Ordinance banning federal immigration enforcement on Richmond-owned property is being drafted. District 1 council member Jamelia Brown has concerns about scope.
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 inRestrained and Sedated
Richmond police officer denies, in court, that ‘excessive’ force caused man’s death
One of the Richmond officers testifying in civil rights lawsuit breaks down in tears, insisting he only wanted to help Concord nurse Ivan Gutzalenko, who died in 2021 after being restrained and forcibly sedated.
Posted inPublic Safety
I-80 shooting: Man killed by Richmond detective identified
Luis Angel Torres Rivera, a father of two, was named by the state Department of Justice as the man who was killed on Jan. 22.
Posted inCity
Photos: Richmond swears in 21st police chief
On Thur. Jan. 29, 2026 the city swore in Timothy Simmons as its police chief. Simmons has been with the department for 17 years.
Posted inCity
ICE operations may soon be banned from city-owned property in Richmond
An ordinance, which hasn’t been drafted yet, would prohibit federal agents from using city property for immigration raids.
Posted inCity
$550M Chevron settlement: Consultant will ask residents how to spend it
After city staff say they are spread too thin to collect public input, the city council decides to spend up to $300,000 on a consultant.
Posted inPublic Safety
I-80 shooting: Richmond detective kills man who was reportedly threatening cars
Shooting on freeway in Hercules marks the third Richmond officer-involved fatal shooting within less than a year.
Posted inCity
Council accepts Richmond mayor’s atonement plan; censure put on hold
Mayor Eduardo Martinez has issued a formal apology for reposting “antisemitic tropes” on social media.
Posted inCity
Facing possible censure for ‘antisemitic conduct,’ Richmond mayor offers atonement plan
On Tuesday Mayor Eduardo Martinez will offer his own retribution plan for what some of his colleagues say was “antisemitic conduct.”
Posted inPublic Safety
Victim identified in San Pablo fatal shooting
Clarence Hughes Jr., 36, of Richmond was shot to death Dec. 29 on Rumrill Boulevard, police said.
Posted inCity
City’s plan to nurture ‘equitable’ cannabis businesses is failing, grant applicants say
After the city was forced to return $1.1 million in grant money in 2024, more than a dozen Black and brown equity applicants are in limbo, and the city’s promise to diversify its cannabis industry remains unfulfilled.
Posted inPublic Safety
Gun violence in Richmond surged at end of year despite record-low homicides
Acting Police Chief Tim Simmons told the police commission there was a 163% spike in shootings during the last 90 days of 2025.
Posted inCity
Richmond City Council refuses to put mayor’s censure on Tuesday agenda
The council majority “no” vote means it didn’t agree that the issue qualified as an emergency agenda item but it could be put on a future agenda.
Posted inPublic Safety
UPDATE: Person of interest in IHOP death shoots self at San Pablo police station
San Pablo police said the man approached officers, who couldn’t understand him, and a few minutes later he shot himself in their parking lot.
Posted inCity
Local elected officials call for censuring Richmond mayor over social media posts
Richmond City Council member Jamelia Brown said Mayor Eduardo Martinez should resign over Bondi Beach post.
Posted inPublic Safety
Contra Costa County DA not filing charges in shooting death of 20-year-old
Richmond police say Griffin Hammond of Richmond was shot and killed after he shot someone first outside a convenience store.
Posted inCity
Richmond mayor slammed for sharing Bondi Beach shooting conspiracies
Mayor Eduardo Martinez is being asked to resign over recent now-deleted LinkedIn posts. He’s also being criticized for previous public comments about Hamas-Israel politics.
Posted inPublic Safety
UPDATE: Richmond’s fifth homicide victim identified
The shooting occurred about a half mile from the Richmond BART station and near several businesses along Macdonald Avenue.
Posted inCity
Richmond city attorney is resigning
Dave Aleshire has served as the city attorney since July 2022. City council to discuss next steps at Tuesday’s meeting.
Posted inCity
Richmond police chief shuts down license plate readers after discovering data was searchable
“National search” Flock feature exposed city’s data in February so cameras have been offline for two weeks after incoming Chief Tim Simmons found out.
