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County splits on pot farms
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Economy. When Gov. Gavin Newsom suddenly lifted the Bay Area’s regional shelter-in-place order last week, the county reverted to the purple, or most restrictive, tier in that plan. The same was true for 53 other counties in the state. Currently reported at 28.1, the case rate peaked at 49.3 on Jan. 8. It remains more than four times higher than the level required for the county to enter into the less restrictive red tier. And while the current number has dropped 43% since early January, it is still significantly higher than the peak of 19 that occurred in mid-July during the summer spike.
BRENTWOOD City officials are continuing to offer available resources to Brentwood’s homeless, while juggling the wider community’s complaints of unsheltered encampments serving as hubs for garbage, drug use, crime and filth. Brentwood Police Captain Doug Silva estimates that there are 31 homeless people in the city and three recurring encampments — along the railroad tracks behind the BART Park and Ride on Walnut Boulevard; below the overpass at Sand Creek Road at O’Hara Avenue; and under the Highway 4 overcrossing at Old Sand Creek Road on the east and Heidorn Ranch Road on the west. A stabbing took place at the Brentwood Park and Ride on Walnut Boulevard on Jan. 18, and the victim was flown to John Muir Medical Center with a stab wound to the upper torso. While Silva agrees the areas show evidence of assaults, theft, environmental and health hazards, drug use, illegal dumping and fires, certain legal restrictions and other issues complicate long-term resolutions. “We’re doing as well as we can within the limits of the law,” said Brentwood City Manager Tim Ogden. Silva said the department keeps close tabs on in-town homeless, frequently visiting them to gain insight on their unique situations and ensure that they are aware of available county resources, which includes a 24-hour information line that connects needy individuals
see Vaccinations page 22
see Homeless page 22
Staff Writer
BRENTWOOD The Contra Costa County Planning Commission recently upheld a decision to grant a land-use permit to one unincorporated Brentwood commercial cannabis cultivation operation, while pulling back plans to grant one to a similar business. The seven-member planning body unanimously ruled the indoor Lifted Spirit Collective project (planned for 5930 Balfour Road) may proceed. But in a separate 4-3 vote, the commission decided Diablo Valley Farms (situated at 4425 Sellers Ave.) should be halted, since it sits just 170 feet east of Brentwood’s Sunset Park. County Principal Planner Telma Moreira granted land-use permits to both
Photo by Tony Kukulich
A
s sunset approaches, stratocumulous clouds build in the east, as seen from the Summer Lake walking trail in Oakley, Tuesday, Feb. 2. The winter storms continued earlier in the week, but forecasters expect brighter skies over the weekend.
see Pot page 22
COVID-19 rates falling, vaccinations rising “ There is no higher priority in Contra
by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
REGIONAL By all indications, Contra Costa County is emerging from the winter COVID-19 spike that started in mid-October and raged on through November, December and early January. “We know that our daily case rate is starting to fall, which is a trend that we’re seeing in Contra Costa County,” said Anna Roth, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) director during the Feb. 2 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting. “We do feel that we’re on the back side of the winter wave.” While there are strong signs of
Costa County than delivering COVID19 vaccine to as many eligible residents as possible, as quickly as possible.
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Diane Burgis Board of Supervisors chair improvement, the county remains a long way from being out of the woods. “The chance for another surge in California is real,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary for the California Department of Health and Human Services. “It’s still circulating,
Adopt-A-Pet.......................................... 7 Classifieds........................................... 19
COVID is, in our communities. While our case rates are down, they’re not low.” The number of new cases per day per 100,000 residents is one of the measures used to determine a county’s tier assignment within the state’s Blueprint for a Safer
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Health & Beauty................................ 12 Milestones.......................................... 11
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Storm Impacts Marina, Ministry
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