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Vol. 10, No. 30
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Cop forewarns of ‘total chaos’ by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
“We are well on our way to being in a position of total chaos in this city as the criminals regain everything we fought hard to take from them,” wrote Sgt. Tom Fuhrmann, president of the Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA), in an e-mail urging police supporters to attend last week’s City Council meeting to lobby for hiring more officers. At that packed meeting Fuhrmann made a lengthy presentation to the council in which he said that a year from now only 85 police officers will be available for patrol in Antioch – fewer than in 1989, when he was hired. There will actually be 91 sworn officers on duty, but six of them will be pulled off the streets to do support jobs formerly provided by the city’s 22 community services officers (CSOs), the last 11 of whom were laid off July 22, he said.
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July 23, 2010
This Week High-fashion fundraising
A teen suffering from leukemia is getting support from folks who know how to advance a cause in style. Page 4A
Densa stress Photo by Dave Roberts
Antioch Police Sgt. Tom Fuhrmann criticizes the City Council for cutting police while funding optional city services such as the animal shelter and recreation. “At this time next year we employees (cut) from an authorized police department by 40 percent? “With the changes over the stand to be down 35 sworn (officer 148. That’s unacceptable. That’s positions) and 22 CSOs, for a total more than a 40 percent staffing last year of eliminating scheduled (shortage) of 57 employees vital to shortage in the police department. overtime and being down 21 sworn public safety,” Fuhrmann told the What do you think will happen to see Chaos page 22A council. “Fifty-seven public safety this community when you cut your
It bears a Latin label, but the language Delta dwellers use to describe the pesky plant is unprintable. Page 15A
Setting a high standard
Preservation campaign starts strong by Dave Roberts Staff Writer An effort to preserve open space and protect threatened species in East County has made significant progress, despite the fact that it relies heavily on fees from new development, a funding source that began to dry up just as the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy was launched three years ago. Since then, more than 6,300 acres of open space have been preserved in East County toward the goal of saving 30,000 acres in 30 years. In addition to enhancing the quality of life and recreational opportunities for local humans, the effort is designed to help preserve the habitat of 150 rare species, including the San Joaquin kit fox, California red-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, western burrowing owl
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and vernal pool fairy shrimp. “I’m amazed, surprised and very pleased at how quickly this has been implemented,” said Ted Radke, who represents East County on the East Bay Regional Park District Board after hearing a Conservancy update at the board’s June meeting. “This is in absence of any development. Development is supposed to pay for half of it, but Jon has been so successful in getting grants. A remarkable achievement in a couple of years – 6,000 acres in a couple of years, wow.” Radke was referring to Conservancy Executive Director Jon Kopchik, about whom Conservancy Board Chairman Bruce Connelley said, “It took many years to put the Conservancy together. He was the backbone of this organization. If not for Jon I’m not sure it would have happened. Jon is the wizard behind the
For nearly three decades, Antioch Youth Football has groomed kids for greatness – on and off the field. Page 1B
Plus:
Photo by Ger Erickson
Vernal pools harboring endangered fairy shrimp, such as here at Vasco Caves Regional Preserve, are among the natural treasures being preserved by the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy. Conservancy.” The Conservancy is a joint effort by Clayton, the county and East County cities (with the exception of Antioch) to collect
A-maize-ing spray news/WebExtras!
A cropdusting chopper was caught in the act of de-bugging at tassle-top level.
fees from developers in exchange for streamlining the environmental permit process for new development. see Preservation page 22A
Parking zone
go to news/press releases A new book chronicles our cutting-edge East Bay Regional Park District.
Back to School .................12A Business .............................12A Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Cop Logs ............................17A Entertainment ................... 8B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 6B Opinion ..............................16A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Under the stars go to multimedia/videos
Catch the action of the Broadway hit that wowed East County audiences.