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Vol. 28, No. 31
YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS SOURCE | WWW.THEPRESS.NET
July 31, 2026
Antioch rescinds support for $34.9 million Homekey+ housing project By Jeff Weisinger Staff Writer
The Antioch City Council voted late Tuesday to withdraw from a $34.9 million state-funded plan to convert a hotel into permanent supportive housing, reversing course after more than two hours of emotional and at times combative testimony over homelessness, taxpayer costs and the city’s obligations to unhoused residents. The motion passed 3-1, with Mayor Ron Bernal and councilmembers Louie Rocha and Donald Freitas voting to rescind the city’s prior authorization and withdraw from the Homekey+ project. Councilwoman Monica Wilson cast the lone dissenting
Photo by Jeff Weisinger
Residents speak to Antioch’s City Council about the city’s homelessness issue during Tuesday night’s meeting at Antioch City Hall. vote. Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, who joined remotely during public comment, could not participate or vote because she was not present for the meeting.
According to a staff report included in Tuesday’s City Council agenda, the proposed Homekey+ CSH Mahogany Housing Project would have converted the Antioch Inn &
Suites near Auto Center Drive and Highway 4 into 84 permanent supportive housing units. The state’s conditional award would have funded acquisition and rehabilitation, while Antioch would have committed $750,000 upfront and as much as $1.2 million annually for up to 15 years. That long-term obligation became the central concern for the council majority. Rocha said he initially believed part of the award would help offset operating costs. He later learned it would primarily pay to acquire and renovate the property, while residents would be selected through Contra Costa County’s coordinated-entry system. “When it comes down to taxpayer dollars, that’s the part that I am struggling with because we have a responsibility to be stewards of our financial stability for the long range,” Rocha said. “I don’t see money comsee Homekey page 18
Brentwood officials trade barbs over tattoo shop City Council discussion to be brought back later in the year
Golden Heart Gallery, a shop located on Second Street, currently does permanent makeup. The owners are interested in being able to tattoo as well.
By Jake Menez Staff Writer
“Can we finish the discussion before you tell us how to vote?,” Councilmember Tony Oerlemans asked City Attorney Thomas Lloyd Smith during one of several pointed exchanges during the July 28 Brentwood City Council meeting. The topic causing friction was a discussion of whether or not to allow tattoo parlors in downtown Brentwood, which will be brought back to the council for further discussion later this year. In a 3-2 vote, with Oerlemans and Councilmember Jovita Mendoza dissenting, the council moved to look into ways to
amend the Downtown Specific Plan to allow tattoo parlors in parts of the downtown core with certain restrictions. The Downtown Specific Plan is described on the city’s website as a plan intended “to ensure [downtown] evolves to embody the community’s vision for a vibrant, active,
and beautiful city district.” According to Economic Development Manager Erik Nolthenius, there have been discussions as far back as 2017 about amending the plan. Oerlemans’ remark toward Smith was just one of a number of exchanges he had throughout the discussion, which also in-
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Classifieds........................................... 14 Home & Garden Pros ����������������������� 19
Milestones............................................ 9 Opinion.................................................. 7
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cluded refuting comments from residents who suggested he had been “paid off” to advocate for tattoo parlors downtown as well as an exchange with Planning Commission Vice Chairperson Rod Flohr. He weighed in on the process and accused members of the council of making “backroom deals” to facilitate change to the Downtown Specific Plan. Flohr noted in his public comment that he was speaking as a resident rather than in his capacity as a planning commissioner. “I don’t understand one of our planning commissioners trying to explain to me that this is not the way it’s done and we still continue to put him on the planning commission,” Oerlemans said following Flohr’s comments. “My integrity and my honesty and what I’ve lived my entire life doing is not going to be torn down by a group of people that simply just don’t like an idea see Tattoo page 18
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