Richmond mayoral debate: Candidates clash over public safety

With just a month to go until Richmond voters choose a new mayor, candidates Ahmad Anderson and Claudia Jimenez met Thursday night to debate their positions on multiple issues, including: economic development, police surveillance technology and public safety and the Chevron settlement. 

The co-hosted candidate forum, moderated by Richmondside at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, drew more than 125 attendees in person and more than 120 online. Many submitted numerous questions for the 90-minute event, which can be replayed here.

Anderson, who calls himself the “public safety candidate,” noted that nothing can be accomplished in the city unless residents feel safe and secure. He argued that to attract more businesses and jobs, create more housing and improve mental health resources (things he prioritizes) there needs to be more investment in public safety measures, particularly through increased police department staffing, so that businesses want to come to Richmond. 

Jimenez promised to support working families, be a fiscal steward of public tax dollars and create an economy that moves away from its reliance on Chevron. She argued that her record as a council member, in which she said she helped increase the city’s housing stock and invest in more community programming and public safety alternatives, is evidence of what she will build on as mayor. 

The candidates engaged in spirited back-and-forth discussions at the podium, with each given chances to rebut the other’s statements. While they agree there’s a need to make Richmond a safer, more economically healthy city they differ in how they’d approach solving problems. 

Anderson, whose confidence and tenor drew some loud applause, repeatedly mentioned he has spent “66 years” in the city while Jimenez asked attendees to recognize that English is her second language and to appreciate the meaning behind her words. 

Anderson touted his background as a human resources manager and his work with community organizations to bolster his ability to bring business into the city and revitalize it in other ways. 

Jimenez also pointed to her lived experience, emphasizing that she understands the plight of immigrants and what supports are needed to help uplift residents because she built her life up after immigrating to Richmond in 2009 from Colombia. She pointed to her accomplishments serving as a city council member for the last six years, including getting the city out of predatory state loans, securing a $550 million settlement from Chevron and reimagining public safety through programs such as ROCK.  

The Richmond Progressive Alliance-backed candidate also emphasized that she always votes her mind independently and pointed to an endorsement she received from fellow city council member Soheila Bana, who isn’t an RPA member, as evidence that she can collaborate across the political spectrum. 

Anderson was quick to take jabs at her record, arguing that the city was not moving fast enough. Jimenez responded that his criticism was a veil that masks his lack of a cohesive plan or shows that he doesn’t know the process behind the scenes. 

Public safety and Flock surveillance cameras

One hot button issue that they discussed was their approach to public safety. 

Anderson, whose donations include support from a PAC backed by the police union, stood firm in the belief that more investment in police — meaning more money, more advanced technology, and more officers — will bring down crime rates, improve police response times and bring justice to victims of any crime. 

He argued that the city’s general animosity toward police has hampered the department’s ability to fill positions, hindering its ability to prevent crime and serve justice. He supports a police union’s efforts to get a measure on a future ballot that would require the city to maintain a minimum number of police officers — 187. It’s currently budgeted at 143.

“We haven’t been able to fill the positions that we budgeted every year. But we have been able to make this community safer because we invest in things that people care and need.”

Mayoral candidate Claudia Jimenez

“Public safety is the engine toward economic development. If people don’t feel protected, respected, and safe, then they’re not going to shop or better yet come downtown.”

Mayoral candidate Ahmad Anderson

However, Jimenez said that the police department already gets 35% of the city’s budget. The fire department accounts for another 20%. That leaves about 45% of the budget to accomplish every other city goal, she said. Increasing the police budget by even 1% would come at the cost of other city services, even requiring cuts and potentially bankrupting the city. 

She also noted that of the 143 budgeted police positions, at least 10 have remained vacant during her tenure on council. 

“We haven’t been able to fill the positions that we budgeted every year. But we have been able to make this community safer because we invest in things that people care and need,” Jimenez said. “Last year, we closed with the lowest (number of) homicides in the history of the region, and this hasn’t been just with one department. It has been the collaboration of many things and many programs. So we need to believe that the way that we are going to make our cities safer is by investing in our people.” 

She believes that crime reduction, rather, comes from investing in residents by creating more youth jobs, improving parks, cleaning streets and alternatives to policing.

However, Anderson said while the city has made progress on reducing the number of homicides, it still grapples with a high number of other crimes like burglaries and domestic violence. 

He also dismissed some of Jimenez’s claims that investing in public infrastructure will reduce crime. 

“I’ve spoken to the gang members about what they need. I’ve listened to them, whether it’s been Easter Hill to Nevin to Crescent Park to North Richmond Park,” Anderson said. “They don’t need parks where they can play basketball or football. That’s an insult. They need jobs. They need training.”

Jimenez retorted that if more money is given to the police department, the city can’t invest in community spaces where such training and other pathway programs take place.

Two audience members asked candidates to further articulate their positions on policing, particularly challenging Anderson’s goal of giving the police department more money.

Deborah Smalls, who was chair of  the city’s reimagining public safety task force, said police opposed the group’s recommendations to rebalance the budget and invest in alternative public safety approaches because it meant reallocating dollars away from the department. She then asked Anderson if he agreed with that approach. 

Anderson said he wants police to be able to respond, find criminals and hold them accountable and bring justice to the communities. 

“Reimagining is not; it doesn’t mean defunding, doesn’t mean reallocating. It is the impact it has and the services that’s provided, ” Anderson said. “Public safety is the engine toward economic development. If people don’t feel protected, respected, and safe, then they’re not going to shop or better yet come downtown.” 

Anderson is also a supporter of Flock and using technologies like license plate readers in the pursuit of justice. However, he said the city must create better guidelines to protect civil liberties and outline repercussions if those are violated. 

However, Jimenez, who initially voted in favor of a Flock contract, said she now wants to do a data assessment of the program’s efficacy, especially in light of data being shared with immigration enforcement and other agencies. She wants to know if the surveillance technology has resulted in more crimes solved — and assess whether it is worth what it costs and the tradeoff of immigrant safety. 

Candidates asked to prioritize economic development projects

Some of the city’s economic development problems have been festering for decades so Richmondside asked each candidate to pick one of three development projects they believe is the most pressing and to suggest a concrete idea to make meaningful progress: Hilltop mall, Macdonald Avenue or the Port of Richmond. 

Jimenez said it would be impossible to pick just one, especially since progress is underway at both the Port of Richmond and Macdonald Avenue. 

“We (the city council) are making sure that the port can have the renovation that is needed so we can attract more businesses in the energy sector. And this is the work that we are doing (through) the Green Empowerment Zone with (county supervisor) John Gioia and many others in the region,” Jimenez said. “And the Macdonald Avenue Task Force…We just approved 150 units of affordable housing. We cannot stop it.” 

She said she will ensure all three areas continue to grow by investing some of the $550 million Chevron settlement into those projects. 

Anderson said he would prioritize Hilltop and criticized Jimenez for not making progress on redeveloping the nearly empty mall during her six years in office. He suggested since Richmond residents need an option besides Kaiser that a medical facility could be located there, along with other businesses.

“In addition to that, make sure that we have a workforce development plan. All these jobs we’re talking about. If your people aren’t ready from AI to culinary to healthcare to technology, then when they come here, they won’t be able to hire first,” Anderson said. 

He agreed that Richmond’s downtown needs revitalization but said that work can’t happen without addressing public safety concerns. He also criticized Jimenez for the city’s slow progress on affordable housing development. 

A grand jury found that the city should have about 4,000 houses by 2035, but the city is only 9% of the way toward meeting that goal, Anderson said.

“All I hear is promises, which I am supposed to be doing, but I don’t see a vision,” Anderson said to his opponent.

Jimenez swiftly clapped back and said the city is actively working on a number of projects, including opening of 48 new transitional housing units at the former Motel 6. 

“We have been investing in what the community needs, and we have been showing that to people,” Jimenez said. 

Flo Wiley, a Richmond resident, asked the candidates about their connection to the arts and culture community. 

Jimenez pointed to her work on the Macdonald Avenue arts corridor. She is also the council liaison for the art and culture commission and said she is working to create a better procurement process, create more effective grants for artists and provide other resources to support small local artists. 

Anderson said he was asked to be part of that commission but he couldn’t commit because he was running for city council at the time. However, he noted that while he was the general manager of KPFA radio he brought a craft fair. He also helped put together bigger festivals like Oktoberfest across different Bay Area cities and the Temesal fest in Oakland.  

The city’s role on global issues

Richmondside also queried the candidates about the council’s practice of passing resolutions about international issues such as Gaza or Iran. 

Anderson said while he condemns all genocides, including the one in Gaza, as mayor he would focus on Richmond. He said some would argue that Black people have been “genocided” in Richmond and across the country. 

“Economics, healthcare, prison systems, housing, mortality rates. And there are those who want to take a bended knee and not salute the flag, but Ahmad Anderson runs for office, for mayor,” Anderson said. “If I want to get into the international world, I’ll run for Congress or the U.S. Senate. Right now I am trying to take care of public safety here in the city of Richmond. Potholes in the city of Richmond, economic opportunity in the city of Richmond, housing in the city of Richmond, and making sure that green and blue plan comes into fruition.” 

Jimenez, who has voted in favor of such resolutions as a council member, said she would unequivocally continue to support taking stands on such issues because it shows residents, particularly immigrants, that the city sees their plight and stands with them. 

“What the government of Israel is doing in Gaza is a genocide, and we cannot stand quiet or criticize a local government for standing up. Of course we are doing a lot of things for the city of Richmond… and that doesn’t take away that this is a community also of immigrants, and we need to stand up and use our power that we have to say, ‘We see you, we love you, and we stand with you,’ ” Jimenez said. “If you care about Richmond, our taxes are going there to kill innocent people, (taxes) that could come here to Richmond to close the list (of things we need to do)… so it’s all connected.” 

How are the candidates different from one another?

One Richmondside reader said “both candidates are excellent,” so they wanted them to describe how they’re different. 

Jimenez highlighted her approach to campaign funding. She criticized Anderson’s willingness to take contributions from corporations and developers such as Bobby Winston or Davillier-Sloan (which gave $2,100 to Anderson’s campaign) and regularly contracts with cities, counties, and districts statewide on labor negotiation matters for construction projects. 

“I don’t take money from corporation developers or consultants that make business with the city because I want to be accountable to you and only you,” Jimenez said. “I don’t owe anything to anybody who wants to make money out of the city of Richmond. I work for you, and I will fight for you in these closed sessions when nobody is there.” 

She said she has been across the table with “polluters and banks” and fought to get better deals for Richmond. 

Anderson responded that leadership is knowing when to recuse oneself from a vote and that is what he intends to do if a conflict of interest arises. He also suggested that the city should have its own ethics commission to review these issues (something the city council declined to consider recently), because he is not the first candidate to receive such dollars. 

“I’m not violating the laws, so we’re talking about the what ifs. When I become mayor, then we’ll deal with that,” Anderson said. 

He also said Jimenez was the “pot calling the kettle black” because, he said, she wrote a letter to the city of San Pablo to oppose a cannabis business that would’ve competed with another business that was donating money to her campaign. 

However, Jimenez refuted those allegations by saying that “nobody is making money out of the city and is putting that money on my campaign.” 

Closing marks: Anderson touts leadership experience; Jimenez cites city’s progress

While the forum was at times contentious, with each candidate jabbing the other, the two ended the night in a friendly way, showing mutual respect with a hug.

In her closing remarks, Jimenez said this race is about who voters trust to lead the city, and promised to build on the progress Richmond has seen.  

“We are facing real challenges: rising costs, public safety pressure, threats from the federal government, and a housing crisis that is pushing our people out of the city… These challenges require somebody who knows the budget line by line. Who has sat across the table from polluted industries and big banks and came away with better options for progressing,” Jimenez said. “I am someone who has spent years building the experience and the coalition that gets things done. That is what I bring. I am a community organizer with a deep understanding of city finance. I am a public servant who does not take corporate developer or contractor money, and I am someone who believes that Richmond’s best days are still ahead.”  

Anderson said his vision is to create one coordinated economic strategy, and while Jimenez may have legislative experience he has professional experience. 

“Richmond should not simply watch the next generation of economic development happen, but step up and lead. I have that experience…As a leader that worked with departments, as an HR person, from global companies to nonprofits,” Anderson said. “I have the experience of serving on more boards than anybody on that city council, actually in the city of Richmond. I’ve lived here for 66 years. I’ve done the work for the years that I’ve been doing it. I’ve run for office, but I haven’t lost. I’ve only learned, and it’s taught me to keep coming back to the people, keep fighting the good fight, and stand up and step in.”