Contra Costa Herald

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

Cal Maritime-Cal Poly SLO integration: A bold step towards sustainability

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California State University Maritime Academy, aka Cal Maritime, may be merging with California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, aka Cal Poly SLO. Photo by Neil Sterud

By Neil Sterud

The Spring 2024 semester at California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) has been marked by regular sessions inviting all interested parties to propose ideas for institutional improvement and cost-saving measures. Students have been kept well-informed about the institution’s state through regular emails, fostering a sense of community and transparency.

In a significant development, the Chancellor’s Office has recommended the integration of Cal Maritime with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO). This proposal, if approved by the CSU Board of Trustees, aims to address Cal Maritime’s financial and enrollment challenges. Interim President Michael J. Dumont, J.D., shared the news with the Cal Maritime community, highlighting the potential benefits of this integration for advancing the educational mission of both institutions, increasing enrollment, and safeguarding critical academic programs.

The proposed integration is seen as a strategic response to the fiscal crisis and declining enrollment, which Cal Maritime has been grappling with. Over the past seven years, enrollment has decreased by 31%, from 1,107 students in 2016 to just over 750 in 2023. The financial instability has reached a point where further budget reductions risk compromising Cal Maritime’s unique educational mission. President Dumont noted, “Our ability to obtain additional permanent funding in an amount sufficient to make a marked impact is impossible given the current budget environment.”.

Despite the challenges, the integration with Cal Poly SLO is viewed as a promising opportunity. Cal Poly SLO, with its renowned engineering programs and dynamic enrollment management capabilities, was chosen due to its programmatic similarities with Cal Maritime. The integration is expected to enhance the core educational missions of both institutions, providing greater stability and creating more opportunities for students. It will also allow for increased research opportunities and the potential to compete for greater federal funding in areas such as national security and renewable energy.

However, it is important to acknowledge that most mergers fail to achieve their objectives. The success of this integration will depend on careful planning and execution, along with the active involvement and support of all stakeholders. As President Dumont emphasized, “The integration will allow both institutions to fully leverage our mutual strengths and build upon similarities, including a shared foundation in applied learning.”

The CSU Board of Trustees will consider the proposed integration at their meetings in July and September, with a final vote expected in November 2024. If approved, the integration would begin in July 2025, with the first maritime academy students enrolling as Cal Poly SLO students in fall 2026.

Despite these financial difficulties, Cal Maritime consistently ranks as a top university for return on investment and high-paying jobs. As the institution approaches this critical juncture, the community’s involvement and input will be essential in shaping a sustainable and successful future. The regular sessions held during the spring semester have set the stage for an inclusive and collaborative process, ensuring that the voices of students, faculty, staff, and alumni are heard and considered in this transformative journey.

Assemblywoman Wilson Supportive of Merger

On June 6, Assemblywoman Lori Wilson who represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes Vallejo, released the following statement regarding the CSU Chancellor’s proposal to integrate Cal Maritime in Vallejo with Cal Poly SLO:

“The recent news of California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) integrating into California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is a significant development for our community. My office will be closely monitoring the details of this proposal and will remain actively engaged. We encourage the community and stakeholders to vet this proposal as well. My primary concerns are ensuring that administrators, faculty, and students are well taken care of and preserving Cal Maritime as a beacon of excellence in our community.

While this proposed transition on the surface may not be ideal, it may be necessary to prevent Cal Maritime’s closure, which would be a huge loss for our community. I am optimistic that changing the university’s administrative structure and integrating it with a renowned CSU campus will allow Cal Maritime to thrive well into the future. We, as a community, must remain vigilant to ensure this process of integration is transparent and meets the needs of our community.”

Neil Sterud is an Antioch resident and a senior at Cal Maritime.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: McDonald’s® Golden Grants Program to award $60K in Contra Costa, SF Bay Area, Eureka, Central Coast

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Supporting educators, programs, and organizations serving grades K-12. Apply today! Deadline: Oct. 13

By Madelyn Schieder, PR Coordinator, H/L Agency

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Applications are now open for the 2024 McDonald’s Golden Grants program. To apply, eligible entities can visit McDonald’s Golden Grants through October 13.

CORRECTION: McDonald’s Owner/Operators across the San Francisco Bay Area, Eureka, and the Central Coast will be selecting deserving educators, non-profit organizations, and the like, who represent programs that fuel the imagination, education, and growth of students, as recipients of a McDonald’s Golden Grant. Entering its third year, the program has awarded $65,000 in its first two years.

In 2023, 17 grants were awarded throughout San Francisco Bay Area, Eureka and the Central Coast. Amongst these grants was Sonoma recipient, Kid Scoop News.

“With the generous funding from the McDonald’s Golden Grants, we were able to supply 10 classrooms, or 250 students in Contra Costa County monthly copies of their very own Kid Scoop News, providing access to engaging reading materials and literacy-supporting activities is key to a student’s success in reading,” said Kid Scoop News.

This year, grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 based on creativity and hands-on application of projects. Please see below for applicable counties.*

Qualifying activities include arts programs, education initiatives, mentorship and empowerment programs, after-school programs, community service, sports activities, and technology.

Recipients of a Golden Grant will be announced on October 13.

*In California: Contra Costa, Alameda, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma.

About McDonald’s USA

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

Bay Area serial bank robber from Antioch sentenced to more than five years in prison

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Brandon Elder arrested for a Brentwood bank robbery on Jan. 26, 2022. (Photo: Brentwood PD) and his Facebook photo posted on Oct. 3, 2021.

Defendant robbed a bank only 19 days after release from custody for previous bank robbery

Brandon Elder has history of arrests dating to 2016 including 5 times in 2021 and 3 times in 2022

By U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California

SAN FRANCISCO – Brandon John Elder was sentenced to 63 months in prison for bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Francisco Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge.

Elder, 29 (born 2/14/1995), of Antioch, pleaded guilty to the charge on December 14, 2023. According to court filings, Elder walked into a bank in the Marina District of San Francisco on September 20, 2022, wearing a black hoodie, black facemask, and blue gloves. He approached the teller window, stated “this is a robbery,” and demanded “50s” and “100s.” The teller handed over $10,000 in cash to Elder, who ran out of the bank and back to his getaway car in a nearby parking garage. Elder was arrested two days later in Pleasant Hill, Calif., while shoplifting a PlayStation from a Target with $7,867 cash in his pocket. A grand jury indicted Elder on November 1, 2022, charging him with one count of bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a). Elder pleaded guilty to the charge without a written plea agreement.

Elder committed this bank robbery while still on post-release community supervision. He had been released from state custody only 19 days earlier after serving a custodial sentence related to the robbery of a bank he committed on January 26, 2022, in Brentwood, Calif. In addition, Elder already had been convicted of 11 other thefts in state court, including a violent incident during which he slashed a loss prevention officer with a box cutter. (See related article)

“Repeat offenders like Brandon Elder should not be allowed to continue terrorizing the community,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “Enough is enough. This Office will ensure that criminals like Mr. Elder face serious repercussions for their actions.”

“Elder used threats and intimidation to terrorize the employees of the bank he robbed,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “His complete disregard for the law demanded justice, and justice he received with this sentence. The FBI will not waver when it comes to preserving the peace of our community by taking dangerous criminals off the streets.”

In addition to sentencing Elder to prison, Judge Donato ordered the defendant to serve a year of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George Hageman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

According to localcrimenews.com, Elder was also arrested five times in 2021 and three times in 2022 by multiple agencies including Vallejo PD, Dublin PD, San Francisco PD, Antioch PD, Pleasant Hill PD and BART Police for crimes including driving with a suspended license, drug possession including for sale, vehicle theft, receiving stolen property – motor vehicle, evading an officer including wanton disregard for safety, resisting arrest, failure to appear, smoking on BART and burglary. (See related article)

In addition, Elder was also arrested twice in 2016, first on Feb. 1st at 4:30 p.m. by Antioch Police on an outstanding felony warrant then again on August 19, 2016 by Antioch Police and at that time was a known gang member, who had two felony warrants for his arrest. Several APD officers went to Elder’s residence in the 200 block of Rossi Avenue where he was contacted in his bedroom. Elder was arrested and sent to county jail.

According to his Facebook page, Elder is from Oakland, lives in Antioch and is single, went to John Swet High School in Crockett and works at Safeway. His last post was on Nov. 8, 2021, while at the DMV in San Francisco.

According to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, seven-inch tall, 135-pound Elder, who is white and has green eyes and brown hair, is being held in the Santa Rita Jail on no bail.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

American Discovery Trail Society sponsors ADT Challenge for this year’s National Trails Day, June 1

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Source: American Discovery Trail Society

By Ders Anderson, Open Lands

The American Discovery Trail Society announces its second annual trail challenge! In honor of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, June 1, the Challenge is an invite to anyone and everyone living near the 6800-mile American Discovery Trail. (See related article)

The goal of the Challenge is meant to be a personal one, a trail challenge that hikers, bicyclists, runners, baby stroller pushers, skaters, and wheel-chair users set for themselves. It could be…adding miles to their personal best so far. It could be…enlisting friends who don’t often exercise. It could be… the first time for a family hike. It could be… a distance hike-bike-or run relay with a group of friends. It could be…a first, really-long-distance hike, whether it’s 20, 50 or 500 miles.

Participants are asked to register at  https://discoverytrail.org/american-discovery-trail-home/trailchallenge/  where ADT trail access and route info, local trail agency contacts, and general trail use guidance will be available

Think…Outdoors…Healthy Exercise…Fresh Air…Inspiration…America’s Beautiful Landscapes…Participating in a national event with thousands of National Trail Day partners.

American Discovery Trail map. Source: ADT Society

California Trails

If you participate in the ADT Challenge, the American Discovery Trail Society will report back to the American Hiking Society on the level of participation in the ADT Challenge. National Trails Day (NTD) is an annual event that has been sponsored by the American Hiking Society (AHS) for the past 31 years. Your experience will be added to this years’ overall NTD national participation. In 2022, over 125,000 people participated in National Trails Day.

About ADT

The American Discovery Trail (ADT) is the nation’s first coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreation trail. The ADT was conceived in 1989 and initially led by the American Hiking Society. In 1996 the ADT Society (ADTS) was created and has been the prime advocate for the completing a continuous trail across the United States. The ADTS considers it the east-west “backbone” of our country’s national trails system, connecting to the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, East Coast Greenway Trail and 50 other national scenic, historic and recreational trails. In the Midwest, two options are possible: either thru Iowa and Nebraska, and northern Illinois and Indiana, or through Missouri and Kansas and southern Illinois and Indiana.

Bay Area “Transit Transformation” gets $18 million boost

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First commitments spur near-term projects to improve bus, light rail service

County Connection’s routes in Concord’s Monument Corridor will benefit from more reliable service, reduced travel times

By John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications and Khristina Wenzinger, Principal, Public Information, Legislation & Public Affairs, Metropolitan Transportation Commission

SAN FRANCISCO – The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) last week approved an $18.3 million allocation to fund eight near-term transit priority projects in Concord, other East Bay cities, San Jose, San Francisco and Redwood City. These investments are the first to be made through the $30 million Bus Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery (BusAID) program established as part of the Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan to implement quick-build solutions designed to improve service at problem ‘hotspot’ locations identified by transit agencies throughout the region.

What Does Transit Transformation Mean?

  • Design, adequately invest in and effectively manage a public transit network that is equitable, inclusive, frequent, affordable, accessible and reliable.
  • Integrate with unified service, fares, schedules, customer information and identity.
  • Serve all Bay Area populations, resulting in increased transit ridership and reduced growth in vehicle miles traveled.

The Action Plan aims to improve the Bay Area’s public transportation network to create a more user-friendly and connected system. It identifies key targets and actions to make this vision a reality.

Map of County Connection’s routes in the Monument Corridor. Source: Central Contra Costa Transit Authority

Approved Projects

Each of the eight approved projects is slated for completion in the next one to three years:

  • Monument Corridor Transit Speed Improvements (Concord): This project will transit priority signals along Monument Boulevard between Detroit Avenue and Mohr Lane, and will relocate and reconfigure bus stops to improve efficiency and accessibility. County Connection routes 11, 14, 16, 311, 314, 611, 613, 616 and 619 will benefit from more reliable service and reduced travel times.(See pages 5-2 & 5-3 of the Monument Corridor Community-Based Transportation Final Plan)
  • Park Street Transit Signal Priority and Signal Optimization (Alameda): this project will install transit signal priority and optimize signal timing at four intersections along Park Street from Alameda Avenue to Otis Drive, reducing delays for AC Transit routes 20, 21, OX and 663.
  • International Boulevard Transit Lane Delineation (Oakland): this project will reduce delays for AC Transit’s Tempo (1T) line, reduce speeding by drivers on non-transit vehicles and improve corridor safety between 14th Avenue and 42nd Avenue through the installation of vertical treatments to separate the existing bus lanes from general purpose lanes, and by painting the bus lanes red to deter non-transit vehicles from using the bus lanes.
  • El Camino Real Bus Boarding Islands & Bus Stop Balancing (Redwood City): To reduce delay for SamTrans routes ECR, 79, 270, 278, 295, 296, 2960 and 397, this project will fund the planning and design of bus boarding islands at stops along El Camino Real between Whipple Avenue and Dumbarton Avenue in Redwood City and unincorporated North Fair Oaks.
  • K-Ingleside Rapid Project Ocean Avenue Quick Build (San Francisco): Spanning Ocean Avenue from Junipero Serra Blvd. to Geneva Avenue, this project will increase service reliability and reduce travel times for Muni’s K-Ingleside light rail line by installing longer and wider boarding islands, adding red transit lanes, and implementing signal timing refinements and turn restrictions.
  • VTA Frequent Network Cloud-Based Transit Signal Priority (San Jose): This project will install next-generation transit signal priority at 174 intersections along VTA’s Frequent Network in San Jose, reducing delays for numerous bus routes, including 25, 26, 61, 64A, 64B, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77 and 500.
  • Vision Zero Senter Road East San Jose Safety Corridor Project (San Jose): This project will reduce delays for VTA routes 70, 72 and 73 by installing bus boarding islands along Senter Road between Story Road and Monterey Road.
  • Alvarado-Niles Road Part-Time Transit Lane Pilot (Union City): To reduce congestion-related delays for AC Transit route 97 and Union City Transit routes 1, 3 and 5, this project will install for a two-year pilot period a part-time transit lane along Alvarado-Niles Road from Decoto Road to Almaden Boulevard, providing buses with a dedicated lane during hours with peak traffic congestion.

MTC approved funding for these projects at its regularly scheduled May meeting, after each had been endorsed last month by the multi-agency Regional Network Management Council. Project recommendations were developed based on a two-stage screening process that evaluated potential rider benefits (time savings), equity considerations, and feasibility and readiness. Each project will include pre- and post-implementation evaluation to quantify project benefits. The remaining balance of $12 million in BusAID funding will be used for future funding rounds, when additional projects are identified and ready for implementation.

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Caltrans owns and operates the state highway system.

Allen D. Payton contribute to this report.

WETA includes four more Contra Costa ferry stops in 2050 Service Vision

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Source: WETA

Terminals proposed in Hercules, Martinez, Pittsburg and Antioch; plus, additional route for existing Richmond terminal

“A Vision for Water-Based Transportation and Emergency Response on the San Francisco Bay”

By Allen D. Payton

The Bay Area’s Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) board adopted the 2050 Service Vision and Expansion Policy during its meeting on Thursday, May 9 and the plan includes future, possible stations in Hercules, Martinez, Pittsburg and Antioch. Also included is an additional route for the existing terminal in Richmond, which currently offers WETA’s only ferry service in Contra Costa County.

The plan includes two tiers, with the four additional Contra Costa terminals in Tier 2 which will be added based on demand and current, technological barriers to service. The Vision includes one route between the San Francisco Ferry Building to the Hercules terminal and a separate route to and from the Martinez, Pittsburg and Antioch terminals.

The Vision explains that first, “WETA will enhance existing route frequency to continue growing markets for all-day service.” Then, “WETA will expand by implementing the Tier 1 projects from the map including regional priority projects such as those included in regional plans – including Mission Bay and Treasure Island to the San Francisco Ferry Building, Berkeley to San Francisco, and Oakland to Redwood City.”

That will be followed by WETA exploring “development of Tier 2 projects from the map to further expand the reach of the ferry system as market demand matures and technologies evolve to overcome current barriers to operating service.”

In the plan, “WETA will provide at minimum three types of service on the ferry network: Local service consisting of short distance trips connecting dense urban hubs; Regional service consisting of medium and long-distance trips connecting activity centers; and Special Event service to major venues with existing terminals.”

In addition, “WETA will electrify the ferry system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

According to their website, “Water transit is a vital part of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. WETA has been developing a shared vision of the San Francisco Bay Area ferry system in 2050, including the level of service and extent of WETA ferry operations and emergency response.

This ‘Service Vision’ informs how WETA operates in the future and what changes will need to be made to get there. The vision will serve as the foundation of WETA’s Business Plan, which will present the specific strategies and actions required to achieve the 2050 Service Vision. Strategies and goals are divided across six Focus Areas.

This service visioning effort is a unique opportunity to re-imagine water transit and address emerging priorities concerning the environment, equity, economic development, emergency response and quality of life throughout the Bay Area.”

According to the staff report for the agenda item #11, the plan was “developed to define a long-term service vision based on input from agency stakeholders, the public, and other parties with an interest in the future of the agency. The goal of this project is to create clear direction for the agency and its staff concerning future expansion efforts, prioritize the use of limited funds, identify resource needs, and help build a broad coalition to advocate for future investment in the regional ferry network. The WETA Board received a presentation on a draft Policy at its last meeting in April 2024. Following that meeting, staff incorporated comments from Directors into the final 2050 Service Vision and Expansion Policy—including more detailed information about emergency response and first/last mile connections.

During an initial stakeholder and public outreach effort in 2021, staff identified six focus areas

for consideration in the Business Plan. These include:

  1. Regional Ferry Network
  2. Emergency Response
  3. Environmental Stewardship
  4. Community Connections
  5. Organizational Capacity
  6. Financial Capacity

At Business Plan Workshop #1 held in August 2022, the Board identified a set of network expansion concepts for consideration in defining a 2050 Service Vision. Staff undertook a technical evaluation of these concepts and conducted broad stakeholder and public engagement to create a proposal to develop a draft 2050 Service Vision that was presented to the Board during Workshop #2 in April 2023.

Upon receiving direction from the Board to look more broadly at opportunities to expand the ferry network, staff worked with its consultant team to incorporate this feedback into an updated draft 2050 Service Vision and set of feasibility criteria for future expansion projects.

The draft service vision and feasibility criteria were refined upon review with key project stakeholders, the Community and Business Advisory Groups, and the WETA Business Plan Subcommittee. A consistent source of feedback during the outreach process was support for a WETA pilot program to test the feasibility of new technologies and emerging markets. The product of this process is the final 2050 Service Vision and Expansion Policy.”

The Vision also includes Terminal Rehabilitation & Replacement, improvements to Terminal Access, encouraging Transit-Supportive Land Uses in close proximity to each candidate ferry terminal, and Emergency Response. “WETA serves as the coordinator of water-based emergency response activities in the Bay Area in the event of a major disaster or disruptive event. In this capacity, WETA will work closely with the California Office of Emergency Services and/or the United States Coast Guard and will be directed to perform activities coordinated on a regional and state-wide basis. These include deploying WETA’s fleet resources to evacuate dangerous areas, to move first responders, and to deliver needed supplies. WETA will coordinate with other regional maritime partners to add to this fleet response, and terminal facilities must have sufficient capacity and facilities to accommodate these partner vessels. All new expansion terminals must be designed and built to Essential Facilities Standards. Emergency service to individual terminals will be guided based on state and regional direction.”

In addition to Thursday’s meeting, WETA held a public Board of Directors workshop on the 2050 Service Vision in April. The service vision evaluation memo and presentation slides are available, here:

Here’s the public survey summary report, first published in May 2023.

To learn more about the project, visit Bay Ferry 2050 microsite where you can subscribe to updates, share your feedback and more.

Concord man convicted of detonating explosives during high-speed police chase

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Daniel Garcia and one of the exploded pipebombs he tossed during the police chase on Oct. 29, 2023. Photos: SFPD & SFPOA

From SF to Martinez last October

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced on Thursday, March, 28, 2024, that her office secured a conviction of Daniel Garcia (42), of Concord, after a trial by jury for detonating explosive devices and leading police on a high-speed chase from San Francisco to the East Bay.  Mr. Garcia was convicted of three counts of detonating an explosive device with intent to injure, (PC 18740), four counts of possession of an explosive device (PC 18710) and one count of evading an officer with willful disregard for people or property (VC2800.2(a)).

“I would like to thank the jury for their service in this case,” said DA Jenkins. “The jury’s verdict holds Mr. Garcia accountable for his brazen lawlessness which endangered countless lives, including San Francisco police officers who bravely pursued him in the face of explosive devices being thrown at them.”

According to testimony and other evidence presented at trial, on October 29, 2023, Mr. Garcia drove from his home in Concord to San Francisco and attended the 5pm mass at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral.  During mass, he confronted a parishioner and accused him of ripping his shorts and demanded $50 from the parishioner. The parishioner, who was kneeling in prayer, tried to ignore Mr. Garica who then punched him twice on the side of head, knocking him unconscious.

Mr. Garcia then fled the church and went to his car followed by parishioners who called 911. Mr. Garcia then got in his car and drove away as Police arrived. Two police cars, with three total officers inside, tried to pull over Mr. Garcia for further investigation.  Instead of complying, Mr. Garcia slowed down and tossed a pipe bomb strapped to a 40-ounce bottle of gasoline out of his window into the path of the officers.  He then sped away and the pipe bomb exploded, engulfing a police vehicle in a fireball.

San Francisco Police chased Mr. Garcia as he sped through city streets, running stop signs, red lights, and driving on road shoulders toward the Bay Bridge. At the intersection of 8th Street and Mission Street, Mr. Garcia threw a second pipe bomb strapped to a 40-ounce bottle of gasoline which again exploded.

The pursuit continued onto the Bay Bridge and into the East Bay. The chase eventually included three SFPD vehicles, three California Highway Patrol vehicles, and a helicopter. Mr. Garcia eventually failed to navigate a turn in Martinez and blew out his tire. He continued driving until the wheel literally fell off at which point he finally pulled over and surrendered.  A third pipe bomb strapped to a 40 oz. bottle of gasoline was found in his vehicle.  Garcia said he was trying to get home to Concord to barricade himself inside with the last bomb and quipped to the officers “How many GTA stars do you think I had?” which is a reference to the video game Grand Theft Auto where you earn stars based on your threat level and how many police officers are chasing you.

Garcia’s home in Concord was subsequently searched, and all of the materials used to make the pipe bombs were located there including four additional 40-ounce bottles filled with gasoline.  Garcia admitted on the stand he had built the three bombs in his home the three days prior to using them in San Francisco.

The case against Mr. Garcia was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Edward Mario, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Gino Guerrero, paralegals Melissa Cruz, David Ma, and Jennifer Java and Victim Advocate Tony Leung who worked closely with the victims throughout the pendency of this case. Prosecutors were able to develop a strong case against Mr. Garcia because of the outstanding investigation of the San Francisco Police Department’s Arson Task Force.

“Mr. Garcia time and again placed civilians and law enforcement in danger by choosing to construct dangerous explosive devices, transport them to San Francisco, and then explode them on city streets, not to mention assaulting an innocent man while he prayed in church,” said Assistant District Attorney Edward Mario. “Mr. Garcia has shown no remorse for his actions, but the jury’s verdict ensures that he will face accountability for his unprompted violent and reckless behavior.”

Mr. Garcia is currently in custody pending sentencing. Prior to sentencing, the court will hear and rule on an outstanding allegation that Mr. Garcia committed these offenses while on bail for another felony matter in another county.  He faces up to fourteen years in state prison for his crimes. Sentencing is scheduled for April 23, 2024. Court Number: 23017823

According to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, Garcia was charged with the following crimes:

211 PC/F/2 SECOND DEGREE ROBBERY;

245(a)(1) PC/F ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON-NOT A FIREARM;

three counts of 69(a) PC/F THREAT TO EXECUTIVE OFFICER;

three counts of 187(a) PC/F/1 MURDER Attempted Crime;

three counts of 12305 HS/F POSSESSION OF AN EXPLOSIVE;

2800.2(a) VC/F EVADING AN OFFICER WITH WILLFUL DISREGARD;

18715(a) PC/F POSSESSION OF A DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE IN PUBLIC PLACES;

18755(a) PC/F EXPLOSION CAUSING DEATH;

six counts of 18745 PC/F EXPLOSION OF DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE WITH INTENT TO MURDER;

21453(a) VC/I FAILURE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT;

148(a)(1) PC/M RESISTING, OBSTRUCTING, DELAYING OF A PEACE OFFICER OR EMT;

five counts of 18740 PC/F EXPLOSION OF DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE WITH INTENT TO INJURE;

three counts of 18725(a) PC/F CARRYING AN EXPLOSIVE IN A PASSENGER VEHICLE FOR HIRE;

three counts of 18710(a) PC/F POSSESSION OF A DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE;

two counts of 18715(a) PC/F POSSESSION OF A DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE IN PUBLIC PLACES; and

453(a) PC/F POSSESSION OR MANUFACTURE OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL OR INCENDIARY DEVICE.

NBC Bay Area previously reported Garcia was charged in 2011 with possession and use of explosive devices.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Pittsburg man, former president & CEO of metal finishing company sentenced to 30 months in prison for fraud

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Ferrari like the one purchased by Harry Corl, III. Photo: USDOJ  The former Santa Clara location of Nu-Metal Finishing, Inc. Source: finishingandcoating.com

Harry Corl, III also embezzled substantial company funds from employee stock ownership plan for luxury cars, Tiffany & Co. jewelry; required to pay $253,625.50 in restitution

By U.S. Attorney Northern District of California

SAN JOSE –was sentenced Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $253,625.50 in restitution to over 30 victim employees and shareholders, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Klaus Placke, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, San Francisco Regional Office.

Corl, now of Pittsburg, California, was indicted on several wire fraud and money laundering counts by a federal grand jury on November 29, 2018.  On September 25, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349.

According to court filings, from 2008 to 2014, Corl and his estranged wife and co-defendant were executive officers for Nu-Metal Finishing, Inc. They also served as trustees of the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust, or ESOP, which provided retirement benefits and savings to the company’s employees by purchasing and investing company stock for their collective benefit.  As trustees, the Corls had a fiduciary duty to competently manage the ESOP’s cash, stock, and assets and act in the best interests of the employee-shareholders.  They failed to do so.

As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum, from 2011 to 2014, Corl used Nu-Metal’s corporate accounts to pay for numerous personal expenses wholly unrelated to the business of a metal finishing company.  For example, Corl used corporate funds to purchase extravagant jewelry from Tiffany & Co. and made lease payments on a Ferrari 599 GTB coupe, listing Nu-Metal Finishing as a lessee.  Corl also used corporate funds to lease a Bentley and to purchase outright a Mercedes S63 sedan.  The Corls flaunted their luxury car collection on social media.

Furthermore, in May 2014, the Corls arranged a fraudulent sale of Nu-Metal.  In all formal written agreements and conversations with all parties involved, the Corls represented themselves as the sole owners of the company, falsely stating that the ESOP had been terminated and was no longer a concern.  In reality, the ESOP and another shareholder owned well over 50% of the company’s outstanding stock and were owed their corresponding portion of the proceeds from the company’s sale.  However, Corl immediately transferred nearly the entire sale proceeds to his personal accounts and moved to Texas.  To date, the employees who participated in the ESOP, all laid off after the sale of the company, have not received any portion of the sale proceeds owed to them.  As indicated in the filed victim impact statements, these victims lost expected retirement income, and some have suffered serious financial distress a result.

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Judge, who also sentenced Corl to pay $253,625.50 in restitution, serve a three-year period of supervised release, and pay a $100 special assessment fee.  The defendant will begin serving his sentence on June 13, 2024.

Marissa Harris is the Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur.  The prosecution is the result of a four-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration.

Public Meeting: Federal review of MTC’s role in the Bay Area Feb. 27

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Source: MTC

Every four years, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) must certify that each metropolitan planning organization (MPO) serving a transportation management area (TMA) — a designation by DOT of an urbanized area with a population over 200,000 as defined by the Bureau of the Census or smaller urbanized areas on request by the Governor and MPO — is carrying out the metropolitan planning process in adherence with federal statutes and regulations. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) conduct a review of the metropolitan planning process within each TMA and jointly issue this certification on behalf of the DOT Secretary, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5303(k).

The FHWA and the FTA are hosting a public meeting as part of MTC’s certification review. This public meeting is an opportunity for Bay Area residents to directly address FHWA and FTA officials concerning your views on the transportation planning process in the San Francisco–Oakland metropolitan area. Participants can attend in person or via Zoom or submit written comments.

The meeting is scheduled for:

Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 4:30–5:30 p.m.Bay Area Metro Center, Yerba Buena Conference Room, First Floor375  Beale Street, San Francisco, CA 94105Participate on ZoomWebinar ID: 863 1915 0671iPhone One-Tap:

+13462487799,,86319150671# US (Houston)+12532158782,,86319150671# US (Tacoma)

Join by Telephone (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)833 548 0282 US Toll Free877 853 5247 US Toll Free

Detailed instructions on participating via Zoom are available at:mtc.ca.gov/how-provide-public-comment-board-meeting-zoomMembers of the public participating by Zoom wishing to speak should use the “raise hand” feature or dial *9. When called upon, unmute yourself or dial *6. In order to get the full Zoom experience, please make sure your application is up to date.

This public meeting  is part of a review that will assess compliance with federal regulations pertaining to the transportation planning process conducted by MTC, the California Department of Transportation, transit operators and local jurisdictions in the San Francisco–Oakland metropolitan area.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, written comments may be submitted via email to Cert.Review@dot.gov.Written comments also can be mailed to:

Federal Highway Administration, California Division650 Capitol Mall, Suite 4-100Sacramento, CA 95814-4708OrFederal Transit Administration, Region  IX90 Seventh Street, Suite 15-300San Francisco, CA 94103-6701

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65 Bay Area candidates in March 5th primary share vision, values on transportation issues

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Only 9 running to represent Contra Costa respond; read the questions and their answers

A coalition of transportation advocacy groups from around the Bay published the results “Transportation Questionnaire” for Bay Area Candidates for Office that are on the March 5th 2024 Ballot which the public can view in its entirety here. People can view it by region at: East Bay; North Bay; Peninsula; San Francisco; and South Bay.

The project, led by Transbay Coalition, SPUR, Seamless Bay Area, San Francisco Transit Riders, Silicon Valley Bike Coalition, and Bike East Bay will help voters across the Bay Area make more informed decisions about candidates for local, state and federal office.

“Candidate’s stances on how to make it easier for people to get around the Bay Area and what needs fixing is essential information for voters,” said Carter Lavin, the project lead at the Transbay Coalition. “Transportation policies impact everyone and every elected official, no matter the office, has the power to make it easier, greener, safer, more affordable, just and accessible for people to get around– or they can make it harder. Voters deserve to know where the candidates vying for their vote stand.”

“To my knowledge, this is the only vetting process that really seeks to demystify where candidates stand on the region’s transportation issues, which is critical given how much public funding goes into transportation and the pivotal moment we are in” said Laura Tolkoff, Transportation Policy Director for SPUR, a public policy nonprofit rooted in the Bay Area.

Candidates were asked the following questions included in the survey:

  1. Which forms of transit and active transportation (bicycling, walking, scooters, wheelchair) do you use on a regular basis and for what types of trips– and why?
  2. Would you seek additional funding for Bay Area transit and what form of funding do you think makes sense?
  3. Public transit in the Bay Area is highly fragmented, with 27 transit agencies, each with different fares, schedules, branding, and customer information. Do you believe it should be a priority for the region to create an well-coordinated transit system? And as an elected leader or potential member of a local transit agency board, would you support state legislation that advances a more integrated, high ridership system, even if it diminishes local control?
  4. Transportation is the largest single source of carbon emissions in California, and in the Bay Area, and the largest share of transportation emissions come from single occupancy vehicles.  What are your top priorities to achieve substantial reduction in transportation-related GHG emissions?
  5. The Bay Area still has road projects under development that would increase Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution.  What decisions would you make about projects that increase VMT and pollution?
  6. Transit priority improvements are proven to make taking the bus faster and more reliable, while also reducing operating costs. Should local governments be able to stop transit priority improvements on local roads?
  7. What do you think are the most important actions that can be taken to make public transit comfortable, accessible, and safe for all communities?
  8. Traffic violence and deaths in California are increasing annually; in 2021, 4,258 people died in vehicle crashes, a 10.7% increase from the prior year. If elected, what will you do to reverse the trend, increase street safety, save lives and reduce injuries in our community?  What policies or specific projects would make the greatest impact?
  9. What do you think are the biggest access and mobility needs for disadvantaged populations in your district, and how would you propose to solve them?
  10. In what circumstances do you support removing parking or repurposing vehicle travel lanes to create safer and more efficient bus, biking, and walking options? How do you propose balancing the demands of different interest groups who may disagree on how streets should be designed?

Contra Costa County Candidates Who Responded

So far, only the following candidates have responded to the questionnaire in the following races:

Assembly District 14 – Margot Smith 2024 Transp Qnr    Buffy Wicks 2024 Transp Qnr

Assembly District 15 – Karen Mitchoff 2024 Transp Qnr  Monica E Wilson 2024 Transp Qnr

Assembly District 16 – Joseph Rubay 2024 Transp Qnr

State Senate District 3 – Jackie Elward 2024 Transp Qnr

State Senate District 7 – Jovanka Beckles 2024 Transp Qnr  Dan Kalb 2024 Transp Qnr

Congressional District 10 – Mohamed Elsherbini 2024 Transp Qnr

No candidates have responded yet in the races for Contra Costa County Supervisor District 5, Assembly District 11, State Senate District 9 nor Congressional District 8.

“Over the next few years, the region faces important decisions about continuing on a path toward convenient, rider-friendly, accessible worldclass public transportation – or taking steps backward. Our elected officials at the local, state and federal levels will make key decisions steering our region on a path toward improvement or into a downward spiral. Voters deserve to know where candidates stand at this pivotal time,” said Adina Levin, Co-Founder and Advocacy Director, Seamless Bay Area.

“With the rise of biking and walking fatalities across the Bay Area, it is more important than ever that voters know where candidates stand in building communities that are joyful, safe, and inclusive” said Justin Hu-Nguyen, Bike East Bay’s  Co-Executive Director of Mobility Justice.

“Public transit is a lifeline for so many people in the Bay Area. Allowing transit agencies to go unfunded would hurt economically disadvantaged and transit-dependent people the worst, leaving thousands of transit riders — including workers, seniors, and people with disabilities — without a reliable way of getting around. It connects folks with everything from food, to healthcare, family, friends and fun. We’re excited to release this questionnaire, which lifts the issues that matter to transit riders, with our other partners in the space. In order to make the Bay Area a more pleasant, affordable, and green place to live, our elected representatives need to center public transit and transit riders in the choices they make for us,” said Dylan Fabris, Community & Policy Manager for San Francisco Transit Riders.

Candidates who have not yet responded can email their answers to info@transbaycoalition.org and the coalition could potentially update their website and include them.

The Transbay Coalition is a grassroots public transportation advocacy group championing bold near-term solutions to the Bay Area’s regional transportation challenges. Learn more at www.transbaycoalition.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.