East Contra Costa News

Washington, D.C. – On April 18, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that he advanced 15 projects for consideration by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations that total over $30.5 million in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process. The projects selected would help to address homelessness and the high cost of living, improve transportation systems and infrastructure, bolster public safety, protect the environment, and expand access to quality education. Each year Congress provides Member-directed federal funding to a select number of Community Projects through the appropriations process. Under this process, each House member is allowed to submit 15 project requests on behalf of their Congressional District to the Appropriations Committee that meet the criteria set forth by the Committee.

“Whether by lowering everyday costs for families, increasing access to public spaces, or by making our communities safer, these projects will each have a meaningful impact on the daily lives of people across our district,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I am grateful to our cities and local organizations for their advocacy and partnership in advancing these projects, and I will fight for them through each step of the process.”

“We appreciate Congressman DeSaulnier’s leadership and work to secure federal funding to protect the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta by restoring 645 acres of habitat in East Contra Costa County. Funding for the Knightsen Wetland Restoration Project will protect and restore natural resources, improve Delta water quality, and increase local resilience to storm events in the community of Knightsen,” said Supervisor John Gioia, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

“The Concord shelter is a crucial hub for Contra Costa residents experiencing homelessness, providing both warm beds and a connection to services,” said Contra Costa Health (CCH) Chief Executive Officer Anna Roth. “The county has worked hard to improve and grow resources to help people who lose their housing get back on their feet. Having a partner like Congressman DeSaulnier is vital to that effort. We are grateful for his unwavering support and advocacy on behalf of some of our community's most vulnerable residents.”“The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) is thrilled that our Hydrogen Fueling Station Expansion Project is on the list for consideration as part of the United States House Appropriations Committee’s Community Project Funding solicitation,” said Alameda County Supervisor and LAVTA Board Chair David Haubert. “This project represents critical infrastructure needed to operate future zero-emissions buses and to meet the growing transportation needs of Tri-Valley residents.”

“I want to thank Congressman DeSaulnier for selecting our Situational Awareness Camera project for Community Project Funding,” said Melissa Hernandez, Mayor of the City of Dublin. “This money will help to fund new situational awareness cameras near our community parks and schools, which will ensure that Dublin Police have the necessary tools and technology to help reduce crime and keep our community safe.”

“The City is very appreciative that Congressman DeSaulnier is requesting federal funds towards Lafayette’s West Reach Creek Public Access Project. The site is the gateway to the western edge of downtown Lafayette and a heavily used pedestrian walkway to the much-loved Lafayette Reservoir. This important project will provide creekbank erosion control and restoration on a City-owned site along Lafayette Creek by creating raingardens and a new pervious walkway featuring overlooks with viewing areas of the creek, seating and interpretive signage to educate about improving climate change resilience,” said Carl Anduri, Mayor of the City of Lafayette.

“The one-of-a-kind park made possible by the appropriation provided by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier will be jewel to the Oakley community and will be enjoyed by all for years to come,” said Aaron Meadows, Mayor of the City of Oakley.

“On behalf of the City of San Ramon, I would like to thank Congressman DeSaulnier for his support of our Intelligent Transportation System and Citywide Communications Infrastructure Project, which creates numerous opportunities to benefit residents and our business community through a citywide, publicly-owned fiber optic network,” said Mark Armstrong, Vice Mayor of the City of San Ramon.

“We are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier's continued support for Walnut Creek and the broader community,” said Cindy Silva, Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek. “Because Ygnacio Valley Road is a core thoroughfare for residents far beyond our city boundaries, the rehabilitation work will have huge benefits. Likewise, the radio system is a critical piece of Central Contra Costa County's ability to ensure public safety. Upgrading the radios will improve the ability to save lives.”

“We are deeply honored that our Gunshot Detection Technology (ShotSpotter) freeway expansion plan was selected by Rep. DeSaulnier and his team as an essential community project for funding. The City of Antioch has battled persistent violent crime and ShotSpotter, as a security measure, will assist in alerting Antioch Police personnel of all incidents of gunfire in our jurisdiction. The expansion of ShotSpotter to our freeways supports APD in achieving our goal of leveraging technology to support an evidence-based response and investigation of violent crime, with the overarching goal of successfully combating gun-related violence in our community,” said Steven A. Ford, Chief of the Antioch Police Department.

“Habitat for Humanity is grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s advocacy of our work in Walnut Creek. This funding would make a huge impact on our ability to complete this neighborhood of 42 affordable homes. It would help bring a thriving, environmentally sustainable neighborhood to fruition, and make homeownership achievable for families priced out of the market. Legislative leaders and champions like Congressman DeSaulnier are critical to Habitat’s work in service to the community,” said Janice Jensen, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley.

“MCE's funding request to support home electrification will remove barriers to participation and allow hundreds of income-qualified customers to reduce their energy costs and create healthier, safer homes. MCE appreciates Rep. DeSaulnier's partnership in supporting residents to reduce the impacts of climate change and build cleaner, greener, and more equitable communities,” said Dawn Weisz, Chief Executive Officer of Marin Clean Energy (MCE).

“This critically needed funding will help build capacity across Contra Costa County to more effectively identify and respond to youth who are experiencing commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking,” said Leticia Galyean, Chief Executive Officer of Seneca Family of Agencies. “Thanks to Congressman DeSaulnier’s leadership and support, we will be able to develop the resources and system coordination needed to combat this urgent and often invisible issue in our community.”

“We are grateful that Congressman DeSaulnier supports and uplifts the children, youth, and families of the Monument Corridor in Concord, California,” said Chris Iglesias, CEO of the Unity Council. “This federal allocation will allow The Unity Council to purchase and build a Head Start & Early Head Start Preschool Facility for over 252 low-income children in the community. The federal government’s allocation and the Unity Council's proven ability to leverage large investments for maximum impact will guarantee that free early childhood education remains a vital resource for the Concord community for decades to come.”“Zone 7 Water Agency is thrilled to be considered for federal funding to construct a PFAS treatment facility at the Chain of Lakes wellfield. PFAS are a significant concern in our community and the treatment facility will help ensure continued access to safe and reliable water. We appreciate Representative DeSaulnier’s efforts to secure partial funding for this critical project,” said Valerie Pryor, General Manager of Zone 7 Water Agency.

The 15 projects Congressman DeSaulnier advanced to the Appropriations Committee for consideration are:

Homelessness and High Cost of Living Projects:

• $1,431,222 forthe Concord Shelter and Service Center Roofing Project for Contra Costa Health Servicesto replace the roof and skylights at a homeless shelter facility to ensure safe, comfortable living conditions for program recipients.
• $3,500,000 for the Esperanza Place Phase 2 Project for Habitat for Humanity to build 19 affordable housing units, community space, play areas, and a bike locker and private yard for every unit near the Pleasant Hill BART station.

Transportation and Infrastructure Projects:

• $2,500,000 for the Hydrogen Fueling Station Expansion Project to add a second hydrogen fueling tank, allowing the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority to fuel its entire fleet.
• $2,000,000 for the San Ramon Intelligent Transportation System and Citywide Communications Infrastructure Project to build out a publicly-owned, citywide fiber optic network for use by businesses and residences, as well as smart traffic signals, city facilities, and license plate reader cameras.
• $3,600,000 for the Ygnacio Valley Road Rehabilitation Project for the City of Walnut Creek to repave the roadway between Oak Grove Road and the city limits and to implement traffic safety improvements to maintain the roadway pavement and improve overall traffic safety.

Public Safety Projects:

• $740,000 for the Antioch Gunshot Detection Technology Project to help protect against gun violence by adding an additional five linear miles of gunshot detection technology on the freeways within the Antioch Police Department’s jurisdiction.
• $198,000 for the Situational Awareness Cameras Project for the City of Dublin to increase community safety through the purchase and installation of situational awareness cameras near public parks and schools.
• $1,500,000 for the Public Safety Radio Replacement Project to upgrade the City of Walnut Creek’s radio equipment to improve communication between public safety jurisdictions in the East Bay in emergency response situations.

Environmental Projects:

• $3,500,000 for the Chain of Lakes PFAS Treatment Facility Project for the Zone 7 Water Agencyto construct a treatment system to remove harmful PFAS chemicals from groundwater in the Tri-Valley.
• $1,510,000 for the Enrico Cinquini Park Construction Project to build a new park in Oakley with a natural turf field, a covered picnic and barbeque area, restrooms, an enhanced playground, and parking lot.
• $1,672,000 for the Marin Clean Energy Enabling Electrification Project to create a dedicated fund to support income-qualified customers who need, but cannot afford, prehabilitation work on their home to install electrification technologies, including heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, induction cooktops, battery storage systems, electric vehicle chargers, and more.
• $2,000,000 for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta One Water InitiativeKnightsen Wetland Restoration Project for Contra Costa County to work in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore the Knightsen Wetland habitat.
• $900,000 for the West Reach Creek Access Project to increase access to West Reach Creek in Lafayette through a new dirt path and to restore native wildlife habitat.

Education and Youth Services Projects:

• $450,000 for the Contra Costa Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children Navigators Capacity Building Initiative Project for the Seneca Family of Agencies to help law enforcement protect children from exploitation by bridging systems gaps and increasing coordination among police departments, the probation system, juvenile courts and judges, behavioral health partners, child welfare partners, and community-based organizations.
• $5,000,000 for the Monument Corridor Head Start and Early Head Start Preschool Facility Project for the Spanish Speaking Unity Councilof Alameda County to expand access to quality, affordable education through the acquisition of land and construction of a new facility.

Project selection and submissions is the first stage of the process for Community Project Funding. The projects are subject to a strict transparency and accountability process, which is detailed here by the Appropriations Committee. Examples of this vetting include certifying that Members have no financial interest in these projects, an audit of a sampling of these projects by the Government Accountability Office, and a requirement for demonstrated community support and engagement for each submission. More information on each project and the certifications of no financial interest can be found here.

Original source can be found here