Reflecting on Antioch’s 150-year history during his Sesquicentennial State of the City address, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe spoke of change in this once-sleepy river town that has now become one of the fastest-growing cities in the Bay Area.
Speaking from the City Council’s newly remodeled chambers at the address this week, the city’s 41st mayor and second African-American mayor, pointed to the city’s racial diversity and the opportunity it now affords to people of all backgrounds.
“As throughout our history, the power of diverse communities working together has always been at the heart and soul of what has led to long-term success,” he said. “And, for those who are uncomfortable with change, this has never been about forgetting any of you.
“On the contrary, this has always been about giving others the opportunity to enjoy what you currently enjoy while being able to add their perspectives to the conversation.”
Thorpe, who was elected mayor in 2020, said some of those new perspectives come from people such as homeless advocates who have been working to secure homes for the unhoused, youths who mobilized against police brutality, as well as parents who reminded leaders to include children of all abilities in their park and recreation plans.
“These are a few examples of voices and perspectives that have historically been shut out of City Hall,” he said. “Let me assure you and others that as long as I am the mayor – and I will be the mayor for the next three years – that there is a place for you in this chamber.”
Thorpe said the state of the city, on its 150th birthday, “is as strong as it can be.”
“We’ve never had so much resolve to get things done as we have today,” he said, thanking his council colleagues and city staff for their hard work.
Thorpe pointed to accomplishments such as police reform, which enjoyed a mostly bipartisan support, the acquisition of police body cameras and vehicle cameras, improved hiring practices and training for police, and the banning of restraint techniques that can cause positional asphyxiation.
He also marked the city’s “many wins,” such as its historic apology for the discriminatory practices toward its early Chinese residents as well as beautification efforts and climate change policies and more.
Though typically a time to rattle off accomplishments, the mayor said he is “not your typical mayor and these are not typical times.”
“In order for Antioch to become a city where economic growth, job creation, business, entrepreneurship thrive, we have to get public safety in order,” he said. “And that starts with focusing on our most vulnerable populations and building a quality police force.”
Thorpe said in the past the city “spent millions of your tax dollars chasing (homeless) human beings from corner to corner knowing that there was nowhere for them to go.”
“Regardless of how many programs are out there, the rate of success was low because we couldn’t offer our most vulnerable residents temporary stability in the form of housing,” he said.
That changed this week with the decision to move forward with plans to seek state Homekey Program funding to build transitional housing, he said.
“The Executive Inn, with the appropriate wraparound services, will become a reality (as transitional housing) this year,” the mayor said, thanking his colleagues for their work to make it happen.
Thorpe also touted what will be the city’s – and the county’s – first on-mobile crisis response team, called the Antioch Cares Team.
“This is the crown jewel of our Phase 1 police reform efforts created largely because of the advocacy work of Councilwoman Monica Wilson of District 4 and propelled to the forefront after the in-custody death of Angelo Quinto,” he said.
“Transitional Housing, along with our new non-police mental health crisis response team, will dramatically transform our public safety efforts for the good,” he added.
Thorpe also touted a new public safety and community resources department envisioned by Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, which will allow police to focus more on crime.
“We’re undoing the unfair burden on police officers to solve all of our problems, from homelessness to mental health,” he said.
The new department will serve as a one-stop shop for direct service city services, such as code enforcement, Animal Services, the Antioch Cares Team, Youth Development Services and more, Thorpe said.
The mayor also introduced the new interim police chief, Steven Ford. “His appointment expands our breadth and depth in changing institutional culture …I have the utmost confidence Dr. Ford will lead this organization to a stronger, better tomorrow.”
“Now that we’re eliminating certain responsibilities for the police department, let me make myself perfectly clear to those who have come to Antioch to wreak havoc with gun violence… If you come to Antioch thinking that this is the Wild West, you will be found, you will be prosecuted and you will be sent to prison.”
Thorpe added that he will be asking for money in the coming budget process for ShotSpotter gunshot detection system to help in those efforts.
The mayor also praised Police Captain Anthony Morefield for his forward-thinking leadership in securing a partnership with the Department of Justice “that helps us examine our internal operations.” Under the program, the police receive training, technology and resources from the DOJ as part of its National Public Safety Partnership program.
Thorpe said he was also excited to see the city move toward creating a new town square and a new veterans park walkway downtown as well as working toward restoring the Roswell Butler Hard House, home to Antioch’s first mayor, and location of the city’s first council meeting.
“It’s history that is sitting there wasting away as we’ve neglected for a number of years,” Thorpe said. “So, as we work to restore that building, we’re proud of what that will symbolize for our city moving forward.”
