Mayor and Councilmembers: This is the weekly report for the week ending January 26th, 2007. 1. Meeting Notes The special meeting of the City Council to discuss the "sludge pond" issue is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30th, at 6:30 PM. The next regular City Council...

One of the reasons that so many people in Richmond are concerned about "accidents" at Chevron is that the baseline air pollution in parts of Richmond is already off the charts. In a report that came out just yesterday, it was determined that children living within...

Caltrans recently completed posting signage and installing rumble strips to better define the bike lanes that share the I-580 freeway on the east end of the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. In my opinion, using that bike lane is tantamount to Russian Roulette, and Caltrans...

Our kids grew up together on Scenic Avenue in modest 100-year old-cottages originally built for Standard Oil workers. We knew Hank Wessel was an artist with photography as his medium. He taught at the San Francisco Art Institute, and he was good " but never...

More than six years after the Rosie the Riveter WW II Home Front National Historical Park was established in Richmond by an act of Congress signed off by former President Bill Clinton, the City of Richmond (better late than never) has erected signs at the I-580 Marina...

Thanks to the hard work of our Planning staff, particularly Lina Velasco, the State Office of Historic Preservation has informed the mayor that "The State Office of Historic Preservation staff (OHP) has reviewed the City of Richmond"s application to become a Certified...

This story seems to be pretty well flushed out, except for the answers to two questions: Who gave the order to sack City Hall and provided access? What happened to the stuff that was taken? Did it end up as a useful and functional addition to some employee"s City Hall...

Like a battered spouse afraid to face reality by choosing inaction over self-preservation, the City Council failed, for the third time since 2002, to take action that would hold Chevron accountable for periodic incidents that trigger shelter in place alerts. With a...

Those of you who have followed the recent Chevron Fire and Emergency Warning System debacle may have noticed various Chevron apologists waxing poetic about the Contra Costa County Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER), the organization responsible for...

Mayor and Councilmembers: This is the weekly report for the week ending January 19th, 2007. 1. Meeting Notes The next regular City Council meeting is on Tuesday, January 23rd, convening at 8:30 AM for a Closed Session, reconvening for the swearing-in of Harpreet...

The best we can figure out, here is what happened: On January 12th, Battalion Chief Erik Newman requested permission through Public Works to enter the Old City Hall building and look for office furniture. Battalion Chief Newman is the Fire Department Training Director...

The historic mural/sculpture that has adorned the wall behind the dais of the now abandoned City Council chambers since the building was completed in 1950 was apparently removed and damaged by unnamed Richmond firefighters for reasons that remain somewhat murky....

Posted on Fri, Jan. 19, 2007 Click Here for a copy of the report and click here for a meeting flyer. Details emerge on Chevron fire RICHMOND: Community meeting will address concerns about notification of residents By Ryan Huff CONTRA COSTA TIMES A morning fire that...

Following is the final text of the resolution I intend to introduce at the January 23, 2007, City Council meeting. I have obtained a legal analysis from a highly credible attorney experienced in public nuisance law, and it appears that this proposed course of action...

The following appeared as an editorial in yesterday"s West County Times. John Gioia has announced that there will be a community meeting at Washington School 7:00 PM " 8:30 PM on Wednesday, January 24, for Contra Costa County staff to make a presentation about the...

In one respect, we were very fortunate during the fire at Chevron yesterday morning. The wind was blowing from the east " the only direction resulting in smoke blowing away from homes in Richmond and West Contra Costa County. However, as typical for past incidents,...

Once again the Contra Costa County Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) Community Warning System failed to perform as an early morning fire erupted at the Chevron Refinery. The sirens went off about 5:15 AM, and after looking out my window and seeing a...

I write this sheltered in place in my home near the Richmond Refinery, shivering from the cold as I obey the shelter in place advice to turn off my heating system. The real problem is that we even have to have a Community Warning System. The confusion that plagued...

I just received my "All-Clear" phone call from the Community Warning System. It will be nice to turn the heat back on and go out to get the paper.

I received the following timeline from County Supervisor John Gioia: 5:26 AM Chevron notified Contra Costa County 5:32 AM Sirens activated 5:40 AM Bay City News and KCBS (AM 740) contacted by Contra Costa County 6:02 AM First request for phone calls made 6:30 AM First...