Posts by Choekyi Lhamo
Teens 16 and 17 get to vote in two Alameda County school board races
Candidates seeking to lead the Oakland Unified School District faced a barrage of tough questions one recent evening — an interrogation led by an enthusiastic group of new voters suddenly endowed with political power: 16- and 17-year-old high school students. In a first for California, teens in two Alameda County school districts, Berkeley and…
Read MoreHow do you register new voters? This group is using regional Mexican music
The infamous wall at the U.S.-Mexico border was visible in the distance at Joe Orduño Park in San Luis, Ariz., and the sun was just beginning to set beyond it when the organizer of the music festival climbed onto the stage on an evening in October. Esau Torres, co-founder of the group Grita. Canta.…
Read MoreCalifornia voters to decide if forced prison work constitutes slave labor and should be prohibited
When Richmond resident Lejon “Fahim” Reese was transferred to Vacaville’s Solano State Prison in December 1993, he was just beginning to serve his time for a gang-related homicide. Then he was told how to spend that time. The Unit Classification Committee, the state body in charge of inmate work assignments, assigned him the role of…
Read MoreWhy does District 1 have the lowest voter turnout in Richmond?
George Ellis walked down Sixth Street, greeting neighbors he passed in a community he has called home for decades. While he and his wife hung a poster of the City Council candidate they both planned to vote for, Ellis couldn’t remember the candidate’s name. “I need to get more in-depth and do more reading. I…
Read MoreBig changes coming to El Cerrito City Council: A Q&A with the five candidates
With three open seats on the five-member El Cerrito City Council, the Nov. 5 election offers residents a rare opportunity to shape the city’s future. Mayor Tessa Rudnick will not be running for reelection after one term on the council. Councilmember Paul Fadelli is also not running, after serving two terms, leaving Lisa Motoyama as…
Read MoreWCCUSD school board Area 2 candidates say addressing budget deficit is their top priority
This year, there are three seats up for election on the West Contra Costa Unified School District board, but only the Area 2 race will appear on the ballot. The other two candidates are running unopposed and will automatically get the seats. For her second term, Incumbent Jamela Smith-Folds will represent Area 1, which includes…
Read MoreRichmond voters consider conflicting ballot measures that would change how local leaders are elected
On Election Day, Richmond voters will decide between two ballot measures that could reshape elections for the foreseeable future. On the ballot are two options: Measure J’s two-round primary system or Measure L, an instant run-off, otherwise known as ranked-choice voting. Both address concerns over representation but through vastly different approaches. Measure J, which is…
Read MoreQ&A with candidates for county Education Board, which oversees WCCUSD’s finances
Two Richmond residents are vying to represent Area 1 on the Contra Costa County Board of Education: Area 1 covers the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Anthony Caro and Daniel Nathan-Heiss are running for the seat held by Consuelo Lara, who served one term and is not running for reelection. The board, alongside the…
Read MoreProp. 33 could bring relief to cost-burdened households, but is it fair to small landlords?
In the two decades Flor Castro has lived in Richmond, she’s seen many things change. One thing that has remained relatively stable is the $1,500 rent for the three-bedroom apartment she shares with her husband and two children, thanks to the city’s rent control laws. “I’m very grateful to God for everything I have because…
Read MoreMeet the WCCUSD school board candidates: Q&A with Otheree Christian and Guadalupe Enllana
Otheree Christian Tell us about yourself. A: “I was born and raised in Richmond, and attended the public schools here — Martin Luther King, Adams, and Kennedy High School. This community is a big part of who I am. I am a proud descendant of African slaves here in America. Our ancestors were brought here…
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