Contra Costa Herald

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

Alamo telecommunications consultant pleads guilty to violating sanctions on Iran

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70-year-old faces 20-25 years in prison, as much as $1.25 million in fines

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

OAKLAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office today announced charges against and guilty pleas by Farhad Nafeiy for violating sanctions by exporting software upgrades for commercial-grade telecommunications servers to the Islamic Republic of Iran (“Iran”), and for tax evasion. The plea was accepted by the Honorable Araceli Martínez-Olguín, United States District Judge. The announcement was made by United States Attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail J. Ramsey, Assistant Attorney General Mathew G. Olsen, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King, and Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Oakland Field Office Darren Lian.

Nafeiy, 70, of Alamo, Calif., was charged with and pleaded guilty to a violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). Under IEEPA, the President of the United States is granted authority to address unusual and extraordinary threats to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Under that law, the President has issued orders prohibiting certain activities and transactions with Iran and the Government of Iran. The Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued regulations, referred to as the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), implementing those orders. These sanctions on Iran generally prohibit, among other things, exporting or facilitating the export of U.S.-origin products to Iran and providing services to Iran.

Nafeiy obtained licenses—or approvals—from OFAC for advising non-Iranian telecommunications companies on doing business with Iran. However, those licenses did not authorize Nafeiy to provide any hardware, software, or technology directly to Iran. Nafeiy exceeded his OFAC licenses, thereby violating the ITSR and IEEPA, by directly providing software upgrades to telecommunications equipment in Iran. Nafeiy admitted in his plea agreement that he knew he exceeded these licenses when he did so. In his plea agreement, Nafeiy further admitted that the total amount of sales of such software upgrades to Iran was approximately $400,000. Nafeiy separately was charged with, and admitted to, evading his federal income taxes, and specifically not paying income tax on some of the proceeds of these sales.

On August 10, 2023, Nafeiy was charged by information with one count of violating IEEPA, in violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705, and one count of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to both charges.

Judge Martínez-Olguín scheduled Nafeiy’s sentencing hearing for January 29, 2024. For the 50 U.S.C. § 1705 violation, Nafeiy faces a maximum statutory prison term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and restitution, if appropriate. For the tax evasion charge, Nafeiy faces a maximum prison term of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and restitution of at least $79,124 to the IRS. As part of any sentence, the court may also order Nafaiy to serve a period of supervised release and to pay additional assessments, however, the court will impose a sentence only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Kingsley and Trial Attorney David Ryan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with the assistance of Kathleen Turner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Former Trial Attorney Elizabeth Abraham provided valuable assistance in prior phases of the prosecution. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

 

Kaiser provides updated statement in response to strike

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SEE 10/4/23 3:30 PM UPDATE: While bargaining ended without a contract settlement 5 tentative agreements reached

“Operations continue as normal”

Kaiser Permanente Statement on National Bargaining with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions

Kaiser Permanente and leaders and members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions were bargaining through the weekend to reach an agreement.

We continue to make progress on key issues such as a redesigned performance sharing plan with updated payout opportunities. Last week we reached tentative agreements in four key areas:, travel for continuing education, the use of temporary workers such as traveling nurses, tracking of staffing vacancies, and dispute resolution.

It is important to know that while the current national agreement expired at midnight PDT on September 30, operations continue as normal, and we will continue to honor all current contract provisions. Contract expirations do not mean a strike will happen. We remain optimistic that we will reach an agreement and avoid an unnecessary strike, which the Coalition unions have called for starting on Wednesday morning, Oct 4.

Wages

We lead total compensation in every market where we operate, and our proposals in bargaining would ensure we keep that position. In some places, a Kaiser Permanente employee leaving for a similar job at another organization would face a 20-plus percent pay cut, and lower benefits.

Included in our current offer are guaranteed across-the-board wage increases and a proposed $21 minimum wage in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, the Mid-Atlantic States (Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia), and Hawaii starting in 2024; and a $23 minimum wage starting in 2024 in California.

Hiring and Staffing

Despite the acute shortage of health care workers nationally, we have been able to hire more than 50,000 frontline employees in the last two years: 29,000 people in 2022, and another 22,000 so far this year. Included in this year’s new hires are more than 9,800 people hired into jobs represented by the Coalition. Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition agreed in April to a goal of hiring 10,000 new people for Coalition-represented jobs by the end of 2023. We expect to reach the 10,000 new hire goal by the end of October, if not sooner, and we won’t stop there. We are committed to addressing every area of staffing that is still challenging. Additionally, our attrition rate of 7% is roughly a third of the industry average and continues to fall. These achievements underscore the value of a Kaiser Permanente job and reinforce our position as a leading health care employer.

Potential Strike Starting Wednesday

In the case that a strike does begin on Oct. 4, we have contingency plans in place to ensure members continue to receive safe, high-quality care for the duration of the strike. Our hospitals and emergency departments will remain open. Kaiser Permanente members can get updates on appointments, pharmacy guidance and where to get care on kp.org.

We’ll continue to bargain in good faith until we reach a fair and equitable agreement to ensure Kaiser Permanente continues to attract and retain the best people in health care — and remains a best place to work and get care. And that includes meeting our responsibility to continue to balance taking care of our employees and being more affordable to our members.

October 4, 2023 3:30 pm UPDATE:

After 6 months of bargaining with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, including a marathon effort that went through last night and into today, our bargaining sessions unfortunately ended without a settlement, and the Coalition strikes began.

While we have not reached a contract settlement, we have been able to reach a number of tentative agreements in bargaining, and our offers to date address the unions’ priorities, including:

  • Across-the-board wage increases in all markets over the next four years.
  • Updating the Performance Sharing Plan to include a minimum payout opportunity and potential for up to a $3,750 payout.
  • Offering minimum wages of $23/hour in California and $21/hour in markets outside of California.
  • Continuing and enhancing our existing excellent health benefits and retirement income plans.
  • Renewing our strong tuition assistance and training programs, and increasing funding of the education trusts.

We remain committed to reaching a new agreement that continues to provide our employees with market-leading wages, excellent benefits, generous retirement income plans, and valuable professional development opportunities.

Together, we have faced the toughest challenges over the past three years. Kaiser Permanente, our industry, and our employees are now operating in a new cultural, labor, and post-pandemic environment that we are all working hard to understand. We are committed to finding workable solutions for this new environment that meet our responsibility to balance taking care of our employees and being affordable to our members.

We will coordinate with Coalition leaders to reconvene bargaining as soon as possible. We will work hard to reach an agreement so that together, we can all return to delivering on the mission of Kaiser Permanente for the benefit of our members, patients, employees, physicians, customers, and communities.

Meeting our shared staffing goal

On the same day that the Coalition strikes began, we’re pleased to confirm that we’ve met our goal of hiring 10,000 new Coalition-represented employees by year-end – and it is only October 4th. We’re not done yet. We are committed to addressing every area of staffing that is still challenging.

As a reminder: In April we agreed with the Coalition to a joint goal of hiring 10,000 people by the end of this year into jobs the Coalition cares about. We agreed this would be a great success if we could hire that many people into Coalition roles by the end of this year. We hit the goal three months early.

In total over the past two years, Kaiser Permanente has hired more than 50,000 people to join our teams.

Meeting our members’ needs

The health and wellbeing of our members and patients is our top priority. Because we are such a large organization, with multiple ways that members can access care, the impact of the strike is different at various locations.

We have robust plans in place to ensure members continue to receive safe, high-quality care during the strike.

All our hospitals and emergency departments remain open. Our facilities will continue to be staffed by our physicians, trained and experienced managers, and our great staff. Thousands of qualified and trained contract staff are joining our Kaiser Permanente teams this week as well, to help meet our members’ and patients’ needs. We thank those Coalition-represented employees who have chosen to come to work and care for our patients, members, and communities.

Members who need urgent or timely medical care should continue to seek it at our hospitals and medical facilities. A strike should not dissuade anyone from seeking necessary care.

We will contact members affected by any necessary changes in our services. We may need to reschedule non-emergency and elective services in some locations out of an abundance of caution. Our members can follow any important updates to our care delivery on kp.org.

 

 

Largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history spans hundreds of Kaiser Permanent hospitals and facilities across the nation

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75,000 U.S. healthcare workers of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions protest claims of unfair labor practices

By Isaac Reese, 617 Media Group

More than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers in multiple states are now on strike to protest unfair labor practices and Kaiser executives’ failure to bargain in good faith over unsafe staffing levels at hundreds of Kaiser hospitals and facilities across the United States.

Over the course of just three hours, the strike at Kaiser facilities expanded from coast to coast, following months of bad faith bargaining activity by Kaiser executives and repeated appeals by frontline healthcare workers for Kaiser executives to make the kinds of investments in staffing that could help stem employee turnover and reduce growing patient wait times.

The strike began in DC and VA at 6AM ET this morning, expanded to CO at 6AM MT, then culminated with tens of thousands of workers striking in CA, OR, and WA at 6AM PT.

In the vast majority of locations, barring an agreement, the strike is expected to last for three days. It is already the largest healthcare worker strike in U.S. history.

Healthcare workers are taking the work action to protest Kaiser executives’ bad faith bargaining, which is getting in the way of finding solutions to solve the Kaiser short-staffing crisis by investing in its workforce.

In recent days, Kaiser executives maintaining aggressive threats of outsourcing became a sticking point in negotiations, especially at a time when the company is failing to retain key employees.

“Kaiser executives are refusing to listen to us and are bargaining in bad faith over the solutions we need to end the Kaiser short-staffing crisis,” said Jessica Cruz, a licensed vocational nurse at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center. “I see my patients’ frustrations when I have to rush them and hurry on to my next patient. That’s not the care I want to give. We’re burning ourselves out trying to do the jobs of two or three people, and our patients suffer when they can’t get the care they need due to Kaiser’s short-staffing.”

Strike lines are set up at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical office buildings across the country, including California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Workers on strike include those employed as licensed vocational nurses, emergency department technicians, radiology technicians, ultrasound sonographers, teleservice representatives,  respiratory therapists, x-ray technicians, optometrists, certified nursing assistants, dietary services, behavioral health workers, surgical technicians, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, transporters, home health aides, phlebotomists, medical assistants, dental assistants, call center representatives, and housekeepers, among hundreds of other positions.

BACKGROUND

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions represents 85,000 Kaiser healthcare workers in seven states and the District of Columbia. In April, the Coalition began its national bargaining process ahead of the September 30th contract expiration. On Sept. 22, Coalition unions representing 75,000 Kaiser healthcare workers gave Kaiser executives 10-day notices for an unfair labor practice strike beginning Oct. 4. The Coalition and Kaiser Permanente last negotiated a contract in 2019, before healthcare workers found themselves on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic that has worsened working conditions and exacerbated a healthcare staffing crisis.

At issue, healthcare workers say, are a series of unfair labor practices related to bargaining in bad faith, along with simmering staff concerns related to unsafe staffing levels that can lead to dangerously long wait times, mistaken diagnosis, and neglect. After years of the COVID pandemic and chronic understaffing, Kaiser healthcare workers are calling on management to provide safe staffing levels.

Workers say that Kaiser is committing unfair labor practices and also that understaffing is boosting Kaiser’s profits but hurting patients. In a recent survey of 33,000 employees, 2/3 of workers said they’d seen care delayed or denied due to short staffing. After three years of the COVID pandemic and chronic understaffing, healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente are calling on management to provide safe staffing levels.

Kaiser has reported ​​$3 billion in profits in just the first six months of this year. Despite being a non-profit organization – which means it pays no income taxes on its earnings and extremely limited property taxes – Kaiser has reported more than $24 billion in profit over the last five years. Kaiser’s CEO was compensated more than $16 million in 2021, and forty-nine executives at Kaiser are compensated more than $1 million annually. Kaiser Permanente has investments of $113 billion in the US and abroad, including in fossil fuels, casinos, for-profit prisons, alcohol companies, military weapons and more.

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions unites more than 85,000 healthcare workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California, Colorado, Oregon, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington

Kaiser issued a statement last month responding to the then-threatened strike.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa Supervisors appoint co-directors to lead Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice

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Kendra Carr and Peter Kim are the new co-directors of the Contra Costa County ORESJ. Photos: CCCounty

By Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Board of Supervisors appointed two Co-Directors to lead the new Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ).

Kendra Carr was selected as Co-Director, Race Equity and Inter-Agency Engagement and will focus on assessing, supporting, and coordinating racial equity work within and across county agencies and departments. Peter Kim was selected as Co-Director, Race Equity and Community Empowerment and will focus on assessing, supporting, and coordinating racial equity work in the community.

“We must center the priorities and lived experiences of our residents and families who are most vulnerable to systems’ harms and inequities,” said Board Chair John Gioia, District 1 Supervisor. “This is how we will reduce racial disparities and improve outcomes for all.”

Peter Kim and Kendra Car are joined by members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and others following their appointment on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.

Contra Costa County is the first jurisdiction to develop and launch an office of racial equity and social justice through a community engagement process. In 2020, the Board of Supervisors authorized the development of the ORESJ to enact and sustain principles, policies, practices, and investments that are racially just and socially equitable across all departments and divisions.

Kendra Carr speaks at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 3, 2023.

“The work of this office is crucial for us as a county to focus on healing, justice, equity, and accountability through our service to the community,” said Vice Chair Federal Glover, District 5 Supervisor. “We must rise to the challenge and meet people where they are with the expectation that we will move at a righteous, reparative pace. The ORESJ will embody these principles, commitments, and values in their work.”

Carr holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and ethnic studies from Santa Clara University, a master’s degree in education, equity, and social justice, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Her experience includes Chief Program Officer, Senior Director of Research with Girls Leadership and Principal with Holy Names High School.

“I am excited about the opportunity to co-lead the new Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice and ensure that all community members have equitable access to and thrive as a result of engaging with the programs and services offered by county agencies,” Carr said.

Peter Kim speaks at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 3, 2023.

Kim holds multiple ethnic studies degrees from the University of California Berkeley including a bachelor’s and a master’s and is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree.

“I’m honored to have been appointed as a co-director and humbled by the importance of what this office is tasked to do,” Kim said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running with Dr. Carr and build off the incredible work of all the community members, county staff and stakeholders who worked tirelessly these past two years to establish the ORESJ.”

His experience includes the roles of Program Coordinator at Responsibility, Integrity, Strength, Empower (R.I.S.E.) and Managing Director at East Bay Asian Youth Center in East Oakland. Kim also worked for the City of Oakland as a Division Manager in the Department of Human Resources, and Department Manager/Interim Director with the Department of Violence Prevention. His most recent work has been with the Bright Research Group as a Senior Consultant.

Active at 90: Walnut Creek man sets personal planking record

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Dick Evans holding his impressive, record-breaking plank. Photos: The Kensington at Walnut Creek.

Dick Evans holds plank for a record-breaking one minute, 45 seconds  

By Uniqua Williams, Pierpont Communications, Inc.

Dick Evans exercising in The Kensington at Walnut Creek fitness center.

Walnut Creek, Calif. (October 3, 2023) – The Kensington at Walnut Creek – a Kisco senior living community – is highlighting one of its most avid health fanatics, Richard (Dick) Evans. Even at the wise age of 90, Evans remains a shining example of the positive impact an active lifestyle can have on aging gracefully, consistently achieving active goals that many people struggle with. In the words of Evans, “Use it or lose it” is a simple yet profound motto to live by when it comes to staying active.

Originally from Northern New York, Evans has been a proud Californian for the last forty years, and a beloved member of The Kensington community since 2020. Prior to joining The Kensington, Evans enjoyed a range of activities that kept him fit and active, such as walking a mile or two every day and frequently playing golf with his wife. Since his integration into the community, he has continued his commitment to staying active, participating in Physical Therapy courses at the community eight to nine times a week, participating in balance classes and even engaging in activities with PE instructors who frequent the community.

“Staying active is extremely important to me,” said Evans, resident at The Kensington. “One of my biggest goals is to live to be 100 years old. I know a big part of being able to achieve this is through continuing to stay active and living a healthy lifestyle. Which is what I’ll continue to do for as long as I can.”

Maintaining an active lifestyle offers many benefits as one ages gracefully. It serves as a powerful shield against various health concerns, effectively lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Additionally, it enhances one’s strength and balance, reducing the likelihood of injuries and fostering independence. Moreover, an active lifestyle can alleviate pain, elevate mood, mitigate symptoms of anxiety and depression, sharpen cognitive abilities, decision-making skills and so much more.

The Kensington provides a diverse range of accommodations and resources to wholeheartedly support residents who wish to maintain an active lifestyle. These offerings encompass weekly putting contests as well as onsite physical therapy classes. The community also offers many physical education courses from yoga, stretching, dance and more.

“The exercise classes the community offers have been a tremendous help, not just in keeping me active but also in maintaining my social connections within the community,” said Evans. “It’s important, especially in places like this, to find a group of people who either share your active journey or are simply pleasant company. Having a support system truly makes all the difference and keeps you motivated to keep going. I know that if I quit my active journey, I’d deteriorate quickly, and I definitely don’t want that.”

During one of Evans’ recent physical therapy sessions, his instructor threw down the challenge to see how long he could hold a plank. In the spirit of fun, Evans accepted the challenge and surprised everyone by holding his plank for an impressive one minute and 45 seconds – longer than even he thought possible. Evans, his instructor, and the whole community were proud of his remarkable achievement, a clear testament to his ongoing dedication to enhancing his balance and core strength.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Dick,” said Kayla Pierce, wellness director at The Kensington. “He serves as an incredible source of inspiration for all of us within the community, encouraging us to persistently pursue our goals. Dick brings immense joy to our community, and his unwavering commitment to staying active and assisting others shines brightly as an embodiment of the vibrant spirit we strive to create here.”

One of Evans’ favorite pastimes is leisurely strolling around the community and engaging in friendly conversations with fellow residents. He firmly believes that these interactions have been a powerful motivator, encouraging him to maintain an active lifestyle while also offering support to others on their journeys. For Evans, a fundamental philosophy is lending a hand whenever possible. During his daily walks, he finds joy in extending a helping hand to those in need along the way.

“Ever since my wife’s passing, I’ve found myself navigating this world alone, and staying active has become a vital lifeline,” said Evans. “It’s more than just exercise; it’s a lifeline to social connections. Staying active keeps me engaged with others, filling my days with purpose and meaning. Without it, my days could easily feel lonely or empty.”

In reflecting on his active lifestyle, Evans offers sage advice to those looking to stay active and lead a healthy life:

“It has to be your own decision; you’ve got to want to do it. And if you make the decision, you have to stick with it. You can’t do it one week, then drop off the next. Once you start, you’ll realize it’s not just about staying healthy; it’s about a healthy mind, making friends and getting back to the things you love.”

Evan’s story serves as a powerful reminder for all of us: it’s essential to prioritize our health. Staying active holds a wealth of benefits, regardless of age, and can unlock potential we never knew we had.

About the Kensington at Walnut Creek:

Life at The Kensington is vibrant, fulfilling and as active or carefree as you desire. The community offers Assisted Living and Memory Care in a friendly environment where our residents and associates enjoy being served and serving others. Our caring team of associates will customize a care program that is right for you while you continue to enjoy your friends, hobbies, and new opportunities at The Kensington, surrounded by mature redwood trees and filled with the comforts of a modern resort. The Kensington is an oasis in Walnut Creek, tucked away from the bustle of the city, but close enough you could walk. To learn more, visit our website or call 925-693-7784.

Rodeo couple arrested for murder, torture in bathtub drowning of 2-year-old

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Held on $1,070,000 bail

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

On Monday, October 2, 2023, at about 8:48 PM, Bay Station deputies were dispatched to the 300 block of California Street in Rodeo for a call of a two-year-old who had reportedly drowned in a bathtub.

The fire department arrived at the same time as deputies and started life-saving measures on the child. He was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Detectives investigating this incident have made two arrests in connection to the child’s death: Destiny Rose Deboe, 22 (born April 5, 2021) of Rodeo and Tyshawn Haywood, 21 (born May 16, 2002) of Rodeo. Deboe is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall and 140 pounds and Haywood is described 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Both have been booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: murder, felony infliction of injury to a child, and torture. Each is being held in lieu of $1,070,000 bail.

This case remains under investigation.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Brentwood party call leads to gun arrest of Antioch woman

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Zyann Martin. Source: her Facebook page posted on Jan. 1, 2018.

Charged with 1 felony, 2 misdemeanors for being drunk, on probation for DUI, carrying concealed, loaded stolen weapon

By Brentwood Police Department

Last week, Brentwood Officers responded to the 1600 block of Ceylon Drive for a party complaint. Our Dispatch received additional calls reporting there was a fight and someone had a gun.

When officers arrived, they saw several partygoers in the street, including an adult female who matched the description of the suspect with a gun.

The female, identified as 24-year-old Zyann Chablis Martin of Antioch, was found to be in possession of a loaded stolen gun. Martin who was heavily intoxicated at the time officers contacted her, was also on probation for DUI. According to unicourt.com her DUI occurred early last year.

Martin was placed under arrest and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. According to recentlybooked.com, Martin was charged with one felony and two misdemeanors: 25400(C)(2) PC – carrying a concealed stolen weapon (F), 496(A) PC – receiving/etc. known stolen property (M) and 647(F) PC – disorderly conduct alcohol (M). According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, as of Monday, October 2, 2023, she bonded out of custody.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Police stop 114 vehicles during Concord traffic safety enforcement

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Photo by Concord PD.

Funded by state grant

By Concord Police Department

This past Friday, the Concord Police Department’s Traffic Unit conducted targeted traffic enforcement operations throughout the City of Concord. These types of traffic safety operations are paramount in keeping our roadways safe and educating drivers on safe driving practices. This operation was made possible through a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

During this operation, 114 vehicles were stopped for various vehicle code violations. Offices focused their attention on the most egregious violations and found one driver speeding on Ygnacio Valley Road at 86 MPH in a 45 MPH zone!

Coalition calls CA AG’s ballot initiative title, summary false, misleading

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Source: Our Neighborhood Voices

Effort “to bring back a local voice in community planning” co-sponsored by Brentwood Councilwoman

By Daniel Payne, Our Neighborhood Voices

This past week the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative received a title and summary from the office of Attorney General Rob Bonta that is false, misleading and likely to create prejudice against the initiative.

The title and summary provided by Bonta’s office falsely claims that the measure “automatically” overrides the state’s affordable housing laws. It does no such thing. It gives communities the power to shape local growth in a way that better meets affordable housing requirements – and it restores the ability of local communities to negotiate even higher affordable housing rates, which one-size-fits-all laws passed in Sacramento have taken away.

In 2021, Bonta’s own office issued a title and summary for the first draft of this initiative that did not include this misleading language. It correctly stated that the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative would return land-use and zoning decisions back to local communities – instead of forcing top-down mandates on cities that damage neighborhoods and only benefit for-profit developers.

Brentwood District 1 Councilmember Jovita Mendoza is one of the three co-sponsors of the initiative which has been endorsed by the Contra Costa County city councils of Brentwood and Clayton, as well as Oakley Vice Mayor Randy Pope.

In fact, the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative will increase the chances of more affordable housing being built according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. In their report, the LAO states that the initiative “May enable additional flexibility for affordable housing development.” This is exactly the intent of the initiative – to help local cities choose which state housing laws work best for them and modify them in ways that will make them more successful.

The only substantial changes in the new version of the initiative submitted to Bonta’s office this year was the addition of a provision that exempts 100% affordable housing projects at 80% of AMI, and a repeal of Article 34 of the California Constitution that makes it more difficult to create affordable housing.

Yet Bonta’s office still added the argumentative and prejudicial language that the initiative would “automatically override” affordable housing laws.

“Bonta’s claim that our initiative would ‘automatically override’ affordable housing laws is clearly and provably false,” Brentwood City Councilmember and initiative proponent Jovita Mendoza said. “Our initiative would allow cities to choose where and how new housing projects get built, instead of forcing them to comply with blanket mandates from Sacramento that give for-profit developers a blank check to gentrify and destroy our communities.”

The laws that the Attorney General’s office is apparently referring to are not even correctly called “affordable housing” laws. Sacramento politicians have given developers the ability to override local communities and governments to build luxury housing with affordable requirements so low that these new projects contribute to displacement and gentrification.

A law like SB9, which eliminated single family zoning in California, is being challenged in court because it was passed on the premise that it WILL create affordable housing, but clearly will not. “There is nothing in laws like SB9 that would get us anywhere close to the number of new affordable units that the state says we need,” said Kalimah Priforce, an Emeryville City Councilmember and advocate for BIPOC homeownership. “Instead, we will continue to see projects that are largely unaffordable to most working families, communities of color, or other Californians who need housing most. ‘Trickle down housing’ doesn’t work – and we certainly shouldn’t be relying on debunked theories to guide important housing decisions in our state.”

“Without a fair and accurate title and summary, our initiative cannot go forward on the 2024 ballot,” explained Susan Candell, Lafayette City Councilmember and proponent of the Our Neighborhood Voices initiative. “We are weighing our options to sue, although such a delay will run out the clock for an initiative like ours – which relies on volunteer efforts to qualify. But our fight for local democracy will go forward – and we won’t stop until we restore our right to have a say in the future of our own communities.”

“In fact this politicized attack against our initiative is just further evidence that Sacramento will continue to put developer profits over the needs of our communities – unless we stand up and fight back. And while we focus our efforts on seeing that this misleading language is changed, we will continue to grow our grassroots coalition and fight back for our neighborhood voice,” said Redondo Beach City Councilmember and supporter of the initiative Nils Nehrenheim.

Learn more about the Our Neighborhood Voices coalition and

how you can get involved at www.OurNeighborhoodVoices.com

Bethel Island Health & Safety Fair Oct. 7

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Presented by Supervisor Diane Burgis, East Bay Senior Coalition & Bethel Island Municipal Advisory Council.

All are welcome to the Bethel Island Health & Safety Fair on Saturday, October 7. More than 30 service providers and agencies will be providing screenings, referrals and information for children, adults, veterans, people with disabilities and seniors.

Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023

Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: Scout Hall & Community Park, 3090 Ranch Lane, Bethel Island

Refreshments & Free Raffle!

For more information contact: Mark Whitlock at 925-351-3759