Contra Costa Herald

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

Contra Costa Transportation Authority, May Mobility launch autonomous vehicle service in Martinez

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(L-R) Brianne Zorn, Mayor of Martinez; Newell Arnerich, Chair, Contra Costa Transportation Authority; Tim Haile, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority; Michelle Grey, President, Transit Union Local 1605; Manik Dhar, Chief Commercial Officer, May Mobility and Dr. Sergio Urcuyo, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center with one of May Mobility’s PRESTO autonomous shuttles at the launch of the service in Martinez on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Photo: CCTA

The free service aims to improve access to healthcare and eliminate transportation barriers for community residents

MARTINEZ, Calif. – Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and May Mobility, an autonomous driving (AD) technology company, on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, launched PRESTO, a shared autonomous vehicle (AV) service for the general public in Martinez, California and Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (County Hospital) patients. A goal of the service is to improve access to healthcare in the area by providing another reliable and convenient mode of transportation.

The free service will run Monday through Friday, first offering County Hospital patients rides from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then opening to the general public from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Patients can book rides to or from the County Hospital and to a preferred pharmacy from a set list of locations by calling (925) 995-3797 or by arranging travel with a hospital representative.

From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the service will be open to all residents in the area. Those interested can book rides to a list of designated stops within the service zone by using the May Mobility app, powered by transit tech leader Via, or by calling (925) 995-3797. In addition to stops at the County Hospital healthcare facilities and local pharmacies, the service zone includes stops that help connect Martinez residents to their community, including residential areas, shopping districts and downtown Martinez.

“CCTA is once again making history here in Northern California by offering a free, autonomous vehicle transportation service to City of Martinez residents,” said CCTA Chair Newell Arnerich. “We established the County Hospital element to aid patients who may need rides in the afternoon to resources in the community. As an added benefit to residents, during the evening hours, the service will carry passengers to an array of destinations in the City of Martinez.”

A second PRESTO autonomous shuttle presented during the launch in Martinez. Photo: CCTA

May Mobility equipped a fleet of seven Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles with its patented Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) AD technology. MPDM uses in-situ AI to learn in real-time by imagining thousands of “what-if” scenarios every second while it drives and then commits to the safest and most comfortable maneuvers within milliseconds. Each shared AV seats five passengers and all will have an attendant on board to answer questions and assist with passenger entry and exit if needed. Three of the AVs are also wheelchair accessible, with an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp allowing entry and exit via the rear of the vehicle. The wheelchair-accessible vehicles seat up to three passengers, including one wheelchair user.

“May Mobility is dedicated to filling gaps in public transportation. With the PRESTO shared AV pilot in Martinez, we’re redefining how communities connect and move,” said May Mobility Chief Commercial Officer Manik Dhar. “We’re excited to see how our patented MPDM technology will service local residents and contribute to the broader adoption of AVs.”

CCTA and May Mobility have also partnered with County Connection, which provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service for communities in Central Contra Costa County.

“County Connection has partnered with our paratransit contractor to provide union drivers to serve as safety stewards in each Martinez ADS vehicle,” said County Connection General Manager Bill Churchill, “underscoring our commitment to innovative transportation deployments ensuring everyone has the freedom to travel safely and independently.”

Passenger feedback will play a critical role in shaping the future of autonomous mobility, as data from the City of Martinez PRESTO pilot will be used by federal transportation officials to advance standards in automated mobility. The pilot is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Martinez marks the third location where CCTA has introduced an autonomous vehicle pilot program.

To learn more about PRESTO, visit  https://ridepresto.com/martinez/

 

Mount Diablo receives $2.6 million state grant for building new Education Center

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A rendering of the Mitchell Canyon Education Center, a project of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Assocation, which recently received a grant from the state Wildlife Conservation Board. Source: MDIA

Major boost to fundraising effort for project near Clayton

The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is pleased to announce that, on August 22, the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) awarded a grant of $2.6 million to help build the Mitchell Canyon Education Center in Mount Diablo State Park.

“On behalf of MDIA, I want to express how thrilled we are. We are immensely grateful to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for this grant and to all the donors and community organizations who believed in the value of this project and generously provided the initial funding for it,” said Steve Smith, President of the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA).

MDIA is an all-volunteer association and the official support organization for Mount Diablo State Park. The organization has worked closely with California State Parks and the staff at Mount Diablo to pursue funding for a new education and visitor center.

Ryen Goering (CA State Parks), Mike Brandy (MDIA), Clint Elsholz (CSP), Linda Kwong (MDIA), Alyssa Benedetti (WCB), Steve Smith (MDIA), Julie Martin (MDIA), and Dan Sandri (MDIA) celebrate the grant award. Photo: MDIA

The grant provides critical funding that moves the project forward toward construction phases. The new facility will replace an aging trailer that is not ADA-compliant. The new facility will be fully accessible, able to accommodate school groups on the mountain, expand the natural and cultural history content, and enhance the visitor experience overall. Construction may begin as early as Fall 2025.

The project has attracted wide community support, including from California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-AD16), who secured a $1 million State allocation for the project, based in part on the new opportunity to serve all the school districts in Contra Costa. A wide variety of community leaders, foundations and organizations have also contributed to and endorsed the project.

MDIA hit the $2 million milestone at the close of 2023 including $1 million in private donations for the education center, matching the state funds.

“We are grateful for the enthusiastic support of the project and financial support from a wide range of individuals, companies, organizations, community leaders, and elected officials,” Smith said.

A total of 116 local donors contributed to the campaign including current and former MDIA Board members, Cemex Corporation, the Kerr Foundation, Clayton Business & Community Association, PG&E and numerous individuals. An anonymous donor made a major contribution that enabled the organization to achieve their goal.

Location of the planned Education Center near Clayton. Source: Mt. Diablo State Park

Learn more by taking a 3-minute video tour of the Education Center and reading the project brochure.

Mitchell Canyon is accessible via Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton. See map.

WCB is a California State Board whose primary purpose is to approve funding for wildlife habitat protection, restoration and wildlife-oriented public access projects.

Established in 1974, the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that assists the California Department of Parks and Recreation in maintaining and interpreting Mount Diablo State Park for its 700,000 visitors each year. In 2022, MDIA initiated a campaign to build a new education center in Mitchell Canyon, on Mount Diablo’s northeast side to better serve visitors and open new opportunities for students.

For more information visit www.mdia.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Pleasant Hill man charged in San Francisco tow company insurance fraud case

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Jaime Respicio, operator Jose Badillo and two other co-defendants accused of submitting fraudulent auto insurance claims for multiple vehicles

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

SAN FRANCISCO – Jose Vicente Badillo, Kirill Afanasyev, Jason Naraja, and Jaime Respicio have been charged in an indictment with various crimes related to two schemes to defraud auto insurance companies, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office. The case has been assigned to the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge.

According to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 20, 2024, Afanasyev, 36, Badillo, 28, both of San Francisco, and Respicio, 38, of Pleasant Hill, California, conspired to defraud an auto insurance company by submitting a fraudulent insurance claim on a wrecked car that Afanasyev purchased in May 2019. The Indictment alleges that, when Afanasyev bought the car, it was undrivable, with significant front-end damage. Nevertheless, the Indictment says, Respicio obtained an insurance policy on, and later took title to, the car before Afanasyev, posing as Respicio, falsely reported to the insurance company in August 2019 that Respicio had been in a single-car accident in it in San Francisco. The Indictment further alleges that Afanasyev made materially false statements and misrepresentations to the insurance company, after which the insurance company processed and approved the claim and sent Respicio an insurance reimbursement check for $47,856.34. The Indictment alleges that Badillo participated in this scheme to defraud by agreeing to falsely document that his towing company had towed the wrecked car from the purported accident location.

The Indictment alleges that Afanasyev, Badillo, and Naraja, 37, of Hayward, California, engaged in a second conspiracy and scheme to defraud another insurance company by submitting a fraudulent insurance claim regarding an accident involving multiple vehicles that had been staged by Badillo in San Mateo County. Specifically, the Indictment alleges that Badillo and Afanasyev planned the staged accident in which Badillo loaded a vehicle carrier with four vehicles (several of which were inoperable or had pre-existing damage) and purposefully drove them off the road on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway in San Mateo County in August 2019. The Indictment alleges that, after Badillo reported this “accident” to his insurance company, Badillo, Afanasyev, Naraja, and another individual all made false or misleading statements to an insurance company representative. The Indictment alleges that the insurance company ultimately denied Badillo’s claim as fraudulent but nevertheless paid one of Badillo’s towing companies $5,210 for its recovery, towing, and storage of vehicles involved in the staged accident.

The Indictment also alleges that, at the time of the offenses in 2019, Badillo owned and/or controlled at least two companies engaged in the business of towing vehicles: Jose’s Towing, LLC, and Auto Towing, LLC, both of which operated out of San Francisco.

In the first conspiracy and scheme to defraud, Afanasyev, Badillo, and Respicio are charged with one count each of (i) conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; (ii) mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 2; and (iii) wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 2. Afanasyev and Respicio are also charged with one count of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1957 and 2.

In the second conspiracy and scheme to defraud, Afanasyev, Badillo, and Naraja are charged with (i) one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; and (ii) four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 2.

Naraja and Respicio were arrested in Hayward and Pleasant Hill, respectively, on August 27, 2024, and released on $50,000 bonds at their initial appearances on August 28, 2024. Naraja is next scheduled to appear in court on August 29, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., before the Hon. Lisa J. Cisneros for arraignment and identification of counsel. Respicio is next scheduled to appear in court on September 5, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., before the Hon. Alex G. Tse for arraignment and identification of counsel. Badillo was previously arrested and made his initial appearance in another insurance fraud case on August 8, 2024. He is scheduled to appear before the Hon. Lisa J. Cisneros for arraignment and identification of counsel in both cases on August 30, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Afanasyev’s initial appearance and arraignment has been scheduled for September 9, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. before the Hon. Alex G. Tse.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Afanasyev, Badillo, and Respicio each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, plus restitution, if appropriate, on each of Counts 1 through 3, which charge mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit the same, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, 1349, and 2. Afanasyev and Respicio face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, plus restitution, if appropriate, on Count 4, which charges money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1957 and 2. Similarly, Afanasyev, Badillo, and Naraja each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, plus restitution, if appropriate, on each of Counts 5 through 9, which charge wire fraud and conspiracy to commit the same, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1349, and 2. The court also may order an additional term of supervised release to begin after any prison term as part of the sentence for any or all of the defendants. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle F. Waldinger and Galen A. Phillips are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James and Carolyn Jusay Caparas. The prosecution is the result of a lengthy investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and IRS-CI appreciate the assistance and support of the San Francisco Police Department in this insurance fraud investigation.

 

 

Four Alamo residential burglary suspects arrested following pursuit from Concord

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On of the stolen vehicles used in the Alamo residential burglary was located. Photo: CCCSheriff

Stolen vehicles used found in Bay Point, Orinda

Multi-agency effort

By Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office

This morning at about 1:40, Valley Station deputy sheriffs responded to a residential burglary on the 100 block of La Sonoma Way in Alamo. The suspects fled after stealing two vehicles.

With the assistance of Sheriff’s Office dispatch, deputies located them in Concord. The suspects fled at a high rate of speed. Deputies terminated their pursuit, but Sheriff’s Office dispatch later found one of the stolen vehicles in Bay Point and another in Orinda. The suspects fled on foot.

With the assistance of Muir Station deputies, CHP air support, and Orinda, Lafayette and Pittsburg police, all four suspects were located and arrested.

Both recovered vehicles, along with personal property, were returned to the owner. All four suspects were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on multiple charges that include burglary, felony evading and vehicle theft.

 

Contra Costa Sheriff, DA investigate in-custody death of San Ramon theft suspect

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Occurred at Martinez Detention Facility

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa DA’s Office are currently investigating an in-custody death that occurred at the West County Detention Facility this afternoon.

The male inmate, who is not being identified at this time, was arrested on August 22, 2024, by the San Ramon Police Department for multiple felony theft charges and was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

Today, Monday, August 26, 2024, at approximately 1:56 pm, deputies responded to an unresponsive inmate and immediately called for jail medical staff to respond to the housing unit.

Life-saving measures were attempted by deputies, medical staff, and paramedics. The inmate, who was housed alone, was later pronounced deceased at the scene. The death does not appear to be suspicious.

The county-wide law enforcement involved fatal incident protocol was invoked, and the investigation is ongoing.

2024 East Bay Gallery Tour begins October 1st

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Source: Samantha McNally

Visit 13 art galleries in Contra Costa County and Benicia for a chance to win prizes

By Samantha McNally, Main Street Arts Gallery

The Second Annual East Bay Gallery Tour has added six Benicia Art Galleries to the Tour this year! We now have 13 Art Galleries for you to visit during the month of October. You have the whole month to visit them and get your Gallery Tour postcard stamped for a chance to win a prize worth $300!

There will be a couple of smaller prizes if you don’t get to visit all of them. The winners will be chosen at random, picked from the completed postcards. The winners will get a certificate to purchase any artwork at any of the galleries in the Tour! This event is free and open to anyone who’d like to participate.

Visit any of the galleries listed below at the end of September or in October to pick up your postcard with a map and addresses of all the Art Galleries. The galleries will start stamping postcards on October 1.

The participating galleries are:

aRt Cottage 2238 Mt. Diablo Street, Concord www.artcottage.info
Bedford Gallery 1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek www.bedfordgallery.org/home-bedfordnew
Benicia Art Glass 309 1st Street, Benicia www.beniciaartglass.com
Benicia Plein Air Gallery 307 First Street, Benicia www.beniciapleinair.com
Blackhawk Gallery, ADAS 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville www.adas4art.org
Gallery 621​ 920 First Street, Suite 203, Benicia https://gallery621.com
HQ Gallery 333-D First Street, Benicia www.hqgallery.net
JOR Clayton Gallery 1026 Oak Street Suite 102, Clayton https://jorfineartgallery.com
The Little Art Shop 129 First Street, Benicia www.thelittleartshop.com
Main Street Arts Gallery 613 Main Street, Martinez www.mainstreetarts.net
Moraga Art Gallery 432 Center Street, Moraga www.moragaartgallery.com
NY2CA Gallery 617 1st St, Benicia https://ny2cagallery.com
Valley Art Gallery 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110, Walnut Creek https://valleyartgallery.org

QR code to the Google map showing locations of all galleries in the tour.

For more information visit www.mainstreetarts.net/east-bay-gallery-tour-2024.html.

Martinez Letter Carrier celebrates three decades of federal service

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Martinez, CA Letter Carrier Raul Hernandez. Photo: USPS

Pittsburg resident Raul Hernandez to be honored in ceremony Aug. 22

By Meiko S. Patton, Communications Specialist, U.S. Postal Service

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, Letter Carrier Raul Hernandez will be honored during a celebration party for his 30 years of service.

Hernandez, a Pittsburg resident, began his federal service as a Marine. He later joined the Postal Service in 1998 as a Letter Carrier in San Francisco where he worked for 18 years before transferring to Martinez, CA.

A typical workday for him involves casing mail, pulling down mail, sorting packages for his route and delivering mail. “It’s been a good run here at the post office. It was kind of fortuitous that I would one day work here since I worked as a postal clerk in the Marines,” he said. “The secret to my longevity has been my military background, the word quit isn’t in my vocabulary. I truly enjoy my job and have no plans of leaving.”

The celebration will be held at 8:00 am at the Martinez Post Office, 4100 Alhambra Avenue in Martinez.

 

City of Lafayette explains use of property taxes

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Source: City of Lafayette

As council asks voters to increase sales tax

By City of Lafayette

Have you ever wondered where the revenue from property taxes goes?

As seen in the above graphic, the largest share (57%) goes to school districts, including the community college; 14.1% goes to the Contra Costa Fire District; 11.1% to the County; 3.9% to utilities (EBMUD & CentralSan); 3.4% to parks (including the East Bay Regional Park District); and 3.9% going to various other public agencies (including BART).  The City of Lafayette receives only 6.67%.  Thus, for a single-family house assessed at $1M, while the property owner will pay $10,000 annually for the Countywide tax; the City receives only $670.

“People think that because Lafayette is considered an affluent community with expensive homes that, the City must get plenty of money from property taxes,” says City Manager, Niroop K. Srivatsa; “however, that is not the case.”

In fact, the City of Lafayette receives a lesser percentage of the Countywide property tax revenue than most surrounding cities. “Many people are surprised to learn that the distribution of property tax varies widely among the incorporated cities,” Srivatsa points out.  In Contra Costa County, the rate ranges between 5.4% to 27.7%.”  As to why that is, the answer is somewhat complicated, but goes back to 1978 when Prop 13 was passed.  At that time, the City had not imposed any local property taxes while other cities had.  When Prop. 13 standardized the Countywide general 1% rate, cities got the same percentage of the Countywide tax that had previously been levied locally.   That percentage was zero in the case of Lafayette.  Over the course of the next 10 years, Lafayette’s rate has increased to the current 6.67%, and that is where it has been for the last 36 years.

When asked if the City can get a larger share of these property taxes, the City Manager answers, “Unfortunately No.”  She explains, “100% of the general property tax has been accounted for; thus, increasing Lafayette’s share would mean decreasing another agency’s share, which would be virtually impossible.”

Even with this “low” allocation, the City’s number one source of revenue is still property taxes, generating approximately $7M each year – about 35% of the total General Fund revenue. With the addition of other funding sources like sales tax, franchise, and service fees, the City provides Lafayette residents with important public services such as:

  •  Maintaining public streets and storm drains in their present condition and providing timely pothole repair.
  •  Wildfire preparedness activities.
  •  Keeping the number of sworn police officers at the current level
  •  Providing services for senior citizens.
  •  Landscaping and maintaining City parks, open spaces, paths, and playfields.
  •  Traffic safety programs for all public road and pathway users, including people driving, biking, and walking.
  •  Continuing support for our community partners like the Chamber of Commerce and the Lafayette School District.

However, mostly due to inflation, the City is now facing a deficit of more than $2M annually.  Without additional revenue, City officials will have to make difficult decisions about which programs and services to cut back or altogether eliminate.

As part of the budgeting process, City leaders evaluated several possible options for generating additional revenues. They determined that instead of asking voters to raise property taxes by an average of $200 per parcel, they are asking the voters to authorize a 1/2% increase in the City’s Sales Tax, which amounts to one-half of a penny for every taxable dollar spent locally.

A half-cent increase will generate approximately $2.4 million annually; enough to close the budget deficit and maintain the status quo but not enough to address new or unfunded projects and programs.  A sales tax is paid by visitors who dine and shop in Lafayette, as well as by residents; therefore, funds are brought into the community to benefit Lafayette residents by people who reside outside the City.

If authorized, Lafayette Sale Tax will increase from 8.75 to 9.25%, which is less than the rates in Moraga and Orinda.

The funding Measure will appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot. Passage requires simple majority support (50%, plus 1 vote).  Revenues from the Measure will be placed into the City’s General Fund.  The City Council will appoint an Oversight Committee to monitor the way these monies are spent, and there will be an annual audit, which will be made available to the public.

The City Manager concludes, “Our goal is to keep pace with existing services and programs, while maintaining the City’s finances.”

As previously reported, the Lafayette City Council is asking voters to approve a half-cent sales tax increase to 9.25% on the November 5th ballot. They claim it’s needed due to inflation, unfunded state mandates and would last seven years.

About The City of Lafayette

Lafayette is a charming small community located in Contra Costa County, 30 miles from The City of Oakland. It’s known for its beautiful green hills, excellent schools, and miles of hiking trails, making it an attractive place to live. The City has a population of more than 25,000 highly educated residents, with 75.2% of them holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Additionally, 73.6% of the homes in Lafayette are owner-occupied. The median home value is $1,914,700, while the median household income is $219,250. The total area of the city is 15.22 square miles.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services Summer Soirée & Symposium fundraiser Aug. 22

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By Anna Mickelsen, Communications Intern, Contra Costa Senior Legal Services

On August 22nd, community members across the county will gather for Contra Costa Senior Legal Services’ (CCSLS) Summer Soirée & Symposium. For more than 40 years, CCSLS has served older adults by providing free legal aid to those aged 60+ who need it. Attorneys from CCSLS help fight evictions to preserve housing, prevent elder abuse, remedy fraud, assist with advance planning documents, and more.

Photo: CC Senior Legal Services

The Summer Soirée & Symposium is not only an opportunity to support the organization, but also will feature a panel discussion on the implications of an aging society, lively entertainment, and delicious refreshments. CCSLS also will present the Honorable Virginia George with the First Annual Elder Justice Award. A Bay Area native, Justice George is an upstanding figure in the community, and a powerful voice for Elder Law and the rights of older adults in Contra Costa County. The Elder Justice Award was created to honor Justice George and her service.

Moving forward, CCSLS will continue to present the Virginia George Elder Justice Award to other professionals who work tirelessly to support the well-being of older adults in the county. Tickets are still available for those interested in attending this upcoming event, and for more information or to purchase a ticket, click, here Summer Soirée and Symposium 2024. All proceeds support CCSLS.

About CCSLS

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services (CCSLS) is a private, nonprofit agency that has been providing free legal services to older residents aged 60 or older in the County since 1976. Thousands of seniors have benefited from these services which have enabled them to stay in their homes, to become eligible for and to retain public benefits, to recover real and personal property wrongly taken from them, and to obtain relief from physical, financial, and emotional abuse.

CCSLS seeks to provide the broadest possible access to its services. It prioritizes those areas of law relevant to the needs of older residents of the County, especially those not otherwise addressed by other legal services programs. CCSLS regularly provides individual assistance to over 1,000 clients per year and provides outreach and training to hundreds more.

Kaiser Permanente’s Contra Costa hospitals recognized for providing high-quality care for heart, stroke patients

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Photo: Kaiser Permanente

Antioch, Richmond and Walnut Creek locations among 20 to receive American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure and Stroke Gold Plus awards

KP clinicians and staff work together to deliver excellent cardiac and stroke care using evidence-based treatment protocols rooted in high-quality scientific research

By Kerri Leedy, Media and Public Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente

OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are being recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for following nationally recognized, research-based guidelines when diagnosing and treating heart failure and stroke patients, leading to more lives saved.

The following Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals have received both the AHA Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure and the Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke Gold Plus awards: Antioch, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Fresno, Modesto, Oakland, Redwood City, Roseville, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, South San Francisco, Vacaville and Vallejo. Kaiser Permanente Manteca received the Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke Silver Plus award.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the leading and fifth-leading causes of death in the country, respectively. This national recognition from the AHA reflects Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s commitment to providing high-quality heart and stroke care, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times, and fewer hospital readmissions.

“This recognition is a tribute to our physicians, cardiac specialists, and care teams, who are dedicated to delivering high-quality, comprehensive cardiac care and treatment to their patients,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “As a result, we are widely recognized for consistently delivering nation-leading clinical outcomes that enable our members and patients to live healthier and longer lives.”

Kaiser Permanente Northern California cardiac care specialists treat a broad range of heart conditions, frequently performing life-saving procedures.​ Using a team-based approach to care, Kaiser Permanente’s connected system enables our cardiologists to share knowledge across locations and specialties. In our communities, Kaiser Permanente members are 33% less likely to experience premature death due to heart disease, according to a 2022 research study.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is also a leader in stroke care, and our integrated model of care supports close affiliation between our stroke care clinicians and cardiac researchers and specialists.

“The comprehensive cardiac and stroke care and support we provide is leading to better health outcomes for our members and patients,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “This recognition shows how we use our integrated care model to make sure patients get the care they need so they can recover faster, be healthier, and live longer.”

The Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure award is earned by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

The Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke award is earned by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve nearly 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

About Get With The Guidelines®

Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.