Addressing Recent Incidents

Dear Community,

I want to directly address the recent events involving reckless driving and vandalism at the Auto Plaza, as well as the concerns from our community regarding unlawful vehicle activity. There has also been some misrepresentation of my previous statements, and I want to set the record straight.

Let me be unequivocally clear: I do not support nor condone any unlawful activity in the City of Richmond. Some have taken the opportunity to misinterpret my past comments on vehicle-related activity as approval of these dangerous actions. That could not be further from the truth. I am fully committed to ensuring that our city remains safe for all residents, businesses, and visitors.

I am cautious about the use of the term "sideshow." I understand that some events qualify as sideshows, which typically involve large groups of participants and spectators, disrupt traffic, create noise nuisances, harm the air quality, and can become dangerous. However, I also recognize that not every instance of speeding or burning rubber constitutes a sideshow.

I understand that, in this day and age, there are sects of our society that use certain terms and words as dog whistles to demonize or negatively categorize certain groups in our community. This I will not do. The City has strong measures in place to ensure the enforcement of its laws. In my tenure in public office, I have never instructed, nor advised, any public servant to ignore the law.

In terms of action, we are moving to strengthen our response, not only by hiring additional personnel but also by deploying Flock cameras around the city, which will be a key tool in helping our police identify and track down participants more effectively. In addition, we will work with our regional partners to establish effective collaborations to deter or disperse crowds.

It’s important to recognize that sideshows are not just a Richmond problem — they are a regional issue. The recent incident here drew participants from as far away as Fresno, and our officers have recently cited and impounded vehicles from individuals who reside in the Central Valley and Sacramento. These events often move from city to city, and that’s why we need to work with neighboring cities and agencies at every level to address this issue comprehensively.

I know that the Richmond Police Department responded to the incident at the Auto Plaza, but I also recognize that more needs to be done to prevent these events from causing property damage, harming our environment, and threatening public safety. You have my full commitment that we will continue to enhance our efforts through deterrence, enforcement, and regional collaboration.

These lawless actions do not represent the values of our Richmond residents, and we will do everything in our power to protect our community.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mayor Eduardo