Contra Costa Herald

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

Supervisors reject Keller Canyon C&D Disposal contract extension

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By Daniel Borsuk

After listening to the health and safety concerns of several Pittsburg residents living near the Keller Canyon Landfill, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 3-2 to reject extending the operator’s land use permit from March 22 to April 22, 2017 to have trucks continue the dumping of construction and disposal materials on the landfill.

At the request of board chair Federal Glover, Supervisors Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill and Diane Burgis of Brentwood agreed with the supervisor from Pittsburg to order the landfill operator, Republic for Northern California, to stop having trucks loaded with toxic C&D materials dumped at the landfill commencing March 22.

“We cannot turn our heads to bad behavior,” said Glover, who noted the operator has not presented to him or the county an alternative during the past 18 months when the county and Republic agreed to a new landfill use permit.

One of the changes in the land use permit inked on Sept. 22, 2015 included stopping the disposal of C&D materials beginning Sept. 22, 2017.

“We are evaluating our options,” Michael Capiro, area president of Republic for Northern California, told the Contra Costa Herald after the board’s vote. “I am disappointed with the board’s action.”

“This is a county wide issue that affects everyone,” said Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville, who voted against Glover’s motion to adhere to the March 22, 2017 direct haul C&D land use permit deadline.

Supervisor John Gioia of El Cerrito also voted against the Glover motion, noting that up to 120 jobs are potentially at stake with this action.

“Extend the date to August,” pleaded Ken Edgecombe of the Operating Engineers Union Local 3.  “This landfill creates good jobs.”

Opened in 1992, Keller Canyon Landfill generates about $4.3 million in annual revenue for the county, said Deidra Dingnan, Conservation Programs Manager for the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development.  Those funds go towards a variety of county programs such as roads, courts and a mitigation fee program when funds are disbursed in December.

But Pittsburg City Manager Laura Wright said the city has received up to 90 complaints from citizens about health and environmental issues.

“This is unprecedented.  These materials need to go to a transfer station,” said Wright.

“Truck traffic has increased and this has been tearing up portions of roadsway on Bailey Road,” said Greg Sorio, who lives near the landfill.  This has created a safety hazard to residents using the thoroughfare either as pedestrians or as motorists, he said.

“I want to be fair and I want to be sure we are fiscally responsible,” said Supervisor Burgis.  “I want to reduce the costs on the wear and tear on our roads.”

County Administrator Gets 5% Pay Hike

In other action, supervisors unanimously agreed to increase the annual salary of Contra Costa County Administrator David J. Twa 5%, effective Jan. 1, 2018.  His pay will rise from his 2017 salary of $319,464.72 to $335,437.96.

Twa, who has served as county administrator since 2008, will also receive an administrative leave increase of 80 hours.

The board extended Twa’s contract through Dec. 31, 2020.

Fire Chief Warns of Rising EMT Crisis

Serving as the Contra Costa ‘County Fire Protection District, supervisors unanimously approved a $46,500 grant from the Tesoro Foundation.  The fire district will spend the funds to buy hazardous multi-gas detection devices, said CCCFPD Fire Chief Jeff Carman.

Carman also alerted supervisors to an emerging issue at the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Station that is putting a strain on the county’s EMT services.  Every night at the end of train service, the fire district receives calls from people who’ve been riding the trains all day for shelter and comfort but are then forced off the transit system at closing time.  They then call 911 because they have nowhere to go.

“In the last 12 months, we saw almost 600 patients and transported 545 of them to emergency rooms,” he said.  “This creates a public health emergency because it takes so many ambulances and fire rescue resources out of service and increases response times for others who may need emergency services.”

Carman plans to address the issue of pooling the resources of BART Fire/EMS, County/Health Services, County EMS, and the City of Pittsburg.

BART system expands with opening of Warm Springs/South Fremont Station, March 25

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BART Warm Springs/South Fremont Station. Photo from Wikipedia

BART’s Warm Springs Extension will open for service on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The 5.4-mile extension connects the existing Fremont Station to the new Warm Springs/South Fremont Station.

The new station includes 2,082 parking spots, including 42 electronic car charging stations as well as intermodal connections to A/C Transit and VTA buses.

“This will be history in the making,” said BART Director Tom Blalock, who serves Fremont and has been a leader in making the extension a reality. “This will bring BART service to the residents of fast growing south Fremont. They’ll have a reliable, environmentally-responsible alternative to driving on the sometime nightmarish Nimitz Freeway.”

The Warm Springs Extension also paves the way for BART to Silicon Valley, a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority project that’s underway and is expected to open for service later this year.

One day before beginning service, BART will host an Opening Celebration. At 10 until noon on Friday March 24, 2017, BART will welcome neighbors, elected leaders and anyone interested in the new station. on the day of the celebration, free shuttles will run from Fremont Station to the  new station every 15-20 minutes from 8:45 am to 1 pm. 

The station is located at 45193 Warm Springs Blvd.

Click here for a video of BART’s newest extension. In addition, view the video of the tour of the tunnel beneath Lake Elizabeth as part of the extension.

County issues $100 million in bonds; Morgan Territory Road repairs to cost at least $2 million

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Supervisors to hear ban on juvenile hall residential fees

By Daniel Borsuk

Contra Costa County has closed a $99,810,000 lease revenue bond transaction as a result of an innovative agreement with Wells Fargo Bank.  The transaction closed on Friday, March 3.

Some $9.7 million will fund capital improvement projects within the county’s health services department, including its hospital and clinic system.  The remaining $90.1 million will be used to refinance existing county bond debt at historically low interest rates.  Ultimately, the county and Wells Fargo negotiated a 10-year term at an interest rate of 2.33%.  This will save taxpayers more than $9.1 million in today’s dollars.

“The county’s ‘AAA’ bond rating through Standard and Poor’s has allowed us to take full advantage of the low interest rate environment and maximize cost savings for our taxpayers,” board chair Federal Glover said.  “Ultimately, this means more tax dollars are available to provide services to our residents.”

“Through the strong leadership of the board of supervisors and assistance of our employees, the county has been able to emerge from the Great Recession on a sound financial footing,” County Administrator David Twa said. “The willingness of Wells Fargo to purchase close to $100 million of our bonds at such a favorable interest rate is evidence of that.”

Contra Costa County is rated “AAA” by Standard and Poor’s and “Aa2” by Moody’s Investor Service. Both credit rating agencies have attributed their high ratings for Contra Costa County to very strong financial management, with policies and practices well-embedded in county operations.  They have also pointed to a strong local economy with a large, diverse tax base.”

Morgan Territory Road Repair Resolution

The County Public Works Department received its marching orders from the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, when they passed a resolution calling for the “expeditious” repair and reopening of storm-damaged Morgan Territory Road.

The board voted 4-0 in adopting the resolution introduced by Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood.  Supervisor Candace Anderson of Danville was absent.

County Public Works Directors Julia Bueren told the Contra Costa Herald preliminary repair costs for Morgan Territory Road that was destroyed by rain-soaked landslides during late January’s torrential rainstorms, could cost $2 million to $2.6 million in state emergency funds.

“Even that is a preliminary estimate,” Bueren said.  “This is a large and complex slide.”

The February torrential rainstorms damaged the road when the hillside slid onto the thoroughfare, causing mounds of dirt 100 high and 300 feet wide.

The massive landslides also caused the disruption of water and PG&E service to residents living in the area.

Supervisors recognized Ruben Aguilar (left) and Michael Stevens (right) for their 56 years of combined service with the county Public Works Department. Photo by Daniel Borsuk

Bueren said the county is studying three alternate routes for up to 1,000 residents living in the area of the damaged roadway.  “This is of the highest priority,” she added.

Supervisor Burgis said Morgan Territory Road is subject to additional destruction.

“There is a hillside that is still moving,” she said.

Board Vice Chair Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill noted Morgan Territory Road residents are still living under difficult conditions.

“The Contra Costa Water District couldn’t get water there for seven days so they began to provide bottled water,” she said.

Glover credited the various county departments, including the Sheriff’s Department, Public Works, Contra Costa Fire, and San Ramon Fire that worked together during the Morgan Territory Road disaster.

“The county was doing what it does best, acting as a team,” he added. Also at the meeting, the Supervisors recognized Ruben Aguilar and Michael Stevens for their 56 years of combines service with the Public Works Department. Aguilar has 36 years with the department and Stevens has 20 years of service. Both men responded to the initial closure of Morgan Territory Road when it was damaged in the storm in late January.

Ban Proposed on Juvenile Hall Residential Fees

A Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors committee voted on Monday to recommend to the full board that a permanent moratorium be imposed on charging residential fees for incarcerated juveniles.

Citing financial hardships on parents of youths held as wards of the county at either the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility in Oakley and Juvenile Hall in Martinez, the Public Safety Committee directed the Probation Department and County Administrator to bring before the full board by May a resolution to stop the practice of charging fees to juvenile residents.

The Probation Department first began assessing the fee in 2003 at a rate of $17.03 per day per minor until 2010 when the state permitted counties to increase the fee to $30 a day.  The state passed legislation so counties could assess fees in order to recover costs for the actual cost of care of a minor in detention at a juvenile hall facility.

But the increasing fees made it difficult for the county to recoup costs from parents or guardians of juveniles held in county facilities.  The Probation Department has $16.9 million in accounts receivable outstanding through June 30, 2016, David Twa, County Administrator noted in a report presented to the committee.  He attributed $8.55 million to Juvenile Fees and $8.34 million to Public Defender fees.

If the full board adopts the committee’s recommendation to make the moratorium permanent, the county will join Alameda, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Kern counties that do not assess juvenile hall fees.

“These fees cause great economic burden on families of juveniles incarcerated in our facilities,” Supervisor John Gioia of Richmond said.

“At some time we had to put an end to collecting these fees,” said Glover, the committee chairman.

Information in Twa’s report revealed flaws in the way the county assessed the juvenile hall fees.  There are cases where an undisclosed number of families are due refunds because of being overcharged as far back as 2011.

“Families were improperly assessed and billed,” said Rebecca Brown, president of the nonprofit organization Further The Work.  Brown said the financial impact of these juvenile hall housing fees charged leave have a big financial impact on the families of youths incarcerated in county juvenile hall facilities.

“Earlier efforts to remedy these financial problems were impossible to accomplish,” she said.

Shared autonomous vehicles make U.S. debut at Bishop Ranch as part of pilot program

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EasyMile @ Bishop Ranch. Photo by Noah Berger

San Ramon, CA – Bishop Ranch, EasyMile, GoMentum Station and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) announced Monday that two EZ10 Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAV) will begin operation at Bishop Ranch, northern California’s premier business park in San Ramon. This marks the beginning of the second phase of testing for a pilot demonstration project authorized as part of California Assembly Bill 1592, which enables testing of electric, low-speed, multi-passenger, autonomous vehicles that are not equipped with a steering wheel, brake pedal, accelerator or operator. This is the first such pilot program in California.

“We are excited to be at the cutting edge of innovation in driverless technology with the United States’ first pilot demonstration for EasyMile shuttles here at Bishop Ranch,” said Alexander Mehran Sr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sunset Development Company. “We’re continuously striving to find ways to elevate the customer experience at Bishop Ranch and deliver innovative and valuable amenities. Autonomous shuttles have the ability to improve safety, benefit the environment, reduce congestion and make existing roads more efficient.”

“The Contra Costa Transportation Authority and GoMentum Station look forward to partnering with Bishop Ranch and EasyMile to test the next generation of transportation in Contra Costa County. This technology offers an innovative new approach to helping travelers get to transit stations, business districts, and other local amenities without the hassle of driving and parking. We expect that EasyMile SAVs will solve the so-called “first-and-last-mile” challenge — a solution that could be replicated by many urban and suburban communities across the United States,” said Randell Iwasaki, CCTA’s Executive Director.

“At EasyMile, we are proud of our work to transform the way people move through cities around the world. Our shuttles allow commuters to quickly, easily, and safely get where they need to go, without having to depend on a car. We are excited to partner with Bishop Ranch, GoMentum Station and First Transit as our operating partner in bringing this technology to the United States,” said Gilbert Gagnaire, EasyMile President.

Founded in 2014, EasyMile is a high-tech company specialized in developing software for the automatization of all kind of transportation systems, powering autonomous vehicles for both goods transportation and smart mobility solutions. They have already successfully deployed SAVs in Finland, France, Spain, Norway, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Dubai, Singapore, and Switzerland. The Bishop Ranch pilot program marks the U.S. debut of the EasyMile SAVs, which if successful, is poised to become the first publicly accessible SAV technology for Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) in the country.

About EasyMile

EasyMile is a high-tech company specialized in developing software for the automatization of all kind of transportation systems. The company provides shared driverless transportation for the last mile that complement mass transportation solutions, the EZ10. This ‘green’ service addresses short distances that are too long to walk to, from a transport hub to a final destination where cars are either ‘off limits’ or where parking space is limited or non-existent. It also provides a service for short distances within confined sites. EasyMile autonomous vehicles operate either on demand or follow a set route calling at all stations.

About GoMentum Station

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

About Bishop Ranch

Bishop Ranch, owned and operated by Sunset Development Company, is built on a legacy of sound planning and smart growth. Located on 585 acres in the San Ramon Valley, it is the largest mixed-use business community in Northern California. For nearly four decades, Bishop Ranch has continually, carefully grown to become a dynamic center for the modern business. Today, the prosperous surrounding communities — 192,000 residents within a six-mile radius — enjoy an average household income of $162,000.

We are home to 30,000 employees at 600 companies in more than 30 industries. Among the tenants are many Fortune 500 companies including AT&T, Chevron, General Electric, IBM, PG&E, Robert Half, Bank of the West, Toyota and Berkshire Hathaway. Numerous small businesses in high tech, bio/clean tech, and social software, such as Affiliated Computer Services, Aon eSolutions, Cognizant Technology Solutions and AGIS Network have chosen to locate in this diverse and thriving business environment. Bishop Ranch offers a unique flexibility for the space requirements of companies large and small, and its tenants occupy spaces from 150 square feet to more than 1 million square feet.

Employees at Bishop Ranch enjoy a wide range of amenities and on-site services, including award-winning transportation programs, high-end food options, professional seminars and networking opportunities, special offers and discounts, gourmet food trucks and a farmers market.

About The Contra Costa Transportation Authority

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

Movie filmed in Antioch last summer by director from Antioch to premier Sunday on TV

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Forgotten Evil starring Kyle McKeever and Masiela Lusha shot in Antioch, will air this Sunday night on LMN. photo courtesy of LMN

By Allen Payton

A film shot in Antioch, last fall by Antioch High School graduate and director Anthony C. Ferrante – of Sharknado fame – will premier on Lifetime’s LMN TV channel, this Sunday night at 8:00 p.m.

Director Anthony C. Ferrante and crew shooting outside scenes at Antioch’s historic El Campanil Theatre in downtown Rivertown in August, 2016. photo by Allen Payton

Entitled, “Forgotten Evil” the movie was filmed in various locations in Antioch for a few weeks in August, including Antioch High School and the historic El Campanil Theatre in downtown Rivertown and included Antioch residents as extras. (See related Herald article.)

The movie synopsis is, as follows: Renee awakens, sinking underwater inside a tightly tied sack. Struggling, she somehow breaks out from her underwater coffin. When she awakens again, she remembers nothing. Without a past, she is released from the hospital and forced to start a life anew. Amongst the new faces that enter her life, there is an old one, one that she does not recognize–her husband. As he grows closer and closer, those around her fall victim to deadly accidents. Now Renee must remember her past if she is to have a future.”

The film stars Masiela Lusha and Kyle McKeever in the leading roles, as well as Angie Teodora Dick, Adrian Bustamante and Jeff Marchelletta. To learn more about the full cast and crew, click here.

It is scheduled to show again at Midnight from For more information about the film, visit http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/forgotten-evil and for show times, click here.

Oakley Council discusses reallocating property tax funds for East County fire district

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By Bryan Scott

At their February 28th meeting, the Oakley City Council discussed the community’s inadequate funding of fire and emergency medical services and decided to advance a reallocation program that has a goal of transferring $7.8 million of area property tax funds to the fire district.

“I believe we need to do something now,” said Vice Mayor Randy Pope towards the end of the spirited discussion.

The council agreed to have City Manager Bryan Montgomery draft a letter endorsing the need for improved fire and emergency medical services and supporting reallocating area property tax funds as a solution.

The group also discussed setting aside a 1% share of the city’s growth in property tax funding, approximately $45,000, to be transferred to East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD).  ECCFPD is the local fire department that is struggling to provide adequate services with a funding level set 35 years ago when services were provided by volunteers.

Taking action was argued against by City Manager Montgomery.  He said that even though the reallocation program sounds simple, it is not workable because so many government entities need to participate, and that the area school district superintendents have gone on record opposing their participation in the program.  He also said Oakley residents need to chime in on the issue, and that action needs to come from elsewhere, at the state or county level.

“You won’t be popular with our partners (if you do this); the schools are not going to like this,” he told the Council towards the end of the discussion, appealing to the human instinct to be loved.

Also discussed by the Council was a meeting Councilmember Kevin Romick attended that was also attended by Contra Costa County Supervisors Diane Burgis (Dist. 3) and Karen Mitchoff (Dist. 4).  The meeting’s purpose was to discuss last-minute strategies to keep the fourth ECCFPD fire station open beyond this June, when its temporary funding runs out.

Current ECCFPD funding provides for three fire stations to cover a service area of 250 square miles where over 110,000 people live.

Councilmember Romick said that the agency most involved in providing fire and emergency medical services, ECCFPD, did not attend the meeting.  Consequently, the same group will come together again on March 21st to review the fire district’s plans and budget.

Scott is Co-Chair of East County Voters for Equal Protection, a non-partisan grass roots citizens action committee formed to address the unequal funding of fire and emergency medical services existing in 249 square miles of Eastern Contra Costa County.  About 110,000 residents, as well as those who work and play in Eastern Contra Costa, have services funded at a level one-fourth to one-third of those levels in other parts of Contra Costa County.  For more information contact committee Co-Chairs Hal Bray at hal.bray@pacbell.net or Bryan Scott scott.bryan@comcast.net.    Connect with them and learn more on their Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/EastCountyVoters/

McNerney introduces bill to strengthen Internet of Things security, protect consumers

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Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, March 2, 2017, Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-09) introduced H.R. 1324, the Securing IoT Act, which requires that Internet of Things (IoT) devices be certified to be in compliance with cybersecurity standards. The bill directs the Federal Communications Commission, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to develop standards that address cybersecurity throughout the lifecycle of the IoT device.

“The proliferation of IoT devices creates immense opportunities for our society, including new jobs and efficiencies in all aspects of our everyday lives. However, the security of these devices has not kept up with the rapid pace of innovation and deployment,” said Rep. McNerney. “Security vulnerabilities in IoT devices are likely to pose threats to our national security and endanger our nation’s economy. This is especially concerning given that at least 20 billion devices are anticipated to be in use by 2020. My legislation, the Securing IoT Act, helps to address this issue by requiring that security standards be established for IoT devices and that these devices be certified to meet those standards. The legislation will help strengthen this market and protect consumers, business, and all the benefits that IoT devices offer.”

Last fall, McNerney raised concerns about the distributed denial-of-service attack on Dyn’s servers, which resulted from security weaknesses in IoT devices, and he joined his Democratic colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in calling for a hearing to examine the matter.

California Superior Court judges send letter to Gov. Brown asking for more money

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By Allen Payton

In a strongly worded letter, judges from 49 of the 58 superior courts in California, including Contra Costa County, informed Governor Jerry Brown last week, of their displeasure with the amount of funding for the state’s judicial branch in his proposed budget. They believe the lack of an increase in their budget will have an impact on the communities they serve and are asking for an increase of $158.5 million to the $3.6 billion Brown has proposed in his budget. Courts Letter to Gov Brown 02-16-17

Each of the 58 counties in the state have a trial court, known as a superior court. The judges added their efforts to those by California “Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye and the Judicial Council of California…and support their efforts to seek additional funding for the judicial branch.”

Brown’s proposed budget projects a $1.6 billion deficit. According to an L.A. Times article, Brown told reporters at the state Capitol…as he unveiled the state’s budget, that “The trajectory of revenue growth is declining.” As a result his “$179.5-billion plan seeks to resolve the budget shortfall by slower-than-expected growth in public school funding and through rolling back a series of one-time expenses discussed during last year’s budget negotiations.”

All the members of the State Senate and Assembly were copied on the letter from the judges, which states: “We, the undersigned courts, have had the opportunity to review your proposed budget for the judicial branch for Fiscal Year 2017-18. We are seriously concerned with the lack of additional funding proposed for trial court operations and our ability to provide adequate access to justice for those in need of California’s court system,” and “…we wish to inform you and the Legislature about the impact this proposed budget will have not only on the many trial courts throughout the state but, more importantly, on the communities that we serve.”

According to Brown’s budget summary, “the Budget includes total funding of $3.6 billion ($1.7 billion General Fund and $1.9 billion other funds) for the Judicial Branch, of which $2.8 billion is provided to support trial court operations.” That is $200 million less than the $3.8 billion Brown proposed in his budget and $100 million less than was approved for the current fiscal year, which was an increase of $300 million over the previous fiscal year.

The letter cites increases in costs and changes in laws will mean Brown’s budget will have the effect of a “net decrease” to the budget for the superior courts.

“This is due to, among other things, the rising cost of doing business in California (e.g., utility costs, rents, vendor expenses, employee salaries). It also results from governmental actions such as elimination of Proposition 47 funding, additional workload from voter-approved initiatives such as Propositions 57 and 64, legislative changes such as AB 2839 that considerably increase workload without accompanying offsetting funding,” the letter stated.

“The proposed elimination of a court’s ability to place a hold on a traffic defendant’s driver’s license for failure to pay or appear, the latter of which appears to have the unintended consequence of reducing revenues to the trial courts, counties and the state. In Solano and Contra Costa, two courts that have imposed a moratorium on driver’s license holds, both courts have seen an approximate 25% reduction in collections.”

The letter concludes with the requested increase in the proposed state budget for the superior courts.

“We respectfully request that the trial courts be treated in an equitable fashion with the Executive Branch and that the trial courts be funded with a modest annual increase.  An increase of $158.5 million—which is the amount requested by the Judicial Council to address baseline cost increases, but which was not included in the Governor’s Budget for next fiscal year—would allow us to keep pace with rising costs of doing business in California and, more importantly, allow courts to preserve the public’s access to justice.”

The budget is expected to be approved by the state legislature and sent to Brown for his signature by the end of June.

To see Gov. Brown’s proposed budget summary for the judicial branch, click here.  To learn more about California’s superior courts, click here.

Antioch sex offender receives four years in state prison for possession of child porn

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On Tuesday February 14th, 2017, Jason Judkins was convicted of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to four years in state prison.

The conviction stems from an investigation by the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Antioch Police Department. On January 6th, 2016, Judkins created an internet posting that he was willing to trade his son for sex.  The posting was reported to law enforcement and an immediate search for Judkins was started.  He was arrested later that day in Antioch, and it was determined he did not have a child, nor did he have access to children.  A search of his cell revealed images of child pornography, as well as e-mails in which Judkins distributed the images to others. The evidence indicated Judkins made the online posting to reach others who would exchange child pornography with him.

Prior to this offense Judkins had sustained two prior convictions for possession and distribution of child pornography. Judkins has been a registered sex offender since 2012 and was living as a transient in Antioch at the time of his arrest. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable John T. Laettner, after Judkins entered into a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office. Judkins will begin serving his sentence immediately.

“This office will hold accountable those individuals who possess and distribute these types of images over the internet,” said District Attorney Mark Peterson. “With National Victims’ Rights Week coming up in April, it is important to remember that when images of a child being sexually assaulted are distributed across the internet, the child is re-victimized each time.”

The prosecution is a result of an investigation by a multi-agency Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is managed by the San Jose Police Department.  In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Antioch, Martinez, San Ramon, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department and District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force. 

Glazer introduces $2 billion bond bill to improve facilities at CSU, UC campuses

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Sacramento, CA – For the first time in more than a decade, California voters would have the opportunity to approve higher education bonds to improve facilities on California State University and University of California campuses under legislation introduced Thursday by joint authors Sens. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, and Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica.

The bill, SB 483, would authorize the statewide sale of $2 billion in general obligation bonds earmarked for higher education facilities at CSU and UC campuses. The bonds would go before voters in the 2018 general election.

“For many generations, California taxpayers have been proud supporters of the greatest higher education system in America,” Glazer said. “Unfortunately, we have allowed classrooms and libraries to deteriorate, affecting our ability to educate our students. Without public support, the burden of financing facilities will be borne by students and their families through higher tuition and fees.

The most recent such bond, which provided $1.6 billion to improve higher education facilities at CSU and UC, was approved by voters in 2006. All those funds have since been depleted. The last higher education-specific bond was passed in 1994.

“California’s public colleges and universities are a source of great pride to our state, but unfortunately we’ve allowed their physical facilities to fall into disrepair,” said Allen, who chairs the Senate Education Committee. “This bond measure will provide a much-needed and overdue investment in our higher education infrastructure.”

According to CSU and UC, the two systems have capital needs of $7 billion and $10 billion, respectively, for short-term and long-term projects. The CSU and UC are able to provide their own funding for some construction programs through system-wide revenue bonds, though only half of their capital needs are met.

“We appreciate Senator Glazer’s work to secure funding for necessary repair and replacement of aging higher education buildings and infrastructure,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. “More than $2 billion in deferred maintenance – due to lack of investment during the previous recession – left our campuses vulnerable to potential failures of critical systems. Safe and up-to-date classrooms, research labs and work spaces are essential to the success of our students, faculty and staff.”

SB 483 would require universities or colleges to submit five-year capital outlay plans that prioritize seismic retrofitting needed to reduce seismic hazards in buildings identified as high priority.

David Lopez, president of the California State Student Association, said the legislation addresses the issues about needed classroom repairs that students have been talking about for years.

“We keep hearing stories of students in classrooms that need major repair,” Lopez said. “Buildings that need to be closed for safety reasons. Our campus infrastructure needs have never been greater than they are today.”

Spending choices will emerge through recommendations from governing boards for both CSU and UC systems and will be reviewed in public hearings during the legislative process, Glazer said.

“The state has failed to provide the funds needed for public higher education faculty, student services and infrastructure,” said Mel Levine, Co-chair of the California Coalition for Public Higher Education. “We can’t take in more California students without restoring and improving our classrooms and labs.”

Last November, voters approved Proposition 51, a $9 billion education facilities bond, but did not include any money for the CSU or UC.

“This measure provides important financial backing for critical upgrades to our libraries and classrooms on college campuses,” Glazer added. “And I believe voters should be given a chance to continue the proud legacy of supporting our universities and colleges.”

A December 2016 survey on higher education by Public Policy Institute of California showed broad support – 65 percent – for higher education construction projects. It represented an 11 percentage point increase in support since December, 2014 and was the highest level of support since PPIC first began asking the question in 2007. http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_1216MBS.pdf