Contra Costa Civic.News+ [1/18/2021]
News, Analysis & Opinion for Contra Costa Changemakers.
Welcome to the first inaugural edition of Contra Costa Civic.News+!
Contra Costa Civic News+ is a weekly newsletter published Monday mornings that offers political news, policy analysis, local opinion, community events and job listings tailored for Contra Costa Changemakers.
County Politics & Government
County Government
Second-Term Supervisor Diane Burgis was installed as Chair of the Board of Supervisors on January 5. Six-Term Supervisor Federal Glover is now Vice Chair. At that meeting, the board appointed its slate of county committee chairs and representatives to regional bodies. Key appointments include:
Public Protection Committee (Police, Fire & Jails): Chair Candace Anderson & Vice Chair Federal Glover
Internal Operations Committee (Commission Appointments and Staffing): Chair Candace Anderson & Vice Chair Diane Burgis
Family & Human Services Committee: Chair Candace Anderson & Vice Chair Diane Burgis
Finance Committee: Chair Karen Mitchoff & Vice Chair John Gioia
The Contra Costa County General Plan process is in full swing. Envision Contra Costa 2040 is the County’s comprehensive plan to address land use, transportation, housing, climate change, environmental justice, and other important issues over the next 20 years. Over the next few weeks, virtual meetings will solicit public feedback about draft plans and next steps. See the full calendar for local meetings and environmental justice convenings.
Contra Costa County Health Services has opened up applications for the COVID-19 vaccine to seniors 65+, health care professionals and caregivers. Residents can get in line my filling out this form. More information is available here.
Contra Costa County received the second highest score statewide in the Public Health Institute’s first Local Cannabis Policy Scorecards. Scorecards, featuring middling scores, were also released for Antioch, El Cerrito, Martinez and Richmond, the four cities that have retail marijuana sales.
Contra Costa and Other Bay Area counties are requesting waivers to delay their annual homeless counts over worries that the census could put volunteers and unhoused people at risk of catching COVID-19.
County Politics
District Attorney Diana Becton was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California Victim Compensation Board. She will serve alongside California Controller Betty Yee and Yolanda Richardson, Secretary of the Government Operations Agency.
Does this signal that Gavin is positioning the DA for California Attorney General (AG)? California’s Legislative Women’s Caucus recently listed her as one of their top choices for State AG, alongside Lamorinda Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. Becton also has the backing of the California Association of Black Lawyers and may earn formal Black Caucus support in a matter of days.
Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC) will elect new leadership on Thursday, January 21. Party 1st Vice Chair Katie Ricklefs, a leader in the Lamorinda Democratic Club and former Planned Parenthood board member, is likely to take over as chair of the party following current chair Maria Alegria’s departure. Susana Williams, of East County is the only announced candidate for 1st Vice Chair, while Joey Smith, of West County, is the sole candidate for Second Vice Chair. Concord’s Kenji Yamada is in line for Secretary. The DPCCC will also elect directors for each supervisorial district, as well as delegates to the California Democratic Party. See the full list of candidates here.
California Democratic Party (CADEM) will also elect Assembly District-level delegates (ADEMs) via a mail ballot due January 27. Labor has organized “Labor-Progressive” slates in each Assembly District, with some progressives organizing competing slates. See the full ballot here. Traditionally, the labor slate wins, though anything could happen this round due to the wider voter base due to mail balloting.
Why does party politics matter? The local party is responsible for endorsing the official Democratic candidate for each local office, coordinating volunteers to assist campaigns and advocating for progressive policy to local governments. CADEM endorses for state offices and endorses state legislation, and is responsible for coordinating large donor’s investments.
City Halls & School Boards
Central County
Martinez Re-Districting: This is a big issue for many Martinez activists. The city is hosting a public workshop on city council redistricting this Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 6:00 pm. The meeting will include presentations from subject matter experts and serves as the initial step for the City Council in the process of setting new council district boundaries for 2022. Expect members of Martinez Citizens For Responsible Government, Thousand Friends of Martinez PAC and Common Cause to weigh in. Will Martinez be the first domino for local redistricting reform post-Shenkman?
Concord Rent Registry: Concord landlords with at least four units will soon need to disclose why they evicted their tenants or raised rents, information that will be available online thanks to the city’s new rent registry program, created by the City Council on January 12. It appears Concord is forging a leading role in fighting the housing crisis, though local activists likely wish to see even more action.
Walnut Creek Pipeline Spill: A major leak from a rupture to the Kinder Morgan fuel pipeline that runs through Walnut Creek is currently under construction. The Walnut Creek City Council will receive an update on progress and remediation at its January 19 meeting.
Lamorinda Overpass: Tensions rise over the 24 freeway as MAGA and BLM activists fight for visibility on the El Curtola Overpass, according to the East Bay Times.
San Ramon City Council Appointment: San Ramon City Council named retired U.S. Army colonel and former Federal Emergency Management Agency official Mark Armstrong to its vacant seat Wednesday, over a last-minute motion from Mayor Dave Hudson to instead fill the spot with former councilman Harry Sachs, according to Local News Matters.
San Ramon USD Recall Effort Launched: Some San Ramon Valley parents have begun the recall process and are starting to collect signatures to remove Board President Susanna Ordway, Board Member Rachel Hurd and Board Member Ken Mintz. Why? They wish to return to in-school education after the district moved to at-home virtual learning due to COVID-19.
San Ramon Apartment Development: The San Ramon Planning Commission is considering a proposal to build 284 apartments where the Marketplace retails center stands. Only 32 of the units are “affordable.”
East County
Pittsburg Election Transparency: This Tuesday, the City of Pittsburg is considering whether to move campaign finance filings to an electronic platform that would improve public access.
Antioch Racial Justice & Police Reform: The City of Antioch is hosting three "Bridging the Gap" sessions hosted by a professional facilitator to dive into how the city should combat racial injustice and begin police reform. The first will be on January 19th and will focus on police oversight. The second is on February 6 and will focus on use of force and training. The third meeting, February 18, will consider ways to improve police-community relations. This comes following the release of a video by Councilmember Tamisha Walker that described her child’s negative encounter with local police, as well as a contentious city council meeting with hundreds of public comments.
Antioch’s Shagoofa Khan Arrested: Local racial justice and police reform activist Shagoofa Khan was arrested on Friday on a $50,000 warrant related to a protest-related arson case in Antioch, according to the Antioch Herald and Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. East Bay Resistance originally established a bail fund and she has since been released. Activists claim that the arrest timing is suspicious, asserting that it may be retaliation for her protest actions.
Brentwood City Council Appointment: Following a unanimous vote to fill an open seat vacated by recently elected Mayor Joel Bryant, former City Councilmember Karen Rarey will take the oath of office on January 12.
West County
Richmond Renews City Manager Contract: Laura Snideman will remain City Manager for at least three more years, after serving the city for the past year.
Pinole Considering Indigenous Land Acknowledgement: Councilmember Devin Murphy has requested that the City of Pinole consider revising its procedures on January 19 to include an acknowledgement of tribal land at the start of each meeting: “Before we begin, we would like to acknowledge the Ohlone people, who are the traditional custodians of this land. We pay our respects to the Ohlone elders, past, present, and future, who call this place, Ohlone Land, the land that Pinole sits upon, their home…(continued).”
Hercules City Updates: The City Manager of Hercules has posted a comprehensive update for the city here.
West County USD Experiences STEM Challenges: EdSource explores California schools’ challenges with science curriculum by taking a look at West County USD.
Special Districts
Concord & BART See Eye-to-Eye on Housing: Concord officials this week said they are glad at the prospect of mixed residential and commercial development around the city’s two BART stations in the next decade or so, and that they want to work with BART officials to help make it happen the right way, according to Local News Matters.
BART Expands Ambassador Program: The BART Board plans to double the size of its team of Crisis Intervention Specialists—civilians with a background in social work who respond to calls involving people with suspected mental health issues. It will pay for the new positions with $1.9 million originally budgeted to hire six new police officers, according to the East Bay Times.
Central San Farm Receives National Attention: Central Contra Costa Sanitary District’s farm, located on sanitary buffer land adjacent to the water treatment plant owned by district, was featured on Salon.com.
California Politics & Government
The State of California released its draft 2021-22 budget featuring a surge in spending thanks to high tax returns from upper income taxpayers (see CalMatters analysis) and expected increases in federal funding.
Governor Gavin Newsom has published the state’s Master Plan for Aging outlining how the state should move forward as greater numbers of Boomers retire. The plan outlines approaches to senior housing, health care, equity and inclusion, caregiving reform and funding for long-term care. The state has also issued a Local Playbook for cities and counties.
Senator Steve Glazer & Pandemic Expert Yaneer Bar-Yam published an op-ed in the East Bay Times calling for stronger lockdowns to fight the surge in COVID-19 cases in California.
National Politics & Government
President-Elect Biden unveiled an ambitious $1.9 trillion stimulus plan last week that, if passed, would include $1,400 Checks, Increased Child Care Tax Credit of $4,000, Expanded Paid Leave, Unemployment Insurance Supplement of $400 a Week & Raise the Minimum Wage to $15. Also included is $170 Billion for Schools, $350 Billion for Local Governments, $90 Billion for Small Business Grants and $160 Billion in Vaccination, Testing and Public Health Funding.
Contra Costa’s Delegation Responds to Trump Insurrection: Rep. Eric Swalwell — Op-Ed | Rep. Mark DeSaulnier — Op-Ed | Rep. Jerry McNerney — Statement | Rep. Mike Thompson — Press Release
President-Elect Biden threw his support to Jaime Harrison for Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), according to the New York Times.
Community Organizations
Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa has published their 2021 Blueprint outlining the nonprofit’s 5 goals for the near future: a strong COVID-19 response, high-quality distance learning and in-person programming, creating an equitable space for all kids, reaching out to kids in underserved communities, renovating current facilities and opening new locations countywide.
Rubicon Programs, the Foundation for California Community Colleges & Diablo Valley College are partnering to break down the stigma around student food insecurity and remove financial barriers to higher education for community college students.
John Muir Land Trust has opened its “Family Harvest Farm” in West Pittsburg, serving Contra Costa foster youth. The urban farm employs transitional-aged foster youths (18 to 24 years old) and teaches them about farming, nutrition, work and life skills while nurturing the environment.
Save Mount Diablo is offering an expanded series of free guided hikes for the public. The Diablo Guided Hikes program traverses Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District and Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation lands, with hikes and walks scheduled in Walnut Creek, Clayton, Concord, Livermore, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Danville and San Ramon.
Saint Mary’s College has appointed a new President, Richard Plumb. Plumb’s background includes senior leadership positions at the University of St. Thomas; Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles; the University of Kansas in Lawrence; and Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York.
The Sierra Club of San Francisco Bay elected new leadership. Dublin-San Ramon Services District Director Marisol Rubio joined the Chapter Executive Committee and various new leaders joined local group committees.
Happenings
43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ceremony — Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors — Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 11 am — Free
Biden-Harris Inauguration — Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 9 am — Free
Virtual Treatment Plan Tour — Central San — Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:30 pm — Free
Vaccine Digital Town Hall Featuring Asm. Buffy Wicks & Supervisor John Gioia — Friday, January 22, 2021 at 1 pm — Free
East Bay USA: Conversation with Van Jones — East Bay Leadership Council — Thursday, Jan 28, 2021, 12 pm — Members Free or $200
Annual State of the Mountain Address 2021 — Save Mount Diablo — Thursday, Jan 28, 2021, 5 pm — Free
Celebrating Tom Guarino — Choice in Aging — Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 5 pm — Free
Criminal Justice Town Hall — Our Revolution East Bay — Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 5 pm — Free
Local Jobs
Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano: Agency Relations Program Coordinator & Legislative Advocacy Associate
Monument Impact: Deputy Director, Communications & Policy Intern, & Fund Development Intern
Planned Parenthood Northern California: Public Affairs Manager
City of San Ramon: Solid Waste and Environmental Services Program Manager
Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association: Deputy General Counsel
Have a tip, opinion, event or job listing? We also accept (and appreciate!) prewritten blurbs. Email Jonathan at editor@civic.news to have it included in this newsletter and/or online at Civic.News.