Contra Costa Herald

NOTE: This was first posted on the ContraCostaHerald.com on November 24, 2016. We re-post and update it each year.

By Allen D. Payton, Publisher

It was 403 years ago, this year, that the first Thanksgiving feast was celebrated by the Pilgrims and their Indian friends in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts.

Who were the Pilgrims?

Christian Protestants in England, became known as Puritans, because of their differences with the Church of England. Most remained within the Church of England, but a small group of Puritans, known as Separatists, who chose to leave the church, were persecuted for their faith. Around 1607 or 1608 about 300 Separatists left England and relocated to Holland.

Then in 1620, some of the Separatists chose to leave Holland for a place where they could be free to practice their faith. Along with adventurers, other colonists recruited by the venture’s financial backers and the ship’s crew, for a total of 102 people, the Separatists sailed to the New World on the ship the Mayflower.

It was William Bradford, who became their first governor, who gave themselves the label of Pilgrims, from the Bible verse in the book of Hebrews chapter 11, verse 13, which states “they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” He stated “They knew they were pilgrims, and looked not much on those things, but lifted up their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country.”

According to what became known as The Mayflower Compact, the voyage was “undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our kind and country…to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia”

Instead, the voyagers first spotted land on November 9, 1620 and then chose to set anchor in Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts on November 11.

“The Mayflower Compact was signed that day on board the Mayflower, which was at anchor in Provincetown Harbor.  The document was drawn up in response to ‘mutinous speeches’ that had come about because the Pilgrims had intended to settle in Northern Virginia, but the decision was made after arrival to instead settle in New England.  Since there was no government in place, some felt they had no legal obligation to remain within the colony and supply their labor.  The Mayflower Compact attempted to temporarily establish that government until a more official one could be drawn up in England that would give them the right to self-govern themselves in New England.”(1)

Read the complete Mayflower Compact by clicking here. http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/PrimarySources/MayflowerCompact.php

They then settled across Cape Cod Bay at Plymouth, Massachusetts and only 53 of the Pilgrims survived that first winter, thanks to the help of the local Indians. But the following summer was good for them.

The First Thanksgiving Celebration

“After their first harvest, the colonists of the Plymouth Plantation held a celebration of food and feasting in the fall of 1621. Indian chiefs Massassoit, Squanto and Samoset joined in the celebration with ninety of their men in the three-day event. (2)

According to William Bradford, in his journal entitled Of Plimoth Plantation:

“They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; For as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want.  And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees).  And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion.  Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained,  but true reports.”

According to Edward Winslow in his book Mourt’s Relation:
“our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others.  And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want,  that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.”

The First Official Thanksgiving Day

In 1623, the first official day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed by Plymouth Colony Governor William Bradford

Bradford’s Thanksgiving Proclamation:

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

–William Bradford
Ye Governor of Ye Colony

Through the years, subsequent Thanksgiving Day proclamations were made and dates for celebrating it were set by Congress and various U.S. presidents.

1777 Proclamation by the Continental Congress

On November 1, 1777, by order of Congress, the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation was approved, and signed by Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress. The third Thursday of December, 1777 was officially set aside:

“…for solemn thanksgiving and praise. That with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor;… and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot hem (their manifold sins) out of remembrance… That it may please Him… to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety under His nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth of ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost’…”

First Thanksgiving Proclamation by the American Government

In 1789, it was President George Washington who issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation by the American government:

WHEREAS, It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;

WHEREAS, Both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted’ for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. –George Washington – October 3, 1789

President Lincoln Makes it a National Holiday in 1863

Then in in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln established the last Thursday in November as the day of national with his Thanksgiving Proclamation:

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Since 1863, every President has issued an annual proclamation calling for the people of the nation to celebrate a national day of thanksgiving.

1941 Vote by Congress and President Roosevelt

But it wasn’t until October 6, 1941 that our federal government made it an official, national holiday, when Congress approved it.

“In 1939…the last Thursday in November fell on the last day of the month. Concerned that the shortened Christmas shopping season might dampen the economic recovery, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a Presidential Proclamation moving Thanksgiving to the second to last Thursday of November. As a result of the proclamation, 32 states issued similar proclamations while 16 states refused to accept the change and proclaimed Thanksgiving to be the last Thursday in November. For two years two days were celebrated as Thanksgiving – the President and part of the nation celebrated it on the second to last Thursday in November, while the rest of the country celebrated it the following week.

To end the confusion, Congress decided to set a fixed-date for the holiday. On October 6, 1941, the House passed a joint resolution declaring the last Thursday in November to be the legal Thanksgiving Day. The Senate, however, amended the resolution establishing the holiday as the fourth Thursday, which would take into account those years when November has five Thursdays. The House agreed to the amendment, and President Roosevelt signed the resolution on December 26, 1941, thus establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.” (3)

President John F. Kennedy’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1961:

OCTOBER 27, 1961
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
A PROCLAMATION :

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.”
More than three centuries ago, the Pilgrims, after a year of hardship and peril, humbly and reverently set aside a special day upon which to give thanks to God for their preservation and for the good harvest from the virgin soil upon which they had labored. Grave and unknown dangers remained. Yet by their faith and by their toil they had survived the rigors of the harsh New England winter. Hence they paused in their labors to give thanks for the blessings that had been bestowed upon them by Divine Providence.
This year, as the harvest draws near its close and the year approaches its end, awesome perils again remain to be faced. Yet we have, as in the past, ample reason to be thankful for the abundance of our blessings. We are grateful for the blessings of faith and health and strength and for the imperishable spiritual gifts of love and hope. We give thanks, too, for our freedom as a nation; for the strength of our arms and the faith of our friends; for the beliefs and confidence we share; for our determination to stand firmly for what we believe to be right and to resist mightily what we believe to be base; and for the heritage of liberty bequeathed by our ancestors which we are privileged to preserve for our children and our children’s children.
It is right that we should be grateful for the plenty amidst which we live; the productivity of our farms, the output of our factories, the skill of our artisans, and the ingenuity of our investors. But in the midst of our thanksgiving, let us not be unmindful of the plight of those in many parts of the world to whom hunger is no stranger and the plight of those millions more who live without the blessings of liberty and freedom. With some we are able to share our material abundance through our Food-for-Peace Program and through our support of the United Nations Freedom-from-Hunger Campaign. To all we can offer the sustenance of hope that we shall not fail in our unceasing efforts to make this a peaceful and prosperous world for all mankind.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN F. KENNEDY, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the joint resolution of Congress approved December 26, 1941, which designates the fourth Thursday in November of each year as Thanksgiving Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, the twenty-third day of November of this year, as a day of national thanksgiving.
I urge all citizens to make this Thanksgiving not merely a holiday from their labors, but rather a day of contemplation. I ask the head of each family to recount to his children the story of the first New England thanksgiving, thus to impress upon future generations the heritage of this nation born in toil, in danger, in purpose, and in the conviction that right and justice and freedom can through man’s efforts persevere and come to fruition with the blessing of God.
Let us observe this day with reverence and with prayer that will rekindle in us the will and show us the way not only to preserve our blessings, but also to extend them to the four corners of the earth. Let us by our example, as well as by our material aid, assist all peoples of all nations who are striving to achieve a better life in freedom.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.
DONE at the City of Washington this twenty-seventh day of October in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-sixth.

JOHN F. KENNEDY

Click here to read Kennedy’s final Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1963, just weeks before his assassination. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=9511#axzz1eeTUARcy

Read more Thanksgiving Proclamations by Presidents Carter, Reagan and George H.W. Bush here http://www.pilgrimhall.org/ThanxProc1980.htm and this year’s proclamation by President Obama here. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/16/presidential-proclamation-thanksgiving-day-2011

So we continue the celebration, today, with our family and friends, of giving thanks to God for his provisions to us personally and to our great nation, even in spite of our current economic challenges.

God bless you and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

References: (1) www.MayflowerHistory.com

(2) www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/thanksgiving/

(3) www.archives.gov/legislative/features/thanksgiving/

www.pilgrimhall.org/1stthnks

Learn more from the book Plymouth in the words of her Founders by Dr. Paul Jehle at http://www.amazon.com/Plymouth-Words-Founders-Paul-Jehle/dp/0972417346

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To be presented during Board of Supervisors annual César E. Chávez Celebration in April

Deadline: Feb. 25, 2025

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO & Lia Bristol, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards. These awards are presented annually to outstanding Contra Costa County residents between 12 and 18 years of age

Students will be recognized at the 31st Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11 am in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.

Únase a nosotros el martes 1 de abril de 2025 para la 31ª Celebración Conmemorativa Anual de César E. Chávez.

Actualmente estamos aceptando formularios de nominación para los Premios del Salón de la Fama Juvenil 2025. Haga clic aquí para acceder al formulario de nominación y más información sobre los Premios del Salón de la Fama de la Juventud.

Nominees should demonstrate exemplary behavior in one of six categories:

• Good Samaritan: Goes out of their way to do for others without seeking recognition
• Volunteerism: Lends a helping hand for the good of the community; Gives their time and energy to a worthy cause or organization
• Teamwork: Works unselfishly for the good of the team
• Leadership and Civic Engagement: A natural leader who inspires others and works to make a difference in school and the community
• Perseverance: Has worked hard to overcome obstacles and achieve success
• Innovation and Empowerment: Lifts others up and inspires change through creative solutions

For more information and the application form to nominate youth in our community, visit
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/FormCenter/Contra-Costa-County-Cesar-E-Chavez-Youth-42/2025-Contra-Costa-County-Youth-Hall-of-F-380

We invite you to submit your nomination by completing the form and uploading it to the County website or emailing the application and your letter of recommendation to Lia Bristol at YouthNomination@dcd.cccounty.us.

Nominations must be received or postmarked by February 25, 2025. Recipients will be recognized at the April 1, 2025, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ César E. Chávez Celebration.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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The El Cerrito Police Department is still seeking help from the community to identify a person of interest in a sexual battery incident that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th, at approximately 3:30 PM.

The investigation revealed that the victim, a sight and hearing impaired woman, was followed by a man for several city blocks until she reached a more secluded residential area on Stockton Avenue near Elm Street. The man then approached the woman from behind and slapped her buttock before he fled the area.

After locating additional video surveillance footage from businesses in the area, investigators discovered this man was a Hispanic male in his twenties with a thin to medium build, wearing a dark gray beanie, a light gray sweatshirt, dark pants, and white and black shoes. This alert contains two updated pictures of the suspect.

Please contact Detective Michael Olivieri at molivieri@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us if you recognize this man or if you have any information that might help this investigation

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The crew ranges from ages 12-18 and is believed to be responsible for at least 23 incidents totaling more than $84,000 in merchandise from multiple Walgreens stores

By San Francisco Police Department

On September 23, 2024, the San Francisco Police Department General Work Investigations Unit was assigned an Organized Retail Crime related robbery that occurred on September 16, 2024, at Walgreens on the 1100 block of Potrero Avenue. During the incident, several juvenile suspects entered the store, concealed merchandise, and ransacked the store. When an employee asked the suspects to stop, two of the suspects assaulted the employee, resulting in a serious head injury.

During the investigation, officers assigned to the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit recognized five of the juvenile suspects from an investigation into a separate assault that also occurred on September 16, 2024, at 24th and Mission Streets. The suspects were subsequently taken into custody for the Walgreens incident.

A review of other incidents with the SFPD Burglary–Organized Retail Crime Unit led investigators to identify other incidents based on similarities in the suspect description, victim similarities, and modus operandi (M.O.). Through the diligent work of investigators and Walgreens Asset Protection members, a total of eight suspects were determined to have been involved in at least 23 organized retail crime incidents at various Walgreens locations in San Francisco, totaling over $84,000 in stolen merchandise.

Below are synopses of some of the incidents the crew was involved in:

On July 11, 2024, seven masked suspects began gathering outside Walgreens at 2050 Irving Street. Employees recognized them to be thieves, so they locked the doors and called the police.  The suspects then forced the door open and stole over $1.3k in merchandise. (SFPD case 2404353574)

On August 18, 2024, seven suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and began concealing merchandise.  One of the suspects jumped over the front counter and stole a cash register.  The loss was over $6.5k. (SFPD case 240518223)

On September 9, 2024, nine suspects entered Walgreens at 2690 Mission Street and began concealing merchandise.  While the suspects were escaping with over $1k in merchandise, one of the suspects brandished a firearm at a security guard. (SFPD case 240568369)

On September 29, 2024, at 6:14 p.m., eight suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and stole over $15k in merchandise.  The same group came back with five more accomplices approximately two hours later and stole almost $12k in merchandise. (SFPD case 240612916)

Brandon McClain, an 18-year-old male from Hayward, CA was arrested for four counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), four counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), four counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).

A 15-year-old male from Oakley, Ca was arrested on charges of five counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), five counts of grand theft (487(a)PC) and five counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).

A 14-year-old male from Pittsburg, CA was arrested on charges of two counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), two counts of grand theft (487(a) PC), and two counts of organized retail (490.4(a)(1) PC).

A 12-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with assault likely to produce great bodily injury (245(a)(4) PC), three counts of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), seven counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), seven counts of grand theft (487 (a) PC), ten counts of organized retail theft (490.4 PC) and four counts of petty theft (490.2(a) PC).

A 15-year-old male from San Francisco was arrested on the charges of three counts of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), eight counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), eight counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), eight counts of organized retail theft (490.4 PC) and petty theft (490.2(a)PC).

A 14-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with assault with a deadly weapon (245(a)(1) PC), assault likely to produce great bodily injury (245(a)(4)PC), battery causing serious bodily injury (243(d) PC), robbery in the second degree (211 PC), burglary in the second degree (459 PC), grand theft (487(a)PC), organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC), petty theft (490.2(a)PC) and three counts of great bodily injury in the commission of a felony (12022.7(a)PC).

A 15-year-old male from Oakland, CA was arrested on charges of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), four counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), four counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), four counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).

A 14-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with robbery in the second degree (211 PC), burglary in the second degree (459 PC), grand theft (487(a)PC), organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC) and petty theft (490.2(a)PC).

Brandon McClain and the 15-year-old San Francisco resident were also each arrested on the charge of carjacking (215(a) PC) regarding a carjacking incident that occurred on November 5, 2024, in the area of Geneva and Cayuga Avenues.These arrests were made possible due to the collaboration between investigators, the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit, patrol officers citywide, and Walgreens Asset Protection. While arrests have been made, these are open and active investigations. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

SFPD Cases # 246-134-332, 246-134-360, 246-133-920, 240-639-352, 246-131-645, 240-612-916, 240-613-196, 240-592-960, 240-583-561, 240-568-369, 240-518-223, 240-448-244, 240-444-662, 240-441-997, 240-433-574, 240-433-176, 240-429-363, 240-400-777, 240-326-468, 240-319-968, 246-051-786

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Receives Achievers Award at annual SF Chapter luncheon

By Allen D. Payton

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton was honored on Wednesday, Oct.  30, 2024, by the San Francisco Area Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) with their Achievers Award at their 3rd Annual Achievers Luncheon.

The event was held at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Oakland and had the theme of “Staying the Course, Supporting Justice for the Next Generation.” During his welcoming remarks Chapter President Ja’Son Scott, Deputy Chief of the BART Police Department, said the theme, “emphasizes our collective commitment to fostering a brighter future for our leaders in law enforcement and our communities.”

“Today, we come together not only to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our honorees, but also to reaffirm our dedication to justice and equity for the next generation,” he continued. “Your presence here is a testament to our shared mission and the important role each of us plays in shaping a more just society.”

The luncheon’s Keynote Speaker was Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and author of Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do.

In a Nov. 18th post on her campaign Facebook page Becton wrote, “I am deeply humbled and honored to be recognized by NOBLE, National Association [sic] of Black Law Enforcement, San Francisco Area Chapter, with the esteemed Achievers Award, alongside distinguished honorees Janieth Glenn-Davis, Jonni Redick, Sean Washington, and Margaret Dixon.”

Glenn-Davis is the retired Deputy Chief for the BART Police Department, Redick is the retired Assistant Chief of the California Highway Patrol and Washington is Chief of Police for Fremont. Dixon was honored with the NOBLE Partner Award and is a retired Oakland Police Officer.

In addition, that same day Becton shared, “Law enforcement representatives from the Bay Area participated in a discussion with me, offering expertise on human trafficking activities, trends, and enforcement tactics.”

According to the organization’s website, founded in September 1976, “The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives™, also known as NOBLE®, consists of community leaders united in our mission to promote justice, equity, and excellence in the administration of justice.” Their slogan is “Justice by Action.”

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Voted to release investigative report as member of House Ethics Committee 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-10) made the following statement on former Representative Matt Gaetz’s decision to withdraw from consideration for Attorney General.

“As a member of the Ethics Committee, I cannot comment on the Committee’s investigation into former Representative Matt Gaetz, but his decision to withdraw from consideration for Attorney General is clearly in the best interest of the country.”

Former Florida Congressman Gaetz resigned last week prior to the release of an Ethics Committee report of an investigation into allegations of sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl and possible sex trafficking of her and others. The committee split 5-5 along party lines to release the report.

According to a report by GovEx.com, “The Department of Justice investigated the sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz but ended its investigation last year without bringing criminal charges. Gaetz and his attorneys have consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing and pointed to the Justice Department under Biden administration Attorney General Merrick Garland declining to pursue charges.”

In a post on his X/Twitter feed on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, Gaetz wrote, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.

“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”

If the Gaetz report was released, which House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed as it’s not typically done for private citizens, only sitting Members of Congress, other House Members and members of the public called for the release of all investigations by the Ethics Committee, and details on the secret slush fund payments made to previous accusers and victims of sexual and other complaints.

Former Congressman Gaetz was handily re-elected to his same seat on Nov. 5 by 66% to 34% over his opponent and can return to the House of Representatives on January 6, 2025.

DeSaulnier represents most of Contra Costa County in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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By Marc Joffe

As if the $1 toll hike on January 1, 2025, is not enough, commissioners at the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) plan to approve a series of five fifty cent increases starting in 2026. By 2030, tolls on the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges will reach $10.50 for FasTrak users and $11.50 for drivers paying by invoice. Included in the increase are these four bridges with landings in Contra Costa County:

• Antioch (Senator John A. Nejedly) Bridge
• Benicia-Martinez (George Miller) Bridge
• Carquinez Bridge
• Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Aside from toll hikes, motorists are facing a gasoline price increase arising from the California Air Resources Board’s recent imposition of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. According to a research center at the University of Pennsylvania, LCFS could cost drivers up to 85 cents extra per gallon. And this is on top of California’s highly elevated fuel prices, driven by taxes that rise annually under SB1 (2018).

Despite increasing maintenance costs, the Bay Area bridges are quite profitable. BATA expects total revenue of $1.058 billion this year. The costs of operating the bridges, running FasTrak, and paying debt service are projected to total just $757 million, leaving $300 million to spare.

As BATA admits in its own FAQ on the toll increase, $3.00 of the current $7.00 toll is already being siphoned off for purposes other than bridge operations, maintenance, and seismic safety (this will increase to $4.00 of $8.00 on January 1). For example, almost $6 million is diverted annually to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority to operate its empty bus terminal and to pursue its hopeless plan to bring high-speed rail trains into the Salesforce Transit Center. Bridge toll money is also being used to subsidize Bay Area ferries, SF Muni, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, and the NAPA Vine bus service.

The toll hike on the Antioch Bridge is especially egregious. BATA is charging the same tolls on all its bridges despite their vastly different lengths. The Bay Bridge is 8.4 miles long while the Antioch Bridge is just 1.8 miles long. Also, unlike all other Bay Area bridges, the Antioch Bridge has just one lane in each direction.

And then there is the question of income. While many Bay Area drivers are wealthy enough to easily absorb the toll hike, that is less true of people living near the Antioch Bridge. According to Census Reporter, Antioch’s per capita income is only 56 percent of the average for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metro region. Rio Vista, the first sizable community on the north side of the bridge, clocks in at just 67 percent of the metro area’s income per person.

At minimum, BATA should exempt the Antioch Bridge from its planned toll hikes. But better yet, the Authority should shelve its entire toll increase plan, stop siphoning off toll money for other purposes, and live within its means.

Marc Joffe is President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.

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Until Dec. 18

Authority board considering increasing to as high as $11.50 to pay “exclusively for bridge preservation and operations” in spite of three voter-approved $1 increases

“A Thanksgiving/holiday season decision is a hide the ball strategy. Not good.” – State Senator Steve Glazer

By John Goodwin & Rebecca Long, MTC

November 20, 2024 update: The public comment period on the Bay Area Toll Authority’s proposed toll increase and HOV policy changes is extended through the end of public comment heard on the agenda item for BATA’s December 18, 2024 meeting.  All public written and oral comments provided through that time will be incorporated into the record. However, in order for comments to be summarized and published in the agenda packet and distributed in advance of consideration of this item at the December 11, 2024, BATA Oversight Committee meeting, they must be submitted by 5 p.m. December 3, 2024. 

BATA — which is required by state law to fund projects to preserve and protect the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges — today heard again a proposal for a toll increase that would be used only to pay for the maintenance, rehabilitation and operation of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. If approved by BATA at its December 18 meeting, the toll increase would be phased in over five years, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. 

The toll increase proposal includes a tiered rate structure aimed at encouraging more customers to pay electronically with FasTrak® toll tags, as this form of payment carries lower administrative costs than payment through a license plate account or returning payment with an invoice received by mail. Under the proposal, customers would pay a premium for using a pre-registered license plate account or for invoiced tolling. To give customers ample time to sign up for FasTrak, this premium would not begin until 2027. 

The proposed toll hike is separate from the $3 increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018 through Regional Measure 3 to finance a comprehensive suite of highway and transit improvements around the region. The first of the three $1 Regional Measure 3 toll increases went into effect in 2019, followed by another in 2022. The last of the RM 3 toll hikes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks to $8.

The proposal heard today by BATA calls for tolls for all regular two-axle cars and trucks to increase to $8.50 on Jan. 1, 2026. Tolls for customers who pay with FasTrak tags would then rise to $9 in 2027; to $9.50 in 2028; to $10 in 2029; and then to $10.50 in 2030. Tolls for customers who use a pre-registered license plate account would rise to $9.25 in 2027; to $9.75 in 2028; to $10.25 in 2029 and to $10.75 in 2030. Invoiced tolls would rise to $10 in 2027; $10.50 in 2028; $11 in 2029; and $11.50 in 2030. The Golden Gate Bridge has used a tiered pricing schedule since 2014. Golden Gate Bridge tolls by July 2028 will range from $11.25 for FasTrak to $11.50 for license plate accounts to $12.25 for invoice customers.

Under the proposed toll increase, tolls for large freight trucks and other vehicle/trailer combinations with three or more axles would rise by 50 cents per axle each year from 2026 through 2030. 

“I’m sensitive to the overall cost of living in the Bay Area,” acknowledged Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza, who also serves as chair of both BATA and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). “Working families really feel the impact, not just in transportation but back at home with utilities, groceries, children. This one is hard. But it’s the right thing to do.”

BATA and MTC invite members of the public to weigh in on the proposed toll increase during a comment period that begins Monday, Nov.4, and continues through the end of BATA’s Dec. 18 meeting. Comments may be sent via email to info@bayareametro.gov. As part of its regular November meeting, BATA today held a public hearing in San Francisco to receive testimony about the proposal from Bay Area residents, businesses and other interested parties. 

Today’s presentation by BATA and MTC staff also proposed updates to the policies for high-occupancy vehicles on approaches to the Bay Area’s state-owned toll bridges. These updates would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, concurrent with the proposed toll increase. BATA’s  existing toll schedule allows vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV 3+) a discounted toll, with a two-person (HOV 2) occupancy requirement for half-price tolls at the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. BATA and MTC staff propose to establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for half-price tolls during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. Carpool vehicles at all state-owned bridges must use a dedicated carpool lane and pay their tolls with a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the ‘3’ position to receive the 50 percent discount available weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The proposed carpool policy changes also would allow vehicles with two occupants and a switchable FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the ‘2’ position to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. These two-occupant vehicles would not receive the 50 percent carpool discount but would be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas. Use of the carpool lanes on approaches to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge still would require a minimum of three occupants.

The new carpool policy proposals are designed to improve safety on the toll bridge approaches by minimizing ‘weaving’ between lanes and to increase person-throughput by prioritizing access for buses and carpools. The policy change also would optimize lane configurations as now-obsolete toll booths are removed as part of the coming transition to open-road tolling.  

BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as MTC, administers toll revenues from the Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges. Toll revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, which joined with BATA to operate a single regional FasTrak customer service center in San Francisco. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

In response to a post of the link to this press release on X/Twitter on Wednesday, Nov. 30, State Senator Steve Glazer, who represents most of Contra Costa County, protested the proposed toll hikes writing, “Why was this need not identified and incorporated during the last toll increase in 2018? You don’t buy a boat and a new car when you don’t have the $ to fix the roof! A Thanksgiving/holiday season decision is a hide the ball strategy. Not good.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

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Dear Editor: 

It typically takes over a month for the Contra Costa Superior Court to process filings in limited civil cases. In fact, more like 6 weeks.

This compares badly with other superior courts throughout the state.

In San Diego Superior, for example, I’ve had papers processed within hours. In Marin County Superior Court, I’ve had papers processed within 1 or 2 days.

This is a real problem because justice delayed is justice denied.

This is a ridiculously long time when it only takes a few minutes to do the processing.

Yes, I understand that they have a lot of filings to process…but with a lot of filing don’t they also have a lot of taxpayer funding commensurate with the size of the population of the county?

So why is Contra Costa so much slower than other counties?

Sincerely,

Edward Teyssier, esq.

National City

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Property owners can apply for the credit to rehabilitate and maintain their historical buildings and qualified residences

SACRAMENTO — California State Parks’ Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) announced today it will begin accepting applications for the State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program at 8 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2025. California property owners can apply for the credit to rehabilitate and maintain their historical buildings and qualified residences, retaining Californians’ link to the past while keeping historic buildings and homes relevant in the present and beyond.

The tax credit program provides a 20% credit for qualified rehabilitation expenditures (or 25% credit if the structure meets specified criteria) for rehabilitation of a certified historic structure or a qualified residence, as provided, within the state to be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, in conjunction with OHP. A total of $50 million is available for allocation.

In preparation for this program, OHP is holding two virtual informational sessions on eligibility qualifications, completing the application and documentation requirements, with time allotted for questions and answers. The sessions will be held:

• Tuesday, Nov. 26, noon-1 p.m. (register here)
• Tuesday, Dec. 3, 5-6 p.m. (register here)

Application instructions, forms, frequently asked questions and program regulations can be found on the OHP’s State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit site. Potential applicants are recommended to read the program information in advance of the informational sessions. For information about the tax credit program, please contact Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Jody L. Brown at Jody.L.Brown@parks.ca.gov.

The OHP administers federal and state mandated historic preservation programs to further the identification, evaluation, registration and protection of California’s irreplaceable resources, and promotes the care, maintenance, relevance and reuse of California’s historic properties.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.

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