Contra Costa Herald

The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a Board and Members Meeting Luncheon at Denny’s Restaurant 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday June 27, 2025, at 11:45 am. Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay online, or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door: $25 for members, $30 for guests.

MEET OUR SPEAKER: SENECA SCOTT

Seneca Scott moved to Oakland in 2012 to work as the East Bay Director for SEIU Local 1021, representing and negotiating improvements to wages and working conditions for thousands of workers in East Bay cities, most notably Oakland. He also co-founded community groups Bottoms Up Community Gardens and Oakhella.

In 2020, Seneca ran for City Council to bring a voice to his neighbors that he felt was being ignored.

His Neighbors Together movement has since exploded across the city, demanding accountability from its Mayor and City Council.

He later led the successful effort to recall Mayor Sheng Thao and started the YouTube channel Gotham Oakland. He also frequently posts on X about the failures of Oakland’s progressive leadership.

Seneca has worked as a Labor leader and community organizer for over 20 years. He earned his B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Oakland’s Crisis and Its Implications for Other Cities and Counties

Despite levying high taxes, Oakland suffers from high crime, business closures, blight, and uncontrolled homeless encampments. The City has also faced repeated fiscal crises in recent years.

As Seneca will discuss, the explanations for Oakland’s problems include public corruption and the dominance of a progressive ideology which sounds noble but does a disservice to most residents.

We’ll also learn what lessons Oakland’s troubles might hold for neighboring cities, and whether we in Contra Costa County have anything to worry about

June 27, 2025  11:45 AM – 1:10 PM

Denny’s, 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord

Registration

• Member – $25.00
• Non-Member – $30.00

www.cocotax.org/event-6189658/Registration

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Ricardo Garcia Perez sentenced to two years in state prison

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, CA – A Pittsburg man was sentenced today for aggravated possession of abusive sexual material following his conviction in Contra Costa County Superior Court on April 16th.

The Honorable John Cope sentenced 32-year-old Ricardo Garcia Perez (born 10/15/1992) to two years in state prison. Perez was further ordered to register for life as a sex offender upon his release from state prison. Perez has been in custody since his arrest and will begin to serve his sentence immediately.

In December 2024, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) launched an investigation after discovering Perez was distributing child sexual abuse material on an internet platform. After obtaining a search warrant and serving it at Perez’s residence in Pittsburg in January 2025, Perez attempted to destroy the digital evidence on an electronic device he possessed when officers entered his house.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reviewed the evidence ICAC investigators collected and charged him with a four-count felony complaint on January 28th. Two counts were for aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material, and two counts centered on the possession of child sexual abuse material [PC 311.11(c)1 and PC 311.11(a)].

“Protecting our children from online predators requires a united front,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “Our active role in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force allows us to tap into a network of specialized training, forensic tools, and collaborative partnerships that are critical to investigating and prosecuting these disturbing crimes.”

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sydney Mastey from the Sexual Assault Unit.

The ICAC program is a joint effort spanning eleven counties dedicated to combating the growing threat of technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children. Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children, and can visit the website kidsmartz.org, commonsensemedia.org or the Contra Costa District Attorney’s website for further information.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, five-inch tall, 175-pound Garcia Perez is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility..

Case No. 04-25-00382 | The People of the State of California v. Perez, Ricardo Garcia

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Greg Burt, VP, California Family Council

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California legislature continues to disregard the rights of parents and ignore their religious beliefs regarding their children with the introduction of AB 1084, a bill that expedites the process for changing a person’s name and sex on official documents—including birth certificates and marriage licenses—based on “gender identity” rather than biological reality.

While author Assemblyman Rick Zbur (D-Beverly Hills) says the bill is a necessary response to efforts making it “harder for transgender people to live safely and openly as their authentic selves,” it is in fact a profound assault on both truth and parental rights. AB 1084 is not just another procedural update. “Not only does it further legitimize the false idea that sex is a choice,” said Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council. “But it’s designed to sideline the very people God has charged with the care and guidance of children: their parents.”

Biological Reality Can’t Be Legislated Away

A person cannot change their sex. Sex is not “assigned at birth”—it is observed and recorded. It is an immutable, biological reality encoded in every cell of our bodies. It is not up for revision with a court order or a fill-in-the-blank on a government form.

But AB 1084 expedites this legal fiction, compelling courts to issue approval for name and sex changes to reflect not biological sex, but subjective gender identity within two weeks.

The Real Target: Parental Authority

While the entire premise of the bill is flawed, its most egregious offense is against parents.

AB 1084 claims to honor parental rights by requiring both living parents to approve a minor’s request to change their name and sex on legal documents. But this is a bait and switch. If one parent objects, the court will only consider the objection valid if it demonstrates “good cause.” And what is explicitly not good cause? Belief in biological sex.

You read that right. Under AB 1084, a court must disregard a parent’s objection if it is based on the belief that their child’s proposed gender identity does not align with their biological sex. In other words, if you believe—scientifically, morally, or religiously—that sex is binary and unchangeable, your views are disqualified from legal consideration.
Here is how the text of the bill explains it: “(D) A hearing date shall not be set in the proceeding unless an objection is timely filed and shows good cause for opposing the name change. Objections based solely on concerns that the proposed change is not the petitioner’s actual gender identity or gender assigned at birth shall not constitute good cause.”

This isn’t just bad policy. It’s discriminatory, unconstitutional, and tyrannical.

A Constitutional Crisis

The U.S. Supreme Court has long upheld the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. In Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), the Court declared: “The child is not the mere creature of the state.” And in Troxel v. Granville (2000), the Court reaffirmed that “the interest of parents in the care, custody, and control of their children… is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court.”

Yet AB 1084 places the state as arbiter of a child’s identity over and above the rights of parents. It effectively says: “Parents, you can raise your child—unless your views clash with state-endorsed gender ideology.”

This is an ideological test for parental rights. And it must be resisted.

A Slippery and Dangerous Precedent

Once the state arrogates to itself the power to nullify parental objections rooted in deeply held religious or biological convictions, where does it stop?

• Will it override a parent’s objection to irreversible medical procedures?
• Will it compel schools to keep secrets from parents about their children’s gender identity?
• Will it use the denial of “affirmation” as grounds to remove children from their homes

A False Solution to Real Pain

The advocates of AB 1084 claim that this bill is about protecting transgender and nonbinary individuals from discrimination. But true compassion never requires us to lie. A government that redefines reality to affirm feelings is not protecting anyone—it’s merely swapping one kind of harm for another.

Children, especially minors struggling with gender confusion, need truth, not affirmation of delusion. They need wise, loving guidance—especially from parents, not judges. By empowering minors to legally alter their identity with minimal pushback, California encourages life-altering decisions without adequate reflection or maturity.

And these changes are not harmless. Once legal documents are changed, it can set off a domino effect leading to puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries—often before a child’s brain is even fully developed.

What Must Be Done

California Family Council stands firmly opposed to AB 1084 and any law that undermines biological truth and parental authority. We urge the legislature to reject this bill and call on citizens to raise their voices in protest.

We are also calling on constitutional lawyers and religious liberty advocates to prepare challenges to this legislation should it pass. It will not stand the test of judicial scrutiny—and it certainly will not stand the test of time.

Bill Status

This bill has already passed the Assembly Judiciary and Health Committees and now sits in the Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File.  On May 23 the committee will announce its decision on whether the bill progresses to the full Assembly for a vote.

About California Family Council

California Family Council works to advance God’s design for life, family, and liberty through California’s Church, Capitol, and Culture. By advocating for policies that reinforce the sanctity of life, the strength of traditional marriages, and the essential freedoms of religion, CFC is dedicated to preserving California’s moral and social foundation.

Ticket sales to benefit Maya Community Foundation

FREE admission to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 from June 2–5

By Greg Heckmann, Marketing Director, Maya Cinemas of North America, Inc.

Maya Cinemas is excited to welcome families back to its popular Summer Kids Camp, beginning Monday, June 2, 2025. This fun-filled summer tradition offers a lineup of beloved family films for just $3 per ticket, every Monday through Thursday at 10:30 a.m., a perfect way to enjoy a movie indoors during the warmer months.

To kick off the season, Maya Cinemas will offer FREE admission to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 from June 2–5 at 10:30 a.m. These special screenings are limited to six tickets per person, available in person at the box office only. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Source: Maya Cinemas

Full Summer Kids Camp Schedule

$3 Tickets • All Shows at 10:30am, Monday-Thursday

The Bad Guys • June 9-12

Shrek • June 16-19

Minions: Rise of Gru • June 23-29

Kung Fu Panda 4 • June 30-July 3

Migration • July 7-10

Trolls Band Together • July 14-17

Puss ‘n Boots: The Last Wish • July 21-24

Despicable Me 4 • July 28-31

The Wild Robot • August 4-7

The Land Before Time • August 11-14

Maya Cinemas will offer a $20 Passport for 10 Summer Kids Camp movies. This is a savings of $10.

$2 from every Kid’s Combo purchased during the Summer Kids Camp shows will benefit the Maya Community Foundation.

Summer Kids Camp participating theaters:

Pittsburg – 4085 Century Boulevard, Pittsburg, CA 94565

Bakersfield – 1000 California Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93304

Delano – 401 Woollomes Avenue, Delano, CA 93215

Fresno – 3090 East Campus Pointe Drive, Fresno, CA 93710

Salinas – 153 Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901

North Las Vegas – 2195 North Las Vegas Blvd., North Las Vegas, NV 89030

ABOUT MAYA CINEMAS

Founded in 2000, Maya Cinemas was created to bring high-quality, first-run movie experiences to underserved and family-oriented communities, particularly those with a strong Latino presence. In addition to mainstream Hollywood films, Maya Cinemas offers unique programming through its Canal Maya series, all presented in modern, state-of-the-art theaters. Through its Maya Community Foundation, the company remains committed to enriching the communities it serves. For more information and showtimes visit www.mayacinemas.com.

Photo: CHP

Holiday Enforcement Period Friday, May 23 at 6:01 PM to Monday, May 26 at 11:59 PM

SACRAMENTO — As Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) urges drivers and passengers to prioritize safety by buckling up before each trip.

The CHP will begin its annual statewide Memorial Day Holiday Enforcement Period (HEP) on Friday, May 23, at 6:01 p.m. and continue through Monday, May 26, at 11:59 p.m. To help maintain safety on California’s roadways, CHP officers will be vigilant for impaired and reckless drivers and motorists who fail to buckle up.

“Our top priority is keeping the public safe, not just during the holidays but daily,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Buckling up is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your passengers in a crash. Our officers will be out in force to help everyone arrive at their destination safely.”

In addition to CHP officers driving traditional black-and-white patrol vehicles, motorists are reminded that they may encounter the CHP’s new generation of low-profile Specially Marked Patrol Vehicles on the roadway. These fully marked patrol vehicles blend into traffic just enough to observe the most reckless and dangerous driving behaviors without immediate detection.

Last year, 42 people lost their lives in crashes across California during Memorial Day weekend. Tragically, nearly half of all vehicle occupants killed in a crash within CHP jurisdiction were not wearing seatbelts. CHP officers also made more than 1,100 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

California law mandates that all drivers and passengers aged eight and older must wear seatbelts. Children under eight need to be properly secured in an appropriate child passenger safety seat or booster seat situated in the back seat of the vehicle. Children under two must also ride in a rear-facing car seat unless they weigh more than 40 pounds or are taller than 40 inches.

This year, the CHP’s holiday enforcement effort coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) designation of May 19 – June 1 as the national “Click it or Ticket” mobilization campaign. Throughout this awareness initiative, CHP personnel will concentrate their enforcement efforts on seat belt and child safety seat violations.

As always, the CHP urges everyone to make smart choices behind the wheel: Buckle up. Drive sober. Stay alert. If you plan to drink or use drugs, arrange for a safe ride home before heading out. Your safety and the safety of others depend on it.

Let’s work together to make this Memorial Day weekend safe for all Californians.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Nissan’s burning battery causes hazmat incident

By Officer Daniel Gilmore, PIO, CHP-Contra Costa

On Thursday, May 21, 2025, at approximately 10:18 p.m., officers assigned to the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Contra Costa Area office responded to a two-vehicle head-on crash which occurred on State Route 4 (SR-4) eastbound, just west of Fairview Avenue, in Brentwood.

An Acura RL was traveling westbound on SR-4 in a reckless manner and crossed over double yellow lines into the eastbound lane. The Acura crashed head-on with a Nissan Ariya, which was travelling eastbound. Following the impact, the Nissan became fully engulfed in flames. Tragically, both drivers, and sole occupants of their respective vehicles, sustained fatal injuries because of the crash and were pronounced deceased on scene.

Due to the hazardous chemical composition of the Nissan’s battery, the scene was declared a hazmat incident. Consequently, emergency services were unable to immediately extract the driver of the Nissan until the scene was made safe.

Both eastbound and westbound lanes of SR-4 were closed at approximately 10:28 p.m., for on-scene investigation, and were re-opened at approximately 5:32 a.m. the next morning.

This crash remains under investigation.

The Mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Suspect Michael James Woodruff’s arrest and the gun, drugs and paraphernalia confiscated from him. Photos: Brentwood PD

By Brentwood Police Department

Last Wednesday around 11:00 AM, a Brentwood officer was patrolling the area of Brentwood Blvd. and Sims Road when he noticed a vehicle with expired registration.

While speaking with the driver, identified as 42-year-old Michael James Woodruff (born 3/4/1983), a second officer on scene observed a firearm in Woodruff’s waistband.

Officers safely detained Woodruff and conducted a search of the vehicle, where they located drugs, a digital scale, small baggies, and ammunition.

Woodruff was arrested for multiple firearm and drug-related offenses and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.

This arrest is another example of how proactive policing helps keep illegal weapons and narcotics off our streets.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 220-pound Woodruff is Hispanic and being held in the West County Detention Facility on $354,000 bail. His next court appearance is on May 29th at 8:30 AM in Department 4 at the courthouse in Pittsburg.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By CHP-Contra Costa

CONCORD, CA – On Tuesday May 20th, 2025, at approximately, 5:24 p.m., officers assigned to the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Contra Costa Area office responded to a two-vehicle crash which occurred at the northernmost intersection of northbound Kirker Pass Road and Hess Road in Concord.

A Ford Fusion stopped at the westbound Hess Road intersection attempted to make a left turn onto southbound Kirker Pass Road. While turning, it pulled into the path of a Toyota Sienna traveling northbound on Kirker Pass Road, resulting in the Toyota crashing into the Ford’s driver side.

The Ford was occupied by an adult female driver and a 14-year-old male passenger in the front right seat. The Toyota was solely occupied by an adult female driver. Tragically, the driver of the Ford sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 14-year-old sustained suspected major injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. The driver of the Toyota sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Both the 14-year-old and Toyota driver are expected to recover from their injuries.

An impaired driving investigation was also conducted, and DUI was ruled out as a factor in this crash.

Both northbound and southbound lanes of Kirker Pass Road were closed at approximately 5:35 p.m., for on-scene investigation, and were re-opened at approximately 8:40 p.m.

This crash remains under investigation.

The Mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Six CHP Officers with t their K-9 units during Thursday’s graduation. Source: CHP

SACRAMENTO – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) graduated six newly trained K-9 teams today, Thursday, May 22, 2025, at its West Sacramento K-9 training facility, marking a significant step in bolstering public safety across the state.

After months of intensive training, five Belgian Malinois and one German Shepherd join their human partners on a mission to detect narcotics, explosives, and criminal suspects. This graduating class is the first to include canines trained to detect the scent of fentanyl from the beginning of their instruction—a proactive move to combat California’s opioid and fentanyl crisis.

“These new K-9 teams have demonstrated incredible dedication and skill throughout their training,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “They’re not just protecting our communities—they’re enhancing our department’s ability to fight crime and save lives.

The new teams represent various regions across the state, with officers from the CHP’s Coastal, Golden Gate, Valley, Border, and Inland field divisions. These handlers bring between six and 17 years of departmental experience, ensuring seasoned leadership behind each K-9.

A CHP K-9 Team is congratulated during the graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Video screenshot source: CHP

The class includes:

• Three Patrol and Narcotics Detection Canine (PNDC) teams
• One Patrol and Explosives Detection Canine (PEDC) team
• Two Narcotics Detection Canine (NDC) teams

The PNDC teams completed at least 440 hours of criminal apprehension and narcotics detection training, while the PEDC team completed 600 hours focused on criminal apprehension and explosives detection. The NDC teams completed a minimum of 240 hours of training. All teams adhered to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) guidelines and will continue to train at least eight hours each week to maintain peak readiness.

The CHP’s K-9 program now includes 50 active teams statewide:

• 34 PNDC teams
• Nine PEDC teams
• Five Explosives Detection K-9 teams
• Two Narcotics Detection K-9 teams

In 2024 alone, CHP K-9s helped seize nearly 823 pounds of fentanyl, showcasing their critical role in the fight against illegal drugs.

The CHP invites dedicated law enforcement professionals to explore a career as a

K-9 handler. Learn more and apply at www.CHPMadeForMore.com to become part of an elite team serving and protecting California—four paws at a time.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

A drive-up ATM at the Bank of America branch on Lone Tree Way in Brentwood was stolen on Thursday morning, May 22, 2025. Photo: Brentwood PD

San Jose suspect has history of arrests for theft, violent crimes since 2011

Contra Costa Sheriff, Antioch Police help establish perimeter

By Brentwood Police Department

Early this morning, Thursday May 22, 2025, Brentwood officers were dispatched to the 5100 block of Heidorn Ranch Road for a report of a suspicious circumstance along the Highway 4 corridor involving individuals associated with a Jeep.

As officers arrived, the suspects fled in the Jeep. Shortly thereafter, it was discovered that a large ATM safe had been forcibly removed and stolen from the Bank of America located on the 6200 block of Lone Tree Way. Evidence indicated the ATM’s cash box had been dragged along the Highway 4 corridor, where officers first responded.

A short time later, Brentwood Dispatch received a call reporting a vehicle matching the suspect description in the Deer Ridge area.

With the assistance of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the Antioch Police Department, a perimeter was quickly established.

During a search of the area, 34-year-old Kevin Monge of San Jose (born 12/21/1989) was located hiding in a bush and was safely taken into custody.

Monge was arrested for grand theft and other related charges and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, the five-foot, seven-inch tall, 190-pound Monge is being held on 30,000 bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, he is Hispanic and has a history of arrests dating back to 2011 by multiple agencies, including Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Clara PD, San Jose PD, Dublin PD and Orange PD for crimes including forgery and petty theft on Feb. 26, 2025, battery on a spouse, cohabitant or former spouse, grand theft, receiving or concealing stolen property, possession of another person’s ID with intent to defraud, possession of burglar’s tools, assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily harm and twice for DUI.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.