More than 40 students and workers marched to California Hall on Friday to demand that Chancellor Nicholas Dirks grant more protections for Richmond workers related to the development of the Richmond Bay Campus. Continue reading

Over 300 people packed into the Richmond Art Center on Saturday to create and become bony creatures. The occasion was Skeletonfest, the RAC’s annual Day of the Dead and Halloween extravaganza. Kids, parents, and community members all gathered to celebrate the macabre holiday through creativity and culture.  Continue reading

West Contra Costa Unified’s school board elections have always been a small-town affair.  The fight for the Board’s five seats has historically been among community leaders: parents, retired teachers, and school volunteers.  This November, however, national influences are quietly entering the local arena – seeking to upend longtime community leaders and, ultimately, create opportunities for charter networks to disrupt the district’s system of neighborhood schools. Continue reading

Want to know what Richmond's candidates have to say? Here are links to recent forums: Continue reading

Hilltop Mall, once seen as a boost for economic revitalization of Richmond, now sits in limbo, awaiting the next buyer. Continue reading

Sun Choi works magic at Café McBryde. At the sleepy little diner where she and her mother have served plate after plate of eggs, pancakes, and burgers for the past 24 years, Choi casts a spell on diners who want a simple yet superb meal without the pretense of a fancier place. Continue reading

Every week, Radio Free Richmond provides an offering of events in the city. Here is what's happening from October 24th through the 30th. Continue reading

In a strange twist that no one seems to be talking about, colorful and controversial councilmember Corky Boozé might well be the savior of Doctors Medical Center. Continue reading

The hardest part about being a student is finding a support system. To succeed, students have to find inspiration in themselves, and then they need to spread that out to their community so we can all thrive. But often what I find is that students in Contra Costa County don’t receive the encouragement they need to finish their degrees.  Continue reading

Do you know what the Richmond CARES program is or do you really even care? CARES – Community Action to Restore Equity and Stability is a program strongly backed by Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and promoted by Mortgage Resolution Partners, a for profit company. In the sub-heading of MRP’s promotional material it reads “Saving Homes, Saving Cities, Solving the Mortgage Crisis Locally.” The basic intent of the plan is to replace “bad underwater mortgages” with  “good mortgages.” Eminent domain is a tool that will be used to facilitate the process. The net outcome is supposed to be strengthened neighborhoods and a stronger city at large. On the surface and in concept that sounds great! The problem is that it may very well end up costing every Richmond property owner as well as every potential Richmond property owner substantial dollars in the form of lost property value and/or higher financing cost not to mention lost business opportunities for Richmond due to perceptions about a city government willing to implement this type of program. Continue reading