Oakland Post, week of July 17 - 23, 2024

age 8

Honoring The Cardiac Kids

Led by Legendary Coach Al Attles, 1975 Warriors NBA Champions were the only team never to be honored by the White House

By Gary Reeves

Who are the “Cardiac Kids?”

Well, it seems that they may be one of the Bay Area’s most important sports teams to ever touch down on the hardwood. They delivered to the Bay Area a cultural movement that would change the beat of the “Bay” and maybe the country.

They are the 1975 NBA World Champion Golden State Warriors. That team established many cultural breakthroughs that should be in every high school history book or studied in most

social justice courses at our universities.

This team was led by the “True Warrior” Al Attles, the legendary player, coach, and minority owner under the late Franklin Mieuli along with his loyal assistant Joe Roberts. They were the first African American coaching duo in professional sports to bring home a professional sports team championship.

Attles’ tenure with the Golden State Warriors spans 50 years, which is the longest career path-

Oakland Post

The 1974-75 golden State Warriors. Official team photo.

Continued on page 8

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

Alameda County D.A. Announces Conviction in $359,720 Real Estate Fraud Elder Abuse Case

Gov. Newsom Intensifies Efforts to Combat Crime in Oakland and East Bay

This memorial was established in honor of the 50 African American sailors who courageously refused to work in dangerous conditions just weeks after an explosion had killed 332 servicemen. The memorial is located at Ryder and Midway streets in Vallejo. Historical Marker Data Base photo.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. Photo courtesy Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

Special to the Post On Monday, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announces the conviction of Asher Turgeman, 53, who pled no contest to felony elder abuse in connection with an extensive real estate fraud

case involving an elderly victim with dementia.

The investigation revealed that the victim hired the defendant to install solar panels on the roof of one of her properties. The defendant Continued on page 8

D.A. Price Announces Motions for Resentencing of Three Death Penalty Cases, Establishes an Ethical Ombudsperson Office

Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark DeSaulnier Commend U.S. Navy Exoneration of Port Chicago 50 on 80th Anniversary of Explosion

Special to The Post

Today, 80 years after the devastating explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, California on July 17, 1944, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) joined with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) to commend the U.S. Navy’s posthumous exoneration of the Port Chicago 50 – African American sailors who were wrongfully and discriminately charged with mutiny after the inci-

dent.

The harsh treatment they received, both in their work and in the courtroom, was reflective of the racial segregation present in the military at the time.

After experiencing segregation in the Navy during World War II, 320 men, including 202 African American sailors, were killed and almost 400 others were injured when a cargo vessel exploded as Continued on page 8

Photo: City of Oakland.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. File photo.

Special to The Post On Tuesday, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that motions have been filed requesting the resentencing of the death penalty convictions for Ernest Dykes, Keith Thomas, and Gregory Tate. Two of the three death penalty cases were tainted by prosecutorial misconduct during their trials in the 1990s.

Back in April, U.S. Federal Judge Vince Chhabria directed the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (ACDAO) to review death

penalty cases after it was discovered that in the 1993 murder trial of Dykes, Black and Jewish jurors were tracked and excluded from serving on death penalty cases.

Dykes was sentenced to death in the killing of 9-year-old Lance Clark and the robbery of Bernice Clark. In this case, a settlement was reached, which considers Dykes being released on parole in mid-June of 2025 after being on death row for 31 years.

The hearing on the stipulated motion is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Continued on page 8

Dis OPINION: Republicans Want Young Black People ... see page 2

61st Year, No. 29

Weekly Edition.

Edition. July 17 - 23, 2024

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Oakland’s Essential Workers Break Record, Deliver 40 Miles of Street Paving in a Single Year

City of Oakland

City leaders announced Friday that, thanks to the incredible dedication of essential workers who continued their hard work throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Oakland has broken a new paving record for the second year in a row, with more than 40 miles paved in the fiscal year that ran July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The previous record was set in the last fiscal year, with 32 miles

PROFILE: Safeway Checker Terry Lee Has a Smile and a Kind Word for Everyone ... see page 2

paved between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

In 2019, the City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) kicked off The Great Pave, three years of ramped-up street paving with a major street repair campaign focusing on local neighborhood streets and historically underserved neighborhoods. Thanks to the dedication of essential workers who have delivered paving work Continued on page 8

iStock image.

By Magaly Muñoz Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he is furthering his investments in Oakland and the East Bay by increasing the number of California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers assigned to target surge operations in organized crime, sideshows, carjackings, and other criminal activities, seven days a week.

Currently, the region is patrolled by 42 CHP shifts a week, but this figure is set to escalate to 162 in the next four months.

“While we are encouraged by some positive trends, the lawlessness we’re seeing on the streets of Oakland is unacceptable. Building on our partnership with local law enforcement, I’m deploying a new surge of CHP officers to help provide the people of Oakland and the East Bay the safety and security they deserve,” Newsom said.

To date, there has been a recovery of 1,142 stolen vehicles, the seizure of 55 guns directly linked to crimes, and arrests of 562 suspects Continued on page 8

Valuable Guidance in Reparations Book by Oakland Author

Cover of the book “Got Reparations? 21 Questions 21 Answers” by author Menhuam Ayele. Courtesy photos.

PART 2

By Paul Cobb

Reparations is a concept that provokes and stimulates a prodigious amount of emotional, spiritual, and political reaction amongst all Americans, especially African Americans and white Americans.

Menhuam Ayele of Oakland has written about this weighty subject in an understandable question-and-answer format that leads the reader to grasp how and when slavery started, why the Civil War was fought to free the slaves and

“Fire Year”: Cal Fire Chief Warns of Dangerous Season Ahead ... see page 6

how we arrived in the northern and western states.

Below, Ayele answered questions from Cobb.

How do we advance from Reparations?

We can reverse a lot of the statistics that exist with Black Americans in the areas of single-parent homes, education, crime, health, and economic mobility. We can create more economic empowerment opportunities in business. We can save more money and retain more wealth within our commuContinued on page 8

DHCS: California Health Care Roadmap Will Make MediCal More Accessible, Member Driven ... see page 6

THE POST, July 17 - 23, 2024 Page 2

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OPINION

Republicans Want Young Black People

Rapper, model and television personality Amber Rose speaking at the GOP convention in Milwaukee. Photo courtesy RNC.

By Emil Guillermo Rapper, model and television personality Amber Rose was the secret weapon at the GOP convention this week.

I’ve covered live or watched nearly every political convention since 1980. This time, the only justifiable reason to watch was to see how a candidate was surviving an attempted assassination.

“I’m not supposed to be here,” Donald Trump told the NY Post.

“I’m supposed to be dead.”

That’s all due to Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, the man the FBI has identified as the shooter at the Butler, Pa., Trump rally last Saturday.

Crooks’ shocking actions momentarily sobered America.

Crooks, a registered Repub-

lican, according to voter records, has left little for investigators to surmise motive. From a high school photo, Crooks looks like a clean-cut White kid.

But Crooks, armed with an AR-556 rifle, grazed the former president’s ear, killed one person, wounded at least two others, and stunned everyone around the nation.

This isn’t supposed to happen in America.

Our Constitution lays out a process to solve differences. The First Amendment gives us free speech and the right to gather and express ourselves, which leads to debate, and agreement.

Not gunfire.

When the FBI reported that Crooks had been “neutralized,”

everyone was relieved.

For a while, everyone seemed civil. Cable news analysts were praying for Trump to live. That was more unity than we’ve seen since Trump de-normalized politics in 2016.

“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence, it’s sick,” President Biden said at a news briefing the night of the shooting.

“It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country.”

But would we see a changed Trump?

When the convention opened on Monday, Trump failed badly when he chose J.D. Vance, a young 39-year-old junior Republican Senator from Ohio as his running mate.

Vance is as polarizing as Continued on page 7 discussed key takeaways from an equity report published in 2021

California Invests Nearly $2 Billion in Public Transportation

Toks Omishakin (Courtesy of Toks Omishakin, X)

By Bo Tefu California Black Media

Last week, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) approved nearly $1.9 billion to upgrade and sustain public transportation systems statewide.

The state plans to invest a total of $5.1 billion among regional transportation planning agencies over several years, as mandated in Senate Bill (SB) 125, which Gov. Newsom signed into law in 2023.

The funding will pay for transit operations and capital improvements, allocating varying amounts of money to 22 agencies based on

highlighting regional disparities and facilitating ways to implement initiatives that promote social, economic, environmental, and health equity.

The equity report is a research

project that includes an equity database, compiling data and in-

formation for teaching, research, policy, and action. The study ex-

population.

“This vital funding serves as a lifeline for transit agencies all over the state and helps to advance California’s ambitious, world-leading climate goals,” said Newsom.

At the same time, we’re adding accountability measures that help put our state’s transit agencies on a path toward long-term stability,” the Governor added.

Planning agencies will also receive funds from the transportation package. CalSTA plans to approve $500 million for projects implemented this summer. More funds will be approved for future

PROFILE:

Safeway Checker Terry Lee Has a Smile and a Kind Word for Everyone

amined the rise of social eco-

nomic inequality and its impact on communities of color. The report indicated that systemic inequities imposed income, employment, education, health, and enviAssemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley). Photo courtesy CBM.

Black Caucus, Black Freedom Fund Host State of Black California in Santa Barbara

By Bo Tefu California Black Media

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) in partnership with the California Black Freedom Fund hosted the second event in the “State of Black California” series in Santa Barbara on July 13.

The State of Black California is a “community conversation” organized to raise awareness about the effort to pay reparations to Californians who are the descendants of enslaved people in the United States.

Assemblymember Corey Jack-

son (D-Moreno Valley) led the discussion with policymakers and other stakeholders that centered on California’s role in slavery and discrimination suffered by African Americans.

Members of the CLBC also discussed details of the 2024 reparations bill package that was introduced earlier this year in the California Legislature.

The Equity Research Institute at the University of Southern California (USC) presented research data that detailed well-being indicators of Black residents along the Central Coast. Dr. Kim Tabari, director of external affairs at USC,

ronmental burdens on Black peo-

ple in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Marc Philpart, executive di-

rector of CBFF, joined local com-

munity leaders and grassroots advocates discussing communi-

ty building and organizing in the coastal region. Community lead-

ers who contributed to the panel discussions include Jordan Killebrew of Juneteenth Santa Barbara, Simone Baker of Healing Jus-

tice Santa Barbara, and Audrey

Gamble of Gateway Educational Services.

Santa Barbara was the second

of a six-city tour hosted by CLBC

and CBFF. The community events are hosted by CLBC members.

The next event will be hosted

by Assemblymember Lori Wil-

son (D-Suisun City) on Aug. 17, in Fresno.

For more information, resi-

dents can visit the event website and learn more about the series.

projects until the 2027-2028 fiscal year.

California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said the investment aligns with the state’s environmental and equity goals and responds to the needs of the public.

“California’s commitment to public transit is unwavering, and with billions more in funding in the pipeline — including for zero-emission equipment and operations — we are just getting started in delivering a more sustainable and equitable transit system for the people of California,” said Omishakin.

Terry Lee has been a checker at the store for 49 years. Courtesy photo.

By Jeff Kunkel Special to The Post If you ever shop at Rockridge Safeway, do yourself a favor – go to the end of the very longest checkout line and you will get to meet Terry Lee, who has been a Safeway checker for 49 years!

As you wait in line, you’ll notice how efficient and capable Terry is at her work, but as you get closer, you’ll also notice how she treats every customer with a quiet burst of kindness and friendliness.

You’ll hear her say, “How’s your day going today, dear?”

“Did you find everything you need?” And if they are regular customers, you’ll also hear, “Are you feeling better, Miss Davis?” “Is your sister still visiting, hon?” “Don’t let it get you down.” “Is this your grandson?” “Where’s your husband at, he well?” “I’m glad you bought that ham, it’s a great deal!”

Those customers return her kindness, bringing her presents, homemade cookies, birthday cards, and asking about her mother, who passed not long ago. Getting checked out by Terry just might be the highlight of your day! It’s the highlight of the day for many people – which explains the long lines at her check stand.

Terry was born and raised in Oakland, in a neighborhood where neighbors – even strangers - greeted one another on the street with a smile and kind word. She takes this experience to her work with the motto, “Being nice doesn’t cost a cent.”

She attended Brookfield Elementary School, Frick Jr. High, Fremont High School, and Amos Temple. She has a son, a daughter, and five grandchilContinued on page 7

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THE POST, July 17 - 23, 2024 Page 3

THE POST, July 17 - 23, 2024 Page 4

Ida Gray Nelson Rollins: A Trailblazer in Dentistry

By Tamara Shiloh

Ida Gray Nelson Rollins. Public Domain.

Ida Gray Nelson Rollins, the first African American woman to become a dentist, was born in Clarksville, Tennessee., on March 4, 1867. Her mother, Jennie Gray, died in her early teens. Rollins’s father, who was White, was never a part of her life. After her mother’s death, she was raised by her aunt, Caroline Gray, who lived in Cincinnati and had three other children — one son and two daughters.

The family moved from Tennessee to Ohio where Rollins graduated high school. While in high school, she worked part-time at the dental office of Jonathan and William Taft. That part-time job was instrumental in Rollins’s desire to become a dentist. Fortunately, Jonathan Taft was the dean of the Ohio

College of Dentistry. In 1875, he became the first dean of the Dental College at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He was committed to admitting women to dental school, and the first women graduated in 1880.

With the help of William Taft, Rollins’s journey to becoming the first African American woman to graduate from a dental school was set. She enrolled in the University of Michigan in October 1887 and, three years later, she became the first African American woman to graduate with a Doctor of Dental Surgery in the United States.

Her journey would continue when, after graduating in 1890, she returned to Cincinnati and opened a private dental practice. As with

many African Americans in business, she was faced with the usual challenges in an industry dominated by White men. However, she persevered and acquired a reputation for her expertise and multiple services for white and Black patients. She provided services that were not easily accessible to African Americans due to racism.

In 1895, Rollins married Dr. George Rollins, a prominent African American physician. They relocated to Chicago where she opened a practice serving men and women of all races. There, Rollins became the first African American, male or female, to practice dentistry in Chicago. Her husband died on March 11, 1926, and three years later she married William Rollins,

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a waiter.

Rollins was also a member of and supported several women’s organizations. She served as president of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago, vice president of the Eighth Regiment Ladies’ Auxiliary and was a member of the Phyllis Wheatley Club, a group organized to maintain the only Black women’s shelter in Chicago.

She retired in the mid-1930s.

Her second husband died in a car accident in 1944. She did not have any children from either marriage, and remained a widow until her death.

Rollins died on May 3, 1953, in Chicago. She was 86 years old.

Mills Grove Christian Church is in search of A Musician /Director for the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays. Contact Dennis Ward @510 459-4667.

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THE POST, July 17 - 23, 2024 Page 5

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Photographers: Zack Haber, Amir Sonjhai, Auintard Henderson Contributors: Zack Haber, Tanya Dennis, Kiki, Godfrey News Service, Robert Arnold

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The contents of the POST Newspapers are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form without the advance written consent of the publisher.

THE POST, July 17 - 23, 2024 Page 6

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BOOK REVIEW:

Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist

Author: Jasmin Graham, c.2024, Pantheon Books, $28.00 iStock image.

DHCS: California Health Care Roadmap Will Make Medi-Cal More Accessible, Member Driven

By Edward Henderson California Black Media

Although California reached its lowest uninsured rate in state history in 2022, many Californians still do not have access to timely, quality and affordable health care.

This disparity disproportionally affects Black Californians and other people from underserved groups, particularly low-income individuals.

Public Health authorities say this racial gap contributes to higher rates of illness and premature death.

“African American Californians are among the most likely groups to report that they always make their health a priority. However, African American Californians experience disparities in care and outcomes despite having higher health insurance coverage rates

(93 percent) than the state average,” according to data included in a California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) report.

“For example, the life expectancy at birth for African American Californians is five years shorter than the state average and the lowest life expectancy of all racial and ethnic groups,” the report continues.

Dr. Pamela Riley, Chief Health Equity Officer and Assistant Deputy Director of Quality and Population Health Management at DHCS said the disparities should not exist.

“Who you are and where you live should not determine whether you live or how well you live,” said Riley. “Everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, where you live, age, gender, language, sexuality, income, citizenship, has a right to

compassionate and comprehensive care that meets their physical and behavioral health needs,” said Riley, who was speaking at a virtual press conference hosted by Ethnic Media Services (EMS) organized to inform the public about Medi-Cal’s efforts to better meet the health needs of more Californians.

Over the last decade, DHCS has taken several steps to eliminate this problem, including expanding Medi-Cal access to all low-income Californians, regardless of immigration status; eliminating the “asset test” requirement so only income is considered when determining Medi-Cal eligibility; expanding language access so members can receive interpretation services; and creating new community supports that provide Continued on page 7

Author Jasmin Graham. Photo by Sonia Szczesna. Book cover photo Courtesy of Pantheon Books.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer Oh, those teeth!

Your finger practically bleeds just looking at them: three rows of perfect, razor-sharp white triangles that you know could hurt.

They’re inside a mouth made for swallowing you whole. That’s obvious, but when you think about it: are sharks really as bad as they seem? As you’ll see in the new book “Sharks Don’t Sink” by Jasmin Graham, maybe teeth are not the problem when it comes to studying the feared marine fish.

Maybe racism is.

Growing up near the ocean

by Myrtle Beach, Graham fell in love with the water early in her life. She fell in love with the creatures there when she was ten, with her father, fishing — something her forebears had done on local piers for decades.

She knew then that she wanted to be a “shark scientist.”

She was eighteen when she first held a live shark, and that cemented her dream.

Not long afterward, though, Graham felt like she “had burned out completely.” She’d been trying to make it in “a toxic, White,

male-dominated... environment laced with... casual and overt sexism and racism...” and it was harming her well-being. She was about to quit when she found a few other Black women who were shark scientists, too, and who were going through the same thing. Graham received instant support and it was life changing.

Two weeks later, the new friends had decided to mobilize.

They met a Miami investor who lent resources and who helped them found Minorities in Shark Science (MISS), an organization that gives BIPOC young women an introduction to shark science.

By then, Graham had decided to become a “rogue scientist” – one without academic backing, but whose research on sharks is essential in the field.

Sharks, says Graham, are not always the fearsome creatures that Hollywood wants us to believe. Yes, some sharks attack humans, but others are “kinda silly” sometimes, and some are “cutiepies.” And there’s still a lot we don’t know about them.

Says Graham, “So many questions. But that’s where science begins: with questions.”

Alright, here it is: the STEM book you can share with your young adult, a book that’s not stuffy or academic but that’ll teach you something truly interesting. Here: all the things you wanted to know about all kinds of sharks, in plain words that are friendly, thorough, smart, awed, and easy-to-understand. Right here.

And if the shark science doesn’t fascinate you enough, author Graham uses “Sharks Don’t Sink” to draw analogies between freedom and bias and between shark lives and Black lives. That’s done in the sweetest of ways, through Graham’s own story and that of her ancestors who steadfastly, fiercely stood up to racism and big business through the years. We also meet Graham’s father, an easygoing man who makes you want to sit on a quiet front porch with some sweet tea and a church fan.

Ahhhhh.

Find this book for yourself, loan it to your 14-to-18-yearold, and be sure to ask for it back.

“Sharks Don’t Sink” is the kind of book you’ll want to bite into twice.

iStock image.

“Fire Year”: Cal Fire Chief Warns of Dangerous Season Ahead

By Bo Tefu California Black Media

On July 10, California Fire Chief Joe Tyler joined Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state emergency officials to announce that California has expanded response and readiness efforts for this year’s fire season.

Speaking at the CAL FIRE McClellan Air Tanker Base in Sacramento, the officials provided updates on the state’s wildfire response and readiness.

Tyler highlighted that fire crews across the state are battling fires nonstop.

“We are not just in a fire season, but we are in a fire year,” said Tyler.

State fire officials encouraged

residents to create wildfire action plans, including escape routes, meeting points, animal arrangements, and a communication plan with their families.

The state has prepared resources for aerial firefighting and plans to use new technologies to help protect communities from wildfire.

This year over 3,500 wildfires burned approximately 207,415 acres of land and damaged 128 structures across California.

“California is ready with the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet and new technology that helps us fight fire smarter – and we’re already seeing our investments pay off,” said Newsom.

“The last couple of years brought welcome relief for Cal-

ifornia as we saw historically low levels of wildfire. This season is shaping up to be very active, bringing the threat of dangerous wildfire to many parts of our state,” the Governor added.

The California Legislature approved $2.6 billion as part of this year’s budget agreement to protect residents from wildfires. In recent years, the state spent approximately $200 million to improve forest health and fire prevention.

According to the Governor’s office, the state also plans to add 2,400 firefighters as full-time staff over the next five years. State firefighters will have shorter work weeks to help implement state programs and initiatives that address wildfires.

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Republicans Want Young Black People ...

Continued from page 2 Trump, and that’s just among Republicans. He is largely hated by moderates and loved by MAGA extremists.

The perfect veep? On Saturday, Vance blamed the assassination attempt on Joe Biden’s rhetoric that called Trump “an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” he wrote on X. More lies.

Maybe we’d see a change at the convention? Not on day one, when Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) was animated in his praise.

“Our God still saves,” Scott said from the platform stage. “Because on Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle but an American lion got back on his feet and roarrrrrrrred!”

But the most dangerous speaker of the night was Amber Rose.

THE POST, July 17 - 23, 2024 Page 7 With 23 million social media followers Rose has clout.

“The left told me to hate Trump, and even worse to hate the other side — the people who support him,” Rose said.

“When you cut through the lies, you realize the truth. American families were better off when Donald Trump was President.”

Trump entered the hall like a WWE wrestler after giving Rose a standing ovation.

He didn’t have to say a word.

Was he a changed man? He had discovered the power of silence.

All the while wearing a white bandage, over his wounded ear, his White badge of victimhood.

About the Author Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. A former host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” he is a board member of PEN OAKLAND. Contact: www. amok.com

Safeway Checker Terry Lee Has a Smile ...

Continued from page 2

dren. She thinks that Mayor Lionel Wilson was Oakland’s best mayor, and that Oakland hasn’t had good leadership in a long time.

She moved to Antioch when her Oakland neighborhood got too dangerous. She says, “There aren’t enough consequences for committing crimes here, and even outsiders know that and come here.”

She’s also noticed how today’s customers are different from customers in years past.

“People are more demanding now, so many are angry or fed up. I’ve seen it all – fights, people spitting on one another, stealing.”

When Terry sees this, she prays, “Father, please help them.” or, “please help me.”

She says, “I’ve never gotten angry at a customer, but I’ve said a few choice words under my breath!”

She sees it all, but she maintains,” People are 99% good. I see people pay for other people’s groceries, help them to their car, or turn in a lost ATM card.”

Terry has found a way to turn a demanding, repetitive job into a lifelong career, a way to be kind no matter what, and a way to offer difficult people - like you and me – the chance to reset a bad day. Getting checked out by Terry just might be the highlight of your day.

Jeff Kunkel is an Oakland pastor, writer, and artist.

California Health Care Roadmap ...

Continued from page 6 culturally responsive and more customized care, including housing aid, nutritious meals, and substance abuse treatment.

Backing up their commitment to health equity, DHCS leaders recently concluded a statewide tour to listen to Medi-Cal members who have experienced health inequity firsthand. These listening sessions, hosted by community-based organizations, were the first phase of the DHCS Health Equity Roadmap, a new multi-year initiative to create a more member-driven whole-person Medi-Cal. “I feel like DHCS is approaching this with a humility,” said Debbie Toth, CEO of Choice in Aging (CiA), an organization that provides services for aging Californians in Napa, Solana, Sacramento and Contra Costa Counties.

“I think it’s cutting edge. I think it’s brilliant,” she added.

Riley said to create meaningful change and foster genuine trust with Medi-Cal members, DHCS must work directly with members and trusted messengers particularly in Black and Indigenous communities of color who have not been historically underserved.

DCHS’ multi-year initiative contains 3 phases. The first, which concluded recently, consisted of a member feedback listening tour that began in November of 2023. It consisted of 11 virtual and in person listening sessions with members across the state that were facilitated by Medi-Cal community partners in a variety of health care fields. These tours were focused in areas of the state most impacted by health disparities including rural areas and communities with a high concentration of minorities.

THE POST, July 17 - 23, 2024, 2024 Page 8

D.A. Announces Conviction in $359,720 Real Estate Fraud Elder Abuse Case ...

Continued from page 1 then ingratiated himself with the victim, gaining her trust and eventually taking over all her finances.

Acting as both a realtor and a general contractor, the defendant is alleged to have convinced the victim to sell most of her properties.

During the escrow process Turgeman submitted fraudulent invoices for work that was never performed.

This scheme allowed him to steal over $359,720 from the victim.

The scheme was uncovered when the victim began to receive notices in the mail that her bills were not being paid. She then told her friends, who had been very suspicious of the defendant. The friends looked through her bank accounts and then called the police.

Honoring the Cardiac Kids ...

Continued from page 1 way established by one athlete with one team, by any professional athlete of color. As Steve Kerr said, Al Attles is the greatest Warrior of all time. In addition, the 1975 Warriors were the only team to ever assemble 10 active African American players in a single rotation all season.

The team was led by Rick Barry who was considered one of the best all-around players in the history of the game. The Cardiac Kids are also one of three teams to accomplish a sweep during the World Championship round in the NBA finals. The list of ‘firsts’ with this team goes “On and On” like the song written by Erykah Badu.

The Cardiac Kids were figuratively dubbed as underdogs and fighters, and at times, they literally fought. Teammates Wilkes and Dudley said that they considered themselves to be activists, rhythmically cool and athletically talented.

The team consisted of Butch Beard, Rick Barry, Charles Johnson, Clifford Ray, Jeff Mullins, Derrick Dickey, Phil Smith, Bill Bridges, Steve Bracey, George Johnson, Jamal Wilkes, and Charles Dudley. These guys gave the Bay Area spirit and hope. They were right in the epicenter of many social and cultural landmarks including the Black Panther era, the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, the Hippy era and true cultural activism in the Bay Area that moved to

D.A. Price Announces Motions for Resentencing ...

Continued from page 1 Thomas was convicted in 1997 for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Francia Young. He was 19 years old when these crimes were committed. He has served 31 years on death row. A motion to resentence Thomas has been filed and is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday.

Tate was sentenced to death in 1993 for the murder of Sarah LaChapelle. A resentencing motion was filed to remove him from death row and to be resentenced to life without the possibility of parole. His hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16.

“Regarding the cases for Mr. Dykes and Mr. Thomas, the prosecutors’ behavior appears to have undermined the integrity of the convictions,” said Price. “The practice of excluding people from jury service based on their race, religion, or sexual orientation constitutes a betrayal of the public’s trust.

“I want to take this opportunity to apologize to the surviving family members of Lance Clark, Sarah LaChapelle, and Francia Young on behalf of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. I want to also apologize to the Black, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ communities and to the public for what appears to be inappropriate, racist, homophobic, and sexist conduct by some of the pros-

“This theft would not have been uncovered if it weren’t for the hard work of the victim’s friends, the assistance of the Berkeley Police Department and the DA’s Real Estate Fraud team, including our inspector, deputy district attorney, and forensic auditor,” said Price. “This teamwork was able to bring major compensation to the victim and accountability to the defendant.”

Turgeman will be sentenced to four months of electronic home detention and placed on probation for two years. As part of the plea deal, Turgeman provided a $200,000 cashier’s check as a first payment toward the full restitution.

He will be required to pay the remaining $159,720 in restitution during the two years of his probation period. The sentencing will take place on Sept. 9 at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin, Department 705.

The source of this story is the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. a beat of its own.

So how could a team with all of this social impact be left out of any conversation or celebration involving the current Golden State Warriors legacy? The Cardiac Kids were the only championship team never to be invited to the White House and they were never featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. One must wonder why.

Charles Dudley, who is also known as the “Hopper”, and played a key role on this team, decided to invest his time and money to get this story out and heard by the people in his new documentary entitled “The Cardiac Kids.”

It is scheduled to be released during All-Star Weekend, right here in the Bay Area with a special three-city tour of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, to give the loyal fan base a true look into this glorified franchise.

Oaklander Arif Khatib, director of the Afro Sports Hall of Fame, and a friend of Dudley and members of the 1975 championship team, has agreed to join with the Oakland Post and members of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group to support Dudley’s drive to receive their White House honors and recognition.

“The Post will ask Congressperson Barbara Lee to carry Dudley’s wish to see Attles and his ‘75 championship teammates honored by Oaklander Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden this year,” said Publisher Paul Cobb. ecutors in this office.”

Price also announced to her staff on Tuesday the launch of a new Ethics Ombudsperson Office at the ACDAO. This is a natural extension of the ACDAO’s work supporting Alameda County’s Grand Jury in its ombuds role investigating local government to ensure public agencies are working in the best interests of the public.

The launch of the Ethics Ombudsperson Office is a testament to District Attorney Pamela Price’s commitment to government transparency and accountability to the community. It is the first of its kind in California District Attorneys’ offices.

The structure of the Ethics Ombudsperson Office is informed by the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and is further modeled on The Northern District of California (NDCA) Ombudsperson Program through which attorney members of the NDCA Bar may confidentially communicate feedback and concerns regarding the Court or individual judges.

The goal of the Ethics Ombudsperson Office is to prevent the unethical practices that have been unearthed inside the ACDAO. It will be led by Assistant District Attorney Kwixuan Maloof, who will serve as the office’s Ombudsperson and report directly to District Attorney Pamela Price.

postnewsgroup.com

Exoneration of Port Chicago 50 ...

Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict to Jamaal Thomas for the Murder of Miles Armstead

Special to The Post Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced Wednesday that prosecutors obtained a conviction against Jamal Thomas (47) for the murder of Miles Armstead.

The jury deliberated for one day and found the defendant guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of Mr. Armstead. Mr. Thomas was also found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon with priors. The conviction also includes a gun enhancement.

The testimony and evidence presented at trial showed that on May 1, 2020, Armstead was running away from Mr. Thomas when the deadly shooting occurred. The incident was preceded by months of verbal attacks by Thomas against Armstead and his family, which had escalated to rock- and brickthrowing through the windows of the victim’s home.

At the time of his death, Mr.

Armstead was doing landscaping on his house to prepare it for sale because of the harassment by Mr. Thomas. Neighbors identified the defendant as the shooter.

“I first want to thank the jury for their diligent work in delivering this guilty verdict,” said Price. “I also want to thank our entire prosecution team, including Deputy District Attorney Nathan Feldman, DAO Inspector Jason Turner, Victim-Witness Advocates Erica Chavis, Fabiola Guitierrez, and Mayra Canales. We recognize this horrific tragedy leaves a wife without a husband and her children without a father and a community forever traumatized by this unacceptable and vicious attack on an unarmed man.”

Mr. Thomas faces 36 years and nine months to life in prison. Sentencing is set for Aug. 13.

This report came from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

Continued from page 1 nity by circulating our dollars with one another, and we can make better investments for the posterity of our families, our community, and our people, and we can also restore and repair Black human beings to be functional healthy earthlings on the planet instead of dealing with trauma.

How will reparations allotments affect Black cooperative economics, and business development activities?

We will have more Black financial institutions such as banks and lenders to help us build our economics. We will have more Black publicly traded companies on the stock market that can have more reach and more impact regionally and nationally on Black economic Empowerment, spending and opportunity. We will have more land in the hands of Black landowners, and we will also be able to affect the infrastructure, the physical landscape of Black neighborhoods and communities by being able to develop them with more resources and more material and more intentionality and purpose through our educated scholars in the fields of science architecture, engineering, and sociology.

What plans do you have with Marcus Books store?

I would like for everyone to ask Marcus Books to purchase my book “Got Reparations 21 Questions, 21 Answers” and that will give them a reason to invite me to have a book signing so if you’re reading this article, go ask them for my book and they can order it in bulk for 25 copies for less than one copy cost so they can make a profit and people can purchase my book locally at a Black-owned bookstore in Oakland.

What connections does reparations have to Juneteenth?

Reparations is about the repair of Black people in America based on the past injustices and inter-generational traumas that we have experienced in our lifetimes.

So, Juneteenth can be utilized as a platform to address what “freedom” means after the generational trauma of being enslaved in order to usher in healthy conversations and measures to heal our people and create healthy and sustainable communities.

To include encouraging specific professional field of study and scholarships, such as doctors, crafts people, farmers, security, architects, engineers, scientists, artists, and healers as well as teachers.

Valuable Guidance in Reparations Book ...

Newsom Intensifies Efforts to Fight Crime ...

Continued from page 1 since February.

The state initially deployed 120 officers earlier this year to Oakland and surrounding Alameda cities to help local law enforcement target vehicle theft, retail theft and violent crime in the area.

Over the course of the following months, officer presence decreased but the few that remained helped crack down on crime and improve public safety, according to numerous reports by the governor’s office.

While CHP and Oakland Police Department (OPD) are doing well to target and investigate these crimes, Newsom said he was disappointed in the lack of action from the Alameda District Attorney’s office (DAO) to prosecute criminals.

“We also are mindful that we need to be more aggressive as it relates to the investigations and accountability, and the prosecutions of some of these cases,” Newsom said at a press conference.

Instead of waiting on the DA’s office to act, Newsom announced that the state will defer some of the more complex cases to the At-

torney General’s office. He emphasized that this task is not the AG’s responsibility, but the DA’s, yet he will do what’s best to alleviate the burden for the county.

The DAO received $2 million to fund a new prosecution team for organized retail crime in 2023. The team launched in January 2024, but no data has been provided on how many cases they have prosecuted thus far.

The District Attorney’s office did not respond for comment at the time of publication.

The temporary increase in CHP officers draws on the already present investments his administration has made.

In the spring, Newsom announced that the state would install 480 high-tech cameras in Oakland and the surrounding East Bay to assist law enforcement in identifying vehicles linked to crimes.

Prior to that, his team also partnered with CalTrans to execute a 10-point action plan for Oakland to improve street safety. The plan includes city beautification, cleaning up homeless encampments, community outreach, employment opportunities and more.

Continued from page 1 munitions were being loaded onto ships. This incident accounted for more than 15% of all African American Naval casualties during WWII and was the deadliest home front disaster during the war.

While white officers were given time off, African American sailors were forced to return to the same unsafe working conditions that killed their colleagues, having never been properly trained in safe munitions loading and handling practices.

When 50 of these men understandably refused, they were discriminately charged and convicted of mutiny.

Since coming to Congress 26 years ago, Congresswoman Lee has led the fight for justice for and exoneration of these sailors through legislation and work with the U.S. Navy and multiple Administrations, dating back to 2016.

Last year, Representatives Lee, DeSaulnier and John Garamendi (CA-8) introduced H.Con.Res.16, a resolution recognizing the victims of the Port Chicago explosion of July 17, 1944, the 79th anniversary of the greatest homeland loss of life of World War II, and exonerating the 50 African-American sailors unjustly court-martialed by the Navy.

“This is a monumental day for justice and for the families of the Port Chicago 50. I appreciate the Secretary of the Navy taking this crucial action to exonerate these courageous men who were unjustly court-martialed by the Navy following the explosion at Port Chicago,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “On the 80th anniversary of this tragic event, it’s fitting that these men are not only exonerated, but honored for their service to this country. I have been working on this issue with former Congressman George Miller and Congressman DeSaulnier since coming to Congress 26 years ago. This is long overdue.”

“After nearly a decade fighting for justice for the Port Chicago 50, I commend the U.S. Navy and thank Navy Secretary Del Toro for exonerating these heroes and President Biden for his support. Today our nation stands one step closer to fulfilling its founding promise of equality and justice for all,” said DeSaulnier.

“I thank Rev. Diana McDaniel and

40 Miles of Street Paving ...

Continued from page 1 and other vital services throughout the ongoing pandemic, the plan is being delivered at a record pace.

Further, OakDOT has continued increasing its investments to build internal capacity with in-house paving crews – and City staff themselves pushed the mileage over the 40-mile mark this year.

“As a former member of the Measure KK Infrastructure Bond Oversight Committee, I got to see paving plans as a civilian,” Councilmember Carroll Fife said. “Now as City Councilmember for West Oakland, I am excited to see those plans come to fruition. Shout out to city workers who, without their hard work even during a pandemic, this latest pavement milestone would not be possible.”

“The hardworking crews that are out there making it happen are a daily inspiration to us all and a reminder of that deep call to service that unites all Oaklanders – we are humbled and inspired by their example,” OakDOT Director Ryan Russo said. “These safer, smoother streets and sidewalks are only possible because Oakland voters agreed to support these workers and these services with the landmark Measure KK, so we also recognize and thank our community for making the investment in the crews out here getting it done. And finally, we thank the City Council for adopting a first-in-the-nation paving plan that invests paving dollars by weighing equally the proportion of poor-condition streets in an area and the proportion of our underserved communities who live there, putting our Oakland values into action.”

Measure KK, passed by Oakland voters in 2016, provides $350 million in bond funding over a ten-year period to repair Oakland roads. In May 2019 the City Council adopted a paving plan OakDOT developed to put Measure KK funds to work, and that plan kicked

the Friends of the Port Chicago 50, Congressman George Miller and John Lawrence, his then chief of staff, and Representatives Barbara Lee and John Garamendi for their efforts to help accomplish this monumental feat.”

“I thank Navy Secretary Del Toro for his exhaustive review and exonerating the Port Chicago 50, correcting 80 years of injustice. The Port Chicago 50 were ordered to their deaths in the summer of 1944, nearly four years before President Truman signed the executive order formally banning racial segregation in the American military. Now, 80 years later, the families of the Port Chicago 50 convicted for mutinying against an order that should never have been given finally have closure. Their full exoneration brings a sense of justice that has been long overdue. As Port Chicago’s Congressman, I am proud to stand with the families of these servicemen and my colleagues, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier and Barbara Lee, in celebrating this historic moment,” said Congressman John Garamendi.

“When I learned of the exoneration I burst into tears, this has been a long-time coming. It is so sad that Robert Allen and the PC 50 and the sailors who were penalized are not with us to celebrate. I am so grateful to the Biden administration, to the Secretary of the Navy, to our Champions Rep. DeSaulnier and former Congressman George Miller. So many people have worked on this - a major wrong has been righted,” said Reverend Diana McDaniel, president of The Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial.

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us that ‘the arc of The Moral Universe is long, but it bends towards justice,’ and today’s action

by President Biden and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro at long last corrects a grievous historical wrong,” said former Congressman George Miller. “I salute colleagues in Congress, state and local government and many others, especially Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, for persisting in this long battle to clear the names of the Port Chicago 50. Special recognition is also due to Rev. Diana McDaniel of the Friends of Port Chicago, Thurgood Marshall, Jr., and the late historian Robert Allen, who have played crucial roles in telling the Port Chicago story and in demanding justice.” off in earnest on July 1, 2019.

How streets were selected: in 2018 the City performed a survey of every street in Oakland to get updated information about each street’s condition. OakDOT prioritized major streets by street condition and crash history, to keep major streets in good condition, and frontload safety improvements on the streets where the most fatal and severe crashes occur.

For local streets, OakDOT organizes its paving interments through nine planning areas – geographic segments that cover all of Oakland, and which are larger than neighborhoods but smaller than Council districts. The plan divides the $75 million in local streets repaving into these areas, weighing two factors: (1) the proportion of poor-condition local streets each area contains, and (2) the proportion of Oakland’s historically underserved communities that live in each area. These two factors – street condition and equity – are weighed equally and each area gets a share of the local streets funding according to that result.

To select individual streets, OakDOT first identified the worst streets near schools, and then prioritized the worst-condition streets in each area. The final list of streets was included in the plan when Council adopted it in may – that list is online in map form at https://www.oaklandca.gov/ projects/2019-paving-plan.

Residents are encouraged to request infrastructure maintenance services and report problems through any of the following means: • Phone: Call 311 from any phone within Oakland. (If calling from outside Oakland, use the number 510-615-5566.)

• E-mail: OAK311@oaklandca. gov • Web: 311.oaklandca.gov • Mobile App: OAK 311, available free for Apple and Android smart devices (powered by SeeClickFix)