$18 Minimum Wage Initiative

Over a decade ago, progressive leaders on the Richmond City Council led the effort to pass the Minimum Wage Increase Ordinance. Since then, major economic and social changes have taken place which have affected the quality of life for all working people. From the COVID-19 pandemic to hyperinflation in consumer goods, today’s households are holding on by a thread.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Zillow, an average Bay Area adult currently needs to earn over $100,000 ($50 hourly) to afford a one-bedroom apartment.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Zillow. "Housing Costs in the Bay Area: Median Rents and Salaries Needed." April 24, 2024. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/income-needed-to-move-to-major-cities.

Richmond's Economic Development Commission (EDC) is bringing back "Taste of Richmond" with a fresh outlook. In this podcast, we interviewed Diana Wear, chair of the EDC, on how the event is changing to better meet the needs of Richmond’s diverse food and beverage entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Listen To The Podcast

A Bit of History

Taste of Richmond was founded by Janet Johnson, Sarah Wally, and Brandon Evans and was originally held at the historic Riggers Loft on Canal Blvd. This year, attendees can expect a completely new format with exciting benefits.

Latest News from Richmond City Hall

Catch up on hot items from this week’s Richmond City Council meeting below. If you're interested in making public comments as a member of RPA or getting involved, contact us.

Meetings are primarily held on the first, third, and fourth Tuesday of each month at 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804.

Why We Need To Codify Marriage Equality in California

With an increased number of conservative judges, the right to marry is being threatened for LGBTQIA+ Californians. RPA is proudly standing by our community to protect marriage equality at the state level from a hostile court system.

This November, Californians will have a chance to defend hard-won civil rights from potential Supreme Court shenanigans. If passed, Proposition 3 will establish that the "right to marry is a fundamental right" in the state Constitution. 

Remove Involuntary Servitude as A Punishment for Crime

It’s shocking that slavery and involuntary servitude exist in this day and age — but it’s still enshrined in California’s constitution. Join RPA as we vote for an end to this exploitative system in November.

How Instant-Runoff Voting Expands Democracy

Have you ever worried about “wasting” your vote if you cast it for the candidate you truly favored, because they seemed unlikely to win? Or wished there was a box beside a certain candidate’s name that said, “No, anybody but this person”? Or heard doubts about the legitimacy of a 3-way election, based on the notion that 100% of voters for each of the losers surely would have voted for the other one, had one dropped out, so that “splitting” the vote changed the outcome?

These issues are resolved by a process called Instant Runoff Voting (also called “Ranked Choice”).

This fall, Richmond voters can approve a City Council-supported proposal for Instant Runoff Voting in future local elections. IRV makes a lot of sense and it’s not too complicated for voters to understand. But it’s not what voters are used to, so it requires a bit of an explanation.

The Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) is proudly standing by the recommendations of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Reimagine Richmond in the campaign against Prop 36.

What is Prop 36?

The California Proposition 36, Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative is a state ballot measure headed to the polls this November. We strongly oppose the measure because it will lead to the increased criminalization of marginalized communities in Richmond.

Did you know that Richmond is home to another EPA Superfund site?

United Heckathorn is a contaminated site, located at the top of the Lauritzen Channel (between S. 2nd and S. 4th, south of Cutting Ave.) with pesticide contamination that extends well beyond into adjoining area waterways and the San Francisco Bay. It was initially classified as a Federal Superfund site in 1990. 

The US EPA serves as the lead regulatory agency and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is the supporting regulatory agency overseeing the cleanup of the contaminated upland and submerged lands.

City of Richmond, CA 2024. Photograph.

Wondering about the latest updates on Point Molate?

You may have heard of the Richmond City Council’s recent decision to approve the sale of remaining parcels of land at the site to the East Bay Regional Park District. The move was widely celebrated across RPA, whose members have spent decades advocating for conscious stewardship.

According to Gayle McLaughlin, City of Richmond Councilmember and Former Mayor, “This regional park and its amenities will provide enormous environmental, cultural, historic, and recreational benefits…The historic and environmental richness of the site provides great learning opportunities, including enhancing education about the climate emergency we are all facing...This [letter of intent] LOI clearly sets the stage for an inspirational project. We are saving this land for the public.”

City Council Secures $550 Million For General Fund

Today, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to approve a $550 million settlement with Chevron, to be paid out over the next ten years. This funding is a significant win for our community, which has experienced a disproportionate share of pollution — directly leading to a higher risk of asthma, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic health conditions.

Special thanks are due to Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) Action and the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) Action. These organizations have worked tirelessly to ensure the Make Polluters Pay measure would pass in November — knocking on doors, making phone calls, and calling on elected officials to act.

“We look forward to working with the city to ensure that these funds are used both to meet immediate needs and to invest in a just transition that builds a future beyond oil for Richmond.” — Megan Zapanta, Richmond Organizing Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and The Polluters Pay Coalition

What Our Elected Leaders Have To Say

“I say this is a historic moment because we...the community of Richmond has created a movement that will echo across the nation. What's happened here has demonstrated to the community, to the nation, to the world, that when we as people pull together, we can create change.” — Eduardo Martinez, Mayor, City of Richmond, CA