An adult and child died and another adult and child are in critical condition after a pair of house fires on Tuesday night in central Richmond
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 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.
Posted inCity
Update: Richmond discusses city manager hiring
The council interrupted its mid-summer break to discuss hiring Shasa Curl’s successor and extended the contract with a recruiter.
Posted inCommunity
Couple is podcasting from a boat in San Pablo Harbor to preserve bay history
Mike Herz, founder of SF Baykeeper, and his wife, Kate Josephs, are sharing stories about the bay from their home upon the waves.
Posted inCity
Richmond City Council keeps running out of time to get things done
Discussions about police military equipment and a proposed ballot measure to create an ethics watchdog commission are among a series of postponed council topics.
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.
