Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will host a town hall meeting at Concord High School on Wednesday, August 9th at 6:30 p.m. Since assuming office in 2015, Mark has hosted 46 town halls and mobile district office hours throughout Contra Costa County.
Congressman DeSaulnier invites residents to attend the town hall to listen to a presentation and legislative update. During the town hall constituents will have an opportunity to ask questions, share their opinions on actions taken by the Administration, and discuss issues important to their communities.
Concord Town Hall
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Concord High School, Multi-Purpose Room
4200 Concord Blvd.
Concord, CA 94521
Please RSVP online at www.desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call 925-933-2660. For more information or to request ADA accommodations contact Congressman DeSaulnier’s office in Walnut Creek or Richmond.
Read MoreDemand transparent, qualifications-based process to avoid conflicts of interest, secret deals
A press release issued on Friday, states “a community coalition of organizations and individual voters from Contra Costa County called on all candidates for the interim District Attorney position to complete a public questionnaire about where they stand on a variety of issues that matter to the organizations, ranging from bail practices and criminal justice reform, immigrant rights, worker and consumer protection to police accountability and the environment. The coalition issued the questionnaire after the Board of Supervisors failed to adopt a fully transparent and community-first process at their August 1 meeting. This coalition is also working with local organizations and volunteers to host a candidate forum on Saturday, August 12, in Concord.”
Of the twelve applicants, the Supervisors narrowed the field to five. (See related article, here).
The responses to the questionnaire will be made public before the forum.
View the questionnaire, here: CoCo Interim DA Community Questionnaire_FINAL
WHAT: Contra Costa Interim District Attorney Candidate Forum
WHEN: Saturday, August 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Church of the Nazarene at 1650 Ashbury Dr., Concord, CA
WHO: The forum is co-hosted by the ACLU of Northern California; Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE); Contra Costa AFL-CIO Central Labor Council; Contra Costa County Racial Justice Coalition (CCCRJC); Courage Campaign; #cut50; Democratic Party of Contra Costa County; East County NAACP; Safe Return Project; and Smart Justice California
According to their website, the ACCE “is a grassroots, member-led, statewide community organization working with more than 10,000 members across California…dedicated to raising the voices of everyday Californians, neighborhood by neighborhood, to fight for the policies and programs we need to improve our communities and create a brighter future” such as raising taxes on businesses and individuals to increase funding for education, working to preserve and expand affordable housing, and “raise the floor on wages and benefits.”
On the CCCRJC website it states that the organization is opposed to the expansion of the West County Detention Center.
The Courage Campaign states on their website that it “fights for a more progressive California and country” by focusing on three priorities of economic justice, human rights, and corporate and political accountability.
The mission of #cut50 is to “making communities safer while reducing the number of people in our prisons and jails.”
The press release also states that, “at a public hearing on August 1, the coalition pleaded with the County Board of Supervisors to adopt an open and transparent selection process for choosing the interim District Attorney that includes a community selection committee. The coalition urged the Board to avoid conflicts of interest by revealing whether they have ever received an endorsement or monetary support from any of the candidates, and pressed the supervisors to develop a system for ranking the candidates based on their qualifications and alignment with local values, over a consensus-based decision-making model that could be swayed by backroom deals. The coalition had previously sent a letter requesting similar action to the Board on July 6th, which was never acknowledged.”
A spokesperson for the coalition, Director of Contra Costa County Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) David Sharples, said, “We want a district attorney who reflects the values of Contra Costa voters. The selection process should focus on whether each candidate is qualified for the job, aligns with local values, has the highest level of ethical standards, and is ready to take on the challenges faced by our community, not the candidate who is the most well-connected. If the board won’t be transparent about this process, then we will go straight to the candidates so they have every opportunity to explain where they stand on the issues and why they are the best candidate.”
The coalition’s press release concluded with the following: “Contra Costa voters have bucked the position of their District Attorney and repeatedly voted for meaningful criminal justice reform over the last several elections. In 2012, 72 percent of county residents voted in favor of Proposition 36, which reformed California’s Three Strikes Law; in 2014, 66 percent of voters supported Proposition 47, which substantially reduced the penalties for several crimes; in 2016, 69 percent voted in favor of Proposition 57, which significantly expanded early parole opportunities for people serving time in California prisons; and 61 percent voted in favor of Proposition 64, which legalized marijuana and retroactively invalidated several types of prior marijuana-related criminal convictions.”
Read MoreContra Costa County residents will have an opportunity this month to access a wide variety of County Services at one single location during a “County Services Summer Block Party.” More than twenty County departments and divisions will team up to provide residents with a range of opportunities and information, from licensing pets to signing up for CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits.
Contra Costa County’s Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department will host the event on Thursday, August 10, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez. The Office will be open that evening as part of its Extended Summer Hours program on Thursday nights.
“Our staff is excited to present our community and customers with this new and unique opportunity to access many county services at a time and place more convenient to their busy schedules,” Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder Joe Canciamilla said. “Our goal is to make it not only convenient, but approachable and fun.”
Available services at the Summer Block Party event will include, but are not limited to:
- Animal licensing
- Vouchers for pet vaccinations
- Marriage licenses
- Copies of vital records
- Library card signups
- Job training opportunities and information
- Signups for free benefits such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal
- Foster parent applications
- Signups for Veterans’ benefits
- Voter Registration
- Child ID kits
- Information about the County’s Clean Slate program
- Energy efficiency rebates — and many more county programs.
For more information, please call the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department at 925-335-7805.
Read MoreOrdinance on illegal solid waste collection postponed
By Daniel Borsuk
With the field of interim Contra Costa County District Attorney candidates pared down from 12 to 5, Contra Costa County Supervisors made it clear on Tuesday they’re determined to select an interim DA by Sept. 19, even in the face of increasing public criticism over the selection process.
On a 5-0 vote supervisors selected for further consideration Contra Costa Judge Diana Beckton, Contra Costa Judge Daniella Douglas, Contra Costa Assistant District Attorney Tom Kensok, Contra Costa Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves and Santa Clara Supervising Deputy District Attorney Patrick Vanier.
Candidates not making the cut were former Contra Costa prosecutor and current private attorney David Brown, San Francisco deputy district attorney John Delgado, Contra Costa Bar Association Criminal Conflict Program Attorney William Green, private attorney Richard Madsen Jr., San Francisco assistant DA since 1996 Michael Menesini, Stanislaus County Prosecutor Brad Nix, and 50-year prosecutor veteran with the Alameda and Los Angeles DA offices Michael Roemer.
With the two judges as candidates, supervisors learned there might be a potential legal barrier where Judge Beckton and Judge Douglas might be found in violation of a state conflict of interest ruling that a sitting Superior Court justice cannot simultaneously serve as a county DA. The supervisors decided to have each judge weigh in on whether they are in violation of the state conflict of interest law during the upcoming August 15 finalist interviews.
Supervisors forged ahead showing scant concern that there could potentially be a court injunction filed blocking their process to fill the $258,181 a year DA post that was vacated in mid-June when then DA Mark Peterson resigned from office after pleading in Contra Costa Superior Court to 15 felony charges that he illegally spent $66,000 of campaign funds for personal use.
In exchange for a no contest plea Peterson was sentenced to three years probation. State prosecutors dropped 11 other counts of perjury and one count of grand theft. The State Bar of California took steps to disbar Peterson last week.
Critics accused supervisors of privately meeting or consulting with interim DA candidates and some opponents said it is pointless to appoint a short-term DA when county voters could be electing a new DA next year.
“There is no need for the board to appoint an interim DA within a year of an election,” protested Marcie Garrett of El Cerrito.
“The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County calls for the board of supervisors to delay action to another date,” said Maria Alegria, chair of the county Democratic Party.
Alegria said the board needs to do more work to screen candidates because of the county DA office’s history of misconduct. She referred to the recent Peterson case and the 2008 rape case involving DA Michael Gressett, who was accused of raping a junior DA colleague that resulted in a $450,000 out of court settlement.
Mainly because of the DA office’s track record, Walnut Creek resident Julie Davis commented, “I prefer that you consider candidates not in the Contra Costa District Attorney Office. I’d prefer candidates from outside. Your selection process is long, yet needs more transparency.”
Concerned about the rising human trafficking situation in the county, Judith Tannenbaum pitched to supervisors that they need to select Contra Costa Office Deputy Senior DA Paul Graves because of his work combatting human trafficking.
Concord Police Chief Guy Swanger representing the Contra Costa Police Chiefs Association encouraged supervisors to select an interim DA who will cooperate with police departments. “Whoever you choose make sure your choice will work with us,” he said.
District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill attempted to defended the transparency criticism lodged against the board. “This is a transparent process the board is using. Everything is online,” she said.
Mitchoff also said state law requires the board of supervisors to appoint an interim DA under the circumstances the county faces.
“This is a challenging situation and ultimately the people of Contra Costa county will have to decide who will be their DA,” said District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville.
“We’re not going to please everyone, but I look for someone who will defend racial justice, is fair, shows leadership style, and can move forward,” Board Chair Federal Glover of Pittsburg added.
Mitchoff was surprised to learn that the Bay Area Newspaper Group had filed in the past two days a public records request that the county disclose personal information that the five finalists provided in their applications. The newspaper group had complained the county had redacted personal information and that it should now be public information. That information will now be unredacted.
Ordinance on Illegal Solid Waste Collection Postponed
In other business, supervisors postponed action until their August 15 meeting on a proposed ordinance that would take aim at cracking down on the illegal solid waste collection and transportation operations in the unincorporated area of Contra Costa County.
The county environmental health department has identified more than 41 illegal solid waste transfer stations located in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county and 32 of those operations have been closed down, since early 2015.
In order to regulate the solid waste collection industry, the Contra Costa Environmental Health Department has been developing an ordinance where persons engaged in this business in the county would be required to apply for permits, have collection and transport vehicles undergo inspections, and operators must post bond.
Read MoreMain focus is on transportation and land-use; also focuses on economic development
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), on Wednesday, July 26 adopted Plan Bay Area 2040 and its associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The nearly unanimous vote – with 41 of the 43 officials from the two bodies voting in the affirmative on the Plan and 39 for the EIR – caps a three-year process of plan development and intensive public outreach.
The second such regional housing and transportation plan adopted by MTC and ABAG, Plan Bay Area 2040 is a long-range blueprint to guide transportation investments and land-use decisions through 2040, while meeting the requirements of California’s landmark 2008 Senate Bill 375, which calls on each of the state’s 18 metropolitan areas to develop a Sustainable Communities Strategy to accommodate future population growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks.
The Plan shines a spotlight on the region’s housing crisis – in terms of housing availability and affordability – and calls on citizens to join with business, government, academia and the non-profit sector to solve it. The Bay Area must “pursue a multi-pronged strategy that emphasizes the construction of new homes for residents of all incomes, the protection of the region’s most vulnerable households, and the need to advocate for more financial resources to pursue local and regional solutions,” the Plan notes.
The Plan points to two recent developments that will improve the region’s ability to address its chronic housing and affordability challenges. The recent integration of MTC’s and ABAG’s staff into a unified team will lead to more effective long-range planning and strengthen the region’s housing policy resources. And the newly created CASA initiative – the blue-ribbon Committee to House the Bay Area – is bringing together diverse interests to develop a bold new strategy for housing production and preservation.
The Action Plan portion of Plan Bay Area 2040 also focuses on economic development, particularly improving transportation access to jobs, increasing middle-wage job creation and maintaining the region’s infrastructure. Another focus of the Action element is resilience in terms of enhancing climate protection and adaptation efforts, strengthening open space protections, creating healthy and safe communities, and protecting communities against natural hazards.
Leaders of ABAG and MTC applauded the Plan’s adoption.
“The ABAG Executive Board’s and MTC’s passage of Plan Bay Area 2040 recognizes the changes that have occurred to our region’s cities and counties and adjusts the actions we need to take to meet our shared challenges,” commented ABAG President and Clayton Councilmember Julie Pierce. “This successful second round of Plan Bay Area also highlights the good work that the agencies have done together in conjunction with the cities and counties.”
“The updated Plan charts a smart course by identifying the strategic investments and policy directions necessary to keep the Bay Area economy growing while maintaining a high quality of life,” stated MTC Chair and Rohnert Park Mayor Jake Mackenzie.
The draft Plan and approved revisions can be viewed at 2040.planbayarea.org/reports. The final report integrating the comments will be available in the coming weeks at the same location. MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. ABAG is the council of governments and official regional planning agency for the 101 cities and towns, and nine counties of the Bay Area.
Read MoreAssemblywoman Catharine Baker (R-San Ramon) announced Governor Brown has signed her Assembly Bill 1021. This measure will modernize the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) application process to help the elderly and disabled apply for in-home services in the most modern, efficient methods, the same way they could apply for CalFresh benefits.
The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program provides services for low-income individuals who are blind, disabled, or 65 years old or older. Approximately 464,000 Californians currently receive these services, which include personal care services (toileting, bathing, and grooming), domestic and related services (meal preparation, housecleaning), paramedical services, and protective supervision. IHSS is an alternative to much more expensive and disruptive out-of-home placement, such as assisted living or nursing facilities. The program is funded by state, county, and federal dollars.
Currently, most counties allow customers to apply only by phone for IHSS applications. AB 1021 would provide that an IHSS applicant can apply for IHSS benefits with the same process that he or she uses to apply for CalFresh benefits. County human services agencies shall accept applications for benefits by telephone, by fax, in person, or by email, or, if the county is capable of accepting online applications for benefits, by other electronic means.
“IHSS programs help the blind, disabled, and elderly in our community live more independently, and at much less expense than nursing homes and assisted living,” said Assemblywoman Baker. “This bipartisan bill makes the program more efficient and accessible, and that’s good government.”
AB 1021 received unanimous, bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly prior to receiving the Governor’s signature.
Baker represents the 16th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.
Read MoreOn Thursday, July 27, 2017, investigators from the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested 42-year-old Morgan Hill resident Jose Francisco Toledo for attempting to meet a minor for sex.
On June 16, 2017, Toledo contacted an undercover police officer who was posing as a 13-year-old girl on the internet. Over the course of the last two weeks, Toledo attempted to get the girl to send him nude images of herself and eventually arranged to meet the girl in person to engage in sex with her.
On July 27, 2017 at approximately 10:00am, Toledo arrived at Hidden Lakes Park at the Martinez/Pleasant Hill border, a location he had agreed upon to meet the minor. Investigators from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’ Office and Martinez Police Department took Toledo into custody and recovered electronic items from car, as well as candy he had promised to bring the girl, and condoms. Toledo was booked for felony violations of attempting lewd acts with a child under 13 in violation of Penal Code section 288(a) and enticing a minor to meet for sex in violation of California Penal Code section 288.4. His bail was set at 2.5 million dollars.
Toledo will make his initial appearance in Contra Costa County Superior Court on Monday July 31st, 2017 in front of the Honorable John T. Laettner. He currently is in the custody of the Contra Costa County Sheriff.
The investigation was conducted by a multi-agency Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Antioch, Martinez, San Ramon, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department and District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force.
Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children, and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org for further information.
For any further questions, please contact Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves at (925) 957-8731.
Read MoreCounty to Host Public Forum on Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Five applicants remain under consideration to serve as the Interim District Attorney for Contra Costa County. The Board of Supervisors found all 12 applicants to be highly qualified, but during its August 1, 2017, public meeting, decided that only five individuals would move on to the next stage of the selection process. The finalists will be invited to participate in a moderated discussion to be held on Tuesday, August 15, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments in advance beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The five applicants continuing in the process are: Diana Becton, Danielle Douglas, Paul Graves, Thomas Kensok and Patrick Vanier. Application materials for all 12 of the original applicants are available online. Background investigations will now be conducted on the five finalists. (See the related article.)
At the public forum on August 15, a discussion with the applicants will take place, moderated by former Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder Steve Weir. The forum will be held in the Board of Supervisors Chamber at 651 Pine Street in Martinez. While the public will have an opportunity to offer questions and comments that evening, you can also provide your input electronically prior to the event. Find out how at the District Attorney Recruitment Information website. If you are unable to attend the forum in person, it will also be televised live on CCTV and streamed live online.
The June 14 resignation of Mark Peterson from the position of District Attorney created a vacancy that will extend until the current term of office expires on January 7, 2019. The next election for the District Attorney will take place in June of 2018, with a potential runoff election in November of 2018.
Following the August 15th public forum, the Board of Supervisors will interview the final applicants at the September 12th public meeting; a decision could be made that day, or possibly at the following meeting on September 19, 2017.
Read MoreContra Costa Public Health and Animal Services are reminding the community not to touch bats after a bat found at a local park tests positive for rabies.
The bat was found on a pathway at The Grove Park, 6100 Main Street in Clayton the morning of Sunday, July 16. The bat was immediately removed from the park and was being rehabilitated but died several days later. Test results came back positive on the afternoon of July 27.
Rabies is spread from animals to humans mainly through bites. People who did not touch the bat that morning are not at risk of developing rabies. The bat was not found in the play structure area and there is no information that the bat was touched by any children.
“Although we think it is highly unlikely anyone was exposed to this bat we feel it’s important to remind the community that it’s never ok to touch bats,” said Paul Leung, Contra Costa Public Health Communicable Disease Programs Chief.
To prevent the spread of rabies, the community should make sure their pets are up to date with their rabies vaccines and avoid handling wildlife.
“Although most bats pose no risk of rabies a bat that behaves unusually, such as lying on the ground or being active during the daytime is concerning and people should not attempt to handle it but instead should contact us right away,” said Cpt. Jane Andreotti of Contra Costa Animal Services.
Anyone who has touched a bat or has been bitten by wildlife should contact their health care provider. More information about rabies is available at http://cchealth.org/rabies.
Read MorePhase I of the Balfour Road Shoulder Widening Project is underway. Phase I includes widening the pavement for wider lane and shoulders from Byron Highway to Bixler Road. Eastbound traffic will be detoured via local streets. Westbound traffic will stay on Balfour Road.
The detour will be in effect from Monday July 31st through mid-September. Drivers can expect traffic delays due to construction. The contractor will start Phase II after Phase I work is completed. The project is funded by the Discovery Bay West Traffic Mitigation funds.
For project updates visit the Public Works website at: http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.
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