Sister City Visit
We returned yesterday from a 10-day trip to China, the principle motivation of which was an official biannual delegation to Richmond"s sister city, Zhoushan. This was my first visit to Asia in 32 years, my first trip having been initiated by Uncle Sam in 1970 with the...
Ford Assembly Building Rehabilitation Underway
With amazingly little fanfare, the long-awaited rehabilitation of the 550,000 square foot Ford Assembly Building and future home of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park Visitor Center is now underway by APP (Assembly Plant Partners)....
City Officials Obsessed with Secrecy
Today"s West County Times carried a story of a tempestuous meeting of the Police Commission wherein a couple of city officials reportedly criticized me for quoting in an E-FORUM a memo from three police commissioners expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of...
Chronicle’s Chip Johnson on Richmond Roll
Outing Richmond problems seems to be emerging as a weekly pastime for Chronicle columnist Chip Johnson (see story at the end of this E-FORUM). Last week it was Chief Samuels; this week it is Assistant City Manager for Finance, Anna Vega. What is the background of this...
Free Tow Service
If you drive in the Bay Area, you should read this incredible service, described by a friend: "My car had a flat tire a week ago on the highway. I was lucky that a CHP officer stopped by within seconds. He told me he will call for a "free service" to change my tire or...
General Chemical Parent Company in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
GenTek, the parent company of General Chemical (notorious in Richmond for acid releases), has filed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. GenTek is heavily invested in the telecom business, which has taken a major hit in the economic downturn of the last two...
Have We Already Forgotten Rosie?
In a study session prior to the October 22, 2002, City Council meeting, the three newest members of the Community and Economic Development leadership team made a one-hour presentation of their strategic management plans for the Community and Economic Development...
Join the Arts and Culture Commission
The Arts and Culture Commission is a hands-on group of volunteers committed to advocating for and bringing the arts to Richmond's residents. The Commission recently sponsored Artrain USA, a 5-day event that brought the nation's only art museum on a train to Richmond....
Owens Corning Scrubs Proposed Richmond Asphalt Plan
I received the following letter today. I want to thank everyone who helped oppose this inappropriate use. October 21, 2002 The Honorable Thomas K. Butt 2600 Barrett Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 Dear Mr. Butt: Due to current market conditions in the roofing asphalt...
Bay Trail Blazes Through Richmond
Courtesy of TRAC (Trails for Richmond Action Committee), the following report updates Bay Trail progress in Richmond. The last three months have witnessed great strides forward, including over 3-1/2 miles of new trail built and two new grants awarded. Many of you were...
Contra Costa Times Article Stirs Unnecessary Ford Plant Controversy
An article in the Contra Costa (and West County) times on October 19 raised provocative questions about the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ford assembly Plant. The article appears to be based largely on a letter sent by a member of the City Council to Malcolm Hunter...
Chronicle Lauds Richmond’s Atchison Village
A multi-page article in Friday"s San Francisco Chronicle extolled the affordability and sense of community offered by Richmond"s Atchison Village. The community is part of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, is listed on the...
Final Workshop on Future of Civic Center
The final public workshop on the future of the Richmond Civic Center will be held 7:00 to 9:00 PM, Monday, October 21, 2002, in the City Council Chambers, 260o Barrett Avenue. Whether the Civic Center is rehabilitated, replaced or moved somewhere else, the cost will...
Richmond Loses Will to Keep City Safe, Clean and Solvent
Like many cities, Richmond has a bevy of ordinances designed to compel property owners to keep up their property in a manner that will make for a safe, clean and attractive city. The costs of enforcing these ordinances, typically, are intended to be recovered through...
Chronicle Columnist Chip Johnson Pans Chief
Today"s San Francisco Chronicle had a column by Chip Johnson regarding Richmond Police Chief Joseph Samuels. See http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/18/EB67648.DTL, or read below: Richmond's police chief feeling heat Chip Johnson...
Stop the Asphalt Plant
Many E-FORUM readers have asked what can be done to dissuade the City Council from proceeding to build an asphalt plant on Canal Boulevard. Individual contacts with City Council members via phone calls and snail mail is always important. Email will be read by some...
Richmond Planning Topics in San Francisco Business Times
During the past week, Richmond has been mentioned twice in San Francisco Business Times articles about planning and economics. The articles are copied herein. There is no mention of the current administration"s ambition to re-expand Richmond"s industrial base by...
Medlock for West CCC Health Care Center Board
Please join me in supporting John Medlock for the West CCC Health Care Center Board. Party October 24th in the DeWitt Gallery (5:30-7:00pm) at Baltic Square,,, 121 Park Place in Point Richmond.
A Chief’s Chief or a Disappointment?
When it comes to Richmond"s chief of police, neutral assessments are hard to find. Nineteen thousand of his peers, worldwide, elected him to the highest office a police chief can hold. Presumably, that makes him a chief"s chief and a source of pride to Richmond...