District 3 Newsletter for June 20

With fellow County Supervisor Federal Glover and longtime Pittsburg City Councilmember and Former Mayor Merl Craft

The City of Brentwood partnered with the Downtown Brentwood Coalition to host its first ever Juneteenth celebration yesterday. Residents from all over Brentwood and East County attended the free event, featuring live music, food trucks, small business vendors, and educational booths.

I had the honor of speaking at this event alongside a wide variety of dignitaries. Each speaker not only celebrated the ending of slavery in the U.S. but also advocated for the continued promotion for freedom and equality for African Americans in the future.

It was a fantastic event celebrating African American culture, history, and future, and a wonderful example of bringing together a diverse community in East County for a common cause.

Brentwood Councilmember Tony Oerlemans, Mayor Joel Bryant, musical headliner Lenny Williams, Tri Delta Transit CEO Rashidi Barnes, and Oakley Mayor Anissa Williams

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District "Pushes In" Two New Fire Engines in a Week

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District welcomed two new fire trucks this week; one at Station 92 in Brentwood and one at Station 81 in Antioch. Both 100' Heavy Duty Tillers are built by Pierce and are able to use their 100' reach to fight fires in buildings as high as seven stories.

Funding for the new trucks came from Con Fire's Capital Fleet Replacement Program and from Measure X. Both are steps forward in the continuing work to improve fire-fighting capacity across Contra Costa, especially in East County.

Joined in Brentwood by Fire Advisory Commissioners Mark DeMarce and Brian Oftedal, Brentwood City Councilmembers Jovita Mendoza, Susannah Meyer and Tony Oerlemans, and Chief Lewis Broschard

In Antioch, the Station 81 crew was joined by Fire Advisory Commission Chair Richard Nakano, City Counilmembers Mike Barbanica and Lori Ogorchock, and Vincent Manuel from Supervisor Glover's office.

As we approach July 4, I remind you that all fireworks are illegal in Contra Costa County, even those labeled "safe and sane". Fireworks also create a risk to public safety during the summer fire season.

Con Fire urges anyone observing fireworks being used to report it to their local law enforcement non-emergency line by calling 1-833-885-2021. Con Fire’s Fire Investigation Unit also asks residents to help them fight the dangerous use of illegal fireworks by reporting fireworks sales across the county to the Arson Tip Line at 1-866-50-ARSON.

Contra Costa County Public Works will begin construction of the Walnut Boulevard Bikeway Gap Closure Project on Monday, June 24, 2024, through Monday, July 22, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will occur between 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), weather permitting. 

Traffic control will be used. Message boards will alert drivers about the work. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes through the construction zone and consider alternative routes during working hours. 

The work consists of roadway shoulder widening along an 860-foot segment of Walnut Boulevard between Marsh Creek Road and Vasco Road to provide Class II bike lanes, grinding and overlaying the roadway pavement section, and installing a centerline rumble strip, striping, pavement markings, and signage. 

Funding for this project is provided by a State Highway Safety Improvement Program grant, local Transportation Development Act grant and Gas Tax Funds. For more information visit: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9899/Walnut-Blvd-Bikeway-Gap-Closure

The weekend of June 22-23, BART will begin a project to replace 16 interlockings between MacArthur Station and 19th Street Station in Oakland. During construction, which will occur on irregular weekends throughout 2024, a free bus bridge will replace BART service between Rockridge, McArthur, and 19th Street stations. The current interlockings, which operate like interchanges between tracks, are more than 50 years old and in need of replacement.

Riders can expect delays of up to 40 minutes between these stations and less frequent service systemwide on work weekends. Work will occur between MacArthur and 19th Street BART stations one weekend a month, most months, through June 2026.

Details about service impacts can be found online at: https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2024/news20240502

The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will perform slope repair work on Morgan Territory Road, approximately 900 feet north of the East Bay Regional Park District Morgan Territory Road Staging Area (9401 Morgan Territory Road), beginning on Monday, June 17, 2024, through Friday, June 28, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances.

The work will take place from 7 am through 5 pm, Monday through Friday, weather permitting. Electronic message boards will be placed in advance to alert drivers to scheduled work. There will be traffic control throughout the work area. Drivers should expect delays of 15 minutes.

Libby: Free Digital Resources with your Contra Costa County Library Card

The Library offers access to thousands of eBooks, eMagazines, and eAudiobooks for free through the Libby app. Find downloadable best sellers for adults, picture books for kids, comic books for young adults, and everything in between.

Start reading at ccc.overdrive.com or download the Libby App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play and enter your library card number to get started.

Summer Bus Passes and Bike Challenges from 511 Contra Costa

511 Contra Costa has two great opportunities for getting around town this summer.

The Summer Youth Pass with unlimited bus rides on Tri Delta Transit, County Connection and WestCat is available for youth ages 6-18 for only $30. For details, visit 511cc.org/youthpass.

The Summer Bike Challenge will get you outside and on the move. Throughout summer, you’ll bike to points of interest featured on your city’s gameboard, visit our in-person prize events, and share your pictures in our online Photo Gallery. Weekly Bonus Prize drawings and an iPad Grand Prize add to the fun. The Summer Bike Challenge is free, fun, and healthy – the perfect summertime activity for people of all ages. Learn more at 511contracosta.org/sbc/.

The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly regularly.

Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified boundary area for special districts. 

District 3 is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Oakley, and Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen, and Discovery Bay.

Find out more by visiting the Board of Supervisors 

Appointed Bodies, Committees & Commissions 

webpage.

Board of Supervisors' meetings are held in person at the County Administration Building 1025 Escobar Street, 1st floor, Martinez. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings.

The Board meetings are also accessible via television, and via live-streaming to all members of the public. Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, Astound Channels 32 & 1027, and can be seen live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov or www.contracostatv.org.

Persons who wish to address the board during public comment or with respect to an item on the agenda may comment in person or may call in during the meeting by dialing 888-278-0254 followed by the access code 843298#. A caller should indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item, by pushing "#2" on their phone. Access via Zoom is also available using the following link: https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/87344719204. Those participating via Zoom should indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item by using the “raise your hand” feature in the Zoom app. To provide contact information, please contact Clerk of the Board at clerkoftheboard@cob.cccounty.us or call 925-655-2000.

Meetings of the Board are closed-captioned in real time. Public comment generally will be limited to two minutes. Your patience is appreciated. A Spanish language interpreter is available to assist Spanish-speaking callers.

See information about parking and access to the County Administration Building at 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

"When I was young, we couldn't afford much. But my library card was my key to the world."

– John Goodman