Also served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control under President Obama, and on U.C. Board of Regents
By Allen Payton
Ellen Tauscher, who represented parts of Contra Costa County, including Antioch, in California’s 10th Congressional District during her six terms in Congress, died on Monday, April 29 at the age of 67, according to news reports. According to an L.A. Times report, she died of pneumonia after battling it since January.
Tauscher was elected in 1996, beating former Congressman Bill Baker, and served until 2009. She was considered a centrist and become a leader in two fiscally conservative Democratic caucuses, the pro-business New Democratic Coalition and the balance-budget minded Blue Dog Coalition, in the House of Representatives.
During her years in Congress, as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Surface Transportation Subcommittee, Tauscher helped secure $33 million in federal funds for projects in her district, including the widening of Highway 4 in Eastern Contra Costa County, as part of a total $2 billion in funding for regional transportation projects. She also helped create the first balanced budget in 30 years, that gave middle class families a much needed tax cut. She also served as vice chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
In 2009, during President Obama’s first year in office, Tauscher accepted a position with the U.S. State Department as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. In that position, she helped negotiate the New Start treaty with the Russian federation in May 2010. In February 2012 Tauscher began serving as Special Envoy for Strategic Stability and Missile Defense at the State Department until August 31, 2012.
She later served on the University of California Board of Regents and as chairman of the Board of Governors for both the Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National labs.
According to her Wikipedia page, “Since leaving the State Department, Tauscher assumed a number of publicly held corporate and non-profit board positions, including serving on the boards of Edison International/Southern California Edison (EIX) in Rosemead, California, and eHealth (EHTH) in Mountain View, California. She served on the Board of Advisors of SpaceX, the Board of Directors of BAE Systems, INC., NTI, and the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Council. She served as vice chair of the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security.”
According to her 2000 campaign biography, Tauscher “was born in East Newark, NJ on November 15, 1951. The first member of her family to attend college, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Seton Hall University in 1974.
Tauscher began her career on Wall Street. At 25 years of age, she was one of the first and youngest women to hold a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. During her 14 years on Wall Street, Congresswoman Tauscher worked for Bache Securities and then joined…SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt to transform the American Stock Exchange…into a reputable rival to the New York Stock Exchange.”
Also according to Wikipedia, “In 1989, Tauscher moved to California and later founded the ChildCare Registry, the first national research service to help parents verify the background of childcare workers. She also published The ChildCare Sourcebook and headed the Tauscher Foundation, which provided funds for elementary schools to buy computers and Internet access.
In July 2010, Tauscher was diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal cancer, one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States and one of the deadliest, with a survival rate of 18%. After a grueling regimen of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to remove her esophagus, Tauscher was declared cancer-free in December 2010.”
On Tuesday, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) released the following statement on her passing:
“Ellen was a public servant, fierce advocate, and glass ceiling breaker. From her early days as founder of the first service to help parents screen childcare workers to her 12 years as a United States Representative, she was always working to improve the lives of families. In the East Bay, Ellen was involved in every major transportation project including Highway 4 and the Caldecott Tunnel with the goal of helping people spend less time on the roads and more time enjoying life. As an Under Secretary of State, Ellen played an important in role in negotiating the reduction of arms with Russia. After leaving politics, she invested her time in the issues she most cared about including as Chair of the Board of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Foundation. Throughout her time in government, Ellen was an inspiration and mentor in our community especially for many young women starting their careers.
“Ellen lived a life in service to others. I am honored to have called her a friend. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones in Contra Costa and across the nation.”
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the death of Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher:
“The passing of Ellen Tauscher is a loss for us all.
“Ellen was brilliant, gracious and generous and always did her level best to lift up those around her. Ellen was a best friend and I’ll never forget her.
“Ellen had a huge heart and was always ready with a story. She wouldn’t hesitate to help anyone in need, always with a kind word or quip to lift your spirits. My favorite times with Ellen were our weekend dinners in Washington where we’d laugh and trade stories over a glass of California wine.
“At heart, Ellen was a great human being and a wonderful mother to Katherine, a remarkable young woman herself who stayed at her mother’s side in the hospital and was steady, steadfast and warm.
“Ellen never backed down from a challenge and always stood up for what she thought was right. Before she entered the world of politics she was a trailblazer in finance, one of the first woman members – and the youngest – of the New York Stock Exchange.
“When Ellen put her mind to politics, she was a force. She chaired my first two Senate campaigns, and soon after went on to win her own seat in Congress where she served for 12 years. She would spend another three years as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. She was recognized as an expert in the field and really understood weapons of war. She was also appointed by Governor Brown to the University of California Board of Regents, another position at which she excelled.
“Ellen had a practical and effective way with policy. She had a knack for getting to the bottom of an issue smartly but also in ways that people could really understand. She truly loved her country and it was an honor to work with her. She remains an inspiration for all of us in Congress and I hope younger members will look to her as an example to emulate. She’ll always be remembered.”
Read MoreBy Nick Cahill, Courthouse News Service
Surviving an exhaustive maze of manmade barriers and hungry predators, a hardy group of salmon have beat the odds and returned to spawn in one of California’s most-heavily dammed rivers.
![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SJ-River-Friant-Dam2-300x169.jpg)
Friant Dam on the San Joaquin River. The dam impounds Millerton Lake, 15 miles north of Fresno, California. (Nick Cahill/CNS)
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says for the first time in over 65 years, threatened spring-run Chinook adult salmon have returned to the San Joaquin River near Fresno to complete their life cycle. The return of the hatchery-reared fish marks a huge milestone for a billion-dollar undertaking to revive an ancient population of salmon that disappeared in the 1940s with the opening of Friant Dam.
Officials announced that at least five adult spring-run Chinook born in fish hatcheries and released into the wild several years ago, have made the 370-mile trek from the Pacific Ocean back to the San Joaquin River.
Don Portz, who oversees the fish restoration program for the bureau, says the salmon that have been caught in nets prove that the joint-effort by the feds and state is going in the right direction.
“This is monumental for the program,” Portz said in a statement. “It’s a clear indication of the possibility for these fish to make it out of the system as juveniles and then return as adults in order to spawn.”
For years California’s second largest river teemed with salmon, providing food for Native American tribes and then settlers during the 1800s. But as the Gold Rush died down, Californians headed south and found the Central Valley ripe for farming.
![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SJ-River-Tagged-Chinook-300x169.jpg)
3. Chinook salmon equipped with tracking tags being readied for release into the San Joaquin River in California. (Nick Cahill/CNS)
In their pursuit of water, farmers and government agencies ended up damming the river dry in some parts by the 1940s. Water was divvyed up and delivered in canals to farmers for crops like almonds and cotton, but the native salmon species and their spawning habitat vanished. Today, parts of the river go dry during certain times of the year and other sections have manmade barriers that prevent salmon from reaching their spawning beds.
Thanks to a nearly two-decade-long lawsuit fought by the National Resources Defense Council, things are changing on the San Joaquin. A settlement reached in 2006 with the federal government set goals of restoring native fish populations to “good condition” without overtly damaging water suppliers’ take of the river; the state and federal government plan to spend over a billion dollars to restore flows, wetlands and fish to the river.
The five Chinook captured this month returned from the ocean on their own, but had to be transported by researchers in a 500 gallon tank to bypass manmade barriers. The biologists confirmed that the fish were from a California hatchery because they were missing a small rear fin.
The five adult salmon and any others that may return will hold in the cool water below Friant Dam for the summer, before hopefully spawning in the fall.
“Now, that’s worth a toast!,” tweeted Kate Poole about the salmon’s return, senior director at the NRDC.
The long-term goal is to update the barriers to allow fish to swim upstream in the future without being transported, Portz said. Restoration efforts are meant to help spring and fall-run Chinook, Pacific lamprey and white sturgeon.
Read More![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Jesse-Maron-stolen-suit-169x300.jpg)
Jesse Maron arrested in the suit he allegedly stole from Concord City Hall on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Photo by CPD
From Concord Police Department Facebook page
On April 24th, Concord Police Officer’s responded to an alarm activation call at City Hall at 5:00 am. It was determined that a break in and burglary just occurred. Officers searched the area and found the suspect, later identified as Jesse Marron, near the Library. When officers tried to detain Marron, he assaulted several PD personnel. He was arrested and found to be in possession of stolen property from the building. He was also in possession of drug paraphernalia.
Images of Marron breaking into the building were captured on the surveillance system. The District Attorney’s Office has charged Marron with several crimes, including Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Obstructing an Officer in the Performance of Their Duties, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Marron remains in county jail.
Since many of our followers are commenting on how well Mr. Marron is dressed, we just wanted to let you know that the suit he is wearing was also stolen during the burglary.
Read MoreBy Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
On April 24, 2019, Lawrence Taylor pleaded guilty to pandering and agreed to accept a sentence of four years state prison. The Hon. Judge Patricia Scanlon accepted his guilty plea and will impose sentence on May 1, along with a criminal court protective order barring Taylor from having contact with the victim for a period of 10 years.
On March 10, 2018, Taylor was arrested as part of a law enforcement operation conducted by the Concord Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Safe Streets Task Force and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. The operation was designed to identify and apprehend individuals using online dating sites to exploit women for purposes of prostitution and also to connect the women to services and support.
Taylor, who was on parole for armed robbery, was apprehended after driving with the victim to a hotel where she had a pre-arranged “date” with an undercover officer. He was found to be in possession of two cell phones. The victim was immediately connected to a Human Trafficking Advocate from the District Attorney’s Office and offered services and support.
Forensic analysis of cell phones seized in the case showed that Taylor had been encouraging the victim to work as a street prostitute and also to prostitute through posting internet ads like the one involved on this night.
“Collaborative enforcement operations such as these are key to identifying exploiters in our community, holding them accountable for their crimes, and giving victims an opportunity to connect to services and support,” said Human Trafficking Unit Supervisor Dana Filkowski. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Jay Melaas and Filkowski.
“The Concord Police Department is committed to working with our justice and victim-service providers to end sex trafficking and exploitation in our community,” added Concord Police Sergeant Jeff Ross, who participated in the enforcement event. “We will continue to organize and implement investigative strategies such as this.”
If you or someone you know is being pressured to engage in prostitution to benefit or help support another person, help is only a phone call away. Contact Community Violence Solutions at 800-670-7273 to speak to a confidential counselor. Or visit the Contra Costa Family Justice Centers in Richmond or Concord to talk to a Navigator about a variety of services and support available right here in Contra Costa County. The Family Justice Centers are a family-friendly one-stop center serving victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other types of interpersonal violence. No appointment is needed, and the centers are located at 256 24th Street in Richmond or 2151 Salvio St., Suite. 201 in Concord.
To learn more about human trafficking in Contra Costa County, visit the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Coalition’s webpage at www.contracostacoalition.org
Case information: People v. Lawrence Laquontia Taylor, Docket 05-182046-3
Read MoreOn Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 10 AM to 2 PM, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, local police departments and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your pills for disposal at the following sites. The DEA cannot accept needles or sharps, only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original container. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
-Office of the Sheriff Muir Station, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez, CA.
(Field Operations Building)
-Office of the Sheriff Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond, CA.
(West County Detention Facility)
-Office of the Sheriff Blackhawk, 1092 Eagle Nest Lane, Danville, CA
-Antioch Police Department, Front Lobby, 300 L Street, Antioch, CA
-Brentwood Police Department, 9100 Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, CA
-Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA.
-Lafayette Police Department, 3471 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA
-Orinda Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA
-Pittsburg Police Department, 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg, CA
-San Ramon Police Department, 2401 Crow Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Take Back event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control website at: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.
The Orinda Police Department, assisted by the Oakland Police Department, arrested 49-year-old Duane Makela of Oakland Tuesday morning, April 23 in connection with two bank robberies that occurred in the city of Orinda last year.
During the joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Makela was identified as the suspect. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Makela and a search warrant for his home. Makela was arrested at about 6:55 AM on the 3600 block of Broadway in Oakland without incident.
Makela’s vehicle was also searched. A possible explosive device was located in his car; the device was rendered safe.
Makela was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on robbery and drug possession charges. He is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Orinda Police Department at (925) 254-6820. For any tips, call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message or email: tips@so.cccounty.us.
Read More
Happy Easter! He is risen!
By Larry Adams
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, . . .1 Corinthians 15:1-4
We receive plenty of messages throughout our lives that are of great importance, but none more important than the message of Easter.
The good news of Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our sins and His burial in a tomb is a vital part of that message. But the best news of all is that the grave couldn’t hold Him. Jesus rose again! He conquered sin, death the grave for all of us. He is alive and is offering hope, forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe and receive Him into their lives.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our historical proof and guarantee that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the only way to God. His resurrection sets Christianity apart from every other religion and approach to God.
All the religions of the world except four are based in pure philosophy. They are the inventions of men.
The four religions that remain are based on the teachings of their founders, (Judaism/Abraham; Islam/Mohammad; Buddhism/Gautama and Christianity/ Jesus Christ).
All four founders died. Three are still in their graves. Only Jesus rose again and only Jesus lives to offer eternal life to all who come to Him by faith.
That’s why Easter is celebrated by millions of people worldwide. Easter is the celebration of life in Jesus Christ who died for our sins, conquered our death and rose again to give eternal life to all who believe and receive Him. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) This is still life’s most important message.
Larry Adams is the Senior Pastor of Golden Hills Community Church, which has campuses in both Antioch and Brentwood.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s inquest jury has reached a finding in the October 22, 2018 death of 37-year-old Salvador Contreras Morales-Cazares of Pittsburg. The finding of the jury is that the death was at the hands of another person, other than by accident.
Contreras was killed during a shoot-out with Pittsburg Police officers, following a domestic dispute that led to a police chase to Concord and back, and then barricading himself in a house.
According to an ABC7 News Report, “Morales eventually walked out of the house and onto the driveway with the gun and didn’t comply with police commands to drop the weapon, according to police. He was shot after he ‘raised the gun and fired towards officers,’ police said.”
The Coroner’s jury reached the verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.
A Coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding:
Accident, suicide, natural causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.
Read MoreBy Pittsburg Police Department
In October 2018 the Pittsburg Police Department became aware of a scam involving Teresita Del Rosario, a 74-year-old Brentwood resident and a business owner in the City of Pittsburg. The case was immediately assigned to the Investigations Division where it was thoroughly investigated over the course of the last several months. Through the course of the investigation, it was learned Del Rosario was the owner of Best Haven Realty and Mortgage located at 3128 Harbor Street and offered a wide range of services, including tax preparation and notary services.
Del Rosario used her authority and trust placed in her by her customers to prey on unsuspecting victims. Del Rosario presented false pretenses to victims using a scam known as the “Advance Fee Scheme” or “Nigerian Scam” to obtain large amounts of money from them, with no intention of paying them back.
Investigators learned of a victim, a client whom she provided tax services for, that reported Del Rosario stated that she had come into a large amount of money ($2.8 million) which was tied up in an offshore account in the Philippines. Del Rosario related she needed a loan from the victim to pay for taxes and other fees, or the money wouldn’t be released to her. Del Rosario showed the victim online records and other documentation to support her claims and requested a $12,000.00 loan from the victim, ensuring him she would give him $24,000.00 by the end of the week in return payment. To reassure the victim, Del Rosario completed a notarized Promissory Note which she provided to him and displayed fraudulent documentation supporting her claims.
Through the investigation, other victims have been identified. The same scheme was used on an elderly couple who trusted Del Rosario with their tax preparation for 17 years. The elderly victims had been defrauded by Del Rosario in excess of $75,000.00 over the course of several months under the same false pretenses. Detectives have served numerous search warrants to banks and followed other leads. Ultimately, it was discovered Del Rosario was endorsing the Cashier’s Checks provided to her by the victims and endorsing them into a third party’s name to avoid detection and wiring funds to an offshore bank account.
The case was brought to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and reviewed by Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague. The Office of the District Attorney ultimately filed charges against Del Rosario for multiple charges including Grand Theft, Theft by False Pretenses, and Elder Abuse.
On April 17, 2019, the Pittsburg Police Department Investigations Division served a search warrant at Best Haven Realty and Mortgage and took Del Rosario into custody for the above-mentioned charges.
This investigation is still ongoing. It is believed that there are further victims that have been defrauded by Del Rosario and is asking for help identifying as of yet unknown victims. If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud purported by Del Rosario or an associate of hers, contact Detective Jonathan Elmore at 925-252-4875.
Read More
The Department will pursue Disciplinary Action on the License of the Bar
On April 10, 2019, Agents with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and Officers from the Clayton Police Department arrested two individuals for alleged illegal drug sales. The arrests came during an enforcement operation at “Clayton Club Saloon” located at 6096 Main Street in Clayton.
ABC received an anonymous complaint alleging illegal narcotics activity was taking place at the licensed premises. The information received indicated employees were directly involved in the illegal activity.
ABC Agents worked undercover at the location for nearly three months and were able to purchase suspected cocaine from premises employees on multiple occasions.
On Wednesday, April 10, ABC and Clayton Police arrested 31-year-old Kevin Garner of Clayton and 31-year-old Zachary Bednarz, of Concord. Both men are bar employees. Garner is employed as a bouncer at the licensed premises and Bednarz is employed as a bartender. Both were transported to the Concord Police Department where they were booked for felony sales of narcotics.
The ABC will be filing an administrative accusation against the licensed premises which could result in disciplinary action involving a fine, license suspension or possibly the revocation of the ABC license.
ABC protects communities through education and by administering prevention and enforcement programs designed to increase compliance with California’s alcoholic beverage laws. ABC encourages licensees to sign up for ABC’s Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) training free of charge. Licensees and their employees can now take the training online at http://www.abc.ca.gov/programs/LEAD/Online_LEAD_Training.html, they can also sign up for training in person in a classroom setting.
Visit https://www.abc.ca.gov/programs/programs_PE.html to learn more about ABC enforcement and prevention programs that can help increase public safety. ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
Read More