City manager claims 1/2-cent increase to 9.25% needed due to inflation, unfunded state mandates; would last 7 years
On July 22, 2024, the Lafayette City Council placed a funding measure on the November 2024 ballot, asking Lafayette voters to authorize a local sales tax increase of 1/2 cent (half a penny for every $1 spent locally) for seven years to maintain the current level of City services. This measure will require a 50% +1 vote to pass.
At a previous City Council meeting, City Manager, Niroop K. Srivatsa, explained that due to inflation, prices on everything from materials, to insurance, to labor have continued to increase. Furthermore, the State continues to impose a number of unfunded mandates. As a result, the City is facing a structural deficit of more than $2M annually, beginning in fiscal year July 2024-25.
If approved by voters in November, all the revenue from the sales tax would go directly into the City’s General Fund; The General Fund provides funding for City services and facilities including:
- Maintaining public streets and storm drains and providing timely pothole repair.
- Sustaining wildfire preparedness activities.
- Maintaining the number of sworn police officers at the current level.
- Services for senior citizens.
- Maintaining city parks, open spaces, paths, and playfields.
- Traffic safety improvements on our streets and roads for all users including people driving, biking and walking.
- Continuing support for our community partners like the Chamber of Commerce and the School District.
Lafayette’s current sales tax rate is 8.75%. If voters approve a ½ cent sales tax measure, Lafayette’s rate will increase to 9.25%, equal with the rate in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek and lower than Orinda, Moraga, and Concord. The new rate would go into effect starting April 1, 2025, for seven years.
“The half cent (1/2%) increase, if approved by Lafayette voters, would generate approximately $2.4 million annually, which, according to current projections, is enough to maintain the level of service presently being provided. If the voters do not pass the measure, the Council will have to make difficult decisions about which programs and services to reduce or eliminate,” said Administrative Services Director Tracy Robinson. “Filling a $2M annual deficit is approximately 10% of the City’s General Fund, and it would require cuts across all City departments, including police, public works, planning, engineering, parks and recreation, and administration,” Robinson added.
“One reason the City Council chose to place a sales tax measure on the ballot is because sales tax is paid by visitors who dine and shop in Lafayette, so funds would be brought into the community from people who reside outside the community but who utilize our public infrastructure and services,” explained Vice Mayor Wei-Tai Kwok.
For many years, the City has been able to balance its budget, build a healthy emergency reserve, and operate frugally, however the current state of the economy coupled with unfunded State mandates that cities are obligated to fulfill have all contributed to the structural deficit. The City has foregone new projects recently and froze the hiring of four staff positions, however, the City Council believes that the additional cuts in expenses to address the $2M deficit would negatively impact Lafayette residents, so instead are asking voters to consider increasing the sales tax rate for seven years.
More information about the City’s financial situation and the funding measure is available on the City of Lafayette’s website at www.lovelafayette.org/FiscalSustainability
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Victim was adult man in East County
One dead bird, five sentinel chickens test positive for virus, all in Oakley
By Contra Costa Health
A Contra Costa resident died this month from West Nile virus infection, underscoring the need for everyone in the county to take precautions against mosquito-borne illness.
The death of an adult man who lived in East County was reported to the county on July 16. It was the first West Nile virus-related death reported in Contra Costa since 2006.
“This is a tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss.” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy county health officer. “This death also reinforces how important it is to reduce risk of West Nile virus infection by reducing our exposure to mosquitos.”
Contra Costa Health’s (CCH) Communicable Disease Program is investigating the case and has not determined where the person became infected. To preserve medical privacy, CCH will not release further details about the case.
The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Contra District (District) has detected other recent evidence of the virus’s presence in East County. One dead bird and five sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, all located in Oakley. According to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, “Chickens serve as valuable sentinel animals since they are not effective amplifying hosts, and they develop a short and relatively low viremia compared to other bird species when infected by WNV.”
Certain birds can become infected with West Nile virus, and when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected. An infected mosquito can spread the virus to a human or other animal through a single bite. The infection can be dangerous to humans, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or rash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Contra Costa County resident to West Nile virus,” said Paula Macedo, Ph.D., district general manager. “This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and supporting community efforts to control mosquito populations.”
West Nile virus activity is typically higher during the summer months. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the District recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- The repellent version of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
- IR3535
Always follow the instructions on the label when using insect repellent. Wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors where mosquitoes are present, often at dawn and dusk, can reduce exposed skin and reduce the risk of mosquito bites. And dumping out any amount of standing water in front and backyards and scrubbing the inside of each container to remove mosquito eggs can also help lower the risk of mosquitoes.
The District provides public health services to Contra Costa County residents including a mosquito service of inspection and control upon request. Request a District service by phone at 925-685-9301 or online at www.contracostamosquito.com. Click on “I Want to” at the top of the webpage, then select “Request Services” from the drop-down menu.
Contra Costa County residents can help the District identify areas of potential WNV risk by reporting dead birds to the California Dead Bird Call Center by phone at 1-877-968-2473 or online at westnile.ca.gov. Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus in a particular area. By reporting dead birds, residents provide the District with critical information that allows District employees to set mosquito traps near the site of the dead bird to look for infected mosquitoes. If those mosquitos are found, the District will take timely action to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for neighboring residents.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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A state worker cleans out an encampment under a freeway overpass. Gov. Gavin Newsom contributes to the effort following the announcement of his executive order on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Video screenshots. Source: Office of the CA Governor
Following U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Encourages local governments to adopt similar policies
“We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.” – Gov. Newsom
What you need to know: Governor Newsom today issued an executive order directing state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and safety of Californians experiencing homelessness. The Governor’s order, which follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass, also urges local governments to use substantial funding provided by the state to take similar action.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Building on California’s ongoing work and unprecedented investments to address the decades-long issue of homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies that urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and well-being of all Californians.
With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v Johnson, local governments now have the tools and authority to address dangerous encampments and help provide those residing in encampments with the resources they need.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same. The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.” said Newsom. “We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.”
The governor’s executive order directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal.
Governor Newsom has made record-level investments to address the housing crisis, investing over $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including billions of dollars in funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and wrap-around support to people living in encampments. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, these investments helped lift more than 165,000 people out of homelessness and into interim or permanent housing.
California blueprint
Governor Newsom’s order directs state agencies and departments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing encampment policy. Since July 2021, California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments, and has removed 248,275 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects. Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
The order encourages local governments to emulate the state’s successful model to adopt local policies and to use all available resources, including those provided by the state’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs, to address encampments within their jurisdictions.
Proposition 1 funding available for local governments
Governor Newsom also encourages local governments to apply for the newly available $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1 to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.
Proposition 1 includes two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services, and historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. The state also recently released the Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Services Act: Housing Supports Primer (July 2024) for counties, which explains how to spend the projected $950 million annual BHSA revenue on housing interventions.
Unprecedented investments to support communities
Governor Newsom is tackling California’s homelessness crisis head-on. Since he took office, the state has developed a Statewide Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness and the Governor has demanded unprecedented accountability from local governments to do their part to end the homelessness crisis through regionally coordinated action plans. The Governor has also pioneered nation-leading homeless and housing reforms and invested more than $24 billion to address this crisis with state and local support, including $4.85 billion for Homeless, Housing Assistance and Prevention Grants for local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion for Homekey to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness.
See Newsom’s announcement video on X.
A copy of today’s executive order can be found here and here:
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-1-24
WHEREAS California is experiencing a homelessness crisis decades in the making, with over 180,000 people estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state; and WHEREAS within the first year of my Administration I fast-tracked the development of shelter through Executive Order N-23-20, which directed departments to assess and facilitate the use of available state land and resources for short-term emergency homeless shelters; and WHEREAS since the beginning of my Administration, the State has made unprecedented investments to address the homelessness crisis head on, investing more than $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including $4.85 billion in flexible funding to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness through Homekey; and
WHEREAS the State has redoubled its commitment to holding local jurisdictions accountable to reduce homelessness, including by strengthening and enforcing requirements that local jurisdictions plan for their fair share of housing and by conditioning state homelessness funding on rigorous reporting and measurable performance metrics; and
WHEREAS it is imperative to act with urgency to address dangerous encampments, which subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use, harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources; and
WHEREAS while every jurisdiction must do more to address encampments, state and local agencies taking proactive steps to remove encampments have been stymied in those efforts by lawsuits and injunctions, leaving officials without the tools or guidance necessary to address the crisis on their streets; and
WHEREAS in September 2023, I called on the United States Supreme Court to grant review in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson to clarify that state and local officials can take reasonable actions to resolve encampments while respecting the humanity of all Californians; and
WHEREAS in June 2024 the Supreme Court overturned Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent that restricted the government’s authority to enforce laws regulating encampments, recognizing that jurisdictions may tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness; and
WHEREAS with the threat of these types of injunctions removed, there is no longer any barrier to local governments utilizing the substantial resources provided by the State, in tandem with federal and local resources, to address encampments with both urgency and humanity, or excuse for not doing so; and WHEREAS guidelines that prioritize offers of shelter and services as a first step to resolving any encampment best respect the dignity of every Californian and provide meaningful paths to ending homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Interagency Council on Homelessness leads California’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation maintains a policy directive that prioritizes removal of encampments that pose threats to life, health, and safety, while partnering with local governments and nonprofit providers to facilitate offers of shelter and supportive services in advance of a removal; and WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation has, since July 2021, removed 11,188 encampments and 248,275 cubic yards of debris from these encampments along the state rights of way.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:
- Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.
- Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.
- Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal
- Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.
- Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.
2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.
3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order. This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of July.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Victim-Ricardo-Funes-and-his-damaged-car.-Impulso-News.jpg)
Victim Ricardo Funes and his damaged car. Photos source: Impulso News Facebook page
Takes life of 16-year-old boy
Bail set at $1.1 million, already bonded out
Suspect arrested in 2021 for sex with and lewd acts upon a minor under 14
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
A Richmond man has been charged with murder that took the life of a 16-year-old minor in a DUI-related collision.
30-year-old Alexi Alexander Pineda Ticas faces a three-count felony complaint. In addition to the murder charge [PC 187(a)], Pineda Ticas was charged with driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury [VC23153(a)] and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury [VC23153(b)]. Both counts two and three come with enhancements alleging great bodily injury [PC12022.7(a)] that caused the offenses to become serious and violent felonies.
“This tragic incident has not only taken the life of a teenage boy, but it has also devastated his family,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “We will seek justice by holding the defendant accountable for actions that were both deadly and reckless. An incident like this is an emotionally wrenching reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.”
The fatal collision occurred just after midnight on July 15th in Richmond, when the victim was leaving his mother’s residence. As the teen was driving away, a vehicle driven by Pineda Ticas traveling at excessive speeds drove through a stop sign on Ohio Avenue and South 20th Street in Richmond and crashed into the teen’s vehicle. The severity of the collision caused the teen to die from his injuries shortly after the incident. Pineda Ticas sustained non-life-threatening injuries that were treated at a hospital in Walnut Creek.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Martinez, Pineda Ticas was arraigned on the charges. He is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail was set at $1.1 million.
According to a report by Bay Area Telemundo Channel 48, the teen was identified as Ricardo Funes of Richmond. His aunt, Claudia Barajas said, “Ricardo’s car was parked here in front of the gate, he was going to leave when he was hit, and at the same speed that the other car was carrying, he pushed him to that yellow house.”
Marta Barajas, Ricardo’s mother, described him as a young man who was always happy and although his departure hurts her, she assured that she feels calm.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of July 16, Pineda Ticas had bonded out of custody.
According to localcrimenews.com, he is five-foot, eight inches tall, 165 pounds and was previously arrested in February 2021 in Kern County for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, lewd acts upon a child, rape by a foreign object on a victim under 14 who is more than 10 years younger and attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense.
The night of July 15, the Richmond Police Department posted on their Facebook page about the fatal DUI collision writing, “Don’t Let a Drink Turn into a Tragedy.
The impaired driver’s decision to drive drunk robbed a family of their child. When you choose to drive under the influence, you’re not just risking your own life—you’re endangering everyone on the road. Alcohol impairs your judgment, slows your reaction time, and reduces your ability to make safe decisions. A single moment of poor judgment can lead to devastating consequences.
Before you head out, make a plan: arrange for a designated driver, use public transportation, or call a rideshare service. Your choices matter, and your safety is worth it.”
Case No. 02-24-00933 | The People of the State of California v. Pineda Ticas, Alexi Alexander
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report
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Ncal-Olympics-02 – Denise and CJ Nickolas in 2009. (Left) 80Kg Gold Medalist Carl CJ Nickolas’ first flag run after he won the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC. (Center) Ncal-Olympics and Ncal-Olympics-01 CJ Nickolas at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October 2023. Photo credit by Mark Reis, USOPC (Right)
A nurse in Antioch, CA has nurtured her 22-year-old son’s taekwondo ambitions since he was 3
Expected to compete for gold, CJ Nickolas, a former Heritage High student, was first trained by his father at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch
By Elizabeth Schainbaum, Manager, Regional Content, Corporation Communications, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Over the years, wound care nurse Denise Nickolas would talk with colleagues about her kids’ sports activities — just as others would talk about their own kids.
Most colleagues didn’t realize her kids were different. They didn’t know how seriously athletic they were after he won a medal in World Taekwondo Championship in May 2023 when her son, CJ, received publicity as he vied for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
CJ is competing in the Paris Olympics in taekwondo on August 9, 2024. The 22-year-old is ranked second in the world.
“She doesn’t go around telling just anyone how he ranked at tournaments,” said Daniella White, a colleague who has cheered Nickolas on through CJ’s injuries and other challenges. “If someone asks, she will humbly share how well he did. That’s not to say she wasn’t overly proud or excited for him, but she just continued to show humility in the process.”
Kaiser Permanente fan club
Nickolas is happy everyone knows now.
“Everyone is so excited, and they asked why I didn’t say anything,” said Nickolas, who was a gymnast in college and also achieved a taekwondo black belt during her son’s practices. “They’ve been so supportive and even started a Teams group to cheer us on and check the progress of his Olympic bid.”
Her boss, Darci Walker, is a big fan.
“I remember her sharing one of CJ’s competitions where he won first place, and he moved the entire crowd and audience by singing the national anthem. The whole stadium joined in and sang together,” Walker recalled. “This was a very proud moment that Denise shared with me. When I watched the video on her phone, it brought me to tears as well. We are all excited for CJ and their entire family.”
A ‘family-friendly’ organization
Nickolas has worked at Kaiser Permanente since 2001. Since then, as a single mom, she’s juggled full-time work with two kids who were competitive athletes.
Her older daughter, now 24, was an elite gymnast for a long time. She pivoted to diving, and that was the sport she did in college.
Her kids’ sports often required traveling to competitions. Nickolas said her managers and colleagues have been supportive and accommodating when she’s had to take time off, even last minute.
“Kaiser Permanente is absolutely a family-friendly organization,” she said. “I was able to have the life I wanted with my kids because of Kaiser Permanente.”
To make it work, she would essentially work two part-time jobs and lived just 10 minutes from the hospital.
She would start the morning at the Antioch Medical Center and then take the kids to their practices. Later, she would work another shift with Home Health Department.
“I was exhausted, but it was worth it, totally worth it,” Nickolas said. “I’m so grateful.”
Walker said Nickolas also worked hard to make it work. She coordinated well with colleagues before she would travel so there were no bumps with patient care. When she returned, she was ready to get back into the swing of work.
Going for gold
Nickolas followed this routine for years. She realized in 2007 that CJ, who had been doing taekwondo for three years at that point, had a future in competitive sports.
At the age of three, he said he wanted to do martial arts. She hesitated because she was against combat sports at the time.
She pushed that feeling aside because she could see how eager he was to do it. She steered him to taekwondo because it was included in Ivy League sports programs and was an Olympic sport.
When he was about 6, she noticed he was intense and focused. She checked in with the coach.
“’Am I just proud or is he really good?’” she recalled saying. “The coach said, ‘No, he’s really as good as you think he is.’”
That coach, until CJ turned 18, was his father, Ed Givans, who previously owned and trained his son at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch which he relocated to Las Vegas in 2018. Givans is also on the Tournament Committee for USA Taekwondo and has another competitor he’s trained on the four-person U.S. team at the Olympics, Faith Dillon. As of last December, CJ was ranked number two in the world. She earned her spot at the Pan Am qualification tournament in April.
Many injuries later, including a broken toe that she said Kaiser Permanente did an excellent job of repairing, he’s now going for Olympic gold.
Nickolas will be there watching, with her Kaiser Permanente colleagues rooting for her son.
“I can’t believe this day has come,” she said. “He’s worked so hard, but it still feels so surreal.”
Watch CJ represent Team USA and compete on August 9th on the NBC channels.
Learn more about CJ’s experience and victories through the years, here, here and here.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreTo open early 2025 near Hwy 4 and future BART station
By City of Brentwood
The City of Brentwood in Eastern Contra Costa County, will celebrate the opening of a new Costco store in early 2025 after breaking ground this morning, Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
The retailer with stores in Antioch and Tracy has eyed the City of Brentwood for some time. Mayor Joel Bryant shared the following as it relates to Costco’s effect on the city, “Residents of Brentwood have excitedly awaited the arrival of Costco for far too long. We are delighted to welcome this retailer to our town which will undoubtedly reduce the trips for area residents and generate much needed revenues for our city”.
![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Costco-Brentwood-area-location-maps-1024x580.jpg)
Maps show the new Costco store in Brentwood will be located on the west side of Hwy 4 near the future BART station and just north of the future Brentwood Innovation Center. Source: City of Brentwood
Tim Ogden, City Manager, shared: “Costco will represent one of our largest employers and tax generators in town. The City strategically prepared for its arrival by extending Sand Creek Road from Highway 4 to Heidorn Ranch Road in an effort to alleviate traffic generated along Lone Tree Way. It will also represent one of the first non-residential developments in the City’s Innovation Center. We welcome the arrival of Costco with more good things to come”.
Costco’s arrival in Brentwood means that the 66,000 local residents as well as thousands more from the cities of Antioch and Oakley as well as the communities of Discovery Bay and Bethel Island will no longer have to travel more than 10 miles east and west to stores in Antioch and Tracy. The store will also serve as a catalyst to attract more national retailers to the remaining 4 acres adjacent to the store and continue to strengthen Brentwood’s role as a leader in the East Contra Costa County shopping experience. The new store will also help foster a planned mixed-use development just south of the new Costco along Heidorn Ranch Road as part of the Innovation Center.
![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Costco-Brentwood-Site-Map-1024x657.jpg)
Access to the new Costco in Brentwood will be through the existing shopping center of Lone Tree Way and Heidorn Ranch Road. Source: City of Brentwood
The City’s Economic Development staff are pro-actively seeking a developer to acquire and assemble approximately 25 acres just south of the pedestrian and bicycle trail which will create a new town center. The town center will consist of anywhere from 200 to 300 townhomes and apartments with upwards of 100,000 square feet of retail and office development in a Main Street format. To learn more about this mixed-use development opportunity, please contact the City’s Economic Development Team at www.brentwoodca.gov/business/economic-development.
For more information on the Costco development, please contact Darin Gale, Assistant City Manager at dgale@brentwoodca.gov.
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U.S. News & World Report’s annual study rates Kaiser hospitals in the top 10 to 20% in U.S. for treating heart attacks, strokes, other challenging medical conditions
By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
OAKLAND, CA – Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s hospitals are rated among the best in the nation for treating heart attacks, strokes, and other medical conditions.
Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are recognized as “high-performing” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 Best Hospitals annual report in part due to the evidence-based treatments and comprehensive care and support provided to patients.
Nearly 5,000 hospitals participated in the study, which analyzes hospital performance for 15 specialty care areas and 20 procedures and conditions. The “high performing” designation — defined as top 10% to 20% in the United States – honors those hospitals that consistently deliver high-quality care when treating complex medical conditions.
“Our Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are continually recognized as leaders in the nation for providing our members and patients with exceptional care leading to positive health outcomes,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Our dedicated clinicians and care teams always strive to meet our patients’ health care needs as we work to improve their overall health and well-being.”
Kaiser Permanente patients receive coordinated and evidence-based care through an integrated system designed to put their health care needs above all else.
18 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals rated high-performing for cardiac care
Nearly 700,000 people die of heart disease every year – or 1 in every 5 deaths – so the treatment provided is critical to saving lives. Kaiser Permanente cardiologists and heart surgeons have experience treating a broad range of heart conditions and performing life-saving procedures. And our connected system allows them to share knowledge across locations and specialties.
According to the U.S. News & World Report’s ratings, 18 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are recognized as “high performing” for the treatment of either congestive heart failure or heart attacks.
“Our physicians and care teams not only excel at the routine procedures, but also the more specialized complex medical needs of our patients and members,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “We take pride in our ability to deliver innovative, nation-leading quality of care, helping our patients recover quickly so they can resume their normal activities and lead healthy lives.”
Ratings help inform decision-making about care
The annual ratings and rankings are designed to help patients and their health care providers make informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.
Twenty Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are “high performing” in at least one of the 35 measures examined, including the treatment of stroke, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia.
- Six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are ranked among the top 60 hospitals out of more than 400 considered in California: The Kaiser Permanente Oakland, Richmond, Roseville, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and South Sacramento hospitals are all ranked among the state’s best.
- Kaiser Permanente Oakland and Richmond hospitals are among the top 10% in the metropolitan area of San Francisco and the state of California for delivering safe, high-quality care.
- Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara and Roseville hospitals are among the top 10% of hospitals in Northern California for delivering safe, high-quality care.
- Kaiser Permanente Vallejo hospital is ranked 28thin the nation for rehabilitation out of nearly 5,000 hospitals evaluated. It’s also the second-highest ranked rehabilitation hospital in Northern California and the 4th highest in the state.
- Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento is rated among the Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access.
Port Chicago Weekend
Port Chicago Weekend is a four-day festival held across various Bay Area cities, featuring music, art, food, education and commemoration.
The weekend events align with and support Port Chicago Remembrance Day, aiming to educate and spotlight the national history of Port Chicago, California by raising awareness of its impact on World War II and our nation’s civil rights.
For details visit www.portchicagoweekend.org/index.html.
National Park Service’s Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial 80th Anniversary
The National Park Service, in collaboration with the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial, and the U.S. Army’s 834th Transportation Battalion, invites you to join the annual Port Chicago Commemoration on July 20, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. with a reception to follow the ceremony. We will honor the 320 men who lost their lives in the largest WWII military disaster on the home front.
This year’s event is an opportunity for friends, family, and others interested in the Port Chicago disaster and its aftermath to join in a day of remembrance. The events following the disaster led to a work stoppage and the largest mutiny trial in U.S. naval history. The response of African American communities to these events exposed the shameful injustices of racism and illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in the military. Today, the memorial serves not only as a place to honor those who lost their lives, but also as a springboard for exploring social justice in our society.
The event will be held at Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO), which is an active military base, requiring all visitors to have a reservation and a security check. Visitors aged 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For more information visit www.nps.gov/poch/commemorating-the-80th-anniversary.htm.
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U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro signs the exoneration on July 17, 2024, the 80th anniversary of the Port Chicago disaster. Source: Office of the U.S. Secretary of the Navy
Followed efforts of former Congressman George Miller III
On 80th anniversary of World War II explosion, total of 256 remaining African-American Sailors receive full exoneration from 1944 courts-martial
“…the families of the Port Chicago 50 convicted for mutinying against an order that should never have been given finally have closure.” – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
WASHINGTON – The Secretary of the Navy announced on July 17 the full exoneration of the remaining 256 defendants of the 1944 Port Chicago general and summary courts-martial.
The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, made the announcement on the 80th anniversary of an explosion that occurred at Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California. The explosion killed 320 people, injured 400 others, destroyed two ships and a train, and caused damage to the nearby town of Port Chicago.
Secretary Del Toro expressed his deepest condolences for the Sailors, civilians, Coast Guardsmen, members of the U.S. Maritime Service, and one Marine who lost their lives and for their family members.
Following the 1944 explosion, white supervising officers at Port Chicago were given hardship leave while the surviving African-American Sailors were ordered back to work. The circumstances surrounding the disaster were reflective of the Navy’s personnel policies at the time, which barred African-American Sailors from nearly all seagoing jobs. Most of the Navy ordnance battalions assigned to Port Chicago Naval Magazine and similar facilities were comprised of African-American enlisted personnel and white officers.
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African-American sailors load ammunition and damage from the explosion damage on July 17, 1944. Source: U.S. Navy Secretary video screenshots
In the absence of clarity on the explosions or further safety training, 258 African-American Sailors refused to resume ammunition handling. After threats of disciplinary action, 208 of the Sailors returned to work; however, the Navy still subsequently convicted all 208 Sailors at a summary court-martial for disobeying orders.
The Navy sentenced each of the summary court-martial defendants to a Bad Conduct Discharge and forfeiture of three month’s pay. During subsequent reviews of the summary court-martial, the Bad Conduct Discharges were suspended, the forfeitures reduced, and one conviction was set aside for insufficient evidence.
The remaining 50 Sailors continued to refuse to return to work and were charged with mutiny. The Navy later convicted all 50 Sailors (who came to be called the “Port Chicago 50”) of mutiny at a mass general court-martial. Each of these defendants was sentenced to a Dishonorable Discharge, fifteen years confinement at hard labor, reduction in rate to E-1, and total forfeitures of their pay.
During subsequent reviews of the general court-martial, the Dishonorable Discharges were suspended, and the period of confinement was reduced from 15 years to 17-29 months. One conviction was also set aside for mental incompetency. By January 1946, nearly all the Sailors were released and given the opportunity to finish their contracts.
“The Port Chicago 50, and the hundreds who stood with them, may not be with us today, but their story lives on, a testament to the enduring power of courage and the unwavering pursuit of justice,” said Secretary Del Toro. “They stand as a beacon of hope, forever reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the fight for what’s right can and will prevail.”
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Orders signed by U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro exonerating the remaining 256 Sailors issued on July 17, 2024. Source: Office of the U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
After a thorough review of the case and related materials, the General Counsel of the Navy concluded that there were significant legal errors during the courts-martial. The defendants were improperly tried together despite conflicting interests and denied a meaningful right to counsel.
The courts-martial also occurred before the Navy’s Court of Inquiry report on the Port Chicago explosion was finalized, which certainly would have informed their defense and contained nineteen substantive recommendations to improve ammunition loading practices.
Following the Navy’s most recent review, Secretary Del Toro fully exonerated the remaining 256 defendants of the 1944 Port Chicago general and summary courts-martial.
A post on the Navy Secretary’s X (formerly Twitter) account reads, “’May the story of Port Chicago serve as a permanent reminder of the power of collective action, the importance of historical truth, and the enduring promise of a more just America.’ Hon. Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.”
If any family members of the defendants of the 1944 Port Chicago general and summary courts-martial would like to reach out to the Department of the Navy for future notifications on the topic or more information, please reach out to PortChicago@us.navy.mil, or 703-697-5342. (See Navy Secretary video about the exoneration and U.S. Navy video about the Port Chicago disaster)
Congressman DeSaulnier Commends U.S. Navy’s Posthumous Exoneration of Port Chicago 50
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-10) commends the U.S. Navy’s posthumous exoneration of the Port Chicago 50 – African American sailors who were wrongfully and discriminately charged with mutiny after the incident. The harsh treatment they received, both in their work and in the courtroom, was reflective of the racial segregation present in the military at the time. Since coming to Congress in 2015, Congressman DeSaulnier has led the fight for justice for and exoneration of these sailors through legislation and work with the U.S. Navy and multiple Administrations. He represented the community that came together to advocate for the sailors, the site of the Port Chicago explosion, and the memorial site for the majority of his time in office.
“After nearly a decade fighting for justice for the Port Chicago 50, I commend the U.S. Navy and thank Navy Secretary Del Toro for exonerating these heroes and President Biden for his support. Today our nation stands one step closer to fulfilling its founding promise of equality and justice for all,” said DeSaulnier. “I thank Rev. Diana McDaniel and the Friends of the Port Chicago 50, Congressman George Miller and John Lawrence, his then Chief of Staff, and Representatives Barbara Lee and John Garamendi for their efforts to help accomplish this monumental feat.”
“I thank Navy Secretary Del Toro for his exhaustive review and exonerating the Port Chicago 50, correcting 80 years of injustice. The Port Chicago 50 were ordered to their deaths in the summer of 1944, nearly four years before President Truman signed the executive order formally banning racial segregation in the American military. Now, eighty years later, the families of the Port Chicago 50 convicted for mutinying against an order that should never have been given finally have closure. Their full exoneration brings a sense of justice that has been long overdue. As Port Chicago’s Congressman, I am proud to stand with the families of these servicemen and my colleagues, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier and Barbara Lee, in celebrating this historic moment,” said Congressman John Garamendi.
“This is a monumental day for justice and for the families of the Port Chicago 50. I appreciate the Secretary of the Navy taking this crucial action to exonerate these courageous men who were unjustly court-martialed by the Navy following the explosion at Port Chicago. On the 80th anniversary of this tragic event, it’s fitting that these men are not only exonerated, but honored for their service to this country. I have been working on this issue with former Congressman George Miller and Congressman DeSaulnier since coming to Congress 26 years ago. This is long overdue,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
“When I learned of the exoneration I burst into tears, this has been a long-time coming. It is so sad that Robert Allen and the PC 50 and the sailors who were penalized are not with us to celebrate. I am so grateful to the Biden administration, to the Secretary of the Navy, to our Champions Rep. DeSaulnier and former Congressman George Miller. So many people have worked on this – a major wrong has been righted,” said Reverend Diana McDaniel, President of The Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that ‘the arc of The Moral Universe is long, but it bends towards justice,’ and today’s action by President Biden and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro at long last corrects a grievous historical wrong,” said former Congressman George Miller. “I salute colleagues in Congress, state and local government and many others, especially Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, for persisting in this long battle to clear the names of the Port Chicago 50. Special recognition is also due to Rev. Diana McDaniel of the Friends of Port Chicago, Thurgood Marshall, Jr., and the late historian Robert Allen, who have played crucial roles in telling the Port Chicago story and in demanding justice.”
After experiencing segregation in the Navy during World War II, 320 men, including 202 African American sailors, were killed and almost 400 others were injured when a cargo vessel exploded as munitions were being loading onto ships. This incident accounted for more than 15 percent of all African American Naval casualties during WWII and was the deadliest home front disaster during the war. While White officers were given time off, African American sailors were forced to return to the same unsafe working conditions that killed their colleagues, having never been properly trained in safe munitions loading and handling practices. When 50 of these men understandably refused, they were discriminately charged and convicted of mutiny.
Since coming to Congress, Congressman DeSaulnier has been actively working to seek justice for the Port Chicago 50, including through amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), introducing resolutions to exonerate the sailors in the 114th, 115th, 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses, and in calling on then-President Obama and past and current Secretaries of the Navy to remove the racially-based convictions from the sailors’ records. After Congressman DeSaulnier successfully included a provision to an NDAA requiring the Navy to investigate the circumstances surrounding the treatment of sailors at Port Chicago, the Navy acknowledged the injustice that was served against the Port Chicago 50. DeSaulnier has also called upon the Smithsonian Institution to include information about the Port Chicago 50 in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
President Biden Posts on X
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Biden shared the following about the Navy Secretary’s actions on Thursday:
“Today, the U.S. Navy rights a historic wrong by exonerating 258 Black Sailors who were unjustly convicted following the Port Chicago explosion 80 years ago. They fought for a nation that denied them equal justice. Let us remember their service and sacrifice.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Issues Statement on the Exoneration of American Sailors Unjustly Accused After the Port Chicago Tragedy of 1944
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, III also issued a statement honoring the exoneration. It reads, “Today, the Department of Defense has moved to rectify an old injustice—and face up to a painful episode in our own history.
I applaud the Secretary of the Navy’s decision to exonerate 258 Black Sailors who were unjustly court-martialed in the wake of the devastating explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California, which killed 320 Sailors on July 17, 1944. After the blast, these 258 Sailors refused to keep loading munitions in the same unsafe and inhumane conditions that contributed to the catastrophe. Eighty years later, we recognize that those 258 Sailors were right, and the segregated Navy that unnecessarily risked their lives was wrong.
The NAACP, Thurgood Marshall, Eleanor Roosevelt, and others recognized the case as a travesty at the time. The Department of Defense must continue to learn from our past, and today’s decision reflects our commitment to reckoning with our history—even when it is painful.
I am deeply grateful for all the people of conscience in the U.S. Navy who have worked diligently to make this day possible, and to the advocates and family members who have pushed hard for so many decades to remedy this injustice.
We honor the memory of the 320 dedicated Americans who lost their lives in the Port Chicago explosion, and we honor the service of the 258 brave Americans who refused afterward to bend to racist and cruel treatment. The Department of Defense must always ensure that our Service members, our military families, and our civilian employees are treated with fairness and dignity, especially within our military justice systems.”
Glazer Thanks President, Navy Secretary
State Senator Steve Glazer, in whose district the Port Chicago Memorial is located, also commented on X writing, “Thank you to @POTUS and the Navy Secretary for bringing an important element of justice to the families of these now departed seamen. We’ve waited a long time to see this recognition of historical racism. The historical ledger bends toward justice and we are thankful.”
East Bay Regional Park District Lauds Full Exoneration of Port Chicago Black Sailors by U.S. Secretary of the Navy
The East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth made the following statement today about Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro’s full exoneration of African American sailors who were charged in 1944 with mutiny after the explosion at Port Chicago, the worst home front disaster of World War II:
“Today’s historic decision by Navy Secretary Del Toro shows leadership unmatched for the preceding 80 years. The Park District has long supported the resolution calling on the Navy to exonerate the Port Chicago 50. We hope today’s significant announcement creates momentum for us to realize our dream of a world-class visitor center where people can learn and share important stories of social injustice and civil rights that have shaped history, as well as providing an opportunity to heal and reflect on our collective past, as we look toward a future inclusive of all.”
Background:
East Bay Regional Park District Support for Exoneration of the Port Chicago 50
The Park District listened to the community and named the associated park in Concord, Calif. on the site of the former Naval Weapons Station “Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50.” By doing so, the Park District became the first agency to identify a regularly accessible space for people to discover the courage and legacy of these sailors. The nearby National Park Service Memorial site serves as the final resting place for the sailors who died. The events that occurred at Port Chicago served as a catalyst for civil rights and social justice locally and nationally.
In 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial Enhancement Act of 2009. Included in that legislation was language that specifically authorized the National Park Service to partner with the Park District to establish a future visitor center within a regional park near the Memorial. A visitor center at the future regional park will provide broader access to the important history of Port Chicago due to access restrictions for the public to reach the actual National Memorial site located within an active Army base.
To learn more about the Port Chicago Memorial visit Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial (portchicagomemorial.org) and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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