Oakland Post, week of April 20-26, 2022

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Sheryl Swoopes, The Little Dribbler

Vice President Kamala Harris to Announce Reforms to Ease Burden of Medical Debt

Military Vets Celebrate Bill That Would Exempt Their Pension From Taxes

Protect Your Buy Buying Power - Know Your Credit Score

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Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18

postnewsgroup.com

58th Year, No. 44

Weekly Edition. Edition. April 20-26, 2022

Elaine Brown’s Groundbreaking $80 Million Development for 100% Affordable Housing Complex West Oakland plan will provide jobs, business opportunities for formerly incarcerated and homeless

Treva Reid (left), District 7 Councilmember and Assemblymember Mia Bonta.

Mia Bonta Endorses Treva Reid for Mayor

From Left to Right: Shaune Gbana, John Branagh, Donald Frazier, Adhi Nagraj, Elaine Brown, Carlton Smith, Sanjeev Malhotra, Michael Baines, and Ali Kashani. See page 3 for more pictures and story. Photos by Auintard Henderson.

Brown Names the Development “The Black Panther”

Editor’s note: At the Seventh Street groundbreaking celebration that was blessed by an Ohlone Native American, Elaine Brown emphasized that very block was the site where Panther co-founder Huey P. Newton was wounded by an Oakland Police Officer in 1967. Many of the original Pan-

ther members were present as Brown announced that the development will be named “The Black Panther.” Many elected officials and government representatives said the project is expected to become a model that sweeps the country, like the Black Panther Party did, to provide answers to how to build

100% affordable housing, jobs and business opportunities. Brown reminded the audience that Seventh Street was once called the “Harlem of the West,” where the music of Billie Holiday, B.B. King and Al Green could be heard at Slim Jenkins Supper Club or Esther’s Orbit Room.

The development was also dedicated to Mothers of slain victims Oscar Grant and Mario Woods as well as the Moms for Housing advocates. Then Brown brought up two of the Bay Area Black mothers whose sons had been murdered by local police: See Story on Page 3.

A Cautionary Tale: Developers, EIRs and the Howard Terminal Part 2: By Tanya Dennis

Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) are the central documents that determine what a builder can or cannot build on a site, and many large projects, like the A’s and City of Oakland’s baseball park/ housing project at Howard Terminal have been thwarted because EIR guidelines were not adhered to. Fred Jordan, CEO of F.E. Jordan Associates, Inc (FEJA), the original developers of Howard Terminal, shared a cautionary tale that Wynn Ho-

Fred Jordan, CEO of F.E. Jordan Associates, Inc (FEJA)

tel developers, owners and and city officials of Las Vegas experienced after ignoring an EIR.

“The biggest developer in Vegas was planning another casino for the Wynn Hotel conglomerate across from a Black neighborhood where Highway 15 runs along the strip near Fourth or Fifth street and filled the tunnel leading to the historic Black community where the Black-owned Town Tavern Casino, and other Black businesses had hosted Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington back in the day,” said Jordan. “I was contacted by Trish Gurand, author of “Beyond the Glimmering Lights,” a book that chronicled the life of Af-

rican Americans in Las Vegas who endured red-lining and segregation, and Steven Horsford, an African American Congressman. “Wynn and the City were planning a billion-dollar extension and closed the west side where Blacks were segregated. The City closed us off from Symphony Park where plays, concerts and operas are staged and the 18-story World Market center, where people come from all over the world to shop. The City felt (the Black) community was an eyesore and Continued on Page 10

Berkeley School of Theology Announces Creation of the J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Endowed Chair of Theology in the Public Square By Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor

Berkeley School of Theology’s president and Board of Trustees unanimously approved the creation of the J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Endowed Chair of Theology in the Public Square on April 8, 2022. Berkeley School of Theology (BST), located at 2606 Dwight Way in Berkeley was formerly known as the American Baptist Seminary of the West. An endowed chair is the highest academic honor that a college, university, or seminary can bestow upon a person and/or the faculty member who

Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr., pastor emeritus of Allen Temple Baptist Church. Courtesy of Dr. Smith.

will serve their professorship in the endowed chair. For clarity, an ‘endowed

Dr. James Brenneman, president of the Berkeley School of Theology. Courtesy of BST.

chair’ is not a plaque, certificate, or money contribution to Dr. Smith, rather having a chair named in one’s honor means they have reached the highest academic honor.

Further, people are not endowed, but the position is endowed, meaning it is fully funded. An endowed chair is a tribute to the donor who establishes it and to the person whom they have chosen. BST President Dr. James Brenneman stated “This endowed chair in Dr. Smith’s name is part of the establishment of a new Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Restorative Justice made possible through the largest lead gift ever given to BST from the good people of First Baptist Church of Palo Alto and other donors of nearly $3 million. In the Public Square’ refers to how Smith deliberately ministered beyond the walls of the Continued on Page 10

District 7 Councilmember Treva Reid, who is a candidate for Oakland Mayor, said her campaign has received some major support with a (#2) endorsement under the ranked choice voting system from Assemblymember Mia Bonta for the November election. “I am grateful for Mia’s support, and I look forward to our continued work together to ensure Oakland is vibrant and thriving for all residents,” said Reid. Reid said Bonta has been “a fierce advocate for quality education.” Bonta, elected to the State Assembly in 2021, was formerly director of the Oakland Promise program and has worked for and led several nonprofit organizations focused on improving educational outcomes for low-income students. In 2018, Mia Bonta was elected to the Alameda Unified School District School Board, serving as Board President.

Coalition of Schools and Port Workers Calls for Day of Action Against Privatization, April 29 Coalition will hold Zoom forum April 30 to ask candidates where they stand on school and port privatization

Teachers and Longshore workers of ILWU Local hold a rally at Oakland City Hall Feb. 17, kicking off the labor/community coalition to stop the A’s real estate deal to privatize the Port of Oakland and the closure and privatization of neighborhood public schools. Photo courtesy of Indybay, Leon Kunstenaar. By Post Staff

Many Oakland teachers will be striking and joining with ILWU longshore workers on

Friday, April 29 against privatization and closures of Oakland schools and the privatizaContinued on Page 10

Oakland Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 24–30

In commemoration of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and to raise awareness about crime victims’ issues, rights, resources and services, local organizations will host several special events and activities. Pictured above are (left) Brenda Grisham Christopher Lavell Jones Foundation Director. (Right) Florence McCrary Family Support Advocates. Photo credit - Brigitte Cook Violence Prevention Coalition. See story on page 9


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