Thanks for joining me for another week. I want to kick things off by thanking those of you who attended last Tuesday’s First Responders BBQ Lunch event. We had an excellent turnout this year with over 90 firefighters and police officers served. Both County Supervisor John Gioia and Congressmen Mark Desaulnier honored Fire and Police Chiefs Adrian Sheppard and Allwyn Brown with letters of special thanks for their service and commitment to our city. This year’s celebration, like all the years prior, could not have been the success it was without the support of the community – thank you.

While I’ve still got your attention, I’d like to take a moment to share some information with you about a new measure that will be on the ballot for the city come November. As we all know homelessness and littering is an issue common to all city including Richmond; Measure T is a newly proposed tax aimed at alleviating this problem.

In short, Measure T would tax property owners of undeveloped and/or unused lots and properties around the city and use those funds to create and provide programs and services to the city’s homeless, protect the affordable house currently in place and work to generally reduce the homeless rate in Richmond. The funds would also be used to clean the unused or empty lots that often become homeless encampment sites.

The tax itself would range between $3000 – $6,000, bringing in a possible total of 3-4 million a year. The tax would be dependent on several different variables, like whether your property is undeveloped land or vacant residential units and the City has committed to waiving this tax for property owners who are struggling with a financial hardship.

While the intention behind the new tax is something most everyone can get behind the tax itself is coming up against some opposition. In some instances, the cost of city permits and other necessary steps to build might deter an owner from utilizing their property, a new potential tax on the property would not encourage someone to build but instead might force them to sale.

While there are opinions on both side of the proposed tax most of us agree that homelessness is not something that any city or any community can simply abide. The truth of the matter is homelessness is something that can happen to anyone. There are a number of hardworking individuals and families that are a paycheck way from losing their home, there are women who leave abusive situations and are forced into shelters with their children, any of us can fall ill, lose our jobs and find ourselves in circumstances we just couldn’t have imagined for ourselves. Unfortunate things happen and a solution, through one means or another, must be made. Richmond will have the opportunity to decide if this is the appropriate means once the measure hits the ballot in November. I encourage everyone to gather additional information on Measure T and to vote on this issue when the time comes.

See you next week

I believe that success is communal: ensuring the health, well being, and comfort of our families, friends, neighbors. I believe that success is best shared: bridging ties between corporations, local leaders, and constituents to create a city that will serve a snapshot into the best aspects of the American spirit: diversity, equity, and a drive to innovate.