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Fines for COVID-19 violations
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
of youths in its 60-year history,” said Fernandez, who is also a probation supervisor at the ranch. “We also have a direct connection with the East County community by serving as volunteers for numerous community civic groups such as the East Contra Costa Historical Society, the Discovery Bay Lions Club and the Oakley Relay for Life group.” Currently, the county board of supervisors is considering shuttering the ranch, due to its noncentral location, low number of residents — only 18 as of last week — and high maintenance costs.
OAKLEY Portions of a longplanned housing project are delayed once again. City leaders recently granted West Coast Home Builders an additional three-year extension on its uncompleted 31-home subdivision on the southeast and southwest corners of Carpenter Road, Simoni Ranch Road and Rose Avenue. Ten of the proposed units are constructed and have residents, but the remaining 21 proposed lots, all planned to be a minimum of 10,000 square feet, remain in limbo. Tentative project documents were initially approved in 2009 and have since received a number of extensions to maintain validity. West Coast Home Builders did not respond to requests for comment but told city officials that the latest extension will allow adequate time for the project’s development to remain a reality. “They are a little bit larger than we typically see built since the recession,” Oakley Principal Planner Ken Strelo said. “They may be a little bit more difficult to build and market at this time, so the applicant has requested additional time to do this project.” The city initially approved key project documents in 2009, which automatically remained valid for two years. Multiple statewide extensions had pushed the documents’ validity to six more years, to 2017, when the council
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Staff Writer
REGIONAL The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors took action this week to slow the pandemic’s growth by implementing fines for those violating county health orders. Drawing on emergency powers under state law, the board unanimously passed Urgency Ordinance No. 2020-21 on Tuesday, July 28. Effective immediately, it establishes administrative fines for violations of public health orders pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Many people are following the health orders, but we need to increase our efforts together to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said Supervisor Candace Andersen, board chair. “To further our
Photo by Tony Kukulich
K
indergarten teacher Marise Venezia pauses in her empty classroom as teachers and administrators distribute school supplies to parents and students during a drive-thru event at Ron Nunn Elementary School in Brentwood, July 28. Students in the Brentwood Union School District started classes this week via distance learning, in accordance with state guidelines. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
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Boys ranch in danger of closing “ The OAYRF has helped rehabilitate an
by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
BYRON The Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility (OAYRF), more commonly known as the Byron Boys Ranch, may close its doors next month due to COVID-19-related budgetary concerns, but a grassroots group is calling upon the county board of supervisors to save the longtime center. Arthur Fernandez and Bob Viator are part of the effort to convince the county board of supervisors to keep the ranch open, believing that its long-term benefits outweigh short-term budget concerns. They, and many others,
exorbitant number of youths in its 60-year history.
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Arthur Fernandez, probation ranch supervisor feel relocating the program to juvenile hall, a locked institution with cellblocks, will not preserve its ideals, and could negatively affect how residents respond to the curriculum. They are concerned that, despite their efforts and data supporting the success of institutions like OAYRF, the probation department has already decided to close the ranch, and the board
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of supervisors will go along. The facility opened in 1960 and can house up to 100 young men in a low-security program designed to help rehabilitate boys who have committed nonviolent crimes. The boys take high school classes, gain work experience and receive counseling. “The OAYRF has helped rehabilitate an exorbitant number
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