“I’m scared as hell,” said Kaya Owens. A single mom and hairdresser who works in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, Owens relies on Medi-Cal for herself and her young daughter. “I don’t have savings,” she said. “I’m pretty screwed.” Contra Costa County has the highest percentage of Medi-Cal enrollment in the state, with approximately 250,000 people receiving the benefit. Medi-Cal is California’s version of Medicaid, which provides health care for low-income residents, pregnant people, children and those with disabilities, among…
Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson pulled up to Hilltop Park on a recent Sunday with a trunk full of lawn signs, tote bags and colorful voter handouts emblazoned with “VOTE YES ON 50.” Robinson showed up at the park to thank canvassers who had volunteered to knock on doors and to convince people to vote in the special election, which is on Tuesday. “People can finally stop talking about how upset they are,” Robinson said, referring to so many Democrats’…
A year ago, after reaching a $550 million settlement with Chevron, Richmond City Council promised residents it would seek their input to determine how that money would be spent. But three months after the first $50 million installment landed in the city’s coffers, community leaders who understood the money would be used for residents’ immediate benefit are still waiting for the city to come aknockin’. They’re not waiting anymore. Diego Garcia stood up at the Oct. 7 City Council meeting…