Nancy DeVille

Mayoral profile: Nat Bates

It was decades ago, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, when Richmond mayoral candidate Nat Bates received a call from his buddy, the late then Richmond Councilman George Livingston, to spur his interest in public service. He was then working for the Alameda County Probation Department, and a career in politics was the farthest thing from his mind. But he knew Richmond, and had spent the majority of his life here. Many remembered his run excelling in both…

Minimum wage increase stalls

Richmond’s effort to pass a minimum wage hike has stalled. A general increase to the minimum wage gained support from the city council on March 19, but the proposed ordinance failed to pass a second reading after some councilmembers felt the wage hike deserved more input from small businesses.

Helping ex-cons restart their lives

Barry Dugar never thought he would end up at San Quentin State Prison. Since his release in 2008, the Richmond native has dedicated his time to making life easier for those coming out of the prison system. Dugar launched The Remember Us People Project which provides transitional housing to ex-offenders. Nancy DeVille has the story. This story first aired on KALX 90.7 FM and is a production of Northgate Radio.

Richmond City Council approves minimum wage hike

Richmond is headed for a new record: the highest minimum wage in the Bay Area. The plan is for a minimum wage of $12.30 per hour to be phased in over the next four years. The City Council voted 6-1 to pass the first reading of the ordinance with Councilmember Tom Butt voting no.

City Council moves to evacuate Hacienda

In a special meeting to address poor public housing conditions exposed by media reports nearly a month ago, the Richmond City Council voted to draft a plan that includes evacuation of Hacienda, where residents have been living in apartments affected by mold, vermin and a leaky roof.

Community events honor Martin Luther King’s legacy

As the nation pauses to pay tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, the Bay Area will join the celebration with community service events, marches and musical tributes. Richmond organizers are encouraging residents to make the holiday a “day on, not a day off.” Hundreds of volunteers are expected to participate in an annual day of service in Richmond. The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Richmond Greenway, will include 10 volunteer projects, live entertainment, community art…

Richmond takes step toward upping minimum wage

Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles sponsored a resolution at Tuesday night’s council meeting, to direct city staff to draft three possible minimum wage hikes – $11, $12.30 or $15. The options could come back to the council for consideration within 60 days.

Richmond to consider minimum wage hike

A Richmond council member is seeking to put a measure on the November ballot that could raise the city’s minimum wage to at least $11, potentially making it the region’s highest. Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles sponsored the resolution, scheduled to be heard at Tuesday night’s council meeting, to direct city staff to draft three possible minimum wage hikes – $11, $12.30 or $15. The options could come back to the council for consideration within 60 days. If the council approves one…

Richmond’s plastic bag ban goes into effect Wednesday

Richmond is joining a growing list of cities throughout California that have passed similar plastic bag bans in recent years. While Richmond was the first city in Contra Costa County to approve such a law, San Pablo, El Cerrito and Pittsburg have since adopted similar laws.