The Press 03.18.2022

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MISSING DELIVERY OF THE NEWSPAPER TO YOUR HOME? Vol. 24, No. 11

by Melissa van Ruiten Staff Writer

REGIONAL The long-anticipated annexation of East Contra Costa Fire Protection District by Contra Costa Fire Protection District passed its final hurdle on March 9 when the Contra Costa County Local Area Formation Commission unanimously approved the consolidation of the two districts. The consolidation means the following for residents: • quicker response times • a paramedic on board fire engines • lower annual fire insurance bills for residents and businesses “Today is a day for celebration,” said Brian Oftedal, president of the ECCFPD Board of Directors. “The cooperation and collaboration of so many individuals has made this annexation a reality. Residents in East Contra Costa will now re-

A local commission recently approved the consolidation of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and the Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

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ceive the services they deserve. Response times will improve, fire apparatus will arrive with a paramedic on board, and slowly but surely, improved ISO rating will help residents and businesses save money on annual fire insurance bills. For everyone that has been a part of improving public safety in our county,

thank you.” The conversation regarding annexation began in August 2020, after efforts to pass several different tax measures to improve funding failed. AP Triton Consulting, LLC, a Sacramento-based consulting firm specializing in the study of fire and emergency services, was con-

tracted to complete a two-phase study to assess what consolidation would look like in regards to financial and operational impact. The results of the study determined that the benefits of annexation would greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness see Forces page 18A

He’s cooking up a second chance Correspondent

OAKLEY Greg Reynoso of Oakley has been given a second chance at life, and he’s holding on tight with both hands. Incarcerated at the age of 19, Reynoso spent 10 years in state prison. His release date in 2020 coincided with the COVID-19-related shutdown of society on March 15, making it difficult to accomplish the first thing on his to-do list: get a job. “I couldn’t find one,” he said, noting his status as a felon didn’t help. “I came out (of prison) at 30, and finding a job was hard, I couldn’t do anything

… my passion has always been cooking, and a friend asked me to do the food for his son’s party and from there I got another party and then a barbecue and it just started from there. A lot of people started contacting me, and I started building up a collection of aprons, spatulas, pots and pans, and within four months, I had a catering gig.” Reynoso then took his gig to the next level, obtaining permits and a business license. He opened his first bank account, saved his money and bought his first trailer. He remodeled the trailer himself and began taksee Cooking page 18A

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Photo by Melissa van Ruiten

Greg Reynoso (Left) of Taste This Kitchen, along with friend and Brentwood Vice Mayor Johnny Rodriguez look forward to Reynoso’s new brick-and-mortar restaurant opening this spring. Reynoso also operates a food truck and private chef business.

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March 18, 2022

Council districts’ new maps OK’d by Jake Menez Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD The Brentwood City Council unanimously adopted a new city council district map during a special meeting held via Zoom on March 3. Changing district maps means local residents might have a different city council representative than the person they have now. California cities with electoral districts are required to update their district boundaries after receiving updated population data from the Federal Census; the most recent one was in 2020. Brentwood first established electoral districts in July 2019, making this the first time the city has needed to go through a redistricting process. Previously, the city had held at-large elections. One problem redistricting solved was the equality of district sizes, according to Michael Wagaman of Wagaman Strategies in Sacramento, a consulting firm hired to help with the process. In the period between the 2010 Census — the data from which was used when drawing district lines in 2019 — and the 2020 Census, District 2 experienced growth that left it larger than Brentwood’s other districts. The population of District 2 prior to redistricting according to the 2020 Census was 19,664. District 1, the smallest district, had a population of 13,585. see District Maps page 18A

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