Doddering Towards Control Of Invasive Plants
(For an illustrated version, download the attached PDF file) For perhaps the first time ever in Richmond, a plant invasion edged out a home invasion for attention from the local press. The West County Times set off a mad scramble to identify and eradicate local...
Chevron and Richmond Roll The Dice Over Utility User Tax
Some 20 years after adoption of a utility users tax by the City of Richmond with a special exemption in the way of an alternative tax carved out for Chevron, a new day has dawned. For the first time ever, Chevron has declined to seek, for the current FY 2006-2007, an...
Point Richmond Summer Music Festival July Concert This Friday
Get ready for the second event of the 2006 Point Richmond Summer Music Festival this Friday, July 6. Details at http://www.pointrichmond.com/prmusic/index.htm. 5:30-6:15 pm, David Thom Band " Bluegrass 6:25-8:00 pm, Billy Boys - Porch Music I hope to see you there!
Refineries Lose One
It is not often these days that government agencies stick up for the people, but the California State Board of Equalization was looking out for Richmond yesterday. See Tax Break For Chevron May Hit Home March 7, 2006, and the following story. You may also want to get...
Council Reinstates Automatic Aid – Sort Of
Divided by old loyalties to the politically active firefighters union Local 188, the City Council followed a contentious debate with a vote on June 20 to direct Fire Chief Michael Banks to reinstate automatic aid with the Contra Costa Consolidated Fire District which...
Planning Commission Losing Its Edge?
Correction:I made an error in reporting below that the Planning Commission had approved the Point Richmond Shores Project on June 1, and I apologize for that. What the Planning Commission did was vote 6-0 to continue it to tonight, June 22.. I remain critical,...
Immediate Resumption of Automatic Aid in El Sobrante
I have placed the attached item on the June 20, 2006, City Council agenda to provide an immediate but admittedly temporary resolution to the four-year old impasse between the City of Richmond and the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District that unnecessarily...
Cecilia Jordan Butt
Our granddaughter, Cecilia Jordan Butt arrived right on time June 4, 2006, for proud parents Andrew and Kimberly Butt, their first. It was a little bit of tight scheduling for Kim, who just a few days earlier completed a Master"s Degree in Architectural History at...
D-Day Tribute To Rosies Features Richmond National Park
From the June 06, 2006 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0606/p18s02-hfks.html Rosie was a riveting war hero Meet the women who shaped World War II history - one rivet at a time. By Nancy Robison Have you ever heard of Rosie the Riveter? Do you know who she was?...
Grand Jury Slams City and County For Impasse
The Contra Costa Civil Grand Jury came down hard on both the County and the City of Richmond for not resolving the long-simmering jurisdictional dispute over El Sobrante (see They Fiddle While El Sobrante Burns, January 14, 2006). I wish to thank City Manger Bill...
Firefighters Now Confused
Last week, it was the police who were confused. This week, it"s the firefighters. In the aftermath of a tragic fire that killed three Richmond children, the Richmond Fire Department is having trouble finding a coherent response. According to firefighter Will Bachman...
NY Times Features Richmond’s Ford Assembly Plant Rehab Project
Eddie Orton, a commercial developer, is renovating a vast 1930's Ford assembly plant in Richmond, Calif., for factory, commercial, restaurant and residential use, as part of an effort to lift the city's economy. New York Times By JOHN McCLOUD Published: June 7, 2006...
Keeping Up With City Stuff
The good news is that City Manager Bill Lindsay requires department heads to provide monthly written reports about what they are doing and tracking progress on various initiatives. Some of these are provided as computer files that can be downloaded and transmitted to...
Sewer Rate Increase Unrelated to Treatment Plant Operation
The June 2, 2006, West County Times carried the following letter to the editor from Charles T. Smith: Fight back! At 7 p.m. Tuesday, in the Richmond City Council chamber, there will be a hearing on a proposed sewer-use rate change, amounting to an increase of more...
City Moves On Fence Ordinance Enforcement
More than two years after passing perhaps Richmond"s most controversial ordinance ever, it appears that City staff is moving to implement it. Residents have begun receiving mailers reminding them that permits are required for all fences and that amnesty for existing...
Point Richmond Summer Music Opens This Friday
It"s back, bigger and better than ever! The summer Point Richmond FREE music festival opens this coming Friday, June 2, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM in downtown Point Richmond. For more information, see the attached PDF file, or visit Point Richmond Music 2006. " 5:30-6:40 pm:...
Truth in Advertising Takes a Hit
Following the discovery that their mistake-ridden fundraising solicitation was full of "printing errors," the Richmond Police Officers Association (RPOA) spent even more money mailing out 30,000 postcards asking for forgiveness, reiterating their appeal for donations...
Richmonders Learn History From Each Other
A Tour of Richmond"s WWII Historic Sites By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor (05-26-06) It"s not at all strange for a bus half-filled with important local officials to roll through the streets of a California city, pointing out tracts and plots and buildings along the way. It...
Richmond Greenway Breaks New Ground
WHERE WE LIVE Posted on Fri, May. 26, 2006 Richmond breaks ground on pedestrian path Trail will run through the heart of Richmond to San Pablo Avenue, where it will hook up with the Ohlone Greenway By John Geluardi CONTRA COSTA TIMES With several speeches and a few...
More On Greenway Groundbreaking
Greenway Project Breaks Ground in Richmond By Richard Brenneman (05-23-06) Berkeley Daily Planet An abandoned three-mile stretch of railroad right-of-way in Richmond will begin its conversion into a community walking and biking trail Thursday. At 10 a.m., Mayor Irma...