Contra Costa Herald

Source: Oakley PD

4th arrests this year for both suspects each with history of additional arrests

By Oakley Police Department

On December 17, 2024, Chief Beard stated “Criminals beware — the officers of the Oakley Police Department are diligent in detecting crime and locating offenders. It is our desire to see no crime occurring at all, but if it does, and if you are the one committing it, we will commit our resources towards finding you and arresting you.” The next day the officers of the Oakley Police Department fully executed the meaning of that statement…

On December 18, 2024, at 1:46PM a victim who resides in the 800 block of Walnut Drive was not at home but reported seeing a person steal a package from the front porch via a Ring camera. The suspect fled in a green Kia vehicle. Officers began working on this case and started conducting follow-up investigations on it.

At 2:34PM Officer Palmer responded to the 4300 block of Redwood Drive to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 3:23PM Officer Palmer responded to the 400 block of Devon Court to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 4:34PM Officer Palmer responded to the 900 block of Almond Drive to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 4:39PM Special Services Team Officer Navarrette was conducting follow-up on the string of package thefts and saw what we believed was the suspect vehicle driving in the 200 block of Delta Road. Officer Navarrette stopped the vehicle, and he was assisted by Officers Horn and M. Jackson. Randal Joan Alodee Locke (38, Antioch, born Jan. 15, 1986) and Ashlee Victoria Fletcher (35, Oakley, born June 27, 1989) were both found to be in possession of a plethora of stolen items, most likely from several days/nights of package thievery. Locke and Fletcher were both arrested and booked into jail for these thefts.

Even after these arrests were made, we continued to take reports of package thefts involving Locke and Fletcher:

At 5:02PM Officer Palmer again responded to the 900 block of Almond Drive to take a report of a package theft from a front porch. A video of the theft showed a female wearing a black Hollister hooded sweatshirt removing a package from the porch before fleeing the area.

At 6:27PM Officer M. Jackson responded to the 3800 block of Creekside Way to take a report of multiple packages stolen from the location. The victim’s property was located in possession of Locke and Fletcher and returned.

So far, we have been able to identify a total of eight victims and we have returned their items back to them. One of the victims said every Christmas package she had ordered for her children was stolen from her porch and returned to her by Oakley Officers.

We have not yet identified all victims, and we still have several items of stolen property in our custody. If you believe you were the recent victim of having your packages stolen, please call us at 925-625-8060 and we will try to identify any stolen property belonging to you.

Fourth Arrests This Year for Both Suspects with Additional History of Arrests

According to localcrimenews.com, it’s Locke’s fourth arrest this year, including three by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies on July 2 for vehicle theft and warrants or holds only, Sept. 9 for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and taking vehicle without the owner’s consent, and Nov. 18 for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle. She was also previously arrested by the Solano County Sheriff’s Deputies in January 2020 for shoplifting, conspiracy to commit a crime, receiving or concealing stolen property, unauthorized use of personal identifying information, again by Antioch PD in Sept. 2020 for warrants or holds only, in Dec. 2021 for receiving stolen property – motor vehicle and in June 2022 for a bench warrant failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 200-pound Locke is Hispanic and is being held in the West County Detention Facility on $20,000 bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, this is also Fletcher’s fourth arrest this year including on March 27th for grand theft
and falsely impersonating another in his or her private or official capacity, on June 2nd for shoplifting not to exceed $950 and on Nov. 4th for warrants or holds only. She also has a history of arrests by both the Contra Costa and Alameda Sheriff’s Departments, plus, Antioch, Concord, Martinez, Dublin and Pleasanton Police Departments dating back to 2020 for crimes including grand theft, possession of burglar’s tools, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance in a prison, and unlawful use of willfully obtained personal identifying information.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, two-inch tall, 140-pound Fletcher is also Hispanic and being held in the West County Detention Facility on $20,000 bail.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Source: Office of CA Attorney General Rob Bonta

Hosts first of a series of regional convenings with immigrant rights groups, elected officials, and others ahead of Inauguration Day 

LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, issued two guidances to help California immigrants better understand their rights and protections under the law and avoid immigration scams by those seeking to take advantage of fear and uncertainty resulting from the President-elect’s inhumane threats of mass detention, arrests, and deportation. The guidances build on the Attorney General’s announcement earlier this month of updated model policies and recommendations to help public institutions like schools, hospitals, and courts comply with California law limiting state and local participation in immigration enforcement activities. Over the coming weeks, Attorney General Bonta will continue to help Californians prepare for changes to federal immigration policy in convenings with immigrant rights groups, elected officials, and others in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Salinas, San Francisco, and San Diego, where the Attorney General and California Department of Justice (CADOJ) staff will share resources, hear concerns, and discuss ongoing efforts to protect California’s immigrant communities.

“In California, we know that our immigrants are the backbone of our communities, a driving force behind our economy, and an essential part of our history as a state,” said Bonta. “With the President-elect making clear his intent to move forward an inhumane and destructive immigration agenda once he takes office, CADOJ is releasing new and updated guidance to help immigrants understand their rights under the law. In California, we will ensure that the rights of our immigrant communities are respected and protected. I will be convening a series of discussions in the weeks ahead – the first here today in Los Angeles – focused on this essential mission.”

Know Your Immigration Rights and Protections Under the Law

• You have the right to apply for and secure housing without sharing your immigration status. California law prohibits housing providers from asking about your immigration status unless you are applying for affordable housing funded by the federal government. Additionally, housing providers cannot harass or intimidate you by threatening or sharing information about your immigration status to ICE, law enforcement, or other government agencies.

• You have the right to access emergency medical care. Federal laws and regulations ensure the rights of all people to access emergency medical care, including undocumented immigrants.

• You have the right to an attorney. If you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed attorney. If you are detained by ICE and/or are facing immigration proceedings, you have the right to seek legal assistance through an attorney.

• State and local law enforcement cannot ask for your immigration status. California law expressly prohibits law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes.

• State and local law enforcement cannot share your personal information. This includes sharing your home or work address for immigration purposes, unless that information is available to the public or unless that information involves previous criminal arrest, convictions or similar criminal history.

• State and local law enforcement cannot assist ICE with immigration enforcement, with very limited exceptions. This means they cannot investigate, cannot interrogate, cannot arrest, and cannot detain you unless it is as part of joint federal task force where the primary purpose is not immigration enforcement.

The full “Know Your Immigration Rights” consumer alert is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

Protect Yourself from Immigration Scams

If you need help applying for immigration relief, be careful who you hire. Watch out for immigration scams that can cost you thousands of dollars and/or harm your immigration status! Here are some tips and resources to help:

• Go to a legitimate legal aid organization for free legal help. Many nonprofit organizations provide free immigration help to low-income individuals, such as those found through the resources below. To find a legal aid organization near you, go to lawhelpca.org.

• Keep your original documents in a safe place. Don’t give your original documents to anyone unless you see proof that the government requires the original document. If you give someone an original, they may lose it or refuse to return it unless you pay them.

• Do not hire an immigration consultant or a notary. Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Immigration consultants – who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals – cannot do so.

• Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter. No federal or state agency, including USCIS, will ever ask for your personal information or payment over the phone, by email, or text.

For more dos and don’ts, see the full “Immigration Services Fraud” consumer alert available in English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

Access Free and Low-Cost Legal Assistance 

Visit Law Help CA or Immigration Law Help to find immigration assistance near you.

File a Complaint 

If you believe your rights have been violated, report it to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report.

If you believe you were subject to discrimination, harassment or retaliation, report it to the California Civil Rights Department at calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess/.

Effective July 1, 2025

By Lauren Ono, PIO, Contra Costa Fire

CONCORD, CA – Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Contra Costa Fire) and Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District (Rodeo-Hercules) are pleased to announce the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) has unanimously approved the annexation of Rodeo-Hercules by Contra Costa Fire.

The annexation is expected to be effective on July 1, 2025. Contra Costa Fire will absorb all of Rodeo- Hercules’ firefighters, support staff, facilities, apparatus and equipment into the Contra Costa Fire operations.

“After years of careful study and deliberation, I’m very pleased and grateful for the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission’s approval of our district’s annexation into the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District,” said Delano Doss, chairman of the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District Board of Directors. “Once implemented in mid-2025, residents in the communities of Rodeo and Hercules will receive significantly enhanced fire, rescue and EMS services provided by our firefighters, thanks to the exceptional resources of Contra Costa Fire.”

Doss added, “This is a huge win for everyone in Rodeo and Hercules, as well as for our dedicated firefighters—and it doesn’t cost residents a single extra penny in taxes.”

When the annexation occurs, residents can expect a seamless transition and a continued high level of emergency response and community connectivity. Benefits will also include increased fire services and improved firefighter safety throughout the entire service area.

“The combining of another fire agency in west Contra Costa County into Contra Costa Fire achieves the goal of providing safe, consistent, and efficient fire, medical, rescue and hazardous materials emergency response to all the communities we serve,” said Lewis Broschard, Fire Chief of Contra Costa Fire Protection District. “Although we’ve always worked closely with Rodeo-Hercules, this annexation will solidify and unify the emergency and non-emergency services we provide in west county under one agency.”

To further enhance state’s preparedness and accelerate ongoing cross-agency response efforts following spread of Avian influenza A (H5N1) in 16 states, including California and outside the Central Valley,

“To date, no person-to-person spread of Bird Flu has been detected in California and nearly all infected individuals had exposure to infected cattle.” – Office of the California Governor

Sacramento, California – December 18, 2024 – Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a State of Emergency to streamline and expedite the state’s response to Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as “Bird Flu.” This action comes as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, signaling the need to further expand monitoring and build on the coordinated statewide approach to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus. The virus has spread in 16 states among dairy cattle, following its first confirmed detection in Texas and Kansas in March 2024.

To date, no person-to-person spread of Bird Flu has been detected in California and nearly all infected individuals had exposure to infected cattle. California has already established the largest testing and monitoring system in the nation to respond to the outbreak.

This emergency proclamation will provide state and local agencies with additional flexibility around staffing, contracting, and other rules to support California’s evolving response.

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak. Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information. While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus,” said Newsom.

Ongoing efforts to prevent spread and serious infection

California has mobilized a comprehensive cross-agency response to Bird Flu in dairy cattle and poultry farms to minimize farm worker exposures, reduce raw dairy product contamination, and mitigate the spread of the virus. The state has enlisted local, state, and federal government technical and operational expertise to support all facets of the response; worked to educate the public, health professionals, employers, and workers on prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of exposure to Bird Flu; provided comprehensive information for employers and workers on personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements; and distributed millions of pieces of PPE to high-risk workers at dairy farms.

Through coordinated public awareness efforts between the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and other agencies, the state is leading a cross-agency response that includes timely public updates, multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, targeted social media efforts to promote preventive practices, online and printed resources for the public, and media interviews to keep Californians informed. Additionally, the state is ensuring that agriculture workers have access to additional doses of seasonal flu vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce concurrent flu risks.

Officials have also been working in close collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S.  Department of Agriculture, and local health and agricultural officials, as part of a whole-of-government effort to coordinate, implement, and ensure timely surveillance and investigation of potential cases of Bird Flu.

Bird flu in the United States

Bird Flu was first detected in the United States in the wild bird population in South Carolina in January 2022, and in the wild bird population in California in July 2022. On March 25, 2024, an outbreak of Bird Flu in dairy cows was first reported in Texas and Kansas, and CDFA took immediate action to monitor for Bird Flu infections in California herds. Since then, there have been 61 total reported confirmed cases of Bird Flu infection in humans across seven states, including 34 reported human cases in California.

On August 30, 2024, following its detection in 13 other states, Bird Flu was confirmed in a dairy cow in Central California, and the California Department of Public Health immediately activated its Medical Health Coordination Center.

See CA Gov Bird Flu State of Emergency Proclamation 12-18-24

SB 407 requires affirmation of a child’s chosen gender identity or sexual orientation

By Greg Burt, California Family Council

SACRAMENTO, CA — Christian foster parents with traditional, biblical beliefs on gender and sexuality are being systematically excluded from California’s foster care system due to the enforcement of SB 407. This new law, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), mandates that foster parents, irrespective of whether they have an LGBTQ-identified child in their care, must affirm a child’s chosen gender identity or sexual orientation. Neutrality is no longer acceptable under the updated guidelines issued by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). (Read guidelines here: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/Additional-Resources/Letters-and-Notices/ACLs/2024/24-69.pdf?ver=2024-11-19-154231-617)

According to a letter distributed to all county and state-licensed foster care agencies last month, “Each resource family must have the capacity, ability, and willingness to safeguard a child’s or non-minor dependent’s personal rights and respect and honor the child’s identities regardless of their own values and beliefs.” The letter further asserts that any failure to affirm a child’s self-determined identity constitutes a “risk or threat” to the child’s health and safety. Consequently, this would result in the denial of foster care applications or the revocation of existing approvals.

This policy shift underscores a troubling development: the state now regards traditional views regarding gender and sexuality as harmful, not only to foster children, but to all children under the system’s care.

The California Family Council (CFC) recently received a call from a foster father who, along with his wife, had provided temporary care to multiple young children over several years. Despite their history of offering loving homes, their social worker denied the renewal of their foster care license because they could not commit to affirming any identity a child might choose. This was a marked departure from previous practices, where their beliefs were accommodated, and they were not assigned LGBTQ-identified children.

“Their social worker told them that under SB 407, the promise of affirmation is now a requirement for fostering any child, regardless of age,” said Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council.

Leading Christian legal organizations specializing in religious liberty cases have condemned the CDSS directive as unconstitutional. Kevin Snider, Chief Counsel for the Pacific Justice Institute, highlighted the broader ramifications of SB 407.

“The implications of SB 407 and the recent Directive from the Dept. of Social Services is that foster families holding religious or traditional views on gender and sexual orientation are unqualified to provide care for foster children,” Snider explained. “California parents may think, ‘This doesn’t concern me — I’m not a foster parent.’ In fact, it does concern you. There is now a very small step for the state to deem any parent as unfit to raise their own children if the family holds a view that contradicts the state’s ideology on gender and sexual orientation. This could result in a visit by Child Protective Services with tragic consequences for the home.”

Kelly Rickert, an attorney with Advocates for Faith and Freedom, emphasized the dire need for foster parents in California, particularly in Los Angeles County, which has over 25,000 foster children in care. She said, “For centuries, Christians have stepped up to care for these children.  But now, the State is stripping Christians who have previously provided years of care of their foster care licenses because they cannot in good conscience agree to promote the state’s onerous directives promoting LGBTQ+ ideologies.”

Rickert also pointed to legal precedents, such as Fulton v. City of Philadelphia (2021), “the Supreme Court struck down a Philadelphia policy denying contracts to a foster care agency because it would not certify same-sex couples as foster parents – because it violated the First Amendment’s Free Exercise clause.” Rickert believes the CDSS directive is similarly unconstitutional. “It is heartbreaking that the State of California elevates political ideology over the welfare of children in need,” she said.

CFC Vice President Greg Burt expressed disappointment at how religious freedoms were disregard during the legislative process. The CFC consistently lobbied against SB 407, warning lawmakers of its illegality and its potential to alienate prospective foster parents. “California is already struggling with a foster parent shortage, yet Senator Wiener and his allies are driving away faithful families who provide stable, loving homes,” said Burt. “This law doesn’t just hurt foster children—it actively discriminates against foster parents who are willing to love and care for any child but refuse to compromise their deeply held religious beliefs.”

Check out similar cases of Christian discrimination related to foster care and adoption at the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3nKm8kESKs&t=2s excerpts from the SB 407 hearing above when the bill went before the CA Senate Human Services Committee. Watch the full hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDzrwfn0RwI

The Beauty of a Symphony, the Soul of a Rock Band

Following a great show at Antioch’s historic El Campanil Theatre in November, the Renegade Orchestra will be back in Contra Costa County at the Campbell Theater in Martinez on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

About the event

Welcome to the Renegade Orchestra – it’s time to throw out all the old conventions of a quiet, sleepy, stuffy show of musicians locked in straitjackets of tradition.

Clap your hands, tap your feet, and yell all you want — the Renegade Orchestra embraces the virtuosic skills of top bay area musicians and turns them loose on songs orchestras have never or maybe shouldn’t do. No sleepy pop songs, no overly-lush jazz standards, but the pure unbridled fury of what an orchestra can truly do

“Classical Rebels.” —The Bohemian

“The Renegade Orchestra would rather tackle Hendrix than Handel.” —Mercury News

“If there’s one piece of advice I would give to anyone interested in seeing this group perform, it would be to expect the unexpected, or better yet, leave your expectations at the door and go in prepared for a ride. If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that this writer will be catching them again the next time they perform in town.” —Napa Valley Register

Source: RenegadeOrchestra.com

“…Under the baton of co-founder, guitarist and conductor Jason Eckl, [the Renegade Orchestra] turn Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” into a shimmering string-centric odyssey, capture the classic helter-skelter vibe in Paul McCartney’s and John Lennon’s “Helter Skelter,” find the funk in “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles and crash with vibratory verve through Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” —East Bay Express

Tickets are now available at Renegade Orchestra | The Campbell

The performance will run 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and the Martinez Campbell Theater is located at 636 Ward Street.

To learn more about the band visit RenegadeOrchestra.com.

CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and State Senator Lena Gonzalez want to keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents off California school campuses without a judicial warrant in their efforts to deport illegal immigrants.

Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez

“to protect California schools from a drop-off in attendance or funding in response to federal threats of mass deportation.”

By Liz Sanders, Director of Communications, California Department of Education

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is sponsoring legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-33) on Monday, December 16, aimed at keeping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents off of school campuses to protect California schools from a drop-off in attendance or funding in response to federal threats of mass deportation.

The legislation to be introduced by Senator Gonzalez will protect California schools from a potential decline in attendance or funding during potential increased immigration enforcement by protecting school zones, as well as school data and sensitive family information.

The bill would:

• prohibit school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and their personnel from granting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers or other federal authorities access to campuses without a judicial warrant;

• prohibit police cooperation with any immigration enforcement efforts within a one-mile radius of school to ensure a safe corridor for parents to bring their children to and from school; and

• prohibit the sharing of any information about students, families, their households, or school employees with ICE officers.

“This bill seeks to push back against threats of deportation that create fear in immigrant families. These practices suppress school attendance and rob schools of needed revenue,” said Thurmond. “I am honored to partner with bill author Senator Lena Gonzalez, other legislators, and immigrant rights groups to support our families and keep ICE off our school campuses—period.”

“All California children deserve safe school environments that prioritize student learning, regardless of immigration status,” said Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “As Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, I’m proud to be partnering with Superintendent Tony Thurmond to author this important legislation, which will prevent disruptions to student learning, keep children in school, and prevent families from being torn apart.”

Research has shown that immigration enforcement in the area of schools has a chilling effect on school attendance for students from impacted communities, regardless of students’ citizenship or immigration status. It is reasonable to expect such adverse impacts on immigrant communities throughout California.

The legislation would also strengthen safeguards against unauthorized disclosure of education records and personal information to federal agents. Combined, these protections would ensure that families are able to safely send their children to school without fear of being separated from their children, and families would also be able to fill out necessary school forms that are essential to students’ well-being and educational services without fear of being separated from their children.

In California, 93 percent of children who have one or more undocumented parents are U.S. citizens. Additionally, all children in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have a right to a free and appropriate public education.

The proposed bill reflects California’s commitment to ensure that pandemic-era increases in chronic absenteeism do not recur and also reiterates California’s commitment to make sure that schools are welcoming environments where all families can safely bring their children to learn. It aligns with California’s broader efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and the protection of immigrant communities.

As schools continue to face challenges related to student safety and data privacy, this bill sends a strong message that California is committed to safeguarding our students and families.

BART System Map for January 13, 2025, schedule change. Source: BART

On January 13, 2025, BART will make schedule changes to accommodate the launch of construction to replace BART’s aged train control system with a modern Communications Based Train Control System.

The schedule change is happening in coordination with the region’s other transit systems as part of a collective effort to synch schedules, reduce impacts, and improve transfers for transit riders in the Bay Area.

Minor Adjustments

Overall, some departure times will shift by a few minutes, and we encourage riders to check the schedule before January 13, 2025, to see if their trip is impacted. In the coming days, BART will post the new PDF timetables and will update the Trip Planner with the new schedule.

Late Night Construction between Colma and Millbrae for New Train Control System 

Crews will be working on the track between Colma and Millbrae nightly after 9pm to upgrade our train control system. To reduce delays from this work, the Yellow Line will terminate at SFO instead of Millbrae to provide the resiliency our system needs to keep trains running on time and as optimally as possible in this section of track during the construction.

Late Night Changes for Millbrae Riders

After 9pm, Millbrae station will be served by a train that will run every 15 minutes between Millbrae and SFO only and riders will have an easy cross platform transfer at SFO to board a Yellow Line train to finish their trip.

At Millbrae, two of the four trains each hour will be timed with Caltrain’s 30-minute service schedule to provide a good transfer between Caltrain and BART.

As previously noted, after Red Line service ends each night, Yellow Line trains will terminate at SFO instead of Millbrae. Once at SFO, riders heading to Millbrae will cross the platform to board the Millbrae train, it will be labeled as a Yellow Line train to Millbrae.

However, after midnight, the final four Yellow Line trains to SFO station will proceed to Millbrae (riders will not need to transfer for Millbrae service), similar to the current schedule. The final train of the evening will bypass SFO, as it always does, and go straight to Millbrae. This is consistent with the current schedule.

These late evening changes will be displayed in the PDF timetable and in the Trip Planner to guide riders. And the official BART system map online, and posted at stations, will indicate a change in trains is necessary between 9pm-midnight.

This nightly service plan for Millbrae riders is expected to last several years as BART has prioritized this section of track to be the first area to bring on Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) in the BART system. The state-of-the-art CBTC system will transform BART service by enabling trains to run closer together and by updating aged equipment. A modernized train control system will enable BART to increase projected Transbay capacity to 30-trains per hour per direction in the core system area, from the current limitation of 24-trains per hour per direction.

Transit Coordination – The Big Synch

Bay Area transit agencies are now syncing schedules in a whole new way with a focus on improving transfers between systems and making schedule changes at the same time.

Most Bay Area transit agencies are rolling out new schedules in mid-January in coordination with each other and have now aligned the timing of schedule changes twice each year, once in summer (mid-August) and once in winter (mid-January). Since 2022, the number of transit agencies with full schedule change alignment (changing schedules at the same time August and January) has increased from 4 to 19, for a 375% increase.

Advancing schedule change alignment is a key priority for Bay Area transit general managers who meet on a weekly basis to make transit more rider-focused and efficient.

Part of over $216 million for California from environmental and climate justice Community Change Grants from Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded 15 California projects a combined $216.5 million to advance local, on-the-ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and strengthen workforce development. The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act as part of the Community Change Grants Program, the largest nationwide investment in environmental and climate justice in history.

The Community Change Grants Program addresses the diverse and unique needs of disadvantaged communities by reducing air, water, and soil pollution, building resilient infrastructure to extreme weather events, and bolstering workforce development.

“Overlooked communities across California have struggled for generations with air pollution and unaffordable water and energy bills. The climate crisis has only underscored these vulnerabilities,” said Padilla. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re delivering millions in environmental justice investments to reduce energy costs and improve air quality, while developing climate-resilient community workforces.”

Approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds were available for environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input.

“On day one of his Administration, President Biden promised to target investments to communities that for too long have been shut out of federal funding,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is delivering on that promise. These selections will create jobs, improve public health, and uplift community efforts in all corners of this country, regardless of geography or background.”

California projects selected for Community Change Grants Program awards include:

• North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative — $19.08 million. The North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative will build a community resiliency center at the North Richmond Farm to serve the community in the event of an emergency or disaster and provide community services during normal operations. The project will scale up existing efforts to increase North Richmond’s urban tree canopy and will plant 65 new trees along the Verde Elementary schoolyard to shield students from pollution generated by a new distribution center.
• Treasure Island Connects — $19.50 million. This project focuses on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island in the San Francisco Bay Area. Treasure Island Connects aims to expand community access to clean public transportation resources through six projects. The project will launch a microtransit pilot to connect Treasure Island residents to key resources on mainland San Francisco and a community circulator shuttle. The project will also add one new electric bus to the Muni bus route servicing Treasure Island, create a bikeshare program, and install electric ferry charging infrastructure to support the planned conversion to zero-emission ferry service.
• South Los Angeles All In – Good Jobs, Healthy Communities — $20 million. The Coalition for Responsible Community Development and the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College will support workforce development in South Los Angeles along four career tracks to reduce pollution, including lead abatement in buildings; welding for clean energy and transportation projects; hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance; and weatherization and energy auditing of buildings.

• GREEN San Gabriel Valley — $20 million. In California’s San Gabriel Valley, Day One, Active San Gabriel Valley, and their partners will implement several environmental justice projects. They will mitigate extreme heat and build community resilience by expanding tree canopy and greening schoolyards with rain gardens and native plants. They will also provide incentives for the purchase of e-bikes, establish 60 public water stations, and reduce energy costs through the installation of solar, energy storage systems, and cool roofs.

• Safe Drinking Water and Climate Resilience for Rural Pajaro Valley Disadvantaged Communities — $20 million. Focusing on households served by California’s Pajaro Water System (PWS), Sunny Mesa Water System (SMWS), and Springfield Water System (SWS), as well as households relying on private wells near the SWS in Northeastern Monterey County, this project will consolidate these water systems into a combined system with multiple compliant wells for redundancy and resilience to extreme climate events. Current systems do not have backup wells that meet water quality standards.

• The San Diego Foundation — $20 million. Focused on San Diego’s historic central barrios, San Diego Foundation and the Environmental Health Coalition will take a holistic approach to improve local air quality, mitigate extreme heat, and expand green space. The project will improve residents’ access to clean and safe transportation, electrify homes, add energy storage, install air filters, and perform weatherization upgrades. It will also connect residents to clean energy job opportunities and apprenticeships in electrical and construction work.

• Restoring Resilience: Enhancing Community and Environmental Sustainability through the Dos Pueblos Institute’s Climate Action Strategy — $19.99 million. The Restoring Resilience project will enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities for the residents of disadvantaged communities on California’s Gaviota Coast. The project will establish the Gaviota Coastal Cultural and Historical Center, a resilience hub that will serve as a central location for educational programs and community events during “blue sky” days and as an emergency shelter and staging area during wildfires and other disasters.

• Southeast Strong — $19.98 million. The City of Bakersfield and Building Healthy Communities Kern will improve community connectivity in central and southeast Bakersfield by expanding residents’ access to safe, clean, and convenient active transportation and public transit options. To reduce pollution and energy costs, they will fund energy efficiency retrofits at 30 single-family residential units and retrofit another 60 homes with solar panels and battery technologies. The project will also provide 150 residents with training to install solar panels, repair electric vehicles, and enroll in electrician apprenticeships.

• Building Climate Resilient Communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley — $18.76 million. This project will build four geothermal, solar-powered commercial greenhouses with geothermal energy for cooling and heating. The greenhouses will support vertical hydroponic farming and will offer free training and 15 living wage jobs to newly trained “Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) workers from the Eastern Coachella Valley community. The project also will build the Center for Community Development and Resilience (CCDR), which will integrate climate-smart building elements, such as solar and heat pumps, as well as green infrastructure.

• Greening North Franklin — $17.84 million. La Familia Counseling Center and Community Resource Project will implement several projects to reduce pollution and build climate resilience in south Sacramento. They will develop a community resilience hub to serve as a cooling center during extreme heat events and provide services to meet community needs in an emergency. To reduce energy costs and pollution, the project will provide energy efficiency upgrades, install solar on qualifying homes, and provide workforce training in electrification, housing retrofits, and solar installation.

A full list of California projects and descriptions is available here.

EPA is on track to obligate the majority of selected Community Change grants by January 2025. More information on the Community Change Grants Program is available here.

Senator Padilla has helped secure hundreds of millions from the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce pollution in underserved California communities. Earlier this year, Padilla announced nearly $500 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which will help decarbonize the transportation and freight sectors and improve air quality for Southern California residents. Padilla also secured nearly $250 million for California’s Solar for All project to help deliver residential solar for low-income and disadvantaged communities across the state. Last year, he announced over $102 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service to combat extreme heat and climate change, plant and maintain trees, and create urban green spaces.

17th year receiving top ranking

SAN RAMON, CA.— Hill Physicians Medical Group, the largest Independent Physician Association (IPA) in California, has earned three prestigious honors for healthcare excellence, the organization announced on Dec. 5.

Two of the awards come from the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA), which recognized Hill Physicians for its outstanding performance in the Sacramento and East Bay regions. In addition, Hill Physicians earned the top “Elite Status” designation in America’s Physicians Groups (APG) Standards of Excellence Survey, the highest honor the program offers. This marks the 17th year Hill Physicians has received the top ranking.

“These awards highlight Hill Physicians’ dedication and commitment to achieving the highest quality care while effectively managing costs for both patients and physicians alike,” said Hill Physicians Chief Medical Officer K. Gabrielle Gaspar, M.D. “Our success comes from our partnership with our practices, and makes it possible to provide comprehensive, top-quality care to members across 14 counties in Northern California.”

To qualify for the IHA Excellence in Healthcare awards, provider organizations must rank among the top 50 percent for clinical quality, patient experience and cost-efficiency for their commercial HMO populations. Only 22 out of nearly 200 eligible provider organizations in the state received the award, part of IHA’s “Align. Measure. Perform. (AMP)” program.

The APG’s “Elite Status” recognizes organizations excelling in value-based care models, including Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. This year, 119 IPAs applied for the award, and only 68 received the elite designation. Elite Status organizations are among the nation’s highest-performing healthcare organizations, excelling in primary care, patient-centered care and population health management, according to APG President and CEO Susan Dentzer.

APG’s Clinical Quality Leadership Forum adds new elements to each category every year in order to set a higher standard than the previous year, to continue to raise national health care standards and increase expectations of government agencies, purchasers, payers and patients.

“The capabilities that these groups possess in such areas as providing advanced primary care, delivering patient centered care, managing population health and being transparent about their quality and costs, place them at the forefront of U.S. physician practices and health systems,” said Dentzer.

About Hill Physicians Medical Group

Hill Physicians Medical Group is the largest Independent Physician Association in Northern California. For 40 years, the group has provided access to quality, patient-focused healthcare. With more than 6,000 primary care and specialty care physicians, Hill Physicians partners with leading health plans and hospitals, serving communities in 14 counties across Northern California, including Sacramento, Stockton, San Francisco and the East Bay. For more information, visit www.hillphysicians.com.

About IHA’s AMP programs

IHA’s Align. Measure. Perform. (AMP) programs use a fair and transparent approach to measurement and benchmarking to create a reliable assessment of performance for medical groups, and IPAs across health plans. For more information, visit www.iha.org.

About America’s Physician Groups

America’s Physician Groups is a national association representing approximately 360 physician groups with approximately 170,000 physicians providing care to nearly 90 million patients. For more information, visit www.apg.org.