The City of Richmond Truth Tazer

More Inner City Blues...

2007-02-21T06:21:00.000-08:00

(From CBS 5)

Police report that a man is in critical condition Tuesday morning following an overnight shooting in Richmond.

The man was airlifted to John Muir Medical following the 4:50 a.m. shooting near the intersection of Hoffman Boulevard and South 22nd Street, a police dispatcher said.

One man has been taken into custody on suspicion of the shooting, according to the dispatcher.

Monday's Inner City Blues, Volume 2...

2007-02-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

Good Monday Tazer Faithful...

We're not quite sure what to make of this one, so we'll just let it fly:

Beating baffles neighbors of homeless victim

By Sara Steffens and Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Neighbors knew the small homeless woman by the long red coat she always wore and for her habit of sitting on the same bus bench for hours, wrapped in blankets.
"She was just quiet," said neighbor Sheila Thomas, who once gave the woman a blanket. "She never bothered nobody."

"It was just devastating to me to hear what happened to her."

The woman known only as Ruth remained in critical condition at a hospital Friday, four days after a neighbor found her beaten, bloody and unconscious in the alcove of the Richmond storefront church where she sometimes slept.

Police don't know who did it or why. Even in the tough Pullman neighborhood, near the crossing of Carlson and Cutting boulevards, such tremendous violence against someone so harmless still stunned residents days later.

Her case underscores the danger inherent to living on the streets.

"It's very easy to attack, beat up and kill people who are living outside, and many of the cases go unreported and nobody ever gets caught," said Michael Stoops, director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.

A large number of the nation's homeless don't sleep under anyone's roof: 44 percent, according to a report released last month by the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
"That's probably the main reason this is happening," said Stoops.

A spate of attacks against the homeless by thrill-seeking teenagers have made national headlines in recent years, but people who sleep outdoors also are vulnerable to simple crimes of opportunity, especially robberies and rapes.

"It happens all the time," said a homeless Richmond resident who asked to be identified only as "Laura." "People don't want to say anything, but a lot of them get hurt out there."

While newly homeless at age 18, Laura fell victim to three men who attacked her as she slept in her car. They raped her, beat her up and broke her nose.

"I was afraid for a long time," she said. "It happened a long time ago; I don't like to think about it."

Women are especially vulnerable on the streets, Stoops said.

"Even some elderly women that society labels 'the bag lady,' they get attacked and sexually assaulted," he said. "All women are potential victims."

To protect themselves, some women purposely act crazy or tell people they have AIDS, Stoop said.

Muggings also are a common problem for the homeless, said Kevin Sullivan, who camped outdoors in Richmond until moving into a motel a few weeks ago.

"It is really dangerous out there, because there's so many people willing to take anything you have," said Sullivan, 40. "And if you look like you have something, they'll do anything to take it."
Sometimes, the perpetrators are other homeless people after a recently cashed assistance check or a warm jacket, Sullivan said. Other times, they're strangers -- teenagers and young men aiming to steal a backpack of meager belongings, or just to bait someone into a fight.

"That seems to be happening more and more frequently out here," Sullivan said. "They see you homeless on the streets and they think 'automatic target.' People consider you to be a homeless bum and not worth anything."

To stay safe, Sullivan said, many homeless people try to group together in secluded encampments.

But Ruth, who didn't seem to have any friends among Richmond's homeless community, slept in plain view, in doorways, alleys or on benches.

"We've talked to just about everyone in that neighborhood, and nobody knows her name or where she came from," Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said. "Some people on South 29th Street said they would give her food, and a lot of people said they saw her around, but she was always by herself."

She popped up about three months ago and quickly became a neighborhood fixture.

Soo Yang, who works at the coin laundry on Cutting Boulevard, wondered if Ruth had been discharged from the hospital, because she carried a Kaiser Permanente bag filled with her belongings.

"I thought she was just a crazy homeless lady, and I felt sorry for her," Yang said. "Normally I don't allow noncustomers to use our restroom, but I thought she would be OK."

Ruth would stop by the laundry several times a day to help herself to a cup of coffee, possibly one of her only sources of nourishment.

Some days she would greet Yang happily, others she would talk and laugh to herself, holding conversations with someone Yang couldn't see.

Locals called Ruth quiet and nonthreatening.

"She just walked up and down the street, drinking coffee and asking people for cigarettes," said Wesley Few, a longtime neighborhood resident. "We knew her, but didn't know her name."
Investigators hope to use fingerprints to identify Ruth, who talked to police briefly this week but would not reveal her last name.

Police initially suspected that Ruth's attackers had sexually assaulted her, but she was able to tell a detective this week that she had not been raped, Peixoto said.

Still, one or more people did savagely beat Ruth, breaking bones in her face and abdomen and causing serious internal injuries. Doctors removed her spleen.

Police do not know when or where the attack happened, though the blood in her sleeping area was dry when officers began their investigation.

Few said he saw Ruth on the sidewalk Monday morning, beaten and disrobed, an image that still bothers him.

"It's bad enough the world is like it is, but then they have people doing stuff like that. It's really sad."

"What did she have, besides dignity?"

Reach Sara Steffens at 925-943-8048 or ssteffens@cctimes.com. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

Other attacks

The south Richmond beating last week was the latest attack against a homeless person investigated by Bay Area police in recent years.

• In November, two young men were sentenced to 15 years to life for beating 49-year-old Maria King to death in Berkeley. King, who was homeless, was killed in February 2005.

• In October, San Pablo police investigated a rash of bloody attacks and fights staged by teenagers who recorded them on cell-phone cameras. An electronic file on one of the phones showed teens beating a homeless man, police said. Three juvenile suspects were charged with assault in connection with a different attack recorded on the phone.

• Last February, muggers clubbed a homeless man into a coma near a busy intersection in San Pablo. The victim survived, but his attackers were not found.

• A 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds were charged with the murder of 52-year-old Dalrus Joseph "DJ" Brown, who died in July 2004 after being beaten in West Oakland. The teens reportedly told investigators they attacked the homeless man because they were "bored."

How to help

Neighbors describe Ruth as a short, skinny black woman who always wore a full-length red coat and black beanie cap. Descriptions of her age range from 40s to 60s. Police ask anyone who knows her, or knows about what happened to her, to call Richmond Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto at 510-620-6647.
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We welcome your comments and ideas for solutions Tazer faithful. We'd also like to get your feedback on the progress of the new elected/and or re-elected city officials as we approach the first full month of terms. How do you think they are doing?

Monday's Inner City Blues...

2007-01-29T07:18:00.000-08:00

Good Monday morning Tazer faithful...

After a much needed weekend off, the Tazer has some bad news to update you on:

Richmond teen shot Saturday night

By Scott Marshall
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A teenager was shot Saturday night as she stood in front of her home in the Pullman Avenue area of south Richmond, according to Richmond police.

The victim was shot in the upper body shortly after 9 p.m. in the 400 block of South Street, according to police. She later was in stable condition at an undisclosed hospital.

Police didn't immediately have a motive or a suspect and asked for help from the public.
Anyone with information can call Richmond police Det. Esteban Barragan at 510-621-1276 or the 24-hour anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (8477).
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The Tazer is still waiting on the "results" of the assessment of the "office of violence prevention". With all that coordinating to coordinate a coordinator, our city streets are still dangerous.

Get to know Harpreet Sandhu...

2007-01-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

Here's some background on Mr. Sandhu, as told by John Geluardi:

Human Relations Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu, appointed Tuesday night, will finish out the two years remaining on new Mayor Gayle McLaughlin's council term. He will take a seat behind the dais immediately after he is sworn in Tuesday.

An immigrant from India, Sandhu will be the first Asian to serve on the council. He is one of a handful of Sikhs to hold public office in the United States, and members of Richmond's Sikh community heralded Sandhu as an excellent choice who will work well with other council members.

"Harpreet has served the Sikh community in very important ways," said Jaideep Singh, co-founder and managing director of the Sikh American Legal and Defense Fund based in Washington, D.C. "He has been a liaison between Sikh immigrants and government agencies, and he has been a particularly strong advocate for Sikh taxi drivers who have been the frequent victims of robbery and homicide."

The council appointed Sandhu with the minimum five votes, with McLaughlin and Councilmen Nat Bates and Tom Butt abstaining. The council voted on one other person, longtime activist and perennial council candidate Cortland "Corky" Boozé, who received support from three council members.

Sandhu said the most critical issue facing the City Council is Richmond's chronic violence. He said violence has many causes and that a solution will come from numerous sources, including better education, more cooperation among law enforcement agencies and increased services to Richmond residents who live below the poverty level.

"Education is a critical component to ending violence, and we have to work together to help children overcome hardships like not having breakfast before going to school in the morning," he said. "How are we going to attract industry and jobs to Richmond if we can't solve the problem of violence?"

While raising a family and working full time for the U. S. Postal Service, Sandhu has compiled an impressive public service résumé during the past 20 years.

He is currently chairman of the multilingual District Advisory Committee and a member of the district's Academic Committee. He is also a member of the California Developmental Disabilities Board for Area 5 and of the county Democratic Central Committee. For the past five years, he has served on the Richmond Human Rights Commission.

Sandhu is probably best known as a strong advocate for creating safer working conditions for West County taxi drivers. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, taxi drivers in West County -- 90 percent of whom are Sikh -- increasingly became victims of attacks. One driver was killed in 2003, and one was shot in the face in what appeared to be hate crimes, Sandhu said.

Sandhu, then president of the Gurdwara Sikh Temple in El Sobrante, worked with U.S. Rep George Miller, D-Martinez, county Supervisor John Gioia and Richmond Vice Mayor Maria Viramontes to raise money to equip taxis with safety glass and surveillance cameras.

"Many of the drivers are new immigrants, and there is a language barrier. There was a feeling that nothing was going to happen unless someone spoke up for them," Sandhu said. "We were able to raise $30,000, which was not sufficient to cover all the taxis, but it was a start."

Before voting on the appointment, the council heard comments from 25 members of the public. Of those, 18 asked the council to appoint Boozé, who fell short of being elected to the council Nov. 7 by 482 votes.

By not selecting Boozé, the council has violated basic democratic principles, said the Rev. Andre Shumake.

"Now I know what it feels like to have my vote discounted," he said. "I am ashamed to be a registered Democrat after watching five elected Democrats step over more than 7,000 voters."
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The Tazer sees Mr. Sandhu as someone who is quite capable of serving the citizens of Richmond as a councilperson. With no offense to Mr. Sandhu, we do wonder about the process of how he was appointed, particularly after hearing many citizens speak from our front row seat at last night's city council meeting.

Interesting note: With all of the action surrounding the City Charter process for filling seats, which by all accounts doesn't give any consideration to the will of the voters, The Tazer notices that no council members moved to make a motion last night to amend this portion of the city charter...something to ponder.

Richmond Man Dies From Injuries After Jan. 4 Shooting

2007-01-24T06:37:00.000-08:00

A sad, sad ending to this story folks...

Credit CBS 5:

A 27-year-old Richmond resident who was shot in the head in what appears to have been an unprovoked attack on a Richmond street on Jan. 4 died from his injuries Saturday, the Contra Costa County Coroner reported Tuesday.

Victor Ramirez, who had recently moved to Richmond from El Salvador, was walking in the 2100 block of Roosevelt Avenue around 10:30 a.m. when two suspects grabbed him in a headlock as they passed by, according to police.

One of the suspects, a boy believed to be 15 or 16 years old, then shot Ramirez in the head, police reported.Richmond police Sgt. Allwyn Brown said the shooting suspect is described as black, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds. He had a short Afro hairstyle and was clean-shaven. He was last seen wearing a black ball cap, a black jacket with some sort of brown pattern on the front and blue jeans.

He was armed with a black revolver with brown wooden handgrips.

The shooting suspect's accomplice is described as a black man about 18 years old standing between 6 feet and 6 feet, 3 inches tall and with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a white ball cap, a dark colored jacket and blue jeans, Brown said.

Both suspects ran from the scene on foot up 21st Street from Roosevelt Avenue, according to Brown.

Important Updater...

2007-01-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

Good morning Tazer faithful!

We'll leave you to draw your own conclusions here:

Accusers won't join city investigation of racism

Credit: Karl Fischer And John Geluardi

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A group of black Richmond police supervisors who have accused Chief Chris Magnus of fostering racism in the department will refuse to participate in the city's investigation of their claims unless ordered to do so.

The eight officers on Jan. 9 filed a formal claim with the city, the last step before filing a lawsuit against Richmond. Each complainant seeks $1 million plus further damages to be awarded by jury trial.

"My clients did not want to hand over a list of witnesses and a timeline or other information so the city could begin the process of covering their butts in anticipation of a lawsuit," said attorney Christopher Dolan.

The group, which includes nearly half of the department's command staff, last month publicly accused Magnus of ignoring their suggestions about improving race relations within the department and making racist comments. Magnus repeatedly has denied those allegations.

The city responded by hiring an attorney to investigate the allegations, which are further documented in the Jan. 9 claim submitted to City Hall. The investigator, attorney Raymond Marshall, could not be reached Tuesday.

Dolan said officers will not willingly cooperate with the investigation unless the results are publicly released.

"My clients feel it's very important the public get to the bottom of the allegations," Dolan said.

The state Peace Officers Bill of Rights creates privacy protections for Magnus and Deputy Chief Lori Ritter, also accused of discrimination in the claim, that allow the city to keep the results of its investigation confidential.

Magnus initially agreed to waive his privacy protection but later retracted the offer at the city's request.

"It would be really too bad if the officers did not cooperate with the investigation, now that they have made such serious charges," said attorney Louise Renne, chairwoman of the San Francisco Police Commission, one of several attorneys representing Richmond.

Christine Maloney, another attorney working for the city, said rank-and-file officers might not speak freely with the investigator if they know their comments could be made public. She said officers may fear retaliation from complainants, all of whom are managers.

Dolan said he has asked the city to reject his claim and clear the way for the lawsuit.
The claim states that Magnus and other city officials ignored the complainants' concerns about racial discrimination by not taking their advice about how to resolve the perceived problem.

One concern was the promotion of Ritter in April.

"The officers expressed concern to the chief that Deputy Chief Ritter harbored ... feelings of racism, and that she was unsuitable for promotion without those issues being squarely addressed," Dolan wrote in the claim.

He contends that, prior to her promotion, Ritter asked a black captain to tap dance at a social function attended by police managers from other agencies.

Ritter, the highest-ranking female officer in department history, weathered similar attacks in 2004, when retired Lt. Tommie Phillips filed a federal discrimination suit claiming former Chief Joseph Samuels Jr. unfairly passed him over by promoting Ritter to the rank of captain. A federal jury found in favor of the city in 2005.

The claim also alleges:

• That Magnus posted a progression of photographs of Ritter in the office after her promotion to deputy chief, one of which had the caption "Master of the Universe," which black officers interpreted as a racial dig;

• That in April, Magnus told "a high-ranking officer" to picture Ritter wearing leather boots, cracking a whip and saying, "Dance, jigaboo, dance."

• That in April, while discussing crowd-control plans for the city's annual Cinco de Mayo street celebrations, Magnus asked if Juneteenth was "a holiday for shooting people."

• That in the fall, Magnus changed the process for screening applicants to the investigations bureau to prevent blacks from entering, referring to the high number of black officers applying as a "black out."

Magnus has denied all the allegations, suggesting in previous interviews that the claims had more to do with major changes he made early in his tenure that discomfited some of his command staff and pre-existing animus between individual officers.

"I am very disappointed by these allegations, and I absolutely deny making the remarks attributed to me. I have never discriminated against anyone in the department, or anyone else," Magnus said Tuesday. "I know that a thorough, independent investigation will bear this out."

Complainants include Capts. Cleveland Brown, Alec Griffin and Eugene McBride; Lts. Michael Booker, Shawn Pickett, Johan Simon and Arnold Threets; and Sgt. Jim Jenkins, president of the Guardians of Justice, a black officers organization. All are black men.

Magnus promoted Griffin and Booker to their current ranks during the same series of promotions. Ten of the 16 officers now holding the rank of lieutenant and higher are black men, and seven of those officers are complainants.

The internal rancor sharply contrasts with Magnus' general positive image in the community, where public officials and neighborhood leaders have repeatedly praised him for restoring community-oriented policing principles to his department's patrol division.

Recognition: Better late than never?

2007-01-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

Richmond honors Tent City leaders

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin honored a group of community members this week for their grass-roots efforts to reduce violence in some of Richmond's most troubled neighborhoods.

At Tuesday's council meeting, McLaughlin and Councilman Nat Bates presented 17 Tent City organizers with the Martin Luther King Richmond Community Leadership Award.

"I felt this was such an incredible initiative, and it meant something that these community members were willing to risk their lives and safety and put in their time and energy into making a statement that we need peace, and we need to stop the violence," McLaughlin said. "The leaders of this effort needed to be recognized."

On Sept. 25, several community members, frustrated by a surge in shootings, decided to take a stand. They pitched a tent in a parking lot near Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue, a part of town long tyrannized by crime, violence and heartbreak.

Word of the effort quickly spread, and the first tent was barely up before people began arriving with contributions of food, blankets and good will. The frail urban outpost touched a deep chord, and the lone tent became an expression of a battered community's weariness and hope.

Within a few days, more tents were pitched, and then another Tent City went up in North Richmond's Shields-Reid Park. Then two more popped up, one in Martin Luther King Memorial Park and another in John F. Kennedy Park. In all, the Tent City protest lasted 37 days, with many community members camping out the entire time.

Organizers said the Tent Cities had communitywide impact that resulted in fewer gang-related street killings. While the Tent Cities were standing, there were seven homicides in Richmond, but only two were rivalry-based street killings. In the 10 days before the first tent was pitched, there had been six such killings.

The Tent Cities caught the attention of the media, and they were visited by a steady line of elected officials including U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez. Kaiser hospital provided hot meals twice a week, and Wal-Mart supplied tents and cooking equipment. Local small business CJ's Barbecue & Fish supported the effort from the first day with food and equipment.

"We realized if things were going to get better, it was going to be up to us," said the Rev. Charles Newsome, who pitched the first tent near the spot where one of his cousins had been gunned down. "The community asked the youngsters to put the guns down and come together and talk. It's time for us to come together in this city."

Since the Tent Cities came down Nov. 1, organizers have worked to keep the Tent City spirit alive. Many have been regulars at City Council meetings and have organized to advocate for better street lighting and youth programs. Last week, they advocated unsuccessfully for Cortland "Corky" Boozè, a Tent City organizer, to be appointed to the City Council.

"Moving forward, we want the momentum of Tent City to carry forward," said the Rev. Andre Shumake. "It is important the city continues to support Tent City's grass-roots community activism."

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

tent city honorees

Recipients of the Martin Luther King Richmond Community Leadership and Service Award

The Rev. Charles Newsome

The Rev. Andre Shumake

Freddie Jackson

Cortland "Corky" Boozè

Robert Brown

Albert Lee

Wilma Miller

Jackie Thompson

Garland Harper

Stephan Cowans

John Wayne

Artesia Johnson

James Cash

Donald Seals

Felicia Haywood

Norman Walker

Patrice Boykin

For more information about Tent City, contact the Richmond Improvement Association at 510-860-3681.

UPDATE: Road rage foolishness

2007-01-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

The Tazer doesn't know quite what to say about this criminal disregard for life...

---------------------------------

Passenger describes road rage
RICHMOND: Woman's boyfriend, who was driving, was critically hurt in Monday shooting

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Whatever insult the gunman perceived, it will never match the injury he dealt.

The owner of a black Lexus coupe wants the shooter to know how wrong he was Monday afternoon, when his decision during a driving dispute totaled her new, yet-to-be-insured car and nearly killed her boyfriend.

"When it first started happening, I thought it was just kids acting stupid ... but even for kids, they were being aggressive," said the woman, who asked that the Times withhold her identity because she is afraid of her attackers.

"What if my kids were in the car? What if my little brother (in the back seat) was sitting a little more to the side?"

Detectives continued to investigate the road-rage shooting that critically injured the woman's 34-year-old boyfriend about 3 p.m. Monday on San Pablo Avenue, and they urged anyone who witnessed the crime to call.

"You wouldn't think someone would open fire on the busiest street in Richmond during one of the busiest times of day," the woman said Wednesday. "Are you telling me that nobody got the license plate? That nobody else saw anything?"

The victim bought her car so recently, she only had driven it three times before. Last week, she took it to the Department of Motor Vehicles to be registered, she said.

Her boyfriend was driving her to work Monday, and they had just picked up her brother from his job, when a white, full-sized van making an illegal U-turn almost hit their car on Vale Road in San Pablo.

Her boyfriend shouted something at the other driver. The two men in the van then "looked at us all crazy," the woman said.

The van began driving erratically, chasing the Lexus and swerving around it. They turned south on San Pablo Avenue and drove about a half-mile to the intersection at Esmond Avenue in Richmond when the passenger in the van leaned out the window and pumped several rounds into the rear driver's side of the Lexus.

One passed through the car into the back of the driver, who then lost the ability to move his foot from the accelerator.

"I had to take his foot off the accelerator" and hit the brakes, the woman said. The car ran aground on the curb near the intersection of San Pablo and Clinton Avenues, about three blocks from the shooting, where it began leaking gasoline.

The shooting victim should make a full recovery, the woman said. But at the moment, she is without a car, without her boyfriend and without justice.

"Those guys need to be locked up," she said.

Richmond police Detective Mike Rood agrees. While police are following leads in the case, he said Wednesday that every tip helps bring them closer to the gunmen.

It was the second such road-rage shooting police are investigating in the area in less than a week. Last Thursday, a gunman critically injured a 23-year-old Sacramento man test-driving a sport utility vehicle from a local dealership on Interstate 80 near the McBryde Avenue exit.

In Monday's shooting, the van was a white, full-sized vehicle, probably of American manufacture. It had custom, 20-inch chrome rims, including on a fifth wheel attached to the back.

The victim said the driver was a white or Latino man with a round face who wore a dark-colored baseball cap and a white T-shirt.

The shooter, who sat in the passenger seat, was a Latino man with a dark complexion or a black man with a light complexion, the victim said, with a thin face and pronounced chin. He had wavy dark hair that he wore in a pony tail and wore a dark-colored baseball cap askew on his head, covering part of his face. He also wore a dark-colored jacket with patches on it.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP
Richmond police ask anyone with information about Monday's shooting on San Pablo Avenue to call Detective Mike Rood at 510-620-6625.

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Honking seems to be the catalyst in the I-80 incident. The boyfriend yelling seems to be it for this one. Still, neither justifies violence as a response, and the Tazer hopes the thugs are apprehended before they can do this again.

What's next? Perceiving the use of blinkers as a prelude to getting cut off? Windshield sprayers as an insult to a paint job?

Auto safety may not mean personal safety

2007-01-16T06:07:00.000-08:00

The Tazer remembers well a quaint old driver's ed film wherein the instructor liberally honked his way through LA. At a parked motorist who was about to exit, beep. At a motorist who was pointing out of a driveway, beep. At a motorist that was contemplating a right on red, beep. At motorist after other motorist for the purpose of announcing his presence, beep. At darn near everything on that pulldown movie screen, beep.

Fast forward to today, and you'd think that the car horn was more than the equivalent of "The Bird" and some angry words. It's supposed to be a safety device to call attention when just eyesight won't cut it, but nowadays it seems more like a liability...

---------------------------------

Driver critical after Richmond shooting

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A driver who honked at a van on San Pablo Avenue went to the hospital in critical condition Monday after the other party fired several rounds into his car.

The victim, a 34-year-old man, pulled out of the parking lot of a business heading south on San Pablo about 3 p.m., police said.

Near the corner of San Pablo and Esmond Avenue, the driver became frustrated with a white, full-size van with silver rims sitting ahead of it in a turn lane.

So he honked.

"We're not entirely sure of the sequence of events at this point," Richmond police Sgt. Allwyn Brown said. "So we're not sure what the motive was. All possibilities are open."

If police find that road rage fueled the shooting, it would be the second time in four days that a driver used a firearm to vent anger while driving in the area.

On Thursday night, police investigated a shooting on Interstate 80 near the McBryde Avenue exit that left a 23-year-old Sacramento man critically injured. He remained in critical condition Monday, police said.

In that case, the victim was test-driving a vehicle from an El Cerrito auto dealership with a salesman in the passenger seat when a sport utility vehicle cut him off on the freeway. He honked, and police say the salesman shrugged at the suspect vehicle when it pulled alongside.

The victim's car flipped on the freeway after the shooting. Police found what they believe was the suspect's vehicle abandoned in the unincorporated Tara Hills neighborhood Friday morning.

In Monday's incident, Police say the victim's black Lexus passed the van in a right-hand lane near the intersection and drew gunfire. At least one round struck the driver in the upper body, Lt. Mark Gagan said.

The victim drove about three blocks south on San Pablo before crashing into the west curb in front of a business near the corner of Clinton Avenue. Authorities evacuated nearby buildings because the Lexus began leaking gas, police said, but Richmond firefighters quickly alleviated the danger.

Two passengers in the car were not hurt, Gagan said. Paramedics flew the driver to a regional trauma center, where he was reported in critical condition.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

Violent Crime & Funding Roulette

2007-01-11T07:09:00.000-08:00

Folks in the City of Richmond's budget machine must be going nuts...

"We have to build a new Civic Center to make the city look updated and attractive to business...but that means we can't fix the potholes. And fixing potholes shows that the city cares about upkeep and smooth transportation for people and business. But we can't borrow any more money, especially if there's some kind of crisis...wait a minute. Violent crime IS a crisis! So, about funding stuff like public safety and this youth corps thingy..."

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Mayor asks for residents' help
RICHMOND: McLaughlin says everyone must work together to stop violence, solve city's other pressing problems

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Newly sworn in as Richmond's mayor, Gayle McLaughlin asked residents this week to make a greater commitment to solving the city's most critical problem: chronic violence.

"It is clear our single-most important issue in Richmond is our crime," she told the 300-plus people packed into the council chamber Tuesday night to see her take the oath of office. Another 200 people watched the ceremony on closed-circuit televisions in a large tent set up in the City Hall parking lot.

"While we strengthen law enforcement, giving it what it needs to enforce the law, we must not deceive ourselves; We must be realistic in our understanding that law enforcement alone will never eradicate violence," she said.

After taking the oath, McLaughlin called for a moment of silence for shooting victim Victor Ramirez, a 25-year-old immigrant who was shot in the head last week in an apparent act of random violence. He remains on life support at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

There were 42 homicides in Richmond last year, seven more than in 2004, when Morgan Quitno Press named Richmond the most violent city in California and the 11th most violent in the country.

The violence, which was the central focus of last year's mayoral campaign, has its roots in systemic problems of poverty, unemployment and a lack of education opportunities, McLaughlin said.

"Our challenge in Richmond is to become a role model for solving these systemic problems," she said. "But in order to do this, an investment is required at a level greater than which currently exists. It will take a more cooperative City Council, increased revenue and a further commitment of free time from us all to begin to turn around our endemic violence."

Addressing the city's need to grow the economy, she described Richmond as a city of "great untapped potential" and called on residents and businesses to be more innovative in creating smart-growth policies and responsible environmental programs.

"We will flourish and become a healthy and sustainable city only if we believe in ourselves," she said. "The future of Richmond demands a robust local economy, one that keeps money circulating in our city."

McLaughlin takes over as mayor in a city that faces serious challenges. Richmond is still recovering from a devastating, $35 million budget crisis in 2004. Under the guidance of Finance Director Jim Goins, the city has been able to build up reserve funds of about $10 million.

But the Chevron refinery has cut its annual utility tax payment by an estimated $4 million a year, a reduction that has jeopardized the budget's fragile recovery.

Playing a kind of financial brinkmanship, Richmond broke ground last week on the $110 million Civic Center renovation, the largest public works project in the city's history. To fund the project, Richmond has exhausted its bond capacity, which means the city cannot borrow more money in case of a new financial or infrastructure crisis.

The hidden cost of the renovation can be found in the city's potholes. Richmond's roads are in the worst condition of any city in the Bay Area, and taxpayers are sitting on a road repair bill of $94 million. Unless the city finds funding for repairs soon, the cost will skyrocket to $200 million in 2010, about the time McLaughlin's first term is up.

In keeping with the nonpartisan election, McLaughlin, a Green Party member, put an emphasis on shared principles and values. She promised to work collaboratively with her eight council colleagues.

She also promised to be more than a ceremonial mayor.

"I will be a problem solver and not a ribbon cutter," she said to a loud applause from those watching the ceremony in the tent. "Over the next four years, it will be our turn to show results."

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or at jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

You are cordially invited...

2007-01-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

While the Tazer was taking in the post-crowning afterglow at the Civic Center last evening, we got to chat with our old pal John Geluardi...

Seriously, John, we'd like to know what you really think about journalistic impartiality...without having to call us "political scumbags." We much prefer to think of ourselves as the new muckrakers of the day, except that we're probably a little more optimistic about outcomes. Richmond has the potential for greatness IF it can overcome its problems.

Having a whole newspaper in which to play is what some would call "old school." It's 20th century technology: molecular, palpable, and slow. We at the Tazer find it quaint, and yet we're all still old enough to appreciate spreading a paper around the dining room table over coffee and toast. Even now, our copy of the Times is in the breakroom, ruffled from repeated viewings.

The Tazer, on the other hand, is 21st century technology: electronic, ethereal, and rapid. Even the Times has an online edition, which can supply breaking news and updates...that the next print edition has to wait for, if the information is still relevant.

Contempt for blogs is nothing new, and I suppose we can diagnose the source. Journalists are supposed to graduate from journalism school, pay their dues in the ink mines, and then maybe claw their way up to doing illuminated manuscripts with the other scribes. That's molecular, palpable, and slow.

But bloggers, shucks, they have it easy! Sign up for the thing, type whatever they want, then click the button that says "Publish." No need for degrees, experience, or even intelligence. That's electronic, ethereal, and rapid.

"Well, harumph harumph, that's NOT publishing!" says the journalist. "It happens TOO fast! Where are their credentials and did they graduate from Columbia!? Who checks their facts!? I will not STOOP to the level of these nameless nobodies!"

REALITY CHECK: Back here in the 21st century, information moves faster than the paperboy can throw it.

Yup, that includes the City of Richmond, too.

So, John, it's not that we don't like you. You've written lots of great stuff and we appreciate your contributions to Tent City, but when you can't seem to contain some of the biases you may have, we can't help but point it out. Like you said, we're nobodies, so if an AP Stylebook and journalism creds aren't hiding things well enough, what does that mean, it's OUR fault? Of course not. The byline on "Green era begins for troubled city" says "John Geluardi" on it.

Again, to clarify, and paraphrasing Tazerville regular "Roscoe P. Coltrane": You felt the need to point out NOT that Gayle McLauglin is white, but that her opponents were black. "Does he and the Times do that for everyone he writes about, or just black people, or just opponents of his candidate?"

We'll let you elaborate on whatever you'd like. Go ahead and leave it in the comments, then we'll publish it.

And no need to call it "stooping" or otherwise reducing yourself. You HAVE to sign your name to what you write in the Times because it's a publication of record. We are but a blog and we like it that way. No bylines, no deadlines, and all we have to do is read the news and comment. Still, we're not afraid to publish opposing viewpoints or clarifications, so here's your big chance to tell your side of things.

The Tazer doesn't pretend to be journalists, yet we're still interested in the truth. We're opinion driven, first and foremost, unabashedly. But in the end our ultimate product must be accurate and unflinching.

Which is also why we remain anonymous. We're everywhere, including positions of responsibility in the City of Richmond. Inside and outside City Hall, the Tazer is both hailed and cursed, but we keep our identities secret all the same. It's for our own good, as well as for our loved ones. The Tazer is our outlet, our torch for shining light on the truth, and some people REALLY don't like the truth.

Seriously, John, you met us and didn't even know it, but we said it was good to make your acquaintance and we meant it.

Top o' the Tuesday

2007-01-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

If we didn't know any better (and some of you have told us as much), the Tazer would believe that John Geluardi was one of the 590 registered Greens in Richmond. He certainly knows how to recycle since his article repeats an accusation from the Richmond Globe:

"McLaughlin beat the well-funded Anderson in the three-way election by 242 votes. She got some help from former councilman Gary Bell, who despite losing his council seat in 2004 ran for mayor this year. Bell, who is black, received more than 5,000 votes Nov. 7. Had he not run, those votes most likely would have gone to Anderson, who is also black."

When the Globe babbled this nonsense we zapped them for it, and Geluardi will be no different.

To say that Irma Anderson didn't lose that election all on her own is multiple pokes in one. If her foibles as mayor were forgotten or overlooked is to say that the Richmond electorate was not only ignorant but racist, or "race loyal." If Gary Bell was the "OTHER African-American choice" is to say that he shouldn't have run because of Anderson's "divine right" to the mayorship. And if Anderson and Bell running at the same time was the only "perfect storm" that would've gotten Gayle McLaughlin into power, then that quite possibly says the mayorship actually fell to the most pathetic candidate possible.

Race dividing and poverty pimping, anyone?

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Man fatally shoots himself after crash

By John Geluardi and Scott Marshall
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - A Benicia man in deteriorating health who had told family and friends he felt hopeless fatally shot himself after a minor traffic accident in Richmond Monday afternoon, police said.

Douglas Francis Scott, 64, was taken by ambulance to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Richmond after the 2:30 p.m. incident and later was pronounced dead, according to police.

"He basically had deteriorating (physical) health and began to show signs of being at risk for suicide," such as giving away possessions, said Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan. "He had made some statements about being hopeless about life."

The accident occurred at Harbour Way and Cutting Boulevard, police said.

Scott was driving west on Cutting Boulevard when he rear-ended a black Pontiac, which in turn struck another car. None of the three vehicles was seriously damaged. A woman driving the Pontiac received minor injuries and was also taken to Kaiser.

After the accident, Scott exited the truck to check on the other drivers, Gagan said. Scott did not appear to be injured.

"The accident was not part of a suicide attempt, but he realized he would be contacted by police," Gagan said.

Scott then walked away from the accident scene across a gas station parking lot. When police arrived they found him critically wounded underneath a stand of bottle brush bushes along the fence line of Martin Luther King Memorial Park. Police recovered a handgun, Gagan said.

The Richmond Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Response Truck responded to the scene when officers noticed a strong chemical odor from containers in the open trailer hooked to Scott's truck.

The trailer was covered with a blue tarpaulin, and so they could not clearly see what was in the truck bed.

Firefighters shut down Cutting Boulevard in both directions and deployed sensor devices around the truck to monitor air toxicity.

Five hazardous materials technicians suited up in bulky, lime green protective suits with respirators and took samples from the containers before the truck was removed from the intersection. Firefighters had to move cautiously until they knew what the trailer contained, said Richmond fire Battalion Chief Merlin Turner.

Scott operated a fuel-polishing business in which he cleaned diesel tanks. The trailer contained 20, 55-gallon drums of waste oil products, Turner said.

The truck did not display required hazardous materials placards describing the content in the trailer, Turner said. He called the business number, which connected him to the cell phone in Scott's pocket. His business address was a post office box.

Turner consulted state records and Chevron experts before declaring the scene safe.

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com. Reach Scott Marshall at 925-945-4780 or smarshall2@cctimes.com.

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A very sad and unfortunate series of events, it seems. Our condolences to the Scott family, and we wish the crash victims a speedy recovery.

Lastly, an update on what were probably the late moments of Raijon Daniels' young life. No surprises, really...

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Boy died of abuse, report says

By John Simerman
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

MARTINEZ - It wasn't ingesting Pine-Sol that killed 8-year-old Raijon Daniels, but years of abuse that left his slender body thatched from head to toe and front to back with burn marks, scars, swelling and purple bruises with "train track" patterns, according to an autopsy report released Monday.

The Richmond boy also suffered ketoacidosis -- dangerously high levels of acids that build up in the blood and can lead to diabetic coma or death. Although diabetes is a possible cause, the report suggests that for Raijon, starvation was a more likely culprit.

The report from the Contra Costa County coroner's office lists the cause of death as trauma "due to Battered Child Syndrome," a medical definition for physical child abuse.

That conclusion may cast the criminal case against Raijon's mother, 23-year-old Teresa Moses, in a different light. Moses faces charges of felony child abuse and torture in Raijon's Oct. 27 death. Prosecutors were waiting for toxicology tests before deciding whether to add a murder charge.

Moses told police she thought her son may have drunk Pine-Sol before he died in the emergency room of Kaiser Medical Center in Richmond. There were several bottles of the cleaner in the house, and police found a blender top and a glass with what appeared to be a mixture of Pine-Sol and bleach, according to the report.

But the autopsy report says toxicology tests came back "negative for Pine-Sol constituents." Gregory Reiber, a forensic pathologist for the county, classified Raijon's death as a homicide.

Deputy district attorney Jerry Chang said he read the report Monday but wanted to discuss it with Reiber and other medical experts before making any decisions about whether to charge Moses with homicide. The torture charge alone carries a possible life sentence, he said.

"I don't think any rational person could read this and not be disturbed," he said of the report.

Moses, who has not yet entered a plea, is scheduled to return to court Friday. She remains in County Jail, her bail set at $1.15 million. The Times could not reach her attorney, Demetrius Costy, late Monday. At a November court hearing, he was adamant that Moses did not murder her son, calling her "a beautiful, articulate single mother of two ..."

Moses told police that Raijon would urinate, and she used the Pine-Sol to clean it up. Police suspect she locked Raijon away and poured chemicals on his penis so he would quit urinating on himself. Raijon's damaged body included ulcerations on his penis, the report says.

Among the symptoms of ketoacidosis is frequent urination.

In an eight-page report, Reiber details myriad injuries at various stages of healing. Among them: contusions and scars "consistent with cord or strap injuries"; hemorrhaging on his buttocks, thighs and left arm; scarring of his wrists and ankles, consistent with old marks from being bound.

More than 15 scratches and scars covered his abdomen. Eleven separate "train track" bruises, from dark pink to maroon, crossed his back. Others ran across his forehead, down the back of his thighs and calves, and over his shoulders and arms. In some cases, new marks replaced old ones.

The brown and pale-red scratch marks over both of his thighs and his right shin were "numerous, too numerous to count," the report said. According to a Kaiser emergency room doctor, Raijon's physician twice in 2005 noted symptoms of past sexual abuse.

The death, the autopsy report concluded, occurred from "Years of physical trauma to the body."

Just how many years was not stated in the report.

It is unclear whether Contra Costa County child welfare workers checked Raijon's body for signs of abuse. Six times from 2002 until last January, county Children and Family Services fielded allegations of abuse or neglect involving Raijon or his little sister. Most of the reports alleged that Moses neglected or failed to protect Raijon. One targeted a stepfather, another a boyfriend.

In three of the cases, county officials say, social workers investigated, visited the family and found Moses was doing what she could to protect her son and cooperate with police.

Nothing rose to the level of placing Raijon in foster care, so the county agency referred Moses to nonprofit agencies for help, said Joe Valentine, director of the county's Employment and Human Services Department, in an interview with the Times in November.

The agency is reviewing its actions in the case and is expected to deliver a "lessons learned" report to the Board of Supervisors in the coming weeks.

Nearly 1,500 U.S. children died from abuse or neglect in 2004, federal estimates show. Most -- 81 percent -- were under age 4. In nearly 80 percent of the cases, the perpetrator was a parent.

Carol Carrillo, executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County, said "battered child syndrome" is a term used in training sessions to help people who work with children to recognize and report abuse.

"It's unexplained injuries, unexplained kind of bruises, broken bones," Carrillo said.

Coined by a doctor in 1962, the term is now a commonly known medical diagnosis. Carrillo, however, could not recall a recent instance where it was listed as a child's cause of death.

She said Raijon's death has touched everyone who works in child abuse prevention.

"It's so difficult to even fathom what this little boy went through for such a long time," she said.

The council will be working improve outreach and education in West County, she said.

Staff writer Sara Steffens contributed to this story. Reach John Simerman at 925-943-8072 or e-mail jsimerman@cctimes.com.

---------------------------------

If a silver lining can be found to this case, we at the Tazer hope that it's a reformed system for monitoring child neglect and abuse.

Manifold Monday

2007-01-08T08:37:00.000-08:00

Happy new week, Tazerville! We start with an op-ed from the Times...

-----------------------------------------

Green era begins

A new era begins on Tuesday in Richmond when Green Party member Gayle McLaughlin officially becomes the city's mayor.

McLaughlin's surprising victory in Richmond over Democratic incumbent Irma Anderson is a major coup for the Green Party. Anderson had strong financial backing from Chevron and the corporate establishment.

That she still lost was a strong message from voters that they were unhappy with an inept city leadership that has failed to put forward a blueprint for dealing with runaway street crime.

Now it's up to McLaughlin and the Green Party to prove that they can succeed where the Democrats failed.

The Times did not endorse any of the mayoral candidates, because we thought, and still do, that Richmond could have produced a better slate of candidates.

None of the candidates offered a single sensible proposal for tackling crime, which, given the terrifying escalation of the violence in Richmond in the last year, is simply unacceptable.

The Green Party has traditionally focused on environmental issues. But McLaughlin must understand that the ability to walk outside of one's home without getting shot is just as much of an environmental concern as living near a Chevron smokestack.

She and the council must come up with at least the beginnings of a plan to stop this violence.

That's not to say that other environmental issues don't deserve attention.

Richmond residents have long complained about the negative effects of various industries on their quality of life. They have expressed concern about air pollution from the Chevron plant, diesel fumes from trucks and excessive noise from the Santa Fe trains. Health studies have found that children living in certain areas are more prone to asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Richmond would become a ghost town without industry. Yet there is a fine balance between providing a welcoming environment for companies to operate in and jeopardizing the health of residents.

To her credit, McLaughlin realizes that. And she will be an advocate for those in poor communities dealing with these concerns who have long been ignored.

The key for McLaughlin will be to remain true to her principles without alienating the corporations and businesses so vital to the city's financial well-being.

She has pledged to make Chevron pay its fair share, which it should. But antagonizing the city's biggest corporate citizen would not be in Richmond's best interest.

McLaughlin's seat on the council remains to be filled. McLaughlin and her fellow council members should name Corky Booze, who lost by 482 votes to Ludmyrna Lopez. He was clearly the voters' next choice.

Rather than ignoring the public's wishes and deferring to powerful interests as they have in the past, the council should honor what voters clearly wanted.

-----------------------------------------

And that should pretty much speak for itself, but there was an opposing view on the council vacancy among today's reader letters...

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Progressive choice

When the Richmond City Council fills the vacancy created by Gayle McLaughlin's ascension to mayor, it has the opportunity to appoint a true progressive, Harpreet Sandhu.

Sandhu has positively served this community for many years in the education, cultural and political arenas. He has always conducted himself with a respectful and deliberative manner. Sandhu is currently a Human Relations Commissioner for Richmond.

It would be a foolish and naive mistake for the new mayor to support Corky Boozé, who stands for everything McLaughlin professes to oppose.

Worse for McLaughlin, Boozé's backing from Nat Bates will ensure that he will make her term as mayor even more miserable for her than he did for Irma Anderson and Rosemary Corbin, from the other side of the podium.

Boozé's appointment will guarantee her progressive agenda will be DOA.

Our democracy in Richmond is broken: McLaughlin needs allies, not enemies, to fix it.

Andres Soto
Richmond

-----------------------------------------

We at the Tazer aren't sure if you noticed, but there's been a flood of letters to support Corky Booze. Many, like the previous Times op-ed, say that he's the people's choice based on votes. If that were to be carried out to its fullest extent, Booze should be mayor since he got more votes than MacLaughlin...which is an outcome we wouldn't object to...

But that's not how it works in Richmond, because the city charter says that, unlike the election, appointments to fill council seats aren't an ordinary popularity contest. In other words, appointees don't have to impress you or us; they have to impress the rest of the council instead, and Harpreet Sandhu is 1) NOT Corky Booze, which the council probably likes, and 2) already within the City of Richmond machinery, so he'd (hopefully) know what he's doing.

The Tazer isn't sure if Mr. Soto saw what we've seen, but Corky Booze seemed awfully cozy with Jim Jenkins and Gayle McLaughlin during the candidate forums. Thus, we don't figure Booze's presence on the council is as much a liability to McLaughlin as perhaps the rest of the council.

And it shouldn't be a matter of if McLaughlin (or any political leader) has allies or enemies on the council. It only matters to the Tazer if the councilperson in question is an ally to the PEOPLE OF RICHMOND!

To finish our thoughts for this morning, a peek at RPD from the inside, courtesy of another Times letter...

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Police race bias claim is nonsense

I was a member of the Richmond Police Department for 30 years (1963-1993) and I have inside knowledge about what I'm going to say.

When I began my career, there were four black officers: Doug Ellison, Lonnie Washington, Clements Kelly and Marvin Smith. These guys were terrific and were well liked by everyone.

By the time I retired in 1993, there were many black officers in the department, and I got along with all of them. Some were fantastic on the job, some were just so-so. But the same thing could be said about the white officers.

However, this current claim of discrimination by six black officers just makes me sick. How can they claim discrimination when there are seven black officers in the department who are either captains or lieutenants?

The two deputy chief spots are assigned to minorities -- a Latino male and a white female. The next position above that is the police chief, and he was selected by Richmond's city manager.

These claims of discrimination are false. These six officers are lying; they are simply attempting to control all the top command positions. With actions such as this continually occurring, racism will never cease.

Walt Burgess
Rodeo

Burgess is a retired Richmond Police Department officer.

-----------------------------------------

Sounds about like what we've been thinking. If Chief Magnus's accusers had any sort of case, one would think that there would be a pattern of behavior and droves of anecdotes. Nope, haven't read or seen anything like that...

Late Thursday Blues

2007-01-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

Keep this man and his family in your prayers, Tazer Faithful...

-----------------------------------------

Man critically hurt in Richmond shooting

By Malaika Fraley
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - A man is in critical condition at a Bay Area hospital following a shooting in the 2100 block of Roosevelt Avenue this afternoon.

The victim, who is in his mid-20s, was walking down the street at 10:32 a.m. when he was shot in the head by two men who approached him on foot, police said.

The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time, police said.

The Police Department asks anyone with information to call its tip line at 510-232-8477.

Malaika Fraley covers crime and public safety. Reach her at 925-945-4782 or at mfraley@cctimes.com.

UPDATE on shooting

2007-01-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Deputy shoots, kills Richmond burglary suspect

By George Kelly
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - A Contra Costa Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a burglary suspect early today, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies responded about 5 a.m. to a report of a burglary at a house in the 5800 block of McBryde Avenue near Arlington Boulevard in the East Richmond Heights neighborhood, a Sheriff's Office press release said.

A deputy noticed a door that had been pried open door, heard someone nearby and then was confronted by a man holding a hammer.

When the man ignored an order to stop and lifted the hammer, the deputy fired one shot, striking the suspect. Medical crews declared him dead at the scene.

Deputies found a vehicle parked in the house's driveway with its engine running. They determined the vehicle had been stolen and believe the suspect was using it. Several stolen items were found inside.

The name of the suspect has not been released.

The incident is under investigation by the Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office, which is routine is all officer-involved shootings.

Reach George Kelly at 925-952-5034 or gkelly@cctimes.com.

-----------------------------------------

Sounds like the only fatality was the crook, so in that the Tazer is grateful.

BREAKING!

2007-01-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Officer-involved shooting reported in Richmond

By George Kelly
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - Contra Costa Sheriff's investigators are at the scene of an officer-involved shooting that occurred earlier this morning, Sheriff's Office spokesman Jimmy Lee said.

The shooting happened on McBryde Avenue near the intersection of Arlington Boulevard in the city's East Richmond Heights neighborhood, Lee said.

Reach George Kelly at 925-952-5034 or gkelly@cctimes.com.

-----------------------------------------

The Tazer will have more info when we find it. Meantime, we hope that the incident resolves favorably.

Positive Progress And Hope

2007-01-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Tazer faithful!

Busy times over the holidays, but we opened today's paper to find a story of hope and progress...VERY refreshing!

On a recent cold and windy morning, parolee Vincent Clemons logged onto a computer at a downtown Richmond employment center to look for work.

It is a daily routine for Clemons, who was released from prison for the third time Thanksgiving Day. He had served 16 months in San Quentin for possession of a firearm while on parole. He previously had done time for possession of stolen property and a drug-related conviction.

After two failures, Clemons has begun anew the long and difficult process of becoming a productive member of his community. This time, Clemons said, he is determined to be a positive role model for his five children and avoid the degradation of street life and the shame of prison.

"I know what it feels like to have a job and not have to go through all that mess," he said as he scrolled through a list of retail-sales jobs. "The main thing is I have responsibilities. I have kids, and they need to see me doing something positive."

Clemons, 41, has an advantage this time: He is the first inmate to be released after participating in a pilot program in which about 20 San Quentin inmates who will be paroled to Richmond forged relationships with community members who will provide them guidance and a support system during those first critical months back on the street.

The Richmond Project is a partnership between the Richmond Improvement Association, a coalition of faith-based organizations, and the San Quentin Trust for the Development of Incarcerated Men, a group of long-term inmates who help prepare short-term inmates for the difficult transition to life outside.

Since February, association members, elected officials and community members have been going to San Quentin twice a month to develop personal relationships with the inmates and learn how to help them avoid returning to prison. Some will need to find housing; others will need substance-abuse counseling; others will need help reintegrating with their families. Nearly all will need help finding work.

The association also will guide them through daunting government bureaucracy to expunge lesser crimes from their records, said the Rev. Andre Shumake, the association's president.

"We want to help these guys recognize that they went into prison as liabilities, but they can come out as assets," he said. "We will help them find housing, jobs, and we want them to reconnect with their families. If they have children, we want them to understand their roles as fathers, and we want them to take that responsibility."

Helping the inmates will be a challenge. In California, nearly 70 percent of released prisoners find themselves incarcerated within a year, according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

"A very high percentage of prison inmates have either drug or alcohol problems, come from broken pasts, and a huge percentage don't have high school diplomas, and some of the younger men have never had a job," said Corrections Department spokesman Bill Sessa. "Some of these guys cycle back into prison two or three times a year."

Statistically, Clemons has a good chance of staying out. He has strong family support in Richmond's Iron Triangle neighborhood, where he was raised. He also is at an age when the wisdom of hindsight helps many criminals avoid behavioral pitfalls.

Furthermore, Clemons has done everything right since he began serving his most recent sentence, Shumake said. He took advantage of the 16 months by working to get his General Equivalency Diploma, and he received numerous certificates for participating in personal workshops on stress management, substance abuse and parenting.

That momentum has continued since Clemons was released. He already has reactivated his driver's license and has been meeting regularly with Shumake and employment consultant Larry Fleming to discuss career options.

He spends most mornings at the RichmondWorks office brushing up his resume, improving his interview skills and scanning the Internet for jobs.

He has experience in retail sales and has worked as an in-home care provider, but Clemons knows landing a job will be tough. He will have to find an employer who will overlook his 10th-grade education, limited work skills and the fact that he is a felon.

Clemons said he wants to contribute to his household finances, and he has unpaid child support and a hefty medical bill he wants to take responsibility for. But despite those pressures and a tough job market, Clemons has maintained a positive outlook.

"Yes, it's hard to find something with my background," he said cheerfully. "But I don't have any complaints, because when all is said and done, I'm going to find a job."

He credits his confidence to the support of his wife and other family members, the personal work he did in prison and the support he has received from the Richmond Improvement Association since his release.

"The Rev. Shumake and Larry Fleming have been so helpful," he said. "When I was behind the wall, they came in to talk about all the resources there are, and since I've been out, they have been a source of motivation."

Clemons is just beginning his journey. While he has strong family and community support, he still will have to resist the lure of street life and its deceitful promise of easy money.

"I feel the draw back to the streets every day. It's what I know best," he said. "But I'm trying to stay focused. I'm in control of what I do, and I'm not out on the corner hustling ... I'm trying to do something right."

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

Life on the outsideVincent Clemons, 41, was released from San Quentin state prison for the third time Thanksgiving Day. As he tries to assimilate into society, he'll have support from the Richmond Project, a new program that involves the community in helping inmates adjust to life after release. Clemons is the first to be released since the program began a year ago, and the Times will follow his progress through updates on his successes and struggles.to learn more:
The Richmond Improvement Association: 510-860-3681, www.riafbo.org/home.html
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The Tazer sees progress and a lot of hope with this program. Kudos to Rev. Shumake and all the other great folks who have spent many hours coordinating this project and talking with inmates about becoming productive citizens.

On a related note, The Tazer is curious as to where the City of Richmond is in regard to the money that was, in essence, promised to Rev. Shumake and RIA in 2006 for this program...did it all go to the coordinating of the coordination of the Office of Violence Prevention? How's that coming along?

Healing takes many forms

2006-12-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

Suspected 'kingpin' pleads guilty

A Richmond man pleaded guilty Friday to federal gun possession charges.

Vincent "V.I." Jones, 21, entered his plea as part of a deal to serve more than six years in federal prison and stay out of Richmond when he is released.

Richmond police called Jones a "kingpin" and "enforcer" for a south Richmond street gang when they started a high-profile manhunt for him in the summer of 2005.

Officers arrested Jones on Oct. 1, 2005, after a traffic stop in Richmond followed by a chase through backyards.

He was carrying a semiautomatic pistol. The U.S. attorney prosecuted Jones using the federal "trigger lock" law that imposes penalties on felons carrying firearms that had crossed state lines. Jones had a prior conviction for carjacking.

His sentencing is set for March 9 in U.S. District Court in Oakland.

-- Bruce Gerstman

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Bravo! Every little bit helps, even if it's only 6 years on a weapons charge. A thug in Club Fed is a thug that can't be on Richmond streets.

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Group salves wounds of violence
RICHMOND: Community gathers for Christmas event to offer hope of peace to those touched by area killings

By Justin Hill
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

On April 26, 2004, Sharon Strong's "baby," Jessie Ray Hill, was killed in Richmond when at least one gunman fired more than a dozen rounds at the 26-year-old.

"I hurt today just as if it happened yesterday," Strong said.

Strong had an opportunity Friday to heal alongside others who have lost a relative to violence during an afternoon of remembrance, healing and divine intentions at Veterans Hall in Richmond. The families of those killed were treated to a Christmas-like meal, and children received toys.

The day's purpose was to promote healing and give victims' relatives the chance to mentor the community to stop the violence, said Charlene Harris, an El Cerrito resident and founder and executive director of Mothers Against Senseless Killing, the organization that hosted the event.

"This is a day that we want to promote peace on our streets," Harris, who lost a nephew and two cousins to gun violence, told the crowd. "There's too much pain going on."

It has been a bloody year in Richmond.

Last week, a 27-year-old man became the city's 41st homicide victim of the year, Richmond's highest total since 1994. The following day, another man died in a shooting in the Parchester Village neighborhood, raising the total to 42. The city also has seen more nonfatal shootings this year than in any since 1993.

Strong said Friday was another chance for victims' families to come together to memorialize their loved ones.

Marvin Webb, assistant pastor at Peniel Missionary Baptist Church in El Sobrante, said the event is a good opportunity to let the relatives of crime victims know people are thinking about them and care about them.

"It's good for healing purposes to acknowledge that somebody cares about them," he said.

Mothers Against Senseless Killing is an organization open to survivors and relatives of victims of violent crime.

Reach Justin Hill at 510-243-3578 or jhill@cctimes.com.

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MASK does beautiful work, and we thank Tazer friend Charlene Harris for everything she does. Peace is more than a mission, more than a goal. For Richmond, it's an imperative that we must achieve.

Flipside

2006-12-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

Any issue is bound to have multiple perspectves. The first comes from today's Times, encapsulating the life and death of Raimon Williams...

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Shooting death leaves family puzzled: Relatives of Richmond victim recall his helpfulness

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Raimon Williams addressed most every woman he knew as "ma'am." His family nicknamed him "Mr. Clean" because of his fastidious habits.

The neat way he lived his life leaves his family with conspicuously few answers for why someone shot him dead in the street last week, a few blocks from his grandmother's home in central Richmond.

"Raimon was over at his cousin's house playing on the computer. I called him to tell him to come and eat," Enoila Williams said. "He sounded happy. He didn't sound like he was worried about anything."

Williams, 27, stopped to visit a friend at an apartment house on the 1300 block of Burbeck Avenue about 2:50 p.m. Dec. 14. As he left the building, a gold Honda Accord or similar car passed, and gunmen inside sprayed bullets at him.

Williams died at the scene. Police identified no suspects in the case and have asked for the public's help.

The family would like to know, too. Enoila Williams took in Raimon and his brother after his mother died when he was 7. The family is also grappling with the loss of Raimon's cousin, Romell Simmons, who died in a shooting last month.

Raimon went out of his way to help elderly neighbors, taking out their trash and holding open gates for them, his grandmother said.

"I don't want Him to take the person who killed (Raimon). I feel sorry for him. He killed somebody who helped so many people," Enoila Williams said. "I don't want him to die. Hatred is not the answer, it's love."

Williams became Richmond's 41st homicide victim of the year, the city's highest total since 1994. The following day, another man died in a shooting in the Parchester Village neighborhood, pushing the total to 42 for the year.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP
Police ask anyone with information about the Dec. 14 killing of Raimon Williams to call Detective Esteban Barragan at 510-231-3053 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (8477).

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And the other comes from Tazerville regular "AK47s"...

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It is now time to play hardball! We must declare a true 'WAR ON VIOLENCE'! Not that candy-ass BS that Anderson and the wannabe McLaughlin have been handing us!

We need FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND CITY STRIKE FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS to hit and hit hard. These dumb-asses in the Mayor's Office and City Council must now enforce martial law.

These terrorist-thugs need to rooted out by an means necessary.

If they die in running gun battles so be it.

The only way to win the WAR ON VIOLENCE, is to have hardcore determined Special-Ops shock troops handle the business!

These terrorists need to tried and do federal time under the RICO Act and Federal Domestic Terror Acts!

"PEACE ON THE STREETS THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER!"

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Though some might see these two views in conflict, the Tazer disagrees. It brings to mind a parable of sheeps and sheepdogs...

Sheep are soft, defenseless, and preyed on by wolves. Thus, the shepherd has a sheepdog(s) to help fend off the wolves. But what is so different about wolves and sheepdogs? Both are canines, strong and capable of tearing apart any sheep. The wolves are predators, knowing only their hunger, while sheepdogs are defenders who know their duty to the shepherd's mission of protecting the sheep.

If a mission to rid Richmond's streets of thugs can keep in mind its purpose -- to make neighborhoods safe and to diminish the power of gangs using both forceful and undercutting efforts -- the Tazer believes that it could succeed.

We know when you've been sleeping

2006-12-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

Damp Thursday greetings, Tazer Faithful. Lots to do, so let's do it...

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Drive-by shooting injures girl
Indiscriminate attack in North Richmond sends first-grader to hospital; deputies arrest one suspect

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

NORTH RICHMOND -- Shyron Jones spent the predawn hours Wednesday at the bedside of her 6-year-old granddaughter, doing her best to hold down one end of a heart-rending conversation.

"She said, 'I don't want to go to sleep, Grandma. I'm afraid I won't wake up,'" Jones said.

Hours earlier, two rounds fired near Donye Johnson's home in North Richmond whistled into her family's living room, through a couch and into the first-grader, who authorieis say was the sole victim of a drive-by shooting Thursday night targeting nobody in particular. (Tazer: Which is why we stand by our assessment of terrorism.)

Donye will survive, thanks to Children's Hospital Oakland, her family said. While she recuperated Wednesaday, Contra Costa sheriff's Lt. Donny Gordon searched for words to describe a form of violence seen frequently of late in West County.

"It is un-American...a despicable act," said Gordon, commander of the sheriff's Bay Station. "We deal with this thing all the time out here in West County, and quite frankly, this has gotten ridiculous."

In recent months, law enforcement in the greater Richmond area have noted an increase in environmental, neighborhood-oriented shootings that do not so much target specific people as they do neighborhoods claimed as turf by gangs -- and anyone present when the gunmen roll past. (Tazer: So, like we were saying: TERRORISM!)

Donye -- one of six children in her family's home or the unit next door, which shares a wall -- was simply standing in the living room of the home in the 200 block of Silver Avenue when the shooting started. Rounds struck at least six housesbetween Second and Fifth streets.

"Somebody came by and fired about 100 shots," said Tyrazna Ray, Donye's aunt. "I heard big ones, I heard small ones...we all hit the floor."

The rounds entered through Donye's left side, her family said. Hospital staff pronounced her stable early Wednesday, her grandmother said, though doctors were hesitant to remove the bullets, one nestled near a lung, the other near her stomach.

Authorities did arrest one suspect in the case before the night ended, but not before a second gunman shot at deputies pursuing him. None was hurt.

Richmond police confirmed the case may touch ipon their investigation of a killing Friday in the nearby Parchester Village neighborhood. In that case, someone shot and killed 32-year-old Jermonte Briggs in the parking lot of the neighborhood recreation center in front of dozens of people.

"We are taking a close look at that the determine whether there's any connection," Richmond Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said.

Police made one arrest in Tuesday's shooting after a vehicle matching the description of the gunmen's car crashed near Parchester Village.

Late Tuesday afternoon, prior to the shooting, police in the region began searching for a stolen white Jeep equipped with the Lo-Jack security system after the company reported receiving a signal from the vehicle in Richond.

Police found the Jeep about 10 p.m., its windows riddled with bullet holes, crashed off the road on a ramp that connects Richmond Parkway to Giant Road, near Parchester Village. Residents of a nearby San Pablo neighborhood reported seeing armed men run from the car.

Richmond police quickly drove to the neighborhood, suspecting the gunmen would enter it. An officer spotted one suspect, a 19-year-old Richmond man, hobbling along on Harrison Drive. About 20 feet away from him, officers found an assault weapon in the street.

Officers saw a second suspect tun into a house, which they surrounded. but before they could seal the perimeter, the suspect jumped out a rear window and ran through the dark to the Union Pacific railroad tracks west of the neighborhood.

Sheriff's deputies pursued the suspect into the marshy area immediately south of the West County jail and Point Pinole Regional Shoreline. During the foot chase, the gunman fired six to 10 shots at the deputies, Gordon said.

Helicopters with infrared equipment scanned the shoreline, and about 60 deputies and officers from Richond, San Pablo, Hercules, the Easy Bay Regional park District and the Highway Patrol scoured the area but could not find the shooter.

Deputies on Wednesday served a search warrant at the house police surrounded and found a sawed-off shotgun, a case for an assault weapon and ammunition, among other evidence, authorities said.

Police detained seven people at the house but did not arrest them. Deputies did arrest the 19-year-old stopped on the sreet on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and firing into a dwelling.

Detectives did not identify the suspect Wednesday to preseve the integrity of the investigation. They seek more than one other suspect, Gordon said.

While the search continued in Parchester, stagg members at Richmond's Peres Elementary School did their best to comfort Donye's classmates. Principal Janet Scott said students and staff were glad to hear she will be OK.

"I think they were surprised to hear what happened," Scott said. "There was a broad range of reactions."

Donye's first-grade classmates made get-well cards, which they hope to deliver Friday. Counselors and a psychologist will remain at the school for the rest of the week to offer support to students and staff members, Scott added.

"I spke with the mom today and reassured her that we would help her the best we could," Scott said, "and our prayers are with her family and Donye."

Staff writer Kimberly S. Wetzel contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP: The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information about Tuesday night's shootings in Richmond or near Parchester Village to call 925-646-2441.

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Many thanks to the cooperative efforts of all of the involved law enforcement agencies. We realize the area in question is at the cusp of several jurisdictions, but it doesn't sound like that was a hinderance. Good job in handling the thug, the weapons, and the stolen vehicle.

Tazer reader "Pay it Forward" took us to task yesterday about challenging our readers to make donations to the family of Donye Johnson. While that's well and good, and we encourage our readership to do so, don't forget to make donations throughout the year, especially around the holidays, too. Many organizations and the people they serve could use the help.

If anyone out there has specific information for donations to Donye, feel free to notify us and we'll publish it.

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Outsider to probe police race allegations
RICHMOND: City Council hires lawyer to study officers' accusations against chief

By John Geluardi and Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

The Richmond City Council has hired an independent investigator to probe allegations of racial discrimination in the Police Department.

Raymond Marshall, an attorney with San Francisco-based law firm Bingham McCutchen, will investigate charges by three police captains and three lieutenants that Richmond police Chief Chris Magnus has fostered a climate of racism in the department and on one occasion made a derogatory racial comment.

The council on Tuesday night unanimously approved hiring Marshall. The investigation will begin immediately, City Manager Bill Lindsay said.

"Raymond Marshall has extensive experience investigating complex civil and criminal litigation for clients who have actions brought against them by agencies like the Department of Justice, the U.S. attorney and state district attorneys," said Lindsay, who recommended Marshall. "In short, he is a very well-qualified investigator with outstanding credentials to do a thorough and objective investigation."

Marshall could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The six command staff officers, all black men, have hired an attorney and said they will file a lawsuit in state court. All six allege they were victims of racial harassment and were denied promotions, though Magnus, who is white, promoted two of the officers in May.

Magnus, who took over Jan. 17, has vigorously denied all the allegations. The former police chief in Fargo, N.D., Magnus is Richmond's first permanent chief since 2003. He has been widely praised for his neighborhood-friendly policing policies and his personable style of community relations.

City Councilman Nat Bates called Marshall's credentials "impeccable" and urged the public to wait for the investigation results before passing judgment.

"It's too early to take positions," Bates said. "We have to be very cautious. This is a very sensitive issue, and any talk of racism or sexism has to be taken seriously."

The Rev. Charles Newsome, the departing president of the Richmond National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said his organization will remain neutral on the allegations until the investigation is completed. The officers and the chief need to resolve their differences for the good of the city, he said.

"Chief Magnus has earned my trust and has responded positively to expressed needs in the faith-based and African-American community," Newsome said. "I know the officers involved, and I trust that they will do whatever necessary to heal wounds on both sides of the table."

Marshall's hiring comes just a week after the allegations came to light: Magnus, Deputy Chief Lori Ritter and City Hall received letters last week from the attorney who represents the six command staff officers notifying the city of their intention to sue over alleged workplace discrimination.

Magnus said Wednesday that he welcomes the investigation and hopes the issue will be resolved quickly.

"I think this is a good first step in the process. I look forward to fully cooperating with the investigator," he said. "I am confident the findings will show that I have done nothing inappropriate."

The officers allege that a pattern of discriminatory behavior since Magnus joined the department led them to file complaints with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing in late November, then to abandon those complaints to clear the path for a lawsuit in state court.

The complainants represent more than one-third of the department's command staff: Capts. Cleveland Brown, Alec Griffin and Eugene McBride, and Lts. Michael Booker, Shawn Pickett and Arnold Threets.

Christopher Dolan, the attorney representing the officers, did not return several calls seeking comment. He told news media last week that Magnus recently told one of his clients to dance for the entertainment of white officers and used a racial epithet.

He also said Magnus permitted an overtly racist culture to "fester" within the department and retaliated against his clients for complaining and denied them promotional opportunities, even though Magnus did promote Griffin and Booker to their current ranks this year.

Magnus has suggested publicly that the suit has more to do with political power within the department than racism.

During his first months as chief, Magnus changed the department's command structure by inserting two deputy chief positions between the rank of chief and captain. The move reduced the relative power and authority of the department's captains, including Brown and McBride, who were both holdovers from interim Chief Terry Hudson's tenure in 2005.

Magnus promoted Ritter, a white woman who previously served as captain, and Ed Medina, a Latino man who previously served as a lieutenant, to deputy chief.

In recent weeks, the department's rank and file in general, and some black officers in particular, were angered when Magnus changed the process by which officers are selected to enter the detective bureau next year after they had applied for those jobs.

Magnus installed a committee interview process for screening applicants -- a departure from past practice, in which the chief selected detectives with heavy input from the lieutenant supervising the bureau. Pickett is currently that lieutenant.

Recah John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

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The Tazer found Mr. Marshall's bio at Bingham McCutchen, and we pronounce it good. We hope that this issue is brought to swift and just conclusion.

Anyone or anything standing in the way of effective law enforcement needs to straighten up and fly right.

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CONTRA COSTA TIMES EDITORIAL
Must stop the killing

WHEN IT COMES to violent crime, Oakland and Richmond are tragically similar.

Both cities saw more murders in 2006 than in any year since the early 1990s. Oakland has the second-highest violent crime rate for a city its size in the state. Richmond has consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous cities not only in California but in the nation as a whole.

As of this writing, 42 people had been murdered this year in Richmond, 146 in Oakland.

The majority of the victims were young black or Latino men killed in street shootings. San Quentin State Prison has so many inmates from Richmond that it is a de facto bedroom community of that city.

The flatlands in Oakland and Richmond, home to the poorest residents, are as dangerous as any street in a war zone.

People with assault rifles have stormed apartment buildings, shooting everyone in sight. Young children playing outside have seen adults shot before their very eyes. On Tuesday night, a little girl in first grade was shot in Richmond when a carload of gunmen began firing indiscriminately into houses. It was a miracle she wasn't killed.

We know what the root causes are: The erosion of a once-thriving manufacturing sector that lured Southern blacks to the Bay Area in the '40s means the good-paying jobs at the shipyards and naval bases are long gone -- their equivalent in today's market shipped overseas.

There still are lingering effects of the crack explosion that decimated families and left a generation of children to fend for themselves. Bad schools, poverty, anger and hopelessness turn young children into nihilists with no respect for their lives or anyone else's.

The list is endless. The question is, what can be done to arrest the spread of this disease before countless more young lives are lost?

Elected officials have trotted out a number of quick-fix solutions. Operation Ceasefire, the brainchild of outgoing Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, called for police to identify the top 100 troublemakers in town, then haul them in and tell them to clean up their act, or else.

Or else what? Oakland's police department is so understaffed it doesn't even have an operational fingerprint department.

State Senate leader Don Perata suggested putting counselors and mentors on the main problem corners to help diffuse the violence. Not a bad idea, but hardly original.

What is urgently needed in both cities is a multipronged crime-fighting approach. Coming up with a sensible plan for curbing the epidemic street violence must be the No. 1 priority for Mayors-elect Ron Dellums of Oakland and Gayle McLaughlin of Richmond.

During their respective mayoral races, both left-of-center candidates promised to represent the interests of the little people, so long ignored by City Hall.

Come January, they'll have a chance to prove that pledge was more than just talk to the terrorized residents of the flatlands.

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Indeed Mayor-elect McLaughlin will have much to prove, and the Tazer will be watching.

Domestic terrorism

2006-12-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

Because that's what these thugs are: terrorists. Never mind handing out hugs and harshly worded statements, they need to be caught before they offend again.

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Gunmen terrorize N. Richmond

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

NORTH RICHMOND - A carload of gunmen indiscriminately sprayed three blocks of Silver Avenue on Tuesday night, wounding a first-grader and provoking a police manhunt this morning.

Contra Costa sheriff's deputies recovered several firearms and detained at least two people near Parchester Village in Richmond in connection with the shootings, authorities confirmed.

The victim, 6-year-old Donye Johnson, went to Children's Hospital Oakland, where her family reported her in stable condition this morning.

"Somebody came by and fired about 100 shots," said Tyrazna Ray, the victim's aunt. "I heard big ones, I heard small ones ... we all hit the floor."

At least six households on the avenue experienced similar terror, sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said, as a group of men in a light-colored sport utility vehicle drove along, firing into houses about 9:30 p.m.

About 10 p.m., Richmond police found a vehicle matching that description crashed on the exit ramp to Giant Road from Richmond Parkway. Nobody was inside.

Deputies staged a massive manhunt in the area, which included an industrial area near the intersection of Giant and Atlas roads, and in the Parchester Village neighborhood, where Richmond police received reports of armed men jumping over backyard fences.

During the search of the industrial area outside Parchester Village, Lee confirmed that somebody shot at sheriff's deputies. None was hit.

Authorities ask anyone with information about the shootings to call the Sheriff's Office at 925-646-2441.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

Ready or not, here we come

2006-12-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

Despite naysayers who say the Tazer doesn't engage in serious discussion, this is the sort of thing we're talking about...

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Council considers $9.5 million lease for police
RICHMOND: Unsafe conditions at Hall of Justice prompt proposal

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

The Richmond City Council will consider spending a minimum of $9.5 million to temporarily house the Police Department until a new public safety building is built.

The 57-year-old Hall of Justice Building, which currently houses the department, is unsafe because of mold infestation due to excessive water intrusion, according to an April report. The building also was determined to be seismically unsafe in 1992.

City staff is recommending that the council tonight approve a lease for a 55,000-square-foot space in the DiCon Fiberoptics building at 1689 Regatta Blvd. in the southern part of the city. The lease would be for three years with options for five more.

Councilman John Marquez, who is chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said the Hall of Justice Building is in terrible shape, and police employees should not be expected to work among mold and water-stained carpets, walls and ceiling tiles. In addition, the basement, where evidence is stored, regularly floods with up to a foot of groundwater.

"I think the move is a good idea," Marquez said. "I think staff has worked out a good contract, and I see no reason to keep police employees in that building. A safe working environment is the most important thing."

Councilman Tom Butt, an architect who specializes in building renovation, has been challenging the mold reports as inadequate and exaggerated. With some repairs, the building could be habitable until the new public safety building is constructed, Butt said.

"A careful reading of all the reports does not support the fact that there is a pervasive and unhealthy mold contamination in the building that precludes continued occupancy," he said. "I think they ought to stay in that building."

The city Redevelopment Agency expects to lease the space for a minimum of five years until the Police Department can move into the new, $40 million public safety building, which is planned for Barrett Avenue and 25th Street.

But uncertain financing has caused the city to delay groundbreaking indefinitely on that project, which could extend the DiCon lease for years.

If the council approves the lease, the city will pay $81,000 a month for the first year, with regular increases each year thereafter. The city also will spend $2.9 million to modify the building so it is suitable for police use.

Taxpayers would pay $9.5 million for the five-year lease, including moving costs, taxes, insurance and maintenance fees. The expense is an unexpected one for the city, which already was scaling back critical road repairs to save money.

The lease would be retroactive to Dec. 1, and the department would be phased into the DiCon building over the next several months.

Police employees have been working in substandard conditions for years. The mold infestation first came to light in April with completion of a report by MACS Lab Inc.

The police department is budgeted at $44.6 million for 2006-07, making it the most expensive department in the city. The fire department is a distant second at $23.5 million.

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or at jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

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Let's dissect this a little...

How come the financing is uncertain? Previous financial mismanagement by the city, perhaps?

What does it mean to Richmond? 1) RPD HQ is in disrepair; whether Marquez or Butt is right about mold, etc. doesn't matter in light of RPD having needed a new one for some time anyway. 2) They're having to move, which costs money. 3) They have to spend additional money to make the place usuable. 4) The site isn't what we'd call centrally located; it's south of 580 and puts RPD in better position to serve El Cerrito than Richmond. 5) They might have to be there for a while because their replacement HQ is likely to be delayed, which would drag out the lease and cost even more money.

Put that all together, and what's the result? For RPD, we're not sure yet, but we hope it isn't a degradation in service. For the city, it definitely means an outlay of money that could have been better spent with wiser forethought and management. At the very least, it's money that isn't going to RFD to renovate firehouses and maintain their services, or to other departments and programs.

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Police see minor issues driving increased violence
Latest shootings make Richmond's homicide total highest since 1994

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - Eight gunshot victims went to local hospitals and one died after assaults on Richmond streets over the weekend, a continuation of a perpetual street-violence epidemic that has claimed more victims this year than any other since the early 1990s.

Last week, Richmond surpassed its highest annual homicide total since 1994 when the city's 41st victim of 2006 died on Burbeck Avenue. It was the second straight year that Richmond set this decade's peak for killings.

One more death has since been added to the tally, and over the weekend five shootings added nine more victims to this year's nonfatal shooting count, which Monday afternoon stood at 278 -- Richmond's highest total since 1993.

"It's crazy. We're in a really volatile situation right now," said the Rev. Andre Shumake, a local anti-violence advocate. "But there is a real commitment on the part of the faith community, the residents as well as the city to move forward and resolve the long-standing problems that cause this violence."

Richmond's struggle with endemic street violence comes at a time when urban crime appears on the rise in the Bay Area and across the nation.

Violence in Oakland and San Francisco is well-chronicled, while the FBI this week released its most recent national crime statistics, which show murder rose by 3.1 percent in all metropolitan counties during the first half of 2006 compared with the same period in 2005.

But a particularly acute problem appears to plague Richmond.

"One thing that makes it different and more challenging (in Richmond) are the retaliatory shootings over very minor matters," Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus said. "Granted, there are some retaliatory crimes involving specific groups -- what we loosely refer to as gang-related shootings -- but in a way, it's actually easier to monitor those situations."

Harder to predict are the shootings related to simple interpersonal breakdowns, Magnus said.

"We are seeing shootings that spring from matters that are not even gang-based or drug-based, but just about somebody disrespecting somebody else," he added.

The weekend's violence started about 5:45 p.m. Friday, when an argument broke out during a basketball game at the Parchester Village Community Center at 900 Williams Drive. Several men were playing on the blacktop court at the center, Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said. At least one left immediately afterward.

"It appears that somebody left, then returned a short time later and shot up the playing area" Peixoto said, adding that police have not identified the attacker and also lack a firm description of any getaway car.

Rounds struck two men. One of them, wounded in the upper thigh, took shelter in the center until police arrived. The other, 32-year-old Jermonte Briggs, collapsed in the parking lot and died a short time later at a local hospital.

Many people witnessed the attack, Peixoto said, and detectives need someone to call them to tell what they saw. The killing was the second this year in the Parchester Village neighborhood.

Several more shootings followed:

• About 6:50 p.m. Friday, a pedestrian near the corner of 23rd Street and Maricopa Avenue went to the hospital in critical condition after someone shot him more than a dozen times. The victim is expected to survive, police said Monday.

• About 10 p.m. Saturday, gunmen fired more than 50 rounds into a car and the general environment of 26th Street and Maricopa. Paramedics took two shooting victims to the regional trauma center from that attack.

• About 1:30 a.m. Sunday, an argument at a party on Sheldon Court in the May Valley neighborhood degenerated into a fight, and then into a shooting that left three wounded.

• About 2:15 a.m. Monday, a man phoned police from his home in San Pablo to report that someone chased him from a hamburger restaurant in El Cerrito and shot him as he drove through the Richmond Annex neighborhood about a half-hour earlier. He went to the hospital with serious injuries.

The weekend deluge followed the shooting death of 27-year-old Raimon Williams, killed in a drive-by shooting Thursday afternoon on Burbeck Avenue.

Detectives found no evidence linking any of the shootings, Peixoto said, including the two fairly close together on Maricopa in the North and East neighborhood.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP:

Police ask anyone with information about any of the weekend's shootings in Richmond to call Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto at 510-620-6647 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (232-8477).

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A brief consultation with Tazerville's Dread Captain returned this: Homicides are usually approached from a remedial, rather than preventive, standpoint, but it's possible to affect some factors and mitigate the probability of their occurrence. The spontaneous nature of these shootings bears this out, and if you think about it, it makes perfect sense.

Chief Magnus said it best: "We are seeing shootings that spring from matters that are not even gang-based or drug-based, but just about somebody disrespecting somebody else."

Imagine the basketball game. It starts off just fine, but maybe one foul leads to an exchange of words, which leads to threatened violence then real violence. Would you have predicted it? Of course not, since everything was going just fine. But was it possible to prevent it? The possibility exists.

At many levels, all of us have to do what we can to improve the situation, but we're not so sure that the City of Richmond is doing their part. From today's first article, for instance, we believe that improperly spending taxpayer money is one such factor because of the detrimental effects on services.

Manic Monday

2006-12-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

Two separate shooting incidents, but thankfully there were no fatalities...

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Three more shot in Richmond Sunday

By Scott Marshall
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Three men were shot early Sunday after a fight erupted in the 2700 block of Sheldon Court, Richmond police said.

Two of the victims were critically injured, the third was stable and all three were treated at John Muir Medical Center, said Richmond police Lt. Michael Booker.

The 1:35 a.m. shootings occurred after a physical altercation, Booker said. Besides the shooting victims, another man had been hit in the head, he said.

Two other shootings occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday in the 2400 block of Maricopa Avenue, Booker said.

Officers patrolling in that area heard a volley of gunshots and found a man walking who had been shot in the head and jaw, Booker said. A short time later, officers found another man who had been shot in the foot and shoulder, he said. Both were treated at John Muir Medical Center. Officers also found an abandoned vehicle that had been shot numerous times.

A man was shot and killed Friday night, the city's 42nd homicide of the year, and two other people were shot and wounded, according to police.

The homicide occurred in the 900 block of Williams Drive at 5:45 p.m. Another man there was shot in the leg.

The other Friday shooting occurred at 6:50 p.m. at 23rd Street and Maricopa Avenue, according to police.

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San Pablo man critical after shot while driving in Richmond

By George Kelly
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A man is in critical condition at an area hospital after being shot while driving in Richmond and driving himself to his San Pablo home this morning, Richmond police said.

At 1:50 a.m., Richmond police responded to a shots-fired call at San Jose Avenue and Carlson Boulevard. Officers found "broken glass and numerous shell casings" but no victims, according to Richmond police Lt. Booker.

At 2:15 a.m., a man called police and said he had been shot at the intersection and had driven himself to his home in San Pablo. Contra Costa Sheriff's Office deputies met him there.

The man, who had been shot in the back and grazed on his neck, was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

Reach staff writer George Kelly at 925-952-5034 or gkelly@cctimes.com.

So we get into Tazerville today and find this...

2006-12-18T10:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks for reprinting my letter to the WCT. Sorry you chose to go on the attack rather than to discuss my proposal seriously. You may remember that Measure T would have taxed Chevron $8 million. Somehow you find that objectionable. Why not use some of the oil company's inflated profits (over $5 bn last quarter alone) to help the poor out of poverty. We can teach them skills which could help our city lower its green house gases, decrease pollution and lower the heating and electrical bills of all of us. The world's leading scientists have told us that lowering green house gas emissions is absolutely necessary to avoid global catastrophe. What's the Tazer's suggestion for reducing Richmond's poverty, gun violence and green house gases. Why not use your blog for serious discussion of how to solve our troubling problems.
Respectfully, Jeff Ritterman

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Dear Dr. R,

We appreciate you stopping by, but back to our first question: Since when is it the business of the city of Richmond to use tax money to teach home improvement to children? See, we don't consider that an attack; we consider it a very serious question about the role of governance and taxation.

Getting Richmond into the commercial enterprise of solar energy equipment installation/home improvement training does NOT sound like the sort of thing the city ought to be doing with tax money. However, using the city's employment programs to feed established contractors with apprentice trainees DOES. Solar Richmond ought to know any number of installers that could invest the time, money, and effort to help recruit, select, and train the interested. Richmond wouldn't have to waste resources on any new office department(s) or makework programs, the businesses get the humanpower they need, and energy-saving enhancements are being performed.

We remember Measure T very clearly. It was voted down, and we're honestly not terribly displeased by that result. If you believe that Chevron or other Richmond businesses are making undue profit from their endeavors, then the referendum process allows for Measure T (or similar) to be submitted and voted on again. We just don't see collecting $8 million from Chevron as very productive other than to collect $8 million. Of course, we must keep in mind that the City of Richmond isn't very thrifty with the taxes it already collects. Thus, we question the invention of a purpose for tax money to justify said tax.

As for any suggestions we have for the City of Richmond, the Tazer's primary mission has been to light a fire under the City of Richmond to get a grip on violent crime. Reducing poverty by promoting business growth and employment, engaging at-risk youth with recreation programs and job opportunities, strongly prosecuting criminal firearm misuse, and avidly supporting RPD efforts are just a few of the basic things that we would encourage city officials to do.

Our secondary mission has been to light a fire under the City of Richmond when their behavior fails to be in accord with effective governance, especially when it comes to getting that grip on violent crime. If elected officials act in ways that are counterproductive, it should be reported, critiqued, and (hopefully) corrected. For instance, if the City of Richmond were to collect $8 million from Chevron, we'd like to think that it wouldn't fall into the same hole that ate up about $35 million previously and saw cuts in services like public safety.

In short, we publish what we think based on what we're observing, first for therapeutic and cathartic complaining purposes, but also for serious discussion and the hope that the situation will be righted. Richmond's a great place, which is why we live here. But then it also has problems, which is why we want to see things get better. Just because you and we disagree on how that should be done, you shouldn't construe that as an attack. We just disagree.

Thank you for your response,
The Richmond Truth Tazer

Good news/Bad news

2006-12-16T11:50:00.000-08:00

Police arrest suspect in Richmond rape

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - Police this afternoon arrested a man suspected of accosting a mother pushing a stroller on a path near Hilltop mall and raping her earlier this week.

Someone identified the suspect from a sketch released by police after the Wednesday assault, police Lt. Enos Johnson said.

The suspect, whom police did not immediately identify, was spotted about 2:45 p.m. on or near the same walking path where the attack occurred, Johnson said. Officers arrested him on suspicion of rape and brought him to the Hall of Justice for questioning.

The victim, a woman in her mid-30s, was attacked about 3:30 p.m. The rapist approached her on the path and, when close, put a six-inch hunting knife to her throat and forced her to walk off the path, leaving her 6-month-old child in the stroller on the path, police said.

The path, near Research and Lakeside drives, leads through a brushy area near a small, manmade lake with a fountain, surrounded by apartment buildings.

The child was not hurt.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

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COMMUNITY DIGEST

Richmond - KILLING IS CITY'S 42ND OF YEAR: One man was killed and another injured by a shooting Friday evening in a Richmond recreation center parking lot.

Neighbors called 911 at 5:45 p.m. with reports of hearing gunfire in the Parchester Village neighborhood. Police found one victim lying on the ground in the 900 block of Williams Drive. He died shortly after being transferred to a local hospital, Richmond Lt. Enos Johnson said.

The other victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, was found by police inside the recreation center, where he went inside to escape the gunfire. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital.

Police were not identifying either of the victims except to say they are both in their mid-20s.

The killing is Richmond's 42nd homicide of the year , the city's highest annual total since 1994.

-- Kimberly S. Wetzel

Richmond - VICTIM NAMED IN HOMICIDE CASE: The Contra Costa Coroner's Office released the name of a man shot to death Thursday in the 1300 block of Burbeck Avenue: Raimon Williams, 27.

Williams lived near where he died, friends said. About 2:50 p.m., a gold-colored Honda Accord or similar car drove past as he stood on the sidewalk, and someone inside shot him. The killing was the 41st this year in Richmond.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call Detective Esteban Barragan at 510-231-3053 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (232-8477).

-- Karl Fischer

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Congratulations to RPD for that apprehension. Still plenty to do, however.

Tazer's thoughts for the day: What sort of support is RPD getting from the city's elected officials in this period of transition (and criticism/controversy)? What's the morale like among the rank and file? How is all of that affecting operations? Positively? Negatively?

Meanwhile, the grassroots violence prevention movement marches on without city hall...but then that's nothing new.

Freaky Friday

2006-12-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Two crimes to cover. Possibly three...

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Shooting puts 2006 city death toll at 41
RICHMOND: 27-year-old man killed in drive-by, police say

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Someone shot and killed a man on Burbeck Avenue on Thursday afternoon, pushing Richmond's homicide total to 41 in 2006, a 12-year high.

Police did not identify the 27-year-old victim because his family had not been notified.

The victim stood in the driveway to a four-plex in the 1300 block of Burbeck Avenue about 2:50 p.m. when a gold Honda Accord or similar car drove past and at least one person inside began shooting, police Lt. Mark Gagan said.

"He really was a good dude," said Lynitra Battle, who knew the victim. "It seemed like it had been quiet in Richmond for a while, but since they shut down the Tent Cities, it's all gone back."

Battle referred to the grass-roots Tent City peace protests in September and October, when people camped in high-crime spots around the city in an effort to deter street violence.

Battle's son heard the shooting Thursday and ran from their home around the corner to help the victim, who died at the scene. She said the victim lived in the area, part of the Belding Woods neighborhood.

Detectives pieced together details of the shooting from various witness accounts in the hours after the attack. The gunmen sprayed the area around the victim, striking vehicles and buildings but no other people.

The car apparently drove west on Burbeck when the shooter first fired at the victim, then made a U-turn and drove back past him, Detective Sgt. Lee Hendricsen said. The gunmen might have shot at the victim again as they left, Hendricsen said.

Detectives pursued leads in the case Thursday evening.

The department called in patrol officers who normally work in the Belding Woods area to circulate Thursday night.

"These officers are more familiar with the neighborhood and the people who live there. Residents may be more comfortable talking to them," Gagan said.

Last year, police investigated 40 homicides, the city's highest total since there were 52 in 1994.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP

Police ask anyone with information about Thursday's killing to call Detective Esteban Barragan at 510-231-3053 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (8477).

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A while back, a commenter basically said that Tent City was a sham. The Tazer disagrees with that sentiment, but within that comment could be a kernel of truth. TC seems to have just put a lid on the problem, not really solving anything. Perhaps there needs to be another encampment, but this time with some goals in mind besides simply pausing the killing. A summit of sorts to see to it that violent crime is being properly addressed by the city of Richmond's elected officials, maybe?

Speaking of whom, anything from elected officials on this matter? We're heading into a new year with a new mayor, and all the Tazer can remember hearing from McLaughlin is that things are going to change and things are going to be different...but nothing specific. To paraphrase old Uncle Tazer: "Wish into one hand and [spit] in the other. See which one fills up faster."

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Police seek leads to find rapist

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A stranger attacked a woman pushing a stroller on a path near Richmond's Hilltop Mall, forced her into a secluded spot and raped her Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The search for the attacker lasted well into the evening, but police found no suspect. The department released a sketch of the man Thursday and asked the public for help finding him.

"We have not had anything like this recently," Detective Sgt. Brian Dickinson said Thursday. "(Officers) are going back today to canvass some of the apartment buildings in the area and do more follow-up."

The victim, a woman in her mid-30s, was walking on a foot path near Boulder Court, a roadway stub near Research and Lakeside drives, about 3:30 p.m. with her 6-month-old child. The path leads through a brushy area near a small, manmade lake with a fountain, surrounded by apartment buildings.

The rapist approached her on the path and, when close, put a 6-inch hunting knife to her throat and forced her to walk off the path, leaving her child in the stroller on the path, Dickinson said.

They went a short distance to a spot hidden from the path, and the man sexually assaulted the victim. The child was not hurt.

The victim described the rapist as a white man with brown eyes and medium-length, wavy brown hair, 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-9, and weighing about 165 pounds.. At the time of the attack, he wore a three-quarters-length black leather jacket, a black shirt, blue jeans and black tennis shoes.

The rapist left on foot after the assault. The victim took her child and quickly went to a nearby apartment, where she called 911.

Police showed the victim pictures of Megan's Law registrants who live locally, and they talked to others in the area around the time of the attack, but so far have no leads on the man's identity.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP:

Police ask anyone with information about Wednesday's sexual assault to call Detective Pat Davis at 510-620-6541, Detective Sgt. Brian Dickerson at 510-620-6668 or the police department's anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS.

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For anyone and everyone in Tazerville -- man, woman, AND child -- you have to be careful out there. We won't second-guess this woman, but when in doubt, don't. Safety isn't about shortcuts or niceties. There's nothing wrong with taking the long, visible way home, and your mom was onto something when she told you not to talk to strangers. Ladies, we know you want to be independent and walk by yourselves. Gents, don't let that happen if you can help it. Everybody, go with somebody if you can, but if you can't tell your friends and family where you're going and when to expect you.

Meanwhile, everyone be on the lookout in the Hilltop area.

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From today's Times letters section...

A way forward

Thank you for the articles describing Richmond's sad problem of deadly gun violence.

The causes are complex. Ending poverty and restoring hope are top priorities. The bank robber, Willie Sutton, made it clear: Go where the money is.

In Richmond, the money is in Chevron's coffers. Chevron spent some of it helping to defeat Measure T, which would have taxed the corporation $8 million annually. Let's give Chevron another chance to act as a caring neighbor.

The city and Chevron can form a mutually beneficial partnership, turning Richmond into a model city and Chevron into a model corporation. We can re-introduce Measure T and use the money to bring peace to Richmond.

Imagine training our at-risk youths to weatherize and solar roof our homes. The youths would learn important skills and homeowners would have lower utility bills. There would be less pollution and less climate change, a necessity if we are to avoid a global catastrophe.

Using oil-industry profits to develop clean sources of energy is a sensible approach. Richmond can lead the campaign to prevent climate change while ending gun violence and developing green jobs for our at-risk youths.

Jeff Ritterman
Richmond

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Question #1: Since when is it the business of the city of Richmond to use tax money to teach home improvement to children?

But more important will be Question #2: Anybody from Richmond recall the name "Jeff Ritterman"?

The Tazer remembers Dr. Ritterman, Kaiser Richmond's chief of cardiology, quite well. How? He left a couple answering messages for the Tazer on behalf of Gayle McLaughlin and Jim Jenkins before Election Day.

So, back to Question #1. Maybe if the Greens weren't so interested in imposing tall taxes on businesses, a solar energy installation company might open up shop in Richmond that would be willing to train new hires. But of course, that's not nearly as sexy as playing Robin Hood.

Seriously, despite that Willie Sutton's autobiography claims against the quote, you have to love it when Ritterman carries on the myth that Sutton said he robbed banks because that's where the money is. By extension, Greens "rob" businesses with taxes because they wouldn't get it otherwise. Even if they don't know what it is, the Greens understand the ABCs of ABC: Activity-Based Costing.

Products and services are assigned values based on a variety of factors, including tangible costs such as the price of materials and labor. However, it's possible to assign subjective values. For instance, let's say you don't like petroleum. You could arbitrarily decide low values on it and declare profits forfeit...via taxes.

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And an op-ed from today's Times...

Seems like sour grapes

WHEN CHRIS MAGNUS took over as Richmond police chief nearly a year ago, we predicted that he would run into opposition from an entrenched hierarchy grown all-too comfortable with the status quo.

People who are used to coasting in their jobs don't take too kindly to someone coming in telling them they're going to have to get off of their posteriors and start producing results. Then, demoting or transferring them when they don't.

Yet even we are surprised at the level to which some disgruntled Richmond Police Department managers seem willing to go, apparently to get back at Magnus for disrupting their cushy situations.

Six police captains and lieutenants are threatening to sue the city, claiming Magnus has fostered racism within the department. Their attorney claims that Magnus told one of his clients to "dance, jigaboo, dance" in front of other white officers. A charge Magnus says is an outright lie.

Standing in front of the Hall of Justice, attorney Christopher Dolan said that racism had affected his clients' abilities to do their jobs.

Let's forget, for a moment, that the job wasn't getting done before Magnus got here.

These are serious charges and we would urge City Manager Bill Lindsay, as he has said he would, to conduct a thorough and complete investigation.

Still, we can't help but be suspicious, based on what we know of the hardly inspiring police work that was done prior to Magnus' arrival.

Here's what we do know. Under the new Magnus regime, captains could no longer lounge around the department pretending to be busy with mundane tasks.

Magnus appointed two deputy chiefs to handle administration, creating a layer above the rank of captain.

Every captain suddenly had responsibility for a specific area of the city. That meant hitting the streets, along with the patrol officers, and coming up with strategies for reducing crime in the targeted zone. Kind of like a general commanding his troops.

The theory being that slackers would have nowhere to hide, exposed by the poor crime stats in their areas.

Richmond residents who are beside themselves over soaring homicide rates and runaway street crime were happy with the sweeping changes.

They felt as if finally, someone within the city was making a serious attempt to tackle what has become an epidemic of young black men killing young black men.

Magnus' regular appearances at crime scenes during the wee hours and his visits to victims' bereaved family members, convinced residents that he was a hands-on chief who wasn't going to sit in his department tower.

Based on their own experience, many residents and community leaders find the allegations of racism preposterous.

So do we. From here, the charges look more like sour grapes.

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And once again, the Tazer's condensed version from Wednesday: "Magnus has had a great deal on his plate with much more yet to digest, and he seems to be the most effective police chief Richmond has seen in a long while. The changes he's instituted/planned to institute probably aren't sitting well with everyone. We're not saying that's any kind of motivation...just mentioning possibilities..."

Fingerpointing Wednesday

2006-12-13T23:28:00.000-08:00

We're not quite sure what to make of this...

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Cops accuse chief of racial discrimination

Six members of the Richmond Police Department's command staff have told the city they plan to sue over alleged racial discrimination by Chief Chris Magnus.

The officers, all black men, claimed in state documents filed last month that Magnus harassed, denied promotion and retaliated against them over their "race, association with other minorities, and opposing racism and race-based conduct in the department and by my chief, deputy chief and others."

Richmond officials received legal notice Monday that the officers -- three captains and three lieutenants -- have vacated their complaints with the state Department of Fair Employment & Housing to pursue lawsuits.

The complainants represent about one-third of the department's senior command staff: Capts. Cleveland Brown, Alec Griffin and Eugene McBride, and Lts. Michael Booker, Shawn Pickett and Arnold Threets.

Magnus, who came to Richmond from the Fargo, N.D., Police Department in January, enjoyed a long honeymoon with several community constituencies because of his perceived commitment to reforming a department widely regarded as dysfunctional, fractured and ineffective in local law enforcement circles.

-- Karl Fischer

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As important members of the media, the Tazer has had the honor of speaking with Chief Magnus in person. In our encounters, we found him skittish and perhaps OVERsensitive regarding matters such as racism, so we have our doubts about these complaints. Remember: the seriousness of a charge has no bearing on the veracity of the accusation.

Magnus has had a great deal on his plate with much more yet to digest, and he seems to be the most effective police chief Richmond has seen in a long while. The changes he's instituted/planned to institute probably aren't sitting well with everyone. We're not saying that's any kind of motivation...just mentioning possibilities...

Mangled Monday

2006-12-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

City falls deeper into its potholes
RICHMOND: Cost to repair ailing roads soaring and problem will worsen with continued inaction

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Unless Richmond can speed up its street repair program over the next few years, it may be cheaper to fill the potholes with $100 bills.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has determined that Richmond has the worst streets in the Bay Area. And each year they go unrepaired, the cost to fix them soars, according to a recent Harris & Associates pavement report.

"In other words," the report says, "it is not simply 'pay today or pay tomorrow,' but rather 'pay today or pay more tomorrow.'"

Like many cities, Richmond finance officials regularly have cut road repair funding when looking for money to balance the budget. But Richmond is now sitting on a deferred maintenance bill of $94 million, and unless the city can somehow increase repair funding, that figure will skyrocket to about $200 million in 2010, Finance Director Jim Goins said.

The city has been pouring millions each year into road repair but has not been able to keep up with the deterioration, Goins said.

"We're spending $8 million this year, and next year we'll spend $9 million. After that, spending drops to $5 million for each of the next three years," Goins said. "It's simply not enough."

The city would have to spend $38.2 million annually for the next five years to stabilize rapid street deterioration, according to the pavement report. At minimum, the city should spend $25 million a year to avoid a staggering financial obligation in five years, Goins said.

The city rolled back road repair funding after Chevron changed its formula for calculating its utility tax this summer, Goins said. That recalculation is expected to reduce city revenue by an estimated $4 million a year.

A little more than half the city's 279 miles of paved roadways are in either poor or very poor condition, which means they have reached a stage where deterioration rapidly accelerates. A roadway in very poor condition has to be completely reconstructed at a cost of $68 per square foot, according to the report.

And that doesn't include vehicle wear and tear. Driving into potholes can flatten tires, knock hub caps loose and, in some cases, break an axle. There also is an insidious damage to tires and alignment, said California Automobile Association spokesman Sean Comey.

"Potholes can dramatically increase the cost of maintaining an automobile because more often than not you do a small amount of damage each time you hit one," he said. "You don't notice it, but it builds up over time."

Poorly maintained roads take a toll on the city's image and ability to attract business, said Judy Morgan, president of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

"It makes it harder to lease commercial space, which makes it harder to bring businesses to Richmond," she said. "If your business has a fleet of trucks, the cost to service them is going to be higher. There's also a negative impact on real estate values."

City Councilman Jim Rogers made road repairs a centerpiece of his re-election campaign this fall. He has been an advocate of redirecting redevelopment money to road repair.

The Richmond Redevelopment Agency currently has an annual budget of about $41 million, which is expected to increase over the next few years.

Critics argue that diverting redevelopment funding -- which is meant to improve infrastructure and create housing in rundown communities -- would be a violation of state law. Rogers dismisses that argument and said he is convinced that the city would be within its rights to divert some of the money to repairing roads.

"I have suggested we take $5 million a year from redevelopment," he said. "About two thirds of Richmond is in a redevelopment area, and fixing roadways is an appropriate investment of that money."

Contact John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or at jgeluardi@cctimes.com

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It's tough for a city to have pride when it lacks street maintenance as a purpose.

Any mayor, former mayor, or mayor elect have a plan for that? Or is this just like the office of violence prevention?

As the 'hood turns...

2006-12-07T21:13:00.000-08:00

Probe leads to four arrests, shutting down of meth lab
RICHMOND: Agents say suspects sold the drug from house on Esmond Avenue

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Narcotics agents concluded a three-month investigation by dismantling a methamphetamine lab and arresting four people Tuesday afternoon in central Richmond.

"We initiated this investigation after receiving neighborhood complaints a few months ago," said Steve Ladeck, commander of the West Contra Costa Narcotics Enforcement Team. "We encourage anyone with information about drug activity in their neighborhood to call the police."

The investigation ended about 2 p.m. Tuesday when agents served a search warrant on the 2400 block of Esmond Avenue in the North and East neighborhood.

Inside the house, agents found a working meth lab and the hazardous chemicals used to make the drug, along with a small amount packaged for sale, electronic scales and other equipment commonly used for dealing drugs on the street.

The residents and hangers-on at the house manufactured and sold drugs from the house, Ladeck said, much to the consternation of other residents on the block.

Authorities also recovered 11 rifles, which Ladeck described as "hunting-type" rifles of various makes and calibers, and ammunition for the firearms.

Agents arrested 34-year-old Andrew Orozco, 30-year-old Caesar Villalta and 20-year-old Andrea Maestas on suspicion of manufacturing and possessing drugs for sale. They arrested 58-year-old Larry Winn on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms.

Orozco and Villalta were both considered parolees at large at the time of their arrest, Ladeck said. All the suspects were booked into County Jail in Martinez.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

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Congratulations to law enforcement on this bust! Onto the rest of Richmond!

It's not what you hear, it's what you DON'T hear

2006-12-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

Read this carefully...

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Richmond violence returns City struggles for solutions to persistent bloodshed

By Karl Fischer and John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

LaTonya Dominick raises her family in a city sometimes labeled the "most dangerous" in California, on a quiet cul-de-sac that hardly screams danger.

Neatly groomed lawns and retired neighbors surround her home in Richmond's Laurel Park neighborhood. Kids roller-skate and play street football on warm evenings.

On the asphalt where those children play, someone shot a woman dead Wednesday night. The victim's 5-year-old son watched.

"It's very traumatic," Dominick said Thursday morning, a shell-shocked expression on her face. "I'm trying to raise my 13-year-old son here. I didn't want him to see this."

The killing was the first of two homicides in Richmond on Wednesday evening, a bloody flurry of street violence that pushed the city's homicide total to 40 this year and left community leaders grasping for answers.

Despite Richmond's growing social movement against violence, new policing strategies and increased commitment from City Hall, the city has matched last year's decade-high homicide total with one month to spare.

Residents across Richmond -- the silent thousands who live here in peace every day -- want to know: What will make it stop?

"It is remiss for us to blame the police. It is remiss, and it is very misplaced, to say that the mayor or the City Council are the cause of the violence. These people are not going to work every day shooting people down," the Rev. Carleton Leonard said. "There is something here deeply rooted in our fabric."

In August, the City Council signed a $185,000 contract with the Oakland-based Mentoring Center to help establish a permanent Office of Violence Prevention, which is meant to take a long-term approach to reducing violence. The Mentoring Center has been working to determine the scope of the office and practices that will be the most effective.

A preliminary report will be presented to the council in mid-December, said consultant DeVone Boggan, who has been working with the center.

City Manager Bill Lindsay is confident the center will help reduce violence in the long term.

"The reason we want to establish an Office of Violence Prevention is because we believe we have a chronic problem," Lindsay said. "Enforcement issues are ongoing, and I think the police department is doing a good job responding, but the problems are still out there, and we don't believe they will go away unless we take both a short-term and long-term approach."

Leonard and many other community activists have called for a revival of Richmond's Tent City peace protests, during which residents camped in parks near high-crime areas to focus community attention on stopping street violence.

The protests, which ran from late September through October, resonated with the public and gave ordinary people an outlet to express community solidarity and opposition to the endemic street violence terrorizing Richmond's flatland neighborhoods.

"We were just about to go to the media to congratulate the young people for keeping in the spirit of the Tent Cities' message, and this happened," the Rev. Andre Shumake said. "This is just a signal that we have more work to reach our goal of zero homicides in Richmond."

Tent City came about after a bloody day in Richmond: Sept. 10, when three died in separate shootings and two more were wounded, all in the Iron Triangle neighborhood and North Richmond. A period of relative peace followed.

But it was fragile peace.

Shootings tend to come in bunches in Richmond, often products of retaliation between neighborhood factions. Before Wednesday, police had not investigated a single homicide in November, and no street-shooting homicides since Oct. 21.

"Days like these are very frustrating. But a lot of the problems that the department is trying to address are very much entrenched and long-standing. It is going to take time for many of our efforts to make a really tangible difference," Deputy Police Chief Lori Ritter said. "One thing we are really recognizing this year is that the community is very willing to partner with us."

In June the department changed its approach to patrolling, putting more officers on the street and assigning them geographically so the same officers spend most of their time in the same neighborhoods and work on small problems locally before they blossom into serious crime.

The change reaped quick benefits that show in the department's homicide closure rate, which now stands at about 50 percent, up from 13 percent last year. More people are tipping officers about violent crime, Lt. Mark Gagan said.

"These killings are senseless. They take away the community's sense of safety," Gagan said. "But I can tell you that after these shootings, the phones of the beat officers in those neighborhoods were lighting up almost immediately."

Police intend to continue the new patrol patterns and add a number of tools to their repertoire in coming months.

The city recently put out to bid a contract to install closed-circuit television cameras in crime hot spots, Ritter said, and next month officers begin training with COMPSTAT, a system of crime data analysis meant to help identify and stop block-level crime trends as they happen.

In the meantime, residents continue to watch and wait for the shootings to stop, listening to the flurry of gunfire at night on distant streets, and sometimes close to home.

"I didn't come out. I heard the noise, but I said to myself, 'I'm not going out there,'" said Ulysses Brooks, who lived for 37 years on Hershey Court without a shooting on his block until Wednesday. "I've been thinking about it a lot this morning. I've been thinking about it a lot."

Staff writer Malaika Fraley contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com. Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

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The Tazer would like to point out that the only officials heard from for this article are City Manager Bill Lindsay and the police department. We'll cut Chief Chris Magnus some slack because that's what public information officers are for, but where's everyone else?

Does Lindsay speak for the whole council when he thinks that the $185,000 The Mentoring Center got for consultation on the fabled "Office of Violence Prevention" is money well spent? We're not nearly so optimistic, but we'd still like to know what the others have to say. Irma Anderson's term expired on Nov. 21st and Gayle McLaughlin won't be sworn in until next year. Does that mean there's no mayor right now? How about the council?

We're as curious as anyone to hear what the findings of TMC's consultation are, but the only things we've experienced that seemed to have any real effect on violence were RPD and the Tent City movement.

Anyone know how much the 30 days of the Tent Cities cost, by the way? We're pretty sure it wasn't $185,000.

The Faces May Change...

2006-11-30T10:53:00.000-08:00

But boy, does the news stay the same:

(Credit Malaika Fraley CC Times)

RICHMOND - Police today are investigating four separate shootings that resulted in two people dead and three more injured. Police have not said whether the shootings, which occurred within two hours each other on Wednesday night, are related.

Police say the first shooting occurred just before 7:30 p.m. in a parking lot at South 47th Street and Carlson Boulevard, where a 32-year-old man was shot once in the back. He is listed in critical condition at John Muir Hospital this morning.

About a half-hour later, a 22-year-old man sitting his car was fired upon multiple times by two suspects on the 100 block of 23rd Street. The victim was hit once in the upper body and is also listed in critical condition at an area hospital.

A 31-year-old mother was shot and killed in view of her 5-year-old child at around 8:30 p.m. at Hershey Court and South 47th Street. Police say Shemerly Brokaw's car was fired upon by two suspects shortly after her husband exited the car to look for a friend they were to meet in the area.

Her identity had not been released this morning. Police noted that her husband is not a suspect in the homicide.

The second fatality of the night came at around 9:10 p.m. on the 500 block of 37th Street. Police say 61-year-old Amos Gallegos was killed and an 18-year-old man was injured after a man standing on the street fired at an assault rifle at a passing vehicle. The 18-year-old driver was shot in the bicep.

Police say Gallegos was hit by a stray bullet approximately 100 feet away. The man was in a car with his son and on his way to get dinner, police say.

Earlier in the day, police responded to two shootings, one in which 19-year-old Romell Simmons was killed.

All of the victims killed were Richmond residents.

Malaika Fraley covers crime and public safety. Reach her at 925-945-4782 or at mfraley@cctimes.com.

The Tazer: Doing the Globe's job for them!

2006-11-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

We just received another interesting letter intended for the Richmond Globe, this time from LL Enterprises. Tazerville residents may remember them as the firm that conducted a couple polls, including one for candidate Gary Bell.

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To the Richmond Globe,

Regarding the front page Globe Voice article of November 15 to 21, 2006 entitled "Gary Bell: the spoiler's dilemma," we are puzzled that the Globe found it necessary to include LL Enterprises in a story that failed to be about LL Enterprises. Furthermore, pointing out that LL Enterprises utilizes a UPS post office box was not only superfluous, but unprofessional as well.

We could observe that a Yahoo search returns multiple businesses at the address listed the Globe website (Kyani Rochelle's Hair, Jones Cheng & Company, and Fisher Realtors) but no Globe Newspaper Group. Is that significant enough to point out?

Joe L. Fisher, owner of Fisher Realtors, was not only Irma Anderson's campaign manager, but is also the "real estate editor" of the Globe. Is that significant enough to point out?

Of course not. Such revelations would be superfluous and unprofessional, and we refuse to do so.

Though LL Enterprises activities are, quite frankly, none of the Globe's business, we freely admit that the Gary Bell campaign for Mayor contracted us to undertake a poll. If the Globe would care to disclose any conflicts of interest it may have, then perhaps its editorial could be accorded its proper weight.

LLE operations are decentralized and necessitate the P.O. box. However, LLE is not so decentralized as to be incommunicado. We have no record of any attempt by Globe staff to communicate with LLE. There is only the word of the Globe that they ever visited the UPS store where our P.O. box is located. To our knowledge, the Globe placed no telephone calls, sent any e-mail, or even sent postal mail to the P.O. box whose existence they claim to be fully aware of.

LL Enterprises is a business that is in business to stay in business. We monitor our communications many times daily and correspond with clients and personnel nationwide. Though we allow for lapses in technology and the pressures of work, we are incredulous that the Globe could not contact us in time for their "article." Spokespeople are, and were, available to answer any questions the Globe has, or may have had. Thus, we object to the Globe's claim that "no one was available to speak with us."

And while we beg to differ with the whole thrust of the article in question, we shall leave that for another discussion.

For the Globe's edification, presenting fabrications as fact and casting aspersions is the antithesis of journalistic integrity. While the Globe may excel at fiction, its standard for fact is far short of a respectable publication of record.

Sincerely,
RC Williams, Managing Partner
Wesley Westfall, Managing Partner

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Ouch, these guys are sharp! The Tazer likes that...

So we attempted what the Globe couldn't: contact LL Enterprises. We got through on the THIRD ring.

Mr. Williams took a few minutes out of his lunch to speak with us about the article, the letter we were copied on, and LLE's polling work. Seems that their initial survey was an independent effort to fish for local campaign work, and the Gary Bell campaign contacted them.

Williams says he grew up and lived in Richmond most of his life, same as most of the LLE staff, and that they were therefore curious about the local political scene. The Tazer's brief conversation with LLE's chief reveals that while they monitored us, they didn't quite agree with us...until now...

"Between the discouragement expressed to Gary that he told us about, some of the rhetoric during the campaign, and now this article that thinks it's dissecting the election, we've seen an ugly underside to Richmond politics," Williams said. "Around the offices, we used to take issue with some of what [the Tazer] wrote, but over time we've grown to see that [the Tazer is] just as interested in the future of Richmond as we are."

LLE sounds like an above-board outfit with nothing to hide about their political involvement. On the other hand, the Richmond Globe was -- and still is -- an unspoken extension of the Anderson campaign. We doubt that they'll publish LLE's rebuttal, which is why we at the Tazer will do them the honor and let the Globe whine and cry to the bitter end about how nothing was ever their fault.

Nothing was ever the fault of Irma Anderson. Not the homicides, not the city's finances, not double-dipping the car stipend, not the gridlocked council meetings, and now her own election loss isn't her fault either. It's Gary Bell's fault because he's the OTHER African-American running for mayor. If only he hadn't run, Richmond would've forgotten and forgiven her.

Ixion2020, Tom Butt, and now LLE have an opposing theory: the incompetent incumbent should've stepped aside.

What's really pathetic about the Globe (and by extension, Irma Anderson) is that their last stab in the campaign had to be about the division of African-Americans. To us, Gary Bell's speeches and literature always seemed to be promoting unity throughout the City of Richmond. Hmm, makes you wonder, don't it?

Thus, we leave it to you to decide, Tazer Faithful: Who are the REAL race dividers and poverty pimps?

Light weekend reading

2006-11-18T23:30:00.000-08:00

This is going up late Saturday, so our hope is that you read it either tomorrow or Monday. It's a very well thought out edition of Councilmember Tom Butt's e-mail forum that reiterates a point made by new Tazer friend Ixion2020. Coincidence?

Tom Butt = Ixion2020? Only one way to know for sure, but please read on...

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Following are articles from the Richmond Globe and the Berkeley Daily Planet about Richmond’s mayoral race. [EDITOR'S NOTE: We're not reprinting those articles; feel free to Google for them if you like, they're online for you to find.]

The Globe appears to blame Gary Bell for stealing African-American votes from Irma Anderson. Why isn’t anybody suggesting the opposite -- that the unpopular Anderson should have stepped aside for Bell? With the theory seemingly endorsed by the Globe that politics are predominantly racist in Richmond, Bell could have easily won with his and Irma’s votes, thus preserving the African-American mayorship that the Globe seems to prefer. The Globe noted, “…historians may place blame at Bell’s feet, labeling him as the politician responsible for the downfall of African American political prominence in the city of Richmond.” I submit that the blame lies, instead, squarely with Irma Anderson, whose lack of vision and leadership failed to inspire the electorate and brought out the worst in the City Council. And with those who blindly supported Anderson and shoveled money without end at her while knowing full well her substantial and ultimately fatal flaws.

The second article, from the Berkeley Daily Planet, is the first I’ve seen that details the vast corporate and industrial resources, significant amounts of which were funneled through BAPAC, which is closely aligned with the Globe, invested in preserving Irma Anderson as mayor.

I have always hoped that we would reach a time in Richmond where race is not the prevailing criteria for local elections. When I first ran for City Council in 1993, racism was right out front. Mailers targeted to the African-American community, usually paid for by Firefighters Local 188 and masterminded by Darrell Reese, tried to convince voters that rich white folks in Point Richmond would make sure African-Americans stayed at the back of the bus. I’m not kidding! We’ve come a long way from there in some respects, but in others, we haven’t. It’s much more subtle now, and perhaps more pernicious.

I have always been skeptical that there are really any race-related agendas in Richmond. From what I can tell, everyone wants the same things: safe and attractive neighborhoods, high-quality schools, good streets and clean parks, customer-friendly and responsive city employees and thrifty and efficient government.

Do people really believe that candidates who match their skin color or have last names that sound similar can deliver these things better than someone who doesn’t? According to the Globe analysis, they do. Do voters place a higher priority on race and ethnicity than on results? I just don’t know.

During the 90s, African-American women were consistently the top vote getters in City Council races where there had to be a substantial crossover vote to make that possible (Anderson and Penn). After the millennium, women still ruled (Viramontes). The prevailing wisdom among election watchers was that in the new order, gender had become more important than race. Except that in the last two elections, white men were the top vote getters (Butt and Rogers). But whites are the smallest of three major minorities in Richmond. Go figure.

Regardless of race and ethnicity, women have consistently fared better than men in the mayor’s race (Corbin, Anderson and McLaughlin). Is there sexism out there?

In the Globe analysis, whites voted for McLaughlin and African-Americans voted for Bell or Anderson, thus splitting the African-American vote and leaving McLaughlin a (presumed) winner. Is it really that simple? If Bell had not been in the race, would Anderson have prevailed in a landslide? I’m not so sure. What about the Latino voters? Did they vote racially, or did they vote for the person they thought could be the best mayor?

I’ll end this where I started it. I know that there are a lot of racists in Richmond – of every racial, chromatic and ethnic persuasion. I just hope I live long enough to see all that go away and find people voting for the candidate they believe will deliver to them the best quality of life.

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Amen, Brother Butt!

Racism is ugly and wrong, no matter who espouses or utters it, and the Globe should be ashamed for publishing that tripe. If they had even the merest drop of integrity, they'd fire the bigot who penned it and apologize profusely. Of course, if they had integrity, it would've never seen the light of day to begin with, so we're not holding our breath...

And if they Globe won't, we're not about to boycott them or advocate a boycott. Just pick up spare copies to use for fishwrap, birdcage liner, glass cleaning, and kindling. THAT'S WHAT RAGS ARE FOR!

And now we have responses...

2006-11-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

Some very passionate comments to the reply that was intended for the Globe's editors.

And we can't say we disagree one bit.

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homeplate said…
The Globe is the ignorant lapdog of Anderson and her ilk. They're nothing more than the mouthpiece of the statusquo. If only Irma had realized her number was up, Richmond wouldn't be the mess it is.

Plantation politics said…
It is my opinion that the Globe is nothing more than a rag to line your birdcage to catch droppings! It is the most racist paper in Richmond today. It never has anything about the everyday people of Richmond.
Many African-American people including myself are offended, insulted and ashamed that this raggedy Black give away paper, claims to represent the Black community ! BS! These people are wannabe boojies who actually exploit and use us for their own gains. This paper does nothing more than use Race, Sex and Plantation Politics to divide our community. Whitmore and Boswell-Raines who put out this weekly rag should apologize to the community.
To use a newspaper to punish another person because another candidate ran against an incumbent is total bull[xxxx]. The Globe will always be remebered as the paper to serve Whitmore and Boswell-Raines Masters and to use the paper to keep dividing us Black folks even more.
This paper needs to keep their nose out of our business! Next time you go into one of our Black churches here in town, look at the stacks and stacks of the back editions of the Globe in the lobbies, that should tell you a lot right there. That we as an African-American community in Richmond are not reading your Master's propoganda!

We've got mail!

2006-11-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

Someone CC'd us onto an e-mail to the Richmond Globe, which is running a silly article about how Gary Bell ruined the ruins that were Irma Anderson's mayorship and got Gayle McLaughlin elected.

Way to shill, Globe! Even if Irma has you in her pocket, it took Tazer reader "ixion2020" to spell it out to you...

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That's a nice article the Globe just ran on the front page of the Richmond edition. The only problem with it is that it came to the WRONG conclusion.

Gary Bell wasn't the end of African American political prominence in Richmond; Irma Anderson was. She's the least effective, most incompetent mayor that Richmond will ever know, and should NEVER have sought re-election. So selfish and convinced by the powerful that she stood a chance, it's Irma Anderson -- Richmond's bloodiest mayor -- who swept Gayle McLaughlin into power.

John Gioia said it best: "McLaughlin benefited from widespread discontent with Mayor Irma Anderson."

Just because there would have been two African American candidates does NOT mean that Irma Anderson was the one who should have remained in the race! Unfortunately, her pigheaded obstruction carried over from council meetings. She should have quit while she was behind and let someone qualified take over.

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BRRRR!!! That cat has it down COLD!

Curiouser and curiouser

2006-11-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

A comment of interest came up that we'd like everyone to see...

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AK47s said...
Was the Richmond Mayor and City Council race hacked and hijacked? That is a question that Richmond political and community activists are asking!

Over the next several weeks, HBO will be airing "HACKING DEMOCRACY" a stunning and timely documentary about how easy it is to tamper with LOCAL, regional and national elections with computers and redirect who will be elected to office, regardless of who the voters voted for and who the actual winner was of the popular vote. It shows step by step how an election can be hacked and hijacked!

Airtimes will be as follows: November 18, 20, 21, 24, 27, and 29; December 2, 9, 17, 16, 17, and 19 For more information go to hbo.com and look to the right under the category of DOCUMENTARIES!

WE HAVE THE RIGHT AND DEMAND TO KNOW: WAS THE RICHMOND ELECTION HACKED AND HIJACKED?!

Wednesday Mixed Bag

2006-11-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

First off, some REAL news...

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Teenager arrested in shooting

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Police arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of attempted murder Tuesday in connection with a shooting that seriously wounded a man last weekend in the Atchison Village neighborhood of Richmond.

The suspect, whom police did not identify because he is a minor, critically injured 24-year-old Paul Redondo Jr. on Saturday night during an aborted attempt to buy marijuana at a house in the 200 block of Collins Street, Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said.

The suspect, who turns 14 today, rode in a Honda Accord with three other teenagers about 11:45 p.m., looking to buy drugs in and around the Iron Triangle neighborhood, police said. The suspect was acting as a "guide" for the others, all older teens who live in San Pablo, police said.

But when the group slowly rode up to the house on Collins, they apparently met a group of men standing in front, who approached the car with handguns, police said.

Someone fired the first shot. When all parties were finished shooting, Redondo and about two dozen shell casings lay in the street, police said. Redondo was flown to a trauma center in critical condition.

"Officers arriving on scene saw obvious signs of a shootout," Peixoto said. "The casings indicated that most of the shots were coming from (the house) out into the street."

Detectives identified nobody in the group standing in front of the house other than Redondo, but a security guard working at the St. John's apartments on nearby Macdonald Avenue saw the Honda leaving the area and got its license plate number.

Early Sunday, police traced the car back to the address of its registered owner in the 2000 block of Stanton Avenue and found it parked in the driveway, pockmarked with bullet holes. The three older teens were nearby.

Police questioned and released the teens. Later Sunday, they served a search warrant on Collins, where they recovered three handguns and about 1 pound of marijuana and arrested two residents: 27-year-old Miguel Cerda and 19-year-old Joaquin Cerda.

The elder Cerda was the victim of a shooting in front of the house on Nov. 4, when someone attacked him as he worked on his car. He was inside at the time of the more recent shooting, Peixoto said.

On Tuesday morning, police served a warrant at the Moran Avenue home of the teenage "guide" and arrested him without incident. They found two handguns in his bedroom, Peixoto said.

The suspect was booked into Juvenile Hall in Martinez on suspicion of attempted murder and possessing a firearm.

Both Cerdas were booked into County Jail in Martinez on suspicion of drug and weapon offenses.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP
Police ask anyone with information about Saturday's shooting in the Atchison Village neighborhood of Richmond to call Detective Aaron Mandell at 510-620-6622.

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The only consolations we can think of in this story are that a suspect was apprehended, there were no fatalities, and these thugs can't shoot worth a darn.

Now for some UNREAL news...

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Some races hinge on absentee ballots
Votes mailed in or dropped off at polls prove key to deciding half a dozen seats in Bay Area

By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Candidates in a half-dozen tight Contra Costa and Alameda county races, such as those seeking a seat on the Antioch City Council and mayoral hopefuls in Pleasanton and Richmond, may have to wait days or weeks for the outcome.

An unprecedented number of absentee ballots turned in at the polls has left Contra Costa election officials with 40,000 ballots -- about 13 percent of all the ballots cast -- to count this week.

Alameda County experienced a similar deluge, though its clerks counted most of its 70,000 absentee ballots during the weekend.

Its staff is now counting as many as 5,000 absentees that were rejected by the county's scanning equipment because they were mismarked or torn.

"We got one ballot with an apology note from someone because his dog got a hold of the ballot," said Alameda County spokesman Guy Ashley. "We will examine each of those ballots and see if we can determine the voter's intent and record those votes."

After absentees have been rounded up, Contra Costa officials must count another 9,000 provisional ballots, while Alameda County has 15,000.

Provisionals are ballots in which the voter believes he or she is eligible but whose name does not appear on the voter rolls. The voter fills out the ballot and clerks confirm eligibility after the election.

What does all this mean?

It's time-consuming to examine and process thousands of ballots individually, especially when voters drop them off by the truckloads on Election Day. Clerks must open every envelope, check every signature and scan every ballot themselves.

Contrast that with votes cast in the polling place, where the voter marks it, inserts it into an optical scanner and clerks download the results into the computer.

As a result, in races where a few dozen or a few hundred votes separate winners from the losers, it could take days or weeks to finalize results.

In most of the close races in Contra Costa, Clerk-Recorder Steve Weir hopes to have answers by Thursday or Friday.

"We're hoping to finish the absentee counts by Thursday or Friday, and we'll update our results," Weir said.

But in exceptionally tight races, outstanding provisional ballots could affect the outcome.

Clerks hope to finish counting these ballots next week or, at the latest, after the Thanksgiving holiday. Counties have until Dec. 5 to certify the election results.

In particular, the 900 provisional ballots in Richmond could be a factor in the outcome of its mayor and council races. Residents unwilling to vote at a community center in the Iron Triangle contributed to the higher-than-usual numbers of provisional ballots in the city, Weir said.

It's unclear why so many absentee voters waited until Monday and Election Day to cast their ballots.

But this trend, say election officials, is here to stay. Vote-by-mail rolls have expanded steadily, either out of convenience or a growing distrust of voting equipment.

For the second election in a row, more people voted absentee than went to the polls in both Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

By the time all ballots have been counted, Weir estimates that turnout in Contra Costa will reach 63 percent, about average for the county. About 52 percent of the ballots were absentee while 48 percent were cast at the polls.

Alameda County reported a lower turnout rate of 55 percent, but it reported a similar split between absentee and voting at the polls.

Lisa Vorderbrueggen covers politics. Reach her at 925-945-4773 or lvorderbrueggen@cctimes.com.

election 2006: too close to call

Races with close margins include:

[....]

• Richmond mayor: Gayle McLaughlin leads incumbent Irma Anderson by 192 votes.

• Richmond: Myrna Lopez has a 160-vote lead over Corky Booze in the competition for the third opening on the City Council.

[....]

Source: Contra Costa and Alameda County election departments

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Once again: RIDICULOUS!

We at the Tazer sincerely hope that the correct mayor and council were elected last Tuesday.

Community policing at work

2006-11-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

RPD showing its teeth this time, literally.

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K-9 units add teeth to law enforcement
Richmond department a pioneer in use of dogs to sniff out drugs and other criminal activity

By Sean Aronson
TIMES CORRESPONDENT

RICHMOND - Twenty kids and their parents gathered at the St. David School baseball field on a recent weekend for the first Fall Festival and patiently awaited the arrival of Arrow, a 6-year-old Dutch shepherd in the Richmond Police Department canine unit.

"We're gonna keep an eye on the dope," canine Officer William Cantrell, Arrow's handler, told one of the parents.

Cantrell placed a small amount of marijuana in a yellow envelope and put it under a large orange cone in the grass. He also placed a plastic toy gun in the grass.

On command, Arrow charged for the cone and tipped it, revealing the marijuana. A few minutes later, he took the gun in his mouth and dropped it at Cantrell's feet. The officer gave Arrow a toy and congratulated him for the good work.

The Richmond canine unit does about 20 such demonstrations a year, Cantrell said, to show the public police and dogs working together. He also views the demonstrations as a way to deter children from using drugs by showing just how effective dogs are at finding narcotics.

"Maybe it will make some of these kids think twice about using drugs," Cantrell said.

Richmond formed its canine unit in 1961, making it the second-oldest in Northern California, to cut the number of officers needed to patrol industrial areas and large commercial buildings by half. Dogs work faster and more efficiently.

The canine unit is also instrumental in fighting crime, allowing police to get to difficult areas and cover a lot of ground quickly. They are most effective in tracking down runaway suspects.

"They're trained to find people, not bite them," said Sgt. Mitch Peixoto, canine unit coordinator.

Most in the audience marveled at the speed and accuracy with which Arrow found the gun and marijuana. Some of the children wanted to move closer to get a better look, but Cantrell cautioned them to stay back, prohibiting petting while Arrow was at work.

Still, no one seemed the least bit frightened.

"I think the dog looks cute," said 8-year-old Mirabel Sanchez , who was eating cotton candy while she watched with her mother.

Richmond teams -- handler and canine -- regularly place in the top five at the annual Sheriff's Canine Competition, a statewide event. Because it is so well-regarded, the Richmond canine unit often does work for other police departments as well.

"We go all over the Bay Area with our dogs," Peixoto said.

For the better part of three decades, Richmond police used German shepherds for their canine unit. The breed is aggressive and easy to train. The dogs also have incredible tracking abilities.

"You can't get a better dog that will track and find a person," Peixoto said.

But their large size was often intimidating to the public, according to Lt. Mark Gagan. In a predominantly African-American city, police were conscious of the images police dogs carried from the civil rights era, he added.

"Any time we use force, we have to be aware of the community perceptions," Gagan said.

For this and other reasons, the department in 1988 introduced the Belgian Malinois into the unit. Malinois are the most popular police dog and currently account for five of six dogs in the Richmond unit. Arrow is the only shepherd.

Malinois are smaller and faster than shepherds. They also can work as a police dog for up to 12 years, almost double the average career of a shepherd. And, most importantly, they are less intimidating to the public.

"They can tell the difference between work and play," Peixoto said.

Most often the canine unit does narcotics searches in a city that faces a huge problem with drug trafficking and use, Peixoto said. Each dog in the force undergoes five weeks of narcotics training.

"If he can't pass dope (training), I'm getting a new dog," Peixoto said.

On Peixoto's first official narcotics search with his dog, Phoenix, they found 13 pounds of cocaine tucked into the back of a water heater inside a house -- something officers likely would have missed.

At the St. David School demonstration, Cantrell led Arrow into his patrol vehicle after many of the children had a chance to take pictures with the officer and the dog.

Cantrell was clearly enjoying the work.

"If I can influence 20 kids to have more respect for police work, I'm making my job easier in the long run," he said.

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Meanwhile, the Tazer wonders how purported Mayor-Elect McLaughlin feels about dogs being enslaved by humans, and if these fascist K9 unit demonstrations at all address the "root causes of crime."

Arrow the Dog wasn't even recruiting for the "Youth Corps," after all...

Holding the fort

2006-11-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

Three pieces for today. Let's get started.

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Richmond
MEN ROB BANK:

Two men robbed a Mechanics Bank branch on West Cutting Boulevard on Friday.

The robbers walked in and ordered everyone to the floor about 11:10 a.m. Moments later, a customer entered the bank, and the gunman ordered him to the floor as well, said police Lt. Enos Johnson.

Instead, the customer dashed out the door and through the parking lot.

Afterward, the robbers left with cash in a Lexus. Nobody was hurt.

-- Karl Fischer

Richmond
MAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER SHOOTING:

A 25-year-old man was listed in serious but stable condition after an early morning shooting, police said.

At 12:20 a.m. Friday, police were called to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Richmond by a report of a shooting victim, Lt. Mike Gormley said.

The man said he was walking in the 200 block of South 12th Street late Thursday night when he heard three or four shots fired and was hit in the torso, Gormley said.

The man managed to flag down a passing driver, who gave him a ride to the hospital.

No information was immediately available on a suspect.

The shooting took place about a block from the site of a gun battle Wednesday afternoon that left at least two young men wounded and forced a lockdown at nearby Nystrom Elementary School for the third time this school year.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police department's homicide section at 510-620-6612.

-- George Kelly

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The area around Nystrom Elementary is a magnet for violent crime, but nothing seems to be getting done about it. Was "Safe Streets Now" supposed to have that fixed? Will "Youth Corps" fix it? Would "Gun Free Zones" have been the fix?

Anybody in power care to comment?

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Election snafus left many hustling
Erroneous mailers directed voters to wrong precincts and consolidation resulted in crowded polling stations

By Sean Aronson
TIMES CORRESPONDENT

When schoolteacher Mary Oshima arrived at work on Election Day, she didn't know she'd be helping people search for a place to vote.

But when at least 20 voters showed up at Grant Elementary in Richmond on Tuesday only to find their polling place had moved, Oshima started making phone calls. She tried the city of Richmond; no answer. She tried the Contra Costa County Elections Department; no answer.

"One woman was just going to give up and leave, but I said, 'No, you have to vote,'" Oshima said.

Finally she typed the woman's address into the Elections Department Web site and found the right location.

"You feel like you're being disenfranchised," Oshima said.

The problems at Grant were among a series of snafus that left people confused and angry Tuesday.

Problems started with mailers carrying erroneous voter information -- including instructions sending people to vote outside their cities -- and ended with the county still counting a large number of provisional ballots at week's end from people who voted in the wrong places.

With Richmond election results so close -- the mayor's race and final seat on the City Council were each decided by fewer than 200 votes -- some said the confusion could have altered the outcomes.

"I think precinct consolidation and changing of polling places is an unintended way of limiting the voters' participation, which may have had an impact on the results," said Antonio Medrano, an unsuccessful candidate for the West Contra Costa United School District board.

The county Elections Department changed the polling place for 29 of 472 precincts, notifying voters less than a month before the election, said County Clerk Stephen Weir.

The election board also sent notices Oct. 20 to many Richmond residents indicating they would have to vote in other towns such as San Pablo, El Cerrito and even Walnut Creek. It was an error in printing, Weir said.

Cecelia Valdez, 62, a San Pablo resident and former president of the Latina/o Democratic Club of West Contra Costa County, said some people in San Pablo were told they would have to vote in Lafayette. She received a notice to vote in Richmond.

"I contacted (Richmond City Councilman) John Marquez about it, and he called Steve Weir," Valdez said.

The elections office received more calls of confusion stemming from mailings between Oct. 21 and 23 that outlined changes in polling places, Weir said.

Then, on Oct. 27, the department sent another mailing correcting the earlier one instructing people to leave their cities to vote.

"Our job was to admit to the problem and to fix it -- and we did that," Weir said.

The Elections Department ran television announcements and sent news releases to inform people of the mistake.

Richmond City Clerk Diane Holmes also posted a "voter alert" on the city Web site on Oct. 27, telling voters: "If you received a white card instructing you to go to another city to vote, please destroy the card. You will receive a yellow card with the correct information for your polling place for the Nov. 7 election."

"We received a lot of phone calls about the precinct changes in the morning of the election, and we referred everyone to the county offices," Holmes said.

At Wilson Elementary School, three precincts were combined into one, meaning 1,700 registered voters were eligible to vote there. Lines were out the door all day, and poll workers were exhausted.

The same was true in Pinole. At Ellerhorst Elementary School, two precincts were combined with a potential voting population of 800. There were long lines, not enough pens and no spaces in the booths, said Maria Alegria, Pinole mayor pro tem.

"People were sitting on the floor," Alegria said.

There are still about 40,000 absentee ballots to be counted countywide. Weir estimated that 1,700 of those were from Richmond. Another 9,000 provisional ballots remained to be counted, 900 from polling places in Richmond.

County officials said updated results, including absentee ballots, would not be available until later this month.

"I'm ready to be part of a blue-ribbon committee to tackle these issues," Alegria said. "Let's get this voting issue straightened out."

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The word RIDICULOUS easily comes to mind for this. Considering the foibles of previous elections, we'd think that this sort of nonsense would've been stamped out. Sounds like a lot of problems at the county level, and with more problems than Richmond itself.

At the Tazer, we wonder if this will affect the races for mayor and council. Might it be that our previous rant was premature?

Anyone out there with stories of voting irregularity, please feel free to comment.

Keep on truckin'

2006-11-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

You probably don't recognize the name Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, but you're probably acquainted with her Five Stages of Grief...

1) Denial: "RIchmond has a Green for a mayor!? This can't be happening! There must be some kind of mistake!"

2) Anger: "Richmond voters, what the @#$% is wrong with you!?"

3) Bargaining: "C'mon, the city council can't work with her. They'll just do a 'no-confidence' vote and force a turnover."

4) Depression: "Once Chevron packs up, other companies are going to bail out of this dump. Gangs will have to step up their employment and benefit packages."

5) Acceptance: "Measure T failed, but Richmond is still well and truly screwed."

But in all seriousness, the mission of the Tazer remains unchanged. We're still keeping an eye on violent crime, what the City of Richmond does to solve it, and what they AREN'T doing meanwhile.

We truly hope that Gayle McLaughlin can stem the tide of violence and return prosperity to Richmond, but we have serious doubts. Her campaign literature is on file in Tazerville so we'll be able to hold her accountable to her campaign promises, unspecific though they are...

"Protecting consumers from higher taxation"...
"End of self-inspection for Chevron"...
"Promoting clean, sustainable energy"...
"A new park for North Richmond"...

Nope, none of those sounds like "I am committed to reducing the number of homicides in Richmond."

Just a suggestion, Madam Mayor-Elect: try and defend the environment from Chevron and "big industry" in the spare time you have AFTER defending Richmond's youth from violent death. Thanks.

Erstwhile congratulations and good luck to Myrna Lopez, Jim Rogers, Tony Thurmond, and Maria Viramontes. Considering the new mayor, we're all going to need it.

Rise and shine, Tazerville!

2006-11-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

Happy first Tuesday in November!

We at the Tazer have a cynical streak that you may or may not have noticed. Lots of shaking our heads at bizarre city council meetings and senseless killings are the culprits. For a long while, we lacked faith in the political process, but once violence touched all of our lives, our interest picked up.

Today is about the interconnectedness of all things. Wherever you live in Richmond, even if you don't think violence is your problem, it's your problem. Even if you or someone you know aren't a victim, even if it doesn't happen in your neighborhood, and even if you haven't even heard a gunshot.

What does it mean to you if an ambulance, firetruck, or police cruiser is busy tending to an incident across town? A: They can't come to you if you need them right away.

And what does it mean if you complain for better service? A: Those extra services need extra taxes or you remain underserved.

So it costs you something -- either money or lives -- and thus it costs us all something.

And this is why we want to ask all of you something very important: "Are you satisfied with how things are going in Richmond?"

We mean really and truly satisfied, and if you don't mind if things keep going the way they are. If you don't vote, that's what you're asking for, and that's what you deserve to get.

However, if you want things to be different and if you want change, the only way to get that ball rolling is to VOTE. You have to vote, and you have to convince everyone you know to vote. Heck, you have to convince complete strangers to vote! That's what politics is all about!

Our goal at the Tazer is to inform who we can about the goin's on around Richmond, so we like to think we're encouraging our readership to be aware and informed and casting educated votes. Thus, we're going to give you one last nugget of wisdom to take with you, to encourage you to multiply your vote by getting other people to vote with you...

Your perfectly good, educated vote is cancelled out by the ignorant voter who scribbles in the blank next to "Incumbent" or "Councilmember" just because they're complacent and too lazy to do the work you did for a smart vote.

But you're not complacent and you're not lazy, are you? You have healthy fear and a strategy to inform your friends and family to make sure you're all voting as a block. All of you want what's right and good for Richmond, and you're going to get it!

From Tazerville, we command you: GO! VOTE! WIN!

Who protects the protectors?

2006-11-07T01:05:00.000-08:00

Violence takes its toll on police

By Jessica Meyers
CORRESPONDENT

Police Lt. Mark Gagan remembers the Christmas lights almost as well as the trail of bloody fingerprints. The tiny handsmears on the wall led Gagan to a 4-year-old girl who died sucking her thumb, and a decapitated infant.

A 10-year-old boy ran out of the house holding his cut throat and survived.

Their mother had been forced to watch before the husband killed her and then himself, investigators believe.

"Sitting in a room after the incident with the other officers, I said, 'My soul is seared by what we just saw,'" Gagan said. "Everyone just started crying. I said, 'This stuff is not normal.' Then we all went out that night and got hammered.

"I still drive by the house where it happened," he said.

Such scenes are impossible to forget, but if it stands out in its grimness, it was only one in a city of about 103,000 that, according to a recent study, is the third most dangerous in the state.

The Richmond Police Department has reported 38 homicides this year, and police have answered calls on 223 shootings.

Yet, in contrast to the neighboring police departments of Oakland, Walnut Creek and San Francisco, Richmond has no internal programs to address the psychological stress inherent in police work.

Up to 30 percent of police officers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, estimates Dr. George Everly, a founder of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and a leading scholar on human stress and psychological trauma.

Gagan said the "walk it off" image officers project actually increases the possibility of post-traumatic stress disorder and leads to depression, anxiety, nightmares, irritability and outbursts of anger.

"There is this male-dominated bravado, a tough Dirty Harry approach," he said. "It's total BS. Guys talking after work over a drink, that collective commiseration is part of the problem instead of part of the solution. You need people who are willing to say, 'Look, guys, something is wrong.'"

Peer support trains officers on a force to become professional listeners and to recognize warning signs of suicide and depression.

About 2,500 officers are trained in peer support annually in the United States, said Bonnie Spitzer, a former president of the California Peer Support Association who has helped develop and teach peer support programs.

There are 140 police departments that participate in the association, but Spitzer said probably a significantly larger number implement peer support programs throughout the state.

Although Gagan agrees a peer support program would be beneficial, he fears the atmosphere in the department would prevent many from using it.

"The culture in the department is not exactly cohesive," he said. "I don't want to spearhead something without interest."

Lt. Rick Clark, a 26-year veteran of the Richmond force, said no one there has ever suggested a peer support program, and he thinks it could be useful.

"It would give guys an opportunity if they wanted to talk to someone," he said. "There are some things you don't forget."

He winced at the memory of a boy he found mangled by pit bulls.

"You could see bone, ligament, tendons, but his eyes, you know, they said, 'Where were you?' That was the worst for me."

A state-initiated Employee Assistance Program is available to city employees. However, insurance issues and a hesitancy to speak with people who might not understand the nature of police work often prevent officers from using those services, said Dr. Joel Fay, a licensed psychologist and police officer who runs the San Rafael Police Department's peer support program.

Richmond Officer Anthony Mikell said he often sees cops deal with stress in negative ways: infidelities, gambling and drinking. But that only masks post-traumatic stress disorder.

Nevertheless, talking to trained mental health professionals does not appeal to him.

"No one can understand a soldier coming back from war," he said. "When I have my innocence taken away, why should I take away yours?"

"Police culture discourages seeking help for problems," Fay said. "Our culture says we have to take care of other people's problems as well as our own. There's a shame attached to counseling. We take crazy people to the hospital, we don't seek help ourselves."

That is why establishing a departmental peer support program with trained officers is so important, said former Lt. Dell Hackett, president of the Oregon-based Law Enforcement Wellness Association.

"It gives officers who are reluctant to seek mental health services _-- and cops are invariably adverse to mental health professionals _-- an ability to talk to someone who understands their situation," he said.

"I can't imagine doing business today without the peer support program," said Lt. Kenneth Parris, who oversees the program in the Oakland Police Department.

He said he has heard no complaints since it started in 1999.

Oakland's program has 16 trained officers and three professional staff members in a force of 803 sworn officers.

"The program is invaluable for a department like Oakland with so much activity. It lessens potential trauma and diffuses future trauma," Parris said.

The San Francisco Police Department started its peer support program in 1980, and it is one of the oldest in the country, with a Behavioral Science Unit dedicated to peer counseling and stress debriefing.

For that reason, Sgt. Mary Dunnigan, who runs the unit, can quantify the data in a way less structured programs cannot. She said the 300 trained members conduct 6,000 sessions a year for a force of 1,697.

She said the program provides a confidential and safe environment for officers to discuss interpersonal issues, as well as an initial point of contact for those in need of more assistance.

Berkeley police Capt. Bobby Miller is attempting to revamp his department's inactive peer support program. He said it started to fade about 10 years ago when peer support members began to retire and no new officers received training.

He said the tough-guy stigma has long passed, and officers are ready for the service.

"Years ago we would not mention problems to anybody because it made you look vulnerable," he said. "We have grown up. We have grown past that. It's not every day that a police officer deals with a traumatic situation, but we do see stuff that has an effect, and we need to address it."

He said approximately 17 officers have applied to be peer support members, and he hopes to have the program running by the end of the year.

Yet Hackett, who was instrumental in establishing a peer support program in the Lane County Sheriff's Office in Eugene, Ore., warned the system needs to be set up correctly.

"I've seen good intentions that die on the vine because people select their own team and choose officers that are not necessarily trusted or they don't receive support from management or there are budget issues," he said.

Fay said budget concerns are no excuse.

"The cost is so inexpensive and the benefits are so great," he said.

Police officers can receive training at their regular employee training sessions.

If Richmond continues to experience the numbers of homicides and shootings it has this year, Gagan said cops will need healthier ways to cope.

"If you can really identify with the pain, then the job will suck you dry," he said. "In this meat-grinder of a city, I rarely get the sense that the problem is solved."

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Whatever is holding up a peer counseling program needs to stop, be it money or institutional resistance or lack of city support. It's bad enough that officers aren't filling the ranks for want of pay and benefits. Now that's compunded by sending them out on the streets mentally unprepared to cope.

RPD deserves better, just like the whole city itself deserves better.

One to grow on...

2006-11-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

Richmond is headed into the last weekend before Election Day, and we at the Tazer wanted to give all of you something for your brains to chew on before making up your minds. Seriously, this is the FUTURE of Richmond we're talking about, and your vote IS important. We trust that the people of Richmond have the knowledge and wisdom to do what's right; Richmondites who visit Tazerville even more so.

You should be so aware, informed, and knowledgeable when you step into the voting booth that when you come back out, you can tell everyone you meet that YOU made the right decision. Nobody had to convince you, subject you to peer pressure, you had to guess, or you did it because it "felt" right. Your decision was active, conscious, and borne of a mental process that took into account every scrap of information you could feed it. We at the Tazer feel that supplying the knowledge that we can is our duty, that our opinions are secondary, and if you happen to agree, all the better.

Thus, we feel obligated to instruct the public about something that at least one candidate for Mayor is unwilling to discuss. At candidate forums where the party affiliation of Mayoral candidates is queried, Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin declines to state hers. We at the Tazer wonder why this is.

Incumbent Mayor Irma Anderson is a Democrat, and so is former Councilmember Gary Bell. The Democratic Party is the other of the two major political parties in the United States, the ones that nominated John Kerry for President in 2004, and Al Gore in 2000. Phil Angelides is their Gubernatorial candidate in California this year. George Miller, Loni Hancock, Don Perata, John Gioia, and Pete Stark are also Democrats.

Now, this may seem obvious and redundant to many of you, but bear with us. Some things are less obvious, such as why Candidate McLaughlin declines to state her party affiliation.

Gayle McLaughlin is a member of the Green Party.

We at the Tazer can't answer WHY she won't tell you this when you ask at a candidate forum, but we can tell you WHAT the Green Party is.

Though not officially organized in the United States until 1996, the Green Party's roots extend back to 1960's German environmental socialism and anti-capitalism. German Green Party founders Rudi Dutschke, Heinrich Boll, and Petra Kelly were all avowed Marxists, while more modern members of the party, such as Joschka Fischer, have had experience in labor-related and/or anti-nuclear Communist movements.

In turn, the German Green Party has its roots in German national socialism, aka Nazism. Richard Walther Darre, a leading "theorist" with the Nazis, promoted the preservation of "Blood & Soil" during World War 2. His book "Peasantry As Life-Source For The Nordic Race" advocated government-controlled land and resource management, and was an inspiration to SS and Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler. Although he was originally a PhD in agriculture, specializing in animal breeding, he extended his ideas on breeding into eugenics. As Director of Race and Settlement, his plan for "Race & Territory" led to the annihilation of millions of undesirable non-Germans. The underlying goal was protection of resources from undesirable groups of people through guardianship by the state.

Today, this link still exists, literally as Internet hyperlinks...

1) http://www.nazi.org
/community/links
/orgs

2) http://www.greens.org
/na.html
/elections

3) http://216.92.191.78/elections/candidates.php?candidateId=1984&electionId=&year=2006

4) http://www.gaylemclaughlin.net

In less than 6 degrees of separation, dots are connected from the remnants of national socialism...to the global Green Movement...to Green Parties of North America...to the Green Party of the United States...to Gayle McLaughlin, candidate for Mayor of the City of Richmond.

True, anyone can link to anything, but the basis of their common ideology is that they don't believe in the equality of understanding different people can have over a particular issue AND that this inequality must be addressed through government control.

We at the Tazer couldn't disagree more. We believe that these differences in understanding are the tools with which all solutions will be found. Through debate, compromise, and consensus in public forums, common goals will be accomplished. However, government itself cannot and should not mandate this agreement. It has to be sought and wanted, never forced.

So, when someone tells you that you have "freedom of choice," tell them they're wrong. Freedom IS choice!

From Tazerville to you, we have faith that you will use your choice wisely. Remember to vote on November 7th, and earn the Mayor you deserve.

Another poll, but a clearer view

2006-11-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

Once again, as rising members of the new media, we've gotten hold of another press release on another poll...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FUTURE OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 1, 2006
CONTACT: info@doublelenterprises.net

A new poll on the Richmond, CA mayoral, conducted in mid-October by media relations/political consulting firm LL Enterprises LLC shows the choices crystalizing distinctly for leadership of the city. This poll was commissioned by the Gary Bell for Mayor Campaign, using similar questions and methodology to LLE LLC's previous poll, but with the approved Internet assistance of "zoomerang.com".

The responses to this survey can be viewed HERE: "http://www.zoomerang.com/web/SharedResults/ SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID=L22RSWSBB2W2".

Results indicate that if the election were held today, former Councilmember Gary Bell would win with 33% of the votes. He would defeat current Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin by 9%, and incumbent Mayor Irma Anderson by 13%. Undecided voters account for the remaining 23%.

"As speculated in our previous poll, the candidates are getting their messages out," LLE Managing partner Wesley Westfall says. "People are getting off the fence and taking a stand. Some of that may simply be the approach of Election Day, but many voters are actually making decisions. They've been deciding based on more recent news items, campaign mailers, and, yes, word-of-mouth. Richmond is sufficiently small and still interpersonal enough for the 'rumor mill' to have sway. They are very opinionated!"

Indeed, respondents to the poll, when asked if they lived in a city with "Pride & Purpose" were given the option to comment, and 60 of the 232 did so. A vast majority of the open-ended responses could be characterized as negative; only 2 could be characterized as positive.

"I think that's the malaise we detected from our original poll," Westfall adds. "Most of the comments referenced crime, poverty, and disenchantment with city government. There's a tremendous disconnect that these people feel when it comes to city services, especially regarding public safety."

Q10: Please rate your opinion on how serious a problem crime is in the City of Richmond as a whole...

Very serious: 91%
Somewhat serious: 9%
Not too serious: 0%
Not at all serious: 0%

Q11: How serious a problem is crime in your community where you live?

Very serious: 23%
Somewhat serious: 24%
Not too serious: 40%
Not at all serious: 12%

"Once again, we find a tremendously poor perception of the problem, but still anecdotal evidence that the problem is real," says LLE Managing Partner RC Williams. "We believe that these impressions are resounding to the current administration. Certainly to Mayor Anderson, but perhaps also to Councilmember McLaughlin as well. Candidate Bell may be sufficiently outside the negative fray, and capitalizing."

"Most respondents have lived in Richmond for longer than ten years, are in their 30's or older, and are highly likely to vote," Williams continues. "We're confident that this sample data is an accurate reflection of Richmond residents who will actually go to the polls and cast ballots on Election Day. They're concerned and they want to see their city take a turn for the better."

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We at the Tazer are surprised there haven't been more of these. Is this LL Enterprises the only outfit in town performing polls? Whatever happened to the Times, the Post, and the Globe, or aren't they interested in news anymore? Sure, it's paid for by the Gary Bell campaign, but until someone else comes along this is apparently all we've got.

The data looks in line with the previous poll, as well as with what we figured as far as attitudes towards crime. Around Tazerville, we've heard the buzz, and it's really not pretty at all.

Wakey wake, politicians! You have a LOT of unhappy citizens when it comes to crime and violence. We'd ask what the candidates' plans are, but 2 out of 3 of them look like they're planning to lose...

We told you, Tazerville: WE ARE LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON, SO DO NOT SLEEP!

This time, with feeling!

2006-10-30T16:08:00.000-08:00

We had an anonymous socko in here a minute ago running its mouth, so right after this newsbreak, we'll be telling you what you ought to be thinking...

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Sikh cabbies fear for safety
EL SOBRANTE: Recent slaying sparks forum; concerns include hate crimes, actions of local authorities

By Tom Lochner
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Whether the motive is robbery or hate, Sikh taxi drivers at a safety forum in El Sobrante on Sunday reiterated long-standing complaints that they are frequent targets of crime in the greater Richmond area.

Officials -- whom drivers and their longtime advocate, Harpreet Sandhu of the Richmond Human Relations Commission, have accused of indifference -- said they are listening and ready to act, although their proposals still require approval and financing.

Richmond Councilwoman Maria Viramontes, speaking at Gurdwara Sahib Sikh temple, promised to push her council to match some $30,000 previously allocated to help equip the city's 60 or so licensed cabs with surveillance cameras, bulletproof partitions and global positioning devices. Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus and Contra Costa sheriff's Lt. Donny Gordon proposed safe drop-off points for cabs that are shared by several drivers outside a planned new Richmond police station and the sheriff's Bay Station.

John Rudolph of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee said he will try to enlist other cities in a regional safety effort.

Sunday's forum came two weeks after Musharaf Poswal, 48, of Rodeo was shot and killed in Richmond, but Sandhu and the drivers have been vocal about safety since two earlier crimes in Richmond.

On July 2, 2003, Gurpreet Singh, 23, of Hercules was shot dead in his cab near 21st Street and Carlson Boulevard. On July 5, 2003, Inderjit Singh, 29, of El Sobrante was shot in the jaw on Roosevelt Avenue near 13th Street, where a dispatcher had sent him to pick up a fare.

Gurpreet Singh, no relation to Inderjit Singh, had money, jewelry and a laptop computer when he was found. Sandhu said he believes Gurpreet Singh was the victim of a hate crime.

Inderjit Singh's assailants never asked him for money, his brother said in 2003.

"They will shoot you if you have money and they will shoot you if you don't have money," said Harjit Bains, owner of a Richmond cab company.

Drivers at Sunday's forum said their job is risky because they carry cash and work alone at all hours and in high-crime areas. But Sikh drivers, as well as non-Sikhs who look South Asian or Middle Eastern, also get attacked because of their appearance -- even more so, they said, since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The situation puts them in a particularly dangerous subcategory within an inherently dangerous profession. Nationwide, taxicab driving in 1995 had the highest rate of occupational homicide, 21 times the national average, according to a federal study that year. And the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said taxi drivers had a high risk of dying on the job from any cause in a 2002 report.

Bains said Richmond officials' pledges to enhance cab driver safety are offset by high fees for annual inspections and orders to fix nicks and dents unrelated to safety.

Drivers at the forum told of numerous other violent encounters, both reported and unreported. Nirmal Rangi, speaking in Punjabi with Sandhu translating, said a man approached him at the Richmond BART station three weeks ago, saying he needed to get to Vallejo and would get the money at his destination. The man gave Rangi a telephone number to call; a woman answered and promised to pay the fare.

In Vallejo, the man got out and told Rangi to leave. Rangi said when he balked, the man beat him on the head and bit him.

Rangi, who displayed a bruise over his eye and a large scab on his arm, later identified a suspect from a police photograph of parolees but said he has not heard back from authorities.

Viramontes promised to follow up with the Vallejo police chief.

She also said she would seek federal prosecution for people suspected of using a weapon in a crime against a cabby -- although the power of the City Council to bring that about was unclear. Magnus and Gordon promised to be more aggressive in identifying hate crimes.

Reach Tom Lochner at 510-262-2760 or tlochner@cctimes.com.

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It's great to hear that the City of Richmond is being responsive to community needs, but why is throwing money at the problem the first thing Maria Viramontes thinks of?

For $30,000 twice, Richmond should probably think of getting into the taxi racket itself. Heck, why not get RPD to do it? Most cabs are old police cruisers anyway, complete with at least some of the safety equipment they're talking about. With lights and sirens on they could charge a premium for speed. What fare in his/her right mind would dare to rob an RPD "cabbie"? While providing such a useful service, they're out patrolling AND helping to pay for a brand new Hall of Justice.

Spending money that isn't yours is one thing. It's expected from pols, but then add the fantasy promise of FEDERAL prosecution for using a weapon in a crime against a cabbie when the City Council has no way to make it happen and what do we have?

POLITICAL PANDERING!

We realize that this is an election year, but "tell the people what they want to hear" ought to have a limit. Around Tazerville, it's called THE TRUTH!

Lots of planning

2006-10-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Drug sweep months in the making
RICHMOND: Raid follows summer of surveillance; police arrest at least 16 suspects

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A summer-long collaboration between the FBI and local police led to Wednesday's massive law enforcement raid in North Richmond, federal records show.

Authorities used hidden cameras and recording devices to record drug transactions between paid informants and suspects in August and September, providing the evidence that triggered the sweeps in North Richmond, Richmond and Vallejo.

At least 16 people were arrested Wednesday and early Thursday. Six suspects appeared before a federal magistrate in San Francisco on drug-dealing charges Thursday, after which their indictments and search-warrant affidavits were unsealed.

"The investigation ... focused on narcotics trafficking and violence perpetrated by members and associates of a criminal street gang that claims North Richmond ... as its territory and which is responsible for much of the crime that occurs in the area," FBI Special Agent Doug Hunt wrote in an affidavit.

More than 200 FBI agents, Contra Costa sheriff's deputies and Richmond police converged on the crime-ridden enclave, sweeping through houses on Second, Giaramita and Truman streets and Duboce Avenue.

They confiscated crack cocaine, methamphetamine and cocaine, along with a shotgun and more than $10,000 in cash, said Luke Macauley, assistant U.S. attorney.

The suspects were associated with subdivisions of the Project Trojan street gang, which police say has controlled street drug trade in North Richmond for two decades. Some were indicted by a federal grand jury, while others were charged by prosecutors:

• Antonio Latauris Hendrix Jr., 30, was indicted by a grand jury on suspicion of distributing 26.6 grams of methamphetamine;

• Warren Steven Smith, 38, was indicted on suspicion of distributing 6.8 grams of crack cocaine;

• Michael Louise Black Jr., 33, was indicted on suspicion of distributing 2.2 grams of crack cocaine;

• Jeffrey Eugene Brown, 37, was charged with distributing 92.5 grams of crack cocaine;

• Fred Leon Wiggins, 26, and Dosie Dee King, 37, were charged with conspiring to distribute and distributing 13.6 grams of crack cocaine;

• Carl Leon Nix Jr., 35, was charged with distributing 3.4 grams of crack cocaine.

King was arrested Thursday morning and did not appear in court. Nine other people were arrested by local authorities, Contra Costa sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said, all on suspicion of offenses such as loitering in a drug-dealing area, bothering a police dog or parole violations.

The sweep was the third large law enforcement action in North Richmond this year. In March, a two-year federal wiretap investigation netted several mid- and high-level drug-dealing suspects, while a sweep in February resulted in state charges for a half-dozen drug-dealing suspects.

Authorities say the large law enforcement sweeps help weed out gang members and weaken their hold on the community.

Staff writer Bruce Gerstman contributed to this report. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

Latest on North Richmond ops

2006-10-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

Multiagency drug raid results in 15 arrests North Richmond operation aims to make the area safer

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

More than 200 police and federal agents kicked down doors and chased suspects from drug corners Wednesday in North Richmond's third massive law enforcement raid this year.

SWAT teams charged through several houses near the corner of Fifth Street and Market Avenue in the unincorporated enclave about 10 a.m., using flash-bang grenades to clear rooms and ordering occupants out at gunpoint.

"Our goal is to make North Richmond a safer place by combating drugs and violence," Contra Costa sheriff's Lt. Kitty Parker said. "With the drug sales comes the violence: murders, shootings, stabbings. We're here to arrest the people who are creating the problems."

Authorities sought to serve 11 federal drug indictments and 13 search warrants, results of a long-term inquiry into North Richmond's street drug trade. Local agencies also sought several other suspects in connection with state warrants and unresolved investigations.

By afternoon, authorities arrested 15 people on suspicion of various offenses, including seven of those indicted on federal charges.

Authorities named no suspects Wednesday. The FBI will identify its suspects today, when they appear before a federal magistrate in Oakland, Special Agent Joe Schadler said.

"They needed to do something. There's just too much killing around here," said Roselyn Knowles, in the crowd of onlookers at Fifth and Market. "They need to get those guns off the street so I can get to the store."

Like many residents, Knowles rounded a corner Wednesday morning and found herself face to face with rifle-carrying men in olive-drab jumpsuits and ballistic vests. Sheriff's deputies, Richmond police, and FBI agents from Portland, Ore., Sacramento and Los Angeles participated in the raids.

"Enough is enough. The citizens of North Richmond will no longer tolerate violence and drugs in their community," said Dave Johnson, assistant special agent in charge at the FBI's San Francisco field office. "And we're here to show that local, state and federal law enforcement are in their corner."

Crushing poverty, drug dealing and endemic street violence have plagued this community of 4,500 for decades. Detectives have investigated five homicides here this year, and Richmond police say they believe friction between street factions in North Richmond and Richmond's Iron Triangle neighborhood caused several additional killings within city limits.

Most of the search warrants served Wednesday were for buildings within a 13-block radius of Fifth and Market, one of the community's most active drug corners and the scene of its most recent killing.

Votive candles and teddy bears from the street shrine for Shawn Melson toppled as police streamed through the door of Rancho market, a few paces from where the 16-year-old died in a drive-by shooting Sept. 10.

Houses also were raided near Hilltop mall and in the Richmond Annex neighborhood, Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan said.

Authorities confiscated nearly a pound of methamphetamine and one replica firearm in the raids. Nobody was hurt.

Schadler described the investigation preceding the raid as an extension of a multiagency wiretap investigation of drug dealing associated with the Project Trojan street gang. That probe culminated in a similar raid in March, and nine federal indictments.

A separate sheriff's investigation in February culminated in a similar sweep with similar indictments from a Contra Costa grand jury.

Schadler said Wednesday's actions did not necessarily target gang members.

"These major operations do help to dismantle these organizations," Gagan said. "But at the same time, we hope to also empower the community to take back its streets. That's essential. It would be tragic to lose all the progress we have made."

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

Crackdown!

2006-10-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

Cops show force in North Richmond drug raid

More than 200 agents from the FBI, Contra Costa Sheriff's Office and Richmond Police Department raided more than a dozen homes in and around unincorporated North Richmond early today to crack down on drug trade.

Authorities executed 13 search warrants and were seeking 11 people on federal drug warrants. In a large show of force, SWAT teams entered several houses at Fifth Street and Market Avenue, using flash-bang grenades to clear rooms.

The 10 a.m. raid also targeted corner markets that are hot spots where much of North Richmond's street-level drug dealing occurs.

County sheriff's Lt. Kitty Parker said the raid is part of her agency's continuous efforts to manage street dealings and to be visible.

"We're dedicated to cleaning this place up," she said. "When we come to serve these warrants we're not just hitting the houses, we're also going to the corners."

The action was the second large raid involving federal authorities this year.

-- Karl Fischer

Food for thought from today's Times

2006-10-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Not mayor material

Gayle McLaughlin's statements at council meetings and in campaign brochures or newspaper articles reflect a very narrow approach to solving Richmond's major problems.

She says poor leadership by the mayor and City Council members is responsible for crime, violence, bad streets, and reduced economic opportunities or growth in Richmond. She believes these problems can be addressed through taxing businesses.

She also says she refuses to take funds from companies or to dialog with even the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, an organization largely comprised of small and medium businesses, nonprofit agencies and concerned individuals, fearing this might taint her.

An announced environmentalist and Green Party member, McLaughlin should examine the nationwide approach of an increasing number of environmental groups partnering with business and finding it's good for business and the environment.

One such group, the Business Environmental Leadership Council, was noted in a recent Times article.

For McLaughlin to promise to build a better Richmond by cutting dialog with businesses and other groups representing views different from her own sounds like Bush's approach to government: not talking with people having divergent points of view.

McLaughlin says she needs to learn more about Richmond's needs, and she's right, but not as Richmond's mayor.

William R. (Bob) Dabney
Richmond

Mysterious mystery & other discussions

2006-10-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

You're all still grounded, by the way.

But once moderation went back up, the nonsense dried up...we hope...

Then this came in:

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thoughtful solutions said...
http://www.gaylemclaughlin.net/press-CCT_07-29-06.htm

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Yes, that's it. No commentary, no explanation. We sat around the cool kids table in the Tazer cafeteria, wondering over our coffee what to make of it. Spam? Propaganda? Or an earnest request by a campaign for Tazer attention? Only "thoughtful solutions" knows for sure.

We're not in the business of endorsements...yet. Our goal is to make sure you're informed and aware, such that you can hold your elected officials accountable for their behavior. We want you to hold their feet to the fire when they do wrong, and hold their feet to the fire when they do right. And when they do right, please be sure to support them on Election Day because your vote doesn't mean anything unless you use it.

There are different trains of thought and opinion on the Tazer, but we tend to strongly agree where it counts. A general consensus here is that crime IS a problem in Richmond, and that law enforcement IS a solution, but not the ONLY solution. What else can be done?

Just like a gardener spraying for weeds, we think that city government can do certain things to make the environment inhospitable to crime. Several come to mind immediately: reversing blight, maintaining streets and lights, supporting parks and community centers, attracting new businesses, encouraging business growth, and fostering employment opportunities.

Most of these activities are well within the scope of city government, but then some are probably better suited to city-involved cooperative or private efforts. Simply having an empty space and able-bodied workers available won't be enough to attract a business. Unsuitable conditions that city government can affect -- crime, taxation, regulation, and competition for resources, to name a few -- will have an impact on that vacancy and continued unemployment.

We at the Tazer are of various minds about reaching at-risk youths, but wonder some of the same things...

1) How much of these efforts should be at the City of Richmond's expense, and how will they be funded?
2) How much of these efforts can existing organizations and businesses fulfill?
3) Would new businesses be able to help, especially if they were willing to train and hire people?
4) Would city programs for employment be fulfilling genuine city functions, or would they be "make-work" jobs?
5) Would city programs for employment be competing with businesses for applicants?
6) What are the expectations of the city regarding crime reduction once any programs are instituted?

As taxpayers and residents of Richmond, we have questions. Do any Richmond politicians or candidates have answers?

Foul Play

2006-10-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Richmond police arrest murder suspect

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - Police arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of murder in the strangulation death of his wife in their South 18th Street home.

Authorities first thought 47-year-old Marilyn Mays died in a medical emergency, police Lt. Mark Gagan said. Someone called 911 about 2:15 a.m. to report she was not breathing.

Paramedics took her to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. But an autopsy later in the day revealed she was the victim of foul play, Gagan said.

Detectives interviewed the victim's husband, Pierre Mays and, after finding evidence during a search of their home, arrested him and booked him into County Jail in Martinez.

Gagan said domestic issue preceded the killing, the 37th reported this year in Richmond.

We Turn Our Backs For ONE MINUTE and...

2006-10-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

Sadly, less than one day after lifting comment moderation, what was supposed to be insightful conversation and debate spiraled very quickly into the very garbage that we try to avoid.

Therefore, we have no other choice than to turn comment moderation back on to keep things focused and on topic. To those readers and posters who follow the rules, we're sorry, but someone has to step up and keep things clean.

And to those of you who cause the trouble: You should truly be ashamed of yourselves.

RTT

Because you kids have been behaving...

2006-10-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

...we're going on a little vacation.

This isn't carte blanche to wild out, but we officially declare the comments attached to this post as an open thread. Feel free to comment without hinderance of moderation for the next couple days. Just please keep it on topic and family-friendly because, as always, we reserve the right to delete the unruly and restore moderation controls.

Glimmer of hope

2006-10-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

Peace Camp Remains Resolute Despite Nearby Homicide

RICHMOND, Calif. (KCBS) -- Activists living in a tent city in Richmond as part of an anti-violence vigil will not abandon their site after an early morning homicide occurred across the street Friday.

Travante James, 20, was found dead in his car with multiple gunshot wounds around 4:30 a.m. in the 400 block of South 41st Street. The activists say their resolve has not faltered and they will continue their campaign until the city’s homicide rate is zero.

"We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong, we're going to stay the course because our theme is we want our children to live," Reverend Andre Shoemake told KCBS’ George Harris.

"You have seen a community, coming together saying enough is enough, we're tired of this madness and we want our children to live."

The peace camp near John F. Kennedy Park is one of four in the city. Michael Ali, a local activist is also a member of the camp, his niece a homicide victim in 2005.

"We're spiritual warriors and this place is holy ground,” Ali said. "As opposed to being angry I come here to honor the families, I come here to honor the youth and the young people who have tragically died for nothing."

Shoemake is certain the camps are having a positive impact on the community. "When men and women of good will come together, the impossible becomes possible. We are going to reach zero homicides in the city of Richmond."

He added that it’s time disadvantaged communities call for change. "We've always gone along with the notion that the things that are happening within African American communities, low income communities of color is just the way it is. I submit to you that it's not the way that it is, it's the way we've allowed it to be."

Victim #36 identified

2006-10-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

MAN SHOT TO DEATH:

A man was shot and killed in a Richmond parking lot late Saturday, police said.

Omar Villalobos, 31, of Richmond, was found dead about 11:15 p.m. in the parking lot of a cleaning business at 23rd Street and Esmond Avenue, Richmond police Lt. Enos Johnson said. The victim had no connection with the business, which was closed at the time.

Police said Villalobos was standing with other people in the parking lot when a vehicle approached. Three people exited the vehicle and a conversation ensued.

The victim began to walk away when one of the three pulled a handgun and shot the victim in the upper body, Johnson said.

The assailant and other two men left in a possibly light-colored American-model vehicle, police said.

Anyone with information can call Richmond police at 510-620-6933.

-- Scott Marshall

Breaking news: #36

2006-10-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

Shooting death in Richmond

A man was shot and killed in a Richmond parking lot late Saturday, police said.

The 30-year-old victim, whose name has not yet been released, was found dead about 11:15 p.m. in the parking lot of a cleaning business at 23rd Street and Esmond Avenue, said Richmond police Lt. Enos Johnson. The victim had no connection with the business, which was closed at the time.

Police said the victim was standing with other people in the parking lot when a vehicle approached. Three people exited the vehicle and a conversation ensued.

The victim began to walk away when one of the three pulled a handgun and shot the victim in the upper body, Johnson said.

The assailant and other two men left in a possibly light-colored American-model vehicle, police said.

Anyone with information can call Richmond police at 510-620-6933.

-- Scott Marshall

More info on shooting near Kennedy Tent City

2006-10-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

Man slain near a Tent City
RICHMOND: Peace campers say gunfire does not intimidate them and they will stay until the end of the month as planned

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

James Cash peeked out his camper window before dawn Friday, watching an idling car across the street from Kennedy Park in Richmond.

Minutes passed. Nothing happened, so he went back to bed.

"Then about 4:20 I heard the shots," Cash said. "They were firing all kinds of shots. They just kept shooting."

Cash grabbed his flashlight when the shooting stopped and swept its beam over the tents erected two weeks ago to protest the city's street violence. Then he cast his light across the park to South 41st Street.

There, just 30 yards from where peace activists labored to broadcast a message of hope, Travante Navaro James sat dying in the same Mazda that Cash saw earlier, now pockmarked with bullet holes.

Word of the killing spread swiftly to Richmond's other Tent Cities: camps in Nevin, Shields-Reid and King parks where fed-up community members seek to reclaim public space from street crime. Since the first camps appeared in late September, no killing came so close.

But as the sun rose Friday, organizers said it only galvanized their commitment to stop endemic street violence in the flatland neighborhoods.

"We are truly on the battlefield for Christ. These people are really out here on the front line," said Patsy Green, who visited the camp Friday morning. "People know that any one of us could pay the ultimate sacrifice."

Police got a call about gunfire from residents of an apartment complex several blocks away at 4:28 a.m., Lt. Mike Gormley said. They found nothing there, but at 4:43 a.m. an officer saw a man, Cash, shining a flashlight in cars on the 400 block of South 41st and found the victim.

"The window was all busted up. You could see he was shot in the face," Cash said. "It looked like he was talking on a cell phone."

Someone walked up to the car and fired many rounds through the window, killing James, police said. Witnesses heard a car leaving the area immediately after the shooting, a car that could be involved, Lt. Enos Johnson said.

James, who lived a few blocks away, slumped toward the passenger seat, Cash said. A cell phone lay on the floorboard.

James appeared to be breathing when Cash found him, but Cash said he did not receive medical attention for nearly a half-hour. An ambulance took James to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in central Richmond, where he was pronounced dead.

Dispatch records show the ambulance arrived at 4:48 a.m., five minutes after police.

Detectives pursued leads in the case Friday. A patrol officer had stopped the victim and given him a traffic citation about 10 minutes before the shooting, Detective Sgt. Lee Hendricsen said, so police have some information about his movements before he died.

"We have not determined the motive behind the killing," Johnson said. "We have not determined whether this was a random shooting or whether the victim was targeted."

Richmond's 35th killing of the year came during a relatively light stretch for shootings in the city, but was not the first homicide near a Tent City camp. Jesse Lee Woodson, 24, died in an Oct. 2 drive-by shooting on First Street, three blocks from Nevin Park.

"I pray that the citizens do not get discouraged," said the Rev. Andre Shumake, who helped organize the Tent City in Nevin Park last month. "We want the community to know that our resolve is strong, and we will stay the course. We will stay out here until the end of the month, as planned."

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

ZERO HOMICIDES IN RICHMOND CAMPAIGN

Richmond homicides this week (Saturday-Friday): 2
Year to date total: 35
Year to date 2005: 30

Date:
• Oct. 15: Musharaf Poswal, 48, Rodeo. Shot and killed in his car about 4 a.m. near the corner of San Pablo and Bayview avenues.
• Oct. 20: Travante Navaro James, 20, Richmond. Shot and killed in his car about 4:30 a.m. in the 400 block of South 41st Street.

HOW TO HELP
Police ask anyone with information about the killing of 20-year-old Travante Navaro James to call Detective Esteban Barragan at 510-231-3053 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (8477).

IF YOU GO
The Iron Triangle Neighborhood Council has organized a peace walk in memory of community activist Ramona Braxton-Samuels at 11 a.m. today. The walk starts at the corner of Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue, followed by a 3 p.m. gospel concert in Nevin Park.

Reverberation

2006-10-20T09:24:00.002-07:00

Although we don't know if he reads the Tazer, we like Bud Wakeland anyway because he's echoing something we said at the time.

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Leaking info a usual part of politics

Your editorial regarding Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson's car allowances was most welcome and appropriate, with the exception of the sentence, "We find the dirty pool unsavory."

What the heck is unsavory about her opponents leaking information at election time? That's the political process.

Opponents research and expose their opponents, who certainly are not going to expose themselves. That is obviously what happened, just as the Democrats leaked the Mark Foley information on the eve of the national election.

Fortunately, someone is researching those in power. Otherwise, we shortly would not have our freedom.

Anderson's opponents did exactly what they are supposed to do, and the Times did exactly what it is supposed to do, which is report.

Bud Wakeland
El Sobrante

Another killing near a Tent City

2006-10-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

A sunny Friday to end the week, but it's also the unfortunate end to another life...

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Police find homicide by anti-violence camp

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - An unidentified 21-year-old man was shot to death this morning just yards from one of the six Tent Cities set up to take back the city's streets from violence, police said.

At 4:30 a.m., police were called about shots near the Monterey Pines Apartments in south Richmond, Richmond police Lt. Mike Gormley.

When they arrived, they didn't find anything but did hear reports of someone using a flashlight to look into cars at Kennedy Park near Cutting Boulevard and South 41st Street, Gormley said.

Police headed to the park and met some of the Tent City's residents before finding the body of a 21-year-old man sitting in a parked car on the 400 block of South 41st Street, about 75 feet from the encampment. Shell casings from bullets littered the street.

Police said they believe the gunman walked up to the car and opened fire on the victim sitting inside, and that the initial call may have been the shooting's sound echoing and drifting over to the apartments.

Paramedics took the man to Kaiser Medical Center in Richmond, where he was pronounced dead.

The homicide is the city's 35th death of the year.

The Kennedy Park Tent City opened Oct. 9. Tent Cities' intent is to unify the city's southside, central and North Richmond neighborhoods, which have been embroiled in long-standing feuds. The first one was erected Sept. 24 in the Iron Triangle neighborhood and another began in North Richmond's Shields-Reid Park the next day.

Staff writer John Geluardi contributed to this report.

This just in...

2006-10-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

As up-and-coming members of the media, we've gotten hold of an interesting press release...

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LATEST RICHMOND MAYORAL POLL:
Distrust, Indecision, & Concern Regarding Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2005
CONTACT: LL Enterprises LLC: info@doubleLenteprises.net

Results of a poll regarding the Richmond, CA mayoral race, conducted September 15 – 30, 2006 by media relations/political consulting firm LL Enterprises LLC, shows a very tight race with many voters still on the fence about their 3 choices to lead the city over the next four years.

The poll results indicate that if the election were to take place tomorrow, all three candidates are extremely close, with Richmond business owner Gary Bell slightly ahead of current City Councilmember and Green Party candidate Gayle McLaughlin. Incumbent Mayor Irma Anderson comes in third, just a few points behind McLaughlin.

To the following key questions, respondents provided these results:

• Do you feel that you live in a city with “Pride & Purpose”?
No: 77%
Yes: 23%

Analysis: This seems to reflect a generalized displeasure about the city, to perhaps include a malaise regarding city politics.

• How serious a problem is crime in the City of Richmond as a whole?
Very serious: 87%
Somewhat serious: 11%
A bit serious: 1%
Not serious at all: 1%

• How serious is crime in your community?
Very serious: 29%
Somewhat serious: 40%
A bit serious: 25%
Not serious at all: 6%

Analysis: The differences in these results appear to indicate a general perception that Richmond has serious problems with crime. However, since 69% of respondents answer that crime in their community rates “somewhat serious” or greater, there is at least anecdotal evidence that crime remains a real problem.

• If the election were held tomorrow, who would be your choice for Mayor of Richmond?
Gary Bell (Banker): 22%
Gayle McLaughlin (Councilmember): 18%
Irma Anderson (Incumbent): 16%
Undecided: 42%

Analysis: The most interesting story in this poll may not be who has made up their mind, but who has not. Former Councilmember Bell and current Councilmember McLaughlin lead sitting Mayor Anderson, but a whopping 42% of Richmond voters surveyed for this poll responded that they have not made a decision on which candidate they will support in next month’s election.

“We believe that there are a number of factors in play here,” says LL Enterprises Managing Partner RC Williams. “There is an incumbent mayor who has been beat up quite a bit for a number of reasons, and can’t seem to shake the perception that she is a ‘gavelbanger’ who can’t take decisive action when required; a City Councilperson who — while well intentioned — does not seem to possess the experience or business savvy to run a city government; and a businessman who has been away from politics for a number of years and may be out of the loop of voters’ knowledge. Our figures bear out this indecision, but then we dug a little deeper.”

“In-depth, follow-up questioning indicates that Richmond voters want certain qualities in a mayor: leadership experience, business experience and political experience,” says LL Enterprises Managing Partner Wesley Westfall. “Along with a concrete plan on how to rebuild the city and reunite the electorate, it’s a formula that Richmond voters seem to be seeking. They want their city on the right track, and the real story will be which candidate can convey their message best to the numerous and demographically disparate residents, some of whom are either not completely informed about this race, or remain on the fence nonetheless.”

With the candidates’ forum that was broadcast live on Richmond Public Access Television Channel 28 on October 9th and others in the near future, voters will get an opportunity to see all three candidates in action in the few weeks left before Election Day. Amid a blitz of mailers and other advertising, combined with news attention, the candidates are obviously jockeying to communicate. Because this ballot occurs outside of a Presidential election cycle, turnout may be comparatively low. The three campaigns for Richmond Mayor must energize their base and collect voters in the undecided middle to assure victory.

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Sept. 15th to 30th might be a bit out of date considering some of the news that has come in, like Tent City developments, Anderson's car stipend foibles, and the slayings of Jesse Lee Woodsen and Musharaf Poswal.

It's still the ONLY polling data that the Tazer is aware of, and considering the consultation that must be going on in all mayoral camps, we're surprised this didn't happen sooner. Who is LLE, and on what side is their bread buttered? These sorts of polls don't pay for themselves, y'know?

But it's interesting all the same, mostly the part where an incumbent mayor isn't making the grade simply on her incumbency.

BOHICA: Bend Over Here It Comes Again

2006-10-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

We at the Tazer want to believe Chief Magnus and City Manager Lindsay about this move, but we're still worried that it will impede RPD service, and will cost the city money that could be (or could have been) better spent...

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Police department to relocate
RICHMOND: City Council votes 8-1 to move force out of Hall of Justice, citing mold and flooding concerns

By Karl Fischer and John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Spurred by reports of seasonal flooding, mold infestation and other grotesque conditions, the Richmond City Council has voted to move its police force out of the decrepit Hall of Justice building.

Police headquarters most likely will shift to the same industrial area near the city marina now occupied by City Hall, which vacated its Civic Center Plaza building in 2003 over seismic safety concerns.

Logistics prohibit a move before January, meaning officers and the public will spend one more dirty, leaky winter in the 57-year-old building.

Council members regretted such an expensive solution -- early estimates peg rent and moving costs at $5.6 million -- but said they had no choice.

"We have to look at what's more important," Mayor Irma Anderson said. "Life or the almighty dollar."

The council voted 8-1 in favor of the move Tuesday, with Councilman Tom Butt dissenting. Butt, an architect, said the city did not do enough to learn about the building's flaws or about the health risks associated with mold there.

"I do not think there is enough valid information to make a $10 million decision," he said Wednesday. "And I don't think there's much value in making that decision now."

With the same vote, the council agreed to focus lease negotiations for the department's temporary digs on a Regatta Boulevard property owned by DiCon Fiberoptics Inc. The department would occupy about half the company's 100,000-square-foot building.

If those talks resolve, police will follow City Hall out of Richmond's residential core into a remote, unpopulated area on the southern edge of the city, separated from most neighborhoods by railroad tracks.

Renovation and retrofitting of Civic Center Plaza begins next year, and plans include construction of a new police building that could be ready by 2009. The current Hall of Justice will be renovated for use by city government.

"I don't think this changes the fundamental way we are policing the community. We are firmly committed to a geographic model, with officers patrolling in every neighborhood in the city," Police Chief Chris Magnus said. "(The move) will not have much impact on our deployment."

Moving the department also would prove less expensive than keeping it in the building during renovation, according to a cost analysis provided to the council by City Manager Bill Lindsay.

Lindsay's staff hired several consultants to study the Hall of Justice since April, when about 30 police employees filed workers' compensation claims protesting their daily exposure to mold and asbestos.

Workers supplied hundreds of photos showing copious mold growing throughout the building during the rainy season, when a leaky roof and walls allow water to trickle down to the basement, which floods as much as 12 inches in a property vault that contains drugs, blood evidence and other potential hazards.

Past police administrations downplayed the problems, and several council members have said they were not aware of the extent of the problems until this year.

"I can't envision any case in which we would put employee safety behind cost," Councilman John Marquez said. "I've seen the inside of that building, and nobody should be working in there."

While the city's insurer has paid no claims to date, the city did respond with environmental tests within the building. In June, a consultant found high levels of mold, unhealthy but not acutely toxic.

An environmental health specialist recommended the city make immediate repairs or move the department before winter.

Moving police to a rental property on a three-year lease and repairing the vacant Hall of Justice will cost about $9 million, according to city estimates. Repairing the Hall piecemeal while rotating sections of the department through portable trailers would cost about $10 million.

Both estimates incorporated work from a previous consultant, who did not open walls and cautioned that costs could rise if hidden complications arise.

The $9 million estimate also assumes a three-year, $3.4 million lease and $3.5 million in actual repair costs. The repair costs include a 20 percent contingency cost.

The $10 million estimate includes $2.6 million for portable trailers, $3.9 million for actual repair costs and about $3.5 million worth of projections for contingencies -- about 78 percent -- owing to the complexities of working in an inhabited building, Assistant City Manager Janet Schneider said.

The department will move in phases, Magnus said, but most workers will relocate by January. A consultant at the council meeting, meanwhile, estimated the move would happen in March.

"Our personnel are very motivated to get out of this building. There really are health and safety concerns, not to mention it's a horrible work environment," Magnus said. "My employees will do everything possible to facilitate a rapid departure."

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

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The whole Civic Center area could use attention, but bad finances and City Hall ops moving in 2003 seem to have put it on the back burner. Unfortunately, this means that the city is still paying rent at Marina Bay, RPD will have to start doing the same, AND we don't see a permanent solution in this.

For his opposition, we're curious to know what Tom Butt's solution would be. To Mr. Butt and any concerned Richmond resident, the Tazer stands ready if you wish to opine.

More details on cab driver killing

2006-10-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Robbery a motive in cabbie slaying, police theorize

Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Less than two years ago, a back injury ended Musharaf Poswal's 18-year career as a clerk and night-crew supervisor at a Richmond supermarket. To make ends meet, he began driving a cab in San Francisco, often reassuring his son over the phone that he was fine.

Before dawn Sunday, friends found Poswal, 48, slumped over the wheel of his blue Mazda pickup truck, parked behind his Yellow Cab on a Richmond street within sight of the El Cerrito police station. He had been shot numerous times and killed, moments after he ended his shift, authorities said.

As Richmond police looked for clues Monday in what they believe was a botched robbery, Poswal's family and friends gathered at his home in Rodeo, mourning the loss of the father of four sons and lamenting the latest instance of the slaying of a taxi driver.

"Everyone can tell you, he's a very respectable guy, a nice gentle man, very caring about others," said Poswal's son, Ali Poswal, 24, of San Jose. "He never had problems with anybody. I'm really shocked. It's unnecessary. I don't know what to think right now."

Right after Poswal's shift ended at about 4 a.m., a clerk at the Terrace Inn and Suites near San Pablo and Bayview avenues in El Cerrito reported hearing three shots, an employee said Monday. But Poswal's killing wasn't discovered until 6 a.m., when worried friends, wondering where he was, found the victim in his truck.

Richmond police haven't identified any suspects in the slaying, the city's 34th homicide so far this year, said Lt. Mark Gagan. "We haven't ruled out any motive, but it appears to be a robbery gone bad," Gagan said.

Investigators would not say whether they believe Poswal was killed by a passenger or someone who came up to him on the street.

Poswal usually parked his cab on Bayview Avenue; his relief driver, Shaukat Khan, 44, of El Sobrante, would then take it from there directly to San Francisco for his day shift.

"He's very nice. He treated me like a brother," Khan said. "I really miss him."

Ali Poswal said he often spoke to his father over the phone several times during his shift, sometimes as he had passengers in the back seat. The elder Poswal never reported any problems while on the job, he said.

"It's very, very sad for me," said Poswal's brother, Maqbool Ahmed, 55, of Fremont. "I was in a somber mood when I heard at 6 a.m. (Sunday)."

Ahmed said friends who found the body ran over to the El Cerrito police station across the street and were told to call Richmond police. Ahmed accused El Cerrito police of failing to respond, but El Cerrito police Cmdr. Michael Regan disputed that assertion Monday.

Regan said officers were initially told that there was a car with a broken window on the street. But during that same conversation, police learned that someone was in distress and immediately went to the scene, even as Richmond police were called, Regan said.

Poswal, a native of Pakistan, immigrated to the United States in 1980. He took a job at a Richmond plastics factory before becoming a clerk at a Lucky supermarket. Years later, he became a night supervisor when the store became an Albertsons.

He leaves behind his wife, four sons and four siblings.

The slaying underscores the dangers that cab drivers -- many of them immigrants from India or Pakistan -- face every day, authorities said. Taxi drivers were shot and killed in Richmond on Christmas Day last year and in 2003, the same year that one was fatally shot in Redwood City.

At the Richmond BART station Monday, the bruise under the left eye of cab driver Nirmal Rangi, 70, was still evident more than a week after he was attacked by a passenger after dropping him off in Vallejo. The man, who told Rangi he didn't have any money and just got out of jail, also bit him in the right arm, said Rangi, showing his bandage.

"I'm scared," Rangi said. But, he added, "There's no other job except to drive."

E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.

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EDIT 3:30 PM: HotCoCo finally opened up for us. Yet more details and things aren't looking so hot for El Cerrito PD...

Cab driver was shot to death, police say
RICHMOND: Co-worker finds body of man in truck that was parked near police station

By Karl Fischer and Tom Lochner
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

The body of a cab driver killed Sunday in Richmond across the street from a fire station likely sat in his personal vehicle for two hours before a co-worker found him, police said Monday.

Although detectives lack leads in the case, flashing lights and sirens from a fire engine leaving for an emergency call about 4:10 a.m. may have scared off whoever shot 48-year-old Musharaf Poswal, they said Monday.

Poswal, who lived in Rodeo, drove his cab in San Francisco. He worked from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. and parked the cab in the same place after every shift, where a different cabbie would take it for another shift, police said.

When the victim did not come home Sunday, his wife called another cabbie, who went to the corner of San Pablo and Bayview avenues and found the body a few minutes after 6 a.m., Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said.

"It looks like he got out of the cab to move some belongings to his personal vehicle" when he was attacked, Peixoto said. "The cab was parked in front of his pickup."

The attacker shot him several times. Poswal locked himself inside his truck, where he died.

"Obviously, they knew who these people were, where they got off and on," said Harpreet Sandhu, a member of the Richmond Human Relations Commission and a longtime advocate for cabbie safety in West County. "This didn't happen by randomness."

Police found no obvious signs of robbery, detectives said, nor any obvious indicator of motive. The truck was parked on Richmond's side of San Pablo Avenue, across the street from the El Cerrito city offices, including the Police Department, City Hall and Fire Station 71.

The engine company responded to a call of a burning vehicle shortly after 4 a.m., detectives said, about the same time Poswal would have parked in his usual spot across the street.

Robbers have killed at least three other taxi drivers in the greater Richmond area since 1999 and wounded several others. Leaders at the Sikh temple in El Sobrante have repeatedly called on police and city government to provide more protection for drivers, as most cabbies in the area are Sikhs.

Sandhu said local cab drivers have been told to exchange their vehicles in "safe" places, which may explain why the victim chose a place so near the El Cerrito Police Department.

"This a place they do it every day," Sandhu said. "Somebody knew that this is where they change every day."

Poswal was not Sikh. He leaves behind two children.

The death was the 34th homicide reported this year in Richmond.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com. Reach Tom Lochner at 510-262-2760 or tlochner@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP
Police ask anyone with information about Sunday's killing of Musharaf Poswal to call Detective Terry Miles at 510-620-6860 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (232-8477).

Cab Driver Found Shot In Own Car

2006-10-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

Richmond police are investigating the homicide of a male cab driver who was found early Sunday morning slumped over the steering wheel of his car.

Rodeo resident Musharaf Poswal, 48, was found with multiple gunshot wounds just after 6 a.m. on Bayview Avenue at San Pablo Avenue, which is near the El Cerrito city line and about a block from the El Cerrito Police Department.

A motive for the shooting has not been determined, said Lt. Shawn Pickett. It is Richmond's 34th homicide this year.

The victim, who drove for a San Francisco cab company, was discovered in his personal vehicle, which was parked right behind the cab he used for work. The shooting occurred in a residential neighborhood where the victim usually picked up the cab at the beginning of shift and parked it afterward, Pickett said. It is uncertain whether he was beginning or ending his shift when he was shot.

Anyone who has information about the shooting is asked to contact the Richmond police at 510-620-6643 or, to remain anonymous, call 510-232-8477.

-- John Geluardi

Mail Call!

2006-10-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

It's a soggy Monday in Tazerville, but we hope your weekend was pleasant. According to our comment backlog, quite a lot of you are chomping at the bit to say your piece. We've let some of it through, but then some of it is just going to have to fall by the wayside.

We understand that you have opinions, and that you like the spontaneity that the Tazer used to offer. Unfortunately, this lent itself to abuse. Thus, due to the bad behavior of a few bad apples (or perhaps only one?), it's led us first to the deletion of comments, and now comment moderation. Sorry, Tazer Faithful, but that's the way it has to be.

However, some of you (like "Mack the Knife") might be curious about what crosses our desks. Honestly, so much of it is unrelated to violence prevention that we at the Tazer decided to showcase a sample of the insanity we feel we're saving you from, complete with responses...

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* Lady Dawg Daddy said...
God knows I could use a good job.
You Tazer people want to meet me at Fifth and Palm? Any job is a good job.

Dear Starts with a B/Rhymes with Itch,

You're exactly why the Banstick exists.

Good luck with that,
The Richmond Truth Tazer

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* Anonymous said...
Oh geez, did the internet exist in 1969?

Dear Anonymous,

Yes, the system that would become the Internet (then known as ARPANET) made its first link on October 29, 1969.

Geez, don't you know anything?

Feel free to ask smarter questions,
The Richmond Truth Tazer

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* ever so slightly touched in the head by an angel said...

Ummm...yea

If your significant other is withholding crucial their day job from you, I suspect that they may fall ever so slightly below the threshold of "significant"

Dear Blah Blah Angel,

We don't come down to where you work and mishandle your overalls or touch your rubber gloves. Just for that, we're breaking up with you.

Leaving your stuff on the porch,
The Richmond Truth Tazer

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* Former Tazer Reader said...

This real great, now we have to wait to see and read our postings?!
Really great Tazer! Good going! I won't be wasting my time here anymore. Sorry, Heave-ho Tazer I got to go.

Dear Never Was A Tazer Reader,

We doubt that you'd like to have someone writing graffiti in your newspaper, but that's what these nonsensical postings have become.

Since you believe that we shouldn't maintain control of our own blog, then the feeling isn't mutual. You're actually part of the problem, and we're not sorry to hear you go. We recommend that you start up your own blog and allow whatever comments you like.

Sincerely,
The Richmond Truth Tazer

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We at the Tazer would like to reiterate that this blog is about violence prevention in Richmond, and how politicians and their politics are involved. We enjoy your comments, but hate when you're off topic. Until further notice, comment moderation will be enforced because we want to assure you that what you're getting is quality discussion.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Thanks for the plug!

2006-10-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

We understand that Sylvia Page has been singing the praises of the Tazer on her website, happinessrus.org. We appreciate your interest, Ms. Page!

Good stuff on "happinessrus.org", especially the Resource Guide page. It contains a wealth of information on child protection, domestic abuse, and sexual assault services, including phone numbers for getting hold of authorities to assist you. On the "Stop the Violence" page, there's a link to us and also Michael Ali's message about teaching the values of peace.

We'd like to welcome all "happinessrus.org" readers to Tazerville! We hope your visit is a pleasant one!

Walking for peace in Richmond

2006-10-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

Tazer friend Mike Ali sends us this note regarding his work to preserve Bay Area sacred sites and how it has intertwined with his work to prevent violence...

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Friday, October 13, 2006

Indian People Organized for Change (IPOC)and Vallejo Intertribal Council's--Sacred Sites Protection and Rights of Indigenous Peoples (SPPRIT) Native-American walkers finally reached Tent City at 4th and MacDonald.

The Native Peoples walking began their walk on October 9 at Solano Community College and finally reached Richmond on Friday, Oct. 12 around 11:30 AM. The Native walkers will be walking through the Bay Area and will be ending their sacred walk in Pomo country at the Kule Luku Round House in Pt. Reyes on October 21.

The original Native peoples of San Francisco Bay Indian Country consisted of Ohlone, Wappo, Coast and Bay Mewuk, North Yokut and South Pomo. Many of their descendants are among the Native walkers. The journey is a spiritual journey to walk and pray to remember our Native Ancestors, who live on this land for thousands of years.

The walk is being led by traditional Native leaders. We will walk and pray with our Ancestors in area where shell mounds and sacred sites have been desecrated by development.

Today at the time of this writing some 25 hardy Native Walkers finally reached downtown Richmond's Tent City at 4th and MacDonald. They were greeted and embraced by Tent City organizers Rev. Andre Shumake and Rev. Charles Newsome, both of North Richmond Missionary Baptist Church. Both groups came together and had prayer circle to honor both Tent City and the Sacred Site Walkers for their common goals of Human and Civil Rights in Richmond and through out Indian Country.

Tent City on 4th and MacDonald was where the first camp-in for peace started to address the issues of violence and killing in Richmond. There have been 225 homicides in Richmond since 2001. Wounded Knee De Ocampo with SSPRIT, Shumake and Newsome held long discussions on the violence in both Richmond and in Indian country, along with issues on sacred sites, human/civil rights for Native and non-Native peoples in the Bay Area.

After a walk desevered rest and lunch supplied by Tent City residents, we began our walk up MacDonald Avenue to the delight of the Richmond community. People honked their horns in their cars, waved to us, walked with us and told us of their commitment to our sacred site walk. While I am a Cherokee, I was very proud to hold the flag of the Blackfeet Nation as we walked along.

Finally we reached our sacred site destination in the beginning of the foothills of the Richmond- El Cerrito border line. Once there at the sacred site, we formed a huge traditional Native prayer circle. We burned the sacred sage and said prayers to the Ancestors at this holy place. Each walker shared their thoughts about having left Tent City and how inspired they were by the Tent City residents to their commitment to end the violence and killing in Richmond. Then the prayer circle continued to honor the Ancestors at the sacred site with more prayers for the ancient ones who sleep there.

Wounded Knee spoke of the great work that lay ahead to continue to advocate for more laws to protect Native Sacred sites and for more people to become involved to insure that Sacred Sites would always be protected in the present and future!

On Saturday, October 14, 2006 the Native Sacred Site Walkers will meet at the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station to continue their walk to UC Berkeley at 9AM sharp, if you wish to join the Shellmound/ Sacred Site Walk for Peace.

A-ho,
Michael Ali

Calling all sockos: NEW FEATURE!

2006-10-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Just to show the good people of Tazerville that we care AND have a sense of humor, we thought we'd give you a change of pace for Friday. Today, we hand down the first ever "Ask a dumb question/Get a smart answer" prize, aka the "Dee Dee Dee," to which we will reply unmercifully...

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Mack the Knife said…
Do you guys at the Tazer have any hobbies like playing the banjo or something. Do you even have boyfriends/girlfriends? Do you have endless supplies of the legendary Banstick?

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Dear Mack the Knife,

Thank you for your comment!

There are no hobbies allowed for Tazer personnel, and the banjo has been banned from Tazerville since 1969. This not only coincides with the debut of Hee Haw, but is also a nod to Muslim readership for whom stringed instruments are haraam.

"Significant others" are allowed and there are several, but Tazer security clearances still apply. Thus, any boyfriend or girlfriend is highly unlikely to know that they are actually dating Tazer personnel. Seriously, you could be dating one of us now. We're everywhere.

Believe it or not, there is one -- and only one -- Banstick. It is an impervious rod of unknown origin that we have so far been unable to destroy, despite repeated heavy usage. Some scientists believe it is a natural phenomenon discovered by ancient Native Americans, and composed of molten meteoric iron. Others insist that it is merely a 2-by-4 that's been soaking in motor oil since 1940, and thus, cannot bend, break, nor splinter. At any rate, we like it because it's heavy and does the job.

Stay in school, be good, and take your vitamins!
The City of Richmond Truth Tazer

Judgment

2006-10-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Pratcher guilty of murder: Teen faces 50 years to life for killing Kelly

By Bruce Gerstman
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - A jury on Wednesday convicted Darren Pratcher of first-degree murder in the 2004 shooting death of former De La Salle football standout Terrance Kelly

Pratcher, 17, faces as much as 50 years to life in state prison.

When the clerk read the verdict, Pratcher's head fell toward the desk in front of him and he interlocked his fingers behind his neck. His hands shook.

Kelly's relatives and friends in the standing-room-only courtroom nodded their heads in agreement. Pratcher's brother, Larry Pratcher Jr., was escorted out of the courtroom by sheriff's deputies when he made a comment, which was inaudible to most people in the courtroom.

Outside the courthouse, Kelly's father, Landrin Kelly, who attended each day of trial, spoke loudly, with tears streaming down his face.

"I don't feel better today than the day it happened," he said. "I'm not angry at the guy, because I believe in God. I want him to repent. His parents ... I'm sorry for them like they're sorry for me.

"But I want them to know I am still bleeding inside. That will never go away."

Pratcher was 15 when he shot 18-year-old Kelly, known as "T.K.," on Aug. 12, 2004, in Richmond, days before Kelly was to start at the University of Oregon on a football scholarship.

In the trial, senior deputy district attorney David Brown characterized Kelly's death as a "cold-blooded ambush." He said Pratcher targeted Kelly because he didn't like him and because he lived in a different neighborhood.

Testimony showed that Pratcher had borrowed a rifle earlier in the day and waited outside a home in the 300 block of Seventh Street in Richmond. A short time later, Kelly pulled up in front of the house to pick up the son of his father's girlfriend.

Pratcher approached the car and fired four bullets, cocking the rifle each time. Three bullets hit Kelly in the face and head. Another went into his back.

Witnesses testified that Pratcher got the gun because he was scared of a different man.

Pratcher had shot a teenage girl with a BB gun earlier in the day and believed the girl's father was out to get him.

Brown said at trial that Pratcher was waiting at the house with the intention of shooting somebody. Once he saw Kelly pull up, he decided to kill him.

Deputy public defender Jonathan Laba argued that his client, whom he called a boy, shot Kelly because he mistook him for the other man.

A psychologist who testified for the defense said Pratcher was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of the shooting, which he had developed growing up in violent neighborhoods of Oakland and Richmond.

Laba asked the jury to hand down a verdict of voluntary manslaughter, which would have carried a finite sentence of as many as 21 years in prison.

The jury spent about five days deliberating. After the verdict, the jurors left the courthouse without comment.

Brown called Pratcher's stress disorder "fabricated."

"I didn't think post-traumatic stress disorder applied to this particular case," Brown said. "This was a contrived issue."

Laba declined to comment. "I'm not interested in talking now," he said.

The verdict upset Pratcher's parents.

"We're talking about our son. Our baby boy," said Muriel Pratcher, his mother. "It's heartbreaking. I'm just speechless."

Pratcher's father disagreed with the jury's decision.

"I think it's totally unfair," Larry Pratcher said. "(The killing) was not premeditated."

Pratcher's grandmother, who watched many days of the trial, said after the verdict that she is angry at her grandson, but still cares for him deeply.

"Justice was done," Bernice Moore said. "I love him."

Superior Court Judge Laurel Brady set Oct. 30 as Pratcher's sentencing date.

Reach Bruce Gerstman at 925-952-2670 or bgerstman@cctimes.com.

Plus 2

2006-10-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Two more Tent Cities pop up

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Two more Tent Cities have sprung up in Richmond, adding to the momentum for a truce in the chronic violence that has plagued the city for years.

The new inner-city outposts went up Monday evening in John F. Kennedy Park at 41st Street and Cutting Boulevard, and in Martin Luther King Memorial Park at 13th Street and Virginia Avenue. Two more Tent Cities are planned -- one in Parchester Village and another somewhere in the southside, said the Rev. Andre Shumake, among the leaders of the effort to reclaim the streets from violence.

That would make a total of six encampments, including the two original Tent Cities: one in the Iron Triangle that was erected Sept. 24 and another in North Richmond's Shields-Reid Park that began the next day.

The Kennedy Park Tent City in the Park Plaza neighborhood is already fully functional, with a large, military-style tent, a humming generator, smoker grill and 50-gallon drum that serves as wood-burning space heater.

Park Plaza resident Robert O. Brown, who had been a fixture at the original Tent City at Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue and is director of the Teens Incentive Project, led the effort to set up the Kennedy Park outpost, across the street from Kennedy High School.

"Since we began setting up, the Park Plaza neighbors have been coming by with folding chairs, tarpaulins, coffee and pastries," Brown said Wednesday, pointing to two large, pink pastry boxes sitting on a folding table. "The Tent Cities have had a very powerful effect on people, and I'm all in for them. Whatever I can do."

The Iron Triangle and North Richmond sites have had a calming effect in areas typically prone to drug dealing, prostitution and violence. The Kennedy Park Tent City has had a similar effect, though the neighborhood is usually pretty quiet by comparison.

"In these Tent Cities, we're visible," Brown said. "That's what makes the difference. We're the parents and grandparents of these kids who are causing the problems, and they can't act the way they do when we're at post. They have to take a hiatus."

The Tent Cities' goal is to unify the city's southside, central and North Richmond neighborhoods, which are embroiled in long-standing feuds.

A march originating from the various Tent City locations is tentatively planned for Nov. 4. The various streams of marchers will converge at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, where a seven-point plan to reach zero homicides will be presented, Shumake said.

When the Rev. Charles Newsome, president of the NAACP, and other organizers set up the first Tent City in a parking lot in the heart of the Iron Triangle, it instantly touched a chord in a large cross section of the Richmond community. Organizers had not yet figured out how to set up their one tent when people began arriving with food, cooking equipment, blankets and good will.

"It reminds people of the sit-ins during the 1950s and 1960s," Newsome said. "But instead of trying to gain access to public facilities, we are asking for truce. We want our children to live."

Contact John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

FOR INFORMATION

Richmond Improvement Association: 510-860-3681

Teens Incentive Program: www.4atip.org or 510-706-3123

"Making a bold stand for peace"

2006-10-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

In Richmond's tough Iron Triangle neighborhood, residents frustrated with a spate of killings erect an encampment to help stem the violence

Chip Johnson, SF Chronicle
Wednesday, October 11, 2006

The law-abiding, God-fearing residents of the Iron Triangle, a tough neighborhood in central Richmond, have pitched their tents in a bold and unusual stand against a deadly wave of violence that swept through the city like an end-of-summer wildfire.

Those who live in the area, named for the railroad lines that define its boundaries, already cope with routine daily crime, from prostitution to gunfire. But even the most hardened of them were outraged by brazen shootings involving rival gangs, drug dealers and family factions that left six people dead and more than a dozen injured.

It began Sept. 10, when 16-year-old Sean Melson was shot in the head and killed in nearby North Richmond. And it reached its worst point two weeks later at the funeral of Sedrick Mills, 25, at a mortuary in downtown Richmond that was packed with 200 mourners -- including Eugene Moore, 45, the cousin of a 25-year-old man charged in Mills' death. A pallbearer walked up to Moore and shot him in the face, seriously injuring him in an apparent act of revenge, police said.

Shocked funeral patrons were too intimidated to identify the gunman, who remains at large. But they had seen enough -- and could take no more. The Rev. Andre Shumake contacted the local NAACP chapter president and an ex-con-turned-savior, and the three of them hatched plans for a community sit-in.

The day after the funeral, Sept. 24, Tent City was born at Nevin Park at Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue, the epicenter of the violence. And in the 17 days since two dozen courageous souls took over one of the Bay Area's most notorious crime spots, there has been just one killing, fewer gunshots and no drug dealing in sight.

Richmond's understaffed police force says the spontaneous community stand is making a difference.

"The people have started to take the city back," said Lt. Mark Gagan, "and they've started in the most dangerous part of the city. They have pitched their tents within a few hundred yards of where at least five people have been murdered ...."

Not surprisingly, Nevin Park for years has been a largely forgotten city park. It is known more for the memorial shrines that sit on three sides of it than the children who come to play there. On Friday night, when I was there, a prostitute strolled at Fifth and Macdonald, the only empty corner of the park.

But it's not all bad. City officials did turn on park lights for the campers, telling them it was the first time the lights had been on in six years, said Shumake.

Tent City sits across from Rancho Market, the site of three shootings in the past 18 months. There is a shrine in the store parking lot, and gunmen fired more than 40 rounds at Reginald Collier, who died of his wounds Sept. 14 across the street from the market.

A wrought-iron fence divides the lot from the sidewalk, and it's covered with balloons and flowers and a sign that reads, "Stop the Killing."

This is Tent City's third week, and there are a dozen tents and one RV. Food is prepared in an area covered with a tarp. Chairs ring a 55-gallon drum converted into a stand-up fireplace for warmth.

The camp is a mix of Richmond's African American community, church folk and street denizens. There is a sound system that, under a prearranged agreement, plays both gospel and rhythm and blues. Rap music is not allowed at the sites. People mingle, share stories, show visitors the memorial table and tell their stories.

Albert Lee, 48, lost his niece Sheila Givens and friend Donald Bonner, shot dead "for nothing," he said, right across the street. He reminisced about the dead, referring to them by their street names: Fat Dan, Shiny Bow, Kool-Aid. All dead and gone.

And while the Nevin Park encampment doesn't have all the creature comforts, it will do for now, said Tent City visitor Debra Clark, 50.

"I'm here trying to stop the violence the only way I know how," Clark said as she pointed out photographs of more than half a dozen relatives on a table covered with obituary programs. Nary a soul past 30 years old is among the photos of more than 100 people killed over the years.

"We're losing too many loved ones," Clark said. "Pretty soon there won't be no more tears."

North Richmond resident Wilma Miller said the recent violence has overwhelmed her ability to comfort and console friends who'd lost relatives to the violence.

"I've been cooking meals and taking them to people who've lost loved ones, but there's been so many, you can't do that much cooking," said Miller, a Tent City stalwart. She was one of about 30 people who mingled at the camp as night fell on Friday, talking, laughing and standing vigil.

The encampment attracts homeless residents and people who stand across the fence and watch the goings-on.

No one is turned away, everyone who's hungry is fed, and the community is trying to settle its own differences to make the project a success.

In the process of bringing the community together for a common goal, some members of the faith-based community had difficulty accepting all of the players. Some felt it was inappropriate -- or just plain wrong -- to work with former criminals, the very people who laid the groundwork for what's going on now, said Shumake.

"It took three days to convince the faith community to stop judging the others, but what we've figured out in Richmond is that we can't do this on our own," he said. "The community has tried, the churches have tried and we've all failed.

"There are guys who were caught up in this life, some are former (drug) dealers and these are the people with the street reputations the youngsters will listen to," he said. "Our sole purpose is to stop these homicides."

One of the former street soldiers is Freddie Jackson, 42, who says his criminal record goes back to when he was 10 years old. He spent about 13 years in prison for crimes including attempted murder, assault and armed robbery, but now he attends church, holds a steady job and feels responsible for what's been left in his wake.

"We dropped the ball in the 1980s and picked up the guns, and we've reaped what we sowed," said Jackson. He said the bond between those committing the violence rested on a dysfunctional premise. "It's based on a messed-up kind of love, because you're not supposed to wake up somebody in the middle of the night to go kill someone else across town," he said.

Even Jackson admits he must choose his words carefully when speaking to the younger kids, the ones who think the gangster life is one worth living for or dying for.

"What do I tell a 14-year-old boy who just lost his 6-year-old brother?" he asked. "I can't talk to them about God, because they don't know God in their life. They don't want to hurt nobody, but on these streets they know they can't afford to look soft."

The organizers want to use the momentum of the Tent City to spark a community awakening to end the killings, and it's a good start. They've set two more encampments, using Army tents on loan from the California National Guard, at Shields Reid Park on the north end of the city and at John F. Kennedy Park on the south side.

But they deserve and are going to need far more help than city government has shown so far.

Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, visited the site last week. Other visits have come from members of the Richmond City Council, but only Mayor Irma Anderson has pitched in.

She brought a box of grits and a pound of bacon, and workers on her re-election campaign showed up in "Elect Irma Anderson" T-shirts for one day.

A week after Tent City was erected, Jesse Woodson, 24, was killed three blocks away in a drive-by shooting at 1st and Macdonald. But that did not kill the hopes and dreams of those living where hopes and dreams could have been dashed long ago.

"The energy of the Tent City is to stop street-level violence, provide an opportunity for families of murder victims to come together and build some good will," Gagan said.

"There's a palpable feeling on the streets because of it -- and we could sure use it."

For now, organizers are grateful about simple things that most people take for granted. Shumake marveled that two young girls, probably out too late, were able to walk across well-lit Nevin Park last week.

"Wouldn't it be nice if it was like this all the time?" he asked.

Got one!

2006-10-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Slaying suspect arrested in Eureka
RICHMOND: Police link Bonner, 26, to shooting last month at the corner of Sixth Street and Chanslor Avenue

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Humboldt County authorities over the weekend arrested a man sought by Richmond detectives in connection with a killing last month in the Iron Triangle neighborhood.

Eureka police investigating reports of a man exposing himself in public about 11:30 a.m. Sunday instead found 26-year-old Ronald Bonner on the 2300 block of A Street.

"He was not exposing himself when the officer arrived," Eureka police spokeswoman Suzie Owsley said. "However, after the officer got his name, we learned he had a million-dollar warrant for his arrest from Richmond."

Richmond sought Bonner on suspicion of shooting 26-year-old Jonathan Armstrong on Sept. 21 near the corner of Sixth Street and Chanslor Avenue. Police found Armstrong's body in the street about 2:45 a.m., across the street from Lincoln Elementary School.

Detectives say they have evidence that Bonner killed Armstrong in one of many retaliatory shootings between North Richmond and Iron Triangle street factions last month. Police attribute at least five homicides and several more shootings to the dispute.

Bonner might have been visiting a woman in Eureka, police said.

"Apparently he comes up here every once in a while," said Richmond Detective Nicole Abetkov, reached Monday afternoon while driving to Eureka. "Humboldt County is getting familiar with our (street-crime suspects), because for whatever reason they keep coming up here."

The suspect's uncle, 47-year-old Donald Bonner, died July 22 in a Richmond drive-by shooting on the 300 block of Fourth Street. Sheila Givens, 42, also died in the July 22 attack.

Tragedy also struck the Bonner family in June 2005, when a shooting at a gas station on the corner of Harbour Way and Cutting Boulevard claimed the suspect's brother, 14-year-old Dante Bonner, inside a car driven by Ronald Bonner.

Ronald Bonner told police he was driving his younger brother around the city about 4 a.m., counseling him on how to avoid street life, when they pulled into the station. Someone reached through the window and fired several rounds from a handgun into the Helms Middle School student's skull, police said.

On Sunday, at the request of Richmond police, Eureka police searched a residence where Ronald Bonner stayed and found a firearm, police said. Richmond detectives drove to Eureka on Monday to pick up the suspect from Humboldt County Jail and bring him back to Contra Costa County.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

We have mail!

2006-10-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

An interesting comment came up today that we thought we'd share with everyone...

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bell de jour said...
Looks like the Tazer's removing lots & lots of postings lately. Must be nice to just REMOVE anything you don't like.

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As a matter of fact, yes, it IS nice to just remove anything we don't like.

WE.

LIKE.

IT.

VERY.

MUCH.

THANKS.

Meanwhile, the comments that were deleted -- checking some of what we couldn't rinse off the Banstick -- were lewd, crude, infantile, and/or off topic. Thus, if you want to read comments about undergarments, sexual practices, and other ad hominem attacks, you've come to the wrong blog.

We at the Tazer are here for VIOLENCE PREVENTION, with sides of political intrigue and related shenanigans, and wrapped in some humor. So, dear readers, while we allow you to comment, please keep in mind that we reserve the right to Banstick you, especially if you're not on topic.

And never question our authority on this blog again. The Tazer has spoken!

Pour some more!

2006-10-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

Yet more on the developing story of Irma Anderson's financial foibles, this time from Will Harper's "Bottom Feeder" column in the East Bay Express.

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The No-Spin Zone?

Why did Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson alert local media earlier this week that she received approximately $1,800 in improper payments from the city a few years ago? Insiders speculate that Anderson, who is the midst of a tough re-election campaign, was trying to minimize any damage inflicted by her political opponents on the issue. After all, how often do politicians snitch on themselves to reporters unless they're launching a pre-emptive strike?

On Saturday evening Anderson's chief of staff, Jay Leonhardy, sent out a press release bragging that the mayor had uncovered an "accounting error" that resulted in her receiving monthly car-allowance payments between July 2002 and February 2003. Anderson wasn't supposed to get a car allowance because she wasn't driving her own car at the time, but rather a city-owned Chevy Impala. The mayor claimed she didn't notice the error back then because she got a raise around the same time and her city checks are automatically deposited into her bank account. She has since repaid the amount.

While revealing, the press release still begged the question: Why was Anderson combing through three-year-old expense reports? Some sources suspect the mayor was trying to head off a story in the West County Times, which made calls to City Hall about the issue in recent weeks. Anderson tells Feeder she hadn't received any press calls, but she didn't deny she wanted to pre-empt an attack by her old foe, Richmond political fixer Darrell Reese, a consultant to the powerful firefighters' union. (Reese didn't return a call from Feeder.)

Anderson says that "a while back" — she wouldn't get more specific — a Reese associate had raised questions about her city car, so she figured she'd better see what she was dealing with. Within the last month, Anderson asked for records from the finance department, which had coincidentally been conducting a payroll audit. Only then, she says, did she discover that the city had been paying her improperly. Anderson notes that such accounting errors plagued Richmond before its financial meltdown two years ago. The audit has found other city employees who improperly received payments, finance director James Goins says.

Anderson, who is running for re-election against Councilwoman Gayle McLaughlin and mortgage broker Gary Bell, says she notified the press to make it clear to taxpayers she wasn't trying to cheat them. "I just felt that the better thing was to just state it ... so no one else does a spin on me," she reasons.

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No spin necessary here at the Tazer, Mayor Anderson. You seem to be doing plenty on your own.

Oh, what a tangled web...

2006-10-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

It's a damp Thursday, Tazer Faithful. The rain has stopped, but not for Mayor Irma Anderson. And in Tazerville, when it rains, it pours...

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WEST COUNTY TIMES
Wed., Oct. 4, 2006

MAYOR ADMITS SHE WAS OVERPAID
RICHMOND: Anderson pays back $1,800 in stipends she received over eight months starting in 2002 RICHMOND: Anderson gives back $1,800 in payments she received over eight months starting in 2002

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson was overpaid about $1,800 for a 2002 automobile stipend, she said this week after reviewing her personal finances for that year.

Anderson said she discovered the error about three weeks ago and, after confirming it with city Finance Director Jim Goins, reimbursed the city last week.

Anderson was given a city car in July 2002, which made her ineligible for the automobile stipend that reimburses city officials who use their own cars for city business. But Anderson continued to collect the $225-a-month stipend for eight months ending in February 2003, according to a news release she issued Saturday evening.

"I had no idea, mainly because I have automatic deposit," she said. "I have other monies going into my account, and I received a council-approved raise around the same time. They put the slips on my desk, but how would I notice a $150 deposit?"

An $1,800 overpayment spread out over eight months would actually be $225 a month.

Anderson blamed the accounting error on former City Manager Isiah Turner, whose overoptimistic revenue projections resulted in a crippling, $35 million budget crisis that cost more than 300 city jobs and bone-deep cuts in city services, according to a 2004 state audit.

Anderson said she informed Turner that she was going to take the city-owned car and that he was responsible for notifying the Finance Department that she no longer required the stipend.

Goins, who was not working for the city in 2002-03, said the Finance Department has no knowledge that Anderson was aware of the mistake prior to three weeks ago.

"To my knowledge there is no information that the mayor previously knew about the overpayment," he said. "I can tell you we had to do a lot of digging to find the records."

City Manager Bill Lindsay, who also was not with the city at the time, did not immediately return calls requesting copies of communications prior to three weeks ago among the city manager's office, finance department and mayor's office related to the overpayments.

Anderson said that if this were not an election season, she would not have made the overpayments public.

"I know how the truth can get distorted in these political hit pieces," she said. "I want people to know that I found the mistake, I paid it and that it was a mistake by city staff, period.

"If I didn't put out the press release, I doubt that would come out."

Contact John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or at jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

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WEST COUNTY TIMES
Thu., Oct. 5, 2006

EX-WORKER WON'T TAKE BLAME FOR CAR STIPEND
RICHMOND: Former city manager says he did not handle mayor's finances, including an overpayment

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Former Richmond City Manager Isiah Turner on Wednesday disputed Mayor Irma Anderson's claim that he is responsible for the $1,800 automobile stipend she wrongly received in 2002 after she began using a city-owned car.

Anderson told the Times this week that the overpayment was a blunder that should have been caught by Turner, who was city manager at the time. In a Wednesday morning telephone call from Atlanta, where he now lives, Turner said he had no knowledge of the overpayment and that he was not responsible for managing the mayor's checkbook.

"As city manager I never had time to deal with automobile stipends," Turner said. "This would have been handled by the Finance Department and more importantly by the mayor, an elected official, who should be more responsible. I'm not taking the hit for this."

Turner abruptly left the city for health reasons in 2003, weeks before the discovery of a $35 million budget deficit.

Anderson agreed Wednesday that the stipend payment was the responsibility of the Finance Department, but she pointed out that Turner had oversight of that department.

"I understand Isiah is upset, that's how it is," Anderson said. "Three years ago there was an accounting error made by the Finance Department, and the ultimate responsibility is the city manager's."

In July 2002, Anderson began using a city-owned Chevrolet Impala, making her ineligible for the automobile stipend, according to a news release Anderson issued Saturday. The stipend is meant to reimburse city officials for wear and tear on their personal automobiles. Anderson said she did not notice the stipend payments, which continued to be deposited directly into her account for eight months after she began using the Impala.

Anderson said the stipend deposits were lost among other money going into her account, including a council-approved pay raise she received around the same time.

Turner said all the council members were briefed about the stipend and that Anderson should have known about it.

"She knows she was not supposed to be getting that money," he said. "And if she didn't, the Finance Department should have handled it."

Anderson said it was the city's mistake, and that it is time to move on.

"I found the overpayment, the city didn't, and it's been paid back," she said. "I made this all public because I wanted the taxpayers to know the truth."

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com

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TIMES EDITORIAL
Thu., Oct. 5, 2006

THE ANDERSON SPIN

JUST WHEN WE think Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson can't get more ridiculous, she finds a way to prove us wrong. This time is was a preposterous press release attempting to spin revelations that she improperly took city funds for an auto allowance.

Monthly auto stipends are given to select city employees to cover wear and tear on their personal vehicles. Anderson, who drives a city-owned car, was not entitled to the allowance, but received $1,800 from July 2002 to February 2003.

The news came to light after Times staff writer John Geluardi began questioning city officials.

Anderson blamed the city -- specifically former City Manager Isiah Turner -- for "erroneously" giving her the stipend. She says she told Turner she was going to take a city-owned car. And as city manager, it was his job to oversee the finance department and see to it that it pulled the plug on her allowance.

It gets better. Anderson claims she did not realize that she was getting extra money because it coincided with a pay increase. When she discovered the error this week, Anderson says, she immediately reimbursed the city.

"They put the slips on my desk," she said in Tuesday's Times. "How would I notice a $150 deposit?"

We're not sure what's worse. That the mayor knowingly helped herself to taxpayer money that she wasn't entitled to. Or that someone charged with running the county's second largest city has so little clue about her own personal finances.

Turner, whose tenure resulted in a $35 million budget crisis that crippled the city, insists that Anderson had to have known that she was getting the auto stipend.

We do find it odd, that the mayor would suddenly begin reviewing four year-old financial reports just as her re-election campaign is heating up.

What is absolutely laughable, however, is the mayor's crude attempt to transform a political blunder into a monumental achievement.

"I am very pleased to have recruited and hired a new city manager and finance manager specifically to put a stop to these types of mistakes," her press release crowed. " ... Richmond has now received one of Moody's highest ratings for sound, responsible, fiscal management."

There is no doubt that some of Anderson's political foes leaked the old information to discredit her during the mayoral elections. We find the dirty pool unsavory.

But the sad fact is, it is Anderson, and Anderson alone, who gave them the ammunition, be it through bad judgement or sheer negligence.

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Sorry, Times editors, but discredit is as discredit does. Get it right, and repeat after us: The truth is NOT dirty pool.

Tragedy near Tent City

2006-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Driver fatally shot near peace camp
RICHMOND: Police lack suspects and motive despite information offered by area residents

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A 24-year-old man died Monday during a drive-by shooting in Richmond's Iron Triangle neighborhood, three blocks from where activists have been camping to protest street violence.

The shooting started a few minutes after 10 a.m., when a white Buick heading north on First Street pulled up to a stop sign at Macdonald Avenue, police said.

A black, late-model Honda with tinted windows drove up behind the Buick, and someone in the back seat leaned out the window and fired dozens of rounds at the other car, Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said.

The driver of the Buick, Jesse Lee Woodson, drove a half-block more before crashing into a fence on the 300 block of First Street. A passenger in the car was not injured, police said.

While evidence at the scene and several community tips aided the investigation Monday, detectives still lacked a clear suspect or motive in the case, Peixoto said.

Down the street from the fatal shooting, anti-violence activists who have been camping near the corner of Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue for a week expressed outrage but said the community response to Richmond's 33rd homicide of the year was encouraging.

Several men from North Richmond appeared quickly to profess their lack of knowledge about the shooting and offer condolences to those among the central Richmond crowd that gathered beside the crime scene tape.

"This is incredible progress," said the Rev. Andre Shumake, one of the anti-violence activists camping on Fourth Street. "They joined together to show that all the neighborhoods are staying the course and fighting the good fight to protect our children."

Last month, police say, a pattern of retaliatory shootings between street factions in north and central Richmond left two teenagers dead within 90 minutes -- one of the teens slain in each neighborhood.

North Richmond's gangs are particularly notorious and are often blamed for shootings elsewhere in the city. The efforts of North Richmond activists to defuse hostilities shows that the citywide dialogue about street violence in the community is helping, Shumake said.

Staff writer John Geluardi contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP:
Police ask anyone with information about the killing of Jesse Lee Woodson to call Detective Aaron Mandell at 510-620-6622.

Eastern Perspective

2006-10-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Some insomniac Tazer researchers turned up this article from NBC4 (DC/MD/VA) regarding the District of Columbia PD camera system...

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POLICE: CAMERAS NOT HELPING FIGHT CRIME MUCH
Residents Split On Crime Cameras

WASHINGTON -- Many D.C. police said they had hoped that installing dozens of new surveillance cameras across the city would assist them in cracking down on crime, but the system does not appear to be working as planned.

It was a very violent weekend across the D.C. area, with 11 people shot, four of them fatally.

One of the shootings in the District was caught on one of the new cameras, but police said so far, the cameras have not been much help in any other case.

The shooting that was caught on camera happened just after 4:45 p.m. on Sunday in the 1300 block of Kenilworth Avenue in Northeast. One was found in the 1600 block of Kenilworth Avenue.

Police said that two people had been shot in the incident.

Both victims were taken to local hospitals. One has since died. The other remains in critical condition.

The incident remains under investigation.

Community members said the shooting happened within yards of the cameras, which were of little deterrent.

"Children getting shot. Every night it's something around here. But, they only have two cameras, and it's a whole community," said one resident.

"You know, I think people are really ignoring the cameras. They just act like they don't care. They just don't care," said another resident.

In some places trees limit what cameras see. The surveillance program has been in effect for about a month, but police said there has yet to be prosecution involving evidence used from the cameras.

Some residents have mixed feelings on the cameras.

"Yes and no. Yes, because it's safeguarding the community. No, because it's like an invasion of privacy to look out your window and see a camera there," said a community member.

Some people said they have seen a definite improvement in quality of life since the cameras have been installed in their neighborhoods.

However, they said the cameras should not be a substitution for police patrols.

The cameras, which focus on public space only, are "passively monitored" by the Metropolitan Police Department, meaning that officers generally do not watch the camera feeds in real time.

The 48 surveillance cameras have been installed in communities that are considered high-crime areas throughout the city.

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This is something that the Richmond City Council should consider carefully. DCPD is screwing up so that RPD doesn't have to. If Richmond does go ahead with cameras it should learn from DC's mistakes. Don't block a thousand dollar camera with a tree that can be solved with $5 shears and don't think of a camera system as a tradeoff for real police presence.

Notes from Tent CIty

2006-10-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

From Tazer Friend Mike Ali...

This past weekend, Tent CIty bustled with activity. The residents of the nearby community sensed that this was the opportunity for a "buy-in" to have true peace on the streets. All residents noted that the murder machine had come to a halt, and the drug and prostitution trades in the 4th St. area were down dramatically. Residents also felt the political power of the vote. Because of these facts, the people can no longer be ignored by the Mayor's administration or the government of the City of Richmond.

During the daytime, from around 10 am to 5 pm, there are about 200 mostly new faces daily, and a core of 40 tent residents there 24/7, day and night. The support from the community has been overwhelming. One individual contributed a $500 check and over 500 lbs of wood. Even Tazer personnel came through with supplies, such as water that is critical for drinking and cooking. RPD acknowledges that tent city residents are doing an incredible job of halting area crime.

Tent City on 4th is considered by many in the community to be holy and sacred ground. Many of the men and women there view themselves as spirit warriors. Even the newsprint media has been camping out at the site to learn more about why the community is doing this. WHen I think about the spirit of Tent City, I truly believe that the community has a strong sense that this might just work.

On behalf of the Real Richmond Violence Prevention Movement, we encourage Tazer readers to continue to pray and contribute any supplies to the 4th St. site. They will be shared with the North Richmond camp. Thank you, Tazer and Tazer readers for your support to the cause!

From the frontlines of human and civil rights in Richmond,
Michael Ali

Important Need...

2006-09-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

Good Saturday Tazer Family:

This update from Tazer friend Mike Ali:

Saturday afternoon about 130pm.

The tent city base camp needs water, food and gas for this up and coming week, Tazer readers!

Drop at 4th Street between Nevin and MacDonald!

Yours in the Struggle for Human and Civil Rights in Richmond

Mike Ali
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The brave folks at Tent City have made an impact. Please help if you can!

Contagious

2006-09-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

In tents and with purpose: Peace

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Tent City is spreading.

Across Richmond, people fed up with street violence bedded down for the week in places many would not normally go: drug corners, killing scenes, the infamous "hot spots" referenced by police and politicians.

What began as small gesture for peace at the corner of Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue on Monday evening has mushroomed, with another camp appearing in Shields-Reid Park in North Richmond, and more organizing Thursday.

Community leaders now say they will live in a lot across from Fourth Street Park for 30 days.

"There has not been a shooting since we have been here," said the Rev. Charles Newsome, president of the Richmond chapter of the NAACP. "Right now, brothers and sisters are being very respectful. This is holy ground."

A group made camp Monday at the central Richmond site, transforming a parking lot into a combination barbecue pit and memorial shrine, where funeral programs for homicide victims festooned tables Thursday.

While the circumstances are sinister, the Rev. Andre Shumake said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm of both his compatriots and the community, which has supplied much-needed food, water and gear.

"At one time, some of these men were shooting at each other," Shumake said. "Now they're sitting around a campfire, talking about how to save their babies' lives."

Richmond police have investigated 32 killings this year. Organizers called upon faith leaders to participate and bring out more people, particularly on the city's south side, where they are still trying to organize camps.

"My sister was killed right in that circle where everyone is sitting," said Regina Guinn, gesturing to a spot where people ate barbecue and sat on lawn furniture Thursday. "We really need change here. We really need for someone to step up."

A second group began camping in Shields-Reid Park in North Richmond on Tuesday. About a dozen people were there Thursday, and Garland Harper said they would stay "as long as it takes."

"We're trying to reach out and touch the young ones in the community," said Harper, whose 22-year-old son was shot and killed in south Richmond on April 14. "But at the same time, we're telling them to stop the violence, we need to give them something else to do."

Harper and Sibb Adell said the community and local government needs to do a better job of providing public education, employment and recreation for young people in Richmond, starting with the dilapidated park where the North Richmond group has set up camp.

Organizers initially planned to march to Richmond Memorial Auditorium on Monday afternoon to unveil a three-year plan for reducing violence on city streets, but they are no longer set on that schedule because they want to give more neighborhoods time to pitch tents.

"We are calling for a truce for peace. We are asking people to go anywhere in town, even to the places where they typically could not go, knowing that nothing will happen to them. Because if anybody breaks this truce, there'd better not be any witnesses," Newsome said. "Because if I see you kill someone, I'm going to tell."

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP
People camping for peace in Richmond need food, water and camping gear to sustain their effort. Anyone wishing to donate can go to either site, at the corner of Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue, or in Shields-Reid Park near the corner of Gertrude Avenue and Kelsey Street.

Big Brother?

2006-09-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

City, police may use cameras to look out for crime
RICHMOND: Council seeks bids for surveillance system set up to monitor hot spots, illegal dumping areas

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Daily activities such as going to the corner store, strolling in a park or picking up children at school soon could be monitored by Richmond police cameras.

After a presentation by Richmond police Chief Chris Magnus on Tuesday night, the City Council put out a call for surveillance companies to submit bids for wiring up crime hot spots and areas where illegal dumping frequently occurs.

The cost of the surveillance program will not be known until the council decides on the type of closed-circuit equipment and the Police Department works out camera monitoring policies, Magnus said.

"We know crime is repeatedly committed in various areas around Richmond," he said. "If we had cameras in those areas, we could have collected information that may have led to arrests and convictions. It's another set of eyes."

No specific camera sites have been chosen yet, but the most likely areas would be in the Iron Triangle and parts of south Richmond and the Shields/Reid Neighborhood. The cameras would monitor areas known for homicides and drug dealing. They would also monitor some public parks and isolated streets near the West County Landfill and in south Richmond where illegal dumping commonly takes place.

Magnus was quick to point out that closed-circuit surveillance is not a cure-all for crime and illegal dumping, but it could help police investigations, lead to more arrests and support witness testimony.

Longtime Iron Triangle resident Odessa Green said it's high time the cameras were installed.

"I've lived in Richmond for 65 years, and it's not Richmond anymore," she said. "It's a slaughterhouse, and it's filthy. When are we finally going to get these cameras?"

But others argued that closed-circuit monitoring of public streets is an invasion of privacy and won't deter crime, but rather move it.

"The remedies to the crime problem go way beyond anything a camera can offer," said Jim Hausken, a member of the American Civil Liberties Union. "The idea that we have to give up our civil liberties for a false sense of security offered by a camera is outrageous."

Magnus said the cameras would only monitor public right of ways and not private property.

"There are going to be people concerned about civil liberties," he said. "But we're talking about something that could help protect the civil liberties of the 99 percent of residents who are affected by crime."

City staff is expected to put out a request for proposals within 30 days and prepare a report for the City Council in about 90 days.

Contact John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com.

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We at the Tazer have mixed feelings about video surveillance around Richmond...

It can put a very good eye someplace for an extended period of time, but someone still needs to watch a monitor or review footage. Thus, we wonder if it might not be about as cost effective to have an officer in the camera's place. However, since the ACLU has weighed in against them, we're apt to think that cameras must be OK. Just fine and peachy-keen, in fact.

The intrigue is still to come, of course. When the City Council starts talking money and new technology, holes appear in budgets. Anyone else remember "Solutions Applications Processes"?

And the winner is...?

2006-09-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

Many interesting things going on today, Tazer Faithful! There's the situation at Tent City, and we're going to leave a spot open for Mike Ali and any other Tazer friends who wish to make a report.

Meanwhile, there are items that might be considered unrelated to violence prevention, such as the letters to the editor from Juan Reardon and Tom Butt. We at the Tazer think that there are plenty of issues that SURROUND violence prevention, and things like that give insight into how city business is (or might be) managed.

This time, it's an interesting revelation about Councilman Jim Rogers from the East Bay Express. It's part of Will Harper's "Bottom Feeder" column published today, entitled "800-XLAWYER."

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Embattled People's Lawyer quits profession

So why did the People's Lawyer really give up his once-lucrative TV-fueled law practice earlier this month? That's what legal and political insiders are wondering, but so far no one has been able to figure out what the bar, the organization that polices attorney behavior, had on Jim Rogers.

Rogers resigned his license to practice law on September 6 with disciplinary charges pending against him. He sold his personal-injury practice to his partner, Judith Marsh. By resigning with charges pending, the details of what the bar dug up on him remain secret.

For his part, Rogers says that for the past year or two he has been looking to get out of law — his career for 26 years now — and into real-estate development anyway. (So you see, dear Feeders, the bar's plan to file charges against him couldn't have come at a better time.) He adds that his practice hadn't been profitable in recent years. "It was the right time to get out," he says.

Yeah, no doubt. Rogers also is in the midst of a re-election bid for his Richmond City Council seat, so who wants to give his opponents fistfuls of mud to throw?

Those familiar with Rogers' career beyond his cheesy late-night ads know that he's been hounded by accusations of professional misbehavior for a decade ("Settling for Less," feature, 1/8/2003). In 1997, the bar issued Rogers a "private reproval," the equivalent of a wrist slap for, among other things, overcharging clients. Since then, he has been sued for legal malpractice at least a half-dozen times.

In the most damning case, Todd Wilson, a construction worker, suffered an injury that resulted in amputation of his lower leg. According to court records, Rogers pressured Wilson to accept an $85,000 settlement for what a judge later figured was a million-dollar case — and to lie under oath. Wilson's malpractice lawyer, Ross Meltzer, exposed Rogers' practice of settling cases at lowball prices in order to avoid going to trial. Rogers conceded then that he hadn't actually tried a case in court in more than twenty years, even though his practice handled hundreds of cases annually. In July 2002, Judge Ken Kawaichi ordered Rogers to pay Wilson $300,200 for screwing up his case, although the People's Lawyer settled out of court before the final judgment came down.

Rogers has since settled a couple other malpractice lawsuits. One involved Anita Ashford, who blamed him for pressuring her to accept a $6,700 insurance settlement in July 2003 to compensate her for injuries she suffered after falling through a wooden deck. When she initially resisted, Rogers "became abusive toward her and told her to lose weight if she wanted to feel better," her malpractice complaint alleged. Afterward, Ashford's back pain persisted and she had to have two surgeries to correct a herniated disc.

Rogers left a message for Feeder saying that the recent bar case didn't involve any of the malpractice suits filed against him, but he declined to clarify the accusations. He explained that didn't want to violate People's Lawyer-client privilege and get into a "blow-by-blow thing discussing a lot of details."

Sit-in For Peace

2006-09-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

Residents camp to promote peace on streets
RICHMOND: The Rev. Newsome says he and supporters want a truce to stop the city's violence

By John Geluardi
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

A group of Richmond residents has set up camp in one of the city's most violent neighborhoods to call for a truce on the streets.

Led by the Rev. Charles Newsome, about 20 people spent their first night Monday in a parking lot on Fourth Street across from Nevin Park. Newsome stood about 10 feet from a makeshift memorial that marks the spot where his cousin, Donald Bonner, 47, and family friend Shelia Givens, 42, were shot and killed in a July 22 drive-by.

"There are 31 of these (memorial) sites around Richmond, and this has to stop," said Newsome, president of the Richmond chapter of the NAACP. "We're here to call for a truce. We want people in the community to come together and say enough."

Newsome and his supporters say they will remain in the tent city until Monday afternoon, when the group will head to the Richmond Memorial Auditorium for the unveiling of a three-year plan to reduce violence. The faith-based Richmond Improvement Association has been working on the multipronged plan for 15 months. It will include youth tutoring, parolee support programs and a truancy component.

News of the camp spread quickly, and within an hour of the first tent being pitched Monday, people began to arrive on Fourth Street with food, water, cooking equipment and, more importantly, their support, said Freddie Jackson, a resident of central Richmond who has joined Newsome.

"We want other people who are tired of the killing and have not said anything to come forward and speak," Jackson said. "When we come together, we can talk to the young people."

Many of those who stopped by to show their support or spend the night had been touched by the violence that has plagued Richmond for more than 25 years.

This year there have been 31 homicides in Richmond -- two more than last year at this time. Two weeks ago, a spate of shootings took four lives in two days, and the community was shaken Saturday when a 42-year-old man was shot in face in front of 250 mourners in a funeral chapel. The victim survived but is in critical condition.

Albert Lee, a retired cook, brought cooking gear and food to the tent city. He spoke as he prepared a hot meal for his fellow inner-city outdoorsmen.

"My niece, Shelia Givens, was killed right there," he said, gesturing toward the curbside shrine. "I don't normally get involved in things like this, but things have gotten too bad. If I'm out here, you know it has to be real bad."

Prominent anti-violence activist the Rev. Andre Shumake said it was great to see the community show support.

"People were coming down right up until 11 p.m. (Monday) to bring food and water, and then starting at 6 in the morning (Tuesday), people were showing up with coffee and donuts," he said. "The support has been incredible."

Newsome, a former drug dealer who spent eight years in federal prisons, said he has wanted to set up the tent city for a long time.

"I'm tired," he said. "I'm tired, the community is tired and I know the people who are out there committing these homicides are tired. It has to stop."

Reach John Geluardi at 510-262-2787 or jgeluardi@cctimes.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you would like to contribute food or cooking supplies, call 510-860-3681 or 510-478-7448.

The Times won't like how we sign our letters

2006-09-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

Cool and patchy cloudy Tuesday in Tazerville! A couple letters to the editor in the Times caught our eye, and we figured we'd offer our thoughts...

Though we don't have anything like the readership of the Times, we nonetheless grant space on this humble blog for balance, so if any of these letter writers would like to respond to our response, please feel free.

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Sept. 25, 2006

Utility tax cap allows Chevron to pay too little

Joshua Genser, a member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, misleads the readers of his Sept. 19 letter, "Taxpayers will lose," when he states Chevron has paid "the maximum required of any taxpayer" for the utility users tax.

The "cap" perk was created for Chevron more than 20 years ago. Chevron has always used this perk, and the city always accommodated.

However, contrary to Genser's statement, the amount paid each year by Chevron is really the "minimum amount required" under the cap-perk option of the UUT ordinance, as well as the "only amount required" under that ordinance.

If the cap is removed from the ordinance, or if the city chooses not to enter into the yearly agreement with Chevron to allow the use of the cap, or if Chevron chooses not to pay with the cap-perk method, as it has done at the beginning of the current electoral cycle, there is no maximum. The amount depends on usage.

Chevron, however, would not let anyone know about its usage. Chevron provided a lower payment than under the cap and sent its fear-mongering allies to scare the voters against change.

Chevron pollutes our democracy.

Juan Reardon
Richmond

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"Chevron pollutes our democracy." Sigh. Many eyes rolled to that one...because it makes us think of bad bumper stickers and protest drumming on 5 gallon buckets...

Gotta love the utopian "what-ifs" from the "progressives" in their quest to either drive Chevron out of business (because business, especially big biz, is evil) or try to squeeze as much money out of Chevron as they can (because money is evil and only made right through confiscation).

But that was yesterday, and there's another letter today...

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Sept. 26, 2006

Response to letter

A Sept. 19 letter from Josh Genser accused Gayle McLaughlin and me of rudeness toward Chevron and acting unwisely in insisting on transparency in Chevron's utility user tax calculations.

He seems to even gloat that McLaughlin and I are somehow responsible for Chevron changing the method by which it calculates its tax liability, which is trending nearly $5 million less than the city anticipated. Genser even goes so far as to conclude that this somehow makes McLaughlin unfit to serve as mayor.

In 1984, Richmond adopted the UUT and gave Chevron two ways to pay because otherwise Chevron would have vetoed it. Although Chevron has paid, using the maximum tax payable method (the "cap") for many years, Chevron made the decision to switch to the 10 percent method this year. The decision was solely Chevron's.

What Chevron has not done is to provide the city with the basis for its tax calculations. It's as if you sent the IRS a check for $100 and didn't bother to send your income tax return. But Genser would have us simply trust Chevron.

The IRS wouldn't let you get away with that, and Chevron shouldn't be able to either.

Councilman Tom Butt
Richmond

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We love you, Tom. Honestly, we do. We just think you and Gayle and any other council member who wants to ride Chevron need to exercise caution.

You're right when you say that the IRS wouldn't let you just pick your taxes, but then the City of Richmond let Chevron basically pick theirs. Now that the City of Richmond is dissatisfied with the results (and need $$$), the hands of the Council are out.

Well, residents and most businesses are already being pinched, and doing much more pillaging on them would be even more unpopular. Where to go? Chevron, of course. They're the "haves," so it's only right to take "have" dough for the "have-nots." Like the mis-managers of the City Council. Right is right, of course, but if Chevron is paying what was agreed upon, whose fault is that?

And the moral of this story, Tazer Faithful, is to be careful what you wish for. The Tazer believes that the City of Richmond would be greatly vexed by Chevron having the ability to prove that it owes far less than the City Council "anticipates."

Untitled

2006-09-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

This is just so insane, there's no way to truly title this...

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Man shot at Richmond funeral

A 45-year-old man was shot at a Richmond chapel Saturday morning while he attended funeral services for a man who was killed earlier this month, police said.

At around 11:19 a.m. the victim was in the chapel when an unknown man, who was also attending the services, shot him in the face and the arm, said Richmond Lt. Enos Johnson.

The shooter, who was described as a male in his early 20s dressed in a business suit, left the chapel, police said.

The victim, whose name is not being released, was taken to the trauma center at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where he is recovering from his injuries, Johnson said.

Officers are still trying to determine the motive for the shooting, Johnson said.

About 250 people were at the funeral services for Sedrick Mills Jr., 25, who was killed on Sept. 11 near Fifth Street and Nevin Avenue, Johnson said.

Police last week arrested his cousin, 25-year-old Demetrius Moore, who was charged with murder.

-- Erin Sherbert

Double Duty

2006-09-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Times' Karl Fischer with a pair of articles in today's edition...

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Latest killing adds to tension on streets
RICHMOND: Impromptu shrines dot the Iron Triangle area, which has seen four slayings in the past 12 days

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Mylar balloons tug at their power-pole moorings, marking where empty Hennessy bottles and religious candles prop up dirt-caked teddy bears, photos and love notes.

Visitors might expect a block party. But they would leave disappointed.

These impromptu street shrines signal mourning in Richmond's Iron Triangle neighborhood. And with four young men shot dead here in the past 12 days, it's hard to walk a block without seeing shiny balloons waft in the breeze.

"We've lost a lot of people," resident Georgina Davis said, surveying a street shrine near the corner of Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue on Thursday, "but we're all still in the game."

A city maintenance crew this week painted over the graffiti testimonials to 33-year-old Reginald "Kool" Collier and to many others from here who died over the years, but they returned within an hour.

Police see a community stretched tight by fear and anger.

"The number of people who have been getting killed has created a lot of tension on the street," said Lt. Mark Gagan, whose policing district includes the Iron Triangle. "We have been really encouraged by how many people are cooperating and talking to us about what's going on.

"But others are taking matters into their own hands."

About 2:45 a.m. Thursday, neighbors near the corner of Sixth Street and Chanslor Avenue called police about gunfire, leading officers to the body of 26-year-old Jonathan Armstrong across the street from Lincoln Elementary School.

Detectives pursued leads in that case Thursday. Police released few details of their investigation, but did say that familiar patterns are emerging from their investigations of several recent shootings in the greater Richmond area: rivalry between neighborhood-based factions and retaliatory attacks.

"I'm not sure if there is a normal to go back to here. I'm afraid this pattern of violence has become all too normal in some of our neighborhoods," Police Chief Chris Magnus said. "I don't think our goal should be to get back to usual, because this has to change."

It began with a shooting in unincorporated North Richmond on Sept. 10 that killed 16-year-old Sean Melson. Less than an hour later, drive-by killers struck the Iron Triangle at the corner of Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, gunning down 19-year-old Thomas James Jr.

The neighborhood's second recent killing came the following afternoon, when 25-year-old Sedrick Mills was shot dead on the front porch of a house on Fifth Street after an argument. Police this week arrested his cousin, 25-year-old Demetrius Moore, who was charged with murder this week in Contra Costa Superior Court.

Nobody knows why drive-by gunmen killed Collier on Sept. 14.

"He never raised his voice to nobody," said Henry Oden, Collier's father-in-law. "He went down to the store to go pay his wife's phone bill and buy some junk food, potato chips or cookies or something, and he was coming back home to look at the television."

Collier leaves behind his wife of one year and a 4-month-old son, Oden said, and 12- and 8-year-old daughters from a previous relationship. He worked as a forklift operator at a Home Depot store in San Rafael.

On Fourth Street, folks mainly remembered Collier as a man from the neighborhood, down to the white fire hydrant he habitually used as a stoop.

"He had to be the most cool dude out here," said Anita "Nisa" Paul, who stopped her car near Collier's shrine to talk Thursday. "We have no idea what happened. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

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Residents, police work together
RICHMOND: Once-beleaguered unit now solves most homicides

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Nobody talks.

Richmond police used to repeat that complaint often whenever violent crime surged on city streets. Officers get no help from the community in catching killers, the story goes, so the killers go free and kill again.

Whether true or not, the near-absence of that complaint from the investigations bureau this summer speaks volumes about the department's recent structural reorganization.

"All it takes is one arrest," said Lt. Shawn Pickett, bureau supervisor. "If someone comes forward and tells us, 'Yeah, I saw him shoot the guy,' and we go arrest that person and get him charged, it gives the whole neighborhood more confidence in us. That is really significant. People are now taking us seriously."

Last year, when the city set decade-high milestones for homicides and firearms assaults, the detective bureau also struggled. Police cleared only five of 40 homicide investigations with arrests or by other means.

While investigators would not discuss details of many active homicide investigations, several agreed that their success rate has improved during the first nine months of 2006, particularly after a department reorganization shifted many managers to new positions in June.

"The realignment of the Police Department, the new structure they have in place with officers taking ownership of where they are working, that is starting to work," said the Rev. Andre Shumake, one of the city's most prominent anti-violence activists.

Shumake credited police Chief Chris Magnus and Pickett with forging more and better relationships between the department and Richmond's flatland neighborhoods.

Detectives either have arrested suspects or soon plan to arrest suspects in about two-thirds of the 14 homicides committed in Richmond since Pickett joined the bureau, he said this week.

"I think it's leadership, just having confidence in the officers and giving them the tools and support they need to conduct investigations. That makes a big difference," Pickett said. "We were kind of set up for failure (this year), with such terrible close-out rate last year."

Detectives also benefit from better communication with the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office, which police say has proved more flexible about filing charges this year, and from changes in the patrol division.

New emphasis on patrol officers working the same beats daily and making social connections in the neighborhoods makes the department more accessible and better at keeping the confidence of residents, Shumake said.

The early returns, Pickett said, show in several recent shooting cases, where neighborhood residents either directed officers to the gunmen from the crime scene or supplied solid tips that put detectives on the right track soon afterward.

"When there's a street shooting, everyone in the neighborhood typically knows who did it ... and chances are (the suspects) have been acting the fool down there all their lives," Pickett said.

But residents who face stressful choices about sharing information -- do the right thing, or do the safe thing? -- need assurance that police will keep them safe if they step forward, not moralistic arguments.

To that end, Pickett says the department also has done a better job this year of using budgets for temporarily relocating informants, helping witnesses move out of unsafe neighborhoods and generally finding ways to make working with the police more comfortable and survivable.

City crime statistics do not yet show major improvement over past years. The annual homicide total reached 31 this week when department statisticians recorded the April 1 discovery of Kimberly Millen's body in south Richmond.

Richmond police had argued that the death should count toward Oakland's homicide total because they say Millen and Sophia Sciutto-Crepps were both killed in an Oakland apartment before their bodies were dumped in Richmond and San Francisco, respectively.

Though 31 killings are two more than what police had investigated at this time last year, Shumake said flatland residents are beginning to notice the improved service from police.

Moreover, they are responding.

"I think we are seeing the outrage over 14-, 15-, 16-year-old kids getting murdered in the streets," Shumake said. "We should be outraged about that. And now that we are outraged, the community is saying that enough is enough. We want our children to live."

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

I can FEEL your ANGER...

2006-09-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

Tazerville's own People's Champ, Dread Captain has this to say regarding Tom Butt and this past Tuesday's city council fiasco...

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dread captain shiroiwashi said...
I just got a chance to see the meeting via streaming video on KCRT.com. If anyone's interested, the exchange starts brewing around 1:40 in. Butt wasn't kidding.

What happened in that chamber was BULL****! I think my only objection to his account was that he didn't let "Meat Loaf" Viramontes have it hard enough! She was just about as bad as Anderson about nickel-n-diming the process into oblivion.

I'm calling the both of them out as THEE prime example of what is absolutely wrong with Richmond! When a city council is more interested in discussing why there shouldn't be discussion, it's time for people like them to GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY!

12:22 PM

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Amen, Brother Shiroiwashi! To the city council, we'd just like to say:
YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!!!

No end in sight...

2006-09-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

Man killed near Richmond school

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

RICHMOND - Police responding to calls about gunfire found a 26-year-old man dying this morning in the Iron Triangle neighborhood, near an elementary school.

Paramedics pronounced the victim dead shortly after responding to the 2:44 a.m. call, police Lt. Mark Gagan said. Police did not immediately identify the victim because his family had not been notified.

The victim had been shot several times and was found on the 100 block of Sixth Street, near Lincoln Elementary School.

Police are following leads in the case. They ask anyone with information to call Detective Nicole Abetkov at 510-412-2081 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS.

The killing was Richmond's 31st of the year.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

Tom Butt: "Anybody but Anderson"

2006-09-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Tazer Faithful, we declare ourselves vindicated. Those of you who happen to agree with us should feel the same.

From Tom Butt's e-mail forum to you, here is his anti-endorsement in all its electronic glory...

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Tonight I am officially joining the "anybody but Anderson" (for mayor) movement. She has finally pushed me over the edge.

I spent half a day over the weekend preparing a PowerPoint presentation I intended to present under Item K-4, placed on the agenda by Councilmember Jim Rogers. The item was entitled "Review and discuss convening a 'Blue Ribbon Task Force' of stakeholders, consisting of environmental, business and community interest, to make recommendations concerning the shoreline area between the Chevron refinery and the West County landfill project and provide direction to staff. Pending completion of this report city staff would not take any action concerning this area and would not proceed with the feasibility study."

Mayor Anderson used every lame excuse she could think of to keep me from speaking and showing the PowerPoint. After I protested vigorously, she appeared to relent, but before I could begin, she started in on me again -- one time too many.

The irony is that Irma Anderson is generally a pleasant and amiable person, one on one. You couldn't find a better person to carry out the ceremonial functions of the city. Politically, over the years, we have had few differences. On paper, she looks like just what we need in a mayor.

But when she takes that mayor's seat, she turns into an unbelievable tyrant. She constantly interrupts councilmembers and starts arguments with them. She uses her power to bully them. She feels compelled to respond to every single statement they make and routinely calls them out of order. Most of the time, she either doesn't understand what is going on or does a pretty good job of faking it. She doesn't have a clue how to successfully chair a meeting. In short, she just generally makes life miserable for us and for the public. She is the absolute worst chair of an organization I have ever worked with. Over the years, she has been extremely vindictive, using whatever meager appointment powers she has to punish councilmembers who oppose her.

I blame her chairmanship style for unnecessarily prolonging every meeting by at least 20 percent. She has probably added a thousand hours to city Council meetings. With a dozen high paid staff sitting around during that wasted time, she has probably cost the city a million dollars. Most of what the public perceives as failure of the City Council to work together as a team can be laid at the mayor's fundamental inability to simply conduct a meeting.

When she ran for mayor, she touted her ability to "bring the council together." What any councilmember will tell you privately is that she did exactly that. She united the Council as never before in that they all despise her management style.

Almost as bad are those councilmembers who let her get away with it. Like a flock of chickens, they would rather keep down a colleague than stand up to that miserable excuse for a mayor. After I walked out and went home to cool off, I watched Councilmember Maria Viramontes put words in my mouth that I have never spoken and explain why she wanted more information about the proposed container port. Apparently, she didn't want it from me, because she didn't want to see my presentation either.

A City Council should be about the sharing of information that is important for Richmond and for the public. For the City Council majority to use their power and their bullying tactics to keep important information away from the public is, in my opinion, a subversion of the public interest.

We have an election coming up in about six weeks. At this time, I urge you to vote for anybody but Anderson for mayor. And when you consider the other City Council and mayoral candidates, ask yourself if they are closed minded or open minded? Do they support open public debate, or do they use every stratagem to shut down those who have an opposing view. Do they respect people, or do they treat them like dogs?

In six weeks, you will get the mayor and City Council you deserve. I hope you do the right thing.

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Well said, Councilman Butt! We also hope that Richmond voters will do the right thing.

This just in...

2006-09-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

Tazerville notable Mike Ali sends us the following timely essay.

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Why must we win the War on Violence, and win it NOW?

As a member of the Richmond Violence Prevention movement, I have seen far too much blood and death out on these mean streets. Brothers dying. Sisters dying. It all has to stop and stop NOW!

But where is the Richmond city government in all of this? "City of Pride and Purpose"? What "pride"? What "purpose"? There are lives that need to be saved, futures that need to be rescued. These youths and young adults are crying out, but the mayor and city council do not listen.

If this killing carries on much longer at the rate that it's carrying on I believe there will be an inescapable hopelessness against authority. There is already widespread apathy and despair. Witness any number of polls that show over half of all voters remain undecided with well under 50 days left until the election. They're waiting for the true and rightful leader to rise above the rest.

Richmond leaders who ignore the War on Violence and the stakeholders in that struggle not only risk their political futures they more importantly also risk the future of Richmond itself. Listen to what these leaders tell you, but more importantly pay close attention to what they DO NOT do! Those aren't the leaders we want for us or for our children.

Yours in the struggle for human and civil rights in Richmond,
Michael Ali
Richmond Violence Prevention Movement

Tragic Irony

2006-09-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

Man shot, killed hours after candlelight vigil to end violence
RICHMOND: 33-year-old's death capped bloody week, in which shootings killed four and wounded two

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

About a dozen people gathered at Nevin Park on Thursday night to pray and call on the young people to stop the shootings.

Not many joined them, the Rev. George Brown said, perhaps intimidated by the television crews that cluster here when the killings mount. The locals stayed across the street.

Despite that, Brown believes the message resonated.

"Everything was peaceful when we were there. We were doing what we were doing, and even though they were not with us, I feel they were hearing us, they were supporting us," Brown said Friday. "But when we left ..."

"The Devil knows when to get busy."

A dark-colored van rounded the corner of Fourth Street and Macdonald Avenue about 9 p.m., two hours after the candlelight vigil ended, and the familiar chatter of gunfire again violated the Iron Triangle.

The drive-by gunmen shot a building, two cars and 33-year-old Reginald Collier, who died while a friend drove him to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Richmond Detective Sgt. Mitch Peixoto said.

His killing capped a bloody week for Richmond, where shootings killed four and wounded two on city streets, and another died and one more was wounded in unincorporated North Richmond.

The last two killings were both within a block of the park and the Nevin Community Center, home of several nonprofits and community groups working to improve life in the Iron Triangle and other flatland neighborhoods.

"It is so sad about this latest killing," Mayor Irma Anderson said. "People come out for these young people when they die, but where were they when they were alive?"

Although police found few leads overnight on Collier's death, they did arrest 22-year-old Jonathan McClain in connection with an earlier shooting Thursday in the Iron Triangle that sent a man to the hospital in critical condition.

A dispute between the parties on a different day preceded the shooting, near the corner of Eighth Street and Lucas Avenue. McClain and his cousin were in the neighborhood about 4:15 p.m. when they saw the victim, and McClain pulled a handgun, Peixoto said.

"The victim saw the suspect coming and turned to run," Peixoto said. "At that point the suspect began shooting."

Officers Nathan Lonso and Miguel Castillo arrived quickly enough to catch the suspect before he fled the neighborhood. Detective Eric Smith quickly developed enough evidence to book McClain into County Jail in Martinez on suspicion of attempted murder.

McClain is the cousin of 25-year-old Sedrick Mills, killed Monday near the corner of Fifth Street and Nevin Avenue. Peixoto said police found no connection between Mills' death and the shooting on Lucas.

McClain is also the older brother of Joshua McClain, Peixoto said, a suspect in the May 18 shooting on Barrett Avenue that killed 24-year-old Oscar Navarro. Police arrested him on suspicion of murder, but he was only charged with illegally possessing a firearm.

This week's killings pushed Richmond's 2006 homicide total to 29 as of Friday afternoon, two more than were reported in the city at this time last year.

Five have been killed so far this year in unincorporated North Richmond, equaling last year's number on Sept. 10, and matching that community's highest homicide total in 10 years.

Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.

Is "sloth" still a sin?

2006-09-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

We at the Tazer get hit from time to time about how critical we are, or even that we don't know what we're talking about, but now you don't have to take our word for it. Today's Times says what we've been saying.

File this under "not quite news to us": Violence prevention is being talked about, but little is being done about it.

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Violence prevention efforts lag
RICHMOND: Organizers forming new city office to work on problem but warn that solutions will come slowly

By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

Neither snappy acronyms nor promises of police crackdowns accompanied a report this week to the City Council about recent violence-prevention efforts.

That alone made it unusual for Richmond city government, where discussions of how to combat endemic street violence traditionally begin and end with a Police Department tactical operation.

But the group of consultants hired to create a new Office of Violence Prevention offered an assessment starkly different from those heard around City Hall last summer, when a spate of shootings left many calling on the council to declare a state of emergency.

This effort will require a sustained political commitment from community leaders as well as uniformed officers. And the problem will take a long time to fix, they said.

"People want immediate, urgent responses, but that's not what this is about," said David Muhammad, director of the Mentoring Center, an Oakland nonprofit that works with at-risk youth.

Muhammad; Oakland Unified school board member Greg Hodge; and DeVonne Boggan, director of Oakland youth group Safe Passages, updated the council Tuesday on their work to develop the new Richmond office's structure and define what it does.

The city's yet-unhired violence-prevention coordinator will find ways to encourage cooperation among Richmond's patchwork of anti-violence stakeholders and serve as a collection point for public funding that individual groups might not attract on their own, the consultants said.

The office also will coordinate empirical analysis of local violent crime trends to better direct resources.

"Every day that a young person loses their life in this city, we know is a day we have not done what we are supposed to do," Hodge said. "We have gotten too accustomed to the fact that young people kill each other in the street. In many ways, it has gotten too normalized ... the burial of 15-, 16-year-olds."

Consultants already have begun a series of meetings with various constituencies in Richmond's anti-violence community to learn more about how the city can help them accomplish their goals, Muhammad said.

That will require diplomacy. The nonprofits, faith groups and city departments working on violence prevention in Richmond historically have competed for resources and attention.

For example, when the Mentoring Center received its one-year, $185,000 contract in June to create the office, some grumbled of perceived "outsourcing."

Muhammad lives in Richmond and serves as minister of the city's Nation of Islam mosque. But his work in violence prevention is best known in Oakland, where he serves as director of the Mentoring Center, a nonprofit that works with at-risk youth.

"Everything is going to Oakland. It's been months and there's not even an office for people to go to," said Corky Booze, a City Council candidate. "I think this was a gift to the Mentoring Center, and it's unfair to the people of Richmond."

Others worried that the ethnic composition of the consulting team that the Mentoring Center assembled for the project -- all black -- might send signals in a city where race plays an important role in city politics.

City Councilman John Marquez noted that a list of community leaders invited to advisory meetings for the project included no Southeast Asian presence and few Latinos. He recommended several people. Muhammad said his group would gladly include them.

"An ongoing theme has been that all of our services and programs are not coordinated, and we need to address that problem. They really get that," Richmond police Chief Chris Magnus said. "It seems like a good approach."

Andres Soto, a Richmond resident and Alameda County's violence-prevention coordinator, agrees that the city could benefit from better organization.

"I think the challenge ... is the paucity of infrastructure, and the funding for that infrastructure, for implementing a broad-based community response that addresses the root causes of violence in Richmond," Soto said.

Oakland and Alameda County have more and better-established programs, Soto said, but they need constant help to avoid redundancy and resource competition and to find collaborative opportunities.

Oakland in particular tends to dominate regional discussions about violence prevention. A dedicated city office will give Richmond more presence at that table, Muhammad said.

IF YOU GO: Richmond invites residents to hear about development of the city Office of Violence Prevention at a 6 p.m. meeting Sept. 28 in the Bermuda Room of the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza.

Staff writer John Geluardi contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.