Technology is centerpiece of Concord mayor’s address

In her sixth State of the City address, Mayor Laura Hoffmeister noted that she foresaw the advent of the hand-held computer (otherwise known as the cell phone) – but she hadn’t predicted the growing popularity of pickleball or the advent of retail cannabis sales in the city.

Describing the high-tech environment at the new Coastal and CoCo Farms marijuana dispensaries, she said: “It’s not the old days where you got a dime bag down on the street corner.” But, she quickly added: “Not that I would know anything about that.”

In other technological advances, Hoffmeister pointed to the Police Department’s use of drones and license plate readers to help solve crimes and find missing persons. She also encouraged residents and business owners to join the city’s

Community Camera Registry Program. “It gives us another tool to try to combat crime effectively in our community,” she told the crowd at the Hilton on Feb. 1.

Moreinnovations At Hand

At the event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, Hoffmeister touted the Feb. 22 open house for the Concord Life Science Center. “It’s a privately owned flexible space laboratory suites. It’s going to be home to many cutting-edge life science companies in North Concord,” she said, noting that the city team is providing marketing support and technical assistance.

And while we aren’t quite in the age of flying cars, the mayor said traffic signal improvements should help drivers sail through the city’s roads more quickly.

“We’re trying to upgrade our signal technology, so that we’re not having to wait at the red light, go to the next light and it’s red,” she said. “If we can improve traffic flow, we’ll improve also, I think, the business community as well because the customers can get to your businesses and deliveries can be made more efficiently.”

It Always Come Around To Potholes

Speaking of the roadways, Hoffmeister reported that the two-year Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding is the largest in the city’s history.

“I assure you that fixing our roads is the mantra that we’ve heard from our community. So we’re on it – and we’re working to improve it,” she said.

“And we would not have been able to do this without the passage of Measure V, so I thank the business community and all those in the community who supported that and the voters. That ballot measure was able to

Workplace may not be the place for gender conversations

allow us to create that additional sales tax revenue which has allowed us to leverage funding to get immediate investment that we are now putting back to work.”

Lookingforward

Hoffmeister, a lifelong Concord resident, was first elected to the City Council in 1997 and has been reelected six times. Last November’s victory came after her well-publicized arrest for DUI last spring.

In a speech entitled “Rebounding, Rebuilding and Renewing,” she also talked about the city’s recovery from the pandemic. With better than expected tax revenues, Concord has brought back 19 staff positions. Meanwhile, the Police Department has made progress in filling vacancies, thanks in part to a new bonus program.

Among her other top priorities are continued efforts to help the unhoused population, new tobacco sale policies, updating the Housing Element – including accommodating more affordable housing – and finding yet another developer for the Naval Weapons Station.

“I’m grateful and proud of how our city has rebounded from the pandemic. It’s not been an easy task, and we still have work to do. But we have largely weathered the storm, and we are stronger for it,” she said. “We have much on the horizon, and I’m thankful that you are all a part of our growth and success.”

Mount Diablo Brewery quenched thirsts but drowned in legal obstacles

similar to a pale lager and valued for its dry, refreshing taste and high alcohol content.

Various cream ales are around today in styles reflecting specific locales and having unique flavors based on brewing methods, added ingredients and the use of barley, corn or rice.

Debbie Eistetter The Way We Were

Dominique King Leanin With Love

Q. After a conversation with my coworker over lunch, I was “called out” at a work event for being offensive. My coworker, a transwoman, told me that I invalidated their experience as a woman because I refuse to be called cisgender and think that women have a right to use whatever terms they want in reference to being a mother. I identify as a woman. In my eyes, my coworker is a woman living her own truth. I don’t walk around saying she’s a transwoman; I just say she is a woman. I am at my wit’s end lately, feeling like I have to sacrifice my identity as a woman because it’s not in line with someone else’s beliefs. How am I expected to respect how she identifies, but it’s absurd for her to accept me? – Lashay

A. Lashay, the topic of proper terms regarding how people identify has been boiling for quite some time. Both sides of this argument come with legions of support. I can see your frustration through your writing.

I don’t want to jump into this conversation with blanket statements or create an oppor-

Thefts, from page 2

Thwarting Repeat Offenders

As the battle rages on for the city’s retailers, the PC 602 Trespass Letter can be a useful weapon. Kristic explained the notice serves as a deterrent to fend off repeat offenders suspected of theft or who are creating a disturbance that is causing problems for a business.

Issuance of the trespass admonition prevents an individual from being at the business for 12 months. If the order is violated, there’s risk of arrest for criminal trespass.

In 2022, more than 40 retail businesses in Pleasant Hill utilized the PC 602 Trespass Letter.

Some of the larger businesses invoking it include Target, Nordstrom Rack, Safeway, Kohl’s and

Dick’s Sporting Goods. Throughout 2022, about 200 trespass letters were served. The police departments in Concord and Pittsburg also use the PC 602 letters.

Kristic explained that in many cases, a business may not seek prosecution for thefts as that means time in court. A more desirable outcome for the business is having the property returned.

“I don’t hear about businesses saying the police are not doing enough,” Kristic said.

RIGHT ON TARGET

Each retailer takes its own approach, and Target at the north end of Pleasant Hill has been more proactive about theft prevention.

Aquarian, from page 1

“I was selling shoes and purses out of the trunk of my car,” he recalls. “I said, ‘You know what, I’m tired of this. I want to do something. I want to spread love.’ ”

Thompson is a spiritual guy with faith in the universe and the world, so he knew he wanted to start a business that would provide healing to the community. He realized he could do anything he wanted, so he did. He says his brand of spirituality can be baffling for Black people in his community, but he found a way to share it with tunity for individuals to feel invalidated or attacked. Instead, I want to “call you in” on how you can respectfully and professionally co-exist with your coworker.

Keep it professional. It’s only private until it’s not.

I don’t know how you two found your way into such an indepth and personal conversation. Perhaps false comfort led to a very delicate topic in an inappropriate space. Your lack of friendship outside of work and inability to find common ground during your lunch break left one of you offended to the point of publicly airing your private conversation.

Being in an environment with others for long hours can sometimes give a false sense of security about expressing

See Lean In, page 6

Kristic lauded steps such the use of trained uniformed and plainclothes security guards to scrutinize patrons. “They make their presence known that they are there,” Kristic said.

The store also actively shares information about incidents with area Targets. Should a situation arise, employees know to provide info like descriptions of suspects and vehicles and to stay on the line with police dispatch.

Target opted to close a second entrance through the garden department, so there would be only a single entry and exit point to the parking lot off Contra Costa Boulevard.

“Target has always been good and proactive,” said Kristic. “We have not had any issues.” a part of living Black history through working for a Blackowned business.

Coming down the eastern hills from Black Diamond Mines, hardworking men seeking to slack a thirst had a choice of several Clayton saloons to patronize in the 1860s and ’70s. But George Wall’s brewery and saloon would have been the first establishment that came into view as they crossed the bridge at Mount Diablo Creek. His Mount Diablo Brewery was said to be a “pioneer,” the first of its kind in Contra Costa County. It was located at the east end of Main Street to take advantage of the clear creek water.

Wall’s cream ale was his best seller, described in an 1861 Contra Costa Gazette story as “a first-rate article.” Cream ales were born in America in the 1850s as a response to the desire for a beer that was lighter than the mass-produced German style beers. “Cream” refers not to the dairy product but rather to the ale’s aroma. It was

But many problems plagued the Mount Diablo Brewery during the 12 years of Wall’s tenure: disputes with a partner, the growing temperance movement and the Local Option License.

Richard Westoby joined Wall in 1863 but dissolved the partnership in 1865 due to disagreements over finances. Wall ran the business on his own for the next eight years until 1873, when Westoby won a $3,000 judgment against him. In order to pay his ex-partner, he held a “Sheriff’s Sale” at noon on May 27, 1873, in front of the Martinez Court House. Wall’s Clayton property was sold to the highest bidder.

The temperance movement, advocating restrictions on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, was becoming more influential in California, and the Local Option License of 1874 was seen as a means to achieve prohibition. The provision allowed localities to decide their own policies regarding alcoholic beverages, thus avoiding conflicts on the state level. Township #4, comprised of

Had it survived the law, Wall’s saloon would have been the first one miners came to after crossing over the creek.

Clayton and the mining towns of Nortonville and Somersville, was declared “dry” by election, and George Wall was convicted of violating the law. His was the “test case” in August 1874, when the constitutionality of the law was questioned in the state Supreme Court. In October of that same year, the law was declared unconstitutional by a bare majority, but Wall was too broke to celebrate. He had lawyer fees and fines to pay in addition to what he owed Westoby, and his Mount Diablo Winery became history.

Debbie Eistetter is a board member of the Clayton Historical Society. For more information or to become a member, visit claytonhistory.org. The Clayton Museum is open 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays at 6101 Main St.. Admission is free.

Chamber group empowers women to build successful businesses

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce hosts a variety of monthly networking events to provide a platform for businesses to meet and do business. One of these monthly events is our Women’s Networking Group, or WNG for short.

This group aims to empower women in business and provide them the resources they need. Each meeting includes a variety of topics and sometimes the entire Concord community through Aquarian Era. Some of those skeptics in his circle have become converts.

After more than five years of working toward the shop, Thomson put it in the universe’s hands and let go of the frustration. He immediately got the call that the Concord location was his to rent. Black history is a history of spirituality and perseverance.

INSPIRINGOTHERS

Charhonda Bean, one of Thompson’s Black employees, reflects on what it means to be

“Having a Black boss in a Black-owned business has given me the opportunity to connect with the community in many walks of life,” Bean says.

She goes on to speak about Black wealth-building: “Black people should create and generate their own wealth. Most people may think of wealth in the form of money. I believe wealth is a mindset.”

Bean says that working for Thompson is a growth opportunity in a great work environment. “Whether this is your first job or you’re a seasoned worker, you get experience, exposure, resources and the opportunity to see what someone else has created for you to enjoy.”

What’s so powerful about Aquarian Era is that it acts as a beacon of hope for other aspiring Black business owners. Thompson is proud to tell us, “I have inspired many to start and open up similar businesses. I show people, especially people like myself, that owning and operating our own business is truly possible.”

He remembers each time his success story motivated another. “On three separate occasions, customers have come to Aquarian Era to thank me for inspiring them and tell me they opened up their own stores.” Aquarian Era is at 2803 Main Ave., Suite A, Concord. For more information, visit https://aquarianera.business.site features a fun activity to allow attendees to foster relationships.

This month, the women headed to Fondant Cups & Cakes to decorate cupcakes for Valentine’s Day. Located at 3375 Port Chicago Highway, Suite 27, the shop is a womanand black-owned business with “a passion for inspiring creativity in others.”

The WNG participants enjoy learning and supporting local businesses, while showcasing the diversity we have in Concord. The women were able to put on their creativity cap while getting to know each other.

Next month, the chamber is partnering with Visit Concord, our Tourism Improvement District agency, to host a meeting about human sex trafficking. Our goal is to empower, educate and equip our community with tools to protect everyone.

Speakers will include Louise Reeves, an inspector with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit, who will provide insight of how to be aware of your surroundings, and Andrea Taylor, a certified life coach who helps victims recover and build a successful new life.

This meeting will be 11:30 am-1:30 pm March 9 at the Hilton Concord. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, please visit www.concordchamber.com/events.

Other upcoming topics include financial coaching and mental health awareness, along with fun activities like a mixology class hosted by a local restaurant.

If you would like more information about the Concord Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Networking Group, call 925685-1181, visit www.concordchamber.com, or stop by our office at 2280 Diamond Blvd., Suite 200. Also, follow us on our various social media platforms for features on chamber members.