The COVID-19 moratorium on evictions of renters is phasing out.  As a result, we are likely to see a big increase in homelessness here in Richmond which has a large vulnerable population.

There is, however, an important program where the State of California is distributing $2.6 billion in renter and utility relief to those renters hit hardest by the pandemic. Applying for the program also provides some protection.

Workers are just weeks away from their unionization vote and we want to show them how much our community has their back. There will be a HelloFresh Worker Solidarity Pep Rally & Art Build on November 11 to cheer on workers coming on & off of two of their work shifts with signs and noisemakers. We will also fill out postcards with messages of support and solidarity for workers to add to our art installation.

RPA is having a Holiday Party on Sat. Dec. 4 from 3:00-6:00pm at Bridge Storage and Art Space.

The Listening Project is a people-centered process to guide our local transition away from the fossil fuel industry. Our goal is to listen to and understand the concerns and needs of Richmond communities that have historically suffered the most from generations of fossil fuel operations in Richmond. 

Three months into our youth-led, community-driven process, here are the four major initiatives we have been working on.

Green Mountains from Momoyogusa, Kamisaka Sekka (1909)

On October 19th, the Richmond City Council voted 4 to 3 instructing the City Attorney to file a brief in the federal appeals court case in support of Point Molate Alliance and other community groups who have sued the city for voting behind closed doors on the Point Molate settlement. After opposing us, the city will now go on record admitting that it violated the Brown Act and California's land use law when it secretly approved the settlement with the failed casino developers. This illegal 2019 agreement resulted in the proposed luxury housing project we are fighting today.

Red and White Plum Blossoms with Poem Slip, Ryuryukyo Shinsai (c. 1810)

The Activist wants to hear from you. And we all know that progressives have plenty to say. Help us get the word out on issues most important to you and the Richmond community.

Luis Cubas is a Richmond-based photographer. His journey to photography started when he was a student at Richmond High School. He took a photography class and had the good fortune of having a dark room to develop film and prints. Initially Luis didn't give it much thought, but photography became important to him and was soon taking pictures every day. Over time, the art form evolved from a hobby to a business, allowing Luis to travel, meet people and follow his passion.

On September 23, Councilmember Claudia Jiménez asked City Staff to provide her, along with the rest of Council and Mayor Tom Butt, a full list of vacant positions in Richmond’s city government. The vacancies chart returned to Councilwoman Jiménez confirms what Richmond residents already knew: our city is inexcusably understaffed.

Vacancies are both fulltime and part-time positions that have already been budgeted for in this fiscal year. The money has already been set aside for these future employees. When the positions remain unfilled by the City Manager, the cash budgeted for these positions stays tied up; it cannot be moved elsewhere without formal budget amendments or until the next year’s fiscal budget is approved. 

Richmond currently has 123 vacant full-time employee (FTE) positions and six vacant part-time positions. This means that roughly one-sixth of our city government functions have been deemed inessential by city management.