Israel Ayala-Lopez; Photo by Richmond PD.
By Scott Alonzo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
Earlier this week, Israel Ayala-Lopez (27-years-old) of Richmond pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, Jane Doe, and he will serve three years in state prison. Ayala-Lopez will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Ayala-Lopez at the time of his arrest in the late summer of 2019, was a physical education teacher and soccer coach at Richmond High School. He received his teaching credential from the state of California in 2017.
Ayala-Lopez had sexual relations with the victim multiple times from at least April 2019 until August 2019. He was arrested by the Richmond Police Department and has been in custody since our Office filed criminal charges against him. Ayala-Lopez was also a collegiate athlete at San Jose State University and California State University Monterey Bay for their respective soccer teams.
To protect their confidentiality, our Office does not release the name or age of the victim, or their relationship to a defendant for this type of case. A criminal protective order was also ordered by the judge to prevent the defendant from communicating with the victim.
The case was investigated by the Richmond Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Kate Jewett prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Jewett is assigned to our Sexual Assault Unit.
Case information: People v. Israel Ayala-Lopez, Docket Number 02-330632-1.
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The car driven by the mail theft suspects and recovered stolen mail. Photos by APD.
By Antioch Police Department
Late last night, an alert resident contacted our Dispatch Center to report suspicious individuals in a blue BMW going through mailboxes in the Mira Vista Hills Neighborhood (Robles Drive at Silverado Drive). Officers not content in seeing our residents be victimized saturated the area and found a matching vehicle stopped in front of a mailbox on Candlestick Drive. As the officer was checking the license plate, the driver (who apparently had a guilty conscious) sped-off and led us on a chase to Pittsburg. Luckily there was hardly anyone out, and this guy wasn’t the best driver, because his mad dash was halted as his tires bounced off a curb on the Loveridge off-ramp (nice work curb!).
Instead of calling it quits, both the driver and passenger tried to see if officers were keeping up on their exercise routine and led us on a sprinting activity for a few hundred yards. Fortunately, our officers had not been skipping the gym that week and were able to take both the driver and passenger into custody without any further malfeasance. Inside the car, officers found stolen mail (including tax refunds!), from numerous victims throughout Contra Costa County, including our own Antioch.
The driver, a 32-year-old Hercules resident, was sent back to jail for a variety of charges, including violating his probation from leading officers on two previous high-speed chases. The passenger, a 34-year-old Hercules resident, joined the driver in jail for similar charges including violating her probation for identity theft.
We love when our residents see something suspicious and call us to investigate. Mail theft is a huge problem throughout our region and leads to other crimes like identity theft, fraud, and forgery. Installing a locking mailbox is a good preventative measure, but we also wanted to inform our fine residents of a FREE service offered by the Postal Service called “Informed Delivery.” Each day, the Post Office will email previews of the letters and packages scheduled to arrive at your house. Interested residents can follow this link to sign up for this service:
https://informeddelivery.usps.com/…/pages/intro/start.action
As always, if you see something – say something! If you witness a crime in-progress, give our Dispatch Center a call on 9-1-1 or at (925) 778-2441 if you don’t think it’s an emergency. We love catching the bad guys and gals but can’t always do it without your help!
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Supervisor Diane Burgis and supporters look at the results online during her Election Night party in Brentwood, Tuesday night.
“It’s not over.” 50,000 ballots left to be counted in the county. Next results update not until this Friday by 5 p.m.
Supervisor Federal Glover (in red shirt) checks the election results on his laptop surrounded by family and supporters as they celebrate his first place finish at his home in Pittsburg, Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of the Glover campaign.
By Allen Payton
According to the unofficial election results on the Contra Costa Elections website from Tuesday night at 11:58 pm, Supervisor Diane Burgis is sailing smoothly into a second term, having garnered 66.49% of the vote against her opponent, Sanitary District Board Member Paul Seger who has 33.51% of the vote.
In a Facebook post Tuesday night, Burgis wrote, “Looking Good! The numbers will be coming in for the next couple days with all of the mail in ballots. Thank you to all those that helped make this happen. The walking & calling, the letters to the editor, Facebook posts & helping hang up signs. You all kept it positive & professional. I am blessed to have such a terrific support system! It is an incredible privilege to do this work & I look forward to another 4 1/2 years!”
Then on Wednesday afternoon, Burgis said, “I want to thank everyone for voting. It is a privilege to serve you, and I will continue to work hard every day to maintain your trust. I look forward to doing more good work for Contra Costa County.”
Supervisor Candace Andersen faced no opponent in her race for reelection in District 2, representing Lamorinda and most of the San Ramon Valley. In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Andersen wrote, “I never take any election, even when running unopposed, for granted. Thank you to the 34,750+ (votes are still being counted) people who voted for me! I love my job and look forward to another 4 years. And congratulations to my colleague Diane Burgis who also won her election!”
Supervisor Federal Glover, running for a sixth term on the board to represent, is in a strong first place with 48.96% of the vote, just 1.05% shy of winning the election outright. He’s followed by County Assessor Gus Kramer with 27.24% who is closely trailed by Martinez Planning Commissioner Sean Trambley with 23.8% of the vote.
If Glover isn’t able to obtain 50% plus one vote, he will face one of his opponents in a run-off election in November.
The results only include votes by mail up until Monday and the votes at the polls on Tuesday, according to County Elections staff. They will know after 3:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, how many ballots are left to be counted in the county.
Glover was available for comment, Wednesday morning.
Kramer believes he’ll end up being Glover’s opponent in the General Election.
“It’s quite frankly too close for comfort,” he said. “Most likely, odds are I will be his opponent. I have some people who are telling me they’re surprised I did as well as I did with all the bad press from the Times. I have others who have said they’re not surprised.”
“It’s better to have tried and failed than to have failed to try,” he continued. “That’s my attitude about this race.”
“They have 50,000 ballots left to count, countywide, which means there’s about 10,000 ballots in this race, alone,” Kramer added. “It’s not over.”
Glover’s other challenger, Trambley, who has never held public office before and was running for office for the first time, was not available for comment Wednesday morning.
The next update to the results will not be provided until this Friday, March 6 by 5:00 p.m. The Elections Division has 28 days to certify the election.
Please check back later for updates to this report.
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Screenshot from KNTV NBC Bay Area of Dr. Ori Tzvieli, County Public Health Medical Director speaking during press conference on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
By Allen Payton
Tuesday night, Contra Costa public health officials announced the first positive case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, involving a county resident. The individual is in critical condition and is in medical isolation and completely separated from the general public, according to Contra Costa County Public Health Director Dan Peddycord.
The person tested positive Tuesday afternoon but “had no known travel history and no known contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.” He is an adult man over 18 years old who has underlying health conditions. The patient was admitted to a local hospital on Sunday, March 1 suffering from a respiratory illness.
The county’s public health lab conducted the test, which is expected to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the coming days. The patient, who is being treated at a hospital in the county, had no known travel history and no known contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
CCHS is conducting a thorough investigation to identify anyone who may have had close contact with the patient.
“Contra Costa Health Services is conducting a thorough investigation to identify anyone who may have had contact with the patient before they were isolated,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, County Public Health Medical Director. “This case suggests that coronavirus or COVID-19 may be circulating in Contra Costa County.”
The officials further said it’s time to prepare an to be smart about the virus. Schools and businesses should prepare plans and encourage employees and students to stay home if they are sick. Use hand sanitizer, wash your hands for 20 seconds and often. Do not touch your face and use household cleaners to wipe down surfaces. You should also try to keep distance from people who appear to have a cold or the flu. Avoid shaking hands and try to maintain distance.
Officials would not say in which hospital the latest patient is located.
Asked why the public isn’t being informed what hospital the patient is in, like other counties and states are doing, so they can decide whether they want to go to that hospital or another, Will Harper, Acting Communications Director for Contra Costa Public Health responded, “That concern is understandable but that has to be balanced with the patient’s right to privacy. Our department decided it’s best for the patient’s right to privacy not to share the hospital in which they’re located.”
“The public is being protected when a patient is in the hospital in isolation and separated from other patients and the public,” he added.
CCHS issued a letter on Monday from Contra Costa County Health Services Director Anna Roth and Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano stating, “we expect to see more cases, here in Contra Costa County” and “Now is the time for individuals and families, neighborhoods, community organizations, businesses, schools and all sectors to take steps to be prepared.” They provide a list of “ideas to help get prepared and prevent the spread of the disease now” which can be read, here: COVID19-CCHS Letter-03022020
In addition, Roth and Peddycord issued a Health Alert Update on Friday, Feb. 28 providing direction to healthcare providers in the county. Health-Alert-Coronavirus-CCHS-022820
More Details from Contra Costa Health Services
The novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of pneumonia illness. The outbreak began in December, 2019 in Hubei Province, China, but outbreaks are now occurring in other countries around the world. There have been a number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus reported in California.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and public health agencies across the U.S. are monitoring this new disease. Contra Costa Health Services is working closely with its partners and other health systems to track the situation locally.
Most U.S. cases involve international travelers or close contact with someone who has the virus, known as COVID-19. But COVID-19 may now be circulating in Northern California communities including the Bay Area, according to the CDC and CDPH.
Hospitals in the county, including Contra Costa Regional Medical Center & Health Centers, are screening patients with symptoms for potential exposure to COVID-19. Contra Costa Health Services has sent information about coronavirus to local medical providers, emergency medical services providers, and schools.
As this is an unusual situation, information could change rapidly.
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The first report will be released at 8:00 pm on election night, March 3, and posted to the Elections website www.cocovote.us immediately afterward. The initial posted results will be Vote by Mail ballots that are returned through Monday March 2.
The second report, with results from the polls, will be issued at 9:30 pm with subsequent updates approximately every half hour until all precincts have reported. The final election night report is expected to be issued by 1:00 am.
The first interim report will be posted by 5:00 pm on Friday March 6 and will contain results from Vote by Mail ballots received on and after Election Day. Additional results will be posted each Friday afternoon up to certification which is expected to be March 31.
The availability of updated reports will be communicated via Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtag #cocovote. Changes to the reporting schedule, if any, will also be communicated on these social media sites.
The Contra Costa Elections Division social media pages are:
https://www.Twitter.com/CoCoElections
https://www.facebook.com/EngageContraCosta/
https://www.facebook.com/ContraCostaElections/
Local election results will also be available throughout election night on Contra Costa Television (CCTV) beginning at 9:00 pm on Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99.
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By CHP – Contra Costa
Saturday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2020 at about 12:40pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision that came off of eastbound I-80 to the Hwy-4 split. (Into the dirt area just east of I-80 and south of Hwy-4) Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the solo male driver (44 year-old-male from Fremont) was unconscious. CPR and lifesaving procedures were attempted on the driver and he was quickly transported to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek. Unfortunately, he did not survive and died from his injuries. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the male driver.
It remains unclear at this point in our initial investigation as to why the man veered off the roadway but he was driving his 2000 Dodge Dakota truck on I-80 eastbound and approaching the Hwy-4 split and for an unknown reason he veered to the right across all lanes of traffic and off the roadway into the dirt field area, where the truck came to rest. The male driver was unresponsive upon CHP and emergency personal arrival. He died a short time later from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.
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Photo by CCC from presentation.
By Daniel Borsuk
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors took a big step in igniting the development of renewable energy with the 5-0 adoption of a Solar Energy Ordinance that could help decrease dependence on fossil fuel energy generation and spur the development of Solar Energy Facilities especially in the rural environs of Bethel Island, Byron, Discovery Bay and Jersey Island. BOS 02-25-20 Solar Update – Presentation
Without either hearing comments from the public or asking questions publicly about the ordinance, supervisors also set the stage to insert several fee setting alterations to the county’s Potentially Dangerous Animal and Dangerous Animal Ordinance that will be up for official consideration at a March 10 meeting.
Noticeably absent or unwilling to speak at Tuesday’s meeting were representatives from either the traditional energy or alternative energy sectors or representatives from the environmental and consumer groups.
The Solar Energy Ordinance mirrors ordinances that other agriculturally oriented counties like Butte County, Kern County and San Joaquin County have in place, said Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development Director John Kopchik.
The county’s study to join the state’s solar energy crusade was partially supported through a 2018 $49,000 California Strategic Growth Council grant that found solar energy development in Contra Costa County agricultural land could potentially produce as much as 1,530,000 megawatts of energy a year.
While Board Vice Chair Diane Burgis did join colleagues in approving the Solar Energy Ordinance, the supervisor from Brentwood, who is up for reelection in March, remarked “This ordinance scares me. There are huge areas of agricultural land that could be covered with solar panels.”
Conservation and Development Department Planner Joseph Lawlor Jr. told Burgis the ordinance’s restrictions would limit environmental impairments to rural land developed for solar energy purposes.
Promotes Commercial Solar Energy Development
The Solar Energy Ordinance also paves the way for the expansion of commercial solar energy facilities on rooftops and parking lots in unincorporated areas that could yearly produce 280,000 Mgw to 840,000 Mgw of energy.
The new law also could potentially permit the solar energy production of 2,240,000 to 4,100,000 Mgw of annual energy from rooftops, according to the California Strategic Growth Council study.
The Solar Energy Facilities Ordinance requires land use permit approval for new or expanded commercial solar energy facilities, but allows several land use permit exceptions if the proposed “facility is installed on the roof of an existing building or on a parking canopy at an existing parking lot.”
The solar energy ordinance permits a commercial solar energy facility if it is located in a general commercial, light industrial, or heavy industrial district or in a planned unit (P-1) district with an underlying getoneral plan land use designation of commercial or industrial.
The ordinance requires a 25-foot height limit for ground-mounted commercial solar energy facilities. A roof-mounted commercial solar energy facility cannot exceed four feet above the roof surface.
The ordinance also sets requirements for visibility, illumination, septic system avoidance, habitat avoidance and site restoration.
Major Changes in Store for Dangerous Animal Ordinance
Supervisors also set the stage to put more financial bite into an enhanced Dangerous Animals (DA) and Potentially Dangerous Animals (PDA) Ordinance, at the Supervisors’ March 14 meeting.
A public hearing will be conduct and final adoption of the updated Animal Ordinance are slated at the March meeting.
“The goal in the revision of this ordinance was to streamline the process in the betterment of efficiency and consideration of the dog and dog owner,” Jane De May Andreotti, Captain and Deputy Director of Contra Costa County Animal Services Department, told the Contra Costa Herald.
“We want to reduce the amount of time we hold dogs who are investigated as meeting the criteria as PDA/DA,” said Andreotti. “By placing the decision for permitting an animal on the front end of the investigation, and making an appeal process available for animal owners, it actually allows them to get their animals back home sooner, while still requiring the owner’s commitment and compliance on the management of the animal.”
The proposed ordinance inserts a new “Obligations of Animal Owner” section that states: “An owner or possessor of a dog shall at all times prevent the dog from (1) biting or physically harassing a person engaged in a lawful act, and (2) interfering with the lawful use of public or private property.”
The section also states, “An owner or possessor of a dog shall at all times prevent the dog from causing injury to another domestic animal while the domestic animal is lawfully upon public or private property.”
The county also proposes a new fee schedule for PDA and DA permits.
Proposed PDA fees include a $200 application fee, a $300 annual renewal permit fee, a $200 delinquent fee, and a $100 penalty fee.
Proposed fees for Dangerous Animal Ordinance Permits include $100 for application fee, $600 for annual renewal permit fee, $200 for late renewal delinquent fee and $100 penalty fee if the animal permit actually expires prior to paying annual permit fee.
The county proposal includes a $100 revised hearing fee.
If an owner of a licensed DA or PDA licensed animal refuses to yield to permit conditions, the county can issue administrative fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, $500 for the third offense or “they can be cited for infraction.”
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The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking an individual with sound knowledge and experience in the field of public and private finance to serve on the Treasury Oversight Committee (Committee) in the Public Representative Seat #3. To be considered, candidates must be County residents, may not be employed by an entity that has contributed to the reelection campaign of the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors in the previous three years, may not directly or indirectly raise money for the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors while a member of the Committee, and may not work for bond underwriters, bond counsel, security brokerages or dealers, or financial services firms with whom the County Treasurer does business, either during his or her tenure on the committee or for one year after leaving the Committee. (Government Code §27132.3).
The Committee meets at 3:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month following each quarter at 625 Court Street, Room B001, Martinez, CA 94553. Each meeting lasts approximately one hour. The Committee’s duties include reviewing and monitoring the County Treasurer’s annual investment policy, and ensuring an annual audit is conducted to determine the County Treasurer is in compliance with Government Code §§27130-27137. The annual audits, meeting agendas and minutes of the Committee are available online. Members of the Committee receive no compensation for their service. The Board of Supervisors will appoint the selected individual to complete the four-year term on May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2024.
Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 335-1900 or by clicking on the following link: Application Form. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Room 106, County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553 no later than Friday, March 27, 2020 by 5 p.m. More information about the Treasury Oversight Committee can be obtained by calling Russell Watts at (925) 957-2888 or visiting the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Treasury Oversight Committee webpage.
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Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County.
County Board of Supervisors Appointee #1
The County is seeking individuals interested in serving on Contra Costa County’s Airport Land Use Commission (“ALUC”). The Commission’s role and responsibilities are as follows:
- Formulate land use policies that restrict the development of lands to assure compatibility with planned operations of public use airports;
- Review the general plans of local agencies for consistency with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan; and
- Review proposed modification to the airport master plans for consistency with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.
Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County.
Commission members are expected to attend at least one meeting per month. Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Department of Conservation and Development Zoning Administrator Room at 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553. At times there may be additional background studies, occasional field trips and extra meetings. Members shall serve without compensation, and during the term of office, each member shall reside or work in Contra Costa County.
There are seven members on the ALUC. There is currently one vacancy for a commissioner appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Appointed members are required to comply with the Fair Political Practices Commission reporting requirements under State law. The term of office for each member is four years, and or until the appointment of a successor.
Applications can be obtained at the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors website www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418, or by calling them at (925) 335-1900. They should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, in Room 106 of the County Administration Building at 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553, or emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 27, 2020.
For further information, please call Jamar Stamps, ALUC staff, with the Department of Conservation & Development, Transportation Planning Division, at (925) 674-7832.
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One possible additional case of a county hospital staff member
By Allen Payton
Many residents of Antioch and East County have had questions about the coronavirus. The Herald asked Will Harper, Acting Communications Director for Contra Costa Health Services to provide answers to of them.
First, it’s been said that one of the nurses at the county hospital has contracted the virus and there are now four cases in the county.
“I’m only aware of three cases that were in the county, two of which have been transferred out of our jurisdiction, Contra Costa County,” Harper responded. “Now we only have one at a hospital in the county. I am not aware of any cases that originated in Contra Costa.”
Asked if that patient was at Kaiser Deer Valley, he replied “I wouldn’t identify the hospital where the remaining patient is located.”
“We have had no healthcare workers including nurses that have tested positive for coronavirus,” said Dr. Samir Shah, Chief Medical Officer of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. “The individual (county hospital staff member) we’re referring to developed upper respiratory symptoms within 24 hours of working with a potential patient with coronavirus. We’ve asked the individual to stay home in self-quarantine for the next 14 days. We are following the CDC guidelines. The tests were sent out earlier this week and our history with the CDC is that we’re getting back results within five to eight days.”
“They’re expanding their abilities to do testing, locally,” he explained. “So, in the near future we’re hoping to have access to testing closer to home for quicker turnaround. There will be an increase in the number of tests being requested from local hospitals.”
“Currently the CDC is determining which tests they will allow to happen based on their protocols and guidelines,” Dr. Shah said. “We can request the test, but they decide whether they’re going to run the test or not. We do this in conjunction with public health and the County Health Officer, Dr. Chris Farmitano.”
Asked why U.C. Davis Medical Center officials issued an announcement about the patient at their hospital and the public in Contra Costa County isn’t being informed which hospitals the patients are located, Harper said the health public information officers in the Bay Area all agreed it would be best for patient confidentiality to not provide that information.
“U.C. Davis executive leadership sent out very detailed information about the patient with coronavirus and hospital staff. It took local hospitals by surprise because we’ve been following strict communication guidelines avoiding individual patient disclosure details,” said Dr. Shah. “Public health controls what information can be offered up.”
Coronavirus. Image by CDC
“From a public reporting standpoint, it’s typically our policy to conform to patient privacy and not disclose patient care information to the public,” he stated. “However, given the level of interest and anxiety in the community, we are reconsidering how we are able to disclose information in a confidential manner that both meets the privacy requirements for the individual while still informing the public. Talking to you, today is part of that change.”
Finally, residents said they had heard there are U.S. Marshals at the county hospital to prevent staff from speaking about the patients with coronavirus there and that the hospital has been fined $250,000 because it had happened, previously.
Since it’s a federal matter, Harper suggested contacting Scott Pauley, the Public Information Officer for the Centers for Disease Control.
When reached for comment, Pauley replied, “No. That has nothing to do with the Marshals’ presence there. They are there to enforce the federal quarantine.”
“When a patient is in federal quarantine process, the Marshals enforce that isolation order to monitor the patient to make sure they don’t leave the hospital,” he said. “This is all part of the federal quarantine orders issued when they returned to the United States.”
“These individuals came from the Diamond Princess cruise ship,” Pauley added.
“I believe we had one U.S. Marshal around the clock, when the patient was here,” Dr. Shah shared.
The Good News
“The good news is that the individual that was brought here from Travis did well, was sent home and no longer requires any more hospital intervention,” he stated.
“While, this is a new virus and we’re still learning more every day, the international experience is that 80% of people who develop symptoms of this don’t require any hospitalization,” Dr. Shah added.
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Israel Ayala-Lopez; Photo by Richmond PD.
By Scott Alonzo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
Earlier this week, Israel Ayala-Lopez (27-years-old) of Richmond pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, Jane Doe, and he will serve three years in state prison. Ayala-Lopez will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Ayala-Lopez at the time of his arrest in the late summer of 2019, was a physical education teacher and soccer coach at Richmond High School. He received his teaching credential from the state of California in 2017.
Ayala-Lopez had sexual relations with the victim multiple times from at least April 2019 until August 2019. He was arrested by the Richmond Police Department and has been in custody since our Office filed criminal charges against him. Ayala-Lopez was also a collegiate athlete at San Jose State University and California State University Monterey Bay for their respective soccer teams.
To protect their confidentiality, our Office does not release the name or age of the victim, or their relationship to a defendant for this type of case. A criminal protective order was also ordered by the judge to prevent the defendant from communicating with the victim.
The case was investigated by the Richmond Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Kate Jewett prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Jewett is assigned to our Sexual Assault Unit.
Case information: People v. Israel Ayala-Lopez, Docket Number 02-330632-1.
Read MoreThe car driven by the mail theft suspects and recovered stolen mail. Photos by APD.
By Antioch Police Department
Late last night, an alert resident contacted our Dispatch Center to report suspicious individuals in a blue BMW going through mailboxes in the Mira Vista Hills Neighborhood (Robles Drive at Silverado Drive). Officers not content in seeing our residents be victimized saturated the area and found a matching vehicle stopped in front of a mailbox on Candlestick Drive. As the officer was checking the license plate, the driver (who apparently had a guilty conscious) sped-off and led us on a chase to Pittsburg. Luckily there was hardly anyone out, and this guy wasn’t the best driver, because his mad dash was halted as his tires bounced off a curb on the Loveridge off-ramp (nice work curb!).
Instead of calling it quits, both the driver and passenger tried to see if officers were keeping up on their exercise routine and led us on a sprinting activity for a few hundred yards. Fortunately, our officers had not been skipping the gym that week and were able to take both the driver and passenger into custody without any further malfeasance. Inside the car, officers found stolen mail (including tax refunds!), from numerous victims throughout Contra Costa County, including our own Antioch.
The driver, a 32-year-old Hercules resident, was sent back to jail for a variety of charges, including violating his probation from leading officers on two previous high-speed chases. The passenger, a 34-year-old Hercules resident, joined the driver in jail for similar charges including violating her probation for identity theft.
We love when our residents see something suspicious and call us to investigate. Mail theft is a huge problem throughout our region and leads to other crimes like identity theft, fraud, and forgery. Installing a locking mailbox is a good preventative measure, but we also wanted to inform our fine residents of a FREE service offered by the Postal Service called “Informed Delivery.” Each day, the Post Office will email previews of the letters and packages scheduled to arrive at your house. Interested residents can follow this link to sign up for this service:
https://informeddelivery.usps.com/…/pages/intro/start.action
As always, if you see something – say something! If you witness a crime in-progress, give our Dispatch Center a call on 9-1-1 or at (925) 778-2441 if you don’t think it’s an emergency. We love catching the bad guys and gals but can’t always do it without your help!
Read MoreSupervisor Diane Burgis and supporters look at the results online during her Election Night party in Brentwood, Tuesday night.
“It’s not over.” 50,000 ballots left to be counted in the county. Next results update not until this Friday by 5 p.m.
Supervisor Federal Glover (in red shirt) checks the election results on his laptop surrounded by family and supporters as they celebrate his first place finish at his home in Pittsburg, Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of the Glover campaign.
By Allen Payton
According to the unofficial election results on the Contra Costa Elections website from Tuesday night at 11:58 pm, Supervisor Diane Burgis is sailing smoothly into a second term, having garnered 66.49% of the vote against her opponent, Sanitary District Board Member Paul Seger who has 33.51% of the vote.
In a Facebook post Tuesday night, Burgis wrote, “Looking Good! The numbers will be coming in for the next couple days with all of the mail in ballots. Thank you to all those that helped make this happen. The walking & calling, the letters to the editor, Facebook posts & helping hang up signs. You all kept it positive & professional. I am blessed to have such a terrific support system! It is an incredible privilege to do this work & I look forward to another 4 1/2 years!”
Then on Wednesday afternoon, Burgis said, “I want to thank everyone for voting. It is a privilege to serve you, and I will continue to work hard every day to maintain your trust. I look forward to doing more good work for Contra Costa County.”
Supervisor Candace Andersen faced no opponent in her race for reelection in District 2, representing Lamorinda and most of the San Ramon Valley. In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Andersen wrote, “I never take any election, even when running unopposed, for granted. Thank you to the 34,750+ (votes are still being counted) people who voted for me! I love my job and look forward to another 4 years. And congratulations to my colleague Diane Burgis who also won her election!”
Supervisor Federal Glover, running for a sixth term on the board to represent, is in a strong first place with 48.96% of the vote, just 1.05% shy of winning the election outright. He’s followed by County Assessor Gus Kramer with 27.24% who is closely trailed by Martinez Planning Commissioner Sean Trambley with 23.8% of the vote.
If Glover isn’t able to obtain 50% plus one vote, he will face one of his opponents in a run-off election in November.
The results only include votes by mail up until Monday and the votes at the polls on Tuesday, according to County Elections staff. They will know after 3:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, how many ballots are left to be counted in the county.
Glover was available for comment, Wednesday morning.
Kramer believes he’ll end up being Glover’s opponent in the General Election.
“It’s quite frankly too close for comfort,” he said. “Most likely, odds are I will be his opponent. I have some people who are telling me they’re surprised I did as well as I did with all the bad press from the Times. I have others who have said they’re not surprised.”
“It’s better to have tried and failed than to have failed to try,” he continued. “That’s my attitude about this race.”
“They have 50,000 ballots left to count, countywide, which means there’s about 10,000 ballots in this race, alone,” Kramer added. “It’s not over.”
Glover’s other challenger, Trambley, who has never held public office before and was running for office for the first time, was not available for comment Wednesday morning.
The next update to the results will not be provided until this Friday, March 6 by 5:00 p.m. The Elections Division has 28 days to certify the election.
Please check back later for updates to this report.
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Screenshot from KNTV NBC Bay Area of Dr. Ori Tzvieli, County Public Health Medical Director speaking during press conference on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
By Allen Payton
Tuesday night, Contra Costa public health officials announced the first positive case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, involving a county resident. The individual is in critical condition and is in medical isolation and completely separated from the general public, according to Contra Costa County Public Health Director Dan Peddycord.
The person tested positive Tuesday afternoon but “had no known travel history and no known contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.” He is an adult man over 18 years old who has underlying health conditions. The patient was admitted to a local hospital on Sunday, March 1 suffering from a respiratory illness.
The county’s public health lab conducted the test, which is expected to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the coming days. The patient, who is being treated at a hospital in the county, had no known travel history and no known contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
CCHS is conducting a thorough investigation to identify anyone who may have had close contact with the patient.
“Contra Costa Health Services is conducting a thorough investigation to identify anyone who may have had contact with the patient before they were isolated,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, County Public Health Medical Director. “This case suggests that coronavirus or COVID-19 may be circulating in Contra Costa County.”
The officials further said it’s time to prepare an to be smart about the virus. Schools and businesses should prepare plans and encourage employees and students to stay home if they are sick. Use hand sanitizer, wash your hands for 20 seconds and often. Do not touch your face and use household cleaners to wipe down surfaces. You should also try to keep distance from people who appear to have a cold or the flu. Avoid shaking hands and try to maintain distance.
Officials would not say in which hospital the latest patient is located.
Asked why the public isn’t being informed what hospital the patient is in, like other counties and states are doing, so they can decide whether they want to go to that hospital or another, Will Harper, Acting Communications Director for Contra Costa Public Health responded, “That concern is understandable but that has to be balanced with the patient’s right to privacy. Our department decided it’s best for the patient’s right to privacy not to share the hospital in which they’re located.”
“The public is being protected when a patient is in the hospital in isolation and separated from other patients and the public,” he added.
CCHS issued a letter on Monday from Contra Costa County Health Services Director Anna Roth and Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano stating, “we expect to see more cases, here in Contra Costa County” and “Now is the time for individuals and families, neighborhoods, community organizations, businesses, schools and all sectors to take steps to be prepared.” They provide a list of “ideas to help get prepared and prevent the spread of the disease now” which can be read, here: COVID19-CCHS Letter-03022020
In addition, Roth and Peddycord issued a Health Alert Update on Friday, Feb. 28 providing direction to healthcare providers in the county. Health-Alert-Coronavirus-CCHS-022820
More Details from Contra Costa Health Services
The novel coronavirus is causing an outbreak of pneumonia illness. The outbreak began in December, 2019 in Hubei Province, China, but outbreaks are now occurring in other countries around the world. There have been a number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus reported in California.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and public health agencies across the U.S. are monitoring this new disease. Contra Costa Health Services is working closely with its partners and other health systems to track the situation locally.
Most U.S. cases involve international travelers or close contact with someone who has the virus, known as COVID-19. But COVID-19 may now be circulating in Northern California communities including the Bay Area, according to the CDC and CDPH.
Hospitals in the county, including Contra Costa Regional Medical Center & Health Centers, are screening patients with symptoms for potential exposure to COVID-19. Contra Costa Health Services has sent information about coronavirus to local medical providers, emergency medical services providers, and schools.
As this is an unusual situation, information could change rapidly.
Read MoreThe first report will be released at 8:00 pm on election night, March 3, and posted to the Elections website www.cocovote.us immediately afterward. The initial posted results will be Vote by Mail ballots that are returned through Monday March 2.
The second report, with results from the polls, will be issued at 9:30 pm with subsequent updates approximately every half hour until all precincts have reported. The final election night report is expected to be issued by 1:00 am.
The first interim report will be posted by 5:00 pm on Friday March 6 and will contain results from Vote by Mail ballots received on and after Election Day. Additional results will be posted each Friday afternoon up to certification which is expected to be March 31.
The availability of updated reports will be communicated via Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtag #cocovote. Changes to the reporting schedule, if any, will also be communicated on these social media sites.
The Contra Costa Elections Division social media pages are:
https://www.Twitter.com/CoCoElections
https://www.facebook.com/EngageContraCosta/
https://www.facebook.com/ContraCostaElections/
Local election results will also be available throughout election night on Contra Costa Television (CCTV) beginning at 9:00 pm on Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99.
Read MoreBy CHP – Contra Costa
Saturday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2020 at about 12:40pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision that came off of eastbound I-80 to the Hwy-4 split. (Into the dirt area just east of I-80 and south of Hwy-4) Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the solo male driver (44 year-old-male from Fremont) was unconscious. CPR and lifesaving procedures were attempted on the driver and he was quickly transported to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek. Unfortunately, he did not survive and died from his injuries. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the male driver.
It remains unclear at this point in our initial investigation as to why the man veered off the roadway but he was driving his 2000 Dodge Dakota truck on I-80 eastbound and approaching the Hwy-4 split and for an unknown reason he veered to the right across all lanes of traffic and off the roadway into the dirt field area, where the truck came to rest. The male driver was unresponsive upon CHP and emergency personal arrival. He died a short time later from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.
Read MorePhoto by CCC from presentation.
By Daniel Borsuk
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors took a big step in igniting the development of renewable energy with the 5-0 adoption of a Solar Energy Ordinance that could help decrease dependence on fossil fuel energy generation and spur the development of Solar Energy Facilities especially in the rural environs of Bethel Island, Byron, Discovery Bay and Jersey Island. BOS 02-25-20 Solar Update – Presentation
Without either hearing comments from the public or asking questions publicly about the ordinance, supervisors also set the stage to insert several fee setting alterations to the county’s Potentially Dangerous Animal and Dangerous Animal Ordinance that will be up for official consideration at a March 10 meeting.
Noticeably absent or unwilling to speak at Tuesday’s meeting were representatives from either the traditional energy or alternative energy sectors or representatives from the environmental and consumer groups.
The Solar Energy Ordinance mirrors ordinances that other agriculturally oriented counties like Butte County, Kern County and San Joaquin County have in place, said Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development Director John Kopchik.
The county’s study to join the state’s solar energy crusade was partially supported through a 2018 $49,000 California Strategic Growth Council grant that found solar energy development in Contra Costa County agricultural land could potentially produce as much as 1,530,000 megawatts of energy a year.
While Board Vice Chair Diane Burgis did join colleagues in approving the Solar Energy Ordinance, the supervisor from Brentwood, who is up for reelection in March, remarked “This ordinance scares me. There are huge areas of agricultural land that could be covered with solar panels.”
Conservation and Development Department Planner Joseph Lawlor Jr. told Burgis the ordinance’s restrictions would limit environmental impairments to rural land developed for solar energy purposes.
Promotes Commercial Solar Energy Development
The Solar Energy Ordinance also paves the way for the expansion of commercial solar energy facilities on rooftops and parking lots in unincorporated areas that could yearly produce 280,000 Mgw to 840,000 Mgw of energy.
The new law also could potentially permit the solar energy production of 2,240,000 to 4,100,000 Mgw of annual energy from rooftops, according to the California Strategic Growth Council study.
The Solar Energy Facilities Ordinance requires land use permit approval for new or expanded commercial solar energy facilities, but allows several land use permit exceptions if the proposed “facility is installed on the roof of an existing building or on a parking canopy at an existing parking lot.”
The solar energy ordinance permits a commercial solar energy facility if it is located in a general commercial, light industrial, or heavy industrial district or in a planned unit (P-1) district with an underlying getoneral plan land use designation of commercial or industrial.
The ordinance requires a 25-foot height limit for ground-mounted commercial solar energy facilities. A roof-mounted commercial solar energy facility cannot exceed four feet above the roof surface.
The ordinance also sets requirements for visibility, illumination, septic system avoidance, habitat avoidance and site restoration.
Major Changes in Store for Dangerous Animal Ordinance
Supervisors also set the stage to put more financial bite into an enhanced Dangerous Animals (DA) and Potentially Dangerous Animals (PDA) Ordinance, at the Supervisors’ March 14 meeting.
A public hearing will be conduct and final adoption of the updated Animal Ordinance are slated at the March meeting.
“The goal in the revision of this ordinance was to streamline the process in the betterment of efficiency and consideration of the dog and dog owner,” Jane De May Andreotti, Captain and Deputy Director of Contra Costa County Animal Services Department, told the Contra Costa Herald.
“We want to reduce the amount of time we hold dogs who are investigated as meeting the criteria as PDA/DA,” said Andreotti. “By placing the decision for permitting an animal on the front end of the investigation, and making an appeal process available for animal owners, it actually allows them to get their animals back home sooner, while still requiring the owner’s commitment and compliance on the management of the animal.”
The proposed ordinance inserts a new “Obligations of Animal Owner” section that states: “An owner or possessor of a dog shall at all times prevent the dog from (1) biting or physically harassing a person engaged in a lawful act, and (2) interfering with the lawful use of public or private property.”
The section also states, “An owner or possessor of a dog shall at all times prevent the dog from causing injury to another domestic animal while the domestic animal is lawfully upon public or private property.”
The county also proposes a new fee schedule for PDA and DA permits.
Proposed PDA fees include a $200 application fee, a $300 annual renewal permit fee, a $200 delinquent fee, and a $100 penalty fee.
Proposed fees for Dangerous Animal Ordinance Permits include $100 for application fee, $600 for annual renewal permit fee, $200 for late renewal delinquent fee and $100 penalty fee if the animal permit actually expires prior to paying annual permit fee.
The county proposal includes a $100 revised hearing fee.
If an owner of a licensed DA or PDA licensed animal refuses to yield to permit conditions, the county can issue administrative fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, $500 for the third offense or “they can be cited for infraction.”
Read MoreThe Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking an individual with sound knowledge and experience in the field of public and private finance to serve on the Treasury Oversight Committee (Committee) in the Public Representative Seat #3. To be considered, candidates must be County residents, may not be employed by an entity that has contributed to the reelection campaign of the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors in the previous three years, may not directly or indirectly raise money for the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors while a member of the Committee, and may not work for bond underwriters, bond counsel, security brokerages or dealers, or financial services firms with whom the County Treasurer does business, either during his or her tenure on the committee or for one year after leaving the Committee. (Government Code §27132.3).
The Committee meets at 3:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month following each quarter at 625 Court Street, Room B001, Martinez, CA 94553. Each meeting lasts approximately one hour. The Committee’s duties include reviewing and monitoring the County Treasurer’s annual investment policy, and ensuring an annual audit is conducted to determine the County Treasurer is in compliance with Government Code §§27130-27137. The annual audits, meeting agendas and minutes of the Committee are available online. Members of the Committee receive no compensation for their service. The Board of Supervisors will appoint the selected individual to complete the four-year term on May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2024.
Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 335-1900 or by clicking on the following link: Application Form. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Room 106, County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553 no later than Friday, March 27, 2020 by 5 p.m. More information about the Treasury Oversight Committee can be obtained by calling Russell Watts at (925) 957-2888 or visiting the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Treasury Oversight Committee webpage.
Read MorePhoto courtesy of Contra Costa County.
County Board of Supervisors Appointee #1
The County is seeking individuals interested in serving on Contra Costa County’s Airport Land Use Commission (“ALUC”). The Commission’s role and responsibilities are as follows:
- Formulate land use policies that restrict the development of lands to assure compatibility with planned operations of public use airports;
- Review the general plans of local agencies for consistency with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan; and
- Review proposed modification to the airport master plans for consistency with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.
Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County.
Commission members are expected to attend at least one meeting per month. Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Department of Conservation and Development Zoning Administrator Room at 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553. At times there may be additional background studies, occasional field trips and extra meetings. Members shall serve without compensation, and during the term of office, each member shall reside or work in Contra Costa County.
There are seven members on the ALUC. There is currently one vacancy for a commissioner appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Appointed members are required to comply with the Fair Political Practices Commission reporting requirements under State law. The term of office for each member is four years, and or until the appointment of a successor.
Applications can be obtained at the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors website www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418, or by calling them at (925) 335-1900. They should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, in Room 106 of the County Administration Building at 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553, or emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 27, 2020.
For further information, please call Jamar Stamps, ALUC staff, with the Department of Conservation & Development, Transportation Planning Division, at (925) 674-7832.
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One possible additional case of a county hospital staff member
By Allen Payton
Many residents of Antioch and East County have had questions about the coronavirus. The Herald asked Will Harper, Acting Communications Director for Contra Costa Health Services to provide answers to of them.
First, it’s been said that one of the nurses at the county hospital has contracted the virus and there are now four cases in the county.
“I’m only aware of three cases that were in the county, two of which have been transferred out of our jurisdiction, Contra Costa County,” Harper responded. “Now we only have one at a hospital in the county. I am not aware of any cases that originated in Contra Costa.”
Asked if that patient was at Kaiser Deer Valley, he replied “I wouldn’t identify the hospital where the remaining patient is located.”
“We have had no healthcare workers including nurses that have tested positive for coronavirus,” said Dr. Samir Shah, Chief Medical Officer of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. “The individual (county hospital staff member) we’re referring to developed upper respiratory symptoms within 24 hours of working with a potential patient with coronavirus. We’ve asked the individual to stay home in self-quarantine for the next 14 days. We are following the CDC guidelines. The tests were sent out earlier this week and our history with the CDC is that we’re getting back results within five to eight days.”
“They’re expanding their abilities to do testing, locally,” he explained. “So, in the near future we’re hoping to have access to testing closer to home for quicker turnaround. There will be an increase in the number of tests being requested from local hospitals.”
“Currently the CDC is determining which tests they will allow to happen based on their protocols and guidelines,” Dr. Shah said. “We can request the test, but they decide whether they’re going to run the test or not. We do this in conjunction with public health and the County Health Officer, Dr. Chris Farmitano.”
Asked why U.C. Davis Medical Center officials issued an announcement about the patient at their hospital and the public in Contra Costa County isn’t being informed which hospitals the patients are located, Harper said the health public information officers in the Bay Area all agreed it would be best for patient confidentiality to not provide that information.
“U.C. Davis executive leadership sent out very detailed information about the patient with coronavirus and hospital staff. It took local hospitals by surprise because we’ve been following strict communication guidelines avoiding individual patient disclosure details,” said Dr. Shah. “Public health controls what information can be offered up.”
Coronavirus. Image by CDC
“From a public reporting standpoint, it’s typically our policy to conform to patient privacy and not disclose patient care information to the public,” he stated. “However, given the level of interest and anxiety in the community, we are reconsidering how we are able to disclose information in a confidential manner that both meets the privacy requirements for the individual while still informing the public. Talking to you, today is part of that change.”
Finally, residents said they had heard there are U.S. Marshals at the county hospital to prevent staff from speaking about the patients with coronavirus there and that the hospital has been fined $250,000 because it had happened, previously.
Since it’s a federal matter, Harper suggested contacting Scott Pauley, the Public Information Officer for the Centers for Disease Control.
When reached for comment, Pauley replied, “No. That has nothing to do with the Marshals’ presence there. They are there to enforce the federal quarantine.”
“When a patient is in federal quarantine process, the Marshals enforce that isolation order to monitor the patient to make sure they don’t leave the hospital,” he said. “This is all part of the federal quarantine orders issued when they returned to the United States.”
“These individuals came from the Diamond Princess cruise ship,” Pauley added.
“I believe we had one U.S. Marshal around the clock, when the patient was here,” Dr. Shah shared.
The Good News
“The good news is that the individual that was brought here from Travis did well, was sent home and no longer requires any more hospital intervention,” he stated.
“While, this is a new virus and we’re still learning more every day, the international experience is that 80% of people who develop symptoms of this don’t require any hospitalization,” Dr. Shah added.
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