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State and county officials react to surging COVID-19 infections by Tony Kukulich
County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano discusses rapidly worsening conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic during a Contra Costa Health Services press conference in Concord, Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Staff Writer
REGIONAL With COVID-19 cases spiking across the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) took action Monday, Nov. 16, to move 28 counties — including Contra Costa — to the most restrictive tier in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the purple tier. Newsom stated that during the first week of November, the state experienced its steepest increase in new cases at any point since the start of the pandemic. The state’s action on Monday puts more than 94% of California’s population in the purple tier. “We are sounding the alarm,” Newsom said. “California is experiencing the fastest increase in cases we have seen yet — faster than what we experienced at the outset of the
we are pulling an emergency brake in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Now is the time to do all we can — government at all levels and Californians across the state — to
“ It’s only about 4,000 feet away from the
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
BRENTWOOD The city has appealed the county’s decision to grant land-use permits to two proposed unincorporated Bentwood commercial cannabis cultivation operators. Assistant City Manager Terrence Grindall said the municipality is concerned that the locations are too close to youthgathering areas, and he questioned the completeness of one of the operator’s odor control plans. He is also requesting that specific project conditions of approval be added that limit the
continuation high school, and we just don’t think that is the right location for a cannabis operation.
”
Terrence Grindall Brentwood assistant city manager onsite product of one of the operators, void both businesses’ use permits if their land is annexed into the city, and require that both operators pay yearly fees toward additional code and law enforcement of the businesses. County Principal Planner
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Telma Moreira approved landuse permits for both facilities — Lifted Spirit Collective (planned for 5930 Balfour Road) and Diablo Valley Farms (at 4425 Sellers Ave.) — in early November, despite Grindall and some locals expressing outright oppo-
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by Aly Brown Staff Writer
see Cannabis page 22
see Homeless page 22
flatten the curve again as we have done before.” Contra Costa was downgradsee COVID-19 page 22
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Homeless count plan examined
sition. The county’s planning commission will hear both appeals at a yet-to-be scheduled date. “Although the zoning administrator acknowledged receipt of our email and the arguments against the approval of this land-use permit, the city does not feel the county code requirements were satisfied by the evidence presented at the hearing in relation to the location of the site, nor were the recommended conditions of approval requested by the city during the hearing process included in the project
Photo by Tony Kukulich
pandemic or even this summer. The spread of COVID-19, if left unchecked, could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes. That is why
November 20, 2020
REGIONAL Citing concerns of COVID-19 exposure, county officials with a focus on homelessness are examining three options for gathering critical information on this vulnerable population. During the county’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Council on Homelessness Nov. 13 meeting, Jamie Klinger, a research and evaluation manager for Contra Costa Health, Housing and Homeless Services Division (H3), presented the challenges the pandemic has placed on methods for completing the homeless point in time (PIT) count. In a typical year, with the help of more than 100 staff and volunteers, Contra Costa County conducts a PIT, which offers a oneday snapshot of those experiencing homelessness on any given day. “(The count) is really important for our decision-making purposes to share with our community partners, to help do planning for resources,” Klinger said, explaining that the count is usually conducted between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m. The PIT typically takes place in the last 10 days of January, but the work beforehand involves presenting a final count methodology to the CoC governance board in December along with training volunteers and coordinating regional partners for technology support. With COVID-19, the risk of exposure to staff, volunteers and homeless individuals launched a need to revaluate the methods for
City appeals cannabis land-use permit
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