@hemananthani
@hemananthani.bsky.social
I am a journalist based in the Bay Area, California, trying to find my way and make sense of life, politics, and the newsroom. I cover the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, and Pittsburg. Reach out if you would like to share your stories!
Pittsburg councilmembers to get a pay bump for first time in 30 years www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/18/p...
Pittsburg councilmembers to get a pay bump for first time in 30 years
Pittsburg City Councilmembers have increased their pay for the first time in 30 years. However, the new salary hike will only come in effect in December 2026.
www.mercurynews.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Pittsburg councilmembers to get a pay bump for first time in 30 years www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/18/p...
Family of Yolanda Ramirez demands answers from city of Brentwood www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/11/13/f...
Family of Yolanda Ramirez demands answers from city of Brentwood
Richie Ramirez denied that his mother was placed under citizen’s arrest following a call from his aunt, nor that his mother had attempted to flee from police when they arrived on scene.
www.eastbaytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Family of Yolanda Ramirez demands answers from city of Brentwood www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/11/13/f...
Oakley City Council expands terms of city manager’s contract www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/04/o...
Oakley City Council expands terms of city manager’s contract
The council also authorizes a payment of up to $25,000 for Joshua McMurray’s personal legal expenses.
www.mercurynews.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Oakley City Council expands terms of city manager’s contract www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/04/o...
In response to fears over ICE enforcement, Bay Area cities assure that everyone will be protected during Halloween www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/30/i...
In response to fears over ICE enforcement, Bay Area cities assure that everyone will be protected during Halloween
ANTIOCH — Amid nationwide fears over federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity during Halloween, Bay Area cities assured the public that everyone will be protected, emphasizing tha…
www.eastbaytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:35 PM
In response to fears over ICE enforcement, Bay Area cities assure that everyone will be protected during Halloween www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/30/i...
Reposted by @hemananthani
Brentwood council confirms appointment of next city manager trib.al/K8oUJwv
Brentwood council confirms appointment of next city manager
The Brentwood City Council unanimously approved the contract of Harold Duffey, a former high-ranking official from Oakland, to become the next Brentwood City Manager.
trib.al
October 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Brentwood council confirms appointment of next city manager trib.al/K8oUJwv
Reposted by @hemananthani
Antioch council to discuss housing projects linked to controversial developer trib.al/q6YyBGl
Antioch council to discuss housing projects linked to controversial developer
ANTIOCH – Two projects connected to a developer involved in an alleged corruption scheme will be back before the Antioch City Council on Tuesday following a September meeting where some councilmemb…
trib.al
October 27, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Antioch council to discuss housing projects linked to controversial developer trib.al/q6YyBGl
Reposted by @hemananthani
Pittsburg Unified sees progress in student test scores trib.al/bsRetmz
Pittsburg Unified sees progress in student test scores
A new assessment showed that students in the district who met or exceeded standards in English rose by 4.6%, math by 1.5%, and science by 2.9% when compared to 2024.
trib.al
October 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Pittsburg Unified sees progress in student test scores trib.al/bsRetmz
Two injured after security personnel open fire on truck approaching Coast Guard Island, site of immigration protests www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/24/c...
Two injured after security personnel open fire on truck approaching Coast Guard Island, site of immigration protests
The shooting happened around 10 p.m. at the entrance to Coast Guard Island in East Oakland.
www.eastbaytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Two injured after security personnel open fire on truck approaching Coast Guard Island, site of immigration protests www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/24/c...
Reposted by @hemananthani
Incoming Brentwood city manager looks to promote city, attract economic opportunities trib.al/6HZ6bSW
Incoming Brentwood city manager looks to promote city, attract economic opportunities
BRENTWOOD – To G. Harold Duffey, Brentwood is more than just a place with a great quality of life and school district — it’s “a marketing dream” to attract economic development opportunities. Duf…
trib.al
October 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Incoming Brentwood city manager looks to promote city, attract economic opportunities trib.al/6HZ6bSW
Reposted by @hemananthani
Antioch City Council weighs proposed amendments to police oversight commission trib.al/IYNtGPg
Antioch City Council weighs proposed amendments to police oversight commission
The Antioch City Council reviewed some proposed changes brought to the city’s police oversight commission’s ordinances and rejected some controversial proposals such as background check…
trib.al
October 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Antioch City Council weighs proposed amendments to police oversight commission trib.al/IYNtGPg
Pittsburg’s urban forest plan aims to bring shade, cleaner air www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/19/p...
Pittsburg’s urban forest plan aims to bring shade, cleaner air
PITTSBURG – In a city where summer heat outpaces shade, Pittsburg is taking steps to expand its urban tree canopy to ensure that every neighborhood, especially those impacted by rising temperatures…
www.mercurynews.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Pittsburg’s urban forest plan aims to bring shade, cleaner air www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/19/p...
Reposted by @hemananthani
Oakley councilmember refuses to step down despite censure vote, calls for resignation trib.al/NVNECLg
Oakley councilmember refuses to step down despite censure vote, calls for resignation
OAKLEY — Despite a formal vote to censure and calls to resign over allegations of “bullying and retaliatory actions” against city staff, Oakley Councilmember George Fuller has vowed not to st…
trib.al
October 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Oakley councilmember refuses to step down despite censure vote, calls for resignation trib.al/NVNECLg
Reposted by @hemananthani
New: G. Harold Duffey, the high-ranking Oakland official who said he gave the feds key evidence that led to criminal indictments against ex-Mayor Sheng Thao and others, is leaving the city.
He's making his way to Brentwood in eastern Contra Costa County: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
He's making his way to Brentwood in eastern Contra Costa County: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
High-ranking Oakland official who spoke to feds about ex-mayor leaves for another East Bay city
Duffey is in line to be the new city manager in Brentwood, an eastern Contra Costa County city with about 67,000 residents — roughly six times smaller than Oakland’s population.
www.eastbaytimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:12 PM
New: G. Harold Duffey, the high-ranking Oakland official who said he gave the feds key evidence that led to criminal indictments against ex-Mayor Sheng Thao and others, is leaving the city.
He's making his way to Brentwood in eastern Contra Costa County: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
He's making his way to Brentwood in eastern Contra Costa County: www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/15/o...
Reposted by @hemananthani
Oakley City Council to vote on censure of Fuller, calling on him to resign trib.al/cC8tWTa
Oakley City Council to vote on censure of Fuller, calling on him to resign
An investigation alleges that Councilmember George Fuller engaged in bullying and retaliatory conduct against city staff.
trib.al
October 11, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Oakley City Council to vote on censure of Fuller, calling on him to resign trib.al/cC8tWTa
Reposted by @hemananthani
Newsom signs laws to stop flow from out-of-state puppy mills into California trib.al/3lmhvb6
Newsom signs laws to stop flow from out-of-state puppy mills into California
The three laws implement stringent health and transparency requirements.
trib.al
October 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Newsom signs laws to stop flow from out-of-state puppy mills into California trib.al/3lmhvb6
Reposted by @hemananthani
New California law makes Diwali a state holiday starting in 2026 trib.al/rD2c1M9
New California law makes Diwali a state holiday starting in 2026
Starting next year, California schools can close and state employees can take the day off for Diwali.
trib.al
October 8, 2025 at 7:16 PM
New California law makes Diwali a state holiday starting in 2026 trib.al/rD2c1M9
Reposted by @hemananthani
Cielo Supermarket to open in Pittsburg in summer 2026 with help from city trib.al/Bz6epWa
Cielo Supermarket to open in Pittsburg in summer 2026 with help from city
PITTSBURG – With financial assistance provided by the city, Cielo Supermarket will come to Highland Square Shopping Center next summer in an effort to provide relief to nearby residents who have be…
trib.al
October 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Cielo Supermarket to open in Pittsburg in summer 2026 with help from city trib.al/Bz6epWa
Reposted by @hemananthani
Longtime festival moves from Walnut Creek to Antioch trib.al/iSJfsqm
Longtime festival moves from Walnut Creek to Antioch
The Walnut Festival, which has been held at Heather Farm Park for decades will move to Antioch following renovation works at the park.
trib.al
October 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Longtime festival moves from Walnut Creek to Antioch trib.al/iSJfsqm
Reposted by @hemananthani
Water scam making the rounds in Antioch neighborhoods, city warns trib.al/TU01tDY
Water scam making the rounds in Antioch neighborhoods, city warns
ANTIOCH – Knock knock! A new scam is making its way through neighborhoods, with individuals claiming Antioch’s tap water is unsafe to drink as they attempt to sell water filtration systems, the cit…
trib.al
October 3, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Water scam making the rounds in Antioch neighborhoods, city warns trib.al/TU01tDY
Reposted by @hemananthani
‘How you know you’re almost home’: Iconic barn on Vasco Road taken down trib.al/YOtGF8O
‘How you know you’re almost home’: Iconic barn on Vasco Road taken down
“It’s always this reminder that despite any differences, despite any politics, we can unite.”
trib.al
October 2, 2025 at 5:53 PM
‘How you know you’re almost home’: Iconic barn on Vasco Road taken down trib.al/YOtGF8O
Reposted by @hemananthani
Conservationist Jane Goodall, whose work revolutionized the study of primates, has died trib.al/vCLybVB
Conservationist Jane Goodall, whose work revolutionized the study of primates, has died
Jane Goodall, whose lifelong work as a primatologist helped broaden the world’s understanding of animal behavior and emotions, has died, her institute said Wednesday. She was 91.
trib.al
October 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Conservationist Jane Goodall, whose work revolutionized the study of primates, has died trib.al/vCLybVB
Reposted by @hemananthani
Antioch to draft ordinance in effort to support affordable housing trib.al/Kiy5vpL
Antioch to draft ordinance in effort to support affordable housing
ANTIOCH – Antioch is preparing a draft of an ordinance that seeks to address housing challenges within the city, requiring land developers to dedicate a certain percentage of units as below market-…
trib.al
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Antioch to draft ordinance in effort to support affordable housing trib.al/Kiy5vpL
Reposted by @hemananthani
Bay Area city makes major improvements to three parks trib.al/uLEglyE
Bay Area city makes major improvements to three parks
The efforts aim to enhance the quality of life for its residents and revitalize some of the city’s aging facilities.
trib.al
September 20, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Bay Area city makes major improvements to three parks trib.al/uLEglyE
Reposted by @hemananthani
Oakley Police Department to charge $500 for concealed carry weapons permits trib.al/zuBrRvH
Oakley Police Department to charge $500 for concealed carry weapons permits
in April, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office notified Police Chief Paul Beard that they would no longer be issuing permits for Oakley residents.
trib.al
September 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Oakley Police Department to charge $500 for concealed carry weapons permits trib.al/zuBrRvH
Reposted by @hemananthani
Antioch’s $160 million desalination plant begins operation in bid to boost city water supply trib.al/k9W8DV7
Antioch’s $160 million desalination plant begins operation in bid to boost city water supply
The $100 million facility, hailed by city leaders as a milestone in California’s water sustainability efforts, will meet up to 40% of Antioch’s water needs.
trib.al
September 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Antioch’s $160 million desalination plant begins operation in bid to boost city water supply trib.al/k9W8DV7