City Government

Richmond Town Hall Meeting on Eminent Domain

Published

10 years ago

January 3, 2014

By Jeff Wright

Stop Investor Greed sponsored a Town Hall Meeting on Dec. 1 a plan approved by the mayor and a majority of city councilmembers that could result in the seizure of “underwater mortgages” through the utilization of eminent domain.

The plan is highly controversial and has faced a tremendous amount of opposition in communities throughout California, Nevada and other states. Richmond’s mayor is aggressively promoting the program with the assistance of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) and the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA).

< p>Speaking at the town hall meeting, Councilmember Jovanka Beckles said that other cities would be joining with Richmond in the formation of a Joint Powers Authority to collectively move the plan forward.

At the meeting she was asked to identify the cities that will be participating with Richmond as part of the Joint Powers Authority but was unable to do so. The City of Richmond has reached out to other communities throughout the state of California and thus far not a single city has been willing to participate as a JPA partner with Richmond.

At its Dec. 17 meeting, the Richmond City Council passed a resolution that instructed city staff to continue searching for a JPA partner for Richmond.

Staff has already spent considerable time and effort over the past several months trying to secure a JPA partner for Richmond but to no avail. Is it wise for staff time to be consumed at the taxpayers’ expense on this unproven, controversial issue that has been rejected just about everywhere else?

Councilman Corky Booze said that he has repeatedly asked five basics questions that he can’t get answered that Richmond residents deserves to hear the answers.

What amount of interest will be charged to the citizens to re-do their loans?

How can the citizens of Richmond be protected if the city gets sued?

Will the lenders be able to loan citizens’ money living in a blighted neighborhood with bad credit?

Where are the blighted properties located?

What is the lowest credit rating required to get a home?

For information Councilman Corky Booze at (510) 501-0480 and Councilmember Jovanka Beckles at (510) 813-7008

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

1 week ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.