Election 2014
Chevron has poured millions into a campaign committee to influence Richmond’s mayoral and City Council elections, and the unprecedented spending has fueled questions about what the oil titan hopes to achieve with the best city government its money can buy.
Proposition 47, also known as the “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act,” would downgrade six felony crimes, drug possession, grand theft, shoplifting, check forgery, receiving stolen property and writing bad checks.
With only a week before the election begins, Richmond is heating up with election fever. With ads, flyers and canvassers out in full force, though, it can be hard to figure out where exactly the three mayoral candidates stand. So we interrogated Nat Bates, Uche Uwahemu and Tom Butt on number of issues, including the budget deficit, the Citizens United decision, Doctors Medical Center, and the future of Richmond. Uwahemu, Bates and Butt will square off in the upcoming Nov. 4…
The smell of salad dressing and pasta hung in the air Thursday night as voices and laughter filled the basement of Living Hope Neighborhood Church. There, about 150 students, parents, residents, and community organization representatives joined in leading the last of West Contra Costa Unified school district’s (WCCUSD) school board candidates’ forums. The forum was designed and run by students with the backing of six community organizations. Healthy Richmond, Youth Enrichment strategies (YES), The Latina Center, The Ryse Center, Youth…
When the votes are tallied and the likely next mayor is one of two longtime council members, a potentially power swinging decision will hang in the balance: Who will be appointed to fill that vacated council seat?
About 30 sign-toting residents and activists assembled at City Hall Thursday to rail against what they say is a heavy handed attempt by Chevron Corp. to influence the Nov. 4 election. They also announced their own new political action committee backing progressive candidates. The residents raised banners and stood in front of a 10-foot sign stating, “Our Election is NOT FOR SALE,” while rallying against Chevron’s $3-million in campaign spending backing the oil company’s favored candidates for mayor and City…
The audience included a large showing of Richmond’s Asian and Pacific Islander community, thanks in part to the APEN, one of the forum’s co-sponsors.
Al Martinez is a recently retired postmaster and former Richmond police officer – having left the department after being charged and acquitted for several alleged crimes – who is backed by the city’s biggest corporation. Al is more of a mystery.
Richmond Confidential highlights some of the key points of Sanders’ speech, and exclusive interview and photos from the event.