Dis Reports Cast Shadows on the Economic Picture Stanford Report Explores Why More Californians for Black Californians ... see page 2 Are Moving to Texas and Arizona ... see page 2
Henry Ossian Flipper: A Trailblazer’s Journey from Injustice to Honor ... see page 4
BART Will No Longer Accept Paper Tickets Starting November 30 ... see page 6
Oakland Post “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” Proverbs 29:18
D.A. Price Moves to Disqualify Law Firm in Steven Taylor Case
Oakland Forms Bonds with Bolton, England and Sanzule Kingdom, Ghana New Sister Cities Strengthen Cultural, Economic Ties and Promise Mutual Growth for All Communities Involved
(L-R) Dr. Ronnie Chikwama, Constance Chikwama, Dr. Maritony Jones, Amb. Jonathan Fitness Jones in Chinatown, Manchester England (UK) after Oakland-Bolton Sister Cities International meetings.
By Post Staff
On the heels of a groundbreaking trip to the United Kingdom, Oakland Post Ambassador Jonathan Fitness Jones, a member of the African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG), and global ambassador Dr. Maritony Jones, founder of LIFH and Maritony & Associates, have successfully laid the foundation for two new sister cities, representing a mon-
umental stride in Oakland’s efforts for global unity and peace. From Oct. 8-17, spearheaded by Jones, the pair visited Bolton in Greater Manchester and London to solidify sister-city relationships and explore economic and cultural possibilities. They were hosted by Bolton leaders and business partners Dr. Ronnie and Constance Chikwama. Through a series of meetings, they explored opportunities in Continued on page 8
Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan spoke at the press conference in front of the Fox Theater. City of Oakland photo.
$5 Parking – Bringing New Life to Uptown and Downtown Business Areas
By Magaly Muñoz Post Staff
Oakland leaders gathered downtown in front of the Fox Theater at 1805 Telegraph Ave. to announce safety plans being launched under the city’s new program ‘Five After Five.’ This program allows workers and the community members to park at the Franklin Plaza Parking Garage, located at Franklin and 19th streets, for only five dollars after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends.
The intention for the new program is to draw more visitors to downtown businesses while offering a secure parking location at the Franklin Parking Garage for customers and employees to leave their cars without fear of people breaking into them. “More folks on the streets having fun, catching a show or catching dinner, that means that there’s going to be more people in the street and that means less crime and more business for our downContinued on page 8
Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation to Increase Worker Pay, Lower CEO Pay
Dr. Maritony Jones and Jonathan Fitness Jones (third and fourth from left respectively) in Kingdom Fellowship with the Bolton Youths discussing Youth Bootcamps and exchange programs with OaklandBolton Sister Cities International.
From the Office of Barbara Lee
A vintage car becomes the site for an ofrenda at “Blooming Resistance,” the Unity Council’s 28th Día de los Muertos Festival on Oct. 29, 2023. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.
As executive pay soars, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DNY) and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced on Wednesday the Curtailing Executive Overcompensation (CEO) Act, which would apply an excise tax on public and private companies that have at least a 50 to
one CEO-to-median-worker pay disparity. In 2022, the CEO Act would have raised over $10.1 billion from the top 100 U.S. companies alone. “Right now, the average CEO makes in one day what the average worker makes in 10 months,” said Lee. “After decades of this extreme, corrosive economic inequality, workers across corporate America are standing up and using their power to fight for greater equity. It’s only fair that we in Congress fight just as hard as those on the ground. I am proud to introduce this critical bill with Senator Whitehouse and Rep. Ocasio Cortez and urge my colleagues to support it and stand in solidarity with workers.” Continued on page 8
Peralta Selects Dr. Tammeil Día de los Muertos Festivities Gilkerson as New Chancellor is the first ever Asian American in Oakland Bring in Crowds woman to be PCCD chancellor; also she’s the fifth woman, and of Celebrants fifth woman of color in a row, to be By Eva Ortega and Magaly Muñoz Post Staff
In a haze of incense smoke, flickering candles and bright orange marigolds, Oakland outdid itself with two weekends of Día de los Muertos observances that were both solemn and festive. On Oct. 22, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) held its annual celebration at 10th and Fallon streets while the Unity Council held a street festival on International Boulevard and Fruitvale Avenue
60th Year, No. 42
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last Sunday. Coinciding with Halloween, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, dates back to traditions established by the indigenous peoples of America that fused, over time, with the Catholic beliefs brought by Spanish conquistadors. Though it has primarily Mexican roots, it is also celebrated in parts of Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and other countries. Its components are also recognized as part of the Intangible CulContinued on page 8
Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson. Courtesy photo. Special to the Post The Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees announced on Halloween that Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson as their choice to be the next permanent Chancellor of the district, beginning in January 2024, pending contract negotiation and approval. Dr. Gilkerson
Chancellor at Peralta Community College District. At present, Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson serves as the president of Evergreen Valley College in San José, CA, where she has worked since 2020. The Peralta Community College District Chancellor job represents a return to the Peralta Colleges for Dr. Gilkerson, as she was previously the president of Laney College from 2017 to 2020. She will follow Dr. Jannett N. Jackson, Interim Chancellor since April 2021, who will step down at the end of this year.
Left to right: Deputy DA James Conger, Sharon Taylor (Steven Taylor’s mother), DA Pamela Price, Addie Kitchen (Steven Taylor’s grandmother) Deputy DA Zachary Linowitz. Courtesy photo. By Haaziq Madyun Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price filed a motion to disqualify Michael Rains and his firm, Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle & Silver, from continued representation of San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher. Fletcher is charged with voluntary manslaughter for killing Steven Taylor in a crowded Walmart store on April 18, 2020. Michael Rains, Fletcher’s defense attorney, misappropriated privileged attorney work product from the D.A.’s Office. Rains obtained the privileged material from his client, former Alameda County prosecutor Amilcar “Butch” Ford. At the
time, Ford was on paid administrative leave for alleged prosecutorial misconduct. “Today my office took a stand for justice,” said Price. “We filed a motion to disqualify the law firm Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle & Silver, based on their unethical and improper breach of the professional rules of professional conduct as well as a violation of the standards of ethics that apply to lawyers.” “We are protecting the integrity of the judicial system both by moving to disqualify Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle & Silver and by prosecuting their former client, Amilcar Butch Ford,” said Price. “Defendant Fletcher’s decision Continued on page 8
Admiral J. Paul Reason, USN. Photo courtesy US Navy
Blacks Celebrate Veterans Day: Admiral J. Paul Reason, U.S. Navy
By Conway Jones
Joseph Paul Reason graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1965. He retired as a U.S. Navy Admiral, the first Black American officer to become a four-star admiral in the United States Navy. Reason’s middle-class upbringing in northeast Wash., D.C., emphasized intellectual development, education, and being culturally well-rounded. Reason had an outstanding naval career. He was one of four Blacks admitted to the academy
in 1961 and one of three to graduate. In 1965, Reason entered the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power program. In 1968, Reason was named lieutenant and served aboard the USS Truxtun’s first deployment to Southeast Asia. From 1970 to 1973, he was assigned to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise as an electrical officer during deployments to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. In December 1976, Reason Continued on page 8