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,...
Community Forum on North Richmond Shoreline Open Space
You are cordially invited to COMMUNITY FORUM ON NORTH RICHMOND SHORELINE OPEN SPACE Saturday, December 6th, 10AM-2PM Parchester Village Community Center 900 Williams Dr., Richmond Organized by the North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance A forum to inspire and...
Safety Plan Comments Due Now
There are ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT to comment on the safety plans required by the Richmond Industrial Safety Ordinance (RISO) for the ChevronTexaco Refinery and General Chemical. Unfortunately, the County Health Department has not made it easy. Only two copies of the plans...
Troubled Bridge Over Waters
Many have expressed frustration with the delays resulting from the Richmond San Rafael Bridge Seismic Retrofit project. The good news is that there is a website, updated daily, that tells more than you ever wanted to know about the project. See...
Fences – The Good, Bad and Ugly
It appears the City Council will be revisiting the fence height issue on December 16, 2003. It is certain that a provision for "grandfathering" most existing fences that exceed the current 3 " foot height limit will be included. To be debated will be the maximum fence...
Pollution In Richmond?
There will be a Town Hall Meeting to discuss pollution today, Thursday, November 20, 2003, from 6:00 -8:30 p.m at the Nevin Community center 598 Nevin Ave. in Richmond. "A Town Hall meeting on Thursday will address pollution from area oil refineries and trucks that...
Richmond City Manager Retires
Richmond City Manager Isiah Turner announced today that he will retire approximately January 1, 2004. He stated that concern about his health was his principal motivation for ending five years of service as Richmond"s chief executive officer. Mr. Turner"s plans were...
A Piece of the Rock?
Once again, Red Rock Island, which lies just south of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, is being hawked as the ultimate getaway " just minutes from "The City" (San Francisco " not Richmond). A Coldwell Banker Realtor in San Jose has the listing, and the island can be...
A Creek Runs Through It
Developers and Richmond planners like to call them "ditches," but Richmond is replete with magnificent creeks, including Wildcat, San Pablo, Rheem, Garrity, Baxter and Cerritos. To learn more, come join me at the Second Quadrennial Contra Costa County Creek and...
Richmond Celebrates Veterans Day at Historic Ship and Shipyard
FORD ASSEMBLY PLANT Please join Ford Motor Company, the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation and the City of Richmond on Tuesday, November 11, at the launch of an exciting new partnership to support the Rosie the Riveter World War II/Home Front National...
Support the Plunge and Remember Nick Armington
The Baltic Restaurant is hosting a Crab Feed fundraiser benefiting the Richmond Plunge on November 30th, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Included in this family style crab feed is a wine tasting of Noah's wine with the winemaker present, canap"s, music by the Hot Club and a...
Remote Controlled Trains to be Considered by Public Safety Committee
On Thursday, November 13, 2003, 9:00 AM, the City Council Public Safety and Public Services Committee will consider adopting a resolution similar to that adopted by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on May 6, 2003, urging the California Public Utility...
Where Death and Danger Lurk
As expected, last night"s City Council meeting drew some 500 vocal, mostly Latino, attendees, with over 60 signing up to make a plea for changing Richmond"s Zoning Ordinance to allow substantially higher fences in the front yards of residences. Since 1949, Richmond...