Early-Stage Gentrification: Richmond, California, Residents Push Back

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Early-Stage Gentrification: Richmond, California, Residents Push Back

Friday, 17 July 2015 00:00
By Adam Hudson, Truthout | Report


While San Francisco gentrification has garnered ample national press coverage, there is one other Bay Area city experiencing a similar phenomenon - Richmond, California.

Richmond has long been known for three c's - crime, corruption, and Chevron (the city is home to the company's century-old refinery). For years, Richmond had soaring violent crime rates, leading politicians and pundits to deem it a national "murder capital." Additionally, its city council was run by Chevron cronies.

However, Richmond's homicide rate is now at an historic low - the lowest in over 30 years - and a progressive coalition has been running the city council for about a decade. In fact, even though Chevron pumped $3 million into Richmond's City Council election last year, Chevron's favored candidate, Nat Bates, lost to Democrat Tom Butt.

On top of that, Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus has openly expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement and has significantly restricted lethal force in Richmond's police department, which has resulted in Richmond police not killing anyone between 2007 and late 2014 - a very rare trend in police departments. However, in September 2014, one unarmed person, Richard Perez, was killed by a Richmond police officer. ..................(more)

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/31926-early-stage-gentrification-richmond-california-residents-push-back