Contra Costa County
At the once-abandoned Hilltop Mall in Richmond, the golden Macy’s sign has faded, moss grows in the cracks of the parking lot, and vines climb the building’s vents. But if you listen closely, the rumble of excavators signals that new activity is starting here. A Silicon Valley-backed automated transportation company, with investors like Bill Gates and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has begun building a one-mile test track at the former Hilltop Mall. The construction team is transforming the northern parking…
Contra Costa County certified the 2024 election counts on Dec. 5. At the county level, voter turnout was 72%, with 519,078 ballots cast out of 722,861 registered voters. This high level of engagement was reflected in the presidential race, where Contra Costa County voters showed strong support for Alameda County native Vice President Kamala Harris, with 67.3% casting their ballots for the Democratic candidate. Here’s how Richmond voted on city, school board, county and state ballots: City Council seats went…
Beginning next year, Contra Costa County will pilot a county-funded guaranteed-income program, placing up to $1,000 monthly in the hands of residents — no strings attached. The Board of Supervisors allocated funding last month for a pilot that will include 250 residents for 18 months, though those numbers could change as the county develops its final plan. Youth transitioning out of foster care, unhoused residents, low-income families with young children and people returning from incarceration will be eligible to apply….