Richmond is now nationally celebrated for its community policing tactics —but it wasn’t always this way. In the nearly 10 years since Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus took the job as the city’s lead cop, the homicide rate plummeted and relations between the community and the police department significantly improved.  Continue reading

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Four finalists — all from out of state — were selected as candidates for Tucson's police chief, the city said Monday night. No candidates from the local police department made the finalists' list. Continue reading

One in five Americans suffer with mental illness, and many of these individuals are not getting the treatment and support that they need. Because metal illness is an issue of shame and stigma, many people hide their condition.  Continue reading

The referendum petition to repeal the city’s rent control and Just Cause Eviction ordinance comes before Richmond City Council on Tuesday. During the meeting, Council will certify that the petition has received the sufficient amount of signatures to be suspended.  Continue reading

Radio Free Richmond has solicited the viewpoints of students, teachers, administrators and community activists to give a broad perspective on whether the Richmond City Council should negotiate with Chevron to amend the language in the Community Investment Agreement that created and funds The Richmond Promise scholarship program. Throughout the week RFR will post brief commentaries on this important issue. Continue reading

The erratic, graffitied interior of a building along Richmond's shore takes our photo of the week, from snaxysauce on tumblr. Share your photos with #RichmondCA

If Catahoula Coffee had an El Cerrito equivalent, it would be Well Grounded. The coffee and sandwich shop is known for is diverse array of tasty bagels and big sandwiches, in addition to a uniquely flavorful coffee brew. Well Grounded has a strong menu, but falls short when it comes to basic amenities. Continue reading

In my first year of teaching, I was told, “You can’t save them all. Don’t take it personally.” This statement is offensive, misguided and horribly inaccurate, but it is something that has been repeated to me year after year.  In 2012, West Contra Costa Unified released a Student Performance Analysis that showed just over half of WCC students were graduating from high school. — specifically, only 57% of all WCC students enrolled in public schools (California Department of Education, 2012).  Politicians, educational theorists, and community members all have different names for labeling this issue, but the reality is that our education system is very broken. Perhaps this is why there is repetition to that unfortunate statement, but how misguided would educators be if they truly believed students needed to be “saved.” Continue reading

Every week Radio Free Richmond highlights events in the city. Here is what's happening from October 16 through October 22. Continue reading