Clayton Pride Parade Sat. June 25, 10am Main St. Downtown Clayton See story page 5
June 17, 2022
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Survey reveals homeless up by 800 over past 3 years KAREN JENKINS Correspondent
Visit Concord
Concord’s much anticipated public arts program kicked off last weekend with an art “jam” in Todos Santos Park. During the two-day community event, local artists created movable 8’x8’ murals while nationally known professional artists, two of which are Concord natives, began creating building-sized works in nine locations around the city. The project was conceived by Visit Concord to encourage pride and a strong sense of community identity. The week-long celebration concludes with the popular outdoor Head West Marketplace June 25 and and a performance by the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in Todos Santos June 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. For a map and self-guided tour of the mural installations downtown and at The Veranda Shopping Center, a schedule of the weeks events and more information on the artists go to VisitConcordCA.com The piano mural pictured was created by local artist Morgen Roloff during the art jam event in Todos Santos and will be donated to a local charitable organization.
Despite hundreds of additional shelter beds, Contra Costa County has nearly 800 more unhoused residents than in 2019 – an increase of about 30% over three years, according to a county survey. Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) released the findings last month from the point-in-time survey, a biennial requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides housing funding to the county. “The county’s 2022 pointin-time count estimates that nearly 3,100 people are staying in shelter beds or living outdoors on an average night in Contra Costa, compared to 2,295 in 2019,” said Brittany Goldman, a spokesperson for Contra Costa Health Services. The survey is conducted every two years, but the county skipped it in 2021 due to the pandemic. County officials attribute the three-year rise in homelessness to “collateral impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the community.”
HELP FROM STATE AND MEASURE X The spike comes despite significant countywide housing efforts. Goldman said that since 2019, Contra Costa Health Services and community partners have increased shelter beds across the county by 30%. “That includes the 172room Delta Landing interim housing center in Pittsburg, one of the first projects completed through the state’s Homekey program,” she noted. California’s 2021 Homekey program provided $600 million to support housing and was an expansion of Project Roomkey, the 2020 state funding bill to provide temporary rooms for the homeless at the height of the pandemic. Local leaders have made homelessness a central focus with efforts to provide shelter, funding and support, including mental health services. To bring more affordable housing to Contra Costa, the Board of Supervisors established the Local Housing Trust Fund
See Unhoused, page 5
Parades, pancakes Incumbents reign in Primary contests; and pyrotechnics Carlson, Allen face off in November are back July 4th
PEGGY SPEAR ELECTION
Flags – and spirits – will be soaring a little higher this July 4th as local residents can once again come together to celebrate our independence. All the usual patriotic activities will be on full display, including parades in Clayton, Concord and Pleasant Hill plus fireworks in Concord and Pleasant Hill. Clayton: Pancake breakfast at Endeavor Hall, 7-10 a.m.
Next issue, July 15, Deadline, July 6
Downtown parade, including Kiddie Parade, 10 a.m. Pleasant Hill: 5K Run beginning on Gregory Lane, 7:45 a.m. Downtown parade, 9:30 a.m. Party in Pleasant Hill Park, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fireworks at College Park High School, 8:45 p.m. Visit www.phjuly4.com for more information. Concord: Kids Fun Run at Todos Santos Plaza, 8 a.m., followed by 5K Run & Walk, 8:15 a.m. Downtown parade, 10 a.m. Fireworks at Mt. Diablo High School, 9 p.m. Details at www.concordjuly4th.com.
2022
Most of the Contra Costa County’s offices won’t look much different next month than they did the day before the June 7 election, as voters kept four main incumbents in place. There was also another huge win for Democratic Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and a runaway victory for 15th District Assemblyman Tim Grayson. Both are former Concord mayors. Sheriff David Livingston, County Assessor Gus Kramer, District Attorney Diana Becton and auditor Auditor-Controller Robert Campbell all held onto their jobs, despite some fierce battles in the sheriff, assessor and DA races. In the Clerk-Recorder race, Kristin Braun Connelly, with 34 percent of the vote, will face off against Vicki Gordon, 24.5 percent of the vote, in November.
Livingston won with 69.5 percent of the vote after his foe, Benjamin Therriault, accused him of being too harsh on some alleged criminals – especially those with mental health issues. He decried Livingston’s defense of former deputy Andrew Hall, who shot and killed two alleged criminals, both suffering from mental health issues. Kramer’s opponent, Flow Andrews, called the assessor’s office “toxic” following a highly publicized Grand Jury censure case against Kramer, claiming sexism, racism and a sexist work environment. The case ended in a mistrial, and Becton chose not to re-prosecute. Kramer went on to be reelected with 56.5 percent of the vote. Candidate Mary Knox, an assistant prosecutor, said Becton was soft on crime, but the incumbent prevailed with 56 percent of the vote. In her concession speech, Knox offered “her sincere congratulations” to Becton and said she looks forward to serving the community together. “I remain committed to my work to empower victims through my work as president of getVOCAL for Victims and will continue my work as a prosecutor.” Gordon held on to her No. 2 spot the Clerk-Recorder race, beating out Kevin T. Murphy and Nick Spinner, with 22.1
DEBORA ALLEN
KEN CARLSON
and 20.4 percent of the votes, fourth with just 14 percent of the votes, and Concord City respectively. Councilmember Edi Birsan wrapped up the field with 9 OBRINGER CONCEDES IN TIGHT SUPERVISOR RACE percent of the votes. As of the writing of this Once the polls closed on article, votes were still being tal- June 7, it was apparent that lied in the closely watched Dis- Carlson’s “Watch Party” would trict 4 supervisorial race. Pleas- turn into a victory party for the ant Hill City Councilmember former police officer and one Ken Carlson held a slight lead of the few openly gay elected in the pack of five candidates officials in the county. with 27.1 percent of the votes. “This was truly grassroots,” He’ll challenge BART Director he told his supporters. “We didDebora Allen in a November n’t have (support from) labor. runoff. Allen was trailing with We didn’t even have (support 25.6 of the votes. On her tail from) law enforcement. But we was Concord City Coun- had you knocking on doors and cilmember Carlyn Obringer, talking to people.” who had 24.3 percent of the In an official statement votes, but Obringer conceded issued the day after the election, the race on Friday, June 10, as it Carlson said: “I am excited by became clear Allen was inching last night’s results that are the ahead in the tally. culmination of the hard work Roxanne Carillo Garza, and support of so many. As we endorsed by the county DemoSee Election, page 5 cratic Party, came in a distant
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