ANTIOCH — Newly elected Mayor Ron Bernal said he aims to bridge the division within the community while tackling some of Antioch’s most pressing issues, such as public safety, homelessness, and economic growth.
Bernal, who took his oath of office on Dec. 10, said uniting Antioch’s diverse “international community” is pivotal to the city’s success.
“Healing needs to happen in our city,” he told a crowded city council chamber last week.
He also said he would not condone racist or hateful comments and urged residents to refrain from such negativity.
Antioch, a city of about 115,000, has had its fair share of racial tension. Over the past 20 years, the city’s Black population has doubled, while the White population has dropped to just over one-third of total residents.
In a recent interview with this news organization, Bernal said he wants to “intentionally bring” the community together and ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
“Not everyone will be happy with whatever the outcome is,” said Bernal. “They may all have a different idea of what that should be. But I want folks to know that I’m willing to listen to every viewpoint and person that calls Antioch home.”
Bernal said the city council must establish its priorities over the next few months with strategic planning processes to review the 2023-2025 budget and study the city’s next two-year budget. The former city manager said the council will need to iron out Antioch’s financial obligations to ensure initiatives and programs for the community can be sustainable.
Key financial concerns include the sustainability of programs such as Opportunity Village and the Mental Health Crisis Response Team, both of which rely on one-time funding that is set to expire in the near future.
The council, Bernal said, needs more information to craft the city’s priorities and establish its budget.
“We need a clear understanding of departmental budgets, current obligations, and revenue streams,” he said. “We need to know exactly what past budget decisions have been made.”
With Antioch experiencing a spike in crime rates, including 16 homicides this year and a high number of vehicle thefts, Bernal said he is determined to make the city a safer place – a foundation for economic development.
“If people don’t feel safe, they won’t shop, invest, or operate businesses here,” he said.
To achieve that goal, he said the city will need to find its next police chief, as Antioch’s interim chief, Brian Addington, is set to retire. Other initiatives include filling vacancies in the police department with officers who have a community-policing mindset. He also wants to equip the department with the latest technology and train officers to utilize them in efforts to reduce crime.
“We need to make sure that Antioch isn’t just perceived as a safe place to do business and to bring in jobs, but it is a safe place to do (so),” Bernal said.
Bernal said public safety extends beyond policing – it also includes programs and activities for youth.
“We are a city of 115,000 people that don’t have basic programs (many other) communities have,” he said. “And the question to me is how do we re-establish that … (and) make sure that the barrier for them to participate is not limited by their ability to pay.”
While acknowledging that change takes time, Bernal has set several personal timelines to get things started. He wants to hire the next permanent police chief within the next six months, review the city’s budget in the next 60 to 90 days, and establish city council norms that outline how councilmembers are expected to conduct themselves in public within the next 30 days.
“At the end of the day, I hope for residents to experience a good quality of life while living in Antioch,” said Bernal.
