Q&A: Napolitano On Diversity, Academics and the Undocumented at U.C.
Interview by Peter Schurmann, Video by Jacob Simas | New America Media Traducción al español Ed. Note: In September former secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano took over as president of the University of California, the first-ever woman to hold that position. She now heads a $24 billion system of 10 campuses, five...
Nonprofits Adapt to Demographic Shift
News Report, Chanelle Ignant Every Thursday at the West County First 5 center in Richmond, a group of ten to twelve moms gathers to discuss the issues that matter most to them. The group, Kahawia Uzazi, which in Swahili language means “brown parenting,” is a space where African-American mothers can share...
Street Soldiers Radio: Bay Area Parents Share Perspectives on Schools
Editor’s Note: Below is a transcribed excerpt from the October 26th broadcast of Street Soldiers, a live call-in radio show that airs every Sunday night on KMEL 106.1fm. The topic of discussion was California’s new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which gives school districts more of a say in determining...
En el Día de los Muertos, Conmemorando a un Barrio
Comentario, Edgardo Cervano-Soto Fue en 1987 cuando mi mamá, papá y dos hermanas mayores se mudaron de su apartamento en la South Van Ness y la calle 22 en el distrito de la Misión de San Francisco. El alquiler se había vuelto demasiado caro, a pesar de que mi papá tenía...
School Success Express Comes to Richmond
Video, Edgardo Cervano-Soto The School Success Express Bus Tour stopped at Lovonya DeJean Middle School in Richmond, CA for a forum with community members on the Fair School Funding Law. ...
On Dia de los Muertos, Memorializing a Neighborhood
Commentary, Edgardo Cervano-Soto It was in 1987 when my mom, dad and two older sisters moved out of their apartment unit on South Van Ness and 22nd Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. The rent had become too expensive to afford, despite my dad holding down two full-time jobs as a dishwasher and...
Racist Remarks Put Obscure Elected Official Under Spotlight
Racist statements about African and Asian Americans made by West County Wastewater District director Leonard Battaglia, who was quoted in a news report, have led some Richmond city officials to call for his resignation....
Why I’ll Practice Safe Texting
Commentary • Poojan Dave From the spoken word, to written letters to dial-up phones, humans have always sought new ways to communicate with one another. Today, it seems that texting is the mode of choice for getting messages to others quickly, especially when it comes to teenagers. According to Nielsen, American...
Q&A: Police Chief Magnus on ‘Predictive Policing,’ Wiretapping, Ceasefire
Interview by Edgardo Cervano-Soto The CC Pulse: Vehicle thefts and burglaries are down from last year. Why are these types of property crimes decreasing in Richmond? Chief Magnus: I wish I could tell you that there is an exact cause and effect to it. Unfortunately that’s what makes the job so difficult,...
More Adolescents in California are Drinking Sugary Beverages
News Report, Viji Sundaram|New America Media Even as the consumption of sugary drinks among young children in California is beginning to decline, a study released today shows a significant spike among adolescents. The study found that fully 65 percent of children between 12 and 17 drink soda and other sugary drinks every...
Richmond Mayor Denounces ‘Dirty Hand of Chevron’
Video, Malcolm Marshall Ed. Note: On Tuesday Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin led a crowd of protestors in denouncing Chevron Corp., which was recently fined $18 billion by a court in Ecuador. The energy giant is now seeking to block plaintiffs in that case from using U.S. courts to enforce the order....
School District Hears From Parents On School Safety
By Zaira Sierra Richmond residents and representatives of West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) met at a convening organized by Building Blocks for Kids Collaborative on Friday September 13, for a discussion about safety in and around schools. About 40 concerned parents were given an opportunity to let the school...
Pope’s Positive Message More Likely to Attract Young Minds
Commentary, William Haynes By now you’ve probably heard that the Catholic Church has a new pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, of Argentina, who took on the name Francis when he assumed the position last March. The 266th pope, Francis, when it’s all said and done may be remembered as one...
What Electricity Choices Could Look Like
News Feature, Laura Flynn • New America Media/KALW Editor's Note: In 2002 the California legislature passed AB 117 allowing cities and counties to become electric service providers to residents in their jurisdiction. Known as Community Choice Aggregation, or CCA, today more municipalities such as San Francisco and Sonoma counties are exploring...
