California Public Utility Commission Once Again Shafts the Public
On a 4-1 vote last Thursday, December 17, the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) made it more expensive for many Californians to purchase renewable energy, by awarding PG&E the best Christmas present of all, a 95% increase in the Power Charge Indifference...
New RPA Steering Committee to be Elected in January
The Richmond Progressive Alliance, which continues to be the dominant political force in Richmond, has announced its slate for a new, elected Steering Committee. The candidates, along with short bios and campaign statements, can be found at...
Richmond council green lights Iron Triangle alley project
Richmond council green lights Iron Triangle alley project Dec 17, 2015 A pilot project to turn a dilapidated alleyway in the Iron Triangle into a green space that serves both as a pedestrian and bicycle pathway and stormwater management system received the green light...
Mayors in Paris
Can you find me? Dear Mayor BUTT, On behalf of the City of Paris and Bloomberg Philanthropies, thank you for joining us at the Climate Summit for Local Leaders at Paris City Hall on Dec. 4th, the largest convening of cities on climate. Your participation helped make...
White House Press Release on Climate Accord
Following is a very comprehensive summary of the Paris Climate Agreement in the form of a White House press release: U.S. LEADERSHIP AND THE HISTORIC PARIS AGREEMENT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE...
Help Me Write My 2015 Year-end Review and Predictions for 2016
It’s that time of year again – this is your chance to weigh in on the best and worst of 2014 and predictions for 2015. In a tradition that started in 2002, I will present my version, augmented by suggestions from E-FORUM readers, with the 2013 Year End Review -...
City Manager’s Weekly Report for the Week Ending December 11, 2015
Mayor and Members of the City Council: This is the weekly report for the week ending December 11, 2015. 1. Meeting Notes The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15th beginning with a closed Session at 5:00 PM, followed by the Special City...
December 15, 2015, Richmond City Council Agenda/Packet – CLOSED SESSION BEGINS AT 5:00 P.M.
Last City Council Meeting of the Year!! The agenda/packet for the Tuesday, December 15, 2015, Regular Richmond City Council Meeting is on the web. Follow the link below to view: http://sireweb.ci.richmond.ca.us/sirepub/meet.aspx PLEASE NOTE: - CLOSED SESSION BEGINS AT...
Report from Paris Part 4
Friday, December 11, 2015, Paris – Bonjour! While we were enjoying dinner in Paris last night, negotiators at Le Bourget worked hard all night long, not relenting until nearly 7:00 AM this morning in an attempt to move the COP21 agenda to completion. The word we are...
Response to RPA Open Letter
I received (indirectly) the “open letter” at the end of this email from the RPA. I want to be clear that my characterization of the UN Climate Change Conference was intended to emphasize the scale of the movement and the consequences of not acting rather than to...
Report from Paris – Part 3
Paris, Sunday, December 6, 2015 – This is the first day in a week without scheduled events and an opportunity to catch up on my reports. Two days ago (Saturday) we started with a presentation at the conference center at Le Bourget, “Community Choice Energy – Power to...
Report from Paris – Part 2
This UNFCCC COP 21 is -- In a word – overwhelming. Navigating the venues is like learning your way around a small city. Dozens of events are going on simultaneously, including meetings, press conferences, films, briefings, workshops and presentations. Trying to figure...
Report from Paris – Part 1
Today (Tuesday) we are ground zero of the Climate negotiations. Our team, which consists of Dawn Weisz, executive director of MCE (Marin Clean Energy), Jamie Tuckey of MCE, Tom and Jane Kelly of KyotoUSA and Sequoia Foundation, and Shawn Marshall of LEAN Energy, is...
December 1, 2015, Richmond City Council Agenda/Packet – CLOSED SESSION BEGINS AT 5:30 P.M.
The agenda/packet for the Tuesday, December 1, 2015, Regular Richmond City Council Meeting is on the web. Follow the link below to view: http://sireweb.ci.richmond.ca.us/sirepub/meet.aspx PLEASE NOTE: CLOSED SESSION BEGINS AT 5:30 P.M. – REGULAR CITY COUNCIL BEGINS AT...
Holiday Greetings!
May your holidays be filled with joy and good cheer, And may the New Year bring you peace and happiness Sketch by Tom Butt at Plaza de San Francisco, Havana, Cuba, December 14, 2013
Popular Richmond bingo hall shuts down
Popular Richmond bingo hall shuts down http://www.contracostatimes.com/richmond/ci_29162214/richmond-popular-bingo-hall-shuts-down By Karina Ioffee kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com Posted: 11/25/2015 06:57:50 AM PST| Updated: 80 min. ago RICHMOND -- Fans of bingo were...
Response to Jorge Lopez of AMethod Charter Schools and Benito Juarez Elementary Regarding the Richmond Riviera Project
Mr. Lopez: Thank you for your two emails received today, which are copied at the end of this email for context in my response below: Requiring people to leave the City Council Chamber was simply a function of the California Fire Code, which requires the maximum...
It Takes A Team
In a pair of concurrent editorials, the Contra Costa Times praised Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus while at the same time calling Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay “irresponsible” and the Richmond City Council majority “fiscally inept.” Magnus has been widely...
City Aims to Regulate and Collect Fees Form Short Term Rentals
According to the Airbnb website, there are over 300 rentals in Richmond, ranging from as low as $48 to nearly $1,000 a night. The City of Richmond aims to bring these into the City’s business license and transient occupancy tax system and ultimately into the Tourism...
Controversial Richmond Riviera on Agenda Tonight
Controversial Development Proposal at Odds with General Plan By: Sean Pyles http://www.radiofreerichmond.com/controversial_development_proposal_at_odds_with_general_plan An eccentric developer, large amounts of cash, and the future of development in Richmond are...