Contra Costa Herald

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

Coroner to hold August inquest into death of Pittsburg woman during Clayton police officer pursuit in May

By 1 Comment

In accordance with the Contra Costa County Chiefs’ of Police Association Officer Involved Fatal Incident Protocol, Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston will hold an inquest into the death of 24-year-old Maria Gaglione of Pittsburg. This incident occurred on May 13, 2017 in Contra Costa County.

The Clayton Police Department was dispatched to a local shopping center for a suspicious vehicle call. Gaglione and another person were seen leaving the shopping center in a stolen vehicle. A Clayton police officer pursued the vehicle for approximately a half-mile until it collided into a wall on the 4900 block of Myrtle Drive in Concord. The driver was transported to a local hospital. Gaglione was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The proceedings will convene on August 24, 2017 at 9 AM at the A.F. Bray Courthouse, 1020 Ward Street, Department 30, Room 3012, Martinez, California.

The purpose of the inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is to present the facts of the incident to a jury for their deliberation and finding on the manner of death.

The inquest is open to the public and members of the media are invited to attend. However, no photographs or video may be taken during the proceedings.

Oakley man drives stolen vehicle wrong way on Hwy 4 between Antioch and Brentwood, causes Sat. night crash sending eight to hospital

By Leave a Comment

Screenshots from KRON4 News video of Highway 4 crash between Antioch and Brentwood, Sat., July 15, 2017.

Car stolen in Concord

By Brandon Correia, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa CHP

Saturday night, July 15, 2017 at about 8:07 p.m., Contra Costa CHP was advised of a head-on collision at HWY4 at Sand Creek Road in Brentwood, with the report of injuries. Upon CHP arrival, it was learned that multiple parties had suffered major injuries. It was determined that one of the vehicles involved was a reported stolen vehicle out of Concord from the same day, a 1994 gold Honda Accord – License#7RAE887 – and that …the gold Honda was traveling the wrong way on HWY4. Two parties had to be air-lifted to trauma centers.

A 2015 Honda Odyssey van with seven occupants was traveling westbound on HWY4, just west of Sand Creek Road. The stolen gold Honda Accord entered the westbound lanes of HWY4, traveling wrong way-eastbound in the westbound lanes-from Lone Tree Way. The suspect vehicle was reported at a high rate of speed and passing multiple vehicles in the wrong way direction until ultimately colliding head-on with the Honda Odyssey. HWY4 was briefly shut down for the investigation.

Injured people from the 2015 Honda Odyssey are listed as follows: The driver, a 30-year-old Asian male adult, out of San Francisco, sustained moderate injuries. Passengers: a 34yr old Asian female adult, out of San Francisco, sustained minor injuries. A female baby, 1yr old-out of San Francisco, just for precaution. A 61-year-old Asian Adult female, out of San Francisco, sustained major injuries but is in stable condition. A 2-year-old Asian Female baby, out of San Francisco, sustained minor injuries. A 72-year-old Asian Adult female, out of San Francisco, sustained minor injuries. A 10-year-old Asian female juvenile, out of San Francisco, sustained minor injuries. All injured parties from the minivan were taken to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek.

The suspect vehicle’s passenger, a 22-year-old white male adult, out of Oakley, was transported to Eden hospital in Dublin with major injuries but is in stable condition.

The suspect driver, 24-year-old Rafael Duarte (DOB-11-16-92), out of Oakley, was transported to John Muir Walnut Creek for minor injuries. Upon his release from the hospital, Duarte was arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for the following charges; Felony DUI, possession and driving of a stolen vehicle, unlicensed drivers license, no vehicle insurance, and driving wrong way on the highway causing injury.

Asked about the victims of the collision, Brandon Correia, Public Information Officer for Contra Costa CHP said, “they’re all in stable condition. The passenger in the gold Honda had major injuries, but they’re not life threatening.”

This is an ongoing investigation and if anyone witnessed this collision or has information regarding it, please contact CHP-Contra Costa in Martinez at (925) 646-4980.

See video of the crash scene on KRON4.com.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Alameda Co. Deputy Sheriff, Antioch resident, who died last week to be eulogized at Concord Pavilion, Friday

By Leave a Comment

Deputy Michael Foley. photos courtesy of the Alameda Co. Sheriff’s Office

By Allen Payton

The funeral service for Michael Foley, an Alameda County Deputy Sheriff and Antioch resident, will be held this Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Concord Pavilion.

The 60-year-old was struck by a bus at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on Wednesday, February 22 and died from his injuries, the next day. Foley worked for the Concord Police Department for 29 years, prior to his service with Alameda County.

A message was posted on the Sheriff’s Facebook page on Thursday: “It is with great sadness we report that Alameda County Deputy Sheriff Michael Foley has died from his injuries. Mike started his law enforcement career in 1978 as an Officer with the Concord Police Department. After a long and successful 29 year career there, he retired and was hired by ACSO in 2007. Michael was one of the hardest working Deputies on this agency. He used his experience and wisdom to mentor countless numbers of young officers throughout his career. He was an extremely kind man who loved his family, friends, co-workers and community. He believed in public service and making the world a better place. All of us who were touched by his life will never forget him. He is a role model and a great example for others to follow. Our hearts are broken today. Please keep Mike and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Sheriff’s escort for Deputy Foley’s body on Sunday, Feb. 26.

On Sunday, Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs escorted Foley’s body from John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau, according to a post on the Alameda County Sheriff’s Facebook page.

He is survived by his wife Tammie, and children Michael and Tonya. A GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit the Foley family and verified by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. http://www.gofundme.com/deputy-mike-foleys-family-fund According to that site, Foley “chose to work as a deputy at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to put his son, Michael Jr., through college.”he chose to work as a deputy at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to put his son, Michael Jr., through college. After 29 years with the Concord Police Department, he chose to work as a deputy at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to put his son, Michael Jr., through college. We are hoping to lighten the burden of this sudden loss. After 29 years with the Concord Police Department, he chose to work as a deputy at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to put his son, Michael Jr., through college. We are hoping to lighten the burden of this sudden loss.

In addition, the San Francisco Police Credit Union has established an account under the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County Charitable Foundation for the benefit of Deputy Sheriff Michael Foley. Contributions may take place in person at a local branch, mail or electronically utilizing account #1387350 S5 M Foley Memorial Fund.  Funds may be forwarded to SFPCU via mail or electronically as follows:

ACSO DSA Charitable Foundation for Michael Foley 2550 Irving St San Francisco, Ca 94122 Acct#1387350 S5 Routing#321076496

Annual East Bay USA conference draws 330 business, civic leaders

By Leave a Comment

Hear from keynote speaker astronaut Captain Scott Kelly

NASA astronaut Captain Scott Kelly, USN. Ret., was the keynote speaker at the 2017 East Bay USA conference on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. photo courtesy of East Bay Leadership Council.

At this time last week the East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC) team was putting the finishing touches on what they had hoped would be a memorable night. They were not disappointed.

The 31st Annual East Bay USA event, at the Concord Hilton, drew 330 business and civic leaders, gave a chance to learn about how the major sponsors support innovative STEM programs, provided networking opportunities over local wine, and featured an inspiring keynote by astronaut Captain Scott Kelly, (USN, Ret.) who left the attendees feeling like the sky was not the limit.

“The evening was made possible by 27 companies and 26 community leaders whose commitment to the East Bay Leadership Council makes our work possible. Thank you again to all of our sponsors,” said Kristin Connelly, EBLC President and CEO. “I hope you will save the date and join us on January 18, 2018 for East Bay USA’s 32nd Annual celebration.”

See more photos from the event, here and learn more about the East Bay Leadership Council, here.

NASA astronaut, Captain Scott Kelly, USN, Ret.

About Captain Kelly

Kelly served a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015, then served as the ISS Branch Chief within the Astronaut Office. He served as a backup crewmember for ISS Expedition 5 and as the Astronaut Office Space Station Branch Chief. Kelly also served as a Flight Engineer for ISS Expedition 25 and as the Commander of ISS Expedition 26.

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Kelly reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Following completion of training, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems/Operations branch. A veteran of three space flights, Kelly has logged more than 180 days in space. He served as pilot on STS-103 in 1999 and was the Mission Commander on STS-118 in 2007. Following STS-103, Kelly served as NASA’s Director of Operations in Star City, Russia.

Kelly is the recipient of two Defense Superior Service Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, two Navy Unit Commendations, the National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, two NASA Space Flight Medals, and the Russian Federation Medal for Merit in Space Exploration.

GoMentum Station named National Proving Ground by U.S. Department of Transportation

By Leave a Comment

Contra Costa testing facility selected to be part of first-ever “Community of Practice” for automated vehicle technology

GoMentum Station was named one of ten federally designated automated vehicle proving grounds by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The announcement was made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Thursday, January 19, who noted that the pilot sites were selected to encourage testing and information sharing around automated vehicle technologies, foster innovations that can safely transform personal and commercial mobility, expand capacity, and open new doors to disadvantaged people and communities. GoMentum Station was selected from more than 60 applicants to help advance the safe deployment of automated technology.

“We are honored to have been selected as part of this elite group of test facilities,” said Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Executive Director Randell Iwasaki. “When we established GoMentum Station a little over two years ago with our partners, our goal was to make it the country’s premier secure test facility of autonomous and connected vehicle technology. To be selected as a federally designated proving grounds is a confirmation of the significant value our facility adds to the field and its role in redefining the next generation of transportation.”

“The designated proving grounds will collectively form a Community of Practice around safe testing and deployment,” said Secretary Foxx. “This group will openly share best practices for the safe conduct of testing and operations as they are developed, enabling the participants and the general public to learn at a faster rate and accelerating the pace of safe deployment.”

Each of the ten sites have a unique testing environment. Among the qualities that set GoMentum Station apart is being one of the largest, secure proving grounds in the United States, which enables partners to safely push their technology to its limits while testing at GoMentum Station.  Founded in 2014, GoMentum Station is located at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station, making Contra Costa County a center of cutting-edge transportation research. The innovative technology being explored at GoMentum Station will reinvent the ways we will move through our communities over the next 25 years and beyond.

Contra Costa’s autonomous and connected vehicle testing facility is built on a public/private partnership model, allowing the private sector space to innovate and test while providing the public sector with access to new technologies as they are being developed. The work being carried out at GoMentum Station facilitates informed policy, regulation and planning decisions around the technology.

“We are excited that there may be opportunities to potentially collaborate with other test facilities around the nation.  If we can coordinate on testing, we can eliminate redundant and duplicative testing, learn from one another and accelerate our ability to bring this transformative technology to market,” noted Iwasaki. “We hope this designation will be valuable to our partners and the public in helping to further this life-saving technology. We’re looking forward to working with USDOT on advancing this technology for a public good.”

About GoMentum Station

GoMentum Station in Concord, California is where the Contra Costa Transportation Authority leads and facilitates a collaborative partnership among multiple automobile manufacturers; original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers; communications suppliers; technology companies; researchers and academia; public agencies and other partners. At GoMentum Station, technology, innovation and commercialization will converge to define the next generation of transportation network infrastructure. More information about GoMentum Station is available at gomentumstation.net.

About The Contra Costa Transportation Authority

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

GoMentum Station in Concord announces new partnership with BestMile to advance driverless car project

By Leave a Comment

BestMile’s cloud-based computing platform will support and enhance efforts to solve the first-and-last mile challenge

GoMentum Station and BestMile announced a new partnership today to further the shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) pilot project aimed at addressing the first-and-last mile challenge in Contra Costa. BestMile will offer its cloud-based computing platform to support the operation and optimization of SAV fleets, including the full testing of EasyMile shuttles. The EasyMile shuttles arrived at GoMentum Station in September of 2016, and the pilot demonstration project with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority marks the first time EasyMile shuttles will be utilized in the United States. BestMile’s computing platform will not only allow the EasyMile shuttles to work more effectively together, it will facilitate the ability of riders to interface with the shuttles.

“GoMentum Station is putting Contra Costa and the Bay Area squarely at the center of the transportation technology revolution with this innovative project to address first and last mile transit accessibility challenges, which we hope will allow people to use transit and commuter rail more effectively and efficiently,” said Randy Iwasaki, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA). “We are excited to leverage BestMile’s unique technology capabilities to incubate transportation solutions that will help further shared mobility.”

“We believe the future of mobility isn’t in autonomous vehicles themselves, but in what they can offer when they’re operated and managed collectively in an integrated ecosystem. It is an incredible opportunity for BestMile to be able to showcase its fleet optimization platform within the framework of this exciting project at GoMentum Station, Bishop Ranch and then hopefully expand to the Bay Area. It will allow passengers of SAVs to experience a truly optimized, sustainable and efficient SAV service. Ordering your own SAV will be only one click away thanks to the traveler app we are also providing as part of our platform” said Raphael Gindrat, CEO of BestMile.

BestMile has created the world’s first cloud platform for the operation and optimization of autonomous vehicle fleets, designed to support shared electric connected and automated mobility. Using cutting-edge algorithms, it sends optimized missions to vehicles and seamlessly handles planning, real-time automated dispatching, intelligent routing, and electrical energy management. Their first commercial project launched in June 2016 with Switzerland’s main transport operator, PostBus. The collaboration with GoMentum Station marks the first time BestMile’s technology will be incorporated into a project within the United States and aligns with BestMile’s mission to accelerate innovative autonomous transportation solutions for cities everywhere.

About GoMentum Station

GoMentum Station in Concord, California is where the Contra Costa Transportation Authority leads and facilitates a collaborative partnership among multiple automobile manufacturers; original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers; communications suppliers; technology companies; researchers and academia; public agencies and other partners. At GoMentum Station, technology, innovation and commercialization will converge to define the next generation of transportation network infrastructure. More information about GoMentum Station is available at gomentumstation.net.

About BestMile

BestMile is a Swiss company with offices in Lausanne (Switzerland), San Francisco (USA) and London (UK), developing distributed and highly scalable cloud technology leveraging the full potential of autonomous vehicles to tackle urban mobility challenges. By providing the first platform allowing for the intelligent operation and optimization of autonomous vehicle fleets, BestMile is revolutionizing mobility. It manages both scheduled trips and on-­demand service and is independent of any vehicle manufacturer, thus allowing customers to remotely manage heterogeneous fleets composed of autonomous vehicles of different types and brands. By using cutting-edge algorithms to handle planning, real-time automated dispatching, intelligent routing, and electrical energy management, BestMile is shaping “individual robots” into an intelligent, innovative and flexible mobility system. After launching its first commercial project with Switzerland’s main transport operator in June 2016, BestMile now has a foot in the US thanks to GoMentum Station, located in Contra Costa County. More information is available at www.bestmile.com.

About The Contra Costa Transportation Authority

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

Discover Diablo, new Free Public Hike Series offered by Save Mount Diablo, beginning this weekend

By Leave a Comment

Hikers enjoy the trails on Save Mount Diablo’s Four Days Diablo Group Camping Trip, a 30-mile trek along the Diablo Trail over 4 day leading you on an adventure through rarely seen Mount Diablo landscapes. Photos by Scott Hein, Save Mt. Diablo Board President

Discover Diablo is Save Mount Diablo’s new free public hike series, offering an annual schedule of guided walks, hikes and interpretive tours open to any and all trail blazers. Generously sponsored by the Shell Martinez Refinery, the Discover Diablo Free Public Hike Series will launch in early 2017. Discover Diablo will offer two events per month for the entire year (please see schedule, below) – one taking place and focusing on a Save Mount Diablo property and one designed for families on other public parks.

Hosted by Save Mount Diablo, the new Discover Diablo program seeks to build awareness of local land conservation efforts and to convey the importance of protecting open space for habitat and recreation. With the launch of Discover Diablo, we intend to reach new audiences, build our membership base of adventurers, explorers and outdoor enthusiasts, and spark a passion for the Diablo Range.

Four Days Diablo 2012

We invite you to join us in exploring the Bay Area’s beautiful wild lands and open spaces. We hope that with two events per month in various locations, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and learn from. Save Mount Diablo’s Family walks are for hikers of all skill levels and will take place on other portions of open space on and around the mountain. Save Mount Diablo’s Property tours will illustrate the importance of preserving wildlife habitat, building corridors between existing parks, and of course, all the beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer.

To honor Save Mount Diablo’s mission, we aim to display both our current property holdings as well as those we have helped protect over the years. Hosting monthly hikes is an effective way to engage and grow communities invested in the sustainability of local open space. SMD properties aren’t usually open to the public, so these are rare opportunities.

To complete the land conservation picture in the Diablo Range and pay homage to collaborating agencies, we also host monthly outings on Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District, and Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation lands. Save Mount Diablo’s new hike series, Discover Diablo, ties these outings together by offering an annual schedule of free public hikes to explore these diverse lands – with the added bonus of being guided by staff and experienced volunteer hike leaders.

According to Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, “It is the goal of the Discover Diablo program to build connections between people and land, helping communities develop a strong sense of place and a deepened appreciation for our collective backyard. Most importantly, we want to cultivate a love of the land in participants – so as to grow the land ethic and stewardship for our precious Mount Diablo area.”

We intend to reach audiences from all over the Bay Area to improve awareness of and advocacy efforts for the Diablo Range. There is something for us all to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo. Please join us on the trails to find your own individual inspiration!

Visit us on Eventbrite to our full schedule of upcoming hikes: Discover-Diablo.eventbrite.com. RSVP required.

What: Save Mount Diablo’s Discover Diablo Free Public Hike Series

When: Two monthly events throughout 2017. (See schedule below)

Where: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY – Walnut Creek, Clayton, Concord, Livermore, Pittsburg.

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, non-profit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, and watersheds through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide recreational opportunities consistent with the protection of natural resources. To learn more and support Save Mount Diablo please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.

Antioch man shoots, kills himself following Hwy 4 CHP chase for DUI, Thursday night

By Leave a Comment

Pursuit began in Pittsburg, ended in Concord

Thursday night, January 12, 2017 at about 11 pm, CHP began a DUI investigation of a driver suspected of driving impaired at Harbor Court and Harbor Street in the city of Pittsburg. The driver showed signs of impairment and CHP requested him to exit his vehicle for a DUI investigation. The driver refused to exit and fled the scene prompting CHP to pursue him on westbound Highway 4.

CHP pursued the Honda sedan as he exited Port Chicago Highway, drove to and parked in a driveway located on Gratton Way in Concord. At that point, two CHP units and a CHP supervisor were parked behind the suspect vehicle. While still in his Honda, the suspect (a 45-year-old white male from Antioch) brandished a semi automatic pistol, turned it on himself, discharged it and suffered a self-inflicted wound and subsequently killed himself.

No CHP Officers were injured nor did any CHP officers fire their weapons. CHP’s Golden Gate Divisions Special Investigative Unit (SIU) is conducting a full investigation. This is still an open investigation. A call into the CHP Contra Costa office for the suspect’s name and any other details was not returned before press time and that is all the information the CHP has released as of now.

See the annual Pearl Harbor Day Mt. Diablo Beacon Lighting Ceremony, Wednesday Dec. 7th

By Leave a Comment

mt-diablo-beaconVietnam-era helicopters to do flyover above Cal-State East Bay Concord to kick-off event

On December 7th, Mount Diablo’s Beacon will be relit by survivors of Pearl Harbor. We invite you to attend the ceremony to pay tribute to the lives that were lost and honor our surviving veterans of Pearl Harbor.

The Sons & Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 5 are pleased to co-sponsor this 53rd Annual National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony with Save Mount Diablo.

“The Beacon lighting is a tribute to those individuals that lost their lives at Pearl Harbor”, says Earl “Chuck” Kohler, one of the few remaining survivors in Contra Costa County.

However, the ceremony is also an opportunity to honor the survivors.  When those who experienced Pearl Harbor are gone, the history is lost with them.

The Beacon on Mount Diablo was originally installed and illuminated in 1928 to aid in trans-continental aviation. It is one of the four guiding beacons installed along the west coast by Standard Oil of CA and is the only one known to still be operational.

Pearl Harbor survivors push the button to light the beacon atop Mt. Diablo last year.

Pearl Harbor survivors push the button to light the beacon atop Mt. Diablo last year. Courtesy of Save Mt. Diablo.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Beacon’s light was extinguished during the West Coast Blackout, for fear it may enable an attack on California. It stayed dark until Pearl Harbor Day 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces during World War II, relit the Beacon in a commemorative ceremony and suggested it be illuminated every December 7th to honor those who served and sacrificed.

Since that day, Pearl Harbor Veterans and their families have gathered every December 7th to see the Beacon light shine once again.

The Beacon now shines brighter than ever since it underwent an extensive restoration process in 2013 (thanks to a campaign led by Save Mount Diablo) to ensure it continues to shine for many more years. The Pearl Harbor Survivors would like to know that the Beacon will shine long after they are gone.

The Beacon is lit at sunset and shines all night on this single evening each year.

SUMMARY

What:  Save Mount Diablo, the Sons & Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and California State Parks will light the “Eye of Diablo”, the Beacon atop Mount Diablo to memorialize Pearl Harbor Day. As the number of Survivors has decreased over the years, the number of people attending the ceremony in honor of these heroes has increased, including many sons and daughters vital to organizing the service.

When: Wednesday, December 7th, 2016, Ceremony at 3:45 pm, Beacon Lighting at 5 pm

Where: The ceremony will be held in the Oak Room of the Library Building at the California State East Bay Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, Concord, CA  94521.

Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/jXhcW

Access:  Parking is available on Campus and the ceremony will be held in the Oak Room (with extra seating in the Redwood Room)

SPECIAL NOTICE: Vietnam Helicopters will be kicking off the lighting with a fly-by over CSU EB Concord and Mount Diablo. Any Aviation News Units should contact Mark Maupin for flight path and time: (925) 876-1572 Maupin@vietnamhelicopters.org,

For more information about the Beacon Lighting Ceremony: please visit http://www.savemountdiablo.org/activities_events_beacon.html

 

Grayson, Torlakson differ, agree at Assembly District 14 candidates’ forum

By Leave a Comment

Candidates Mae Torlakson and Tim Grayson prepare to answer questions from Council President & CEO Kristin Connelly who served as moderator at the forum on October 13, 2016. photo by Jake Brymner

Candidates Mae Torlakson and Tim Grayson prepare to answer questions from Council President & CEO Kristin Connelly who served as moderator at the forum on October 13, 2016. Photo by Jake Brymner

By Nick Goodrich

On Thursday, October 13th, a candidates’ forum for Tim Grayson and Mae Torlakson in the East Bay’s 14th Assembly District (AD) was hosted at Concord’s Crowne Plaza by the East Bay Leadership Council. It included questions from the audience, and outlined the candidates’ positions on key issues and upcoming legislation. The forum also presented an opportunity for the two Democrats to lay out their priorities and goals, if elected to the 14th AD. Council President and CEO Kristin Connelly served as the moderator.

Grayson, a current member of the Concord City Council and former Mayor of Concord, said in his opening statement that he is focused on making positive changes that include fiscal responsibility.

“Our state leaders have lacked vision,” he stated, while promising to find ways to make changes that don’t include new taxes. “It’s their first practice to raise taxes, but we can’t continue to kick the can down the road.”

Torlakson is serving her third term on the Ambrose Recreation and Parks District, and is also a manager in the MESA program, which helps disadvantaged California students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Her top priority is education, and opened the forum by promising to pursue accessible and affordable education for all Californians.

When asked why she wanted serve in the State Assembly, Torlakson replied, “I want to help people. I especially want to help students all over California succeed in STEM…I will use my experience in education and the Ambrose Recreation and Parks District to find a quality of life for everyone, and help them pursue their California Dream.”

Torlakson also spoke on the issue of gun control, saying she would support “common sense gun regulations, background checks for all gun purchases, and closing the gun show loophole” if elected.

For his part, Grayson’s focus on fiscal responsibility was a major factor in his decision to run for Assembly. He cited his successful term as Mayor, during which he brought 1,700 jobs to the city and balanced its $90 million budget.

“I will focus on jobs, economic development, fiscal responsibility, education, and public safety,” he told the audience.

Continuing his statements on fiscal responsibility, Grayson promised to find effective ways to support schools in California that do not necessarily involve new taxes. His focus was more on finding out what is draining California’s current revenue streams, rather than generating more through taxation.

“It comes down to reform not just in the form of revenue, but what our unfunded liabilities and our debts are,” Grayson responded when asked how he would seek to reform the state’s education funding.

He used Proposition 30 as an example, calling it “nothing but a Band-Aid”, and that extensions of Prop 30 and similar propositions are “just bigger Band-Aids” that continue to tax Californians with less-than-effective results. Grayson supports more local control in education, allowing individual school boards to deal with problems on their own terms, with limited interference from the state.

Torlakson also supports local control, but unlike Grayson, promised to fight for increased funding that may involve new taxes if necessary.

When speaking on education funding, her focus was on getting the community to invest more in its students, which involves hiring quality teachers, increasing technology in schools, and attracting businesses to California graduates. She suggested a mentoring program that would increase the performance of California students.

Job growth in Contra Costa County was another area that the two candidates were asked to speak on. Grayson said that job growth was dependent on first accomplishing three things: minimizing the County’s debt, maximizing its economic development, and strengthening its infrastructure.

Then, he said, you support small business—which provide 36% of California’s jobs—by easing regulations and providing them with more resources and capital. By doing this, Grayson said, the County “will allow for an environment of growth and support.”

Torlakson posited that a university right here in Contra Costa County would attract jobs.

“Universities are business magnets,” she said, and stated that the County has the potential to be another Silicon Valley if it could build a four-year university in the area.

The candidates sparred over questions on rent control, housing, and Torlakson’s accusation that Grayson had accepted lobbying money while in office, before being asked for their stance on upcoming California legislation in a rapid-fire round.

At the time of the forum, Tim Grayson supported Propositions 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, and 63, and opposed Propositions 57 and 64; he took no position on Proposition 61.

Mae Torlakson supports Propositions 52, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 63, and 64, and opposes Propositions 53 and 54.

Both candidates support Measure X, but differed on Measure RR, which Torlakson supported, but Grayson opposed.

The candidates also took positions on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Both Grayson and Torlakson believed that the possibility of reforming the Act was possible and perhaps needed, but wanted further study of the issue in order to point out what specifically they would recommend changing.

“It’s working to the best of its design,” said Grayson and Torlakson told the audience, “I believe in it.”

A large transportation bill put forth by Assemblyman Jim Frazier and State Senator Jim Beall was another topic.

Torlakson believes the gas tax proposed by the bill “is too high”, and suggested letting the voters decide whether to approve of the bill, which would raise an additional $3.6 billion annually in tax revenue.

Grayson, however, said he would support the bill.

“It is economically development-minded,” he said.

To better fund transportation, Grayson promised to look at problems with CalTrans, which he claimed has redundant jobs and projects to the tune of $500 million per year. Getting rid of these inefficiencies and poor spending practices, he said, would allow us to use the savings to fund what we need, rather than continue raising taxes long-term.

To close the forum, the candidates were asked a rather interesting question: If you were all-powerful in Sacramento, and could enact whatever tax reform you wanted to, what would you do, and why?

In his answer, Grayson described the California tax system as “narrow and deep.”

“It’s like a funnel, and it’s getting narrower,” he told the audience. Grayson stated that he would call together major business players, elected officials, and education leaders to discuss how best to spread out the tax burden equally and fairly. This, he said, would result in less of a burden on everybody, which would help stimulate the state economy. He included the erasure of unfunded liabilities in his answer, as well.

Torlakson said her first priority would be to help education, and would increase the budget in that area and raise taxes accordingly.

“We’re not giving enough to education, because it’s the key to prosperity,” she said. “Investing in our future is what we need.”

The hard-fought Grayson-Torlakson race will come to a head when California residents cast their votes in the November elections, with the winner will begin a two-year term in the State Assembly the following month.