YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 15
Including Nearby Communities
www.thepress.net
Forum heats up over Oakland cop killer by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
Saturday’s Quality of Life Forum in the frigid El Campanil Theatre (the heating system is being replaced) heated up when City Councilman Reggie Moore appeared to be making excuses for Lovelle Mixon, who recently killed four Oakland police officers. The 3½-hour forum, which was attended by about 100 people, was proceeding pretty much as had the previous seven forums until a man identifying himself as Brother Freddy, a community organizer, spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting. He accused the Antioch Police Department of racial profiling and illegally evicting residents, and said that whites are also being driven out of their homes by banks. Some in both groups then become homeless, collect welfare and go on to commit crime, which affects all of Antioch. “A racial-polarized Antioch must die in order for a united Antioch to live,” he said. “I haven’t heard a voice that spoke to the high
count of racial profiling in the area. Profiling is not limited to a black issue; it’s an Antioch issue. Through my community outreach I have talked to a lot of Caucasian people who have told me that they have been profiled, that they have been mishandled, that they have been abused. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere. Injust law produces an imbalance among us; it causes people to go off tilt and go beyond. This will begin to affect the broader Antioch community and throughout the country. A conservative white element is threatened by this. So this is not just a black issue; it’s a people issue. And we have to organize, mobilize on this front to do something to change the future direction of where this is headed.” Moore responded, “There probably are some elements of what was just said that are pretty true. We need to be progressive in the future on how we manage and analyze the issues that face this community. What is most striking to me is the question of crime and how fast we lose sight of economics. We just saw
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April 10, 2009
THIS WEEK
Nurse nonpareil
Sutter Delta Medical Center honored a caregiver known for her above-and-beyond spirit of generosity.
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Photo by Dave Roberts
Councilman Reggie Moore defends himself at last Saturday’s Quality of Life Forum against accusations that he’s making excuses for a man who recently killed four Oakland police officers
Pageant plot gets rolling
Councilman Brian Kalinowski, a sheriff’s lieutenant who attended the memorial service for the fallen officers, said to Moore, “Are you kidding me?” then waved his hand
Antioch’s Fourth of July Parade organizers are floating an invitation to those partial to large objects festooned in red, white and blue.
that recently, maybe even in Oakland. There was some economic disparity associated with the actions of that young man …” At that point Moore was interrupted by moans, catcalls and objections from many in the audience.
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see Forum page 21A
Reservoir expansion Banditry rewarded to put rec on hold by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
Photo by Ger Erickson
A plan that could triple the size of Los Vaqueros Reservoir, above, is being considered to bolster the state’s fresh water system.
A plan to nearly triple the size of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir would result in a shutdown of recreation there – including fishing, boating, hiking and picnicking – for three years during expansion construction. That’s one of the impacts identified in a recently released draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the proposed $550 million expansion of the 100,000-acre-foot reservoir south of Brentwood. Public comments on the EIR are being accepted through Tuesday, April 21. Two options are being considered: a near tripling of capacity to 275,000 acre feet of water, and a 60-
Sell stuff!
percent expansion to 160,000 acre feet. The larger expansion is designed to increase the water supply for Contra Costa Water District customers as well as other Bay Area water providers to help meet water demand during droughts and emergencies. The expanded reservoir could be in operation in 2013. While this is good news for water users in a state that has experienced three consecutive relatively dry years, the expansion will put one of East County’s main recreational sites out of action for either two years (with the smaller expansion) or three years (for the larger expansion), with an additional two-year curtailment of water recreation. see Reservoir page 21A
Antioch’s River City Bandits stole into Sunnyvale – and nearly stole the show.
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FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A