Contra Costa Herald

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

Guest Column: Congress is targeting wrong driver of healthcare costs

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By Dr. Salvatore J. Giorgianni, PharmD, CMHE

I’ve been a pharmacist for more than 50 years. In that time, I’ve witnessed staggering medical advances. Patients now have access — at least in theory — to lifesaving medicines that seemed like science fiction just a decade or two ago.

But in practice, tens of millions of Americans struggle to obtain those drugs. In recent years, I’ve watched more and more patients approach the pharmacy counter, look at the required co-pay on the screen with horror, and glumly walk away without their prescribed treatments.

These patients have insurance. But all too often they can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs that remain after coverage kicks in.

The crisis stems, in large part, from the fact that big insurers like UnitedHealth, Cigna, and Humana don’t merely process claims, anymore. Their parent companies control physicians’ practices and hospitals. They also own pharmacies and operate pharmacy benefit managers — the middlemen that determine which drugs patients can access and what they pay for them.

Today, just three PBMs (pharmacy benefit manager) control prescription drug access for roughly 80% of Americans. In virtually any other industry, that level of concentration would raise serious concerns about competition. Yet these vertically integrated conglomerates have warped the healthcare system to maximize their own profits — and gouge patients — every step of the way.

PBMs typically base patients’ out-of-pocket costs on drugs’ much higher “list” prices, rather than the discounted prices negotiated behind the scenes. Those inflated list prices only exist on paper, yet they justify higher co-pays while also generating larger rebates for PBMs and more profit for the companies that own them. In some cases, PBMs collect more from patients via co-pays or co-insurance than they actually reimburse pharmacies for dispensing a drug.

PBMs also profit by making it harder for patients to access the medicines their providers prescribe.
One of their most common tactics is prior authorization. Providers must justify prescriptions they have already determined are appropriate and wait for the insurer’s approval before patients can begin treatment. The process can delay care for days, weeks, or even months. Faced with those hurdles, up to eight in 10 patients forgo treatment altogether.

Then there’s “step therapy”, sometimes called “fail first”. Patients must first try one or more older, less expensive medicines before gaining access to the treatment their provider originally recommended. That may reduce short-term costs for insurers, but it can also delay effective care and, in some cases, seriously harm patients.
Together these, and other, barriers contribute to unmanaged chronic disease, avoidable hospitalizations, and more than 100,000 preventable deaths every year.

Fortunately, Washington is beginning to crack down. The Federal Trade Commission has sued the nation’s three largest PBMs over practices that inflate drug prices. The Department of Labor recently proposed a rule that’d require PBMs to better disclose the fees and compensation they receive. And earlier this year, Congress passed legislation requiring PBMs to increase transparency and pass through more of the discounts they receive to employers.
It’s a great start — and a much more viable way to decrease Americans’ pharmacy bills than one of the other ideas frequently tossed around Capitol Hill. Some lawmakers want to mimic other nations’ price controls on prescription drugs. But artificially lowering what biotech companies charge for medicines would deter research investments — meaning that the pharmacists of the future will have fewer lifesaving drugs to dispense to patients.
Until policymakers decisively confront PBMs, Americans will continue to pay more, get less of the care they need, and be at risk of worse health.

Salvatore J. (Sal) Giorgianni, Jr, PharmD, CMHE is vice-president and cofounder of Healthy Men, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the health of boys, men and their families. He is chair-emeritus and cofounder of the American Public Health Association Caucus On Men’s Health. This piece originally appeared in Issues & Insights.

Pros & Cons on Prop. 3, California’s second tax increase extension on higher income residents

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A voter casts a ballot during the presidential primary election on Super Tuesday in Oakland. Photo: Andrew Reed/EdSource

PRO: Teachers’ union leader says Prop. 3 would help lock in hard-won resources for student well-being

By Gloria Martinez, EdSource.org – republished with permission

When I was a special education teacher, I learned that one of the cruelest questions you can ask an underfunded school is: What can you afford to go without?

Before California voters passed Proposition 30 in 2012, this was not a hypothetical question. I saw firsthand how budget constraints affected students’ daily lives, especially in less affluent communities where resources were already stretched thin. Some schools lacked the counselors, school psychologists and social workers needed to recognize when a child was struggling. Teachers did what they could, but in classrooms of 30 or more students, we could not replace these trained professionals or meet every child’s needs alone.

By raising taxes on California’s highest earners (currently, couples earning more than $742,000), Proposition 30 generated additional revenue for public schools and higher education. In the years that followed, teachers across the state used collective bargaining to advocate for improvements that directly affected students and school communities: smaller class sizes, art and music programs, and mental health professionals who helped schools better support students’ overall well-being.

In Los Angeles, those resources also helped create conditions for educators to pursue further gains through common-good bargaining, including community schools, the Black Student Achievement Plan, and additional staffing. These were more than budget line items. They meant more readily available support for students, expanded opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds and from immigrant communities and communities of color, and greater capacity for schools to intervene when students and their families needed help.

Today, as voters consider Proposition 3, which would make these existing tax rates permanent for California’s highest-income earners, we must remember what it took to build that stronger foundation and what we stand to lose if it erodes.

If the tax rates expire in 2031, California would give its wealthiest households a massive tax cut and forgo an estimated $5 billion to $15 billion a year in state revenue. This financial pitfall will make it harder for school districts to sustain the programs and staffing students rely on, including mental health and student support services. Counselors, school psychologists and social workers — positions we worked to expand in our schools — could be at risk.

If the tax rates expire in 2031, California would give its wealthiest households a massive tax cut and forgo an estimated $5 billion to $15 billion a year in state revenue.

Protecting that investment is especially urgent as students face increasingly complex mental health challenges. For young people experiencing depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, school-based mental health services reach more than twice as many as primary care or child welfare services. For many students, school may be the most accessible place to find help.

The need is not theoretical. Despite declines in youth suicide in California, serious mental health challenges persist. Schools need trained professionals who can recognize warning signs, respond to crises and connect students with appropriate care.

Students also bring fears into school that originate far beyond campus. Immigration raids across California have exacerbated students’ anxieties about family separation, fears for parents’ safety, and difficulty concentrating in class. In moments like these, psychiatric social workers have provided students with weekly check-ins, psychological counseling and information about legal support services. They have also facilitated community circles where students can discuss unfolding events and how those events affect them.

If schools lose these professionals, students and families will have fewer places to turn for help. Families with the means to do so may be able to pay for private counseling, but families without those means can lose access to critical support altogether.

The gains made possible by Proposition 30 demonstrate what sustained public investment can achieve. Without continued funding that would come from Proposition 3, it’s hard to see how schools can maintain those hard-won gains, preserve mental health services and build the capacity they need to respond to students’ changing needs.

Years from now, our students will have to live with the consequences of the choices we make during this election. Children need more than academic instruction to thrive. They need the stability and support that allow them to recover from setbacks, develop confidence and imagine a future beyond their immediate challenges.

Proposition 3 will not magically fix California’s schools. But without this revenue, schools will struggle to maintain the staffing and programs our students deserve. The question we must ask is not simply what California can afford to fund, but what we are willing to risk going without.

Gloria Martinez is the president of United Teachers Los Angeles.

Voters at a polling place. Credit: Andrew Reed / EdSource

CON: Taxpayers leader says California doesn’t need another forever tax

As statewide student enrollment declines

By Robert Gutierrez, EdSource.org – republished with permission

Proposition 3 asks voters to approve a massive tax increase that would not take effect until 2031, when California’s finances may look completely different from how they do today. Voters should reject Proposition 3 and keep their options open.

In 2031, there will be a new president in the Oval Office, a new governor, and a different political landscape in California — especially if voters approve Proposition 40 to impose a wealth tax that could prompt an exodus of the taxpayers targeted by Proposition 3.

The state also will have significantly fewer students in our public schools. The Department of Finance projects a decline of 710,500 students from 2026 through 2036, and by the midpoint of this decline, we undoubtedly will see some major changes in the education structure.

This is only the beginning of the list of unknowns. Other questions include:

  • Will Californians still be paying billions of dollars per year for a nonfunctioning “high-speed” railroad system in 2031, rather than prioritizing schools for that spending?
  • Will taxpayers still be paying for ineffective programs that haven’t solved homelessness?
  • Will startups launch in California, or take their jobs and economic benefits to states with more competitive tax rates?

In short, it makes no sense to amend the state constitution to commit to a tax increase now, five years in advance, when we have no idea what condition the state will be in when the tax would take effect.

What difference could five years make?

California’s finances can change substantially in a short period. Total state revenue for the current fiscal year is projected to be $21.5 billion higher than the amount collected five years earlier. The Department of Finance also recently reported that general fund revenue was running $5.5 billion above the projection used to draft the 2026-27 budget just six months earlier. This means the education funding guarantee will go up, too.

It makes no sense to amend the state constitution to commit to a tax increase now, five years in advance, when we have no idea what condition the state will be in when the tax would take effect.

Timing is only one of the problems. While Proposition 3 is marketed as a “tax extension” that would only affect high-income residents, the truth is that it’s a major tax increase that would hit millions of small businesses as well as high-income individuals. The result: California’s affordability crisis gets worse.

The small-business aspect of Proposition 3 hasn’t received enough attention. California’s tax structure does not neatly separate business income from personal income, and many small businesses operate as sole proprietorships, partnerships, or S corporations that report business earnings on personal income tax returns.

This means the higher tax rates imposed by Proposition 3 would increase taxes on many small businesses, ultimately leading to higher prices for customers, fewer job opportunities for workers, or both.

The Public Policy Institute of California reported in February that sole proprietorships accounted for more than 3 million California businesses in 2023. But the number of those businesses whose owners would be impacted by Proposition 3 depends on their taxable income.

To the extent that Proposition 3 would hit high-income earners, it would make California more reliant on the most volatile source of revenue, while simultaneously making it even more volatile by giving high-income residents a new incentive to leave the state.

California already imposes the nation’s highest personal income taxes and would have a top personal income tax rate of 10.3% on income over $1 million without Proposition 3. The state also imposes a 1.3% State Disability Insurance tax on all income from salaries and wages, bringing the top tax rate to 11.6% on those forms of income, without Proposition 3.

As for the issue of an “extension” versus an “increase,” the fact is clear: If Proposition 3 is approved, Californians will pay $5 billion to $15 billion a year more in state income tax than if the initiative is defeated (according to estimates by the Legislative Analyst’s Office). That’s an increase — and a very large one, at that.

Finally, the measure would continue the trend in which “temporary” taxes in California never seem to go away. As the proponents of Proposition 40 are discovering, voters are extremely distrustful of taxes described as temporary. Why? In large part because of Proposition 3 and its predecessor, Proposition 55 of 2016, asking voters to renew a tax originally described as a temporary charge to cover an emergency.

The ballot argument for the original initiative, Proposition 30 of 2012, said the taxes “are temporary, balanced and necessary to protect schools and safety” — one of the argument’s five mentions of the allegedly temporary nature.

With revenue arriving above projections and the state spending billions on questionable programs without proper controls or a review of effectiveness, it can no longer be said that California has a fiscal emergency.

The voters should give much-needed relief to small businesses and their customers, avoid making fiscal decisions prematurely, and let the “emergency tax” expire on schedule. Vote NO on Proposition 3.

Robert Gutierrez is president of the California Taxpayers Association, which is celebrating its 100th year of serving as the state’s largest and oldest association representing taxpayers in this state.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. EdSource welcomes commentaries representing diverse points of view.

Here’s how much California Teachers Association has spent on Barrera campaign, Prop. 3

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By Daniel J. Willis, EdSource.org, republished with permission

The California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union and one of the largest funders of California political campaigns, has spent more than $65.5 million this election cycle, campaign finance records show.

Most of that money — $58.3 million — has been spent in support of Proposition 3, a ballot initiative to make permanent a temporary tax on high earners that helps fund public schools and community colleges. CTA’s contributions account for 87% of the Yes on 3 campaign’s funding. Records show the No on 3 effort has raised a total of $5,500, meaning CTA alone has spent nearly $9,700 for every dollar spent opposing the proposition.

CTA is also a major source of independent support for State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Richard Barrera, having spent $8.4 million as of Oct. 27. That includes spending in support of Barrera and spending in opposition to his opponent, Sonja Shaw.

The union is by far the biggest Barrera supporter in terms of spending, with 96% of independent spending to support Barrera having come from CTA through various committees. The union also contributed $39,200 directly to Barrera’s campaign.

Other causes CTA has spent on include $1.5 million to oppose Prop. 39, an initiative to add stronger voter ID; $500,000 to oppose Prop. 43, which aims to require voter-proposed tax increases meet the two-thirds majority required for Legislature-proposed taxes; and $481,000 in support of local bond measures across the state.

Unlike in previous elections, CTA has mostly stayed out of the race for governor. Records show $39,200 in contributions to Xavier Becerra’s campaign or independent expenditure committees supporting him.

State Workforce Board announces $5.7 Million to build career pathways in quantum and fusion

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Five projects will connect Californians to training and quality jobs in two emerging industries including at two Bay Area sites

By Anna Champe, Communications Manager, California Workforce Development Board

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) today announced $5,744,665 million in Workforce Accelerator Fund (WAF) 14 awards to five projects that will help Californians prepare for and access quality jobs in the state’s growing quantum and fusion industries.

The awards build on Governor Newsom’s recent announcement of new investments and legislation to advance California’s leadership in quantum technology and fusion energy. Quantum and fusion are priority sectors identified in California’s State Economic Blueprint, underscoring the need to support a skilled workforce to drive these emerging industries.

“Expanding on recent state investments in quantum, WAF 14 gives regions across the state an opportunity to prepare workers for these emerging industries,” said Kaina Pereira, Executive Director of the California Workforce Development Board. “By bringing together employers, educators, and workforce partners, these investments will help address key barriers to growth, strengthen California’s workforce, and create new opportunities for Californians.”

The Workforce Accelerator Fund has awarded more than $40 million since 2018 to support partnerships that test, scale, and replicate innovative approaches to workforce development. WAF 14 continues this investment by advancing career pathways in quantum, fusion, and related occupations, connecting Californians to industry-recognized credentials, training, and jobs, including those that do not require a four-year degree.

“Accelerator funds are the first grant I’ve ever worked with that allowed us to try out different solutions and figure out what works best for our individuals,” said Marni Roosevelt, WAF 9 grantee and Director of the Family Resource Center at Los Angeles Valley College.

Watch their success story to learn how WAF helps organizations expand services and create opportunities for Californians facing barriers to employment.

Accelerator 14 Awards

  • $1.5 M for San Jose State University Research Foundation, Quantum Computing Hardware Design – creates a three-tier certificate program that prepares students and workers for careers in quantum computing hardware. The program offers flexible pathways from high school through university, with options to enter the workforce or advance to the next certificate level.
  • $1.03 M for University of California, Berkeley, Northern California Quantum Training Pipeline – Develops and pilots a regional quantum workforce pipeline from grades 9 through 16, connecting students and job seekers to quantum careers. The project will create an implementation plan for coordinated training at the associate and bachelor’s levels, along with an 8- to 13-week industry-verified credential.
  • $993,900 for University of California, Santa Barbara, Q-COAST – establishes a training pathway for hardware technician careers that does not require a four-year degree. The program will prepare workers for jobs in superconductivity, photonic integrated circuits, quantum optics, and fusion.
  • $746,040 for Valley Vision, Inc., Quantum Capital – creates a regional workforce system for Greater Sacramento by defining the quantum economy and skills needed, aligning training and credentials with employer needs, and connecting K-12 education through college to quantum careers.
  • $1.48 M for University of California, San Diego, Fusion CAL Career Pathway – creates a career pathway from high school through college and university to in-demand fusion jobs. Serving an estimated 160 participants, the pathway includes a stackable, industry-recognized certificate that can be earned in 13 weeks.

Since 2019, CWDB has awarded more than $596 million to support workforce development projects across the state, serving more than 80,500 participants. Grounded in equity, quality jobs, and climate resilience, these investments help Californians with employment challenges, access supportive services, develop in-demand skills, earn industry-recognized credentials, and connect to quality jobs that offer opportunities for long-term career growth.

About CWDB

The California Workforce Development Board forges partnerships with businesses, labor, and government to build an economy defined by equity, quality jobs, and climate resiliency that challenges systemic barriers toward shared economic prosperity.

 

Garamendi, DeSaulnier react to GAO watchdog report claiming ‘Trump’s EPA broke the law’, demand return of $19 million to North Richmond project

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Congressmen Garamendi and DeSaulnier official photos

Funding cancelled because of its “DEl initiatives, ‘environmental justice’ initiatives, and conflict with the Agency’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence” – EPA

Also, later rescinded by Congress in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

By Cameron Niven, Communications Director, Office of Congressman John Garamendi

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), who each represent portions of Contra Costa County, issued the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the government watchdog, published Garamendi’s requested report finding that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to block a $19 million Community Change Grant to Contra Costa County violated the law.

This news comes more than one year after Reps. Garamendi and DeSaulnier confronted the EPA for violating federal appropriations law and federal court injunctions by canceling a $19.1 million Community Change Grant awarded to Contra Costa County for its North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative.

“The GAO confirmed what we knew all along: President Trump’s EPA broke the law, and now I’m demanding they pay us back,” said Garamendi. “This funding was, and still is, not a suggestion. Congress mandated years ago that these funds be delivered to frontline communities like North Richmond, which, because of President Trump’s blatant abuse of the law, has continued to suffer the health impacts of extreme pollution. Not only has Trump’s EPA acted in ways that break the law, but because of its callousness and disregard for the American people, it is endangering the health and wellbeing of some of our nation’s most vulnerable residents. The people of North Richmond deserve better. Trump took away their money, and now they need to give it back.”

“Over a year ago, I was proud to stand with Congressman Garamendi in calling on the Trump Administration to reverse course as they illegally clawed back over $19 million in federal funding for environmental protection efforts from Contra Costa County,” said DeSaulnier. “Now the GAO, an independent government watchdog agency, has confirmed the Administration violated the law in stealing this money and we demand it be reinstated immediately.”

Background

In spring 2025, the EPA terminated a $19.1 million Community Change Grant awarded to Contra Costa County for its North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative. The initiative is one of 105 applications selected for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Community Change Grants (CCG) Program announced by the Biden Administration in December 2024, just at the end of his term, which was the largest national investment in environmental and climate justice (ECJ).

The $19.1 million in funding was allocated directly to the community for the initiative, which aimed to build a resilience center for emergencies and natural disasters and to plant 65 trees along the Verde Elementary schoolyard to shield students from pollution caused by a new distribution center.

In response to the news of the cancellation, Congressman Garamendi and Congressman DeSaulnier sent a letter to Trump-appointed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stating that the agency flagrantly violated the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act without any explanation or due process.

In response to Garamendi and DeSaulnier’s letter, the EPA provided little to no justification for the cancellation, saying only that the agency does not support programs or organizations that promote or take part in DEI or “environmental justice” initiatives.

Congressman Garamendi then requested a report on the Trump Administration’s actions from the GAO, which published its decision on the termination of the Community Change Grants on October 7. The GAO found that the EPA violated the law and noted that Garamendi and DeSaulnier’s letter to the EPA and the agency’s response also helped inform its determination.

GAO Claims EPA Broke the Law, Congress Later Rescinded Funding

According to the GAO’s report, “In early 2025, EPA decided to terminate the ECJ subprograms, including the CCG Program, paused payments to grantees, and later terminated the CCGs. Congress subsequently rescinded the unobligated balances of amounts made available to the ECJ Program as part of Public Law 119-21 – commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

“Unless Congress has enacted a law providing otherwise, executive branch officials must take care to ensure that they prudently obligate appropriations during their period of availability. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA) allows the President to withhold funds from obligation or expenditure, but only under strictly limited circumstances and only in a manner consistent with that Act.

“We find that EPA violated the ICA when the agency, without submitting a special message to Congress: (1) withheld funds from expenditure for the CCG Program after deciding to terminate the program; and (2) withheld funds from obligation by terminating the CCGs. These withholdings were impoundments subject to the ICA and not programmatic delays.

“GAO is aware of ongoing litigation involving the termination of ECJ Program grants, including CCGs. We have included the most up-to-date information related to the litigation in this decision.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Hundreds of Bay Area rental housing providers, tenant advocates to protest, testify in opposition to Air Board’s gas appliance ban

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Photos: BAAQMD

To raise concerns during Wednesday meeting that the regulation is bad policy that will increase housing costs, disrupt renters, and push housing providers to sell properties

BAAQMD’s actions part of effort to convert California homes to electric powered heat pumps for water heaters and HVAC systems

Contra Costa Supervisors Carlson, Gioia serve on BAAQMD Board

By Keegan Coleman, Actum

SAN FRANCISCO – Hundreds of rental housing providers, property owners and representatives from local rental housing affiliates across the nine counties that fall under the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) jurisdiction – including the counties of Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma – will gather at the BAAQMD Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, October 7, to testify in opposition to the district’s gas appliance ban and make clear that the regulation is bad housing policy.

Background & Timeline

The Air District Board of Directors is considering changes to Regulation 9, Rules 4 and 6 which are intended to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from residential and commercial furnaces and water heaters in buildings in the Bay Area.

According to the Water Heater Rule Draft Amendments Overview, “The amendments are designed to make compliance with the rule more affordable by providing exemptions for low-income property owners and addressing situations where installing a compliant water heater would be particularly expensive. The draft amendments and supporting material can be found at: baaqmd.gov/building-appliances.”

According to the District’s Notice of Public Hearing issued on Friday, Oct. 2nd, “On March 15, 2023, the Air District adopted amendments to Rule 9-4: Nitrogen Oxides from Fan Type Residential Central Furnaces and Rule 9-6: Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Emissions from Natural Gas Fired Boilers and Water Heaters that govern point of sale emission standards for small, typically residential and commercial, water and space heating systems.

The Board then conducted a public hearing on June 21, 2023, in which they directed staff to submit the current versions of Rule 9-4 and Rule 9-6 to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA and the California Air Resources Board for inclusion in the State Implementation Plan (SIP).

At their meeting on Nov. 4, 2026, the Air District Board of Directors will consider changes to Rule 9-6 for water heaters. The changes being considered would, if approved, provide for some exemptions to the zero-nitrogen oxides standard and would extend the compliance date. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard and is also accessible via Zoom on the Air District’s website.

According to the Appliance Rules Concept Paper Overview, “To make the transition fair and practical, the Air District is working on 2026 flexibility amendments that could:

  • Allow continued sales of small (≤35-gallon) gas water heaters for a limited time.
  • Provide exemptions for low-income homeowners and some small business types.
  • Permit contractors to purchase and install temporary “loaner” water heaters for emergencies
  • Grant extra time or exemptions for homes needing major electrical upgrades, water heater relocation, or hydronic systems”

According to the District’s Fact Sheet on the proposed amendments, “The amended rules will affect Bay Area households that use natural gas appliances — roughly 2/3 of all households currently. The rule amendments will apply only to new appliances, and do not mandate retrofitting of existing appliances and the current timeline is as follows:

  • 2027* – only zero NOx small tank type 75k BTU/hr water heaters can be sold or installed in the Bay Area.
  • 2029 – only zero NOx furnaces less than 175k BTU/hr can be sold or installed in the Bay Area.
  • 2031 – only zero NOx large commercial water heaters, tank type 75k to 2M BTU/hr and tankless water heaters, typically large commercial and multifamily water heaters can be sold or installed in the Bay Area.

*The Board of Directors will consider flexibility amendments in 2026 and potentially adjust the timeline with a later compliance deadline.”

According to the Rule Development History;

  • In December of 2024, Air District staff presented an informational update on the implementation readiness of the zero NOx requirements for residential water heaters (Rule 9-6) to the Air District Board of Directors.
  • In April of 2025, Air District staff presented to the Stationary Source Committee to share proposed next steps and potential flexibilities and amendments to Rule 9-6 (2027 compliance date) based on the IWG’s findings. The second phase of the IWG 2.0 will commence in late-2025 and will focus on furnaces Rule 9-4 (2029 compliance date).

So, the Air Board will consider the proposed amendments to Rule 9-4 at a later date.

Public Comments for Oct. 7th Meeting

During general public comments speakers will urge the Board to reconsider the regulation, warning that the mandate would impose high new costs on rental housing communities, create logistical and construction challenges for older and space-constrained properties, disrupt renters, and further strain a region already facing one of the nation’s most severe housing affordability crises. If Item 16 is pulled from the Consent Calendar, there will be another opportunity for public comments on the Stationary Source Committee’s report (see the Committee’s Item 5 on page 176 of the Board meeting agenda, entitled, State and Regional Efforts to Advance the Equitable Transition to Clean Appliances).

Representatives from organizations including Better Housing Policies, Business and Housing Network, Santa Clara Association of Realtors, San Mateo County Association of Realtors, East Bay Rental Housing Association, Berkeley Property Owners Association, California Rental Housing Association, South County Business Alliance, Silicon Valley Business Alliance, and Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute will attend the meeting to emphasize to the Board that while clean-air goals are important, this regulation takes the wrong approach by shifting costly infrastructure burdens onto housing providers and, ultimately, renters.

Contra Costa County Supervisors Ken Carlson and John Gioia who serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the BAAQMD Stationary Source Committee speak during its meeting on Sept. 9, 2026. Video screenshots.

Stationary Source Committee Meeting Details

During the District’s Stationary Source Committee meeting on September 9 2026, Chaired by Contra Costa County District 4 Supervisor Ken Carlson, and whose Vice Chair is Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, “Richard Chien, Planning and Climate Protection Manager, gave the staff presentation entitled, State and Regional Efforts to Advance the Equitable Transition to Clean Appliances, including: abbreviations; outline; major players in the clean appliance transition; spotlight on California Heat Pump Partnership; spotlight on Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) – heat pump water heater (HPWH) for hard-to-reach households, contractor readiness, building department support; spotlight on Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E); spotlight on load serving entities – funding support, permitting support; Senate Bill (SB) 222 – The Heat Pump Access Act, entitled, “Residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC systems” (which Newsom signed into law on Sept. 28th); spotlight on Sprint to 9-6 – communications and outreach; spotlight on equitable building decarbonization; and Air District outreach and education.

“Jane Elias, Manager of Energy Programs with Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Association of Bay Area Governments, and Nik Kaestner, Senior Building Decarbonization Coordinator with the San Francisco Environment Department, provided additional context after the presentation.”

Before the presentation, the District’s Executive Officer and Air Pollution Control Officer Philip Fine explained to the committee members that the agenda item wasn’t Rule 9-4 or 9-6 which the Board will consider in November.

Chien shared about the California Heat Pump (Public-Private) Partnership Blueprint which is pushing to increase the number of housing units that install heat pumps throughout the state. “The 2025 California Energy Code (effective Jan 1, 2026) encourages heat pumps for both space and water heating and supports all‑electric new construction. California has committed to a clean energy future for all through groundbreaking building decarbonization efforts, including Governor Newsom’s goal to install 6 million heat pumps throughout the state by 2030.”

“Unlike traditional fossil gas systems, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat rather than generate it, making them highly efficient while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution,” the Blueprint claims.

According to the HVAC Laboratory, “At its core, a heat pump is an electrically powered appliance that moves heat between the indoors and outdoors. Unlike a furnace that burns fuel or a standard electric heater that converts electricity directly into warmth, a heat pump captures existing heat from the air—or even the ground—and relocates it. In heating mode, the outdoor unit extracts thermal energy from the outside air and brings it inside; even when temperatures drop into the 40s or 30s, there’s enough ambient heat to collect. Come summer, the cycle flips. The system acts just like a central air conditioner, pulling heat from your living spaces and expelling it outdoors.”

According to ElectrifyCalc, “California homeowners can expect to pay $5,500–$12,000 installed for a 2–3 ton air-source heat pump in 2026 — and with the Section 25C federal tax credit (30%, up to $2,000), HEEHRA (High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act) rebates up to $8,000, and California’s own TECH Clean CA program offering $1,000–$4,000, the net cost after stacking incentives can drop below $2,000 for income-qualified households.”

According to EnergyStar.gov, a heat pump water heater “takes the heat from surrounding air and transfers it to water in an enclosed tank.”

Chien also spoke about BayREN, the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, which is “a coalition of the Bay Area’s nine counties…partnering to promote resource efficiency at the regional level, focusing on energy, water and greenhouse gas reduction.” They are working to provide resources, such as “an express permitting form template and standardized information materials for city websites.”

He also spoke about what PG&E is doing to help streamline the installation of heat pumps including zero-interest loans. Finally, Chien spoke on the Equitable Decarbonization Program overseen by the California Energy Commission which includes the Initial Community Focus Areas of Western and Eastern Contra Costa and others in the Bay Area.

He, the other presenters and District staff then answered questions of the committee members followed by public comments on the item.

No action was taken on the information item. (See video of the committee meeting)

WHAT: BAAQMD Board of Directors Meeting

WHEN: Wednesday, October 7, 2026  10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 375 Beale Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105

WHO: Noni Richen, Board President, Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute

Derek Barnes, CEO, East Bay Rental Housing Association

Krista Gulbransen, Executive Director, Berkeley Property Owners Association

Public Comment Deadline Nov. 1st

The District is seeking public comments on the Proposed Rule Language and Preliminary Staff Report ahead of the Board of Directors meeting on November 4th. The public comment period for the proposed amendment to Rule 9-6 will close on November 1st at 6 PM. Online comments must be submitted through the Air District’s public comment tool to be considered. Under Air District policy, we cannot consider comments on regulations that are submitted by email. Written comments can also be submitted by mail to Rule Development, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 375 Beale Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105. Verbal comments are welcome up to the day of and during the Public Hearing.

For more information about the Board meeting see Agenda Packet and about the BAAQMD visit www.baaqmd.gov.

Gov. Newsom announces $2.7 billion for 150+ projects to expand and make state’s transportation system more resilient

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Source: Caltrans

Includes funds for 3-bore Caldecott Tunnel ventilation systems rehabilitation and upgrade project, adding 2 lanes to Hwy 237 in Sonoma County

By Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced on August 28, 2026, $2.7 billion in funding for more than 150 new projects designed to improve travel times, expand travel options beyond driving, and strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure assets against severe weather and other climate-driven threats.

From stronger infrastructure to expanded transit access, the investments advance the Governor’s Build More, Faster — For All agenda while helping California prepare for a changing climate and keep people and goods moving.

California is building a transportation system ready for the future — one that can withstand extreme weather, give people more ways to get where they need to go, and keep our economy moving.  While Donald Trump is taking America’s transportation future backward, we are moving forward by creating jobs, modernizing infrastructure and building a more resilient California for generations to come.

– Governor Gavin Newsom

The projects build on California’s unprecedented state and federal transportation investments, including funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden, which continues to deliver projects, jobs and upgrades in communities across the state.

Since 2019, the Newsom administration has allocated more than $81.1 billion to transportation projects across California, supporting the creation of more than 800,000 jobs.

“These investments fuel the state’s mission to deliver a transportation system that is evolving and continuing to serve all Californians, regardless of their travel mode,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “The action taken supports Governor Newsom’s vision to improve the state’s infrastructure and further prepare and equip us against the current and future effects of climate change.”

Build more, Faster — For All

This latest $2.7 billion transportation investment brings California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocations under the Newsom administration to approximately $81.1 billion to date. Of the combined total, nearly $1.6 billion is funded by President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and another $542 million from California’s Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

“This slate of projects builds on our goals to create and maintain a safer transportation network that addresses current needs and also prioritizes long-term objectives,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy.

“These investments support a transportation system that meets the diverse needs of communities throughout California,” said California Transportation Commission Chair Clarissa Falcon. “By improving safety, strengthening resilience, and expanding transportation options, these projects will deliver lasting benefits for Californians.”

Notable project investments

  • Caldecott Tunnel in Orinda – $267 million to rehabilitate and upgrade the ventilation systems of three of the four bores that make up the tunnel. The project replaces the tunnel’s structural pavement, upgrades drainage and underdrain systems, and improves electrical systems to sustainable LED lighting. Construction begins Oct. 5th. Read more about the improvements to Bores One, Two and Three, here.

State Route 37: Sears Point to Mare Island Improvement Project map. Source: Caltrans

  • State Route 37 Project – $63 million to add two new High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to State Route 37 in Sonoma County between Sears Point and Mare Island to improve traffic flow during peak travel times. Phase 1 of the Sears Point-to-Mare Island Improvement Project will include upgrades to the Sears Point interchange between highways 37 and 121 in Sonoma County; a roughly one-mile extension of the eastbound Highway 37 merge lane; and replacement of the existing 60-foot-long bridge over Tolay Creek with a higher, 375-foot-long span that will promote better tidal flow between San Pablo Bay and the historic Sonoma Baylands north of the highway. Later phases of the Sears Point-to-Mare Island improvements will include the addition of another travel lane in each direction as well as work to restore critical marshlands that protect the route from rising waters. Schedule: Environmental Phase Completed February 8, 2023; Complete Design – Summer 2026; Begin Construction – Spring 2027; and End Construction – Fall 2029. Read more about the Highway 37 improvement projects, here and here.
  • Safe Route to School – $1.8 million to install warning beacons, signs and ADA ramps at several uncontrolled multi-lane crosswalks for a new Safe Route to School project in the community of Oildale in east Bakersfield.
  • 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure improvements – $2.45 million to add infrastructure improvements, and safety upgrades to four transit stations in Los Angeles County in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Improvements to the 7th Street/Metro Center, Norwalk, Union Station, and Harbor Gateway stations include new wayfinding, lighting, security, passenger amenities and landscaping.
  • Wildlife Crossing in Dunsmuir – $76.5 million to install a wildlife crossing and fencing along Interstate 5 near Dunsmuir in Shasta County. The project will also upgrade pavement, guardrails, signs and drainage systems.
  • Eel River Fish Passage – $33.5 million for three projects to improve fish passage by removing current barriers, replacing culverts with concrete bridge structures, and reducing sediment loads on the South Fork of the Eel River near State Route 1 in Humboldt County.

California has invested approximately $21.5 billion in infrastructure projects since IIJA’s passage, creating nearly 280,000 jobs. Those dollars are leveraged along with SB 1, which invests an estimated $5 billion annually, split between state and local investments. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.

California’s transportation leadership

Under Governor Newsom, California has built one of the most ambitious transportation agendas in the nation — making historic investments in roads, bridges, rail and transit while accelerating the transition to cleaner, safer and more resilient transportation.

  • California State Transportation Agency oversees more than $12 billion in annual transportation funding across eight state agencies — delivering roads, bridges, rail, transit, and zero-emission infrastructure to every corner of the state.
  • California Transportation Commission allocates an additional $10 billion annually for transportation projects. The Commission works with local, regional, and state partners to direct funding where it can have the greatest impact, supporting projects that improve mobility, strengthen the economy, reduce congestion, and make the transportation system more resilient to climate change and extreme weather.
  • California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) designs, builds, and maintains California’s transportation system, including more than 50,000 miles of highway. Recently, Caltrans launched Traffic Mobility Insights, an AI-powered platform that unifies seven statewide traffic systems, refreshes highway bottleneck detection every 25 minutes, and can generate emergency evacuation routes in minutes during wildfires or earthquakes.
  • California’s High-Speed Rail Authority is advancing daily with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield, more than 90 miles of guideway complete, and 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction-ready. The project has created nearly 19,200 good-paying construction jobs, most filled by Central Valley residents, and generated nearly $27 billion in economic impact statewide. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites every day.

California is also making zero-emission vehicles more accessible to consumers. In January, the state surpassed 2.5 million cumulative zero-emission vehicle sales, far exceeding its original goal of 1.5 million ZEVs by 2025. And now, California is putting money directly in the pockets of consumers: Governor Newsom recently launched $3,500 instant discounts for Californians purchasing their first new zero-emission vehicle, with the discount applied immediately at participating dealers.

California is extending that transformation across every mode of transportation. Last September, San Bernardino County made history by welcoming the first hydrogen-powered passenger train into revenue service in North America. In May, Governor Newsom launched a $1 billion rebate program for electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and in April 2025, announced $500 million for 1,000 clean school buses statewide. Demand for zero-emission bus and truck incentives has more than doubled year-over-year.

Governor Newsom’s Build More, Faster — For All infrastructure agenda has driven historic investments in transportation that will benefit all Californians for decades to come. More than 29,000 California infrastructure projects are tracked at build.ca.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

City of Walnut Creek Below Market Rate home ownership opportunities for very-low and low-income first-time homebuyers*

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3- to 4-bedroom 2,000+ s.f. single family residences.  Sale price $262,750 to $377,00 with up to $70,000 in additional homebuyer assistance financial subsidies

By Walter Zhovreboff, Administrative Director, Bay Area Affordable Home Ownership Alliance

The City of Walnut Creek is providing a very rare and highly beneficial opportunity for very low to low income first time homebuyers to secure home ownership of newly constructed three and four-bedroom single family homes.  The price for these homes will range from $262,750 to $377,000.  These newly constructed large two-level homes are part of the City of Walnut Creek’s Below Market Rate (BMR) home ownership program.  The same market-rate residences in the premier communities are for sale at prices ranging from $1,100,000 to $1,300,000

State and City ordinances enable developers building new homes in Walnut Creek to secure advantageous density bonuses by designating a percentage of their newly built inventory for very low to moderate income households.  Eligibility for these low-income BMR homes is restricted to first-time homebuyer households with a minimum household size of three to four persons.  Furthermore, the household’s combined gross income may not exceed the maximum thresholds outlined in the schedule below.

Household size 3 4 5 6 7 8
Maximum income allowance $122,200 $135,750 $146,650 $157,500 $168,350 $179,200

*To qualify as a first-time homebuyer, no household member may have owned or held an ownership interest in a residential property within the past three years.

The City of Walnut Creeks Below Market Rate homebuyer program is administered by the Bay Area Affordable Homeownership Alliance (BAAHA), a 501c3 non-profit organization.  BAAHA and the City are also partnering with the Richmond Community Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) to help provide access to essential first-time homebuyer education and counseling.  Furthermore, this collaboration, alongside support from Mechanics Bank, provides access for up to $70,000 in additional down payment assistance subsidies for qualifying buyers.   One of the loan subsidies provides up to $32,800 which is forgiven after five years of ownership.

To review the eligibility criteria, application process, and submission requirements for the currently available $262,750 four-bedroom very low-income home, please visit the BAAHA Abigail Place website at: https://myhomegateway.org/walnut-creek-bmr—abigail-place.html.  Households interested in purchasing the Walnut Creek BMR will be required to submit an application to BAAHA to participate in a lottery. The two remaining affordable Below Market Rate (BMR) units are scheduled to be released to the market shortly.

The City of Walnut Creek, BAAHA, and CHCD invite interested households to attend a virtual BMR program informational workshop scheduled for 6:00PM on October 21, 2026.  Topics covered at the workshop will focus on: BMR program purchase eligibility guidelines and requirements; gaining access to BMR Programs; required HUD education and valuable homebuyer counseling services; next steps households should take to apply to an upcoming BMR lottery. To get additional information and make a reservation for the virtual workshop please visit BAAHA’s website at https://myhomegateway.org/wc-bmrworkshop.html

U.S. Navy approves financial agreement for Base Reuse Project at former Concord Naval Weapons Station

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Source: City of Concord

Will cost Master Developer $44.6 million plus interest

Additional community engagement expected to start early 2027

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 City Council approved the term sheet in May.

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.

White Pony Express named Regional Finalist for Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards®; public voting ends Sept. 30

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Eve Birge, CEO of White Pony Express with the Chick-fil-A Moo Cow. Photo: WPE

Help county food recovery organization earn up to $200,000 grant

By Trish Heaney, Communication & Marketing Manager for White Pony Express

Concord, Calif. – White Pony Express (WPE), the food recovery organization serving Contra Costa County, has been named a Western Region finalist for the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards®, with the opportunity to earn up to $200,000 in grant funding to help end hunger in our community. White Pony Express was nominated by the Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Walnut Creek at North Main and Chick-fil-A The Willows.

White Pony Express is already a Shared Table® partner with both restaurants, regularly receiving donated surplus food to help prepare meals for neighbors facing hunger — a partnership that made this nomination a natural fit.

The award is decided by public vote. Chick-fil-A One® App users can cast their vote for White Pony Express in the Western Region now through September 30. To vote:

  • Sign in to your Chick-fil-A One® account (or create one) in the Chick-fil-A App
  • Select “For You” at the bottom of the screen and look for the True Inspiration Awards card
  • Tap “Vote Now”
  • Select Western Region
  • Cast your vote for White Pony Express
  • Bring proof of your vote to the Chick-fil-A Walnut Creek at North Main or The Willows for a free medium fries.

“Every vote is a chance to put more good food into motion and deliver it with love to neighbors who need it,” said Eve Birge, CEO of White Pony Express. “This award would help us say yes to more than 70 organizations that are in line for our services. It would mean more children, families, and seniors sharing in our community’s abundance.”

White Pony Express currently provides the equivalent of 13,000 fresh, healthy meals each day—free of charge—to more than 140 schools, shelters, senior centers, and community organizations across Contra Costa County. With more than 70 organizations waiting for service, the award would help WPE recover more good food, reach more neighbors, and respond to a level of need that continues to outpace available resources.

The need is growing. Food insecurity among low-income adults has risen sharply across the Bay Area, including in Contra Costa County, according to the California Health Interview Survey. A win would help White Pony Express increase deliveries and reach some of the more than 70 nonprofit organizations on the waitlist. Community members are encouraged to vote and share the opportunity before voting closes on September 30.

How can I vote for the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards?

Vote in the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards until Sept. 30

From September 1 through September 30, 2026, Chick-fil-A One® Members can place their vote for the True Inspiration Awards® within the Chick-fil-A® App. To help select the award winners, follow the instructions below:

  1. Sign in to your Chick-fil-A One® account (or create one) in the Chick-fil-A App.
  2. Select “For You” at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Click the “Vote Now” button.
  4. Select your geographical region.
  5. Read about this year’s regional finalists and cast your vote.

Please note, customers must use the Chick-fil-A App and a Chick-fil-A One Account to place a vote.

The 2027 True Inspiration Awards grant winners will be announced in early 2027. For more information, visit here.

About White Pony Express

Founded in 2013 by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, White Pony Express is a volunteer-powered 501(c)(3) nonprofit built on a simple truth: hunger is not a scarcity problem; it is a distribution problem. Every day, WPE recovers fresh food and essential goods from local businesses and delivers them—free of charge—to more than 140 nonprofit partners. Its work is powered by a small staff and more than 2,000 volunteers, united by the idea that we are one human family, and love only gives its best. Fore more information visit https://whiteponyexpress.org.

About the Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards

The Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards were established in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy. The program supports organizations dedicated to caring for people, caring through food, caring for communities, and caring for our planet. Grants range from $30,000 to $200,000.