Source: Children’s Tumor Foundation
By Annette Bakker, President, Children’s Tumor Foundation
Imagine receiving the shattering news that your daughter has cancer. Suddenly, you’re battling for her life. In the midst of treatment, you’re asked to sign a flurry of consent forms for her tissue to be donated for scientific research.
Seeking to help others devastated by the same cruel disease, you agree. But in a twist, you’re never told how her tissue samples are actually being used — or if they ever get used at all.
You wouldn’t be alone. I lead the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting a rare genetic disease called neurofibromatosis, or NF. There’s no cure for the condition, which causes tumors to grow on nerves. The families I work with are desperate for treatments. That’s why they sign the many lengthy “informed consent” documents presented to them at hospitals, asking for permission to use tissue taken for research. But they have no control over how those samples are eventually utilized. Often, specimens simply collect dust on shelves.
The same thing happens frequently to older cancer patients and those battling other diseases. Many have undergone a biopsy or provided another tissue sample for the purpose of testing or treatment. They often wrongly assume that their samples will be used to aid research, and so sign out of a wish to help others.
Unlike organ donation, the market for “biomaterial” is largely unregulated. Hospitals typically provide it to “biobanks,” storage facilities that enter into partnerships with hospitals to gain access to tissue.
Currently, biobanks often impede medical progress by hoarding specimens. I know firsthand that a lack of access to tumor samples and cell lines is a major problem for NF research. I regularly encounter obstacles in helping researchers obtain these materials.
Even when biobanks do provide specimens to researchers, they typically choose those with whom they have strong personal relationships or who can help them publish in prestigious publications. That means researchers in many fields lack access to tissue that would validate their hypotheses.
Most cancer patients want to support research, even if they don’t stand to benefit directly. But it’s deeply unfair to take someone’s tissue or bone marrow without telling them how such tissue will be used — or giving them a say in who gets to use it.
Beyond basic ownership, patients should have more input on how their biomaterial is used. They should be able to decide for themselves which researchers receive their specimens — or consult with trusted patient organizations to make such decisions. They should also have the option to donate only to nonprofit biobanks, or to stipulate that access to their material shall not be restricted at all.
While some biobanks tout a supposed commitment to valuing patient input, these proclamations are little more than window dressing in practice. To give patients a real say in the tissue donation process, we need patient committees for biobanks at large hospitals. Numerous studies have found that public involvement in biobanks bolsters long-term medical research and ensures more samples end up in laboratories.
Patients deserve transparency and influence when it comes to how their own bodies are used for research. Empowering them to make informed decisions will help accelerate medical progress for the greater good.
For information about the Children’s Tumor Foundation visit www.ctf.org.
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Speed was contributing factor
By Sergeant Rob Green #3639, Antioch Police Traffic Unit
On July 27, 2024, at approximately 7:43 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to a report of a vehicle collision between a motorcycle and a SUV in front of Bev Box at 907 W. 10th Street. Officers found the 32-year-old male (Brentwood resident) motorcyclist on the ground and unresponsive. Officers performed lifesaving aid and the motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Traffic Accident Investigators took over the investigation and determined from witness statements and from video collected at the scene that speed was a contributing factor to the crash. This case is in the preliminary stages and the names of the parties involved are not being released at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or Traffic Collision Investigator Sergeant Green at 925-779-6864, email rgreen@antiochca.gov. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.
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Video screenshot source: EdSource.org
Adult education offered in East County
By Mallika Seshadri, EdSource.org. Republished with permission.
Despite efforts across various sectors, adults throughout California continue to struggle to access education opportunities that can be critical for their family’s economic mobility.
The panel at EdSource’s roundtable, “Adult education: Overlooked and underfunded,” discussed how adults and their families can benefit from adult education, the common barriers to access and ways to overcome them.
“During the pandemic, our emergency room took in some of our most at-need people and triaged them to the right medical care that they need,” said John Werner, the executive director of Sequoias Adult Education Consortium at Thursday’s discussion. “Adult schools do very similar work with education.”
Barriers to adult education
Panelist Francisco Solano grew up in Mexico, where he earned a high school education but had no interest in continuing his schooling. About 16 years ago, he came to the United States and found himself working for salad-packing companies.
He eventually enrolled in adult education classes at Salinas Adult School and is now wrapping up a doctorate in molecular biology at UCLA.
But the road through his adult education was “exhausting” and “not convenient at all.”
“That’s what I see with my peers,” Solano said. “They are not able to get out of that lifestyle because it’s so difficult for them to be able to have a job that secures rent and food for the families and, at the same time, find time and resources to go to school or try something else.”
Solano also believes that larger companies do not want migrants like him to succeed because that would take away a source of cheap labor.
Rural areas — where barriers associated with time and distance are greater — have a high need for adult education.
Steve Curiel, the principal of Huntington Beach Adult School, said not enough conversations about adult education are held at the policy level because most people in elected positions are unlikely to understand the critical role it plays, having experienced more traditional educational journeys.
Raising awareness and marketing
Carolyn Zachry, the state director and education administrator for adult education at the California Department of Education, stressed the importance of raising awareness and sharing stories like Solano’s among potential students.
“That gives the courage to come forward and to walk in those doors of that school,” she said. “And once they’re inside those school doors, then that school community wraps around them and really supports them.”
Werner also emphasized the importance of actively seeking students. He mentioned specific efforts to speak to individuals at local community events, like farmers markets and flea markets. A TV or radio presence can also be helpful, he said.
Helping communities overcome barriers
Numerous organizations are enacting measures to expand access to adult education, including creating remote and virtual options as well as providing childcare for students while they are in school.
Several panelists agreed that virtual learning can be a helpful way to bring educational opportunities to adults at home — though Kathy Locke, who teaches English as a second language in Oakland Unified, emphasized the importance of in-person instruction, so adults can learn the skills they need to succeed online.
“The more marginalized, the greater your need in terms of English level, the harder it is to access the technology to be able to use the technology to do distance learning well,” Locke said.
To improve access to online learning, Curiel said the Huntington Beach Adult School has provided laptops and channels for internet connection.
Providing childcare is another way to help reduce barriers for adults.
“Our classes provide babysitting for our students to be able to come with their children. Their children go to child care, and then they’re able to come and learn,” Locke said.
“I think that as a district, we really named that as a barrier and really put our money where our mouths were, I think, and made that a priority to get adults in our classrooms, so that they can do the learning that they need.”
Broader benefits of adult education
Adult education also helps support a child’s education, the roundtable panelists agreed.
For example, a child’s literacy benefits when parents attend English language classes, Locke said. And parents are more likely to be involved with their child’s education later on.
“If you want to help a child in poverty, you have to help an adult in poverty,” Werner said. “Only the adult can go get a job tomorrow.”
Adult Education Programs in East County
The Antioch Unified School District offers education for adults to obtain their diploma, GED and High School Equivalency diploma at Prospects High School. The Fall 2024 Semester registration begins July 29th, 2024, Placement Testing begins August 8th and the first day of classes is August 19th. For more information visit https://antiochadultschool.asapconnected.com.
Adult education is also offered by the Pittsburg Adult Education Center. For more information visit https://paec.pittsburgusd.net.
The Liberty Union High School District also offers their Liberty Adult Education. For more information visit https://libertyadulted.org.
Mallika Seshadri covers Los Angeles and LAUSD.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Source: LWV
By Gail Murray, League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley
Learn how to spot fake news, fact-check sources and navigate the complexities of today’s media landscape to become a more informed voter and citizen.
The presentation by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley will take place in the Homework Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.
Register at www.tinyurl.com/LAF-misinfo
Contact programs@lwvdv.org for more information.
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City manager claims 1/2-cent increase to 9.25% needed due to inflation, unfunded state mandates; would last 7 years
On July 22, 2024, the Lafayette City Council placed a funding measure on the November 2024 ballot, asking Lafayette voters to authorize a local sales tax increase of 1/2 cent (half a penny for every $1 spent locally) for seven years to maintain the current level of City services. This measure will require a 50% +1 vote to pass.
At a previous City Council meeting, City Manager, Niroop K. Srivatsa, explained that due to inflation, prices on everything from materials, to insurance, to labor have continued to increase. Furthermore, the State continues to impose a number of unfunded mandates. As a result, the City is facing a structural deficit of more than $2M annually, beginning in fiscal year July 2024-25.
If approved by voters in November, all the revenue from the sales tax would go directly into the City’s General Fund; The General Fund provides funding for City services and facilities including:
- Maintaining public streets and storm drains and providing timely pothole repair.
- Sustaining wildfire preparedness activities.
- Maintaining the number of sworn police officers at the current level.
- Services for senior citizens.
- Maintaining city parks, open spaces, paths, and playfields.
- Traffic safety improvements on our streets and roads for all users including people driving, biking and walking.
- Continuing support for our community partners like the Chamber of Commerce and the School District.
Lafayette’s current sales tax rate is 8.75%. If voters approve a ½ cent sales tax measure, Lafayette’s rate will increase to 9.25%, equal with the rate in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek and lower than Orinda, Moraga, and Concord. The new rate would go into effect starting April 1, 2025, for seven years.
“The half cent (1/2%) increase, if approved by Lafayette voters, would generate approximately $2.4 million annually, which, according to current projections, is enough to maintain the level of service presently being provided. If the voters do not pass the measure, the Council will have to make difficult decisions about which programs and services to reduce or eliminate,” said Administrative Services Director Tracy Robinson. “Filling a $2M annual deficit is approximately 10% of the City’s General Fund, and it would require cuts across all City departments, including police, public works, planning, engineering, parks and recreation, and administration,” Robinson added.
“One reason the City Council chose to place a sales tax measure on the ballot is because sales tax is paid by visitors who dine and shop in Lafayette, so funds would be brought into the community from people who reside outside the community but who utilize our public infrastructure and services,” explained Vice Mayor Wei-Tai Kwok.
For many years, the City has been able to balance its budget, build a healthy emergency reserve, and operate frugally, however the current state of the economy coupled with unfunded State mandates that cities are obligated to fulfill have all contributed to the structural deficit. The City has foregone new projects recently and froze the hiring of four staff positions, however, the City Council believes that the additional cuts in expenses to address the $2M deficit would negatively impact Lafayette residents, so instead are asking voters to consider increasing the sales tax rate for seven years.
More information about the City’s financial situation and the funding measure is available on the City of Lafayette’s website at www.lovelafayette.org/FiscalSustainability
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Source: CCCounty
Victim was adult man in East County
One dead bird, five sentinel chickens test positive for virus, all in Oakley
By Contra Costa Health
A Contra Costa resident died this month from West Nile virus infection, underscoring the need for everyone in the county to take precautions against mosquito-borne illness.
The death of an adult man who lived in East County was reported to the county on July 16. It was the first West Nile virus-related death reported in Contra Costa since 2006.
“This is a tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss.” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy county health officer. “This death also reinforces how important it is to reduce risk of West Nile virus infection by reducing our exposure to mosquitos.”
Contra Costa Health’s (CCH) Communicable Disease Program is investigating the case and has not determined where the person became infected. To preserve medical privacy, CCH will not release further details about the case.
The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Contra District (District) has detected other recent evidence of the virus’s presence in East County. One dead bird and five sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, all located in Oakley. According to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, “Chickens serve as valuable sentinel animals since they are not effective amplifying hosts, and they develop a short and relatively low viremia compared to other bird species when infected by WNV.”
Certain birds can become infected with West Nile virus, and when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected. An infected mosquito can spread the virus to a human or other animal through a single bite. The infection can be dangerous to humans, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or rash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Contra Costa County resident to West Nile virus,” said Paula Macedo, Ph.D., district general manager. “This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and supporting community efforts to control mosquito populations.”
West Nile virus activity is typically higher during the summer months. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the District recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- The repellent version of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
- IR3535
Always follow the instructions on the label when using insect repellent. Wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors where mosquitoes are present, often at dawn and dusk, can reduce exposed skin and reduce the risk of mosquito bites. And dumping out any amount of standing water in front and backyards and scrubbing the inside of each container to remove mosquito eggs can also help lower the risk of mosquitoes.
The District provides public health services to Contra Costa County residents including a mosquito service of inspection and control upon request. Request a District service by phone at 925-685-9301 or online at www.contracostamosquito.com. Click on “I Want to” at the top of the webpage, then select “Request Services” from the drop-down menu.
Contra Costa County residents can help the District identify areas of potential WNV risk by reporting dead birds to the California Dead Bird Call Center by phone at 1-877-968-2473 or online at westnile.ca.gov. Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus in a particular area. By reporting dead birds, residents provide the District with critical information that allows District employees to set mosquito traps near the site of the dead bird to look for infected mosquitoes. If those mosquitos are found, the District will take timely action to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for neighboring residents.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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A state worker cleans out an encampment under a freeway overpass. Gov. Gavin Newsom contributes to the effort following the announcement of his executive order on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Video screenshots. Source: Office of the CA Governor
Following U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Encourages local governments to adopt similar policies
“We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.” – Gov. Newsom
What you need to know: Governor Newsom today issued an executive order directing state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and safety of Californians experiencing homelessness. The Governor’s order, which follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass, also urges local governments to use substantial funding provided by the state to take similar action.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Building on California’s ongoing work and unprecedented investments to address the decades-long issue of homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies that urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and well-being of all Californians.
With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v Johnson, local governments now have the tools and authority to address dangerous encampments and help provide those residing in encampments with the resources they need.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same. The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.” said Newsom. “We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.”
The governor’s executive order directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal.
Governor Newsom has made record-level investments to address the housing crisis, investing over $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including billions of dollars in funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and wrap-around support to people living in encampments. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, these investments helped lift more than 165,000 people out of homelessness and into interim or permanent housing.
California blueprint
Governor Newsom’s order directs state agencies and departments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing encampment policy. Since July 2021, California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments, and has removed 248,275 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects. Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
The order encourages local governments to emulate the state’s successful model to adopt local policies and to use all available resources, including those provided by the state’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs, to address encampments within their jurisdictions.
Proposition 1 funding available for local governments
Governor Newsom also encourages local governments to apply for the newly available $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1 to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.
Proposition 1 includes two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services, and historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. The state also recently released the Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Services Act: Housing Supports Primer (July 2024) for counties, which explains how to spend the projected $950 million annual BHSA revenue on housing interventions.
Unprecedented investments to support communities
Governor Newsom is tackling California’s homelessness crisis head-on. Since he took office, the state has developed a Statewide Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness and the Governor has demanded unprecedented accountability from local governments to do their part to end the homelessness crisis through regionally coordinated action plans. The Governor has also pioneered nation-leading homeless and housing reforms and invested more than $24 billion to address this crisis with state and local support, including $4.85 billion for Homeless, Housing Assistance and Prevention Grants for local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion for Homekey to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness.
See Newsom’s announcement video on X.
A copy of today’s executive order can be found here and here:
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-1-24
WHEREAS California is experiencing a homelessness crisis decades in the making, with over 180,000 people estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state; and WHEREAS within the first year of my Administration I fast-tracked the development of shelter through Executive Order N-23-20, which directed departments to assess and facilitate the use of available state land and resources for short-term emergency homeless shelters; and WHEREAS since the beginning of my Administration, the State has made unprecedented investments to address the homelessness crisis head on, investing more than $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including $4.85 billion in flexible funding to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness through Homekey; and
WHEREAS the State has redoubled its commitment to holding local jurisdictions accountable to reduce homelessness, including by strengthening and enforcing requirements that local jurisdictions plan for their fair share of housing and by conditioning state homelessness funding on rigorous reporting and measurable performance metrics; and
WHEREAS it is imperative to act with urgency to address dangerous encampments, which subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use, harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources; and
WHEREAS while every jurisdiction must do more to address encampments, state and local agencies taking proactive steps to remove encampments have been stymied in those efforts by lawsuits and injunctions, leaving officials without the tools or guidance necessary to address the crisis on their streets; and
WHEREAS in September 2023, I called on the United States Supreme Court to grant review in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson to clarify that state and local officials can take reasonable actions to resolve encampments while respecting the humanity of all Californians; and
WHEREAS in June 2024 the Supreme Court overturned Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent that restricted the government’s authority to enforce laws regulating encampments, recognizing that jurisdictions may tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness; and
WHEREAS with the threat of these types of injunctions removed, there is no longer any barrier to local governments utilizing the substantial resources provided by the State, in tandem with federal and local resources, to address encampments with both urgency and humanity, or excuse for not doing so; and WHEREAS guidelines that prioritize offers of shelter and services as a first step to resolving any encampment best respect the dignity of every Californian and provide meaningful paths to ending homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Interagency Council on Homelessness leads California’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation maintains a policy directive that prioritizes removal of encampments that pose threats to life, health, and safety, while partnering with local governments and nonprofit providers to facilitate offers of shelter and supportive services in advance of a removal; and WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation has, since July 2021, removed 11,188 encampments and 248,275 cubic yards of debris from these encampments along the state rights of way.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:
- Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.
- Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.
- Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal
- Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.
- Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.
2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.
3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order. This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of July.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Victim Ricardo Funes and his damaged car. Photos source: Impulso News Facebook page
Takes life of 16-year-old boy
Bail set at $1.1 million, already bonded out
Suspect arrested in 2021 for sex with and lewd acts upon a minor under 14
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
A Richmond man has been charged with murder that took the life of a 16-year-old minor in a DUI-related collision.
30-year-old Alexi Alexander Pineda Ticas faces a three-count felony complaint. In addition to the murder charge [PC 187(a)], Pineda Ticas was charged with driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury [VC23153(a)] and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury [VC23153(b)]. Both counts two and three come with enhancements alleging great bodily injury [PC12022.7(a)] that caused the offenses to become serious and violent felonies.
“This tragic incident has not only taken the life of a teenage boy, but it has also devastated his family,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “We will seek justice by holding the defendant accountable for actions that were both deadly and reckless. An incident like this is an emotionally wrenching reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.”
The fatal collision occurred just after midnight on July 15th in Richmond, when the victim was leaving his mother’s residence. As the teen was driving away, a vehicle driven by Pineda Ticas traveling at excessive speeds drove through a stop sign on Ohio Avenue and South 20th Street in Richmond and crashed into the teen’s vehicle. The severity of the collision caused the teen to die from his injuries shortly after the incident. Pineda Ticas sustained non-life-threatening injuries that were treated at a hospital in Walnut Creek.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Martinez, Pineda Ticas was arraigned on the charges. He is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail was set at $1.1 million.
The scene of the fatal DUI collision in Richmond on July 15, 2024. Photo by Richmond PD
According to a report by Bay Area Telemundo Channel 48, the teen was identified as Ricardo Funes of Richmond. His aunt, Claudia Barajas said, “Ricardo’s car was parked here in front of the gate, he was going to leave when he was hit, and at the same speed that the other car was carrying, he pushed him to that yellow house.”
Marta Barajas, Ricardo’s mother, described him as a young man who was always happy and although his departure hurts her, she assured that she feels calm.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of July 16, Pineda Ticas had bonded out of custody.
According to localcrimenews.com, he is five-foot, eight inches tall, 165 pounds and was previously arrested in February 2021 in Kern County for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, lewd acts upon a child, rape by a foreign object on a victim under 14 who is more than 10 years younger and attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense.
The night of July 15, the Richmond Police Department posted on their Facebook page about the fatal DUI collision writing, “Don’t Let a Drink Turn into a Tragedy.
The impaired driver’s decision to drive drunk robbed a family of their child. When you choose to drive under the influence, you’re not just risking your own life—you’re endangering everyone on the road. Alcohol impairs your judgment, slows your reaction time, and reduces your ability to make safe decisions. A single moment of poor judgment can lead to devastating consequences.
Before you head out, make a plan: arrange for a designated driver, use public transportation, or call a rideshare service. Your choices matter, and your safety is worth it.”
Case No. 02-24-00933 | The People of the State of California v. Pineda Ticas, Alexi Alexander
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report
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Ncal-Olympics-02 – Denise and CJ Nickolas in 2009. (Left) 80Kg Gold Medalist Carl CJ Nickolas’ first flag run after he won the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC. (Center) Ncal-Olympics and Ncal-Olympics-01 CJ Nickolas at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October 2023. Photo credit by Mark Reis, USOPC (Right)
A nurse in Antioch, CA has nurtured her 22-year-old son’s taekwondo ambitions since he was 3
Expected to compete for gold, CJ Nickolas, a former Heritage High student, was first trained by his father at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch
By Elizabeth Schainbaum, Manager, Regional Content, Corporation Communications, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Over the years, wound care nurse Denise Nickolas would talk with colleagues about her kids’ sports activities — just as others would talk about their own kids.
Most colleagues didn’t realize her kids were different. They didn’t know how seriously athletic they were after he won a medal in World Taekwondo Championship in May 2023 when her son, CJ, received publicity as he vied for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
CJ is competing in the Paris Olympics in taekwondo on August 9, 2024. The 22-year-old is ranked second in the world.
“She doesn’t go around telling just anyone how he ranked at tournaments,” said Daniella White, a colleague who has cheered Nickolas on through CJ’s injuries and other challenges. “If someone asks, she will humbly share how well he did. That’s not to say she wasn’t overly proud or excited for him, but she just continued to show humility in the process.”
Kaiser Permanente fan club
Nickolas is happy everyone knows now.
“Everyone is so excited, and they asked why I didn’t say anything,” said Nickolas, who was a gymnast in college and also achieved a taekwondo black belt during her son’s practices. “They’ve been so supportive and even started a Teams group to cheer us on and check the progress of his Olympic bid.”
Her boss, Darci Walker, is a big fan.
“I remember her sharing one of CJ’s competitions where he won first place, and he moved the entire crowd and audience by singing the national anthem. The whole stadium joined in and sang together,” Walker recalled. “This was a very proud moment that Denise shared with me. When I watched the video on her phone, it brought me to tears as well. We are all excited for CJ and their entire family.”
A ‘family-friendly’ organization
Nickolas has worked at Kaiser Permanente since 2001. Since then, as a single mom, she’s juggled full-time work with two kids who were competitive athletes.
Her older daughter, now 24, was an elite gymnast for a long time. She pivoted to diving, and that was the sport she did in college.
Her kids’ sports often required traveling to competitions. Nickolas said her managers and colleagues have been supportive and accommodating when she’s had to take time off, even last minute.
“Kaiser Permanente is absolutely a family-friendly organization,” she said. “I was able to have the life I wanted with my kids because of Kaiser Permanente.”
To make it work, she would essentially work two part-time jobs and lived just 10 minutes from the hospital.
She would start the morning at the Antioch Medical Center and then take the kids to their practices. Later, she would work another shift with Home Health Department.
“I was exhausted, but it was worth it, totally worth it,” Nickolas said. “I’m so grateful.”
Walker said Nickolas also worked hard to make it work. She coordinated well with colleagues before she would travel so there were no bumps with patient care. When she returned, she was ready to get back into the swing of work.
Going for gold
Nickolas followed this routine for years. She realized in 2007 that CJ, who had been doing taekwondo for three years at that point, had a future in competitive sports.
At the age of three, he said he wanted to do martial arts. She hesitated because she was against combat sports at the time.
She pushed that feeling aside because she could see how eager he was to do it. She steered him to taekwondo because it was included in Ivy League sports programs and was an Olympic sport.
When he was about 6, she noticed he was intense and focused. She checked in with the coach.
“’Am I just proud or is he really good?’” she recalled saying. “The coach said, ‘No, he’s really as good as you think he is.’”
That coach, until CJ turned 18, was his father, Ed Givans, who previously owned and trained his son at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch which he relocated to Las Vegas in 2018. Givans is also on the Tournament Committee for USA Taekwondo and has another competitor he’s trained on the four-person U.S. team at the Olympics, Faith Dillon. As of last December, CJ was ranked number two in the world. She earned her spot at the Pan Am qualification tournament in April.
Many injuries later, including a broken toe that she said Kaiser Permanente did an excellent job of repairing, he’s now going for Olympic gold.
Nickolas will be there watching, with her Kaiser Permanente colleagues rooting for her son.
“I can’t believe this day has come,” she said. “He’s worked so hard, but it still feels so surreal.”
Watch CJ represent Team USA and compete on August 9th on the NBC channels.
Learn more about CJ’s experience and victories through the years, here, here and here.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read More
Source: Children’s Tumor Foundation
By Annette Bakker, President, Children’s Tumor Foundation
Imagine receiving the shattering news that your daughter has cancer. Suddenly, you’re battling for her life. In the midst of treatment, you’re asked to sign a flurry of consent forms for her tissue to be donated for scientific research.
Seeking to help others devastated by the same cruel disease, you agree. But in a twist, you’re never told how her tissue samples are actually being used — or if they ever get used at all.
You wouldn’t be alone. I lead the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting a rare genetic disease called neurofibromatosis, or NF. There’s no cure for the condition, which causes tumors to grow on nerves. The families I work with are desperate for treatments. That’s why they sign the many lengthy “informed consent” documents presented to them at hospitals, asking for permission to use tissue taken for research. But they have no control over how those samples are eventually utilized. Often, specimens simply collect dust on shelves.
The same thing happens frequently to older cancer patients and those battling other diseases. Many have undergone a biopsy or provided another tissue sample for the purpose of testing or treatment. They often wrongly assume that their samples will be used to aid research, and so sign out of a wish to help others.
Unlike organ donation, the market for “biomaterial” is largely unregulated. Hospitals typically provide it to “biobanks,” storage facilities that enter into partnerships with hospitals to gain access to tissue.
Currently, biobanks often impede medical progress by hoarding specimens. I know firsthand that a lack of access to tumor samples and cell lines is a major problem for NF research. I regularly encounter obstacles in helping researchers obtain these materials.
Even when biobanks do provide specimens to researchers, they typically choose those with whom they have strong personal relationships or who can help them publish in prestigious publications. That means researchers in many fields lack access to tissue that would validate their hypotheses.
Most cancer patients want to support research, even if they don’t stand to benefit directly. But it’s deeply unfair to take someone’s tissue or bone marrow without telling them how such tissue will be used — or giving them a say in who gets to use it.
Beyond basic ownership, patients should have more input on how their biomaterial is used. They should be able to decide for themselves which researchers receive their specimens — or consult with trusted patient organizations to make such decisions. They should also have the option to donate only to nonprofit biobanks, or to stipulate that access to their material shall not be restricted at all.
While some biobanks tout a supposed commitment to valuing patient input, these proclamations are little more than window dressing in practice. To give patients a real say in the tissue donation process, we need patient committees for biobanks at large hospitals. Numerous studies have found that public involvement in biobanks bolsters long-term medical research and ensures more samples end up in laboratories.
Patients deserve transparency and influence when it comes to how their own bodies are used for research. Empowering them to make informed decisions will help accelerate medical progress for the greater good.
For information about the Children’s Tumor Foundation visit www.ctf.org.
Read More
Speed was contributing factor
By Sergeant Rob Green #3639, Antioch Police Traffic Unit
On July 27, 2024, at approximately 7:43 PM, Antioch Police Officers responded to a report of a vehicle collision between a motorcycle and a SUV in front of Bev Box at 907 W. 10th Street. Officers found the 32-year-old male (Brentwood resident) motorcyclist on the ground and unresponsive. Officers performed lifesaving aid and the motorcyclist was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Traffic Accident Investigators took over the investigation and determined from witness statements and from video collected at the scene that speed was a contributing factor to the crash. This case is in the preliminary stages and the names of the parties involved are not being released at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or Traffic Collision Investigator Sergeant Green at 925-779-6864, email rgreen@antiochca.gov. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.
Read MoreVideo screenshot source: EdSource.org
Adult education offered in East County
By Mallika Seshadri, EdSource.org. Republished with permission.
Despite efforts across various sectors, adults throughout California continue to struggle to access education opportunities that can be critical for their family’s economic mobility.
The panel at EdSource’s roundtable, “Adult education: Overlooked and underfunded,” discussed how adults and their families can benefit from adult education, the common barriers to access and ways to overcome them.
“During the pandemic, our emergency room took in some of our most at-need people and triaged them to the right medical care that they need,” said John Werner, the executive director of Sequoias Adult Education Consortium at Thursday’s discussion. “Adult schools do very similar work with education.”
Barriers to adult education
Panelist Francisco Solano grew up in Mexico, where he earned a high school education but had no interest in continuing his schooling. About 16 years ago, he came to the United States and found himself working for salad-packing companies.
He eventually enrolled in adult education classes at Salinas Adult School and is now wrapping up a doctorate in molecular biology at UCLA.
But the road through his adult education was “exhausting” and “not convenient at all.”
“That’s what I see with my peers,” Solano said. “They are not able to get out of that lifestyle because it’s so difficult for them to be able to have a job that secures rent and food for the families and, at the same time, find time and resources to go to school or try something else.”
Solano also believes that larger companies do not want migrants like him to succeed because that would take away a source of cheap labor.
Rural areas — where barriers associated with time and distance are greater — have a high need for adult education.
Steve Curiel, the principal of Huntington Beach Adult School, said not enough conversations about adult education are held at the policy level because most people in elected positions are unlikely to understand the critical role it plays, having experienced more traditional educational journeys.
Raising awareness and marketing
Carolyn Zachry, the state director and education administrator for adult education at the California Department of Education, stressed the importance of raising awareness and sharing stories like Solano’s among potential students.
“That gives the courage to come forward and to walk in those doors of that school,” she said. “And once they’re inside those school doors, then that school community wraps around them and really supports them.”
Werner also emphasized the importance of actively seeking students. He mentioned specific efforts to speak to individuals at local community events, like farmers markets and flea markets. A TV or radio presence can also be helpful, he said.
Helping communities overcome barriers
Numerous organizations are enacting measures to expand access to adult education, including creating remote and virtual options as well as providing childcare for students while they are in school.
Several panelists agreed that virtual learning can be a helpful way to bring educational opportunities to adults at home — though Kathy Locke, who teaches English as a second language in Oakland Unified, emphasized the importance of in-person instruction, so adults can learn the skills they need to succeed online.
“The more marginalized, the greater your need in terms of English level, the harder it is to access the technology to be able to use the technology to do distance learning well,” Locke said.
To improve access to online learning, Curiel said the Huntington Beach Adult School has provided laptops and channels for internet connection.
Providing childcare is another way to help reduce barriers for adults.
“Our classes provide babysitting for our students to be able to come with their children. Their children go to child care, and then they’re able to come and learn,” Locke said.
“I think that as a district, we really named that as a barrier and really put our money where our mouths were, I think, and made that a priority to get adults in our classrooms, so that they can do the learning that they need.”
Broader benefits of adult education
Adult education also helps support a child’s education, the roundtable panelists agreed.
For example, a child’s literacy benefits when parents attend English language classes, Locke said. And parents are more likely to be involved with their child’s education later on.
“If you want to help a child in poverty, you have to help an adult in poverty,” Werner said. “Only the adult can go get a job tomorrow.”
Adult Education Programs in East County
The Antioch Unified School District offers education for adults to obtain their diploma, GED and High School Equivalency diploma at Prospects High School. The Fall 2024 Semester registration begins July 29th, 2024, Placement Testing begins August 8th and the first day of classes is August 19th. For more information visit https://antiochadultschool.asapconnected.com.
Adult education is also offered by the Pittsburg Adult Education Center. For more information visit https://paec.pittsburgusd.net.
The Liberty Union High School District also offers their Liberty Adult Education. For more information visit https://libertyadulted.org.
Mallika Seshadri covers Los Angeles and LAUSD.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreSource: LWV
By Gail Murray, League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley
Learn how to spot fake news, fact-check sources and navigate the complexities of today’s media landscape to become a more informed voter and citizen.
The presentation by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley will take place in the Homework Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.
Register at www.tinyurl.com/LAF-misinfo
Contact programs@lwvdv.org for more information.
Read More
City manager claims 1/2-cent increase to 9.25% needed due to inflation, unfunded state mandates; would last 7 years
On July 22, 2024, the Lafayette City Council placed a funding measure on the November 2024 ballot, asking Lafayette voters to authorize a local sales tax increase of 1/2 cent (half a penny for every $1 spent locally) for seven years to maintain the current level of City services. This measure will require a 50% +1 vote to pass.
At a previous City Council meeting, City Manager, Niroop K. Srivatsa, explained that due to inflation, prices on everything from materials, to insurance, to labor have continued to increase. Furthermore, the State continues to impose a number of unfunded mandates. As a result, the City is facing a structural deficit of more than $2M annually, beginning in fiscal year July 2024-25.
If approved by voters in November, all the revenue from the sales tax would go directly into the City’s General Fund; The General Fund provides funding for City services and facilities including:
- Maintaining public streets and storm drains and providing timely pothole repair.
- Sustaining wildfire preparedness activities.
- Maintaining the number of sworn police officers at the current level.
- Services for senior citizens.
- Maintaining city parks, open spaces, paths, and playfields.
- Traffic safety improvements on our streets and roads for all users including people driving, biking and walking.
- Continuing support for our community partners like the Chamber of Commerce and the School District.
Lafayette’s current sales tax rate is 8.75%. If voters approve a ½ cent sales tax measure, Lafayette’s rate will increase to 9.25%, equal with the rate in Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek and lower than Orinda, Moraga, and Concord. The new rate would go into effect starting April 1, 2025, for seven years.
“The half cent (1/2%) increase, if approved by Lafayette voters, would generate approximately $2.4 million annually, which, according to current projections, is enough to maintain the level of service presently being provided. If the voters do not pass the measure, the Council will have to make difficult decisions about which programs and services to reduce or eliminate,” said Administrative Services Director Tracy Robinson. “Filling a $2M annual deficit is approximately 10% of the City’s General Fund, and it would require cuts across all City departments, including police, public works, planning, engineering, parks and recreation, and administration,” Robinson added.
“One reason the City Council chose to place a sales tax measure on the ballot is because sales tax is paid by visitors who dine and shop in Lafayette, so funds would be brought into the community from people who reside outside the community but who utilize our public infrastructure and services,” explained Vice Mayor Wei-Tai Kwok.
For many years, the City has been able to balance its budget, build a healthy emergency reserve, and operate frugally, however the current state of the economy coupled with unfunded State mandates that cities are obligated to fulfill have all contributed to the structural deficit. The City has foregone new projects recently and froze the hiring of four staff positions, however, the City Council believes that the additional cuts in expenses to address the $2M deficit would negatively impact Lafayette residents, so instead are asking voters to consider increasing the sales tax rate for seven years.
More information about the City’s financial situation and the funding measure is available on the City of Lafayette’s website at www.lovelafayette.org/FiscalSustainability
Read More
Source: CCCounty
Victim was adult man in East County
One dead bird, five sentinel chickens test positive for virus, all in Oakley
By Contra Costa Health
A Contra Costa resident died this month from West Nile virus infection, underscoring the need for everyone in the county to take precautions against mosquito-borne illness.
The death of an adult man who lived in East County was reported to the county on July 16. It was the first West Nile virus-related death reported in Contra Costa since 2006.
“This is a tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss.” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy county health officer. “This death also reinforces how important it is to reduce risk of West Nile virus infection by reducing our exposure to mosquitos.”
Contra Costa Health’s (CCH) Communicable Disease Program is investigating the case and has not determined where the person became infected. To preserve medical privacy, CCH will not release further details about the case.
The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Contra District (District) has detected other recent evidence of the virus’s presence in East County. One dead bird and five sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, all located in Oakley. According to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, “Chickens serve as valuable sentinel animals since they are not effective amplifying hosts, and they develop a short and relatively low viremia compared to other bird species when infected by WNV.”
Certain birds can become infected with West Nile virus, and when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected. An infected mosquito can spread the virus to a human or other animal through a single bite. The infection can be dangerous to humans, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or rash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Contra Costa County resident to West Nile virus,” said Paula Macedo, Ph.D., district general manager. “This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and supporting community efforts to control mosquito populations.”
West Nile virus activity is typically higher during the summer months. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the District recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- The repellent version of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
- IR3535
Always follow the instructions on the label when using insect repellent. Wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors where mosquitoes are present, often at dawn and dusk, can reduce exposed skin and reduce the risk of mosquito bites. And dumping out any amount of standing water in front and backyards and scrubbing the inside of each container to remove mosquito eggs can also help lower the risk of mosquitoes.
The District provides public health services to Contra Costa County residents including a mosquito service of inspection and control upon request. Request a District service by phone at 925-685-9301 or online at www.contracostamosquito.com. Click on “I Want to” at the top of the webpage, then select “Request Services” from the drop-down menu.
Contra Costa County residents can help the District identify areas of potential WNV risk by reporting dead birds to the California Dead Bird Call Center by phone at 1-877-968-2473 or online at westnile.ca.gov. Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus in a particular area. By reporting dead birds, residents provide the District with critical information that allows District employees to set mosquito traps near the site of the dead bird to look for infected mosquitoes. If those mosquitos are found, the District will take timely action to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for neighboring residents.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreA state worker cleans out an encampment under a freeway overpass. Gov. Gavin Newsom contributes to the effort following the announcement of his executive order on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Video screenshots. Source: Office of the CA Governor
Following U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Encourages local governments to adopt similar policies
“We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.” – Gov. Newsom
What you need to know: Governor Newsom today issued an executive order directing state agencies to urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and safety of Californians experiencing homelessness. The Governor’s order, which follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass, also urges local governments to use substantial funding provided by the state to take similar action.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Building on California’s ongoing work and unprecedented investments to address the decades-long issue of homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering state agencies and departments to adopt clear policies that urgently address homeless encampments while respecting the dignity and well-being of all Californians.
With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v Johnson, local governments now have the tools and authority to address dangerous encampments and help provide those residing in encampments with the resources they need.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same. The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.” said Newsom. “We’re done. It’s time we move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. This executive order is about…getting the sense of urgency that’s required of local government to do their job.”
The governor’s executive order directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal.
Governor Newsom has made record-level investments to address the housing crisis, investing over $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including billions of dollars in funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and wrap-around support to people living in encampments. In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, these investments helped lift more than 165,000 people out of homelessness and into interim or permanent housing.
California blueprint
Governor Newsom’s order directs state agencies and departments to adopt policies and plans consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing encampment policy. Since July 2021, California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments, and has removed 248,275 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way in preparation for Clean California projects. Prioritizing encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community, Caltrans provides advance notice of clearance and works with local service providers to support those experiencing homelessness at the encampment, and stores personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
The order encourages local governments to emulate the state’s successful model to adopt local policies and to use all available resources, including those provided by the state’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs, to address encampments within their jurisdictions.
Proposition 1 funding available for local governments
Governor Newsom also encourages local governments to apply for the newly available $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1 to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.
Proposition 1 includes two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Bond for treatment settings and housing with services, and historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. The state also recently released the Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Services Act: Housing Supports Primer (July 2024) for counties, which explains how to spend the projected $950 million annual BHSA revenue on housing interventions.
Unprecedented investments to support communities
Governor Newsom is tackling California’s homelessness crisis head-on. Since he took office, the state has developed a Statewide Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness and the Governor has demanded unprecedented accountability from local governments to do their part to end the homelessness crisis through regionally coordinated action plans. The Governor has also pioneered nation-leading homeless and housing reforms and invested more than $24 billion to address this crisis with state and local support, including $4.85 billion for Homeless, Housing Assistance and Prevention Grants for local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion for Homekey to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness.
See Newsom’s announcement video on X.
A copy of today’s executive order can be found here and here:
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-1-24
WHEREAS California is experiencing a homelessness crisis decades in the making, with over 180,000 people estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state; and WHEREAS within the first year of my Administration I fast-tracked the development of shelter through Executive Order N-23-20, which directed departments to assess and facilitate the use of available state land and resources for short-term emergency homeless shelters; and WHEREAS since the beginning of my Administration, the State has made unprecedented investments to address the homelessness crisis head on, investing more than $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments, including $4.85 billion in flexible funding to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness through Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants, $1 billion in Encampment Resolution Funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and supports to people living in encampments, and $3.3 billion to rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness through Homekey; and
WHEREAS the State has redoubled its commitment to holding local jurisdictions accountable to reduce homelessness, including by strengthening and enforcing requirements that local jurisdictions plan for their fair share of housing and by conditioning state homelessness funding on rigorous reporting and measurable performance metrics; and
WHEREAS it is imperative to act with urgency to address dangerous encampments, which subject unsheltered individuals living in them to extreme weather, fires, predatory and criminal activity, and widespread substance use, harming their health, safety, and well-being, and which also threaten the safety and viability of nearby businesses and neighborhoods and undermine the cleanliness and usability of parks, water supplies, and other public resources; and
WHEREAS while every jurisdiction must do more to address encampments, state and local agencies taking proactive steps to remove encampments have been stymied in those efforts by lawsuits and injunctions, leaving officials without the tools or guidance necessary to address the crisis on their streets; and
WHEREAS in September 2023, I called on the United States Supreme Court to grant review in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson to clarify that state and local officials can take reasonable actions to resolve encampments while respecting the humanity of all Californians; and
WHEREAS in June 2024 the Supreme Court overturned Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals precedent that restricted the government’s authority to enforce laws regulating encampments, recognizing that jurisdictions may tailor their enforcement practices to reflect policy-driven approaches to addressing homelessness; and
WHEREAS with the threat of these types of injunctions removed, there is no longer any barrier to local governments utilizing the substantial resources provided by the State, in tandem with federal and local resources, to address encampments with both urgency and humanity, or excuse for not doing so; and WHEREAS guidelines that prioritize offers of shelter and services as a first step to resolving any encampment best respect the dignity of every Californian and provide meaningful paths to ending homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Interagency Council on Homelessness leads California’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness; and
WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation maintains a policy directive that prioritizes removal of encampments that pose threats to life, health, and safety, while partnering with local governments and nonprofit providers to facilitate offers of shelter and supportive services in advance of a removal; and WHEREAS the California Department of Transportation has, since July 2021, removed 11,188 encampments and 248,275 cubic yards of debris from these encampments along the state rights of way.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes of the State of California, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1) Agencies and departments subject to my authority shall adopt policies, generally consistent with California Department of Transportation’s Maintenance Policy Directive 1001-R1, to address encampments on state property, including through partnerships with other state and local agencies, and shall prioritize efforts to address encampments consistent with such policy. Such policies shall include the following:
- Whenever feasible, site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment.
- Where exigent circumstances exist, as much advance notice to vacate as reasonable under the circumstances.
- Where no exigent circumstances exist, posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal
- Contacting of service providers to request outreach services for persons experiencing homelessness at the encampment.
- Collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard.
2) All departments and agencies not under my authority are requested to adopt policies consistent with the guidelines in Paragraph 1.
3) Local governments are encouraged to adopt policies consistent with this Order and to use all available resources and infrastructure, including resources provided by the State’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs where appropriate and available, to take action with the urgency this crisis demands to humanely remove encampments from public spaces, prioritizing those encampments that most threaten the life, health, and safety of those in and around them.
4) The California Interagency Council on Homelessness shall develop guidance and provide technical assistance consistent with this Order for local governments to follow in implementing their local homelessness programs.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order. This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of July.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Victim Ricardo Funes and his damaged car. Photos source: Impulso News Facebook page
Takes life of 16-year-old boy
Bail set at $1.1 million, already bonded out
Suspect arrested in 2021 for sex with and lewd acts upon a minor under 14
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
A Richmond man has been charged with murder that took the life of a 16-year-old minor in a DUI-related collision.
30-year-old Alexi Alexander Pineda Ticas faces a three-count felony complaint. In addition to the murder charge [PC 187(a)], Pineda Ticas was charged with driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage causing injury [VC23153(a)] and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury [VC23153(b)]. Both counts two and three come with enhancements alleging great bodily injury [PC12022.7(a)] that caused the offenses to become serious and violent felonies.
“This tragic incident has not only taken the life of a teenage boy, but it has also devastated his family,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “We will seek justice by holding the defendant accountable for actions that were both deadly and reckless. An incident like this is an emotionally wrenching reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.”
The fatal collision occurred just after midnight on July 15th in Richmond, when the victim was leaving his mother’s residence. As the teen was driving away, a vehicle driven by Pineda Ticas traveling at excessive speeds drove through a stop sign on Ohio Avenue and South 20th Street in Richmond and crashed into the teen’s vehicle. The severity of the collision caused the teen to die from his injuries shortly after the incident. Pineda Ticas sustained non-life-threatening injuries that were treated at a hospital in Walnut Creek.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Martinez, Pineda Ticas was arraigned on the charges. He is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail was set at $1.1 million.
The scene of the fatal DUI collision in Richmond on July 15, 2024. Photo by Richmond PD
According to a report by Bay Area Telemundo Channel 48, the teen was identified as Ricardo Funes of Richmond. His aunt, Claudia Barajas said, “Ricardo’s car was parked here in front of the gate, he was going to leave when he was hit, and at the same speed that the other car was carrying, he pushed him to that yellow house.”
Marta Barajas, Ricardo’s mother, described him as a young man who was always happy and although his departure hurts her, she assured that she feels calm.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of July 16, Pineda Ticas had bonded out of custody.
According to localcrimenews.com, he is five-foot, eight inches tall, 165 pounds and was previously arrested in February 2021 in Kern County for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, lewd acts upon a child, rape by a foreign object on a victim under 14 who is more than 10 years younger and attempting to contact a minor with intent to commit an offense.
The night of July 15, the Richmond Police Department posted on their Facebook page about the fatal DUI collision writing, “Don’t Let a Drink Turn into a Tragedy.
The impaired driver’s decision to drive drunk robbed a family of their child. When you choose to drive under the influence, you’re not just risking your own life—you’re endangering everyone on the road. Alcohol impairs your judgment, slows your reaction time, and reduces your ability to make safe decisions. A single moment of poor judgment can lead to devastating consequences.
Before you head out, make a plan: arrange for a designated driver, use public transportation, or call a rideshare service. Your choices matter, and your safety is worth it.”
Case No. 02-24-00933 | The People of the State of California v. Pineda Ticas, Alexi Alexander
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report
Read MoreNcal-Olympics-02 – Denise and CJ Nickolas in 2009. (Left) 80Kg Gold Medalist Carl CJ Nickolas’ first flag run after he won the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC. (Center) Ncal-Olympics and Ncal-Olympics-01 CJ Nickolas at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October 2023. Photo credit by Mark Reis, USOPC (Right)
A nurse in Antioch, CA has nurtured her 22-year-old son’s taekwondo ambitions since he was 3
Expected to compete for gold, CJ Nickolas, a former Heritage High student, was first trained by his father at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch
By Elizabeth Schainbaum, Manager, Regional Content, Corporation Communications, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Over the years, wound care nurse Denise Nickolas would talk with colleagues about her kids’ sports activities — just as others would talk about their own kids.
Most colleagues didn’t realize her kids were different. They didn’t know how seriously athletic they were after he won a medal in World Taekwondo Championship in May 2023 when her son, CJ, received publicity as he vied for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
CJ is competing in the Paris Olympics in taekwondo on August 9, 2024. The 22-year-old is ranked second in the world.
“She doesn’t go around telling just anyone how he ranked at tournaments,” said Daniella White, a colleague who has cheered Nickolas on through CJ’s injuries and other challenges. “If someone asks, she will humbly share how well he did. That’s not to say she wasn’t overly proud or excited for him, but she just continued to show humility in the process.”
Kaiser Permanente fan club
Nickolas is happy everyone knows now.
“Everyone is so excited, and they asked why I didn’t say anything,” said Nickolas, who was a gymnast in college and also achieved a taekwondo black belt during her son’s practices. “They’ve been so supportive and even started a Teams group to cheer us on and check the progress of his Olympic bid.”
Her boss, Darci Walker, is a big fan.
“I remember her sharing one of CJ’s competitions where he won first place, and he moved the entire crowd and audience by singing the national anthem. The whole stadium joined in and sang together,” Walker recalled. “This was a very proud moment that Denise shared with me. When I watched the video on her phone, it brought me to tears as well. We are all excited for CJ and their entire family.”
A ‘family-friendly’ organization
Nickolas has worked at Kaiser Permanente since 2001. Since then, as a single mom, she’s juggled full-time work with two kids who were competitive athletes.
Her older daughter, now 24, was an elite gymnast for a long time. She pivoted to diving, and that was the sport she did in college.
Her kids’ sports often required traveling to competitions. Nickolas said her managers and colleagues have been supportive and accommodating when she’s had to take time off, even last minute.
“Kaiser Permanente is absolutely a family-friendly organization,” she said. “I was able to have the life I wanted with my kids because of Kaiser Permanente.”
To make it work, she would essentially work two part-time jobs and lived just 10 minutes from the hospital.
She would start the morning at the Antioch Medical Center and then take the kids to their practices. Later, she would work another shift with Home Health Department.
“I was exhausted, but it was worth it, totally worth it,” Nickolas said. “I’m so grateful.”
Walker said Nickolas also worked hard to make it work. She coordinated well with colleagues before she would travel so there were no bumps with patient care. When she returned, she was ready to get back into the swing of work.
Going for gold
Nickolas followed this routine for years. She realized in 2007 that CJ, who had been doing taekwondo for three years at that point, had a future in competitive sports.
At the age of three, he said he wanted to do martial arts. She hesitated because she was against combat sports at the time.
She pushed that feeling aside because she could see how eager he was to do it. She steered him to taekwondo because it was included in Ivy League sports programs and was an Olympic sport.
When he was about 6, she noticed he was intense and focused. She checked in with the coach.
“’Am I just proud or is he really good?’” she recalled saying. “The coach said, ‘No, he’s really as good as you think he is.’”
That coach, until CJ turned 18, was his father, Ed Givans, who previously owned and trained his son at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch which he relocated to Las Vegas in 2018. Givans is also on the Tournament Committee for USA Taekwondo and has another competitor he’s trained on the four-person U.S. team at the Olympics, Faith Dillon. As of last December, CJ was ranked number two in the world. She earned her spot at the Pan Am qualification tournament in April.
Many injuries later, including a broken toe that she said Kaiser Permanente did an excellent job of repairing, he’s now going for Olympic gold.
Nickolas will be there watching, with her Kaiser Permanente colleagues rooting for her son.
“I can’t believe this day has come,” she said. “He’s worked so hard, but it still feels so surreal.”
Watch CJ represent Team USA and compete on August 9th on the NBC channels.
Learn more about CJ’s experience and victories through the years, here, here and here.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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