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YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS | SERVING EAST COUNTY
Vol. 22, No. 33
Election field set for November
Wondering where the lions are
August 14, 2020
County explores sales tax increase by Kyle Szymanski
by Aly Brown Staff Writer
Staff Writer
REGIONAL Candidate filing deadlines wrapped up this week, and East County now has a clean list of candidates for the upcoming November election. Last Friday, Aug. 7, marked the deadline for filing, although some elected seats saw an extension to Aug. 12 when incumbents did not file. When there is no incumbent eligible to be elected, the nomination period extension provided for in Elections Code section 10225 is not applicable.
when the federal $600 weekly pandemic unemployment boost ended at the end of July, with no word on future stimulus package details. “Families who were relying on that $2,400 a month may have greater needs for food sources,” she said. Community groups and programs serving Brentwood residents can apply for the latest round of funding — with amounts awarded based on need
REGIONAL The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors is likely to levy a 20-year, half-cent sales tax proposal on the November ballot to make health and other critical resources more accessible and available. The potential countywide measure, which is contingent upon the expected passage of a senate bill by late August, would generate an annual $81 million for community health centers, early childhood services and other essential county resources. The supervisors will only move forward with the idea if Sen. Steve Glazer’s Senate Bill 1349, which would authorize the tax and allow it to pass with a majority vote, is signed into law by Aug. 24, the county’s deadline for avoiding an estimated $100,000 to $200,000 in ballot printing costs. The ordinance to move the proposal forward was approved in a 4-1 vote, with District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen dissenting. “This is an imperfect tool, but it is something that can help us,” District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis said. “Our communities (in District 3) don’t depend as much on sales tax because there just isn’t as much retail and other opportunities to put money into sales tax.
see Funds page 26
see Tax page 26
BRENTWOOD (3 seats)
The City of Brentwood, which transitioned to a district-based election from its previous at-large format, seeks to fill three seats total: one for mayor and two for councilmemsee Election page 26
Photo by Tony Kukulich
T
he first day of the new school year looked decidedly different on the Liberty High School campus, Monday, Aug. 10. All students in California are attending classes remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To view a video and a slideshow of the event, visit www. thepress.net/multimedia
City offers additional relief funds for local food organizations “ Obviously the community is going to need
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
BRENTWOOD The city council recently approved up to $50,000 in additional grants to organizations that provide groceries and meals to needy residents. It’s expected that the city will be able to recoup the funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. “Obviously the community is going to need that support and the organizations as well,”
that support and the organizations as well.
Councilmember Johnny Rodriguez said. The council initially OK’d up to $50,000 toward the effort in the form of $5,000 to 10,000 grants in April, but only $4,500 remained at the end of June, said City Manager Tim Ogden.
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Councilmember Johnny Rodriguez “For all intents and purposes, the funding had been exhausted,” Ogden said. Councilmember Karen Rarey, who suggested the additional city contribution toward the effort, noted that some families’ needs likely increased
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