Karl Dietzel Set for Antioch City Council Run, Kicks Off Campaign

Antioch — On Thursday, August 11, Antioch resident Karl Dietzel filed the papers required to establish his candidacy for a seat on the Antioch City Council.

Dietzel, a first-generation immigrant to the United States, and who regularly attends city council meetings, said that he had decided to run because of his desire to help Antioch become a more desirable, family-friendly city that attracts economic development and high paying jobs.

As the Gateway to the Delta, Dietzel said that Antioch should be a natural fit for strong investment, but that a lack of strong leadership had led the city into a “downward spiral.”

Preventing Antioch from achieving economic success are the twin problems of an excessive crime rate and blight, according to Dietzel.  These problems are exacerbated, he said, because of a city government that is out of touch with local residents and is more interested in political maneuvering than serving the citizenry.

To address these issues, Dietzel said his campaign would focus on reducing crime and aggressive code enforcement.  Dietzel said that focusing city resources on these two areas while ensuring that residents have a voice in their government were absolute prerequisites for bringing in the type of economic development that Antioch residents would like to see.

“My top priority will be to address the high crime rate in Antioch,” said Dietzel.  “While all of us are victims of the excessive crime rate, I am personally vested in seeing this matter addressed, as I live in one of the most depressed, crime-ridden areas of Antioch, the Sycamore corridor.”

Dietzel continued, “As a city, we need to make good on the promises of Measure C (i.e., a tax measure passed by local residents which was to ensure additional law enforcement personnel were hired), and stop coming up with excuses for not getting the job done.  I support the immediate hiring of all authorized and funded police officers, community service officers, and code enforcement personnel.”

Dietzel is also calling for a work-load study to be done to ensure that money obtained from the taxpayers for law enforcement is being used efficiently, and for the use of a ‘shot-spotter’ system to help our police officers move quickly and decisively to reduce violent crime.

The problem of blight, including trash dumping, graffiti, and homeless encampments, not only detracts from the desirability of Antioch as a place to live and work, but is a factor in the amount of criminal activity, as well, said Dietzel.  “The fact is, unless we take immediate action to reduce crime and blight by bringing on the police officers, community service officers, and code enforcement personnel needed to get the job done, talk of economic development will remain a pipe dream.”

Dietzel also addressed a lack of transparency and even-handed dealing by city officials.  “We need far more transparency in government,” he said.  “Right now, deals are made behind closed doors, ignoring the wishes of our citizens.  The shabby treatment of the over 5000 residents seeking to ‘Save the Yard’ is just one example of our city administration being out of touch with the people.”

“We need change, and we need it now,” concluded Dietzel.  “If we continue to elect politicians who are using their positions as stepping-stones to higher office, we’ll never turn the city around.  If you want someone who will get the job done, rather than talk, vote for me, Karl Dietzel, for Antioch City Council.”

For more information on Karl Dietzel, visit him on Facebook.