Oakland Post, week of July 19 - 25, 2023

Oakland Post

By Post Staff

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is asking supporters of the justice reform agenda that led her to victory last November to come to a Town Hall on public safety at Montclair Presbyterian Church on July 27.

Price is facing a possible recall election just six months into her term by civic and business interests, some of whom will be at the in-person meeting from 6 - 9 p.m. at 5701 Thornhill Dr. in Oakland.

“We know that opponents of criminal justice reform plan to attend this meeting and use it as a forum against the policies that Alameda County voters mandated DA Price to deliver. We cannot let them succeed,” her campaign team’s email appeal said.

“That’s why I’m asking you to join us at the town hall,” the email continued. “We need to show up in force and make sure that our voices are heard.”

Price’s campaign is also seeking donations to fight the effort to have her recalled. Her history-making election as

the first African American woman to hold the office had been a surprise to insiders who had expected that Terry Wiley, who served as assistant district attorney under outgoing D.A. Nancy O’Malley, would win.

Price campaigned as a progressive, making it clear to voters that she wanted to curb both pretrial detention and life-without-parole sentences among other things. She won, taking 53% of the vote.

Almost immediately, Price was challenged by some media outlets as well as business and civic groups who alleged, as she began to fulfill those campaign promises, that she was soft on crime.

On July 11, the recall committee called Save Alameda for Everyone (S.A.F.E.) filed paperwork with the county elections office to begin raising money for the next step toward Price’s ouster: gathering signatures of at least 10% of the electorate.

S.A.F.E. has its work cut out for them, but Price needs to be prepared to fight them to keep her of-

By Post Staff

With beautiful views of the skyline in the background Congresswoman Barbara Lee, U.S. Senate candidate, celebrated her birthday earlier this week at a fundraising reception hosted by Keith Uriarte and Linda Dittes in the Oakland hills.

Joining Lee was her former chief of staff and California State Senate candidate, Sandré R. Swanson. Swanson said, “I am actively and enthusiastically supporting Congresswoman Lee for her historic run to represent California as our Senator in our United States Capitol.”

Lee and former Assemblymember Swanson have a very long history. As young activists, Lee and Swanson met while working on the California presidential campaign of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. They both worked for Congressman Ronald V. Dellums for many years serving the Bay Area communities.

Lee’s distinguished and successful legislative career included her election to the California Assembly and the California State Senate before serving in the U.S. Congress.

After serving as Lee’s chief of staff in Washington, Swanson was elected to the California Assembly. There, Swanson represented Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont and served as the celebrated chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

Now, these lifelong friends are both running in campaigns to make a mark in history for their community. Lee is running to become the only African American woman in the U.S. Senate and would be only the third in history to accomplish that if she wins.

If elected, Swanson would become the only African American in the California State Senate from Northern California.

Both will appear on the March 5, 2024, presidential primary ballot next year. If elected, Lee would serve in Washington, D.C., and Swanson would serve in the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

More information about these historic campaigns can be found at www.barbaraleeforca.com and www.sandreswanson.net.

By Richard Johnson and Post Staff

I had the privilege to have a sit-down interview with Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price on July 16. Accompanying me were Post News Group publisher Dr. Paul Cobb and owner Gay Plair Cobb; Jonathan ‘Fitness’ Jones from African American Sports Entertainment Group (AASEG), and Dr. Maritony Yavot from Life Impact for Humanity (LIFH).

As columnist and founder of Formerly Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB), I am grateful for the opportunity to interview Madam D.A. Price. My intention was not to dwell on negative opinions or preconceived notions. Instead, I approached the conversation with objectivity, seeking the truth and focusing on solutions, objectives, and the law.

I was aware of various news outlets that held preconceived ideas and outright biases. Being a formerly incarcerated person, trust was a significant factor in our discussion. Rather than assigning blame or harboring animosity, I wanted to ask questions and seek understanding.

I posed several questions to Price that were specifically related to her role as district attorney and what she can do to address problems within her jurisdiction. It was important for me to differentiate her responsibilities from those of the county’s various mayors, police chiefs, supervisors, and members of city councils. I understood that she holds a specific position with specific tasks. My first question to her was about her plans, services, and resources for assisting the formerly

Continued on page 8

The Selection Panel will meet on Tuesday, July 25, at 6 p.m. at Oakland City Hall to interview five finalists selected from a total of 34 applicants.

The finalists are Omar Farmer; Ricardo Garcia-Acosta; Angela

Jackson-Castain;

After the interviews, two candidates will be recommended by the panel to the Oakland City Council for appointment to the vacancies that will occur in October. The meeting can be accessed in person or by Zoom. For further information, contact Felicia Verdin in the City Administrator’s Office, fverdin@oaklandca.gov, 510-2383128.

By Keith Burbank Bay City News

And Post Staff

Mayor Sheng Thao received a $13,000 pay raise from the City Council despite cuts to services as the city erased its largest budget deficit in its history.

The raise will bring Mayor Sheng Thao’s pay in line with the formula established by the Oakland City Charter for calculating the mayor’s salary, which the City Council sets.

The council passed an amendment to the city’s salary ordinance to give Thao a raise.

Oakland erased a $360 million deficit last month when it passed its fiscal 2023-25 budget, cutting almost $2 million in funding for a lodge that serves homeless resi-

dents.

“I urge the City Council to set the Mayor’s salary at the lowest amount legally required by the City Charter,” Thao said in a statement Tuesday morning.

“As a leader I know this is in the best interest of the City’s fiscal health, and it is also the right thing to do.”

Thao said she would reject any raise that exceeds the chartermandated maximum and give back any amount that exceeds the charter mandated minimum to be used to pay for city services.

Thao currently makes $202,999.94 a year. The charter-mandated minimum is $216,202.42 and the mandated maximum is $277,974.54.

Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee joins Sandré Swanson, her former chief of staff in Washington and California State Senate candidate on her birthday at a fundraiser for both of their campaigns in the Oakland hills last weekend. Photo by A. Swanson.

Photo: (l-r) Alameda D.A. Pamela Price, Gay Plair Cobb, Dr. Paul Cobb, Richard Johnson, Dr. Maritony Yamot. Photo by Jonathan Fitness Jones.

Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes will lead Operation PUSH Rainbow Coalition, which was founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson in Chicago in 1971. Named Jackson’s successor at its national convention on Sunday, Haynes is the senior pastor of Friendship-West Church in Dallas, Texas. See page 2.

Former

Director, Margaret Pryor, Dies at 89 .. see

Publisher Charles “Chuck” Cherry Dies at 66 ... see page 2

The selection panel for the Oakland Police Commission, authorized by the City Charter, is charged with interviewing candidates who have applied to be appointed to the Commission.

Karely Ordaz Salto; and Wilson Riles.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Names New Leader of Rainbow PUSH

Dallas Megachurch Leader Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Has Background in Social Justice

onstrations, to registering thousands of voters, to providing food and other needed resources, to decreasing crime, to serving as a voting super center, Dr. Haynes and Friendship-West Baptist Church have always been in the forefront of creating positive and lasting social change.

As a civil rights leader and activist, Dr. Haynes has had a longstanding relationship with Rev. Jackson.

J. Alfred Smith Sr., Allen Temple Baptist Church pastor emeritus, had nothing but praise for Dr. Haynes, saying that the Bay Area should be very proud that one of its own was ascending to the position, echoing the legacy of his father and grandfather, whose ministries at S.F. Third Baptist Church.

By Kayla Tucker Adams

Thirty days after he announced his retirement, Rev. Jesse Jackson named Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, as the new president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

The official announcement took place on Sunday at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s national convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn where U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to speak.

In addition to this new role at the helm of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III, is the senior pastor of FriendshipWest Baptist Church, a megachurch in Dallas, Texas, with more than 13,000 members. While Dr. Haynes recently announced Pastor David McGruder as the Executive Pastor of Friendship-West, Dr. Haynes will remain the senior

pastor.

“Rev. Jesse Jackson has made the world a better place, breaking down barriers, opening previously locked doors of opportunity, fighting for justice, and refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer on behalf of those who have no voice,” said Dr. Haynes. “Rainbow PUSH has been the organizational vehicle that he has driven in the movement for justice. I am honored and humbled that he has ‘tapped’ me to serve as his successor as the President and CEO of this great organization.”

Haynes is best known as a social justice pastor and advocate for marginalized communities.

Known nationally as “the drum major for justice,” he has modeled his ministry like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., focused on the intersections of faith and justice.

From leading protests and dem-

“There’s no one better qualified: there’s not a better spokesman in the country,” Smith said.. Since Friendship-West Baptist Church is a microcosm of what Jackson achieved, “Haynes will inject new life into PUSH.”

Dr. Haynes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion and English, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a Doctorate in Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation where he was afforded the opportunity to study at Christ Church, Oxford University in England.

Haynes is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Paul Quinn College as well as various other boards dedicated to the advancement of Dallas for all residents, particularly those in underserved and minority communities.

Dr. Haynes has received numerous awards and honors for his ministry and activism. In 2011, Dr. Haynes had the prestigious honor of being the featured speaker at The Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Prayer Breakfast.

In 2012, Ebony Magazine named him to its Power 100 list of most influential African Americans. He was also inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, Dr. Haynes was honored to give remarks at the memorial service of one of the most respected world leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries, President Nelson Mandela.

The prestigious April 4th Foundation awarded Dr. Haynes the I Am a Man Award in 2020 and he joined the ranks of past honorees that include Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Diane Nash, Congressman John Lewis, and Harry Belafonté.

In 2022, Dr. Haynes was awarded by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in Community Service.

In 2003, Haynes founded the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference along with Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. and Dr. Iva E. Carruthers and currently serves as cochairman of the board. Dr. Haynes is on the board of the Conference of National Black Churches, the National Action Network, and the IC3 Church Growth and Development Conference.

Kayla Tucker Adams is an associate of the KTA Media Group

Charles ‘Chuck’ Cherry, Black Newspaper Publisher in Florida, Dies at 66

Charles W. “Chuck’’ Cherry II of Daytona Beach, a fierce advocate of the Black Press and a longtime warrior for social justice, died on Saturday, July 15, at age 66.

Chuck Cherry retired as publisher of the Daytona Times and the Florida Courier in 2020 after running the Black newspapers’ editorial operations for decades.

The retired attorney also was an author, speaker, radio broadcaster and strategic business planning consultant.

In 2019, he founded 623 Management, Inc., a company that focused on developing and disseminating messaging to Black America with a specific focus on understanding and reaching Florida’s Black population through a comprehensive marketing strategy.

He also was a sought-after speaker on Black history and civil rights in Daytona Beach and beyond.

Charles W. Cherry II was born on Aug. 6, 1956, in Daytona Beach to Julia T. Cherry and Charles W. Cherry, Sr., founder of the Daytona Times and Florida Courier newspapers. The senior Cherry also was a past president of the Florida NAACP and a former Daytona Beach city commissioner.

Admitted into the Florida Bar in December 1983, he was a former Fort Lauderdale city and South Florida state prosecutor, and

practiced law for 21 years before returning to journalism and newspaper publishing as his primary occupation upon the death of Charles W. Cherry, Sr.

For more than 10 years, Chuck Cherry also served as general counsel to the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Along with being publisher of the newspapers, he served as general manager of the family-owned radio station WPUL-AM and for years was host of the station’s “Free Your Mind’’ radio show.

Jenise Griffin, who replaced Cherry as publisher in 2020, said, “Chuck Cherry was my longtime mentor and friend, and I am devastated by his passing. He was a giant in the journalism industry and his voice will be missed. As his awardwinning column was titled, he told it ‘straight, no chaser.’ I admired him as a journalist, a brother with a great legal mind, and an awesome father.’’

She added, “Although he was no longer a working member of the Daytona Times and Florida Courier, the staffers often still reached out to him for advice and insight on their editorial projects.’’

Plans for a public memorial service are in the works. In lieu of flowers, the Cherry family is requesting that donations be made to the Charles W. Cherry Sr. Endowed Scholarship Fund via giving.morehouse.edu.

Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes. Facebook photo

Chuck Cherry published the Daytona Times and Florida Courier until 2020. Courtesy photo.

Antiracist School of Public Health...

Continued from page 4

DrPH graduate. “The faculty who were a part of the leadership academy have integrated antiracist principles into their curriculum and have empowered students to be active in the process. Students have continued to be vocal about maintaining antiracist praxis at the core of the curriculum in their respective concentrations. What we started is a moving train that continues to build as we move forward.”

Berkeley Public Health’s journey towards becoming a more antiracist institution is documented in a paper published in a special June 8, 2023, issue of Preventing Chronic Disease entitled “Public Health, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Pharmacy: Combating Racism Through Research, Training, Practice, and Public Health Policies,” published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“While we have a long way to go, our school came together to

acknowledge the work that needs to be done and start the journey toward becoming an antiracist institution,” said Dr. Allen, the paper’s lead author. “We’ve learned more about ourselves in the process, both our strengths and our growth edges. The charge before us now is to not be content with the successes we have had but to forge ahead into those uncomfortable places. That is where the magic happens.”

“Berkeley Public Health students, staff, and faculty have acknowledged the importance of anti-racism praxis in making changes within and beyond our campus,” said coauthor and former UC Berkeley public health undergraduate student and recent epidemiology and biostatistics MPH graduate Navya Pothamsetty. “ARC4JSTC’s initiatives like faculty workshops, focus groups, and, most recently, published research on transformative change, are a strong foundation for continued progress towards the goal of becoming a more antiracist institution.”

Schools of Public Health

“have a moral, ethical, and disciplinary imperative to support training, research, and service activities that serve our collective mission to promote health and well-being for all,” concludes the paper. “Ensuring our institutional health as a diverse, equity-minded, inclusive, and antiracist-striving organization is fundamental to those efforts.”

“While we’ve still got work to do, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in the past three years,” said Lu. “ARC4JSTC has transformed our culture and climate, and helped us become a better version of ourselves.”

Authors include: Amani M. Allen, PhD, Ché Abram, MBA, Navya Pothamsetty, MPH, Andrea Jacobo, MPH, Leanna Lewis, MSW, Sai Ramya Maddali, MPH, Michelle Azurin, MPH, Emily Chow, BS, Michael Sholinbeck, MLIS, Abby Rincón, MPH, and Ann Keller, PhD, and Michael C. Lu, MD, MS, MPH, all of UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

Help the Family Say Happy 102nd Birthday to Beloved Matriarch

By Kareta Williams

Mattie L. Lovett is going to be 102 years old on July 21.

Born in Arkansas, she migrated to Las Vegas, Nevada, and then to San Francisco, California in the 1940s and has since been a resident of Oakland.

She raised all of her children in West Oakland on 18th street before moving to 68th Avenue in East Oakland where she has lived since July 1970. In her early career, Mattie was a maid, becoming an instructional assistant for the Oakland Unified School District in the 1960s, ’70s and early ’80s. She retired at the age of 62 in 1983.

Affectionately known as Mrs. Lovett, she worked at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary as well as Cole El-

ementary. Her youngest daughter as well as several of her grandchildren attended MLK while she was working there, and this writer was one of them.

She is and has been well liked, and there are still a few teachers who worked in those schools who love to hear that she is doing well. She also worked at Del Monte and Stokeley Brothers’ canneries in East Oakland and she introduced us to Gatorade — we hated it then (LOL).

We are very grateful to God that she is still here with us and thriving. She has outlived three of her six children: three of her grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. By her side are daughters Brenda, Doris, and Geraldine; her 11 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great grandchildren.

By California Black Media

Mental health and mental illness in the Black community are not only highly stigmatized, but also highly overlooked and ignored. Only 1 in 3 Black Americans who need mental health care actually receive it. Over 63% believe it’s a sign of weakness. Let’s face it: mental and physical health go hand in hand, and it is important to care for both equally. Poor mental health puts a person at higher risk for poor physical health and chronic conditions. This goes both ways.

Recognizing, Getting Help for Mental Illness in the Black Community The Arc of Justice

People with chronic health conditions are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues. Some of these conditions, all of which Black Americans are at higher risk for, include diabetes, asthma, heart disease and cancer.

Other risk factors for mental illness that are common in Black communities include chronic stress, racial trauma, poverty, poor nutrition and family history of mental illness.

Black Americans also receive poorer quality of mental health care and have less access to culturally competent care. This puts them at a greater risk of misdiagnosis, or having their symptoms ignored all together.

Common mental illnesses symptoms experienced by the Black community include:

• Depression: Categorized by depressed mood, lack of interest in activities causing impairment to daily life that lasts months or years

• Anxiety: Several different disorders defined by intense and persistent worry and/or fear about typical daily situations such as job responsibilities, social interactions, or being in public.

• Bipolar disorder: Severe mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs

• Schizophrenia: Impacts the way a person thinks and behaves, commonly causing a feeling of losing touch with reality

• If you or a loved one feels as though they are suffering from any of these symptoms, support, and treatment is crucial and available to you. Our guides below can help to navigate mental health in today’s healthcare system.

By Emil Guillermo

Van Jones, the former director of Oakland’s Ella Baker Center, acts as our surrogate when he appears on the mostly white CNN news panels. So, when the news broke Tuesday morning that Donald Trump got a ‘target letter,’ we knew it wasn’t a bill or a credit card pitch from some big box department store.

It was a letter from federal prosecutors to the Trump legal team saying that the former president is a target in their investigation to steal the 2020 election, including being the instigator of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

A ‘target letter’ is usually a signal that an indictment and arrest are imminent.

“Finally, we’re getting down to the real stuff here,” Jones said on CNN. “This is why he’s going to go down in the history books as one of the worst presidents, if not the worst ever as a traitor to his own country and we are finally here.”

But as Jones added later, “What took so long?”

All the other potential crimes?

The letter comes after a pair of criminal indictments that include the one filed by New York City DA Alvin Bragg over hush money payments to a porn star, and the one filed in Florida over the mishandling of classified documents in Mar-a-Lago.

But, as Jones commented, the hush money case may have hurt Trump’s family more. And the documents case, though serious, may not have exposed any national security secrets to our sworn enemies. But this third potential indictment was a crime against the people.

A crime against democracy. And if three strikes isn’t enough, there’s a fourth indictment brewing in Georgia.

Trump responded to the letter in social media, proclaiming innocence, calling it a witch hunt, of course. Then, in all caps, Trump said it was “ALL ABOUT ELECTION INTERFERENCE, AND A COMPLETE AND TOTAL POLTICAL WEAPONIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.”

But a target letter is customary and done as a courtesy for someone under investigation to come in on their own. In this case, Trump said he was told to report as early as Thursday to the Grand Jury.

Certainly, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith wouldn’t have sent the letter had he not had the evidence and the witnesses prepared and ready to make his case.

According to news reports, the letter referred to charges involving conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the United States, the deprivation of rights, and the tampering of witnesses.

It was the kind of development that gives hope that Trump will be held accountable, and that he is not above the law.

Yet, there were others like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy continuing to keep Trump above us all. He is, after all, the current standard bearer of the Republican party and leading in the latest polls in the race to be the 2024 nominee.

And Republicans want to win at all costs it seems. Even if it means nominating a twice-impeached, potentially three-time indicted former president.

Even Trump’s closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, was unable to condemn Trump.

Perhaps because DeSantis is doing his best to outdo Trump himself.

DeSantis’ Racist AntiAsian Law

While the news was focused on Trump’s woes, Asian American groups joined the ACLU in Florida at the first hearing in a lawsuit over

strategically and efficiently to make inroads and change lives. One step forward, two back is not acceptable. But determining where to start is not easy,” Bogan said.

In this training, instructor Orson Aguilar will present leaders with a nontraditional approach to strategic planning that’s more accessible, relevant, and impactful to grassroots organizations.

Aguilar, senior director of public affairs for “Oportun; organization strategist, social justice advocate, and past president of The Greenlining Institute, is no stranger to broad-based community strategic planning.

one of the most xenophobic policies signed into law by DeSantis this past May.

Last week, when the big news was inflation’s drop to 3% (the goal was 2%), some observers wondered why people seemed underwhelmed.

Maybe it’s because our happiness is connected to more than just the price of gas and eggs.

How can you cheer for an improving economy when your rights and freedoms are eroding before your eyes?

Inflation may be on the decline, but democracy’s in recession.

Rollbacks in abortion and affirmative action were expected. But a call back to alien land laws?

Those were the laws that prevented Chinese, Japanese, and Filipinos from buying property in the U.S. going back to 1913. These laws prevented my family from buying property. Yours?

Long gone, such laws are making a comeback now that China has been identified as the nation’s Public Enemy No. 1 by GOP politicos like DeSantis.

In May, before launching his campaign for president, DeSantis approved Senate Bill 264, a discriminatory property law that restricts Chinese citizens from purchasing real estate in Florida. The law makes it a felony for Chinese to buy property in restricted areas near military installations and “critical infrastructure” like airports, wastewater treatment plants, power plants and the like.

And how’s this for negative diversity: Florida’s law also applies to citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, but only makes their violations misdemeanors.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit to stop the new law, saying it unfairly punishes Chinese people for actions of their government when there is no evidence of national security risk.

To justify suspicion, all it takes is your Asian face and name. Is it fair to think all Chinese in America are members of the Chinese Communist Party? The latest Pew Research shows the majority of Asian adults in America are anti-China.

Maybe a third indictment will wake up conservatives still trying to defend or outdo Trump’s bigoted politics. DeSantis should show some leadership by rescinding his antiAsian land law.

That would be as hopeful a sign as the imminent third indictment against Donald Trump — the signal of a real turnaround in our country — where our democracy can appear mired in recession.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a reality talk show on www.amok.com

With such wide diversity in the nonprofit community, there is no one-size-fits-all model for successful strategic planning,” says Aguilar. “We will explore a Hack, Grassroots Strategic Planning, which presents a better, more practical fit for the planning needs of community-based organizations.”

In this session, participants will learn:

How strategic planning works

• Some of the pitfalls of traditional strategic planning

On July 27, OCCUR & The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS A Model Built on Faith (AMBOF) will present Grassroots Strategic Planning, a Nontraditional Approach.

“With so many concurrent challenges facing Oakland and surrounding communities, faith-based and other nonprofit organizations are working around the clock to make a difference in the lives of individuals struggling and suffering in every imaginable way,” said Carmen Bogan, co-founder of A Model Built on Faith.

“The sheer magnitude of these challenges requires that our whole nonprofit community understand how essential it is to plan and work

Under his leadership, the Greenlining Institute shepherded some of the nation’s leading policies in racial equity, climate change, and economic justice.

According to Aguilar, some leaders feel that the traditional strategic planning process is too expensive, complicated, and mysterious to take on. And he says, often they’re right in that assessment.

Community-based leaders who are concerned about having enough funding for program challenges simply don’t have the resources they would need to hire someone to guide them through a formal strategic planning process. “So, they either walk away or muddle through,” says Aguilar. “But there is another perspective.

• How to use the Strategic Planning Hack that produces a more authentic plan for faith-based and other community-based organizations

How to apply your plan to programs for maximum community impact … and more.

This training is recommended for all leaders of faith-based and nonprofit organizations including managers, executive directors, Board members, and others working to have a deep community impact.

Date: July 27

Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Location: Virtual training, Zoom

Meeting ID: 861 4945 3331

To Register for the Event: Visit AModelBuiltOnFaith.org

Questions: Email info@occurnow. org

Donald Trump (left) speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona.

Photo: Gage Skidmore. Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, from a group photo at his office.Photo: Office of Governor Ron DeSantis

Orson Aguilar of Oportun. Courtesy photo.

Protect Pamela Price’s Victory ...

fice.

Continued from page 1

In a separate sponsored letter to voters, Price supporters wrote:

“We know that you supported DA Price because you believe in her vision for a more just and equitable Alameda County. We hope you share our belief that our criminal justice system has to be fair to everyone, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status.

“The Republican-endorsed effort is a blatant attempt to overturn

the will of the voters and a waste of time and money. It is an attempt to silence the voices of those who want real justice. We cannot let these election deniers succeed.

“Will you make a donation today to help us protect the win?

“Please watch this video and share it with your friends and family. We need to stand up to the sore losers and protect the win. Together, we can continue to make Alameda County a more just, safe and equitable place for everyone.”

For more information, go to the website: pamelaprice4da.com or send an e-mail to info@pamelaprice4da.com

Former Golden State Warrior DeVean George Joins Sandré Swanson’s Senate Campaign

California NAACP Launches Employee Discrimination Hotline

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

Rick L. Callender, president of the California/Hawaii Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (CAL/HI NAACP), has announced that the organization is offering free legal advice and consultations to public and private sector employees in California who have been targets of racial harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

“It is a legal redress clinic for folks who have contacted our branch and believe they have been discriminated against because of the color of their skin or harassed because of the color of their skins,” Callender told California Black Media (CBM).

Former BART Director Margaret Pryor, 89

crimination Complaint Activity in California State Civil Service.”

The 27-page report stated that the five highest statewide categories of complaints in 2020 were Race, Retaliation, Disability, Sexual Harassment, and Sex/Gender.

According to the report, the categories ranked as follows: Sexual Harassment (44%), Race (23%), Sex/Gender (16%), Disability (9%), and Sexual Orientation (7%).

On May 4, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a joint investigation into allegations of employment discrimination and a hostile work environment at the National Football League (NFL).

Margaret Katherine Riley Pryor, 89, passed away peacefully at home in Moreno Valley, California during the early morning hours of July 8, 2023. She was born on Nov. 10, 1933, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to parents Katie Jasper Drake and Luther L. Thompson. After her family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, she graduated from Phoenix Technical High School and later attended Arizona State University.

She married the late O.D.V. Owens in 1953 and from that union Malcolm D. Owens and Cheryl Y. Owens were born. She married the late Roy A. Pryor in 1964.

She was preceded in her death by husband Roy A. Pryor, her mother Katie Jasper Drake and father Luther L. Thompson, halfbrother Luther James Thompson and half-sisters Wanda Dorsey and Patsy Atkins.

Former Golden State Warrior and successful businessman Devean George joined the Sandré R. Swanson for State Senate campaign recently, as a major contributor and supporter.

George, who also played with the Los Angeles Lakers, attended with other athletes at former Assemblymember Swanson’s fundraiser in Sacramento.

George, above left, attended the

Pamela Price Clarifies Duties ...

Continued from page 1

incarcerated in finding stable employment or receiving skills training for employment.

My second question focused on her opinion regarding the concept of “Giving Back” for those who have committed crimes. I asked whether activities like volunteering with faith-based groups or pursuing education or technical skills could be considered a form of restorative justice.

Her responses to both questions were a resounding “yes.” As a columnist, formerly incarcerated person, and representative of a nonprofit organization, I was pleased with her sincere answers.

In a separate interview, Yamot engaged Price on various topics concerning the formerly incarcerated community and promoting civic engagement. Yamot’s first question focused on the DA’s willingness to meet with organizations such as FIGB, Life Impact for Humanity (LIFH), and faith community-based developers to encourage affordable housing initiatives.

Without hesitation, Price responded with an enthusiastic “Yes!” Her support for building affordable housing, including tiny homes, and utilizing countyowned properties, showcased her commitment to address housing challenges.

The second question touched on the role of the DA’s office in bringing solutions, particularly for youth, based on successful methods used to end interracial hostilities within prisons.

Additionally, Yamot asked if the office could act as a drum major in promoting housing, jobs, and recreational opportunities for the community.

DA Price affirmed her office’s active involvement in supporting re-entry programs, providing opportunities, and encouraging businesses and city government to invest in these efforts. She emphasized the need to consider diverse perspectives to advocate effectively for the community’s needs.

In a separate interview, Cobb raised essential questions regarding civic engagement and voting among the formerly incarcerated population. DA Price expressed her strong support for initiatives encouraging formerly incarcerated individuals to exercise their

Sacramento event with Swanson, his wife, Anita, far right, and Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, chair of the California Assembly’s Public Employment and Retirement Committee, second from right. More information on Sandré Swanson’s campaign for the California State Senate, can be found at www.SandreSwanson.net Photo by Lovette Broussard.

voting rights and participate in public meetings to learn about the government.

She acknowledged the importance of amplifying the voices of those impacted by the justice system and their families, emphasizing that civic engagement fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment within the community.

Addressing concerns about fear and hesitation within certain communities, particularly regarding voting registration, Price committed to collaborating with clergy and faith communities to dispel such apprehensions. She drew parallels to the struggles faced by immigrant communities in engaging with law enforcement, stressing the importance of combatting fear and encouraging all voices to be part of the conversation.

Regarding the media’s perception, Dr. Cobb questioned why news reporters immediately turn to Price when criminal activities occur, almost treating her as the chief of police or mayor. Price acknowledged the misconception and shared her intention to work with her communications team to address this issue.

She highlighted the need for balanced reporting and ensuring that voices from various sectors of the community are represented in public safety discussions. It is crucial for individuals in positions of trust and authority to fulfill their job descriptions and responsibilities.

After speaking with Price, it became clear that her role primarily involves prosecuting lawbreakers and enforcing the law as mandated. Arrests, street patrols, and city ordinances fall under the jurisdiction of elected City officials.

Instead of criticizing with personal sentiments unrelated to problem-solving, the City of Oakland requires significant attention and repair. It is imperative for those in power to utilize their authority to serve the city’s best interests and prevent its destruction.

In summary, the interviews with Price reveal her unwavering commitment to collaborative initiatives and civic engagement. With a focus on addressing the challenges faced by the formerly incarcerated and encouraging community involvement, Price aims to bring positive changes that benefit all residents of Alameda County.

“We are providing legal service for our people because sometimes they try to get an attorney to listen to them, but the attorney will tell them they are busy. What we have is two (legal) firms that have contracted with us to allow people to come and get free advice,” he continued.

Local NAACP branches across California will have the authority to determine if a complaint is appropriate for the legal redress consultations after affected employees submit a Legal Redress Complaint Form.

However, the CAL/HI NAACP points out that completing the form does not constitute filing an official complaint with a legal authority.

According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, workplace discrimination complaints are based on race, color, ancestry, religion, age (40 and over), disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, marital status, military and veteran status, or national origin (including language restrictions).

The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) established the Discrimination Complaint Tracking System (DCTS), which enables the collection of data on complaints regarding discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and denial of reasonable accommodation in state agencies, according to its “2020 Annual Report of Dis-

City May Raise Mayor’s Salary ...

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The two figures represent 70% and 90% of the average salary of the city managers in six cities with populations like Oakland.

City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran said using the salaries of city managers to set Thao’s salary is like comparing apples to grapes.

Ramachandran has said she would support the minimum mandated salary for the mayor, which would be an increase of about $15,000.

City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas has said she supports the maximum legally allowable raise for Thao.

The mayor wants to craft a ballot measure that shifts the responsibility for setting the mayor’s salary to the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, which sets the salaries of city councilmembers, the city attorney and the city auditor.

“It is my belief that we do not have to continue to do things the way they’ve always been done and under my Administration we’re not going to,” Thao said Oaklanders deserve better

The NFL has offices in New York and California with more than 1,000 employees. If discrimination and harassment are taking place at these workplaces it should not be tolerated whether the complaint is lodged with the NAACP or the California Department of Justice, Bonta stated.

“California will not tolerate any form of discrimination,” Bonta stated. “We have serious concerns about the NFL’s role in creating an extremely hostile and detrimental work environment. No company is too big or popular to avoid being held responsible for their actions.

California employees have the right to speak to representatives of

Margaret was first elected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors in 1980. She served as the BART board president for three terms.

A tireless advocate of access to public transportation in underserved communities, she made sure Bay Area communities’ interests were represented on all vital transportation industry issues, particularly advocating for increased funding for public transportation and passenger rail in the community she served.

Margaret was also influential in the founding of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA). She was a member of Bay Area Christian Connection in Oakland, California.

Margaret is survived by her children: Malcolm D. Owens and Cheryl Y. Owens; grandchildren Tente S. Owens (Naykeya), Malcolm C. Owens, Jr. (Christie), and L. Alexander ‘Alex’ Williams III; great-grandchildren: Spring M. Owens, Malcolm Brayden Owens, Mckenzie R. Owens, Maverick C. Owens, Logan A. Williams, Justin A. Williams; step-great-grandchildren Jazmin M. Guidry, Taylor M. Miller, and Seoul M. Worrell; half-sisters: Althea Banner, Angela Bailey (James) and Tarvis Parks. Margaret leaves many other loved ones and friends to mourn her loss.

She will be remembered as a strong and intelligent woman who impacted many lives throughout her lifespan. Her remains will be interred with her husband, Roy A. Pryor, at Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Richmond, California. Services will be private.

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report and Public Meetings for the Oakland International Airport Terminal Modernization and Development Project

Project Description: The Oakland International Airport (OAK) Terminal Modernization and Development Project (Proposed Project) is being proposed to address facility safety, efficiency, and modernization needs at OAK. The Proposed Project includes modernizing Terminals 1 and 2, consolidating passenger processing functions (e.g., ticketing, baggage check-in, baggage claim, security screening), constructing expanded international arrivals facilities, constructing a new terminal, relocating existing cargo and support facilities, and improving the terminal area roadway, parking areas (including some relocation), and support facilities. The Proposed Project would result in modernized and expanded facilities and up to 16 net additional gates at OAK.

Environmental Review: The Port of Oakland (Port), as the Lead Agency, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Port invites comments on the Draft EIR and recognizes that additional time may assist the review of the Draft EIR. The Port is voluntarily extending the comment period from 45 days to 60 days; therefore, the public review and comment period will be from July 17, 2023, to September 15, 2023. Comments on the Draft EIR must be received by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on September 15, 2023, via an online form at oaklandairport.com/terminaldevelopment, via email at TermDev@portoakland.com, or via mail to Port of Oakland, Environmental Programs and Planning Division, Colleen Liang, 530 Water Street, Oakland, CA 94607.

The Draft EIR is available for public review at oaklandairport.com/terminaldevelopment

Copies of the Draft EIR are also available for viewing at the following locations:

• Port of Oakland Office Lobby at 530 Water Street

• OAK Administrative Office Lobby at 1 Airport Drive

• Oakland Public Library – Main Library at 125 14th Street; West Oakland Branch at 1801 Adeline Street; 81st Avenue Branch at 1021 81st Avenue; and Melrose Branch at 4805 Foothill Boulevard

• Alameda Free Library – Main Library at 1550 Oak Street

• Berkeley Public Library – Central Library at 2090 Kittredge Street

• Hayward Public Library – Downtown Library at 888 C Street

• Richmond Public Library – Main/Civic Center Library at 325 Civic Center Plaza

• San Leandro Public Library – Main Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue

Public Meetings: The Port is holding four public meetings to share information on the Proposed Project and the Draft EIR and to receive comments on the Draft EIR. Each meeting will include a presentation and an opportunity to provide comments. The public meetings will be held on the dates and times identified below. Spanish and Chinese language interpreters will be available at each public meeting. If additional translation services or other accommodations are needed, please contact Colleen Liang, Port of Oakland, at (510) 563-6444 or TermDev@portoakland.com at least five business days prior to the public meeting for which it is requested.

Virtual Meetings

Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT

Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PDT

Information on accessing the virtual public meetings is available at oaklandairport.com/terminaldevelopment

In-Person Meetings

Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PDT

Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PDT

In-person public meetings will be held at the Hilton Oakland Airport Hotel, International Ballroom, 1 Hegenberger Road, Oakland, CA 94621. Port representatives will be available at poster stations to provide information and answer questions for the first 30 minutes of the meetings. A presentation by the Port will begin 30 minutes after the start of the in-person meetings followed by an open forum for public comment. Information on transit, free parking and on-site childcare, and other logistics is available at oaklandairport.com/terminaldevelopment