Both Urban Tilth and Rich City Rides are recipients of millions of dollars in grants from the California Strategic Growth Council administered by the City of Richmond. $7.0 million was designated for Urban Tilth and $3.7 million for Rich City Rides.  

Urban Tilth is a 501(c)3 in good standing with the California Secretary of State, but Urban Tilth has been suspended and then reinstated on probation by the California Department of Justice Registry of Charitable Trusts pending submission of audited financial statements, which were finally provided on November 27, 2023.

The audited financial statements indicate that Urban Tilth received the following in revenue and grants:

• 2020    $2,885,657
• 2021    $9,576,619
• 2022    $12,257,256

At the end of 2022, Urban Tilth had $26,530,302 in total assets and $16,376,398 in net assets.

Urban Tilth is sort of a bank for over a dozen progressive organizations that do not have 501(3)c status or do not want to handle their own cash. The following is from the most recently audited financial statements.

Urban Tilth is the fiscal sponsor of Rich City Rides, a cooperative corporation that is not a 501(c)3, and there is no publicly available financial statement, much less an audit, of Rich City Rides. A lot of strange things have been going down at Rich City rides lately.

• In March of 2023, Rich City Rides announced a “$6 million capital campaign to purchase its downtown Bike and Skate Shop and three additional owner-associated structures.” (Richmond Standard, March 27, 2023)
• On January 4, 2024, Rich City Rides announced the acquisition of three properties, including the building housing the Rich City Rides shop at 1500 Macdonald, the former El Garage restaurant, and a property next to Unity Park at 1525 Ohio Avenue. (Grandview Independent, January 9, 2024)

Everybody's Richmond California
Alexander Peter  ·   · 

Happy New Year, a time of rebirth

Happy New Year! It's a season of new beginnings and we're thrilled to share a major milestone: RICH CITY Rides has successfully acquired three properties for the RICH CITY Project .

Our growth has been remarkable since our founding in August 2012. Previously operating as a fiscally sponsored project, we've set our sights on a significant transformation into a 501c3 nonprofit, soon to be known as RICH CITY
.
These newly acquired properties mark a pivotal moment for us, opening doors to a whole new range of community offerings. And here's where you come in – we want your involvement in shaping this journey. In the coming year, RICH CITY aims to establish a community engagement process, seeking input to craft each building into an Eco Hub. These hubs will be eco-friendly spaces built to the highest sustainability standards, designed to cater to diverse community needs and promote eco-conscious living. Among these spaces will be a Tech Lab, Wellness Hub, and Black Wellness Center.

Our deepest gratitude goes out to all the individuals and major donors who have played an integral role in achieving this meaningful mission and expanding the scope of RICH CITY. Stay tuned for more updates!"

- On January 13, 2024, Najari Smith posted on Facebook that Richmond Rides bicycle shop had been burglarized and completely cleaned out, and he was starting yet another fundraiser.

On Saturday, January 13th, I entered the bike shop to discover most of the sales floor completely cleared out. The shelves, once stocked with bicycle locks, lights, bells, and other retail products, were bare, and the display cases were empty. There was no sign of forced entry, and the internal cameras had been unplugged. In a state of shock, I went to the storage area in the back of the shop; I learned that most of the inventory had been stolen.

The only way this could have been done is with access to a key and the ability to disarm the alarm system.

Three days prior to the break-in, following ongoing hardships with maintaining the business, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, with the help of Coop Law Group and Cooperation Richmond, I drafted a plan to dissolve the cooperative.

Hi, my name is Najari Smith, and I'm a co-owner of Rich City Rides Bike Skate Shop, a shop built to fill a void in community bike infrastructure. As a member of the Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, I worked with my fellow committee members to bring hundreds of bike racks, blocks of bicycle boulevards, and many miles of bike lanes to Richmond, CA, but I and three friends embarked on a mission to answer a crucial question that shined a light on an important piece of bicycle infrastructure that was missing from the inner city, "Where do you go when your bike breaks or you catch a flat?" We provided an answer with the founding of the Rich City Rides Bike Skate Shop Coop.

Founded in 2014 with the help of the Missing Link Bicycle Cooperative, The Pedaler Bike Shop, Cooperation Richmond, The Seed Commons, and a ton of support from the neighborhood and the greater Bay Area cycling community, the shop grew from meager beginnings to a staple amongst the community. In 2015, we added a 5th member, naming them an honorary founding member. In the years following, we grew in name and legend as a special magic light in a city with a tough, rugged past. Our beloved neighborhood bike shop provided a space for free community bicycle repair workshops, exciting events, and a starting point for Self Care Sunday bicycle parades that celebrated the many parks throughout Rich City, California.

Sadly, after nearly a decade of operation and experiencing one of our best years during covid, post covid we had a lot of trouble maintaining sales for a number of different reasons, leading to a staggering debt amounting to over $185,000 from years prior, including $58,580 in debt resulting from an incident with a co-owner.

After years with a small team of only two or three down from our fantastic founding five and seemingly insurmountable debt, our intention was to liquidate the remaining inventory to pay our debtors and dissolve the cooperative. I learned a lot on this journey. It's been quite a ride. I plan on reflecting on what went right and what we could have done better. What I don't plan on doing is quitting.

The recent theft threw a monkey wrench in our plans, but with your help and the help of supporters everywhere who believe in the power of local extra small businesses to transform communities, we know we can come back stronger than ever.

Help us turn a setback into a bounce back.

THEFT CAUSES RICH CITY RIDES IN RICHMOND TO CLOSE INDEFINITELY
written by CC News January 30, 2024

A Richmond Bike Shop was hit with a thousands of dollars after a burglary cleared out their shop earlier this month.

According to Najari Smith, co-owner of Rich City Rides Bike Skate Shop, on January 13, he entered the bike shop to discover most of the sales floor completely cleared out. The store, located at 1500 MacDonald Ave, Unit C in Richmond CA, is closed indefinitely.

“The shelves, once stocked with bicycle locks, lights, bells, and other retail products, were bare, and the display cases were empty. There was no sign of forced entry, and the internal cameras had been unplugged. In a state of shock, I went to the storage area in the back of the shop; I learned that most of the inventory had been stolen,” said Smith said on Facebook.

On Tuesday, Smith said the loss was estimated at $13k.

“We’re still gathering more information on the stolen inventory. Currently, it’s estimated at just a little over $13k at wholesale.

Mostly, the smaller expensive, easy-to-carry items were stolen. This number could change as we gather more info. The total debt is $186,041.99,” stated Smith. “There was no sign of forced entry, and the internal cameras were unplugged. Someone changed my password and I had to call ADT while I was in the shop to verify that I was the business owner.”

Smith said he plans to reopen the store sometime in the future while bringing it back to Downtown Richmond which is why a GoFundMe was launched.

Here is their GoFundMe message for Rich City Rides:

On Saturday, January 13th, I entered the bike shop to discover most of the sales floor completely cleared out. The shelves, once stocked with bicycle locks, lights, bells, and other retail products, were bare, and the display cases were empty. There was no sign of forced entry, and the internal cameras had been unplugged. In a state of shock, I went to the storage area in the back of the shop; I learned that most of the inventory had been stolen.

The only way this could have been done is with access to a key and the ability to disarm the alarm system.

Three days prior to the break-in, following ongoing hardships with maintaining the business, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, with the help of Coop Law Group and Cooperation Richmond, I drafted a plan to dissolve the cooperative.

Hi, my name is Najari Smith, and I’m a co-owner of Rich City Rides Bike Skate Shop, a shop built to fill a void in community bike infrastructure. As a member of the Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, I worked with my fellow committee members to bring hundreds of bike racks, blocks of bicycle boulevards, and many miles of bike lanes to Richmond, CA, but I and three friends embarked on a mission to answer a crucial question that shined a light on an important piece of bicycle infrastructure that was missing from the inner city, “Where do you go when your bike breaks or you catch a flat?” We provided an answer with the founding of the Rich City Rides Bike Skate Shop Coop.

Founded in 2014 with the help of the Missing Link Bicycle Cooperative, The Pedaler Bike Shop, Cooperation Richmond, The Seed Commons, and a ton of support from the neighborhood and the greater Bay Area cycling community, the shop grew from meager beginnings to a staple amongst the community. In 2015, we added a 5th member, naming them an honorary founding member. In the years following, we grew in name and legend as a special magic light in a city with a tough, rugged past. Our beloved neighborhood bike shop provided a space for free community bicycle repair workshops, exciting events, and a starting point for Self Care Sunday bicycle parades that celebrated the many parks throughout Rich City, California.

Sadly, after nearly a decade of operation and experiencing one of our best years during covid, post covid we had a lot of trouble maintaining sales for a number of different reasons, leading to a staggering debt amounting to over $185,000 from years prior, including $58,580 in debt resulting from an incident with a co-owner.

After years with a small team of only two or three down from our fantastic founding five and seemingly insurmountable debt, our intention was to liquidate the remaining inventory to pay our debtors and dissolve the cooperative. I learned a lot on this journey.

It’s been quite a ride. I plan on reflecting on what went right and what we could have done better. What I don’t plan on doing is quitting.

The recent theft threw a monkey wrench in our plans, but with your help and the help of supporters everywhere who believe in the power of local extra small businesses to transform communities, we know we can come back stronger than ever.

Help us turn a setback into a bounce back.

To Donate to Rich City Rides – click here

- On January 29, 2024, Najari Smith wrote on Facebook:

Updates on the Rich City Rides Bike Skate Shop

I must inform you that the bike shop will be closed indefinitely.

On Saturday, January 13th, I entered the bike shop to discover most of the sales floor completely cleared out. The shelves, once stocked with bicycle locks, lights, bells, and other retail products, were bare, and the display cases were empty. There was no sign of forced entry, and the internal cameras had been unplugged. In a state of shock, I went to the storage area in the back of the shop, I learned that most of the inventory had been stolen.

The only way this could have been done is with access to a key and the ability to disarm the alarm system.

Three days prior to the break-in, following ongoing hardships with maintaining the business, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, with the help of Coop Law Group and Cooperation Richmond, I drafted a plan to dissolve the cooperative. I can provide additional details if you would like to understand more. I am deeply saddened that the Rich City community is experiencing this trouble, and I do not wish to cause harm to any member.

Sincerely,
Najari Smith
Co-Founder Rich City Rides Bike Skate Shop

- On January 30, 2024, Jason J. Woody wrote on Facebook:

It's sad to see lies from @richcityrides The recent post claiming there was a "theft" at the bike shop is completely false. I'm one of the shop's sponsored riders and according to the other cooperative shop owners, nothing has been stolen from the shop. (slide 2)

The only thing preventing the @richcitybikesandmore shop from being open is Najari changing the locks without notifying the staff, otherwise you would see them in the shop today during regular business hours.

He has lied to the community about a non-existent theft, he has lied to @tim_johns_ @abc7newsbayarea and @westcccountygioia about his involvement when he has in fact been absent, and I simply request that before you decide if I'm lying or not remember that he is not a cooperative member by himself... ASK THE OTHER OWNERS!!

They will tell you Najari has been trying to remove himself from the cooperative and has not been involved in the day to day operations for over a year.

They will tell you that after receiving help from @urbantilth to purchase the building, Najari refused rent from the bike shop and neglected to extend or renew the lease for the space as the new landlord.

They will tell you that nothing has been stolen and the only thing keeping the shop closed is Najari Smith denying workers access to the space.

Don't believe me, ask the people that work AT THE SHOP and Najari Smith is not and has NOT been one of those people for some time
.
@cooprichmond has been a part of the process from the beginning and has access to the receipts. This behavior is devastating to the members of the cooperative and causing actual harm and economic violence to our community that has left people homeless and without employment as a direct result of Najari's actions.

It's unfortunate to have to be so public but if you would truly like to help the community, please report the GoFundMe for being false and help us spread the truth because we aren't the ones asking for money; we don't need a GoFundMe to do the work we've been doing for years