After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, CivicWell (formerly the Local Government Commission) held its traditional Yosemite Policymakers conference this past weekend. I have been a member of this organization of city council members and county supervisors ever since I...

https://edsource.org/updates/contra-costa-county-to-intervene-in-west-contra-costa-unifieds-finances Contra Costa County to intervene in West Contra Costa Unified’s finances THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022 The Contra Costa County Office of Education will take authority over...

On March 18, 2022, the last day that the City Council could adopt a resolution of intent to form a Community Facilities District (CFD) to fund infrastructure at Point Molate, the RPA Four voted in a special City Council meeting not to move forward. The City’s...

Not surprisingly, Cox Castle Nicholson, attorneys for Winehaven Legacy LLC, sent the attached letter to the city attorney today putting the City on notice of a breach of the City’s obligations under the DA and DDA for Point Molate and demanding the City take immediate...

As chair of the board of MCE, I am providing the following press release that may be of interest to you. Go DEEP GREEN (100% renewable) now; save money and save the planet! _______________________________________________________________ MCE 100% Renewable Costs Less...

Less than a year after the City Council approved the award-winning Ferry to Bridge to Bikeway Complete Streets Plan, construction has started on 2.25 mlles of protected two-way bikeway on Harbour Way South, Hoffman & Cutting Boulevards. This will make it more...

The Contra Costa County Office of Education, which has state-mandated fiscal oversight over local school districts, has notified WCCUSD that it is “no longer a going concern,” meaning that the District, “..is no longer fiscally healthy and is unable to meet its...

On February 24, 2022, Governor Newsom announced $50 million in grants for programs and projects to alleviate homelessness, with $4.8 million going to Richmond. See City of Richmond Awarded Homeless Grant, February 25, 2022. Less than a week later, on March 1, 2022,...

Several years ago the Richmond City Council voted to join Oakland and other cities in paying for a feasibility study to charter a public bank. From the October 3, 2017 Minutes: The matter to discuss and consider donating funds to the City of Oakland to conduct a study...

https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Bart-Removes-Only-Black-Board-Member-After-16993564.php Until yesterday, Lateefah Simon represented Richmond on the BART Board. I always found her to be responsive and easy to work with. This was quite a shock.Bart Removes...

Remember back last year when the owner of 8 Western Drive sold the property for over $1 million after illegally expropriating most of the street right of way for a front yard and private parking lot? See How to Homestead Land in Richmond, September 11, 2021. It turns...

With little fanfare, former Richmond City Attorney Teresa Stricker emerged as the new city attorney for the City of San Pablo, not only a little too close for comfort to Richmond, but entirely surrounded by Richmond. Stricker almost single-handedly did her best to...

With Russia on top of the news these days, I thought I would share my first and last trip to Russia 52 years ago this month way back when it was the USSR. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxc-iKzLQBE. The voyage from Yokahama to Nakhodka was a couple of days....

… I traded in my jungle boots and frayed fatigues for civilian clothes and bought a ticket on Air Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I always wanted to see Angkor Way, so instead of taking the Freedom Bird east, I headed west. Figure 1 - Goodbye, Vietnam! Figure 2 -...

____________________________________________________________________________ MCE Submits $188 Million Energy Efficiency Business Plan Includes Funding for New Equity Offerings in Environmental Justice Communities SAN RAFAEL and CONCORD, Calif. — On March 4, 2022, MCE...

Press Release 02/28/22 Chevron Announces Agreement to Acquire Renewable Energy Group Expected to build strength and accelerate growth across renewable fuels value chain Projected to be accretive to earnings and free cash flow Cynthia (CJ) Warner, REG CEO, expected to...

Today, March 6, 2022, would have been my mom’s 100th birthday. She died way too young at the age of 69, a victim of a lifetime of smoking, which was considered not only normal but healthy in the 1940s and beyond. Figure 1 – Typical 1940s cigarette ad. Smoking was...

This message is being sent on behalf of Interim City Manager Shasa Curl Hon. Mayor and Members of the City Council: This is the report for the week ending March 4th, 2022. Meeting Notes The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15th, 2022. Enjoy...

The sad part about the current Richmond City Council is that you don’t have to be anti-business and anti-housing to be environment friendly and improve the quality of life for Richmond residents, particularly underserved residents. The knee-jerk Richmond Political...

Richmond mayor raises Ukraine’s flag at City Hall in show of solidarity February 28, 2022 https://richmondstandard.com/richmond/2022/02/28/richmond-mayor-raises-ukraines-flag-at-city-hall-in-show-of-solidarity/ After raising the Flag of Ukraine at City Hall in a show...