October Outreach

Congresssman John Garamendi (second from left) drew a crowd to Cerrito Vista Park on Oct. 4.

At two different outreach events in El Cerrito last week, Congressman John Garamendi and Supervisor John Gioia each asked constituents to help them with work they said will make life better for people in the community.

On Saturday (Oct. 4) at Cerrito Vista Park, Congressman John Garamendi encouraged a crowd of about 50 people who were about to walk door to door for Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act.

On Thursday (Oct. 2) at St. Peter CME Church, County Supervisor John Gioia asked for ideas on how to make the best use of $1 million in county funding to improve economic and health equity in his West Contra Costa district.

Congressman at Cerrito Vista

Garamendi and his wife, Patty, spoke to a crowd of about 50 people who were there to pick up walk lists and flyers for the Yes on 50 campaign. If Prop 50 passes, it’s expected to create five more Democratic congressional districts in California.

Five more Democratic majority districts in California would offset the five new Republican congressional districts approved in August by the Texas legislature, he said.

To accomplish this, Prop 50 would temporarily suspend California’s independent redistricting commission until the next census in 2030. Current districts would be replaced by new maps approved by the California Legislature. The new maps can be viewed here.

Garamendi said that nobody likes suspending the independent commission, but it’s necessary for Democrats to win a majority in the House and counter Trump’s power. “We’re in a different world now. Prop 50 and the new districts are what we have to do.”

Volunteers Jay and Melinda McNamara of El Sobrante said, “We are no on Trump. Every vote is going to count."

Although the official date of the special election is Nov. 4, vote-by-mail ballots will go out Monday (Oct. 6).

Yes on 50 Campaign Focus

The Yes on 50 campaign will focus on getting the Democratic vote out through phone banking and sending volunteers door to door, said Jamin Pursell.

“We want to have one on one conversations with people,” he said. “People love phone banking as opposed to text banking. People want to know it’s a real person.”

Patti Garamendi said her husband is a strong voice in Congress, “but we have to have the votes in Congress to stop what they’re trying to do.”

She said Trump has dramatically changed Washington, D.C. to the point that even volunteer work on once-bipartisan causes like cancer prevention is a challenge. Republicans don’t want to get on the wrong side of Trump, she said.

“There’s a lot of good people but they’re all intimidated right now,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Kim Lee (standing at left) speaks about economic and health equity at St. Peter CME Church on Oct. 2.

How to Spend $1 Million

Supervisor Gioia is holding five Town Hall meetings on how to spend $1 million to address economic and health disparities in his West Contra Costa district.

Gioia held one of the meetings at the only predominantly black church in El Cerrito, St. Peter CME Church, on Oct. 2. He said the county has $5 million in leftover funds from Covid relief federal funding, and each of the five county supervisors will have $1 million to allocate to programs and projects in their respective districts.

More Possible Funding

In addition to the $1 million, Gioia said input at the Town Halls could influence how other funds are spent.

Another future funding source for West County is $36 million in penalties and fines assessed by the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) against the Chevron Richmond Refinery. Gioia serves on the board, which he said recently voted to spend 80% of penalties and fines over $1 million in the community where those fees were assessed. The BAAD will be accepting applications for grants under this fund starting in January 2026.

“What you’re saying to me tonight I will think about as these issues come up,” Gioia said.

Early Mentorship for Medical Careers

A crowd of about 50 people filled the St. Peter Church meeting room on Oct. 2.

Dr. Brazell Carter, president of the Robinson Scholarship Foundation, said the group has provided more than $200,000 in scholarships to students from the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

He said the group raised most of the money through community events and wants more funding to introduce science education in elementary schools and inspire students to consider medicine as a career.

Michelle Jackson also advocated for science education and the early mentorship of future doctors, preferably at Stege Elementary School when it is rebuilt.

“We want to make sure Stege is a STEM school with a medical emphasis and a partnership with Contra Costa College,” Jackson said.

Black Wealth Builders Fund

Susan Russell, a co-founder of the Black Wealth Builders Fund, said the organization has made 46 loans to first-time homebuyers since 2022 and wants to do more.

Russell said the group was founded by members of the Arlington Community Church in Kensington after the murder of George Floyd.

“We’ve raised a lot of money and given away what we’ve raised,” Russell said.

Black Excellence Coalition

Pastor Darnell Jones advocated for supporting the Black Excellence Coalition which, he said, provides mentorship for youth.

Antoine Cloird also supported funding the Black Excellence Coalition and said, “Our economic priority is health and wellness that can affect our community moving forward.”

Kim Jones said having funds available for equity and improving health outcomes is a great opportunity.

“This doesn’t happen often,” Jones said. “We should be thinking big about this.”

Gioia's last Town Hall meeting on the topic will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 9 at San Pablo City Hall.