Sam Richards
San Jose Mercury News
Martinez, CA, United States
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Past articles by Sam:
Many complaints, few answers to long train delays at two Martinez crossings
MARTINEZ — For Abbie Stenson and her family, waiting for trains to pass by is one of the inconveniences they’ve become accustomed to since moving to their home north of the railroad tra… → Read More
Walnut Creek council candidates stake out positions on downtown, employee pensions
Walnut Creek candidates diverge on some of the finer points of how downtown growth, a more diverse housing stock and how to better traffic flow. → Read More
Two incumbents face single challenger in Pleasant Hill council race
One newcomer is running against two incumbents in the Pleasant Hill City Council race. → Read More
Contra Costa County to regulate short-term rental of homes
MARTINEZ —- Contra Costa County supervisors this week called for an ordinance that sets rules for hosts using platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO to rent their homes for short periods. Under th… → Read More
Martinez council leery about letting pot business operate in same building as ‘youth center’
MARTINEZ — Though most City Council members said Wednesday they’re OK with having a medical marijuana dispensary in town, they noted that putting one next to a gym visited primarily by … → Read More
Martinez sets plan in motion to allow marijuana businesses
The city of Martinez hopes to have a plan in place by November to allow and regulate marijuana businesses in town. → Read More
Residents say they’re fed up with Martinez post office’s poor service – The Mercury News
Even though Martinez residents have long complained about their post office service, Postmaster Jeanette Davis acknowledged at the end of a town hall meeting Wednesday night she was surprised at th… → Read More
European-style food hall coming to Walnut Creek
WALNUT CREEK — A downtown “food hall” development with as many as 24 restaurant spaces sharing a common dining area and social spaces was approved Tuesday by the City Council, praised as the … → Read More
Martinez puts half-cent sales tax on ballot
The Martinez City Council said the primary need for the proposed tax would be to bolster the police department. → Read More
Martinez takes out line of credit to pay $4 million in overdue Social Security taxes
Martinez owes the money after several of its employees paid no Social Security taxes for years. → Read More
Concord bans plastic foam packaging starting Jan. 1
Restaurants and other food distributors will have until Jan. 1 to clear out their inventory of the containers. → Read More
Concord council vows to refrain from long discussions not on the agenda
CONCORD — City Council members have pledged to not have long discussions about items not on their meeting agenda after doing just that at a recent meeting. The matter dates to June 5 when the… → Read More
Concord to pay $5.5 million to help build affordable housing
This would be RCD’s fifth affordable housing project in Concord; three of the other four are renovations and not new construction. → Read More
Walnut Creek sets rules regulating marijuana cultivation, allowing commercial delivery
Walnut Creek leaders on Tuesday night approved an ordinance regulating personal cultivation of both recreational and medicinal marijuana and allowing local commercial delivery of medical cannabis. → Read More
Walnut Creek sets rules regulating marijuana cultivation, allowing commercial delivery
WALNUT CREEK — WALNUT CREEK — City leaders Tuesday night approved an ordinance regulating personal cultivation of both recreational and medicinal marijuana and allowing local commercial… → Read More
Developer withdraws Clayton assisted-living facility proposal
CLAYTON — A Sausalito company that wanted to build an assisted-living facility in this city’s downtown has withdrawn those plans, in light of strong opposition from local residents who conten… → Read More
Contra Costa supervisors nix plan for huge home on Alamo hilltop
The Contra Costa supervisors turned down a developer’s request to change a longstanding requirement to improve an access road before any construction begins. → Read More
Walnut Creek: City approves new Hilton motel near 680/North Main
City leaders have been looking for years not only for a good use for that land at Lawrence Way and Penniman Way, but also for new hotel projects — the closer to downtown the better. → Read More
Russians arrive, thrive in Contra Costa County
According to U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2015, there are an estimated 1,000 to 1,400 people of Russian descent living in Walnut Creek, and another estimated 6,000 to 7,000 living in Concord, Pleasant… → Read More
Russians arrive, thrive in Contra Costa County
The immigrants have assimilated as well as preserved traditions and language → Read More