Contra Costa Herald

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

Former Supervisor files complaint against Avila Farias for using public time for private purposes, she says she’s a contract employee

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By Allen Payton

Former Supervisor Tom Powers chose a trick rather than a treat for candidate for District 5 Supervisor, AnaMarie Avila Farias, on Halloween. In an email on Monday, October 31st, Powers provided a copy of a letter regarding a “Timecard Fraud Complaint Sent to District Attorney’s Office – Misuse of Taxpayer Funds to Be Investigated” against the Martinez Councilwoman. da-complaint-re-avila-farias-10-31-16

His email message read:

“Today I personally delivered the attached letter to District Attorney Mark Peterson’s office (at 3:18 pm PST) requesting an official investigation in to Anamarie Avila Farias’s official use of her time and resources at her Section 8 government job at the Contra Costa Housing Authority.

It has been brought to all of our taxpayers’ attention that on numerous times her officially signed government timecard indicates she has been at work, being paid by taxpayers to be at work, but Ms. Farias has actually been elsewhere conducting her own personal business. In fact, one of the weeks she officially signs her timecard saying she is at work, her Facebook Posts (since deleted) actually indicate she is out of the country in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Using government time or resources for personal purposes is unlawful and, on behalf of County taxpayers, I am asking the District Attorney’s Office to conduct a full investigation of Ms. Farias’ potential misuse of taxpayers funds.”

In addition, Powers provided additional documentation to support his complaint.

When asked for a comment on the complaint, Avila-Farias responded with the following statement:

“When the political machine is threatened, they strike out like a cornered snake. This filing with the District Attorney is an attempt at an October surprise, trying to entice this law enforcement agency to back up their bogus claims.

Tom Powers, a longtime Contra Costa County power broker who is actively defending the incumbent Supervisor Federal Glover because he fears the loss of control if the Board of Supervisors is governed by the people and for the people.

False and misleading attacks like this have no place in our county’s campaigns.

I am an Independent Contract Employee. My job demands a non-traditional, flexible schedule. My hours are my own to determine. End of story.

My commitment, integrity and dedication to my job and hours worked to provide housing options for Contra Costa families has never been questioned by my employer.

This is a non-story generated by the sleazy political machine in this county desperate to protect their longtime champion – Supervisor Federal Glover. They want to talk about anything other than Federal Glover’s vote to increase his own pay 33%, lack of engagement in the District and his consistent support for insider deals for Contra Costa County contractors.”

The election is next Tuesday, November 8th.

Congressman DeSaulnier Awarded High Marks from the League of Conservation Voters

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Washington, DC – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) received a 97% score from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) on its 2015 National Environmental Scorecard. The high score reflects his record of fighting for important issues, including energy, global warming, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, and supporting environmental programs during his first session of Congress.

“Preserving our planet’s natural resources for generations to come has been one of my priorities since serving on the California Air Resources Board in the 1990s. It is an honor to be recognized by the League of Conservation Voters for my environmental work, and I will continue to work with the LCV to promote policies that address climate change and protect public health while strengthening our economy,” said Congressman DeSaulnier.

“The 2015 Scorecard shows that our cornerstone environmental standards are under attack more than ever before,” said Gene Karpinski, President of the League of Conservation Voters. “Thankfully, Congressman DeSaulnier is helping lead the charge against these extreme attacks. His stellar record during his first year in the U.S. House builds on his strong record at the state-level fighting to protect the air we breathe and confront the climate crisis and we look forward to continue working with him.”

LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard ranks 35 different votes to provide objective, factual information about the most important environmental legislation considered in the 114th Congress and the corresponding voting records of all members of Congress. The Scorecard represents the consensus of experts from approximately 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who select the key votes on which members of Congress should be scored.

The full scorecard can be found here.

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier also has earned a lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters of 97%.

 

UC Berkeley joins Richmond’s CyberTran to seek $100 million grant for low-cost, electric transit system

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Artist rendering of a CyberTran vehicle and station.

Artist’s rendering of a CyberTran vehicle and station.

U.C. Berkeley announced, Wednesday that it has joined forces with Richmond-based CyberTran International (CTI), Stantec, a global architecture and engineering firm, and a group of small businesses to apply jointly to the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change grant competition. The grant would finance the development of the rapid, Ultra Light Rail Transit (ULRT) system technology pioneered by CTI.

UC Berkeley’s Partners in Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) has decades of experience in the automated vehicle field.

“We can definitely apply our automated vehicle system technology to ULRT,” said researcher Xiao-Yun Lu.

“ULRT has the potential to revolutionize how we travel and commute,” said CTI President Dexter Vizinau. “Automated rail shuttles that travel in a network up to speeds of over 100 mph will reduce the cost of building and maintaining transit systems while greatly increasing convenience and providing an alternative sustainable mode to today’s congested highways and roads, and reducing toxic emissions.”

The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s grant program, launched in June, will award only one grant applicant a year of $100 million. It is a “competition…to fund a single proposal that promises real and measurable progress in solving a critical problem of our time,” according to the organization’s website.

“Solving society’s most pressing problems isn’t easy, but we believe it can be done,” said MacArthur President Julia Stasch. “Potential solutions may go unnoticed or under resourced and are waiting to be brought to scale. Every three years, we plan to award $100 million to help make one of these solutions a reality. Through 100&Change, we want to inspire, encourage, and support other people’s ideas, here in our hometown Chicago, across the nation and around the world, about how to address major challenges and enable real progress toward a solution.”

“We believe that 100&Change can have a ripple effect beyond what a single $100 million grant enables,” said Cecilia Conrad, MacArthur’s Managing Director leading the competition. “Setting audacious goals is inspiring. Clear evidence of impact can encourage other funders to invest in solvable problems more broadly, and applicants who do not receive the $100 million grant will still receive valuable feedback on and attention to their ideas.”

“These funds will help us to bring this very important technology to market at low, medium and 100-plus miles per hour speed applications. Our team is ably skilled to succeed in introducing this radically innovative and effective technology to the globe,” said Neil Sinclair, CTI’s Chairman. “We are very happy to be teaming with UC Berkeley’s PATH group along with the rest of the team on this project.”

ULRT is a computer operated on-demand and direct-to-destination transit system using individual rail shuttles. Studies have shown the system to cost an order of magnitude less to build and operate. It was originated at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The program proposal is a three year $100M project resulting in the completion of the commercialization of the technology. CTI engineers compare ULRT to the Internet. Vehicles travel under computer control to off-line stations based on real time passenger demand. The demand can come from passengers in stations pushing a button, or through smart phone pre-scheduling.

CyberTran International’s offices are located at the UC Berkeley Global Campus Richmond Bay, in Richmond, California. For more information on CyberTran, visit www.cybertran.com. For more information on the 100&Change Competition, click here.

As a matter of disclosure, the publisher of this website is a part owner of a company with a financial interest in CyberTran International, Inc.

Congressman DeSaulnier to meet one-on-one with residents in El Cerrito, Wednesday

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Walnut Creek, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) will continue his longtime practice of meeting one-on-one with constituents during Mobile District Office Hours on Wednesday, October 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during the El Cerrito Senior Resource Fair. Since being elected to Congress, DeSaulnier has hosted twenty-nine Mobile District Office Hours and Town Halls throughout Contra Costa County.

“The most rewarding aspect of my job is the people. Meeting one-on-one with constituents and hearing first-hand about issues that impact their lives, families or our community helps inform my work in Congress. These conversations are critical to effectively representing the people of California’s 11th Congressional District. I invite all residents to drop by our Mobile District Office Hours to discuss important topics or learn about the services our office provides. I look forward to seeing you there,” said Congressman Mark DeSaulnier.

Congressman DeSaulnier will be on hand to share thoughts and to answer questions about federal legislation, and to assist with issues related to Social Security, Medicare, the Veteran’s Administration, or other federal agencies. Prior to hosting office hours DeSaulnier will speak at the El Cerrito Senior Resource Fair.

What: Congressman DeSaulnier’s Mobile District Office Hours

When: Wednesday, October 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Where: El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito, CA

Details: First come, first served. No appointment necessary. This event is open to all residents of California’s 11th Congressional District.

For more information or to confirm you are a resident of the 11th district, please email CA11.RSVP@mail.house.gov or call (925) 933-2660.

 

Congressmen DeSaulnier, Thompson announce $1.2 million grant for Contra Costa College

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For Hispanic and low-income residents in STEM fields

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced that Contra Costa College (CCC) will receive a $1,199,013 grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The grant will be used for the College’s Caminos al Exito Project, which aims to improve access and opportunity in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields for Hispanic and low-income residents.

“Having a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job. Improving access to and participation in STEM education will help today’s students be better prepared for tomorrow’s careers,” said Representative Mark DeSaulnier. “Through this grant, Contra Costa College is not only investing in its student body, but is also helping to better our communities and create a strong economy.”

“These federal dollars will strengthen our community by helping make sure someone’s first language or family income isn’t a barrier to fully achieving his or her educational goals,” said Representative Mike Thompson. “A quality STEM education can open doors for our students as they look to secure well-paying jobs after graduation. And we know that demand for qualified employees will only continue to grow in the STEM field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of science and engineering jobs will grow at a faster rate than that of the overall projected workforce in the years ahead. As we work to close opportunity gaps for our Hispanic and low-income students, we must make sure that a STEM education is a real option in our schools.”

“We are so pleased that the U.S. Department of Education selected Contra Costa College (CCC) to receive another Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) grant focused on expanding exposure, access and completion in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for Hispanics and low-income residents in our region,” says President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh. “Many areas of job growth in our community will require a strong STEM foundation, and our proposal is designed to help more students successfully achieve the confidence, education and skills to be competitive for these opportunities. In addition, we are excited because this grant allows us to continue our important work in promoting and supporting STEM literacy for elementary students and their parents.”

The grant is provided through the U.S. Department of Education’s Hispanic-Serving Institution’s Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics and Articulation (HSI STEM) Program. The purpose of the HSI STEM Program is to increase the number of Hispanic students attaining degrees in STEM fields and better facilitate transfers between two-year and four-year institutions in such fields.

Specifically, the funds will be used to help the Caminos al Exito Project:

  • Increase access and college readiness to accelerate success in STEM for Hispanic and low-income area residents;
  • Increase the number of articulation agreements in STEM disciplines with the University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Davis, University of California-Santa Cruz, California State University-East Bay, San Francisco State University, and San Jose State University; and
  • Increase the retention, graduation and transfer rates of students in STEM through case management advising and high-impact educational practices.

Contra Costa College is a public community college in San Pablo serving the diverse communities of West Contra Costa County with over 6,500 enrolled students, 41 percent of which are Hispanic. Forty-five percent of the Hispanic students enrolled at Contra Costa College are both low-income and first-generation college students.

Social Workers and Eligibility Workers to begin three-day unfair labor practice strike, Friday

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WHO: Hundreds of social workers, eligibility workers, and community supporters

WHAT: 1,100 Contra Costa workers represented by SEIU 1021 to go on strike, in protest of County Executives’ unfair labor practices against social workers and eligibility workers.

Workers and their community allies are protesting the intimidation of workers and the County Executives and Board of Supervisors’ failure to address the recruitment and retention crisis at Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department.

WHEN: Friday, September 30, 2016 – Day 1 of Unfair Labor Practice Strike

8:00 am – media availability at the picket lines

Noon – community rally featuring members of the Richmond and El Cerrito City Councils, social workers and eligibility workers

5:00 pm – picket lines go down for the day

WHERE: 1305 MacDonald Avenue, Richmond

Two victims in hospital, one man arrested in Monday shooting in El Sobrante

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Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing to investigate Monday’s shooting of two men on the 600 block of El Centro in El Sobrante. The victims, ages 37 and 19, are still in the hospital in stable condition. Detectives on Monday arrested 32-year-old Jason Ellis of El Sobrante in connection with this shooting. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on two counts of assault with a firearm. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the 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.

Contra Costa College holds Presidential Investiture and ribbon cutting for new College Center

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New Contra Costa College President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, (left of podium) is congratulated by Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Helen Benjamin and trustees following an investiture ceremony on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.

New Contra Costa College President Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, (left of podium) is congratulated by Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Helen Benjamin (center) and Board trustees following an investiture ceremony on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.

A view of the new College Center at Contra Costa College in San Pablo.

Ceremonies were held in front of the new College Center at Contra Costa College in San Pablo.

Contra Costa College (CCC) held a Presidential Investiture, Tuesday for its 12th permanent president, Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, and celebrated the completion of its new College Center, the largest bond-funded project in the history of Contra Costa Community College District (District).

“We are happy and so proud to have Mojdeh Mehdizadeh in this leadership role,” says Governing Board president Vicki Gordon.  “One of the District’s initiatives is to ensure we provide professional opportunities so we can grow our own leaders.  Mojdeh’s 25 years of experience in the District is a shining success story of that commitment and provides proof that each employee has opportunities in our District to realize his or her full potential.”

Following the investiture formalities, President Mehdizadeh commented on her vision for the college.

“Contra Costa College is a beacon of hope for West County,” says president Mehdizadeh.  “We are delighted about the completion of this project which changes the face of our entire campus.  We have created facilities that provide an inviting and engaging physical learning environment for our students.”

Over $72 million was invested in the College Center project that includes a new General Education Building, Fireside Hall and Student and Administration Building.  The quad area was completely redone, making it an inviting place for students to take part in meaningful activities that contribute to their success.  Funding for this project came from the passage of Measure A Bond 2006, and Contra Costa County voters deserve the credit.

“This day could not be possible without the passage of our bond measures,” says chancellor Helen Benjamin.  “We appreciate the support of our community and as we celebrate the opening of the new facilities, we celebrate the community as well for the investment they are making in improving the wellbeing of the residents.  We invite the community to stop by and see what we have done for our students.”

The building of the College Center project included the demolition of the oldest building on the CCC campus, the Humanities building and the Student Activities building, constructed in 1954 and 1957, respectively.

“These new facilities are beautiful, and were completed on time and under budget,” says Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee chair Dr. Bill van Dyk.  “The District continues to demonstrate they are good stewards of the public’s funds.”

Contra Costa College, located in San Pablo, is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District and currently serves almost 11,000 students (unduplicated head county) annually.  Since 1948, CCC has provided exemplary educational services to hundreds of thousands of residents from the greater West County area, and is proud of its diverse student body and commitment to individual student success.  Excellent programs such as the Center for Science Excellence, The Advocate newspaper, the green Automotive Services program, Middle College High School, the Nursing program, and the Culinary Arts program are known through the state and the nation.  A model of excellence, Contra Costa College prides itself on being one of the finest community colleges in the country. For more information on the college, click here.

The Contra Costa Community College District (CCCCD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The CCCCD serves a population of 1,019,640 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. The District is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, as well as educational centers in Brentwood and San Ramon.  The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez.

Statues, other items stolen in residential burglary in Martinez recovered, arrest made

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stolen items truckDetectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff have recovered most items that were taken during two burglaries that occurred at a home on Alhambra Valley Road in unincorporated Martinez, last month.

Following the burglaries, the Investigation Division received several anonymous email tips and voice messages on the tip line indicating the location of the stolen property. Detectives went to the location finding numerous bronze statues, whiskey decanters, and other items that were stolen from the residence. Several photos of the recovered items are attached.

Detectives subsequently executed three search warrants at locations in the El Sobrante area finding more stolen items.

statues 2Detectives arrested 49-year-old Charles Somers of San Pablo for possession of stolen property in connection with the burglaries. In addition, Somers, a parolee, is being held on a parole violation. Somers is currently in custody at the county jail without bail.

The investigation into the burglaries is continuing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2661.

For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.