Contra Costa Herald

Deadline: July 1

By Kensington Police Department

National Night Out is Tuesday, August 6th, 2024. If you’re interested in hosting a National Night Out Block Party on Tuesday, August 6th, please complete the host registration form. The host Registration Deadline is 5:00 pm July 1st. Please visit Kensington National Night Out 2024 to register: www.kensingtonfire.org/nationalnightout

By Hercules Police Department

Experience the Thrill of Real-Life Scenarios: Enroll in the Youth Police Academy Today! Get hands-on with live demonstrations and learn practical skills tailored specifically for youth. From navigating social media safety to understanding the law, our academy equips you with the knowledge and tools you need to succeed.

Plus, explore exciting career opportunities and bolster your college applications with this unique experience. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with the humans behind the badge and ignite your passion for serving your community.

Sign up now and step into your future with confidence! To register click, here.

The gun, magazine and drugs confiscated from the known felon on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Photo: San Pablo PD

Officers in Action

By San Pablo Police Department

Wednesday night, June 12, 2024, Officer Troche was patrolling the city when he made a traffic stop on a vehicle whose driver is a known felon from previous contacts. The driver was found to have an outstanding warrant. Inside the vehicle Officer Troche located a loaded firearm along with a large amount of drugs.

The driver of the vehicle was booked into county jail on the warrant and felony charges.

That makes one more gun taken out of the hands of a convicted felon. Thanks Officer Troche!

The Lamorinda Safety Fair will be held Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 9:00am-4:00pm at the Lafayette Reservoir off Mt. Diablo Blvd. presented by Lafayette Police, East Bay Municipal Utilities District, Amateur Radio Communications and Lafayette CERT Foundation.

Meet your local first responders and see their equipment. Get up close to a police helicopter. Learn how to perform CPR. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. Learn how to prepare for the next emergency / disaster. Meet your local HAM radio club (LARIG) and talk to HAM operators from around the globe using radio!

Shuttle service and additional parking will be available at the Lafayette Veteran’s Memorial Building at 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. For more information call (925) 299-3282.

MARTINEZ, CA—State Assembly candidate Anamarie Avila Farias announced, Thursday, June 13, 2024, the endorsement of Contra Costa Assemblyman Tim Grayson for her campaign to represent Northern Contra Costa County in the State Legislature.

“Anamarie’s experience in our local communities, especially her service on the Martinez City Council and Contra Costa County Board of Education, has prepared her to be an effective voice for us in the Legislature,” said Assemblymember Grayson. “I’m looking forward to partnering with her as we fight for Contra Costa’s share of state resources and policies that help working families get ahead.”

“Tim Grayson’s a voice of reason and purpose in the Legislature,” said Anamarie. “I’ll bring a similar attitude to making state policies: Results over rhetoric, progress over politics.

“I really appreciate Assemblymember Grayson’s support and look forward to working with him.”

Avila Farias was the second-place finisher in the March Primary election but the top vote-getter in the field of three Democrats and faces off against the Republican candidate in November’s election. Democratic voters outnumber Republicans 52%-19% in District 15’s registration numbers. If elected, she would be the first Latina to serve Contra Costa in the State Legislature.

She has an extensive record serving her community and setting state policy. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Contra Costa County Board of Education and has consistently pushed for improved public education in Contra Costa schools. She also served on the Martinez City Council from 2012-2016.

Avila Farias is running to represent California State Assembly District 15. The district encompasses Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Clayton, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Antioch, Crockett portions of Brentwood and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.

To learn more about her campaign, visit anamarie4assembly.com.

Damage caused to a Pittsburg business, the suspect’s car caught on surveillance camera video and pellet guns confiscated by police. Photos: Pittsburg PD

Eight felony counts

By Pittsburg Police Department

Over the past few months, a series of vandalisms targeted multiple businesses on Garcia Avenue in Pittsburg. The vandals used a pellet gun to shoot at the glass windows of these establishments, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to thousands of dollars.

In response to these incidents, the property owner took proactive measures by installing surveillance cameras. These cameras successfully captured footage of the culprit in action, providing a vital lead for the investigative efforts of Detective Lefterov. Through diligent work spanning several weeks, Detective Lefterov gathered substantial evidence and successfully identified the individual responsible for the vandalism.

Subsequently, several search warrants were issued and executed, leading to the confiscation of a BB gun, an air rifle, numerous copper BBs, and suspected illicit substances. The suspect was apprehended and charged with eight counts of felony vandalism.

An April 15, 2024, photo shows the Montañez Elementary under construction. Photo: Brentwood Union School District

Released to parents pending criminal charges; school scheduled to open in fall

By Brentwood Police Department

On Sunday, June 9th, 2024, around 8:30PM, our Dispatch received a call from a security company regarding four juvenile males who had just vandalized the Isaac R. Montañez Elementary School site located on the 2300 block of Smith Road. The juveniles were still on site and when officers arrived, they attempted to flee on their bikes, however they were safely taken into custody.

The project manager for the site arrived on scene to assess the damage and discovered the four juveniles had discharged all of the fire extinguishers on the property causing an extensive amount of damage. The new school is scheduled to open in the fall for the 2024-25 school year.

Based on the nature of the crime and their ages (12 and 13 years old), the juveniles did not meet the criteria to be booked into Juvenile Hall and were released to their parents pending criminal charges and further investigation.

Source: U.S. Army

Community Update

By Concord Police Department

We have been receiving calls from community members regarding loudspeaker announcements heard from the area of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

What’s going on?

Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) will be conducting a U.S. Army led exercise from June 10-18. This exercise is being conducted with several units that will require travel throughout the local area. You will see an increase in uniformed service members during this time. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

No need to contact our Dispatch Center about the exercise as we are already aware. If you have an emergency to report, please dial 911. For non-emergencies, call 925-671-3333.

About MOTCO

MOTCO is Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command’s West Coast strategic ammunition port. MOTCO is the DOD’s primary ammunition seaport supporting the Pacific area of operation.

The Army’s presence at MOTCO dates back to 1997 when the Army’s 1302nd Major Port Command was relocated from Oakland Army Base, California, to MOTCO and became the 834th Transportation Battalion. MOTCO properties were transferred from the Navy to the Army in 2008 per the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations.

The 834th Transportation Battalion is the port manager at MOTCO and operates the three piers and an Army-owned rail system that connects with major public railway lines.

MOTCO receives ammunition by rail and highway; stages containers, railcars and trailers; and loads vessels with containers and break-bulk (loose items) ammunition. Rail lines, piers, holding pads, transfer facilities, staging areas, railcar class yards, barricaded railcar holding areas and Main Supply Routes are all operated in support of cargo receipt and movement.

MOTCO encompasses approximately 115 acres inland, 6,500 acres of tidal area which includes terminal piers, staging and transfer facilities, and 2,000 acres of offshore islands. While ammunition is the focus of most cargo movement into or out of MOTCO, the installation is capable of handling general cargo providing it is in conjunction with, or does not interfere with, ammunition.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Walnut Creek Desilt Project work area map. Source: CCC Public Works

For 3 ½ months on the portion of the creek that runs through northern section of Concord

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works

Contra Costa County Public Works will begin construction of the Walnut Creek Desilt Project on Monday, June 17, 2024, through Thursday, October 31, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will take place between 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), weather permitting.

Drivers should expect delays of 5-15 minutes at Meridian Park Boulevard and Willow Way, Via de Mercados to Concord Avenue, and Waterworld Parkway to Willow Pass Road and should consider alternate routes during construction. Message boards will alert drivers about the work. Traffic control will be used. Restrictions will be in place to minimize impacts during commute hours.

The work consists of removing approximately 115,000 cubic yards of silt in the Walnut Creek Channel to restore creek flow capacity. Funding for this project is provided by Flood Control Zone 3B Funds. For more information visit: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/8658/Walnut-Creek-Desilt

About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and other drainage and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.  CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at: www.cccpublicworks.org

Source: CalFHA

Grayson, Wilson, Bauer-Kahan, Wicks support offering up to 20% for down payment or closing costs, not to exceed $150,000

By Allen D. Payton

A bill to make illegal immigrants eligible for the California Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan Program, which provides up to 20 percent of downpayment assistance to prospective homebuyers, passed the State Assembly last month on a vote of 56-15. All four members representing Contra Costa County, Tim Grayson (D-15), Lori Wilson (D-11), Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-16) and Buffy Wicks (D-14) voted in favor of Assembly Bill 1840.

Wicks also voted for the bill, authored by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-31), as a member of the Assembly Appropriates Committee.

AB1840 Assembly Floor vote on May 21, 2024. Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

According to CalFHA, “The Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan is a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers to be used in conjunction with the Dream For All Conventional first mortgage for down payment and/or closing costs. Upon sale or transfer of the home, the homebuyer repays the original down payment loan, plus a share of the appreciation in the value of the home.”

The program offers up to 20% for down payment or closing costs, not to exceed $150,000 and is not on a first come, first served basis. The homebuyer must register for a voucher and a randomized drawing will select registrants who will receive the voucher.  The program requires at least one borrower be a first-generation homebuyer and all borrowers must be first-time homebuyers.

According to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest, “Existing law establishes the California Housing Finance Agency in the Department of Housing and Community Development, and authorizes the agency to, among other things, make loans to finance affordable housing, including residential structures, housing developments, multifamily rental housing, special needs housing, and other forms of housing, as specified. Existing law establishes the California Dream for All Program to provide shared appreciation loans to qualified first-time homebuyers, as specified.

Existing law establishes the California Dream for All Fund, which is continuously appropriated for expenditure pursuant to the program and defraying the administrative costs for the agency. Existing law authorizes moneys deposited into the fund to include, among other moneys, appropriations from the Legislature from the General Fund or other state fund.

This bill would specify that an applicant under the program who meets all other requirements for a loan under the program, including, but not limited to, any requirements imposed by the Federal National Mortgage Association or other loan servicer, shall not be disqualified solely based on the applicant’s immigration status.

By expanding the persons eligible to receive moneys from a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. The bill would recast the fund so that appropriations from the Legislature from the General Fund or other state fund are deposited into the California Dream for All Subaccount, which the bill would create and make available upon appropriation by the Legislature for specified purposes.”

AB 1840 is now up for votes by the State Senate Housing and Judiciary Committees before a possible vote on the floor.