Jabari Fontenot, 31, has been charged in the May 29 homicide of Melvin Murphy, 64.
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 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.
Posted inCity
Will the SS Red Oak Victory ship be docked somewhere new? A $300K study will try to find out
The historic ship, which operates as a nonprofit museum, has been at Point Potrero since 1998, but there’s an effort to relocate it to Ford Point near the Rosie the Riveter visitor center to boost
Posted inCity
Chevron settlement: Richmond picks consultant to lead spending conversation
Mayor Eduardo Martinez said he voted against hiring the consultant because he did not agree with describing the settlement as “separate” from the general fund.
Posted in2026 Election
Meet your Richmond City Council District 3 candidates — in their own words
Brandon Evans and Doria Robinson weigh in on topics such as the Chevron settlement negotiations, crime and business development.
Posted in2026 Election
Three Richmond mayoral candidates receive donations from entities doing business with city, records show
While not illegal in Richmond, a state law could require Mayor Eduardo Martinez to return some money. Meanwhile candidate Ahmad Anderson has raised the most among all the council candidates.
Posted in2026 Election
Richmond mayoral candidates take stances on green jobs, safety and life beyond Chevron
In the first of three Richmondside candidate forums, the five mayoral candidates discuss their visions for a better city.
Posted inCity
Richmond refuses to take back control of Craneway Pavilion due to high maintenance costs
City council members who voted against the deal didn’t want the city to inherit tens of millions in potential expenses for the historic waterfront facility.
Posted inCity
Richmond city manager Shasa Curl tells police union she won’t be ‘bullied’ as she announces retirement
The police union is threatening legal action, saying Shasa Curl didn’t reinstate officers involved in fatal shootings fast enough. Curl has held the position since 2022.
