By Ilana Sawyer | Photo via Fiona Ma's office Operating a legal cannabis business in Richmond, while the federal government still considers it a crime, was a major theme of the 2019 Cannabis Forum June 5 at the Cobiz building. Over 160 cannabis business owners, customers, policy makers, advocates and enthusiasts attended...

By Denis Perez-Bravo Debra Smith noticed some familiar faces as hundreds of people passed her jewelry booth July 6 during the third annual East Richmond Heights Art and Music Festival. She says the small festival on Bernhard Avenue has an intimate feeling that allows neighbors to connect. “I have seen many of these...

By Denis Perez-Bravo Housing advocate Sasha Graham remembers Richmond before rent control, and the damage high rent increases had on her and her son. For Graham, the 6-1 Senate Judiciary Committee vote in favor of Assembly Bill 1482’s anti-rent gouging and just-cause eviction laws on June 9 takes California a step closer...

Commentary, Hannah Mendoza In elementary school, people called me a tomboy. I played soccer with my guy friends and could care less about my appearance. I came to school with a low messy pony tail and wore my school uniform skirt with red leggings with snowflakes on them. I wore jeans with hand-me...

By Michael J. Fitzgerald The West Contra Costa County Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) is seeking input from current and potential riders about expanding its express bus service. WCCTAC is considering expanding express bus service to Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, unincorporated communities in west Contra Costa County, and San Francisco. The committee is...

By Joel Umanzor Jr. Coaching at the collegiate level is often more detailed than many people anticipate, especially for first-timers in a newly revamped program with only a handful of players. That’s where Contra Costa College’s new women’s soccer coach Ted Steen finds himself after accepting the position in June. It is an interesting...

Photo Essay, Carlos Lemus On one recent Saturday morning, people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and abilities were breathing and moving as one as Nadia Crabtree of Gaia Yoga led a standing demonstration in the heart of downtown Richmond. Nearly 400 people came out for the 10th annual Healthy Village Festival on...

RP Staff Report Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill ending discrimination based on natural hair and unfair grooming policies in California into law July 3. The Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural hair (CROWN) Act, as described by its author, state Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), “protects the right of Black Californians to choose...

  By Michael J. Fitzgerald | Photo By David Meza The spacious and stylishly decorated Point Richmond office of Andrea Burnett is tucked in the back of the same building that holds the high-profile Body Wisdom Studio on Washington Avenue. But from the space where she started Andrea Burnett Public Relations in 2009,...

  Obituary Longtime Richmond Barber Remembered as Renaissance Man Donald Warren, longtime owner of Don's Headquarters barbershop in Berkeley, died on May 29. He was 68. Born in Martinez, “Donnie” — as he would be known to many —was the eighth of the nine children of Harvey and Rosie Mae Warren. He graduated from Richmond...

Rent Program Director Gives Update on Rent Control Thursday, July 25 Nicolas Traylor, executive director of the Richmond Rent program, is scheduled to give an update on the city Rent Board’s progress in implementing the rent control program at the July luncheon meeting of the Point Richmond Business Association. The PRBA luncheon begins...

Photo Essay, Denis Perez-Bravo Richmond resident Valerie Dade says her grandchild inspired her to learn more about the history of Juneteenth, the recognition of when slavery finally ended in Texas — two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Because of that history and her granddaughter, she attended this year’s celebration in...

Crisis Is Hitting Black Californians the Hardest By Manny Otiko and Tanu Henry  | California Black Media Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $214.8 billion state spending plan he and legislative leaders are calling “the Affordability Budget” for the 2019-20 fiscal year. It took effect July 1 after the governor hashed out...

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