December 11, 2020
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Community Youth Center back in action, no longer Concord’s best kept secret JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Tamara STeiner
PUBLISHER
It’s a wrap
If Queen Elizabeth thought 1992 was annus horribilis, 2020 was worse – longer, crazier, darker and scarier in every way. Pandemics, lockdowns, a state on fire and a never-ending campaign followed by weeks of post-election madness. Businesses closed, then opened (sort of), then closed again. We learned a whole new vocabulary: novel coronavirus, community spread, herd immunity. We watched as case numbers reached the stratosphere, measuring the sick and dead on bar charts and TV screens. And we learned we were both better and worse than we thought. Throughout the year and despite the gloom, little points of light continued to pierce the darkness. Neighbors reached out. Families got closer. Nana and Gramps learned to Zoom. Essential workers pulled shift after shift. Masks got creative. People stepped up. And we kept on keepin’ on. Here at the Pioneer, we watched dozens of independent, community newspapers go dark since the beginning of the pandemic. Many of these were colleagues. Some were friends. Never has local journalism been more critical to the wellbeing of an informed community than now. We have a responsibility to you, and we take it seriously. That we are still standing is testament to our resilience and usefulness We send a huge heartfelt thank you to our readers, leaders and advertisers for your support. And we ask that you continue to look to the Pioneer – and others like us – as critical to democracy and the health of the whole. While the needs are great, our community is greater. Our support for one another is unwavering. Let it continue into the coming year. Whenever possible, please buy from our local businesses – even if it costs a little more. Because the cost of not supporting them is far, far greater than the few dollars we might save on Amazon. As Concord City Councilman Edi Birsan says, “Happy All Holidays.” And may each of you find peace and joy in the season and hope for the coming year.
Next issue, Jan. 15, 2021 Deadline, Jan. 6
Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer
matt Harrison (third from left) joins ashlyn Harrison, isla mitchell and Xintli rivera in front of the CYC Christmas tree in welcoming the coming holidays. The organization is enjoying a rebirth after several years of declining membership.
When Matt Harrison was between his junior and senior years at De La Salle High School in 1995 his academic record opened up a lot of possibilities for his college destination. Once he visited the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, all the other choices went away. As the new executive director of the Community Youth Center in Concord he feels the same way about the 50,000 square foot, four-building campus and soccer field he is now overseeing. CYC offers physical and educational opportunities for local girls and boys from three-years-old up to high school grads. “As soon as someone sees these facilities built by The Hofmann Family Foundation, they want their children involved. I fell in love with Boulder within a couple minutes of stepping foot on the campus. I think as people
See CYC, page 5
Clayton City Council departs from norm in choosing new mayor reflecting bitter campaign TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer
Returning Councilman Jim Diaz nominated Wan in what was expected to be a formality, but then new Councilwoman Holly Tillman nominated Wolfe. Wan, who was presiding, did not call for discussion before votes by Tillman, new
In a surprising move, the Clayton City Council rejected the unwritten rule in which the vice mayor advances to mayor. Instead, the council voted 3-2 on Dec. 1 to name Carl Wolfe as mayor at the annual reorganization meeting. The majority passed over Vice Mayor Jeffrey Wan, who they said had supported disinformation and negative tactics during a bitter campaign over high-density housing in downtown Clayton that played out largely over social media. Both Following the normal protocol, Wan and Wolfe are two years Clayton’s 2020 vice mayor was next in line for mayor. into their first terms.
Councilman Peter Cloven and Wolfe clinched it for Wolfe. A stunned Wan then turned the meeting over to Wolfe, who nominated Cloven for vice mayor – again without discussion. There were no other nominations, and Cloven won by the same 3-2 margin.
A COUNCIL DIVIDED The council split was triggered by the city’s approval in March of a three-building, three-story apartment complex on Marsh Creek Road. Although the project met state housing mandates, many residents – including those in the small development across the street – vehemently opposed
the project. In an interview with the Pioneer, Tillman said “the treatment of other council members, voting records in regard to the best interests of our city and leadership qualities …” all figured into her decision to go with Wolfe. Cloven was chair when the Planning Commission deadlocked over the Olivia, an 81unit apartment complex in the Town Center set to begin construction in late spring. He said he was loath to reward anyone who benefitted from the negative tactics of the campaign. “Personally, it was a ruthless election cycle,” said Cloven. “The labels, lies and twist-
ing of truths was appalling,” he added, calling the campaign a “coordinated, despicable effort that was over the top.”
DIAZ, WAN DISSENTING A furious Diaz said that bypassing Wan was “wrong and unacceptable and needs to be righted.” “It was an act that further divides our already divided city,” he told the Pioneer. “Because they did it so quickly and didn’t skip a beat, it sounded like it was scripted, preplanned with no chance for council discussion,” he said.
See Mayors, page 5
New Contra Costa, Bay Area Stay-at-Home order aimed at slowing hospitalization rates Many businesses must close;others facing severe limits BEV BRITTON & TAMARA STEINER The Pioneer
If there was any hope left that this holiday season would be “normal,” the new Stay-AtHome Order banished such thoughts. On Dec. 6, Contra Costa County joined four other Bay Area counties in a new lockdown in an effort to slow the number of coronavirus cases and subsequent hospitalizations. “We are seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations here in Contra Costa County and across our region,” county health officer Dr. Christopher Farnitano said when the order was announced
on Dec. 4. “The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in our county has doubled in just the past couple of weeks,” he added. “We are at risk of exceeding our hospital capacity later this month if current trends continue.” Under the new Stay-AtHome order, restaurants must close both indoor and outdoor dining – offering only takeout and delivery. All retail stores can stay open at 20 percent capacity. Private and charter schools that have reopened for in-person classes can remain open as can all “critical infrastructures.” Outdoor religious ceremonies may also continue. Full closures affect bars, wineries, hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, personal care services, playgrounds, indoor recreation facilities, casinos, museums, zoos, aquariums,
movie theaters, sports events with live audiences and amusement parks. Private gatherings of any size are prohibited, and people are to stay at home except for essential activities such as going to the doctor, grocery shopping or picking up meals. Distanced outdoor exercise such as hiking and biking are permitted. COPING WITH A NEW CLOSURE
Katie Coakley, a hairdresser at Permanent Solutions salon in Clayton, booked as many clients as she could in the days before the lockdown. “This isn’t fair,” she said. “Things have been going along good. We’ve been complying – everyone wearing masks and distancing.” Judi Green, who opened the Groveside Bistro in Clayton during the pandemic, is pretty philo-
Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer
Katie Coakley, a stylist at Permanent Solution in Clayton is frustrated with the latest lockdown orders. The pandemic has left nail and hair salons struggling to survive.
four people inside the small sophical about the new rules. “If it’s time to close, it’s time restaurant, plus six tables on the to close,” she said. “I just want sidewalk out front. However, to keep the community safe.” Green had only been serving See Lockdown, page 5
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