Economics (News)
Black flight - Presentation to UCSF medical students Feb. 15, 2008
Presentation to UCSF medical students Feb. 15, 2008
"It was only when the Redevelopment Agency began to acquire buildings, evict occupants, and demolish structures, and urban renewal became a living, frightening reality, that real participation of the area's residents began, as they organized to defend themselves." - Chester Hartman, "City for Sale," University of California Press 2002
Old Ford auto plant revs up for life again
Seven decades ago on Richmond's waterfront, workers rolled up their sleeves and churned out Ford cars for American consumers at a plant lauded for its brick-and-glass architecture. Later, with the dawn of World War II, they switched to assembling jeeps and tanks by the thousands for the military.
Related stories:
Report shows effects of new refinery
Three years after Chevron pitched its Energy and Hydrogen Renewal Project, debate over whether the plan is good for Richmond continues to rage.
Some residents and environmentalists worry that the project will create more pollution that can lead to health problems, charges that Chevron disputes.
Related stories:
It's really not that easy being green
Despite the increased hype about companies going green, American business isn't making much of a dent in major environmental problems, according to a new report card on the state of corporate environmental initiatives.
American companies as a whole are making progress in eight out of 20 environmental categories tracked in the State of Green Business 2008 study, while losing ground in two categories and treading water in 10 others.
Related stories:
A Green Energy Industry Takes Root in California
SAN FRANCISCO — The sun is starting to grow jobs.
While interest in alternative energy is climbing across the United States, solar power especially is rising in California, the product of billions of dollars in investment and mountains of enthusiasm.
Related stories:
Graduate Intern Helps Nonprofit Advocacy Group Enter Debate About Green Economic Development
If you live or work in Richmond, California, you quickly learn that it
is not a good idea to ignore the sirens that periodically send a
piercing alarm throughout the city. These sirens are not mounted on
ambulances or fire trucks. Instead, they are part of a network of 17
devices, mounted on high towers throughout Richmond, that sound an
ominous and unmistakable warning whenever the city of 100,000
experiences a chemical accident, a toxic cloud, an oil fire, or some
other hazardous materials incident.
Richmond’s community warning system is a necessity because the city,
located 16 miles north of San Francisco, is home to more than its fair
share of potentially dangerous industries, including chemical
manufacturing plants and oil refineries, and a roadway and rail network
that carries a significant amount of high-speed, commercial traffic.
When the city’s sirens blare, it is time for residents to shelter in
place—that is, to get inside, close and lock all doors and windows,
turn off all ventilation systems, and stay put until they receive the
all-clear signal.
In addition to protecting residents from imminent environmental harm,
the sirens have become an uncomfortable symbol that identifies Richmond
as an industrial and environmentally vulnerable community. In light of
its reputation, it may have come as a pleasant surprise to some
observers when the city passed a resolution in February 2006 in support
of green economic development. In that resolution, the city, whose main
employer is Chevron USA, went on record with its intention to attract
environmentally friendly industries as a way to improve its environment
and add clean jobs to the local economy.
Related stories:
Country's first 'green' shelter opens
125-room Oakland facility features solar panels, water-based heaters
Related stories:
GreenForAll: Tell Congress to go Green For All in the Economic Stimulus Package
Have you heard? It's all over the news: people everywhere are talking about the possibility of a recession. From Wall Street to Oakland, economic tensions are high.
Related stories:
