina Community Center, Pittsburg Senior Center, and the city’s extensive park system, including Small World Park and Buchanan Swim Center. She spearheads popular events like the Old Town Car Shows, 1st Friday Music Series, and the Pittsburg Jazz, Blues & Funk Festival. Kolette is passionate about providing diverse programs, from youth and adult sports leagues to adaptive sports and fitness, the My Brothers Keeper Initiative, and the Pittsburg Youth Commission.
Kolette was honored as the 2025 recipient of the Los Medanos College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Award and was added as a member of LMC Foundation Board.
Kolette’s commitment extends beyond her professional role. She serves on the board and coaches for Full Stride Track Club and is active in the Pittsburg Kiwanis. She is grateful for the support of her husband, Ken, and children, Nayelli and Kenneth IV, in her community endeavors. Kolette’s daily focus is on expanding accessible, engaging, and inclusive opportunities for Pittsburg residents to connect and thrive.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the east Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood. For more information visit www.losmedanos.edu.
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By Marc Joffe
Bay Area transit agencies are seeking another half-cent sales tax in November. While most of the $980 million a year in new revenue will go to BART, Muni and AC Transit, smaller agencies will also receive extra tax money, evading the need to reform. Contra Costa County will continue to have multiple bus operators, including two sharing the territory east of the Caldecott. Before voters agree to pour more public money into this hodgepodge of agencies, they should ask whether there are opportunities for reform.
Central and Eastern Contra Costa County are currently split between two distinct bus agencies. Tri Delta Transit covers eastern communities like Antioch and Brentwood, while County Connection serves central hubs including Walnut Creek and Concord. Together, they cover a combined service area of more than 800,000 residents. Both feed riders into BART, yet they maintain completely separate executive teams, planning departments, procurement offices, and administrative staff. In 2024, these two agencies spent a combined $79.8 million to deliver 4.1 million bus rides at an average cost of $19.39 per trip—of which passenger fares covered just $1.33, leaving taxpayers to subsidize the remaining $18.07 per ride.
The financial unsustainability of this arrangement is glaring when looking at farebox recovery and utilization. Passenger fares cover just 7.8 percent of operating costs at County Connection and an even worse 5.5 percent at Tri Delta Transit, meaning taxpayers shoulder nearly the entire burden for systems where 40-foot buses frequently circulate with almost no one on board. The redundancy also affects riders, with Tri Delta’s Route 201X running deep into Concord and County Connection’s Route 93X crossing into Antioch. Riders navigating this corridor face separate fare structures and schedules simply to preserve two entrenched bureaucracies where one would clearly suffice.
My recent California Policy Center analysis of the state’s 85 transit operators highlighted the need to consolidate smaller agencies to rein in administrative overhead, a problem acutely visible at County Connection. The agency employs 249 people directly and negotiates with three distinct labor unions, driving salaries and benefits to $28.7 million, which consumes 62 percent of its $46.4 million operating budget. Tri Delta Transit, conversely, demonstrates the fiscal advantages of leveraging private sector efficiencies. Rather than inflating a massive public payroll, Tri Delta contracts its bus operations to a private company, Transdev, keeping its own overhead lean while retaining fleet ownership. Tri Delta has also pioneered microtransit with its Tri MyRide app, recognizing that deploying a shared van is far more sensible than running a near-empty 40-foot bus on a fixed loop through low-density neighborhoods.
The perverse incentives of the current funding model guarantee that meaningful reform will be ignored in favor of demanding more tax revenue. Merging the two agencies under a single general manager and board, while competitively contracting all operations, could save millions in administrative, operating, and capital costs.
It is important to recognize that Contra Costa bus agencies are not providing a meaningful solution for climate change or congestion. Federal transit data cross-referenced with the Department of Energy’s Transportation Energy Data Book reveals that Contra Costa’s highly subsidized buses average just four passengers and burn 8,400 BTU of energy per passenger-mile, which is more than double the energy intensity of a typical SUV and triple that of a passenger car. Furthermore, Google’s Environmental Insights Explorer indicates that buses account for a statistically insignificant 0.31 percent of all trips in the county, meaning that additional bus funding from the new sales tax won’t alleviate congestion on Interstate 680 or Highway 4.
Subsidized suburban transit should be viewed strictly as a social safety net for those who lack alternatives, not as a green infrastructure project or a cure for regional traffic. When voters go to the polls in November 2026, they should firmly reject the new sales tax measure. Until regional planners dismantle these redundant bureaucracies and implement competitive contracting across a unified eastern and central Contra Costa County transit network, taxpayers are merely subsidizing an inefficient status quo.
Marc Joffe is the President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.
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Katherine Piccinini will again take on incumbent Mark DeSaulnier with campaign theme, “Putting the People First”
Longtime Oakley resident Katherine Piccinini announced she has officially filed to run for Congress in District 10 — “bringing a proven record of community leadership, public service and results.” Although Piccinini lives in the portion of Oakley now in the new District 9 following the passage of Prop. 50 last November, just outside of District 10, when asked about her decision to run in the neighboring congressional district Piccinini said, “I am running in Congressional District 10 as I did in 2024. District 10 is my base and my donors are there. So are my friends and family. District 10 it is!!”
However, candidates for and Members of Congress aren’t required to live in the district they represent, just the same state, as Congressman John Garamendi lived just outside the district he represented for several years.
Her campaign announcement continues, “Coming from a law enforcement family, Katherine believes in honoring those who serve — police, firefighters, military, veterans and first responders — while keeping communities safe and accountable. Her priorities include protecting children, supporting parents, honoring farmers, securing borders and ensuring opportunity for every hardworking American.
“She believes government must work for people — not special interests — and that transparency, accountability, and common sense must replace division and dysfunction. Her campaign is rooted in the belief that Americans deserve clean air, safe food, pure water, safe communities, affordable living, fiscal responsibility, free speech, and a government that listens. Putting the People First has been her heart since 2022.
“A mother of four and grandmother of five, Piccinini knows firsthand the challenges families face. In 2022, she launched a grassroots write-in campaign that earned over 1,600 votes in just 20 days — the strongest Congressional write-in performance in Northern California in over a decade. In 2024, running on the ballot, she received more than 122,000 votes, the highest total for any non-incumbent congressional candidate in the region.
“Piccinini has served as President of East Contra Costa Republican Women, helped found the Eastern Contra Costa Republican Assembly, and served on multiple county and state party leadership boards. More importantly, she has spent years listening to constituents, supporting community organizations, and standing up for working families.
“Piccinini is running to restore trust in leadership, protect freedoms, and ensure future generations inherit a nation of opportunity, security, and hope for the American Dream once more.
“She pledges to be your voice in Washington — and she wants to hear from you. Together, we can stand as neighbors, not partisans, united in one mission: Putting the People First.
“Contact Katherine Piccinini to share your priorities or support her campaign at piccinini4congress@gmail.com.”
New CD10 Map. Source: Wikipedia
The new District 10 includes most of Contra Costa County, except for Pittsburg, Antioch, Bethel Island, most of West County and portions of Oakley. (See District Map here, here or here) According to Wikipedia, the ethnicity is 47.7% White, 22.2% Asian ,18.3% Hispanic, 6.1% Two or more races, 4.6% Black and 1.2% other and Median household annual income is $151,546.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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I share this letter with your readers and hope for three things as a result. One, that children who are physically abused at school report the teacher to their parents so that this teacher is somehow reprimanded and corrected by the school principal. Two, that school teachers find peaceful and rational ways to do classroom management. If they cannot do this, they should find another occupation. And three, that Education Departments at colleges and universities teach orderly, rational classroom management skills. This is not “discipline”. It is how to set up orderly procedures in one’s classroom so that the students know what to do, and want to do it.
This letter is an apology, a confession and also, will hopefully help young schoolchildren and teachers in Richmond public schools. Maybe some Richmond adults who knew me when I taught school there, will read this and remember.
In the late 1960s I taught fourth grade at a school in Richmond. It was the first job I had since getting my Teaching Credential at San Francisco State. My professional goal was to share my own excellent education with school children, so that they, too, would love learning.
I have since learned that some people are “natural” teachers in public school classes. I am not one of those people. I teach very well, in a one-on-one setting, such as pull-out remedial programs, or, as I later did for 20 years, as an independent music teacher entrepreneur. I have taught hundreds of music students, in a loving and fun way.
The school I taught at in Richmond was considered to be in a rough neighborhood. It was an all-Black school. Teachers were Blacks and Whites. I am White. Many of the teachers there had “trouble controlling” their class. My coursework at San Francisco State did not teach classroom management, which is what natural school teachers seem to know how to do.
The two “worst classes” at the school I taught at were a second-grade class, and my own fourth grade class.
I was terrified, every day. I loved the children when I knew them individually before, after and during lunch breaks at school. But when the whole class was together, I was emotionally unprepared.
Children at that school got into physical fights almost constantly at school. This was boys, and also girls, who fought. On the playground, if there was a fight, hundreds of students ran over to watch and cheer. In my classroom, fights started, too.
The teacher next door to my classroom was a young black man. His class was perfectly behaved. I wanted to know how he did that. His advice to me was, “Hit some kid who hasn’t done anything wrong. That shows the other kids you are not playing favorites.”
There was probably only one child in my class who “hadn’t done anything wrong.” He was a black child and had a physical disability. I hit him!
Less than two weeks later, a boy and a girl in my classroom — two of my favorite students — got into a fist fight — dashing each other across the classroom. I walked out the door and never went back to that school. I resigned.
For my entire life, I have carried tremendous guilt and sorrow about hitting that young boy. I had wished I knew how to find him, to confess my cruelty and try to do something to make amends to him. This, of course, was not possible for me to do, or perhaps I was just too immature to know how to figure that out at the time.
Marian Drake, Ed.M.
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Sacramento DA’s new book offers first insider account
Includes details from one of Contra Costa County’s darkest chapters
By Angelle Barbazon, Lead Publicist, Books Forward
SACRAMENTO – In “The People vs. the Golden State Killer” (Third State Books), Thien Ho, the current District Attorney of Sacramento County, delivers the first official account of the investigation, capture and prosecution of Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr., one of California’s and America’s most notorious serial predators. Known by many chilling names over the years, including the East Area Rapist, the Original Nightstalker, the Visalia Ransacker and finally the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo terrorized California communities for over a decade – and then disappeared without a trace for more than 30 years.
After more than 40 years of fear and unanswered questions, it was Thien who finally secured DeAngelo’s life sentence. Now, for the first time, Thien is pulling back the curtain in “The People vs. the Golden State Killer”. The book includes never-before-heard survivor testimony, chilling details of DeAngelo’s deception and behind-the-scenes insights from the investigators who refused to let him escape justice.
The book covers one of Contra Costa County’s darkest chapters. DeAngelo’s crimes included more than 120 burglaries, over 50 rapes and 13 murders across six counties, with Contra Costa residents among the victims he terrorized for decades. All the while, he lived in plain sight as a cop, a husband and even a neighbor, hiding in the very communities he stalked. (See related Herald articles here and here).
Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr. pleads guilty during his hearing on Monday, June 29, 2020. Screenshot of YouTube video. 2018 arrest photo. Source: Sacramento County Sheriff.
As the lead prosecutor on the case, Ho recounts the exhilarating and harrowing experience of bringing a cold-case killer to justice and putting him behind bars for life. Rather than focusing solely on the criminal and the crimes, Ho’s narrative centers the dedicated law-enforcement teams who never gave up their pursuit of the GSK; and the courageous survivors of his crimes who fought to heal and regain control of their lives. “The People vs. the Golden State Killer” includes hundreds of never-before-revealed details and firsthand insights. Unlike previous accounts, this is the first time the public hears directly from the lead prosecutor who helped close the case. The book also features the authorized voices of survivors who turned their trauma into powerful advocacy.
A portion of the book’s proceeds will benefit Phyllis’s Garden, a nonprofit that honors a GSK survivor and champions victims’ rights.
Ho also recounts his equally compelling personal story: a Vietnamese refugee whose family fled Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, he arrived in the United States knowing no English. He rose from being an intern to being elected Sacramento County District Attorney in 2022, becoming one of only 10 Asian American district attorneys out of 2,400 nationwide. He brings both legal authority and emotional truth to a case that gripped the country and the world.
About the Author
Thien Ho is the author of “The People vs. The Golden State Killer.” He was elected District Attorney of Sacramento County in 2022 and took office in 2023. Over a 25-year legal career, he has prosecuted hundreds of high-profile sexual assault, gang, and homicide cases and served as supervisor of the Gang and Hate Crime Unit. In 2017, he received Prosecutor of the Year honors from both the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association and the Sacramento DA’s Office. He is best known for successfully prosecuting Joseph DeAngelo, a.k.a. the Golden State Killer.
What Others Are Saying
“Ho’s careful, well-written account chronicles [how] DeAngelo was brought to justice. . . . A disturbing real-world procedural about ‘the bogeyman who couldn’t be found—until we found him.’” – Kirkus Reviews
“A worthwhile account of a well-covered case . . . Most affecting are Ho’s interviews with DeAngelo’s surviving victims, who starkly recount their kidnappings and assaults. The autobiographical sections in which Ho discusses his path from Vietnamese war refugee to Northern California prosecutor are inspiring.” – Publishers Weekly
“Sacramento DA Thien Ho is a tenacious prosecutor who played a crucial role in putting the Golden State Killer in prison for life. ‘The People vs. the Golden State Killer’ is a riveting behind-the-scenes account about the investigation, capture, and prosecution of Joseph DeAngelo.” – Paul Holes, bestselling author of “Unmasked”
An Interview with Thien Ho
You explore Joseph DeAngelo’s backstory and early signs of violence. How did that psychological profile affect the way you viewed him?
His early behavior showed a clear escalation … voyeurism, theft, then rape and murder. It was a classic profile of a predator who felt entitled to power and control. Understanding that helped us anticipate his behavior and build a stronger case. But it also underscored how many warning signs were missed. That made our pursuit of justice all the more urgent. We could not change the past, but we could make sure he never hurt anyone again.
He led a split life – a police officer by day, predator by night. What did you learn about how he managed to keep that double identity hidden for so long, even from his family?
DeAngelo was meticulous. He compartmentalized his life with surgical precision. He was not impulsive, he planned, he stalked, he adapted. That is how he avoided capture for so long. It was chilling to realize that someone could commit such evil while maintaining the appearance of normalcy. But evil does not always look like a monster. Sometimes it looks like your neighbor.
DeAngelo’s behavior during the interrogation was chilling. He tried to fake insanity and even hurt himself after the arrest. At what point did you and your team stop seeing these actions as confusion or remorse, and start seeing them as strategy?
Very early on. We saw through the act. He whispered to himself in the interrogation room, trying to create this narrative of mental instability, but the timing and the manner were too deliberate. It was not remorse, it was manipulation. He had eluded capture for decades using deception. This was just another tactic. But this time, it did not work.
DeAngelo tried to appear weak and frail in court. How did that version of him compare to the man you knew he really was behind the scenes?
It was an act, a carefully staged performance. In reality, DeAngelo was calculating, manipulative, and far more aware than he pretended to be. I had seen the evidence, the way he moved, how he covered his tracks. He wanted the world to see a broken old man. But we knew better. The survivors knew better. And the truth won.
At one point, you made a rare promise to a survivor that you would get her justice. What made you make that promise, and did it stay with you during the case?
She had waited decades to be believed, and when she looked me in the eye and asked if this time would be different, I knew I could not let her down. I promised I would fight for her like she was my own family. That promise was with me every day of the case. It guided every decision, every argument, every late night. And when justice came, I thought of her first.
Unlike most books and documentaries that focus on the killer, your book centers the survivors and the people who brought him to justice. Why was that shift so important to you, and how did you approach telling such personal, painful stories with care?
Too often, the spotlight stays on the monster. I wanted to shift the focus to the heroes; the survivors, the investigators, and the prosecutors who never gave up. These are people who found the courage to speak, to remember, and to fight back. I approached their stories with the same care I brought to court … listen deeply, tell the truth, and honor their humanity. They are the soul of this case.
Hearing survivor impact statements must have been an incredibly powerful moment. Was there one that especially stayed with you?
Every single statement hit me hard, but one survivor, someone who had never spoken publicly before, looked DeAngelo in the eye and told him she was no longer afraid. That moment stuck with me. Her strength, after everything she endured, reminded me why we fight so hard for justice. It was not just about locking him up, it was about restoring power to those he tried to destroy.
Now that DeAngelo is behind bars for life, what can you share about his life in prison?
What I can say is this, DeAngelo lives in a prison cell, just as he once trapped his victims in fear. He is no longer in control. He no longer gets to hide behind a mask of normalcy. And he will never walk free again. That is the justice system doing its job, and it will do so until his last breath.
Are there any unanswered questions or unresolved pieces of this case that still weigh on you?
There are always questions that linger in a case like this. Some of DeAngelo’s crimes remain unconfirmed or unsolved, and I suspect there may be victims we still do not know about. We did everything in our power to connect the dots, but the passage of time erases evidence, and sadly, sometimes, voices. I carry the weight of what we could not prove alongside the pride of what we did.
After years of work, what did “justice” look like for you – not just legally, but personally and emotionally – when this case finally concluded?
Justice, for me, was not just a sentence; it was a sense of peace for the survivors who carried these scars for decades. Seeing DeAngelo wheeled into court, forced to hear the voices of the people he tried to silence, was powerful. But it was also deeply personal. I came to this country as a refugee fleeing violence. To now serve as the elected District Attorney and bring one of the nation’s most brutal serial predators to justice was full circle. It meant something bigger than any verdict.
What justice means to him
Bringing DeAngelo to justice was not only a legal victory. It was a personal, full-circle moment that symbolized hope and accountability.
“The People vs. The Golden State Killer”
Thien Ho | Nov. 11, 2025 | Third State Books | Nonfiction / True Crime
Hardcover | 979-8890130358 | $29.95
Available on Amazon.com at The People vs. the Golden State Killer: Ho, Thien
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Source: Santa Clara County DA’s Office
Including 7 traffickers in Contra Costa County; CCDA, Pittsburg PD participate
By Lt. Joshua Singleton, Task Force Commander, Human Trafficking Task Force, Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office
Days after the Super Bowl, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force reported its own statistics: numbers that showed enhanced investigations resulted in the arrests of 29 traffickers and the recovery of 73 sex trafficking victims, including 10 minors. One of the victims, who was being trafficked in Oakland, was 12 years old.
Law enforcement operations were held throughout 11 Bay Area counties during the lead up to one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Similar enforcement is being prepared for the deluge of fans coming to see the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament games at Levi’s Stadium between June 13 and July 1.
Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “Beyond football, the Super Bowl was a triumph of Bay Area law enforcement planning, organization, cooperation, and safety. Human trafficking is not a game, it’s a tragedy. However, our team was very successful. Close to 70 agencies effectively discouraged traffickers from exploiting the game and victims. For traffickers that still came to the game from all over the world with bad intentions, many ended up behind bars.”
The HTTF helped organize the efforts of 67 law enforcement agencies from Sacramento to Monterey.
For two weeks before the big game, the Task Force set up a command center in Sunnyvale populated with more than 20 analysts from various agencies, such as the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the DA’s Crime Strategies Unit, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department, federal agencies and partners from community-based organizations such as In Our Backyard, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The analysts worked on tips in real time and worked alongside agents in the field to do investigations and make arrests. Operations that often take weeks took minutes in the enhanced Human Trafficking Tactical Operations Center.
Launching almost 40 operations, investigators recovered 20 victims from San Mateo County alone. Seven traffickers were arrested in Contra Costa County; six in Monterey and Solano counties. In Santa Clara County, seven victims were recovered, two traffickers arrested and a firearm was seized.
View the In Our Backyard 2026 Super Bowl Report.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Sacramento, Calif. – The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) encourages seniors to be aware of real estate and mortgage fraud targeting older adults. Scammers increasingly target seniors with real estate and mortgage-related deception, exploiting their trust and financial vulnerability.
The following tips aim to help Californians safeguard themselves before harm is done, as well as how to report this type of fraud.
Fraud Avoidance Tips
- Be vigilant, diligent, and suspicious, and proceed very cautiously, when contacted by strangers.
- Use only licensed professionals when engaging the services of people or companies offering rental, home loan, foreclosure rescue, or other real estate services on your behalf. Check licensing at dre.ca.gov and dfpi.ca.gov.
- Never pay in cash, or wire cash to anyone, in connection with real estate transactions; Also, be certain to protect your personal information, such as social security number, so scammers cannot steal your identity.
- Never pay anyone for home loans or foreclosure relief services in advance of successfully completing the work you wanted them to do for you.
- Never sign an agreement for a real estate transaction (including a Rental) or a home loan that you cannot afford.
- Never sign a real estate (including Rental) or home loan agreement that you do not understand or have not read, or which contains blank spaces.
- Anyone (including scammers without an appropriate or legitimate California license) can advertise on television or radio, in newspapers, magazines or on the Internet.
- Just because someone looks professional, sounds like an expert, and/or gives you confidence in their real estate knowledge, does not mean that you can or should trust them.
- Never transfer or sign your home over to any third party or anyone else who claims that such a transfer can or will help you repair your credit or keep you in your home. Also, never sign a “power of attorney” giving rights to your property or money to any individual – or any company – you do not personally know and trust.
- Monitor and periodically check the title to your real estate holdings, just like you check your credit reports; and act immediately if you detect fraud.
- If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Current Types of Real Estate Fraud
Foreclosure Rescue Schemes
Scammers promise to save a homeowner’s property from foreclosure in exchange for fees or title transfer. Victims often lose both their homes and money when no real help is provided.
Unlicensed Prepaid Rental Listing Services Fraud
Scammers offer rental property lists for a fee without proper licensing. Victims often pay upfront but receive outdated or nonexistent listings, leaving them without a rental and no recourse.
Timeshare Resale and Rental Schemes
Fraudsters promise to sell or rent timeshares for a fee but either fail to deliver, exaggerate property value, or sell nonexistent interests, exploiting owners’ desire to liquidate or monetize their timeshare.
Online Rental Fraud
Scammers advertise fake rental properties online, often requesting deposits or personal information before disappearing, targeting people searching for homes or vacation rentals.
Unlicensed Property Managers
Individuals manage rental properties without the necessary real estate license, potentially leading to mismanagement, legal issues, or financial loss for property owners and tenants.
Real Property Recordation Fraud
Fraudsters forge or falsify deeds and record them against properties without the owner’s consent, potentially leading to disputes over property ownership.
Real Property Investment Schemes
Scammers promote high-return real estate investments that are either nonexistent or misrepresented, leading to financial losses for investors.
Reverse Mortgage Scams
Fraudulent schemes target seniors, offering reverse mortgages with misleading terms or fees, potentially leading to loss of home equity or foreclosure.
Vacant Land Scams
Scammers or bad actors posing as owners of vacant land and contact real estate agents for their assistance to sell a property they do not own.
How Consumers Can Report Suspected Fraud
If you believe you have been a victim of a mortgage crime or have a concern or complaint about a real estate salesperson or broker, you can file a complaint with DRE: https://dre.ca.gov/Consumers/FileComplaint.html
ABOUT DRE
The Department of Real Estate is the regulatory agency that enforces the Real Estate Law, Subdivided Lands Law, and Vacation Ownership and Timeshare Act. DRE oversees the licensure of approximately 434,000 licensees. The Department’s mission is to safeguard and promote the public interests in real estate matters through licensure, regulation, education, and enforcement. Consumer protection is its highest priority. For more information, visit: www.dre.ca.gov.
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54-year-old Raymond Edward Smith held on $1.385 million bail
Began as restraining order violation
By Allen D. Payton
An Oakley man charged with attempted murder for shooting at a Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputy during an hours-long stand-off last month, was transferred from a hospital to jail on Wednesday, Feb. 18th, according to CrimeVoice.com. Raymond Edward Smith, 54-years-old (born 12/6/1971), was arrested following a self-inflicted gunshot.
As previously reported, on Monday, January 12, 2026, at about 10:50 AM, a deputy sheriff was dispatched to a call regarding a violation of a restraining order. A deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop after locating the suspect vehicle on the 4300 block of Gold Run Drive in Oakley. Almost immediately after the stop, the driver came out of the vehicle and fired several shots at the deputy. The deputy was not struck and was able to return gunfire.
The suspect fled on foot in the neighborhood. During the search for the suspect, the Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Oakley Police Department, California Highway Patrol, East Bay Regional Park Police, Brentwood Police Department, and Antioch Police Department. The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Hostage Negotiation Team, Drone Unit and a police K-9 also responded. The suspect was found barricaded at his home in the 2700 block of Placer Drive in Oakley.
After several hours of attempting to communicate with the suspect, the SWAT team armored vehicle approached the residence. A gunshot was heard. The suspect apparently tried to take his own life. Medical personnel, who were on scene, immediately implemented life-saving measures. Smith was transported to a local hospital.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 200-pound Smith is Hispanic and being held in the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail was set at $1,385,000. UPDATE: However, according to Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs Jimmy Lee, Smith is being held on no bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26th at 1:30 p.m. in Martinez Superior Court Department 5.
Also, according to CrimeVoice.com, his “bond amount is a cumulative total and involves three other cases filed against Smith for prior unrelated offenses.
- $1.25 million for attempted murder of peace officer, and assault with a firearm
- $100,000 for violation of a domestic violence restraining order
- $25,000 for an outstanding warrant related to package thefts
- $10,000 for additional misdemeanor warrants
“One of Smith’s other pending cases involves second-degree burglary in Discovery Bay. Smith is
accused of stealing packages from porches last year in December.”
According to localcrimenews.com, Smith was also arrested in December 2013 by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department for assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and in May 2024 by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for Warrants or Holds Only.
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The Raley’s Food For Families and Feeding America Food Bank. Photo: Raley’s
Launches new 2026 infrastructure grant cycle to strengthen food access in communities it serves
New grant-funding round supports critical infrastructure needs at food banks and partner agencies throughout California and Nevada
By Carol Barsotti, Chief Communications Officer, The Raley’s Companies
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – For 40 years, Raley’s Food For Families has been a steadfast partner in the fight against hunger. Since 1986, the organization has donated more than 81 million dollars and 70 million pounds of wholesome, nutritious food to its existing network of 12 Feeding America food bank partners and their subsequent network of more than 2,400 agencies.
Now, as Raley’s Food For Families marks this significant anniversary, the organization is demonstrating its long-term dedication with the launch of its renewed 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program. The grant initiative builds on immediate hunger relief efforts by investing in infrastructure that enables sustained, meaningful impact for years to come.
“For four decades, Food For Families has been privileged to donate millions of pounds of food and to provide support to hungry families across our communities. This milestone is a moment to celebrate that impact and recommit to the long-term work of food security,” said Julie Teel, President of Food For Families Board of Directors. “By focusing on infrastructure, we’re strategically making funds available so these vital community partners can strengthen their ability to get food to those who need it most.”
Building on a Year of Impact
The new grant cycle builds on the success of the inaugural 2025 Infrastructure Grant Program, which distributed just over $340,000 to support critical needs identified by food banks and their partner agencies. The first funding round made a significant impact, including funds for refrigeration units, box trucks, forklifts, and pallet jacks, along with many smaller infrastructure items, such as shelving units.
“These investments directly translate to increased food access for families by allowing food bank staff and volunteers to work more efficiently, ultimately serving more people with the same resources. For example, a single pallet jack can save 76 manual trips per truckload,” said Teel. “The grant funding is a tangible example of the profound commitment Raley’s has made to the communities it serves.”
2026 Infrastructure Grant Cycle Details and Guidelines
The 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program will prioritize grants that directly increase food access rather than focus on food education. Eligible applicants include partner agencies, food pantries and closets affiliated with Raley’s Food For Families’ Feeding America food bank partners:
- Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano
- Alameda County Community Food Bank
- Central California Food Bank
- Food Bank for Monterey County
- Food Bank of Northern Nevada
- Feeding the Foothills
- Redwood Empire Food Bank
- Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
- Second Harvest Silicon Valley
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County
- Second Harvest of The Greater Valley
- Yolo Food Bank
As a way to celebrate and recognize its long-term food bank partner network, Raley’s will also highlight the work of one partner food bank each month throughout 2026. For more information about the 2026 Infrastructure Grant Program food bank partners should reach out to their Feeding America food bank partner.
“We’re honored to mark 40 years of food security leadership and real-world impact,” said Teel. “Raley’s Food For Families has remained committed in its mission to alleviate hunger by providing nutritious food to those in need. The organization’s longevity reflects a deep-rooted belief that food security is foundational to community health and opportunity.”
About Raley’s Food For Families
Raley’s Food For Families is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit, which provides food to Feeding America Food Bank Members and their network of more than 2,400 partner agencies. The organization serves the communities of Northern and Central California and Northern and Central Nevada through Raley’s, Raley’s O-N-E Markets, Bel Air Markets and Nob Hill Foods stores. Since 1986, the organization has donated over 81 million dollars and 70 million pounds of fresh, wholesome food to its partners. With a long commitment to local communities, Raley’s Food For Families continues to grow and thrive as an organization dedicated to alleviating hunger by providing nutritious food to those who need it most. For more information and to learn how to donate, visit www.foodforfamilies.org. Raley’s Food For Families tax ID is 68-0195082.
About Raley’s
Raley’s is a family-operated customer experience grocery company. Founded in 1935, Raley’s stores are the destination for the best fresh products, affordable offerings and personalized service. The company’s commitment to infusing life with health and happiness by changing the way the world eats, one plate at a time, has made it a trusted source for food, nutrition, and wellness. Raley’s strives to enhance transparency and education in the food system in order to help customers make more informed, healthy food choices. Raley’s operates 119 stores under four banners: Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods and Raley’s O-N-E Market. Making healthier offerings accessible to everyone, Raley’s has expanded beyond the store to operate grocery curbside pick-up and delivery in their nearby communities. Please visit at www.raleys.com for more information. Raley’s is a division of The Raley’s Companies.
Read MoreA Con Fire firefighter extinguishes the fire on of three cars involved in the fatal crash at the intersection of O’Hara Avenue and Laurel Road in Oakley on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Photo courtesy of ContraCosta.news
By Oakley Police Department
On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at approximately 10:24 AM an Oakley police officer was in the area of Main Street and Bridgehead Road. The Oakley officer knew the Antioch Police Department had been pursuing a gray Honda sedan east bound on 18th Street towards Oakley. The gray Honda had been reported as stolen vehicle to the Oakland Police Department on February 22, 2026. At the time the vehicle was stolen, it was reported that a firearm had been left in it.
The Antioch Police Department stopped pursuing the vehicle prior to it leaving the city limits and advised neighboring agencies the car was headed east bound. The Oakley officer remained in the area to keep an eye out for it. The Oakley officer saw the gray Honda enter Oakley at speeds of 80 MPH. The Oakley officer initiated a pursuit of the stolen Honda. The pursuit down Main Street passed the major intersections of Live Oak Avenue, Big Break Road, Empire Avenue, Teakwood Avenue, and Vintage Parkway. The driver of the stolen Honda drove in excessive speeds during the entire pursuit. The driver of the stolen Honda turned right onto south bound O’Hara Avenue.
An Oakley sergeant determined the pursuit should be terminated, and within just a few seconds of the decision to terminate the pursuit, the driver of the stolen Honda collided with another vehicle at the intersection of O’Hara Avenue and Laurel Road. The violent collision resulted in the death of the adult male driver (50, Oakley) of the other vehicle. The collision also resulted in the ejection of one of the occupants of the stolen Honda, a juvenile male. It was further determined the stolen Honda contained two additional juvenile males. All three juveniles who were in the stolen Honda were hospitalized with major injuries. Due to the fact all occupants of the stolen Honda were juveniles, we will not be identifying them.
A second vehicle was also struck by the stolen Honda incidental to the major collision.
The Oakley Police Department is conducting a parallel investigation with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the California Highway Patrol as per the Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Fatal Incident Protocol.
This incident is still under active investigation. We will update the public with appropriate information as it becomes available.
This is a tragic incident; the City of Oakley extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the driver who lost his life in this senseless incident.
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By Juliet Casey Geary, Director of Marketing and Media Design, Los Medanos College
Los Medanos College is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards, recognizing community civil rights and social justice champions, and students whose activism sets them apart as emerging leaders. The event is part of LMC’s yearlong acknowledgement of Black history (BHM 365) and raises support for the LMC Foundation African American Student Scholarship.
The Celebration luncheon begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, in the Student Union Conference Center of the Pittsburg Campus, 2700 E. Leland Road.
This year’s honorees:
Emerging Leadership Awards
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Emerging Leadership Award recognizes an LMC student or alumnus who embodies the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and, who within the past year, has made a significant difference on the LMC campus or in the local community through advocacy and social justice. Emerging leaders in our community exemplify the principles of Dr. King and affect social change. Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
LMC student Mina Jobe
Mina Jobe. All photos: LMC
Mina Jobe is a student leader and youth activist passionate about social justice, especially women’s and Indigenous rights. Drawing from her Irish, Japanese, and Yaqui heritage, she uses writing, art, and advocacy to raise awareness and uplift her community.
Through school projects and outreach, Mina works to create positive change and hopes to pursue a future dedicated to helping others.
Jobe also is an IMS Alumni Artist in Residence, BNV Alumni, and former PHS SLAM Club President. She has poured love, leadership, and selfless service into the Pittsburg Community for over 2 years. Jobe has participated in countless community open mics, been a community spokesperson at the Prodigies Youth Arts Showcase in 2025.
She has been a featured performer at the LMC Umoja / IMS Say it With Youth Chest Open Mic, and most recently was crowned the Prodigies Grand Slam Champion for 2025. Mina’s greatest contributions are the advice, agape love, and presence she offers Pittsburg youth.
LMC student Chijioke Onyeagucha
Chijioke Onyeaguch
Chijioke Onyeaguch was born Antioch California, the fifth of five siblings. His parents both immigrated to the Bay Area from Nigeria and always taught their children to work hard to achieve their dreams. In 2007, Onyeagucha says he was, “raised in the LMC Child Study Center for a little while.”
He returned to LMC in 2023 after graduating high school and competed in track and field for Diablo Valley College. He joined the Honors Program his first year and has served as an officer with the club for three years. Through his involvement with the program, he had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris in 2024.
At LMC he discovered his passion for writing and worked for LMC’s student-run news outlet, LMC Experience. As a journalist, Onyeagucha aims to bridge narrative with strategy, producing ethical journalism while understanding how media institutions evolve and influence public discourse. As a black journalist, he is committed to reshaping narratives that have historically misrepresented and marginalized communities of color. He is completing two associate degrees for transfer in journalism and business administration, while finishing his Honors Scholar Badge.
He recently presented research on modern forms of colonialism in Nigeria at the statewide Honors research symposium at UC Berkeley, which his parents were able to attend. His career goal is to create spaces within the media industry where strategic innovation coexists to uplift and support culture, so future generations can see themselves represented with depth. He also plans on a career in law.
Beloved Community Award
Tianna Hicks
Tianna Hicks, Vice President, Da Bigger Picture Non-Profit Foundation
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Award is presented to a local resident who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to service and who best represents the core values modeled by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Beloved Community Award is inspired by the term popularized by Dr. King – a global vision in which, as noted by The King Center: all people can share in the wealth of the earth; poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated; racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood; and love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. At the heart of the quest for the Beloved Community is agape love, which Dr. King described as “understanding, redeeming goodwill for all” – a love “seeking to preserve and create community.”
Tianna Hicks is a co-founder with her son, Najee Harris, and vice president of Da Bigger Picture Non-Profit Foundation, which aims to create access and opportunity for youth through community programs, school partnerships, and events that build confidence. The organization works to support families facing hunger and homelessness, provides resources to families in need with food giveaways, backpack and school supplies giveaways, toy drives, free youth camps, and a clothing closet to support the Antioch Unified School District students in need of interview, prom, graduation or special event attire.
Born in San Francisco, Hicks attended Philip and Sala Burton High School in San Francisco, and Fremont High School in Oakland. She graduated from P.I.M.A. Medical institute in Seattle, Wash., with a certificate of completion in medical assistance. Hicks then worked at Kaiser Permanent as a business representative from 2010 to 2016. She left Kaiser and moved to Birmingham, Alabama. to support her youngest son through college. She worked as a front desk medical receptionist for plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael S. Beckenstein, from 2016 to 2020. After her son graduated from college the pair moved back to California where she and her son formed Da Bigger Picture Non- Profit Foundation. The future goal for Da Bigger Picture is to expand services throughout the community, offering resources for families in need of mental health support groups for men and women.
Visionary Leadership Award
Dennisha Marsh, Executive Director, Parent of African American Achievement Collaborative Team
Dennisha Marsh
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Visionary Leadership Award recognizes a member of the East Contra Costa County community who demonstrates the qualities of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Visionary Leadership Award honors individuals who embody Dr. King’s strengths as a transformational, servant leader. Dr. King inspired others to shape the future articulated in his vision. He focused on the well-being, growth, and empowerment of others and the community he served. Dr. King said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
Dennisha Marsh is the executive director of the Parental African American Achievement Collaborative Team (PAAACT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to aligning essential educational and economic resources with underserved families in Contra Costa County.
She serves on several city and county commissions and advisory committees. She is a member and past chair of the Pittsburg Community Advisory Commission, which advises the City Council on community services, including parks, recreation, and public safety issues. Marsh has chaired the Pittsburg Measure M Oversight Committee and the Pittsburg Community Block Grant. She has served as an advisor for the Youth Advisory Commission and Public Safety.
Marsh serves on Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee for Contra Costa County, following her tenure on Los Medanos Health District elected board prior to its transition to county oversight, Library Commission, Measure X, East Bay Regional Park District Advisory Committee and Educational Chair for East County NAACP.
In the Pittsburg Unified School District, Marsh participated as a member of the District Advisory Council, the Bond Oversight Committee, and the Student Attendance Review Board. She was a member of the Economic Opportunity Council and the Racial Justice Task Force.
Marsh has played a crucial role in fostering communication among community stakeholders, leading to the reconstruction of educational facilities and the development of community gardens throughout the Pittsburg Unified School District. She has worked on summer STEM programs for youth and secured new equipment and signage for local schools. Her advocacy has also spurred local road repairs and policies aimed at enhancing community safety, including the installation of street speed bumps and the development of a skateboard park in the City of Pittsburg.
Marsh participated in community advocacy for the name Thurgood Marshall Regional Park, home of the Port Chicago 50, and took part in the Contra Costa Bar Association’s Task Force for the exoneration of the Port Chicago 50.
Marsh and her husband live in the City of Pittsburg, where they have a son who is in college.
Keynote Speaker
Kolette Simonton
Kolette Simonton, Director, City of Pittsburg Department of Recreation
Lifelong Pittsburg resident Kolette Simonton is committed to her community. A product of Pittsburg High School (Class of ’96, Student Body President), she honed her communication skills at CSU Sacramento, graduating in 2001 with a degree in Communications/Public Relations. Her early career included roles with the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, Contra Costa and San Jose Newspapers, KRON 4 News, and Changed Life Church, providing a strong foundation for her 18-year tenure with the City of Pittsburg. Today, she serves as the Director of Recreation.
Kolette’s leadership touches all aspects of Pittsburg’s recreational offerings. She oversees the Marina Community Center, Pittsburg Senior Center, and the city’s extensive park system, including Small World Park and Buchanan Swim Center. She spearheads popular events like the Old Town Car Shows, 1st Friday Music Series, and the Pittsburg Jazz, Blues & Funk Festival. Kolette is passionate about providing diverse programs, from youth and adult sports leagues to adaptive sports and fitness, the My Brothers Keeper Initiative, and the Pittsburg Youth Commission.
Kolette was honored as the 2025 recipient of the Los Medanos College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Award and was added as a member of LMC Foundation Board.
Kolette’s commitment extends beyond her professional role. She serves on the board and coaches for Full Stride Track Club and is active in the Pittsburg Kiwanis. She is grateful for the support of her husband, Ken, and children, Nayelli and Kenneth IV, in her community endeavors. Kolette’s daily focus is on expanding accessible, engaging, and inclusive opportunities for Pittsburg residents to connect and thrive.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the east Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood. For more information visit www.losmedanos.edu.
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By Marc Joffe
Bay Area transit agencies are seeking another half-cent sales tax in November. While most of the $980 million a year in new revenue will go to BART, Muni and AC Transit, smaller agencies will also receive extra tax money, evading the need to reform. Contra Costa County will continue to have multiple bus operators, including two sharing the territory east of the Caldecott. Before voters agree to pour more public money into this hodgepodge of agencies, they should ask whether there are opportunities for reform.
Central and Eastern Contra Costa County are currently split between two distinct bus agencies. Tri Delta Transit covers eastern communities like Antioch and Brentwood, while County Connection serves central hubs including Walnut Creek and Concord. Together, they cover a combined service area of more than 800,000 residents. Both feed riders into BART, yet they maintain completely separate executive teams, planning departments, procurement offices, and administrative staff. In 2024, these two agencies spent a combined $79.8 million to deliver 4.1 million bus rides at an average cost of $19.39 per trip—of which passenger fares covered just $1.33, leaving taxpayers to subsidize the remaining $18.07 per ride.
The financial unsustainability of this arrangement is glaring when looking at farebox recovery and utilization. Passenger fares cover just 7.8 percent of operating costs at County Connection and an even worse 5.5 percent at Tri Delta Transit, meaning taxpayers shoulder nearly the entire burden for systems where 40-foot buses frequently circulate with almost no one on board. The redundancy also affects riders, with Tri Delta’s Route 201X running deep into Concord and County Connection’s Route 93X crossing into Antioch. Riders navigating this corridor face separate fare structures and schedules simply to preserve two entrenched bureaucracies where one would clearly suffice.
My recent California Policy Center analysis of the state’s 85 transit operators highlighted the need to consolidate smaller agencies to rein in administrative overhead, a problem acutely visible at County Connection. The agency employs 249 people directly and negotiates with three distinct labor unions, driving salaries and benefits to $28.7 million, which consumes 62 percent of its $46.4 million operating budget. Tri Delta Transit, conversely, demonstrates the fiscal advantages of leveraging private sector efficiencies. Rather than inflating a massive public payroll, Tri Delta contracts its bus operations to a private company, Transdev, keeping its own overhead lean while retaining fleet ownership. Tri Delta has also pioneered microtransit with its Tri MyRide app, recognizing that deploying a shared van is far more sensible than running a near-empty 40-foot bus on a fixed loop through low-density neighborhoods.
The perverse incentives of the current funding model guarantee that meaningful reform will be ignored in favor of demanding more tax revenue. Merging the two agencies under a single general manager and board, while competitively contracting all operations, could save millions in administrative, operating, and capital costs.
It is important to recognize that Contra Costa bus agencies are not providing a meaningful solution for climate change or congestion. Federal transit data cross-referenced with the Department of Energy’s Transportation Energy Data Book reveals that Contra Costa’s highly subsidized buses average just four passengers and burn 8,400 BTU of energy per passenger-mile, which is more than double the energy intensity of a typical SUV and triple that of a passenger car. Furthermore, Google’s Environmental Insights Explorer indicates that buses account for a statistically insignificant 0.31 percent of all trips in the county, meaning that additional bus funding from the new sales tax won’t alleviate congestion on Interstate 680 or Highway 4.
Subsidized suburban transit should be viewed strictly as a social safety net for those who lack alternatives, not as a green infrastructure project or a cure for regional traffic. When voters go to the polls in November 2026, they should firmly reject the new sales tax measure. Until regional planners dismantle these redundant bureaucracies and implement competitive contracting across a unified eastern and central Contra Costa County transit network, taxpayers are merely subsidizing an inefficient status quo.
Marc Joffe is the President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.
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Katherine Piccinini will again take on incumbent Mark DeSaulnier with campaign theme, “Putting the People First”
Longtime Oakley resident Katherine Piccinini announced she has officially filed to run for Congress in District 10 — “bringing a proven record of community leadership, public service and results.” Although Piccinini lives in the portion of Oakley now in the new District 9 following the passage of Prop. 50 last November, just outside of District 10, when asked about her decision to run in the neighboring congressional district Piccinini said, “I am running in Congressional District 10 as I did in 2024. District 10 is my base and my donors are there. So are my friends and family. District 10 it is!!”
However, candidates for and Members of Congress aren’t required to live in the district they represent, just the same state, as Congressman John Garamendi lived just outside the district he represented for several years.
Her campaign announcement continues, “Coming from a law enforcement family, Katherine believes in honoring those who serve — police, firefighters, military, veterans and first responders — while keeping communities safe and accountable. Her priorities include protecting children, supporting parents, honoring farmers, securing borders and ensuring opportunity for every hardworking American.
“She believes government must work for people — not special interests — and that transparency, accountability, and common sense must replace division and dysfunction. Her campaign is rooted in the belief that Americans deserve clean air, safe food, pure water, safe communities, affordable living, fiscal responsibility, free speech, and a government that listens. Putting the People First has been her heart since 2022.
“A mother of four and grandmother of five, Piccinini knows firsthand the challenges families face. In 2022, she launched a grassroots write-in campaign that earned over 1,600 votes in just 20 days — the strongest Congressional write-in performance in Northern California in over a decade. In 2024, running on the ballot, she received more than 122,000 votes, the highest total for any non-incumbent congressional candidate in the region.
“Piccinini has served as President of East Contra Costa Republican Women, helped found the Eastern Contra Costa Republican Assembly, and served on multiple county and state party leadership boards. More importantly, she has spent years listening to constituents, supporting community organizations, and standing up for working families.
“Piccinini is running to restore trust in leadership, protect freedoms, and ensure future generations inherit a nation of opportunity, security, and hope for the American Dream once more.
“She pledges to be your voice in Washington — and she wants to hear from you. Together, we can stand as neighbors, not partisans, united in one mission: Putting the People First.
“Contact Katherine Piccinini to share your priorities or support her campaign at piccinini4congress@gmail.com.”
New CD10 Map. Source: Wikipedia
The new District 10 includes most of Contra Costa County, except for Pittsburg, Antioch, Bethel Island, most of West County and portions of Oakley. (See District Map here, here or here) According to Wikipedia, the ethnicity is 47.7% White, 22.2% Asian ,18.3% Hispanic, 6.1% Two or more races, 4.6% Black and 1.2% other and Median household annual income is $151,546.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreI share this letter with your readers and hope for three things as a result. One, that children who are physically abused at school report the teacher to their parents so that this teacher is somehow reprimanded and corrected by the school principal. Two, that school teachers find peaceful and rational ways to do classroom management. If they cannot do this, they should find another occupation. And three, that Education Departments at colleges and universities teach orderly, rational classroom management skills. This is not “discipline”. It is how to set up orderly procedures in one’s classroom so that the students know what to do, and want to do it.
This letter is an apology, a confession and also, will hopefully help young schoolchildren and teachers in Richmond public schools. Maybe some Richmond adults who knew me when I taught school there, will read this and remember.
In the late 1960s I taught fourth grade at a school in Richmond. It was the first job I had since getting my Teaching Credential at San Francisco State. My professional goal was to share my own excellent education with school children, so that they, too, would love learning.
I have since learned that some people are “natural” teachers in public school classes. I am not one of those people. I teach very well, in a one-on-one setting, such as pull-out remedial programs, or, as I later did for 20 years, as an independent music teacher entrepreneur. I have taught hundreds of music students, in a loving and fun way.
The school I taught at in Richmond was considered to be in a rough neighborhood. It was an all-Black school. Teachers were Blacks and Whites. I am White. Many of the teachers there had “trouble controlling” their class. My coursework at San Francisco State did not teach classroom management, which is what natural school teachers seem to know how to do.
The two “worst classes” at the school I taught at were a second-grade class, and my own fourth grade class.
I was terrified, every day. I loved the children when I knew them individually before, after and during lunch breaks at school. But when the whole class was together, I was emotionally unprepared.
Children at that school got into physical fights almost constantly at school. This was boys, and also girls, who fought. On the playground, if there was a fight, hundreds of students ran over to watch and cheer. In my classroom, fights started, too.
The teacher next door to my classroom was a young black man. His class was perfectly behaved. I wanted to know how he did that. His advice to me was, “Hit some kid who hasn’t done anything wrong. That shows the other kids you are not playing favorites.”
There was probably only one child in my class who “hadn’t done anything wrong.” He was a black child and had a physical disability. I hit him!
Less than two weeks later, a boy and a girl in my classroom — two of my favorite students — got into a fist fight — dashing each other across the classroom. I walked out the door and never went back to that school. I resigned.
For my entire life, I have carried tremendous guilt and sorrow about hitting that young boy. I had wished I knew how to find him, to confess my cruelty and try to do something to make amends to him. This, of course, was not possible for me to do, or perhaps I was just too immature to know how to figure that out at the time.
Marian Drake, Ed.M.
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Sacramento DA’s new book offers first insider account
Includes details from one of Contra Costa County’s darkest chapters
By Angelle Barbazon, Lead Publicist, Books Forward
SACRAMENTO – In “The People vs. the Golden State Killer” (Third State Books), Thien Ho, the current District Attorney of Sacramento County, delivers the first official account of the investigation, capture and prosecution of Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr., one of California’s and America’s most notorious serial predators. Known by many chilling names over the years, including the East Area Rapist, the Original Nightstalker, the Visalia Ransacker and finally the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo terrorized California communities for over a decade – and then disappeared without a trace for more than 30 years.
After more than 40 years of fear and unanswered questions, it was Thien who finally secured DeAngelo’s life sentence. Now, for the first time, Thien is pulling back the curtain in “The People vs. the Golden State Killer”. The book includes never-before-heard survivor testimony, chilling details of DeAngelo’s deception and behind-the-scenes insights from the investigators who refused to let him escape justice.
The book covers one of Contra Costa County’s darkest chapters. DeAngelo’s crimes included more than 120 burglaries, over 50 rapes and 13 murders across six counties, with Contra Costa residents among the victims he terrorized for decades. All the while, he lived in plain sight as a cop, a husband and even a neighbor, hiding in the very communities he stalked. (See related Herald articles here and here).
Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr. pleads guilty during his hearing on Monday, June 29, 2020. Screenshot of YouTube video. 2018 arrest photo. Source: Sacramento County Sheriff.
As the lead prosecutor on the case, Ho recounts the exhilarating and harrowing experience of bringing a cold-case killer to justice and putting him behind bars for life. Rather than focusing solely on the criminal and the crimes, Ho’s narrative centers the dedicated law-enforcement teams who never gave up their pursuit of the GSK; and the courageous survivors of his crimes who fought to heal and regain control of their lives. “The People vs. the Golden State Killer” includes hundreds of never-before-revealed details and firsthand insights. Unlike previous accounts, this is the first time the public hears directly from the lead prosecutor who helped close the case. The book also features the authorized voices of survivors who turned their trauma into powerful advocacy.
A portion of the book’s proceeds will benefit Phyllis’s Garden, a nonprofit that honors a GSK survivor and champions victims’ rights.
Ho also recounts his equally compelling personal story: a Vietnamese refugee whose family fled Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, he arrived in the United States knowing no English. He rose from being an intern to being elected Sacramento County District Attorney in 2022, becoming one of only 10 Asian American district attorneys out of 2,400 nationwide. He brings both legal authority and emotional truth to a case that gripped the country and the world.
About the Author
Thien Ho is the author of “The People vs. The Golden State Killer.” He was elected District Attorney of Sacramento County in 2022 and took office in 2023. Over a 25-year legal career, he has prosecuted hundreds of high-profile sexual assault, gang, and homicide cases and served as supervisor of the Gang and Hate Crime Unit. In 2017, he received Prosecutor of the Year honors from both the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association and the Sacramento DA’s Office. He is best known for successfully prosecuting Joseph DeAngelo, a.k.a. the Golden State Killer.
What Others Are Saying
“Ho’s careful, well-written account chronicles [how] DeAngelo was brought to justice. . . . A disturbing real-world procedural about ‘the bogeyman who couldn’t be found—until we found him.’” – Kirkus Reviews
“A worthwhile account of a well-covered case . . . Most affecting are Ho’s interviews with DeAngelo’s surviving victims, who starkly recount their kidnappings and assaults. The autobiographical sections in which Ho discusses his path from Vietnamese war refugee to Northern California prosecutor are inspiring.” – Publishers Weekly
“Sacramento DA Thien Ho is a tenacious prosecutor who played a crucial role in putting the Golden State Killer in prison for life. ‘The People vs. the Golden State Killer’ is a riveting behind-the-scenes account about the investigation, capture, and prosecution of Joseph DeAngelo.” – Paul Holes, bestselling author of “Unmasked”
An Interview with Thien Ho
You explore Joseph DeAngelo’s backstory and early signs of violence. How did that psychological profile affect the way you viewed him?
His early behavior showed a clear escalation … voyeurism, theft, then rape and murder. It was a classic profile of a predator who felt entitled to power and control. Understanding that helped us anticipate his behavior and build a stronger case. But it also underscored how many warning signs were missed. That made our pursuit of justice all the more urgent. We could not change the past, but we could make sure he never hurt anyone again.
He led a split life – a police officer by day, predator by night. What did you learn about how he managed to keep that double identity hidden for so long, even from his family?
DeAngelo was meticulous. He compartmentalized his life with surgical precision. He was not impulsive, he planned, he stalked, he adapted. That is how he avoided capture for so long. It was chilling to realize that someone could commit such evil while maintaining the appearance of normalcy. But evil does not always look like a monster. Sometimes it looks like your neighbor.
DeAngelo’s behavior during the interrogation was chilling. He tried to fake insanity and even hurt himself after the arrest. At what point did you and your team stop seeing these actions as confusion or remorse, and start seeing them as strategy?
Very early on. We saw through the act. He whispered to himself in the interrogation room, trying to create this narrative of mental instability, but the timing and the manner were too deliberate. It was not remorse, it was manipulation. He had eluded capture for decades using deception. This was just another tactic. But this time, it did not work.
DeAngelo tried to appear weak and frail in court. How did that version of him compare to the man you knew he really was behind the scenes?
It was an act, a carefully staged performance. In reality, DeAngelo was calculating, manipulative, and far more aware than he pretended to be. I had seen the evidence, the way he moved, how he covered his tracks. He wanted the world to see a broken old man. But we knew better. The survivors knew better. And the truth won.
At one point, you made a rare promise to a survivor that you would get her justice. What made you make that promise, and did it stay with you during the case?
She had waited decades to be believed, and when she looked me in the eye and asked if this time would be different, I knew I could not let her down. I promised I would fight for her like she was my own family. That promise was with me every day of the case. It guided every decision, every argument, every late night. And when justice came, I thought of her first.
Unlike most books and documentaries that focus on the killer, your book centers the survivors and the people who brought him to justice. Why was that shift so important to you, and how did you approach telling such personal, painful stories with care?
Too often, the spotlight stays on the monster. I wanted to shift the focus to the heroes; the survivors, the investigators, and the prosecutors who never gave up. These are people who found the courage to speak, to remember, and to fight back. I approached their stories with the same care I brought to court … listen deeply, tell the truth, and honor their humanity. They are the soul of this case.
Hearing survivor impact statements must have been an incredibly powerful moment. Was there one that especially stayed with you?
Every single statement hit me hard, but one survivor, someone who had never spoken publicly before, looked DeAngelo in the eye and told him she was no longer afraid. That moment stuck with me. Her strength, after everything she endured, reminded me why we fight so hard for justice. It was not just about locking him up, it was about restoring power to those he tried to destroy.
Now that DeAngelo is behind bars for life, what can you share about his life in prison?
What I can say is this, DeAngelo lives in a prison cell, just as he once trapped his victims in fear. He is no longer in control. He no longer gets to hide behind a mask of normalcy. And he will never walk free again. That is the justice system doing its job, and it will do so until his last breath.
Are there any unanswered questions or unresolved pieces of this case that still weigh on you?
There are always questions that linger in a case like this. Some of DeAngelo’s crimes remain unconfirmed or unsolved, and I suspect there may be victims we still do not know about. We did everything in our power to connect the dots, but the passage of time erases evidence, and sadly, sometimes, voices. I carry the weight of what we could not prove alongside the pride of what we did.
After years of work, what did “justice” look like for you – not just legally, but personally and emotionally – when this case finally concluded?
Justice, for me, was not just a sentence; it was a sense of peace for the survivors who carried these scars for decades. Seeing DeAngelo wheeled into court, forced to hear the voices of the people he tried to silence, was powerful. But it was also deeply personal. I came to this country as a refugee fleeing violence. To now serve as the elected District Attorney and bring one of the nation’s most brutal serial predators to justice was full circle. It meant something bigger than any verdict.
What justice means to him
Bringing DeAngelo to justice was not only a legal victory. It was a personal, full-circle moment that symbolized hope and accountability.
“The People vs. The Golden State Killer”
Thien Ho | Nov. 11, 2025 | Third State Books | Nonfiction / True Crime
Hardcover | 979-8890130358 | $29.95
Available on Amazon.com at The People vs. the Golden State Killer: Ho, Thien
Read MoreSource: Santa Clara County DA’s Office
Including 7 traffickers in Contra Costa County; CCDA, Pittsburg PD participate
By Lt. Joshua Singleton, Task Force Commander, Human Trafficking Task Force, Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office
Days after the Super Bowl, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force reported its own statistics: numbers that showed enhanced investigations resulted in the arrests of 29 traffickers and the recovery of 73 sex trafficking victims, including 10 minors. One of the victims, who was being trafficked in Oakland, was 12 years old.
Law enforcement operations were held throughout 11 Bay Area counties during the lead up to one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Similar enforcement is being prepared for the deluge of fans coming to see the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament games at Levi’s Stadium between June 13 and July 1.
Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “Beyond football, the Super Bowl was a triumph of Bay Area law enforcement planning, organization, cooperation, and safety. Human trafficking is not a game, it’s a tragedy. However, our team was very successful. Close to 70 agencies effectively discouraged traffickers from exploiting the game and victims. For traffickers that still came to the game from all over the world with bad intentions, many ended up behind bars.”
The HTTF helped organize the efforts of 67 law enforcement agencies from Sacramento to Monterey.
For two weeks before the big game, the Task Force set up a command center in Sunnyvale populated with more than 20 analysts from various agencies, such as the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the DA’s Crime Strategies Unit, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department, federal agencies and partners from community-based organizations such as In Our Backyard, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The analysts worked on tips in real time and worked alongside agents in the field to do investigations and make arrests. Operations that often take weeks took minutes in the enhanced Human Trafficking Tactical Operations Center.
Launching almost 40 operations, investigators recovered 20 victims from San Mateo County alone. Seven traffickers were arrested in Contra Costa County; six in Monterey and Solano counties. In Santa Clara County, seven victims were recovered, two traffickers arrested and a firearm was seized.
View the In Our Backyard 2026 Super Bowl Report.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Sacramento, Calif. – The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) encourages seniors to be aware of real estate and mortgage fraud targeting older adults. Scammers increasingly target seniors with real estate and mortgage-related deception, exploiting their trust and financial vulnerability.
The following tips aim to help Californians safeguard themselves before harm is done, as well as how to report this type of fraud.
Fraud Avoidance Tips
- Be vigilant, diligent, and suspicious, and proceed very cautiously, when contacted by strangers.
- Use only licensed professionals when engaging the services of people or companies offering rental, home loan, foreclosure rescue, or other real estate services on your behalf. Check licensing at dre.ca.gov and dfpi.ca.gov.
- Never pay in cash, or wire cash to anyone, in connection with real estate transactions; Also, be certain to protect your personal information, such as social security number, so scammers cannot steal your identity.
- Never pay anyone for home loans or foreclosure relief services in advance of successfully completing the work you wanted them to do for you.
- Never sign an agreement for a real estate transaction (including a Rental) or a home loan that you cannot afford.
- Never sign a real estate (including Rental) or home loan agreement that you do not understand or have not read, or which contains blank spaces.
- Anyone (including scammers without an appropriate or legitimate California license) can advertise on television or radio, in newspapers, magazines or on the Internet.
- Just because someone looks professional, sounds like an expert, and/or gives you confidence in their real estate knowledge, does not mean that you can or should trust them.
- Never transfer or sign your home over to any third party or anyone else who claims that such a transfer can or will help you repair your credit or keep you in your home. Also, never sign a “power of attorney” giving rights to your property or money to any individual – or any company – you do not personally know and trust.
- Monitor and periodically check the title to your real estate holdings, just like you check your credit reports; and act immediately if you detect fraud.
- If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Current Types of Real Estate Fraud
Foreclosure Rescue Schemes
Scammers promise to save a homeowner’s property from foreclosure in exchange for fees or title transfer. Victims often lose both their homes and money when no real help is provided.
Unlicensed Prepaid Rental Listing Services Fraud
Scammers offer rental property lists for a fee without proper licensing. Victims often pay upfront but receive outdated or nonexistent listings, leaving them without a rental and no recourse.
Timeshare Resale and Rental Schemes
Fraudsters promise to sell or rent timeshares for a fee but either fail to deliver, exaggerate property value, or sell nonexistent interests, exploiting owners’ desire to liquidate or monetize their timeshare.
Online Rental Fraud
Scammers advertise fake rental properties online, often requesting deposits or personal information before disappearing, targeting people searching for homes or vacation rentals.
Unlicensed Property Managers
Individuals manage rental properties without the necessary real estate license, potentially leading to mismanagement, legal issues, or financial loss for property owners and tenants.
Real Property Recordation Fraud
Fraudsters forge or falsify deeds and record them against properties without the owner’s consent, potentially leading to disputes over property ownership.
Real Property Investment Schemes
Scammers promote high-return real estate investments that are either nonexistent or misrepresented, leading to financial losses for investors.
Reverse Mortgage Scams
Fraudulent schemes target seniors, offering reverse mortgages with misleading terms or fees, potentially leading to loss of home equity or foreclosure.
Vacant Land Scams
Scammers or bad actors posing as owners of vacant land and contact real estate agents for their assistance to sell a property they do not own.
How Consumers Can Report Suspected Fraud
If you believe you have been a victim of a mortgage crime or have a concern or complaint about a real estate salesperson or broker, you can file a complaint with DRE: https://dre.ca.gov/Consumers/FileComplaint.html
ABOUT DRE
The Department of Real Estate is the regulatory agency that enforces the Real Estate Law, Subdivided Lands Law, and Vacation Ownership and Timeshare Act. DRE oversees the licensure of approximately 434,000 licensees. The Department’s mission is to safeguard and promote the public interests in real estate matters through licensure, regulation, education, and enforcement. Consumer protection is its highest priority. For more information, visit: www.dre.ca.gov.
Read More54-year-old Raymond Edward Smith held on $1.385 million bail
Began as restraining order violation
By Allen D. Payton
An Oakley man charged with attempted murder for shooting at a Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputy during an hours-long stand-off last month, was transferred from a hospital to jail on Wednesday, Feb. 18th, according to CrimeVoice.com. Raymond Edward Smith, 54-years-old (born 12/6/1971), was arrested following a self-inflicted gunshot.
As previously reported, on Monday, January 12, 2026, at about 10:50 AM, a deputy sheriff was dispatched to a call regarding a violation of a restraining order. A deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop after locating the suspect vehicle on the 4300 block of Gold Run Drive in Oakley. Almost immediately after the stop, the driver came out of the vehicle and fired several shots at the deputy. The deputy was not struck and was able to return gunfire.
The suspect fled on foot in the neighborhood. During the search for the suspect, the Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Oakley Police Department, California Highway Patrol, East Bay Regional Park Police, Brentwood Police Department, and Antioch Police Department. The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Hostage Negotiation Team, Drone Unit and a police K-9 also responded. The suspect was found barricaded at his home in the 2700 block of Placer Drive in Oakley.
After several hours of attempting to communicate with the suspect, the SWAT team armored vehicle approached the residence. A gunshot was heard. The suspect apparently tried to take his own life. Medical personnel, who were on scene, immediately implemented life-saving measures. Smith was transported to a local hospital.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 200-pound Smith is Hispanic and being held in the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail was set at $1,385,000. UPDATE: However, according to Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Affairs Jimmy Lee, Smith is being held on no bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26th at 1:30 p.m. in Martinez Superior Court Department 5.
Also, according to CrimeVoice.com, his “bond amount is a cumulative total and involves three other cases filed against Smith for prior unrelated offenses.
- $1.25 million for attempted murder of peace officer, and assault with a firearm
- $100,000 for violation of a domestic violence restraining order
- $25,000 for an outstanding warrant related to package thefts
- $10,000 for additional misdemeanor warrants
“One of Smith’s other pending cases involves second-degree burglary in Discovery Bay. Smith is
accused of stealing packages from porches last year in December.”
According to localcrimenews.com, Smith was also arrested in December 2013 by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department for assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and in May 2024 by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for Warrants or Holds Only.
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