Contra Costa Herald

Martinez, CA — In an age where there’s so much information available to us, why would the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office start a podcast?

The answer is simple: to inform the public on legal issues that directly impact our community. The approach of the Cross-Examination podcast is one that focuses on depth and detail, wrapped up in engaging discussions.

Cross-Examination aims to unpack the complexities of the criminal justice system, shine a light on important public safety topics, and foster transparency in law enforcement as it applies to residents in Contra Costa County.

The debut episode features District Attorney Diana Becton in a conversation with hosts Ted Asregadoo and Deputy District Attorney Brian Feinberg. Together, they explore the vital role of the District Attorney’s Office in seeking justice, maintaining public safety, and balancing these responsibilities with the need for reform.

Other episodes delve into timely and relevant topics, such as retail theft. Chief of Inspectors Arnold Threets shares insights from real-world cases and discusses crime prevention strategies, while criminologist Dr. Samuel DeWitt examines how media coverage influences public perception of crime.

By launching this podcast, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is providing a way for the public to gain a better understanding of the criminal justice system from multiple angles. District Attorney Diana Becton said, “I think podcasts about the kind of work our local government does — especially the District Attorney’s Office — will be beneficial in building trust by fostering stronger community relations through deep discussions about issues related to public safety.”

Cross-Examination is available now on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and other podcast platforms.

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With experience in law enforcement, private sector and government he offers common-sense views unlike his left-leaning opponent

By Allen D. Payton, Publisher

In the race for Contra Costa County Supervisor District 5 seat held by Federal Glover who is retiring after six consecutive terms, Antioch Councilman Mike Barbanica is clearly the best choice to replace him. He faces Pittsburg Councilwoman Shanell Scales-Preston in the November run-off, after both made it past the four-candidate March primary election. The district includes the county’s northern waterfront cities and communities from the Senator John A. Nejedly-Antioch Bridge in East County to Hercules in West County.

Scales-Preston is Too Socialist and Progressive

Scales-Preston has some applicable experience having served as a councilmember and rotated vice mayor and mayor for the City of Pittsburg for the past six years, as well as on the four transportation boards serving East County, three for just the past two years, as past president and current member of the East Bay League of California Cities, and chair of the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee. That committee worked with the now defunct healthcare district where Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe was the executive director for which the County Board of Supervisors settled with two of his female employees over sexual harassment claims for $350,000.

According to her bio on the City of Pittsburg’s website, Scales-Preston grew up in the City of Pittsburg graduated from Pittsburg High School and earned a degree in Political Science with an option in Pre-Law from Cal State East Bay. Her career has been in government, working for over 20 years as a staff member for both former Congressman George Miller and now Congressman Mark DeSaulnier.

That’s one of the challenges I have with Scales-Preston. Unlike her current boss, DeSaulnier who was a restaurateur in Concord before getting elected to local, then state and now federal office, Shanelle hasn’t worked in the private sector. So, she can’t truly understand what it takes to create jobs or wealth and grow the economy. That’s what is one of the key issues that needs to be addressed in District 5, especially along the waterfront.

Another issue I have with Scales-Preston is her political alliances and from whom she has accepted and promotes endorsements. They include Our Revolution East Bay, which according to their website, ourrevolutioneastbay.org, is “a progressive political organization that emerged from the historic Bernie Sanders campaign.” Sanders for decades described himself as a democratic socialist and has been the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate, except when now-Vice President Kamala Harris was serving. Those are not the kind of bigger, more expensive government views we need on the Board of Supervisors.

That brings up another issue, the blatant injection of partisan politics into local, non-partisan races, which I’ve harped on for the past 12 years, ever since Antioch Councilwoman Monica Wilson put her face and name on one side of a mailer and Obama’s on the other. Scales-Preston’s running a billboard ad on Highway 4 in Antioch with her face on one side of the ad and Harris’ on the other side. That’s completely inappropriate, and unnecessarily, and foolishly divisive. Scales-Preston also touts the endorsements of several Democratic Party organizations, including the State Party which surprisingly is opposing Prop. 36, the anti-crime measure, on the November ballot.

Finally, the other alliance and endorsement Scales-Preston promotes in her campaign is from the nation’s top abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. As I called out District Attorney Diana Becton for doing the same in 2022, I’m calling out Shanelle. Why would a Black woman take the endorsement of an organization founded in racist eugenics which by Margaret Sanger who spoke about and worked to eliminate the Black and brown races, which includes Hispanics, and has been very successful. Because the majority of abortions in the U.S. each year are by Black and Hispanic mothers. That’s why Planned Parenthood continues to focus and located their so-called “clinics” in neighborhoods with high populations of African- and Hispanic Americans. Scales-Preston is literally siding with the organization that continues to work against her own people of color. (Please see Margaret Sanger: Ambitious Feminist and Racist Eugenicist, https://womanisrational.uchicago.edu/2022/09/21/margaret-sanger-the-duality-of-a-ambitious-feminist-and-racist-eugenicist/)

While I like her and find that she’s a nice lady in our few conversations, Shanelle is seriously misdirected in her thinking and views and needs some experience with a job in the private sector before running either for re-election or higher office, again.

Backed by the Badge, Councilman, Former Cop, Business Owner Barbanica is Better and Best for the Board

Barbanica, on the other hand, has a much broader career experience having served as an officer and retired lieutenant after 21 years with the Pittsburg Police Department, where he helped fight against eight dirty cops, one of whom is still in prison for murder. He also worked as a sexual assault detective and a homicide detective, where he “helped women in the worst times of their lives,” Barbanica stated. That included saving a 13-year-old girl from repeated sexual assaults from an older man. He also ran the traffic division, oversaw not only Code Enforcement and all the other specialized enforcement units, including gangs, alcohol and tobacco, and street-level drug dealing teams.

He developed and led a six-officer team for six years, that worked on violent and street-level crime, which was reduced by almost 24% over a few years. Barbanica also ran the K-9 and Field Training Officer programs, and the Emergency Operations Center working with the FBI after 9-11 to prevent any terrorist attacks inside local industrial plants.

For the past 19 years he’s owned a successful, local real estate business in both residential and commercial sales, property ownership and management, the appropriately named Blue Line Property Real Estate & Management. That has given him the experience of dealing with renters and owners, understanding the issues that both sides have to deal with.

For the past four years, Barbanica has also served on the embattled Antioch City Council where he’s been the mature voice of reason in spite of the chaos, cronyism and corruption in which he did not participate. Nor can he be blamed for it, as he was on the short end of a variety of 3-2 and 4-1 votes while at the same time he was able to push for and successfully obtain majority votes in favor of his proposals, such as body cameras for police officers and dash cams for their vehicles, and tougher penalties for sideshows. In fact, Barbanica was the one who found common ground with the mayor to include penalties for advertisers planners, participants and spectators, as well.

He also pushed for expanding Antioch’s Code Enforcement by seven officers, doubling it to 14.

Barbanica has developed private-sector solutions to the challenge of homelessness in our county. He worked to revise the existing HUD contract with the County “to make it more palatable for owners to want to do business with homeless residents,” he said. “The program was actually my wife’s idea. We started with one single mom with her children, one of whom is disabled, and who are still housed with us, today.”

They expanded it to include homeless veterans.

“We work with seven different agencies to get people off the street and today, we have over 575 people housed that were facing homelessness or instability, who now have a roof over their head,” the candidate shared.

Barbanica’s platform focuses on his top priorities which are public safety, homelessness and blight.

Asked about economic development he said, “It’s always a constant. But we have to deal with the other issues, first. If we want business to come here, we have to provide them a place where their business will thrive.”

Regarding the Northern Waterfront Initiative, “It needs retooling,” Barbanica stated. “Because the zoning doesn’t match the long-term plans and developers have struggled and are very frustrated with the County. I’m going to be an advocate to develop that area and work with those developers but balance it with the concerns for the environment.”

He will also work on the Green Empowerment Zone, “to bring green jobs into our county to boost our local economy,” he added.

Barbanica also worked to bringing in 1,100 new, upscale homes in the Sand Creek area of Antioch in which “both sides, the developer and the environmental community, specifically Save Mt. Diablo, were satisfied,” following multiple meetings.

About transportation, he says supports extending BART to Tracy and back to Pleasanton, as well as completing the Highway 4 bypass / extension and building Route 239 from Brentwood to Tracy to connect Highway 4 to I-5, 205 and 580, “an East Bay loop” he said. It will permanently open East County for economic development. “Finally, it’s being planned after being on the books for almost 65 years,” Barbanica added.

Not surprisingly, he has the support of law enforcement, including Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston, the Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Association, Contra Costa County District Attorney Investigators’ Association, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, PORAC – Police Officers Research Association of California, as well as the Police Officers Associations of Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord, Martinez, Hercules, Brentwood, Clayton, Moraga, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Richmond and Walnut Creek and the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County.

Regarding the police scandals that affected both the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments, one thing needs to be clarified. When Antioch’s mayor and one councilwoman were irresponsibly and publicly calling for all 35 Antioch officers caught up in the racist text scandal to be fired – most of whom merely received the texts, but didn’t send any, and before the investigations were completed, and most returned to their jobs – Barbanica was again, the voice of reason. He said he, the mayor and other council members needed to shut their mouths and let the investigators work through the process, and not give the dirty, guilty cops anything they could use to keep their jobs, such as claiming their terminations were politically motivated. Yet, his opposition has been attempting to twist his words to mean something he didn’t.

One additional thing I like about him, having dealt and worked with with him in a councilman-reporter relationship for the past four years, Barbanica is available and responds to phone calls, texts and emails including any and all questions no matter how challenging. I respect that in an elected official.

“I truly believe the media’s responsibility is to keep government and politicians honest, and the people informed,” he stated. I completely agree.

On a personal note, Barbanica is married to Kristine, they have three children and six grandchildren, most of whom live in the area. Two of his children have followed him into law enforcement as his son is a Pittsburg Police Officer who “works my old beat with the same call sign assigned to it,” Barbanica shared. His youngest daughter is a prosecutor in another county in California. His older daughter is a physician’s assistant.

For the benefit of the northern portion and all of Contra Costa County, please join me in supporting Mike Barbanica as our next Supervisor representing District 5.

To learn more about him and his campaign visit www.mikebarbanica.com.

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Source: CCTABIG, exciting news for Richmond passengers! CCTA and SF Bay Ferry have teamed up to offer Free Ferry Fridays on the Richmond/SF route for the rest of 2024! Hop on board starting Nov. 1 for a stress-free, cost-free ride every Friday across the Bay! #FreeFerryFridays

All trips between Richmond and Downtown San Francisco are FREE ON FRIDAYS until the end of the year, thanks to a partnership with Contra Costa Transportation Authority – CCTA. Check the Richmond route schedule here: https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/richmond-ferry-route.

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U.S. Representatives Mark DeSaulnier, Nancy Pelosi join CCTA Officials to announce DOT Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant for improvements

WALNUT CREEK, CA – Yesterday, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, U.S. Representatives Mark DeSaulnier and Nancy Pelosi joined regional transportation officials from Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to announce CCTA will receive over $166 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to improve mobility along the Interstate 680 (I-680) corridor. This mega-boost is the largest 2024 transportation award earmarked for California.

The funds will upgrade I-680, which is critical to the region’s economy and prosperity—providing for the movement of goods, services, and people throughout northern California and beyond. The federal investments to CCTA’s INNOVATE 680 project were made through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (US DOT) National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) Program.

“As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and longtime champion for policies that would reduce commute times, cut harmful pollution, and improve our quality of life, I was proud to advocate for this funding and am delighted it has been granted and will begin making a difference in the lives of Bay Area and California residents,” Congressman Mark DeSaulnier said. “I am thankful to CCTA and DOT for their partnership in working to improve transportation across our region.”

“When President Biden signed Democrats’ historic Infrastructure Law in 2021, it was an opportunity to strengthen our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, fund projects to address equity issues and create millions of good-paying jobs throughout America,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said. “Thanks to Biden-Harris Administration’s MEGA grant program made possible by the Infrastructure Law, $166 million in federal funding is coming to the CCTA’s INNOVATE I-680 project to improve quality of life for people throughout the Bay Area. Democrats remain relentlessly committed to investing in America, building a fairer economy and delivering For The People.”

The highly competitive Mega Grant program funds major projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs and are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility, or safety benefits. More information on the program is available here.

The federal funding will go toward CCTA’s INNOVATE 680 Program to address the northbound I-680 express lane gap from California State Route (SR) 24 to SR-242 and to convert the existing northbound high-occupancy vehicle lane from SR-242 to north of Arthur Road into an express lane. The project will also construct a braided ramp system between the North Main Street and Treat Boulevard interchanges in Walnut Creek to address an existing bottleneck caused by weaving and implement Coordinated Adaptive Ramp Metering for a 19-mile segment of Northbound I-680.
“CCTA is grateful for the efforts our federal delegates made to secure much needed federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for California infrastructure improvements,” CCTA Chair Newell Arnerich said. “Upgrading I-680 will truly improve our quality of lives as they ease congestion, make our roads safer, and boost our economy by creating 3,500 direct and indirect jobs per year for the duration of the projects.”

CCTA is Contra Costa’s congestion management agency. CCTA’s full project plan to alleviate congestion on I-680 may be found here.

“This is a monumental award for Contra Costa County and the greater Bay Area,” CCTA Executive Director Tim Haile said. “Thousands rely on this corridor and increased congestion has led to unacceptable delays. CCTA is excited to advance the I-680 corridor through focused modernizations that will maximize efficiency and promote shared transportation.”

“I-680 is one of the major north-south corridors in the San Francisco Bay Area and frequently ranks among our most congested corridors,” MTC Executive Director Andy Fremier said. “This $166 million grant will support projects that improve safety, smooth traffic, and increase access while aligning with federal, state and local safety, equity, and emissions goals.”

About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority:

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

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Application period for Kaiser Permanente’s Community Health Care Program opens Nov. 1st

By Antonia Ehlers, PR and Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Many low-income Californians make too much money to qualify for Medi-Cal, but they’re unable to get affordable health coverage anywhere else. Kaiser Permanente’s Community Health Care Program (CHCP) was designed with them in mind.

The Kaiser Permanente CHCP provides comprehensive, affordable health care coverage for qualified low-income adults and children in California who don’t have access to other public or private health coverage.

Open enrollment for CHCP is Nov. 1, 2024, through Jan. 31, 2025.

Eligible Californians receive comprehensive health coverage from Kaiser Permanente including preventive services, without paying a monthly premium. They also don’t pay copays or out-of-pocket costs for most care at Kaiser Permanente facilities.

“Even with the expansion of Medi-Cal in 2024, too many Californians remain uninsured,” said Yvette Radford, vice president, External and Community Affairs, Kaiser Permanente Northern California. “The Community Health Care Program helps address this gap, providing Kaiser Permanente’s high-quality care and coverage to eligible Californians in our service areas.”

Who is eligible for the Community Health Care Program?
The program is designed for applicants who meet the following criteria:
• total household annual income of no more than 3 times the federal poverty level (Example: up to $45,180 for an individual or up to $93,600 for a family of 4 in 2024)
• not eligible for any other health coverage, including Medi-Cal, Medicare, a job-based health plan, or Covered California
• must live in a Kaiser Permanente California service area

Individuals do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify. Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2025.

How to apply
As of November 1, you can apply online at www.kp.org/chcp. Click the “apply now” button at the top of the website for a link to the application. If you need assistance, click the “get help” button for a list of community agencies that can provide help, or call Kaiser Permanente Member Services at 1-800-464-4000 (TTY 711).

 

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Early Voting Sites open today, Friday, Nov. 1st

By Kristin B. Connelly, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters & Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Elections Department

The Contra Costa Elections Division would like residents to know that our staff and volunteers are ready for Election Day! Five Early Voting Sites will be open beginning Friday, November 1st and polling places will be open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th.

Voters can still return their ballots by mail, postmarked on or before Election Day – make sure to check mailboxes for pick up times – or drop their ballot off at one of the County’s 43 official drop boxes before 8:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th, to ensure we receive your ballot on time.

“We encourage voters to vote early if they can,” said Kristin B. Connelly, the County’s top Elections Official. “Voting early means voters have less stress around rushing to vote before the deadline and finding time on one day to vote. Even if voters wait until just before Election Day, or on Election Day to cast their vote, there are plenty of options for Contra Costa County residents to ensure that their voices are heard at the ballot box.”

In-Person Services
If you prefer to vote in person or need in-person services to cast your ballot, Contra Costa County residents will have early voting options at five Regional Early Voting sites throughout the county beginning today, November 1st.

All registered Contra Costa voters will be able to vote at any of the Regional Early Voting locations, which will be open Friday November 1st from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; and Monday, November 4th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Here are the locations of Contra Costa’s Regional Early Voting sites:
• Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street, Brentwood
• Pittsburg Library-Community Room, 80 Power Avenue, Pittsburg
• Richmond Library-Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond
• San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Boulevard., Alamo
• Walnut Creek City Hall, 1666 North Main Street., Walnut Creek

Polling Places
Polling places will be open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Please check the back of your Voter Information Guide for your assigned polling place or go to our website and check “My Voting Information.”

Drive-Thru Drop Off
Drive-thru drop-off will be available at the Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office on Monday, November 4th from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Conditional Voter Registration
If you missed the voter registration deadline, you still can register and vote in-person using Conditional Voter Registration. It is a one-stop opportunity to register and cast your ballot and is available at our office at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez, Regional Early Voting sites, and all polling places.

Accessible Voting Equipment and Additional Language Access
Official ballots and voting instructions are provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Voting equipment with accessible features is available at every in-person voting location for voters who may need assistance due to a disability. Additional language resources are available through ballot translation guides which are available online and at in-person voting locations.

Be Prepared
If you vote in person, many voters find it helpful to come prepared. Make your choices ahead of time and bring your pre-marked Sample Ballot to the polls to help you save time. Copies of the Voter Information Guide are available at the polls and the information is also available online.

Leave the Campaign T-Shirts, Buttons, and Hats at Home
Please remember that voters have the right to cast a ballot free from intimidation or distraction. Electioneering, including wearing anything with a candidate’s name on it, is prohibited within 100 feet of any voting location. Anyone wearing items with a candidate’s name will be asked to remove or cover them while they are at the voting location. Please help our poll workers by refraining from electioneering and leave your campaign t-shirts, buttons and hats at home.

For more information on voting options for the General Election, visit www.contracostavote.gov or call 925.335.7800.

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Estimates according to a new USGS predictive model. Exposure to some PFAS may lead to adverse health risks.

Contra Costa has some of the highest levels

Approximately 71 to 95 million people in the Lower 48 states – more than 20% of the country’s population – may rely on groundwater that contains detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, for their drinking water supplies. These findings are according to a U.S Geological Survey study published Oct. 24. The predictive model results can help members of the public, water suppliers and regulators understand the potential for PFAS contamination, guide future studies and inform strategic planning for water resources. USGS scientists are the first to report national estimates of PFAS occurrence in untreated groundwater that supplies water to public and private wells. This research also provides the first estimate of the number of people across the country who are potentially affected by PFAS-contaminated groundwater. Along with a scientific report, the USGS published an interactive, online map so users can see probability estimates of PFAS occurrence. Note that predictive results are intended to be evaluated at state, regional and national scales rather than at individual household levels. Probability estimates are for the presence of PFAS in groundwater and do not account for any subsequent actions taken by states, municipalities or individuals to treat drinking water. The model does not include estimates of PFAS concentrations; testing is the only way to confirm the presence of contaminants. Exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health risks in people, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of common applications, from the linings of fast-food boxes and non-stick cookware to fire-fighting foams and other purposes. PFAS are commonly called “forever chemicals” because many of them do not easily break down and can build up over time, making them a concern for drinking water quality. “This study’s findings indicate widespread PFAS contamination in groundwater that is used for public and private drinking water supplies in the U.S.,” said Andrea Tokranov, USGS research hydrologist and lead author of this study. “This new predictive model can help prioritize areas for future sampling to help ensure people aren’t unknowingly drinking contaminated water. This is especially important for private well users, who may not have information on water quality in their region and may not have the same access to testing and treatment that public water suppliers do.” The EPA has established legally enforceable levels, called maximum contaminant levels, for six types of PFAS in drinking water. The EPA regulates public water supplies, and some states have additional regulations for drinking water. Some homes use private water supplies, where residents are responsible for the maintenance, testing and treatment of their drinking water. Those interested in treatment processes and testing options can read EPA’s guidance or contact their state officials or water supplier. The states with the largest populations relying on public water supplies with potentially contaminated groundwater sources are Florida and California. Regarding private wells, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio have the largest populations relying on potentially contaminated groundwater. The study also presents data according to population percentage. In Massachusetts, for example, the source water for 86 to 98% of people who rely on groundwater from public water supplies could be contaminated with PFAS. In Connecticut, the source water for 67 to 87% of the people who rely on groundwater from private wells could be affected. Details by state can be seen in the report’s tables S6 through S8. “To derive these estimates, the team analyzed 1,238 groundwater samples collected by USGS scientists and determined how factors such as urban development and well depth can impact PFAS occurrence,” continued Tokranov. “With that information, a detailed machine learning model was developed and used to identify which geographic areas have a higher likelihood for contamination. That information was combined with existing USGS research on the number of people in a given area who rely on groundwater for drinking water to establish population estimates.” Scientists present separate estimates for public and private wells because they typically receive water from different groundwater depths. Public wells using groundwater as the primary water source are usually deeper than private wells. There are more than 12,000 types of PFAS, not all of which can be detected with current tests; the USGS study tested for the presence of 24 common types. The USGS estimates consider the presence of at least one of those 24 types of PFAS. The most frequently detected compounds were perfluorobutane sulfonate known as PFBS, perfluorooctane sulfonate known as PFOS and perfluorooctanoate known as PFOA. This research provides a broad outlook for the Lower 48 states and presents state-level estimates. Scientists did not look in detail at specific cities or provide estimates for the types of PFAS present or PFAS concentrations. The new USGS study was published in Science. Learn more about USGS research on PFAS by reading the USGS strategy for the study of PFAS in the environment and visiting the USGS PFAS Integrated Science Team’s website. For more information about PFAS regulations, visit the EPA’s website on addressing PFAS. Read More

By Dawn Kruger, Community and Media Relations Coordinator, Contra Costa Elections Division

Election and law enforcement officials in Contra Costa County are taking steps to make the safety and security of the 2024 election paramount on multiple levels.

“Contra Costa County voters have several safe and convenient ways to vote in the November 5, 2024, General Election,” said Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters Kristin B. Connelly. “Specific information on different options can be found in our Voter Information Guide that went out to all registered voters the last week of September, or on our website, www.contracostavote.gov. Our Elections team has prepared diligently to ensure every valid ballot is counted and that our county residents’ voices are heard.”

AB 2642, the Protecting Elections from Armed Coercion and Extremism – Peace Act, went into effect September 24, 2024, creating protections for California voters and the workers who administer our elections in all 58 counties. Of note the Peace Act protects voters and election officials by explicitly prohibiting intimidation and threats. There are also legal protections that make the presence of a firearm – or even a replica of one – at a polling place unlawful intimidation. Moreover, the Peace Act will provide voters, election officials, and election workers with civil legal recourse against intimidation and coercion.

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said, “My office and local law enforcement will work in concert to protect our fundamental right to vote in Contra Costa County. Any threats, intentional disruptions, or intimidating acts designed to stop a citizen from legally voting or officials from administering an election will be held accountable.”

According to a September 27th Memorandum addressed to “All County Clerks/Registrars of Voters” in the state from Robbie Anderson, Elections Counsel in the California Secretary of State’s Office, “The purpose of the Act is to supplement, and not limit or replace existing statutes that prohibit the intimidation of voters and others in the election process and the carrying of firearms where votes are cast and counted.”

“Our focus is on the safety and security of election workers, voters, and the election process,” said Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston. “Additional arrangements will be put in place and we encourage anyone to report suspicious activity or crimes by calling 9-1-1 or their local law enforcement agency.”

County officials are collaborating to ensure that the 2024 General Election in Contra Costa County is safe, secure, and free from threats and intimidation.

For more information on how or where to vote, visit the Contra Costa County Elections website.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

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“She had absolutely nothing to do with the merger… I know who did and didn’t work on it…” Con Fire Chaplain Fr. Robert Rien

Calls for Jovita Mendoza’s censure by city council

Also questioned about using official City email for campaign, challenged by opponent for not signing Code of Conduct but does not respond

UPDATE: Mendoza responds via video doubles down with no apology for use of photo

By Allen D. Payton

A mailer was sent out by Brentwood District 1 City Councilwoman Jovita Mendoza in support of her re-election campaign, in District 3, that included a photo of herself and Con Fire Lead Chaplain Fr. Robert Rein, a Catholic priest and Pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Antioch, which he says she didn’t have permission to use. He sent a letter to the editor last week sharing that fact, saying he hasn’t endorsed the councilwoman and that he’s asked Mendoza to “revoke the flyer and clarify that she used my photograph with her fraudulently.” Yet, as of last Friday, Oct.19 she had not responded to his email sent the week before.

“No, I haven’t received any phone call or email from her, as of today,” Rien said. “I thought she would have had the courtesy to ask me first.”

“The firefighters brought the mailer to me and said, ‘You know, you can’t endorse candidates,’ and I said, ‘What? I know. I don’t even know who she is,” he explained.

Rien also said he doesn’t recall when the photo was taken. Asked if it was during the push-in ceremony for the new fire truck at one of the Brentwood fire stations earlier this year, he said, “We had a push-in event. I do the blessing and the dedication.”

That push-in ceremony was held in June and Mendoza was in attendance for the event. (See related article)

“I don’t even remember taking the photo,” Rien added.

“The bishop sent us two letters telling us clearly we cannot endorse in any political campaigns,” the priest and fire chaplain explained. “It could jeopardize our 501c3 status.”

Rien Asks for Council Censure of Mendoza, Action from Diocese

When reached once more today, Tuesday, Oct. 22, Rien said he still hadn’t heard from Mendoza and that he had sent a letter to the city council asking for them to censure the councilwoman for not taking responsibility for her actions.

“I thought she would have at least apologized to me and for causing us potential challenges,” Rien added who said he would be contacting the vicar asking him to request the Diocese’s Bishop to take further action.

Says Mendoza’s Fire District Merger Claim False

The mailer from Mendoza’s campaign also claims as one of her accomplishments, “Improved emergency services with the merger of the ECCRFPD and CoCoCo Fire, with no additional taxes placed on residents.”

About the fire district merger claim Rien was emphatic saying, “She had absolutely nothing to do with the merger. I knew who was working to make it happen and happen smoothly. Brian Helmick, Chief Brochard and Diane Burgis were the ones, and Brian Oftedal was the president of the fire board at the time and was working with them.”

“I know who did and didn’t work on it and for her to continue to take credit is just completely dishonest,” the priest stated.

As previously reported, on March 9, 2022, the Contra Costa County Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) unanimously approved the annexation of East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD) and the dissolution of ECCFPD. Oftedal was President of the ECCFPD Board of Directors at that time. The two fire districts finalized their merger on July 1, 2022, during a Transfer of Command ceremony.

Oftedal Takes Issue with Mendoza’s Claim

Her opponent, Contra Costa County Fire Advisory Commission Chair and former President of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board, Oftedal responded to Mendoza’s claim and shared a video excerpt from a recent candidates’ forum. He said, “Councilmember Mendoza is claiming some sort of responsibility for fixing ECCFPD and also that she returns all emails (as seen in the video attached).”

In that video Mendoza said, “I always return every single email, every single call, every single Facebook comment or Facebook message or in the Next Door.”

Questions for Mendoza Go Unanswered

A copy of her mailer containing the photo with Rien and the video shared by Oftedal were sent to Mendoza on Friday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2024, asking her the following questions: “To give you the benefit of the doubt, have you seen and read his email (as sometimes they end up in junk folders if it was the first time Fr. Rien has emailed you)? Have you been out of town on vacation and unable to access your emails?”

She was also asked, “Did you intend the photo to imply Fr. Rien’s endorsement? If not, did you or whomever is helping your campaign think to ask him or those in the other photos for their permission to appear on the mailer? Have you contacted Fr. Rien, today and will you now publicly state that the use of the photo with him was done without his permission and that it does not constitute an endorsement of your campaign?”

“How many copies of the mailer were sent out?” Mendoza was also asked.

She was also informed that Oftedal is challenging the claim in her mailer taking credit for the fire district merger and that no tax increases were incurred. Mendoza was then asked, “What role did you play in the merger before LAFCo approved it in March 2022 and ensuring there were ‘no additional taxes placed on residents’?”

Finally, the councilwoman was asked, “On another matter, why are you using your official, taxpayer-funded City email address for your campaign, as it appears on your re-election Facebook page instead of either a personal or campaign email address?”

As of Tuesday, Oct. 22, Mendoza had not responded.

Oftedal Challenges Mendoza’s Claim of Returning All Calls and Emails, Use of City Email for Campaign, Failure to Sign City Council Code of Conduct

Oftedal shared additional comments about the mailer saying, “Councilmember Mendoza clearly indicated during our recorded Brentwood Candidate Forum that she returns all forms of communication. As of today, my understanding is that Father Robert Rein is still waiting for an email reply, to clear his name with his superiors. As humans, we all make mistakes. If this was a mistake, I can’t understand why a simple apology couldn’t be shared.”

“As an FYI, I did reach out to Father Robert to check on his situation earlier today and he indicated that he is [sic] still not received a reply from my opponent and indicated that he submitted a public comment for tonight‘s City Council meeting,” the first-time council candidate continued.

Informed of Mendoza’s use of her official City email address on her campaign Facebook page (which continued through today) Oftedal replied, “I was not aware that my opponent was using city resources for her political campaign. I find it odd that she would not be aware that officeholders cannot use their taxpayer funded email address for campaign related activities.”

In addition, as of earlier this month, according to a ContraCosta.news report, the councilwoman has refused to sign the Brentwood City Council Code of Conduct which her opponent challenged.

“I find it bizarre that Ms. Mendoza will not sign the current Code of Conduct, yet all of the other sitting council members have signed,” Oftedal stated. “I know I am not the only community member that has concern over her rationale shared at the Brentwood Candidate Forum”.

UPDATE 1: Mendoza Doubles Down, Won’t Apologize

Instead of responding by phone or email to the Herald or  calling Fr. Rien to apologize, Mendoza posted a video on her campaign Facebook page on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in which she doubled down on her use of the photo with the fire chaplain, claiming she’s known him since she was young, and he was friends with her husband’s parents, while repeatedly referring to him as “Father Bob”. She also admitted she sent her husband, Michael Kleeman, whom she claims is her campaign manager, to speak with the priest in person to “clear the air with him,” she said. That occurred during a funeral Fr. Rien was conducting at St. Ignatius Church in Antioch.

The candidate also said she doesn’t believe the letter to the editor was sent by the fire chaplain. However, it was received from Fr. Rien’s personal email account, and this reporter spoke with him that same day to verify he sent it, as is done with all letters to the editor submitted to the Herald. It was also forwarded to Mendoza with the aforementioned questions. See below:

In addition, in her video Mendoza said, “I called the parish on the 10th as soon as I found out he was upset about the mailer. That was the first thing I did. I spoke to his assistant, she transferred me to his voicemail, I left a message, name, number, information, everything he needed.”

“I also called the bishop’s office,” she continued. “The reason I did that was this was my mailer. No one on here was endorsing me. This is just information about me and what I’ve been doing the last four years. So, I wanted to make sure he was OK. Spoke to his personal assistant, she said she didn’t know what I was talking about. She told me if there was an issue she’d call me back. No one has called me back from the bishop’s office. I have yet to hear from them. So, I’m thinking it might be a non-issue.”

Regarding Rien’s quote that she had absolutely nothing to do with the (district) merger, Mendoza said she worked for it as an activist and a resident but not in her official capacity as a city council member.

She said, “That one is really false. What East Contra Costa County Fire wanted to do is stick us with $450 more per parcel on our property tax bill and I was not OK with that. So, what was going on in those days, I was…advocating…everywhere on social media, everyone I could talk to, don’t, let’s not do this, let’s do this.”

“So, at one point the chief of fire was actually trolling me all over social media,” Mendoza continued. “And I didn’t make it public. I just sent him an email and I said, ‘you need to stop harassing me. I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not going to support a tax no matter how much you want me to. It’s not gonna happen and you need to look at other options like a merger.’ I even offered my help to help them do that. So, when people say we don’t things as residents, oh, no, we do. And we’re not going to let them take away the credit that we deserve for what we do in our city.”

“And yes, I did fight for that merger and once we got Prop X on the ballot, I was out there advocating for it every single day. When they found out we weren’t going to support a tax they had to shift their plans,” she claimed.

About his letter to the editor Mendoza said, “I think someone is strong arming him to do it” and claimed “The fire department is not happy with him” referring to Fr. Rien. She then went on to claim, “He’s getting pressure from a government agency.”

As of Thursday night, Oct. 24, her video had received 25 “Likes” and 13 comments in response.

UPDATE 2: Rien Says No One Calls Him “Father Bob”, Did Work at Schools Mendoza Mentioned but “They Never Were Longtime ‘Family Friends’”

Although Rien said last week, he did not want to deal with the matter further, after an article by the ContraCosta.news about the incident with Jovita Mendoza’s husband during the funeral was published on Tuesday, Oct. 29th, additional questions were posed to the priest.

Asked if anyone else refers to him as “Father Bob”, if Mendoza might have him confused with another priest in the Diocese, and if he recalls being either her or Kleeman’s priest when they were in elementary school Rien responded, “I have been ordained 50 years this year and no one calls me, father, Bob! For at least 47 years of my life as a priest I have been referred to as father, Robert. So, I don’t know how she’s able to call me that because I don’t even think she was born when I was ordained and that was in 1974. I don’t know how old she is but even still, and as far as I know, there is no other priest, with my name in Far East County, or in Antioch.  I am just hoping that this will finally put this to rest and all of it will stop. Thank you for your personal support; it is greatly appreciated.

According to MyLife.com, Jovita R. Mendoza of Brentwood, CA is 52. So, she was born in either 1971 or 1972 depending her date of birth.

In her video she also said, “My husband came across a picture with Father Bob and what you all may not know about Father Bob is that Father Bob has history with our family. Father Bob was my preschool priest and elementary school for, I think, a year or so. Then he left St. Leander’s where I went and then he went to Corpus Christi where my husband went and he was my husband’s elementary school priest all through eighth grade, and Father Bob was friends with his mom and dad. They knew each other. So, we have a family history with Father Bob and that’s why we were excited to use the picture.”

Asked if he had worked at St. Leander’s Elementary School and Corpus Christi Elementary where she claims “Father Bob” worked when she and her husband attended those schools, the fire chaplain responded with the correct information about his work history. He said, “I was at Corpus Christi Piedmont as the Vicar from 1977 to 1982 and then went down to St. Leander in San Leandro where I was the Vicar from 1982 to 1987. I had very little to do with the school or the preschool as we were doing six to eight funerals a week as well as taking care of doctors, hospital, Vesper, the restrooms, and the convalescent home patients and I really had very little time for anything else besides the daily and Sunday masses.”

“They never were longtime ‘family friends’, and I certainly never knew that they married one another! I was stunned when I found out that Bill Kleeman’s son, Michael, had married her; I had no idea,” he continued. “My responsibility at both parishes was to the parish and their ministries, but not the schools; perhaps an occasional walk-through, or perhaps presiding for a school mass, but certainly nothing more than that.”

Publisher’s Note: Anyone running for office should obtain the permission of anyone who appears in photos used in their campaign, especially the use of photos of officials. Because it gives the false impression that the person supports and endorses the candidate. It’s a common practice which I’ve applied in my own campaigns and made sure the candidates’ campaigns for whom I’ve managed or consulted on since 1989 also follow.”

The election is November 5th.

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