The Advocate 10-29

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WEDNESDAY l 10.29.14 OUR 65TH YEAR CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE SAN PABLO, CALIF.

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN With only days left until Election Day, voters decide on legislation, leadership

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ith this specialty coverage, The Advocate hopes to familiarize voters with the candidates, proposals and ideas that face the electorate on Tuesday.

By taking a look at the six statewide propositions that will appear on the ballot, along with local measures and the candidates in the Richmond City Council race, voters are provided with information to make a informed decision.

Articles also explore the various background factors that have been influencing an otherwise small, local election.

This includes information on the tax-exempt organizations that have donated funding to the campaigns of their preferred candidates.

With Chevron coming under national fire over heavy-handed contributions, The Advocate addresses many issues influencing the Richmond election.

Half cent sales tax

Richmond election

Candidate Statewide blurbs props

The Advocate debates the validity of the halfcent sales tax increase Richmond’s residents are considering.

As candidates vie for votes in Richmond, The Advocate takes a quick look at the platforms of those running.

The Advocate examines gubernatorial, city and community college district office seekers.

The various propositions on the November ballot can be confusing.

Inside, The Advocate offers readers a look at the issues.

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ILLUSTRATION BY LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

STUDENTS UNAWARE OF $5 FEE, WAIVER Misuse of student activity fee raises questions, distrust

BY Brian Boyle SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

SEE FEE, PAGE 4

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Shakespeare’s acts inspire young actors with comedy Knox Center hosts 37 various acts rolled into

OUTRAGE FILLS OAKLAND STREETS

PHOTO EDITOR

currutia.theadvocate@gmail.com

Improvised acting and crowd participation provided an interesting mix of comedy in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” during its run at the Knox Center from Oct. 21-25.

Sociology major Nicole Brice said the silly antics and physical comedy of actors Stephanie Rivas, Justin Hernandez and Oz Herrera-Sobal set the plays in context where people could understand what Shakespeare’s featured works are all about.

“They do a good job of driving the point home with analogies that explain what happens in Shakespeare’s plays,” Brice said.

Brice, who learned about the bard’s plays, poems and sonnets in middle school, said that even though the actors were doing a little “too

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BY Christian Urrutia

much” with their improvised acting and speaking dialogue, which was a bit hurried at times, the performance was funny and understandable overall.

“The (audience participation) keeps us engaged and that’s what I like about it,” she said.

Hernandez, Rivas and Herrera-Sobal tried to explain to the audience through monologues, one-liners and a virtually non-existent plot, all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays in less than two hours.

This is what makes the play performance abridged and it is also how the hilarity ensues — everything is condensed and the possibilities for comical situations increases.

Written by former founders of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, an acting troupe focusSEE PLAY, PAGE 4

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The California Community College Chancellor’s Office released a legal opinion in 2012 entitled The Student Fee Handbook that details the legal justifications for the fees colleges charge.

The legal opinion details the legal issues surrounding the student activity fee. The student activity fee is a $5 fee charged to all students throughout the three campuses of the Contra Costa Community College District every

Oz HerreraSobal (right) speaks to the audience as Cleopatra while Stephanie Rivas (left) looks on during a dress rehearsal of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” at the Knox Center on Oct. 20.

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Quotable “The greatest achievement of humanity — freedom of speech — has served as both the source and incentive of progress.”

Eduard Shevardnadze president of Georgia 2001 Lorenzo Morotti editor-in-chief George Morin art director Cody McFarland Rodney Woodson associate editors Roxana Amparo news editor Jared Amdahl Van Ly opinion editors Robert Clinton Jose Jimenez sports editors Mike Thomas scene editor Brian Boyle spotlight editor Qing Huang Christian Urrutia photo editors Janae Harris Cody Casares assistant photo editors Paul DeBolt faculty adviser Staff writers Jared Amdahl Salvador Godoy Krysta Gonzalez Florinda Hershey Princess Hughes Mickalea Manuel Marlene Rivas Jason Sykes Manning Peterson Mark Wassberg Sean Whatley Staff photographers Jordan Khoo Staff illustrators Mayra Garcia Honors ACP National Newspaper Pacemaker Award 1990, 1994, 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 CNPA Better Newspaper Contest 1st Place Award 1970, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2013 JACC Pacesetter Award 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Member Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association Journalism Association of Community Colleges How to reach us Phone: 510.215.3852 Fax: 510.235.NEWS Email: accentadvocate@ gmail.com Editorial policy Columns and editorial cartoons are the opinion of individual writers and artists and not that of The Advocate. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is made up of student editors.

opinion

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014 Vol. 102, No. 8

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM

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Editorial

PAYMENT OVER-LOOKED Students burdened when attempting to waive fee

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tudents at Contra Costa College do not have an effective means of waiving the $5 student activity fee they are charged each term, a fee of which they are hardly informed. The fee has been in place since spring 2012.

In a legal opinion released by the California Community College State Chancellor’s Office, the opinion of the chancellor states, “When optional fees are not properly described, the appearance is that the district may be charging an impermissible mandatory fee.” The opinion also states that the method of waiving the fee cannot be “unduly burdensome.”

This is the case in the Contra Costa Community College District. Students are currently asked to hunt down paperwork, fill it out and then stand in the long lines outside the Cashier’s Office in order to waive the fee. They can only do this during the registration period, when many students are attempting to finalize their class schedules and are not worried about paying for school yet. The Cashier’s Office also has no evening hours, making it even more difficult for working students to waive the fee.

The current nature of the student activity fee may be illegal, despite the fact that it does not have to be. The people who instituted the fee have never read the chancellor’s legal advice on the fee, by their own admission. In light of this, it should be no surprise that the fee has been implemented illegally.

A “negative check-off method,” where students are simply asked, “Would you like to pay $5 to support student activities at your campus?” while registering for classes would solve almost all of the legal issues surrounding the student activity fee, but multiple members of the district Governing Board have said they will not address the issue until students have brought the issue to the board.

Students across the district should take note of that fact on Nov. 4 when filling out their ballots for the various ward positions up for election.

Students should also bring the issue to the board. The Associated Students Union at CCC is looking for ways to better engage students in regards to the student activity fee, and how to better inform them about what the fee does.

Approaching the Governing Board and demanding a fair system of charging fees be implemented would accomplish all of that. Students would be informed about the fee, their freedom to waive the fee would be preserved and students who wish to take that knowledge and approach the ASU with it will be informed enough to do so. The ASU has an opportunity to take a stance for integrity.

The student activity fee has the potential to accomplish a lot, but using that potential requires the ASU be above board at all times. The student activity fee is currently a mess that was created by sister school Diablo Valley College’s student government, and CCC’s student government has a chance to shine by cleaning it up.

LORENZO MOROTTI / THE ADVOCATE

N POLITICS

Deceitful government abuses voting system O

ver the past few centuries people from all walks of life, races and genders have fought and died for the right to vote in the United States of America.

While older generations and broadcasting entities like MTV continue to attempt to get more and more people to vote, it is the things that we are not allowed to vote for that has U.S. citizens in such an interesting position as a nation.

Of course, the position I am referring to is the nation’s continued involvement in the Middle East, which was started, perpetuated and fueled by the U.S. government’s inability to mind its own business.

If we went to Afghanistan to fight the war on terror, why did we move into Iraq? To stop Sadaam Hussein’s false chemical threat? Once there were no weapons of mass destruction discovered in Iraq, shouldn’t U.S. troops have gotten the hell out of there?

Or was it that the U.S. presence diminished the Iraqi land and government so horribly that they had to stay to attempt to piece the land back together?

We should be allowed to vote on whether or not we go to war against any nation or terrorist groups,

There will rarely, if ever, be a senator’s grandson, sent off to fight in Afghanistan as soon as he graduates high school.

They don’t typically send their kids to war to fight — they try to send our children. Are we worthless?

Or is it that there is no true accountability for those in especially groups like ISIS U.S. government? or ISL or the Islamic State Until I am allowed the Group or whatever these ability to vote “No” on a guys call themselves — a group that probably would presidential candidate I not exist in its current form refuse to participate. Until I had America never invaded can have a say in the major decisions that affect our Iraq. nation, there is no point in It was not a war on terror that Hussein may have voting.

Lots of people hated been connected to, nor did he have nuclear bombs. He Bush because of the wars was simply targeted by the and famine, so they voted for “Change” with Obama.

U.S. government, which But there is a large majority then invaded his land and of folks who are still broke ultimately destroyed a and unemployed, and we nation. are still at war as a nation.

Yes, he may have been This country’s voting an evil dictator, but is system disregards the popthe world better after his ular vote — making it posdeath? Is our nation any sible that a candidate who safer from the threats of receives a majority of votes nuclear war or terror? is not elected to office. So And the war on terwhy does my vote matter? ror still wages on after the I vote no on voting death of Osama bin Laden. until my vote does more We need to fight for than strip me of my rights. the right to vote on all major decisions concocted Because the vote is what got us to this point. by presidents and their cabinets. We need to be Rodney Woodson is the ones deciding whether or not we should send our an associate editor of The Advocate. Contact him at children to war, because rwoodson.theadvocate@ let’s face it, they are our gmail.com. children.

rodneywoodson

CampusComment Did you know that you can waive (receive a refund for) the student activity fee?

“I didn’t know. No one ever told me. I can use those $5 for something else.”

“I had no idea. I don’t even get financial aid, so it is a good thing to get the refund.”

“It’s helpful to regain the $5 activity fee. I think it’s a good idea to get it back.”

“No. The college should inform students. Maybe they could put flyers around.”

Jennifer Mojica

Higor de Sauza

Ramon Tellez

Yareli Hernandez

nursing

undecided

biology

criminal justice

“No, but it’s just $5.

Compared to $900 in tuition (a year) it is nothing. I don’t think it matters.”

Efren Alvarez political science

ROXANA AMPARO / THE ADVOCATE

“I didn’t even know I paid $5.”

Ashley Villalta medical assistance

forum MISSING LGBT PRESENCE ON COLLEGE CAMPUS INSPIRES ACTION, RAISES AWARENESS Editor: I am so happy to see your article regarding the lack of a Gay-Straight

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

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MailBag Alliance or other clubs representing the LGBTQ community.

When I began teaching here in 2001, I asked around and talked with the faculty member who had previously advised the GSA here.

In my 13 years here, I have not heard much interest from students.

But maybe they didn’t know they

should talk to me.

I have a poster in my office, but maybe I need a rainbow sticker too.

I am a lesbian, a single mom and many other things, and this has always been important to me.

I advised the GSA for a number of years when I taught at Muskegon Community College in Michigan.

I would be eager to advise a similar club here.

If any students would like help starting a GSA or similar club, please come talk with me. I’m in AA-210F. Sue Van Hattum, mathematics professor

THAT’S DEBATABLE roxanaamparo

N PRO

SHOULD MEASURE U PASS?

N CON

jaredamdahl

HALF-CENT SALES TAX PREVENTS CUTBACKS

Ballot measure adds undue stress

City officials crave initiative to reverse steep budget cuts, fund projects

Struggling community faces rate hike while fighting to be fiscally independent

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easure U helps you.

Essential city services, such as public safety, public health and wellness programs, city youth programs and street paving, will be maintained and enhanced with a cost of only half of a cent for the 107,571 residents of Richmond through Measure U. Measure U is a ballot measure on the Nov. 4 ballot proposing a half-cent sales tax on taxable goods within the city of Richmond.

The taxable goods include non-food products, prescription drugs and energy utilities, among other commodities.

A sales tax is collected when residents purchase an automobile from Richmond and/or make a purchase at a retail store.

The sales tax for Richmond is 9 percent, but with Measure U it will match the City of San Pablo at 9.5 percent.

An amount of $7,565,971 would be raised for the fiscal year 2015-2016. The average cost would be $2.93 a month per resident. Measure U only impacts businesses located in Richmond.

According to the neighborhoodscout.com website, Richmond has a crime index of 5, with 100 being the safest. It is safer than only 5 percent of the cities in the U.S. Within California, more than 97 percent of its cities have lower crime levels than Richmond, The chance of becoming a victim in Richmond is one in 92 while the chances of becoming a victim in California stand at one in 236. The chances are higher for one city than throughout California, according to the neighborhoodscout.com website.

With Richmond’s history of being one of the highest cities in the nation with assaults, forcible rapes and robbery, Measure U will accumulate funds from taxes to decrease the level of risk that citizens face. The funds will get distributed throughout the city’s major needs.

Youth violence prevention will demand results — 911 responses will come quicker due to an increase of jobs and other essentials, such as enhancing neighborhood parks, tree planting, community cleanups, after school programs for the younger generation and more employment opportunities.

The fire department staffing level will increase to ensure an appropriate emergency response time in case of a fire. The Richmond Police Department’s staffing level will also increase.

According to a Richmond city survey, reducing crime is the highest concern for its residents standing at 96 percent, followed by improving street paving with an 86 percent concern level.

Property crimes — theft, burglary and vehicle theft — is one in 92 in Richmond, while it is one in 36 for California as a whole. The funds collected through Measure U will allow the city to invest in faster action toward crime.

Some of the issues that residents confront on a daily basis are the lack of protection from the authorities with the power to protect caused by the lack of funds to provide for more job openings.

Another important issue, standing at 84 percent, is developing job training opportunities. Jobs are important for a city like Richmond with a high unemployment rate. It should be allowed the opportunity of being able to create new jobs.

Many of the city streets are in poor conditions and, without a sustainable source of funding. These are the roads used by the people of Richmond on a daily basis. With the constraints of the current budget, the quality of the roads will worsen.

In support of Measure U is city council member Jim Rogers.

Among the cities that have approved similar tax measures are San Pablo, El Cerrito and Sacramento for the purpose of providing greater opportunities for their residents.

The residents of Richmond will be part of the change that occurs in their community.

Although some may say that money will be taken away from Richmond residents, the money will be invested directly for those residing in the Richmond community.

It is a sense of security and a step in the right direction for more opportunities to come. Vote “yes” on Measure U. Roxana Amparo is the news editor for The Advocate.

Contact her at ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com.

he upcoming Richmond ballot will offer Measure U to voters, which if passed will implement a half-cent sales tax increase on the city and people that have trouble affording to operate as it is.

The city of Richmond, also known to Bay Area natives as the “City of Pride and Purpose,” is filled with wonderful everyday people that have built lives upon a culturally rich foundation, not a financially rich one.

The last fiscal year for Richmond showed the cities operating a net surplus of $6,896,146 — in the red.

And while the half-cent tax increase would put a projected $1 million dent into that deficit, you should stop and ask yourself, who would be affected by this tax and how?

By taxing the people living in Richmond, the city hopes to aid financial woes.

Richmond residents will contribute 49 percent of the total revenue generated by Measure U, with Richmond business owners and nonRichmond residents making up the other 22 and 29 percent, respectively.

Now having grown up in and around the East Bay Area my whole life, let me be the first to tell you, the last thing every resident of Richmond needs is a tax increase.

Some may think that half a penny increase on anything would probably go unnoticed, but this is not true.

The average amount paid per Richmond resident would be $2.93 per month.

That comes to $35.16 a year, meaning between the 2015-16 fiscal year for Richmond, the cities residents as a whole will be charged a projected $3.7 million.

The last survey conducted in Richmond showed that the average income per capita in 2012 was $26,751 a year.

And with the cost of living steadily increasing, Measure U will add stress to the lives of Richmond residents experiencing what is for many already an extremely stressful time.

Tax increases do not seem like much of a threat when the things they can benefit are necessary.

Public facilities, hospitals and youth programs, among numerous other projects, would be potential recipients of the funds generated by Measure U. But one has to look at the way those things are funded already — taxes.

The Richmond Council of Industries reported that two of the top three revenue sources for the 2013-14 fiscal year were the city’s sales tax and property tax, raising nearly $60 million between the two.

At some point in history the sales tax was increased to 9 percent, which is the current tax rate in Richmond.

If Measure U passes, that tax rate will increase to 9.5 percent on most items sold in the city.

Having worked in retail, it is easy to see the potential in this bill, and tax increases are not always a bad thing.

Residents of a community do have obligations to pitch in money to keep the city they live in functioning.

It is true that it takes a village to raise a child, even when that “child” is money.

But the residents of this village are already raising most of the money, so why tax them more when there are other avenues of opportunity?

Probably because it is a really easy way of generating revenue, regardless of the fact that it can do harm to those it is meant to help.

Jared Amdahl is a staff writer for The Advocate. Contact him at jamadahl.theadvocate@gmail.com.

MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE

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Newsline ■ red carpet

HALL OF FAME EVENT TO HONOR ALUMNI The Contra Costa College Foundation is hosting its 65th Annual Alumni Hall of Fame on Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m. The induction ceremony starts at 7:30 p.m.

Selected CCC alumni will be honored, and there will be live music

by Downtown Rhythm Band. The event will be held at Maple Hall, One Alvarado Square in downtown San Pablo.

Tickets are on sale for $65 per person. To make a purchase, call 510-215-3836 or mail a check to the Contra Costa College Foundation 2600 Bell Drive, San Pablo, 94806.

■ dia de los muertos

CELEBRATING DEATH UNDER THE MOON La Raza Student Union will be celebrating Dia De Los Muertos on Thursday at the Library and Learning Resource Center from 57 p.m.

The event celebrates and honors those who have died through enjoying life.

The theme is Bajo la Luna (Under the Moon) and there will be music, performances, art and face painting for anyone who is interested. An altar is on display for anyone to view.

For further questions contact La Raza Club President Jeannette Martinez at 510-672-9466.

CrimeWatch Monday, Oct. 20: An unknown suspect took the bike pump from the Bike Repair Station behind the College Bookstore.

Tuesday, Oct. 21: A student reported his backpack and belongings were stolen from the Men’s Locker Room. He came back later and said his items were found.

A vehicle was towed for blocking a driveway of a home.

An officer responded to a report of a student using his cell phone in class being disruptive. The instructor called to have the student removed. The student was gone upon police arrival.

FEE | Odd office hours create ‘hardship,’ concern Continued from Page 1 semester. The funding is transferred to the college’s student government and is supposed to support campus events and student activities.

Greg Enholm, Governing Board trustee representing East County, said he read a legal opinion in 2010 regarding student fees, but has never read the Student Fee Handbook.

Vicki Ferguson, dean of student life at Contra Costa College, and John Marquez, the president of the Contra Costa Community College District Board of Governors, said they also have never read the Student Fee Handbook.

Vice President of CCC Tammeil Gilkerson said, “Of course I’ve read the student fee handbook. It details the legality of all the instructional, material and course fees we are allowed to charge. It’s my job to have read it.”

The Student Fee Handbook begins with the State Chancellor’s Office’s legal interpretation of the basic law on student fees.

Specifically, the Student Fee Handbook begins by describing the difference between optional and mandatory fees.

A fee is mandatory in nature, according to the Student Fee Handbook, if “[it] must be paid as a condition of admission to a college; or as a condition of registration, enrollment, or entry into classes; or as a condition to completing the required classroom objectives of a course, or of access to critical functions of the college.”

When the student activity fee was first charged in the spring semester of 2012, as reported in the Oct. 10, 2012 edition of The Advocate, it was billed mid-semester. The time of the billing made it impossible to waive the fee.

According to Jose Vera, who works in the Cashier’s Office in the Student Services Center, 130 students waived the student activity fee this semester. There are 6,428 students attending CCC this fall, meaning only 2 percent of students waived the fee.

Jazmine Ramezanzadeh, the Associated Student Union president in fall 2012, was quoted as saying the fee would prevent students from adding or dropping classes if they failed to pay it.

In regards to optional student fees, The Student Fee Handbook explains, “Only if students understand that the fee is truly optional can they make an informed decision about paying it. In addition, the processes by which students may claim exemptions from paying a mandatory fee or may decline to pay an optional fee should not be unduly burdensome to students.”

The conflict between these two passages of The Student Fee Handbook call into question the legality of the practices surrounding the student activity fee at CCC.

Stating that the fee is optional and not unduly burdensome, chapter four of the Student Fee Handbook is titled “Prohibited Practices.”

On the list of prohibited practices is charging a “Mandatory Student Activities Fee.” The legal opinion of the State Chancellor’s Office states, “It is imperative that the optional nature of the fee be communicated to students and that students have an effective means of declining to pay the fee.”

Students at CCC currently do not have effective means of declining to pay the student activity fee, and the optional nature of the fee has not been communicated to them.

“Students can pick up a fee waiver from my office, the Cashier’s Office or the Student Life Office,” Ferguson said. “Then in order to waive the fee, they must fill it out, and drop it off at the Cashier’s Office during the registration period.”

Marquez said the process of waiving the student activity fee meets the definition of unduly burdensome.

“Students already have to pay such high fees, we, at the district need to remember that even a fee as small as $5 can hurt students,” Marquez said. “Requiring that students stand in line at a place with limited hours and fill out paperwork to receive a refund definitely creates a hardship for students wishing to waive the fee, and that is an issue.”

The Cashier’s Office is busy during the registration period, and the hours it is open are very limited. The office is never open past 3:30 p.m. Students with jobs that keep them past 3 p.m., such as a 9-4 shift, may never have an opportunity to stand in line to waive the fee.

The Student Fee Handbook describes the process of waiving the student activity fee at CCC as “fraught with potential problems.”

The Student Fee Handbook says, in order to implement a sign off method, the officials authorized to process the waiver must be on-site and easily accessible during the registration period.

The handbook describes a “negative check-off ” method, where students are asked online while paying their bills if they wish to pay the $5 student activity fee or not, as “legal and appropriate.”

The Advocate conducted a small, random survey of 100 students, and 89 of the students polled said they had no idea the student activity fee was optional.

There are a limited number of posters around campus that explain what the student activity fee is and what it has done for students. These posters are currently providing students with the wrong time and place of ASU meetings. A sign describing the student activity fee is outside of the Student Services Center, yet hedges bury

the portion describing the optional nature of the fee.

Gilkerson said the authority of the college to restrict a student’s ability to add or drop courses for not paying the student activity fee stems from the Student Fee Handbook. The Student Fee Handbook explains that if a student “owes a proper debt to a college or district,” then their registration abilities may be impacted as a means of reconciling the debt.

This would justify the restrictions on enrollment non-payment of the student activity fee can create, except in separate legal opinions the State Chancellor and the California Attorney General have defined student governments as “auxiliary organizations.”

The State Chancellor’s Office described in its legal opinion 1207 that auxiliary organizations are “private entities,” and that their designation as such “is not changed by the fact that the districts have the power to oversee organization funds.”

The student activity fee may not be due the college or district at all.

The California Attorney General wrote in a 2005 legal opinion, “California courts have generally recognized auxiliary organizations as private entities rather than as public agencies or as part of the public bodies they seek to aid or assist.”

In this case, the college and district are the public bodies and the ASU, a private entity, exists to support. These legal opinions, however, suggest the student activity fee may be due the ASU, and thus should not be capable of affecting a student’s ability to register for classes if they fail to pay the fee.

Enholm said that in his interpretation of the law, that he believed this to be the case.

Marquez said he would bring the Student Fee Handbook and the issues it presents to the Governing Board, but that the board always feels more comfortable and responds better to issues raised by students.

Enholm said the issue should be presented to the student Trustee Elijah Ziskin. Enholm said Ziskin is in the unique position of representing all students in the district.

As of press time Tuesday, Ziskin refused to comment on the topic.

“The student activity fee has existed (in colleges and universities in California) since the 1960s,” Marquez said. “Though it was different. When I was a student we sold student body cards.

They offered students different discounts and perks around the community. Doing that we were able to raise money for events, for concerts and for movie screenings.

I haven’t seen things like that since the 1980s.”

Marquez said apathy was the reason student governments moved to having the district charge students the fee, and that apathy

was also responsible for the clear lack of activities he noticed when comparing his time as a student to today.

Marquez’s concerns about the usefulness of the student activity fee are shared not only by the dean of student life, but also by the president of the ASU. The ASU canceled its Grant for Support program this year. Last year, the Grant for Support was the means the ASU used to give money out to different clubs and college organizations on campus.

The Grant for Support was funded by the $5 student activity fee.

“We have canceled the Grant for Support program,” Ferguson said. “We had concerns regarding whether or not the money was actually being used on students or not, and we came to the conclusion that it wasn’t.”

ASU President Antone Agnitsch said he agreed.

“The Grant for Support program was being used by faculty members to fund their extra credit projects,” Agnitsch said. “We want to make sure the student activity fee is actually being spent on students.”

The ASU has spent money on their Fall Festival event so far this semester, but little else, leaving the funds generated by the student activity fee sitting idle.

Agnitsch said the ASU wants to resume the Grant for Support program eventually, but they need to find a way to ensure it is student focused while fairly offering money to different groups around campus.

Posters around campus advertise that the student activity fee has reduced Bookstore rental prices, a program that the ASU also cut this year. Agnitsch said virtually no students used the book rental discount program, or if they did the numbers were completely untracked. He said he did not believe that program helped students. Yet it is still advertised on ASU posters around campus.

Last year’s ASU board created a $20,000 debt by mishandling paperwork necessary to pay their bills, Business Office Supervisor Nick Dimitri said. He said despite several attempts to contact Ferguson, who has signatory control of the paperwork the ASU fills out to make payments, for the proper paperwork, it was never forthcoming.

Also, the ASU no longer has a procurement card of its own, Dimitri said.

The ASU plans to increase its involvement with students by handing out surveys at their Fall Festival, as a condition of receiving free food, asking students what the ASU should do with the student activity fee.

Ferguson said increasing the amount of dialogue between students and the ASU is paramount to ensuring the student activity fee is spent on students.

PLAY | Thespians bring historic works to life

An instructor turned in a wallet he found on his way to work.

He did not know who the wallet belonged to.

An unknown person punctured the tire on a victim’s car while it was parked on campus.

Stephanie Rivas lashes out in despair during her monologue in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” at the Knox Center on Oct. 20.

Wednesday, Oct. 22: A student reported his phone stolen while he was in class.

— George Morin

Corrections In the Oct. 8 issue of The Advocate on page 6, in the story titled, “Bay Area classic still rolling in dough,” the address of King Pin Donuts is listed as 2395 Telegraph Ave. That is incorrect.

King Pin Donuts is located at 2521 Durant Ave. in Berkeley.

In the Oct. 22 issue of The Advocate on page 5 in the story titled “Student left without ride during downpour,” the story said that the police carts do not have windshields. That is incorrect.

Some of the police carts do have windshields.

The Advocate regrets these errors.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Continued from Page 1 ing on fast-paced, improvisational condensations of popular topics, “The Complete Works” serves as the season opener for the drama department and is directed by new adjunct drama professor Angelina LaBarre.

Computer science major Anil Lama said, “The acting was phenomenal. Each person was into the character that he or she was portraying.”

The three actors used their own names for the performance, but imitate different characters using props and go through constant costume changes.

Rivas said, “Usually in a play there aren’t many props that are used throughout, but in this play there has to be props involved in every scene to convey what we’re trying to say.”

Although there are a multitude of characters personified, with Herrera-Sobal playing most of the female characters in cross-dress, some students, like Lama, found the fast dialogue and character change a little befuddling. “(There are) a lot of characters and each person made it confusing for me when they would switch. But after all of the topics were covered, it was great overall. It was absolutely enjoyable,” Lama said, adding this was his first time attending a live performance at the Knox Center.

Another thing the actors emphasized was crowd participation.

While light at first, the participation grew and grew as the show progressed with two audience members taking part in the play, carrying out a scene where the performers split the crowd into three sections. Each assigned a line

of dialogue to an audience member to recite when called upon.

Then while the actors were motioning to the crowd, one volunteer ran across stage and the other screamed once the climax built.

Middle College High School junior Briana Sumler said the crowd involvement got the audience engaged perfectly and made them prone to participation.

Up until that point, Sumler said she and a few others started to feel their attention wane slightly.

Before the concluding performance on Oct. 25, Rivas said the show was well received and was proud of the fact that she and the production crew were able to take a lot of components from Shakespeare’s career and put them together within a two-month period.

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5

Parking lot fix approved by board Measure A funds stabilize project

BY Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

Construction on the project to stabilize and reopen a currently unused student parking lot of 41 spaces is set to begin as early as November.

After a sinkhole formed in the center of Lot 16, located above the Art Building, two years ago, leaving its surface cracked and buckled, the exclusively student parking lot was fenced off to prevent bodily injury and property damage, Buildings and Grounds Manager Bruce King said.

Now, with approval from the district Governing Board, Contra Costa College is moving forward to stabilize Lot 16 and pre-emptively do the same for neighboring Lot 17, which has thus far remained open and minimally affected by erosion.

Though the construction contract is set for completion on Feb. 6, 2015, King said the project might take slightly longer than expected, depending on the weather.

“Everything should be done by the

first quarter (of the calendar year) if we’re lucky,” King said. “There may be some setbacks due to weather. Things get dicey for construction around the rainy season.”

Following the approval of the Governing Board at its Oct. 8 meeting, Engineering Soil Repairs, Inc. was awarded the contract for construction with a bid of $406,885.

Including the initial planning and design, testing and inspection, as well as other contingent costs, the total budget for the entire project is $729,379.

Funding for the project comes from the Measure A 2006 bond and Measure E 2014 bond, District Chief Facilities Planner Ray Pyle said.

The scope of work for Engineering Soil Repairs, Inc., according to minutes from the Oct. 8 board meeting, is to “provide labor, materials and equipment as required to remove vegetation and to install plate piles at both parking lots 16 and 17 to stabilize the hillside below each parking lot.”

Plate piles are non-displacement steel sections that can be driven into almost

all soil types to stabilize downslope forces and provide resistance, thus preventing an otherwise eroding hillside from sliding downward.

In a facilities meeting on Oct. 16, Ron Johnson, project manager from Critical Solutions, Inc., said that fabrication of the plate piles takes about one month, so the actual construction would not begin until November at the earliest.

King said it is not unlikely that the construction will be pushed back until the first week of December. The construction contract for the resurfacing of both lots has yet to be determined as well.

Johnson said, “The resurfacing of parking Lot 16 is still in the design phase” with Oakley & Oakley Engineering out of Oakland.

King said, “Students should be able to take advantage of that parking by March, if not earlier. Parking really has become a premium here.”

Those 41 parking spaces returning to students will be welcomed.

Graphic design major Mike Lopez

said he would definitely use the reopened lot, as it is the closest parking lot to his classes in the Art Building.

“Half of my classes are going to be in (the Art) Building next semester anyway, so it will be nice to have something closer,” Lopez said.

Though the additional spaces may come as late as March, Lopez said he has had little issue with parking on campus otherwise and that reopening Lot 16 would make his parking situation simpler.

“Better late than never,” he said. “At least it’s getting done.”

The construction for the Hillside Stabilization Project includes Lot 17, but the entirety of spaces in that lot is not going to disappear.

King said, “We’re not going to lose 17 entirely. It’s likely they will close a section at a time to do the work. If weather permits, it will take a week to 10 days for (the stabilization of) both hills.”

Both parking lots are north of the Art Building and are accessible from Campus Drive at the top of campus.

UNIQUE ID, DEBIT CARD ACCESS LOST WITHOUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH

BY Roxana Amparo NEWS EDITOR

ramparo.theadvocate@gmail.com

EOPS Club members attend their first club meeting in the Skills Center in the Student Services Building on Oct. 17.

EOPS meetings are every Friday from 1 to 2 p.m.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

Comets face challenge at Homecoming game Battle for first place happens Saturday

BY Mike Thomas SCENE EDITOR

rmthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

The football team will host Shasta College for the annual Homecoming game Saturday at 3 p.m. at Comet Stadium.

Both teams will come into this game undefeated in the Pacific 7 Conference.

Contra Costa College football coach Alonzo Carter knows the importance of the game against the Knights Saturday. This game could possibly determine who will be the first ever Pac 7 champion, and both football teams want to make history by being the first squad to win the first-year conference’s title, he said.

On Saturday, the Comets drove to Eureka and beat College of the Redwoods 48-24 while Shasta was victorious against San Jose City College, 48-13. The two teams have identical 6-1 overall records, and are both 3-0 in the Pac 7.

CCC is currently ranked No. 2 in the NorCal American Division rankings, while Shasta is No. 4.

During his four-plus year tenure with the Comets, Carter is 3-1 when facing the Knights, but he gives them credit for being a physical and disciplined team. Shasta also leads just about every stat category in the Pac 7. “(Shasta) is well-coached, and a very physical team,” Carter said “The way they

play is very similar to our style of play.”

The game will be the main attraction, but during halftime the athletic department and the Associated Students Union will be giving away raffle prizes to attendees.

“All of the adults will get a ticket when they pay to get in the game,” Athletic Director John Wade said. “We’re giving away iPad minis and a $500 book grant.”

Wade said he anticipates a big crowd for the game, and that the Comets will play up to expectations.

The game will also acknowledge the CCC football team alumni in attendance during halftime. ASU adviser Ericka Greene encourages all attendees to partake in the halftime activities.

“We want people to get excited and participate in the activities,” Greene said. “The alumni deserve acknowledgment and respect from the home crowd.”

Every game during halftime, Carter takes his team to the locker rooms for a halftime discussion. The halftime festivities will have no effect on him, but he supports the idea of having a halftime show.

“I think it’s wonderful to have a halftime show, to show some school spirit, and (Marketing and Communications Specialist Michele Jackson) pours her heart into these events,” Carter said. “But my main concern is to keep my team focused for the second half of the game.”

RICHMOND — The safety and comfort of the city of Richmond community is said to be established through the Richmond Municipal Identification Card Program.

Richmond’s City Council approved the IDs with the purpose of improving public safety, increasing civic participation and supporting local commerce. In addition, the ID holds an optional prepaid debit card function, which will remain inactive until the cardholder says otherwise.

It was approved through ordinance number 16-11 N.S. amending chapter 2.64, Article II of Richmond’s Municipal Code.

Richmond residents can apply for an ID card at the Richmond Municipal Card Office, which is located at Grace Lutheran Church at 2369 Barrett Ave. Applicants must submit an identification document for proof, including a U.S. or foreign passport or ID, driver’s license, U.S. permanent resident card, or proof of residency such as a utility bill or recent bank statement..

The IDs are administered by SF Global LLC, a third party vendor hired by the city of Richmond.

The initial price of the ID cards will be $15 for adults and $10 for ages 65 and over.

Director of Business Development & Financial Integration for SF Global LLC Paule Cruz Takash said that the purpose of the ID is to provide affordable services to the “unbanked” and “underbanked.”

The unbanked are those who do not qualify for certain services, such as being able to open a bank account or qualify for a license — such as the immigrant community, Takash said.

The underbanked are those citizens that have been denied banking services due to accumulate debt and have been forced to “operate in cash economy.” It is unsafe to have people walking around with cash in danger of assault, she said.

The idea of the IDs started due to an incident in New Haven, Conn. where a Mexican immigrant was robbed and murdered

for his money. The incident “created the fire under the city,” Takash said. New Haven was the first city to adopt the card seven years ago.

Although the plan is an outreach to the community, many of the immigrants in the community are unaware of this opportunity because no one has talked to them or they have not received any physical form with the information.

Roberto Hernandez, a day worker/jornalero from Richmond, said he was not aware that the city of Richmond was issuing new IDs but he is interested in applying for one if it will benefit him.

Hernandez spends his days outside of the El Cerrito Home Depot waiting patiently for a job opportunity to come to him. He said the municipal IDs are something he is willing to believe in.

“We are hoping it provides a sense of safety for people,” Richmond Management Analyst LaShonda White said.

Some people from the immigrant community are afraid of sharing their personal information to unfamiliar sources wanting to help them, day worker Rutilio Rivera said.

Many immigrants are afraid to report crime due to their fear of authority.

Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin said they want people to feel “comfortable” enough to register for an ID because their personal information will not be shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

“They (immigrants) are a very much important part of our community,” she said, adding that she will continue to promote the municipal ID to the immigrant community.

When making a purchase with the card, there is no charge. There is a $3.99 monthly fee, which can be avoided if 25 purchases are made per month.

It is a “unique thing,” McLaughlin said. Residents can make deposits at local ATMs and get cash back at any regular store with the ID. Xavier Baker, of the Bay Area Rescue Mission located in Richmond, said that the ID cards are beneficial for the homeless.

RETAIL INCENTIVE PROGRAM PROMOTES LOCAL BUSINESSES Games bring customers to San Pablo shops

BY Cody Casares ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

ccasares.theadvocate@gmail.com

SAN PABLO — The San Pablo Economic Development Corporation has put together an interactive way for community members to support its local businesses.

The Road to Rewards program is a game put on by the SPEDC to incentivize community shoppers to redeem discounts at local businesses in the community.

“It’s a retail incentive program that aims to promote local San Pablo businesses,” David Lee, program director for Road to Rewards, said.

The game is based on a board game system, where local shoppers can collect stickers on their game board and return

them to the SPEDC where they are entered into a raffle for prizes, Lee said.

Prizes range from gift certificates from local businesses to a Nintendo Wii, with winners being selected at random at the end of the program.

The owner of Chimes Printing, a non-San Pablo based business that has participated in the program, Vince Corbella, said, “I think it’s good for the local businesses. Not many cities take care of small business. It’s working — people called and came in and that’s all I wanted.

“I’m thinking of moving my business there to San Pablo soon.”

Five thousand copies of the Road to Rewards game boards were distributed throughout the San Pablo community, as well as surrounding cities.

“We had a large outreach,” Lee said.

“We went outside to Richmond and El Sobrante in order to draw more income.”

While some businesses on the list have seen a positive response to the program, some businesses have seen little change at all.

Jeffery Ruben, owner of Richmond Tire, said, “Since the program started we’ve had one person come in and use a coupon.”

The program wraps up on Nov. 1 with a raffle of participants’ game board entries on Nov. 8.

The SPEDC will be organizing a new campaign to support local businesses at the end of the Road to Rewards program called the Local First campaign. Local shoppers who save receipts

from almost anywhere in San Pablo that equal $100 or more and turn them into the SPEDC will receive a raffle ticket and be entered to win prizes, Lee said.

The Local First campaign will begin on Saturday and continue until the first week of January.

The SPEDC has been recognized at a national level for its commitment to the community by winning San Pablo the All-American City Award.

The award is given to the city that has shown successful efforts to improve the health of the community.

San Pablo was awarded for the special attention it provided to health care, particularly targeting childhood obesity, economic development and police department community programs.

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MEDICAL CLASS GOES HI-TECH

BY Jared Amdahl OPINION EDITOR

jamadahl.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Emergency Medical Technician class offered on campus has recently purchased new medical training equipment that will allow adequate training for future EMTs produced by the program.

“This new equipment gives us the ability to teach students exactly what they will need to know in the field,” professor Scott Weatherby said.

The new equipment ranges from a former Vacaville city ambulance, to a new gurney with a weight limit of 750 pounds and a life-sized mannequin that will allow medical technician students to practice real medical-emergency scenarios.

“To a certain extent we’re limited because we’re in the classroom, but all three of these items give us the chance to show these students what they’re getting involved with,” Weatherby said. “And it doesn’t hurt that it makes the class a little more fun.”

Joe Torres, a former Contra Costa College student and current medical lab aide, said, “It is very helpful to the whole program to have this equipment. The equipment we used to use was relevant back in the 90s, so it helps the students that they can use the equipment they’re going to need in a real situation. We’re using relevant equipment that can be considered top of the line.”

Former CCC student and EMED campus volunteer Linda Garcia agrees.

“We’re equipped with the latest and greatest now. The last couple of years we were using outdated and broken equipment,” Garcia said.

“You cannot teach students with broken equipment. If you’re training students with inadequate equipment, when they eventually get into the field they aren’t going to have the knowledge they need in some situations, and it looks bad for the program and makes the student look incompetent.”

Weatherby said, “As it sits the ambulance cost us about $5,500, the mannequin about $1,300 and the gurney was about $5,000. We use this stuff every week.”

The automotive department became involved with the ambulance and gave it a new paint job to better represent the college. A local Ford Motor Co. dealership donated time and man hours to get any mechanical problems with the ambulance fixed and up and running, Weatherby said.

“The automotive department did a great job getting that ambulance painted. It looks great,” he said.

A former Vacaville city ambulance with a price tag of $5,500 was given a new paint job when it was purchased by the emergency medical sciences department.

CHRISTIAN URRUTIA / THE ADVOCATE

Football streaming plan stagnates

BY Brian Boyle SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

The athletic department’s plan to stream Contra Costa College’s home football games online has foundered due to a lack of funding.

“We have no money,” Athletic Director John Wade said. “We had planned on utilizing funding from the Associated Students Union, but they aren’t doing their grant program this year.”

The ASU’s Grant for Support program, which the ASU used last year to grant money to various departments across the campus, was cancelled indefinitely after a $20,000 debt was created between the ASU and the college last year.

Wade said the athletic department has a limited budget, and the needs and demands of the teams take up the vast majority of that budget.

“We have so much we have to pay for. We need to provide meals for the athletes, we have to buy all the equipment and we have to pay for physicals to make sure our athletes are healthy,” Wade said.

The costs associated with

streaming any of the athletic teams’ games on campus would be $350 per game, according to Bay Area Sports TV camera crew chief Tim Banks.

Banks said this would cover the cost of having two cameras manned by camera people to capture the game from multiple angles, two sports commentators and cover a small insurance fee that his equipment will be unharmed.

Banks said the cost for streaming could easily be reduced.

“Two commentators isn’t necessary,” Banks said. “It makes the commentary much more dynamic and interesting, but if the college just wanted a basic, simple commentary, one man could do it. That would reduce the cost by $100.”

He said using only one camera would reduce the cost further, but would also make the game less interesting for those watching.

“Advertising could also drive the cost way down,” Banks said. “I could help find advertisers myself, or the college could source sponsors and I could edit their advertisements into the video.”

DEBATE TEAMS SPLIT THIRD PLACE, SPEAKERS HONORED National colleges compete in speech event

BY Brian Boyle SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Contra Costa College speech and debate team stood tall in the Biggest Little City Classic speech and debate tournament in Reno.

Speech department Chairperson Sherry Diestler said, “The BLCC is held every year and it gets colleges from all across the country — colleges from Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and California were there.”

Six CCC students traveled to Reno from Oct. 17-19 in order to compete at a national level.

“We competed against San Jose State, Chico State and (San Joaquin) Delta that I remember,” debate team member Eric Vaughn said.

The two debate teams from CCC tied for third place in the tournament, after earning their way into the final round against the advancing teams from San Joaquin Delta College.

“Normally, they would have earned the bronze,” Diestler said.

“But in Reno, they give out shot glasses. They said to call them ‘tooth-pick holders’ for the underage competitors.”

Diestler said the debate teams lost in split decisions. Split decisions mean that a panel of judges presided over the debate, and though the majority decided on one victor, there was an outlier that believed CCC won.

The debate team competed in multiple rounds of what is known as parliamentary debate.

Parliamentary debate is a style

of debate where debaters are assigned a topic and a position 25 minutes before being required to debate the issue. During the speeches competitors can interrupt their opponents.

These interruptions can be to ask questions, offer points of clarification in where they define a term being misused or for to exclaim points of order, where they accuse their opponents of stepping outside of the rules surrounding the debate. The interruptions also can be used strategically to interrupt opponents in an attempt to confuse them.

Diestler said the competitors from Delta aptly used interruptions during their rounds against CCC. The overall award for which team won is based upon the team’s effort as a whole during the debate, but 10 individual speakers are honored during the tournament based upon their own outstanding performance. Of the 10 speakers honored, three were from CCC. Debate team member Nicholas Delgado ranked third in speaker points, with fellow teammate Diamonique Spain ranking fourth.

Vaughn placed seventh overall in speaker points.

Delgado was also a finalist in several events that were not debate related. Delgado was a finalist in impromptu speaking, in which competitors are given a topic with almost no time to prepare for their speech and in extemporaneous speaking, in which the competitor delivers a prepared speech but is not allowed to refer to their notes.

Every Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in AA-207, the ASU holds a meeting in order to discuss and vote on how to spend the student activity fee, yet no mention has been made of Wade’s request for the ASU to fund the football streaming venture since he made the proposal.

ASU President Antone Agnitsch said that in wake of canceling the Grant for Support program, the ASU decided to not fund requests from departments.

“We really want to take the time to make sure that every department has a fair and equal chance at any funding we offer,” Agnitsch said.

He said the decision to not vote on funding the football streaming venture also came in part from the timeliness of doing so.

Agnitsch said with only a few home games left, it just does not feel worth it to fund the streaming venture.

Agnitsch said that the ASU would consider funding the football streaming venture as a special project if a large enough group of students came forward to show their support.

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Wade said that the ASU never told him they would reconsider their position if he could show evidence of student support for the webcasts.

“I’ll try anything,” Wade said.

He said hosting a signature drive illustrating students’ support of the venture was something he would seriously consider doing.

Streaming football games is something that already has student and faculty support.

English professor Ben Jahn said, “I would totally watch the college’s games if they were streamed online.”

Student Malik Bruit said that he would also tune into a webcast of CCC’s football games.

“The ASU should pay for it,” Bruit said. “I mean, it would directly help students.”

English as a second language major Sulaiman Lawadeai said he would watch the football games online, but disagreed with Bruit over who should fund the venture.

“The college should pay to have the games streamed,” Lawadeai said.

scene

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7

Unleashed

MOVIES

The Australian music duo Flight Facilities released their latest album, “Down to Earth,” on Friday.

This week: “Nightcrawler” (R) “ABCs of Death 2” (NR)

SPECIAL TO / THE ADVOCATE

Album, a story told through tunes

BY Brian Boyle SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

T

here is almost nothing better than a story which grips you and runs away with your imagination. The flood of inspiration and adrenaline imparted by a masterfully crafted work is amazing in how powerful it can be.

The only thing better than a story capable of this is when music has that power. In today’s musical landscape, most albums are merely collections of singles an artist put together around the same time, and less about capturing an overall theme or mood.

It has become extremely rare for artists to release albums which contain the amount of care and labor necessary to truly enrapture an audience.

Flight Facilities, an Australian electronic production duo, released its debut album, “Down to Earth,” on Friday after it had already been leaked on the Internet — and it is phenomenal.

The duo, who began mixing other artists’ songs in 2009, have worked for over four years to produce an album that is not only stunning in how the music flows and fits together, but will also stand as a staple for the electronic genre as a whole.

Just over an hour long, “Down to Earth” is less an album than it is a modern-day symphony. Every

track on the album blends with the next, creating a gapless playback that can quickly leave the listener lost in regards to what song they are listening to or even oblivious to if the songs have changed.

Overall, the album is smooth.

It is a blend of electronic, fastpaced beats which are capable of making the heart thump and race with excitement and smooth, calm melodies paired with bass lines that are similar to Daft Punk’s recent album “Random Access Memories.”

The first song on the album, “Two Bodies,” opens with an optimistic melody that blends into an almost tribal drum beat.

The music seems simple, but it is a deceitful simplicity. The song features singer Emma Louise, who provides the track with a soulful harmony. The lyrics are descriptive of the effect the song has, “Come over or not, I’ve/Been so ready to dim my mind/your body a drug, for mine,” paints the image of the rapture two lovers feel near each other.

The backing melody and beat constantly rise and fall, deceptively slowing and then increasing in tempo to make the heart race again.

The second track on the album, “Sunshine,” features the comedian Reggie Watts and is genius. As “Two Bodies,” ends, the music becomes funkier, more upbeat.

The lyrics on this track shine,

changing as the song progresses.

Watts and Flight Facilities leave the listener constantly guessing at what would come next. It is damned hard to not sing along with the track. Watts’ rich voice fits the track perfectly and almost seems like just another instrument blending in with the background.

The lyrics are rich and clever and serve to capture the attention the first created.

The album listens like an electronic version of “American Beauty.” Where the Grateful Dead were renowned for their ability to explore musically and create truly beautiful, moving tracks, Flight Facilities has managed a very similar feat with electric means.

“Down To Earth,” is a perfect title for their debut album as it is the sort of album that has capitalized on the global fame the duo has earned through the release of singles from the album since 2010.

The tracks focus on feelings and moments that are common.

The duo musically explores first and forbidden loves while celebrating beauty and loss.

“Stand Still” is the fourth song on the album, and features a driving beat which almost makes one want to get up and run along with the music. The song is sung by vocalist Mickey Green, who has a light, smokey voice which adds a sort of calm flavor to the song that makes it perfect for kicking back on a sunny day.

The album’s sixth song, however, is the crowning achievement on the album. “Clair De Lune,” is a mournful track featuring hauntingly beautiful vocals by Christine Hoberg. Her chillingly rich voice sings out over a crying violin and a beat that seems slow at first, but a careful listen reveals it to be deceptively fast.

The song makes the heart race while the mind wanders. The smooth, calm sound serves as perfect background noise to deep thought, or as the perfect companion to sing along with on a late night or early morning car ride.

The track paints the picture of rain smacking against a window, and the lyrics promise a story of a love that is in danger of falling apart.

Flight Facilities has created a debut album that is so close to perfect it begs the question of what the duo is going to do next.

They are just beginning the first leg of their world tour, which will only touch the United States in New York and Los Angeles.

The album is amazing in its completeness, and tracks, which might not be one’s favorite when listened to alone, become phenomenal when listened to in the context of the entire album.

When a group releases an album that makes you listen to it completely through every time because you just cannot pick a favorite song, you know its a resounding success.

Three Seasons gives students real life skills Fastpaced kitchen helps optimistic student chefs

BY Mike Thomas SCENE EDITOR

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

A

t Contra Costa College, students do not have many choices when they get hungry, but the culinary arts department’s Three Seasons Restaurant is their go-to on campus spot.

The Three Seasons is a formal dining room that is run by the culinary arts students where they serve customers solid gourmet cuisine.

The restaurant is open to everyone Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in AA-239.

When walking into the eatery, the student servers greet customers. Some of the food can be seen on display to give patrons an idea of what is on the menu for the day.

Customers who want to eat in the dining room will have to wait to be seated by one of the student hosts.

As soon as the guests are seated at their table, they are welcomed with a glass of water in what can only be described as a banquet goblet poured by one of the servers.

Like any restaurant, a waiter takes their order, and minutes later a server comes with the food. During the meal, servers refill water goblets and perform other requests.

When it comes to the food consumed in the dining room, it is consistently good.

The price range is from $6-$8, and the majority of the food is creative. Last week the menu had okra shrimp and grits that melted in the mouth, and the sweet and sour chicken breast with jasmine rice was

just as delicious.

The food at the Express Café, a section in the corner of the restaurant that acts as a cafe, is hit or miss — meaning the food can be good or decent depending on which student chef is at the grill.

Even though the food can be inconsistent, no one can be upset over a solid cheeseburger and fries priced at $3.

Sometimes the fries are the perfect crispy golden brown, but occasionally they are soggy. The prince range at the Express Café is $1.75-$3.

The Express Café also serves espresso drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos or hot and iced coffee. Ordering at the café is quick and simple.

The cashier greets the customers, and they take the order. The cashier requires a name through the transac-

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tion, but the fun part is giving them a fake name.

The menu changes every two weeks at the Express Café and the Three Seasons.

This restaurant gets the culinary students at CCC ready for the real world. The kitchen gets busy and sometimes it gets intense for the culinary students.

The area in the restaurant gives a view of what the students are doing in the kitchen, and a top mirror allows patrons to see how the students are preparing the food.

There are even three flat screen plasma TV in the dining area, and one of them shows what is happening inside the kitchen area.

So if you are feeling hungry and sick of Subway, come get some real food at the Three Seasons Restaurant.

“Before I Go to Sleep” (R)

BLU-RAYS

New releases: “Begin Again” (R) “Deliver Us From Evil” (R) “Wish I Was Here” (R)

MUSIC

New releases: Lil Wayne: “Tha Carter V” Rancid: “Honor is All We Know” Taylor Swift: “1989”

GAMES

New releases: “Sunset Overdrive” (M) “NBA Live 15” (E) “Lord of the Fallen” (M) Editor’s note: This column lists popular new (and upcoming) releases for the week.

CMYK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

8

election 2014

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City Council

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TAX-EXEMPT COMMITTEE INFLUENCES ELECTION

CITY COUNCIL TOP SEAT STILL OPEN RACE Mayoral position sees returning, new faces

527 groups, PACs, superPACs distinguished

NATHANIEL ‘NAT’ BATES

“Moving Forward, a coalition...”

Created in 2012 as a means to advance Chevron’s political interests in Richmond, the full name of the committee is “Moving Forward, a coalition of labor unions, small businesses, public safety and firefighters associations. Major funding by Chevron.”

“Moving Forward” variations

As of 2014, Chevron formed two new variants of the committee to influence the local election. “Moving Forward, opposing Gayle McLaughlin, Eduardo Martinez, and Jovanka Beckles for City Council 2014, with major funding by Moving Forward, a coalition..,” has spent more than $900,000 attacking the three candidates.

“Moving Forward with Nat Bates for Mayor, and Donna Powers, Charles Ramsey, and Al Martinez for City Council 2014, with major funding by Moving Forward, a coalition...” has received $1.4 million.

Legality

Named after the federal tax code under which this is permitted, super PACs fall into a category known as 527 groups, meaning they maintain a tax-exempt status.

“Moving Forward, a coalition…” is a 527 as well as a super PAC. This means that, unlike traditional PACs, they can raise funds from individuals, corporations, unions and other groups without any legal restrictions on donation size.

9

LOCAL ELECTION DIVIDES RICHMOND

The longest serving Richmond City Council member is running for the position of mayor, again.

Nathaniel Bates has been involved in city politics for 35 years and held the mayoral office from 1971 to 1972 and from

TOM BUTT

Corporations that provide an excess of funding through not-for-profit organizations known as super PACs to influence electoral outcomes are now pitted against Richmond progressives

BY Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

R

ichmond, Calif. — City of Pride and Purpose. Though the pride of this city is indisputable, what the community believes is their city’s purpose is certainly open for debate.

Residents have a chance to shape that purpose on Tuesday. Their decisions in the local election will determine future leadership, both incoming and incumbent, and pass the measures and propositions that will continue to grow the community in which they live.

Issues surrounding Chevron’s $3 million campaign to influence the Richmond municipal election through independent expenditure committees, made possible by the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision, have attracted national attention.

In a ploy to shift the balance of the Richmond City Council to ease the grip of local regulation and the environmental accountability demanded of the oil giant, the Chevron Corp. has funneled millions into supporting its preferred candidates and opposing candidates who are regularly critical of the corporation’s local facility, the Chevron Richmond refinery.

Richmond’s reputation as a company town was shaken when a progressive majority, led by the current mayor, Gayle McLaughlin of the Green Party, was elected to the City Council in 2010. For the first time in its history, Richmond sued Chevron in 2013 for damages caused by a fire at the company’s Richmond refinery the year prior.

A year later, Chevron introduced a community benefits agreement in which $90 million would be given back to the

community, $35 million of which, since remedied to account for a foundering local hospital, would be used to create a scholarship fund to send Richmond high school students to college.

It is known as Chevron’s Environmental and Community Investment Agreement.

According to Chevron representatives, the Richmond community will only be provided the investment agreement if the Chevron Richmond Refinery is given the go ahead by the court to begin its $1 billion modernization project, which is currently tied up in litigation with Communities for a Better Environment.

As the election draws nearer and campaign ads arise from Chevron-funded independent expenditure committees in defense of candidates seen as progressive, a haze has formed around who exactly is backing who and for what purposes.

At a crossroads Since a progressive majority took hold of the Richmond City Council in 2010, politics in a once-regarded company town grew contentious.

Mayoral candidate and current Councilman Tom Butt said that the council is a “divided council,” on which he is “part of the five-person majority.” He said the division has been brazen for the better part of the last four years.

Another mayoral candidate, Councilman Nat Bates, said he believes a change in leadership is necessary to increase the overall level of cooperation on the council, attributing the tense and disagreeable air of council meetings to a lack of leadership qualities on McLaughlin’s part. Bates said Richmond deserves levelheaded and scrupulous officials who will do well to arrive at a reasonable consensus and maintain

order.

“We’ve got to come together and work as a team toward a common cause, something we have so far been unable to do,” Bates said.

Although all current council members supported a citywide minimum wage increase, Councilman Jim Rogers said the city needs to create equilibrium between the viability of employers to pay a living wage and the cost of operating a business in Richmond.

Current council candidate and Vice Mayor Jovanka Beckles said when the plans for the wage increase were drafted, councilmen Rogers, Bates and Courtland “Corky” Booze opposed an increase for those under the age of 18 and for those who work jobs dependent on tips.

“It passed without those exceptions,” Beckles said. “Young people under the age of 18 are just as likely as adults to be working to live, and not only for themselves, but for their families to live.”

An incremental increase to be accounted for each year, the minimum wage in Richmond will be $13 an hour by January 2018, Beckles said.

Another hotly divisive issue for the City Council is corporate influence and the significance of the Chevron Corp. in Richmond. Only time will tell how the next elected council members will handle relations with the company, which, according to progressive candidates, may be exonerated of payments due to the city as demanded by the 2013 lawsuit over the refinery fire.

Mayor McLaughlin believes a Chevronsympathetic council could reduce the reparations costs, if not throw them out all together. McLaughlin and Beckles said they want to hold Chevron fully accountable.

Leonard McNeil, adjunct political science professor at Contra Costa College and former mayor of San Pablo, said, “Richmond is at a crossroads. Voters have to choose whether to align with corporate interests or to align with progressive interests.”

Petroleum and progressives The fire that led to the lawsuit against Chevron Richmond refinery was caused by a pipe rupture, which shut down the refinery’s no. 4 crude unit for months and sent about 15,000 residents to nearby hospitals with various claims to contingent ailments.

The full repercussions of this incident may cost the corporation hundreds of millions of dollars — a staggering difference from the few million that has already been sunk into support of Chevron’s preferred candidates.

There’s also the ECIA, which progressive Richmond City Council candidates have deemed a bribe.

At the Oct. 21 City Council meeting, Chevron representative Heather Kulp said, “The availability of the existing funding from the investment agreement is liked to our ability to implement the modernization project.”

Beckles said such a contingency is preposterous and that the two are completely separate matters.

“It (the ECIA) is pretty much a bribe, and almost extortion really,” she said.

Beckles, along with McLaughlin and council candidate Eduardo Martinez, make up Team Richmond, a group of liberal candidates who are supported by the Richmond Progressive Alliance and who promote sustainable energy sources beyond fossil fuels.

Chevron’s modernization project calls for a new hydrogen plant to update the 1960s-era one currently in operation, and includes sulfur removal infrastructure improvements. A representative from CBE, a group currently tied up in litigation with Chevron over the project, was unavailable as of press time Tuesday.

In reference to Chevron’s influence over Tuesday’s election, Braden Reddall, media adviser for the Chevron Corp., provided the same statement offered to other news outlets.

“Chevron supports city leaders who share our commitment to policies that foster an economic environment where business can thrive and create jobs to make Richmond an even more attractive place to live and work,” Reddall said. “To help Richmond grow and thrive, we need leaders who share the same commitment to sound public policy.”

The progressive candidates find this sentiment laughable.

Bates, stressing that he is neither antinor pro-Chevron, said it is narrow-minded to not ask necessary questions before taking a stalwart stance for or against anything. Though Bates has been endorsed by the independent expenditure only committee that Chevron has funneled millions into, as a legal stipulation of the committees involvement, they are not allowed to work collaboratively or even discuss the campaign with him, thus he has no control over the types of ads they run in his favor nor the cost of those ads, Bates said.

“My commitment is to the people who vote for me,” he said.

Democracy for sale McNeil, also a former San Pablo City Council member, said it is possible that the

transparency of Chevron’s campaign contributions may actually end up harming a candidate. Aside from being a red flag to voters that corporate interests are underlying the campaigning, the style of campaigning is also negative and offensive.

CCC La Raza studies professor Agustin Palacios, a Richmond resident, said he has come to expect “hostile and very vicious” political attack ads almost daily in his mailbox.

Dr. Palacios said the dirty campaigning is “really disturbing” and likely to disenfranchise young voters who only see the electoral process as a mud-slinging contest.

McNeil said, “It turns people off from politics. In some cases, it may be the only model of politics some people see.”

Alex Knox, campaign coordinator for mayoral candidate Butt, said the type of campaigning Team Richmond and other candidates are using is considered grassroots.

“There have been tons of individual contributions, the vast majority of which were made by residents of Richmond,” Knox said.

As of earlier this month, a political action committee was formed in support of progressive candidates, as well as Councilman Jael Myrick and Butt for mayor, called Richmond Working Families PAC. The new PAC has raised $50,000 to independently campaign for their preferred candidates.

The corporate counterexample, “Moving Forward, a coalition… Major funding

by Chevron,” has donated six times that amount.

McNeil said, “It’s democracy for sale, and that’s really sad.”

Richmond City Council member Tom Butt is running for mayor in 2014 with plans to improve public safety and the overall quality of life in Richmond.

He is running as a member of the Democratic Party and has held a seat on the Richmond City Council

UCHE UWAHEMU

An independent business owner is running for mayor of Richmond without support from either Chevron Co. or Team Richmond.

If elected, the 42-yearold Uche Uwahemu said he plans to create more technology-focused high schools, increase the port

1976 to 1977.

While holding the position of mayor he supported the creation of Interstate 580, which connects Richmond to the rest of the East Bay. His involvement in city politics has brought large corporations like Target and Walmart to the city and helped create the Hilltop Mall complex.

If elected, he plans to cut down on the lowest crime rate the city has had in 33 years by creating youth outreach programs.

— Lorenzo Morotti

since 1995.

Since his election to the council he has fought to preserve many historic Richmond facilities including the East Brother Light Station and Hotel Mac in Point Richmond.

He has also played an instrumental role in the construction of the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. Butt’s campaign also focuses on environmental sustainability.

He was involved with the passing of the Richmond General Plan, a concept of creating a healthy city.

— George Morin activity and improve safety within the city.

He graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor of science degree. Later he was awarded his Juris Doctrine at JFK University and then he earned his master’s of business administration in business management at Golden Gate University.

The small business owner, however, receives funding from many private East Coast investors. The highest sum he received for his campaign is $25,000, he said.

— Lorenzo Morotti

ILLUSTRATION BY LORENZO MOROTTI AND MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE

1940

A brief history of Richmond

City of Pride and Purpose has history of overcoming odds, breaking ground Founded and incorporated in 1905 following a land grant by Governor Luis Antonio Arguello, the city grew from a small industrial community after Ford Motors opened a production plant early in the 1930s. The city’s population exploded after construction of four shipyards along the Richmond waterfront fueled a migration of workers from the American South and Midwest to support manufacturing demands generated by World War II.

2004 1943 Richmond breaks records for productivity at the height of the war effort. The city’s ports built more cargo ships (747) than any American port during peak production. During the war its population soared to over 100,000, but by 1960 those numbers dwindled to roughly 70,000. The jobless rates and crime statistics increased as industrial jobs left the area.

1940 Gearing up for the war effort, the U.S. government built four shipyards along the city waterfront. The mass migration of families led to innovations in child care in order to support the working “Rosie the Riveter” moms who worked as welders and nurses in the shipyards.

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1905

2004 Murder and violent crime dominated the conversation when Richmond was discussed in the media or among its citizens. The violence reached its heights in the ’90s, and residual crime left the city ranked 12th on the list of the most dangerous cities in America in 2004.

2012

2014 Aug. 6, 2012 Shelter in place orders given after a fire breaks out at a Chevron refinery just after 6 p.m. Initial reports placed the numbers of affected citizens at 11,000.

After the shelter in place was lifted and local hospitals were filled the numbers were revised to 15,000 residents.

January Richmond reports its lowest homicide rate in 33 years. This came 10 years after being removed from the list of the nations 10 most dangerous cities.

Fearing conventional methods were no longer effective, the city took innovative action introducing new programs for cutting back street violence.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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8

election 2014

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

City Council

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

TAX-EXEMPT COMMITTEE INFLUENCES ELECTION

CITY COUNCIL TOP SEAT STILL OPEN RACE Mayoral position sees returning, new faces

527 groups, PACs, superPACs distinguished

NATHANIEL ‘NAT’ BATES

“Moving Forward, a coalition...”

Created in 2012 as a means to advance Chevron’s political interests in Richmond, the full name of the committee is “Moving Forward, a coalition of labor unions, small businesses, public safety and firefighters associations. Major funding by Chevron.”

“Moving Forward” variations

As of 2014, Chevron formed two new variants of the committee to influence the local election. “Moving Forward, opposing Gayle McLaughlin, Eduardo Martinez, and Jovanka Beckles for City Council 2014, with major funding by Moving Forward, a coalition..,” has spent more than $900,000 attacking the three candidates.

“Moving Forward with Nat Bates for Mayor, and Donna Powers, Charles Ramsey, and Al Martinez for City Council 2014, with major funding by Moving Forward, a coalition...” has received $1.4 million.

Legality

Named after the federal tax code under which this is permitted, super PACs fall into a category known as 527 groups, meaning they maintain a tax-exempt status.

“Moving Forward, a coalition…” is a 527 as well as a super PAC. This means that, unlike traditional PACs, they can raise funds from individuals, corporations, unions and other groups without any legal restrictions on donation size.

9

LOCAL ELECTION DIVIDES RICHMOND

The longest serving Richmond City Council member is running for the position of mayor, again.

Nathaniel Bates has been involved in city politics for 35 years and held the mayoral office from 1971 to 1972 and from

TOM BUTT

Corporations that provide an excess of funding through not-for-profit organizations known as super PACs to influence electoral outcomes are now pitted against Richmond progressives

BY Cody McFarland ASSOCIATE EDITOR

cmcfarland.theadvocate@gmail.com

R

ichmond, Calif. — City of Pride and Purpose. Though the pride of this city is indisputable, what the community believes is their city’s purpose is certainly open for debate.

Residents have a chance to shape that purpose on Tuesday. Their decisions in the local election will determine future leadership, both incoming and incumbent, and pass the measures and propositions that will continue to grow the community in which they live.

Issues surrounding Chevron’s $3 million campaign to influence the Richmond municipal election through independent expenditure committees, made possible by the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision, have attracted national attention.

In a ploy to shift the balance of the Richmond City Council to ease the grip of local regulation and the environmental accountability demanded of the oil giant, the Chevron Corp. has funneled millions into supporting its preferred candidates and opposing candidates who are regularly critical of the corporation’s local facility, the Chevron Richmond refinery.

Richmond’s reputation as a company town was shaken when a progressive majority, led by the current mayor, Gayle McLaughlin of the Green Party, was elected to the City Council in 2010. For the first time in its history, Richmond sued Chevron in 2013 for damages caused by a fire at the company’s Richmond refinery the year prior.

A year later, Chevron introduced a community benefits agreement in which $90 million would be given back to the

community, $35 million of which, since remedied to account for a foundering local hospital, would be used to create a scholarship fund to send Richmond high school students to college.

It is known as Chevron’s Environmental and Community Investment Agreement.

According to Chevron representatives, the Richmond community will only be provided the investment agreement if the Chevron Richmond Refinery is given the go ahead by the court to begin its $1 billion modernization project, which is currently tied up in litigation with Communities for a Better Environment.

As the election draws nearer and campaign ads arise from Chevron-funded independent expenditure committees in defense of candidates seen as progressive, a haze has formed around who exactly is backing who and for what purposes.

At a crossroads Since a progressive majority took hold of the Richmond City Council in 2010, politics in a once-regarded company town grew contentious.

Mayoral candidate and current Councilman Tom Butt said that the council is a “divided council,” on which he is “part of the five-person majority.” He said the division has been brazen for the better part of the last four years.

Another mayoral candidate, Councilman Nat Bates, said he believes a change in leadership is necessary to increase the overall level of cooperation on the council, attributing the tense and disagreeable air of council meetings to a lack of leadership qualities on McLaughlin’s part. Bates said Richmond deserves levelheaded and scrupulous officials who will do well to arrive at a reasonable consensus and maintain

order.

“We’ve got to come together and work as a team toward a common cause, something we have so far been unable to do,” Bates said.

Although all current council members supported a citywide minimum wage increase, Councilman Jim Rogers said the city needs to create equilibrium between the viability of employers to pay a living wage and the cost of operating a business in Richmond.

Current council candidate and Vice Mayor Jovanka Beckles said when the plans for the wage increase were drafted, councilmen Rogers, Bates and Courtland “Corky” Booze opposed an increase for those under the age of 18 and for those who work jobs dependent on tips.

“It passed without those exceptions,” Beckles said. “Young people under the age of 18 are just as likely as adults to be working to live, and not only for themselves, but for their families to live.”

An incremental increase to be accounted for each year, the minimum wage in Richmond will be $13 an hour by January 2018, Beckles said.

Another hotly divisive issue for the City Council is corporate influence and the significance of the Chevron Corp. in Richmond. Only time will tell how the next elected council members will handle relations with the company, which, according to progressive candidates, may be exonerated of payments due to the city as demanded by the 2013 lawsuit over the refinery fire.

Mayor McLaughlin believes a Chevronsympathetic council could reduce the reparations costs, if not throw them out all together. McLaughlin and Beckles said they want to hold Chevron fully accountable.

Leonard McNeil, adjunct political science professor at Contra Costa College and former mayor of San Pablo, said, “Richmond is at a crossroads. Voters have to choose whether to align with corporate interests or to align with progressive interests.”

Petroleum and progressives The fire that led to the lawsuit against Chevron Richmond refinery was caused by a pipe rupture, which shut down the refinery’s no. 4 crude unit for months and sent about 15,000 residents to nearby hospitals with various claims to contingent ailments.

The full repercussions of this incident may cost the corporation hundreds of millions of dollars — a staggering difference from the few million that has already been sunk into support of Chevron’s preferred candidates.

There’s also the ECIA, which progressive Richmond City Council candidates have deemed a bribe.

At the Oct. 21 City Council meeting, Chevron representative Heather Kulp said, “The availability of the existing funding from the investment agreement is liked to our ability to implement the modernization project.”

Beckles said such a contingency is preposterous and that the two are completely separate matters.

“It (the ECIA) is pretty much a bribe, and almost extortion really,” she said.

Beckles, along with McLaughlin and council candidate Eduardo Martinez, make up Team Richmond, a group of liberal candidates who are supported by the Richmond Progressive Alliance and who promote sustainable energy sources beyond fossil fuels.

Chevron’s modernization project calls for a new hydrogen plant to update the 1960s-era one currently in operation, and includes sulfur removal infrastructure improvements. A representative from CBE, a group currently tied up in litigation with Chevron over the project, was unavailable as of press time Tuesday.

In reference to Chevron’s influence over Tuesday’s election, Braden Reddall, media adviser for the Chevron Corp., provided the same statement offered to other news outlets.

“Chevron supports city leaders who share our commitment to policies that foster an economic environment where business can thrive and create jobs to make Richmond an even more attractive place to live and work,” Reddall said. “To help Richmond grow and thrive, we need leaders who share the same commitment to sound public policy.”

The progressive candidates find this sentiment laughable.

Bates, stressing that he is neither antinor pro-Chevron, said it is narrow-minded to not ask necessary questions before taking a stalwart stance for or against anything. Though Bates has been endorsed by the independent expenditure only committee that Chevron has funneled millions into, as a legal stipulation of the committees involvement, they are not allowed to work collaboratively or even discuss the campaign with him, thus he has no control over the types of ads they run in his favor nor the cost of those ads, Bates said.

“My commitment is to the people who vote for me,” he said.

Democracy for sale McNeil, also a former San Pablo City Council member, said it is possible that the

transparency of Chevron’s campaign contributions may actually end up harming a candidate. Aside from being a red flag to voters that corporate interests are underlying the campaigning, the style of campaigning is also negative and offensive.

CCC La Raza studies professor Agustin Palacios, a Richmond resident, said he has come to expect “hostile and very vicious” political attack ads almost daily in his mailbox.

Dr. Palacios said the dirty campaigning is “really disturbing” and likely to disenfranchise young voters who only see the electoral process as a mud-slinging contest.

McNeil said, “It turns people off from politics. In some cases, it may be the only model of politics some people see.”

Alex Knox, campaign coordinator for mayoral candidate Butt, said the type of campaigning Team Richmond and other candidates are using is considered grassroots.

“There have been tons of individual contributions, the vast majority of which were made by residents of Richmond,” Knox said.

As of earlier this month, a political action committee was formed in support of progressive candidates, as well as Councilman Jael Myrick and Butt for mayor, called Richmond Working Families PAC. The new PAC has raised $50,000 to independently campaign for their preferred candidates.

The corporate counterexample, “Moving Forward, a coalition… Major funding

by Chevron,” has donated six times that amount.

McNeil said, “It’s democracy for sale, and that’s really sad.”

Richmond City Council member Tom Butt is running for mayor in 2014 with plans to improve public safety and the overall quality of life in Richmond.

He is running as a member of the Democratic Party and has held a seat on the Richmond City Council

UCHE UWAHEMU

An independent business owner is running for mayor of Richmond without support from either Chevron Co. or Team Richmond.

If elected, the 42-yearold Uche Uwahemu said he plans to create more technology-focused high schools, increase the port

1976 to 1977.

While holding the position of mayor he supported the creation of Interstate 580, which connects Richmond to the rest of the East Bay. His involvement in city politics has brought large corporations like Target and Walmart to the city and helped create the Hilltop Mall complex.

If elected, he plans to cut down on the lowest crime rate the city has had in 33 years by creating youth outreach programs.

— Lorenzo Morotti

since 1995.

Since his election to the council he has fought to preserve many historic Richmond facilities including the East Brother Light Station and Hotel Mac in Point Richmond.

He has also played an instrumental role in the construction of the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. Butt’s campaign also focuses on environmental sustainability.

He was involved with the passing of the Richmond General Plan, a concept of creating a healthy city.

— George Morin activity and improve safety within the city.

He graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor of science degree. Later he was awarded his Juris Doctrine at JFK University and then he earned his master’s of business administration in business management at Golden Gate University.

The small business owner, however, receives funding from many private East Coast investors. The highest sum he received for his campaign is $25,000, he said.

— Lorenzo Morotti

ILLUSTRATION BY LORENZO MOROTTI AND MAYRA GARCIA / THE ADVOCATE

1940

A brief history of Richmond

City of Pride and Purpose has history of overcoming odds, breaking ground Founded and incorporated in 1905 following a land grant by Governor Luis Antonio Arguello, the city grew from a small industrial community after Ford Motors opened a production plant early in the 1930s. The city’s population exploded after construction of four shipyards along the Richmond waterfront fueled a migration of workers from the American South and Midwest to support manufacturing demands generated by World War II.

2004 1943 Richmond breaks records for productivity at the height of the war effort. The city’s ports built more cargo ships (747) than any American port during peak production. During the war its population soared to over 100,000, but by 1960 those numbers dwindled to roughly 70,000. The jobless rates and crime statistics increased as industrial jobs left the area.

1940 Gearing up for the war effort, the U.S. government built four shipyards along the city waterfront. The mass migration of families led to innovations in child care in order to support the working “Rosie the Riveter” moms who worked as welders and nurses in the shipyards.

CMYK

1905

2004 Murder and violent crime dominated the conversation when Richmond was discussed in the media or among its citizens. The violence reached its heights in the ’90s, and residual crime left the city ranked 12th on the list of the most dangerous cities in America in 2004.

2012

2014 Aug. 6, 2012 Shelter in place orders given after a fire breaks out at a Chevron refinery just after 6 p.m. Initial reports placed the numbers of affected citizens at 11,000.

After the shelter in place was lifted and local hospitals were filled the numbers were revised to 15,000 residents.

January Richmond reports its lowest homicide rate in 33 years. This came 10 years after being removed from the list of the nations 10 most dangerous cities.

Fearing conventional methods were no longer effective, the city took innovative action introducing new programs for cutting back street violence.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CMYK

10

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

City Council “You don’t have to move to live in a better place.”

— Courtland “Corky” Boozé, Richmond City Council candidate

Candidates for Richmond City Council campaign with fresh plans to build stronger city, represent locals RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

JOVANKA BECKLES

T h e race for Richmond C i t y Council has a variety of characters running.

Jovanka Beckles is a Panamanian immigrant running for re-election to the City Council on a pro-union, green-energy platform.

Beckles said on her goals for Richmond, “In the coming years we can build a cityhome with enough new jobs for all by promoting the green jobs sector, encouraging co-operative enterprises and providing

the kind of infrastructure, environment and trained work force that attracts businesses.” Another fundamental aspect of Beckles’ candidacy is children. Beckles has stated that in everything she strives to do, children are at the forefront of her mind.

In that regard, Beckles supports a soda tax in Richmond as a means of getting sugary drinks away from children.

Beckles has her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida A&M University and her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Beckles has worked as a mental health specialist for 20 years, and currently does so for the Contra Costa County-Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

— Brian Boyle

X’ COURTLAND ‘CORKY’ BOOZE

Current Richmond City Councilman Courtland “Corky” Boozé is in the running for re-election this November.

Boozé moved to Richmond in 1978 and felt the residents of the city were underrepresented and in need of a voice.

“I will continue to be the community voice for the citizens of Richmond who are unable to speak out for themselves,” Boozé said.

Boozé’s top priorities as a councilman are crime reduction, infrastructure and attracting new businesses to create more jobs for Richmond residents.

His activism has won him the Dr. Martin Luther King/Tent City Peace Movement Award. He has also received the Crime Prevention Activist of the Year award in 2009 by the Richmond Crime Prevention

Committee and the Activist of the Year Award from the mayor of Richmond for 2009.

Among those Boozé is also known for his advocacy for senior citizens and the disabled in the area.

Prior to running for City Council Boozé attended City Council meetings for 10 years without missing one, giving him the ability to know the council in and outs.

— Jared Amdahl

ANTHONY CREER

Having c a l le d Richmond home all his life, Anthony Creer is running for Richmond City Council with the intent to re-brand the city.

Creer, a terminal operator for a bulk storage company, said he is concerned Richmond is unable to share in the prosperity and economic strength that other cities with similar abilities have been able to enjoy. He wants to get rid of Richmond’s adversity and revamp the its image.

He said the first step is through city leadership. He said city revenue could increase by becoming a more business-friendly city, thus creating more jobs. Addressing the city’s violence, he said he believes stronger relationships with schools and community services is the answer.

If elected, Creer said, “My commitment will be to work for the residents of Richmond to make our city the best to live.”

He plans to make the city attractive to the marketplace and to potential new businesses.

“I have a vision for a thriving city, one where people would happily want to live, work and play,” he said.

— Mayra Garcia

DAMEION KING

Richmond City Council candidate Dameion King is no stranger to the needs of his community.

Having grown up in the Iron Triangle, the lifelong Richmond resident plans to empower the community through education and political transparency, while encouraging relatable, ever-engaging political discourse among the city’s youth. At 37, King is the youngest candidate for city council.

King attended Contra Costa College as a health and human services major. He served on the Richmond Housing Authority’s Advisory Committee and as Chairperson of the Marin Clean Energy’s Community Leadership Advisory Group, and currently works as a re-entry career coach for Rubicon Programs, assisting those who have recent-

ly been released f rom pr is on r e adjust to society.

After facing criminal charges and going through the legal system, King is a firm believer in second chances and hopes to show inner city youth no matter how dire their circumstances may seem, they can always make a positive change for themselves and for the community.

— Cody McFarland

ALBERT MARTINEZ

Retired Richmond Postmaster Al Martinez is running for a seat on the Richmond City Council because he believes he can make a difference and bring leadership and stability as a councilman.

Martinez serves as the fourth shooin for the Chevron refinery’s hopes of

attaining control of the Richmond City Council. This is despite the fact Martinez was removed from their campaign websites on Oct. 23 due to prior criminal history brought into light in which Martinez was acquitted in 1984.

Regardless, Martinez understands the need for quality leadership and structure in the city from his time as a Richmond police officer and volunteering as the leader for the Richmond Police Commission and Richmond Police Department Chaplaincy Program.

— Christian Urrutia

GAYLE MCLAUGHLIN

The current mayor of Richmond, Gayle McLaughlin, is a social, environmental and economic advocate who works toward improving the quality of life for residents.

Elected onto Richmond’s City Council in 2004 and elected as mayor in 2006, McLaughlin is once again running for City Council.

As co-founder of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, a non-partisan community and political group, she is in opposition of big corporations.

She was the first to pass the Green Building Law that focuses on using resources efficiently and has a partnership with East

Bay Green Corridor f o r research and jobs She works to reduce crime, support education, medical facilities and increase mum wage to $13.

the mini— Roxana Amparo

JAEL MYRICK

Richmond City Council avoided political gridlock and a costly special election by appointing Jael Myrick to fill councilman-elect Gary Bell’s vacated seat after Bell became seriously ill and died in 2013.

Myrick is now running for re-election to the council this November.

Even given the reality of not being the first choice of the council, Myrick has made the most of his opportunity, co-sponsoring an ordinance to raise the minimum wage

to $13 per hour. Yet his most popular proposal is the Richmond Promise. It appropriates funding for Richmond graduates so that students have the resources to attend the institution of higher learning of their choice.

A Richmond native and Kennedy High School graduate, Myrick works to encourage and train young people to be politically active through his organization Standing To Represent Our Next Generation.

(S.T.R.O.N.G.).

He was a delegate to the 2011 California Democratic convention. The councilman also spent the last four years as a field representative for State Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner.

— Robert Clinton

DONNA POWERS Former Richmond city councilwoman Donna Powers is running for the Richmond City Council once again. She has been a part of the council before, having served from 1991 to 2001. She initially became involved because she noticed what she felt was the misuse of city finances on the council and wanted to make a change.

Powers has had a great reputation for shaking things up and making the necessary changes for the city of Richmond in the past.

And now Powers wants to come back and fix Richmond. She claims a vote for her will bring change that will result in great outcomes for the community.

Her goals are to fight crime and to make t h e streets safer for all people.

She also wants to bring more jobs and business opportunities to the city.

— Jason Sykes

CHARLES RAMSEY

We s t Contra C o s t a School Board Tr u s t e e , Charles Ramsey is running for a Richmond City Council position.

Ramsey, born in 1964, grew up in Richmond and attended UC Hastings School of Law. Earlier he graduated from

UCLA. He returned to Richmond to open up a law practice. In 1992 he was appointed to the Richmond Planning Commission.

After that, he ran for the school board in 1993 when he was elected and has been a member ever since. He is especially interested in drawing in more families, and in doing so he plans to improve education and enhance city growth.

“The city must be a place that parents think is safe and has good schools,” Ramsey said.

— Marlene Rivas

JAMES ‘JIM’ ROGERS In the 1980s, 444-4441 was the number to reach “ T h e P e o p l e’s Lawyer” Jim Rogers. He left his law career in the late ’90s, becoming an advocate for ecologically safe building practices, and eventually a Richmond City Council member, for which he is running for re-election.

As a councilman he sees himself as a proponent of solar power and green technologies.

“Richmond is in a unique position to move forward. Green rooftops are not

enough,” he said. “We need electric cars to be a part of what is mainstream.”

Charges of environmental opportunism were raised in 2008 when Rogers voted to allow Chevron’s contested refinery upgrades. Executive director of the West County Toxic Coalition, Dr. Henry Clark, questioned Rogers’ commitment to the environment after (allegedly) compromising on environmental issues in order to stay on the good side of industry.

“We stood up to Chevron. Richmond, is getting better,” Rogers said. “Chevron won’t be able to buy this election.”

More recently, Rogers threatened litigation against the oil giant unless a resident compensation plan was completed in a timely matter after the 2012 Richmond refinery fire.

— Robert Clinton

HENRY WASHINGTON

One of the many candidates running in the Richmond City Council election this year is Henry Washington. Washington is the current executive operations director of Richmond and has held the office since 2010.

If elected, Washington has vowed to create jobs for the city of Richmond through the encouragement of creating local businesses as well as stimulating new business development.

“A working city cannot work if there is no work,” Washington said. “I will not rest until our unemployment rate of 10 percent meets the national average of 6.2 percent.”

Washington has also been an advocate of

ant i - g u n violence by serving as proj e c t manager of community outreach programs and working with both the community and the Richmond Police Department.

Washington stated commitments to improve the public housing in Richmond.

— Cody Casares

EDUARDO MARTINEZ

Retired teacher E d u a rd o Martinez is a candidate for Richmond C i t y Council who aims to create a better community for Richmond.

Martinez is running for re-election to the council board.

During his 20-year tenure as a teacher for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, Martinez has been involved with his community. He was one of the co-

founders of “March 4 Education” that ultimately saved WCCUSD money.

“I want to make sure Richmond continues to grow,” Martinez said.

He is a Richmond native, looking to stop the Chevron refinery in Richmond from getting excess profits through tax cuts. Instead, he wants those excess profits to go toward health care for Richmond residents.

Martinez said as a council member he plans to continue to represent the people of Richmond, not the corporations.

“I want to convince Chevron to be a better neighbor (for Richmond),” he said.

— George Morin

election 2014

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

Gov., District reps.

11

District ward

The California gubernatorial race, district representatives, college district ward candidates look to focus on issues affecting residents NEEL TUSHAR KASHKARI

JERRY BROWN Je r r y Brown is running for his fourth t e r m as governor of C a l i for n i a and seeks to further improve the state.

Brown’s educational background includes a bachelor of arts degree from UC Berkeley and he also received his J.D. from the Yale L a w School.

He was elected California Secretary of State in 1970. He went on to be elected governor in 1974, and was re-elected in 1978.

During his time in the position he reduced taxes for residents of California over the course of five years.

Brown also helped to create a surplus of general funds to be set aside in case of emergencies.

He demonstrated great interest in improving the people of California’s education and safety.

The state’s funding for higher education, which includes community colleges, more than doubled while he was in office.

More recently he has authored new solar-storage policies, which will soon be voted on by the California Public Utilities Commission.

In an attempt to protect the environment, he strengthened the California Coastal Commission. He hopes to continue lowering crime rates and inducing punishment for drug-related crimes. Brown is also in favor of the public voting to reduce the cost of college tuition.

As far as social issues go, he is in support of pro-choice and same-sex marriage being made available to residents. He is also working to provide legal assistance to children coming into the country illegally.

—Marlene Rivas

Republican Neel Tushar Kashkari is running for governor of California with plans of improving public education and creating jobs statewide.

He said he wants to give residents the opportunities necessary for success.

Kashkari said he plans to fix public schools by making sure the money from taxpayers goes directly toward education, make higher education affordable by providing a system that focuses on student outcomes and creating jobs by embracing natural resources to unlock the potential of California’s industries.

Kashkari grew up as a first-generation, middle-class American who experienced how empowering education is. He is a product of the educational system he hopes to invigorate.

But according to Kashkari, California’s current Legislature lacks the foresight to properly fund the K-12 school system.

He said misappropriated funding toward other issues beside education could harm the economy in years to come.

He is the former U.S. Treasury Department official known for taking on the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), a $700 billion bank bailout, that helped alleviate the financial crisis in 2008.

He has experience in taking on serious economic challenges and has worked with Republicans and Democrats.

— Roxana Amparo

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: DISTRICT 11

MARK DESAULNIER

TUE PHAN-QUANG Former judge of the San Francisco Immigration Court Tue P h a n Quang is a Republican running to represent the 11th Congressional District of California. He served as a judge from 1995 to 2012. Phan-Quang has his main focus on five different elements that he wants to improve throughout his term if he is elected to represent Californians.

One of those elements that he wants to focus on is immigration. He has already been involved with the immigration process and believes that there can be some changes made to the structure and naturalization process immigrants have to go through.

He believes that controlling the number of immigrants who will be admitted

into the country is a key to maintaining sovereignty. Another thing that PhanQuang wants to focus on is health care. He wants to create more job opportunities and keep businesses competitive. To do that he believes the cost of starting a business is still too high and needs to be lowered to make these changes more effective.

Phan-Quang said he plans to fight for policies aimed at decreasing unwanted and teenage pregnancies. He also wants to focus on stimulating the economy.

He wants to repair it by increasing jobs, lowering taxes and reducing the cost of doing business.

— Jason Sykes

California S t a t e Legislature’s current 7th District Senator M a r k D e S au l n i e r will be running to represent the 11th Congressional District of California that is being vacated by retiring Rep. George Miller.

In 2008 DeSaulnier was elected to the state Legislature and was be re-elected in 2012. His key points of involvement include government reform, labor, transportation, environmental protection, health care, local government and public safety.

As a Democratic Party representative, DeSaulnier has worked alongside former and current California Democrats, such as Gov. Jerry Brown, to push bills through the state legislature with little opposition.

This year alone DeSaulnier has authored

more than 30 bills, most of which have now been signed into law.

His most recent work was signed into law by Gov. Brown on Sept. 30. SB 486 requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop the state’s transportation plans in a more strategic and open manner.

DeSaulnier chairs the Transportation and Housing Committee. In addition he sits on the Senate committees on budget and fiscal review and the Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, Energy, Utilities and C o m mu n i c at i o n s .

D e S au l n i e r has lived in California since the early 1970s and has owned small restaurants as a state resident.

— Jared Amdahl

CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD CANDIDATES (WARD 1)

CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT WARD 3 DISTRICT OFFICE LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE

WARD 1 CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE

JOHN MARQUEZ (WARD 1) The Contra C o s t a Community College District is run by a Governing Board made up of elected representatives from the five distinct wards that make up the district.

Contra Costa College, as well as Richmond, Pinole, El Cerrito, San Pablo and as far out as Kensington, make up what is known as Ward I and the position of trustee for Ward I is up for election this November.

The incumbent, the current board President John Marquez, has a long and storied history with the district and many of the cities in the area.

“I’ve been involved with the area since I was a student in 1967,” Marquez said.

As a student in the 1970s, Marquez helped co-found the La Raza studies department, which is still currently active and thriving at CCC. Marquez said in his time representing

WARD 2

WARD 5 DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE

WARD 4 the students SAN RAMON VALLEY CENTER of Ward I he suggested the construction which is currently taking place at CCC in order to help make the college more accessible to disabled students and veterans.

A f t e r Parking at CCC is another issue b e i n g Marquez has brought to the board many d e f e at e d times. Lots 16 and 17 at CCC, which are in the closed due to damage, are currently schedpr i m a r y uled to be repaired starting this November. race, the He said his goals for the future of Ward I second are to work with high schools to help foster Muslim a better learning environment so students woman to leave high school more prepared for coltry and replege life. resent the 11th “I love helping the community,” Marquez Congressional District said. “I’ll gladly stand on my history of 44 in the United States, years of community service, 21 of those Cheryl Sudduth, has thrown her hat into as an elected official. I enjoy serving the the ring to represent Ward 1 of the Contra public. I enjoy serving students and I enjoy Costa Community College District. serving the faculty and staff at the indiCCCCD is split into five wards that are vidual colleges.” each meant to represent the student interests and promote campus growth at each — Brian Boyle college the ward oversees.

If she is elected she plans to create uni-

CHERYL SUDDUTH (WARD 1) formity among the different campuses by implementing a single course catalog that can be used at all colleges.

She said this would create transparency for students who are confused what courses are required to transfer.

“There is an issue if it takes a student three or even five years to transfer from a community college,” Sudduth said.

She also said the current members of the board are too disconnected from the student population to initiate any sort of useful change.

“We have to think outside the box and we can’t do that when everyone at the table is at retirement age,” she said.

She is a senior director of contracts and compliance for Goodwill Inc. and has been active among multiple PTAs. — Lorenzo Morotti

12

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Propositions 1, 2 and 46

Measure U

BOND TO LESSEN DROUGHT WOES Proposition 1 to boost water reserves, supply fresh water statewide

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

A rift has been created between environmentalist groups and the state Senate over the “Water Bond. Funding for Water Quality, Supply, Treatment, and Storage Projects,” or, as it appears on the ballot, Proposition 1.

The majority of the 38 million residents of the state have had to endure a severe drought this year that has exposed weaknesses within California’s water systems.

On Tuesday, this is an issue that voters will have an opportunity to address.

Gov. Jerry Brown, the leading proponent of Proposition 1, said that residents statewide would benefit in the long-term by approving this initiative to create plans and safeguards in case of future water issues.

The initiative proposes that the state owe $7.5 billion in general obligation bonds to be paid over the course of 40 years for various water conservation and crisis protection projects statewide.

Those opposed to the proposition are mainly Northern California fishing industries and environmental groups who say the proposition, if passed, would endanger rivers and fishing jobs.

They fear that it would divert too much water to Southern California and that these projects would destroy estuaries and deltas.

Their fears stem from a prior $11 billion initiative in the proposition’s original language that would have created a large pipeline to send water to dryer areas of the state.

This “twin tunnel” project was removed from Proposition 1.

In 2009, the initiative was put on hold while Brown created a more refined version of the initiative that did not include the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, a 35-mile-long twin tunnel project through the delta.

If Proposition 1 passes, it would create a water plan to provide safe drinking water

statewide and store water by building dams, restoring watersheds and building water recycling facilities.

Water supplies would be managed by the state to be used during years of drought to protect farms and businesses.

The proposition plans to supply sufficient, as well as clean, amounts of water to those living in dryer areas of Southern California and the Central Valley, areas that do not have safely drinkable tap water.

Specific funding for the projects include $2.7 billion for dam and groundwater projects, which is to also be used to cover restoring habitats, improving water quality and preventing floods.

Californians Against More Debt, Misplaced Spending are also in opposition of the bill, claiming that the bond would put residents statewide in excessive debt.

If voters approve the bond, it would allocate $520 million to these disadvantaged residents who are without drinkable tap water.

The bond would allocate about $900 million toward cleaning contaminated aqui-

fers and groundwater, while $1.5 million would Undecided be used 7% to restore and protect Yes watersheds, No 65% lakes and 28% rivers.

To prepare for the next drought, it would allocate $810 million and $725 million to recycling drainage water for consumption.

An additional $1.4 billion would be used to improve both groundwater and surface water quality, along with $395 million to restore the aging levees in the SacramentoSan Joaquin Delta.

CAMPUS STANCE: Proposition 1

‘Rainy Day’ account planned RICHMOND GROUPS

BY Rodney Woodson ASSOCIATE EDITOR

rwoodson.theadvocate@gmail.com

California’s latest multi-year drought coupled with the state’s deficit coerced Gov. Jerry Brown to introduce Proposition 2, the “Rainy Day” Budget Stabilization Account (Assembly Constitution Amendment 1).

This new legislation, if approved by voters in Tuesday’s election, will mandate a certain amount of the general fund be set aside and put into a budget stabilization account, only to be accessed in a time of emergency, such as the current condition of the state, effectively amending the California constitution.

If passed, work to calculate just how much will be put into the fund must begin within 10 days of its approval — an annual transfer of 1.5 percent of general fund revenues. It also requires the state to transfer capital gains tax revenues of at least 8 percent of general fund revenues into the stabilization account, according to the secretary of

state’s website. funding is already being spent now.

The bill also mandates that a Public Some who support Proposition 2 School System Stabilization account be and hear the criticism claim to have created to fund educafaith and patience. tion in financial crises District Governing as well. The capital Board President John gains transfer will also Marquez said the bill is be used for K-14 educaneeded, and that only tion’s emergency fund“time will tell” to the Undecided ing allocation. fears of people who 23% Funding to aide think negatively.

CAMPUS STANCE: Proposition 2

education will only be issued in the event that the need for funds by the K-14 education sysNo tem is greater than what the state can pay, based 39% on the total allocations from various resources.

Supporters point to the drastic need for relief from the drought, and other crises the state suffers from at the moment.

Arguments opposing the state contend that the school system account funds will be spent to cover California’s debt just as other allocated educational

He said that there were doubts about the funds to be allocated to education from Proposition 30 in 2013, but the people voted for it anyway.

“In every election there are always propositions that will have positive and (possible) negative effects, years after they are approved,” Marquez said. “Elections will have that. But at the end of the day, the (positive outcome) will prevail.”

Yes 38%

SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE POLICY SUPPORTED BY LOCAL VOTERS

BY Brian Boyle SPOTLIGHT EDITOR

bboyle.theadvocate@gmail.com

The Drug and Alcohol Testing of Doctors Medical Negligence Lawsuits Initiative Statute, more commonly referred to as Proposition 46, is more than meets the eye.

If passed, Proposition 46 would require that doctors be tested to screen for drug and alcohol abuse. In wake of a positive test, the doctor in question would be suspended until such a time as the test results can be confirmed as a true or a false positive.

Doctors would also be required to report to the state medical board. The proposition would also raise the cap on financial recompense which can be sought due to pain and suffering caused by medical negligence or mal-

CAMPUS STANCE: Proposition 46 Undecided 5% No 26%

Yes 69%

practice from $250,000 to $1.1 million, and would tie the cap to inflation.

Proposition 46 would also require doctors consult a database of what prescriptions patients are on before prescribing narcotics such as Vicodin.

The database requirement is meant to help iden-

tify people known as doctorshoppers, who go between doctors collecting prescriptions for narcotics and other drugs.

The immediate effects of this would be an increase in health care costs in California, according to Donna Emanuele, the president of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners. In a joint statement released by Emanuele’s organization, the California Children’s Hospital Association and the California branch of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Proposition 46 was accused of being beneficial only to trial lawyers who will profit from the increased cap on damages.

The tying of the cap on medical malpractice damages to inflation opens the door for health care costs to continue to rise further if

inflation were to increase.

Supporters of Proposition 46 say as accidents related to medical negligence decrease, and as the prescription monitoring aspect of Proposition 46 decreases prescription drug abuse, health care costs will fall. There is currently no evidence that Proposition 46 will lead to any of these things.

Bob Pack, a father whose 10-year-old son and 7-yearold daughter were killed when a drunk driver under the influence of prescription drugs jumped the curb of the sidewalk on which his children were playing, released a statement in favor of Proposition 46.

He said the law’s requirement that doctors consult a medical database might have prevented such an accident as the one that killed his children.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECREASE IN CRIME

BY Lorenzo Morotti EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

lmorotti.theadvocate@gmail.com

The rate of violent crimes within Richmond has dropped by 25 percent from last year, the lowest it has seen in 33 years.

Community trust in its police department has strengthened because of crime solvency projects made possible through millions of dollars in donations.

Richmond Police Department Capt. Mark Gagan said several major changes contributed to maximize the efforts to stop criminal activities and make a “huge reduction in shootings.”

“I can’t say it was just the police department,” Gagan said. “The most dynamic change came from the community involvement. They truly made the difference.”

Gagan said Operation Ceasefire, a problem-oriented policing method that reaches out to possible targets of gang violence, places suspects under surveillance, and divides the city into three smaller jurisdictions to reduce dispatch time to the scene of a crime.

He said the operation has been the leading force behind this drastic decline in murder rates and crime.

“Ceasefire is a straight forward solvency plan that understands that no one group can solve serious crimes on their own,” he said.

The project was first implemented to in 1996 to combat gun violence and trafficking related to the strong presence of gangs in Boston.

Gagan said Ceasefire has made the department outreach to potential victims about them being possible gang targets so they can be more vigilant He said the initiative also contacts criminals high on the wanted list and informs them that they are a possible suspect of investigation because of their gang affiliation and criminal record. He said unless they change their ways. “We try to make incentives for the person by emphasizing their options,” Gagan said.

Operation Ceasefire is now being used in many California cities that have a large amount of gang-related crimes such as Oakland, Los Angeles, Stockton and Fresno.

Richmond has not only received support from the community by pointing out individuals and becoming more trusting of the intentions of the police department but it has received annual funding to implement this project from a large oil corporation.

Since 2012, Chevron Corp has donated about $11.5 million toward improving education, economic development, public safety, and community engagement within the city.

Richmond Fire Chief Michael Banks said while his department responds more to medical emergencies, the relationship between the command of the police department and Richmond residents has strengthened because of quicker response times. “(The police department) have a very involved presence in the community,” Banks said. “Improvements in communication with them has reduced criminal activity and restored residents trust into their police department.”

PROPOSAL AIMS TO BOOST ECONOMY, FIGHT CRIME Ctiy creates plan to restore vital services, reverse budget cuts

BY Roxana Amparo NEWS EDITOR

ramapro.theadvocate@gmail.com

“It all comes down to whether you want to lose recreational services or a few pennies a day,” Measure U campaign manager and Richmond City Council member Jim Rogers said.

Measure U is a half-cent sales tax ballot initiative that will generate revenue for Richmond’s general fund to enhance city essentials such as public safety, public health and wellness programs, city youth programs and street paving.

Rogers said there was a series of cutbacks on services, pothole repairs, libraries and

other recreational services that affected the city as a whole.

If Measure U passes, it will raise Richmond’s sales tax to 9.5 percent, matching the city of El Cerrito which already approved a similar measure.

Richmond’s sale tax is currently 9 percent. The city of San Pablo and Half Moon Bay approved sales tax hikes as well.

Due to having one of the highest crime rates in the nation over the past few years — the funds will go toward increasing police and fire department staffing, making the community safer for Richmond residents.

Those who are more likely to vote “yes” on Measure U would support it if the money went toward the enhancement of police and fire services.

Finance Director James Goins said the measure would raise the money to go toward maintaining public safety, including police protection.

Voters are more likely to vote yes if the

money is used to minimize crime, which ranks top of the list on a 2013 survey conducted by Godbe Research. As well, 86 percent said it is important to improve street paving conditions.

The average amount a Richmond resident will pay monthly is $2.93.

Based on a fiscal projection for the years of 2015-2016, the estimated amount of money to be raised by Richmond residents is $3,744,157.

Richmond businesses are estimated to raise $1,682,014 and non-Richmond residents and businesses $2,139,800.

The estimated amount of revenue brought in per year will be $7.5 million after the tax increase, Goins said.

Roger said, “I think people really understand what is going on. We are not trying to expand city government, we are trying to reverse budget cuts.”

Food products sold in grocery stores, prescription drugs and energy utilities, among

other things, will not contain a sales tax.

Although the sales tax is for Richmond residents, most sales taxes are paid by outside visitors.

The plan is to restore vital services while reversing budget cuts, Rogers said.

With new funds for the city of Richmond, neighborhood improvements would be made, playgrounds would be built and community gardens and trees would be planted.

“Vote yes on U,” Rogers said. He supports Measure U because he said it would raise money for Richmond, some of which can be used to sustain Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, which treats many Richmond residents.

Measure U’s fate rests in the hands of the residents of Richmond, who on Tuesday must determine how much they are willing to pay to improve the city.

election 2014

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

13

Propositions 45, 47 and 48

“People are tired of politicians doing what they want and not worrying about how it is affecting the community.”

— Brian Ferguson, California Faculty Association media specialist

SHORELINE UNDERGOES REVIVAL Recovery

underway following years of neglect

BY Christian Urrutia PHOTO EDITOR

currutia.theadvocate@gmail.com

RICHMOND — A former U.S. Navy fuel depot and home to Winehaven winery and town, the expansive shoreline named Point Molate, has a new cleanup underway for an 11-acre contamination area.

Point Molate and Point Molate Beach Park are located on the San Pablo Peninsula, 1.5 miles north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, and were formerly owned by the Navy from 1941 to 1995.

One of the last areas of contamination caused by the depot and the subsequent Cosco Busan oil spill of 2007 is now being cleaned up along the San Francisco Bay and has been labeled Installation Restoration (IR) Site 3.

As of press time Tuesday, Point Molate Project Manager Craig Murray did not respond to requests made for comment.

Listed on Richmond’s weekly City Council report for the week of Oct. 3, the cost of the cleanup will be $10 million. The details of the project include removing petroleum impacted soil and hazardous waste, up to thousands of cubic yards of soil at a time.

To counter this, truckloads numbering up to 55 per day containing clean soil will be brought in to prepare this site for community re-use and possibilities of economic benefit in time for its estimated completion in early 2015. The project will follow a 180-day schedule.

The ground breaking ceremony was held on Sept. 29 and featured Mayor Gayle McLaughlin. Council members Nat Bates, Courtland “Corky” Booze and Tom Butt also attended the event.

Jim Hite of the Point Molate Community Advisory Committee and Citizens for a Sustainable Point Molate said it is difficult to predict the future of the area once the cleanup is completed.

Hite said that if Chevron-backed candidates win the upcoming election, the committee could be shut down.

“We ask hard questions for politicians and if Butt wins, he’ll close us

Two people walk down the beach at Point Molate near Point Richmond, where cleanup groups have helped keep the shoreline clean.

GEORGE MORIN / THE ADVOCATE

down. But if the majority of seats are held by Richmond Progressive Alliance supported council members, we’ll stay open,” Hite said.

Transferred to the city of Richmond in 2003, the 423-acre site, 140 acres of which are submerged in the San Francisco Bay, has seen two major uses within the past century.

First, it was home to a winery and town built by the California Wine Association called Winehaven in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake left the city in dismay and ruined their previous location.

According to Point Molate Community Advisory Committee member Dorothy Gilbert, it was then acquired by the Navy to be used as a fueling station in 1941 after the winery had shut down in 1919 due to alcohol Prohibition.

During the time the Navy controlled the land, 20 large concrete tanks were built on the Protero hillsides with thou-

sands of oil drums stored within.

Gilbert, a UC Berkeley adjunct English professor, crafted a timeline of Point Molate’s history where it showed the depot operating during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars up until the facility was decommissioned in September 1995.

After the Navy, the city of Richmond established a Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee to help draft a re-use plan for the area. Since then, the city has worked with the Navy to organize the cleanup and remediation process, Gilbert said.

Charles Smith, retired East Bay Municipal Utility District wastewater treatment facility plant operator, said the transition of Point Molate from Navy ownership to Richmond city ownership led to the creation of several committees.

The Point Molate Community Advisory Committee was enacted by Mayor McLaughlin and serves as a citi-

Reducing crime penalties

BY Marlene Rivas STAFF WRITER

mrivas.theadvocate@gmail.com

Proposition 47 may allow for reduced penalties for those who have committed and been sentenced for misdemeanor crimes, if approved by voters in the upcoming Nov. 4 state elections.

If this proposition were to receive sufficient votes in its favor, then those serving sentences for non-serious and nonviolent property and drug related felonious crimes would be eligible for resentencing, and a reduction of such crimes to that of a misdemeanor.

If a convicted felon were to have had previous convictions of harsher such felonies, then this law would not alter his or her current sentence.

These crimes include murder, rape, some sex offenses and gun related crimes.

According to Ballotpedia.com, about 10,000 California inmates would be eligible for resentencing in accordance with the voter approval of this

new proposition.

Government Claims Board (10 percent), Crimes applicable to the resentenc- and the Board of State and Community ing that Proposition 47 could allow Correction (65 percent), according to include shoplifting, grand theft, receiv- Ballotpedia.com. Supporters include ing stolen property, forgery, fraud and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), Sen. Loni writing a bad check.

Hancock (D), Sen. The monetary value Darrell Steinberg (D) of those crimes must and former Speaker not have surpassed of the House of $950.

Representatives Newt Undecided Usage of illegal Gingrich (R).

8% drugs would also be a Gingrich has been crime in the radar for quoted stating that there Yes Proposition 47. is a need for prison for No The state’s savings dangerous criminals, 63% to come from criminals and there should be 29% shortened sentences “harsh punishments” has an estimated value, for people convicted of per year, of $150 milviolent crime. lion to $250 million.

He said that Those savings allegCalifornia has been edly would be used for “overusing incarcerathe Safe Neighborhoods tion” and that the prisand Schools Fund. on system is for people who strike fear The money would be distributed into the public — California has been among the Department of Education (25 filling it with people society is just percent), the Victim Compensation and “mad at.”

CAMPUS STANCE: Proposition 47

PROPOSITION TO RELOCATE CASINO TO CENTRAL VALLEY

BY Mike Thomas SCENE EDITOR

mthomas.theadvocate@gmail.com

A “yes” vote on Proposition 48 will approve a 2,000-slot machine casino in Madera County.

If approved, the Wiyot Tribe will build the first 2,000-slot machine casino in California. This would increase the volume of gambling possible in a given casino in the state because casinos in California are currently limited to 350 slot machines.

The larger types of casinos with thousands of slot machines are usually seen in gambling towns like Las Vegas and Reno.

“If we vote for (Prop 48) what would be the effect?

Employment can go up over there, but crime can also go up, too,” health and human services major Denise Mills

CAMPUS STANCE: Proposition 48 Undecided 9% No 36%

Yes 55%

said.

The casino will create over 4,000 jobs in California, and all the other shops that are built around the casino will create revenue for the tribe and county.

“It’s on Indian ground, so I don’t really see a problem with it, as long as it not by

a school,” mechanical engineering major Brad Knight said. “The space is theirs, and the way the Indians were treated (historically), they deserve all of that money they generate from other shops.”

Many who opposed this proposition see this as an opportunity for more Vegasstyle casinos to come to California.

Executive director of Stand Up for California Cheryl Schmit said Proposition 48 would open doors for casinos to build in areas off of Indian reservations in California.

“Years ago, California tribes asked voters to approve limited casino gaming on Indian reservation land. They promised casinos would be located only on reservation land,” Schmit said. “Proposition 48 would

approve a controversial tribal gaming compact that would allow the North Fork Tribe to build an off-reservation, Vegas-style casino more than an hour’s drive from the tribe’s established reservation — closer to Central Valley communities.”

Some students at Contra Costa College think that there should not be another casino built in California because all it does is create more problems.

Health and human services major Anna Bradford said she dislikes anything that has to do with gambling.

“Casinos destroy families. People lose their jobs because they become addicted to hitting the jackpot on the slot machines,” Bradford said. ”The same problem can go into effect with the Indian tribes.”

zen oversight community.

Citizens for a Sustainable Point Molate is an advocacy group that is interested in saving Point Molate from urbanization or development for economic gain and tends to receive money from donations or grants.

Friends of Point Molate is the least prominant, with Smith leading other volunteers to go and maintain Point Molate Beach Park.

“We work to remove invasive species of plants, clean up the picnic area and beach and get it to tip top shape, take care of things overlooked or unable to be attended by parks and recreation workers,” Smith said.

Smith said the city is in one of the final stages of removing toxic soil from the area.

Hite and Gilbert said they want it to remain a peaceful and serene shoreline, with hopes of the Beach Park being implemented into the East Bay Regional Park District.

INITIATIVE PROMOTES TRANSPARENCY IN INSURANCE RATES

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

In order to gauge who benefits the most from a particular proposition, it should be the duty of any informed voter to see where the funding comes from.

In the case of Proposition 45, the Healthcare Insurance Rate Change Initiative Statute, it is evident what side of the vote corporate money is behind.

The proposed bill requires a single elected State Insurance Commissioner’s approval before an insurance provider can change rates or adjust services associated with health insurance. It also prohibits the use of credit history, or absence of prior insurance coverage, in determining rates or eligibility for health, automobile or homeowners insurance.

For voters covered under the Affordable Care Act, these safeguards for healthcare are already in place.

Thirty-six other states currently have the authority to control insurance rates.

The largest opposition to Proposition 45 comes from Californians Against Higher Taxes.

They are a statewide collection of over 200 organizations and over 5,000 individual voters. They exist to fight higher taxes while creating jobs, and growing the economy.

Funding the opposition are some of the state’s largest health care providers.

Millions upon millions of dollars from the Kaiser Foundation and Health Net have been funneled to the opposition of Proposition 45.

The largest donation to date, $12 million, comes from Wellpoint, Inc., the largest for profit health care

CAMPUS STANCE: Proposition 45 Undecided 8% No 44%

Yes 48%

company affiliated with Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

The health insurance companies in opposition to Proposition 45 have spent over $55 million to date to sway voters. Contribution information is available on the website of California Secretary of State Debra Bowen under Campaign Finance.

Author of Proposition 45, Jamie Court, says, big health companies are nervous that the public will learn the truth about their opposition to controlling rate hikes.

An example of why this is important is clearly stated in a California Department of Insurance press release.

It detailed public scrutiny of Anthem Blue Cross’ 9.8 percent rate increase, later adjusted to 8 percent.

Even when the current Department of Insurance board deemed only a 2.1 percent hike was justifiable.

In this example the lack of an insurance commissioner with veto power allowed an accounting maneuver to give the appearance of a $75.5 million reduction of income to hide the profitability of the company, potentially costing California taxpayers millions.

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WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

FALCONS FIND HOLES IN BACKLINE Comets held scoreless for three straight matches

FALCONS

7 0

COMETS

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

Coach Amanda Beckenhauer took a more hands-on approach to prepare her goalie for the Comets’ second unsuccessful crack at taking out Folsom Lake College’s (13-3 overall, 8-0 in the Bay Valley Conference) women’s soccer team, dropping another contest to the Falcons, 7-0, Friday at the Soccer Field.

Contra Costa College (1-14 overall, 1-7 in the BVC) was pulverized 11-0 in the first meeting after traveling to Folsom short-handed in the squad’s first night game of the season.

It was clear from the opening whistle that the result of the previous meeting shaped both teams’ expectations of what should happen in this contest.

“We know how they play,” CCC defender Mary Salazar said. “We were more confident today because we are more comfortable with each other.”

The Falcons came in prepared for a run-away victory, with attitudes that resembled more of an exhibition rather than a BVC contest. The Comets and their quiet resilience were determined not to let the score get as one-sided as it had before.

Offside calls were a problem early as the overly aggressive Falcons forced the action, looking to put points on the board.

CCC’s defense hunkered down after a quick goal at 80 seconds in, and split the time of possession early in the game.

A mental lapse in the ninth minute let a streaking FLC forward Sami Thomas behind the defense for the second goal of the game.

But the home squad jumped right back into the action. An impressive steal

by Salazar made way for the Comets first shot on goal of the day. Twenty-two minutes in the Falcons set up a give-andgo for a scoring attempt that was saved

by CCC goalie Taheerah Brewer. On the following offensive possession FLC converted a similar set piece for the third goal of the game.

“It’s a different environment playing here,” FLC coach Donny Ribaudo said.

“The field is grass and a little smaller.

They (CCC) played hard throughout the game, and they’ve improved from the start of the season.”

Another long goal by the Falcons extended the scoring gap to 4-0.

The defensive effort to end the half was inspired by the play of CCC defender Nicole Galvan. On multiple occasions she put her body on the line in an effort to not let the game get any more out of hand.

“If they stand up to me, I’m not going to back down,” Galvan said. “I’m playing clean, but if they’re not going to — (let’s just say) I still won’t back down.”

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE A free kick for pushing and a goal just before the final whistle set the final Comet midfielder Abigail Perez (left) jumps for a header against a Falcon defender during CCC’s 7-0 loss to Folsom Lake College at the Soccer Field on Friday. score at 7-0.

Comets win second straight, shut out 49ers Squad’s consecutive victory improves BVC standing, unit scores two goals in second half CODY CASARES / THE ADVOCATE

COMETS

3 0

49ERS

BY Robert Clinton SPORTS EDITOR

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

The geese almost instinctively cleared the Soccer Field minutes before play began, as if it were a forgone conclusion that shots would be sprayed from all corners of the field.

Offense was on display as the Yuba College 49ers (1-10 overall, 0-6 in the Bay Valley Conference) made the trek south from Marysville, losing to the Comets 3-0 Oct. 21 in San Pablo.

CCC opened by working the ball up the sideline to center Jesus Villagrana who found center Bryan Santos for a poorly-defended goal on the goalie’s left side.

“We wanted to set the tempo early,” Comet defender Brad Alman said. “We knew we were better than they were. We wanted to get the shutout.”

Alman set the tempo going forward, heading an Alejandro Gonzalez corner kick into the net with 36 minutes remaining in the half.

At the break, CCC was halfway

We wanted to set the tempo early. We knew we were better than they were. We wanted to get the shutout.” — Comet defender Brad Alman

“

to its shutout leading 2-0.

The Comets returned from the break looking to put the game away early. They failed to convert a good look from the right side, three corner kicks, and a Bryan Vega shot that almost dented the goal post.

“We had good possessions, but we didn’t play with a high level of urgency,” CCC coach Nikki Ferguson said.

The defensive wall of Mendoza, Alman and Nicolas Bob, sensing the shutout was within reach, began to creep into the offensive third.

Alman sprang into action, leaping to intercept a long clear-out pass. Eluding several defenders, he passed to Villagrana, zigged away, then zagged in, to receive an entry pass.

In the midst of Yuba defenders he shot from 10 yards out, past the 49er goalie for his second score, and the third and final of the game.

After the game, the Comet players were aware they let a statement moment get away. Although they achieved a shutout, the mood was a little more subdued than after previous victories.

“There are some games you’re supposed to dominate,” Ferguson said. “We didn’t dominate like we should have.”

The Comets next shot at domination comes on Friday against Napa Valley College.

The 49ers played into the hands of Contra Costa College (8-5-1 overall, 5-2 in the BVC) by attempting to out-finesse CCC by focusing on passing and ball handling to work the ball upfield.

The Comet defensive third thwarted any early attempts to score on goalie Jose Ayala. CCC forwards poked and prodded the 49er defense in an effort to find its weakest link, and minutes in, went on the attack.

“We saw big openings in their

defense,” Comet defender Charlie Mendoza said. “When we see openings we connect passes and find the corners — then get the ball inside.”

With Yuba’s defensive deficiencies exposed, CCC forward Bryan Santos just missed on a header early on. Sensing the advantage, an overly aggressive Comet squad earned its second offside penalty in the first nine minutes.

Comet forward Kevin Navas took advantage of Yuba’s lack of physicality, stealing the ball from 49er wingers at will. The bulk of the visitors’ early frustrations were directed at CCC right-winger Rafael Torres.

The use of his size and footwork earned two early shots on goal. His efforts also irritated Yuba players enough to get them out of their game. Some even turned to pushing each other and complaining to referees.

At 27 minutes, Yuba adjusted its lineup choosing to take a more physical approach.

The adjustment proved to be unsuccessful as the Comets eventually exited the field with their

Comet midfielder Jesus Villagrana takes a shot from 30 yards out during CCC’s 3-0 win over Yuba College at the Soccer Field on Oct. 21.

sports

Cougars outlast Comets

WWW.CCCADVOCATE.COM 10.29.2014 l WEDNESDAY l THE ADVOCATE

“

If we put a block up and it touches our fingers it will slow the ball down and give our back row a better chance to dig.”

jasonsykes

VOLLEYBALL SQUAD NEEDS MORE DEPTH

25-12, 25-19, 25-19

BY Jason Sykes

T

STAFF WRITER

jsykes.theadvocate@gmail.com

QING HUANG / THE ADVOCATE

Comet outside hitter Rachelle Cuevas (left) spikes the ball past Cougar middle blocker Nadia Bedard (right) during CCC’s loss to College of Alameda in the Gymnasium on Friday.

After a back and forth second set, the Cougars began to pull away with its lethal offense.

The Comets continued to struggle on both sides of the ball for the remainder of the match as they failed to gather any type of rhythm.

The Cougars were able to stuff the Comet

offense and then transition to their own offense and score. In the end the Cougars big and powerful offense was too much for the Comets to overcome.

CCC’s next game is tonight at Solano Community College in Fairfield at 6 p.m.

RUSHING ATTACK TOO MUCH FOR CORSAIRS COMETS

48 24 CORSAIRS

Banks 95-yard scramble gives team spark for victory

BY Robert Clinton STAFF WRITER

rclinton.theadvocate@gmail.com

EUREKA — The Contra Costa College football team ramped up its rushing attack, outgaining the College of the Redwoods (2-5 overall, 1-3 in the Pacific 7) on the ground by 221 yards, overcoming soggy conditions, and a multitude of penalties eventually running away with a 48-24 victory here Saturday.

“This is what they call a trap game,” CCC football coach Alonzo Carter said. “We will not be looking past or underestimating anyone on the schedule.”

CCC (6-1 overall, 3-0 in the Pacific 7) is back in San Pablo for Homecoming Saturday taking on Shasta College at Comet Stadium at 3 p.m.

Running the ball was critical for the Comets as the high wind gusts and rain affected the passing game, thus translating into 262 total rushing yards.

CCC’s strong play on the run was highlighted by quarterback Jonathan Banks 95yard touchdown in the third quarter, which ultimately changed the game’s momentum.

“It all starts with line play.

I used my legs more in the second half,” Banks said.

While the Comets were able to establish their rushing attack later in the game, their first offensive possession ended abruptly, however, as defensive back Jermiah Rainey fumbled the ball after a 15-yard kick return.

Football (Oct. 25)

N OFF THE RECORD

— Rachelle Cuevas, Comet outside hitter

COUGARS DEFEAT COMETS

The College of Alameda volleyball team (415 overall, 3-6 in the Bay Valley Conference) defeated host Contra Costa College in straight sets 25-12, 25-19 and 25-19, making it five consecutive defeats for the Comets Friday.

Slow starts in sets hindered the Comets from sustaining any type of rhythm early on in the contest. In the final set, the Comets would have trouble scoring, again.

Although CCC cut down on the errors in the third set, the Comets made crucial mistakes at the most inopportune times resulting in the straight-set loss.

During the first set the Comets (3-11 overall, 1-8 in the BVC) were unable to play a clean game. Errors occurred in bunches, which gave COA an easy pathway to victory.

The 14 first set errors would contribute to the Cougars’ dominance during early play as well.

Comet coach Zachary Shrieve said they implemented a new defense in just one day of practice, and that it will take some time for the team to adjust. As for the loss, he said, “We ended rallies (in ways) that we wish we didn’t.”

The Cougars took advantage of the Comet defensive lapses with crisp offensive sets and solid defense of their own.

Comet player Micaela Zaragoza-Soto said the team needed to bring its energy up after the first set.

The teams would go back and forth at a rapid pace at times. The Cougars began to make mistakes and CCC took advantage.

The volleyball team seemed to be a different squad once the second set had begun. “We needed to relax and control our side of the ball to prevent any errors,” Comet outside hitter Rachelle Cuevas said.

The Cougars would slowly but surely begin to gain an offensive groove.

Due to COA’s height advantage, its squad was able to jump higher above net, striking the ball with such force that CCC’s defense could not corral the volleys.

“If we put a block up and it touches our fingers it will slow the ball down and give our back row a better chance to dig,” Cuevas said,

15

After a defensive stop by the Comets on the following drive, they got the ball back as the rain began to intensify. Short passes and runs fueled the early drive as Comet running back Harold Holcombe III and Banks carried the rushing load. A chop block penalty negated a hard earned Holcombe first down.

He bounced back, however, sloshing his way to a 29-yard touchdown run.

The Corsairs were held to only 14 yards on their first two plays of the series. They followed that up by throwing an interception to Comet defensive back Greg Chuks with 8:08 to go in the first quarter.

The ensuing drive for the Comets saw Banks recover a fumbled snap, hand it to running back Kruger Story Jr., who also fumbled, and the Corsairs were able to recover.

Two special teams penalties and a roughing the passer call by the Comet defense helped COR move the ball across midfield.

The Corsairs took advantage of the opportunity, connecting on a 24-yard touchdown pass, after an encroachment penalty by CCC. “We were a little overanxious today because we knew we were better than they were,” CCC defensive line coach Darryl Blackman said. “Everybody was in a hurry to make plays.”

CCC did more to hinder its own success than any other factor in the game. Another

College of the Redwoods Contra Costa College COR 0 17 7 0 — 24 CCC 7 13 14 14 — 48 First Quarter CCC — Holcombe III 29 yard run. (Fonseca kick is good) Second Quarter CCC — Shields-Toomey 2 yard run. (Fonseca kick is good) CCC — 2 Story Jr. 2 yard run. (Fonseca kick failed) COR — Westby 27 yard field goal

“

This is what they call a trap game.

We will not be looking past or underestimating anyone on the schedule.” — Alonzo Carter, Comet football coach

Comet attempt to switch field position fell short when the CCC punter Terrance Barnes muffed the punt, fumbling the ball, allowing the Corsairs to recover the ball in prime field position.

The Comets prevented the touchdown, but COR turned the mistake into a field goal.

The Comet offense was able to retaliate on its next drive as Banks hurled a 47-yard bomb to receiver Raquan Jones which set up a two-yard touchdown run for running back Tyler ShieldsToomey.

CCC now led the Corsairs 14-10.

With four minutes remaining in the first half Banks dropped a 39-yard pass into the hands of Barnes.

This time Story finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

After a missed field goal

by COR, it placed the Comet offense in good field position, however, the unit lost another fumble while also earning an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the process.

COR was able to capitalize, scoring on a 16-yard touchdown pass, keeping the score 20-17 at the half.

After an exchange of possessions in the second half, the Comets were once again trapped with their back

COR — Dullio 15 yard run (Westby kick is good) Third Quarter CCC— Banks 95 yd run. (Fonseca kick is good.)

CCC — Torrez 3 yard pass from Banks. (Fonseca kick is good) COR — Callier 10 yard run (Westby kick is good) Fourth Quarter CCC— Story Jr. 2 yd run. (Fonseca kick is good).

CCC — Barnett 22 yd pass from Jones.(Fonseca kick is good) Individual statistics Rushing — COR — Duillo 24-32, Callier 2-14, Gunderson

against their own end zone.

On third and 10 from his own 5-yard line, Banks broke free, shedding three wouldbe tacklers and out running the entire Corsair secondary for a 95-yard touchdown run.

“I just want to keep getting (multiple) receivers involvedand break 50 points,” Banks said.

Over the next six minutes the Comets played like a complete unit.

Comet defensive back SirDevonta Stewart started the team’s surge with an interception that led to a 2-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jamachel Torrez.

COR turned the good fortune into points, keeping the Comets within reach at 34-24.

The Corsairs forced CCC to punt on its first drive of the fourth quarter, however, a fumbled punt return by COR receiver Nick Moran, which was recovered by Comet defensive back Rilwan Adedeji, led to another 2yard Story touchdown run.

Sophomore Comet quarterback Justice Jones came in to quash any ideas the Corsairs might have for a comeback as Jones connected with receiver Raenard McPhee for the final touchdown of the game.

1-8, Gempler 3-13 — CCC — Banks 17-183, Story Jr.10-46, Holcombe III 8-40, Hale 1-6, Harper 7-5, Shields-Toomey 2-2, Jones 2-1, Barnes 1--21 Passing — CCC—Jones 2-5-29, Banks 13-25-182 — COR — Gempler 15-38-149, Elrod 0-1-0 Receiving — COR — Callier 3-54, Jean-Piere 2-27, Dullio 3-27, Moran 2-24, Malkowski 2-23, Elrod 1--2, Brito 2--4— CCC — Jones 2-53, Barnes 3-78, Cornish 4-32, Stephens 2--6, Taylor 1-16, Torrez 2-16, Barnett 1-22 Field goals — COR — Westby 1-3— CCC — None.

Record — COR — 2-5 overall, 1-3 Pac. 7. — CCC — 6-1 overall, 3-0 Pac. 7.

he Contra Costa College volleyball team is one of the more overlooked sporting clubs on campus.

The team doesn’t recruit as much as the marquee clubs like basketball and the football programs do, for example.

The lack of recruits has been resulting in seasons that aren’t as productive as they could be.

The program lacks roster depth and has shown this throughout its play this season.

For a portion of the season the volleyball team played with only starters and no reserves.

This needs to change in the future to help the team maintain depth within their squad.

The players had to play through fatigue in many games.

CCC’s volleyball team is suffering because it needs more help from women that have a passion for the game.

Head coach Zachary Shrieve is forced to coach a team that is at a disadvantage because there is no help for the starters when they get tired.

The team needs to go out and market itself more and make sure it tries to get as many talented people as possible so it doesn’t have to deal with the lack of players leading to losing seasons.

There was a time during the season when starting middle blocker Valeria Avila was injured.

During that time, the team struggled to get wins because it lacked depth and her injury forced a reserve to step up and become a starter. She was the team’s only substitute before the injury.

Situations like the Avila injury are reasons the program needs to do a better job of recruiting players.

Also, Shrieve should make sure that his incoming class is talented enough to contribute to the team in a positive way.

With a more creative and aggressive approach, the program can improve.

If you look at the football and basketball teams on campus you notice that they have better success getting players to play for the team.

Those teams usually don’t have problems with trying to fill roster spots. If anything, they might worry about not having enough spots on the team for everyone.

So why is it hard for the volleyball team to get players to come out and join the squad?

If other teams around the college are able to fill enough roster spots, then the volleyball program needs to find a way to get more participants.

The team this season could have been better if they just had a few more players on the roster.

Fatigue wouldn’t be such a factor in losses and coach Shrieve would be able to mix up the lineup and give teams a different look.

A main priority for the program going forward should be getting more players to come out and play for the Comets.

Jason Sykes is a staff writer for The Advocate. Contact him at jsykes.theadvocate@gmail. com.

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MORE PHOTOS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: CCCADVOCATE.COM

ABOVE: Protesters march toward the Oakland Police Department during the National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality in Oakland on Oct. 22.

RIGHT: Protesters perform a “die-in” outside the Oakland Federal Building during the National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality in Oakland on Oct. 22.

LEFT: Protester Darla Sorensen, an Oakland Technical High School student, confronts an Oakland police officer as she marches toward the Oakland Police Department during the National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality in Oakland on Oct. 22.

ABOVE: Protester Loray Davis blows a whistle during the National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality in Oakland on Oct. 22.

LEFT: A protester flashes a peace sign toward protesters during the rally in Oakland on Oct. 22.