YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 7
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WaterFix changes underway by Tony Kukulich
FEBRUARY 19, 2018
February 16, 2018
A Pickleball Success
Staff Writer
A radical change in scope for the California WaterFix project has tunnels opponents calling for the state to scrap the permit approval and begin anew. In a memo dated Feb. 7, Karla Nemeth, director of the DWR, announced that WaterFix will be developed in two stages. The first stage will include a single tunnel and two intakes with a capacity of 6,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). The second phase will add another tunnel and a third intake expanding the capacity to 9,000 cfs. “The Department of Water Resources is trying to sell its latest WaterFix revision as a one-tunnel plan, but that is smoke and mirrors,” argued State Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D - Discovery Bay). “Their plan still calls for two tunnels. The new plan still poses the same threat to the Delta’s environment, agricultural economy and way of life. There still is no cost-benefit analysis or economic justification for the project. The project still see WaterFix page 26
Brentwood pickleballers celebrate installment of official city courts. Page 10
Building A Village
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Proposed changes to the California WaterFix project have opponents calling for a revision of the overall permitting process.
Village Community Resource Center recognizes local student for volunteer efforts. Page 5
Controversy surrounds Oakley radio station Local Rivals “ It was a verbal agreement. The problem
by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
A blown transmitter has plunged KLSN community radio into darkness, but the discovery that the Oakleybased nonprofit was operating from a tower in Antioch without legal permission may leave the 100-watt station permanently in the dark. In late January, the transmitter at the station malfunctioned and KLSN chief engineer Jeff Brown said he went to the radio tower located on Vista Grande Drive in Antioch to evaluate the damage. Brown said when he got into the tower, he found a note in a plastic envelope attached to the transmitter from American Tower
came in that there should have been more follow through on my side.
Company, the entity that owns and operates the tower. “The note said, ‘Who are you? What’s your contract number?’ That was the first I had seen or heard from (American Tower),” said Brown. “I called Chris (Ponsano, KLSN general manager) and told him, and he said he would handle it.” According to Ponsano, the radio station had permission to attach to the tower from the City of Antioch, which
owns the land, via Mayor Sean Wright, the nephew of Oakley councilmember and Friends of Oakley founder Kevin Romick. The Friends hold the nonprofit license for KLSN. Ponsano said a verbal contract and gentleman’s handshake with Wright secured the use of the tower in January 2017, when the station found itself up against a hard deadline from the Federal Communications Commission
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Chris Ponsano, KLSN general manager
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(FCC) which threatened to revoke their license if they did not get up and running by early 2017. “We were told we were legally allowed to be there,” said Ponsano. “My original understanding was based upon the conversation that I had with Sean (Wright) that it was ok to be on the tower. It was a verbal agreement. The problem came in that there should have been more follow-through on my side.” But Wright remembered it differently. “There was no handshake agreement from me,” he said. Who authorized the transmission from the tower remains unclear.
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Heritage and Liberty girls’ soccer teams share title after Patriots win final BVAL game. Page 17
see Radio page 26
Calendar................................27 Classifieds.............................21 Cop Logs................................25 Entertainment.....................10 Food........................................11 Health & Beauty..................12 Milestones............................13 Opinion..................................16 Pets...........................................8 Sports.....................................17
New Director
Getting Scooped
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County board of supervisors announce new public works director.
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Guaranteed parking at BART station when carpool with Scoop.