A credible source tells me that the City Council will call a special meeting this Friday to approve a deal whereby the East Bay Regional Parks District will purchase the developable portion (30 percent) of Point Molate from the Guidiville Rancheria of California (The Tribe) for $40 million. The Tribe purchased the land for $400 in 2022. The reason the City must approve the deal is that the City will forego its share of the purchase price, which would otherwise be $20 million, so that the Tribe will receive the full compensation.

Despite receiving no compensation in the deal, the City has spent millions of dollars, maybe tens of millions, in litigation, security and maintenance related to Point Molate, all of which comes out of the General Fund and causes the City to forego projects and program that would otherwise benefit the people of Richmond. And it is not over; the City is still litigating with SunCal and exposed to potential losses that could bankrupt the City.

The big question that no one has answered is what will happen to the Winehaven Historical District, which comprises a major part of the land to be purchased by the East Bay Regional Parks District. Winehaven played a major role in the development of the California Wine Industry and may be Richmond’s most important historic site, along with Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, but RPA ,members have advocated bulldozing it.

The special meeting was set for Friday because special meetings require only 24 hours’ notice, which has the effect of limiting public participation. Not to mention that the hardworking City Council has rewarded itself with two months of vacation this year.