What is Foreseen for 2013? 2012 Year End Review Prediction and Wishes for 2013 Tom Butt, Richmond City Councilmember, January 1, 2013 Richmond, California 2012 Year End Review and Predictions/Wishes for 2013 Page 1 Tom Butt and E-FORUM Readers Contents Over a Decade of TOM BUTT E-FORUMS .................................................................................................. 4 2012 – Productive Year for City Council despite Late Nights and Acrimony ............................................... 6 Top Richmond Stories of 2012 ....................................................................................................................... 8 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Chooses Richmond ................................................................... 8 Special Interests Buy 2012 Richmond Election ......................................................................................... 8 Chevron Fire Roils Community-Chevron Relationship ............................................................................11 Most Controversial Issues of 2012 ................................................................................................................12 North Shoreline .........................................................................................................................................12 Marijuana ..................................................................................................................................................13 Riggers Loft ..............................................................................................................................................14 Animal News .................................................................................................................................................15 Did My Wishes/Predictions for 2012 Come True? .......................................................................................16 Shipyard 3 Buildings ................................................................................................................................16 Point Molate .............................................................................................................................................16 Railroads ...................................................................................................................................................16 Crime ........................................................................................................................................................16 Chevron ....................................................................................................................................................17 Elections ...................................................................................................................................................18 Marijuana ..................................................................................................................................................18 Booker et al. ..............................................................................................................................................18 North Shoreline .........................................................................................................................................18 My Nominations for the Best of 2012 ...........................................................................................................18 My Nominations for Worst of 2012 ..............................................................................................................19 The Election ..............................................................................................................................................19 City Council Meetings ..............................................................................................................................19 The Chevron Fire ......................................................................................................................................19 Railroads ...................................................................................................................................................19 E-FORUM Reader Nominations for Best of 2012 ........................................................................................19 City Council ..............................................................................................................................................19 Streets .......................................................................................................................................................19 Crime ........................................................................................................................................................19 General Plan .............................................................................................................................................20 Rosie the Riveter ......................................................................................................................................20 Point Richmond Music .............................................................................................................................20 Salute ........................................................................................................................................................20 LBNL ........................................................................................................................................................20 Booker vs. City of Richmond ...................................................................................................................21 West County Health Center ......................................................................................................................21 Casinos .....................................................................................................................................................21 Chevron ....................................................................................................................................................21 Downtown ................................................................................................................................................21 Ford Building ............................................................................................................................................21 Richmond Art Center ................................................................................................................................21 Japanese Americans ..................................................................................................................................21 The Annex ................................................................................................................................................21 Dedicated Citizens ....................................................................................................................................21 E-FORUM Reader Nominations for Best Organizations of 2012 .................................................................22 Richmond, California 2012 Year End Review and Predictions/Wishes for 2013 Page 2 Tom Butt and E-FORUM Readers Fix Our Ferals ...........................................................................................................................................22 TRAC .......................................................................................................................................................22 Richmond Trees ........................................................................................................................................22 Ujima ........................................................................................................................................................23 Spokes .......................................................................................................................................................23 Richmond Community Foundation ..........................................................................................................23 Writer Coach Connection .........................................................................................................................23 Richmond Main Street ..............................................................................................................................24 Richmond Art Center ................................................................................................................................24 E-Forum Reader Nominations for Best City Employees (including elected) ................................................24 ..................................................................................................................................................................24 Gayle McLaughlin ....................................................................................................................................24 Tom Butt ...................................................................................................................................................24 Jeff Ritterman ...........................................................................................................................................24