Monday, May 25th
Observing Memorial Day From The Press
Vol. 28, No. 21
YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS SOURCE | WWW.THEPRESS.NET
May 22, 2026
‘The state of our city is strong’ Oakley Brentwood highlights diversity, good finances By Connor Robles Correspondent
In the low light of the nearly full Delta Theater, roughly 100 residents and officials from across Brentwood watched their city’s 2026 State of the City video. The presentation painted a picture of a vibrant and thriving Brentwood, and lauded the city’s diversity, balanced budget, and welcoming atmosphere. The night began with a short video celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Harvest Time farming association, which serves as a bridge between local U-pick farms, farmstands, and consumers, that thanked Brentwood’s people for choosing local produce and supporting the city’s agricultural heritage. Mayor Susannah Meyer then took the stage, praising Harvest
Photo by Connor Robles
Mayor Susannah Meyer invited residents to join them at the Delta Theater on May 18 for the annual State of the City address. Time and opening a public comment session, in which the only comment was one from a resident expressing concern regarding City Manager Harold Duffey’s implication in a texting scandal from his time in Oakland. After public comments, Meyer gave recognition to her fellow coun-
cilmembers and members of city staff who were in attendance at the address, before leaving the stage to make way for the main video. In the video, Meyer said that “the state of our city is strong,” and highlighted the diversity of its residents, the opportunities afforded to everyone, and the capability of the city’s lead-
ers, as well as Brentwood’s commitment to accessibility and the business events that the city has hosted, including Bizcon. “Take a look at the vibrant community we have become,” Meyer said in the video. “Brentwood has grown into a city with an exceptional quality of life. We are surrounded by beautiful parks, growing businesses, and modern amenities that bring people together.” Vice Mayor Pa’tanisha Pierson highlighted Brentwood’s “wellmaintained infrastructure” and regular city services. “At a time when many cities contract out essential services, Brentwood remains proud to be a full-service city, maintaining and delivering high-quality services,” Pierson said. “In 2025, our team swept more than 15,000 miles of streets, removed 1,500 square feet of graffiti, delivered 3.7 billion gallons of drinking water, expanded wastewater treatment capacity see Brentwood page 22
Brentwood City Manager Duffey implicated in Oakland texting scandal City ‘discussing options’ for next steps By Jake Menez Staff Writer
Brentwood City Manager Harold Duffey faces uncertainty in his role following news that he has been implicated in a texting scandal during his time working in Oakland. According to Mayor Susannah Meyer, the city is “discussing options” of how to proceed. “We are following protocols,” she said of the situation, but noted that the city has not reached a decision on next steps. As of press time, the City Attorney’s office had not replied Briefs.................................................... 15 Calendar.............................................. 14
Classifieds........................................... 17 Food........................................................ 6
To subscribe, visit www.thepress.net/subscribe
Get The Press App! Local News ~ On Demand
Service • Repair • Installation
SI
ER MEDAL LV D
D SI
AWAR
G
D OL
AL
AWARD
DG
THE PRESS R E D MEDA O O LN T WL O
AWARD
THE PRESS Y OA KEDLALE M LD THE PRESS OAWARD Y OLA E DM KDLALE O AWARD THE PRESS Y OA K LE THE PRESS Y OA K LE
G
FAIRVIEW HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC.
AWAR
THE PRESS R E D MEDA O O WL OLN T D AWAR THE PRESS OA EY EDL MK
B
15 % OFF
ER MEDAL LV D
2025 20 2025 20 20244 20 20244 20 20233 20 20222 20 20211
B
SAVE NOW
REPAIRS OVER $100
Contractor’s Lic. #533790 C-20
925-625-4963 • www.fairviewair.com
|
They also review infrastructure projects, and a liquor license By Connor Robles Correspondent
To the applause of people inside the City Council chamber, the Oakley Planning Commission unanimously approved a design review and variance for the Oakley Library and Community Center at their May 19 meeting. The current design, slightly altered from earlier phases, contains 500 square feet of additional interior space, allowing for larger areas specifically for children and teenagers within the library and bringing the total size of the project to 13,030 square feet, with 12,015 square feet contained within the building and the rest being covered outdoor space. The commission also went over various infrastructure projects contained in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan and reviewed a possible liquor license for a store at 2603 Main St. That caused controversy among the residents of the senior apartment complex next to the store. Oakley Library design review and variance approval The new Oakley Library and Community Center’s design process began in May of 2025, after two years of ramping up efforts see Oakley page 22
see Duffey page 22
Milestones............................................ 9 Opinion................................................ 10
G
|
to a request for comment detailing protocols. The news follows the resignation of Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson on May 17. According to a statement by Oakland
G
Serving East County
DUFFEY
Mayor Barbara Lee, Johnson tendered his resignation in the wake of “certain degrading and unprofessional communications” involving Johnson that were brought to Lee’s attention on May 15. According to Oakland-based publication The Oaklandside, many of these texts were those exchanged between Johnson and Duffey. “We promptly conducted our own investigation and verified these communications, which are wholly incompatible with the values of this administration and those of the people of Oakland,” Lee explained. “Under my watch, I will not tolerate transgressions of this nature.” The text messages, which were made public on May 12 on Oakland’s public records portal,
planners approve library design
Pets......................................................... 7 Sports................................................... 11
To advertise, call 634-1441
Liberty softball gets playoff spark
Students receive county honor
Page 11
Page 4