New state law has moved up the date to start petition in lieu of filing fees to December 14th
Attention to those Contra Costa residents looking to run for office: The date to start collecting signatures to run for office has been moved up two weeks and will begin on December 14th.
Candidates seeking to run for state, federal and county offices in 2018 have the ability to start the process early and gather signatures of registered voters to reduce the filing fee. Each qualifying signature brings down the final cost for filing.
A bill recently signed into law changed the state’s Election Code and moved the timeframe for candidates to collect these signatures in lieu of the filing fee.
The Contra Costa Elections Division is offering appointments to interested candidates on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Documents for those with appointments will be prepared ahead of their appointment time.
The process should take no more than 20 minutes. Walk-ins are always welcome. To schedule an appointment please request a date and time at candidate.services@vote.cccounty.us or call 925-335-7800.
The filing fees vary by office. Information about the filing cost for specific offices is available on the Contra Costa Elections Division website at www.contracostacore.us.
Signatures collected in lieu of fees count toward any signature requirement for that office.
More information about the filing process is also available online at www.contracostacore.us.
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From the CCC Sheriff Facebook page
The 184th Basic Academy Class of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Law Enforcement Training Center graduated on Thursday, Nov. 9th at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.
The 26 graduates represent the following law enforcement agencies: California Alcoholic Beverage Control, Berkeley, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Daly City, Marin County Sheriff’s Department, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, and San Pablo.
Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston administered the oath to the Office of the Sheriff graduates following the ceremony.
Congratulations to all the graduates!
Read MoreFrom CCC Sheriff Facebook page
Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff dispatchers and deputy sheriffs were among those who were recognized with the Siren Team Award at the recent EMS Survivor’s Reunion in Walnut Creek. The event reunites individuals who experienced a near-fatal incident with the public safety and medical personnel who played a significant role in their survival. These personnel include 9-1-1 dispatchers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, EMTs, paramedics, and hospital emergency department staff. The reunion celebrates the gift of life and recognizes the amazing men and women who protect it.
The incident they were honored for involved Darren Grisham, a six-year-old Orinda boy who was trapped under a vehicle after he was accidentally run over by his father, Gabriel. It happened on June 20, 2017 and Gabriel called 9-1-1, according to other news reports.
An Office of the Sheriff dispatcher took the call, sent help to the scene, and kept the parents calm. Orinda police officers were first on scene. Firefighters from the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire Protection District (CON Fire) arrived and lifted the car off the boy. Paramedics treated the boy who was taken to Children’s Hospital Oakland by ambulance.
The boy suffered several broken bones and injuries to his head and neck. He was released from the hospital just four days later.
This was truly a team effort among the Office of the Sheriff, CON Fire, AMR, and Children’s Hospital Oakland that resulted in a successful outcome.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read More![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Morgan-Territory-Road-reopening-BBQ--225x300.jpg)
Morgan Territory Road residents celebrate its reopening with a barbeque on Sat., Nov. 18. Photo by Scott MacIntyre.
After being closed since February due to a large landslide during winter storms, Morgan Territory Road reopened on Saturday, November 18 at 5:00 p.m. The County’s contractor, Flatiron West, Inc. started the repair project in July. The project included installation of two structural retaining wall systems, excavation and backfill between the walls, reconstruction of pavement, drainage improvements, and pavement striping. The project also included the relocation of water, electric and telephone utilities to accommodate construction. This quality repair project represents the efforts and cooperation of many project partners as well as local, state and federal efforts to expedite this repair project.
Residents who live along the road celebrated with a neighborhood barbeque. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 2 at 10:30 am. The ceremony will take place on Morgan Territory Road at a county owned property opposite Oak Hill Lane to celebrate project completion.
Read More![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Blackhawk-building-crash-2.jpg)
Damage from vehicle crash into building in Blackhawk on August 18, 2017. Herald file photos courtesy of CCSheriff
From CCC Sheriff Facebook page
The reward being offered in the August 18, 2017 vehicle collision into an office building in Blackhawk has doubled to $5,000. The reward, being offered by an insurance company, is for the positive identification and arrest of the suspect in this case. (See related article)
On that evening at about 10 PM, a black, newer-model Land Rover with paper plates collided into the office building located on Executive Parkway, across from Blackhawk Plaza. There was major damage to the office building.
The vehicle then fled and crashed into two parked cars on Center Way near the Chevron Station in the town of Danville.
The Land Rover was driven by a white male described as being in his early 50’s wearing a floral Hawaiian shirt. There was also a white female passenger possibly named “Gloria”. According to witnesses, the Land Rover was later towed from the corner of Indian Rice Road and Goldenrod Lane in Danville.
The male driver was last seen waving down cars on Crow Canyon Road. It is believed the occupants had just left a free concert at Blackhawk Plaza.
If anyone has any information about the vehicle (which should have sustained major damage), its occupants, or the name of the tow truck company, please contact the Blackhawk Police Department at (925) 736-1018. You can also call the anonymous tip line at (866) 846-3592. Tips can also be emailed to: tips@so.cccounty.us.
Read More![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/henkel_faith-strike-1024x321.png)
Contra Costa faith leaders speak to striking machinists at Henkel in Bay Point. Photo courtesy of CC Central Labor Council
By Margaret Hanlon-Gradie
Contra Costa faith community leaders had strong words for Henkel Bay Point this week when they joined striking Machinists in their fight for safe workplaces and a fair contract against Henkel Corporation. On Tuesday, Reverend Will McGarvey, Community Presbyterian Church and executive director of the Interfaith Council, Reverend Charles Glasper, True Light Missionary Baptist Church, and Senior Pastor Quentisha Davis Wiles, Pittsburg United Methodist Church walked the picket line and offered their prayers and solidarity to the strikers. The three faith leaders shared the letter they and 16 other Contra Costa faith leaders had written to Henkel, (also see below) demanding respect, dignity and safety for the workers and community.
“It is every employer’s duty to treat their workers with respect. The Henkel Corporation, however, ignores workers’ health and safety, promotes a culture of indignation, and consistently diminishes the workers’ ability to care for themselves. This is not how we are told to treat our fellow man. This is not God’s plan,” reads the letter.
The faith leaders addressed the strikers, offering material support for the upcoming holidays and invited strikers to call on their church families for assistance with the upcoming holidays.
“Be encouraged because what Henkel is attempting to do is wrong. Morally, ethically, and legally, it’s wrong…. so today I want to ask you to keep standing tall,” said Pastor Quentisha Davis Wiles.
The over 80 manufacturing workers have been on strike at Henkel Bay Point for 30 days. The workers are fighting for safety and respect at the workplace and have received support from much of the community. “We’re eternally grateful for the enthusiastic support we are receiving from the faith community. These faith leaders are putting their attention on the health of our spirits, as well as, our bodies, the two things this company has attempted to break,” said Henkel employee Will Morris.
Hanlon-Gradie is the Executive Director for the Contra Costa Central Labor Council.
Read MoreAsking for “Freedom to Spend Time with our Families”
By Margaret Hanlon-Gradie
Forget Black Friday! The Contra Costa Central Labor Council with Making Change will stage a protest on Monday Nov. 20 to tell Walmart to observe the spirit of Thanksgiving and allow workers time to spend with their families.
Action will be held Monday, November 20th between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm at 1021 Arnold Drive in Martinez.
According to the Making Change website, their “vision for American workers – in grocery, retail, and in our communities – is respect and dignity at jobs that pay fairly and guarantee workers a voice.
Working together with Walmart Associates, local UFCW members, and leaders in communities across the country, the Making Change at Walmart campaign is challenging Walmart to share our vision for a new way forward—a way that lifts all of us up.”
According to their website, the Labor Council represents 80,000 working families standing together for good jobs, healthy communities, educational opportunity, and a brighter future for people in all industries and kinds of work.
Hanlon-Gradie is Executive Director of the Contra Costa Central Labor Council.
Read MoreWashington, DC – Monday night, Nov. 20th Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will host a town hall meeting on the Republican tax plan. Since coming to Congress in January 2015, Mark has hosted 50 town halls and mobile district office hours throughout Contra Costa County.
Congressman DeSaulnier will host two town halls. Details are below:
ORINDA IN PERSON TAX TOWN HALL
Monday, November 20th
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. PST
Miramonte High School, Theater
750 Moraga Way
Orinda, CA 94563
RSVP Using the Link Below:
https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp
For more information on these events or to request ADA accommodations contact Congressman DeSaulnier’s offices in either Walnut Creek, Richmond, or Washington, DC.
Read MoreBut male income decreased by more than female income in the county between 2009 and 2015
By Kevin Pryor, Analyst
Recent data shows that the male median income in Contra Costa County was $17,710 more than the female median income. In 2016, women in Contra Costa County earned $31,040 while men earned $48,750. This leads to a difference in pay where females earned 64 percent of male’s yearly earnings in the county.
The study was conducted by pansop.com, a knowledge based sharing website. In regards to this study, the data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau and represents the median income for individual males and females in the U.S aged 15 and up.
Figures show that Contra Costa County had a higher gender pay gap than state and national values. California experienced a difference in pay of $11,550 between males and females while the nation had a $12,397 difference. This contrast in pay means that Contra Costa County ranked among the higher pay gaps in the nation and the fourth highest in the state of California.
The information is best represented in the following graph.
The numbers illustrate how men generally make more money the women from county to national values. Furthermore, Contra Costa County’s income gap outperformed California by $6,160 and the national gap by $5,313. Such a large difference is partly due to the fact that Contra Costa County residents also earned a higher income last year when compared to state and national figures.
“The data shows that women in Contra Costa County have experienced a significant difference in pay than men. Such a gap between the two genders represents how the national trend of gender pay is magnified here on the county level” said data analyst for Pansop, Kevin Pryor.
Further research shows that female income in the county decreased by 0.7 percent between 2009 and 2015 while the male median income decreased by 3.7 percent.
Pay Gap Based on Education
For this study we analyzed the 2016 employee pay data based on education level for geographical locations in the U.S.
The pay disparity is usually based on education attainment and is correlated to other factors such as occupation, gender discrimination, gender bias, payment decisions, and more.
In general, the individuals with graduate or professional degree tend to earn more than those who only complete a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, school graduates.
Our key findings for individuals with less than high school education
- The gap between male and female median incomes in US for this group is $9,325
- Males in this group make $8,999 more than females in California
- Males in this group make $13,518 more than females in Contra Costa County
- California’s gender pay gap for this group is less than US by $326
- Contra Costa County’s gender pay gap for this group is more than California by $4,519
Our key findings for individuals with high school education
- The gap between male and female median incomes in US for this group is $12,237
- Males in this group make $9,743 more than females in California
- Males in this group make $8,521 more than females in Contra Costa County
- California’s gender pay gap for this group is less than US by $2,494
- Contra Costa County’s gender pay gap for this group is less than California by $1,222
Our key findings for individuals with associate degree
- The gap between male and female median incomes in US for this group is $12,217
- Males in this group make $11,472 more than females in California
- Males in this group make $12,743 more than females in Contra Costa County
- California’s gender pay gap for this group is less than US by $745
- Contra Costa County’s gender pay gap for this group is more than California by $1,271
Our key findings for individuals with bachelor’s degree
- The gap between male and female median incomes in US for this group is $20,066
- Males in this group make $20,897 more than females in California
- Males in this group make $29,807 more than females in Contra Costa County
- California’s gender pay gap for this group is more than US by $831
- Contra Costa County’s gender pay gap for this group is more than California by $8,910
Our key findings for individuals with professional degree
- The gap between male and female median incomes in US for this group is $28,155
- Males in this group make $30,221 more than females in California
- Males in this group make $41,102 more than females in Contra Costa County
- California’s gender pay gap for this group is more than US by $2,066
- Contra Costa County’s gender pay gap for this group is more than California by $10,881
Gender pay gap by education attainment
- Gender pay gap for individuals with less than high school education in Contra Costa County is less than California by 9.5%
- California’s Gender pay gap for individuals with high school education is 5.8% more than US
- Gender pay gap for individuals with high school education in Contra Costa County is more than California by 7.1%
- Gender pay gap for individuals with bachelors degree in Contra Costa County is less than California by 4.6%
- Gender pay gap for individuals with professional degree in Contra Costa County is more than California by 5.2%
NOTE: Gender pay gap is measured as the ratio of female to male median yearly earnings. The above data for the population age above 25 years. To see the graphs for each education category, click here.
For more information, please contact Kevin Pryor at 203-518-2348 or email at kevin@gridlex.com.
Pansop.com is a product of Gridlex, which has a cross functional team of software engineers, data scientists, and analysts. Pansop.com is a knowledge based analytics service. Team members research data from public sources such as the U.S Census Bureau and private databases to produce insightful studies. Pansop’s data is aimed to serve niche industry professionals and organizations so they may gain further insight into market dynamics.
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