Contra Costa Herald

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

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Richmond unions including police and firefighters to protest Tuesday over proposed service cuts

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Video screenshot of Richmond City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. From YouTube.

“Denounce and decry…tone deaf, irresponsible and unreasonable actions.”

Car caravan protest to be held Tuesday in downtown Richmond.

By Chris Flink, Communications Specialist, SEIU Local 1021

During the Tuesday, June 9 2020 meeting of the Richmond City Council, Mayor Tom Butt facetiously introduced a motion to “defund the police department and save seventy million dollars”. (See https://youtu.be/hZ5RTBtwxu8?t=16934; at the 4 hours, 42 minutes, 14 seconds mark) Richmond is facing budget shortfalls, and has been investigating ways to close gaps between income and expenditures. During that process five unions worked to identify creative and common-sense ways to close those gaps without layoffs and service cuts, which would deny Richmond residents important services and take good jobs away from the city.

After Mayor Butt’s announcement, the unions and Contra Costa Labor Council wrote the Mayor and all City Council members the letter below.

A car caravan protest will be held Tuesday, June 16, at 4:30 p.m., starting at Richmond’s Main Library located at 325 Civic Center Plaza.

June 11, 2020

Richmond City Council

440 Civic Center Plaza

Richmond, CA 94804

Mayor Butt & Councilmembers,

The Contra Costa Labor Council, AFL-CIO and Richmond City Employee Unions copied herein (Fire Fighters Local 188, IFPTE Local 21, RPOA, RPMA and SEIU Local 1021) denounce and decry the Mayor’s tone deaf, irresponsible and unreasonable actions at the Richmond City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 9. When the community stands up, proclaims Black Lives Matter, and demands change, that community deserves better than a Mayor sarcastically making a motion to do away with Richmond’s police force. The Mayor’s comments were intended to be divisive and trivialized the serious work Richmond City Employee Unions have done to find needed solutions to the City’s budget shortfall.

Richmond City Employee Unions and their membership come to the bargaining table in good faith, intending to serve the community and make Richmond a fair, equitable place that works for all of its residents. It is clear and disappointing that the Mayor is not engaging in these conversations in good faith. In this time of global pandemic and a looming economic crisis, Richmond’s residents and workforce deserve leadership from the Mayor’s office, not trolling and tantrums.

On Tuesday, June 16, at 4:30 p.m., community and labor groups will join together for a car caravan in Richmond to continue the serious dialogue in the need for city services.

Signed,

Contra Costa Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Fire Fighters Local 188

IFPTE Local 21

Richmond Police Officers Association

Richmond Police Managers Association

SEIU Local 1021

The motion by Butt was tabled on a 4-3 vote led by Councilmember Nathaniel Bates to  “table the entire discussion”, with Council Members Eduardo Martinez and Melvin Williams joining the mayor in opposing it, wanting further discuss ion of the idea.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Construction to begin May 26 on Rodeo Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project

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Site map of construction area in downtown Rodeo. By CCCPWD.

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Public Works Department

May 20, 2020, Rodeo, CA – The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will begin construction of the Rodeo Downtown Infrastructure Project. Construction will begin on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 and last until August 28, 2020, 7:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday-Friday, weather permitting. Drivers should expect delays during construction.

The work to be done generally consists of infrastructure including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks, curbs, gutters, a storm water treatment area with landscaping components, storm drain installation, a bike lane, an ADA compliant concrete path and soldier pile walls. Current shelter-in-place and social distancing protocol will be followed.

This project is funded by gas tax revenues provided by the SB1 Road Repair and Accountability Act and Measure J funds. More information for this project can be found at http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.

Contra Costa County Public Works to begin construction on San Pablo Dam Road May 27

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Map by CCC Public Works.

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Public Information Officer, CCC Public Works 

El Sobrante, CA – The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will begin construction of the San Pablo Dam Road Traffic Safety Improvements project between the city limits of Richmond and city limits of Orinda. Construction will start Wednesday, May 27, 2020 through July 31, 2020, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday, barring unforeseen circumstances. Drivers can expect traffic delays up to 30 minutes.

The project will consist of installing a centerline rumble strip and channelizers, reconstructing median islands, replacing roadside signs to meet new retro-reflectivity standards, installation of speed feedback signs, partial slurry seal, removal and replacement of thermoplastic stripes and pavement markings, and restriping of a bike lane at two intersections of San Pablo Dam Road and Old San Pablo Dam Road. Current shelter-in-place and social distancing protocol will be followed.

Funding for this project is gas tax revenues provided by the SB1 Road Repair and Accountability Act and the Highway Safety Improvement Program funds. More information for this project can be found at http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.

El Sobrante man arrested for murder of 90-year-old grandma Sunday morning

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

This morning, May 10, 2020, at about 9:28 a.m., Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a medical-police call at the 700 block of Pebble Drive in El Sobrante.  Deputies found a 90-year-old woman who suffered from trauma in a bedroom. She was later pronounced deceased at the scene. She is not being identified at this time.

While at the residence, Deputies detained the victim’s grandson. He was later arrested for homicide. He is identified as 42-year-old Sean Johnson of El Sobrante. He was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

The Crime Lab and Office of the Sheriff homicide detectives responded to the scene.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Richmond Police investigate Oakland Police shooting death of kidnapping suspect following chase Thursday

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Suspect’s van rams Oakland Police car on April 16, 2020 injuring two officers. Richmond PD video screenshot.

Suspect rammed Oakland Police cars injuring two officers

By Richmond and Vallejo Police Departments

Deceased kidnapping suspect Juan Ayon-Barraza. Photo by Vallejo PD.

On Thursday, April 16th, 2020, at approximately 8:08 AM, the Vallejo Police Department received a call from concerned family members about a missing 29-year-old female.

Family members last saw the victim at approximately 7:35 AM, in the 900 block of Kentucky Street in the City of Vallejo with suspect Juan Ayon-Barraza, a 24-year-old Vallejo resident.

The victim told family members that she was leaving to get breakfast with him and would return. A short time later, Barraza, made contact with a family member of the victim via telephone, where he made an unsettling comment – causing them to be extremely concerned for her well-being.

At approximately 8:00 AM, the victim’s family contacted Barraza in person and confronted him in an attempt to determine the victim’s whereabouts. Barraza was evasive with the family and then fled from them.

Utilizing every resource available, the Vallejo Police Department Detective Division worked this case diligently as an at-risk missing person case.

According to a KTVU Fox 2 report, the man was suspected of kidnapping and beating the woman, then leaving her in the Oakland hills.

At 6:45 PM the Oakland Police Department Communications Division received a report from a concerned citizen in the city limits of Moraga after observing a subject discarding what appeared to be a body on the side of the road from a white van.

The body reported in Moraga was found to be a female victim abandoned on the side of the road in the area of Pinehurst Road and Skyline Boulevard, in unincorporated Contra Costa County, which at the time was believed to be related to Vallejo’s investigation. She was later confirmed to be the at-risk missing person from Vallejo. She was still alive but unresponsive and transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for at least one gunshot wound. The victim is presently in critical condition.

Due to the location of the incident Oakland and Moraga Police, and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area as it is a remote, rural area along the border of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. A witness provided of the suspect vehicle as a white Chevy Astro van.

As officers responded to the area, a Moraga Police officer located the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic enforcement stop. The suspect vehicle failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued. As the pursuit went toward Oakland, Oakland PD officers joined in and ultimately became lead as it entered their jurisdiction.

The suspect vehicle led Oakland PD officers on a pursuit via the freeways to the city of Richmond. During the pursuit, officers could see Barraza was armed with a handgun as he was driving at high speeds. The pursuit went through multiple streets in Richmond to the area of South 37th Street and Stege Avenue. The pursuit lasted for approximately twenty minutes in length.

While making a U-turn on S. 37th Street at Carlson Boulevard, the suspect pointed his firearm at pursuing officers. Multiple Oakland police officers and a Richmond police officer fired their weapons in defense of their and/or other lives, simultaneously, the suspect vehicle crossed over into traffic on South 37th Street and Stege Ave. and collided with an Oakland police vehicle. (See Richmond PD video)

Oakland PD officer on ground after he and one other officer were struck by suspect’s van. RPD video screenshot

Two Oakland police officers were injured during the collision, both considered moderate and non-life threatening. One officer has been treated and released while the other officer remains in a local hospital. The suspect sustained a fatal gunshot wound during this incident. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The female victim sustained critical injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The female victim is currently listed in critical condition and is on life support.

This is an ongoing investigation that involved multiple agencies including Oakland Police Department, Richmond Police Department, Vallejo Police Department, Moraga Police Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, Contra Costa County Crime Lab and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. This incident is being investigated as a part of the Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Incident Fatality (LEIF) protocol.

If you have any additional information regarding this investigation, please contact the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office at 925-957-2200 or Sergeant Pomeroy with the Richmond Police Department at 510-620-6616 or Vallejo Police Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514 or Detective Josh Caitham at (707) 648-4342.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion to be converted to a 250-bed federal Medical Station for COVID-19 patients

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The Craneway section of the Ford Assembly Building, Richmond, California. Photo by Billy Hustace Photography.

By Kim McCarl, Assistant to the Director, Communications, Contra Costa Health Services

As part of local emergency preparations, Contra Costa County officials are working with Federal and state partners to convert the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond into a 250-bed medical station for COVID-19 patients.

Inside the Craneway Pavilion. Photo from Kickstarter.

Beds and medical supplies are being brought in by the National Guard this week to begin transforming the Craneway Pavilion, a large event center on the Richmond waterfront, into a temporary medical facility. The goal is to have the facility ready to receive patients by the third week of April, when health experts predict the Bay Area will see COVID-19 cases begin to peak.

“This is one more step to be better prepared for the anticipated COVID-19 surge,” said Candace Andersen, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We are very grateful for the cooperation of so many private and public entities that are making their venues available to serve the health needs of our community in this unprecedented crisis.”

The federal medical station would serve as an alternate care site for COVID-19 patients who don’t need ICU-level care. It would be used only in the event local hospitals lack capacity to handle a surge of COVID-19 cases. While equipment and supplies are provided by the Federal Government, the County would coordinate medical staffing of the site.

“Dedicated County physicians, nurses and other professional staff will provide vital medical care in this historic building to help prevent our local hospitals from becoming overburdened by an expected surge in patients” said Supervisor John Gioia, who represents the area where this site is located.

The County is also establishing other alternate care sites, including using hotels for homeless residents.
Contra Costa and other Bay Area counties recently extended a regional stay-at-home order through May 3 hoping that continued social-distancing measures will reduce the impact of COVID-19 on area hospitals.

The site will be secured and not open to visitors.

Managed by the Division of Strategic National Stockpile, federal medical stations are rapidly deployable caches containing beds, supplies, and medicines which can quickly turn a preidentified building into a temporary medical shelter during a national emergency.

Richmond Mayor Tom Butt stated that “The Craneway played an essential part in winning World War II.  Today it is being repurposed to fight another global war.  This facility will help not only our local communities but contribute to the overall effort to contain COVID-19.”

The Craneway Pavilion, located in the Ford Building, was a Ford Auto Plant from 1928 to 1956 and switched to assembling jeeps, tanks and military vehicles during World War II.

According to the Public Health Emergency webpage for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:

The Federal Medical Station (FMS) “is an HHS deployable healthcare facility that can provide surge beds to support healthcare systems anywhere in the U.S. that are impacted by disasters or public health emergencies. FMS are not mobile and cannot be relocated once established.

Each FMS comes with a three-day supply of medical and pharmaceutical resources to sustain from 50 to 250 stable primary or chronic care patients who require medical and nursing services. Staffing for an FMS can be provided using displaced local, regional or EMAC providers, or can be provided by the federal government (primary federal staff are Officers of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps). Potential roles for an FMS include the following:

  • Provide temporary holding and care for patients to decompress a local hospital (increase beds available for patients with disaster-related trauma or illness
  • Receive patients from nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities forced to evacuate due to the disaster
  • Provide low acuity care for patients with chronic illnesses whose access to care is impeded due to the disaster

Because the equipment and supply cache does not include tents, each FMS requires an appropriate building of opportunity* in which to operate. Significant preparation is needed to employ FMSs in support of local, State, Tribal, and Territorial emergency plans. An FMS must be established in a structurally intact, accessible building with adequate hygiene facilities and functioning utilities (hot and cold potable water, electricity, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and internet accessibility or capability).

A 250-bed FMS requires roughly 40,000 square feet of open space, while a 50-bed FMS requires about 15,000 square feet. In addition, wrap around logistical services must be coordinated and in place before an FMS can be operational. Some of these include a 10-12 person set up team, contracted support for patient feeding, laundry, ice, medical oxygen, and biomedical waste disposal. Fewer beds can be set up in smaller facilities, but building attributes and wrap around services remain the same.

Once a request for FMS has been approved, the cache of equipment and supplies will be delivered in 24-48 hours, after which 12 hours is planned for set-up. ASPR Regional Emergency Coordinators are the primary points of contact for FMS preparedness by State, local, Tribal and Territorial authorities. CDC Division of Strategic National Stockpile (DSNS) can assist with site surveys and training for receipt and set-up of FMSs.”

White Pony Express continues food deliveries to families who use school food pantries

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Despite school closures

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, almost all Contra Costa County schools are now closed for the protection of students. Despite this, White Pony Express (WPE), the food rescue nonprofit based in Pleasant Hill, will continue to deliver food to students and families being served by WPE’s “School Food Pantry Program.” Under this Program, WPE has been delivering fresh, surplus food to eleven free-lunch schools in the county. Since the schools are now closed, WPE will deliver the food to a nearby community center or church where families can still obtain it. Many of these families rely on this food to make ends meet.

Need for School Food Pantry Programs

Over 100,000 students in Contra Costa County, or 40%, qualify for the free lunch program. The goal of the School Pantry Program is to help eliminate hunger and increase students’ academic success so they can contribute more fully to the communities in which they live. Helen Jones, WPE’s Food Rescue Operations Manager says, “The families we serve through this program have

demanding challenges throughout the month. Many of the participants receive food stamps which only cover a portion of a month’s worth of food. The food that WPE provides to the schools we serve not only provides nutrition. It provides hope.”

Currently, WPE’s eleven school pantries are set up in schools located in Antioch, Bay Point, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond, and San Pablo. This year WPE’s school pantries will deliver in excess of 415,000 meals of quality, nutritious food. WPE plans to open new pantries in 2020, but

continuing the Program will depend on finding sustainable funding.

Institution of New Health Protocols

Based upon guidelines issued by the state and county, WPE will be incorporating new health guidelines to support state and local efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. These protocols (hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, gloves, social distancing, etc.) will be made a part of all aspects of WPE’s food and clothing operations.

“It is important for the public and our volunteers to know that WPE will be implementing strict cleanliness standards so that our valuable programs can continue safely,” says Mary Brooks, WPE’s Executive Director. “And the families at the schools we are serving should know that WPE is preparing and delivering this surplus food in accordance with these high standards.”

ABOUT White Pony Express: WPE is a volunteer powered 501(c)3 organization headquartered in Pleasant Hill, CA, which helps people move from the margins to the mainstream by providing free food and clothing in a loving and respectful manner.

Dr. Carol Weyland Conner founded WPE in September 2013 when she was troubled that with such as an abundance of food, many thousands were going hungry, while at the same time food retailers were throwing out huge quantities of healthy, fresh food. Out of this insight, the Food Rescue program was born. In a little over 6 years, WPE has rescued and delivered more than 10.5 million pounds (equivalent to 8,750,000 meals) of fresh, nutritious food, free of charge, that would otherwise go to waste.

In 2014 the White Pony General Store was added to provide high quality clothing, toys, and books to the underserved in our communities – all free of charge. Since that time, the General Store has given away over 512,000 items to those in need.

If you’d like to contribute to WPE’s School Food Pantry Program or its other programs, you can do so by visiting WPE’s website at www.whiteponyexpress.org/donate-funds. Those who wish to volunteer can sign up at www.whiteponyexpress.org/volunteer.

For more on WPE, visit www.whiteponyexpress.org.

Traffic stop leads San Pablo police to arrest man, woman with outstanding warrants for sex crimes and drugs

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Drugs and paraphernalia found in suspects’ vehicle. Photos by SPPD.

By San Pablo Police Department

Warrant Arrests – Sexual Offenses

Friday night, March 13, 2020 officers on the graveyard shift made a traffic stop. The driver and the passenger, a male and a female, both had warrants for their arrest. One for rape and one for pimping and pandering.

Upon search of the vehicle, officers found drugs, scales, paraphernalia and bags for packaging/sales.

The warrants did not originate from the San Pablo Police Department but other neighboring cities and outside of Contra Costa County.

Richmond High P.E. teacher sentenced to 3 years in state prison for sex with minor

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Israel Ayala-Lopez; Photo by Richmond PD.

By Scott Alonzo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

Earlier this week, Israel Ayala-Lopez (27-years-old) of Richmond pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, Jane Doe, and he will serve three years in state prison. Ayala-Lopez will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Ayala-Lopez at the time of his arrest in the late summer of 2019, was a physical education teacher and soccer coach at Richmond High School. He received his teaching credential from the state of California in 2017.

Ayala-Lopez had sexual relations with the victim multiple times from at least April 2019 until August 2019. He was arrested by the Richmond Police Department and has been in custody since our Office filed criminal charges against him. Ayala-Lopez was also a collegiate athlete at San Jose State University and California State University Monterey Bay for their respective soccer teams.

To protect their confidentiality, our Office does not release the name or age of the victim, or their relationship to a defendant for this type of case. A criminal protective order was also ordered by the judge to prevent the defendant from communicating with the victim.

The case was investigated by the Richmond Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Kate Jewett prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Jewett is assigned to our Sexual Assault Unit.

Case information: People v. Israel Ayala-Lopez, Docket Number 02-330632-1.

Fatal crash in Hercules takes life of Fremont man Saturday

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By CHP – Contra Costa

Saturday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2020 at about 12:40pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a solo vehicle collision that came off of eastbound I-80 to the Hwy-4 split. (Into the dirt area just east of I-80 and south of Hwy-4) Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the solo male driver (44 year-old-male from Fremont) was unconscious. CPR and lifesaving procedures were attempted on the driver and he was quickly transported to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek. Unfortunately, he did not survive and died from his injuries. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the male driver.

It remains unclear at this point in our initial investigation as to why the man veered off the roadway but he was driving his 2000 Dodge Dakota truck on I-80 eastbound and approaching the Hwy-4 split and for an unknown reason he veered to the right across all lanes of traffic and off the roadway into the dirt field area, where the truck came to rest. The male driver was unresponsive upon CHP and emergency personal arrival. He died a short time later from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.