Richmond
News from Richmond, California
Urban Habitat and the Richmond Equitable Development Initiative collect and reproduce news articles related to Richmond California on a variety of topics. Posting of these stories does not necessarily indicate support or agreement, but relevance to the work of REDI and the collaborative partners and allies.
Organizations and individuals interested in Richmond and REDI’s work should regularly check this page for important news and are welcome to syndicate the content.
Organizations and individuals interested in Richmond and REDI’s work should regularly check this page for important news and are welcome to syndicate the content.
Related stories:
Good news for North Richmond’s jobless
Dateline:
07/06/2010Source:
Richmond Confidential The median household income in unincorporated North Richmond is $8,763, less than half the federal poverty level for a family of four. In Richmond proper—itself considered an economically disadvantaged town—it’s a little more than $50,000.
It’s this stark divide that reminds you that however economically bad things are in Richmond, where 17.5 percent of the city’s residents are unemployed, things just to the north are even worse.
Related stories:
“Peace” is her middle name
Dateline:
08/18/2010Source:
Richmond Confidential 
Like many African American families, Mary “Peace” Head and her brood migrated to the Bay Area from Louisiana just before WWII in search of work and opportunity.
She would go on to work as a welder in the Richmond shipyards during the war. Head, who is now 83, later became one of the early residents of Parchester Village. She’s been a leader in this small housing development since the 1950s, playing an instrumental role in securing funding for a neighborhood community center and acting as a quasi-guardian to generations of local kids.
She is called “Mary Peace” by neighbors and others throughout the city, a name she earned by flashing her customary “peace sign” with her right index and middle fingers.
In 1950, Parchester Village, named for wealthy developer Fred Parr, opened on land beyond the border of northwest Richmond.
It was billed as a community for “All Americans,” but the idea was ahead of its time.
Related stories:
Save the Date: Richmond Candidate Forum, September 30th
Greetings Richmond Mayoral and City Council incumbents and candidates:
The Richmond Equitable Development Initiative (REDI) invites you to participate in the Candidate Forum we are hosting on Thursday, September 30th, from 6:00PM - 8:00PM at Easter Hill United Methodist Church, in Richmond. We hope that you can attend this powerful venue for you to meet Richmond residents and present firsthand your vision and priorities.
Hundreds of Richmond residents turned out for REDI's 2008 Candidate Forum; thus we know your participation on September 30, 2010 will be time well spent on the campaign trail. Upon confirmation of your RSVP, will we provide you with additional information on the format of this event.
Please RSVP with Maria Alegria at 510-232-2583 or ma@ccfaithworks.org.
Chevron Tries Sacramento End-Run Around CEQA
Dateline:
08/24/2010Source:
The Berkeley Daily Planet 
Chevron is trying to use Sacramento lobbying to bypass environmental protections for Richmond.Negotiations are still going on between environmental groups, the city of Richmond and Chevron about protections for restarting the Chevron expansion project. But Chevron is now lobbying the state legislature to sneak through a special exemption which allows the giant oil company to do its project without having to file an Environmental Impact Report and reach agreement with the city about environmental protections.
Related stories:
Greening Equity: Richmond, CA
Achieving Equity in Green Economic Development
The Greening Equity Report for Richmond, California is the result of the early community outreach and research efforts of the Richmond Equitable Development Initiative (REDI) to understand
- Creating opportunities to grow green collar employment and businesses
- Ensuring that new green jobs offer livable wages and benefits
- Connecting residents to employment and/or training opportunities
- Promoting efficient and environmentally-friendly land use decisions
- Leveraging federal, state, and local funds to enhance economic opportunities for residents
- Supporting policies that create new markets for green products and services.
A message to the Richmond Chamber Membership and the Community
Dateline:
02/11/2010Source:
Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Correspondence with the Mayor: A message to the Richmond Chamber Membership and the Community
As residents of Richmond, we know that jobs and the economy are the most important issues we face today in the City of Richmond. As I believe this is an important message, I want to take this opportunity to bring you up to date as to our on going conversations with the Mayor. Below, you will find our correspondence with the Mayor's office. If you should have any questions or comments please email me at judy@rcoc.com.
Judy Morgan comments to Mayor McLaughlin, 2-3-2010
Mayor McLaughlin response to Judy Morgan, 2-8-2010
Josh Genser, Genser & Watkins, letter to Mayor McLaughlin, 2-11-2010
Bob Connolly, RCOC Board Chair, letter to Mayor McLaughlin, 2-11-2010
Judy Morgan
President/CEO
Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Chevron Threatens To Leave Longtime Home
Dateline:
12/28/2009Source:
All Things Considered
Audio for this story from All Things Considered will be available at approx. 7:00 p.m. ET
The biggest producer of greenhouse gases in California is the Chevron Corp.'s oil refinery in the Bay Area town of Richmond, just east of San Francisco.
The refinery opened more than a century ago, and in spite of the bad air, Richmond has always been a loyal company town.
Until lately.
The refinery is nestled on a bank of hills right next to the San Francisco Bay. It's a Byzantine complex of tanks, steam boilers and 8,000 miles of piping. The refinery produces jet fuel, gasoline and diesel.
Over the past century, the Richmond refinery has prospered, helping Chevron make billions in profits.
Related stories:
Chilly Climate for Oil Refiners
Dateline:
12/24/2009Source:
New York Times Only a few years ago, a cry went up that the United States needed more oil refineries. The perceived shortage was so acute that George W. Bush, president at the time, even offered disused military bases as sites for building them.
Not only did that never come to pass, but the reverse is now happening. The business of oil refining is mired in a deep crisis, with five refineries having shut down this year, including plants in Delaware, New Jersey, California and New Mexico.
Related stories:
PICO - National Negotiations w/ Bank of America in Antioch
12/12/2009 - 6:00pm
12/12/2009 - 8:00pm
City:
AntiochAddress:
Holy Rosary Church - 1313 A St.Cost:
FreeBank of America's Barbara Desoer to Meet with CCISCO and PICO Leaders
St. Ignatius Church to Divest Unless Desoer Comes Through with Promise and Results
After a successful protest in San Francisco, Bank of America President of Home Mortgages and Insurance Barbara Desoer has agreed to meet with CCISCO and PICO leaders on January 12, 2009 at Holy Rosary Church in Antioch for national loan modification negotiations. With only a pitiful 98 permanent loan modifications across the country, Bank of America has fallen short of fulfilling their bailout promises.
Related stories:
