Ironic Dispatch from Councilmember Robinson

On July 14, 2023, Councilmember Doria Robinson posted the plea, https://www.doriarobinson.com/news/urgent-action-needed-to-address-dangerous-working-conditions-for-richmond's-public-safety-workers. I reposted it on Facebook at Everybody’s Richmond California with the...

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An Update from Richmond Promise

One of the most memorable accomplishments of my 28-years of public service was establishment of the Richmond Promise, funded with $35 million from the $90 million Chevron and Community ECIA (Environmental and Community Investment Agreement) As you can see from the...

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The Old Sierra City Schoolhouse

You might enjoy reading about our new but unusual family summer home in Sierra City. As you may know, I’m a sucker for historic buildings, and this one has a lot of history. Click here for a full description of The Old Sierra City Schoolhouse. Figure 1 - During the...

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Remembering Martin Andrew Butt

Remembering my younger brother - Martin Andrew Butt. Martin was three years younger than I. He joined the Marines and survived a year in Vietnam before coming home and dying in an automobile accident. Today, July 14, Bastille Day, would be his 76th birthday, but he is...

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The Sierra City Collection

Not being mayor anymore and not having to attend other regional board and commission meetings almost every day gives me time to pursue other activities that I have neglected for a long time. Here is a collection of sketches of historic buildings in Sierra City, CA, a...

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Blocked Rail Crossings Snarl Towns, but Congress Won’t Act

This story from the New York Times is a good explanation of how politics prevents local governments from regulating grade crossing blockages. By Peter Eavis, Mark Walker and Niraj Chokshi The reporters have covered railroad consolidation and safety practices and the...

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Supervisor Gioia – No Plan for Saving Winehaven

In response to a California Public Records Act request for, “...copies of any documents or records in your possession, or possession of your office or agency, dating since July 1, 2022, until today, that include any discussion or mention of a plan or plans to preserve...

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Port of Richmond – Wind Energy Future or Hot Air?

With Richmond’s premier event venue, the Craneway, slated to become a pickleball court, another prized waterfront venue, the Riggers Loft, is under pressure by the City Council pay up or go away to make way for the wind energy industry. Mayor Martinez and...

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Sideshows in Richmond?

As cities and counties across the Bay Area step up enforcement and penalties related to sideshows, the RPA-controlled Richmond City Council continues to embrace them as a valuable cultural activity. Whether it’s illegal fireworks or sideshows, the City Council firmly...

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Craneway in a Pickle?

There is an announcement at https://www.cranewaypickleball.com/ that the Craneway will open this fall as a membership venue that offers, “16 dedicated indoor pickleball courts, a premier pro shop, and a wellness lounge.” This is a substantial and significant departure...

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Judge Denies City’s Attempt to Get Out of Suncal Lawsuit

The City Attorney was handed yet another costly defeat in his effort to extricate the City of Richmond from litigation resulting from the RPA-controlled City Council’s failure to transfer the 30 percent developable area of Point Molate, including Winehaven, to Suncal...

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Richmond Well Represented at AIA National Conference

This year, the American Institute of Architects held their annual national conference, AIA Conference of Architecture 2023 (A’23) in San Francisco. On the first day of the conference, a group of 40 attendees came over to Richmond via ferry as part of a field trip,...

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Hilltop auto dealership Measure U lawsuit moves forward

In 2019, I authored the legislation that directed the city manager to pursue updating our business tax ordinance. Instead of City staff leading a transparent effort with public outreach, especially to the business community, the effort was highjacked by an RPA-backed,...

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