Matt Sieger (far right) and Joe DiMaggio. Courtesy of Matt Sieger
“Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio was a Martinez native
By Matt Sieger
In the summer of 1974, between my junior and senior years at Cornell University, I was freelancing for the Ithaca New Times, a weekly newspaper in Ithaca, NY. My editor suggested I write a feature story about the Oneonta Yankees, a New York Yankees farm team in the New York-Penn League.
The NY-P, founded in 1939 as a Class D League as the PONY (Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York) League, became a Class A league in 1963. The NY-P is now the oldest continuously operated Class A league in professional baseball.
Oneonta is about a two-hour drive from Ithaca. My only problem was that I didn’t have a car. But back then, many young people hitchhiked. It was not yet considered very dangerous (although in 1973 the FBI did put out a poster warning drivers that a hitcher might be a “sex maniac” or a “vicious murderer”!). I guess I didn’t look like either, so I managed to hitch a ride to Oneonta.
Oneonta is a small town (around 16,000 people then, 14,000 now) nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. In the 1940s and 1950s, the town supported the Oneonta Red Sox, a Boston farm team in the now-defunct Canadian-American League. Frank Malzone, the Golden Glove third baseman for Boston in the fifties and sixties, played at Oneonta in 1949.
The Yankees took over the franchise in 1967. Notable Oneonta Yankees alumni include Don Mattingly (1979), Bernie Williams (1987) and Jorge Posada (1991). During my visit in 1974, the roster included Dennis Werth, a catcher who played in the big leagues for parts of four seasons and whose stepson is Jayson Werth, the retired All-Star outfielder. Also on the squad was Mike Heath, then a shortstop, who spent 14 seasons in the Major Leagues, mostly as a catcher. The president of the team was Sam Nader, cousin of the famous consumer advocate Ralph Nader.
The team played at the well-groomed Damaschke Field, where attendance averaged around 1,000 a game. Admission was $1.25 for adults and 60 cents for children.
I had intended to just spend the day, do my interviews and hitch a ride back home. But General Manager Nick Lambros informed me that I happened to arrive the day before Famous Yankee Night, an annual promotional event when the team brings in a former Yankee star.
Well, the star that year was Joe DiMaggio! The next evening 3,000 people jammed into Damaschke Field to see Joltin’ Joe before the game. He signed autographs, talked with the fans and took a few swings for old times’ sake.
I wouldn’t be able to stay that late, but Mr. Lambros invited me to a small press conference the next afternoon on his backyard patio. So, after sleeping the night on the floor of an apartment shared by some of the players (one of them was Lou Turco, a pitcher I had played summer baseball with in New Jersey), I headed over to the press conference.
As we sat on the patio sipping lemonade, Mr. Lambros emerged through the screen door of his home and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Joe DiMaggio!” And behind him came the dapper, dignified Yankee Clipper himself.
As a 21-year-old cub reporter, I was in awe as DiMaggio sat down in a lawn chair right next to me. He would turn 60 in November, but apart from the silver hair, he looked like he could still be playing center field for the Bronx Bombers.
As I wrote in my August 24, 1974, article for the Ithaca New Times, “Even if he can no longer hit that high inside fastball, the grace and dignity that characterized him on and off the field still shine through.” What impressed me most was how unassuming and approachable and congenial he was. Here was the great Joe DiMaggio in a tiny town with just a few folks out on the patio, and he treated me and the others with the utmost respect, taking time to fully answer all our questions.
Here’s the portion of the article from my interview with him that day:
The Yankee Clipper reminisced: “I think I played in one of the most beautiful eras in baseball. At that time you had a different type of fan and a different type of ballplayer. We used to sit in the hotel lobbies and talk baseball for hours. Nowadays all the players have business interests and other things on the side to think about. But I don’t blame them for that.
“As far as ability, that’s hard to say. There were only eight teams in each league when I was playing. Today you have 12, and I believe that’s diluted the talent a bit. Also, they’re bringing along young ballplayers a little too quickly, so that they come out of the minor leagues unrefined. I remember when I was coaching for Oakland and Reggie Jackson first arrived. He couldn’t catch a fly ball. We’d hit it to him, he’d pound the glove a few times, and the ball would drop 20 feet behind him. I’m not kidding.”
Jackson has come a long way since then, and DiMaggio says it’s because he’s a hard worker. He feels that natural ability goes only so far. “There’s no perfect ballplayer,” said the man who may have been the closest to it. “We all strive for it but there’s no one who ever gets there. I worked for hours and hours in practice just charging ground balls.”
After talking a little about his famous 56-game hitting streak, his daffy roommate Lefty Gomez and the great Yankee manager Joe McCarthy, DiMaggio was goaded into answering one of the most frequently asked questions: “What was your greatest thrill in baseball?”
“I’ll tell you one of them,” he replied. “Putting on the New York Yankees pinstripes in spring training for the very first time.”
It was such a thrill to interview the Yankee Clipper that day. Who knew that 44 years later I would move to Martinez (Joltin’ Joe’s hometown) and get to share this story with readers of the Herald.
Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for The Vacaville Reporter. He is the author of The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978. Matt lives in Martinez. This article first appeared in The Vacaville Reporter.
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Senators Alex Padilla and Lisa Murkowski (official photos) and map of tsunami warning areas from the National Weather Service on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
Providential timing with Thursday’s 7.0, 4.7 mag and multiple more quakes along Nor Cal coast
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced that the Senate passed their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through Fiscal Year 2028. Senate passage of the bill comes after a series of major earthquakes struck Northern California this morning, triggering tsunami warnings and underscoring the urgent need for early warning systems and earthquake safety programs like NEHRP. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill would authorize a total of $175.4 million per year from FY 2024-2028 across the four federal agencies responsible for long-term earthquake risk reduction under NEHRP: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
“As today’s devastating Northern California earthquakes remind us, it is never a matter of if, but when the next major earthquake will strike,” said Padilla. “The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program supports crucial tools like the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System, advances scientific understanding of earthquakes, and strengthens earthquake resilience in communities nationwide. With the safety of our communities at stake, we must stay vigilant. After today’s unanimous Senate passage, I will push my House colleagues to pass this bill to reauthorize this critical program as soon as possible.”
He was referring to both a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, 45 miles off the coast of Eureka and another 4.7 magnitude quake near Ferndale as well as multiple others throughout the day. (See Latest Earthquakes on the U.S. Geological Survey website)
Source: USGS
“Alaska faces significant earthquake risks as the most seismically active state-our communities must be prepared,” said Murkowski. “The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act provides crucial funding to federal agencies for the research, development, and implementation of earthquake safety procedures. The earthquake today in Northern California is a sober reminder of how critical these readiness measures are.”
Specifically, the NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2024 would authorize $10.6 million for FEMA, $5.9 million for NIST, $58 million for NSF, and $100.9 million for USGS per year from FY 2024-2028. This funding would support research, development, and implementation activities related to earthquake safety and risk reduction.
This NEHRP reauthorization includes:
- Directing state and local entities to inventory high risk buildings and structures,
- Expanding seismic events to include earthquake-caused tsunamis;
- Providing more technical assistance to Tribal governments; and
- Improving mitigation for earthquake-connected hazards.
California faces substantial earthquake risks. According to the California Department of Conservation, over 70 percent of Californians live within 30 miles of a fault that could cause high ground shaking within the next 50 years. The state averages two to three earthquakes per year at magnitude 5.5 or higher, risking moderate structural damage. Because of these major earthquake risks, California has become a leader in earthquake research.
The NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2024 is endorsed by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), BuildStrong America, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), International Code Council (ICC), the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), Seismological Society of America, and the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC).
Senator Padilla has long been a leader in mitigating earthquake risks. As a California State Senator, Padilla authored Senate Bill 135, signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2013, which required the state to establish the nation’s first statewide early warning system. In 2021, he led five of his U.S. Senate colleagues in requesting details from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on future plans and funding needs for the West Coast Early Earthquake Warning system.
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Ron Bernal is the only mayor-elect from Contra Costa County attending this year’s program.
Mayors will gain tools and training from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, Bloomberg Philanthropies, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School to set strategic priorities and build an effective city hall organization through the first 100 days in office.
The new class hails from 12 states and represents more than 5 million residents nationwide.
By Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts – (December 4, 2024) – This week, Mayor-elect Ron Bernal of Antioch, CA, is participating in the First 100 Days program at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Kennedy School. This program assists mayors in gaining the tools and training to help them set strategic priorities and build an effective city hall organization through the first 100 days in office. This year’s program is taking place from December 4–December 6, 2024.
In this year’s class, 24 new mayors from 11 states across the country will come together to receive world-class training from Harvard faculty, urban innovation and management experts, and other mayors on how to deliver for residents. Thanks to a generous gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, participation for mayors is fully funded, including tuition, accommodation, most meals, and airfare.
“The Bloomberg Center for Cities Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days equips newly elected U.S. mayors with the tools and techniques they need to lead as they begin their transition from campaigning to governing,” said James Anderson, who serves as the head of Government Innovation Programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “You only get to be the new kid on the block once — and this program helps ensure these mayors have ready access to insights from seasoned mayors, evidence about what works in leadership and public management, and connections to a peer group that is going through the same things. Alongside the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard, our team at Bloomberg Philanthropies together with the Institute of Politics and the U.S. Conference of Mayors support these new mayors in building effective, talented teams, forging citywide coalitions, and injecting their city hall organization with a culture of innovation so that in their critical, early days in office, they can set ambitious priorities and deliver.”
Day two of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Mayors program takes place in New York, Monday, July 15, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg Philanthropies
As new mayors prepare to take the reins in city halls across the country, 24 newly-elected U.S. mayors have been selected for the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University’s Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days, delivered in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School.
Cities increasingly confront complex global challenges at the community level. The Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Program for New Mayors is designed to maximize mayors’ potential for innovation and problem-solving, equipping newly-elected leaders with the skills to make the most of their roles and improve residents’ quality of life. Through the program, mayors will receive training from Harvard faculty, urban innovation and management experts, and other mayors on how to set strategic citywide priorities, build effective city hall organizations, foster collaboration across departments and sectors, and deliver for residents—establishing a strong foundation for their administrations during their critical early days in office.
To kick off participation, the newly-elected U.S. mayors—collectively representing 11 states and over 5 million residents—will convene for a two-day immersive classroom experience at Harvard University. In addition to the core coursework and connection with peers, the Program for New Mayors provides opportunities for new mayors to share strategies with other mayors through the Bloomberg Center for Cities’ vast mayoral leadership network and learn about interventions that are already working effectively to better resident lives in other cities.
Program alumni have deployed the program’s learnings to lead their communities through unexpected crises, establish working coalitions with diverse stakeholders, and set ambitious goals to meet complex challenges — from tackling homelessness to improving housing access, critical water infrastructure, or government performance — in order to better serve residents’ needs.
The Program for New Mayors is housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, which serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. Founded in 2021 with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Center is part of Michael R. Bloomberg’s commitment to the University to help bolster the capabilities of mayors and their teams. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The Center is designed to have a widespread impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world.
The Program for New Mayors builds on the longstanding tradition of a seminar for new mayors that originated at Harvard’s Institute of Politics in 1975.
Members of the Third Class of the Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days
- Ron Bernal – Antioch, CA
- Raj Salwan – Fremont, CA
- Adena Ishii – Berkeley, CA
- Kevin McCarty – Sacramento, CA
- Dan Lurie – San Francisco, CA
- Christina Fugazi – Stockton, CA
- Andrea Sorce – Vallejo, CA
- Alyia Gaskins – Alexandria, VA
- Emma Mulvaney-Stanak – Burlington, VT
- Bruce Rector – Clearwater, FL
- Kaarin Knudson – Eugene, OR
- David LaGrand – Grand Rapids, MI
- Jimmy Gray – Hampton, VA
- Beach Pace – Hillsboro, OR
- Patrick Farrell – Huntington, WV
- Michael Zarosinski – Medford, OR
- Mark Freeman – Mesa, AZ
- Janet Cowell – Raleigh, NC
- Danny Avula – Richmond, VA
- Julie Hoy – Salem, OR
- Lisa Borowsky – Scottsdale, AZ
- Jake Anderson – St. Cloud, MN
- Dustin Yates – St. George, LA
- Kevin Sartor – Surprise, AZ
Read more about the Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors changed 841 pronouns in county ordinances on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Video screenshot.
Replaces “he” or “she” with “they” or “them”
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County
(Martinez, CA) – In a unanimous vote, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has approved a significant update to the County Ordinance Code, removing gender-specific pronouns as part of ongoing efforts to modernize language and reflect the diversity of the community.
The ordinance code, which governs areas such as health and safety, administration, and land use, had not undergone a comprehensive review of its language since it was recodified in 1970. During this update, 841 instances of gender-specific pronouns were identified across more than 1,300 pages. Terms such as “he” were replaced with neutral descriptors like “the department head,” ensuring the code is inclusive and representative of all residents.
Source: Contra Costa County staff presentation
According to the Ordinance No. 2024-23, “SECTION II. Section 16-4.016 of the County Ordinance Code is amended to read: 16-4.016 Gender. Whenever a personal pronoun is used in the neutral gender, it shall include both the feminine and the masculine. ‘They/them’ shall indicate a singular individual, unless the context indicates the contrary.”
“Contra Costa County is a community for all, and our policies should reflect our dedication to serving everyone,” said Board Chair and District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover. “By updating the County Ordinance Code, we’re delivering on our commitment to create meaningful change that benefits all residents.”
The initiative marks a step toward broader modernization efforts, including plans to draft a policy mandating the use of gender-neutral language in all County policies and procedures, both existing and future.
“We are changing our county ordinances to reflect today’s reality and removing gender references turns the page on a practice that has no place in county policy,” said District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, Chair of the Board’s Equity Committee.
This update underscores the County’s commitment to responsive and representative governance.
“Removing gender-specific pronouns from the County Ordinance Code reflects Contra Costa County’s dedication to fairness and modernizing our practices,” said County Administrator Monica Nino. “This change ensures our policies and language honor the diversity of our community and promote dignity and respect for all.”
This project was sponsored by the County Administrator’s Office in partnership with the County Counsel’s Office with advice from the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice.
See agenda item 6.D.4. County staff Power Point Presentation, adopted Ordinance and Exhibit A.
Watch Dec. 3, 2024, Board meeting video.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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While working to increase ridership currently averaging on weekdays about 40% of pre-COVID figures
By Bay Area Rapid Transit District
As BART strives to increase ridership, which is averaging about 40% of weekday pre-COVID figures, BART fares will increase January 1, 2025, to keep pace with inflation so that the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations.
Fares will increase 5.5 percent on New Year’s Day. The increase is tied to the rate of inflation minus a half-percentage point. It’s the second such increase – the first took effect January 1, 2024.
The average fare will increase 25 cents, from $4.47 to $4.72. BART’s fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/25 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2025 date for their trip.
“We understand that price increases are never welcome, but BART fares remain a vital source of funds even with ridership lower than they were before the pandemic,” said BART Board Vice President Mark Foley. “My Board colleagues and I voted in June 2023 to spread necessary fare increases over two years rather than catching up all at once. At the same time, we voted to increase the Clipper START means-based discount from 20 percent to 50 percent to help those most in need.”
The fare increase is expected to raise about $14 million per year for operations. Combined with the previous year’s fare adjustment, BART will use this $30 million per year to fund train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence, and capital projects such as the Next Generation Fare Gates project.
Discounts available for those who are eligible
The regional Clipper START program is an important resource for low-income riders of BART and other Bay Area transit systems. The program is for adult riders with a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less. Administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, program participants receive a personalized Clipper card that cuts half the cost of fares on more than 20 transit systems.
- Limited income riders get 50% off with Clipper START.
- Youth 5-18 years old get 50% off with a Youth Clipper card.
- Seniors 65 and over get 62.5% off with a Senior Clipper card.
- The RTC Clipper card is a version of Clipper created for passengers under 65 with qualifying disabilities to provide 62.5% off.
Regular, predictable increases a long-term strategy
January’s fare increase is the latest adjustment in a strategy to provide BART funding while providing riders predictable, scaled changes to the costs of riding. In 2004, BART first implemented this inflation-based fare increase program that calls for small, regular, less-than-inflation increases every two years, allowing fares to keep up with the cost of providing reliable and safe service.
BART is also much less expensive than driving on a cost per mile basis. The Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate for driver is 67 cents per mile; BART riders pay an average of 27 cents per mile, 60% less than the cost of driving.
Outdated funding model
BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations. Even with the fare increase, BART is facing a $35 million operating deficit in FY26 and $385 million in FY27. Since BART’s outdated model of relying on passenger fares to pay most operating costs is no longer feasible because of remote work, the agency must modernize its funding sources to better match other transit systems throughout the country that receive larger amounts of public funding. BART needs a more reliable long-term source of operating funding and continues to advocate at the federal, state, and regional levels for the permanent funding needed to sustainably provide the quality transit service the Bay Area needs.
Addressing BART’s ongoing financial crisis will take a variety of solutions including securing new revenue and continuing to find internal cost savings. BART costs have grown at a rate lower than inflation, showing we have held the line on spending. We have implemented a service schedule that better matches ridership and we are running shorter trains, reducing traction power consumption and maintenance costs.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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2024 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame winner for Teamwork. Neil Chandran of Monte Vista High School with members of the Board of Supervisors. Photo: CoCoCounty
To be presented during Board of Supervisors annual César E. Chávez Celebration in April
Deadline: Feb. 25, 2025
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO & Lia Bristol, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media
(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards. These awards are presented annually to outstanding Contra Costa County residents between 12 and 18 years of age
Students will be recognized at the 31st Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11 am in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.
Únase a nosotros el martes 1 de abril de 2025 para la 31ª Celebración Conmemorativa Anual de César E. Chávez.
Actualmente estamos aceptando formularios de nominación para los Premios del Salón de la Fama Juvenil 2025. Haga clic aquí para acceder al formulario de nominación y más información sobre los Premios del Salón de la Fama de la Juventud.
Nominees should demonstrate exemplary behavior in one of six categories:
- Good Samaritan: Goes out of their way to do for others without seeking recognition
- Volunteerism: Lends a helping hand for the good of the community; Gives their time and energy to a worthy cause or organization
- Teamwork: Works unselfishly for the good of the team
- Leadership and Civic Engagement: A natural leader who inspires others and works to make a difference in school and the community
- Perseverance: Has worked hard to overcome obstacles and achieve success
- Innovation and Empowerment: Lifts others up and inspires change through creative solutions
For more information and the application form to nominate youth in our community, visit
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/FormCenter/Contra-Costa-County-Cesar-E-Chavez-Youth-42/2025-Contra-Costa-County-Youth-Hall-of-F-380
We invite you to submit your nomination by completing the form and uploading it to the County website or emailing the application and your letter of recommendation to Lia Bristol at YouthNomination@dcd.cccounty.us.
Nominations must be received or postmarked by February 25, 2025. Recipients will be recognized at the April 1, 2025, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ César E. Chávez Celebration.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Photos: El Cerrito PD
The El Cerrito Police Department is still seeking help from the community to identify a person of interest in a sexual battery incident that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th, at approximately 3:30 PM.
The investigation revealed that the victim, a sight and hearing impaired woman, was followed by a man for several city blocks until she reached a more secluded residential area on Stockton Avenue near Elm Street. The man then approached the woman from behind and slapped her buttock before he fled the area.
After locating additional video surveillance footage from businesses in the area, investigators discovered this man was a Hispanic male in his twenties with a thin to medium build, wearing a dark gray beanie, a light gray sweatshirt, dark pants, and white and black shoes. This alert contains two updated pictures of the suspect.
Please contact Detective Michael Olivieri at molivieri@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us if you recognize this man or if you have any information that might help this investigation
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The crew ranges from ages 12-18 and is believed to be responsible for at least 23 incidents totaling more than $84,000 in merchandise from multiple Walgreens stores
By San Francisco Police Department
On September 23, 2024, the San Francisco Police Department General Work Investigations Unit was assigned an Organized Retail Crime related robbery that occurred on September 16, 2024, at Walgreens on the 1100 block of Potrero Avenue. During the incident, several juvenile suspects entered the store, concealed merchandise, and ransacked the store. When an employee asked the suspects to stop, two of the suspects assaulted the employee, resulting in a serious head injury.
During the investigation, officers assigned to the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit recognized five of the juvenile suspects from an investigation into a separate assault that also occurred on September 16, 2024, at 24th and Mission Streets. The suspects were subsequently taken into custody for the Walgreens incident.
A review of other incidents with the SFPD Burglary–Organized Retail Crime Unit led investigators to identify other incidents based on similarities in the suspect description, victim similarities, and modus operandi (M.O.). Through the diligent work of investigators and Walgreens Asset Protection members, a total of eight suspects were determined to have been involved in at least 23 organized retail crime incidents at various Walgreens locations in San Francisco, totaling over $84,000 in stolen merchandise.
Below are synopses of some of the incidents the crew was involved in:
On July 11, 2024, seven masked suspects began gathering outside Walgreens at 2050 Irving Street. Employees recognized them to be thieves, so they locked the doors and called the police. The suspects then forced the door open and stole over $1.3k in merchandise. (SFPD case 2404353574)
On August 18, 2024, seven suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and began concealing merchandise. One of the suspects jumped over the front counter and stole a cash register. The loss was over $6.5k. (SFPD case 240518223)
On September 9, 2024, nine suspects entered Walgreens at 2690 Mission Street and began concealing merchandise. While the suspects were escaping with over $1k in merchandise, one of the suspects brandished a firearm at a security guard. (SFPD case 240568369)
On September 29, 2024, at 6:14 p.m., eight suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and stole over $15k in merchandise. The same group came back with five more accomplices approximately two hours later and stole almost $12k in merchandise. (SFPD case 240612916)
Brandon McClain, an 18-year-old male from Hayward, CA was arrested for four counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), four counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), four counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).
A 15-year-old male from Oakley, Ca was arrested on charges of five counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), five counts of grand theft (487(a)PC) and five counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).
A 14-year-old male from Pittsburg, CA was arrested on charges of two counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), two counts of grand theft (487(a) PC), and two counts of organized retail (490.4(a)(1) PC).
A 12-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with assault likely to produce great bodily injury (245(a)(4) PC), three counts of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), seven counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), seven counts of grand theft (487 (a) PC), ten counts of organized retail theft (490.4 PC) and four counts of petty theft (490.2(a) PC).
A 15-year-old male from San Francisco was arrested on the charges of three counts of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), eight counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), eight counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), eight counts of organized retail theft (490.4 PC) and petty theft (490.2(a)PC).
A 14-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with assault with a deadly weapon (245(a)(1) PC), assault likely to produce great bodily injury (245(a)(4)PC), battery causing serious bodily injury (243(d) PC), robbery in the second degree (211 PC), burglary in the second degree (459 PC), grand theft (487(a)PC), organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC), petty theft (490.2(a)PC) and three counts of great bodily injury in the commission of a felony (12022.7(a)PC).
A 15-year-old male from Oakland, CA was arrested on charges of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), four counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), four counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), four counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).
A 14-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with robbery in the second degree (211 PC), burglary in the second degree (459 PC), grand theft (487(a)PC), organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC) and petty theft (490.2(a)PC).
Brandon McClain and the 15-year-old San Francisco resident were also each arrested on the charge of carjacking (215(a) PC) regarding a carjacking incident that occurred on November 5, 2024, in the area of Geneva and Cayuga Avenues.These arrests were made possible due to the collaboration between investigators, the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit, patrol officers citywide, and Walgreens Asset Protection. While arrests have been made, these are open and active investigations. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
SFPD Cases # 246-134-332, 246-134-360, 246-133-920, 240-639-352, 246-131-645, 240-612-916, 240-613-196, 240-592-960, 240-583-561, 240-568-369, 240-518-223, 240-448-244, 240-444-662, 240-441-997, 240-433-574, 240-433-176, 240-429-363, 240-400-777, 240-326-468, 240-319-968, 246-051-786
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Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton is presented with her Achievers Award by NOBLE San Francisco Area President and BART Police Deputy Chief Ja’Son Scott at the annual luncheon on Oct. 30, 2024. Photo courtesy of DA Becton.
Receives Achievers Award at annual SF Chapter luncheon
By Allen D. Payton
Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton was honored on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, by the San Francisco Area Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) with their Achievers Award at their 3rd Annual Achievers Luncheon.
The event was held at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Oakland and had the theme of “Staying the Course, Supporting Justice for the Next Generation.” During his welcoming remarks Chapter President Ja’Son Scott, Deputy Chief of the BART Police Department, said the theme, “emphasizes our collective commitment to fostering a brighter future for our leaders in law enforcement and our communities.”
“Today, we come together not only to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our honorees, but also to reaffirm our dedication to justice and equity for the next generation,” he continued. “Your presence here is a testament to our shared mission and the important role each of us plays in shaping a more just society.”
The luncheon’s Keynote Speaker was Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and author of Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do.
In a Nov. 18th post on her campaign Facebook page Becton wrote, “I am deeply humbled and honored to be recognized by NOBLE, National Association [sic] of Black Law Enforcement, San Francisco Area Chapter, with the esteemed Achievers Award, alongside distinguished honorees Janieth Glenn-Davis, Jonni Redick, Sean Washington, and Margaret Dixon.”
Glenn-Davis is the retired Deputy Chief for the BART Police Department, Redick is the retired Assistant Chief of the California Highway Patrol and Washington is Chief of Police for Fremont. Dixon was honored with the NOBLE Partner Award and is a retired Oakland Police Officer.
CCDA Becton participated in the NOBLE presentation panel. Photo: DA Becton campaign Facebook page
In addition, that same day Becton shared, “Law enforcement representatives from the Bay Area participated in a discussion with me, offering expertise on human trafficking activities, trends, and enforcement tactics.”
According to the organization’s website, founded in September 1976, “The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives™, also known as NOBLE®, consists of community leaders united in our mission to promote justice, equity, and excellence in the administration of justice.” Their slogan is “Justice by Action.”
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Matt Sieger (far right) and Joe DiMaggio. Courtesy of Matt Sieger
“Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio was a Martinez native
By Matt Sieger
In the summer of 1974, between my junior and senior years at Cornell University, I was freelancing for the Ithaca New Times, a weekly newspaper in Ithaca, NY. My editor suggested I write a feature story about the Oneonta Yankees, a New York Yankees farm team in the New York-Penn League.
The NY-P, founded in 1939 as a Class D League as the PONY (Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York) League, became a Class A league in 1963. The NY-P is now the oldest continuously operated Class A league in professional baseball.
Oneonta is about a two-hour drive from Ithaca. My only problem was that I didn’t have a car. But back then, many young people hitchhiked. It was not yet considered very dangerous (although in 1973 the FBI did put out a poster warning drivers that a hitcher might be a “sex maniac” or a “vicious murderer”!). I guess I didn’t look like either, so I managed to hitch a ride to Oneonta.
Oneonta is a small town (around 16,000 people then, 14,000 now) nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. In the 1940s and 1950s, the town supported the Oneonta Red Sox, a Boston farm team in the now-defunct Canadian-American League. Frank Malzone, the Golden Glove third baseman for Boston in the fifties and sixties, played at Oneonta in 1949.
The Yankees took over the franchise in 1967. Notable Oneonta Yankees alumni include Don Mattingly (1979), Bernie Williams (1987) and Jorge Posada (1991). During my visit in 1974, the roster included Dennis Werth, a catcher who played in the big leagues for parts of four seasons and whose stepson is Jayson Werth, the retired All-Star outfielder. Also on the squad was Mike Heath, then a shortstop, who spent 14 seasons in the Major Leagues, mostly as a catcher. The president of the team was Sam Nader, cousin of the famous consumer advocate Ralph Nader.
The team played at the well-groomed Damaschke Field, where attendance averaged around 1,000 a game. Admission was $1.25 for adults and 60 cents for children.
I had intended to just spend the day, do my interviews and hitch a ride back home. But General Manager Nick Lambros informed me that I happened to arrive the day before Famous Yankee Night, an annual promotional event when the team brings in a former Yankee star.
Well, the star that year was Joe DiMaggio! The next evening 3,000 people jammed into Damaschke Field to see Joltin’ Joe before the game. He signed autographs, talked with the fans and took a few swings for old times’ sake.
I wouldn’t be able to stay that late, but Mr. Lambros invited me to a small press conference the next afternoon on his backyard patio. So, after sleeping the night on the floor of an apartment shared by some of the players (one of them was Lou Turco, a pitcher I had played summer baseball with in New Jersey), I headed over to the press conference.
As we sat on the patio sipping lemonade, Mr. Lambros emerged through the screen door of his home and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Joe DiMaggio!” And behind him came the dapper, dignified Yankee Clipper himself.
As a 21-year-old cub reporter, I was in awe as DiMaggio sat down in a lawn chair right next to me. He would turn 60 in November, but apart from the silver hair, he looked like he could still be playing center field for the Bronx Bombers.
As I wrote in my August 24, 1974, article for the Ithaca New Times, “Even if he can no longer hit that high inside fastball, the grace and dignity that characterized him on and off the field still shine through.” What impressed me most was how unassuming and approachable and congenial he was. Here was the great Joe DiMaggio in a tiny town with just a few folks out on the patio, and he treated me and the others with the utmost respect, taking time to fully answer all our questions.
Here’s the portion of the article from my interview with him that day:
The Yankee Clipper reminisced: “I think I played in one of the most beautiful eras in baseball. At that time you had a different type of fan and a different type of ballplayer. We used to sit in the hotel lobbies and talk baseball for hours. Nowadays all the players have business interests and other things on the side to think about. But I don’t blame them for that.
“As far as ability, that’s hard to say. There were only eight teams in each league when I was playing. Today you have 12, and I believe that’s diluted the talent a bit. Also, they’re bringing along young ballplayers a little too quickly, so that they come out of the minor leagues unrefined. I remember when I was coaching for Oakland and Reggie Jackson first arrived. He couldn’t catch a fly ball. We’d hit it to him, he’d pound the glove a few times, and the ball would drop 20 feet behind him. I’m not kidding.”
Jackson has come a long way since then, and DiMaggio says it’s because he’s a hard worker. He feels that natural ability goes only so far. “There’s no perfect ballplayer,” said the man who may have been the closest to it. “We all strive for it but there’s no one who ever gets there. I worked for hours and hours in practice just charging ground balls.”
After talking a little about his famous 56-game hitting streak, his daffy roommate Lefty Gomez and the great Yankee manager Joe McCarthy, DiMaggio was goaded into answering one of the most frequently asked questions: “What was your greatest thrill in baseball?”
“I’ll tell you one of them,” he replied. “Putting on the New York Yankees pinstripes in spring training for the very first time.”
It was such a thrill to interview the Yankee Clipper that day. Who knew that 44 years later I would move to Martinez (Joltin’ Joe’s hometown) and get to share this story with readers of the Herald.
Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for The Vacaville Reporter. He is the author of The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978. Matt lives in Martinez. This article first appeared in The Vacaville Reporter.
Read MoreSenators Alex Padilla and Lisa Murkowski (official photos) and map of tsunami warning areas from the National Weather Service on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
Providential timing with Thursday’s 7.0, 4.7 mag and multiple more quakes along Nor Cal coast
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced that the Senate passed their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through Fiscal Year 2028. Senate passage of the bill comes after a series of major earthquakes struck Northern California this morning, triggering tsunami warnings and underscoring the urgent need for early warning systems and earthquake safety programs like NEHRP. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill would authorize a total of $175.4 million per year from FY 2024-2028 across the four federal agencies responsible for long-term earthquake risk reduction under NEHRP: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
“As today’s devastating Northern California earthquakes remind us, it is never a matter of if, but when the next major earthquake will strike,” said Padilla. “The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program supports crucial tools like the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System, advances scientific understanding of earthquakes, and strengthens earthquake resilience in communities nationwide. With the safety of our communities at stake, we must stay vigilant. After today’s unanimous Senate passage, I will push my House colleagues to pass this bill to reauthorize this critical program as soon as possible.”
He was referring to both a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, 45 miles off the coast of Eureka and another 4.7 magnitude quake near Ferndale as well as multiple others throughout the day. (See Latest Earthquakes on the U.S. Geological Survey website)
Source: USGS
“Alaska faces significant earthquake risks as the most seismically active state-our communities must be prepared,” said Murkowski. “The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act provides crucial funding to federal agencies for the research, development, and implementation of earthquake safety procedures. The earthquake today in Northern California is a sober reminder of how critical these readiness measures are.”
Specifically, the NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2024 would authorize $10.6 million for FEMA, $5.9 million for NIST, $58 million for NSF, and $100.9 million for USGS per year from FY 2024-2028. This funding would support research, development, and implementation activities related to earthquake safety and risk reduction.
This NEHRP reauthorization includes:
- Directing state and local entities to inventory high risk buildings and structures,
- Expanding seismic events to include earthquake-caused tsunamis;
- Providing more technical assistance to Tribal governments; and
- Improving mitigation for earthquake-connected hazards.
California faces substantial earthquake risks. According to the California Department of Conservation, over 70 percent of Californians live within 30 miles of a fault that could cause high ground shaking within the next 50 years. The state averages two to three earthquakes per year at magnitude 5.5 or higher, risking moderate structural damage. Because of these major earthquake risks, California has become a leader in earthquake research.
The NEHRP Reauthorization Act of 2024 is endorsed by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), BuildStrong America, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), International Code Council (ICC), the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), Seismological Society of America, and the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC).
Senator Padilla has long been a leader in mitigating earthquake risks. As a California State Senator, Padilla authored Senate Bill 135, signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2013, which required the state to establish the nation’s first statewide early warning system. In 2021, he led five of his U.S. Senate colleagues in requesting details from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on future plans and funding needs for the West Coast Early Earthquake Warning system.
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Ron Bernal is the only mayor-elect from Contra Costa County attending this year’s program.
Mayors will gain tools and training from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, Bloomberg Philanthropies, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School to set strategic priorities and build an effective city hall organization through the first 100 days in office.
The new class hails from 12 states and represents more than 5 million residents nationwide.
By Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts – (December 4, 2024) – This week, Mayor-elect Ron Bernal of Antioch, CA, is participating in the First 100 Days program at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Kennedy School. This program assists mayors in gaining the tools and training to help them set strategic priorities and build an effective city hall organization through the first 100 days in office. This year’s program is taking place from December 4–December 6, 2024.
In this year’s class, 24 new mayors from 11 states across the country will come together to receive world-class training from Harvard faculty, urban innovation and management experts, and other mayors on how to deliver for residents. Thanks to a generous gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, participation for mayors is fully funded, including tuition, accommodation, most meals, and airfare.
“The Bloomberg Center for Cities Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days equips newly elected U.S. mayors with the tools and techniques they need to lead as they begin their transition from campaigning to governing,” said James Anderson, who serves as the head of Government Innovation Programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “You only get to be the new kid on the block once — and this program helps ensure these mayors have ready access to insights from seasoned mayors, evidence about what works in leadership and public management, and connections to a peer group that is going through the same things. Alongside the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard, our team at Bloomberg Philanthropies together with the Institute of Politics and the U.S. Conference of Mayors support these new mayors in building effective, talented teams, forging citywide coalitions, and injecting their city hall organization with a culture of innovation so that in their critical, early days in office, they can set ambitious priorities and deliver.”
Day two of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Mayors program takes place in New York, Monday, July 15, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg Philanthropies
As new mayors prepare to take the reins in city halls across the country, 24 newly-elected U.S. mayors have been selected for the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University’s Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days, delivered in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School.
Cities increasingly confront complex global challenges at the community level. The Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard’s Program for New Mayors is designed to maximize mayors’ potential for innovation and problem-solving, equipping newly-elected leaders with the skills to make the most of their roles and improve residents’ quality of life. Through the program, mayors will receive training from Harvard faculty, urban innovation and management experts, and other mayors on how to set strategic citywide priorities, build effective city hall organizations, foster collaboration across departments and sectors, and deliver for residents—establishing a strong foundation for their administrations during their critical early days in office.
To kick off participation, the newly-elected U.S. mayors—collectively representing 11 states and over 5 million residents—will convene for a two-day immersive classroom experience at Harvard University. In addition to the core coursework and connection with peers, the Program for New Mayors provides opportunities for new mayors to share strategies with other mayors through the Bloomberg Center for Cities’ vast mayoral leadership network and learn about interventions that are already working effectively to better resident lives in other cities.
Program alumni have deployed the program’s learnings to lead their communities through unexpected crises, establish working coalitions with diverse stakeholders, and set ambitious goals to meet complex challenges — from tackling homelessness to improving housing access, critical water infrastructure, or government performance — in order to better serve residents’ needs.
The Program for New Mayors is housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, which serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. Founded in 2021 with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Center is part of Michael R. Bloomberg’s commitment to the University to help bolster the capabilities of mayors and their teams. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The Center is designed to have a widespread impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world.
The Program for New Mayors builds on the longstanding tradition of a seminar for new mayors that originated at Harvard’s Institute of Politics in 1975.
Members of the Third Class of the Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days
- Ron Bernal – Antioch, CA
- Raj Salwan – Fremont, CA
- Adena Ishii – Berkeley, CA
- Kevin McCarty – Sacramento, CA
- Dan Lurie – San Francisco, CA
- Christina Fugazi – Stockton, CA
- Andrea Sorce – Vallejo, CA
- Alyia Gaskins – Alexandria, VA
- Emma Mulvaney-Stanak – Burlington, VT
- Bruce Rector – Clearwater, FL
- Kaarin Knudson – Eugene, OR
- David LaGrand – Grand Rapids, MI
- Jimmy Gray – Hampton, VA
- Beach Pace – Hillsboro, OR
- Patrick Farrell – Huntington, WV
- Michael Zarosinski – Medford, OR
- Mark Freeman – Mesa, AZ
- Janet Cowell – Raleigh, NC
- Danny Avula – Richmond, VA
- Julie Hoy – Salem, OR
- Lisa Borowsky – Scottsdale, AZ
- Jake Anderson – St. Cloud, MN
- Dustin Yates – St. George, LA
- Kevin Sartor – Surprise, AZ
Read more about the Program for New Mayors: First 100 Days.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreThe Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors changed 841 pronouns in county ordinances on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Video screenshot.
Replaces “he” or “she” with “they” or “them”
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County
(Martinez, CA) – In a unanimous vote, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has approved a significant update to the County Ordinance Code, removing gender-specific pronouns as part of ongoing efforts to modernize language and reflect the diversity of the community.
The ordinance code, which governs areas such as health and safety, administration, and land use, had not undergone a comprehensive review of its language since it was recodified in 1970. During this update, 841 instances of gender-specific pronouns were identified across more than 1,300 pages. Terms such as “he” were replaced with neutral descriptors like “the department head,” ensuring the code is inclusive and representative of all residents.
Source: Contra Costa County staff presentation
According to the Ordinance No. 2024-23, “SECTION II. Section 16-4.016 of the County Ordinance Code is amended to read: 16-4.016 Gender. Whenever a personal pronoun is used in the neutral gender, it shall include both the feminine and the masculine. ‘They/them’ shall indicate a singular individual, unless the context indicates the contrary.”
“Contra Costa County is a community for all, and our policies should reflect our dedication to serving everyone,” said Board Chair and District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover. “By updating the County Ordinance Code, we’re delivering on our commitment to create meaningful change that benefits all residents.”
The initiative marks a step toward broader modernization efforts, including plans to draft a policy mandating the use of gender-neutral language in all County policies and procedures, both existing and future.
“We are changing our county ordinances to reflect today’s reality and removing gender references turns the page on a practice that has no place in county policy,” said District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, Chair of the Board’s Equity Committee.
This update underscores the County’s commitment to responsive and representative governance.
“Removing gender-specific pronouns from the County Ordinance Code reflects Contra Costa County’s dedication to fairness and modernizing our practices,” said County Administrator Monica Nino. “This change ensures our policies and language honor the diversity of our community and promote dignity and respect for all.”
This project was sponsored by the County Administrator’s Office in partnership with the County Counsel’s Office with advice from the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice.
See agenda item 6.D.4. County staff Power Point Presentation, adopted Ordinance and Exhibit A.
Watch Dec. 3, 2024, Board meeting video.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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While working to increase ridership currently averaging on weekdays about 40% of pre-COVID figures
By Bay Area Rapid Transit District
As BART strives to increase ridership, which is averaging about 40% of weekday pre-COVID figures, BART fares will increase January 1, 2025, to keep pace with inflation so that the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations.
Fares will increase 5.5 percent on New Year’s Day. The increase is tied to the rate of inflation minus a half-percentage point. It’s the second such increase – the first took effect January 1, 2024.
The average fare will increase 25 cents, from $4.47 to $4.72. BART’s fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/25 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2025 date for their trip.
“We understand that price increases are never welcome, but BART fares remain a vital source of funds even with ridership lower than they were before the pandemic,” said BART Board Vice President Mark Foley. “My Board colleagues and I voted in June 2023 to spread necessary fare increases over two years rather than catching up all at once. At the same time, we voted to increase the Clipper START means-based discount from 20 percent to 50 percent to help those most in need.”
The fare increase is expected to raise about $14 million per year for operations. Combined with the previous year’s fare adjustment, BART will use this $30 million per year to fund train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence, and capital projects such as the Next Generation Fare Gates project.
Discounts available for those who are eligible
The regional Clipper START program is an important resource for low-income riders of BART and other Bay Area transit systems. The program is for adult riders with a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or less. Administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, program participants receive a personalized Clipper card that cuts half the cost of fares on more than 20 transit systems.
- Limited income riders get 50% off with Clipper START.
- Youth 5-18 years old get 50% off with a Youth Clipper card.
- Seniors 65 and over get 62.5% off with a Senior Clipper card.
- The RTC Clipper card is a version of Clipper created for passengers under 65 with qualifying disabilities to provide 62.5% off.
Regular, predictable increases a long-term strategy
January’s fare increase is the latest adjustment in a strategy to provide BART funding while providing riders predictable, scaled changes to the costs of riding. In 2004, BART first implemented this inflation-based fare increase program that calls for small, regular, less-than-inflation increases every two years, allowing fares to keep up with the cost of providing reliable and safe service.
BART is also much less expensive than driving on a cost per mile basis. The Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate for driver is 67 cents per mile; BART riders pay an average of 27 cents per mile, 60% less than the cost of driving.
Outdated funding model
BART’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations. Even with the fare increase, BART is facing a $35 million operating deficit in FY26 and $385 million in FY27. Since BART’s outdated model of relying on passenger fares to pay most operating costs is no longer feasible because of remote work, the agency must modernize its funding sources to better match other transit systems throughout the country that receive larger amounts of public funding. BART needs a more reliable long-term source of operating funding and continues to advocate at the federal, state, and regional levels for the permanent funding needed to sustainably provide the quality transit service the Bay Area needs.
Addressing BART’s ongoing financial crisis will take a variety of solutions including securing new revenue and continuing to find internal cost savings. BART costs have grown at a rate lower than inflation, showing we have held the line on spending. We have implemented a service schedule that better matches ridership and we are running shorter trains, reducing traction power consumption and maintenance costs.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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2024 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame winner for Teamwork. Neil Chandran of Monte Vista High School with members of the Board of Supervisors. Photo: CoCoCounty
To be presented during Board of Supervisors annual César E. Chávez Celebration in April
Deadline: Feb. 25, 2025
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO & Lia Bristol, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media
(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards. These awards are presented annually to outstanding Contra Costa County residents between 12 and 18 years of age
Students will be recognized at the 31st Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11 am in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.
Únase a nosotros el martes 1 de abril de 2025 para la 31ª Celebración Conmemorativa Anual de César E. Chávez.
Actualmente estamos aceptando formularios de nominación para los Premios del Salón de la Fama Juvenil 2025. Haga clic aquí para acceder al formulario de nominación y más información sobre los Premios del Salón de la Fama de la Juventud.
Nominees should demonstrate exemplary behavior in one of six categories:
- Good Samaritan: Goes out of their way to do for others without seeking recognition
- Volunteerism: Lends a helping hand for the good of the community; Gives their time and energy to a worthy cause or organization
- Teamwork: Works unselfishly for the good of the team
- Leadership and Civic Engagement: A natural leader who inspires others and works to make a difference in school and the community
- Perseverance: Has worked hard to overcome obstacles and achieve success
- Innovation and Empowerment: Lifts others up and inspires change through creative solutions
For more information and the application form to nominate youth in our community, visit
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/FormCenter/Contra-Costa-County-Cesar-E-Chavez-Youth-42/2025-Contra-Costa-County-Youth-Hall-of-F-380
We invite you to submit your nomination by completing the form and uploading it to the County website or emailing the application and your letter of recommendation to Lia Bristol at YouthNomination@dcd.cccounty.us.
Nominations must be received or postmarked by February 25, 2025. Recipients will be recognized at the April 1, 2025, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ César E. Chávez Celebration.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MorePhotos: El Cerrito PD
The El Cerrito Police Department is still seeking help from the community to identify a person of interest in a sexual battery incident that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th, at approximately 3:30 PM.
The investigation revealed that the victim, a sight and hearing impaired woman, was followed by a man for several city blocks until she reached a more secluded residential area on Stockton Avenue near Elm Street. The man then approached the woman from behind and slapped her buttock before he fled the area.
After locating additional video surveillance footage from businesses in the area, investigators discovered this man was a Hispanic male in his twenties with a thin to medium build, wearing a dark gray beanie, a light gray sweatshirt, dark pants, and white and black shoes. This alert contains two updated pictures of the suspect.
Please contact Detective Michael Olivieri at molivieri@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us if you recognize this man or if you have any information that might help this investigation
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The crew ranges from ages 12-18 and is believed to be responsible for at least 23 incidents totaling more than $84,000 in merchandise from multiple Walgreens stores
By San Francisco Police Department
On September 23, 2024, the San Francisco Police Department General Work Investigations Unit was assigned an Organized Retail Crime related robbery that occurred on September 16, 2024, at Walgreens on the 1100 block of Potrero Avenue. During the incident, several juvenile suspects entered the store, concealed merchandise, and ransacked the store. When an employee asked the suspects to stop, two of the suspects assaulted the employee, resulting in a serious head injury.
During the investigation, officers assigned to the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit recognized five of the juvenile suspects from an investigation into a separate assault that also occurred on September 16, 2024, at 24th and Mission Streets. The suspects were subsequently taken into custody for the Walgreens incident.
A review of other incidents with the SFPD Burglary–Organized Retail Crime Unit led investigators to identify other incidents based on similarities in the suspect description, victim similarities, and modus operandi (M.O.). Through the diligent work of investigators and Walgreens Asset Protection members, a total of eight suspects were determined to have been involved in at least 23 organized retail crime incidents at various Walgreens locations in San Francisco, totaling over $84,000 in stolen merchandise.
Below are synopses of some of the incidents the crew was involved in:
On July 11, 2024, seven masked suspects began gathering outside Walgreens at 2050 Irving Street. Employees recognized them to be thieves, so they locked the doors and called the police. The suspects then forced the door open and stole over $1.3k in merchandise. (SFPD case 2404353574)
On August 18, 2024, seven suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and began concealing merchandise. One of the suspects jumped over the front counter and stole a cash register. The loss was over $6.5k. (SFPD case 240518223)
On September 9, 2024, nine suspects entered Walgreens at 2690 Mission Street and began concealing merchandise. While the suspects were escaping with over $1k in merchandise, one of the suspects brandished a firearm at a security guard. (SFPD case 240568369)
On September 29, 2024, at 6:14 p.m., eight suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and stole over $15k in merchandise. The same group came back with five more accomplices approximately two hours later and stole almost $12k in merchandise. (SFPD case 240612916)
Brandon McClain, an 18-year-old male from Hayward, CA was arrested for four counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), four counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), four counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).
A 15-year-old male from Oakley, Ca was arrested on charges of five counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), five counts of grand theft (487(a)PC) and five counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).
A 14-year-old male from Pittsburg, CA was arrested on charges of two counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), two counts of grand theft (487(a) PC), and two counts of organized retail (490.4(a)(1) PC).
A 12-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with assault likely to produce great bodily injury (245(a)(4) PC), three counts of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), seven counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), seven counts of grand theft (487 (a) PC), ten counts of organized retail theft (490.4 PC) and four counts of petty theft (490.2(a) PC).
A 15-year-old male from San Francisco was arrested on the charges of three counts of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), eight counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), eight counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), eight counts of organized retail theft (490.4 PC) and petty theft (490.2(a)PC).
A 14-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with assault with a deadly weapon (245(a)(1) PC), assault likely to produce great bodily injury (245(a)(4)PC), battery causing serious bodily injury (243(d) PC), robbery in the second degree (211 PC), burglary in the second degree (459 PC), grand theft (487(a)PC), organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC), petty theft (490.2(a)PC) and three counts of great bodily injury in the commission of a felony (12022.7(a)PC).
A 15-year-old male from Oakland, CA was arrested on charges of robbery in the second degree (211 PC), four counts of burglary in the second degree (459 PC), four counts of grand theft (487(a)PC), four counts of organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC).
A 14-year-old male from San Francisco was charged with robbery in the second degree (211 PC), burglary in the second degree (459 PC), grand theft (487(a)PC), organized retail theft (490.4(a)(1)PC) and petty theft (490.2(a)PC).
Brandon McClain and the 15-year-old San Francisco resident were also each arrested on the charge of carjacking (215(a) PC) regarding a carjacking incident that occurred on November 5, 2024, in the area of Geneva and Cayuga Avenues.These arrests were made possible due to the collaboration between investigators, the Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit, patrol officers citywide, and Walgreens Asset Protection. While arrests have been made, these are open and active investigations. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
SFPD Cases # 246-134-332, 246-134-360, 246-133-920, 240-639-352, 246-131-645, 240-612-916, 240-613-196, 240-592-960, 240-583-561, 240-568-369, 240-518-223, 240-448-244, 240-444-662, 240-441-997, 240-433-574, 240-433-176, 240-429-363, 240-400-777, 240-326-468, 240-319-968, 246-051-786
Read MoreContra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton is presented with her Achievers Award by NOBLE San Francisco Area President and BART Police Deputy Chief Ja’Son Scott at the annual luncheon on Oct. 30, 2024. Photo courtesy of DA Becton.
Receives Achievers Award at annual SF Chapter luncheon
By Allen D. Payton
Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton was honored on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, by the San Francisco Area Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) with their Achievers Award at their 3rd Annual Achievers Luncheon.
The event was held at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Oakland and had the theme of “Staying the Course, Supporting Justice for the Next Generation.” During his welcoming remarks Chapter President Ja’Son Scott, Deputy Chief of the BART Police Department, said the theme, “emphasizes our collective commitment to fostering a brighter future for our leaders in law enforcement and our communities.”
“Today, we come together not only to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our honorees, but also to reaffirm our dedication to justice and equity for the next generation,” he continued. “Your presence here is a testament to our shared mission and the important role each of us plays in shaping a more just society.”
The luncheon’s Keynote Speaker was Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and author of Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do.
In a Nov. 18th post on her campaign Facebook page Becton wrote, “I am deeply humbled and honored to be recognized by NOBLE, National Association [sic] of Black Law Enforcement, San Francisco Area Chapter, with the esteemed Achievers Award, alongside distinguished honorees Janieth Glenn-Davis, Jonni Redick, Sean Washington, and Margaret Dixon.”
Glenn-Davis is the retired Deputy Chief for the BART Police Department, Redick is the retired Assistant Chief of the California Highway Patrol and Washington is Chief of Police for Fremont. Dixon was honored with the NOBLE Partner Award and is a retired Oakland Police Officer.
CCDA Becton participated in the NOBLE presentation panel. Photo: DA Becton campaign Facebook page
In addition, that same day Becton shared, “Law enforcement representatives from the Bay Area participated in a discussion with me, offering expertise on human trafficking activities, trends, and enforcement tactics.”
According to the organization’s website, founded in September 1976, “The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives™, also known as NOBLE®, consists of community leaders united in our mission to promote justice, equity, and excellence in the administration of justice.” Their slogan is “Justice by Action.”
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