On November 5^th, 2024 we will have a chance to use the full weight of the electoral process to determine who will represent us on the Richmond City Council for the next four years.

In an effort to help level the playing field, Radio Free Richmond has extended an offer to all seven candidates for the Council to post their own words to let you, the voters, know their positions on what they believe to be the important issues.

THIS IS FREE PUBLICITY.

The candidates have also been invited to post guest editorials on the issues of importance.

RFR will post a new candidate statement every couple of days.

RADIO FREE RICHMOND DOES NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES—THEY OFFER A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPRESS IDEAS ON ISSUES OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY

I am Melvin Willis, running for re-election to the Richmond City Council District 1. I was born and raised in Richmond in a single-parent household. My father passed away 12 days before I was born. My mom would work two or three jobs at a time but her primary place of work was the Bab’s Drive Through Dairy. I spent a lot of time there waiting for her to get off work. I helped out where I could, like helping put together customers' orders. Growing up, things were not always easy. I experienced poverty, housing insecurity, and bullying which led to both physical and emotional abuse. My mother was always supportive of me. She would do everything she could to surround me with love, and values, and teach me to take the high road when others would go low. She taught me the importance of de-escalating situations but to also be ready to defend myself if the situation called for it.

I graduated from public school in 2008 during the foreclosure crisis & recession. There were no college savings set aside for me and opportunities to obtain financial aid were difficult due to the state of the economy. I was lost, unsure of my direction or where I fit in the world. Then, in 2011 I joined the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE). At first, it started as just another job but then quickly became much more– it helped me grow as a person. Through ACCE, I’ve worked alongside many community members struggling to keep their homes, fighting for access to health care, better wages, more services for underserved communities and so many other issues. Whatever the issue was, I felt a deep responsibility to stand with my community and work together to find solutions that would push for the change we wanted to see.

Since joining the City Council in 2016, I’ve worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Richmond residents by advocating for transformative policies that prioritize fairness, equity, and inclusion. I fought to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour, enact and enforce voter-approved rent control protections to make housing more affordable, and protect immigrant communities by halting the sharing of immigrant information with ICE. I’ve secured funding for youth programs to invest in Richmond's future, and successfully suspended rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent displacement. My work on “Ban the Box” legislation has given formerly incarcerated individuals a fair chance at employment during their reintegration process.

Richmond has made significant progress and there is still more work to be done. Economic inequality and corporate interests continue to threaten our working families, communities of color, immigrants, and the environment. That’s why I’m running for reelection.

I want to build a Richmond where everyone thrives, not struggles to survive. I will expand the Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP), to prioritize services and nonviolent crisis intervention over criminalization.  As a long-time housing advocate, I will continue to advocate for tenant protection, fight unfair eviction, and push for rental assistance to keep families housed. I also voted for the motel conversion to help address our homelessness and provide a pathway to permanent housing

Our Historic Main Richmond Library is receiving much-needed renovations, transforming it into a more inclusive space for learning and community connection. Under my leadership, YouthWORKS grew from serving 300 to over 500 young people, offering work-based learning, financial literacy workshops, and career counseling. Most recently, I helped secure $550 Million in additional taxes from the Chevron settlement. I am committed to putting funding towards just transition, more city staff, and services.

Richmond’s future is bright, and I will continue to build on the progress that has been made. I love Richmond. I believe in our city, and together, we can build a Richmond where everyone has access to affordable housing, fair wages, and a safe, healthy environment. Let’s keep building a Richmond that works for everyone.