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January 9, 2026
Brentwood will release body camera footage in fatal incident by Feb. 28 Civil rights lawsuit filed by Ramirez family on Jan. 1 By Jake Menez Staff Writer
Following a closed session meeting of the Brentwood City Council on Jan. 6, Mayor Susannah Meyer spoke publicly to tell residents that police body camera footage from a Sept. 26 encounter with Brentwood resident Yolanda Ramirez will be released to Ramirez’s family and then the public by Feb. 28. Ramirez suffered a medical emergency in custody and was released, where she died in a local hospital on Oct. 3.
This announcement comes after the Ramirez family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Brentwood on Jan. 1, alleging that police used excessive force while taking her into custody, which left her injured and unresponsive and led to her death. During her comments on Jan. 6, Meyer noted that the council had agreed in closed session to give the city’s legal counsel approval to defend the lawsuit. “The Brentwood City Council is fully committed to ensuring that the Brentwood Police Department fully cooperates with the ongoing investigation being conducted by the District Attorney’s Office,” Meyer said. “That investigation is independent and it is essential that it be allowed to proceed thoroughly, ob-
jectively and without interference. Out of respect for the investigative process and for the family of Ms. Ramirez, we will not speculate or comment on details that are under review.” During the meeting, Interim Police Chief Walter O’Grodnick informed the public that he had notified the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office of the situation on Oct. 2, formally invoking the county’s fatal incident protocol. At the same time, O’Grodnick directed the department’s Professional Standards Unit to initiate a separate administrative investigation. That investigation was delegated to a third party to “ensure independence and objectivity,” he said. see Ramirez page 15A
Brentwood mayor outlines goals for 2026 Editor’s note: This interview with Brentwood Mayor Susannah Meyer is the first in a series in which local mayors reflect on what they learned in 2025 and what they hope to achieve in the coming year. Next week, Oakley Mayor Hugh Henderson will answer the same three questions.
MEYER It would also be unrealistic not to acknowledge that challenges shape this role as much as successes, but I choose to see those challenges as opportunities to learn and evolve. Growth comes in part from the experience of being pushed outside of what
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Oakley Planning Commission approves gas station remodel By Connor Robles Correspondent
The Oakley Planning Commission approved the remodeling of a gas station and convenience store at 5545 Bridgehead Road in Oakley at their Jan. 6 meeting. The remodel will rebrand the gas station from Shell to 7-Eleven, enlarge and alter the facade of the Rebel convenience store, expand the number of parking spots in the lot from four to eight, and add a new walkway connecting to the sidewalk, among other changes. The station and store, built in the 1980s, will receive new branding, aluminum-framed
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What was your biggest learning experience as a civic leader in 2025? Having been on City Council since 2020, and acting as Vice Mayor for two of those years, I would say a lot of what I learned in 2025, in my first year as Mayor, was how those three positions within Council differ - in responsibilities and commitment, among other things.
you are familiar with, and we can and should always strive to be better. What is your New Year’s resolution for your city--a goal that you’re looking forward to accomplishing in 2026? Our city has a lot of really positive things in the pipeline, and I would like 2026 to be a year to keep momentum strong on infrastructure and economic development projects. What we hear from the public helps to shape what our goals should be – namely, continuing to improve public safety, including movement on the police 5th beat, addressing our changing needs when it comes to traffic safety,
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windows and doors, stucco wall finish, new paint and landscaping, screening and fencing to hide mechanical equipment on the roof of and behind the store, improved lighting, and a new trash enclosure, according to the remodeling plan presented by Associate Planner Evan Gorman. The Rebel convenience store will also be expanded by 1,032 square feet that won’t encroach on any businesses nearby and the attached car wash will receive unspecified improvements to keep it from draining water into the nearby street, as it has in the past. The gas station’s see Planning page 15A
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