Isaiah Thornton Montgomery: “Mississippi’s Booker T. Washington” Page 2
Pelosi Press Conference to Introduce Legislation to Establish a Commission on Pres. Capacity Page 8
Matters of Breath and Death, I am An Environmental Justice Voter
A Domestic Violence Survivor’s Reflection on Pain Page 13
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Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
postnewsgroup.com
57th Year, No. 18
Weekly Edition. Edition. Oct. 21-27, 2020
Black Community Leaders Hold Statewide Call For Blacks to Carefully Consider Ballot Initiatives
Simultaneous Press Conferences in Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego By Post Staff
Richard Johnson
The Violence Must Stop Opinion
By Richard Johnson, K-53293, 3.W.2. San Quentin, CA 94974
Throughout history violence has been a means to resolve disputes, overthrow governments and to expand powers. Religion, in some instances has also played a role in how violence has been used to capture and subjugate the hearts and minds of people. When we consider the violence in its totality, it’s not a stretch to see how and why violence has shown its ugly face in neighborhood communities in the form of gangs, turf wars and drug wars on daily basis. The consequences of the pain and fatalities coming from the recent upsurge in street violence has its origins from the same misguided approaches when violence is used as the only alternative to resolve disputes. Violence affects the entire society either directly, when we become part of the solution or indirectly with inaction, we become part of the problem. Granted, as a community we didn’t put the guns in their hands nor did we pull the trigger, but when our response is insufficient it’s as if we silently condone the actions. Thanks to the cell phone Continued on Page 12
The California Democratic Party Black Caucus hosted statewide press conferences simultaneously across four locations on Thursday to call on Black Californians to support ballot initiatives on the November ballot. The press conferences were held in Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Speakers addressed the direct benefits each initiative will have on the Black California community. “In just 11 days we will have the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and we cannot afford to get it wrong”, said Kimberly Ellis, who is a progressive Activist, and leader of the California Democratic party Black Caucus. Ellis opened the press conference calling out the names of Blacks slain by police. She then mentioned initiatives into each measure that the Black voters needed to pay special attention. Ellis called on the Black community to vote for
Left to right: Barisha Spriggs, Ca Democratic State Central Committee Delegate; Fumie Stewart, PTA member Rosa Parks Elementary (AA Parenting Advisory Committee Chair; Shay Franco-Clausen, (Prop 17 Campaign Manager); Jesse Brooks, Community Advocate (AIDS Healthcare Foundation Mobilizer); and Kimberly Ellis, California Democratic Party Black Caucus Representative. Photo by Auintard Henderson.
ballot initiatives 15, 16, 17 and 21, on the November 3rd ballot. Prop 15 will close the loophole of Prop 13, that was passed in 1978, and has siphoned away hundreds of billions of dollars in funding from public schools. Fumie Stewart a mother and Chair of
By Ken Epstein
In the face of opposition, Mayor Libby Schaaf has withdrawn her proposed appointment as a police commission alternate of ex federal attorney Brian Hauck. Hauck, in a former position, defended the U.S. government killing by drone attack of two U.S. citizens accused not of violence but of “incendiary commentary.” These extra-judicial drone killings have been condemned internationally. In the 2013 lawsuit against the federal government, the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights represented the family
Brian Hauck
of the man and his teenaged son, who were killed in Yemen in 2011. At last Thursday’s Rules
Oakland Council President Rebecca Kaplan speaks to a rally of drivers and union members gathered in opposition to Prop 22 in front of Uber Headquarters in San Francisco. Photo by Ana Tellez.
On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan in opposition to Proposition 22. Oakland stands with appbased drivers, gig workers and
California’s Democratic Central committee. Yes, on prop 17 was addressed by Shay FrancoClausen who is the campaign manager and a formerly incarcerated person herself. “It’s time to reverse and dismantle
Council Approves Funds Mayor Withdraws Nomination for Job Services to Crisis Impacted Workers of Police Commissioner Who Defended U.S. Drone Killings
Oakland City Council Opposes Prop. 22
By Kimberly Jones
Oakland’s African American Advisory committee, says “the proposition will help fill gaps needed to fund our needed public schools”. “Prop 16 will end California’s ban on affirmative action and will level the playing field for Black people”, says Barisha Spriggs, who is delegate of the
Jim crow laws that are still present in California. The proposition will restore voting rights to 50,000 Californians who have completed their prison terms and allow them to participate in our democracy. “Yes, on Prop 21 expands California’s rent control addressing gentrification and displacement of our community”, said Jesse Brooks, a native Oaklander who has witnessed the growing homeless community. “With expanding rent control, it will enable families the ability of affordable rents and therefore reducing evictions and displacement”, Brooks said. “Right now, voters are choosing whether Black families can stay in their homes, have equal opportunities for work and school and whether children will get the education they need. It is in our hands and within our power, Brooks continued.
communities statewide who want a fair playing field. The proposition, funded by a consortium of gig companies who spent about $184 million in political advertising, would deny their employees the benefits to which California workers are entitled. At the Council Meeting,
several of the speakers, including some drivers who work for companies like Uber and Lyft, voiced their support for the resolution because under the current system they lack labor protections like sick leave and workers’ compensation. Kimberly Jones is the chief of staff in Rebecca Kaplan’s office.
Committee meeting, the Schaaf administration proposed former U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney Hauck, to serve as an alternative commissioner on the Police Commission. At the meeting, Schaaf’s Chief of Staff Elinor Buchen praised Hauck for his “years of experience in the Department of Justice...he brings a level of expertise on some of the more technical issues.” Hauck said, “I do have experience in these issues and look forward to serving the community whatever way the city would find helpful.” The resolution to appoint Hauck was placed on the consent calendar on this week’s council agenda, which meant that it was not considered controversial and would probably be approved with little or no discussion. However, the proposal quickly unraveled after Hauck’s background was brought to the attention of City Councilmembers and the public by journalist Jaime Omar Yassin at “Oakland News at Hyphenated Republic” (https://hyphenatedrepublic. com). Council President Rebecca Kaplan took the item off the consent calendar, in a motion seconded by Noel Gallo, meaning that it would have to be debated in public. A number of public speakers spoke against the resolution. Finally, the Mayor’s Office pulled the resolution off the agenda. “Before it was pulled by the Mayor’s staffer there was public comment including public criticism of the nomination,” Kaplan told the Oakland Post Continued on Page 12
Rebecca Kaplan By Ken Epstein
Councilmembers voted unanimously near midnight at this week’s City Council meeting to give federal CARES funding to local job training agencies in light of the devastating impact of the COVID-19 virus on workers’ jobs in Oakland. Oakland residents are dealing with a double-digit unemployment rate that is much higher than the national rate.
Larry Reid
Councilmember Larry Reid made the motion at Tuesday’s meeting, seconded by Council President Rebecca Kaplan to provide $200,000 to support extended job services at the Oakland Private Industry Council (PIC), which is the city’s one-stop career center operator and $100,000 to Lao Family Community Development. According to the federal Continued on Page 12
Reject Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s Election Picks By Greg McConnell
The following commentary is mine and mine alone. I do not speak for the Jobs and Housing Coalition or The McConnell Group’s clients. I recently read Libby Schaaf’s Election Guide. She promotes California Proposition 21 (Prop 21) which will undermine the progress made by Governor Newsom and the legislature to create rent control reforms that bipartisan groups supported. Prop 21 will deliver a death blow to investment in Oakland
Opinion
and discourage new housing developments and devastate small property owners. This will come at a time when the city desperately needs new revenues that create housing and job opportunities for residents who are suffering enormous losses caused by the Covid -19 pandemic. If Prop 21 passes, Oakland will suffer the loss of millions of dollars in affordable housing impact fees. “Proposition 21, like Proposition 10 before it, runs the allContinued on Page 12