News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California
By Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Save the Date! Please join us for our 2026 Annual Contra Costa Fire Open House!
Learn about the Fire District’s programs, meet your firefighters, enjoy live demonstrations, food and drinks, and educational booths.
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: 2945 Treat Blvd., Concord
For more information about Con Fire visit www.cccfpd.org.
Photo: City of Concord
By Colleen Awad, Community Relations Manager, City of Concord
Concord, CA — The City of Concord is proud to present the 11th Annual Health Expo, a free community event, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Concord Senior Center (2727 Parkside Circle). This free event brings together local organizations, healthcare providers, and community resources to help seniors, families, and caregivers connect with information and services that support healthy living and well-being. No reservations are required.
While we offer health and wellness resources for all ages, many focus on seniors and caregivers, including information on Medicare, transportation, assisted living, nutrition, fitness, and more. The event will also feature free haircuts, along with opportunities to speak directly with local healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, and community partners.
Whether you are looking for resources for yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in learning more about healthy aging and wellness, the Health Expo provides an opportunity to discover local services and connect with organizations serving the Concord community.
The Health Expo reflects the City of Concord’s commitment to providing accessible resources and creating opportunities for residents to stay informed, connected, and engaged in their health and well-being.
For more information about the Health Expo, please visit www.cityofconcord.org/SCEvents, call 925-671-3320, or email concordsc@cityofconcord.org.
By Colleen Awad, City of Concord Community Relations Manager
Concord, CA (September 30, 2026) – The City of Concord applauds Senator Tim Grayson for authoring Senate Bill 328, its principal coauthors, Assemblymembers Ávila Farías and Wicks, and thanks Governor Newsom for signing it into law.
Senate Bill 328 (SB 328), entitled, “California Environmental Quality Act (CEQ): exempt surplus land,” supports the City’s path to redevelop the former Concord Naval Weapons Station into a world-class neighborhood for current and future Concord residents after many years of planning and public input. It would exempt the property from certain requirements of CEQA and requires 25% of the housing be for lower-income renters and owners.
According to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest, “This bill would revise the definition of ‘exempt surplus land’ to remove the reference to buyers and instead mean 2 or more adjacent or nonadjacent parcels combined for disposition to one or more persons or entities, as specified.
Source: City of Concord
“The bill would also exempt surplus land that is a former military base that was conveyed by the federal government to a local agency or a local reuse authority, and that is all or any portion of the Concord Naval Weapons Station, if certain requirements are met, including that the former military base has an aggregate area greater than 5 acres and that before disposition of the land, the local agency or local reuse authority has entered into a disposition and development agreement that stipulates that at least 25% of the aggregate residential units permitted to be developed will be restricted to lower income households with an affordable housing cost or affordable rent for a minimum of 55 years for rental housing and 45 years for owner-occupied housing, as specified. The bill would regulate actions challenging the disposition and would prescribe penalties for violations of these provisions. The bill would also regulate the actions of the local agency or local reuse authority, including, among other things, requiring the local agency or local reuse authority to include in the annual report the status of development of residential units on the former military base, as specified.”
Furthermore, “This bill would provide that specified environmental review documents satisfy the requirements of CEQA for any project within the portion of the Concord Naval Weapons Station included within the boundaries of the area plan for the Concord Community Reuse Project, as provided, that has land use types that are consistent with the area plan land use types and locations for those land use types that are consistent with the area plan diagram and the project does not cause the aggregate development in the area plan to exceed the area plan maximum planning areawide total, as specified. The bill would further provide that a project that contains land use types that are consistent with the area plan land use types in locations that are not consistent with the area plan diagram would be subject to review pursuant to CEQA, and would be limited to review of the location of land use types that are not consistent with the area plan diagram, as provided.”
Thank you to Governor Newsom, Senator Grayson, and our state partners for your leadership, and to residents, community leaders, and stakeholders for supporting this legislation and this transformative neighborhood.
“Passage of SB 328 gives the City of Concord, Brookfield, and Concord residents certainty to move from vision to reality,” said Mayor Laura Nakamura. “Coming on the heels of the landmark agreement with the U.S. Navy, the legislation keeps this project moving forward to produce thousands of well-paying construction jobs and add many homes to our community.”
The vision for the project is to deliver a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive new community that reflects the values and aspirations of Concord. Among its elements are 12,272 new homes, 25 percent of them affordable to working families, seniors, and first-time buyers, along with approximately 6 million square feet of commercial space supporting up to 26,500 jobs, and more than 800 acres of local parks and trails.
In the months ahead, the City will continue working with Brookfield as they engage the community in the preparation of a Specific Plan. A Specific Plan serves as the detailed blueprint for future development by establishing land uses, neighborhood character, transportation networks, infrastructure, public amenities, parks and open space, and the design standards that will guide the community’s evolution.
With SB 328 now law, the Concord Naval Weapons Station Base Reuse Project continues its forward momentum.
For more information visit https://concordreuseproject.org.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Source: City of Concord
By Colleen Awad, Community Relations Manager, City of Concord
Concord, CA – The City of Concord is happy to announce that the U.S. Navy has approved the Term Sheet for the Concord Community Reuse Project at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.
The Term Sheet is the financial agreement between the City and the U.S. Navy regarding the price and payment terms for approximately 2,422 acres of property at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station to facilitate the property’s redevelopment as part of the Base Reuse Project. The project’s master developer, Brookfield, supports the Term Sheet.
The City of Concord is the federally recognized local redevelopment authority (LRA) for the Former Naval Weapons Station Concord (NWS Concord).
Source: City of Concord
The total cost to the Master Developer will be $44.6 million. According to the Term Sheet, the LRA shall pay, or cause Master Developer to pay, the Navy a Deposit of $4,600,000 at the time of the closing of the Initial Transfer. Guaranteed Deferred Payments will begin 36 months after the date of the Initial Transfer at which time the LRA shall pay, or cause Master Developer to pay, the Navy no less than $40,000,000 in equal Guaranteed Deferred Payments $10,000,000 annually over four years plus, interest accrued from the Initial Transfer date at a rate equal to the 10-year United States Treasury Bond rate, as of the date of Initial Transfer, plus 150 basis points. Guaranteed Deferred Payments plus accrued interest will be due on the anniversary date of the closing of the Initial Transfer.
Photo: City of Concord
“I am proud the Base Reuse Project has reached this important milestone. The U.S. Navy has proven to be a tremendous partner in moving the community’s vision forward. This approval moves the Project into an important next phase, and our dedicated staff will continue working diligently to advance the Specific Plan,” said Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse, Guy Bjerke, who is retiring on September 30, 2026, after 11 years serving in his current role.
See Fully-Executed_NWS-Concord-EDC_Term-Sheet_23SEP2026.
Photo: City of Concord
The next phase of the project includes preparing and considering the Specific Plan and additional entitlement documents required to guide future development. The Specific Plan will bring the adopted Area Plan to life by designing the layout, uses, and features of development, implementing the Area Plan’s standards and policies. Brookfield will be leading the development of the Specific Plan. Both the City and Brookfield are hiring consultants to support this work, which will start this winter, with additional community engagement expected to start in early 2027.
To learn more about the Concord Community Reuse Project and follow its progress, visit the project website at www.concordreuseproject.org.
The Contra Costa DA charged Wuillian Heriberto Cordova-Cubias with five felonies following his arrest in Oakland by Concord Police on Aug. 5, 2026. Video screenshots source: Concord PD
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, California – An Oakland resident faces five felony charges for his role in an organized theft ring connected to a series of burglaries in Concord.
The charges stem from a series of burglaries that occurred in Concord between April and July 2026 located in the Ygnacio and Clayton Valley region. Concord Police found that an organized group of juveniles carried out around 37 burglaries in that area. Richmond Police arrested the juvenile suspects for vehicle theft in May, and a subsequent investigation revealed they were part of a fencing operation led by 37-year-old Wuillian Heriberto Cordova-Cubias. Fencing operations are a hallmark of organized theft rings, which buy stolen goods from thieves and resell them to the public.
On August 5th law enforcement officers from the Concord Police Department, Oakland Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service executed a search warrant at Cordova-Cubias’s Oakland residence. When officers entered the home, they located numerous items of suspected stolen property, including at least 500 power tools. (See related article)
After law enforcement referred the case for review, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office today filed a complaint in Superior Court against Cordova-Cubias. He faces the following charges:
All charges include enhancements that increase the potential penalties.
District Attorney Diana Becton said, “As organized theft offenses have increased, my office has responded by building an effective Organized Theft Unit that works closely with law enforcement to file strong cases we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt in court. Concord Police Department’s thorough investigation into these burglaries and the fencing operation reflects the kind of collaboration that holds individuals accountable.”
Cordova-Cubias was in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and will appear for arraignment in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez on August 10th at 1:30 pm. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, as of Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at 09:28 AM he had bonded out of custody. UPDATE: However, according to Asregadoo, he’s “not out of custody anymore. He was brought back in earlier today.”
According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 240-pound Cordova-Cubias is Hispanic and has been arrested at least five other times for guns, drugs and violent crimes including battery and threats of violence, and receiving or concealing stolen property.
According to the Oakland Police, he was arrested in February 2020 “after a month-long investigation…charged…with possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substance, and possession of roughly 250 stolen power tools, worth an estimated $300,000. The suspect sold some of the items at flea markets in Oakland and San Jose.” (See video)
Case No. 01-26-04086 | The People of the State of California v. Wuillian Cordova-Cubias
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Concord burglary suspects in action and the arrest of one. Video screenshots source: Concord PD
By Concord Police Department
In May of 2026, the Concord Police Department’s Major Case Unit initiated an investigation into a vehicle and residential burglary series that occurred between late April and June. The suspects in these cases broke into vehicles, typically during the early morning hours, and would often use garage door openers located inside the vehicles to enter the associated garages in search of additional power tools.
In May of 2026, surveillance video captured the same suspects, armed with firearms, pointing a firearm at the interior door leading from the garage into a residence, in apparent anticipation of a homeowner exiting the residence. The suspects stole various power tools and, during one burglary, stole 14 firearms from a residential garage.
Also in May, a Concord Police officer located a possible suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, and a pursuit was initiated but later terminated due to public safety concerns.
During a subsequent burglary series in June, Concord PD officers located a different suspect vehicle, which fled from pursuing officers and eluded capture.
Items recovered of those stolen valued at over $250,000. Video screenshots source: Concord PD
In an additional, separate burglary series in June, the juveniles fled the scene of a burglary, became involved in a vehicle collision and fled on foot. The juveniles again eluded capture; however, another firearm was recovered.
In late June of 2026, working in conjunction with the Richmond Police Department, Concord PD detectives identified four juveniles believed to be involved in the burglaries. One of the juveniles was already in custody at Juvenile Hall for an unrelated incident that did not occur in the City of Concord. Arrest and search warrants were granted for the three remaining juveniles.
In July of 2026, simultaneous arrest and search warrants were executed by the Concord Police Department SWAT Team, with assistance from the Antioch Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Central County SWAT and the U.S. Marshals Service. All three outstanding suspects were arrested during the operation. During searches of their residences, two firearms stolen during a Concord burglary were recovered. A third stolen firearm was previously recovered by the Richmond Police Department during its investigation.
Ultimately, the suspects were identified as being responsible for 37 vehicle and residential burglaries in the City of Concord, as well as approximately 40 additional burglaries in various other cities throughout Contra Costa and Solano counties. The crimes also included multiple vehicle thefts, with the suspects using stolen vehicles to commit additional crimes.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed complaints against the three juveniles. Their names are not being released, consistent with state law.
Further investigation by Concord PD detectives showed the suspects communicated with 37-year-old Wuillian Cordova-Cubias of Oakland. Cordova-Cubias was identified as purchasing tools from the suspects on multiple occasions, often immediately following the burglaries.
Stolen firearms recovered. Video screenshots source: Concord PD
An arrest warrant for Cordova-Cubias and a search warrant for his residence were sought and granted. With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Oakland Police Department, Concord PD detectives arrested Cordova-Cubias at his residence in Oakland. During a search of the residence, detectives located an extremely large quantity of power tools, a stolen ATV, a stolen forklift, an unregistered firearm, and numerous other high-value items. The property was valued at approximately $250,000.
On Friday, August 7, 2026, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office Organized Retail Theft Unit filed criminal charges against Cordova-Cubias for the following:
Penal Code § 496(a) – Receiving Stolen Property
Penal Code § 496d(a) – Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle
Penal Code § 182(a) – Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
Penal Code § 29805(c) – Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm
Cordova-Cubias was booked into the Concord Police Department Jail and transferred to the Martinez Detention Facility. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, as of Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at 09:28 AM he had bonded out of custody. UPDATE: However, according to Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo, Cordova-Cubias “not out of custody anymore. He was brought back in earlier today,” Friday, Aug. 7.
The Concord Police Department remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat crime throughout our region. Multiple agencies assisted with this investigation, including:
Richmond, Antioch, Pittsburg and Oakland Police Departments, Central County SWAT, U.S. Marshals Service, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 240-pound Cordova-Cubias is Hispanic and has been arrested at least five other times for guns, drugs and violent crimes including battery and threats of violence, as well as receiving or concealing stolen property.
For additional information, please visit the Concord Police Department’s social media platforms for a video overview of the investigation. (Instagram: @ConcordPD).
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Items were seen being tossed from the second suspect vehicle believed to be evidence from the robbery before being stopped. Video screenshots. Source: SFPD
By San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco, CA — An investigation by the San Francisco Police Department’s Violence Reduction Team (VRT) into a series of gang-related homicides led to the arrest of multiple suspects and the recovery of firearms after investigators coordinated with regional law enforcement agencies following an alleged armed jewelry store robbery in Contra Costa County.
During June 2026, VRT investigators were conducting surveillance as part of an ongoing investigation into multiple gang-related homicides and efforts to prevent additional acts of violence. During the investigation, officers observed several armed individuals exit a vehicle in San Francisco carrying firearms, including assault-style rifles. Based on their observations, investigators believed the group was preparing to target rival gang members. Detectives continued monitoring the suspects and identified several individuals known to investigators.
On June 28, 2026, investigators observed the group travel to Concord, where they allegedly committed an armed jewelry store robbery inside the Sunvalley mall. As previously reported, according to Concord Police, “Officers arrived on scene and learned that at least four suspects had smashed display cases at the Banter jewelry kiosk and pepper sprayed a patron during the commission of the robbery. The suspects fled the area prior to officers’ arrival.”
Following the robbery, the suspects switched vehicles in an apparent attempt to evade law enforcement. Investigators coordinated a regional enforcement operation to safely apprehend those involved.
The suspect in Richmond fled on foot but was quickly apprehended. Video screenshot. Source: SFPD
In Richmond, California, during the surveillance, one suspect was seen exiting a vehicle and entered a second SUV. When officers attempted to detain him, he fled on foot before being quickly taken into custody. A subsequent search of the SUV resulted in the recovery of a handgun, an assault-style rifle, ammunition, and additional evidence believed to be connected to the investigation.
Meanwhile, investigators continued tracking a second vehicle with the assistance of law enforcement drones. Officers observed occupants allegedly discarding items from the vehicle that investigators believe were evidence from the robbery. The vehicle was ultimately stopped, and officers conducted a felony stop, safely taking the occupants into custody without further incident.
In total, multiple suspects were arrested during the coordinated operation.
As the investigation continued, detectives served search warrants at residences in Richmond and Oakland associated with the suspects, recovering additional evidence.
An assault-style weapon discovered during searches of one of the homes following the arrests. Video screenshot. Source: SFPD
The case was presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration on the following arrested individuals, who were charged:
Concord Police posted on their Facebook page, “Once again, the Concord Police Department remains committed to partnering with our allied law enforcement agencies to bring those who come into our community and commit crime to justice. We are thankful for SFPD’s partnership!”
See related video.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the San Francisco Police Department at 415-575-4444 or submit tips anonymously through the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or by texting TIP411 and beginning the message with “SFPD.”
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
By Concord Police Department
As previously reported, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at approximately 3:12 p.m., Concord Police Department officers responded to a report of a robbery at Sunvalley Shopping Center.
The incident occurred inside the mall near Macy’s Women’s store. Two masked male suspects approached the victim and grabbed his necklaces. A physical struggle occurred, and the suspects fled from the mall with the victim’s necklaces.
The victim sustained minor injuries as a result of the confrontation.
July 2, 2026 – Two suspects were identified in this case and arrested by the Concord Police Department. The suspects were juveniles and as such their names are not being released at this time.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges against the two juveniles.
This incident is not related to the recent press release regarding the jewelry store robbery inside Sun Valley mall on June 28.
By Concord July 4th
Get ready to celebrate America’s 250th and California’s 175th birthdays with friends and family as Concord comes together for a full day of fun, traditions, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks show! Make plans now to celebrate on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
8:00 AM – Kids Fun Run
8:00 AM – Rotary Pancake Breakfast
8:15 AM – 5K Run and Walk
10:00 AM – Parade through Downtown Concord
4:00 PM – Festival, Food, Vendors & Family Fun
5:30 PM Live Music with Brooks Lundy
7:30 PM Live Music with 3day Weekend
9:00 PM Fireworks to culminate the party!
A special thank you to our Title Sponsor, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, and all of the sponsors, volunteers, and community partners who help make this beloved tradition possible year after year.
Learn more at www.ConcordJuly4th.com.
San Francisco Giants player Willie Mays in 1955 posing for the camera of an Associated Press photographer. Public domain. Source: Wikpedia
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California
OAKLAND – Daniel Damato was sentenced on Monday, June 29, 2026, to 21 months in federal prison for his role in a wire fraud scheme in which he knowingly sold counterfeit sports memorabilia and attempted to obstruct the FBI’s investigation into his criminal conduct. United States District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence. He faced a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Damato, 40, of Concord, California, was charged by Information on October 20, 2025, with one count of wire fraud. The Information alleged that between 2022 and 2024, Damato, a sports memorabilia dealer, doctored and gave false provenance to valuable items to make them appear as authentic and legitimate sports collectables. Damato then attempted to sell these items to unsuspecting buyers at heavily inflated prices.
The Information specifically described two sports memorabilia items Damato fraudulently marketed and sold—a baseball bat he represented was a 1954 game-used World Series bat and a jersey he asserted was a 1972 game-worn jersey. Damato claimed that the bat was used and the jersey was worn by Willie Mays, described as one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, according to the Information
As previously reported by the Herald, on December 8, 2025, Damato pled guilty to the wire fraud count charged in the Information. In connection with his plea, Damato admitted that despite his assertions to the contrary, the bat he sold for $100,000 to one victim had not been used in the 1954 World Series by Mays. Rather, Damato admitted that the bat was a “factory error” bat that was an inch shorter than what Mays used during his career. Damato further admitted that he sold other fraudulent items, including a jersey he falsely claimed was worn by Mays that he sold for $50,000 to a second victim. In addition, the Court found that Damato defrauded a third victim in connection with his sports memorabilia scheme, determining that Damato stole over $900,000 from that victim while falsely promising to deliver sports memorabilia.
In addition to his fraudulent conduct, Damato admitted in his plea agreement that after the FBI executed a search warrant on his residence, he contacted at least one potential witness in an attempt to obstruct the government’s investigation.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martínez-Olguín sentenced Damato to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered restitution in the amount of $1,068,940. Damato had previously been remanded into custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.