Where do you go to protest wealth inequality? For about 30 people, many Richmond residents, the answer was simple on Tuesday: Go to the million-dollar-plus Lafayette estate of Chevron Corp. CEO John Watson. About 30 protesters stood in the rain in front of Watson’s home, criticizing the CEO as an example of what they called “corporate welfare” and undue influence of the richest Californians on the state’s tax code. “In the city of Richmond where I live, where most of…
Police Chief Chris Magnus, retired Deputy Chief Lori Ritter and the city of Richmond were cleared by a Contra Costa County jury on Tuesday of racial discrimination and harassment charges. Seven high-ranking African American police officials had sought damages of around $18 million for what they alleged were a series of racial digs as well as systemic discrimination by Magnus and Ritter, both of whom are white. The jury ruled that the plaintiffs were entitled to nothing. “I’ve been overwhelmed…
Editor’s Note: The following is a letter submitted to RichmondConfidential.org by Councilman Jeff Ritterman. As a cooperative news organization and forum for community discourse, we welcome op-ed pieces and other reports and photos from residents, readers and public officials. The sentiments contained in this letter are solely those of the author. _________ Dear DeVone Boggan, I am so sorry that you and the Office of Neighborhood Safety have been so relentlessly attacked. I am also sorry for not countering the…
The attorney for six of the seven plaintiffs in the discrimination lawsuit against the city, Police Chief Chris Magnus and former Deputy Chief Lori Ritter said his clients should be awarded about $1.5 million each for the emotional toll of enduring six-plus years of alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment. But the total should be larger, around $3 million each, argued plaintiffs’ attorney Stephen Jaffe, when economic damages from stalled promotions and punitive costs are factored in. Jaffe on…
The Office of Neighborhood Safety is in the spotlight at City Hall again, and growing unrest between the agency and its critics threatens to engulf much of the city’s government and hamper larger goals of reducing violence and increasing transparency. The action has focused in recent weeks on a proposal by City Councilman Corky Booze to have a “forensic audit” of ONS, a city agency focused on street-violence intervention. Booze added the audit to the council agenda on consecutive weeks…
A man was killed Monday morning when he was struck by Amtrak Capitol Corridor Train 527 which was en route from Sacramento to San Jose. The incident occurred as the train, southbound and crowded with commuters, approached the Richmond BART station at about 8:20 a.m. Service was disrupted for more than an hour on the heavily-trafficked line. Richmond Police Lt. Bisa French said the man, whose identity is not yet known, was hit near the intersection of Chesley Avenue and…
San Francisco 49ers star Vernon Davis has brought a lot of magic to the football field during his six seasons in the NFL. On Thursday, he focused his efforts on helping young people in the Crescent Park Apartments. Davis, joined by Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, EAH Housing President and CEO Mary Murtagh and others, announced the launch of “Positive Impact Project,” which will remodel Crescent Park’s Multicultural Family Resource Center facilities. The makeover of the Multicultural Family Resource Center, which provides…
Three days after a colleague testifying in the suit against Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus accused plaintiff Lt. Shawn Pickett of trying to intimidate him with name-calling and threats, Pickett re-took the stand, this time in his own defense. His testimony flatly rejected that of Captain Mark Gagan, who on Monday testified that an irate Pickett confronted him several times in 2006-7 in attempts to bully Gagan into distancing himself from the chief of police. If was just the latest…
A drive-by shooting in south Richmond Wednesday night left a 54-year-old man dead in the driveway of a home in the 1500 block of Virginia Avenue. More than one hour after the 7:30 p.m. shooting, detectives combed the scene. The man’s body, draped in a white tarp, lay in the driveway of a dilapidated house. Richmond Police Lt. Bisa French said police believe the victim was standing in the driveway with another man when a sedan pulled up slow and…
A federal agent shot and critically wounded a man in the parking lot of a restaurant of a Hilltop area restaurant, Richmond police said Wednesday. “Agents were here conducting an investigation involving three suspects,” Richmond Lt. Bisa French said during a curbside press conference about an hour after the 3 p.m. shooting. “At some point, the suspect posed a threat to the federal agent. Shots were fired.” The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Chevy’s Fresh Mex restaurant…
A Richmond Police captain described a command staff so toxic with animus and distrust that by the time the chief hosted a September 2006 management meeting aimed at easing tensions, a lawsuit was inevitable. “What we didn’t know was (the plaintiffs) already had attorneys,” Capt. Mark Gagan testified Monday. “I went into the Napa retreat hoping to find resolution, and I was shocked when we imploded. I realized the meeting was orchestrated, manufactured to foster this lawsuit.” Seven high-ranking African…
Just how much money have the seven African-American police commanders suing the city of Richmond lost due to alleged discrimination stalling their promotions? It depends on which economic expert you ask. Whose numbers the jury buys could heavily weigh the outcome the lawsuit against Police Chief Chris Magnus, former Deputy Chief Lori Ritter and the city. In testimony Thursday, a labor economist called by the defense told jurors that the plaintiffs actually stand to benefit, at least financially, from not…
Two retired white officers and the current second in command testified Wednesday that racial divisions have persisted in the Richmond Police Department for decades, but that Chief Chris Magnus didn’t favor any racial groups over any other. But the testimony of the three defense witnesses did further expose an environment of embittered, highly paid police leaders who cliqued up and engaged in rough talk and petty gossip throughout the early days of the Magnus era, which began in 2006. Ken…