🌱 How much more Richmond residents will pay for drought-ready water upgrades

Good morning Richmond! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How much more Richmond residents will pay for drought-ready water upgrades
• Why Richmond crime spiked in November despite yearlong declines
• How will Richmond handle losing its city attorney at year’s end?

Also on today's calendar: Pet Pictures with Santa and 8 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Richmond? Post it to Richmond photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Rather cloudy, with a high of 54 and low of 51 degrees.
• Wednesday: A morning shower or two, temps: high: 52, low: 47.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and cool, with a high of 53 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Contra Costa County water bills rise to pay for drought-ready purification (richmondside.org) — Most Richmond households will see higher EBMUD water and wastewater bills this year and next as the district upgrades its aging Orinda treatment plant, which serves all of Richmond. The $713 million project will add ultraviolet purification to better protect local water quality during future droughts, especially when nearby San Pablo and Briones reservoirs run low.
   

2. Richmond police report November crime spike, cite year-to-date decline (grandviewindependent.com) — Richmond saw a sharp jump in both violent and property crime in November compared with October, including two homicides and a surge in vehicle thefts. Police say overall crime for 2025 is still down from last year, even as gunfire incidents, firearm recoveries, and ongoing staffing shortages shape how the department responds citywide.
   

3. Richmond city attorney is resigning (richmondside.org) — Richmond’s city attorney, Dave Aleshire, plans to resign Dec. 31, and the City Council will meet Tuesday to accept his resignation and set up interim legal services. Councilmembers are expected to appoint Shannon Moore as interim city attorney, adjust her pay, and approve a smaller follow-up contract with Aleshire’s firm while the city launches a search for a permanent replacement.
   

4. Group behind Richmond Arts Corridor asks City Council for more time and money to put a plan together (richmondconfidential.org) — A local arts collective is asking Richmond’s City Council for an extra $15,000 and six more months to finish the Richmond Arts Corridor plan for Macdonald Avenue and 23rd Street. Organizers say they need more canvassing to reach underrepresented artists, small businesses, and residents before finalizing a long-term strategy to boost downtown foot traffic and culture.
   

5. East Bay pets of the week for Dec. 19 (eastbaytimes.com) — Several adoptable pets across the East Bay are highlighted, including Bodie, an energetic Border Collie mix available at Milo Point Richmond on South Garrard Boulevard. Richmond residents can visit the center most days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to meet him and learn about the Milo Foundation’s long-running animal rescue work.
   

📸 Around Richmond

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Richmond

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Pet Pictures with Santa
  400 Colusa Ave, Kensington
  4:00 pm

Monday December 22

• (Dec 22 - Dec 26) Winter Math Camp for Kids ages 6-16
  Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave, Piedmont
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• San Ramon LEGOÂŽ Club
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  4:00 pm
• Eviction Defense Lawyer @ Main Library
  Richmond Memorial Auditorium , 403 Civic Center Plaza , Richmond
  5:00 pm
• ESL Conversation Group
  El Cerrito Library , 6510 Stockton Avenue , El Cerrito
  5:00 pm
• Verses & Voices Poetry Workshop
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  5:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Winter Harp Concert & Sing Along @ West Side
  Point Richmond Community Center , 139 Washington Ave , Richmond
  4:30 pm

Friday December 19

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon

Wednesday December 24

• A Community Christmas Eve Service!
  The Church On the Corner , 1319 Solano Ave , Albany
  6:00 pm

📣 Richmond Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• San Pablo Library TecHub Popup
  San Pablo Library - Contra Costa County Library , 13751 San Pablo Ave , San Pablo
  10:00 am
• TecHub: Tech Exchange @ the Library
  San Pablo Library , 2300 El Portal Drive Suite D , San Pablo
  10:00 am
• ESL for Parents (Babies OK!)
  San Pablo Library , 2300 El Portal Drive Suite D , San Pablo
  11:30 am
• Cloth Produce Bag Sewing Circle
  Kensington Library , 61 Arlington Avenue , Kensington
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• need local stores with wall calendars
  I have a holiday tradition with my neices of gifting them with wall calendars. It's getting harder to find them. Of my three long time go-to stores,… (Nextdoor Atchison Village)

• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Bakery Wrapper / Clean Up in Richmond. Apply here.
• Kaiser Permanente posted a job opening for Senior Manager, Optical Laboratory - Manufacturing in Richmond. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Richmond here.

Ok Richmond! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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