Richmond

News from Richmond, California

Editor2 — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:30:55 -0500

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.

ACCE Looks to Bolster Richmond's Bank Foreclosure Ordinance

Editor2 — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:26:31 -0500

The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), held a community meeting on Sept. 6, to discuss enforcement of the anti-blight ordinance and other policies to refund and rebuild Richmond. ACCE, along with Urban Habitat, is a Richmond Equitable Development Initiative (REDI) Collaborative Partner. REDI is a collaborative of advocacy, research, and grassroots community-based organizations working together in Richmond and throughout the Bay Area on environmental justice and social justice issues.

Richmond City council votes to practice precaution

Editor2 — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:09:12 -0500

By Christopher Connelly

In a complex and dynamic world where scientific certainty is hard to come by and new technologies, chemicals and industrial processes are being introduced into the world, Richmond’s City Council decided that it is best to take a cautious approach to making policies and city planning. At least, that’s the aim of a resolution passed at last night’s city council meeting.

The idea behind the resolution is that the city should use the precautionary principle, which holds that if there is a possibility that a policy or plan will have potentially dangerous health or environmental impact—even if there is no scientific consensus—it is better to err on the side of caution. This resolution will put the burden of proof on companies proposing new developments and businesses within city limits to show that there is little chance that a local group will be negatively impacted. Although the resolution is symbolic, it is a statement that the council will consider health impacts for any decisions they make—like new buildings or industrial and manufacturing developments—and will ask the organization proposing a new action to prove that it is unlikely to cause harm.

REDI Leadership Training, May 21, 2011

Editor2 — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:03:37 -0500

Prepare to Speak out on Richmond's General Plan! Lift up your dreams for the city where you live.

When a city approves a General Plan, it makes a commitment to the kind of place it wants to be. This is our chance to prepare to speak out and calion the city's leaders to lift up our needs and dreams. The General Plan can help us make Richmond a safe, healthy and thriving place that has homes people can afford and sustainable jobs. A city that makes sure no neighborhoods bear more than their fair share of pollution, and polluters bear their fair share of cleaning up the air. The Richmond Planning Commission AND the City Council have to approve the plan. Get ready by attending the REDI Leadership Training- come strengthen your skills, speak up for your community!

Renovated Nevin Community Center rejuvenates Iron Triangle neighborhood

Editor2 — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:35:34 -0600

By Christina Lopez

After a citywide restoration project to revitalize the Nevin Community Center and the surrounding area, the center will celebrate with a much-anticipated grand re-opening celebration this Saturday.

“I think it’s part of the Iron Triangle cleaning itself up,” said nearby resident Richard Boyd, referring to the center’s new look from the inside out. For the last three months, the center’s doors have remained open as over 50 community members volunteered hundreds of hours to wax floors, paint walls, remove graffiti, refurbish classrooms, and collect trash surrounding the center.

“Teams would take shifts to renovate and clean the center. Those working would range from 14 years old to 77 years old and across all racial lines,” Boyd said. A resident of the Iron Triangle, Boyd also works with Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), an interfaith organization comprised of 25 congregations and youth organizations representing 35,000 families throughout the county. He helped organize city officials’ visits to the park and generate interest from residents outside the Iron Triangle.

Mayor McLaughlin's Response to Richmond Chamber of Commerce

admin — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:45:53 -0500

Note from the Editor:
In response to a news submission from the Richmond Chamber of Commerce that was posted on this site in February the Mayor of Richmond has contributed the following information for the record. The Mayor reports that she responded to the Chamber with the following email sent 3 days after Mr Connolly's letter.

Good news for North Richmond’s jobless

Editor2 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:47:05 -0500

By Ian Stewart

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.

“Peace” is her middle name

Editor2 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:15:24 -0500

By Robert Rogers

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.

Chevron Tries Sacramento End-Run Around CEQA

Editor2 — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:36:20 -0500

By Mike Parker

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.

Greening Equity: Richmond, CA

Editor2 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:46:54 -0500

Achieving Equity in Green Economic Development
A Publication of the Richmond Equitable Development Initiative (REDI)

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 the state of the green economy in the greater Richmond area. The overarching goal of this report is to inform community members, local stakeholders and especially city officials and local leaders so that they can promote and support activities, programs, and policies that will advance equitable green economic development with an emphasis on the following areas:

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.