Contra Costa News

On this episode of Be Curious Contra Costa, a tech chat with Seana Fippin of Red Box Business Solution. We get into Artificial Intelligence (AI), data centers and cybersecurity. We talk about the impact Claude is having while exploring the dangers, such as an AI Agent using Claude which recently deleted an entire database within seconds. While AI is impactful, one also needs to utilize the human element. This idea that AI can control your cyber security is insane – still going to need companies like Red Box Business Solutions to manage safety and accounts. Government entities are still being targeted. We also talk data centers and if they are as scary as everyone is making them out to be. We also don’t know what regulations are coming as more cities place moratoriums. We also talk a bit on crypto currency hacks and how 75% of them are coming out of North Korea according to 2026 data. Finally, Fippin highlights her monthly Biz Con event series in the city of Brentwood – aimed to help local business community. She also announces the Contra Costa Business Conference set to be held September 17-18 which tickets are now on sale. For more information: https://www.getredbox.com/

On this episode of Be Curious Contra Costa, a chat with Kish Rajan, CEO of Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery. Rajan shares the latest updates at MDRR including being awarded the Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance (SWEEP) Platinum Certification—the highest level of recognition offered by the SWEEP Standard. We talk electric batteries and how to properly dispose of them – how they start fires – we get into garbage police and Artificial Intelligence and cameras. Properly sorting garbage and how it could lower rates later—sustainability/reuse programs will have a big impact. Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery will also open up their new location in the City of Oakley in June. Rajan also talks about the challenges we may face in the future while also reacting to new laws that keep coming onto the books. For more information: https://mdrr.com/

On this episode of Be Curious Contra Costa, a chat with Dana Eaton, Superintendent of the Brentwood Union School District who is now running for County Superintendent of Schools in Contra Costa County. If elected, he would replace Lynn Mackey who opted not to seek re-election. Eaton has 30 years in education from teacher to principal to superintendent. We talk about a variety of issues from the state budget, special needs, impact of cell phone bans on campus, dealing with mental health and anxiety of students, homelessness and more. We also get into technology, AI, and assisting students who just are not interested in school material. Eaton also highlights how they are currently in a time where education is seeing the most issues at one time he has ever seen. Still, those in education, he advocates that you impact students daily and find ways to relate to students and find ways to give each student an opportunity because you never know if that one opportunity changes a persons life trajectory. Some of his priorities as County Superintendent include Advance early literacy and early learning, ensure safe schools, promote fiscal responsibility, support mental health, and prepare students for college, career and life. He also wants a better plan for recruiting, developing and retaining educators. For more on Eaton, visit him on his campaign website: Click Here

On this episode of Be Curious Contra Costa, a chat with City of Richmond Mayoral candidate Demnlus Johnson III. He is a former city councilmember running for mayor. He is a fun guy with big ideas and wants to bring people together. We talk about his thoughts on a city not only planning for today, but for Richmond 2050 and what that would look like, such as developing land for community benefit while revitalizing areas. What a safe city would do for the people and the businesses. We get into his belief that FLOCK cameras should be used and how police should be given tools to do their jobs while simultaneously working with the community and getting to know them. He also talks about non-profits and the need to show progress versus simply handing out dollars. He also urges Richmond to stop being an island and instead work with the rest of Contra Costa County to leverage resources and be a good neighbor. We talk about a lot in this episode. For more about Johnson, visit him at https://www.johnsonforrichmondmayor.com/

On this episode of Be Curious Contra Costa, a chat with Richmond Mayoral Candidate Ahmad Anderson. Richmond is a city that now has a primary system for all council positions and there are five candidates running for mayor. In this episode, we talk about what leadership looks like to Anderson? We talk about his vision for Richmond and how it can be a good neighbor to the rest of Contra Costa County. We touch on the Richmond Police Department, public safety, FLOCK cameras, blight, economic development and more. Anderson talks about the history of Richmond and why its important. How he would bring people together and how the city should look at the $550 million payday from Chevron. We also touch on the much more. For more on his campaign, visit him at https://www.anderson4richmond.com/ 

On this episode, a chat with Cheyenne Erickson who is the new CEO of the Contra Costa County Fair. We talk about the upcoming fair on May 14-17, 2026. We talk about the theme, “Wild About the Fair” and what new attractions are coming. Cheyenne shares here background, what she hopes the changes bring for the community and how they hope the fair will reach all of Contra Costa County—including bringing a rodeo, pig races, wiener dog & corgi races, exotic live animals and a new music lineup, including other day promotions. She also talks about the exhibitors, food, livestock and livestock auction. For more information about the upcoming fair: https://www.contracostafair.com/

On this episode of Be Curious Contra Costa, a chat with Lenna Billeci who owns and operates two businesses in downtown Brentwood. She is the owner of Socialyte Boutique and Salt & Fig Marketplace and recently purchased her first building. We talk about her journey from a love of fashion to investing just $2k into handbags which grew into a clothing store followed by a local gift shop for the foodie and the host who loves to play entertainer. Billeci shares career advice, her battle with anxiety, offers tips and tricks, and what her ultimate goals are in business.

On this episode, a chat with Pratima Sonavne, candidate for Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder. Sonavne is a resident of Danville and founder of Kurious Kids childcare center. She also has 20-years of experience in human resources. We get into why she is running for this position, including cybersecurity concerns and reducing risk of cyber-attacks—including calling for an audit in her first 90-days in office. She wants to also increase the ability for multilingual and working-class families to get services—including ensuring there are weekend hours and opportunities across the county. She also hopes to better utilize technology to ensure better customer support when seeking services. She also hopes to establish benchmarks and make them accessible to the public. We talk about ensuring fair elections, cleaning up voter rolls, vote by mail vs. in person, increasing public participation and where she stands on voter ID and belief if voter fraud is occurring in Contra Costa County. For more on her campaign: https://countonpratima.com/

On this episode of the ContraCosta.news Podcast, Erin Kerr Summit was kind enough to be my first guest on the video version of the podcast. She talks about upcoming Brentwood Rotary events including a poker tournament, bingo, whiskey walk and a golf tournament. We then get into real life, where she is a lender. She shares what is going on in the market and what her idea was behind her “just the tip” Tuesday uploads. We get through the episode with a few technical issues, but other than that, good times were had by all as the first video episode is in the books.

On this episode, a chat with Kevin and Tawnya Erickson on what the heck is going on with real estate in Contra Costa County. We get into what has changed in the past month or so and the impact its having on selling and buying homes. We get into some housing markets from Antioch, Brentwood, Concord and Walnut Creek and what to look for. Impact Iran War is having on home sales. The age old debate of buy vs. rent. We also talk about a couple of the laws being proposed that would keep corporations out/or severely limit purchasing ability in the single-family home market to even the California Wealth Tax. For fun, we talk about Reno Nevada and how its become the go to place – comparing it to Las Vegas real estate. We touch on Contra Costa County Tax Measures, Highway 4 and some myths.   For more on Kevin & Tawnya, visit them online at: https://www.ericksonbayareahomes.com/

As the podcast is returning after a short break, a quick reversal interview where Seana Fippin of Red Box Business Solutions flips the script and interviews me as in a guest interviews the host episode. We touch on a couple things with ContraCosta.news for 2026. 

On this episode, a chat with Michelle Powell Evans of Breath Better Wellness and Tawnya Erickson. In a 2026 that has started off pretty wild, we discuss breathing techniques to help calm anxiety and stress. We get into what sound baths are and what they help with—including crystal bowls and other sounds. Finally, we talk paddle boarding out on the delta and the soothing impact nature has on the mind and soul, Join Michelle on February 1 for a Breathe Better Together – Brentwood, special event. Take a pause, tune into wellness, and reconnect with your breath. Join us for an immersive sound and breath experience designed to calm the mind, heal the body, and uplift the spirit.  For more information, visit https://www.michellepowellevans.com/

On this episode, a chat with Monica Barajas of Monica's Riverview in downtown Antioch. We get into the restaurant, challenges, how she has overcome it and the potential for all of the City of Antioch.   At Monica’s, it offers feel-good breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites with care and creativity. Our menu celebrates  regional comfort food made from scratch using seasonal, local, and organic ingredients—always with a focus on quality, sustainability, and heart.   From restaurants in Brentwood and Livermore, we get into how Barajas became an advocate for improving the city of Antioch and wanting to see improvements throughout the city, improve the waterfront and raise the quality of life. We talk about the business altering shooting outside of Monica's in July 2023 and the impact it had on her business and how she has overcome the stigma of violence in the city. She is also up for the challenges and work towards a thriving restaurant and community. For more on Monica's Riverview, visit them at www.visitmonicas.com    

  On this episode, a chat with Jack Jackson, the author of The Reaction to Inaction: How to Outpace Disruption and Lead the Age of AI. Jackson will be holding a book signing on December 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Barnes & Noble in Brentwood for his new book. Jackson grew up in Antioch and shares his journey. Jackson is a leadership strategist, bestselling author, and former federal task-force professional known for helping organizations lead boldly in an era defined by disruption and AI-driven change. Recruited straight out of college, Jack completed his last training academy just months before 9/11 and went on to serve on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, where he developed his foundation in decisive action, crisis leadership, and operating with clarity under pressure. Today, Jack brings that same intensity and practicality to the private sector. As a consultant and advisor, he works with executives, teams, and organizations to overcome hesitation, eliminate operational friction, and build high-performance cultures capable of moving fast and outpacing competitors. His frameworks have helped companies strengthen trust, increase execution speed, and navigate technological disruption with confidence. Jack is the author of The Reaction to Inaction: How to Outpace Disruption and Lead in the Age of AI, a direct, actionable blueprint for leaders struggling to adapt to rapid change, organizational complexity, and the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence. The book empowers leaders and employees with the tools to make decisions faster, innovate consistently, and create cultures where action—not fear—drives results. Jack earned his Bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and completed his postgraduate studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, further strengthening his foundation in leadership, strategy, and organizational development. He continues to speak, consult, and write, helping leaders at every level build the confidence, discipline, and execution muscle needed to thrive in an age of nonstop disruption.

On this episode, Antioch City Manager Bessie M. Scott talks about her first year as city manager in the city of Antioch and offers many updates – including staffing, budget, and plenty of other updates.   I would argue year 1 was a fact finding mission to see what was underneath the hood of what had been going on in Antioch the past four years, now real progress can start as the systems have been identified, Scott shares much work has been done, but noted much of her work has been with the DOJ, CA DOJ and in courts due to outstanding issues from prior administrations. Now work can begin to shift to community services as directors have been hired. We talk public safety, economic development, bringing the community together and a variety of other topics.

On this episode, Kathy Cabrera talks K911 Animal Rescue adoption goals for 2025. She talks about how the rescue was created and highlights the partnership with Petsmart.  K911 is a non profit animal rescue that rescues abandoned and displaced cats & dogs who would otherwise remain on the streets and/or be euthanized. Because of our home-based foster volunteers we can help give abandoned, abused and displaced cats and dogs a chance at forever homes.   For more on K911 Animal Rescue, visit: https://www.k911rescue.org/

On this episode, a chat with Kathie Campbell, Board President of the El Campanil Theatre in Antioch. According to Campbell, she announced that without funding, they will begin shutting down operations by December 2025. We get into the impacts of prior business decisions by prior staff and the board, impacts by the City of Antioch, crime, the homeless. However, there is now an uptick in economic development which could improve funding efforts and save the Theatre.   For more information on the El Campanil Theatre, visit them at www.elcampaniltheatre.com

On this episode, a chat with Hope Petrow, the author of Dating After Divorce: from Heartbreak to Soulmate. The book debuted this past week and was number 1 on amazon in two categories. Divorce sucks for anyone and everyone involved, but Petrow shares her experience of betrayal to rebuilding her self-worth starting over. She took journaling and her coaching experience to turn it into a book to help women navigate dating after divorce with a roadmap of tips and processes. We get into a variety of topics around starting over, dating, red and green flags, online dos and don’ts, rebuilding confidence. She also discusses manifestation, magnetic confidence, and much more. For more information on Hope Petrow: www.hopepetrow.com Purchase: Dating After Divorce: From Heartbreak to Soulmate  

On this episode a chat with Cynthia Loredo and Tammy Zickuhr of Vasco Forever Helping Families who have a mission to advocate for a safer Vasco Road. We get into their mission and what they would like to see occur. While advocating for safety improvements on Vasco, one of the most dangerous roads in the San Francisco Bay Area, they share what they want to see happen. We also get into the newly released data, which is a good first start, but does not pass the smell test, listing just 6 fatal crashes since 2019. Also, since 2019, 211 total crashes listed while 38% of all crashes on Vasco Road are from drivers under 30 years old. Near the county line, speed survey shows 96.7% of drivers are over the posted speed limit while near Camino Diablo and Walnut Blvd., 84% of drivers are over the speed limit.     For more information: https://vascofhf.org/ For Contra Costa County information on Vasco Road, click here.

On this episode, Paul Stonebarger drops in to talk about the East County Valkyrie and their upcoming U-Pick 6 Girls flag football tournament on May 18 at Heritage HS in Brentwood. Stonebarger shares U-Pick is tribute to Brentwood’s U-Pick Season for cherry’s, while also Pick-6 for football. He shares how the league started, its impact and growth – which we also get into the explosion in girls flag football across the nation. He also shares some tidbits of the future of the club. For more infomation on the team: https://eastcountyvalkyrie.com/

On this episode, Antioch City Manager Bessie M. Scott drops in to talk about her first six months on the job. We get into her background, her expertise and her “why” she took the City of Antioch job given all the controversies, budget issues, staffing and the lift needed to improve the city. We get into the hiring controversy due to lack of transparency and within six months, improvements are already being observed, but first the council has to get through the budget to see what they are working with. Scott highlights her expertise  and how that will only help Antioch – she is a systems and process person.  She has public sector experience in areas such as public safety, housing programs and municipal policy administration. While in Seattle, she was the Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety with the City of Seattle. In her role, she ensured consistent policy interpretation across all functions of public safety, including audits, Investigations, Policy and Standards and Compliance. Scott also says if Antioch is going to invest money into things, there must be a return on investment—no more handing out free monies with no checks and balances. Meanwhile, I argue the council needs to get her out into the public more so people can begin building better relationships given her recent presentation with the Downtown Antioch Association. Scott also talks about the importance of building a solid team around her and creating stability within the City of Antioch. Ultimately, it comes down to the budget and once that is decided, the city can begin making moves, which may be unpopular, but must be done.

On this episode, a chat with Lindsay Zimmer who talks Etiquette as she is hosting an upcoming 2-day summer boot camp for youths ages 12-18. We get into her background and how she decided to bring a “etiquette boot camp” for youth to Contra Costa County.  We get into whether or not the world has lost its etiquette. While most topics could be considered common sense, many are not practicing good manners while many youths are simply not exposed to fine dining or certain social situations. And really, do we need four forks to eat dinner?  We close the episode with a rundown of many areas of etiquette from dating, who pays the bill, cell phones, grocery store, running late to horn honking and more. More on the Brentwood School of Etiquette: click here As a quick bonus on the episode, her husband Nick Zimmer of Advantage Driving School, also jumps in talking “etiquette” and the roadways. I’ll bring Nick back for a full episode in a few weeks.

On this episode, a chat with Wendy Gomez of Knots and Found (Knots + Found) located in the City of Martinez. This is a one stop shop for indoor plants (house plants, tropical, succulents and cactus, along with many other goodies, classes, crafts, events and more. Wendy shares her passion for plants, her journey from passion to business along with tips and tricks for maintaining indoor plants. We also touch on the mental health aspect of what plants do for people, along with the many health benefits. We chat about the industry as a whole and what type of personal service you get from Knots + Found. Knots + Found is located at 701, Escobar Street, Martinez CA and can be visited online at www.knotsandfound.com

On this episode, Tirrell Muhammad joins me to talk about his efforts with the Kings Accountability Group and the work being done in the City of Richmond and other parts of the Bay Area. He shares how it started as just four men talking weekly to hold each other accountable, which morphed into a non-profit. Muhammad shares his journey of how a Big Brother program in San Francisco changed his trajectory. He shared the importance of how the Antioch Rotary Club and giving back led him to his new endeavors of being community focused, but also the importance of people having a mission statement in their own life, along with creating Life Operating Principles (LOP). We get into programs such as the Kings Accountability Group and Prince to Kings program working with youth.  Finally, the importance of finding mentors both in life and in business. For more on the Kings Accountability Program, visit: https://kingsaccountabilitygroup.org/

On this episode, I chat with Foodie Crew creator Adam Gross about everything food trucks and what is coming in Contra Costa County this year. Launched in 2017 in the City of Antioch, we get into how Adam got into food, then owning a food truck to launching Foodie Crew where they are weekly in Antioch, Brentwood and soon in Pittsburg—while Oakley is monthly. We talk about the industry, some data, myths what the future may hold for the industry.   For more on Foodie Crew & the schedule, visit them at www.foodiecrew.com

On this episode, a chat with Tara D. Sanders of Dále Vino-- the first wine bar in Pittsburg. Her love of wine first began while in South Africa. But her journey started while in High School when she became Miss Black Ca USA, Miss Teenage Ca, and Miss Teen of the Nation, Tara used her title funds to complete her BA and master’s degrees--along with the influence of her parents. She is a big believer in education, providing tools to help others be successful and building community. We get into the idea behind Dále Vino, the process towards opening, early struggles and some upgrades coming soon this summer to the facility.    For more on Dále Vino, visit them at www.dalevino.com.  

On this episode, a chat with Sam Nunn of Three Nunns Farm who gives an update on the upcoming strawberry u-pick season and soon to be cherry season. Located at 550 Walnut Blvd in the City of Brentwood, Three Nunn Farms offers a variety of activities throughout the year between u-pick seasons (strawberry, cherry, peach and pumpkins) to a giant corn maze in the fall—along with many other amenities such as a roller coaster, and pumpkin launcher. Sam shares how he knew he wanted to farm for a living, what Brentwood means to him and the impact of farming in the State of California. We also talk about the role of Harvest Time in Brentwood and the benefit its providing to the local farming community. For more on Three Nunns Farm, visit them at: https://threenunns.com/ For more on Harvest Time in Brentwood, visit them at https://harvestforyou.com/

A chat with Paul Culbertson and Kevin Wilson of Side Gate Brewery in Concord, CA. We talk about how they went from being in finance to launching a brewery and their love of beer. The two share their journey from concept to reality of how Side Gate Brewery was born and what went into the transformation in downtown Concord—and how they ended up in Concord. Obviously, we talk beer, what they make and what goes into each beer launch—but also how they raise up other home brewers up by holding homebrew competitions.   For more information: https://www.sidegatebrewing.com/home

On this episode, a chat with Trevel Adanandus of TNT Smoothie & Juice Bar located in downtown Antioch. While waiting to become a longshoreman, he opened in October of 2022 after talking with his dad (owner of Tease Southern Kitchen) where he offers healthy options from Acai bowls (superfood bowls), smoothies, juices to many other items. We get into how he came up with the concept, early challenges, why he chose the City of Antioch and shares how downtown has changed in the past couple of years. He sees positive changes coming to the downtown and believes the area will soon become vibrant with all the changes being made. Website: https://www.tntsmoothiebar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tntsmoothiebar/

On this episode, at chat with Sylvia Green of Blessed to be a Blessing Ministries who are a local non-profit food pantry in Contra Costa County serving families. They are helping fight hunger by serving families in Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood and Oakley where they provide food via delivery every other Saturday.  The food pantry started 4-years ago and serves 30-35 families while being all donation and volunteer based.  We talk about how the non-profit started, its early challenges and the need in Contra Costa County—including donations, financial, volunteers and more.   Website:  https://blessedtobeablessingministries.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065024558001

On this episode, a chat with Sean McCauley who shares some exciting news of 7 restaurants opening in the next 6 months. These will happen in the City of Antioch, City of Brentwood and City of Pittsburg. We get into downtown Antioch and what is transpiring down there. What cities can do to better help business. Get into chicken and goats, Harvest Time and Agriculture. Touch on the Urban Limit Line which is coming quickly. Meanwhile, some advice to business owners on how to navigate the national and state politic climate. Plus, much more!   To reach out to McCauley, visit him at: https://mccauleyinv.com/

On this episode, I chat with Lauren Huffmaster, founder of Adventure Therapy Foundation, a nonprofit that exists to break the destructive cycles created by the isolation, fear and broken identity in families impacted by cancer. Through programs that are designed to teach individuals and families how to face each side effect and learn how to break through it. Lauren shares her story, how the foundation was created and how she woke up one day and decided she wasn’t going to be “good at dying” and instead start living through adventure. She now wants to help others. She is an author, podcaster and has courses to help people. Her book is available on Amazon and is called “Cancering”.

On this episode, I chat with Bri and Joseph Drake who are launching Break Free Fitness in Brentwood with an open house on March 2 and will open next week. Bri shares her credentials from the fitness world to nutrition and what she hopes to achieve with this facility--focusing on women's health. She hopes to build community with small group and semi-private fitness classes where one can work out, stay motivated and achieve their goals. We get into a ton of stuff from nutrition, health fads, Ozempic to achieving success one goal at a time. The goal is always to build confidence and feel good about yourself.   For more information: www.breakfreefitness.com

On this episode, I chat with photojournalist Art Ray who shoots local news stories with a camera. We talk about what he does, how he got started and how no one would hire a African American man to shoot news in Chicago. Ray shares his journey to California and ended up in Contra Costa County and many of the videos on local news channels are from Ray. We get into several other issues from socioeconomic to racism to how politics ruins everything. We touch on Contra Costa County news and what the lack of news the public is getting. Art also shares his new business which is shooting videos for memorial services while also working to promote the Three Queens of Motown show.

On this episode, I chat with Ronnie and Jena of the Paulo Sausage Company who have expanded their business over the last few years, including a storefront in the City of Pittsburg.   We talk about how they started, taking the concept from idea to reality and the growth trajectory and even tackle some of their challenges. A lot of fun goodies they share including navigating a work-life balance.   Launched in 2021, the Paulo Sausage Company produces some of the best sausage around with a variety of flavors from hot Italian to sweet habanero, each sausage is a labor of love—including the amazing blueberry maple which is perfect for breakfast sandwiches. They have also expanded to offering some pretty amazing sandwiches (I recommend the Meatball Sub or Mortadella Brie—but they are all good, and filling). Finally, they are set to launch their own breads in store.   For more info: www.paulosausageco.com

On this episode, a chat Kori Barton about her Hometown Highlights Alphabet Series. This is a husband-and-wife team illustrating their way across Contra Costa County with a series of children’s books. To date, books have been released on the City of Clayton, City of Concord, City of Brentwood and City of Walnut Creek – with the City of Martinez in progress. The goal is to bring to light the beauty and unique aspects of Bay Area cities.   We talk about the importance of community pride, art, putting together the projects and ultimate goals. Plus, much more!!! For more on Kori, the projects, and where to purchase the books, visit them at www.hometownalphabet.com

On this episode, a chat with Dennis Mobley, who is the new head winemaker at Vino Olivo Winery in Brentwood. This Sunday, they release the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon as they host a wine tasting at McCauley Estate Vineyards in Brentwood. We chat about Mobley’s background, where his passion came from and his style of wine making. Plus, cover a bunch of other stuff of how Contra Costa County is primed to see great things from the wine industry going forward. For more on Vino Olivo Winery, visit them at www.vinoolivo.com   Dennis Mobley, Senior Wine Maker  With over a decade of experience in winemaking, Dennis Mobley brings a wealth of expertise and passion to every bottle crafted at Vino Olivo Winery. His journey spans the entire spectrum of the winemaking process—from  grape harvest and cellar operations to fermentation, bottling, and beyond. In 2023, Dennis earned his Certificate in Winemaking from the prestigious UC Davis program, a milestone that coincided with his award-winning successes, including silver medals for his Chardonnay and Zinfandel at major wine competitions, along with additional accolades for a range of other varietals. Before immersing himself in the art of winemaking, Dennis enjoyed a distinguished career in global investment banking technology. This experience sharpened his attention to detail, communication skills, and collaborative mindset—attributes that now inform his meticulous approach to crafting exceptional wines. His extensive international travel and exposure to world-class dining further refined his palate and deepened his appreciation for the nuanced relationship between food and wine. A native of Central California, Dennis’s roots in agriculture instilled in him a profound respect for the land and a steadfast work ethic. This unique combination of agricultural heritage, technical proficiency, and genuine passion for winemaking fuels his commitment to producing wines of exceptional quality at Vino Olivo Winery.

On this episode, a chat with Debbie Blaisure and Toni Lincks of the Rivertown Treasure Chest in downtown Antioch. They share their growth from starting out in a co-op to launching their own store with growth from Oddly Unique to Rivertown Treasure Chest. We talk “flip game” as the idea is to buy low, sell high, but its not as easy as it seams and products could sit for years. Blaisure and Lincks talk about the industry and impact of EBAY and Facebook Marketplace.  We get into the “myths” within the industry and how folks do not understand something is not always top dollar, but rather its value is tied to how much someone is willing to pay for an item. Finally, we talk about how to choose a vendor and what items to fill their store with. For more information: www.rivertowntreasurechest.com

On this episode, a chat with Mike Barbanica, candidate for Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor in District 5. He provides an update on the campaign, where he is at on several issues. With he and his opponent pretty close on most topics, the race will likely come down to public safety and ensuring people are held accountable—and impact of Proposition 36. We touch on the bizarre EB Times endorsement. The race also has an opportunity to bring Contra Costa County back more to the middle, or could continue down the same path. We get into both City of Antioch and City of Pittsburg issues, as well as needs in communities like Bay Point and Rodeo. Ultimately, Barbanica urges the community to watch both debates and make the choice that is best for them.   For more information, visit: https://mikebarbanica.com/

On this episode, I chat with Louie Rocha who is running for Antioch City Council, District 2.  He is a retired principal of Antioch High School who is seeking to bring back stability and civility back to the Antioch City Council will looking to focus on not only public safety, but better improve services for residents in the city of Antioch. He also wants to bridge the communication and partnership with the Antioch Unified School District and work on solutions for not only the youth, but seniors and unhoused. We get into a tone of stuff from Antioch being labeled the “new Oakland” to what Antioch HS has specifically done to help a unhoused students. Rocha also talked about the importance of hiring the right city manager, police chief and developing a plan for the city.   For more on Louie Rocha, visit him at https://louierocha.org/

On this episode, I chat with Brian Oftedal, candidate for Brentwood City Council District 3. We address not only why he is running, but some of the goofy online rhetoric being stated about him. We get into his experience on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors, work with the American Red Cross and Ronn Nunn Elementary. We get into several items relating to the city of Brentwood from public safety, staff retention, smart growth, civility, road safety, homelessness and emergency preparedness. Episode may be long, but we cover a lot of items. For more information: www.brian4brentwood.com

On this episode, I chat with Faye Maloney who is running for Brentwood City Council in District 1. We talk about what she has been up to in serving on a county role with the Contra Costa Commission on Women and Girls and how they serve the community. We get into her background where as a child it created her "why" in terms of living her life and serving the community. We talk City of Brentwood public safety, importance of staffing and retention, preserving the agriculture and supporting local business. Along with a variety of other issues. She also wants to bring people together and stop with the divisiveness. For more on Faye Maloney, visit her at www.fayeforbrentwood.com

On this episode, I chat with Gerald Johnson who is running for Mayor of the City of Brentwood. We get into his time as president of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, serving as a Brentwood Planning Commissioner and his background. We debunk a ton of the social media chatter going on by explaining his stance on development/housing, DEI and zoos. We talk about the need for civility, raising the bar and helping everyone. He encourages the City Council to take care of staff and get their contracts done, the need to get the 5th Brentwood Police beat up and running as quickly as possible, the budget is questionable given all the future project funding needs, while also being more business friendly. We also talk Zoom and 5-minute public comments and homeless. For more on Gerald Johnson, visit him at www.geraldcjohnson.com

On this episode, a chat with Oleksii Chuiko who is running for Oakley City Council, District 5. Chuiko serves as an Oakley Planning Commissioner and is currently the president of the Oakley Chamber of Commerce. We get into why he is running and talk his priorities which include public safety, economic growth and working towards a regional cooperative on many topics. For more information, https://www.oc4oakley.com/

On this episode, I chat with Cristina Pena Langley who is running for Oakley City Council, District 5. Too nice for elected office? Possibly. That is the question as she is a teacher in Oakley, Girl Scout Leader, and an executive leader within the Teachers Association of Oakley. We get into why she is running for city council with top priorities of public safety, ensuring Oakley remains clean, develops more social activities for residents, while also ensuring the budget remains healthy, has a solid economic development plan. We also get into a variety of other topics. For more information: click here

On this episode, I chat with Fernando Sandoval who is running for re-election on the Contra Costa Community College District Board (Ward 5). We get into what is new with the District, finally appears to be stability within the District. I question whether 4-year college is a scam and people should just go towards trades. We talk high cost of college compounded with high cost of living, opportunities for students of all ages. We also talk a bit about fiscal accountability and impacts of the governors budget, equity, community partnerships and more. For more information about Fernando - click here

On this episode, I chat with Antwon Webster who is running for Antioch City Council, District 3. We get into a variety of topics including him working with services groups to in an effort to improve the city as a whole. We touch on the tone of the most recent council meeting and then get into topics such as public safety, economic development and staffing levels. We get into the budget, youth services, and the Amtrak. We close with Webster stating despite the rhetoric, he is not a “plant” for the mayor and is running to improve Antioch.   For more on website, visit him at: www.antwonwebster.com

On this episode, I chat with Don Freitas who is running for Antioch City Council in District 3. He is the former mayor having served from 2000 to 2008, previously on the city council and served on the Water District.   We talk about why he is coming back now and what has changed for him within the City of Antioch. The importance of bringing back civility, increasing staffing levels and creating an environment where people want to live, work and play in the city.  We talk Antioch Police and staffing levels, text messages by police, code enforcement needs and bringing back neighborhood watch. Freitas advocates for an economic development plan that will address not only the downtown, but Somersville Town Center, Deer Valley Plaza, Slatten Ranch and other parts of the city—including having a house component.   We get into the homeless solution Antioch has moved forward with and if it is working. Accountability and transparency, budget issues and concerns, youth programming, and street safety.

On this episode, I chat with Kim Karr of #ICANHELP and Digital4Good. The conversation comes a day after negative social media commentary hit the contracosta.news social media pages. While we discuss the work they do for youth, we get into a variety of topics around social media form folks producing content simply for clicks and addiction to play off emotions. How to combat that. Strategies to identify pots, trolls and tension seekers. Potential laws that might be a good idea or even just improving accountability for online usages which has led to suicide and the ruining of peoples lives. She also recommends changing how and why you use social media--look for gold nuggets, not negativity. She also talks about the role of parenting and accountability. At Digital4Good, they believe in the power of digital citizenship to create a safer online world. Founded in response to an online attack on a teacher, Digital4Good emerged as a way to fight back against digital negativity. 

On this episode, Rakesh Kumar Christian runs for Mayor of Antioch citing he wants change.   He faces off against Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and Ron Bernal who he says are both part of the problem of why Antioch is where it is today. We get into what he says is mismanagement, budgeting issues. We talk public safety, economic development, improving city services, civility in government and transportation.