Four in Pleasant Hill, two in Concord, two in Brentwood and one in Pittsburg
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney
A joint enforcement strike force issued over $200,000 in administrative fines to nine Contra Costa County restaurants for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance, announced District Attorney Diana Becton. On June 26 and July 20, 2018, investigators from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Department of Industrial Relations’ Labor Commissioner’s Office, and Employment Development Department conducted surprise inspections at Contra Costa County restaurants suspected of deliberately evading the obligation to provide workers’ compensation insurance to employees.
The citations issued by the Labor Commissioner’s Office allege that the restaurants cumulatively employed 55 workers without providing insurance coverage in the event of an injury on the job. The restaurants failed to respond to a warning letter from the District Attorney’s Office in July of 2017.
District Attorney Diana Becton said, “The District Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the workers of Contra Costa County. Operations like these are an important part of obtaining compliance before an employee finds out the hard way that their employer did not have coverage for a severe injury.”
The Labor Code requires employers to provide workers compensation insurance to cover employees in the event of an on-the-job injury.
“This operation protects employers who are playing by the rules from being undercut by those who don’t,” said California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “We also issued these citations because employees are entitled to workers’ compensation insurance if they are hurt on the job.”
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 the employers 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.
Joint Enforcement Strike Results:
- Meson Azteca, 2237 & 2239 Morello Ave., Pleasant Hill ($71,668)
- New Lim’s Garden, 4340 Clayton Rd., Concord ($51,262)
- Dragon City Restaurant, 71 Sand Creek Rd., Brentwood ($28,500)
- La Mordida, 607 Gregory Lane, Ste. 140, Pleasant Hill ($16,500)
- Sushi One, 3111 Balfour Rd., Brentwood ($15,000)
- Sunshine Café, 1908 Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill ($7,500)
- Tacos El Patron, 2290 Monument Blvd., Pleasant Hill ($7,500)
- Grant Street Pub and Pizzeria, 1822 Grant St., Concord ($6,500)
- Sunshine Café, 2227 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg ($4,500)
The two new southbound lanes of Highway 4 between Sand Creek and Balfour Roads in Brentwood opened today, Saturday, July 21, 2018.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) has completed the first stage of construction on the Balfour Road Interchange Project, and has opened newly constructed lanes to the public as of Saturday morning. This major project milestone is part of a $42.7 million-dollar construction project to improve safety and efficiency at this busy intersection in Brentwood.
A traffic switch will occur this weekend that will move eastbound Highway 4 drivers onto the newly built, elevated alignment over Balfour Road. Additionally, eastbound Highway 4 motorists will be able to use newly constructed on and off-ramps. A new signal will be activated at the intersection of Balfour Road and the new off-ramp, and directional signage will be in place to help inform motorists.
“This is a big deal for Brentwood”, said Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor. “Balfour Road is a major intersection, and the opening of these new lanes bring us one step closer to making this a better, safer intersection for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.”
“Our goal is to help keep Contra Costa moving”, stated CCTA Executive Director Randy Iwasaki. “The Balfour Road Interchange Project is the final piece in the modernization of Highway 4 that our agency has led over the past eight years – and we are excited to be delivering on our promise to the public by bringing improved mobility to eastern Contra Costa County.”
The new Balfour Road on- and off-ramps from and to southbound Highway 4 opened today, Saturday, July 21, 2018.
“We purchased the right-of-way for the four lanes of traffic and two lines of transit down the center, 20 years ago, this year,” said Allen Payton, Chairman of the State Route 4 Bypass Authority in 1998. “Half of that section, of what was known as the Highway 4 Bypass, was paid for with local developer fees. The other half was to be paid for with state funds. But that commitment took years to be fulfilled. Special thanks go to Randy Iwasaki for helping secure the money from the state and to the CCTA for getting the project completed.”
A portion of the funds to complete the project were from Measure J, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation which is allocated by the CCTA. The effort for the project began in the early 1990’s and took until 1998 to get approval from the CCTA Board of Directors, without any financial commitment at that time.
Visualizations of the new eastbound on and off-ramps, as well as eastbound through traffic can be viewed online at:
Traffic on westbound Highway 4 towards Antioch will remain on the same alignment and continue to operate without any changes at this time. The entire project is expected to be complete in late 2018 or early 2019.
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 with a new stop in Pittsburg and Antioch. 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. View the story of Highway 4 at http://4eastcounty.org/stories/
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.
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Judy Barkas. Photo from her Facebook page. No photo of Anthony Gaines could be located online.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Homicide Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division have arrested two suspects in connection with an El Sobrante homicide Wednesday night. (See related article).
The two suspects are identified as 22-year-old Anthony Gaines of Richmond and 57-year old Judy Barkas of El Sobrante. Both have been booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on murder and conspiracy charges. They are each being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Last night at approximately 10:46 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 4800 block of San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, for a report of a person shot.
Deputies arrived on scene and located a shooting victim lying in a driveway. Deputies started CPR on the victim and requested the fire department and an ambulance to respond to the scene. The 22-year-old male victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene. His identity is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin. The autopsy this morning found the cause of death to be a gunshot wound.
The investigation is ongoing. Detectives are still trying to establish the exact motive in the case, but know the individuals are acquainted with each other and appear to have an ongoing dispute.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
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Photo from the CHP-Contra Costa Twitter feed.
Car catches fire, closes all westbound lanes
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
This morning (7/21/18) at about 9:02, an Orinda Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop for vehicle code violations in the area of St. Stephens Drive and Tahos Road in Orinda. As the officer approached the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed leading the officer on a pursuit.
Suspects’ burned car from CHP chase and crash on Highway 24 in Orinda, Saturday morning, July 21, 2018. Photo by KTVU Fox2 News.
The suspect vehicle entered westbound Highway 24. The officer lost sight of the suspect vehicle and later came upon a single vehicle collision involving the vehicle on Highway 24 near the BART station.
First aid was rendered to the two occupants of the vehicle. They were taken to a local hospital, where one was pronounced deceased. They are not being identified at this time. The officer involved fatal incident protocol has been invoked. This incident is being investigated by the District Attorney’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and CHP.
According to an ABC7 News report the collision resulted in the shutdown of the westbound lanes of Highway 24 and “the CHP reported the overturned car was engulfed in flames and that an ambulance was called to the scene.” According to a tweet on the CHP-Contra Costa Twitter feed, all vehicles were being diverted to the Orinda Road offramp.
Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at approximately 10:46 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 4800 block of San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, for a report of a person shot at that location.
Deputies arrived on scene and located a shooting victim lying in a driveway. Deputies started CPR on the victim and requested the fire department and an ambulance to respond to the scene.
The 22-year-old male victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is not being identified at this time. The investigation is ongoing and detectives are interviewing several people at this time.
Anyone with any information on this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
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Artist’s rendering of a CyberTran vehicle and station with overhead solar panels generating the power to operate the system.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ Transportation/Planning Committee will be holding a first of its kind, off-sight meeting to learn about an “Ultra Light Rail Transit System in the Alameda County East Bay Region” known as CyberTran. The meeting will be held at the U.C. Berkeley Global Campus in Richmond, where CyberTran International, Inc. has their headquarters and lab.
Overview rendering of the offline CyberTran stations.
The meeting is being held in response to the recent action by the BART Board to vote down the extension to Livermore, as the Board of Supervisors looks for an alternative transit system from the Pleasanton BART Station east.
“Alameda County has critical needs when it comes to traffic congestion. We can help,” said Dexter Vizinau, President of CyberTran International.
The solar-powered CyberTran system has been tested including by BART’s engineering department, which determined it can be built for a fourth of the cost of a BART system and operate a fraction of the cost. It can move as many people per hour per direction as BART can through the Bay Tube, which is 17,000 passengers.
During the meeting, the supervisors who serve on the committee will discuss a resolution in support of using the CyberTran system in Alameda County. The agenda for the meeting can be viewed here.
For more information about CyberTran, visit www.cybertran.com.
Editor’s Note: The publisher of the Herald has a financial interest in CyberTran International, Inc.
Read MoreDear Editor:
As we celebrate the 242nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year, I find myself writing to my fellow Americans in a rebuttal to Supervisor Federal Glover’s saddening attempt to smear our country.
As a former (for now) civil servant to a sitting public servant, I must vocally protest!
Mr. Glover, whenever I am confronted with liberal slanderous and ignorant platitudes. I must surmise which of two camps the offender stands in.
The first is the “forgive them for they know not what they do” populace that has yet to verify all the misinformation that has been pumped into their heads since grade school through college and even now through pop culture. Vladimir Lenin’s coined description as “useful idiots”.
The second and more insidious camp lies in the viperous pit of knowing perfectly well that misinformation and deceit is an acceptable means to an end.
“To make an omelet one must break a few eggs.” – Karl Marx
I will leave your dubious stance to the court of public opinion.
This new diatribe from liberals about the Trump administration’s positions and stands on major issues are “an affront to our America values,” is, in fact, an affront to the public’s collective intelligence, as it mocks us by being cute, by half.
Whos American values, sir? The liberal Socialist’s values? well, then you would be right!
This sad attempt to conquer by division is contrary to the very concept of America’s value.
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr’s values of unification not division. where he declared at the Lincoln Memorial:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
There is but only one race, the human race. In all my journeys I have met albino Norwegians, yet they are not white. I have grown up around very dark-skinned brothers, yet they are not black. There is no such thing as a black or white person.
We are all flesh toned humans that bleed red, cry wet and dream in multi colors. Not until and when we unlearn this “adult” fairytale and embrace this self-evident reality, will we ever see the true color blind promised land.
We cannot be sliced and diced by way of sexual or psychological preferences.
That cannot be what separates us, that is very private and personal.
Not a tool to use as leverage for destruction, alienation, and kindling for an unsustainable ideology that feed off human subjugation and misery.
We cannot continue to be divided by economic class, age, sex, religion, thought nor skin color. For on this Independence Day:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain un-a-lienable Rights, (as in no man can take it from you, nor can you give it away.)
Which brings me to a more important point. Thomas Jefferson’s original draft stated:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain un-a-lienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of property.”
For his goal was to abolish slavery at the genesis of our independence. however due to immense pressure from the liberal southern factions. and the need to not fight a revolutionary war on two fronts. One being the world power of England as well as the slave colonies. But be unanimously united. He had to relent but not without a stern warning that the blood of this unattended injustice will be paid down the road in a tragic civil war.
We must not cower in the face of injustice especially not on this 4th of July.
As it has been said many times, if we do not learn the lessons of history we will be doomed to repeat it.
We are now faced with a new “slave race” that of the plight of the illegal alien.
For many amongst us are truly not free on this Independence Day.
For political gain, they have been exploited or decades on purpose and like some sick case of national Munchausen by proxy.
This ends now!
I present to you my fellow Americans a new Declaration of Independence.
Before you is a document created in the Spring of 2006 by Hispanic illegal youths as a written solution from their point of view. For too long the immigration conversation has been an A, B so “C” you later.
This one developed and drafted by the illegal community on how to constitutionally and fairly reboot the broken American Immigration system. not by pitting one group against another. but by locking arm in arm to fix it together.
Don’t believe the mouthpieces that ‘represent’ the illegal community. They do not. Ask them, for they live this unnecessary existence every day.
I give you “La Patria Declaration”.
Fernando Navarro
Antioch
LA PATRIA DECLARATION
The signed original La Patria Declaration.
In Peace and Justice… and Being of Good Courage…
We the people of the United States and of the whole AMERICA….
Declare on this (two thousand and six years) our intent of Union and
Support of the Constitution Of the United States, and our commitment to her peoples and her Laws……to take up our task, through our shed blood and drained tears, make fertile freedoms roots!
WHEREAS We ADOPT…
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Right to the pursuit of Happiness..”
WHEREAS We EMBRACE…
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
WHEREAS We DECLARE…
“FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST …..THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST”… AND THAT NO MAN BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.”
WHEREAS We DOCUMENT ………
“NO MAN BE PROSECUTED OR BLAMED FOR THE CRIMES AND ACTS OF OUR PREDECESSORS
BUT BY THE FACTUAL ACTS AFTER ONE’s BIRTH…LET THE PAST BE!!!!
WHEREAS We SUPPORT ………
“TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY!!”
NOW, THEREFORE………
Our battle cry:
BORDERS. LANGUAGE. CULTURE.
********************** BORDERS **********************
WHEREAS … We recognize our status as “illegal”
We the signatories declare our desire to totally secure and close the southern border and frontiers…To support AMERICA’S SOVEREIGNTY … Protect Her people and her laws in the post-September 11th era.
“It is our mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers that are perishing in the wilderness.”
We also Declare that the legal portals be justly open and properly filtered to allow eager Immigrants to process orderly and be documented!
“Let us be “REBORN” legally under liberty’s watch.”
“For an attack of Mass Destruction does not discriminate LEGAL from ILLEGAL”
WHEREAS We DO NOT support an amnesty, but reform the immigration process!!!
WHEREAS we declare our union to STOP the black market of HUMAN, NARCOTICS and TERRORIST traffickers….AND Support all patriots that wish to aid on America’s domestic frontline.
********************** LANGUAGE **********************
We the signatories Declare that We come together to accept and adopt English as the official Language of the United States of America.
We also declare that our natural language, not be a burden on America, but that We take the burden upon ourselves to speak her tongue.
“He who knows MORE than one language is capable of more than one MAN.”
********************** CULTURE **********************
WHEREAS…
“TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY” is ours
The signatories Declare that they come together to embrace America’s mission of excellence and doing things right…TO NOT CUT CORNERS..
WHEREAS We embrace PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY….to accept and RECTIFY our discrepancies.
“FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, IT IS NOT FREE FROM ITS CONSEQUENCES.”
WE DECLARE OUR DESIRE TO MELT INTO THE FABRIC OF “OLD GLORY’S” THREADS…
Due to design or by OVERT CONSEQUENCES …We have been DENIED OUR OPPORTUNITY for the pursuit of happiness. And thus declare in good FAITH our commitment to PEACEFULLY and ORDERLY process our status into the sunlight.
Inspect our background, DOCUMENT our Genesis and invite us into the AMERICAN FOLD!!
WHEREAS We are a conservative people that SHARES AMERICAS VALUES. GOD, FAMILY and PATRIOTISM thusly…
WHEREAS We embrace the American concept of owning one’s actions and consequences and the concept of fairness of getting in line.
THUSLY To offset our influx we propose and endorse the following platforms:
WHEREAS We support VOTER I.D. Reform.
WHEREAS We support a FAIR TAX
WHEREAS We support School VOUCHERS.
AMERICA IS UNDER ASSAULT FROM ANTI-AMERICAN FORCES AND THAT CANCER MUST BE
CHALANGED……..WE ARE HERE TO HELP HER ….BUILD HER UP AND WAVE HER FLAG
….OUR FLAG TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.
This is our projection and timeline!
“BORON Y CUENTA NUEVA”
LET US START A-NEW………. We Propose the following GOALS
Immediately closure of the southern Border, be it by a physical structure or by a manned presence (military or federal, civilian)
Open the legal Gates…
We Propose processing facilities such as FORT ISLAS ANGELES,… FORT NOGALES,… FORT LAREDO AND POINT ELLIS.
Let us the “illegal” Immigrants process… go to these new “ANGEL” and “ELLIS Island” ports and DECLARE ourselves… Document us, To establish our official I.D.’s, to take our fingerprints.
“Let us be “REBORN” Legally and above board… become taxpayers.
Let us Prove ourselves to the American People.
Let us PAY as we GO.
“THE EGALITARIAN and AMERICAN SOLUTION!”
Let us own and earn our remedy!
Present us with two options.
1) If our goal is ultimately the American dream of becoming U.S. citizenship, they our penalty is for us to leave the country and get in line.
2) If our goal is only residencie then our penalty and path will be to BE PERMANENTLY BARRED from U.S. citizenship. Report to an immigration processing and orientation center.
A} Document and Start as a EXPLORE level migrant worker “ he who wishes to
work here after processing wishes to come and go, pays taxes but is not
eligible for any social assistance …no welfare, etc.
B} After 7 years an EXPLORE class immigrant can apply for a ENDEAVOR level Status “he who wishes to become a resident” can qualify for residency if migrant has kept his or her criminal record clean and learns English. They are now eligible for public assistance but cannot vote…
C} For illegal immigrants who opted for the goal of citizenship and have left the country and After 7 years an immigrant can apply for a ENTERPRISE level status “he who wishes to become a citizen” can qualify for citizenship if said migrant has still kept his/her criminal record clean. And must pass a thorough civil entrance exam.
“IT IS URBAN LEGEND THAT ALL MIGRANTS SEEK CITIZENSHIP… SOME JUST WANT TO WORK.”
********************** TIMELINE **********************
OPERATION “STAR FIELD”
The rebooting and reformation of the immigration process will take 1-2 years to complete.
DAY ONE. – Full deployment of national guard/ military to augment border patrols and to fully cover the Northern and southern borders.
DAY TWO – Start full construction of the double security fence with manned watchtowers from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
DAY THREE – Announcement in advance of the NEW documentation process for undocumented/illegal alien migrants is to start. (orderly processing and documentation/filtering at the NEW border processing stations) Full public dissemination THAT THERE WILL BE A 1-2 YEAR opportunity TO DOCUMENT, That after that 1-2 year window, ALL IMMIGRATION LAWS WILL BE EXTREMELY ENFORCED AND APPLIED. “Anyone still holding out must have ulterior motivations to not come clean!”
DAY FOUR – THROUGH END OF DOCUMENTATION PERIOD… Migrants checking in at the border will be processed for criminal records, health screening, I.D. processing and RE-documentation. DEBRIEFING OF THE AMERICAN experience AND THE EXPLANATION OF RULES OF their STATUS.
WE NOW HAVE A SECURE BORDER. A DOCUMENTED POPULATION,(BIOMETRIC NATIONAL I.D.)… A REVERSE “MAGNETIC POLARITY” OR “SOURING OF THE MILK” FOR ANY ONE WHO IS STILL HERE ILLIGEALY… AND A CHECK VALVE AT THE BORDER. ANY ONE COMING TO THE U.S. TO WORK WILL WANT TO COME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND IF ANY ONE PULLS OFF GETTING IN ILLEGALY (GETTING THROUGH THE U.S. PRESENCE) WILL FIND THEMSELVES BEING REPELLED NATURALY BY THE SYSTEM (NO NATIONAL I.D.). LET GRAVITY DO ITS JOB.
THIS IS OUR PLAN
THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT
THIS IS OUR SOLUTION
VIVA AMERICA……….. GOD BLESS AMERICA
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Antioch School Board Trustees Debra Vinson and Walter Ruehlig will challenge incumbent Jeff Belle for County School Board. Photos from AUSD and CCCBOE.
By Allen Payton
Long-serving Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig let it be known on Saturday, July 14 that he will not run for reelection and instead join fellow Trustee Debra Vinson and take on County School Board Vice President Jeff Belle in November’s election.
While Vinson, finishing her first and rather contentious term on the Antioch School Board, didn’t officially announce her campaign, she did ride in a car in the Antioch July 4th Parade with a sign indicating her decision to run for the county board. In 2017 Vinson was censured by her fellow board members for her interactions with district employees. (See related article). She was also passed over for the board presidency, following her year as Vice President. (See related article).
On one issue all three will most likely agree, which is approving private charter schools. Both Vinson and Ruehlig were two of the three board members who, earlier this year, voted in favor of the East Bay Tech Academy middle and high charter school petitions, and Ruehlig was one of the three who voted for the Rocketship elementary charter school petition in 2016. Belle has voted against one and approved five other charter schools while on the county board.
“I have decided definitely to run for Area 5 County Board of Education,” Ruehlig stated, following rumors of the possibility.
In his official announcement, he wrote:
I will be submitting my candidacy papers on Monday, July 16th to run for Area 5 of the County Board of Education, which covers Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Clyde, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg.
In June of 1968, I dedicated myself to public service and youth education when I taught English for the Peace Corps in Sultandag, a rural village in Turkey that had no electricity. Fifty years later, the idealism continues.I believe that that my twelve-year service, with three years as President, on the Antioch School Board, and my experience with the Pittsburg Unified School District as a California Department of Rehabilitation Workability Program Director for adults with disabilities and as a career counselor, have given me useful insight into County Trustee duties. I am excited by the challenge of overseeing career training programs, special education, community day schools, and facilities for incarcerated juveniles.
I was a late-bloomer myself but, fortunately, had teachers who didn’t give up on me. I eventually caught fire and worked my way through college. My passion for sharing opportunity and persisting with high-risk, disadvantaged or under motivated students is my way of returning thanks.
Aside from counseling, teaching and administrative background, I feel I have the proven temperament and intangible skill sets requisite for good governance.
I enjoy communication and transparency. I am open, creative and innovative but believe in sober budgeting, no-nonsense classroom behavior standards and back to the basics core curriculum. I am pragmatic and put my ego at the door to focus on getting the task at hand done one building block at a time. In this age of divisiveness, I am proud to say that I can get along without always going along. I am a consensus-builder but no pushover. I cannot be bullied or bought.
I look forward to meeting the voters of Area 5, hearing their concerns, and presenting my vision. I welcome their scrutiny and would be honored by their support. I pledge not to let them, or their kids, down.
Walter Ruehlig
Candidate, Area 5
Contra Costa County Board of Education
Incumbent Jeff Belle
Elected in 2014, Belle has faced a variety of controversies before and during his term on the County School Board. In January 2016, Belle admitted to claiming he was a respiratory care practitioner even though he didn’t have a license and was fined $8,200 by the state. (See related article).
In December 2016, facing prosecution by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for lying on his ballot statement, Belle admitted in court that he didn’t have a college degree which he claimed. He agreed to community service to avoid a trial and possible fine of up to $1,000. (See related article)
He and his wife had to move from their home in Antioch in spring of 2015 for failure to pay rent, due to a loss of his wife’s job and Belle not earning enough through his consulting business. They separated and Mrs. Belle moved to Sacramento. As a result, questions have arisen about Belle’s residency. He rented rooms in other people’s homes in the district. The two have since reconciled and Belle now splits his time between his wife’s place and a home in the district.
In 2017 Belle suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Recently, he posted a fundraising effort on his Facebook page to help him pay off his medical bills. The total raised was $50 from former County School Board Trustee Richard Asadoorian.
Recently, Belle has served as a producer for a TV show entitled Modern Ageless Beauty for women over age 40.
Filing opens on July 16th and closes August 10th if Belle decides to seek reelection, which is expected. If not, the filing period will be extended to August 15th. The election will be held on Tuesday, November 6th.
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By Sergeant Adam Hart, Concord Police Traffic Bureau
On Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 12:05 AM the Concord Police Department received a call regarding an auto vs. bicyclist collision on San Miguel Road near Systron Drive Officers arrived on-scene along with medical personnel from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. The bicyclist was identified as a 60-year-old male from Concord. The identity of the deceased bicyclist is not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin by the Contra Costa County Office of the Coroner.
The driver of the vehicle is a 57-year-old male from Antioch. He remained at the scene and was the caller who called in the collision. He is cooperating with the investigation. He was not injured during the collision.
Alcohol/drugs are not believed to be a factor in this collision at this time.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation. Preliminary investigation has revealed that both the vehicle and the bicyclist were travelling south on San Miguel Rd. at the time of the collision.
San Miguel Road between Systron Drive and the entrance to 1080 San Miguel Road was closed for approximately 3.5 hours to perform roadway measurements, collect evidence, and conduct the investigation.
Additional details are not being released at this time.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this collision is encouraged to contact Officer Lawrence at (925) 671-5097.
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The planned headliners for the now cancelled festival.
By Luke Johnson
The XO Music Festival wasted an estimated $500,000, according to Director Sami “Styles” Habib.
The three-day event was canceled because World Class Entertainment did not provide proper insurance by this morning’s deadline, according to Joe Brengle, CEO of Contra Costa Event Park.
“We are the ones who are victimized here,” Habib said.
He added that his party supplied multiple sources for insurance, but they were rejected by Contra Costa Event Park. However, Brengle said those insurance agreements did not fulfill the park’s requirements.
The XO Music Festival faced several allegations online of being a scam over the past few weeks.
However, Brengle disagrees with those accusations and said the event’s management team was guilty of being too ambitious.
“I believe it wasn’t a scam,” he said. “I think they bit off more than they could chew.”
Brengle added that the negative media attention toward the event had nothing to do with its discontinuation.
The event organizers billed 100-plus artists — with marquee names such as T.I., Ludacris, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and the Bay Area’s own Mistah F.A.B. — to perform on seven different stages throughout the park. It also advertised stand-up comedy, carnival rides, roller skating and a foam pit, among other activities.
Habib said ticket sales were much lower than expected, but buyers were instantly refunded through the ticket agency, GrowTix.
Initially, Habib said the music festival lost approximately $750,000, but later said $500,000 was a more accurate number. He then said the financial loss was “definitely” in the six figures. He declined to comment when asked who provided those funds.
Brengle confirmed that Contra Costa Event Park kept $27,500 from the full rental agreement. He explained that money was already spent in preparation for this festival and it was too late to book another event for this weekend.
Habib is facing real estate fraud charges under the name Habidulla Qidar, according to CBS. He and his brother were identified by Fremont Police for being arrested in February involving a fraudulent home rental scheme.
Regarding the event’s authenticity, many people expressed concerns online about some artists’ performing schedules. Both Ludacris and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are promoted for the Chalice Festival in Southern California this weekend. However, Habib said musicians often book two shows in one day and it was requested by their agencies.
Habib said he plans to eventually produce the XO Music Festival, but at a new location.
Read More
Four in Pleasant Hill, two in Concord, two in Brentwood and one in Pittsburg
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney
A joint enforcement strike force issued over $200,000 in administrative fines to nine Contra Costa County restaurants for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance, announced District Attorney Diana Becton. On June 26 and July 20, 2018, investigators from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Department of Industrial Relations’ Labor Commissioner’s Office, and Employment Development Department conducted surprise inspections at Contra Costa County restaurants suspected of deliberately evading the obligation to provide workers’ compensation insurance to employees.
The citations issued by the Labor Commissioner’s Office allege that the restaurants cumulatively employed 55 workers without providing insurance coverage in the event of an injury on the job. The restaurants failed to respond to a warning letter from the District Attorney’s Office in July of 2017.
District Attorney Diana Becton said, “The District Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the workers of Contra Costa County. Operations like these are an important part of obtaining compliance before an employee finds out the hard way that their employer did not have coverage for a severe injury.”
The Labor Code requires employers to provide workers compensation insurance to cover employees in the event of an on-the-job injury.
“This operation protects employers who are playing by the rules from being undercut by those who don’t,” said California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “We also issued these citations because employees are entitled to workers’ compensation insurance if they are hurt on the job.”
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 the employers 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.
Joint Enforcement Strike Results:
- Meson Azteca, 2237 & 2239 Morello Ave., Pleasant Hill ($71,668)
- New Lim’s Garden, 4340 Clayton Rd., Concord ($51,262)
- Dragon City Restaurant, 71 Sand Creek Rd., Brentwood ($28,500)
- La Mordida, 607 Gregory Lane, Ste. 140, Pleasant Hill ($16,500)
- Sushi One, 3111 Balfour Rd., Brentwood ($15,000)
- Sunshine Café, 1908 Oak Park Blvd. Pleasant Hill ($7,500)
- Tacos El Patron, 2290 Monument Blvd., Pleasant Hill ($7,500)
- Grant Street Pub and Pizzeria, 1822 Grant St., Concord ($6,500)
- Sunshine Café, 2227 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg ($4,500)
The two new southbound lanes of Highway 4 between Sand Creek and Balfour Roads in Brentwood opened today, Saturday, July 21, 2018.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) has completed the first stage of construction on the Balfour Road Interchange Project, and has opened newly constructed lanes to the public as of Saturday morning. This major project milestone is part of a $42.7 million-dollar construction project to improve safety and efficiency at this busy intersection in Brentwood.
A traffic switch will occur this weekend that will move eastbound Highway 4 drivers onto the newly built, elevated alignment over Balfour Road. Additionally, eastbound Highway 4 motorists will be able to use newly constructed on and off-ramps. A new signal will be activated at the intersection of Balfour Road and the new off-ramp, and directional signage will be in place to help inform motorists.
“This is a big deal for Brentwood”, said Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor. “Balfour Road is a major intersection, and the opening of these new lanes bring us one step closer to making this a better, safer intersection for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.”
“Our goal is to help keep Contra Costa moving”, stated CCTA Executive Director Randy Iwasaki. “The Balfour Road Interchange Project is the final piece in the modernization of Highway 4 that our agency has led over the past eight years – and we are excited to be delivering on our promise to the public by bringing improved mobility to eastern Contra Costa County.”
The new Balfour Road on- and off-ramps from and to southbound Highway 4 opened today, Saturday, July 21, 2018.
“We purchased the right-of-way for the four lanes of traffic and two lines of transit down the center, 20 years ago, this year,” said Allen Payton, Chairman of the State Route 4 Bypass Authority in 1998. “Half of that section, of what was known as the Highway 4 Bypass, was paid for with local developer fees. The other half was to be paid for with state funds. But that commitment took years to be fulfilled. Special thanks go to Randy Iwasaki for helping secure the money from the state and to the CCTA for getting the project completed.”
A portion of the funds to complete the project were from Measure J, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation which is allocated by the CCTA. The effort for the project began in the early 1990’s and took until 1998 to get approval from the CCTA Board of Directors, without any financial commitment at that time.
Visualizations of the new eastbound on and off-ramps, as well as eastbound through traffic can be viewed online at:
Traffic on westbound Highway 4 towards Antioch will remain on the same alignment and continue to operate without any changes at this time. The entire project is expected to be complete in late 2018 or early 2019.
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 with a new stop in Pittsburg and Antioch. 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. View the story of Highway 4 at http://4eastcounty.org/stories/
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.
Read MoreJudy Barkas. Photo from her Facebook page. No photo of Anthony Gaines could be located online.
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
Homicide Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division have arrested two suspects in connection with an El Sobrante homicide Wednesday night. (See related article).
The two suspects are identified as 22-year-old Anthony Gaines of Richmond and 57-year old Judy Barkas of El Sobrante. Both have been booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on murder and conspiracy charges. They are each being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Last night at approximately 10:46 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 4800 block of San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, for a report of a person shot.
Deputies arrived on scene and located a shooting victim lying in a driveway. Deputies started CPR on the victim and requested the fire department and an ambulance to respond to the scene. The 22-year-old male victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene. His identity is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin. The autopsy this morning found the cause of death to be a gunshot wound.
The investigation is ongoing. Detectives are still trying to establish the exact motive in the case, but know the individuals are acquainted with each other and appear to have an ongoing dispute.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MorePhoto from the CHP-Contra Costa Twitter feed.
Car catches fire, closes all westbound lanes
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
This morning (7/21/18) at about 9:02, an Orinda Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop for vehicle code violations in the area of St. Stephens Drive and Tahos Road in Orinda. As the officer approached the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed leading the officer on a pursuit.
Suspects’ burned car from CHP chase and crash on Highway 24 in Orinda, Saturday morning, July 21, 2018. Photo by KTVU Fox2 News.
The suspect vehicle entered westbound Highway 24. The officer lost sight of the suspect vehicle and later came upon a single vehicle collision involving the vehicle on Highway 24 near the BART station.
First aid was rendered to the two occupants of the vehicle. They were taken to a local hospital, where one was pronounced deceased. They are not being identified at this time. The officer involved fatal incident protocol has been invoked. This incident is being investigated by the District Attorney’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and CHP.
According to an ABC7 News report the collision resulted in the shutdown of the westbound lanes of Highway 24 and “the CHP reported the overturned car was engulfed in flames and that an ambulance was called to the scene.” According to a tweet on the CHP-Contra Costa Twitter feed, all vehicles were being diverted to the Orinda Road offramp.
Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreBy Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at approximately 10:46 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 4800 block of San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, for a report of a person shot at that location.
Deputies arrived on scene and located a shooting victim lying in a driveway. Deputies started CPR on the victim and requested the fire department and an ambulance to respond to the scene.
The 22-year-old male victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is not being identified at this time. The investigation is ongoing and detectives are interviewing several people at this time.
Anyone with any information on this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Read MoreArtist’s rendering of a CyberTran vehicle and station with overhead solar panels generating the power to operate the system.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ Transportation/Planning Committee will be holding a first of its kind, off-sight meeting to learn about an “Ultra Light Rail Transit System in the Alameda County East Bay Region” known as CyberTran. The meeting will be held at the U.C. Berkeley Global Campus in Richmond, where CyberTran International, Inc. has their headquarters and lab.
Overview rendering of the offline CyberTran stations.
The meeting is being held in response to the recent action by the BART Board to vote down the extension to Livermore, as the Board of Supervisors looks for an alternative transit system from the Pleasanton BART Station east.
“Alameda County has critical needs when it comes to traffic congestion. We can help,” said Dexter Vizinau, President of CyberTran International.
The solar-powered CyberTran system has been tested including by BART’s engineering department, which determined it can be built for a fourth of the cost of a BART system and operate a fraction of the cost. It can move as many people per hour per direction as BART can through the Bay Tube, which is 17,000 passengers.
During the meeting, the supervisors who serve on the committee will discuss a resolution in support of using the CyberTran system in Alameda County. The agenda for the meeting can be viewed here.
For more information about CyberTran, visit www.cybertran.com.
Editor’s Note: The publisher of the Herald has a financial interest in CyberTran International, Inc.
Read MoreDear Editor:
As we celebrate the 242nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year, I find myself writing to my fellow Americans in a rebuttal to Supervisor Federal Glover’s saddening attempt to smear our country.
As a former (for now) civil servant to a sitting public servant, I must vocally protest!
Mr. Glover, whenever I am confronted with liberal slanderous and ignorant platitudes. I must surmise which of two camps the offender stands in.
The first is the “forgive them for they know not what they do” populace that has yet to verify all the misinformation that has been pumped into their heads since grade school through college and even now through pop culture. Vladimir Lenin’s coined description as “useful idiots”.
The second and more insidious camp lies in the viperous pit of knowing perfectly well that misinformation and deceit is an acceptable means to an end.
“To make an omelet one must break a few eggs.” – Karl Marx
I will leave your dubious stance to the court of public opinion.
This new diatribe from liberals about the Trump administration’s positions and stands on major issues are “an affront to our America values,” is, in fact, an affront to the public’s collective intelligence, as it mocks us by being cute, by half.
Whos American values, sir? The liberal Socialist’s values? well, then you would be right!
This sad attempt to conquer by division is contrary to the very concept of America’s value.
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr’s values of unification not division. where he declared at the Lincoln Memorial:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
There is but only one race, the human race. In all my journeys I have met albino Norwegians, yet they are not white. I have grown up around very dark-skinned brothers, yet they are not black. There is no such thing as a black or white person.
We are all flesh toned humans that bleed red, cry wet and dream in multi colors. Not until and when we unlearn this “adult” fairytale and embrace this self-evident reality, will we ever see the true color blind promised land.
We cannot be sliced and diced by way of sexual or psychological preferences.
That cannot be what separates us, that is very private and personal.
Not a tool to use as leverage for destruction, alienation, and kindling for an unsustainable ideology that feed off human subjugation and misery.
We cannot continue to be divided by economic class, age, sex, religion, thought nor skin color. For on this Independence Day:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain un-a-lienable Rights, (as in no man can take it from you, nor can you give it away.)
Which brings me to a more important point. Thomas Jefferson’s original draft stated:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain un-a-lienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of property.”
For his goal was to abolish slavery at the genesis of our independence. however due to immense pressure from the liberal southern factions. and the need to not fight a revolutionary war on two fronts. One being the world power of England as well as the slave colonies. But be unanimously united. He had to relent but not without a stern warning that the blood of this unattended injustice will be paid down the road in a tragic civil war.
We must not cower in the face of injustice especially not on this 4th of July.
As it has been said many times, if we do not learn the lessons of history we will be doomed to repeat it.
We are now faced with a new “slave race” that of the plight of the illegal alien.
For many amongst us are truly not free on this Independence Day.
For political gain, they have been exploited or decades on purpose and like some sick case of national Munchausen by proxy.
This ends now!
I present to you my fellow Americans a new Declaration of Independence.
Before you is a document created in the Spring of 2006 by Hispanic illegal youths as a written solution from their point of view. For too long the immigration conversation has been an A, B so “C” you later.
This one developed and drafted by the illegal community on how to constitutionally and fairly reboot the broken American Immigration system. not by pitting one group against another. but by locking arm in arm to fix it together.
Don’t believe the mouthpieces that ‘represent’ the illegal community. They do not. Ask them, for they live this unnecessary existence every day.
I give you “La Patria Declaration”.
Fernando Navarro
Antioch
LA PATRIA DECLARATION
The signed original La Patria Declaration.
In Peace and Justice… and Being of Good Courage…
We the people of the United States and of the whole AMERICA….
Declare on this (two thousand and six years) our intent of Union and
Support of the Constitution Of the United States, and our commitment to her peoples and her Laws……to take up our task, through our shed blood and drained tears, make fertile freedoms roots!
WHEREAS We ADOPT…
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Right to the pursuit of Happiness..”
WHEREAS We EMBRACE…
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
WHEREAS We DECLARE…
“FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST …..THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST”… AND THAT NO MAN BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.”
WHEREAS We DOCUMENT ………
“NO MAN BE PROSECUTED OR BLAMED FOR THE CRIMES AND ACTS OF OUR PREDECESSORS
BUT BY THE FACTUAL ACTS AFTER ONE’s BIRTH…LET THE PAST BE!!!!
WHEREAS We SUPPORT ………
“TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY!!”
NOW, THEREFORE………
Our battle cry:
BORDERS. LANGUAGE. CULTURE.
********************** BORDERS **********************
WHEREAS … We recognize our status as “illegal”
We the signatories declare our desire to totally secure and close the southern border and frontiers…To support AMERICA’S SOVEREIGNTY … Protect Her people and her laws in the post-September 11th era.
“It is our mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers that are perishing in the wilderness.”
We also Declare that the legal portals be justly open and properly filtered to allow eager Immigrants to process orderly and be documented!
“Let us be “REBORN” legally under liberty’s watch.”
“For an attack of Mass Destruction does not discriminate LEGAL from ILLEGAL”
WHEREAS We DO NOT support an amnesty, but reform the immigration process!!!
WHEREAS we declare our union to STOP the black market of HUMAN, NARCOTICS and TERRORIST traffickers….AND Support all patriots that wish to aid on America’s domestic frontline.
********************** LANGUAGE **********************
We the signatories Declare that We come together to accept and adopt English as the official Language of the United States of America.
We also declare that our natural language, not be a burden on America, but that We take the burden upon ourselves to speak her tongue.
“He who knows MORE than one language is capable of more than one MAN.”
********************** CULTURE **********************
WHEREAS…
“TRUTH, JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY” is ours
The signatories Declare that they come together to embrace America’s mission of excellence and doing things right…TO NOT CUT CORNERS..
WHEREAS We embrace PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY….to accept and RECTIFY our discrepancies.
“FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, IT IS NOT FREE FROM ITS CONSEQUENCES.”
WE DECLARE OUR DESIRE TO MELT INTO THE FABRIC OF “OLD GLORY’S” THREADS…
Due to design or by OVERT CONSEQUENCES …We have been DENIED OUR OPPORTUNITY for the pursuit of happiness. And thus declare in good FAITH our commitment to PEACEFULLY and ORDERLY process our status into the sunlight.
Inspect our background, DOCUMENT our Genesis and invite us into the AMERICAN FOLD!!
WHEREAS We are a conservative people that SHARES AMERICAS VALUES. GOD, FAMILY and PATRIOTISM thusly…
WHEREAS We embrace the American concept of owning one’s actions and consequences and the concept of fairness of getting in line.
THUSLY To offset our influx we propose and endorse the following platforms:
WHEREAS We support VOTER I.D. Reform.
WHEREAS We support a FAIR TAX
WHEREAS We support School VOUCHERS.
AMERICA IS UNDER ASSAULT FROM ANTI-AMERICAN FORCES AND THAT CANCER MUST BE
CHALANGED……..WE ARE HERE TO HELP HER ….BUILD HER UP AND WAVE HER FLAG
….OUR FLAG TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.
This is our projection and timeline!
“BORON Y CUENTA NUEVA”
LET US START A-NEW………. We Propose the following GOALS
Immediately closure of the southern Border, be it by a physical structure or by a manned presence (military or federal, civilian)
Open the legal Gates…
We Propose processing facilities such as FORT ISLAS ANGELES,… FORT NOGALES,… FORT LAREDO AND POINT ELLIS.
Let us the “illegal” Immigrants process… go to these new “ANGEL” and “ELLIS Island” ports and DECLARE ourselves… Document us, To establish our official I.D.’s, to take our fingerprints.
“Let us be “REBORN” Legally and above board… become taxpayers.
Let us Prove ourselves to the American People.
Let us PAY as we GO.
“THE EGALITARIAN and AMERICAN SOLUTION!”
Let us own and earn our remedy!
Present us with two options.
1) If our goal is ultimately the American dream of becoming U.S. citizenship, they our penalty is for us to leave the country and get in line.
2) If our goal is only residencie then our penalty and path will be to BE PERMANENTLY BARRED from U.S. citizenship. Report to an immigration processing and orientation center.
A} Document and Start as a EXPLORE level migrant worker “ he who wishes to
work here after processing wishes to come and go, pays taxes but is not
eligible for any social assistance …no welfare, etc.
B} After 7 years an EXPLORE class immigrant can apply for a ENDEAVOR level Status “he who wishes to become a resident” can qualify for residency if migrant has kept his or her criminal record clean and learns English. They are now eligible for public assistance but cannot vote…
C} For illegal immigrants who opted for the goal of citizenship and have left the country and After 7 years an immigrant can apply for a ENTERPRISE level status “he who wishes to become a citizen” can qualify for citizenship if said migrant has still kept his/her criminal record clean. And must pass a thorough civil entrance exam.
“IT IS URBAN LEGEND THAT ALL MIGRANTS SEEK CITIZENSHIP… SOME JUST WANT TO WORK.”
********************** TIMELINE **********************
OPERATION “STAR FIELD”
The rebooting and reformation of the immigration process will take 1-2 years to complete.
DAY ONE. – Full deployment of national guard/ military to augment border patrols and to fully cover the Northern and southern borders.
DAY TWO – Start full construction of the double security fence with manned watchtowers from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
DAY THREE – Announcement in advance of the NEW documentation process for undocumented/illegal alien migrants is to start. (orderly processing and documentation/filtering at the NEW border processing stations) Full public dissemination THAT THERE WILL BE A 1-2 YEAR opportunity TO DOCUMENT, That after that 1-2 year window, ALL IMMIGRATION LAWS WILL BE EXTREMELY ENFORCED AND APPLIED. “Anyone still holding out must have ulterior motivations to not come clean!”
DAY FOUR – THROUGH END OF DOCUMENTATION PERIOD… Migrants checking in at the border will be processed for criminal records, health screening, I.D. processing and RE-documentation. DEBRIEFING OF THE AMERICAN experience AND THE EXPLANATION OF RULES OF their STATUS.
WE NOW HAVE A SECURE BORDER. A DOCUMENTED POPULATION,(BIOMETRIC NATIONAL I.D.)… A REVERSE “MAGNETIC POLARITY” OR “SOURING OF THE MILK” FOR ANY ONE WHO IS STILL HERE ILLIGEALY… AND A CHECK VALVE AT THE BORDER. ANY ONE COMING TO THE U.S. TO WORK WILL WANT TO COME THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND IF ANY ONE PULLS OFF GETTING IN ILLEGALY (GETTING THROUGH THE U.S. PRESENCE) WILL FIND THEMSELVES BEING REPELLED NATURALY BY THE SYSTEM (NO NATIONAL I.D.). LET GRAVITY DO ITS JOB.
THIS IS OUR PLAN
THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT
THIS IS OUR SOLUTION
VIVA AMERICA……….. GOD BLESS AMERICA
Read MoreAntioch School Board Trustees Debra Vinson and Walter Ruehlig will challenge incumbent Jeff Belle for County School Board. Photos from AUSD and CCCBOE.
By Allen Payton
Long-serving Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig let it be known on Saturday, July 14 that he will not run for reelection and instead join fellow Trustee Debra Vinson and take on County School Board Vice President Jeff Belle in November’s election.
While Vinson, finishing her first and rather contentious term on the Antioch School Board, didn’t officially announce her campaign, she did ride in a car in the Antioch July 4th Parade with a sign indicating her decision to run for the county board. In 2017 Vinson was censured by her fellow board members for her interactions with district employees. (See related article). She was also passed over for the board presidency, following her year as Vice President. (See related article).
On one issue all three will most likely agree, which is approving private charter schools. Both Vinson and Ruehlig were two of the three board members who, earlier this year, voted in favor of the East Bay Tech Academy middle and high charter school petitions, and Ruehlig was one of the three who voted for the Rocketship elementary charter school petition in 2016. Belle has voted against one and approved five other charter schools while on the county board.
“I have decided definitely to run for Area 5 County Board of Education,” Ruehlig stated, following rumors of the possibility.
In his official announcement, he wrote:
I will be submitting my candidacy papers on Monday, July 16th to run for Area 5 of the County Board of Education, which covers Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Clyde, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg.
In June of 1968, I dedicated myself to public service and youth education when I taught English for the Peace Corps in Sultandag, a rural village in Turkey that had no electricity. Fifty years later, the idealism continues.I believe that that my twelve-year service, with three years as President, on the Antioch School Board, and my experience with the Pittsburg Unified School District as a California Department of Rehabilitation Workability Program Director for adults with disabilities and as a career counselor, have given me useful insight into County Trustee duties. I am excited by the challenge of overseeing career training programs, special education, community day schools, and facilities for incarcerated juveniles.
I was a late-bloomer myself but, fortunately, had teachers who didn’t give up on me. I eventually caught fire and worked my way through college. My passion for sharing opportunity and persisting with high-risk, disadvantaged or under motivated students is my way of returning thanks.
Aside from counseling, teaching and administrative background, I feel I have the proven temperament and intangible skill sets requisite for good governance.
I enjoy communication and transparency. I am open, creative and innovative but believe in sober budgeting, no-nonsense classroom behavior standards and back to the basics core curriculum. I am pragmatic and put my ego at the door to focus on getting the task at hand done one building block at a time. In this age of divisiveness, I am proud to say that I can get along without always going along. I am a consensus-builder but no pushover. I cannot be bullied or bought.
I look forward to meeting the voters of Area 5, hearing their concerns, and presenting my vision. I welcome their scrutiny and would be honored by their support. I pledge not to let them, or their kids, down.
Walter Ruehlig
Candidate, Area 5
Contra Costa County Board of Education
Incumbent Jeff Belle
Elected in 2014, Belle has faced a variety of controversies before and during his term on the County School Board. In January 2016, Belle admitted to claiming he was a respiratory care practitioner even though he didn’t have a license and was fined $8,200 by the state. (See related article).
In December 2016, facing prosecution by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for lying on his ballot statement, Belle admitted in court that he didn’t have a college degree which he claimed. He agreed to community service to avoid a trial and possible fine of up to $1,000. (See related article)
He and his wife had to move from their home in Antioch in spring of 2015 for failure to pay rent, due to a loss of his wife’s job and Belle not earning enough through his consulting business. They separated and Mrs. Belle moved to Sacramento. As a result, questions have arisen about Belle’s residency. He rented rooms in other people’s homes in the district. The two have since reconciled and Belle now splits his time between his wife’s place and a home in the district.
In 2017 Belle suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Recently, he posted a fundraising effort on his Facebook page to help him pay off his medical bills. The total raised was $50 from former County School Board Trustee Richard Asadoorian.
Recently, Belle has served as a producer for a TV show entitled Modern Ageless Beauty for women over age 40.
Filing opens on July 16th and closes August 10th if Belle decides to seek reelection, which is expected. If not, the filing period will be extended to August 15th. The election will be held on Tuesday, November 6th.
Read MoreBy Sergeant Adam Hart, Concord Police Traffic Bureau
On Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 12:05 AM the Concord Police Department received a call regarding an auto vs. bicyclist collision on San Miguel Road near Systron Drive Officers arrived on-scene along with medical personnel from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. The bicyclist was identified as a 60-year-old male from Concord. The identity of the deceased bicyclist is not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin by the Contra Costa County Office of the Coroner.
The driver of the vehicle is a 57-year-old male from Antioch. He remained at the scene and was the caller who called in the collision. He is cooperating with the investigation. He was not injured during the collision.
Alcohol/drugs are not believed to be a factor in this collision at this time.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation. Preliminary investigation has revealed that both the vehicle and the bicyclist were travelling south on San Miguel Rd. at the time of the collision.
San Miguel Road between Systron Drive and the entrance to 1080 San Miguel Road was closed for approximately 3.5 hours to perform roadway measurements, collect evidence, and conduct the investigation.
Additional details are not being released at this time.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this collision is encouraged to contact Officer Lawrence at (925) 671-5097.
Read MoreThe planned headliners for the now cancelled festival.
By Luke Johnson
The XO Music Festival wasted an estimated $500,000, according to Director Sami “Styles” Habib.
The three-day event was canceled because World Class Entertainment did not provide proper insurance by this morning’s deadline, according to Joe Brengle, CEO of Contra Costa Event Park.
“We are the ones who are victimized here,” Habib said.
He added that his party supplied multiple sources for insurance, but they were rejected by Contra Costa Event Park. However, Brengle said those insurance agreements did not fulfill the park’s requirements.
The XO Music Festival faced several allegations online of being a scam over the past few weeks.
However, Brengle disagrees with those accusations and said the event’s management team was guilty of being too ambitious.
“I believe it wasn’t a scam,” he said. “I think they bit off more than they could chew.”
Brengle added that the negative media attention toward the event had nothing to do with its discontinuation.
The event organizers billed 100-plus artists — with marquee names such as T.I., Ludacris, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and the Bay Area’s own Mistah F.A.B. — to perform on seven different stages throughout the park. It also advertised stand-up comedy, carnival rides, roller skating and a foam pit, among other activities.
Habib said ticket sales were much lower than expected, but buyers were instantly refunded through the ticket agency, GrowTix.
Initially, Habib said the music festival lost approximately $750,000, but later said $500,000 was a more accurate number. He then said the financial loss was “definitely” in the six figures. He declined to comment when asked who provided those funds.
Brengle confirmed that Contra Costa Event Park kept $27,500 from the full rental agreement. He explained that money was already spent in preparation for this festival and it was too late to book another event for this weekend.
Habib is facing real estate fraud charges under the name Habidulla Qidar, according to CBS. He and his brother were identified by Fremont Police for being arrested in February involving a fraudulent home rental scheme.
Regarding the event’s authenticity, many people expressed concerns online about some artists’ performing schedules. Both Ludacris and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are promoted for the Chalice Festival in Southern California this weekend. However, Habib said musicians often book two shows in one day and it was requested by their agencies.
Habib said he plans to eventually produce the XO Music Festival, but at a new location.
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