Economy
The City of Richmond and the West Contra Costa Unified School District are working to bring free Wi-Fi to residents of the Iron Triangle, by building a fiber optic network. Richmond is joining other cities like New York City, San Francisco and San Jose to supply residents with free public Wi-Fi.
There is no task too big or small or obscure for Brandy Esparza and Kyle Silber, who know how to market an artisanal stamp for a doughnut wrapper, a latex mask for a life-sized Buddha, or a seal for an architect to sign for his or her work. Together they operate two businesses, Underdog Press and Painted Wonderland, out of their home in Richmond, California Esparza started independent contracting work about 10 years ago doing face painting, special effects for…
Dear Readers/Listeners, The combined staff of Oakland North and Richmond Confidential is excited to announce a new bi-weekly podcast featuring radio stories from Richmond and Oakland, as well as interviews with our reporters, community leaders and other news-worthy characters. Every two weeks until June, we will bring you radio stories focused on a theme or issue affecting these two cities. You will also hear from our reporters to get a behind the scenes look at our news room. Every other Thursday, check our sites for new…
Among the many unorthodox tools Cara Corey has used to make her handmade artist line unique are knitting needles made out of PVC pipe and merino wool fiber (the material before wool becomes “wool”) shipped from the Ukraine. Corey moved to Richmond, California, in 2010 after spending over four years as a newspaper reporter in Des Moines, Iowa. She had written a wide variety of stories about people who owned their own businesses, and at one point, she had her own…
Omni Movement is a mixed martial arts and athletic training facility in Point Richmond. The center, which has been unofficially open since this summer, offers an open gym, and training in Thai kickboxing, dynamic stretch, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Olympic weightlifting and sports performance.
Richmond is home to higher than average childhood asthma rates and a refinery responsible for some the highest emissions in the state. How are the two connected?
After the great recession of 2008, inequality widened along racial lines as people lost their homes, often their only major asset. Earlier this month the Institute for Policy Studies, a Washington, D.C. think tank, reported in “Billionaire Bonanza: The Forbes 400 and the Rest of US,” that the average white family today has net assets of $141,900, compared with the $11,000 for African American families. This hollowing out of the African American family asset base is a nationwide phenomenon that can be explained by the shrinking African American middle class. It’s even more a factor in “strong market” regions like the Bay Area, where housing costs are soaring.
Taqueria la Estrella, which specializes in authentic Mexican food, opened in May 2005 on 23rd Street near MacDonald Avenue. The restaurant is owned and operated by the seven-member Carmona family.
Lilly’s Beauty Salon, located on 23rd Street near Lincoln Avenue, turns 24 this month. It was the first in Richmond to offer services by Spanish-speaking stylists.