RICHMOND GLOBE
September 19 - 25, 2007

McLaughlin Meets with BAPAC,
Reports on Her Priorities, Activities

By Globe Staff

On Saturday, Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin met with the Black American Political Action Committee (BAPAC) to discuss city governance issues and update the group on her priorities and activities.

She updated BAPAC on the city’s new Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), which will focus its efforts on high-crime neighborhoods. The city is currently interviewing applicants for ONS director, a full-time position. McLaughlin said she has continued to work with the Tent City Peace Movement to expand community efforts against violence.

McLaughlin reported that the Summer Youth Jobs Program, run by E&T, employed over 400 youth this summer, up from 290 last year. “I’ve allocated some money from our office’s budget to help advance some of these young people into yearround jobs,” she said. “Along with Richmond Works, we are currently emphasizing the pressing need for our city efforts to focus more on preparing and training young people in every way possible throughout the entire year with educational enhancement and job opportunities.”

McLaughlin also discussed the city’s environmental efforts, including the implementation of a pilot program to have 100 percent electric trucks in the city fleet. The trucks are currently being used on the Bay Trail and by public works crews.

“Richmond now is part of a growing number of cities nationally and globally that have a Green Building Ordinance, which will cover all city-funded projects over $300,000,” she said. “We are the first city we know of in the U.S. to get our city departments to use and prioritize life-cycle cost analysis in budgeting and decision making, meaning shifting to a triple bottom line: economics, equity and environment.”

McLaughlin said she is standing firm in her goal to implement “increased oversight of Chevron and other major pollution sources in Richmond,” and that she is “working with the county on a plan to do so to be completed in 2007.”