Economy
For the past five months, the city of Richmond, along with a slew of partners, has worked to renovate Nevin Community Center. On Saturday, the community space will hold it’s grand reopening with activities, educational information, and food. For the people in the surrounding community, changes from inside the center are already being reflected within the Iron Triangle neighborhood.
In a long meeting Tuesday night during which Richmond’s City Council noticeably voted in lock step, the council took on a number of issues including the rights of corporations in a democracy, whether or not to allow chain restaurants in Point Richmond, Chevron’s once-rejected Renewal Project and the purchase of new air quality meters to be deployed near the Point Richmond wastewater treatment plant.
Since 2005, the Elders Learning Community has paired professionals in the community with elderly seniors learning lessons in areas such as astronomy, history, art. But time spent in these learning partnerships is teaching local volunteers other life lessons outside of these subjects.
The poorly maintained Las Deltas Housing project could impact the future of North Richmond.
PayLess Self Storage in Richmond holds 10 to 15 auctions each month for units whose rent is long past due. The winner takes all: the good, the bad and the worthless. The recent popularity of reality TV shows about making a living buying storage units has caused Bay Area auction crowds to surge.
The city of Richmond is considering an ordinance that will prohibit the distribution of plastic bags and allow retail establishments to charge customers a fee for paper bags. The city’s Environmental Initiatives department, which is the agency facilitating the ordinance, held a community meeting Wednesday night to solicit feedback from residents and business owners.
The company will begin shipping roughly 35,000 vehicles a year through the Port of Richmond.
Proposed budget cuts to adult education threaten adult literacy program.
When Richmond’s code enforcement manager Tim Higares realized his unit was bringing in less money this fiscal year than the last, he was actually happy. He said less money means more clean-up cooperation from property owners—mostly banks—who face steep fines for allowing foreclosed properties to fall into disrepair. “We need to stabilize these communities,” said Higares. “The drop in penalty fees means that we’re getting compliance.” Richmond was hit particularly hard by the foreclosure crisis. Higares said code enforcement receives…