Independent committees backing Ahmad Anderson’s campaign have brought in $310,000 this year while East Bay Working Families has raised $115,000 for candidate Claudia Jimenez.
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 inPublic Safety
Update: ‘Slow down,’ family pleads after Richmond man, 65, killed on 23rd Street
Douglas Vargas had lived in the neighborhood for about 20 years and walked it most mornings, his niece said. He is the second pedestrian killed on Richmond’s 23rd Street in about a month.
Posted inCity
City council wants proof that license-plate readers solve crimes
City staff will compile Flock camera data for review while police warn that this delay could leave them without working cameras by the end of the year.
Posted in2026 Election
Mayoral candidates trade jabs over police, Flock and Chevron in first debate of election season
Attendees packed the city council chambers to see Ahmad Anderson and Claudia Jimenez face off at the League of Women Voters forum.
Posted inCity
Richmond’s pick for interim city manager has done the job in a dozen cities
Mark Scott, who has been a permanent or interim city manager in numerous Southern California cities, has experience in pension issues and budget turnarounds.
Posted inCity
Richmond’s Chevron settlement money could dwindle if city keeps overspending, finance staff warns
The Richmond City Council rejected a proposal to postpone the settlement community engagement process.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond’s crisis team has been 5 years in the making. Here’s how its first 120 days went
ROCK, founded in 2021 as an alternative to sending police, has answered an average of 119 calls a month since March — just a fraction of the total.
Posted inCity
Richmond considers switching from Flock to a different surveillance firm
The city council on Tuesday will also consider banning data centers, of which there are none in Richmond, and will discuss the $550 million Chevron settlement.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond woman charged with attempted murder of 8 police officers during mental health crisis call
The suspect, who police say injured one officer, is expected to be arraigned this afternoon.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond arson suspect pleads innocent in deaths of four family members
Sergio Ivan Rivera-Vega made an appearance in Superior Court on Tue., Sept. 8, 2026 on four counts of murder-arson.
Posted in2026 Election
Richmond mayoral election: Finalists discuss top issues
From tensions with the police department to rebranding the city’s image, Ahmad Anderson and Claudia Jimenez discuss their platforms.
Posted inPublic Safety
Update: Suspect in police shooting identified
Jasmine Robinson, 39, is accused of shooting numerous rounds that struck neighboring homes and vehicles, including a patrol car, police said.
Posted inPublic Safety
Suspect arrested in hit-and-run that killed 81-year-old Richmond man
Don Mack, 66, of Richmond was arrested on Sunday in connection with the death of Rafael Delago, who was in a crosswalk when he was hit.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond man, 81, killed in hit-and-run at 23rd Street
Rafael Delgado was struck by a vehicle that left the scene, family members said, after he left the Bahia de Jiquilisco restaurant on Aug. 23.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond arson suspect delays entering plea in killing of 4 family members
Sergio Ivan Rivera-Vega will be formally arraigned on Tue., Sept. 8 on four counts of murder-arson.
Posted inPublic Safety
Update: Richmond fire claims fourth victim
The house fire police say was arson resulted in the deaths of a Richmond mother, her two young children and her father. Her brother has been charged with murder.
Posted inPublic Safety
Richmond man arrested at scene of fatal house fire was related to the four victims
The suspect’s father and his nephew died, making them the city’s sixth and seventh homicides of 2026. His sister and her daughter are in critical condition.
Posted inCity
FPPC fines Richmond council member $400 for improper 2023 recusal
The commission ruled Doria Robinson failed to properly disclose a conflict of interest though it found “insufficient evidence” she influenced the city’s Urban Tilth contract.
Posted inCommunity
What we know about Richmond’s PCE cases
For decades, the carcinogen was widely used in dry-cleaning and consumer products. Now the state is working to clean up at least 10 local sites where it’s been detected.
Posted inPublic Safety
Fatal stabbing victim identified; suspect arrested
Killing of a Martinez man, 59, at a Belding Woods transitional home is the city’s fifth homicide of 2026, police said.
