Below is a “Guest Commentary” published in the Contra Costa Times that is part of the growing drumbeat to bring to Richmond the most rigorous and egregious rent control scheme in California, if not the entire U.S., to Richmond. In its latest draft, the proposed...

Despite the recent gnashing of teeth about financing for the WCCUSD school construction bond program, including whistleblowers and claims of mismanagement, a report commissioned by the school board that will be publicly released July 14, 2015, shows that the...

Despite all the amateur and uninformed legal opinions from ACCE, Tenants Together, and Jo-Ellen Pozner, an assistant professor at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, who should know better, and from a Contra Costa Times reporter looking for a story where none...

The mayor’s Office has launched an exciting branding and marketing initiative that will ultimately help define Richmond’s image and reputation with our residents, neighbors, businesses, and visitors. Our partners for this venture are the Richmond Main Street...

I'm restarting the Mayor's Community Benefits Fund by holding my first Golf Tournament Fundraiser. Save the Date -- September 28, 2015 at the Richmond Country Club. Proceeds will help support youth athletics, Summer youth programs, environmental stewardship, and lots...

The use of fireworks, including those that rival the professional displays put on by the City on July 3, are so pervasive that it will take more than police to curtail them. Next year, we should initiate an early public relations and education program to tone down the...

Lots of exciting items on this agenda: Item J-1 is another attempt to pass a rent moratorium. (ADOPT an urgency ordinance establishing a 45-day moratorium on rent increases until the City Council has implemented a policy to stabilize rents in the City of Richmond -...

Groundwork USA is a program under the national Park Service that is “…dedicated to changing places and changing lives, Groundwork USA is a national organization with local roots, engaging local businesses, residents and government officials to revitalize neighborhoods...

Getaways: Richmond’s Rosie the Riveter Museum Rosie the Riveter Museum and Visitor Center, located at Ford Point in Richmond. (Billy Hustace photo) BY CAROLE TERWILLIGER MEYERS FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT July 2, 2015, 12:01AM The City of Richmond does not leap to mind...

By Karina Ioffee kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com Posted: 07/02/2015 11:07:09 AM PDT3 Comments Updated: 07/02/2015 04:20:30 PM PDT RICHMOND -- With just one day to go before the start of the new fiscal year, the city approved a $144 million general fund budget Tuesday,...

Effective lobbying by Foss Maritime and Riggers Loft Wine Company sank an opportunity to combine visitor attractions in a single location as the City Council voted unanimously, with only me dissenting, to move the Red Oak Victory to Basin 1 as soon as possible. In my...

Berkeley Global Campus at Richmond Bay Community Working Group Seeks Applications for Two New Member Seats June 30th, 2015 - Posted in Community Events In April of 2014, the Chancellor of UC Berkeley (UCB) and the Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL)...

Although the editorial copied below is nothing but a blog from a central county Republican, Bill Graham-Reefer, and I disagree with most of it, especially his call to terminate City Manager Bill Lindsay, he points out some trends in Richmond that are disturbing....

Bolstered by a Grand Jury Report that criticized the bond-funded school construction program, the Contra Costa Times is calling for the ouster of Superintendent Bruce Harter. See ·...

Richmond: Mayor slams choice for new location of historic World War II ship By Karina Ioffee kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com Posted: 07/01/2015 03:50:05 PM PDT | Updated: 36 min. ago RICHMOND -- Mayor Tom Butt on Wednesday slammed a decision by his fellow council members...

Let’s be clear about this. My beef is not with the RPA, which includes hundreds of thoughtful people who want to improve Richmond. My beef is with the three City Council members – Let’s call them the RPA-3 – who as standard bearers for the RPA have left the rails and...

Here is an interesting article that mentions Richmond, but not flatteringly: http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/06/how-much-are-you-willing-to-pay-to-live-in-americas-best-neighborhoods/397001/ "In the San Francisco metro area, above and to the right, there’s much...

As a result of leasing the Riggers Loft to a winery (Riggers Loft Wine Company), the Red Oak Victory ship needs to be relocated to create a San Francisco Bay view, as the winery intends to engage in frequent outdoor events and wants to capitalize on the view. The most...