Fried Baloney at the Whistle Stop Caf”
Representatives of the three railroad companies that operate in Richmond, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) were present at a Town Hall Meeting in the Richmond City Council Chamber on Saturday, March 27, to...
Council Flouts Brown Act, Threatens to Censure Council Member Over Secrecy Breach
Once again, some of my City Council colleagues have excoriated me for violating the code of secrecy that has traditionally shrouded Richmond City government. After chastising me privately, they made a public threat to censure me, I am told, in the post midnight...
City Officials Threaten to Embarrass Council Member Over Unpaid Judgment
Fighting the Richmond secrecy machine is not new. Both former Council member Donna Powers and I took the City of Richmond to court over access to public information in the early 1990"s. We both lost our court cases on technicalities, with laws and courts that should...
Richmond”s Oldest Railroad Building in Danger of Demolition
For nearly eight years, citizens of Richmond have been working with four different planning directors, four city managers (including acting and interim), half a dozen public works (services) directors, two mayors, a dozen city council members, MTC, CCTA, Caltrans, the...
Chronicle Touts Rosie Visit for Women’s History Month
Today"s San Francisco Chronicle featured Richmond"s Rosie the Riveter Memorial in the Rosie the Riveter World War II/Home Front National Historical Park as a Women"s History Month special. The article, which also describes the park"s "spectacular waterfront setting,"...
Layoff Plan Addendum
I inadvertently left one page out of the draft Layoff Plan attached to the 3/27 LAYOFF PLAN UNDER CONSIDERATION BY CITY COUNCIL. The entire draft plan, including the previously missing page, is attached. layoff_plan_033004.pdf
Shoreline Alliance Checkup
If you are interested in preserving the few pristine portions remaining of Richmond"s 32 miles of shoreline, you will want to join the Shoreline Alliance next Saturday, April 3, to check-in on the status of those efforts, and to imagine new ways to move shoreline...
Layoff Plan Under Consideration by City Council
On March 23, 2004, the City Council directed the City Manager to take certain actions to achieve $25 million in budget reductions and/or increased revenues for FY 2004-2005. An implementation plan for reductions of $12.5 million was to be reported on April 6, 2004....
Guest Editorial from Richmond Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
The following is from the Richmond Chamber of Commerce March 2004 Newsletter, "Richmond Chamber News," which can be found at http://www.localcommunities.org/lc/088/FSLO-1079463869-529088.pdf. THE SILENT VICTIM By Mark Howe, Chair, Richmond Chamber of Commerce The...
Municipal Trainwreck
Interim City Manager Jay Corey did not find out the true magnitude of Richmond"s budget deficit until after Isiah Turner had announced his retirement and left office. I suppose Corey could have bailed out in shock, but he didn"t. He agreed to stay on and direct the...
All is Not Doom and Gloom
Despite municipal travails, the sun still rises, and spring has come to Richmond. The goat pasture (without Big Floyd) has long since greened up, and even wildflowers are more rampant than usual. The bees are making honey from the wild Ceonothas as well as the...
Council Takes Another Look at Historic Preservation
Tomorrow, March 16, 2004, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber, the City Council will hold a study session to discuss proposed changes to Richmond"s Historic Preservation Ordinance intended to secure approval by the State of California of Richmond as a Certified Local...
American Airlines Touts Rosie and Richmond
The following message appears on all American airlines communications to their customers with frequent flier accounts: Do you know a Rosie the Riveter? Who is Rosie the Riveter? A character familiar to the World War II generation, Rosie symbolizes the countless women...
Remember the Chevron Poll?
Back in January, ChevronTexaco was calling hundreds of Richmond households for opinions on such things as City Council corruption, a possible City Council recall and whether or not there should be a casino at Point Molate. See TOM BUTT E-FORUM ChevronTexaco Looking...
Community Budget Meetings Attract Marginal Public Interest
The first of six community meetings intended to educate the public and seek input on solutions to the budget crisis occurred on March 10 at the Hilltop Mall Community Room. It was intended to serve residents of Hilltop Green, Fairmede Hilltop, Hilltop Village,...
All Abroad for Train Issues
There will be a public meeting with the three railroad companies operating in Richmond to discuss issues including horn noise, garbage along the tracks and long trains: Saturday, March 27, 2004, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM City Council Chambers 2600 Barrett Avenue Richmond, CA...
School News
You can subscribe to the following WCCUSD e-newsletter by emailing pehara@wccusd.k12.ca.us. WCCUSD e-Weekly March 12, 2004 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS MARCH 12 TO CONSIDER NEW PARCEL TAX Responding to community concern about cuts to the 2004-05 budget approved March 8,...
Community Meetings to Seek Citizen Input on Budget Options
In the next eight days, six community meetings will be held to seek citizen input on what service cuts should be made to balance the budget. The first meeting will be tonight from 6-8 PM at the Hilltop Community Room. The City Council is scheduled to act on March 23...
Sharing the Pain
On January 13, 2004, I placed an item on the City Council agenda to reduce the City Council budget by 10%. There was little support form the City Council, and Mayor Anderson said that the proposal would be discussed at the upcoming City Council retreat. But it wasn"t....
City Finances in Cardiac Arrest
The long awaited second quarter financial report was quietly distributed to City Council members tonight after the City Council meeting. It showed a whopping cash deficit of $35.2 million, which is more than a third of the entire General Fund budget. Also included was...