YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 5
READ THE DAILY NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
City council takes next steps in Dutch Slough project
February 1, 2019
Building For The Future
by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
The Dutch Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration project, an effort that will restore nearly 1,200 acres of wetlands currently underway in Oakley, will accommodate a 55acre park for the City of Oakley, and city officials are now looking at options to make the best use of the property. Dubbed Oakley Community Park, the site is currently a collection of ramshackle buildings that only those addicted to “This Old House” could love, overgrown pasture land and muddy fields. In the future the site could feature baseball fields, an event center, hiking and equestrian trails and a launch ramp for kayaks and canoes. Developing the park to its full potential is expected to take decades, and that extended timeline necessitates careful planning and staging. see Dutch page 22
Construction has begun on the Interstate 680 and State Route 4 Interchange. Page 4
Honoring The Volunteers
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Oakley Mayor Claire Alaura is working with the rest of the city council to move ahead on a 55-acre park that is part of the Dutch Slough Tidal Restoration project.
Developer charged with embezzling “ Mr. Davidson received an
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has charged a proposed developer with embezzlement and two more felonies after he allegedly took off with about $350,000 from the City of Oakley during a now defunct 2013 agreement to build a commercial child care facility on Neroly Road. Craig Patrick Davidson, 56, is charged with one count of misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement and filing a false income tax return, according to county court records. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, but he had not been taken into custody as of Wednesday morning. It appears his last known address was in the San Diego County City of Ramona, according to court records. Davidson allegedly took off with about $350,000 in city child care mitigation fee
initial installment but failed to proceed with the project … His whereabouts are unknown.
”
Nancy Marquez-Suarez, assistant to the city manager funds – the first of four planned city payments to Davidson that were slated to total $925,000 – to assist him with construction of a child care facility on a 48,000-squarefoot parcel on Neroly Road. Child care mitigation fees used to be charged to new Oakley developers, but the municipality has since discontinued the practice. Davidson agreed to purchase the property in July 2013 and was subsequently given
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the first installment of funds about a month later while also agreeing to begin construction within a year of executing the land purchase agreement. But that didn’t occur, and he has largely stopped communicating with officials. “Mr. Davidson received an initial installment but failed to proceed with the project,” said Nancy Marquez-Suarez, assistant to the city manager. “The city sued him for those funds and won a civil judgment against him, and subsequently, the District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against him. His whereabouts are unknown.” Some of Davidson’s alleged crimes didn’t come to light until Oakley attorney’s discovered them through Davidson’s own admission at a 2017 deposition according to county court records. see Embezzling page 22
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East Contra Costa Fire Protection District to recognize volunteer firefighters. Page 8
Lucky 13 For The Lions
Liberty High boys’ basketball team wins 13th straight game over Heritage, 66-44. Page 15 Calendar................................23 Classifieds.............................18 Cop Logs................................21 Education..............................10 Food..........................................9 Health & Beauty....................5 Milestones............................11 Opinion..................................14 Pets.........................................12 Sports.....................................15
Banker Retires
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William R. Trezza, of BAC Community Bank (BACCB), retires after 37 years.