Tensions over the Israel-Hamas War have surfaced in many communities across the country, including El Cerrito, which has made two arrests for hate crimes against Jewish people since the violence began on Oct. 7.   In the latest arrest, a Hayward man was charged in Contra Costa County with three hate-crime-related felonies stemming from a January… The post Israel-Hamas War leads to clashes in El Cerrito, on the street and before City Council appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

Richmond has an image problem. And its residents are well aware of it. They see it in outsiders’ faces, hear it in their derogatory comments and sense it when they tell others where they are from. The image of Richmond as a rough-and-tumble town was solidified in the movie “Coach Carter,” about a Richmond basketball… The post Plagued by the past: Does Richmond deserve its reputation as a hard-knock town? appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

In the two months since the state Attorney General’s Office publicized arrests in a human trafficking sting with local agencies, including the Richmond Police Department, no charges have been filed in Contra Costa County and authorities remain tight-lipped about the mysterious case.   In Richmond, two suspected traffickers were arrested, four citations were issued for solicitation… The post Arrests but no charges in 23rd Street human trafficking sting appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

If you’re a California homeowner, it may be time to take a look at your insurance policy.  After seven major insurance companies have restricted their business dealings in the state, policy holders are footing an exceedingly expensive bill. At Richmond’s Atchison Village, residents found that out the hard way.  “Six weeks ago, we just thought… The post ‘It’s just a terrible market’: major insurers cut back in California, leaving Richmond homeowners in the lurch appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

As class ends for the day at Fred T. Korematsu Middle School in El Cerrito, students stream through the gates, blinking into the sun. They board buses, climb into cars, or sit on the cement blocks that line the campus. Many of them crouch over their phones.  Some of these students are being bullied or… The post El Cerrito school combats social media bullying: ‘These anonymous posts are shaming and harassing students.’ appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

In a heartfelt gathering at the Richmond Auditorium Thursday night, the community came together to honor and celebrate the life of former Mayor Irma Anderson, who died of cancer on Jan. 28 at the age of 93. Anderson was raised in Boston, earned a nursing degree at Cornell University, and the moved to the West… The post Community pays tribute to trailblazing Mayor Irma Anderson appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

Richmond has a question for residents: What do they want built on unused city-owned land? RichmondLand, a community land trust, and city staff are working to gather community input on the public land policy.  “Affordable housing is really needed, but parks like this and different spaces for people to get together are also important,” said… The post What should Richmond do with its surplus land? appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

At 15, Demaria was arrested for carrying a gun to school and was sent to West County Detention Facility for 10 days.  Tall in stature and brusque in manner, Demaria said he remembers the nights there as lonely.  “The lights were switched off at 10 p.m., and you couldn’t distract yourself with a book or… The post ‘I got a lot of future. … I want to do something positive’: RPAL helps keep kids from returning to jail. appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

In an arena where they’re often in the shadows, Black artists are creating spaces to recognize and celebrate their talent.  For the 28th year, the Richmond Art Center will present the “Art of the African Diaspora” exhibition, later this month. AOTD gives local artists of African descent a way to share their work with the community… The post ‘This is like our Harlem Renaissance’: Exhibition showcasing Black artists set to open in Richmond appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more

A high-density housing development of more than 700 homes, nearly half of them deemed affordable, is in the works in El Cerrito on land owned by BART.  The city received a $20 million state grant in October to propel the progress it has made on the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, which was adopted in… The post El Cerrito to create more than 700 housing units near BART station appeared first on Richmond Confidential ..read more