The progressive-backed Jimenez, who had 54.3% of the votes cast as of Friday, posted a statement acknowledging she will become mayor.
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
Chevron says nearly 34,000 pounds of hydrogen sulfide escaped during smelly leak last month
The refinery must now analyze what went wrong and could face fines for the release, which occurred over a 42-hour period last month.
Posted in2026 Election
Claudia Jimenez leads Ahmad Anderson
Claudia Jimenez had 53% of the votes cast, but there are more votes to be counted, her opponent’s hopeful supporters point out.
Posted in2026 Election
Update: Richmond’s Measure Q bond measure appears to have won
With 69.5% voting yes, the measure has more than the two-thirds required for it to pass, according to results released Friday.
Posted in2026 Election
How did Richmond really win its $550M Chevron settlement? That depends who you ask
Police union calls memo a political play in mayoral race while council member Cesar Zepeda says negotiators skirted proper public process.
Posted in2026 Election
Campaign videos shot inside Richmond fire station draw complaint, days before election
Daniel Butt, son of former mayor Tom Butt, says the pro-Measure Q videos flout campaign rules. Council member Soheila Bana called the allegations “politically motivated.”
Posted inPublic Safety
Slain Balompie employee remembered as a warm person with a big heart
Luis “Luigi” Ramirez of San Pablo was found dead inside his car on 16th Street in San Pablo Sunday afternoon.
Posted in2026 Election
Police union-backed PAC spends more than $200K in final push to get Ahmad Anderson elected
Meanwhile, a PAC of environmental organizations and public employee unions spent about $43,000 to support Claudia Jimenez.
Posted inCommunity
Update: Contra Costa fire officials say Chevron misclassified hydrogen sulfide and ammonia leak
The company issued its 72-hour report Monday night but hasn’t identified what led to a chemical leak into a shut-down flare system, releasing a foul odor.
Posted inCity
Interim city manager calls finances ‘very solid,’ easing fears about spending Chevron money
Richmond City Council also discusses assertions by police union canvassers that the settlement could pay for increased police staffing.
Posted in2026 Election
From sex trafficking to traffic deaths, Richmond mayoral candidates answer 7 reader questions
Richmondside received more questions than it had time to ask Ahmad Anderson and Claudia Jimenez at an elections forum so we’re sharing this supplemental Q&A.
Posted in2026 Election
‘Are you ready to elect a socialist mayor?’ DSA’s efforts in Richmond irk moderates
As the Democratic Socialists of America and the Richmond Progressive Alliance support Claudia Jimenez for mayor, her opponent’s supporters aren’t happy about it.
Posted in2026 Election
How Measure Q would fix Richmond’s outdated fire stations
The $120 million bond would fix stations, some of which were built in the 1940s, but some voters think the work could be paid for with Chevron funds.
Posted in2026 Election
Mayoral candidate Ahmad Anderson continues to dominate in PAC donations
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.
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.
