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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 11, No. 48
Police, city talk concessions “ We continue to work together, and hopefully
by Justin Lafferty Staff Writer
As Antioch prepares to tackle a projected $1.7 million deficit, city officials are meeting with the local police union in hopes of extending concessions officers made earlier this year. According to City Manager Jim Jakel, Antioch’s small deficit in the fiscal year 2011-12 is projected to increase significantly in the next fiscal year. City leaders are conducting ongoing discussions with the Antioch Police Officers Association in an effort to reach a resolution on continued concessions cops have made. In March, the two sides formally agreed on an arrangement that saved Antioch roughly $966,000 – an agreement that ends Jan. 1. The city’s contract with the police officers’ association ends in August of 2013. “We continue to work together, and hopefully we’ll be able to come up with an agreement going for-
we’ll be able to come up with an agreement going forward. Both of us are committed to trying to make something work.
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City Manager Jim Jakel ward,” Jakel said. “Both of us are committed to trying to make something work.” Jakel could not get into the specifics of the current round of negotiations, as meetings are being held in closed session. Antioch Police Officers Association President Sgt. Tom Fuhrmann also agreed that talks are going well. Fuhrmann noted that while officers understand the city’s fiscal restraints, his side hopes to negotiate a deal that not only works financially for Antioch but improves officers’ quality of life. “We know what the issues are and where the city stands and what it is they’re looking for from us,” Fuhrmann said. “We’re trying to deal with some work conditions
and make it a little more tolerable for the staff.” While Fuhrmann didn’t provide specifics, he said the vacancy rate within his department has started to take a toll on the officers. According to Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando, the city now employs 96 of an authorized staff of 126 officers. The police force is also operating without its entire Community Service Officer staff of 20, which was cut as a budgetary measure. Sgt. Fuhrmann noted that the city’s General Plan calls for a police force of 1.2 to 1.5 officers per 1,000 residents, but now that figure has fallen to 0.96. “We’re trying to work with (the
city) and get through that as well,” Fuhrmann said. In the current deal, which Antioch’s City Council approved on March 8, officers agreed to defer cost of living wage increases and other compensation, which worked out to a savings of $649,109. Police officers also agreed to pay 3 percent toward their pension, saving the city $317,590. In exchange, cops received an additional two paid holidays – the day after Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Prior to that agreement, the city and the police union engaged in occasionally testy negotiations throughout the winter months. Antioch originally voted in January to lay off six officers to help keep the city afloat, but concessions and donations from Antioch Auto Center owner Tom Nokes helped the city discard those pink slips. According to Jakel, the long negotiations from last year help now, as both sides have a greater knowl-
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December 2, 2011
Cream of the court
The opening tipoff isn’t far off, and our BVAL Basketball Preview spotlights the stars and sizes up the teams. Page 1B
Holiday atrocity Oakley’s Christmas Basket event suffered a blow when a burglar made off with $4,000 worth of toys and food. Page 3A
Manual for merriment
see Concessions page 12A
A special Thanksgiving homecoming by Rick Lemyre Staff Writer
For wounded Iraq war veteran Ricky France and his family, Nov. 5 was a roller coaster ride. The home he and wife Shannon rented in Loomis had been lost to foreclosure and, unable to find an affordable replacement, they and their five children faced homelessness in four days. Arrangements to move to a shelter had been made, and movers had arrived to take their belongings to storage. That’s when the phone call came: The Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF) was on the line to tell the Frances they were being given, mortgage-free, a fivebedroom house in Brentwood. “He was speechless and I was crying,” Shannon recalled. “I kept thinking, ‘I’m not going to be
homeless!’” The family, including Jon, 15; Destiny, 9; Erreanna, 8; Arhvia, 6; and Micah, 5, moved into the six-year-old house the day before Thanksgiving. “It’s beautiful; amazing,” said Ricky this week. “I’m still amazed and shocked.” Founded in 2007 by retired Gen. Leroy Sisco, the MWSF provides a variety of services aimed at helping veterans transition from the military to civilian life. In March of 2010 the organization embarked on its most ambitious effort, to give 1,000 wounded veterans free houses to within five years. “One of our biggest hurdles is convincing people that it’s real,” said Casey Kinser, program director for see Homecoming page 15A
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Photo courtesy of JP Morgan Chase Bank
Wounded Iraq veteran Ricky France and wife Shannon stand inside their new Brentwood home with their children. From left are Arreanna, Arhyia, Micah, Destiny and Jon. The family was given the house, free and clear, by the Military Warrior Support Network and JP Morgan Chase Bank.
Laptop largesse go to news/WebExtras!
A computer distribution program is giving digital literacy a boost.
Wise workforce go to news/press releases
Shell Oil has donated $10K to a Los Medanos College industrial training program.
Arts .....................................10A Business ............................. 25B Calendar ............................ 27B Classifieds ......................... 20B Cop Logs ............................ 26B Entertainment ................. 15B Food .................................... 14B Milestones ........................ 12B Opinion ..............................16A Sports .................................19A FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Black bargains go to multimedia/videos
Local shoppers braved the cold – and fellow shoppers’ elbows – on Black Friday.