Richmond, California has been known as “Refinery Town” for more than 100 years. Its residents have a long history of health impact from polluters like Chevron. With increasing incidents, like flaring, at the refinery the community saw the need to act.

$550 Million for the City of Richmond

Our Approach

Starting in 2023, Telegraph worked with a coalition of labor and community groups to develop legislation for a Polluters Pay measure, a tax per barrel on oil produced at Chevron’s Richmond refinery. In 2024, working with allies on the city council the measure was placed on the November ballot, to address generations of damages to community and residents health from the refinery in their community.

Our firm worked with coalition partners to test voters with polling to provide necessary tools to further identify areas of need in the community and develop an early strategic messaging plan to get in front of voters before the multi-billion dollar opponents of the oil industry had an opportunity to launch messaging on the measure.

Early paid media focused on the health impacts of the refinery and the opportunity to hold Chevron accountable for the damage to the community.

The messaging was also forward looking emphasizing the cost of environmental clean up.

Telegraph also helped generate earned media including coverage from NPR and Politico positioned the issue positively.