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🌱 Patch AM: Concord Taps New City Manager 'Blindsided' By Firing

And on the Concord Patch calendar - Clayton Valley Garden Club Plant Sale

Friday May 8th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello Concord! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

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In today's newsletter:

  • Concord weighs new city manager with controversial San Joaquin County exit
  • What will change at Concord BART when new AI fare gates arrive?
  • Why this Concord murder trial hinges on one chilling video.

Also on today's calendar: Clayton Valley Garden Club Plant Sale and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: I Am not animal, vegetable, or mineral. I don’t eat, but need to be fed regularly to stay alive. What am I? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 77 and low of 53 degrees.
  • Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 82, low: 55.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 83 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Concord Taps New City Manager 'Blindsided' By Firing (patch.com) — Concord residents will soon see a major leadership change as the City Council considers appointing veteran public finance executive Jerome Wilverding to replace retiring City Manager Valerie Barone in June. Wilverding, who previously worked in Concord and led San Joaquin County’s $2.9 billion administration, comes with both strong experience and lingering controversy from his abrupt 2024 dismissal, which is still tied to ongoing whistleblower litigation.    

2. New AI Fare Gates Piloted Across BART Stations (sanfranciscopost.com) — Concord BART riders are among the first to encounter new AI-assisted fare gates designed to close faster and curb piggybacking, with a wider rollout planned starting May 18. Testing at Concord and Antioch stations is measuring how well the redesigned sensors, cameras, and motors cut fare evasion while keeping everyday trips smooth and safe for commuters.    

3. ‘Francesca is a victim': Defense points finger at boyfriend in Concord marital murder trial (mercurynews.com) — A high-profile murder trial tied to a Concord home and apartment is now underway, with prosecutors alleging a woman helped plan her estranged husband’s killing while her defense blames an abusive boyfriend. Jurors heard conflicting stories about what happened the night of the 2022 killing and the alleged cover-up, including surveillance video from outside the woman’s Concord apartment.    

4. The Iron Horse Regional Trail is a Bay Area biking paradise (sfchronicle.com) — A popular 32-mile bike and walking trail starts just north of Concord and can be easily reached from North Concord BART, passing Buchanan Field Airport and local malls before heading south through several Contra Costa towns. The piece highlights how residents can ride from Concord through parks, public art, and downtowns all the way toward Pleasanton using this flat, beginner-friendly route.    

5. After almost 80 years, this Bay Area hot dog icon is closing (fresnobee.com) — Concord readers may recall that Kasper’s last Concord hot dog shop shut down last year, and now another East Bay favorite is going: Caspers is closing its nearly 80-year-old Richmond location. The family-run chain will keep four other locations open while the buyer plans a new hot dog spot in the same Richmond space.    


📸 Around Concord

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Concord

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Featured events

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📣 Concord Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.


 

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Mother's Day Cupcakes, Cakes, Bouquets and more ...
    Introducing our Mother’s Day Cupcake Box, Cakes, Cookie Cake, Bouquet 💐... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
    Baby was LOST on May 5, 2026 in Concord, CA 94521 near Ayers street Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the owner, view… (Nextdoor Ayers)
  • Neighbors around the Cowell Park area — please be on alert for a man going door-to-door pretending to be with a security company.
    He approached my wife while I was away and started asking questions about our security cameras, including whether they were internet-based or wired… (Nextdoor Saint Francis Park)
  • Domino's Pizza posted a job opening for Customer Service Rep(07778) - 901 Sunvalley Blvd in Concord. Apply here.
  • Footprint Retail Services posted a job opening for Part Time Merchandiser in Concord. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Concord here.

Ok Concord! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Fire (Thank you Steve H. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.


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