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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 12, No. 5
New tax could boost police force by Justin Lafferty
“ Property values have gone down and it’s
Staff Writer An Antioch Police Crime Prevention Commissioner has floated the idea of a parcel tax earmarked to help the city hire officers, a measure that could find its way onto ballots by November. At the Jan. 24 Antioch City Council meeting, Crime Prevention Commissioner Bill Cook proposed a parcel tax based on the value of residents’ homes. The tax dollars would allow the city’s police department to hire back 30 sworn officers, 20 community service officers (CSOs), and fund a code enforcement department. “They’re so shorthanded,” Cook said. “I think this is some-
a good idea to reinvest part of that. I think that’s a good deal and I think we should talk about it.
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City Councilman Gary Agopian thing that people are really going to get behind.” Antioch’s budget authorizes the police department to employ 126 officers, but due to the economic recession, the city can currently afford only 94 – and no CSOs or code enforcement officers. Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando said it would cost roughly $5.5 million to bring the
department back to full staffing levels, not including officers’ incentives. Finance Director Dawn Merchant said there are roughly 35,000 taxable parcels in Antioch. According to Cook, since the parcel tax proposal is in its formative stage, specifics are still being worked out. But city officials worry that the 2010 failure of Measure P might signal that residents are leery of dipping
into their own pockets to help Antioch’s thinning blue line. Measure P was a proposed halfcent sales tax increase that proponents said would have gone to the police department, but opponents felt the measure’s verbiage was too vague to make that guarantee. It needed 50 percent of the vote to pass, but received 47.95 percent. “Whatever the city of Antioch decides to do to financially support city government, I support,” Cantando said. “I’m basically looking at whatever way we can raise money so I can hire staff back.” Antioch City Councilman Gary Agopian feels that the parcel tax proposal could have see Tax page 15A
Holocaust survivor to speak in Brentwood by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer In l939, 7-year old Ralph Samuel’s parents kissed their son goodbye, put him on a transport plane to England – and saved his life. It would be the last time the German Jew would see his father and many months before the young boy would be reunited with his mother. But for the now 80year-old Samuel, his tale of inexpressible tragedy and loss is a testament to hope, courage and the resilience of the human spirit. “I was one of the lucky ones; I know that,” said Samuel in a recent interview with the Press. “It’s not something that I think about every day, but it’s something that is important to remember. And by talking about it, it helps to keep me sane.” Samuel will next be talk-
Photo courtesy of Ralph Samuel
A photo of Samuel, front row second from right, taken in 1935. The Holocaust survivor was part of Great Britain’s Kindertransport program during World War II. ing about his experience on Feb. 10 in Brentwood, when he will speak at a traditional
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Shabbat dinner at Chabad of the Delta. The public is welcome to attend.
Mozart mania
go to news/WebExtras! A local orchestra is tuning up for an evening of classical perfection.
Born in 1931 in Dresden, Germany, the only child of Jewish parents, Samuel was forbidden by Nazi decree to attend regular school. As antiSemitism in Germany became increasingly blatant, Samuel’s parents began searching for a safe haven for their son. They found it in Great Britain. “During that time, there were many Jews who wanted to leave Germany, Austria and other European countries, but much of the world closed its doors,” said Samuel. “England was one of the only countries that welcomed us.” And so in January of 1939, Samuel became one of the tens of thousands of young refugees – “Kinders,” as they would later be called – to benefit from the humanitarian relief effort called the Kindertransport. The program placed predominately see Survivor page 15A
Kiddie lit.
go to news/press releases A children’s book author and illustrator will share the secrets of her craft.
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February 3, 2012
Streets-savvy sweepstakes
Valentine’s Day is the occasion and The Streets of Brentwood is the venue for an exciting online contest. Page 1B
Monumental park permit East County will be home to California’s newest historic park, anchored by its prime pioneer’s house. Page 3A
Prime-time Patriot
A Deer Valley grad and New England D-back hopes to rain on New York’s parade in Super Bowl XLVI. Page 17A Calendar ............................ 15B Classifieds ........................... 9B Cop Logs ............................ 14B East County Life ................ 1B Entertainment ................... 6B Food ...................................... 4B Milestones ........................12A Opinion ..............................14A Sports .................................17A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Green garb
go to multimedia/videos Fashion show models flaunted organic and recycle-based apparel.