Contra Costa Herald

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

Guest Commentary on East County fire district: Discrimination is illegal under the law of the land

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By Bryan Scott

Are the children of Brentwood and Oakley worth one-fifth what the children of Orinda and Moraga are worth?

Are the retirees of Brentwood’s Summerset and Trilogy developments worth one-fourth as much as the retirees in Danville and San Ramon?

The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) receives $94 in funding per-resident to protect lives and property in East Contra Costa County, while the two fire districts protecting the just mentioned central county areas are funded at $370 and $449, per-resident.

Let that sink in for a moment: $94 versus $370 and $449 per-resident.

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District receives $370 of per-resident funding to protect the lives and property of residents in its community, and the Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District receives $449 per resident to do the same thing.

This is according to Page 32 of the EMS/Fire Services Municipal Services Review of August 3, 2016, prepared for the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

Is this unequal funding of an essential government service fair?  Is it legal?

After all, residents of East Contra Costa pay the same property tax rate as those residents of Central Contra Costa, and all fire districts are primarily funded with property taxes.  Should not the benefits of the California tax laws apply equally to all citizens?

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution includes this sentence:

“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

By providing the ECCFPD with such a low level of funding, are we in East County suffering from reduced “privileges or immunities?”   Of course, we are.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that:

“When a state distributes benefits unequally, the distinctions it makes are subject to scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause, and generally a law will survive that scrutiny if the distinctions rationally further a legitimate state purpose.”   Zobel v. Williams, 457 U.S. 55 (1982)

The California Supreme Court has stated that funding of another government benefit, education, based on geography violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“We are called upon to determine whether the California public school financing system, with its substantial dependence on local property taxes and resultant wide disparities in school revenue, violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. We have determined that this funding scheme invidiously discriminates against the poor because it makes the quality of a child’s education a function of the wealth of his parents and neighbors. Recognizing as we must that the right to an education in our public schools is a fundamental interest which cannot be conditioned on wealth, we can discern no compelling state purpose necessitating the present method of financing. We have concluded, therefore, that such a system cannot withstand constitutional challenge and must fall before the equal protection clause,” the California Supreme Court said. Serrano v. Priest, 487 P.2d 1241 (Cal. 1971)

The California Health & Safety Code, Section 13801, reads in part:

“The Legislature finds and declares that the local provision of fire protection services, rescue services, emergency medical services, hazardous material emergency response services, ambulance services, and other services relating to the protection of lives and property is critical to the public peace, health, and safety of the state. “

Not only is this difference of funding unfair, it is illegal.  Action needs to be taken to resolve this “public safety emergency,” to use Assembly Member Jim Frazier’s description of the situation.

Lives and property are unfairly at risk, unlawfully at risk.

Brentwood resident Bryan Scott is Co-Chair of East County Voters for Equal Protection, a non-partisan citizen’s action committee striving to improve funding for the ECCFPD.  He can be reached at scott.bryan@comcast.net, or 925-418-4428.  The group’s Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/EastCountyVoters/.  

East County Realtors provide Christmas gifts for foster children, checks to local charities

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Christmas gifts for foster children in Antioch schools from the Delta Realtors Community Service Foundation surround the tree at the Delta Association of Realtors Christmas lunch on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2017.

Joann Mass of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oakley thanks DRCS Foundation Chairman Dan Barnes for the donation, as other foundation board members look on.

By Allen Payton

During the annual Delta Association of Realtors Christmas party, the organization’s Delta Realtors Community Service Foundation presented checks to East County charities and gifts for local, foster children in Antioch schools.

A check for $1,000 was donated to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oakley for their food pantry

“It all goes to some really nice, nice families,” said Joann Mass of St. Anthony’s. “All we can do is say thank you.”

Donations were also provided to the Antioch Senior Center, An Elderly Wish Foundation, Don Brown Shelter, Brentwood Community Chest, and the Golden Hills Community Church Community Outreach Center in Antioch.

The Christmas gifts were provided to Antioch Unified School District’s Student Support Services for “27 foster children who are Antioch school students living in five group homes, four in Antioch and one in Pittsburg,” said Mayra Preciado, Counselor and Foster Liaison. “They’re now receiving a Christmas.”

She was joined by Director Bob Sanchez, Homeless Liaison Trina Tuel and Intervention Services Coordinator Dineen Burdick.

“We keep the money local. That’s what we’ve been focusing on” said Realtors foundation chairman Dan Barnes, of the Berkshire Hathaway real estate office in Brentwood.

The other foundation board members are Leonard Briones, Laura Agdanowski, Anthony Silva, Cathleen Griebling, Patti Shaner and Margaret Hurtado.

For more information about the Delta Association of Realtors visit their website at www.deltaaor.com.

 

32nd Annual Christmas Carnival for those in need at the county fairgrounds Saturday, Dec. 23

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Love-A-Child Missions is sponsoring its 32nd Annual Christmas Carnival for the less fortunate families of our community of Contra Costa County. During this event of compassion, the true meaning of Christmas is shared with an invitation to become a Christmas Miracle, this is a special time to share your love and support for the community.

Can your organization be part of this ethnically diversified outreach? Can you be those loving hands of support so desperately needed this Holiday Season? We can certainly use your help and support. This year we are soliciting organizations to be a part of this Christmas compassion event that will make Christmas brighter for the less fortunate families of our county. Below are the service opportunities for the day of the event. Please consider whether you’d like to provide a financial contribution for this event or host a toy or coat drive prior to the event.

Listed below are the different types of services that are needed:

EVENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Qualified Leadership & Supervision Prize & Raffle Distribution

Carnival Booths Activities Food/Lunch Preparation and Distribution

Music/DJ Photographer/Videographer

Security and Registration Services Food Bag Distribution

Face Painting Balloon Distribution

Toy Distribution Coat Distribution

Miscellaneous Labor

For further information, questions and/or concerns, please contact Courtney, Heather or Barbara at Love-A-Child Missions @ 925.458.9337 or 925.458.4496

Very truly yours

Jerome Knott – Founding Director

Love-A-Child Missions

FBI: Bust of eight East County gang members on murder, conspiracy, pimping and firearms charges

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Eight alleged East County gang members who are suspects in a variety of crimes were arrested on Oct. 27. Photos by FBI Northern CA District

Arrested on Oct. 27th

By Allen Payton

FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett of the Northern California District office and Interim Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced on Wednesday the Oct. 27th arrests of East County gang members suspected in two freeway shootings and other charges.

Bennett and Becton were joined by Pittsburg Police Chief Brian Addington and representatives from the Richmond Police Department, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, San Francisco SWAT, El Cerrito Police Department, Contra Costa County Probation Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Pablo Police Department, Concord Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.

Known as Operation Klap It Out, the joint effort resulted in the arrests of eight suspects and the seizure of a variety of firearms during the search warrants, according to FBI Public Information Officer Cameron Polan.

Seven suspects and alleged members of the Klap Sh**/Broad Day gang from Antioch and Pittsburg were identified as Darnell Keyon Lash age 24, D’Vance Jaquez Sumblin age 20, Javelle Cooksey age 19, Lester Gene Curry age 21 (as of Tuesday), Ezell Tommy Jenkins age 19, Dasheid Keyonta Lash age 21, and Larry Darnell Goines, Jr. age 32. An eighth suspect gang member, Giovante Boyd was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for murder, but was not included in the complaint filed by the DA’s office against the other seven.

According to the complaint they were charged with the following eight counts: conspiracy to commit a crime – murder, carrying a loaded firearm/street gang, possession of firearm by a felon – prior(s), dissuading a witness by force or threat, conspiracy to commit a crime – second degree burglary, carrying a loaded firearm/street gang, conspiracy to commit a crime – pimping, and street terrorism.

“All eight are currently in a preliminary hearing which has been ongoing since Monday,” Polan added.

12/21/17 UPDATE: Asked about the delay in announcing the arrests she replied, “The delayed announcement was due to new leads that were presented as a result of the search warrants executed. The investigators did not want to jeopardize the new information with a public announcement.”

See the charges filed against the seven suspects, here: Charges filed vs Operation Klap It Out gang suspects

The firearms seized during Operation Klap It Out.

Movie filmed in Antioch in July to air on TV Dec. 28

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Actor Zack Gold is the main character in the movie Psycho Brother-In-Law filmed in Antioch last summer.

Some of the scenes were filmed at Antioch High School with staff member Trine Gallegos (far right) included. Herald file photo

By Allen Payton

According to Supervising Producer Kris Wynn, the movie filmed in Antioch last summer, will air on the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) next Thursday, December 28. It’s entitled Psycho Brother-In-Law and includes Antioch and East County residents as extras. (See related articles, here and here.)

It’s the second movie to be filmed in Antioch in as many years.

According to the Lifetime website, the movie stars Brittany Falardeau, Zack Gold, Mike Duff, Megan Ashley Brown and Samantha Bowling.

The description reads, “Kate is so thankful to have her brother-in-law David back in her family’s life as he’s been a blessing around the house while her husband spends long days at the office. But when his behavior starts getting out of line, Kate realizes that David wants to be the new head of the family, and will do anything to make that happen.”

So grab, the remote and popcorn, order some pizza and watch your local friends or family members on the small screen to see who made it past the cutting room floor!

Fatal single car accident on Balfour Road near Antioch takes life of Tracy woman Monday night

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Ivette Montes from her Facebook page.

By Allen Payton

At 11:47 pm Monday night, emergency personnel from the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District responded to a single vehicle roll-over accident on Balfour Road east of Deer Valley Road, according to Interim Battalion Chief Ross Macumber. The accident took the life of a 51-year-old Hispanic woman from Tracy.

The Contra Costa Coroner’s office identified her as Ivette Montes.

“As our units were leaving CHP was actively investigating,” Macumber stated.

According to Officer Nathan Johnson of the CHP Contra Costa office, the victim was “partially ejected and declared deceased at the scene. Although it’s not been ruled out, alcohol does not appear to be a factor at this time.”

Pittsburg High football team makes it to state championship but falls short of victory after leading 21-0

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By Jesus Cano

SACRAMENTO—The Pittsburg High Pirates had the opportunity of winning its first state football championship in school history, but they blew a 21-point halftime lead.

Pittsburg lead 21-0 midway through the second quarter. The Pirates felt pumped and excited as they were in good position. But by the end of the night, they were disappointed with tears running down many of the players faces as they had to witness the Narbonne Gauchos, of Harbor City in Southern California, hold the CIF 1-A State title trophy high in the air after 28-21 loss against Narbonne.

“I’m disappointed for our fans and I’m disappointed for our kids,” Head Coach Victor Galli said. “We had a 21-point lead and with our defense we’re not supposed to lose.”

The game was won on a 70-yard touchdown return by Logan Taylor, off a botched field goal attempt by Pittsburg’s Miguel Romo, making it 28-21.

The game was tied earlier in the fourth quarter when Jalen Chatham hit Aaron McGee for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

With less than minute late in the clock, Pittsburg looked to be in business for a comeback, but were quickly shut down as junior Willie Harts III threw an interception straight into the hands of Demonti Peoples.

Pittsburg started off the game strong. Junior Willie Harts was by far the Pirates star player this ahem, and he made his presence felt at Hornet Stadium as he intercepted a pass in the first drive of the game.

It resulted in setting Pittsburg scoring first in a drive that ended with Darrion Bartley slamming in home for a one-yard touchdown run.

Pittsburg added another touchdown, Harts was involved in It as well. Harts received a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Boyd.

The Boyd to Harts connection struck again in second quarter for another touchdown, but that was the last time the Pittsburg offense got to sniff the end zone.

With the wind hitting hard, Harts was only able to punt the ball one yard. Narbonne took advantage of it, and after a few player Jermar Jackson found the end zone on a four-yard touchdown.

A field goal in the second quarter by Edgar Ramos had Narbonne going 21-10 into halftime.

A tough loss indeed, but many people stated this was going to be a rebuilding year for Pittsburg.

Instead, they won the Bay Valley Athletic League title in undefeated fashion, while also qualifying for state championship for the first time ever

“I would have loved to really prove them wrong with a win,” Galli said. “We’re going back to the drawing board as coaches and work hard for next season.”

Pittsburg has graduated top players like A’Jae Boyd, Timorese Finau, Michael Pryor and Justin Sanders, but they return a lot of young talent.

Justin Boyd returns for his senior campaign, and will battle it out for the starting position against Trey Turner who went down with an ACL injury earlier in the year.

Defensively, Linebacker Jack Lacy III and four staff recruit Jacob Bandes will continue to be forces for the Pirates.

“A lot of rookies from this year will look back at this year and say they could do it better,” Bandes said. “I’m going to lead those rookies next year, so we can do better.”