Figure 1 - Contra Costa Mayors Conference business meeting – mayors’ table Figure 2 - Contra Costa Mayors Conference audience Last night, the City of Richmond hosted the first live meeting in nearly three years of the Contra Costa Mayors Conference, which I have had...

When I step down from the City Council in January 2023, one of the things I will miss most is MCE (Community Choice Energy). I have represented Richmond on the board of MCE since the City joined in 2013, and I have served as board chair and president for the last four...

On November 27, 2022, KQED published an interview with mayor-elect Eduardo Martinez, providing some insight as to how he perceives himself and his future plans as mayor. In the interview, Martinez comes off like he has a mandate, but exactly the opposite is true. He...

Due to the number of the votes counted during the November 8, 2022, General Election being so close, the County Elections Department will be conducting an internal audit of the Richmond City Council Race for District 2 only, on Thursday, December 1, 2022, starting at...

If you rent property in Richmond, this is what the City sends you. Like most City forms, it is totally unclear. Does it apply to 2022 taxes or 2023 taxes? When is it due? Looks like it was designed by the same people who design income tax forms.

At the end of the day, the Terminal 1 developer, Laconia will get what they want because of a naïve City Council that has no understanding or appreciation for good planning and urban design. See Terminal 1 Developer Proposes Single Family Subdivision, February 15,...

After I Posted “City Council Members Shut Down Appointments,” I read over 100 comments on social media, some from rabid RPA supporters suggesting that my ill-fated appointments to the Design Review Board and Planning Commission rejected by the RPA City Council members...

We are 3 weeks away from our Annual Holiday Auction. Please plan to join us on DECEMBER 9 at the Richmond Country Club The Holiday Auction is the Richmond Rotary Club’s largest fundraiser of the year that funds tens of thousands of dollars for projects and programs in...

Remember when Mitch McConnell blocked the nomination by President Obama of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court so that the next president, who happened to be Donald Trump, could make the appointment? A similar scenario played out in last night‘s City Council meeting...

On November 10, 2022, the State Auditor released a report of the the results of the State audit (Click here). Following is a summary of findings, key risks and recommendations. The Full State Audit Report is available on the State Auditor’s website here:...

I want to acknowledge members of the Richmond Police Department who are veterans: Lt. Bashan, Elizabeth | USA Sgt. Castillo, Miguel | USA Ofc. Charles, Jarred| USA Sgt. Cooper, Pablo | USMC Sgt. England, Joseph | USN Ofc. Franco, Juan | USMC Ofc. Gault, Douglas | USA...

Figure 1 - Winehaven at Point Molate is a historical treasure Winehaven at Point Molate in Richmond is perhaps the most iconic remnant of the pre-prohibition California wine industry, and it is in danger of being lost forever. I am looking for individuals who will...

Happy Veterans Day 2022 to those who served. On November 1, 2022, the Richmond City Council adopted the following resolution: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND CALIFORNIA HONORING VETERANS ON NOVEMBER 11, VETERANS DAY 2022 WHEREAS, at the 11th...

The big winner last night was the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA), which increased their City Council seats from a majority to a supermajority. And they did it without a single candidate scoring a majority vote.. In the mayor’s race, as I predicted, Eduardo...

Jonathan Livingston, chair of the Richmond Design Review Board vented his frustration by writing the following about the proposed Terminal 1 project: Waterfront cities, great architecture, placemaking and Richmond Waterfront cities around the world offer some of the...

Although I couldn’t be there, as a Climate Mayors member, I am following the event with interest and renewed optimism. Mayors’ leadership at the local level will establish a pathway for agreements and funding to be transformed into results at this year’s #COP27 #COP27...

The City of Richmond’s Housing Element 6th Cycle draft is available for public review. The City welcomes public comments on the draft from the community and other interested parties. The comment period for the public draft is from October 21, 2022 – November 21, 2022....

Because the RPA City Council members are wasting so much money on litigation (Point Molate, Campus Bay, suing the mayor), fewer resources are being devoted to maintaining streets. Richmond’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) continues to decline from 64 in 2019 to 63 in...

Today, I have two months and five days left as mayor of Richmond and only four more regular City Council meetings to attend. I am Richmond’s sixth elected mayor and the longest continuously serving City Council member in Richmond history. A new mayor will be sworn in...

The Office of the Richmond City Attorney is in the process of investigating a complaint that the mailer shown below violates Richmond’s Fair Elections law by not identifying the sources of funding, not having the required font size, offset box and proper location for...