YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 4
Antioch, California
www.antiochpress.com
Antioch celebrates King’s 80th by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
It was billed as a birthday celebration for Martin Luther King Jr., who was born 80 years ago on Jan. 15, but Monday’s event in the packed El Campanil Theatre in Antioch was also a lively church service, a pro-Barack Obama political rally and a talent showcase. “Today is truly a momentous occasion as we partake in the first annual celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King,” said City Councilman Reggie Moore to kick off the festivities. “I am so happy to be here to share this day with all of you on the eve of the inauguration of the first black president of the United States, Barack Obama. “It’s because of the work that Dr. King and others in the civil rights movement were able to accomplish to lay the foundation for all of us to come together to build (an) America that the whole world could look down upon and be proud of.” Moore, who is Antioch’s first AfricanAmerican councilman, was the guiding force behind the city’s first official celebration of King. While the event’s focus was on celebrating King’s life and legacy, God and Jesus were also celebrated in the invocation by Pastor Henry Kelly (“We believe, God, that this is the beginning of something great that’s going to continue in Jesus’ name”), in the gospel singing of the Antioch Church Family Chorus Voices (“Oh, Lord, How Excellent in Thy Name” and “Savior, Do Not Pass Me By”) and in the interpretative movements of
January 23, 2009
THIS WEEK
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Partysan politics reign Photo by Dave Roberts
The W.E.M.I.M.E. Dance Ministry interprets the song “The Spirit of the Lord is Here.” the W.E.M.I.M.E. Dance Ministry from the Grace Bible Fellowship Church to the song “The Spirit of the Lord Is Here.” The keynote speech was provided by Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Deborah Sims, who used the refrain “Without January 19th there would be no January 20th” several times during her remarks, referring to King’s life leading to the inauguration of Obama. “It is an honor to take part in today’s program,” said Sims. “I stand here today on
the shoulders of those heroes and sheroes who dedicated their lives to peace, justice and equality for all people. Today we honor the man whose life and works were committed to ensuring that promises and dreams would be realized. “In his short time, Dr. King, by his example and leadership, moves us closer to the principals on which America was founded. The majesty of his message, dignity
Out of 27,000 letters sent out to residents notifying them of the proposed rate hikes, only four households sent back letters protesting the increases. fers out from the sewer and water funds,” Payton told the council. “Over $1.1 million a year is going from the sewer and water funds over to other funds. It’s not delineated in the budget where it’s transferred to. If it’s going to administrative oversight, I don’t believe you can justify that. I think it’s in violation of state law. “The other thing I’m asking about is the bonds that will be paid off in 2013 and ’14. That will save $783,000 a year that the funds won’t have to be shelling out on the bond payments. Has
East County folks contracted Obamamania – and had themselves an Inaugural ball.
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Wolverines keep it going
see King’s 80th page 13A
Council OKs sewer, water rate hikes The City Council last week approved 4-percent rate hikes in each of the next two years for water and sewage treatment services. The city’s first water/sewer rate hikes in five or six years will amount to about an extra $15 per year on most residents’ bills, Phil Harrington, director of capital improvements/water rights, told the council at its Jan. 13 meeting. Out of 27,000 letters sent out to residents notifying them of the proposed rate hikes, only four households sent back letters protesting the increases. Only one person, former Councilman Allen Payton, spoke against the hikes, arguing that the city isn’t currently using all of the money in the water/sewer funds for water and sewage treatment services. “The issue to me is the trans-
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that been taken into consideration in your determination of raising this fee?” Harrington did not respond to the bond question, but said that the transfers out of the water and sewer funds are “moving internally to support the operation and design of the facility.” For example, they may be used to cover the costs to repair the sidewalks, curbs, gutters and streets when new water and sewer lines are put in or old ones are upgraded. In another council action, Council members Reggie Moore
and Mary Rocha continue to be concerned about ensuring that appointments to city commissions will increase the diversity on those commissions. Both voted against Mayor Jim Davis’ nomination of Mike Langford to the Planning Commission, saying they supported Kay Trail instead. But Langford was approved with the votes of the other three council members. All of the council members supported the appointment of Vincent Manuel to the commission. The council also agreed unanimously to expand the size of the Economic Development Commission to seven members, creating an additional two seats. At the Dec. 16 meeting, Davis see Rate page 13A
Two sizzling squads took the court, but it was the Patriots who got burned.
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INSIDE Calendar ..........................30A Classifieds ........................26A Coplog .............................15A Education ..........................6A Entertainment ................29A Food ................................... 6B Milestones .......................22A Opinion ...........................14A Outdoors .........................17A Sports ...............................19A Wedding Planner ............. 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A