The WTF California Podcast

On this episode of WTF California, I chat with Nina Carter of Bonafide Sisterhood and the raw deal she received from the City of Antioch. I am joined by Attorney Amy Hilton as we go through what transpired and documentation showcased Antioch did not operate in good faith. Once Carter pulled her grant application, at the request of Antioch to come work with them, after getting $1.7 million in CalVIP program to help prevent community violence, Antioch led Carter and her organization down a hamster wheel of conversation never leading anywhere and eventually shut her out of the $693k she would have received in their portion of the grant.

Meanwhile, with lack of funding now coming in, Bonafide Sisterhood has had to give up their office space and is now working remote. Carter says Antioch is not serious about violence prevention and says they are a reactionary city, not proactive when it comes to violence.

On this episode of WTF California, a conversation with Hugh Henderson who is running for Oakley City Council in District 2. We talk about his top priority which is public safety and what that means to him. We get into development and where he is at with this whole moratorium commentary by Councilmember George Fuller. We talk E Cypress Road expansion, economic development and more.

 

For more on Hugh Henderson, visit him on Facebook.

On this episode of WTF California, I chat with Sandra White who is a candidate for Antioch City Council in District 4. We recap the recent Antioch City Council meeting and how women should be speaking up against sexual harassment and sexual assault. She also pushes back against statements made by Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker regarding her involvement over the past two years in the city. She calls on Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe to resign, calls for an open process on hiring the next city manager and urges the release of the police body camera footage involving councilwoman Torres-Walker. We talk Antioch Police and how to improve public safety, improve traffic safety while going over the embarrassing staffing levels at city hall which include economic development and public works.  We get into how to actually solve homelessness versus throwing money at it, rent control policy, cannabis and more as she aims to build a better Antioch.

For more on Sandra White, visit her at www.sandrawhiteforcitycouncil.com or on Facebook

On this episode of WTF California, I chat with Antioch City Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, who basically got gerrymandered out of District 3. She is now running for District 4. We get into why she is seeking another term on the city council, public safety, economic development. She reiterates that she believes Mayor Lamar Thorpe should resign after sexual harassment claims. Believes they should move to an open and transparent process in hiring the city manager. We get into road safety, youth services, veterans, senior services and many other items.

 

For more information on Ogorchock, visit her on Facebook.

On this episode of WTF California, a chat with Shawn Pickett who is running for District 4 Antioch City Council. As retired Richmond Police Lieutenant, we talk why he is running for city council from crime, lack of a code of conduct, city beautification, a need for safer streets and more.

This interview goes 90-minutes where Pickett says Mayor Lamar Thorpe should resign, the Antioch Police body camera footage in Tamisha Torres-Walker should be released and we talk comments made by Monica Wilson in a recent East Bay Times Article. He also calls for an open process in hiring the next city manager. He also talks about the need to work with Antioch Unified School District—is it a test score problem or a community problem. We close on what “building a better Antioch” actually means to him.

For more on Pickett, visit him at www,pickett4council.squarespace.com or on Facebook.

On this episode of WTF California, a chat with Diane Gibson-Gray who is running for District 1 Antioch City Council. She said she is tired and fed up of how the city is being run and the divisiveness occurring--she says "enough is enough". We talk homeless hotel, city manager hiring, police department and public safety to school resource officers. She also says the city should be focused on mentoring with a hand-up approach versus a hand-out approach to programs and offerings. She also discusses the need for the city and Antioch Unified School District to work together while highlighting it will be hard to attract business and growth if the city doesn't clean up its image. For more on Diane Gibson-Gray, visit her at www.dianegibsongray.com or on Facebook

On this episode of WTF California, a chat with Joy Motts who is running for District 1 Antioch City Council. We get into how the city is being run and if she agrees with the direction. Motts shares her thoughts on the hiring of a city manager and police chief. We get into where she is at with Mayor Lamar Thorpe and if she would vote with him 99% of the time again if elected. We get into homeless hotel and possible solutions, economic development, stop the divisiveness coming out of the council, economic development and the Beede Lumber Yard. We also talk a little bit about Celebrate Antioch Foundation.

 

For more information on Joy Motts, visit her at www.joymotts.org.

On this episode of WTF California, a chat with Tony Oerlemans who is running for District 4 Brentwood city Council.  He talks about why he is running for city council after being a Brentwood Police Officer and then going to San Francisco Police, including his thoughts on Antioch Police Chief Dr. Steve Ford. We talk about his thoughts on the Brentwood Police Department and how he would like to see more support to officers with a discussion on recruiting. He talks growth, supporting small business, open space overlay and how council meetings are being run.

For more information about Tony Oerlemans, visit him at www.facebook.com/Oerlemans4Brentwood

On this episode of WTF California, a chat with Holley Bishop-Lopez who is running for Brentwood City Council, District 4. We get into the Freedom Rally and how she did it to support the opening of local businesses, we also clear the air on other items of interest as well. Holley explains how politicians are not listening to the public and how the country as a whole has gone from “we the people” to politicians with investors. She says she will bring a voice of reason back to the Brentwood City council to preserve Brentwood and provides her thoughts on public safety, building, economic development and more.

 

For more information about Holley Bishop-Lopez, visit her Facebook Group.

On this episode of WTF California, a chat with Patanisha Davis Pierson who is running for Brentwood City Council, District 2. She talks about her background as an attorney and being a Pro Tem Judge with the Contra Costa County Superior Courts. She talks about the need to promote public safety, increase job opportunities, becoming a more collaborative community while also needing more beautification projects in District 2. We get into how council meetings are being ran into the early hours of the morning, the need for youth services and bringing more community resources to the area.

 

For more information: www,patanishapierson.com