NEXT MEETING: January 25, 2019

Empowering People Through A.I.

Pablo Ferrari, former head of Cognitive Tech, left that firm three months ago to dive into the homelessness crisis, and subsequently founded Nomad Artificial Intelligence. In addition to A.I., his other passions are natural language processing and using technology to empower people. Pablo will share his recent entrepreneur work on an app that empowers San Francisco homeless people via A.I.,crossing the fields of technology and human rights.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Erle Brown announced that it was everyone’s last chance to sign up for the Crab Feed on Saturday, January 26^th at Salesian High School. It’s really important for everyone to register ASAP to be sure there is enough crab for everyone! Capacity is 120-130 people and it would be great to sell out, since this is the Club’s second biggest fundraiser. You can purchase tickets using the yellow button on the right, or by credit card at Friday’s meeting.
• Mark Howe and Josh Genser invited everyone to join them on the new Richmond-SF Ferry that evening. Plan was to meet at 5 pm to ride the ferry to SF and then return to Richmond. Sure to be fun – a big crowd was expected!
• Jan Brown announced the District conference was taking place Saturday in Woodland very early – 7:30 AM!

MEETING OF January 18, 2019

Welcome

President Jerry Feagley called the meeting to order. The members pledged allegiance to the flag. Jim Finley led a silent prayer for peace, freedom and justice on earth. “Thoughtful” Sid Chauvin had this to share: “Love your enemies – it will confuse them greatly….”

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

Oscar observed that there were no upcoming or recent birthdays or anniversaries, hence no one to recognize. He therefore moved to Happy and Sad Dollars.

• Liliane Koziol was happy to return from a wonderful trip to Nairobi.
• Josh Genser was happy to have attended the opening reception at the Richmond Museum of History for their newest exhibit, Pioneers to the Present: Jews of Richmond and Contra Costa County.
• Pierre Thompson had happy dollars for the new President-Elect of Rotary International, Mark Monley’s renewed focus on Rotary’s relationship with the United Nations, and the UN’s sustainable development goals that many Rotary service projects support.
• Sid Chauvin had sad dollars for whoever stiffed him at the Board meeting lunch – he received $137 for a bill totaling $153. Whoever it was – don’t do it again!

PROGRAM

Richmond's New City Manager, Carlos Martinez

Darlene Drapkin introduced the day’s esteemed speaker, Richmond City Manager Carlos Martinez. Studied architecture in Mexico City and came to the US to advance his career by getting a Masters in Architecture and City Planning at U.C. Berkeley, and has been in the Bay Area since. Carlos’s two children are both attorneys in the Bay Area.

Carlos provided an overview of the city budget, currently $168 million, with the majority dedicated to public safety: 41% of the budget is for Richmond police, and 18% is for the fire department. The remaining is allocated with 10% to infrastructure and operations, and 31% to other city departments.

Carlos next reviewed major accomplishments and events of the past year. He discussed the Documentary Transfer Tax, Measure H – a tax paid by a buyer or seller upon property sale; the North Richmond Annexation – Council hasn’t made a determination yet, but could have an impact of $2 million; Marketing the City of Richmond through the SF Business Times Richmond insert; Health in All Policies Strategies – health equity policy as a preventive measure to support economic development in Richmond; the new Richmond-SF Ferry, recently launched and a huge opportunity for the City; Richmond Housing Renovation Program, in partnership with Richmond Community Foundation and SparkPoint Contra Costa; Point Molate; and the Chevron Modernization Project– state of the art, lower pollution delivery system.

He also provided an overview of significant development in process or planned for Richmond including: The Richmond Yellow Brick Road in the Iron Triangle; Harbor View Senior Apartments/Harbor 8 housing; Artisan Cove; Richmond BART Garage Retail; Terraces at Nevin – featuring 268 affordable units; Shops at Hilltop; Latitude at Terminal 1; 12^th and Macdonald, mixed use retail/affordable housing project; Marina Way Residential; and Point Pinole Business Park. He summarized that all these positive accomplishments and developments are a result of the snowball effect of the reduction in crime and general improvements in the city and speak to the efforts of those who preceded him.

Stacey Street, Rotating Editor