Posts Tagged ‘Tom Butt’
Locals play softball with soulful purpose
The Richmond City Council on Tuesday night officially recognized Soulful Softball Sundays, a community-run summer recreation program, as a success that has helped build community and provide a safe space for adults and children alike.
Read MoreMayor highlights business, environment and council meeting improvements in his first 100 days
On April 23, new Richmond Mayor Tom Butt concluded his first 100 days in office. Butt, a longtime councilmember and Point Richmond architect, won the November election to replace termed-out former mayor Gayle McLaughlin, and took office in January. In politics, the first 100 days is considered an important period in which a new legislator…
Read MoreTen Hacienda households file tort claims against Richmond
The members of 10 households living in Richmond’s infamous Hacienda public housing complex are claiming the city should pay them damages because the city failed to maintain the housing complex and caused them physical injury, property damage and emotional distress. The Hacienda apartments caught media attention when the Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit investigative…
Read MoreRichmond’s rent control advocates and opponents face off over gentrification
Richmond is seeing better days. According to a recent research paper by UC Berkeley’s Haas Institute, homicides and violent crime were at historic lows in 2013, parks are being renewed, living conditions are improving and new investment money is flowing in. But what seems to be good news for the city’s just over 100,000 residents,…
Read MoreHow will Richmond Housing Authority spend HUD relocation funding to help Hacienda residents move?
Richmond Housing Authority (RHA) executive director Tim Jones said a little over $1 million in grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will cover relocation cost for Hacienda residents, who should have already moved out of the bug-infested roof-leaking public housing.
Read MoreCity council rejects zoning revisions for a digital sign in Hilltop
A divided Richmond City Council has rejected a zoning amendment that would allow a digital advertising billboard on the I-80 corridor for the troubled Hilltop business district. Leaders in the Hilltop district have urged the city to allow a digital billboard to promote the businesses there since 2007, but the city’s sign ordinance currently doesn’t…
Read MoreBackers of a flyer campaign and ballot initiative proposal criticize city manager’s salary
Two weeks ago, Richmond residents discovered in their mailboxes large flyers titled “Call the Mayor.” The mailers accused City Manager Bill Lindsay, who has served in that position since 2005, of receiving a salary higher than California Governor Jerry Brown and of mismanaging the city. A few days later, a ballot initiative that called for…
Read MoreVinay Pimple appointed to fill vacant seat on Richmond City Council
In what many are calling a surprise move, the Richmond City Council voted Tuesday night to appoint Vinay Pimple, a blind attorney and volunteer tutor, to fill the vacant seat on the council that was created last month by former Councilman Tom Butt’s ascension to the mayor’s seat.
Read MoreRichmond focuses “Love Your Block” grant to develop North Richmond and Parchester neighborhoods
“Man, it’s a big deal!” said Rita Johnson, Parchester Village Neighborhood Council President. She said that it is good to know that Parchester is “on the mind” of the mayor and city executives.
Read MoreCouncil to discuss filling Richmond’s vacant seat
A council seat opened up when former Councilmember Tom Butt was sworn in as mayor earlier this year. By last Tuesday, 18 applicants had submitted statements to fill the vacancy. The council now must appoint one of them, and they may do so as soon as Tuesday night. Richmond Confidential asked all the councilmembers, including…
Read MoreHacienda residents to move with federally-funded vouchers
Nearly a year has passed since stories broke in February 2014, about disturbing living conditions in the Hacienda public housing complex. Now Hacienda residents will finally see the beginning of the end of their days at Hacienda.
Read MoreEmpty city council seat has 18 contenders
Before the Tuesday night deadline, 18 candidates from diverse backgrounds filed applications to fill the empty seat. The council majority will only choose one of them.
Read MoreMayor highlights Hilltop Mall and Hacienda relocation in State of the City address
Richmond’s new mayor Tom Butt made his first State of the City address on Tuesday night, announcing that “Richmond is open for business” and saying that his office is checking on the Hacienda public housing complex resident relocation every day. Butt started his address by thanking former Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, City Manager Bill Lindsay and…
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