By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County recently received $1.2 million under the Federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to establish a new Human Trafficking Task Force. Under the three-year grant from OVC, $500,000 is going to the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) for victim services and $700,000 goes to the District Attorney’s Office. This federal grant will assist both departments in developing this multidisciplinary task force that will implement victim-centered and coordinated approaches to identify victims of sex and labor trafficking through services and investigating and prosecuting these trafficking cases.
The Task Force will be an enhancement of the Contra Costa County Rescue and Restore Coalition (commonly referred to as the Human Trafficking Coalition) that was jointly formed with the Office of the District Attorney, EHSD and other partners in 2009 to address human trafficking in our county and the greater Bay Area. The Task Force’s “core team” will be co-chaired by Assistant District Attorney Venus D. Johnson and the Director of the Alliance to End Abuse Devorah Levine to ensure effective and efficient collaboration between investigation and prosecution and victim support and services.
To further combat trafficking in the county, District Attorney Diana Becton recently created a Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit within the District Attorney’s Office, which will be staffed by a dedicated sex trafficking prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Dana Filkowski.
“Our law enforcement partners will be able to focus on the growing problems associated with human trafficking in our community with this task force,” Becton stated. “We know that sharing confidential information and conducting complex investigations is challenging and resource intensive. However, with this new framework, we can prosecute those perpetrators who often times go unnoticed and provide comprehensive services to victims of trafficking. We have to keep raising awareness with the public and our law enforcement partners about the real threats that human trafficking poses to Contra Costa County.”
The Human Trafficking Task Force of Contra Costa County will be a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together with victim service organizations to; 1) better identify all types of human trafficking victims; 2) enhance investigation and prosecution of all types of human trafficking; 3) address the individualized needs of all identified human trafficking victims by linking them to comprehensive services; 4) enhance awareness of human trafficking among law enforcement and service providers, as well as within the broader Contra Costa community; and 5) improve trauma-informed practices for human trafficking victims within law enforcement and victim service providers.
Task Force partners on the law enforcement side, headed by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office, will include agencies such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the F.B.I. and local law enforcement agencies. Task Force partners on the victim service side, headed by Contra Costa County’s Alliance to End Abuse, include Calli House Youth Shelter (Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services), Community Violence Solutions, Bay Area Legal Aid, International Rescue Committee, and STAND! For Families Free of Violence.
Contra Costa County is a natural corridor for human trafficking activities with its linkage to major metropolitan areas like Oakland and San Francisco via public transportation (BART) and its accessibility to Los Angeles and Sacramento via major highways such as 680, 80 and 5 (via Hwy 4). Though human trafficking is illegal, victims often do not know where to turn for help and community members may not know where to report suspicious situations.
The Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Coalition will be working with local agencies to raise awareness about human trafficking in Contra Costa County throughout the month of January. The FBI has identified California as one of the nation’s top destination states for trafficked persons.
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By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County
On December 18, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant David Michael Bufano guilty of violating California Labor Code for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance for his employees. Bufano is the owner and operator of Grant Street Pub & Pizzeria in Concord and has at least 18 employees. Additionally, the jury found Bufano violated state law when he violated a stop work order issued by the Department of Industrial Relations.
Bufano was sentenced to two years of court probation and fined $10,000 by the Honorable Charles Burch in Department 23 at the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Under the Labor Code, the fine is paid to the California State Treasury to the credit of the Uninsured Employers Fund. Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Caleb Webster prosecuted the case behalf of the People for this misdemeanor jury trial. DDA Webster is assigned to the Office’s Special Operations Division in the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit.
In July 2018, the District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Bufano. The criminal filing stemmed from a joint enforcement strike force operation with the District Attorney’s Office, Department of Industrial Relations’ Labor Commissioner’s Office and Employment Development Department. Inspectors from these agencies conducted surprise inspections at Contra Costa County restaurants during the summer of 2018. These restaurants were suspected of deliberately evading the obligation to provide workers’ compensation insurance to employees.
“The jury verdict in this case underscores the importance we must place on actively protecting employees in the workplace. All too often, employees first discover their employers lack the appropriate coverage after injuries occur and the employees are stuck with medical bills to pay. Employers need to follow the law and protect their staff,” stated DDA Webster.
Bufano’s restaurant was cited on June 25 and a stop work order was issued by the Labor Commissioner until he could provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance. The very next day, Bufano’s employees were back at work at his direction in violation of the stop work order. On June 27, a follow-up inspection revealed that the restaurant remained open for business and employees were present working. Bufano still had not obtained workers’ compensation insurance at the point of the follow-up inspection. He was cited by the Labor Commissioner and fined $6,000.
“This conviction demonstrates that employers who cheat their workers — whether of wages or the protections of workers compensation — will not get away with it,” said California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “The victims of such practices are not just working people but law-abiding employers and we will do everything in our power to level the playing field.”
Willful failure to provide the insurance is punishable by substantial fines and misdemeanor criminal prosecution. Employees that do not know whether they are covered can check their employer’s notices board or ask a manager. Labor Code section 3550 requires an employer to post a notice identifying the current insurance at a conspicuous location.
Anyone with information about employers who dissuade employees from filing claims after they are injured, lie to a workers compensation insurance carrier about who is employed and what jobs they actually do, or fail to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage at all, can report that information to DA-ReportFraud@contracostada.org. Labor Code section 1102.5 prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who reports a violations of a California statute, rule, or regulation to a supervisor or government agency.
The misdemeanor counts against Bufano are:
- Count 1, Failure to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage
- Count 2, Failure to Observe Stop Order
Case information: People v. David Michael Bufano, Docket Number 01-186535-1.
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State Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) today sent a letter to the Fair Political Practices Commission requesting the FPPC to levy the maximum possible fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit district for its illegal use of public funds to campaign for Measure RR on the November 2016 ballot.
“The modest administrative penalty that the FPPC is considering would represent less than a slap on the wrist for BART after the district violated state law by using public funds to campaign for its bond measure,” Glazer said.
“In fact, this penalty is barely a tap on the wrist to BART. It would send a message to government officials in every agency in the state that they are free to break the law and use the public’s funds to wage political campaigns to sway public opinion.”
The commission, which meets Thursday in Sacramento, is considering a $7,500 penalty to punish BART for failing to properly disclose its illegal spending, which financed a video featuring Warriors star Draymond Green and text messages sent to thousands of Bay Area residents.
But the commission’s focus on the lack of disclosure ignores the far more serious offense that occurred when BART spent the money in violation of state law banning public agencies from engaging in political campaigns at public expense.
Glazer said that even if the FPPC believes its jurisdiction over illegal spending is limited, the commission could still levy a larger fine.
The $7,500 proposed penalty was based in part on the commission staff’s conclusion that BART’s text message campaign cost little because the list of residents who received the text was already in BART’s files.
But that list was compiled by BART as part of a years-long effort to build a public relations machine to further its interests. The FPPC should base its fine on the cost of that effort – not the cost of writing a mass text message and hitting the “send” button.
Even using its more limited valuation of the public funds BART spent illegally, the FPPC’s own staff acknowledged that the commission could levy a penalty of $33,375. But the commission’s proposed decision calls for a penalty of only a fraction of that amount.
“The people of California depend on the FPPC to be our watchdog over the practices of our politicians,” Glazer said. “But this proposed decision is so toothless that no government official or agency will ever again fear the consequences of spending the public’s money on a political campaign.”
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Screenshot of video of Lions Head Coach Ryan Partridge holding the state championship trophy following his team’s victory Saturday night, Dec. 15, 2018. By Jesus Cano
Beat elite private school team from So Cal
By Jesus Cano, Herald Sports Reporter
NORWALK, Calif. — As soon as then-first year head coach Ryan Partridge and his Liberty High School football team won the 2017 NCS Division I Championship, they set their eyes on the next prize. And Saturday night, Dec. 15 at Cerritos College in Southern California, the Lions’ historic two-season run came to an end with a 19-17 victory over the Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) Trailblazers, allowing them to hoist the CIF Division 1-A State Championship.
“Every one of these kids deserve it. Every player is extremely important to this program. It’s just unbelievable, I can’t even put my thoughts into words right now.” said Partridge.
Sierra Canyon is a private pre-K through 12th grade day and boarding school where a variety of famous individuals have attended or send their children, including members of the Kardashian family, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s daughter Willow and Ireland Baldwin the daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger, to name a few.
Tyerell Sturges-Cofer made his last high school football game memorable, rushing for all three of Liberty’s touchdowns on his 188-yard night. With quarterback Jay Butterfield struggling, the Lions’ traditionally pass-heavy offense was forced to turn to the ground attack, with Sturges-Cofer leading the comeback from down 17-7.
“Our O-line was doing an amazing job. We just kept fighting and going for the first down.” said Sturges-Cofer. “In the beginning of the season, coach said we were going for state. We won D-one last year, so we had to take another step and we did it.”
Sierra Canyon got on the board first with an 87-yard drive, capping off with a Chayden Peery one-yard sneak. Sturges-Cofer responded one play later, escaping for a 72-yard touchdown to tie the game.
The Trailblazers went on to light up the scoreboard in the rest of the first half. Josh Bryan added a 24-yard field goal to make it 10-7 in the second quarter. Brendon Gamble tackled on a 22-yard rushing touchdown, giving Sierra Canyon the 17-7 lead heading into halftime.
Sturges-Cofer was set up with the defense’s second touchdown of game, as they forced Sierra Canyon to fumble for a second time. It only took two plays for Sturges-Cofer to score with a 31-yard touchdown run that saw him knock down a pack of Traiblazer linemen to make it 17-13.
Liberty quarterback Jay Butterfield was rattled, unable to complete passes to his receivers, but stepped up when it was necessary by hitting Adrik Lamar to set up Sturges-Cofer for his game winning touchdown drive.
“Our defense picked me up especially throughout the whole game,” said Butterfield. “You never give up anytime, you always trust your receivers. No matter if it’s your top guy or your bottom guy.”
It’s been a whirlwind for Liberty over the past two seasons. The Lions won the NCS Division I championship in 2017, and in 2018 were able to finish the regular season 10-0, and win the BVAL for the first time in school history, while beating powerhouse Pittsburg for the first time since 2005.
As the Lions arrived from Southern California, they were greeted with roaring Liberty fans in the downtown Brentwood campus.
“We have the best fans supporting us at every game.” Butterfield said.
“We have such great community support. It just means everything. We set the culture of service and love.” Partridge added.
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WHAT: Contra Costa Health Services’ Division of Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3) seeks volunteers for the county’s annual point-in-time count of residents who are experiencing homelessness.
Volunteers will work in groups at designated locations across the county to interview people and collect data.
WHO: Volunteers must be 18 or older. Spanish speakers are especially encouraged to volunteer.
WHEN: Each volunteer must attend a two-hour training during the week of January 21 and work a two- to three-hour shift during the week of January 28. Trainings and shifts are available across the county at a variety of times.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear warm clothing and comfortable footwear to their shifts and be prepared to stand for long periods.
WHY: Data collected during the count help H3 and its partners to improve services for Contra Costa’s homeless population and is used by federal, state and local government to determine funding for homeless services.
Visit cchealth.org/h3 for more information and to volunteer. For questions about volunteering, contact Georgia Lucey at georgia.lucey@cchealth.org or 925-608-6700.
Read MoreThe CIS Division 1-A NorCal Champions to face Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth
By Jesus Cano
Liberty has been making history for the past two seasons, and now they are finally on the big stage, and want to leave Norwalk with gold.
The Lions took home a 33-21 victory over Valley Christian and were crowned the California Interscholastic Federation Division 1-A NorCal champions. Liberty also sealed its ticket to state and will take on the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers of Chatsworth this Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. for the CIF Division 1-A championship 372 miles away at Cerritos College.
The aerial duo of quarterback Jay Butterfield and receiver Sione Vaki have been making it a nightmare for opposing teams’ secondaries. But receivers Adrik Lamar and Jerrin Easter-Williams have been stepping up to the occasion, as well. They each caught one touchdown in Liberty’s victory over Valley Christian.
The Lions run game is also as productive, with lineman like Josh McKey, Payton Zdroik and Reese Watkins, running back Tyerell Sturges-Cofer has been able to find the gaps and turn on the wheels. The senior carried the ball for 1,343 yards. And after a slow game against Pittsburg where he only ran for 59 yards, Sturges-Cofer bounced back. Brenden Bell can also carry the ball whe needed.
Liberty will be without key play, linebacker Nicky Einess, who suffered a concussion against Valley Christian. The defense is still stacked with many of its defensive lineman playing both ways. Vaki, Bell and Sturges-Cofer also play defense. Mason Padilla is a player that could lead the linebacker core.
On their way to the Bay Valley Athletic League championship, the Lions defeated most of their rivals by large margins including the Deer Valley Wolverines 60-12, the Freedom Falcons 55-21 and blanking both the Antioch High Panthers with a score of 52-0 and the Heritage Patriots 49-0.
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Pay raises for Deputy District Attorneys, Deputy Public Defenders approved
By Daniel Borsuk
The Contra Costa County Library system will end the practice of charging daily fines and charges for overdue books and materials in a bid to encourage more families with children to use the 26-branch public library system commencing Jan. 1.
Library officials are also setting bigger sights that patrons will check out materials via the library system’s e-books.
Contra Costa County Supervisors approved the Contra Costa County Library Commission’s proposal on a 4-0 vote Tuesday with Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond absent.
While the supervisors’ action will eliminate fees for overdue book and materials, supervisors doubled the processing charge for lost or damaged library materials from $5 per item to $10 per item. Those charges have not been revised since 1995 and no longer reflect the actual processing costs, Contra Costa County Librarian Melinda Cervantes wrote in a brief to supervisors.
The Contra Costa County Library system will be the largest public library network in the Golden State to cease the practice of charging for overdue fees after 30 days. The Berkeley Public Library and San Diego Public Library have also adopted similar no overdue fee policies.
Library patrons will not be charged fees if they return materials held more than 30 days after the due date. Overdue library material fines represent 2% of the library system’s budgeted revenue and have declined by 31 percent since fiscal year 2013-2014, county librarian Cervantes said. “During this same period, circulation of e-books and e-resources have risen 128 percent” Cervantes wrote in her report to the supervisors. “E-resources are already fine free and benefit those with greater access to technology,” she continued.
With the supervisors’ action, the county library will reduce its annual acquisition of library books by $300,000 to offset the reduction in estimated revenue.
Cervantes said the library commission based its recommendation to eliminate overdue fines from the basic finding in the report “Issue Brief on Advancing Racial Equity in Public Libraries” that was drafted by the Government Alliance on Race and Equity. The report identified library fines as a form of “structural racism” where people who have difficulty paying fines have negative experiences that prevent them from library and computer use and or being reported to a collection agency.
By supervisorial District 2, which Candace Andersen of San Ramon represents posted the most in outstanding overdue late fines, according to library commission data. Her district compiled $1, 224,230 million in overdue fees followed by District 3 represented by Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood with $937,342 in fines. Supervisor Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill’s District 4 piled up $907,021 in fees and Pittsburg’s Supervisor Federal Glover’s District 5 accumulated $781,036 in late fines. Supervisor Gioia’s District 1 compiled the least number of fines with $757,718.
TRC Solutions Gets Keller Canyon Soils Contract
While supervisors hashed over the routine-like three-year environmental impact review of the Keller Canyon Landfill operation near Pittsburg, the elected officials also learned that the consulting firm of TRC Solutions has been under contract since late October to conduct soil studies on whether radioactive materials from the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard were illegally dumped at the landfill.
At Contra Costa Herald deadline, representatives from District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover’s office, the Contra Costa Environmental Health Department, and from TRC Solutions had not returned telephone requests to answer questions as to why the contract was awarded to the company under a shroud of secrecy in late October and to reveal how much the county is paying for the consultant’s work.
Based on information that the Contra Costa Herald has gathered, TRC Solutions started work on the six-month contract on Oct. 29. The company is expected to analyze data, provide next step recommendations, conduct a process to gather communications, and convene a community meeting.
Public outcry over how Republic Services, which operates the landfill, erupted during the summer when an article in the San Francisco Chronicle exposed the possibility that radioactive materials from the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard may have been deposited at Keller Canyon Landfill. That article triggered community outcry, meetings and eventually a request by the county to hire a soils expert to detect if radioactive waste exists on the landfill site.
Concerning the landfill’s three-year environmental impact review, supervisors voted 4-0 to accept the report.
New Contracts for Deputy District Attorneys, Deputy Public Defenders Approved
Supervisors unanimously approved two four-year contracts, one for Deputy District Attorneys and another pact for Deputy Public Defenders.
Along with improved health benefits, attorneys belonging to the District Attorney Association will, in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, cumulatively watch salaries rise $576,000, $1.9 million in 2019/2020, $2.5 million in 2020/2021 and $3.4 million in 2021/2022.
Members of the county Deputy Public Defenders Association will see salaries rise over the next four years. Supervisors set aside to $959,000 in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, $2.6 million in 2019/2020, $3.2 million in 2020/2021 and $4 million in 2021/2022 to raise salaries.
Read MoreBy Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney
On Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed an amended complaint against defendant Tristan Curl, which had additional felony charges for the distribution of child pornography and advertising of and distribution of child pornography. Curl, a resident of Oakley, California and a student living in Austin, Texas, was extradited on Tuesday, Dec. 11 back to Contra Costa County by the Sheriff’s Office. A Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge approved the extradition of Curl from Travis County Jail.
Curl is a student at St. Edwards University. Wednesday afternoon Curl was arraigned in the Pittsburg Superior Court and he entered a not guilty plea. He remains in custody on $500,000 bail.
The case against Curl is ongoing and there may be additional victims related to the distribution or creation of pornography involving students in Contra Costa County. Anyone with information about Curl’s alleged activities please contact Oakley Police Department Officer Casey Minister at 925-625-8855.
Originally, on November 28, our office filed criminal charges against Curl for school threats at Freedom High School and for threatening a school administrator. (See related article) Curl now faces a total of 10 felony counts.
Case information: People v. Curl, Docket Number 01-187978-2
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Elected officials and staff from Brentwood, East County and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the new Balfour Road – Highway 4 Interchange on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Photo by Allen Payton
20 years since the right-of-way was purchased, completes $1.3 billion in East County transportation projects
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and its partners, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), the Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority (ECCRFFA), the California Department of Transportation, and the City of Brentwood, held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the Highway 4 and Balfour Road Interchange Project. CCTA was joined by State, regional, and local officials to celebrate the completion of the interchange project, which brings much-needed traffic relief to Brentwood and Contra Costa County.
“Today’s ribbon cutting is one more symbol of the transformation taking place in Brentwood and Eastern Contra Costa County,” said CCTA Vice Chair and Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor. “This project has reduced traffic, improved safety, and will have long term economic benefits for our region.”
He stated that the project was “on time and under budget.”
“This organization does a wonderful job. This is an amazing structure and it will be here for generations,” Taylor added.
Photo courtesy of CCTA.
The Balfour Road Interchange Project replaced the existing signalized, at-grade intersection at Balfour Road and State Route 4 with a grade-separated interchange and corresponding on- and off-ramps. The project involved raising State Route 4 to cross over Balfour Road, creating a new, safer undercrossing. This new configuration has eased traffic congestion and improved safety at this intersection for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians
The project was one of the first in the state to use innovative drone technology to monitor construction progress. With assistance from engineering firm Alta Vista Solutions, CCTA flew drones equipped with a combination of LiDAR and camera technology to measure the volumes of earth that were moved during the $42 million construction project. Utilizing this technology enabled CCTA to track construction progress firsthand and improve safety by taking workers out of live traffic.
“In 2008 when I was rescued from CalTrans, we finished the work on the Loveridge interchange,” stated CCTA Executive Director Randy Iwasaki. “Here we are and now we’re opening the last segment of the projects we had identified. Today marks the official opening of the $42 million Highway 4, Balfour Road interchange.”
“We are always looking for new ways to increase safety and efficiency on construction projects,” he shared. “Drones give us aerial views of the site that were hard to come by before, making it safer for surveyors to do their job and helping us manage the large volume of dirt that was used to improve this intersection. This technology also allowed us to monitor environmentally sensitive areas without disturbing the habitat.”
Photo courtesy of CCTA.
Innovation on the project extended beyond the use of technology. CCTA also facilitated a collaborative, multi-agency agreement that saved both time and money for the Balfour Road Interchange project. Prior to the start of construction, CCTA and the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) worked together to gain Caltrans approval to leave the 90-inch Los Vaqueros Pipeline in place along the project alignment, essentially building the new highway infrastructure in conformity with the existing pipeline. Rather than a complete relocation of the relatively new pipeline, CCTA, CCWD and Caltrans arrived at a design that maintained the reliability and longevity of the infrastructure, worked for all agencies, reduced environmental and community impacts – which saved Contra Costans approximately $18 million in environmental permitting, property acquisition and construction costs.
Constance Holdaway, Vice President of the CCWD Board of Directors said, “We have a 90-inch pipeline running through this area from the Los Vaqueros Reservoir.” She gave credit to “creative minds” which “ssaved money and minimized environmental impacts.”
State Assemblyman Jim Frazier, who served on the CCTA Board in the past, and is now Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee shared some background on the funding for the project.
“We delivered $83 million for Highway 4 improvements including this project,” he stated. “We went hat in hand” to the state capital asking for funding.
“You were very sick, that day,” Taylor interjected.
“Yes, I was. I checked myself out of the hospital to go that day. Then I checked myself back in,” Frazier shared.
“I have to recognize the good work of the CCTA, and the contractors Brosamer & Wall and Bay Cities,” he continued. “I want to thank the CC building and trades and the CHP working to protect the workers.
“Randy and I are working on the Sand Creek (Road) project from the interchange to Kaiser, with the developers,” Frazier stated. “I’m also working with Tri Delta Transit and instead of BART, we’re looking at a bus rapid transit system from Hillcrest to Marsh Creek Road.”
Supervisor Diane Burgis, Chair of the Eastern Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority, which collects and provided developer fees for the project, said “Today, we have a project that really contributes to the quality of life in Eastern Contra Costa County. Residents who use this road…they’re going to get home quicker.”
She acknowledged Dale Dennis who was the lead staff member for the Bypass Authority.
“Those of us who are using this freeway are already enjoying the benefits of it,” Burgis added
Former State Route 4 Bypass Authority Chairman, Allen Payton, offered some history about the project, honoring Tom Torlakson, who was a County Supervisor at the time he proposed the idea of the extension to Highway 4, formerly known as the “bypass”. Payton stated it was 20 years ago, this year that the authority approved the purchase of 250 feet of right-of-way for the segment between Lone Tree Way and Balfour Road for $950,000 to provide room for four lanes of traffic and two lines of transit.
“It started out in 1994 with three votes in favor versus eight votes against at the CCTA,” he shared. “It took us four years to get to an 11-0 vote to approve the road.”
He thanked Iwasaki and Frazier for “finding the hidden pockets of state money” to complete the freeway extension. Payton also encouraged the elected representatives in attendance, specifically Frazier, of the need to speed up the approval and implementation process for traffic improvements. Iwaski agreed.
Iwasaki then mentioned the funding from the county’s half-cent sales tax Measure J and thanked CCTA staff members Jack Hall, Stephanie Hu, Linsay Willis, Susan Miller, Tim Hale and Ross Chittenden for their work on the project. He also acknowledged “the engineering and design, and construction teams and all the subcontractors, the men and women who built this project.” They included Quincy Engineering, specifically Carl Gibson, the chief designer on the project and PSOMAS, specifically Bonaventure Ezeji, the resident engineer.
Iwasaki then honored Steve Kersevan, the City of Brentwood Traffic Engineer for his help on the project and presented him with a plaque.
“I was just doing my job. Now I can retire” Kersevan said with a smile.
The extension to Highway 4 is the only stretch of new freeway in the entire nine-county Bay Area between 1998 and 2018, and was the first section of state highway in California history to be partially funded with local developer fees.
About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net
About the Highway 4 Projects
The Highway 4 projects include improvements that will help modernize eastern Contra Costa County. The projects expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to just west of State Route 160 in Antioch, from two to four lanes from Lone Tree Way to Balfour Road in Brentwood, add missing connector ramps at the State Route 160/Highway 4 interchange, and add a BART extension from Pittsburg to Antioch (eBART). This will greatly improve transit accessibility for the region, help reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the quality of life for the more than 250,000 residents of eastern Contra Costa County. The projects have been carefully staged to keep 130,000 vehicles per day moving as major construction and demolition work continue. These projects, plus previously constructed projects in the region, bring the total investment in East County to $1.3 billion, including State, Federal, Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measures C and J, regional bridge tolls, and other funds.
For additional information about the Balfour Road Interchange Project, please visit www.4eastcounty.org.
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By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County recently received $1.2 million under the Federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to establish a new Human Trafficking Task Force. Under the three-year grant from OVC, $500,000 is going to the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) for victim services and $700,000 goes to the District Attorney’s Office. This federal grant will assist both departments in developing this multidisciplinary task force that will implement victim-centered and coordinated approaches to identify victims of sex and labor trafficking through services and investigating and prosecuting these trafficking cases.
The Task Force will be an enhancement of the Contra Costa County Rescue and Restore Coalition (commonly referred to as the Human Trafficking Coalition) that was jointly formed with the Office of the District Attorney, EHSD and other partners in 2009 to address human trafficking in our county and the greater Bay Area. The Task Force’s “core team” will be co-chaired by Assistant District Attorney Venus D. Johnson and the Director of the Alliance to End Abuse Devorah Levine to ensure effective and efficient collaboration between investigation and prosecution and victim support and services.
To further combat trafficking in the county, District Attorney Diana Becton recently created a Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit within the District Attorney’s Office, which will be staffed by a dedicated sex trafficking prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Dana Filkowski.
“Our law enforcement partners will be able to focus on the growing problems associated with human trafficking in our community with this task force,” Becton stated. “We know that sharing confidential information and conducting complex investigations is challenging and resource intensive. However, with this new framework, we can prosecute those perpetrators who often times go unnoticed and provide comprehensive services to victims of trafficking. We have to keep raising awareness with the public and our law enforcement partners about the real threats that human trafficking poses to Contra Costa County.”
The Human Trafficking Task Force of Contra Costa County will be a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together with victim service organizations to; 1) better identify all types of human trafficking victims; 2) enhance investigation and prosecution of all types of human trafficking; 3) address the individualized needs of all identified human trafficking victims by linking them to comprehensive services; 4) enhance awareness of human trafficking among law enforcement and service providers, as well as within the broader Contra Costa community; and 5) improve trauma-informed practices for human trafficking victims within law enforcement and victim service providers.
Task Force partners on the law enforcement side, headed by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office, will include agencies such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the F.B.I. and local law enforcement agencies. Task Force partners on the victim service side, headed by Contra Costa County’s Alliance to End Abuse, include Calli House Youth Shelter (Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services), Community Violence Solutions, Bay Area Legal Aid, International Rescue Committee, and STAND! For Families Free of Violence.
Contra Costa County is a natural corridor for human trafficking activities with its linkage to major metropolitan areas like Oakland and San Francisco via public transportation (BART) and its accessibility to Los Angeles and Sacramento via major highways such as 680, 80 and 5 (via Hwy 4). Though human trafficking is illegal, victims often do not know where to turn for help and community members may not know where to report suspicious situations.
The Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Coalition will be working with local agencies to raise awareness about human trafficking in Contra Costa County throughout the month of January. The FBI has identified California as one of the nation’s top destination states for trafficked persons.
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By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County
On December 18, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant David Michael Bufano guilty of violating California Labor Code for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance for his employees. Bufano is the owner and operator of Grant Street Pub & Pizzeria in Concord and has at least 18 employees. Additionally, the jury found Bufano violated state law when he violated a stop work order issued by the Department of Industrial Relations.
Bufano was sentenced to two years of court probation and fined $10,000 by the Honorable Charles Burch in Department 23 at the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Under the Labor Code, the fine is paid to the California State Treasury to the credit of the Uninsured Employers Fund. Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Caleb Webster prosecuted the case behalf of the People for this misdemeanor jury trial. DDA Webster is assigned to the Office’s Special Operations Division in the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit.
In July 2018, the District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Bufano. The criminal filing stemmed from a joint enforcement strike force operation with the District Attorney’s Office, Department of Industrial Relations’ Labor Commissioner’s Office and Employment Development Department. Inspectors from these agencies conducted surprise inspections at Contra Costa County restaurants during the summer of 2018. These restaurants were suspected of deliberately evading the obligation to provide workers’ compensation insurance to employees.
“The jury verdict in this case underscores the importance we must place on actively protecting employees in the workplace. All too often, employees first discover their employers lack the appropriate coverage after injuries occur and the employees are stuck with medical bills to pay. Employers need to follow the law and protect their staff,” stated DDA Webster.
Bufano’s restaurant was cited on June 25 and a stop work order was issued by the Labor Commissioner until he could provide proof of workers’ compensation insurance. The very next day, Bufano’s employees were back at work at his direction in violation of the stop work order. On June 27, a follow-up inspection revealed that the restaurant remained open for business and employees were present working. Bufano still had not obtained workers’ compensation insurance at the point of the follow-up inspection. He was cited by the Labor Commissioner and fined $6,000.
“This conviction demonstrates that employers who cheat their workers — whether of wages or the protections of workers compensation — will not get away with it,” said California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “The victims of such practices are not just working people but law-abiding employers and we will do everything in our power to level the playing field.”
Willful failure to provide the insurance is punishable by substantial fines and misdemeanor criminal prosecution. Employees that do not know whether they are covered can check their employer’s notices board or ask a manager. Labor Code section 3550 requires an employer to post a notice identifying the current insurance at a conspicuous location.
Anyone with information about employers who dissuade employees from filing claims after they are injured, lie to a workers compensation insurance carrier about who is employed and what jobs they actually do, or fail to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage at all, can report that information to DA-ReportFraud@contracostada.org. Labor Code section 1102.5 prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who reports a violations of a California statute, rule, or regulation to a supervisor or government agency.
The misdemeanor counts against Bufano are:
- Count 1, Failure to Obtain Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage
- Count 2, Failure to Observe Stop Order
Case information: People v. David Michael Bufano, Docket Number 01-186535-1.
Read MoreState Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) today sent a letter to the Fair Political Practices Commission requesting the FPPC to levy the maximum possible fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit district for its illegal use of public funds to campaign for Measure RR on the November 2016 ballot.
“The modest administrative penalty that the FPPC is considering would represent less than a slap on the wrist for BART after the district violated state law by using public funds to campaign for its bond measure,” Glazer said.
“In fact, this penalty is barely a tap on the wrist to BART. It would send a message to government officials in every agency in the state that they are free to break the law and use the public’s funds to wage political campaigns to sway public opinion.”
The commission, which meets Thursday in Sacramento, is considering a $7,500 penalty to punish BART for failing to properly disclose its illegal spending, which financed a video featuring Warriors star Draymond Green and text messages sent to thousands of Bay Area residents.
But the commission’s focus on the lack of disclosure ignores the far more serious offense that occurred when BART spent the money in violation of state law banning public agencies from engaging in political campaigns at public expense.
Glazer said that even if the FPPC believes its jurisdiction over illegal spending is limited, the commission could still levy a larger fine.
The $7,500 proposed penalty was based in part on the commission staff’s conclusion that BART’s text message campaign cost little because the list of residents who received the text was already in BART’s files.
But that list was compiled by BART as part of a years-long effort to build a public relations machine to further its interests. The FPPC should base its fine on the cost of that effort – not the cost of writing a mass text message and hitting the “send” button.
Even using its more limited valuation of the public funds BART spent illegally, the FPPC’s own staff acknowledged that the commission could levy a penalty of $33,375. But the commission’s proposed decision calls for a penalty of only a fraction of that amount.
“The people of California depend on the FPPC to be our watchdog over the practices of our politicians,” Glazer said. “But this proposed decision is so toothless that no government official or agency will ever again fear the consequences of spending the public’s money on a political campaign.”
Read MoreScreenshot of video of Lions Head Coach Ryan Partridge holding the state championship trophy following his team’s victory Saturday night, Dec. 15, 2018. By Jesus Cano
Beat elite private school team from So Cal
By Jesus Cano, Herald Sports Reporter
NORWALK, Calif. — As soon as then-first year head coach Ryan Partridge and his Liberty High School football team won the 2017 NCS Division I Championship, they set their eyes on the next prize. And Saturday night, Dec. 15 at Cerritos College in Southern California, the Lions’ historic two-season run came to an end with a 19-17 victory over the Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) Trailblazers, allowing them to hoist the CIF Division 1-A State Championship.
“Every one of these kids deserve it. Every player is extremely important to this program. It’s just unbelievable, I can’t even put my thoughts into words right now.” said Partridge.
Sierra Canyon is a private pre-K through 12th grade day and boarding school where a variety of famous individuals have attended or send their children, including members of the Kardashian family, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s daughter Willow and Ireland Baldwin the daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger, to name a few.
Tyerell Sturges-Cofer made his last high school football game memorable, rushing for all three of Liberty’s touchdowns on his 188-yard night. With quarterback Jay Butterfield struggling, the Lions’ traditionally pass-heavy offense was forced to turn to the ground attack, with Sturges-Cofer leading the comeback from down 17-7.
“Our O-line was doing an amazing job. We just kept fighting and going for the first down.” said Sturges-Cofer. “In the beginning of the season, coach said we were going for state. We won D-one last year, so we had to take another step and we did it.”
Sierra Canyon got on the board first with an 87-yard drive, capping off with a Chayden Peery one-yard sneak. Sturges-Cofer responded one play later, escaping for a 72-yard touchdown to tie the game.
The Trailblazers went on to light up the scoreboard in the rest of the first half. Josh Bryan added a 24-yard field goal to make it 10-7 in the second quarter. Brendon Gamble tackled on a 22-yard rushing touchdown, giving Sierra Canyon the 17-7 lead heading into halftime.
Sturges-Cofer was set up with the defense’s second touchdown of game, as they forced Sierra Canyon to fumble for a second time. It only took two plays for Sturges-Cofer to score with a 31-yard touchdown run that saw him knock down a pack of Traiblazer linemen to make it 17-13.
Liberty quarterback Jay Butterfield was rattled, unable to complete passes to his receivers, but stepped up when it was necessary by hitting Adrik Lamar to set up Sturges-Cofer for his game winning touchdown drive.
“Our defense picked me up especially throughout the whole game,” said Butterfield. “You never give up anytime, you always trust your receivers. No matter if it’s your top guy or your bottom guy.”
It’s been a whirlwind for Liberty over the past two seasons. The Lions won the NCS Division I championship in 2017, and in 2018 were able to finish the regular season 10-0, and win the BVAL for the first time in school history, while beating powerhouse Pittsburg for the first time since 2005.
As the Lions arrived from Southern California, they were greeted with roaring Liberty fans in the downtown Brentwood campus.
“We have the best fans supporting us at every game.” Butterfield said.
“We have such great community support. It just means everything. We set the culture of service and love.” Partridge added.
Read MoreWHAT: Contra Costa Health Services’ Division of Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3) seeks volunteers for the county’s annual point-in-time count of residents who are experiencing homelessness.
Volunteers will work in groups at designated locations across the county to interview people and collect data.
WHO: Volunteers must be 18 or older. Spanish speakers are especially encouraged to volunteer.
WHEN: Each volunteer must attend a two-hour training during the week of January 21 and work a two- to three-hour shift during the week of January 28. Trainings and shifts are available across the county at a variety of times.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear warm clothing and comfortable footwear to their shifts and be prepared to stand for long periods.
WHY: Data collected during the count help H3 and its partners to improve services for Contra Costa’s homeless population and is used by federal, state and local government to determine funding for homeless services.
Visit cchealth.org/h3 for more information and to volunteer. For questions about volunteering, contact Georgia Lucey at georgia.lucey@cchealth.org or 925-608-6700.
Read MoreThe CIS Division 1-A NorCal Champions to face Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth
By Jesus Cano
Liberty has been making history for the past two seasons, and now they are finally on the big stage, and want to leave Norwalk with gold.
The Lions took home a 33-21 victory over Valley Christian and were crowned the California Interscholastic Federation Division 1-A NorCal champions. Liberty also sealed its ticket to state and will take on the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers of Chatsworth this Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. for the CIF Division 1-A championship 372 miles away at Cerritos College.
The aerial duo of quarterback Jay Butterfield and receiver Sione Vaki have been making it a nightmare for opposing teams’ secondaries. But receivers Adrik Lamar and Jerrin Easter-Williams have been stepping up to the occasion, as well. They each caught one touchdown in Liberty’s victory over Valley Christian.
The Lions run game is also as productive, with lineman like Josh McKey, Payton Zdroik and Reese Watkins, running back Tyerell Sturges-Cofer has been able to find the gaps and turn on the wheels. The senior carried the ball for 1,343 yards. And after a slow game against Pittsburg where he only ran for 59 yards, Sturges-Cofer bounced back. Brenden Bell can also carry the ball whe needed.
Liberty will be without key play, linebacker Nicky Einess, who suffered a concussion against Valley Christian. The defense is still stacked with many of its defensive lineman playing both ways. Vaki, Bell and Sturges-Cofer also play defense. Mason Padilla is a player that could lead the linebacker core.
On their way to the Bay Valley Athletic League championship, the Lions defeated most of their rivals by large margins including the Deer Valley Wolverines 60-12, the Freedom Falcons 55-21 and blanking both the Antioch High Panthers with a score of 52-0 and the Heritage Patriots 49-0.
Read MorePay raises for Deputy District Attorneys, Deputy Public Defenders approved
By Daniel Borsuk
The Contra Costa County Library system will end the practice of charging daily fines and charges for overdue books and materials in a bid to encourage more families with children to use the 26-branch public library system commencing Jan. 1.
Library officials are also setting bigger sights that patrons will check out materials via the library system’s e-books.
Contra Costa County Supervisors approved the Contra Costa County Library Commission’s proposal on a 4-0 vote Tuesday with Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond absent.
While the supervisors’ action will eliminate fees for overdue book and materials, supervisors doubled the processing charge for lost or damaged library materials from $5 per item to $10 per item. Those charges have not been revised since 1995 and no longer reflect the actual processing costs, Contra Costa County Librarian Melinda Cervantes wrote in a brief to supervisors.
The Contra Costa County Library system will be the largest public library network in the Golden State to cease the practice of charging for overdue fees after 30 days. The Berkeley Public Library and San Diego Public Library have also adopted similar no overdue fee policies.
Library patrons will not be charged fees if they return materials held more than 30 days after the due date. Overdue library material fines represent 2% of the library system’s budgeted revenue and have declined by 31 percent since fiscal year 2013-2014, county librarian Cervantes said. “During this same period, circulation of e-books and e-resources have risen 128 percent” Cervantes wrote in her report to the supervisors. “E-resources are already fine free and benefit those with greater access to technology,” she continued.
With the supervisors’ action, the county library will reduce its annual acquisition of library books by $300,000 to offset the reduction in estimated revenue.
Cervantes said the library commission based its recommendation to eliminate overdue fines from the basic finding in the report “Issue Brief on Advancing Racial Equity in Public Libraries” that was drafted by the Government Alliance on Race and Equity. The report identified library fines as a form of “structural racism” where people who have difficulty paying fines have negative experiences that prevent them from library and computer use and or being reported to a collection agency.
By supervisorial District 2, which Candace Andersen of San Ramon represents posted the most in outstanding overdue late fines, according to library commission data. Her district compiled $1, 224,230 million in overdue fees followed by District 3 represented by Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood with $937,342 in fines. Supervisor Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill’s District 4 piled up $907,021 in fees and Pittsburg’s Supervisor Federal Glover’s District 5 accumulated $781,036 in late fines. Supervisor Gioia’s District 1 compiled the least number of fines with $757,718.
TRC Solutions Gets Keller Canyon Soils Contract
While supervisors hashed over the routine-like three-year environmental impact review of the Keller Canyon Landfill operation near Pittsburg, the elected officials also learned that the consulting firm of TRC Solutions has been under contract since late October to conduct soil studies on whether radioactive materials from the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard were illegally dumped at the landfill.
At Contra Costa Herald deadline, representatives from District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover’s office, the Contra Costa Environmental Health Department, and from TRC Solutions had not returned telephone requests to answer questions as to why the contract was awarded to the company under a shroud of secrecy in late October and to reveal how much the county is paying for the consultant’s work.
Based on information that the Contra Costa Herald has gathered, TRC Solutions started work on the six-month contract on Oct. 29. The company is expected to analyze data, provide next step recommendations, conduct a process to gather communications, and convene a community meeting.
Public outcry over how Republic Services, which operates the landfill, erupted during the summer when an article in the San Francisco Chronicle exposed the possibility that radioactive materials from the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard may have been deposited at Keller Canyon Landfill. That article triggered community outcry, meetings and eventually a request by the county to hire a soils expert to detect if radioactive waste exists on the landfill site.
Concerning the landfill’s three-year environmental impact review, supervisors voted 4-0 to accept the report.
New Contracts for Deputy District Attorneys, Deputy Public Defenders Approved
Supervisors unanimously approved two four-year contracts, one for Deputy District Attorneys and another pact for Deputy Public Defenders.
Along with improved health benefits, attorneys belonging to the District Attorney Association will, in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, cumulatively watch salaries rise $576,000, $1.9 million in 2019/2020, $2.5 million in 2020/2021 and $3.4 million in 2021/2022.
Members of the county Deputy Public Defenders Association will see salaries rise over the next four years. Supervisors set aside to $959,000 in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, $2.6 million in 2019/2020, $3.2 million in 2020/2021 and $4 million in 2021/2022 to raise salaries.
Read MoreBy Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney
On Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed an amended complaint against defendant Tristan Curl, which had additional felony charges for the distribution of child pornography and advertising of and distribution of child pornography. Curl, a resident of Oakley, California and a student living in Austin, Texas, was extradited on Tuesday, Dec. 11 back to Contra Costa County by the Sheriff’s Office. A Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge approved the extradition of Curl from Travis County Jail.
Curl is a student at St. Edwards University. Wednesday afternoon Curl was arraigned in the Pittsburg Superior Court and he entered a not guilty plea. He remains in custody on $500,000 bail.
The case against Curl is ongoing and there may be additional victims related to the distribution or creation of pornography involving students in Contra Costa County. Anyone with information about Curl’s alleged activities please contact Oakley Police Department Officer Casey Minister at 925-625-8855.
Originally, on November 28, our office filed criminal charges against Curl for school threats at Freedom High School and for threatening a school administrator. (See related article) Curl now faces a total of 10 felony counts.
Case information: People v. Curl, Docket Number 01-187978-2
Read MoreElected officials and staff from Brentwood, East County and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the new Balfour Road – Highway 4 Interchange on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Photo by Allen Payton
20 years since the right-of-way was purchased, completes $1.3 billion in East County transportation projects
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and its partners, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), the Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority (ECCRFFA), the California Department of Transportation, and the City of Brentwood, held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the Highway 4 and Balfour Road Interchange Project. CCTA was joined by State, regional, and local officials to celebrate the completion of the interchange project, which brings much-needed traffic relief to Brentwood and Contra Costa County.
“Today’s ribbon cutting is one more symbol of the transformation taking place in Brentwood and Eastern Contra Costa County,” said CCTA Vice Chair and Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor. “This project has reduced traffic, improved safety, and will have long term economic benefits for our region.”
He stated that the project was “on time and under budget.”
“This organization does a wonderful job. This is an amazing structure and it will be here for generations,” Taylor added.
Photo courtesy of CCTA.
The Balfour Road Interchange Project replaced the existing signalized, at-grade intersection at Balfour Road and State Route 4 with a grade-separated interchange and corresponding on- and off-ramps. The project involved raising State Route 4 to cross over Balfour Road, creating a new, safer undercrossing. This new configuration has eased traffic congestion and improved safety at this intersection for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians
The project was one of the first in the state to use innovative drone technology to monitor construction progress. With assistance from engineering firm Alta Vista Solutions, CCTA flew drones equipped with a combination of LiDAR and camera technology to measure the volumes of earth that were moved during the $42 million construction project. Utilizing this technology enabled CCTA to track construction progress firsthand and improve safety by taking workers out of live traffic.
“In 2008 when I was rescued from CalTrans, we finished the work on the Loveridge interchange,” stated CCTA Executive Director Randy Iwasaki. “Here we are and now we’re opening the last segment of the projects we had identified. Today marks the official opening of the $42 million Highway 4, Balfour Road interchange.”
“We are always looking for new ways to increase safety and efficiency on construction projects,” he shared. “Drones give us aerial views of the site that were hard to come by before, making it safer for surveyors to do their job and helping us manage the large volume of dirt that was used to improve this intersection. This technology also allowed us to monitor environmentally sensitive areas without disturbing the habitat.”
Photo courtesy of CCTA.
Innovation on the project extended beyond the use of technology. CCTA also facilitated a collaborative, multi-agency agreement that saved both time and money for the Balfour Road Interchange project. Prior to the start of construction, CCTA and the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) worked together to gain Caltrans approval to leave the 90-inch Los Vaqueros Pipeline in place along the project alignment, essentially building the new highway infrastructure in conformity with the existing pipeline. Rather than a complete relocation of the relatively new pipeline, CCTA, CCWD and Caltrans arrived at a design that maintained the reliability and longevity of the infrastructure, worked for all agencies, reduced environmental and community impacts – which saved Contra Costans approximately $18 million in environmental permitting, property acquisition and construction costs.
Constance Holdaway, Vice President of the CCWD Board of Directors said, “We have a 90-inch pipeline running through this area from the Los Vaqueros Reservoir.” She gave credit to “creative minds” which “ssaved money and minimized environmental impacts.”
State Assemblyman Jim Frazier, who served on the CCTA Board in the past, and is now Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee shared some background on the funding for the project.
“We delivered $83 million for Highway 4 improvements including this project,” he stated. “We went hat in hand” to the state capital asking for funding.
“You were very sick, that day,” Taylor interjected.
“Yes, I was. I checked myself out of the hospital to go that day. Then I checked myself back in,” Frazier shared.
“I have to recognize the good work of the CCTA, and the contractors Brosamer & Wall and Bay Cities,” he continued. “I want to thank the CC building and trades and the CHP working to protect the workers.
“Randy and I are working on the Sand Creek (Road) project from the interchange to Kaiser, with the developers,” Frazier stated. “I’m also working with Tri Delta Transit and instead of BART, we’re looking at a bus rapid transit system from Hillcrest to Marsh Creek Road.”
Supervisor Diane Burgis, Chair of the Eastern Contra Costa Regional Fee and Financing Authority, which collects and provided developer fees for the project, said “Today, we have a project that really contributes to the quality of life in Eastern Contra Costa County. Residents who use this road…they’re going to get home quicker.”
She acknowledged Dale Dennis who was the lead staff member for the Bypass Authority.
“Those of us who are using this freeway are already enjoying the benefits of it,” Burgis added
Former State Route 4 Bypass Authority Chairman, Allen Payton, offered some history about the project, honoring Tom Torlakson, who was a County Supervisor at the time he proposed the idea of the extension to Highway 4, formerly known as the “bypass”. Payton stated it was 20 years ago, this year that the authority approved the purchase of 250 feet of right-of-way for the segment between Lone Tree Way and Balfour Road for $950,000 to provide room for four lanes of traffic and two lines of transit.
“It started out in 1994 with three votes in favor versus eight votes against at the CCTA,” he shared. “It took us four years to get to an 11-0 vote to approve the road.”
He thanked Iwasaki and Frazier for “finding the hidden pockets of state money” to complete the freeway extension. Payton also encouraged the elected representatives in attendance, specifically Frazier, of the need to speed up the approval and implementation process for traffic improvements. Iwaski agreed.
Iwasaki then mentioned the funding from the county’s half-cent sales tax Measure J and thanked CCTA staff members Jack Hall, Stephanie Hu, Linsay Willis, Susan Miller, Tim Hale and Ross Chittenden for their work on the project. He also acknowledged “the engineering and design, and construction teams and all the subcontractors, the men and women who built this project.” They included Quincy Engineering, specifically Carl Gibson, the chief designer on the project and PSOMAS, specifically Bonaventure Ezeji, the resident engineer.
Iwasaki then honored Steve Kersevan, the City of Brentwood Traffic Engineer for his help on the project and presented him with a plaque.
“I was just doing my job. Now I can retire” Kersevan said with a smile.
The extension to Highway 4 is the only stretch of new freeway in the entire nine-county Bay Area between 1998 and 2018, and was the first section of state highway in California history to be partially funded with local developer fees.
About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net
About the Highway 4 Projects
The Highway 4 projects include improvements that will help modernize eastern Contra Costa County. The projects expand Highway 4 from four to eight lanes between Loveridge Road in Pittsburg to just west of State Route 160 in Antioch, from two to four lanes from Lone Tree Way to Balfour Road in Brentwood, add missing connector ramps at the State Route 160/Highway 4 interchange, and add a BART extension from Pittsburg to Antioch (eBART). This will greatly improve transit accessibility for the region, help reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the quality of life for the more than 250,000 residents of eastern Contra Costa County. The projects have been carefully staged to keep 130,000 vehicles per day moving as major construction and demolition work continue. These projects, plus previously constructed projects in the region, bring the total investment in East County to $1.3 billion, including State, Federal, Contra Costa Transportation Authority Measures C and J, regional bridge tolls, and other funds.
For additional information about the Balfour Road Interchange Project, please visit www.4eastcounty.org.
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