Posts Tagged ‘Jovanka Beckles’
Council to discuss filling Richmond’s vacant seat
A council seat opened up when former Councilmember Tom Butt was sworn in as mayor earlier this year. By last Tuesday, 18 applicants had submitted statements to fill the vacancy. The council now must appoint one of them, and they may do so as soon as Tuesday night. Richmond Confidential asked all the councilmembers, including…
Read MoreEmpty city council seat has 18 contenders
Before the Tuesday night deadline, 18 candidates from diverse backgrounds filed applications to fill the empty seat. The council majority will only choose one of them.
Read MoreMayor Tom Butt convenes first meeting of Richmond’s new city council
On Tuesday mayor Tom Butt called the new city council to order for the first time. On the agenda: electing a vice mayor, disbanding the Public Safety and Finance standing committees, and removing the time limits on debate for council members. Butt, a long-time council member, started out on a light note. “Nobody is to…
Read MoreRichmond Confidential looks back on 2014, year for the ages
Long after the billboards come down, the campaign mailers rest in landfills and the New Year’s toasts come and go, 2014 may be remembered as Richmond’s big election year. We are honored to have been in Richmond’s streets and chambers, its homes and schools and everywhere else, helping write the first drafts of history in an important time and place. Chevron…
Read MoreLong after recovery, the housing wealth gap in Richmond is worse than ever
As the country continues to recover from the economic crisis, and housing prices in the Bay Area have quickly resumed their ascent, Richmond is stuck in the biggest wealth gap in housing it’s ever known.
Read MoreCrude politics: Chevron lost expensive election, but still has plenty of power
Harriet Rowan and Jimmy Tobias, Richmond Confidential reporters and students at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, published an article for The Nation website that explores Chevron’s continuing influence in Richmond after losing big in the election.
Read MoreEduardo Martinez: Shy person turned into powerful city councilman
Three minutes past midnight, Eduardo Martinez walks out of the Richmond Progressive Alliance office. He turns around and stares back in. Still no final result. He waves goodnight to his supporters. It’s Martinez’s third time running for the Richmond City Council.
Read MoreScenes from an upset: At RPA headquarters, exhaustion and doubt turn to exhilaration
A long and tense day brought an end to an election that looks set to bring a David v Goliath story.
Read MoreStealth Chevron consultants administer Richmond news website
In February, a slick new website showed up on Richmond’s media scene. Dubbed “Radio Free Richmond,” it promised to offer its readers “independent Richmond news, without fear or favor.” But behind Radio Free Richmond’s veneer of independence, a group of Chevron’s campaign consultants act as the website’s administrators.
Read MoreChevron’s Moving Forward negative campaign hits the airwaves
The ads take aim at current Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, councilmember Jovanka Beckles, and Eduardo Martinez, all running for seats on the City Council. The three candidates are running as a slate through the Richmond Progressive Alliance, and are critical of Chevron’s role in Richmond.
Read MoreRichmond residents and activists rally against Chevron’s campaign committee Moving Forward
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…
Read MoreRichmond Council candidates speak to environmental and health issues at forum
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.
Read MoreChevron’s campaign criticizes progressive mayor’s travel, but its favored candidate traveled much more
An analysis of city documents, invoices, travel receipts and bank statements dating to 2010 shows that McLaughlin has traveled less, missed fewer meetings, and spent less money on the trips than City Councilman Nat Bates.
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