YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 8, No. 4
Including Surrounding Communities
DB crime report released
www.thepress.net
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January 22, 2010
THIS WEEK
Seal meal
Primed for the big day
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
According to a recently released report from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, vehicle crime in Discovery Bay is down from last year and property crimes have nearly flatlined, while violent crime remains low. “That is good news; I’m very happy with the progress,” said Crime Prevention Specialist Tony Fontenot of the vehicle and property reports. “I credit most of this with public awareness; it’s key to the success of any community.” The 2007-08 statistics for violent crimes in Discovery Bay document six assaults with a deadly weapon reported in 2007, four in 2008 and five in 2009. One rape was reported in 2008 and one in 2009. Strong-arm robberies were also low; only one was reported in 2008 and the same for 2009. “It looks to me like those numbers are low and
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Camp Tracy revisited Photo by Stacey Chance
seal enjoys what appears to be the second half of its fresh fish lunch recently, unaware that photographer Stacey Chance is lingering nearby, camera at the ready. Seal and sea lion sightings are becoming more commonplace in Discovery Bay ever since they discovered what local anglers already knew: the fishing’s pretty good. Stacey spotted this fellow in, appropriately enough, Seal Cove.
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see Crime page 13A
Piepho: Fight goes on in water war by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
County Supervisor Mary Piepho, speaking before a dozen people at a Brentwood Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, blasted state legislators for ignoring local concerns and passing legislation she believes will hurt the Delta. Five water bills were approved with strong backing by Southern California legislators in early November. They provide for a new Delta governing board that could approve a peripheral canal, require 20-percent water conservation in urban areas, increase monitoring of groundwater, increase penalties for illegally taking water from the Delta and place an $11 billion bond for water projects on the November ballot. Piepho helped organize supervisors from the five Delta counties – Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin and Contra Costa – to get their concerns heard before the legislation was
Photo by Dave Roberts
County Supervisor Mary Piepho discusses the issues at a Brentwood Chamber of Commerce meeting last week. approved. “We had some significant success on the legislation that was proposed,” she said. “But, unfortunately, what ultimately got passed is still devastating to us. We continue to be engaged in the fight. And it is a fight. Frankly, it’s a war. It’s a very unfortunate set of circumstances. While
we were listened to, we weren’t taken seriously. And it’s very unfortunate. So we have a lot more work to do.” While combining the five Delta counties has provided more clout than acting alone, it’s still no match for heavyweights such as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who have partnered “for all intents and purposes to get more water south,” said Piepho. “That’s great if we have water to send. If the Delta is healthy, take it. “But the Delta isn’t healthy, and we don’t all have the water that we need. And to suck more water out of a failing structure doesn’t do any of us any good, no matter where you live in this state. We do need a better water management plan in this state. And we do need to have local government involved.” But local Delta government is also no match for the power of state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, who spearheaded passage of the water bills. “We need to be working with good science, true science, peer-reviewed science – not political science,” said Piepho. “And what’s driving it right now is political science. It’s been a political battle. Lines get drawn and the pressure (placed on legislators) being held hostage. see Piepho page 13A
Nostalgia takes a stern turn on a tour of a prisoner of war interrogation camp right in our own backyard.
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Lion letdown at the line
Free-throw woes undermined the Liberty basketball squad’s effort to nullify the influence of Pittsburg’s star guard.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................15B Classifieds ........................24A Cop Logs ..........................15A Entertainment ................14B Food ................................... 8B Milestones .........................8A Opinion ...........................14A Outdoors ...........................6A Sports ...............................19A Wedding Planner ............. 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A