Is the Richmond San Rafael Bridge Water Line Still an Emergency?
Environmental Marin Municipal Water District: Reservoir outlook improving By TortLawNewsOn Dec 6, 2021 The Marin Municipal Water District will likely avoid depleting its main reservoir supplies next summer, according to new projections following last week’s heavy...
Coast Guard Command Staff Visits Richmond
Today, the United States Coast Guard Sector San Francisco command staff visited Richmond, first touring Chevron, and second, receiving a briefing on the Port of Richmond and visiting the Red Oak Victory. Thanks to Port Staff Alan Wolken, Robert Stevens and Lucy Zhou...
House of Representatives Hearing on Legislation Adding Nystrom School to Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park
On Tuesday morning, December 7, 2021, beginning at 7:30 a.m. PT (10:30 a.m. ET), there will be a hearing before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands of the house of Representatives Natural Resources Committee. I will be testifying in support...
Why Richmond Traffic Signals Don’t Work
The City of Richmond is increasingly challenged with maintaining its traffic signals. Recently, a resident emailed me with a list of malfunctioning traffic signals: Hilltop @ Blume Eastbound left turn signal goes green without cars triggering the signal, delaying West...
Brown Act Violations by City Council and City Attorney Filed with District Attorney and Grand Jury
The Brown Act includes several remedies for violations, including requesting investigations by the district attorney and Civil Grand Jury. Government Code Section 54960.2 also provides for the filing of a cease and desist demand on the offending party, in this case,...
RPA Seeks to Make Rydin Road and Richmond Parkway RV Camps Permanent
Figure 1 - Fire at Richmond Parkway RV Camp In March of 2021, Councilmembers Martinez and Jimenez agendized and the City Council approved a measure to end the months of flipflopping over proposed RV safe park sites opposed by various neighborhoods and use available...
MCE Celebrates Another Year of Successes
One of the few rewards of being mayor of Richmond is the opportunity to serve and represent Richmond on regional agencies, such as MCE Clean Energy. I have represented the City of Richmond as a board member of MCE since 2013 when Richmond became the first expansion...
City Manager’s Weekly Report for the Week Ending December 3, 2021
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 December 3rd, 2021. Meeting Notes The next Regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7th,...
What the RPA Is Spending Your Money On (Nothing That Helps You)
These days, the RPA-controlled City Council is not focused on things people care about like crime, homelessness, dumping, potholes, pollution, weeds and city services. They are obsessed and laser focused on spending City money trying to punish me for telling the...
L.A. Times: More than 400 toxic sites in California are at risk of flooding from sea level rise
Guess what. There are 21 sites listed in Richmond, but Campus Bay is not one of them. Zeneca is specifically listed as a “not at risk facility.” This L.A. Times story (below), highlights toxic shoreline issues in S. California. Yet, the last four paragraphs focus on...
How and Where to Attend the Federal Court Hearing Tomorrow, December 1, 2021
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM, running through 11:00 AM, and then resuming at 2:00 PM if necessary. Location: United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Courthouse Court Room 1, 4th Floor, Judge Gonzales Rogers 1301...
Federal Court Hearing of Evidence from city Council Members Cancelled
By order today from Judge Gonzales Rogers, tomorrow’s hearing has been cancelled. My non-legal interpretation is that the judge does not see evidence of imminent damage to the Tribe and Upstream that would warrant a restraining order, but at the same time, she is...
Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin and the Federal Courts – Good faith and Fair Dealing Over Again
Before August of 2017, the City’s control over Point Molate was looking pretty good. The City had prevailed in a hearing before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, in the lawsuit by Guidiville...
One Bottle of Whiskey Killed, No Birds Hurt at 32nd Annual Richmond Turkey Shoot
One Bottle of Whiskey Killed, No Birds Hurt at 32nd Annual Richmond Turkey Shoot November 25, 2021 at 1:59 pm Filed Under:Richmond, Thanksgiving Day Turkey Shoot, Whiskey, Wild Turkey RICHMOND (BCN) — At least one bottle of Wild Turkey was emptied, but no birds were...
Ever Defiant, McLaughlin, “will welcome the opportunity to testify on this matter and clarify the truth for the judge and others.”
Judge orders all Richmond City Council members to answer allegations that they undermined Point Molate project The main building and former Naval officers’ homes, foreground, are seen from this drone view at Winehaven in Richmond, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 14, 2018....
Resignation Letter from City Manager Laura Snideman
Dear Richmond City Council: I hereby provide my resignation as the City Manager of City of Richmond, effective December 1, 2021. When I was hired as the City's first female City Manager in January 2020, none of us could have known the challenges of a world pandemic...
City of Richmond in Big Trouble With Federal Court Over Point Molate RPA Antics
The City of Richmond was ordered into federal court on Friday, November 19, by United States District Court Judge Gonzales Rogers, who issued an Order Re Anticipated Request for TRO. The parties are due back in Judge Gonzales Roger’s courtroom today at 10:00 AM for...
Judge Gonzales Rogers Orders All Richmond City Council Members to Testify Under Oath in Federal Court on December 1
In federal court just now, Judge Gonzales Rogers ordered all seven Richmond City Council members to appear in Federal Court in an evidentiary hearing at 2:00 PM on December 1 to testify in person under oath about failure to carry out provisions of the Point Molate...
Massive Thanksgiving Turkey Givaway
When Peter Fagrell of Hilco Redevelopment Partners ordered a truckload of 1,000 turkeys to be distributed to Richmond families, the Mayor’s Office stepped up to help with the logistics. Chief of Staff Vern Whitmore teamed with the Richmond Community Foundation,...
City Manager Laura Snideman to Spend Last Day at Work in Federal Court
In her Order for Evidentiary Hearing, Judge Gonzales-Rogers ordered outgoing City Manager Laura Snideman to join the City Council in federal court on December 1, 2021, which turns out to be her last day at work. What an ignominious way to go out!