Richmond Featured on Bay Area Backroads
Coming up on "Bay Area Backroads," KRON Channel 4, Saturday, January 3rd at 5:30 p.m. " We uncover the jewels of Richmond, its role during World War II, its amazing art community, and its open space. " We"ll find art flourishing everywhere in Richmond. We"ll discover...
Out With The Old ” In With The New
A down economy, gargantuan state budget cuts, massive City staff layoffs, and a city with possibly the highest per capita homicide rate in California are not the kind of things that make Richmond City Council service fun and rewarding. Bragging rights for anything are...
Smart Growth Leadership to Assist in Richmond Revitalization
Richmond was selected from among 100 applicants as one of nine communities stretching from Florida to Alaska selected to participate in the 2004 Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Program " a cooperative program provided by Smart Growth America"s Smart Growth...
Richmond Finally Declared Safe
Communities downwind from the refinery, such as the Iron Triangle, North Richmond, Parchester and San Pablo can finally breathe freely. It must have been great relief for those folks to read an interview published in the December 21, 2003, San Francisco Chronicle, in...
Poor Chevron
The following letter was published in the West County Times on December 19, 2003: Incorrect allegations In a Dec. 4 Times story, Richmond Councilman Tom Butt cited ChevronTexaco as a factor in the city's inability to bridge its budget gap. Butt reportedly said:...
Port of Richmond a Cash Cow?
At its December 16, 2003, meeting, the Richmond City Council will be asked to vote on three major public policy documents that could seal the fate of publicly-owned Port of Richmond properties for the next decade. With the 16th being the last meeting of 2003, the...
Point Molate Developer Chosen by City Staff
After months of seeming inaction on the future development of Point Molate, Richmond Redevelopment Agency staff surprised City Council members with a request for a joint meeting of the Local Reuse Authority/Richmond City Council ON DECEMBER 16, 2003, to approve a six...
Richmond Library Fumbles Annual Grant
Because of a late application, Richmond will lose approximately $44,000 next year in automatic Public Library Funds routinely available form the California State Library. The filing deadline was December 1, 2003. All California public libraries are eligible to apply,...
Favorite Cities of Richmond’s Top Management
If a poll were to be taken of the city of choice for Richmond"s top management, it would be anywhere but Richmond " that is if they vote with their feet. Of Richmond"s 41 top management staff members, including all department heads and other management deemed to be...
More on Lost Library Grant
According to a reliable source, the paperwork to qualify for the lost $44,000 Library Grant was prepared on time by the Library but held up in the City of Richmond Finance Department, even after the Office of the State Librarian called the City of Richmond on December...
“A Tale of Two Cities”
As the specter of City of Richmond employee layoffs and resulting service cuts continues to fester, I want to thank the members of IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) Local 188 for bringing to my attention the "TALE OF TWO CITIES." According to Local...
Fresh Lawyer
On December 5, 2003, our younger son, Daniel Ryland Butt, was sworn in as a brand new lawyer in a ceremony at the University of California, Davis, School of Law. Amidst remarks both solemn and humorous, the State of California oath was administered in the King Hall...
Active or Passive City Council?
One of the enduring debates on the Richmond City Council involves the respective roles of the city council and the "staff," most of who work for the city manager. I have always been an advocate for a strong and proactive city council that takes a leadership role in...
Richmond Chosen to Participate in Energy Project
The Local Government Commission has obtained funding from the California Energy Commission and the US Department of Energy to assist a limited number of cities in studying the feasibility of community choice aggregation. Richmond is one of four Bay Area communities...
The Law is a What?
It was Charles Dickens, in Oliver Twist, who wrote "If the law supposes that," said Mr. Bumble, "the law is a ass, a idiot." That phrase has been widely used for 150 years to describe bad law, and I borrow it once again to describe a puzzling inconsistency in...
Holiday Highlights in Richmond
DEWITT GALLERY AND FRAMING Gift giving season is drawing near and at DeWitt Gallery and Framing there are several artists showing with "Something small for your wall" Jim DeWitt-World renowned Maritime Artist and Point Richmond resident! Jim's painting a lot more than...
Safety Plan Comment Period Extended to January 5, 2004
The following message came this afternoon from Contra Costa Health Services Department: Responding to concerns by West Contra Costs County residents, the county health department is extending the public comment period for required safety plans submitted by two...
Response Opportunity to Industrial Safety Audit a Sham
The Richmond Industrial Safety Ordinance (RMC Chapter 6.43) requires an annual review, audit and inspection pursuant to Safety Plans submitted by stationary sources (ChevronTexaco and General Chemical). The public is supposed to have a 45-day response time. The...
CC Times Article Verifies Glitches in Safety Plan Notification
An article in today"s West County Times confirmed that materials required to be available to the public at the Richmond Public Library were missing just days before the public comment period was to end. The entire article follows this email, or see...
Thanksgiving Dinner for All
At least two local congregations are making sure no one goes hungry on Thanksgiving. You don"t have to be destitute, just wanting to enjoy Thanksgiving with friends. (1) First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina at West Richmond Avenue, Point Richmond. Thursday,...