Discussions about police military equipment and a proposed ballot measure to create an ethics watchdog commission are among a series of postponed council topics.
Author Archives: Joel Umanzor
Joel Umanzor Richmondside's city reporter.
What I cover: I report on what happens in local government, including attending City Council meetings, analyzing the issues that are debated, shedding light on the elected officials who represent Richmond residents, and examining how legislation that is passed will impact Richmonders.
My background: I joined Richmondside in May 2024 as a reporter covering city government and public safety. Before that I was a breaking-news and general-assignment reporter for The San Francisco Standard, The Houston Chronicle and The San Francisco Chronicle. I grew up in Richmond and live locally.
Contact: joel@richmondside.org
Posted inCommunity
Outgoing county assessor calls FBI raids ‘substantial but not substantive,’ saying they’ll meet July 1 deadline
Outgoing Assessor Gus Kramer, whose office and home were recently raided by the FBI, says he expects the county will meet the deadline for its multi-billion-dollar annual property assessment.
Posted inCity
Richmond considers ballot measure to pay for fire station fixes and paramedics
Richmond is the only city in the county without paramedic-certified fire service. Polling says voters are open to paying for it — but aren’t enthusiastic.
Posted inCity
Council warned: Stop assigning more work to understaffed city departments
With 18% of Richmond’s city positions left vacant to balance the budget, the city manager told the city council to stop creating new roles and adding new priorities.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond homicide: Man arrested on charge of killing brother
Victor Blacknell, a relative of a well-known convicted gang member, was arrested shortly after the Tuesday night assault that left Jerome Timmons dead.
Posted inCity
Richmond nears budget deadline with numerous questions unanswered
City staffers asked the city council to weigh in on budget priorities. Instead the mayor ended the meeting abruptly without a vote.
Posted inCommunity
FBI serves warrants at Contra Costa County assessor’s office and two homes
The raids were conducted as part of an investigation involving former assessor Gus Kramer and his recently elected successor, Vince Robb.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond shooting: Suspect to be arraigned in killing of maintenance worker known as ‘Papa Smurf’
Jabari Fontenot, 31, has been charged in the May 29 homicide of Melvin Murphy, 64.
Posted in2026 Election
Update: Mayor Eduardo Martinez thanks city, congratulates opponents after reelection bid falls short
Current council member Claudia Jimenez is in first place with 38.6% of the votes cast while Ahmad Anderson has 28%, according to final election results.
Posted in2026 Election
Election results: District 3 council member Doria Robinson appears to have kept her seat
Because a candidate needs more than 50% of the votes cast to win, it’s likely that a winner will be known after tonight.
Posted in2026 Election
East Richmond District 4: Incumbent Soheila Bana has been unofficially reelected
The winner needs more than 50% of the votes cast in the race to win, and Bana had 68% as of the final ballot tally issued June 25.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond’s third homicide of year: Person arrested within hours of Friday shooting death
Flock license plate readers helped Richmond police track suspect from Richmond to Concord.
Posted in2026 Election
Labor unions, police PACs dominate outside spending in Richmond races
The latest data shows East Bay Working Families has spent the most, $104,000.
Posted inCity
Richmond is first California city to oppose a carbon dioxide waste pipeline
The city council voted to recommend the EPA and other relevant land use agencies reject a proposed project that would transport carbon dioxide from Bay Area refineries — including Chevron’s Richmond facility — to an underground injection site in the Solano County wetlands.
Posted inCity
Richmond green-lights improvements to one street. Some say it’s the wrong one
In a 4-3 vote, the city council allocated $2 million for Richmond Parkway work, but some council members say residential streets with known safety hazards are being left out.
Posted inPublic Safety
Update: Person found dead in harbor killed in car crash
Car recovered from water near Canal Drive, where a body was found on Saturday.
Posted in2026 Election
Cheese Park, cops, community: Richmond’s District 4 candidates pitch their priorities
District 4 incumbent Soheila Bana defended her track record, Keycha Gallon wants grassroots collaboration, and Jamin Pursell wants a closer police station.
Posted in2026 Election
Richmond council candidates ‘wave wand’ and imagine how Chevron money could help District 3
Incumbent Doria Robinson and challenger Brandon Evans appeared before about 35 residents in the second of three election forums hosted by Richmondside for the June 2 primary.
Posted in2026 Election
Meet your Richmond City Council District 4 candidates — in their own words
Soheila Bana, Keycha Gallon and Jamin Pursell discuss ways their neighborhoods feel isolated from some city services and resources.
Posted inCity
City’s lean staffing leaves workers scrambling to get their work done, they say
A preview of Richmond’s $275 million budget shows personnel costs expected to increase more than 37% from 2021.
