Contra Costa Herald

“I had a complete meltdown with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). I thought I was losing my mind. I’d never been out of control before, and it was hard to admit I needed help, but I wanted my old self back. I’ve gotten that and more. I’m strong. I’m healthy. I have tools, I have knowledge, and I have strength and courage to deal with it. I’m doing just fine.” RON WHITCOMB SGT US ARMY 1968 – 1969 SQUAD LEADER, VIETNAM

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors recognized the 2018 Veterans Initiative in the Arts ABOUTFACE Program at their meeting on August 14th.  The ABOUTFACE: Self-Understanding through Self-Portraits Workshops offered visual arts activities that helped motivate veterans and their families to explore self-understanding, to think creatively, to be innovative and to improve their quality of life.

The teaching team of the recent ABOUTFACE, which consisted of:  Coordinator, Ryan Berg (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran); Facilitator, Felisa Gaffney, Ph.D., (U.S. Air Force – Retired); and Artist, Victoria Bianco, Ph.D., were honored by the Board.

The 2018 ABOUTFACE participants in the six workshops were from across the County and represented a cross section of military service and age groups.  All of the participants said they would recommend ABOUTFACE to other veterans and over half said they are looking forward to exhibiting their self-portraits for the public to see and understand.

The Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County (AC5) worked with the County Veterans Service Department, the County Office of Communications & Media and the County Library to help select locations, distribute project information and to identify potential participants.  AC5 Commissioner Anderson was the Project Director, and the other AC5 Commissioners all contributed to the success of this outstanding program.  AC5 would like to thank the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and the California Arts Commission for the funding that made this program possible.

To learn more about this program or to interview the honorees making a difference for veterans, please contact Roger Renn, AC5 Executive Director, at (925) 646-2278.

Kramer, Board Chair Gioia unable to attend meeting

Gus Kramer from the County Assessor’s webpage.

By Daniel Borsuk

Contra Costa County Assessr Gus Kramer was censured on sexual misconduct charges by the County Board of Supervisors on a 4-0 vote Tuesday, paving the way for a potential lawsuit by the longtime elected official. Board Vice Chair John Gioia was absent at the meeting because he was touring the tar sands of British Columbia as part of a joint tour for serving as a Board Director on both the California Air Resources Board and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Elected to the county assessor post since 1994, Kramer was represented by his attorney Bruce Zelis of Walnut Creek. He warned supervisors before taking action that the assessor had sought a continuance on the board censure item because of Kramer’s inability to attend the meeting and because of questions that arose about whether the supervisors had violated the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state public meeting law.

Kramer’s attorney also questioned whether the board can discipline an elected official for actions he allegedly committed three years ago and there have been no similar charges leveled against him since then.

Zelis also questioned whether the board can discipline a countywide elected official, which conflicts with the board’s resolution recommendation that states:

“There are six county departments that are managed by elected department heads: the Assessor, Auditor, Clerk-Recorder, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer-Tax Collector. These elected officials are responsible for managing the county employees who work in their departments. The Board of Supervisors does not have the power to discipline elected officials when their conduct fails to meet the standards of behavior expected of all other county department heads.”

Obviously, supervisors went against the resolution recommendation and moved to censure the county assessor, who last year earned $221,946.80 before benefits.

Zelis refused to comment further with the Contra Costa Herald about the Brown Act violation allegations or other issues about Kramer’s case, but Board Chair Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill said there were no Brown Act violations when she and vice chair Gioia consulted over the proposed Kramer censure resolution prior to the meeting.

“We did not confer with our colleagues,” Mitchoff said.

This may not be the end of line for County Assessor Kramer case. The Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury will now be handed the case to determine if the allegations involving the assessor and two female employees merit additional investigation.

Supervisors acted on a 2018 outside independent attorney investigation on two charges of sexual harassment dating back to 2015 by two initially unidentified Assessor Department female employees, one of whom has since been identified as associate assessor Margaret Eychner, a resident of Walnut Creek.

“The investigator found that, prior to mid-2015 it is more likely than not that Mr. Kramer made certain comments and engaged in conduct that two individuals who worked in his department considered to be offensive and inappropriate in the workplace.” a board report stated.

In the board’s resolution, the supervisors found “there was sufficient evidence to prove Assessor Kramer had engaged in the following conduct in 2014 and 2015:

• Kramer frequently visited the complainant’s cubicle on the first floor and the complainant frequently visited Mr. Kramer’s office during 2014 and up to March 2015.  During these visits they discussed work related and nonwork-related matters.
• On one occasion Mr. Kramer told her that he had given a vibrator to a woman (not a county employee) as a gift. She thought that this was inappropriate and offensive.
• Mr. Kramer sent her two text messages in 2014 that she believed suggested a romantic/sexual interest in her. She considered the texts to be inappropriate an unwelcome.
• In May 2014, he offered her a rose, which she interpreted to be a romantic gesture.
• As to the second employee/witness, there was sufficient evidence to indicate that Mr. Kramer made a comment in her presence in 2008 and told a story in her presence in 2013 concerning his social interactions with women that she thought were inappropriate and offensive; and that on one occasion in 2015 he made a comment to her that she believed was intended to be sexually suggestive and considered inappropriate, offensive and unwelcome.”

The independent attorney investigator found that evidence did not show Assessor Kramer, who earned $221,946.80 in salary only in 2017, had retaliated against the two employees or had acted to “negatively impact their careers.”  In addition, the investigator’s evidence did show the assessor stopped making inappropriate and offense comments of a sexual nature to both employees after he learned of their complaints in 2015.  No further harassment complaints from the two employees or other employees have been lodged against the Assessor Kramer since June 2015.

“This is not a witch hunt and perhaps there wasn’t any retaliation,” said Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville, “but you have to remember the county had to pay $1 million in a sexual related case involving the assessor in 2009.”  Andersen was referring to a $1 million settlement paid to Assessor department employee Bernice Peoples in 2009 that Kramer had sexually retaliated against her.

“I want all our employees to feel safe and comfortable,” said Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood after voting in favor of the censure resolution.

Supervisor Federal Glover of Pittsburg did not comment on this item.

Sandy Hook Promise Impresses Supervisors

A Contra Costa County Office of Education presentation on the nationally acclaimed Sandy Hood Promise, a non-profit organization designed to prevent gun violence on K-12 school campuses, won endorsements from all four supervisors in attendance.  Supervisors plan to place a resolution of endorsement on its next board meeting agenda slated for Sept. 11.

Sandy Hook Promise and the county office of education and eventually 18 public K12 school districts in the county are expected to work with the no-cost program that Sandy Hook Promise Vice President of Field Operations Paula Fynboh says is based on a heavy emphasis on student mental wellness.

“You brought us a great gift,” remarked Supervisor Burgis.  “You have my personal support.”

County Real Estate Fraud Unit Reviewed 71 Cases in 2017/2018

Supervisors also approved without comment the District Attorney Office’s annual real estate fraud report for the 2017/2018 fiscal year during which time the Real Estate Fraud Unit reviewed 71 real estate fraud cases, an increase from 64 cases that were reviewed during the 2016/2017 fiscal year.

“Within the last year, our office has secured felony convictions in 3 different cases and has conducted preliminary hearings against another 7 defendants in complex white-collar fraud cases, involving over 2 million dollars in stolen assets,” wrote Deputy District Attorney Adam Wilks, who leads the Special Operations-Real Estate Fraud.

Because real estate fraud is a sophisticated crime targeting especially senior citizens, Wilks wrote: “Within the last year, the Real Estate Fraud Unit restored title to the home of an elderly woman after the home was fraudulently slated for foreclosure auction.  This unit is currently working with federal prosecutors to help elderly victims of a foreclosure scam in operating around the Bay Area.”

Wilks reported that in the 2016/2017 fiscal year the Real Estate Fraud Unit tracked international cases as far away as Nigeria.  “These investigations involve rental fraud, forgery, embezzlement, foreclosure consultancy fraud, short sale fraud and elder abuse,” he reported.

Established in July 1996 by the board of supervisors, the DA’s Real Estate Fraud Prosecution unit is staffed with one deputy district attorney, one senior inspector and one legal assistant.  Last fiscal year, the unit spent $399,705 for salaries, benefits, travel and necessary services.

Resolution Boosts Two County Airports Economic Assets 

Supervisors unanimously gave the county’s two airports – Buchanan Field Airport in Concord and Byron Airport – an economic boost in the form of a resolution recognizing the contributions of the two airports to the aeronautical community and economic growth of the county.

The resolution materializes when the airports, especially Buchanan Field Airport, has drawn increased development interest.  The City of Concord has made overtures to annex the airfield, but Board Chair Mitchoff, whose District 4 covers the Concord air field, said, “There is no way, no how that the city of Concord will annex the air field. It is an economic asset for the county.” Both airports are self-sufficient and do not need to use county general fund money to cover expenses. Instead both airports are moneymakers contributing about $2.77 million to the county general fund, $1.2 million to local schools, and $273,216 to other public entities from associated possessory interest and sales tax.

The supervisors’ resolution boasts how the two airports provides a base of operation to over 600 aircraft, generated about $106 million in total direct and indirect annual economic output in 2016, which includes the creation of 828 jobs, $8 million in state and local revenue and $10.2 million in federal tax revenue.

Kreonna Smith, age 25, from Pittsburg. Photos from CCCSheriff

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

The Investigation Division of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is requesting the public’s assistance in an ongoing death investigation.

On Friday, July 20, 2018, at about 10:16 AM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of a deceased body in the Contra Costa Water District canal near Driftwood Drive and Pacifica Avenue in Bay Point. A Water District employee found the body while doing a regular check of the canal. The Sheriff’s Office Dive Team removed the body, which was transported to the Coroner’s Division.

The person was later identified as 25-year-old Kreonna Smith of Pittsburg. The cause of death is pending. It is believed that Smith was in the water for several days.

Smith is described as 5’6”, approximately 175 pounds, with brown colored eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing dark pants and a white shirt with dark horizontal stripes. She was reported missing to the Pittsburg Police Department on July 16, 2018. Smith does not have a vehicle and was on foot.

Anyone who may have seen Smith or has any information on this case 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.

Screenshot of crashed Honda on Boulevard Circle in Walnut Creek, Sunday morning, Aug. 12, 2018. Screenshot from NBC Bay Area news report.

Female driver charged with multiple counts of felony manslaughter, DUI

By CHP – Contra Costa

The driver, Ramya Ramey. Photo from screenshot of KPIX5 news report.

Sunday morning, Aug. 12, 2018 at about 4:01am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision that came off SR-24 and onto Boulevard Circle at Boulevard Way in Walnut Creek. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, two passengers from the 2000 Silver Honda Civic were declared deceased, the driver was still alive but with major injuries, and two other passengers had also suffered major injuries. All parties were transported to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of the identities of the deceased parties, please refer to them for that information.

In the initial investigation, it appears that the 18-year-old female driver from Antioch was driving the Honda on eastbound SR-24 and approaching the I-680 interchange. For reasons unknown that are still under investigation, she allowed the Honda to veer completely off SR-24 and overturned and crashed onto Boulevard Circle, which is below SR-24, causing major damage. Two male passengers, one 17 and the other 18 years old, both from Antioch, were immediately pronounced deceased upon emergency personal arrival. Two other female 18-year-old passengers from Antioch and Oakley suffered major injuries and transported to the hospital. The driver, Ramya Ramey, (DOB-1/30/2000) from Antioch, suffered major injuries as well and was also transported to the hospital where she was placed under arrest for multiple counts of felony manslaughter for killing two of her passengers and multiple counts of felony DUI causing major injuries to her other passengers.

UPDATE: The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office released the identities of the two victims on Monday afternoon. They are 17-year-old Dakarai Rishon Fagorala a former varsity basketball player at and 2018 graduate of Deer Valley High School, and 18-year-old John Hamed Walizada, a 2017 graduate also of Deer Valley.

This is a tragic incident where alcohol and underage drinking & driving was involved. This investigation is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980 or 1-(800)-TELL-CHP. Thank you.

By Daniel Borsuk

Acting on a consent item, Contra Costa County supervisors passed on a 4-0 vote a commercial cannabis health ordinance that drew zero comments from either the public or supervisors at Tuesday’s one-hour meeting.  Supervisor Candace Andersen of San Ramon was absent.

The fact that the commercial cannabis health ordinance drew no attention was perhaps of secondary importance, given the fact supervisors had set the stage last month to have Contra Costa County voters consider a tax measure on the Nov. 6 ballot that would fund the enforcement of the commercial cannabis health ordinance.

Provided voters pass the tax measure in November, the tax on commercial cannabis from retail, distribution, and manufacturing enterprises could generate anywhere from $1.7 million to $4.4 million a year in revenue for the county to regulate the cannabis industry, protect public resources, and help fund public safety, health, and vital public services.

Some of the standards included in the newly adopted health ordinance are the following:

• Every commercial cannabis activity with a health permit must comply with all state and local laws; maintain a valid State License, County Land Use Permit and County Business Permit.
• Every commercial cannabis activity with a Health Permit must remain closed between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. the following day.
• No cannabis or cannabis product may be smoked, ingested, or consumed on the premises of a commercial cannabis activity.
• The ordinance also includes standards that apply specifically to manufacturing, such as the use of volatile solvents is prohibited and retail sales delivery employees are required to examine government-issued identification cards upon delivery of products to customers.
• For retail establishments, the ordinance establishes waiting areas regulations.
• Inside each retail establishment, the permittee will display a sign including the following statement in bold print: “GOVERNMENT WARNING:  CANNABIS IS A SCHEDULE  1 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.  KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS.  CANNABIS MAY ONLY BE POSSESSED OR CONSUMED BY PERSONS 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER UNLESS THE PERSON IS A QUALIFIED PATIENT. THE INTOXICATING EFFECTS OF CANNABIS MAY BE DELAYED UP TO TWO HOURS.  CANNABIS USE WHILE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING MAY BE HARMFUL.  CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS IMPAIRS YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE AND OPERATE MACHINERY.  PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION.”

Six areas of the county are off limits to the commercial cannabis ordinance.  Those areas include Acalanes Ridge, Alamo, Bethel Island, Contra Costa Centre, Sandamond Slough, and Saranap.

In the event voters pass the tax measure in November, the commercial cannabis ordinance and health ordinance would go into effect in January 2019.

Supervisors Endorse Diesel Free by ’33 Resolution

Concerned over the human health effects and environmental impacts caused by the emission of greenhouse gasses including carbon dioxide and black carbon, or diesel fuel, the board of supervisors unanimously endorsed a diesel free “33 States of Purpose” reflecting a goal of eliminating diesel pollution by December 31, 2033.  The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, that Board Chair Karen Mitchoff and Vice Chair John Gioia serve on, has established a challenge to other public agencies, especially transit districts, to cut down diesel emission.

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has determined that exposure to diesel exhaust can have significant health effects, including damage to lung tissue and increased risk of cancer.

It is estimated that 54 percent of the state’s total black carbon emissions come from on-road and off-road mobile sources powered by diesel engines, according to the California Air Resources Board.

80 Organizations, County Library Awarded Keller Canyon Foundation Grants

Supervisors allocated $1.5 million of Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund grants to 80 nonprofit organizations including a one-year $100,000 grant to the Mt. Diablo Unified School District to provide a modular public bathroom for the public library at Riverview Middle School in Bay Point for one year, July 1, 2018 through July 30, 2019.  Before installation of the modular public bathroom Riverview public library patrons had to use the school restroom facilities when the school was in session.

Nonprofit organizations receiving $10,000 awards each were:  Antioch Rotary Club, All Start Cheer Reaction, Inc., Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance, Craft Community Care Center, Inc., First Baptist Church of Pittsburg, Health Hearts Institute, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent DePaul, Opportunity Junction, Inc., People Who Care Children Association, Pittsburg Senior and Handicapped Residential Community, Inc., Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, Singing Eagle Foundation, Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc., and CCHS Public Health Clinic Services.

A Public Viewing Plaza similar to this one at Buchanan Field in Concord is being proposed for the Byron Airport. Photo credit Nate G., posted Sept. 27, 2014.

Photo courtesy of Contra Costa County.

The Contra Costa County Aviation Advisory Committee is asking for the public’s assistance in answering a one question survey to gauge interest in and support for a “public viewing plaza” at the Byron Airport, similar to the one at Buchanan Field.

The commission will discuss the matter at their next meeting on Thursday, August 9, 2018, which will be held at 10:00 a.m., 550 Sally Ride Drive in Concord, and will be deciding there is demand for the viewing plaza, the location for it at the Byron Airport and the cost.

Are you interested in and would you support a public viewing plaza at the Byron Airport?

Leave your response in the comments section, below or on the Herald Facebook page. Thank you for your participation.

Sheriff David O. Livingston

Spend $1.5 million in AB109 funds on Sheriff patrols; send cannabis tax measure to November ballot; approve Racial Justice Task Force report on split vote

By Daniel Borsuk

The dust may have settled as Contra Costa Sheriff-Coroner David Livingston’s decision (July 10) to sever department contractual ties with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house undocumented prisoners at the West County Detention Facility, but Contra Costa County Supervisors still had to leap over two significant hurdles at Tuesday’s meeting.

Spend AB109 Funds on Sheriff Patrols, Advocates Not Happy

First, on a 5-0 vote, supervisors instructed that $1.5 million in unspent Assembly Bill 109 funds initially designated for undocumented immigrants imprisoned at the Richmond detention facility to be detoured for sheriff’s patrol services in unincorporated communities like Pacheco, North Richmond, Bay Point, and Byron.  Sixty-four community organization advocates protested; supervisors should have allocated state AB109 money for nonprofit human service organizations that assist undocumented immigrants and others find housing, jobs and other services upon release from county jail facilities.

On the AB 109 issue, Richmond City Councilman Melvin Willis asked supervisors to spend leftover AB 109 funds for community support services.  “We need these services to keep people out of incarceration,” he said.

“People feel betrayed” said Dominic Ware of Richmond, who added that most in the community services field contend AB 109 funds should go to human service nonprofit organizations rather than law enforcement.  “This is a win without a victory.”

County Administrator David Twa said 40 percent of the funds from AB 109 go to community organizations, but he also added it is also appropriate for the county to spend the money to shore up sheriff patrols.

“I have to protect a very large area and that requires more patrols.  This one-time allocation will provide those patrols,” said District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood.

“This is a move to assure that patrols are in those communities of Crockett, North Richmond, Bay Point, and Byron,” said District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover of Pittsburg.  “I think this is a popular move.”

Sheriff Released 63 Prisoners to ICE

Second, supervisors and most of the citizens attending a mandated ICE Access Forum learned that in 2017 of the 284 ICE information requests that the Sheriff’s Office had received, 63 undocumented immigrants held at the West County Detention facility were released to ICE agents in 2017.

Sheriff Livingston defended his activities adding, “We follow the law,” he said.

Community speakers criticized the way the sheriff operates the detention facility and had cooperated with ICE during a three-hour TRUTH (Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds) Act Community Forum that the supervisors were required to conduct for the first time this year to be in compliance with state law.

The sheriff confirmed ICE had requested 63prisoners at the West County Detention Facility to be released to ICE agents for interviews in the parking lot or to be detained and transported elsewhere.  Livingston said in 2017 ICE would give two to three hours advance notice to contact a prisoner.

“The rounding up of people by ICE leads up to the question ‘who is next?’” asked Peter Cray of Richmond.

Cannabis Business Tax on Nov. Ballot, Commercial Cannabis Health Ordinance Unveiled

With no public comment, supervisors unanimously passed a cannabis business tax ordinance that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.  The general tax measure will appear on the ballot for all county voters, whether they reside in the unincorporated or incorporated (city) areas of the county.  They will vote on:  The tax on commercial cannabis cultivation will be based on the square footage of a permitted canopy.  The ordinance will establish initial tax rates and maximum tax rates, with automatic inflation adjustments of the maximum tax rates and permit the board of supervisors to make annual adjustments to the tax rates.  The ordinance will include penalties for delinquent payments.  The tax and appeals will be administered by the Treasure-Tax Collector.

Staff estimates that potential annual general fund revenues and county costs in the $1.7 million to $4.4 million range.

In a separate consent action, supervisors set the stage for the August 7 formal adoption of the Cannabis Health Ordinance.  Provided voters approve the cannabis business tax measure, the Commercial Cannabis Health Permit Ordinance would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.  The health permit ordinance would set business hours by being closed between 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., controlling odors, prohibit the sale or delivery of flavored cannabis products for which the primary use is to be smoked or used in electronic smoking devices.

Supervisors Narrowly Approve Racial Justice Task Force Report – 2018 FINAL CCC-RJTF_Report

Even though the final Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF) report won widespread public support, supervisors Candace Andersen of Danville and Diane Burgis of Brentwood cast dissenting votes saying the two-year study basically did not dig deep enough into the racial justice issues in the county.

“I just think that the report barely scratched the surface,” said Andersen.

With a finding that Black adults were more than three times more likely to be arrested than adults from any other racial or ethnic group, and Black youth were more than seven times more likely to be arrested than youth from any other racial or ethnic group, the 17-member RJTF recommended that Board of Supervisors appoint a Racial Justice Oversight Body to oversee the implementation of the recommendations by the task force.

Other task force recommendations include:

• Diversion – With a goal of reducing racial disparities in the Contra Costa County criminal justice system, form a committee to recommend countrywide criteria and protocols for formal and informal diversion.
• Data – All Contra Costa County criminal justice agencies and local law enforcement agencies shall collect individual-level data on all individual encounters with criminal juvenile justice systems and processes.
• County support for local agencies – The county shall work with local enforcement agencies to seek funds that support the integration of de-escalation and behavioral health intervention trainings into local enforcement agency regional academy and/or department orientations.
• Community Engagement and Services – County criminal justice agencies shall establish formal partnership with community-based organizations to provide greater capacity for diversion, re-entry programs, alternatives to detention, and pretrial services, in custody programming.
• Practices Related to Trial and Adjudication Processes – Encourage the Superior Court to return to the process of jury selection where jurors are called to service to their local branch court for misdemeanor trials.
• Confinement – Expand eligibility for pre-trial services staffing, with a focus on reducing racial disparities and replacing the money bail system.

The board voted 3-2 to approve the final report.

To view the entire board meeting agenda, click here.

The Marsh Creek fire consumes a house on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. Screenshot from KTVU Fox2 News report.

July 26, 2018, Clayton, CA – An evacuation order is still in place for Marsh Creek Road between Gill Drive and Morgan Territory Road. Marsh Creek Road between Gill Drive and Dear Valley Road is open to residents. You must show valid identification to enter. We do not have an estimated time to reopen those sections at this time.  Please take alternative routes to avoid this area. 

The Evacuation Centers are still open in Clayton and Brentwood:

Clayton Library Meeting Room – 6125 Clayton Road, Clayton CA

Brentwood Community Center – 35 Oak Street, Brentwood, CA

For more information on the Marsh fire, please go to http://www.cococws.us/ 

Richmond ranks 6th overall, 5th for murders; Antioch ranks 20th overall, 21st for murders; Pittsburg ranks 59th overall, 13th for murders; Concord ranks 82nd overall, 87th for murders

By Michael McKneely.

California is a large and diverse state. The landscape, social climate, and opportunities in one city may be entirely different than in another. Significant differences also exist in violent crime rates. Certain cities are more dangerous than others due to a variety of factors, such as economic opportunity, education, alcohol and drug use, availability of social and family services, gang activity, and much more.

In the most dangerous cities, you are more likely to become a victim of a violent crime. You also may be more likely to face accusations of committing an offense.

According to the FBI, since 2016, out of the 461 individual municipalities in California, four cities in Contra Costa County made the list of the 100 most dangerous cities within the state with a population of at least 50,000 residents. Richmond ranks 6th overall and 5th for murders at 18.9 per 100,000 residents; Antioch ranks 20th and 21st for murders; Pittsburg ranks 59th overall and 13th for murders; and Concord ranks 82nd overall and 87th for murders.

Richmond, a city of only 110,868 people, had a violent crime volume of 919.1 per 100,000 people. This number is made up of 18.9 homicides, 64.9 rapes, 328.2 robberies, and 506.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals.

Antioch had a violent crime volume of 678 per 100,000 people, as a result of eight homicides, 49.1 rapes, 261.4 robberies, and 359.5 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.

Pittsburg had 9.9 homicides per 100,000 people in 2016 – a higher rate than many other cities of a similar size. The city had 59.4 rapes, 164.2 robberies, and 159.9 aggravated assaults per 100,000 individuals. The overall violent crime volume was 393.4 per 100,000 residents.

Concord reported 0.8 homicides, 23.9 rapes, 122.4 robberies, and 197.1 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people. This amounted to a violent crime volume of 344.1 offenses per 100,000 individuals.

Part I crime statists for the four cities in Contra Costa County on the list.

Crime Statistics: Volume vs. Rate

One of the ways the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports on crime around the country is to provide the crime volume for certain locations. This is neither the specific number of offenses that occurred in a specific period of time nor the crime rate. Instead, crime volume is a simplified indicator of how frequently a crime occurs.

In regard to murder and non-negligent manslaughter (homicide), robbery, rape, and aggravated assault, the crime volume indicates the number of known victims. For example, Los Angeles had a volume of 58.5 rapes per 100,000 inhabitants. This means there were 58.5 known victims of rape for every 100,000 people.

The crime rate would be the number of reported crimes standardized by population. To determine the crime rate, you divide a city’s population by 100,000 to obtain X. You then divide the number of offenses by X. This gives you the city’s crime rate per 100,000 residents for a specific offense. For example, Los Angeles had a population of 4,007,905. Divide the population by 100,000, and X equals 40.079. Divide the volume of homicides in Los Angeles, 293, by 40.079, and the homicide rate is 7.31 per 100,000 residents.

It is also notable that if a city has less than 100,000 residents, the numbers still reflect a rate of incidents per 100,000 individuals. This has been calculated to maintain consistency and allow for comparison of overall crime rates. All of the cities on this list have at least 50,000 residents. This allows for more uniform comparison of crime rates.

Most Dangerous Cities in California and Contra Costa County

The following California cities considered in this study are the most dangerous when comparing total crime rate per 100,000 residents:

1. Oakland, 2. Stockton; 3. San Bernardino, 4. Compton, 5. Modesto, 6. Richmond, 7. Vallejo, 8. Santa Cruz, 9. Redding, 10. Madera, 11. Huntington Park, 12. Inglewood, 13. Hawthorne, 14. Hemet, 15. Los Angeles, 16. Sacramento, 17. San Francisco, 18. South Gate, 19. Lancaster, 20. Antioch, 59. Pittsburg, 82. Concord.

To view the crime map in Richmond, visit https://www.crimemapping.com/map/agency/310. To see crime maps, statistics and calls for service for Antioch, visit http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/Police/crime-maps/. Details on Pittsburg crime statistics can be seen here, http://www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us/index.aspx?page=746. To visit the Concord Police Department webpage click here, http://www.cityofconcord.org/page.asp?pid=1026. To see more details for each city on the list, visit www.fresnocriminalattorney.com/most-dangerous-cities-california.

McKneely is a criminal defense lawyer in Fresno, California.

The burned suspect’s vehicle following CHP chase and collision on Highway 24 in Orinda, Saturday, July 21, 2018. Photo by KTVU Fox2 News.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney

The investigation into a fatal single vehicle collision after two suspects fled from an Orinda Police Officer on Saturday is ongoing. The investigation is being conducted by the District Attorney’s Office, Office of the Sheriff and CHP per the county fatal incident protocol.

On Saturday, July 21, 2018, at about 9:02 AM, an Orinda Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Nissan Altima 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. 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 car 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. He is identified as 20-year-old Lawrence Mar-tin of Oakland.

The other occupant of the vehicle, 20-year-old Danny Lockett of San Francisco, was arrested for felony evading causing death and a probation violation. He is being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility.

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.