Contra Costa Herald

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

Man shot, killed in El Sobrante Wednesday night

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

On Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at approximately 10:46 PM, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the 4800 block of San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, for a report of a person shot at that location.

Deputies arrived on scene and located a shooting victim lying in a driveway. Deputies started CPR on the victim and requested the fire department and an ambulance to respond to the scene.

The 22-year-old male victim was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is not being identified at this time. The investigation is ongoing and detectives are interviewing several people at this time.

Anyone with any information on this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Richmond’s CyberTran to host Alameda County Supervisors’ Transportation Committee meeting Thursday to discuss ultra-light rail transit system

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Artist’s rendering of a CyberTran vehicle and station with overhead solar panels generating the power to operate the system.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors’ Transportation/Planning Committee will be holding a first of its kind, off-sight meeting to learn about an “Ultra Light Rail Transit System in the Alameda County East Bay Region” known as CyberTran. The meeting will be held at the U.C. Berkeley Global Campus in Richmond, where CyberTran International, Inc. has their headquarters and lab.

Overview rendering of the offline CyberTran stations.

The meeting is being held in response to the recent action by the BART Board to vote down the extension to Livermore, as the Board of Supervisors looks for an alternative transit system from the Pleasanton BART Station east.

“Alameda County has critical needs when it comes to traffic congestion. We can help,” said Dexter Vizinau, President of CyberTran International.

The solar-powered CyberTran system has been tested including by BART’s engineering department, which determined it can be built for a fourth of the cost of a BART system and operate a fraction of the cost. It can move as many people per hour per direction as BART can through the Bay Tube, which is 17,000 passengers.

During the meeting, the supervisors who serve on the committee will discuss a resolution in support of using the CyberTran system in Alameda County. The agenda for the meeting can be viewed here.

For more information about CyberTran, visit www.cybertran.com.

Editor’s Note: The publisher of the Herald has a financial interest in CyberTran International, Inc.

Two Antioch School Board trustees forego reelection to take on Belle for County School Board

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Antioch School Board Trustees Debra Vinson and Walter Ruehlig will challenge incumbent Jeff Belle for County School Board. Photos from AUSD and CCCBOE.

By Allen Payton

Long-serving Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig let it be known on Saturday, July 14 that he will not run for reelection and instead join fellow Trustee Debra Vinson and take on County School Board Vice President Jeff Belle in November’s election.

While Vinson, finishing her first and rather contentious term on the Antioch School Board, didn’t officially announce her campaign, she did ride in a car in the Antioch July 4th Parade with a sign indicating her decision to run for the county board. In 2017 Vinson was censured by her fellow board members for her interactions with district employees. (See related article). She was also passed over for the board presidency, following her year as Vice President. (See related article).

On one issue all three will most likely agree, which is approving private charter schools. Both Vinson and Ruehlig were two of the three board members who, earlier this year, voted in favor of the East Bay Tech Academy middle and high charter school petitions, and Ruehlig was one of the three who voted for the Rocketship elementary charter school petition in 2016. Belle has voted against one and approved five other charter schools while on the county board.

“I have decided definitely to run for Area 5 County Board of Education,” Ruehlig stated, following rumors of the possibility.

In his official announcement, he wrote:

I will be submitting my candidacy papers on Monday, July 16th to run for Area 5 of the County Board of Education, which covers Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Clyde, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg.
In June of 1968, I dedicated myself to public service and youth education when I taught English for the Peace Corps in Sultandag, a rural village in Turkey that had no electricity.  Fifty years later, the idealism continues.

I believe that that my twelve-year service, with three years as President, on the Antioch School Board, and my experience with the Pittsburg Unified School District as a California Department of Rehabilitation Workability Program Director for adults with disabilities and as a career counselor, have given me useful insight into County Trustee duties.  I am excited by the challenge of overseeing career training programs, special education, community day schools, and facilities for incarcerated juveniles.

I was a late-bloomer myself but, fortunately, had teachers who didn’t give up on me. I eventually caught fire and worked my way through college.  My passion for sharing opportunity and persisting with high-risk, disadvantaged or under motivated students is my way of returning thanks.

Aside from counseling, teaching and administrative background, I feel I have the proven temperament and intangible skill sets requisite for good governance.

I enjoy communication and transparency. I am open, creative and innovative but believe in sober budgeting, no-nonsense classroom behavior standards and back to the basics core curriculum.  I am pragmatic and put my ego at the door to focus on getting the task at hand done one building block at a time.  In this age of divisiveness, I am proud to say that I can get along without always going along. I am a consensus-builder but no pushover. I cannot be bullied or bought.

I look forward to meeting the voters of Area 5, hearing their concerns, and presenting my vision. I welcome their scrutiny and would be honored by their support. I pledge not to let them, or their kids, down.

Walter Ruehlig

Candidate, Area 5

Contra Costa County Board of Education

Incumbent Jeff Belle

Elected in 2014, Belle has faced a variety of controversies before and during his term on the County School Board. In January 2016, Belle admitted to claiming he was a respiratory care practitioner even though he didn’t have a license and was fined $8,200 by the state. (See related article).

In December 2016, facing prosecution by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for lying on his ballot statement, Belle admitted in court that he didn’t have a college degree which he claimed. He agreed to community service to avoid a trial and possible fine of up to $1,000. (See related article)

He and his wife had to move from their home in Antioch in spring of 2015 for failure to pay rent, due to a loss of his wife’s job and Belle not earning enough through his consulting business. They separated and Mrs. Belle moved to Sacramento. As a result, questions have arisen about Belle’s residency. He rented rooms in other people’s homes in the district. The two have since reconciled and Belle now splits his time between his wife’s place and a home in the district.

In 2017 Belle suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Recently, he posted a fundraising effort on his Facebook page to help him pay off his medical bills. The total raised was $50 from former County School Board Trustee Richard Asadoorian.

Recently, Belle has served as a producer for a TV show entitled Modern Ageless Beauty for women over age 40.

Filing opens on July 16th and closes August 10th if Belle decides to seek reelection, which is expected. If not, the filing period will be extended to August 15th. The election will be held on Tuesday, November 6th.

Fatal auto vs. bicyclist collision in Concord early Wednesday morning

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By Sergeant Adam Hart, Concord Police Traffic Bureau

On Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 12:05 AM the Concord Police Department received a call regarding an auto vs. bicyclist collision on San Miguel Road near Systron Drive Officers arrived on-scene along with medical personnel from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. The bicyclist was identified as a 60-year-old male from Concord. The identity of the deceased bicyclist is not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin by the Contra Costa County Office of the Coroner.

The driver of the vehicle is a 57-year-old male from Antioch. He remained at the scene and was the caller who called in the collision. He is cooperating with the investigation. He was not injured during the collision.

Alcohol/drugs are not believed to be a factor in this collision at this time.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation. Preliminary investigation has revealed that both the vehicle and the bicyclist were travelling south on San Miguel Rd. at the time of the collision.

San Miguel Road between Systron Drive and the entrance to 1080 San Miguel Road was closed for approximately 3.5 hours to perform roadway measurements, collect evidence, and conduct the investigation.

Additional details are not being released at this time.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this collision is encouraged to contact Officer Lawrence at (925) 671-5097.

Director says XO Music Festival lost $500,000 due to cancellation

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The planned headliners for the now cancelled festival.

By Luke Johnson

The XO Music Festival wasted an estimated $500,000, according to Director Sami “Styles” Habib.

The three-day event was canceled because World Class Entertainment did not provide proper insurance by this morning’s deadline, according to Joe Brengle, CEO of Contra Costa Event Park.

“We are the ones who are victimized here,” Habib said.

He added that his party supplied multiple sources for insurance, but they were rejected by Contra Costa Event Park. However, Brengle said those insurance agreements did not fulfill the park’s requirements.

The XO Music Festival faced several allegations online of being a scam over the past few weeks.

However, Brengle disagrees with those accusations and said the event’s management team was guilty of being too ambitious.

“I believe it wasn’t a scam,” he said. “I think they bit off more than they could chew.”

Brengle added that the negative media attention toward the event had nothing to do with its discontinuation.

The event organizers billed 100-plus artists — with marquee names such as T.I., Ludacris, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and the Bay Area’s own Mistah F.A.B. — to perform on seven different stages throughout the park. It also advertised stand-up comedy, carnival rides, roller skating and a foam pit, among other activities.

Habib said ticket sales were much lower than expected, but buyers were instantly refunded through the ticket agency, GrowTix.

Initially, Habib said the music festival lost approximately $750,000, but later said $500,000 was a more accurate number. He then said the financial loss was “definitely” in the six figures. He declined to comment when asked who provided those funds.

Brengle confirmed that Contra Costa Event Park kept $27,500 from the full rental agreement. He explained that money was already spent in preparation for this festival and it was too late to book another event for this weekend.

Habib is facing real estate fraud charges under the name Habidulla Qidar, according to CBS. He and his brother were identified by Fremont Police for being arrested in February involving a fraudulent home rental scheme.

Regarding the event’s authenticity, many people expressed concerns online about some artists’ performing schedules. Both Ludacris and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are promoted for the Chalice Festival in Southern California this weekend. However, Habib said musicians often book two shows in one day and it was requested by their agencies.

Habib said he plans to eventually produce the XO Music Festival, but at a new location.

County, City of Pittsburg launch Keller Canyon Landfill radiation disposal Investigations

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Keller Canyon Landfill. Photo courtesy of Comanco.

By Daniel Borsuk

Contra Costa County supervisors learned the City of Pittsburg is about to launch its own investigation into whether radioactive contaminated soil or material that may have been illegally deposited at Keller Canyon Landfill from the decommissioned Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and could potentially have spoiled underground water and air in the vicinity of the landfill.

The city’s investigation, according to Pittsburg Environmental Affairs Manager Laura Wright will be independent of the $150,000 study that the Contra Costa County Health Services Department will fund through Keller Canyon Mitigation funds.  The county health department study will be confined to whether radioactive materials were illegally deposited at the landfill off Bailey Road from the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.

So far, city of Pittsburg officials pinpointed $10,000 to pay for its study, but do not know what the total cost of its study will be or how it will be entirely paid, Wright told supervisors.

In all likelihood, the city will tap the state for additional funds, but did not identify specific sources, said District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen of San Ramon.

District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover of Pittsburg mentioned Pittsburg could tap Keller Canyon Mitigation funds.

“We want to go and assure the public there is no risk,” Wright said.  She said the city is responding to citizen concerns about potential health risks related to landfill management practices based on angry citizen reaction from a community meeting at the Ambrose Community Center on June 28.

In the meantime, the county will tap into the Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund to hire a consultant to conduct a study into whether radioactive material has been illegally dumped in the landfill off Bailey Road.

There have been at least two reported incidents one in June 2014 and another in February 2015 when truckloads of radioactive material or soil left the former San Francisco naval shipyard and were caught before the material/soil was dumped onto the Pittsburg landfill.

Lisa Dela Rosa questioned the county’s use of Keller Canyon Mitigation funds, which emanate from landfill operator Republic Services, to pay for the landfill study.  “Would this be an illegal use of funds?” she asked.

County Counsel Sharon Anderson said it is appropriate for the county to tap into the mitigation fund to cover cost for the landfill study.

“We are not going to wait to determine who is going to pay for this study,” said District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover of Pittsburg.  “If necessary we’ll recoup the costs from the operator or the Navy.  We want to assure the public that there is no risk in place.’’

Supervisors Prepare to Pass Commercial Cannabis Tax Measure for Voters

Supervisors set the stage to formally adopt at their July 17 meeting a general tax ordinance on commercial cannabis activities.  If it is adopted, as it is expected to occur after supervisors unanimously passed the tax ordinance with scant public opposition at their Tuesday meeting, voters will get a chance  to approve or reject the measure at the upcoming Nov. 6 election.

Should the ordinance get the final send off from the supervisors at next Tuesday’s meeting and county voters pass the measure in the fall, the tax measure would take effect on Jan. 1, 2019.

Tax rates would vary based on the type of cannabis business one is engaged in.  For instance, the initial tax rate for an indoor cultivator would be $7 per foot and would become $10 per foot at the maximum tax rate.  For a distributor the initial tax rate would be 2 percent of the gross receipts and the maximum rate would be 3 percent of the gross receipts.  For a retailer the initial rate would be 4 percent of the gross receipts and the maximum rate would 6 percent of the gross receipts. Other tax rates are listed for testing, manufacturing, and cultivators (i.e. nursery, greenhouse, outside).

First 5 executive director Sean Casey supported the tax ordinance proposal saying, “This will not be a significant amount of money to start, but it’s a first step.”  Nonprofit educational organizations like Casey’s program and other social welfare and health organizations are expected to be monetary beneficiaries of the cannabis tax measure should it go into effect.

John Thiella of JGP Associates and representing cannabis businesses cautioned supervisors. “Lower taxes.  Suspend action on the taxes until 2021,” he said.

Stand Together Contra Costa Progress Report

A year after the board of supervisors awarded a $500,000 grant to the Stand Together Contra Costa, a nonprofit organization designed to defend immigrants under the eye or arrest of the United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the board received and approved as a consent item a progress report.

Some of the STCC’s activities include: Conducted 582 immigration consultations; completed 35 intakes for legal representation; represented/representing 310 people in bond and removal proceedings; recruited and trained 108 volunteers as legal observers; reported, observed, verified 19 incidents of reported ICE activity; and launched a 24/7 hotline (925) 900-5151.

Contra Costa Event Park cancels XO Music Festival planned for this weekend in Antioch

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A promotion for the now cancelled XO Music Festival planned for this weekend in Antioch.

In a press release from Joe Brengle, CEO of the Contra Costa Event Park (fairgrounds) today, he stated, “Due to the promoters’ lack of fulfilling contractual obligations between the Contra Costa Event Park and World Class Entertainment, Event Park Management in the best interest and safety of our facility, event attendees and the City of Antioch we have no choice but to cancel the XO Music Festival scheduled to take place at the Event Park July 12 – 15, 2018.”

According to event organizer Sam Styles, a nickname for Sami Habib, the fairgrounds informed him at 8:00 a.m. today that their insurance was denied and that it was done “by another office.” He also said the Event Park will not refund their deposit.

All refund inquiries should be directed to the event promoter: World Class Entertainment, Inc. 39962 Cedar Blvd. #279, Newark, CA 94560, Attn: Sami Habib, sams@xoxomusicfestival.com or info@xoxomusicfestival.com.

Please check back for updates.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

County Sheriff cancels contract with ICE at West County Detention Facility

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The West County Detention Facility in Richmond. File photo

Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston announced, today the end to the county’s contract to hold Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond. He was joined at a press conference by Board of Supervisors Chair Karen Mitchoff and Vice Chair John Gioia, in whose district the facility is located.

Following is the Sheriff’s complete statement:

“Today I am announcing that I am ending the contract with ICE to hold detainees at our dormitory buildings on our Richmond jail facility,” he said. “I recently notified ICE of this decision and asked them to begin the process of removing their detainees in a safe and orderly manner. The contract requires 120-day notice and they have told me they will try to resolve as many open-ended immigration cases as they can during this period of transition.

To be clear, the Sheriff’s Office does not do immigration enforcement. In fact, our policy prohibits it. These detainees are not arrested for immigration violations by us or any other law enforcement organization or agency in the county. They were instead persons ICE brought to us under the terms of the contract from all over Northern California and beyond.

There is not one single over riding issue that causes the termination of this contract. Instead there are many. And I am not here to comment on ICE’s enforcement policies or any of their federal partners’ policies. Instead I want to explain the reasons why we are cancelling the contract.

First, we have held an average of about 200 adult detainees a day. And that has generated about $2.5 – 3 million dollars in annual revenue. That revenue varies year to year. Losing it would likely result in the lay-off of Deputy Sheriffs and that was something I was unwilling to do. Instead, working closely with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, and ultimately with the full board, we have found a solution that will backfill the expected budget deficit going forward including the use of state funds to minimize the impact on local taxpayers.

Second, the number of detainees constantly fluctuates. We cannot rely on budget projections and ICE could always decide to move their detainees to another facility.

Third, county employee and operating costs have risen over the years, But the reimbursement rate has not. Long term the contract is just not sustainable.

Finally, the outstanding work by the over 1,000 employees of the Office of the Sheriff have been overshadowed by the attention that the ICE contract brings, even though immigration is a matter of federal law. Managing protests in Richmond have become expensive and time-consuming for our staff.

And to be very fair, one must acknowledge a growing chorus of community groups and individuals from both within and outside the county, that have focused on undocumented immigrants’ issues. And they raise important concerns.
Obviously, this action today does not address the larger and more complex issue of federal immigration enforcement. Most of us have compassion for those to come here seeking a better life but we are a nation of laws. And to be sure, those who come here undocumented who commit new crimes while here will be arrested and processed into our jails as they are currently. That will not change.

My number one priority remains and will continue to be keeping Contra Costa County safe.”

Photo by Contra Costa County Sheriff.

Gioia, who has long publicly opposed the contract, spoke forcefully about why the policy was harmful to families and eroded trust with immigrant communities. He thanked both Sheriff David Livingston for ending the contract and the thousands of residents across Contra Costa who joined in calling for an end to the ICE contract.  According to an ABC7 News report “The West County facility currently houses 169 ICE detainees, part of a longstanding agreement that netted the county up to $3 million per year.” 

“This is an historic day in Contra Costa County,” said Gioia. “Sheriff Livingston’s decision to cancel his Federal contract to hold ICE detainees at the West County Detention Facility is an important and positive step to build greater trust with our hard-working immigrant families here in Contra Costa.”

“I appreciate and thank Sheriff Livingston for making this decision,” Gioia continued. I know that thousands of Contra Costa residents countywide also thank Sheriff Livingston for this action.  To the thousands of our county’s residents who have passionately advocated for an end to the detention of immigrants at the West County Jail, thank you. Thank you for your consistent and loud advocacy. Your actions do make a difference. The Sheriff’s decision was based on a number of factors. Your voices were one of those factors. I thank Sheriff Livingston for listening to the opinion of the large number of sincere and passionate residents who believe that our County should not use our local jail to house ICE detainees.”

However, according to the ABC7 report, “Mitchoff opposes canceling the ICE contract, primarily out of concern about where current and future Bay Area detainees might be sent. ‘I’m sorry to be losing the contract,’ Mitchoff explained. ‘Unfortunately, with the closure of this facility, those individuals that ICE is not able to release through the normal process will be sent to other places throughout the United States.’”

“We don’t know ultimately what ICE will do with these detainees,” Livingston said.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA11) issued the following statement after the Sheriff’s announcement.

“Having called for the termination of the contract, I support the Board of Supervisors’ decision and look forward to working with them on making sure the concerns of the community and clients are addressed,” he said.

Following multiple and varying allegations of abuse by ICE agents at the West County Detention Facility, DeSaulnier called for the termination of the County’s ICE contract in March of this year, and he urged U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and California Attorney General Javier Becerra to conduct a third-party investigation of the West County Detention Facility. Contra Costa County is the only of the nine Bay Area counties that has a contract ICE.

Following accusations of mistreatment of ICE detainees, DeSaulnier and Livingston toured the facility, last November and the Sheriff’s investigation found the claims to be unfounded.

Please check back later for updates.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Secretary of State candidate from Clayton, Mark Meuser to Kick-Off statewide #ElectionsMatter Bicycle Tour in Martinez, Monday

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Mark Meuser cycling up Mt. Diablo as he prepares for his campaign’s statewide tour

Mark Meuser, candidate for California Secretary of State, will be launching a statewide #ElectionsMatter Bicycle Tour, covering 5,000 miles and 100 rallies in all 58 counties, starting in Martinez, Calif., the county seat of his home county of Contra Costa on Monday, July 9.

The kick-off will begin with a rally at Ferry Point near the Martinez marina at noon. Meuser, an avid cyclist, will head to the northern part of the state such as Eureka and Redding, eventually concluding the bicycle tour in Huntington Beach on Thursday, August 23.

“We must take action to eliminate the potential for fraud in our elections in California,” Meuser said. “Right now, we have 11 counties that have more people registered to vote than are eligible. For example, in L.A. County they have 144% voter registration and in San Diego County they have 138% voter registration.”

“Because elections matter, we need someone who will actually follow the law. We need a new Secretary of State and that’s why I’m running,” he added.

Meuser, is a Constitutional and election law attorney running to restore integrity and honesty to the election process in California. He has pledged to clean up the bloated voter rolls by removing those who have died, moved, are registered more than once, or are ineligible to register and vote.

Look for the #ElectionsMatter Express chase vehicle and Mark riding his bicycle, as they roll through the state.

Meuser is available for further interview on this topic at each rally. Please contact Matt Shupe, Meuser’s communications director to book an interview at (415) 735-8491 or Matt@PraetorianPR.com. For more information about Mark Meuser’s #ElectionsMatter Bike Tour, please visit www.markmeuser.com/bike-tour/.

Sheriff’s Deputies investigate Saturday night homicide in El Sobrante

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

On Saturday at about 10:30 PM, Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of gunshots in the parking lot of a business on the 5200 block of Sobrante Avenue in El Sobrante.

When Deputies arrived, they found a 28-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. Deputies performed CPR on the victim who was later pronounced deceased by ambulance personnel. He is not being identified at this time.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit as well as the Crime Lab responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with any information on this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.