15 Jul Q&A: Torres Leaves Ambrose Parks Board, Bay Point Advisory Council After Move

“People in West Pittsburg/Bay Point need to understand that without their civic engagement, things will never get done,” Eduardo Torres, who grew up in Bay Point, told the Pulse in 2022. (Photo by Janitzia Rodriguez)

Interview, Malcolm Marshall

Lifelong Bay Point resident Eduardo Torres has stepped down from his position as Ambrose Recreation and Park District board director. He had been with the district since December 2020. Torres also resigned from the Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council, to which he was appointed by then-Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover in February 2024.

Torres recently moved out of Bay Point, and both positions are now open to community members interested in stepping up. Information is available online on the process to find his park district replacement. He spoke with Contra Costa Pulse about his time on the board, his vision for Bay Point’s future, and what’s next for him. The interview has been edited lightly for clarity. 

Contra Costa Pulse: When you look back on your time on the board, what’s the issue where you feel you made the biggest impact? 

Eduardo Torres: Bringing the voice of the community and equity as part of the conversations, whatever that looked like, in our decisions. I think sometimes people get into these positions, whether they’re on boards or councils, and forget that they’re there to represent the community.

If anything, I feel like one of the biggest things I brought was a direct connection between the community and the board — often speaking truth to what was being expressed to me by Bay Point residents.

CC Pulse: How have you seen Bay Point’s community involvement change during your time?

ET: I think I’ve seen more engagement, but that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be more. There absolutely should be. I was only in the position a short time, and while I got to know the regular faces at meetings, I felt like those folks underrepresented our broader community. There just isn’t enough participation from residents, and that needs to change.

But for the people that did have concerns or questions, I made myself very accessible. Those individuals were engaged. In those instances, people actually showed up and participated in this process of government. But one-and-done doesn’t get things done, we need consistency from residents asking for change.

There are still a lot of things in the community that need attention and aren’t being discussed.

CC Pulse: Given the challenges residents face — like the lack of a high school, public safety concerns and limited economic opportunities — what does the future hold for Bay Point?

ET: I think the future of Bay Point is really in the hands of the residents. But my personal opinion is that Bay Point needs to be annexed by Pittsburg. We’re West Pittsburg. We have close ties historically and geographically to Pittsburg, and we’ve seen how that city has grown while we’ve remained stuck without support.

Quite frankly, being in the position I’ve been in, I can say: It’s not working. The county isn’t helping us. The school district isn’t helping us. So what are we doing?

Also, the name Bay Point itself is geographically and historically inaccurate. The Bay Point that once existed was somewhere else, not where we currently are. We’re with Pittsburg. So let’s be part of Pittsburg. What are we holding on to?

CC Pulse: Is that an unpopular opinion?

ET: I’ve talked to enough people to know that most people seem to be in favor of it. Many wonder why we haven’t already been annexed. Some ask why we haven’t become a city. Of course, there are economic reasons; we don’t have the tax revenue to support our own city government. That’s left us in the situation where we have 20,000 people living in the largest unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, sandwiched between cities and the delta.

The only opposition I’ve heard has been from some older residents who probably fought to make West Pittsburg happen years ago, but it didn’t. So I don’t know what we’re still holding onto.

CC Pulse: What initially inspired you to get involved with the Ambrose Recreation and Park District?

ET: Life experiences, absolutely. Growing up in the 1970s and ’80s, the park system shaped a lot of us. It gave us outlets for baseball, for sports, for community gatherings.

So when I saw what looked like disinvestment in our parks, that concerned me. Even though I don’t have kids, my friends and family do. I wanted to make sure their kids could have the same experiences we had. I wanted our parks to be healthy, accessible and high-quality.

Too often, I saw people going to other cities just to enjoy their parks. I thought, why aren’t we staying here and enjoying our own? That’s what motivated me.

CC Pulse: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a board director and how did you address them?

ET: There was probably some tension at first because I was such a strong advocate for parks and had already been organizing in the community. I think that maybe it was seen as a threat by some on the board.

Early on, it was hard to get some things considered, even things clearly for the community’s benefit. But credit to my colleagues: we eventually learned how to work together. We made decisions with good intentions for the community.

I hope they understand now that my passion came from wanting to see Bay Point thrive. It wasn’t about personal attacks. It was about equity, making sure we got our fair share and the best parks possible.

I’m an organizer and an advocate. For people unfamiliar with the difference between that and being an elected official, it can come off as aggressive. But that’s just my passion. Whatever position I’m in, I’m going to speak for the people. Sometimes that rubs people the wrong way or makes people feel that I’m being aggressive when, in reality, I’m just being very passionate about my community. I want us to win.

CC Pulse: What advice would you offer to the next generation of board leaders and community advocates?

ET: I’d say, always remember where you come from. Bay Point has been underfunded, underappreciated, and overlooked for a long time. We’ve never gotten the respect or inclusion we deserve.

So it’s important to be vocal, really vocal. Stand up, get on your soapbox, and demand what we need. Funders and organizations consistently overlook us. That’s why it’s so important to speak loudly everywhere you go.

Wherever I went, I brought Bay Point with me. That needs to continue. Too often, people get into positions like this and get complacent, like the job is done once they’re elected. But it’s never done.

You have to keep advocating, building relationships, and looking for opportunities. Without real ties to the community, you’re not going to accomplish much. So just stay rooted, stay loud, and always advocate for Bay Point. We need all the help we can get.

 CC Pulse: What’s next for Eduardo Torres?

ET: To be continued. Honestly, I don’t know what’s next. Right now, I’m focused on my life, thinking about the next five to 10 years and where things go from here.

I don’t have plans to run for office again anytime soon. I don’t see myself jumping into anything unless it involves advocacy and organizing, which I’ll never stop doing. So I see it as less about what’s next for me and more about what’s next for the community.