Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
58th Year, No. 51
Weekly Edition. Edition. June 8-14, 2022
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U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee Calls for Gun Violence Protection in Visit to Oakland’s Youth Alive!
By Sarah Clemens
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D13) met with members of Oakland violence prevention program Youth ALIVE! (YA!) on June 3, 2022, a few days before she spoke about the impact of guns on the House floor in Washington, D.C. Lee toured YA!, one of several local projects that receive federal funding, as National Gun Violence Awareness Month kicked off. The meeting at 3300 Elm St. occurred less than two weeks after the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which attracted worldwide attention and brought new focus to gun control conversations. While the visit mainly focused on Lee introducing herself to the staff and touring the building, the recent shooting was not far from anyone’s mind. In America, school shootings have become common — 27 have happened this year alone. The amount of guns in the U.S. is significant, with the Pew Research Center estimating in 2021 that 1 in 4 U.S. adults live in a household with one. They happen so often that think pieces about the public becoming “desensitized to murder” exist in abundance. And gun law reforms are rare and far between. While the House passed a significant gun control bill on June 8, 2022, its chances of becoming law are slim, considering its lack of bipartisan support. It passed just barely, by an almost exact
Front, from left: Sarah Clemens, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and H.E. Christian Peeples, AC Transit, Board of Directors. Back: Jonathan “Fitness” Jones.
party line of 223-204. Lee was one of those in support of the Protecting Our Kids Act, a strong legislative package that would save lives across the nation as well as protect East Bay communities from gun violence. It includes common-sense gun safety measures that will crack down on illegal gun trafficking, keep weapons of war out of the hands of teenagers, strengthen safe gun storage, restrict access to untraceable “ghost guns” and more. Lee told YA! staff, who were concerned about the surge of gun violence in Oakland, that
she believes we’ll be living in a period marked by gun violence for some time. While speaking with a few of the program’s clients, she stated that while progress toward an anti-gun future is important, so is “getting through that first phase.” When asked by the Post how long it might take until serious gun reform happens, Lee said, “hopefully not as long as it’s taken just to get to this point.” Lee elaborated, “I want to see a full ban on assault weapons, I want all steps taken to address the problem.” Lee’s concern was reflected
in her remarks to Congress on Thursday. “Gun violence is responsible for more than 32,000 deaths each year. This is a heartbreaking moment for so many of us. This is a public health crisis in our country. It’s an epidemic. The victims of Buffalo and Uvalde, Tulsa, and other mass shootings, they — they deserve more than our thoughts and our prayers. “Last week, I met with young gun violence survivors in my district. They spoke powerfully about the cycle of violence and easy access to guns, especially ghost guns. And they talked about the trauma endured by themselves, their families, and their communities…This bill responds to their call by raising the age for purchase of certain firearms.” A recent poll by the Washington Post found that 62% of Americans agree with Lee, and support banning semiautomatic weapons such as the infamous AR-15s. However, this general support does not equate to bipartisan support. Only 31% of Republicans said the same, and only 29% favored tougher gun laws in general. Despite this clear divide, Lee said she “wasn’t pessimistic” about potential reform. “Because we know what should be done, but we have to see this as a political struggle and hold members of congress accountable.” Rep. Barbara Lee’s press office and Youth ALIVE! web site contributed to this report.
Letter to City Council: Let Voters Decide If They Want to Give Billions to a Billionaire
Editor’s Note: The Oakland Post received the following open letter signed by many local residents: City officials are proposing that Oakland spend almost $1 billion of our state, federal and local tax dollars for a private stadium and real estate development on public land at Howard Terminal. Meanwhile, Oakland is struggling with homelessness, keeping schools open, maintaining our roads, improving our Port, adequately paying City employees and more. Oakland voters should have a say in how our public funds are spent. Councilmembers, please place “Public Financ-
Howard Terminal rendition.
ing for the Howard Terminal Real Estate and Stadium project” on the November ballot. Let Oakland Voters Decide! Signees’ names and residential districts are included below: Signed by: Susan Audap, D-6
Jahahara Alkebulan-Ma‘at Jeff Baker, D-3 Rick Baum, D-1 Ann Berlak, D-1 Doug Blacksher, D-7 (Black Business Roundtable) Doug Brown Carolyn Burgess, D-1 Lauran Cherry
Millie Cleveland, D-4 Paul Cobb, D-3 Ken Epstein, D-5 Kitty Kelly Epstein, D-2 Janice Ewing Jack Fleck, D-4 Mary Forte, D-7 Councilmember Noel Gallo, D-5 Lynette Gailord, D-7 Rashidah Grinage, D-4 Corrina Gould, D-7 Chia Hamilton, (SLAP) Brad Henry, D-6 Henry Hitz, D-3 Nirali Jani, D-1 Saru Jayaraman, D-6 Michael Kaufman, D-4 Timothy Killings, D-3 Continued on Page 10
If The City Council Won’t Vote For You, Don’t Vote For Them By Paul Cobb Publisher
The voters of Oakland demand the right to vote on whether the City of Oakland should spend a billion dollars of public money on a privately owned baseball stadium and luxury condominiums at Howard Terminal. We agree. If City Councilmembers want the voters to support them in upcoming elections, they must support the voters’ demand for a public vote on Howard Terminal now. In an April 6, 2022, poll of 800 registered voters, 76% said they want to vote on whether the City Council should spend public funds on Oakland A’s privately owned baseball stadium and luxury condominium complex. District 3 Councilmem-
Opinion
ber Carroll Fife followed that poll with a Town Hall meeting where the vast majority of attendees voiced their support for a ballot measure and demanded that the City Council place the issue of public spending before the voters. As of this writing, thousands of voters have delivered petitions demanding the right to vote and we are told thousands more petitions are on the way. District 5 Councilmember Noel Gallo has heard the demands of Oakland voters and he is scheduling a hearing before the Council to place public spending on the ballot. We urge the Council to act. If they do not, we urge the voters to ask themselves “If Councilmembers do not support our right to vote, why should we vote for them?” Oakland faces many crises
including homelessness, public safety, school closures, and the loss of existing union jobs at Howard Terminal. Homelessness is such an urgent crisis that the City Council declared a local emergency just this week. How can we even consider spending public funds on a baseball stadium and luxury condos in these times of crisis? The voters demand a right to be heard and the City Council has a moral and ethical obligation to place the matter on the ballot. We are told that there are two major obstacles to a vote. The A’s say that if they don’t get their way they will take to the highway and leave, and Oakland will lose its last sports team. With people dying on the streets and crime at an all-time high, and since the A’s, who are co-owners of the Coliseum, have not signed a cooperation agreement with the new com-
munity-based ownership group that wants to launch a fast-track housing and jobs redevelopment plan for the very low-income residents and homeless population — who now live in the shadow of the Coliseum — it’s no wonder that some city and county taxpayers give a care if the A’s threaten to leave. And the number of homeless dwellers now exceed the number of fans who attend the games. When you poll those barely surviving with their monthly general assistance checks from Alameda County, which is selling its half-ownership interest in the Coliseum to the A’s, then it’s no wonder that some city and county taxpayers give a care if the A’s threaten to leave: They want the county’s equity stake to help build truly affordable housing now. When the City Council votContinued on Page 10
Barbara Lee. Wikipedia.org
Tony Thurmond. Wikipedia. org photo.
Malia Cohen. Board of Equalization.ca.gov photo.
Mia Bonta. Twitter photo.
California Primary 2022: Black Candidates Advance to the November General Elections By Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media
Preliminary results are available for the 145 statewide elections being held to fill state and federal offices. California Black Media (CBM) reports that 68 Black candidates are running in 45 of the elections. That is 31% of the races. Blacks make up 5.8% of California’s population.
Polls closed for in-person voting at 8 p.m. on June 7, the final day of the statewide direct primary election. Vote-by-Mail ballots must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service on or before June 7 and received no later than seven days after Election Day to be counted. The last day for county elections officials to certify election results is July Continued on Page 10
Help For Non-Profits, Faith Groups Facing New Challenges During Pandemic
OCCUR, S.F. Foundation sponsor Zoom workshop on combining remote and in-person program planning
Carmen Bogan, MBA, CEO of The Bogan Group, LLC). Photo courtesy of Carmen Bogan, MBA. By Shy Alderman
In the new normal under COVID’s long shadow, nonprofit and faith-based leaders have been met with new challenges as clients, communities and congregations have transformed, scattered or even vanished.
Ellora J. Diehl, MBA). Photo courtesy of Ellora J. Diehl, MBA.
New challenges demand new solutions and a special Zoom presentation on June 23, 2022, by OCCUR and the San Francisco Foundation’s FAITHS program will do just that. In “Hybrid Program PlanContinued on Page 10
The Oakland Police Commission Needs You!
We need residents committed to reform to apply to be on the Police Commission. You must be over 18 and live in Oakland, and you can’t be a police officer or City of Oakland employee. You do not need to have a high school diploma or work history. Formerly incarcerated individuals are encouraged to apply. The job of Commissioner is rewarding, but it is not an easy one! Are you ready to spend time in meetings, meeting preparation, and committee work? Are you ready to face occasional resistance from City Hall and criticism from the community? Can you work with people you disagree with? Can you disagree without being disrespectful? Are you ready to be part of public meetings that are recorded and shown on KTOP (the City’s cable station)? Are you willing to learn more? If this sounds like a fit, see below! To apply, go to www.oaklandca.gov/policecommission. If you don’t have access to the Internet, or if you have any questions, call Selection Panel member Lorelei at (510) 368-5598 between 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., any day. Applications are due June 30, 2022.