received some
interesting comments from the E-FORUM: IS RICHMOND WORTH
EMULATING? The first one copied below came from our community
and economic development (CED) director, Steve Duran. Steve and
I agree on about 90%, but I enjoy sparring with him on those
issues we don’t agree on. I just can’t give up on that last 10%.
I do want to
thank Steve and others in the CED Group for his vision and
leadership on the many good projects in Richmond, such as the
BART Transit Village (MetroWalk), Hope VI (Easter Hill), the
North Richmond Initiative and the Ford Assembly Building.
Steve Duran:
Four blocks
from where Walnut Creek has their very nice "downtown" they have
a
single story "big-box" Target Store... right across the street
from the Walnut
Creek BART station and adjacent to their auto-row.
In Richmond,
from 27th Street to 8th street, walking distance from our
BART/AmTrak station is where we are focused on high-density,
pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented development. Our Target
store will be
where it belongs, around 40th street, not walking distance from
BART, but next
to a major freeway exit and the intersection of two very busy
streets -
Macdonald Avenue and San Pablo Avenue. Now, that's smart
growth.
We are also
trying to intensify uses on the south shoreline: to bring Ferry
Service, to support planned Marina Bay retail and restaurants,
and to increase
tax revenues to the City and the Redevelopment Agency in order
to improve the
level of City Services and give the Agency funding for
inner-City
revitalization.
If we
accomplish these goals (and they are connected), planners will
come to
Richmond to study our Downtown turn-around, revitalized
inner-city
neighborhoods, and our wonderful shoreline neighborhoods with
more Bay access
than any other city.
Responses for
E-FORUM Readers to “IS RICHMOND WORTH EMULATING?”
-
I couldn't
agree with you more! It was very revealing a few weeks ago
when the Chamber of Commerce was "caught" having a
celebratory dinner in.....Emeryville! Why do you think that
happened......because there are hardly any "destination"
restaurants in Richmond. And try to get a decent cup of
coffee or go out to breakfast on Macdonald Ave. Except for
Pt. Richmond, we have to leave town to do that.....and we
do.
-
Again,
Councilmember Butt, you've hit the nail on the head! I live
near the existing Target store in El Cerrito (which I
understand will close when the Target at the old Monkey Ward
site opens). I will not be one of its customers (don't
currently purchase much at the existing store). This stems
from several reasons: 1. I'm pro-union, which Target is
actively against; 2. The salaries are below the mean, and
many of the staff must work a second job; 3. The benefits
are pitiful; and 4. Many of the jobs offered are part-time -
to get around the necessity of offering benefits. (A city
council majority which supports this cut-throat attitude
from big Box companies - in a city that is desperately in
need of attracting businesses that are supportive to their
workers - I find offensive!). Walmart and Target are a
part of the dumbing down of America. The majority of
Richmond's Council members are unfortunately myopic. It is,
however, one of the reasons why a number of neighborhoods -
like Parchester, the Richmond Annex and Pt. Richmond - are
so very active. Sometimes, however, I just want to scream!
-
It’s
probably a security issue. Richmond has so many lowlifes
that they frighten away more upscale customers and upscale
small business. Security is easier at a larger, high
volume/low prices big box store, which is also more the type
of store the low-lifes can afford.
-
I think
Richmond is AFRAID of upper end development, like Walnut
Creek's, be it cutesy-chic or not, because of so called
'economic displacement'. They're afraid that
institutionalized poverty will be displaced in
Richmond. Hence, whether intentional or not, the City set
its' sights low by playing to the lowest common denominator
to keep squalor in place for all those 'poor people'. WE
wouldn't want to REALLY fix up Richmond because people with
more money might suddenly find it attractive and displace
the people that run this town into the ground.
-
Also a
recent article in the Times says that Richmond is 'turning
around'. I'm afraid they didn't ask its citizens. Take the
Carlson project for example. The roadway is a shamble that
was supposed to have been completed last year. Now it seems
the project has vanished, money and all. There's an increase
in home and car burglaries but I never see a patrol car on
my street. All I see is my taxes going up with nothing
improving. The sewage even still flows into the bay when it
rains thanks to a shady contract awarded to a certain city
persons wife, wasn't it? The whole Pt Molate thing is odious
of back room deal making and back slapping. The ONLY
improvement is that after
your intervention
with Mr. Kennedy my street FINALLY gets swept, at least in
parts where the cars are moved, unless it's a holiday or it
rains and then it's 2 months between sweeps, but that's
waaaaay better than the 18 months it took to get them here.
( thank you Tom Butt!). Are you going to run for mayor????
If not, can we get Jerry Brown?
-
Walnut
Creek
had a VISION -- a clear vision of what they wanted to
create, determining very specific goals for its growth. They
are a fantastic example of a planned city. Walnut Creek is
a city with self esteem! Richmond has no vision. Richmond
has no self esteem. Richmond is grasping rather than
reaching because the mind set is "what can we get right
now." No delayed gratification, no long term goals, no
planning for the long haul. Home prices have gone up a lot
in five years. --- young people and families are moving in
-- the town clearly has more revenue -- but still Richmond
behaves like a pauper. I've witnessed good money being
thrown after bad (the streets and city's quick yearly fixes
that fail within months, for one example). Do you think
this deeply held mindset is even possible to change? I see
no evidence of it. I've lived in Richmond for going on 5
years, and I must say I am extremely disappointed.
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