Community

Chevron Agrees to Hire Locals for Richmond Refinery Jobs

Published

10 years ago

April 1, 2014

Qualified Richmond residents will be given priority when it comes time to hire construction and other workers for Chevron’s proposed $1 billion refinery modernization project, according to an agreement announced this week.

Representatives from the City of Richmond, Chevron and the Contra Costa Building and Trades Council signed an agreement today aimed at boosting job opportunities for local residents.

Around 1,000 construction workers are expected to be hired to complete the modernization project, as well as some 500 support workers, according to Sal Vaca, Richmond’s employment and training director. The agreement also states that Chevron will look to Richmond businesses to provide goods and services needed for the project.

“This represents the strongest agreement we have seen on any economic project in our city and serves as a template for the future,” Vaca said.

Although the agreement isn’t legally binding, Vaca said labor leaders and representatives from the city and Chevron will hold monthly meetings to ensure they’re meeting local hiring goals for the project.

The city council is set to vote on the project this summer. If approved, construction could begin as soon as the end of the year, Vaca said. City officials say Richmond’s unemployment rate is about 11.5 percent, a figure that represents some 6,200 residents.

The rate is twice the unemployment level compared to the rest of Contra Costa County and well above the statewide unemployment rate of 8 percent. Vaca said the Chevron agreement is “an exciting opportunity for our community at a time when we continue to suffer with double-digit unemployment.”

More than 100 people attended press conference in Richmond announcing the partnership, including Kish Rajan, Director of Gov. Jerry Brown’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

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Related Topics:Chevron City of Richmond local hire Richmond Sal Vaca WIB

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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

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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.