Happy New Year 2018!

2017 has been a good year for Richmond in many ways, some of which are described in the 2017 Year End Review and Predictions for 2018 (Will Richmond be Keen in 2018?). Click here for your copy. Richmond finished 2017 with the lowest unemployment rate on record --...

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Richmond Unemployment Rate Dips to Historic Low

In November of 2017, the unemployment rate for Richmond residents dropped to 3.6% in November 2017, the lowest on record and possibly the lowest in history (http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/data/labor-force-and-unemployment-for-cities-and-census-areas.html). It...

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Richmond Main Post Office Goes Up for Sale

Despite valiant attempts to stop it and generous offers by the City of Richmond to acquire it, the United States Postal Service has formally listed the Richmond Main Post Office building for sale and is requesting offers by December 28, 2017. No asking price is...

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City Council Decorum

I am sad to say that the practices of the Corky Booze era of the City Council appear to be returning, and this time led not by the long-gone Corky, but surprisingly by his one-time adversaries, some of the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) City Council members. Like...

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Working on Homeless Challenges in Richmond

Yesterday, a group of Richmond and Contra Costa Officials made a field trip to San Francisco to visit two sites related to our effort to better serve Richmond’s Homeless population. The first stop was The Panoramic, an apartment building developed by Panoramic...

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Leaders envision downtown boom with Richmond BART improvements

Leaders envision downtown boom with Richmond BART improvements The new eastern entrance to the Richmond BART station is seen on Dec. 18, 2017. By Tom Lochner | tlochner@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: December 19, 2017 at 7:44 am | UPDATED:...

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Forum on Landmark Local Air Pollution Legislation – AB 617

Dear Richmond Community Stakeholder, PLEASE SAVE THE DATE – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 Recent landmark legislation (Assembly Bill 617) fundamentally transforms the State’s approach to addressing local air pollution by refocusing State and local efforts on communities...

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Mayor Ed Lee R.I.P.

I can’t say I knew Mayor Ed Lee well; I have probably talked to him less than a dozen times. But he always knew who I was and greeted me with his characteristic smile. He always asked what was happening in Richmond. We last chatted just a week ago at the pre-dinner...

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Bridge Storage Upgrades Art Space to Code

Here is a shout out to Bridge Storage, which, instead of whining and moaning about abused and displaced artists discriminated against by public agencies, took safety seriously and upgraded their facility to conform to building and safety codes. Hopefully, Burnt Ramen...

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Richmond Bond Rating Gets a Boost

I am happy to report that, after its regular periodic review of the City’s financial condition, S&P Global Ratings has raised the City of Richmond’s issuer credit rating (ICR) to “A-“ from “BBB+”. By definition of its rating categories: An obligation rated 'A'...

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North American Climate Summit in Chicago

Monday through Wednesday of this week (December 4-6) I joined 51 other mayors from ten countries (mostly Canada, Mexico and US) at the North American Climate Summit in Chicago, hosted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, Mayor Anne Hidalgo of Paris and Vice-chair of the...

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