12 Apr Antioch Mayor Convenes State Leaders on ‘Big City Problems’

Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal, from left, California Treasurer Fiona Ma and state Sen. Tim Grayson spoke at an April 3 town hall. (Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

Antioch is facing what Mayor Ron Bernal calls “big city problems” when it comes to economic development, homelessness and transit. Two of the state’s highest-ranking officials who represent the city — state Sen. Tim Grayson and treasurer Fiona Ma — say that some help is there to support local jurisdictions, but change has to happen too.

Bernal facilitated a city-sponsored town hall with Grayson and Ma on April 3 to discuss how the state is involved in some solutions to the city’s problems and what else might be coming.

Problems Bernal said were at the top of his mind were the costs of affordable housing and the city’s large homeless population. Bernal, who took office back in December 2024 on a platform that prioritized homelessness, has overseen the application for a Homekey+ program (which he voted against) and attempts to house dozens of people on cold nights in place of a warming center.

Providing shelter alone is “the low-hanging fruit,” said Grayson.

Rather, he continued, people need comprehensive wraparound services, mental health services, workforce training, health coverage, “and all of those coming together.”

The proposed Homekey+ project at the former Comfort Inn on Mahogany Way, which is partially state-funded, would offer both shelter and supportive services to clients. The city already has Opportunity Village, also a former hotel, that provides wraparound services to those who used to live at the Sunset/DevPar homeless encampment.

Bernal said that building housing for residents who may not yet be homeless can also be challenging because of the cost that cities have to pay instead of developers. Fees meant to help fund services and infrastructure for new residents, known as impact fees, are exempt from affordable housing projects, for example.

“What that does is it places part of the burden on the local government to absorb some of that,” said Bernal.

Ma and Grayson touted pieces of legislation they’re sponsoring that they suggested might ease some of that burden.

Ma, along with state Sen. Anna Caballero, who represents parts of Fresno and Merced counties, is sponsoring a bill that would create a fund for infrastructure projects across the state.

Grayson’s bill could mean that cities and developers, who he said currently have an adversarial relationship, would become partners in the process of building affordable housing. If passed, that bill would have a city and a developer collaborate and then go to the state for funding. The city, and not the developer, would get the funding, said Grayson.

“It can make the project pencil out,” said Grayson, referring to the funding paying for fees and improvements that the developer is exempt from.

Workforce development, Bernal said, is another important piece for the city because of the number of students getting out of school. According to an analysis by Beacon Economics, job growth in the county has “slowed sharply and has now turned negative.” But the county has seen gains in the healthcare industry that outpace the state’s increases.

A chunk of East Contra Costa commuters could be hurt by the uncertainty around public transportation in the region. BART and Tri Delta Transit, which serve the city, both face deficits and are hoping a countywide sales tax will be placed on the November ballot and pass. Antioch’s Amtrak station is also planned for closure next year.

But there are some opportunities for workforce development nearby — programs through the city itself, local organizations and Los Medanos College. Ma said more needs to be done across the state to increase pathways for those that are not able to go to a four-year college.

“Too many of them are taking a gap year right now because they can’t find a job. That is not acceptable. We need to do more to create those pathways and go back to working with your hands, understanding what some of these jobs are because they are good-paying jobs,” said Ma.

Grayson said that the Green Empowerment Zone, an effort to grow clean energy, in part, through workforce development and other partnerships is part of “doing everything we can to keep Contra Costa County economically viable and strong.”

For residents who want to build a business themselves, there are resources to help. Ma shared a packet of such resources for small businesses and families that outlines state grants, tax breaks and loans to support them.

City Council member Monica Wilson will also host a meet-and-greet with state and city leaders this week. Wilson and Grayson will be joined by Assemblymember Anamarie Avila-Faris, city manager Bessie Scott, chief of police Joe Vigil and other department heads.

Wilson’s meet-and-greet will take place Thursday at International Barbershop, 4629 Golf Course Road, from 6-7:30 p.m.