Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Concord City Council selects new master developer for base reuse project

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The former Concord Naval Weapons Station land south of Highway 4. Photo: Brookfield Properties presentation

Brookfield Properties plans to develop the 2,300 acres of former Naval Weapons Station in 5 phases

By City of Concord

The Concord City Council, sitting as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA), interviewed and designated Brookfield Properties as the preferred master developer for Concord’s Base Reuse Project.

At a special meeting on Aug. 26, the LRA received a presentation from Brookfield about their plan to develop 2,300 acres of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Following Council questions and public comment, the LRA voted unanimously to select the global real estate developer for this project.

The Concord Base Reuse Project Area Plan. Source: Brookfield Properties presentation

With an office in San Ramon, and part of New York-based developer and real estate conglomerate Brookfield Partners, the developer agreed to a variety of requests including designating at least 25% of the housing as affordable and hiring 40% of its construction workforce from within the county. They propose a multi-phase approach beginning with connecting the community to the nearby BART station within the first phase of construction,

The next steps include outlining the terms of an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) and a “term sheet”, a document that establishes procedures and standards for the negotiation of a comprehensive proposed Disposition and Development Agreement and drafting a Specific Plan for the property.

The Concord Base Reuse Project Phases. Source: Brookfield Properties presentation

Previously, the council had selected Lennar in 2020 and Seeno’s Concord First Partners in 2022 as master developers.

The city council acting as the LRA is expected to consider the ENA at a meeting tentatively scheduled for Sept. 19.

A recording of the Aug. 26 meeting and supporting documents can be found online.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Learn about dementia Thursday, Sept. 7

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Join Tre Vista Antioch’s free virtual event: Understanding and Navigating Late Stage Dementia

Dementia has several stages, each with its own set of challenges. Late-stage dementia, in particular, requires a caregiver to adjust their communication and the care they provide. Join our community for a special virtual presentation featuring presenter Erinn Drouin, Community Educator with the Alzheimer’s Association of Nebraska. Erinn will teach you how to better connect and care for your loved one with late-stage dementia.

, , 4:00-5:00 p.m. (Pacific)

: bit.ly/TreVistaEvent

* Once you have registered, an email with a link to join the Zoom will be sent to your email before the event starts.

For more information, contact TreVista Antioch at 925-470-3395 or Antioch@agemark.commailto:Antioch@agemark.com.

 

Brentwood to provide space for remote workers

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Tech MeetUp launches Sept. 13

By Darin Gale, Brentwood Assistant City Manager

The City of Brentwood will launch the Brentwood Tech MeetUp at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street, beginning Wednesday, September 13th at 9 am. The City’s Economic Development team is spearheading this effort in order to provide an alternative workspace for the hundreds of hybrid and remote tech workers residing in the City.

“The Tech MeetUp will serve to provide hybrid and remote tech workers a break from working at home and an opportunity to network with others in similar industries, seek new jobs or ventures with like-minded individuals”, shared Ricardo Noguera, Economic Development Manager.

The Tech MeetUp will operate from 9:00am – 4:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in a casual drop-in setting, offering, free Wi-Fi connection and complimentary coffee, refreshments and snacks. “Just bring your laptop, phone, etc. to work and connect with other passionate tech workers in Brentwood”, added Abraham Salinas, Senior Economic Development Analyst.

To learn more please visit, Brentwoodca.gov/tech-meetup or contact Ricardo Noguera, Economic Development Manager at RNoguera@brentwoodca.gov or (925) 516-5118.

 

Celebrate Transit Month in September with events, prizes and more

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September 1, 2023, marked the official start of the Bay Area’s eighth-annual Transit Month. Hosted by San Francisco Transit Riders and Seamless Bay Area with support from local transit agencies, including BART, Transit Month toasts the many trains, buses, and ferries that connect the region and uplift its communities, economies, and cultures.

During Transit Month, riders are encouraged to explore the region by taking local transportation. The month is hallmarked by a multitude of free events, a Ride Contest, ride-a-longs with transit leaders, a Rider First Awards ceremony, and more.

Some of the BART-centric events to look forward to this year include:

Meet the BART Anime Mascots on Sept. 16  Beat the Ridership Record All Aboard Bay Area Transit Day on Sept. 16 Transit CEO Ride-Along and Happy Hour on Sept. 29 Mokelumne Trail Bridge Bike Ride from Antioch BART Station Plaza on Sept. 30, organized by Bike East Bay BART Scavenger Hunt from Sept. 1 through 21, organized by Young Professionals in Transportation

Read about the upcoming events and RSVP here.

Source: Seamless Bay Area

Last year, riders logged more than 3,000 regional transit trips during the monthlong celebration, and we’re hoping to see even more rides logged this year!

“It’s no secret that the past few years have been hard on our transit, and though we scraped by a budget win recently, it’s not enough. That’s why we need to uplift transit all September long and highlight how necessary it is to keep our city equitable, equal, and fun,” said Thea Selby, Board Co-Chair of San Francisco Transit Riders, which created Transit Month. “It is more important than ever before that we show our elected leaders how important transit is to our city, and that we need to continue funding it. Let’s prove that to them this Transit Month by getting out and taking transit!”

Transit Month prizes are awarded to riders who log the most trips during the Ride Contest. But logging the most rides isn’t the only way to get a prize; this year, when a rider logs a trip, their name will be entered into a raffle.

“We’re expecting Transit Month to be bigger than ever before with more events, more participating agencies, and more community group involvement,” said Ian Griffiths, the co-founder and policy director of Seamless Bay Area, which co-hosts the monthlong celebration. “One of the things we’re most excited about is our community grant program, where we’re distributing 11 small community grants to get more groups involved.”

Transit Month prizes this year include lots of transit agency swag, as well as behind-the-scenes tours of sites not typically accessible to the public, like the Salesforce Transit Center.

The rider who logs the most BART trips this Transit Month will win an HO scale BART A car made by Rapido Trains (the model trains are currently available for preorder on railgoods.com). This museum-quality model will arrive inside a custom-made display case, allowing the rider to proudly show off their best-in-the-Bay Transit Month performance (Delivery is estimated Summer 2024). Other BART prizes up include a BARTable swag bag with promotional prizes, a poster-size BART map, and a BART anime mascot swag bag. Hear from last year’s BART Ride Contest winner below.

West County: El Sobrante man arrested with $190K of stolen retail merchandise

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Stolen merchandise recovered at a home in El Sobrante on August 31, 2023. Photos: CHP

By CHP – Golden Gate Division

Investigators assigned to the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Golden Gate Division (GGD) Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) have recovered approximately $190,000 in stolen retail merchandise and approximately $24,000 in cash after serving a search warrant on a house in El Sobrante, Calif.

In July of 2023, ORCTF investigators were provided with information regarding a possible illegal fencing operation within the city of El Sobrante. It was alleged that after the theft of retail merchandise, the products were stored at a residence before being sold at various locations. An investigation was launched, and investigators soon had enough information to obtain a search warrant for the residence.

On Thursday, August 31, 2023, ORCTF and GGD Investigative Services Unit personnel executed the search warrant at the residence. Once inside, officers located stolen retail merchandise from Lululemon, CVS, Walgreens, Target, Rite Aid, Express, TJX, Ross, and Victoria’s Secret, among others. A preliminary estimate put the value of the recovered merchandise at over $190,000 and investigators also recovered over $24,000 in cash proceeds from the sale of the stolen merchandise.

The suspect, 52-year-old Ngoc Bui Bach of El Sobrante was booked into Contra Costa County jail on charges of 490.4 PC – Organized Retail Crime, 487(a) PC – Grand Theft, 496(a) PC – Possession of Stolen Property, and 182 PC – Conspiracy to Commit a Crime.

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

 

Contra Costa Community College District expands Free Tuition Program

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By Timothy Leong, Director of Communications and Community Relations, 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) has announced changes to its Full-time Free Tuition Program for Contra Costa College (CCC), Diablo Valley College (DVC) and Los Medanos College (LMC) students beginning the fall 2023 semester. The expansion of this free tuition program, formerly known as FT3, removes the previous requirement that participants must be a first-time student, and opens the door to full-time students who have previously taken college courses or even completed a degree.

To receive free tuition for up to two academic years, CCC, DVC, and LMC students must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADA) for the current academic year;
  • Enroll in a minimum of 12 units; and
  • Be a California resident or otherwise exempt from paying non-resident tuition fees.

Students are not required to qualify for financial aid, demonstrate financial need or meet any income requirements. Although the Full-time Free Tuition Program waives the $46 per unit enrollment/tuition fees at 4CD colleges, participating students are still responsible to pay for other expenses such as books, supplies, and materials fees required by their classes.

“We are very excited to expand the Full-time Free Tuition Program to students who have previously attended college”, said Interim Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh. “This cost-saving option provides the financial incentive returning full-time students may need to achieve their higher education objectives with us.”

To learn more about 4CD’s Full-time Free Tuition Program, please visit: https://www.4cd.edu/insite/full-time-free-tuition-program/ 

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves 1.2 million residents, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College with campuses in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon, and Los Medanos College with campuses in Pittsburg and Brentwood. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. Each college is individually accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.

During chase from Fairfield two Oakland men arrested for car theft with help of San Pablo Police K9

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San Pablo Officer Kitchen and K-9 Riggs. Photo: San Pablo PD

Hercules Police also assist; both have history of arrests

By Fairfield Police Department

On August 26, Officer Spencer encountered a red Hyundai bearing plates belonging to a Jeep and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit was initiated.

As the car sped down westbound I-80 near the American Canyon exit, a passenger discarded a firearm from the window. When the discarded gun struck the roadway, it discharged a round and either the round, or the gun itself, struck the windshield of another pursuing officer.

The vehicle eventually exited I-80 and entered the city of Hercules, where it pulled into a shopping center. The passenger exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Two of Fairfield’s officers remained with the driver, identified as 40-year-old Jesus Escamilla of Oakland, and took him into custody.

Hercules PD and San Pablo PD arrived on-scene to assist. Those agencies handled the perimeter and began searching for the passenger. A K9 from San Pablo PD located the man, 35-year-old Oscar Garcia of Oakland, hiding in a tree. He was taken into custody without incident.

The vehicle in which the two men fled had been reported stolen out of Oakland, and 2 oz of suspected drugs were found inside. Both Escamilla and Garcia were booked into County Jail.

Our thanks to Hercules Police Department and San Pablo Police Department (including K-9 Riggs) for helping bring this incident to a safe conclusion.

San Pablo Police shared the following about the incident:

Fairfield PD requested the assistance from our very own K-9 Riggs and Ofc. Kitchen. Fairfield PD had a suspect run from them, and they ended up in Hercules. They requested our K-9 to help them find the suspect as he ran from them. Once, Ofc. Kitchen and K-9 Riggs arrived on scene K-9 Riggs located the suspect hiding in a nearby tree. The suspect heard that K-9 Riggs was on scene, he decided to climb down the tree, and surrender peacefully. Great Job Ofc. Kitchen and K-9 Riggs. K-9 Riggs definitely deserves a puppuccino.

According to localcrimenews.com Escamilla has a history of arrests dating back to 2019 by multiple agencies including San Leandro PD, San Pablo PD, Piedmont PD and Alameda County Sheriff’s Department for crimes including drug and gun possession, grand theft, possession of burglar’s tools, vehicle theft and multiple cases of prowling.

According to localcrimenews.com Garcia also has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 by multiple agencies Oakland PD, Fremont PD, Berkely PD, Alameda County Sheriff’s Department and Castro Valley CHP for crimes including DUI, inflicting corporal punishment on a spouse or co-inhabitant, possession of burglar’s tools, drug possession, receiving stolen property and multiple vehicle thefts as recently as earlier this month.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Pleasant Hill man arrested for attempted sexual abuse of minor

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Peter Joseph Digangi. Photo: Pleasant Hill PD

Arranged meeting with 13-year-old boy

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

In August of 2023, Pleasant Hill Police Detectives participated in an operation with the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in a proactive online investigation.

On August 16, 2023 Peter Joseph Digangi (age 65 of Pleasant Hill, CA) engaged in an explicit online conversation and sent obscene materials to an undercover agent who was posing as a 13-year-old boy on a social media/dating application. Digangi arranged to meet with who he believed to be a 13-year-old boy and was arrested by police upon arrival. A search warrant for Digangi’s home and electronic devices was granted by a Superior Court magistrate. The search yielded numerous electronic/storage devices and a preliminary examination of those devices yielded child sexual assault material. Digangi was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on multiple felony charges.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against Digangi for violations of 288.4(b) PC- Meeting with a minor for lewd/lascivious acts, 288.3 (a) PC- Contacting a minor for lewd/lascivious acts, 664/288(a) PC- Attempted lewd/lascivious acts with minor under 14, 288.2(a)(1) PC- Sending explicit/obscene material to a minor, and 311.11(c)(1) PC- Possession of 600+ images of child pornography including at least 10 images of children under age 12.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department routinely participates in these operations in order to identify and arrest suspects who target minors. This is a good reminder to parents and young teens about the potential dangers associated to activity on social media/online platforms.

We would like to thank our local and federal partners who participated on this operation.

If you have any questions, tips, or believe you may be a victim in a case such as this, please contact PHPD Investigations at 925-288-4600 or PDInvestigations@Pleasanthillpd.org.

Suspect arrested for armed robbery of mail carrier in Concord

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By Concord Police Department

On Thursday, August 24, 2023, you may have seen a large Concord Police Department presence in the Blackfield Drive area of Concord and later in the City of Vallejo. We’d like to tell you why.

One of our local US Postal Service mail carriers was robbed at gun point while delivering mail to our residents of Concord. Through witness statements, video surveillance, and other investigative leads, our Patrol Officers and Detectives of our Investigations Division identified the suspect vehicle and involved persons.

Last night at about 10 PM, our Patrol officers located the suspect vehicle driving in Concord and initiated a high-risk felony stop on Blackfield Drive with the assistance of STARR 3, Air Support Unit – Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff. Several subjects were detained and taken into custody for various crimes.

Our Detectives also identified a related suspect house in the City of Vallejo and our Crisis Negotiations Team and SWAT Team served a search warrant early this morning, resulting in the recovery of evidence related to the armed robbery.

We would like to thank our residents in the community who called in suspicious activity in their neighborhood and provided valuable information to our investigators.

As this is an ongoing investigation, no other information is being released at this time. If anyone has any additional information regarding this incident, please contact Detective Rutland, Major Crimes Unit – Investigations Division at (925) 603-5853 or the Anonymous Tip line at (925) 603-5826

Brentwood man arrested, charged for discharging firearm in Walnut Creek

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Suspect Eric Clausen placed in the back of a police vehicle on August 16, 2023. WCPD video screenshot.

By Lt. Holley Connors, Walnut Creek Police Department

On August 16, 2023, at about 9:13pm, Walnut Creek Police Department received a call of a vehicle driving recklessly on N. Main Street traveling toward the City of Pleasant Hill, and the driver was reportedly holding a gun. A short time later, a witness called Dispatch to report a male crashed his vehicle in a shopping center located at 2900 N. Main Street, then discharged a gun in the air several times after exiting the vehicle. A Walnut Creek Police Officer in the area heard the gunfire and was on scene within seconds, but the suspect fled the area on foot. Officers set up a perimeter and began a search, which included the use of drones and assistance from a CHP helicopter.

At approximately 10:21pm, a WCPD Officer located the suspect behind a nearby business and the suspect was safely taken into custody without incident. The firearm involved in this case was later located by officers. There were no reported injuries to the suspect, officers, or anyone in the area.

Eric Ross Clausen, a 30-year-old Hispanic male from Brentwood (born 5/21/93), was arrested for various weapons violations and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of August 31 the 5-foot-11-inch, 160-lb suspect was still in custody at the West County Detention Center being held on $100,000 bail.

On August 18th, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed the following charges against Clausen:

PC 29800(a)(1) – Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

PC 246.3(a) – Willful Discharge of a Firearm with Gross Negligence

PC 25850(a) – Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Public Place

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844 or call the Anonymous Tip Line at 925-943-5865.