Two Concord City Council members said they support a local social services nonprofit being allowed to remain in a city-owned restored historical house, and not being asked to leave to give a local police volunteer program a new space.
Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano and Councilman Edi Birsan, both members of the city’s Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Community Services Committee, told a large group of supporters of Monument Impact they’ll recommend to the full City Council that Monument Impact be offered a two-year lease — at $1 a month — to keep their main offices in the Keller House on Clayton Road near downtown.
Birsan also said he would help find a new home for the city’s Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) program. The program, whose non-sworn volunteers conduct neighborhood patrols and help with records and
administrative duties, has been dormant since being forced from its Concord Police Department space, at least temporarily, because of a lack of room for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Monument Impact matter came up as part of a city report that supported moving the VIPS program to the Keller House. Monument Impact’s five-year lease for the Keller House expired Friday.
A handful of VIPS volunteers spoke or offered written comment, defending their program. Trish Beirne, Concord’s emergency and volunteer services manager, said VIPS members routinely ask, “How can we get back to helping the community?”
But more than 50 other commenters voiced support for Monument Impact and the myriad services — economic aid, job and technical training, shuttle services, health and nutrition services — it provides for the Monument Corridor’s largely Hispanic and immigrant population.
Several commenters Wednesday said evicting Monument Impact in favor of a police volunteer group flies in the face of what the “defund the police” movement stands for. Some also questioned why no other space could be found for the police volunteers.
A handful of speakers, including Nicole Zapata, went further, saying Monument Impact’s threatened eviction is retaliation for some of the nonprofit’s organizing work, including ongoing tenants’ rights advocacy.
“This feels like a targeted action I can guarantee won’t be taken lightly,” said Zapata, a community organizer with East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy.
Laura Nakamura of Concord praised the work of both the VIPS and of Monument Impact. She asked why this conflict has even come about at all.
“Why are two community service organizations being pitted against one another at this time?” Nakamura asked.
Ultimately, both Aliano and Birsan said they support Monument Impact’s main offices remaining where they are. They said they would recommend to the City Council, probably in September, that Monument Impact be given a new lease.
What in the world is “Monument Impact”?? Never heard of it and is it supposed to provide services for all Concord? If not why not?
Funny how that works, East Bay Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit participating in partisan politics.
Last I checked, a 501(c)3 is Not to be involved in politics or trying to use their tax exempt status to change public policy. This is why churches are usually silent, out of fear of their tax exempt stays being revoked.
You cannot have it both ways.
$1 per month rent. This is not support. This is a partnership. Concord city council is using what should be city rental revenue and forcing us all to support the partisan efforts of a social justice warrior agenda. Against our will. Strong arm tactics executed by activist city council members. I want $1 rent for my business as well. What’s up with that equality?
Absolutely right
yep agree with the above 3
this line says it all ….and what its for ….its not a community
this is another political tactical outpost ….designed to keep the illegals on the teet ….and slaves to democrats
it provides for the Monument Corridor’s largely Hispanic and immigrant population.
if the democrats really cared about illegals they would help make them citizens or throw out bills to help …
unlike weiner dog who just wants to infect people with aids and not go to jail
for it ….
the city council is bias and only works for itself or political power and gain ….using our tax money to grease democrat voters with freebees and abusing anyone not a dem to keep the voters blood vision and focus
on democrats first and only policies
the democrats are the germans and we are la resistance
the occupation is here and real
I’m against any organization with monument in the name.
You so-called rugged individualists who are opposed to social services better hope you never get a reality check and fall on hard times. You are not as independent and self-supporting as you think you are. You might have money to pay for goods and services but it’s other people who provide them, often at low wages and in dangerous conditions. Your $ will do you no good if others aren’t there to prop you up.
@Anonymous2
My money does me and a lot of others a whole lot of good, without YOU OR ANYONE ELSE TO PROP ME UP!!!
Why don’t some of the VERY EMPTY strip malls donate VERY EMPTY space for community good will?
It’s training unskilled labor of “immigrants” and then allowing people to hire these unskilled workers at a baseline price through their day labor program. They also do some advocacy work for immigration (legal and illegal) on the federal level etc.
To be honest, I question that day labor program as I believe they do not perform background checks on workers in the day labor program, nor immigration status.m
Why can’t they share the space?
Why are they fighting over this building??? Look around Concord this pandemic has forced many businesses to close !!!! There should be plenty of open real estate to choose from rather than fighting & wasting tax payer $$
Agree with the comment that so many empty buildings should pony up their facilities as that will keep the homeless possibly from going in and damaging and setting fires. There are to many empty spaces in Contra Costa already.
Maybe the greedy landlords can do something nice for a change.
Police should always get top priority. It’s a community based service unlike a Monument Corridor based service. Grooming future Democrats anyone? They also said the lease was up. Support our community as a whole. Disappointed as usual.
an iota:
I’m in complete agreement with you as to the extreme far right wing direction Claycord.com has taken, and it will be interesting to see if my comments remain, and aren’t deleted.
I wonder just why the VIPs were forced out of the police “palace”, and why they’re now being required to seek other office space. Could it be that most, if not all of them, are senior citizens, who may not fit in with the military like culture of the police department?
It said why they were moved. In order to have the health department mandated social distancing at the building.
“Military like culture”… you clearly never served in the military. Quite frankly i doubt you have served anything but yourself.
What exactly is the “extreme far right wing”? I know exactly what it means. It means anyone who has a different opinion then the communist party. Anyone who doesn’t fall into YOUR groupthink gets the label “far right extremist” Those tired and lazy tactics don’t work on Americans if you haven’t noticed.
So your little group is going after Claycord.com? Your moronic coup has failed and your failure will be on full display when your president is re-elected and your group has yet another meltdown. Guess what nobody cares. Your little games are all played out. Cry, throw things, slam your head on the ground. Nobody cares. You have overstayed your welcome in the mainstream culture. Time to go back in the shadows to meet in secret and plot your next larp “revolution.” You do know communism is still illegal in the USA right comrade?
“…extreme far right wing direction Claycord.com has taken…”???
Wow – better get some more tinfoil for your hat, bubba.
Back to momma’s basement sonny. Then tell her to fix you another Hot Pocket. Guess you’re just one of those unemployed Antifa idiots.
The timing of removing Monument Impact from the building is foolish. This is an organization that helps keep people from living on the street and provides mental health services. As the pandemic goes on and people can’t work, those are the exact services Concord will need. Complain all you want but it won’t change that we don’t need people on the street spreading the virus. Seniors and people with underlying health conditions don’t need to come into contact with more people who have lost their homes. When you get take out food or need medicine from target, you want to know those workers’ families can practice safety measures to keep from getting the essential workers sick. Most of the VIPS work is on hold – tours of the police station, monitoring large events like the music in Todos Santos, etc. Those services are not currently needed and can be monitored by just a few individuals from the FIVE STORY police station – or, those volunteers could temporarily transition to services in other organizations that are needed. But most foolish of all – Monument Impact gets donations that are not just taxpayer money. If you interrupt these services right when needed, the people in need aren’t going to disappear, and you will be paying for these at county and city facilities,jails, and hospitals with 100% taxpayer money. Dumb and dumber.
Right again, Hope. Thank you for always “doing your homework” and sharing important information with the citizens of Concord.
As usual, it’s all about the Monument corridor, is that the only area of Concord. I never hear anything about the Clayton Rd corridor, or the Willow Pass. Corridor
or how bout the Treat Bl Corridor, or maybe the Te
Thornwood corridor.
Why don’t you just take over a few more hotels and motels? Oh, I forgot because you already took them over and filled the with addicts, drunks and illegals and give the free dope and booze.
Anyone that votes Democrap is a brain-damaged commie.
‘
Quit sucking on that union teet Marky, I hope you choke on your forked tongue in your sleep tonight Ol’Marky boy!!!!! X100
Roll Coal ol’boy roll coal.
Sounds like if the City can rent space for a $1.00 a month there is no reason to extend and increase the $.01 City tax. Please vote no on extending and increasing what was a temporary tax.