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YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS | SERVING EAST COUNTY
Vol. 23, No. 30
July 23, 2021
City mulls State budget earmarks money for John Marsh House restoration future of by Tony Kukulich Correspondent
BRENTWOOD State park officials were both surprised and elated to learn that the state had allocated $1.4 million to assist with the restoration and preservation of the 165-year-old John Marsh House located in unincorporated Brentwood. “A gift from heaven, that’s a really good way to put it,” said Elise E. McFarland, district interpretation and education manager and acting cultural resources manager with California State Parks. “This is a fantastic thing for us. We’re over the moon and so, so grateful to the people that made this happen.” State Sen. Steve Glazer, DContra Costa, secured the fund-
The John Marsh House, located in unincorporated Brentwood, has been allocated $1.4 million to assist with restoration and preservation improvements.
see Marsh page 22A
Staff writer
(challenging the demands and winning), that 25 percent chance we are wrong could come with a milti-million-dollar price tag.
OAKLEY Legal pressure has prompted Oakley leaders to begin the process of changing the selection process for city councilmembers. The switch would replace the current at-large election process with a system in which councilmembers are elected by a district that each would represent. The change comes on the heels of threats of a lawsuit from a Southern California-based attorney, alleging that Oakley’s current voting system violates the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) by fostering an arrange-
ment that dilutes the Latino vote. The CVRA, signed into law in 2002, bans at-large election methods that impair a protected class’s ability to elect its selected candidates or influence an election outcome. Attorney Kevin Shenkman sent a letter to the city threatening
legal action if it did not voluntarily change its at-large election system. Shenkman represents the nonprofit Southwest Voter Registration Education Project — the nation’s largest and oldest nonpartisan Latino voter participation organization — which he says includes Oakley residents.
Business.............................. 13A Calendar............................. 21A
Classifieds.......................... 18A Cop Logs............................. 16A
Food....................................... 8A Flourish..................................1B
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Oakley City Attorney Derek Cole
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see District page 22A
see Passport page 22A
Milestones......................... 11A Opinion............................... 12A
Pets...................................... 10A Sports.................................. 14A
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Several other state entities, including the nearby cities of Antioch, Concord and Martinez, have voluntarily adopted ordinances to transition from at-large to district-based election systems after facing similar demands. “As of the 2010 census, Oakley had a population of 35,432,” said Shenkman. “This data shows that Latinos comprise 35% of the city’s population as of 2010, and likely a greater proportion today. However, Latinos have never been represented on the Oakley City Council in that proportion.…The contrast between the significant Latino pro-
Oakley likely to switch election process “ Even if we have a 75 percent chance of
by Kyle Szymanski BRENTWOOD City leaders are in the process of evaluating whether the municipality should continue offering passport services. The city has been a U.S. Department of State-designated passport services agency since 2001, but before the service was paused by the pandemic-induced closure of City Hall in early 2020, it frequently caused delays for customers seeking other assistance, such as obtaining building permits or submitting planning applications, city officials said. If the city opts to continue offering the passport help, conducted at the community development administrative front counter, then it must go through a routine yearly recertification process. “This pandemic has given us an opportunity to reevaluate all of our functions, and this is one that kind of rose to the top,” said City Manager Tim Ogden. “Is this a core service we should be providing?” If it is, we may need a little extra help, and let’s shift this burden where it might better fit in the city.” The Brentwood City Council has asked city staff to return to the governing body with more
Press file photo
by Kyle Szymanski
providing passport services
Two baseball players drafted
Health and beauty tips
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Special Section