The saga of the East Brother Light Station unplugged continues. We have a GoFundMe campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-east-brother-light-station.
If we have to go to off grid solar, the estimated cost is about $200,000. Replacing the submarine power cable is estimated at two to three times that much. We are also soliciting recommendations for:
Envision Contra Costa 2040 is a plan for a safe, healthy, equitable, and sustainable future for all communities in the county. Communities of color, indigenous people, low-income families, and immigrants should not face disproportionate environmental and health impacts. We’ve listened to community members at dozens of meetings to draft policies and actions to drive change.
Please join us for an in-depth conversation about key environmental justice issues in Contra Costa County through a three-part Environmental Justice Community Meeting series in February:
These meetings will be interactive and conducted using Zoom, an online video/audio conferencing platform. Meeting participants can join by computer, tablet, or phone. Please click here to register for the events and to receive information about how to join us.
The Envision Contra Costa 2040 Team
10:03:37 From Katrinka Ruk : people are having problems getting in call
10:10:47 From Larry Ficken : Larry Ficken with AAK 1145 Harbour Way South
10:11:13 From Sandra Escalante : Sandra Escalante with Laner Electric Supply
10:11:21 From Stacy Engel-Boyum : Stacy Engel-Boyum with North Richmond Properties Inc.
10:11:49 From Jill Rodby : Jill Rodby
10:12:34 From Joshua Genser : Why were no business groups invited to participate? They, after all, would pay the proposed tax.
10:13:17 From Joshua Genser : You could have invited the business groups in April.
10:13:59 From Jill Rodby : I agree with Josh. Why did the City not poll the businesses? It may be the nail in coffin for many of them!
10:14:11 From Katrinka Ruk : good morning – Katrinka Ruk, Richmond resident, Ex Dir Council of Business & Industries – thank you to City Staff for conducting this meeting this morning.
10:15:55 From Sean Hallinan : why were we not polled? that is not honoring and respecting the business community since this is the first we heard of this ordinance! Sunshine Commercial Construction.
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To find out how much you will be paying, download this calculator.
All you have to do is enter your business classification and gross receipts.
Download My Tax Calculator Form
Compare your current tax rate with the proposed tax rates using the document below. Please note that Class G also includes warehouses.
Download PDF Here
*Open this link in a new tab to download
Reject Measure U. Elect council candidates for change: Eleanor Thompson, Ahmad Anderson, and Vinay Pimplé
If there was any doubt that municipal employee labor unions are running Richmond, consider the business tax measure the City Council placed on the Nov. 3 ballot.
In December 2019, the council directed city staff to examine possible “revenue enhancement” measures. But instead of doing the work themselves, the staff effectively outsourced the job to a coalition led by labor unions.
Businesses that would be paying the tax learned the details in a video briefing by city staff only eight days before the council voted to put Measure U on the ballot. When asked during that briefing how rates in the ordinance were established, LaShonda White, acting deputy city manager, had to defer to a union representative to explain.
Measure U is a significant tax increase for many businesses. How many is unclear. That’s because there was no analysis of the effect of the measure on companies, the potential loss of jobs when they leave the city or the effect on rents when landlords pass on the costs to tenants.
It’s a shameful abdication of professional responsibility by city staff — enabled by a City Council majority that’s more concerned with revenues for municipal government employees than the greater good of the city.
Voters should reject Measure U. And they should elect council members who care more about preserving Richmond businesses that are struggling and the jobs they provide residents than placating labor union supporters.
Bisa French is no longer Richmond’s interim police chief. Now, she’s simply police chief. On Thursday afternoon, the city announced French’s appointment. She is the first woman with African American and Latina heritage to serve as police chief. Chief French has spent her entire law enforcement career with RPD. She was a single mother when she started out as a police officer in 1998. She rose up the ranks including detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and assistant chief.
Please shop here
Richmond Chamber launches campaign to promote Black-owned businesses.
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RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
June 30, 2020
7:15pm meeting started
A. Roll Call: All present
B. Conflict of Interest: None
C. Agenda review: Vice Mayor removed for discussion consent Item#F13 professional service contracts
D. City Attorney Report: None
E. City Manager Report:
· No date to reopen offices
· City received $1.3M from CARES
F. City Council Consent Calendar: Johnson motion/Willis second – passes with #F13 removed for discussion; Bates absent from vote.
Richmond City Council: June 30, 2020.
Make sure to tune-in to tonight’s city council meeting at 6:30 pm where they will review and accept final budget projections for the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Annual Operating Budget and consider an item by Council Members Jael Myrick and Demnlus Johnson III to direct staff to prepare a plan to transition from Richmond’s current “community policing” model to a plan conducive to the reduced police force. Online: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/3178/KCRT-Live TV: KCRT (Comcast Channel 28 or AT&T Uverse Channel 99) Agenda/Submit Public Comment: SIRE Public Access