40+ Speakers Demand Richmond Reauthorize $99M Children's Fund

Richmond's City Council marathon session March 25 was dominated by a massive community showing for the city's youth fund, but it also surfaced a revealing disclosure — the police chief confirmed he already turned away a federal immigration enforcement request — and ignited a sharp debate over which neighborhoods get park improvements and why. Councilmember Jamelia Brown was absent.

• More than 40 speakers urge council to immediately renew the $99M Richmond Fund for Children and Youth at 3% of general fund revenue; deliberation deferred to April 7

• Police chief reveals he denied a Department of Homeland Security request for perimeter support during an immigration enforcement action, calling it "a flat out no"

• Police union floods meeting with at least eight speakers demanding a competitive contract and the reinstatement of Detective Brandon Hodges

• Council unanimously renames Cesar Chavez Day to Farm Workers Movement Day following confirmed sexual abuse allegations

• Fire code overhaul passes unanimously on first reading, adopting California's first standalone wildland-urban interface code

• La Moine Park (Cheese Park) added to CIP list after contentious debate over whether the item circumvented the city's project-scoring system

• Council forms ad hoc committee to oversee sanctuary city protections as amended ordinance heads to April 7 first reading

The longest stretch of the evening belonged to Richmond's Fund for Children and Youth — known as Kids First — which allocates 3% of general fund revenue to youth programs. Approved by voters in 2018 through Measures E and K, the fund expires in fiscal year 2027-28 and the council must decide how to renew it.