Richmond
Environmental justice in action
Dateline:
08/04/2008Chevron's record profit fleeting?
Dateline:
08/02/2008SAN RAMON — Chevron Corp. rocketed to record quarterly profits of $5.98 billion, the oil giant reported Friday, but analysts warned that the San Ramon firm's profit gusher may ebb if sky-high oil prices morph into a temporary oil bubble.
Profits for the second quarter jumped 11 percent from a year ago, Chevron said. Yet the per-share profit of $2.90 fell short of Wall Street's expectations of $3.03. Chevron's shares fell 25 cents, or 0.3 percent, to finish at $84.31.
Still, analysts were pleased about the report overall.
"These numbers were great," said Robbert Van Batenburg, head of research with Louis Capital Markets.
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Richmond leaders to sit on committee distributing $10 million from Chevron
Dateline:
07/31/2008In a vote shouted down by the audience, Richmond city leaders appointed themselves to a committee that will decide how $10 million from a community benefits agreement with Chevron will be spent.
Council members Nat Bates, Ludmyrna Lopez and Harpreet Sandhu will sit on the committee. Councilman John Marquez will serve as the alternate.
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Lennar sells take in Richmond condos
Dateline:
12/31/1969RICHMOND — Lennar Corp. has jettisoned its ownership stake in two condominium projects near Marina Bay here, another indicator that the housing market has yet to escape its multi-faceted meltdown.
The company sold its interest in the 488-unit Marina Shores and the 224-unit Marina Cove, residential developments located in the Marina Bay area of Richmond. Both projects were launched as a venture consisting of Lennar and Emerald Fund. Kennedy Wilson bought Lennar's stake in the two condo projects, which total 712 units.
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Chevron: No harmful impact from sulfur spill at Richmond refinery
Dateline:
07/28/2008RICHMOND — A sulfuric acid spill at the Chevron refinery this morning has caused no injuries or adverse effects to surrounding areas, the company said.
A leak in a pipeline containing the chemical was discovered around 8:10 a.m. and involved about 1,000 pounds of the liquid, said Chevron spokesman Walt Gill.
Because the sulfuric acid was in liquid and not vapor form, there was no harmful odor emitted, Gill said. Crews have been dispatched to clean up the spill.
Even though the spill did not cause any significant damage or harm, Gill said, the volume of the spill required the company to report it to county and state authorities.
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Our Neighbors: Richmond attorney takes green practices to parks foundation
Dateline:
07/29/2008William Acevedo, a Richmond resident and attorney who leads the Green Business Practice Group at a large Oakland law firm, can now expand his environmental interests following his recent appointment to the East Bay Regional Parks Foundation.
The 39-year-old nonprofit foundation provides direct support for the East Bay Regional Park District, raises donations and invests funds for future use, bringing in more than $35 million in donations, land and in-kind services since 1969.
Acevedo, an attorney and partner at the Oakland law firm Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, was appointed to a two-year term on the foundation board.
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Reader's Forum: Dissenting view on Chevron refinery vote
Dateline:
07/26/2008NOT SINCE 1994 when another billion dollar Chevron project was up for approval, has the Richmond City Council rolled over so completely as it did on July 16 when a five-person majority (Maria Viramontes, Nathaniel Bates, Ludmyrna Lopez, John E. Marquez and Harpeet Sandhu) certified a fatally flawed EIR, gutted essential conditions from a use permit and adopted a "Community Benefits Agreement" — all these actions leaving stunned Richmond residents asking "Who is representing us?"
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Chevron: Contra Costa Times July 25 letters
Dateline:
07/25/2008The council had the opportunity — indeed, the obligation — to ensure the project not proceed without important public health and environmental safeguards in place, to be negotiated in a public and transparent process.
However, the council majority (Maria Viramontes, Nat Bates, John Marquez, Ludmyrna Lopez, and Harpreet Sandhu) betrayed the communities they were elected to represent.
Ardent concerns expressed by Richmond families, neighborhood groups, environmentalists and even State Attorney General Jerry Brown fell on deaf ears.
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New Target store is another piece in Richmond's revitalization puzzle
Dateline:
07/22/2008Richmond's long-awaited Target store opens today, one piece of a larger redevelopment plan that city officials hope will return foot traffic to the Macdonald Avenue corridor.
The 146,000-square-foot store is projected to generate $600,000 in sales tax revenue a year, said Steve Duran, the city's community and economic development director.
The store at the east end of Macdonald Avenue near Interstate 80 opened its doors for a preview Tuesday night, when the City Council and public milled around inside. Employees in red shirts lined up by the cash registers to greet customers. Shiny white floors and neatly stocked shelves with "New store special" signs beckoned.
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Richmond council OKs Chevron refinery plan
Dateline:
07/18/2008The council voted 5-4 to approve a conditional use permit for Chevron to replace a hydrogen plant, install new hydrogen-purifying equipment, build a new cogeneration power plant and replace other antiquated machinery.
"We're pleased with the vote and look forward to moving ahead with construction," said Dean O'Hair, a Chevron spokesman. "This project will make us more efficient and reliable than we already are."
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