Investigation continues, expected to conclude next week
“…some officers have returned to work or will be returning, although some have been terminated.” – APOA attorney Mike Rains
UPDATE: As of Friday, April 12, 2024, APD has 77 current sworn officers of which 50 are on full duty status.
By Allen D. Payton
Following up on a February Herald article about the Antioch Police Officers still on paid for the investigation into the racist text scandal since last March, questions were emailed on Thursday evening, Feb. 8, 2024, to City Attorney Thomas L. Smith, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed and Human Resources Director Ana Chavez asking:
“How long can police officers or any city employee remain on paid administrative leave?
Since most of the officers merely received but didn’t send any of the text messages, what possible disciplinary actions can be taken against them?
When will the officers who merely received but didn’t send any text messages return to work? Have any of them yet? If so, how many?
Can the investigation just go on indefinitely and the taxpayers continue to pay the officers on leave to not do their jobs?
Can’t the officers return to work as each one is deemed to have not committed any fireable offense?
Or do all of them have to wait to return to work until after the entire investigation has been completed?
Have any disciplinary actions been taken against any of the officers, yet? If so, how many? What did they include?
Have any of you been approached or pressured by any of the council members to keep the investigation open and not allow the officers to return to work – other than the public statements by the mayor and Councilwoman Torres-Walker that they want all of them fired?” (See related articles here and here)
No responses to those questions were received from the three city staff members.
At that time, 31 sworn officers were on some form of leave, most of whom were for the text investigation and only 50 on the force were actively working. As previously reported, most of the officers caught up in the scandal only received some of the text messages but didn’t send any. (See related articles here, here and here)
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in response to a resident claiming none of the officers were still on leave due to the text scandal, questions about the officers on leave were asked of Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, Acting Police Chief Brian Addington and Mike Rains, attorney for the Antioch Police Officers Association.
They were asked if that statement was correct, if all the officers had returned to work and if any of them had been terminated.
Reed responded simply, “The process is still ongoing.”
Addington wrote, “That is incorrect, but I can’t comment further.”
However, Rains shared more details writing, “We have not resolved all the cases. Some are resolved, and some officers have returned to work or will be returning, although some have been terminated.”
“I won’t discuss the outcome of administrative cases until all are concluded, probably in a week – 10 days,” he added.
According to a post by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe on his official Facebook page entitled, “April Police Staffing Update” of the 115 sworn officer positions approved in the city budget, there are currently 89 sworn officers including nine Community Service Officers on the force. Of that amount 39 are patrol officers. His report also shares that there are six officer candidates currently in the Police. Academy and seven more are preparing to enter the academy this month.
But it doesn’t mention how many sworn officers are currently active. A question was emailed early Thursday afternoon to both Reed and Addington asking how many of the 80 non-CSO sworn officers are currently active.
UPDATE #1: They did not respond before end-of-business hours on Thursday. However, when asked if he had any comment, APOA Vice President Sgt. Loren Bledsoe responded, “The APOA cannot comment on personnel matters; however, we look forward to the conclusion of the investigation so we can focus on rebuilding.”
UPDATE #2: On Friday, Acting Chief Addington provided the following department staffing details, writing, “As you may be aware, staffing levels can change daily. With that said, as of today, APD staffing levels are as follows:
115 – Authorized sworn staff
77 – Current sworn staff
5 – Modified duty (working but not able to work at full capacity)
22 – On some form of leave
50 – Full Duty Status
39 – Assigned to Patrol – 33 officers, 4 sergeants, 2 watch commanders
7 – Assigned to Investigations – 1 lieutenant
4 – Command Staff
7 – Community Services Officers (4 vacancies).”
Read MoreDriver runs from scene
By CHP-Contra Costa
On Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 5:14 am, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a solo vehicle crash on northbound I-680 at the SR-242 split, near Concord. A gray Mazda CX-9, with six occupants, was traveling northbound on I-680 when it left the roadway, traveled through the dirt median that separates the two freeways, and overturned multiple times.
CHP and emergency personnel arrived on scene and observed the Mazda on its roof with several occupants ejected from the vehicle. Four female occupants were transported to the hospital with major injuries. A 9-year-old female passenger was pronounced deceased on scene by emergency personnel.
Our initial investigation indicates several of the occupants were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The driver, a Hispanic male adult approximately 30 years old, fled the scene on foot and at this time is still outstanding.
According to a post on X (Twitter) by Henry Lee of KTVU, “Danna Hernandez Tapia, 9, of Oregon ID’d as girl killed in rollover crash of Mazda CX-9 near I-680 & Hwy 242 in Concord. 4 other passengers hurt. Driver ran off.”
This crash is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed it or the events leading up to it, please contact CHP Contra Costa in Martinez, (925) 646-4980 or email your contact information to 320Investigations@chp.ca.gov to be contacted by the investigating officer.
Read MoreThe laughs aren’t worth the risk. Put the phone down and just drive
By National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads. Cell phone use — specifically, texting, talking, and social media use — has become the most common distraction. Other risky actions include adjusting the radio or GPS, applying makeup, eating and drinking. By driving distracted, you’re robbing yourself of seconds that you may need to avoid a close call or deadly crash.
Drive Responsibly
In 2021, distracted driving killed 3,522 people. April, which is national Distracted Driving Awareness Month, is a good time to regroup and take responsibility for the choices we make when we’re on the road. Follow these safety tips for a safe ride:
- Need to send a text? Pull over and park your car in a safe location.
- Designate your passenger as your “designated texter” to respond to calls or messages.
- Do not scroll through apps while driving. Struggling not to text and drive? Put the cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until you arrive at your destination.
The Consequences
During a portion of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, from April 4 through 8, you may see increased law enforcement on the roadways as part of the national paid media campaign Put the Phone Away or Pay. This campaign reminds drivers of the deadly dangers and the legal consequences – including fines – of texting behind the wheel.
Take Action
- Remind your friends and family: If you’re in the driver’s seat, it’s the only thing you should be doing. No distractions.
- If your driver is texting or otherwise distracted, tell them to stop and focus on the road.
- Ask your friends to join you in pledging not to drive distracted. You could save a life. Share your pledge on social media to spread the word — #JustDrive.
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Part of nationwide push to bring back phonics, sponsors seek compromise, CTA refuses to negotiate
By DIANA LAMBERT, JOHN FENSTERWALD, ZAIDEE STAVELY, EDSOURCE.org
California’s largest teachers’ union has moved to put the brakes on legislation that mandates instruction, known as the “science of reading,” that spotlights phonics to teach children to read.
The move by the politically powerful California Teachers Association (CTA) puts the fate of Assembly Bill 2222 in question as supporters insist that there is room to negotiate changes that will bring opponents together.
CTA’s complaints include some recently voiced by some advocacy organizations for English learners and bilingual education that oppose the bill and have refused to negotiate any changes to make the bill more acceptable.
The teachers union put its opposition to AB 2222 in writing in a lengthy letter to Assembly Education Committee Chairman Al Muratsuchi last week. The committee is expected to hear the bill, introduced in February, later this month.
The letter includes a checklist of complaints including that the proposed legislation would duplicate and potentially undermine current literacy initiatives, would not meet the needs of English learner students and cuts teachers out of the decision-making process, especially when it comes to curriculum.
“Educators are best equipped to make school and classroom decisions to ensure student success,” the letter said. “Limiting instructional approaches undermines teachers’ professional autonomy and may impede their effectiveness in the classroom.”
Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice, an advocacy nonprofit co-sponsoring the bill, said he was surprised that CTA would oppose legislation that would ensure all teachers are trained to use the latest brain research to teach children how to read.
“Unfortunately, a lot of folks in the field haven’t actually been trained on that, and a lot of the instruction materials in classrooms today don’t align with that,” Tuck said.
Tuck said CTA appears to misunderstand the body of evidence-based research known as the science of reading. It “is not a curriculum and is not a program or a one-size-fits-all approach,” he said. “It will give teachers a foundational understanding of how children learn to read. Teachers will still have a lot of room locally to decide which instructional moves to make on any given day for any given children. So, you’ll still have significant differentiation.”
A nationwide push
California’s push to adopt the science of reading approach to early literacy is in sync with 37 states and some cities, such as New York City, that have passed similar legislation.
States nationwide are rejecting balanced literacy as failing to effectively teach children how to read, since it trains children to use pictures to recognize words on sight, also known as three-cueing. The new method would teach children to decode words by sounding them out, a process known as phonics.
Although phonics, the ability to connect letters to sounds, has drawn the most attention, the science of reading focuses on four other pillars of literacy instruction: phonemic awareness, identifying distinct units of sounds; vocabulary; comprehension; and fluency. It is based on research on how the brain connects letters with sounds when learning to read.
Along with mandating the science of reading approach to instruction, AB 2222 would require that all TK to fifth-grade teachers, literacy coaches and specialists take a 30-hour-minimum course in reading instruction by 2028. School districts and charter schools would purchase textbooks from an approved list endorsed by the State Board of Education.
The legislation goes against the state policy of local control that gives school districts authority to select curriculum and teaching methods as long as they meet state academic standards. Currently, the state encourages, but does not mandate, districts to incorporate instruction in the science of reading in the early grades.
“It’s a big bill,” said Yolie Flores, president of Families in Schools, a co-sponsor. “We’re very proud that it’s a big bill because that means it is truly consequential in the best way possible for children. It’s not a sort of tweak around the edges kind though, it’s the kind of bill that really brings transformation. So we are hoping that the Legislature sees beyond the sort of typical pushback and resistance, and in the end, I think, teachers will see that this was a huge benefit for them.”
Seeking compromise
The bill’s author, Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park, said she took CTA’s seven-page letter not as an outright rejection but as an opportunity for negotiations.
“I’m glad they sent this letter,” she said. “They outline their objections and the reasons why, and that’s something I can work with. It’s not a flat, ‘No, we don’t want you to do it.’ They gave me specific items that I can look at and have a conversation about.”
She said that Assemblymember Muratsuchi asked her to work with the CTA on a compromise. She is also meeting with consultants for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, “to look at the big picture,” she said.
But Flores says the state’s budget problems, with predictions of no money for new programs, may be a bigger hurdle to getting the bill passed than the CTA opposition. The cost of paying for the required professional development for teachers would total $200 million to $300 million, she said. Because it is a mandate, the state would be required to repay districts for the cost.
“That is a drop in the bucket for something so transformational, so consequential,” Flores said. “I hope that the Legislature really comes to that realization. We’re in a budget deficit, but our budget is a statement of priorities.”
Advocates say that it is imperative that California mandate instruction in the science of reading. In 2023, just 43% of California third graders met the academic standards on the state’s standardized test in 2023. Only 27.2% of Black students, 32% of Latino students and 35% of low-income children were reading at grade level, compared with 57.5% of white, 69% of Asian and 66% of non-low-income students.
“It’s foundational,” Flores said. “It’s not the only thing teachers need to know. It’s not the only thing that teachers will need to do and to adhere to, but it’s sort of the basic foundational knowledge of how children’s brains work in order to learn to read.”
The bill would sunset in 2028 when all teachers are required to have completed training. Beginning in July, all teacher preparation programs would be required to teach future educators to base literacy instruction on the science of reading.
Needs of English learners
The CTA and other critics of AB 2222 charge that it ignores the need of English learners for oral language skills, vocabulary and comparison between their home languages and English, which they need in order to learn how to read. Four out of 10 students in California start school as English learners.
Tuck disputes this. “We actually emphasize oral language development,” he said. “This would be the first statute that would say when instructional materials are adopted, and when teachers are trained in the science of reading, they must include a focus on English learners and oral language development.”
Representatives from Californians Together, an advocacy organization for English learners and bilingual education, applauded the CTA’s opposition to the bill. They oppose the bill, rather than suggest amendments, because they disagree with its overall approach.
“We just don’t think this is the right bill to address literacy needs,” said Executive Director Martha Hernandez. “It’s very restrictive. We know that mandates don’t work. It lacks a robust, comprehensive approach for multilingual learners.”
Instead, Californians Together and the California Association for Bilingual Education have both said they would prefer California fund the training of teachers and full implementation of the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework.
The framework was adopted in 2014 and encourages, but does not mandate, explicit instruction in foundational skills and oral language development for English learners.
The California Language Teachers Association has requested the bill be amended to include information about teaching literacy in languages not based on the English alphabet, such as Japanese, Chinese or Arabic, according to Executive Director Liz Matchett. However, the organization has not yet taken a position on the bill.
“I agree that we want to support all children to be able to read. If they can’t read, they can’t participate in education, which is the one way that is proven to change people’s circumstances,” said Matchett, who teaches Spanish at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. “There’s nothing to oppose about that. I’m still a classroom teacher, and all the time, you get kids in high school who can’t read.”
Education Trust-West urges changes in the bill to center the needs of “multilingual learners” — children who speak languages other than English at home — and to include more oversight and fewer mandates, such as those that may discourage new teachers from entering the profession.
“If our recommended amendments were to be accepted, EdTrust-West would support it as a much-needed solution to California’s acute literacy crisis.”
Claude Goldenberg, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, said “it was disappointing” to see CTA’s opposition, particularly because the union did not suggest amendments. He said he had met with representatives from CTA and urged them to identify what could be changed in the bill.
In a recent EdSource commentary, Goldenberg urged opponents to “do the right thing for all students. AB 2222’s introduction is an important step forward on the road to universal literacy in California. We must get it on the right track and take it across the finish line.”
Referring to the CTA’s opposition, Goldenberg said, “Obviously my urgings fell flat. They identified why they’re opposing, but there’s no indication of any possible re-evaluation.”
Goldenberg, who served on the National Literacy Panel, which synthesized research on literacy development among children who speak languages other than English, has called on the bill’s authors to amend it to include a more comprehensive definition of the “science of reading” and include more information about teaching students to read in English as a second language and in their home languages.
The CTA has changed its position on bills related to literacy instruction in the last two years. It had originally supported Senate Bill 488, which passed in 2022. The legislation requires a literacy performance assessment for teachers and oversight of literacy instruction in teacher preparation. The union is now in support of a bill that would do away with both.
The change of course was attributed to a survey of 1,300 CTA members, who said the assessment caused stress, took away time that could have been used to collaborate with mentors and for teaching, and did not prepare them to meet the needs of students, according to Leslie Littman, vice president of the union, in a prior interview.
Veteran political observer Dan Schnur said he’s not surprised CTA would oppose the bill since some of its political allies are against it; the question is how important CTA considers the bill.
“If it becomes a pitched battle, CTA will have to decide whether it is one of its highest priorities in this session,” he said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom hasn’t indicated his position yet, but Schnur, the press secretary for former Gov. Pete Wilson, who teaches political communications at UC Berkeley and USC, said, “This is not the type of fight Newsom needs or wants right now. If he has strong feelings, it’s hard to see him going to war for or against.”
Read MoreUnveils anniversary logo
By Juliet V. Casey, Director of Marketing, Los Medanos College
Pittsburg, Calif. – Los Medanos College (LMC) this year celebrates its golden anniversary, and to kick off recognition of its 50 years of excellence in education, workforce training and innovation, the college released its 50th Anniversary logo.
The golden logo harkens back to LMC’s retired brand. At the center, the stylized compass rose in which each direction spells LMC is indicative of its mission to help students find their future. While that mark has gone out of use, it remains a sentimental favorite among alumni and long-time residents of the East Bay community.
The anniversary logo’s looping five and zero of the 50 touching the inner golden circle conveys the infinite search for knowledge and truth, and unwavering service for the greater good. The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) opened Los Medanos College in Pittsburg in 1974 to serve east Contra Costa County. Today, its service area includes Pittsburg, Antioch, Bay Point, Clayton, parts of Concord, Brentwood, Oakley, Knightsen, Bethel Island, Byron, and Discovery Bay. It is the third of three colleges within 4CD.
“Over the past five decades, LMC has grown and adapted to the needs of our students and the greater community,” President Ralston said. “Our program offerings have grown to over 90, we’ve added the new state-of-the-art Brentwood Center, and we have established ourselves as a cultural focal point for the community. Looking ahead to the next 50 years, we are focused on continuing this legacy with our alumni leading, innovating and shaping a sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.”
For LMC, 2024 will be a golden year of celebrating its collective successes and achievements. LMC in the past year has emerged in the Top 150 U.S. Community Colleges for the fifth consecutive time. The college is among the best community colleges for math, according to BestAccreditedColleges.org, and LMC athletes consistently win the conference and make it into post-season play.
Stay tuned for upcoming events throughout the year.
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.
Read MoreJoel Dowen also indicted for extortion and a drug offense; partner, a SF man also charged with drug offenses
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California
OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has charged two defendants with various crimes, including one defendant with extortion and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Francisco Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office; and San Francisco Division Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez.
The superseding indictment—which was returned by a federal grand jury on March 26, 2024, but unsealed on Wednesday, April 3, 2024,—charges Joel Roland Dowen, 44, of Concord, California, with one count each of mailing threatening communications with intent to extort, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(b), and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(b). The indictment also charges Micah-Luc Almeida, 45, of San Francisco, California, with one count of possession with intent to distribute 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine, commonly known as MDA, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). And it charges Dowen and Almeida together with one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute MDA, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(C). Dowen had originally been indicted on one count of mailing threatening communications with intent to extort, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(b), on January 9, 2024.
“We will protect our federal law enforcement partners when someone harms or threatens them merely for doing their jobs,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “The defendants here are charged with serious crimes, and I am proud of the work being done by this Office to bring them to justice and safeguard everyone in the Northern District of California, including those sworn to protect us all.”
According to a KTVU FOX2 report, Dowen “was arrested following a raid by federal agents on his Concord home” and “indicted by a federal grand jury after investigators discovered that he allegedly sent letters via the United States Postal Service, attempting to extort money from a personal identified only as ‘M.S.’ He also allegedly threatened harm to another person identified as ‘P.S.’”
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Dowen faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the three charges against him. Almeida faces the same statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the two charges on which he has been indicted. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Dowen’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 3, 2024, before the Honorable Jon S. Tigar, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. Dowen has been in federal custody since his arrest on January 17, 2024, and has been ordered detained pending trial. Almeida’s initial court appearance was scheduled for April 4, 2024, before the Honorable Kandis A. Westmore, United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California.
According to the Alameda County Sherrif’s Office, Dowen is being held in the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. According to localcrimenews.com, he is white, five-foot, seven-inches tall and weighs 280-pounds.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Assistant United States Attorney Dan Karmel is prosecuting these cases with the assistance of Sara Slattery and Andy Ding. These prosecutions are the result of an investigation by the DEA, FBI, CI, and United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; San Francisco Homeland Security Investigations; and United States Customs and Border Protection.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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The Kaiser Permanente Diablo Sports Medicine Department takes a whole-team, integrated approach to treating injured athletes.
By Eunice Park, Kaiser Permanente
In 2021, Zoe Lahanas, then a high school freshman at Clayton Valley Charter in Concord, was a competitive athlete in soccer, swim, and track and field.
Lahanas strained her left knee playing soccer, so she took a break from it. She continued with track, winning a medal for high jump. The day after that win, she returned to soccer and injured her meniscus and tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee.
The family wanted a physician who could perform a newer technique for ACL reconstruction, called a quad tendon autograft.
“Our team approach has created an incredibly unique partnership, which has been the secret to our success.” – Colin Mansfield, MD
“We interviewed three doctors to find the best one,” said Lahanas’ mother, Samantha Strong, a retired doctor.
The best one was Colin Mansfield, MD, a sports surgeon in the Kaiser Permanente Diablo Sports Medicine Department.
“Dr. Mansfield is on the cutting edge,” Dr. Strong said. “Zoe went from not being able to do anything in July to winning huge track meets the following April because of the ACL surgery.”
She benefited from Kaiser Permanente’s integrated sports rehab teams, which operate under a data-driven approach that focuses on getting athletes back to their chosen sport. Lahanas’ diligence and dedication, as well as the care from the surgical and physical therapy teams led to her successful recovery.
“Zoe has really been able to excel,” Dr. Mansfield said. “As soon as she returned to sports, she was making personal records.”
A whole-team approach
Sports medicine doctors work with athletic trainers at local high schools. Zoe’s athletic trainer at her high school diagnosed her ACL tear and contacted a Kaiser Permanente sports medicine doctor who got Lahanas an appointment within two days.
“That kind of communication and facilitation of care is really what makes the system so phenomenal,” Dr. Strong said.
As a busy referral site for challenging surgeries and injuries from other areas, the department offers the full spectrum of sports care, from advanced athlete recovery programs to state-of-the-art joint restoration procedures.
“Something that maybe not everyone understands about Kaiser is that we really are working at the highest levels with the newest technology,” Dr. Mansfield said. “Our team approach has created an incredibly unique partnership, which has been the secret to our success. I’ve been so fortunate to be inspired and learn from so many talented mentors and colleagues within our department.”
Brigham Wise, MD, a sports medicine physician with the Kaiser Permanente Diablo Sports Medicine Department, says the department’s strengths are its integration and collaboration.
“It’s a whole-team approach, and we’ve got great physicians and surgeons and excellent [physical] therapists,” Dr. Wise said. “We also focus on prevention to keep patients on the field rather than in our office.”
Getting patients back to doing what they love
The Kaiser Permanente Diablo Sports Medicine Department’s priority is to return patients to their normal activities as soon and as safely as possible. The group serves a large and diverse population. Patients range in age and goals.
“I really enjoy helping people get back to doing what they love,” said Dr. Wise. “That includes high school and college athletes, as well as the weekend warriors who just want to get back to playing pickleball or running their next marathon.”
Now a high school senior, Lahanas was able get back to the sport she loves.
Lahanas is a track star winning medals in the Junior Olympics and is being recruited actively by NCAA Division 1 colleges.
“What they have done at Kaiser Permanente in making things right is amazing,” Dr. Strong said. “Kaiser has done an incredible job of taking care of us.”
Cutline: Zoe Lahanas, a star Clayton Valley Charter High School athlete, is excelling after surgery and sports rehab at Kaiser Permanente. Photo: Kaiser Permanente
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Oakland-based Black self-determination organization to cleanup streets, provide free food, prizes
Community Ready Corps (CRC), based in Oakland, California, supports low-income families by participating in the Positive Pull Up Initiative this weekend, promoting cleaner and safer neighborhoods by finding solutions to local problems throughout the East Bay. CRC will organize street cleanups, provide free food, and prizes.These events are scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday at various locations, and the media has been invited to attend.
Pittsburg/Antioch
Sunday, 12:30 PM – 2 PM – W. 10th & Black Diamond Street, Pittsburg
Sunday, 3:30 PM – 5 PM – Sycamore & Peppertree, Antioch
“CRC is committed to debunking the doom loop narrative as part of our Positive Pull-Up Initiative advocating for solution-focused strategies. As I’ve said before, every city has problems however, Oakland’s legacy is about showing the world that whenever something goes wrong, our communities will pull together to fix the problem,” said Tur-Ha Ak, founder of CRC. “The impacts of the pandemic have spiked crime, homelessness, and blight. Let’s not forget food insecurities for struggling families in disenfranchised neighborhoods mostly who are Black and Brown. This Saturday and Sunday, CRC is dedicating critical services and having fun while doing it.”
Information on CRC’s Positive Pull-Up Initiative can be found on CRC’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. The group’s social media posts, showing dozens of Black community members cleaning up the streets with a large Black garbage truck (affectionately called “Big Black”), have been shared hundreds of times and inspired others to join them. It also includes CRC members providing gift cards, fresh produce and prizes to support low-income families in Oakland.
About CRC
CRC is independently funded and has taken no government subsidies to provide necessary materials and equipment, such as their garbage truck, to tackle public safety concerns. Community Ready Corps (CRC) is a Black self-determination liberation organization that combats white supremacy and works to build capacity in nine specific areas: Self Defense & Safety, Economics & Prosperity, Family Systems & Stability, Traditions & Ways, Technology & Efficacy, Education & Competence, Art & Media, Politics & Governance, and Health & Well Being.
Read MoreCharged with access device fraud in multi-district operation
California has reported loss of over $22 million due to EBT theft in first quarter of 2024, robbing low-income families of funds to buy food
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California
OAKLAND – Three individuals were charged with the use of unauthorized access devices were filed this week, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and United States Secret Service (“USSS”) – San Francisco Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet.
The three defendants—Petrica Mosneagu, 44; Ionut Sopirla, 38; and Virgil Tudorascu, 42, all of Romania—were charged with stealing Electronic Benefit Transfer (“EBT”) account information and making fraudulent cash withdrawals at ATMs using that stolen EBT information in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2). The defendants were arrested in a multi-district, USSS-led operation, which resulted in several arrests this week, including in the Southern District of California.
According to the public criminal complaints, law enforcement agencies have been investigating EBT theft across California for the past fourteen months. The complaints allege that the California Department of Social Services has identified that approximately $22.8 million has been stolen from victim EBT card beneficiaries from January to March 2024 in California, including in the Northern District of California. Most of these stolen funds have been obtained by unauthorized ATM withdrawals. Furthermore, the complaints allege that victims of the scheme are largely low-income families who depend on EBT benefits to buy food and other household necessities.
The complaints allege that the defendants fraudulently withdrew cash with “cloned” cards, which are debit cards, gift cards, or other devices with magnetic strips that have been encoded with information from legitimate EBT cards. The account holders’ account information was primarily “skimmed” at ATMs or point-of-sale terminals. Skimming devices recorded victim account holder account information on the magnetic strips and log their PINs through keypad overlays. Once skimmed, the victim account holders’ account information was then loaded onto blank or repurposed debit cards, which the defendants then used to withdraw cash or make purchases.
If convicted, each defendant face a maximum statutory sentence of ten years in prison on each charge. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Defendants Mosneagu and Sopirla made their initial appearances Tuesday morning in Oakland and will appear for their detention hearings on April 10, 2024, before the Honorable Kandis A. Westmore. Defendant Tudorascu made his initial appearance Thursday morning and will also appear for his detention hearing on April 10, 2024.
Criminal complaints only allege that crimes have been committed, and each defendant must be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis James and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Glimcher are prosecuting these cases, with the help of Katie Turner and Kay Konopaske. These prosecutions are the result of an investigation by the USSS, California Department of Social Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Francisco Human Services Agency – Special Investigations Unit, Pleasant Hill PD, Richmond PD, Oakland PD, Berkeley PD, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Romanian National Police, and U.S. Secret Service Bucharest.
Read MoreAward for Exemplary Community Service, East County Educator Award, Spirit Award
By Juliet V. Casey, Director of Marketing, Los Medanos College
Los Medanos College (LMC) is pleased to announce honorees of the 2024 César Chávez: Honoring a Legacy Awards Celebration. Honorees will receive recognition at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 5 in the Student Union Conference Center, 2700 E. Leland Road in Pittsburg.
This event celebrates the life of labor leader and human rights activist César Chávez and recognizes East Contra Costa County community members who follow his example of service, activism, and non-violent social change. Event details are posted at www.losmedanos.edu/chavez.
This year’s honorees:
Concepcion James, chair of United Latino Voices of Contra Costa County, earned the César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service forher long-standing commitment to service and for demonstrating the core values modeled by César Chávez: Service to Others, Sacrifice, Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-Violence, Acceptance of All People, Respect for Life and the Environment, Celebrating Community, Knowledge, and Innovation.
Rosa Armendáriz, interim dean of Equity & Inclusion at LMC, and Jessica Linares Boyle, Puente counselor at LMC, earned the East County Educator Award for demonstrating the qualities of César Chávez and a commitment to student success and equity, particularly for students of color and those from low-income families.
Teyoltlahui Gonzalez, a student leader from Pittsburg High School and Gabriel Perez-Cano, a student leader from LMC, earned the César Chávez Spirit Award in recognition of their efforts over the past year to affected change through advocacy and social justice.
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.
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