Antioch Press_2.06.09

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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa

Vol. 9, No. 6

Antioch, California

www.antiochpress.com

Council clashes on diversity by Dave Roberts

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February 6, 2009

THIS WEEK

Beauty bequeathed

Staff Writer A pair of city council members has again criticized what they feel is a lack of diversity in nominations to city commissions made by Mayor Jim Davis, who said he’s just picking the best people for the jobs. On Dec. 16, City Council members Reggie Moore and Mary Rocha voted to approve Davis’ nominations of Tina Sorenson, Bonni Bergstrom and Steve Culcasi to the Economic Development Commission. But Moore and Rocha put Davis on notice that they are looking for diversity in his future appointments, and Davis responded that it was something he would pay attention to. On Jan. 13, Moore and Rocha voted against Davis’ nomination of Mike Langford to the Planning Commission and instead supported the reappointment of Kay Trail. Trail is African-American. But Langford was approved with the votes of the other three council members. All of the council members supported Davis’ appointment of Vincent Manuel to the commission. On Jan. 27, Rocha voted against Davis’ nominations of Jim Lanter and James Kyle to the

He’s gone, but his legacy lives on in every splendid vista we enjoy in our regional parks.

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Statuesque Lady restored Photo by Dave Roberts

Councilwoman Mary Rocha, left, and Councilman Reggie Moore, right, have been critical of most of the nominations made by Mayor Jim Davis, center, to city commissions. Rocha and Moore say the nominees don’t increase the diversity on those commissions. Economic Development Commission, while Moore voted for Kyle but against Lanter. Both nominees were approved with the votes of the other three council members. As they had at the previous two meetings, Moore and Rocha were critical of the lack of diversity in Davis’ appointments.

“This is very hard; both of them (Kyle and Lanter) are my friends. Jim Lanter was on my committee to get elected,” said Rocha. “But I am sticking to my guns concerning diversity. And I am very strong on the issue that we need to have community people to represent the whole community in

our commissions in the future.” Moore said to Davis, “I was disappointed that you did not move the nomination of Melvin Chappel. Mr. Chappel has applied for many boards and commissions, and it’s my understanding that he’s

Staff Writer Bound by federal laws that prohibit an outright ban on sex shops, peep shows and strip clubs, the Oakley City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that would permit such establishments about three football fields away from the children attending Orchard Park School in the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD). The ordinance allows socalled “adult businesses” to set up shop in a light-industrial area on either side of Sandy Lane, north of Oakley Road, east of Neroly Road and west of Live Oak Avenue. The businesses cannot be closer than 1,000 feet from the property line of a school, park, church or residential zone. Orchard Park School is a K-

“ I want to make sure that people know we are not recruiting adult businesses by placing this ordinance out there ... Rather than challenge the legal system and lose and have a judge determine where the location would be, I would rather we try to find the correct location and best spot in the city.

Oakley City Councilman Kevin Romick 8 school on Live Oak Avenue just north of Oakley Road. The children attending there would be a couple of long blocks away from the possible porn district. That district is also 1,000 feet from Cornerstone Pentecostal Church, located at Live Oak Avenue and Main Street. Although the school is within

the Oakley city limits, it’s also in the boundary of the AUSD, and AUSD officials apparently were not notified about the proposed ordinance, which has been discussed over the past months at several council meetings. “I’m shocked, disappointed and angered,” AUSD board president Walter Ruehlig said via e-

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Panthers take tolerable tie

see Picks page 21A

Oakley gives reluctant OK to porn zone by Dave Roberts

Repairs were completed on a monument that celebrates the people whose sweat made East County a reality.

mail. “I … didn’t know it was up for Oakley vote last week, and definitely didn’t know it might be 1,000 feet from a school. I have calls in to our school superintendent, mayor, city manager and city counsel to see what we can do. “This must be a cruel joke. Morally, what kind of message do we as elders send impressionable kids? And, practically, what kind of an adult clientele and arousement do we want in the vicinity of a grade school?! Tax dollars are great, but let’s be responsible.” Oakley Planning Commissioner Don Scheer, who was the only person to speak against the ordinance at last week’s meeting, told the council he’s concerned that residents in that area have not been adequately notified. see Porn page 21A

On paper, they were overmatched. On the field, they gave the Lions nothing to roar about.

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INSIDE Calendar ..........................23B Classifieds ........................18B Cop Logs ..........................17A Education ..........................8A Entertainment ................14B Food .................................12B Health & Beauty ............... 7B Milestones .......................11B Opinion ...........................16A Outdoors ...........................6A Sports ................................. 1B WebExtras ......................... 1B

FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A


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