Mayor Wade Harper to Crack Down on Crime: Antioch City Council Meeting March 25

Mayor Wade Harper is about to end crime in Antioch.
Remember those foreclosures in 2008, when so many homeowners who lost their homes dumped their cats off downtown? (In violation of CA PENAL § 597f: Animal Abandonment) That’s when the rescue groups went to work spaying, neutering and feeding the dumped cats.
Intrepid crime fighters of Antioch
Well, Mayor Harper is about to crack down on those criminals. The rescuers and the feeders that is. They’re not criminals yet but they will be when the crime fighters on the City Council – led by Police Chief Cantando, Mayor Harper and Councilwoman Mary Rocha - pass the new Animal Ordinance.
“Let them bring their problems to the City Council; we don’t have time for them.” - Chief Alan Cantando
The new law makes it a misdemeanor to feed the abandoned cats downtown. Never mind that the ban conflicts with CA Penal Code § 599b which makes it a crime for an individual or corporation - Antioch is a Municipal Corporation - to cause dumb creatures unnecessary suffering. Chief Cantando was asked about working with the rescue groups to humanely reduce the number of abandoned cats, and he said, “Let them bring their problems to the City Council; we don’t have time for them.”
The Ordinance will make it a misdemeanor to have more than three dogs or five cats in your home unless you pay a kennel tax of $108 per year, and submit to a home inspection by the authorities. Rescue groups like HARP and Rivertown Cats will also have to pay $108 for each volunteer foster home.

Councilwoman Mary Rocha has a particular dislike for cats
The ordinance was written by the Antioch Animal Services of the Antioch Police Department: Pound Supervisor Monika Helgemo, Chief Euthanizing Officer Aguanaga, Chief Cantando and councilwoman Mary Rocha - who happens to have a particular dislike for cats. She was overheard saying, “If I could kill every one of ‘em I would.”
It’s an ordinance written by the police, for the police, interpreted by the police and enforced by the police. Mayor Harper, at a council meeting on January 14, had to ask the Animal Control personnel how they would be interpreting the Ordinance that they wrote. “Separation of Powers” may be in the Constitution, but it’s not something we need in Antioch.

“Only if they’re sick...or a nuisance.”
When the cats are no longer being fed, they will really get sick if they aren’t already. Wade asked Monika at the January 14 meeting, “Are you impounding them?” Monika answered: “ Only if they’re sick...or a nuisance.” Sick, hungry cats, a nuisance? Certainly Wade and Monika don’t want that to happen. But they’re ready to move in when it does.

Citizens ought not interfere
There was a big turn-out opposing the Ordinance at a previous meeting. Because of all the excitement, the Council delayed voting until tonight. Not that they needed time to study the issue, but they did hope everyone would forget about it, stay home and let them quietly cast their votes. Citizens ought not interfere with democracy in action.