Monday, January 19th
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! From The Press Vol. 28, No. 3
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January 16, 2026
Brentwood gets first look at 2nd new fire station Council “surprised” by proposed design By Jake Menez
Artist’s rendering of the new fire station.
Staff Writer
The Brentwood City Council received an update on Station 90, the fire station to be built in Brentwood on Lone Tree Way and Windy Springs Lane, from the Contra Costa Fire Protection District at its Jan. 13 meeting. The update included an artist’s rendering of a proposed design. Members of the city council were not enthusiastic about the aesthetics. “Hopefully this is not taken as a dig, but it looked like an auto repair center,” Vice Mayor Pa’tanisha Pierson said about the design following the presentation by Deputy Chief Aaron McAlister. “This will come back and this is a first iteration.
Photo by City of Brentwood
This is good we’re having these early conversations.” Pierson pointed out that the predominantly white parts of the facade reminded her of a Big 5 Sporting Goods rather than a fire station. According to McAlister, the surrounding buildings presented a challenge for the architectural team due
to being surrounded by a church, residential homes and “big box” retailers with which it was not easy to find a design that blends in. “The fire district is completely open to the community and the council’s input,” he added. Councilmember Jovita Mendoza said
Oakley mayor outlines goals for city for 2026
HUGH HENDERSON I also gained a strong understanding of how critical our regional, state, and federal partnerships truly are, especially when tackling projects that support and protect our city’s critical infrastructure. Whether addressing public safety, transportation, or long-term resilience, the most impactful outcomes came from
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see 2026 Goals page 19
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Mayor also outlines goals for 2026 By Connor Robles
Correspondent
The new mayor of Oakley, Hugh Henderson, laid out his goals for his year-long term as mayor at the Jan. 13 Oakley City Council meeting. Henderson praised the city for “the strength and resilience of [its] heart,” pledged to continue work on projects such as the 55-acre park, the Oakley Library, and the Laurel Road extension to Sellers Avenue, and affirmed his support for the Oakley Police Department. Also at the meeting, the
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building relationships, aligning priorities, and working across jurisdictions. That experience reinforced my belief that strong leadership is rooted in collaboration, trust, and a commitment to working together for the greater good. What is your New Year’s resolution for your city — a goal that you’re looking forward to accomplishing in 2026? My New Year’s resolution for the City of Oakley is to secure substantial funding to move forward with two projects that will have a lasting impact on our community. First, I am focused on identifying and obtaining the resources needed to develop the 55-acre park in the
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see Fire Station page 19
Oakley funds senior meal program
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Editor’s note: This interview with Oakley Mayor Hugh Henderson is part of a series in which local mayors reflect on what they learned in 2025 and what they hope to achieve in the coming year. What was your biggest learning experience as a civic leader in 2025? My biggest learning experience in 2025 was fully realizing how essential teamwork is to creating meaningful, lasting change. Progress doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens when elected officials, staff, residents, and partners work collaboratively toward shared goals. Serving as Vice Mayor gave me a deeper appreciation for the collective effort required to move a city forward.
that residents near the future fire station were “loud and clear” about their dislike of the architecture during a community feedback event the fire district hosted last Nov. 6. Mendoza said that residents expressed interest in the fire station’s design
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council granted city funding to the Cafe Costa meal program at the Oakley Senior Center to make up for county budget shortfalls. Funding of Cafe Costa meal program On July 1, 2025, the Oakley Senior Center began serving lunch four days per week through the county-funded Cafe Costa meal program, eventually growing to 409 meals served to its members per month. In Desee City Council page 19
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Heritage defeats Deer Valley
New state laws for school districts
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