Oakland Post, week of July 5 - 11, 2023

‘Black Woman is God’ Returns ... Page 7

California Task Force Delivers 115 Recommendations ... Page 6

102nd

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

Weekly Edition. July 5 - 11, 2023

Fallout from Holy Names University’s Closure Continues

Student Teachers Could Lose Jobs, Quit Teacher Training Unless AG Bonta Intervenes to Protect $55 Million Endowment

Development of Marriott Hotel Tower in Downtown Oakland Forces Closure of Uncle Wille’s BBQ, Owners Say

By Post Staff

Mrs. Mary Lee Hardy, 92

to February of 1990.

Mrs. Hardy was an elegant role model, vibrant, loving, and caring woman. She loved to sing in the choir and help in other areas where she could be a blessing to others. She became a member of the Deltas (Berkeley Bay Area Alumnae Chapter) in 1989.

Holy Names University Board of Directors members Jeanine Hawks and Steven Borg. Post file photo.

Nearly 100 former Holy Names University student teachers are calling on State Attorney General Rob Bonta to make the school’s Board of Trustees use its $55 million endowment to provide scholarships for them to complete their training.

The endowment had been donated to HNU specifically for students planning a career in teaching and

the sudden closing of the school in May left them struggling to find other affordable schools.

These teachers, who have been working in classrooms at schools in Oakland or other East Bay schools, must simultaneously be enrolled in university teacher training programs to earn their credential if they wish to keep their jobs.

When a nonprofit closes, the

Continued on page 8

The family-owned business, Uncle Willie’s Original BBQ and Fish, located at 614 14th St. in downtown Oakland, had served local clientele for decades but has been forced to close by the “arrogant abuse” of the Oakland Marriott Hotel and co-developer Lew Wolff, who have been building an 18-story tower next to the restaurant, according to family members.

The project, which began building several years ago, will provide

OPINION: Supreme Court Denies Affirmative Action for Everyone but the Wealthy and White

By Hon. Barbara Lee

In college admissions, the U.S. Supreme Court sets us back more than four decades.

For generations, affirmative action has been a powerful means of lowering barriers to education for historically marginalized and underrepresented students of color. At its core, it simply aims to remedy the government-sanctioned, decades-long inequality by making race one factor in the college admissions process.

Dismantling these policies will not only have devastating implications for students of color, but for the classrooms at these institutions, which will become devoid of diversity in the lived experience and perspective needed to solve America’s toughest challenges.

Higher education serves as an incubator for the brilliant ideas of tomorrow. Those ideas will now become less diverse.

I’m a graduate of Mills College,

a women’s college in Oakland. There was a time when, as a Black woman, my options for higher education were limited. But because affirmative action successfully addressed the centuries-long discrimination in higher education, I was able to earn my degree while caring for my two children as a single mother on public assistance.

I met my mentor, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm; received my master’s degree in social work; became a successful small business owner; serve in Congress; and ran to be only the third Black woman in our nation’s history to serve in the U.S. Senate.

The list of barriers to higher education is already long, and I fear that with this ruling we are turning

Continued on page 8

Sacramento Observer Named Nation’s Best Black Newspaper

Publication Wins 16 Total Awards; Larry Lee Saluted As ‘Publisher of The Year’

The Sacramento Observer was recognized in grand fashion by winning 16 journalism awards — including the John B. Russwurm Award as America’s best Black newspaper — during the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) annual convention held in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 29.

It was the seventh time in as many years that the newspaper, which began operations in 1962, received top honors among the 200 Black publications in the NNPA.

The Observor Publisher Larry Lee was in attendance at the awards ceremony and thanked The Observor staff for its impactful work during the event.

“I’m so thankful for our team,” Lee said. “Winning awards such as these isn’t possible without a great team, and I will put our team up against any other newsroom in the nation.”

In addition to the Russwurm Award, The Observer took home four first-place awards (Newspaper Excellence, Video Campaign, Special Edition, and Website

Continued

8

276 new guest rooms across from the Elihu M. Harris State Office Building at 1431 Jefferson St.

Family members have now filed a lawsuit against Wolff and the Marriott, saying that during construction of the building, debris, including dangerous objects and dust, have fallen from the building project into the restaurant’s courtyard eating area, forcing Uncle Willie’s to close.

Originally, family members had supported the development

Continued on page 8

Mrs. Mary Lee Hardy was born on Aug. 5, 1931, in Little Rock, Arkansas and passed away in Oakland, California on June 23, 2023. She was 92.

She was, more than anything, a woman of God.

She received an AA degree from West Valley College and Merced Community College and her bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College in Belmont and a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.

She had a long career in workforce development as the executive director of CETA from 1969

She leaves to mourn her four sisters Martha A. Williams, Emma L. Clement, Louberta Swain, Helen Jones Williams: a brother James H. Jones and many nieces, nephews, a host of other relatives, extended family, and many special friends. She will be sorely missed.

The viewing will be held Thursday, July 13 at Fouché’s Hudson Funeral Home, 3665 Telegraph Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Deltas will hold their Omega Omega Ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

The funeral will be held on Friday, July 14 at 11 a.m. at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 6901 Herbert Guice Way, Oakland, the Rev. Frank Darby Jr., Pastor. Interment will follow at Rolling Hills Memorial Park, 4100 Hilltop, Richmond, California.

OPINION: Supreme Court Denies Realities of Racial Bias

By Honorable Sandré R. Swanson

The Supreme Court’s assault on affirmative action in college admissions is proving once again that it is an “Activist Court.”

This ruling is a twisted and nonsensical interpretation of the equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment. The court’s so-called “color-blind” action is a blatant refusal to acknowledge that racial bias still exists today.

This decision and others by this court are a call to action in defense of already decided precedents of equal treatment under the law.

We will not be confused about our responsibility to challenge institutional bias that continues to make difficult the fair consideration of Black, Latino, and all students of color on their merits and abilities. We must continue to demand a level and fair opportunity for college admissions so that our qualified young people can reach their personal best.

The implications of the court’s action will not stop with institutions of higher learning. Make no mistake about it, we have entered a new era for the struggle and fight for our civil rights. This decision will have profound impacts on the social and economic life that affects all of us every day.

It will embolden those comfortable with unequal treatment in our educational institutions and our places of employment. We have to continue our collective rejection of

this court’s decisions that attempt to push us back in time and will challenge next, all of our historic gains of the Civil Rights Movement. We all must remain committed to taking specific actions nationally and in our state to assure opportunities for learning and our affirmative challenge of bias and prejudice in all of its ugly forms.

Let us remember and acknowledge that diversity not only adds to our lives the richness and beauty of our culture. Historically, diversity has significantly contributed to our advancements in science, infrastructure, technology, and the very valuable intellectual properties of our nation. Our insistence on fairness will improve the quality of life for us all.

Note: The Honorable Sandré R Swanson is a former Assemblymember for Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont and a California State Senate 7th District candidate. www.sandreswanson.net

Councilmember Kaplan Congratulates the Oakland Soul Women’s Soccer Team for Advancing to the Playoffs

Office of Councilmember-AtLarge Rebecca Kaplan Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan congratulates the Oakland Soul Soccer team for advancing to the playoffs in their first year playing in the city of Oakland. The Soul team made an incredible and exciting comeback in the second half of the July 2 match against the SF Glens, winning by a final score of 3-1. Read more information about the July 2 game at OaklandSoulsc. com.

“The Oakland Soul Women’s

Soccer Team deserves congratulations! I am so proud of the hard work and dedication the team has shown. This team has displayed immense talent and perseverance, but I know they are not done. Western Conference Semifinals, here we come!” said Kaplan.

“I invite all Oaklanders and neighboring cities to join us in rooting for the Oakland Souls as they advance to the first round of the playoffs this Friday!”

Oakland Soul SC plays the SF Glens on Friday, July 7 at 12:30 p.m. at Skyline College, San Bruno, California.

Kaplan has championed allowing the Oakland Soul and Roots to play at the Oakland Coliseum area. On May 16, 2023, Oakland City Council members wore their Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul gear to express sup-

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Mary Lee Hardy. Courtesy photo.

Sandré R. Swanson. California State Assembly courtesy photo.

Justice for Larry Lovette, Jr. ... Page 8

Mother Vivian Griffin Celebrates

Birthday... Page 4

Lisa Holder, Oakland-based attorney and member of the California Reparations Task Force

Violinist Tarika Lewis, left, and Harpist Destiny Muhammad

By Ken Epstein

(left) Street view of Uncle Willie’s BBQ and Fish on 14th Street in downtown Oakland. Post file photo. (right) The 18-story development by the Marriott and developer Lew Wolff dwarfs Uncle Willie’s BBQ and Fish.

Sacramento Observer Publisher Larry Lee holds the coveted John B. Russwurm trophy for journalism excellence after The OBSERVER won 16 awards during the NNPA Fund 2023 Messenger Awards in Nashville. Courtesy the Sacramento Observer.

Pictured left to right, Oakland City Councilmembers Treva Reid, Dan Kalb, Nikki Fortunato-Bas, Rebecca Kaplan, Carroll Fife, and Kevin Jenkins. Photo courtesy the City of Oakland.

California Black Media Political Roundup

Your roundup of stories you might have missed last week.

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) introduced AB 548, which protects renters by giving more authority to inspectors to ensure safe living conditions.

Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) introduced SB 555 which creates a practical, data-driven masterplan that outlines a plan to produce 1.2 million affordable housing units over the next 10 years.

Attorney General Bonta

Releases 2022 Hate Crime

Report: Blacks Still Most Targeted Group California Attorney General Rob Bonta on June 27 released the 2022 Hate Crime in California Report. The document also highlighted resources to support ongoing efforts across the state to combat hate.

Samuel Jones Sr., 79

Samuel Jones Sr., affectionately known as Sam, departed from his earthly home Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in San Leandro, CA. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Sam graduated from Rochelle High School in Lakeland, Florida.

Gov. Newsom, Legislature

Agree on $310.8 Billion Budget

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature reached an agreement on a state budget totaling $310.8 billion for the 2023-24 fiscal year. It came into effect July 1.

The agreement includes provisions for trailer bills that support clean transportation, expanded Medi-Cal coverage, expedited judicial review, advanced mitigation by Caltrans, the conversion of San Quentin into a rehabilitation center and wildlife crossings on I-15, among other initiatives.

“In the face of continued global economic uncertainty, this budget increases our fiscal discipline by growing our budget reserves to a record $38 billion, while preserving historic investments in public education, health care, climate, and public safety,” said Newsom. Negotiations had been delayed because of Newsom’s demands, including an infrastructure proposal that lawmakers opposed. A compromise was reached by limiting the types of projects eligible for expedited approval permits and excluding a proposed water conveyance tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

“We started our budget process this time around with tough economic challenges, but one overarching goal: to protect California’s progress,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego).

On July 1, California Officially

Recognized Juneteenth as a State Holiday

On July 1, Assembly Bill (AB) 1655, which declares Juneteenth an official California state holiday, took effect.

AB 1655, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer

(D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, was signed into law by Gov. Newsom last September.

On June 19 of next year, California state employees can elect to take the day off work to commemorate the holiday celebrating the emancipation of formerly enslaved Black Americans.

California “Renters Caucus”

Announces Pro-Tenant Bills

On June 29, The California Legislative Renters Caucus — a group of five lawmakers who are all renters — held a press conference to announce a package of bills aimed to protect the rights of tenants in California.

The Renters’ Caucus was formed in 2022 in response to the state’s dire housing crisis. This unique caucus is committed to ensuring that the interests of California’s 17 million renters are represented in state government.

Each member of the caucus is responsible for introducing a bill for consideration.

Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), chair of the Rental Caucus, hosted the press conference and introduced Senate Bill (SB) 555. The bill aims to cap security deposits

by no more than one month’s rent.

“Each of the pieces of our legislative agenda is addressing a different challenge that renters are facing,” said Haney.

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D- Ladera Heights), vice chair of the elections caucus, introduced AB 1248. This bill limits independent redistricting to fight gerrymandering.

Assemblymember Alex Lee (DSan Jose) introduced AB 309. The bill would set eligibility criteria for residents of social housing and establish a lottery system for selecting residents.

In California, hate crime events rose by 20.2% from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022.

Reported hate crimes targeting Black people remain the most prevalent and increased 27.1% from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022, while reported anti-Asian hate crime events decreased by 43.3% from 247 in 2021 to 140 in 2022.

Hate crimes involving sexual orientation bias rose by 29% from 303 in 2021 to 391 in 2022.

“This report is a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done to combat hate in our state. I urge local partners and law enforcement to review these findings and recommit to taking action,” said Bonta. “The alarming increases in crimes committed against Black, LGBTQ+ and Jewish people for the second year in a row illustrates the need for our communities to join together unified against hate.”

Controller Malia Cohen

Updates her Office’s Compensation in Government State Controller Malia M. Co-

In 1963 he earned his Bachelor of Sciences degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.

At FAMU, Sam met the love of his life, Hazel Redden from Arcadia, Florida, whom he married in 1966. The same year, Sam moved to Sonora, California, to begin his first job as a counselor at Five Miles Job Corps Center, where he was joined by his lovely bride.

Seeking new employment and higher horizons, in 1968 the young family moved to Oakland. They were the parents of two successful and productive children: a son, Dr. Samuel Jones, II and Candice Jones Mulder, owner and CEO of J-Vision Educational Services, and artist manager for her actress daughter, Nia Mulder.

Sam and his wife were raised in Christian homes, and they continued this spiritual life by joining Oakland’s Allen Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of J. Alfred Smith Sr. where Sam served God and attended faithfully for more than 50 years until pass-

ing. Sam truly loved his family. Although living in California, he and his family traveled often to Florida, visiting family and friends. They also enjoyed traveling to numerous places, within and outside of the United States.

For 57 years, they enjoyed and lived a wonderful life together.

One of his blessings was seeing his granddaughter, Nia, portraying the role of Young Nala in Disney’s iconic production, “The Lion King.”

In the last five years of his life, Sam’s health began to decline. He was, until his end, a believer, a fighter, and champion.

Sam is survived by his wife, Hazel; son, Dr. Samuel Jones; daughter, Candice Jones Mulder; granddaughter, Nia; son-in-law, Marshawn Mulder; brother-inlaw, Priest Redden; and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

The viewing will be on Monday, July 10 at C.P. Banon Mortuary at 6800 International Blvd., Oakland, California.

Sam’s celebration of life will be held Tuesday, July 11 at 11 a.m. at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd., Oakland, California, 94621

Summer Heat Prompts Rattlesnake Advisory in East Bay Parks

hen published 2022 self-reported payroll data for cities and counties on the Government Compensation in California website. The data cover 688,912 positions and a total of more than $54.65 billion in 2022 wages.

Users of the site can view compensation levels on maps and search by region, narrow results by name of the entity or by job title and export raw data or custom reports.

The data covers 459 cities and 53 counties. The City of Hayward had the highest average city employee wage, followed by Pleasant Hill, Atherton, and Hillsborough.

Topping the list for highest average county employee wage were Alameda, Los Angeles, San Mateo, Monterey, and Sacramento counties.

The highest-salaried city employee in California was the City Manager for the City of Montebello. The top 25 highest-paid county employees work in health care.

notably rattlesnakes, may become more visible along some East Bay park trails due to the summer heat warming up the region.

Snakes typically emerge in warm weather to explore their environment, which can lead to more encounters with humans and dogs, according to the East Bay Regional Park District.

Due to this, the Park District advises that visitors avoid hiking alone so you’ll have help in case of an emergency; scan the ground ahead of them as they walk, jog or ride, and to stay on trails and avoid walking in tall grass; look carefully around and under logs and rocks before sitting down; avoid placing hands or feet where one cannot see clearly; and, for maximum safety, consider keeping dogs on a leash.

If you see a rattlesnake, leave it alone. Wait for it to cross and do not approach, then move carefully and slowly away, park officials said.

If bitten by one, stay calm by lying down with the affected limb lower than the heart, and send someone to call 911. Do not spend time on tourniquets, “sucking,” or snake bite kits, state park officials. If by yourself, walk calmly to the

nearest source of help to dial 911, but do not run.

If bitten by any other kind of snake, wash the wound with soap and water or an antiseptic and seek medical attention, park officials add. Check the bite for two puncture marks (in rare cases, one puncture mark) associated with intense, burning pain, which is typical of a rattlesnake bite. Other snakebites may leave multiple teeth marks without associated burning pain, according to park district officials.

“Snakes are an important resource in the natural environment,” the Park District states. “They are prime controlling agents of rodents, insects, and other reptile populations.

“Enjoy them from afar and leave them where they are found. It is illegal to collect, kill, or remove any plants or animals from the Park District. Please help us to protect wildlife and their environment for present and future generations.”

For more information, download the Park District’s Common Snakes brochure or watch its Gopher Snake or Rattlesnake video. Additional information is available at 0nline at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters.

Los Angeles Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced the legislation that made Juneteenth a state holiday. Official portrait.

Samuel Jones Sr.

Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) . Photo: sd10.senate.ca.gov.

Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), chair of the Rental Caucus.

Rattlesnake. Photo by Kevin Dixon for The Richmond Standard. Snakes,

COMMENTARY: A New Verse of “We Shall Overcome” in Civil Rights 2.0

tor General of the United States, who said that the Equal Protection Clause only binds state actors and not private institutions like Harvard.

So, can Harvard, a private institution, violate the Equal Protection Clause?

By Emil Guillermo

If you felt more vulnerable this July Fourth, you weren’t imagining things. You had more rights last week than you did on America’s birthday.

That’s thanks to the black robes of SCOTUS.

With a series of 6-3 opinions, the U.S. Supreme Court showed how far the conservative court will go to protect a dwindling white majority.

Pretty far.

Want a website for your gay wedding? No business open to the public can be forced to do one for you. In fact, any business can now legally discriminate and exclude you, if they can show it’s a matter of their free speech versus your public accommodation. The court ruled bigoted free speech wins.

Then there’s help on student loan debt. Sorry, you have to pay up. Unless you’re like a bank that passed out bad mortgages in 2008, no one’s bailing you out.

And if you were a person of color qualified to go to an Ivy league school, the laws that might have helped last week, no longer apply. And please don’t tell us what color you are. The court has told schools to be colorblind and indifferent to race.

Justice got a little harder to achieve if you aren’t white, straight, and rich.

That’s the takeaway after the high court’s grand finale. With all the news the court’s been making on its lack of ethics involving tens of thousands of dollars from billionaire right-wing donors, the current SCOTUS has proven to be more venal, human, and political than any of us could have imagined.

It’s not the elevated dispassionate body thought to rule with a sense of high-minded legal scholarship and a healthy respect for precedent.

No, the court is right there in the swamp with everything else in DC, a SCOTUS forged by politics and bias.

And if you don’t vote, it’s the court we deserve.

Want a better SCOTUS?

You’ve got to register and vote.

Now, after 50 years of progress moving toward a more just society, America has a 6-3 rollback court that we should have seen coming. It started last June with Dobbs v.

Jackson and the reversal on abortion.

And now it’s unsettling other aspects of our settled lives.

They’re making us go down the mountain and climb back up, singing “We shall overcome” all over again.

Don’t Blame Asian Americans

On the big issue of affirmative action, we all need to be clear. The case of Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard University was not a victory for Asian Americans.

Despite the plaintiffs being Asian Americans in this case, most Asian Americans in this country were in favor of affirmative action.

If you want to point fingers, make sure you’ve got it pointing to the man who founded SFFA, and remains its leader. He’s not an Asian American, it’s the white man wearing the horned crown, Edward Blum.

Blum (rhymes with fume) is a non-lawyer, but a persistent anticivil rights activist funded by the right wing, whose life is committed to filing lawsuit after lawsuit to undo the last 50 years. He’s made a career of neutering the Voting Rights Act and affirmative action.

Blum brought another case, Fisher v. University of Texas, before the high court in 2016 but lost. His error was using a white, female plaintiff to front the lawsuit. This time he found Asians rejected from Harvard and used them as his ‘yellow face’ to pit Asians (Blum) vs. Blacks and Latinix. And it worked.

Chief Justice John Robert’s opinion was just wrong, beginning with his application of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to strike down the use of race.

“The Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause,” wrote Roberts. “Both programs lack sufficiently focused and measurable objectives warranting the use of race, unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful end points.

End points? Do you mean the meter’s running on justice and fairness and at some point, racists just need to run out the clock?

The use of the Equal Protection Clause got the attention of Neal Katyal, former acting Solici-

“Legally, that’s just impossible,” said Katyal, a law school professor of more than 20 years in an interview on MSNBC. By virtue of taking federal funds Harvard could be in violation of Title VI, a federal statute, Katyal said. “But Harvard certainly didn’t violate the Constitution.”

At least Roberts didn’t formally overturn existing laws. He just removed a key single piece from the equation — race.

But Roberts did allow for a loophole:

“Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise,” Roberts wrote. “In other words, the student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual — not on the basis of race.”

Well of course, for one, that would be a First Amendment issue and Roberts didn’t want to mess with that.

Justice Sotomayor said it was like “putting lipstick on a pig.” But the fact is, if you want to go to Harvard, tell your story. That hasn’t changed in 50 years.

That’s how I got in.

The Power of Affirmative Action

Frankly, the ruling made me feel a little guilty. Could I have done something to save affirmative action — more than 50 years ago?

Chief Justice John Roberts was at Harvard the same time I was there. He was just a kid and robeless back in the ’70s. But my mere presence at “that school in Boston” did not persuade young Roberts of the merits of diversity or the mutual benefits of having an underprivileged Filipino kid as part of the student body.

Because I was not just there to take. I was there to give — to America’s future leaders, like Roberts, a real world understanding beyond white preppie-dom, and to help him build the kind of empathy he’d need to have as a chief justice of the United States.

Had I succeeded — had our paths crossed — maybe Roberts would not have written such a terrible opinion that set back progress in higher education nearly 50 years.

SCOTUS just forced our hand. But there are more of us now. And we’re diverse.

Get ready for Civil Rights 2.0.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. His “Emil Amok” monologues are on YouTube and on www.amok.com.

ADULT DAY PROGRAM

Dedicated staff needed to work with individuals with developmental disabilities in community-based settings, or environments.

Qualifications: High school or equivalent. Driver’s license. Dependable and efficient. Background check. Physical exam and TB test. Training available. Decent wages. Please call (510) 690-9570.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Independent Watchdog Committee reviews Alameda County Transportation Commission 2000 Measure B expenditures and 2014 Measure BB expenditures and performance measures. The IWC invites the public to comment on its Draft 21st Annual Report to the Public at a public hearing on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. Check the Alameda CTC website using the link listed below for the location of the public hearing. The draft report is available on the Alameda CTC website at https://www.alamedactc.org/ all-meetings/. For more information, please call 510.208.7400.

Is Due:’

Task Force Delivers 115 Recommendations in Final Report

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

The California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans delivered its final report to the California Legislature two days before the July 1 deadline.

The nine-member committee submitted a 1075-page, brownand-gold hardcover book with a comprehensive reparations plan that includes more than 115 recommendations and a survey.

Published by the California Department of Justice, the report documents the harms enslaved ancestors of Black Californians experienced during chattel slavery and the Jim Crow laws that followed. It also details the history of discriminatory state policies in California.

Attorney Kamilah V. Moore, the task force chairperson, provided a summary of the group’s activities over the last two years leading up to the compilation of the firstin-the nation report addressing the effects of slavery.

“As you all know, this illustrious nine-member California Reparations Task Force has been working diligently over a course of two years, not only to study the enumerable atrocities against the African American community with special considerations for those who are descendants of persons in slavery in the United States,” Moore said.

“Obviously, we’ve been working diligently to develop numerous policy prescriptions to end what we consider to be lingering badges of slavery in California as well,” Moore added.

Ironically, the Task Force’s last meeting happened the day the U.S. Supreme Court prohibited the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions. A couple of task force members addressed the decision before the meeting but stayed focused on the release of the report.

Each page of the report explains reparations, evidence of past aggressions and systemic racism, and recommendations for restitution and atonement.

The report is 40 chapters, beginning with an introduction; followed by evidence of Enslavement; Racial Terror; Political Disenfranchisement; Housing

Segregation; Separate and Unequal Education; Racism in the Environment and Infrastructure; Pathologizing the African American Family; Control Over Creative, Cultural, and Intellectual Life; Stolen Labor; and Hindered Opportunity.

“I would like to commend Gov. Gavin Newsom for making this Task Force a reality, Secretary of State Shirley Weber for authoring the legislation creating this Task Force, and each and every member of the Reparations Task Force who has worked tirelessly over the past two years,” said Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus in a statement.

“The findings are clear. Lawmakers must take direct and determinative action to address the vast racial inequality which exists in California today,” Wilson said. “The California Legislative Black Caucus looks forward to partnering with the Newsom administration and our colleagues in the Legislature as we look towards the coming Legislative Session.”

Additionally, recommendations made by the task force include a request for a formal apology from the state and acknowledgment of discrimination against the descendants of enslaved Blacks.

“This work has been relentless, has been meticulous (and) it is unassailable,” Oakland-based civil rights attorney and task force member Lisa Holder said. “It has been a work of a collective. We partnered with the Department of Justice, we partnered with hundreds of scholars, and we partnered with the community.

“Public commenters and participants in listening sessions who poured out their hearts and souls told us some of the most devastating stories of racial discrimination. They shared their pain and made themselves vulnerable during this process.”

The task force decided on March 30, 2022, that lineage will determine who will be eligible for compensation, specifically, individuals who are Black descendants of enslaved people in the United States. If reparations become law, a proposed California American Freedmen Affairs Agency would be responsible for identifying past harms and preventing future occurrences.

The specialized office, with additional branches across the state, would facilitate claims for restitution, process claims with the state, and assist claimants in proving eligibility through a “genealogy” department.

Marcus Champion, a board member of the National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants Los Angeles (NAASDLA) and the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC), is a longtime reparations supporter and one of the activists who worked with Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber when she was an Assemblymember to make Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, the law that established the task force, a reality.

Speaking at a CJEC gathering in North Sacramento after the final task force meeting, Champion said now is the time to persuade the Legislature to make reparations law.

“For us, on the ground as grassroots (organizations), we are about to start putting the pressure on the legislators to make sure that the words are right,” Champion told California Black Media.

“We’re about to make sure the community’s eligibility is right, make sure that there are cash payments, and make sure that this is not watered down and that this is real reparations.”

The 16th and final Task Force meeting was held in the First Floor Auditorium of the March Fong Eu Secretary of State Building in Sacramento on June 29. The facility was filled with an overflow of people waiting in the lobby and outside of the building.

All nine members of the task force were present as well as some of the speakers who testified before the panel over the last two years. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, and Weber also spoke during the three-hour event.

“The policies and laws of this nation have affected every state and many instances beyond the state. It’s important to let people know that reparation is due whether you’re in Mississippi or you’re in California,” Weber said. “Reparation is due because the harm has been done. And we need to begin to repair the harm and stop patching it up as we’ve done for many years.”

Photo: iStockphoto

‘Black Woman is God’ is Back for the Fourth Year

By Daisha Williams

The Black Woman is God (TBWIG) opened its yearly art exhibit with a reception in downtown San Francisco on June 29.

The event featured food, music, and community, and plenty of space to admire the art on display.

This year’s theme is Motherhood and the pieces exploring the ways Black mothers show up, as well as the ways they don’t, but honoring it all.

In line with the theme, mothers were encouraged to bring their children to the event, emphasizing that this space was for everyone.

One of the artists, Marissa Atterberry, said, “It felt amazing to create with motherhood in mind and create something that was inclusive of myself as a whole person and inclusive of my children and then to step into a space that was inclusive of children. But for Karen Seneferu [the founder] to say ‘bring the children, honor the children,’ it felt really good.”

Seneferu, the founder of TBWIG had also ensured that the event was spiritual in nature, with attendees performing a ritual and stating intentions upon entering, and opened with a prayer and a blessing, setting up positive energy that lasted the whole evening.

TBWIG celebrates Black women and their art through this annual exhibit. The intent of these events is to show that they are moving past embattled ideologies and reclaiming the legacy of Black women artists.

Black women have contributed so much to society, yet they are of-

ten not celebrated openly, which is why events like this, seeing them as art and artists, celebrating their beauty, grace, and influence, is so important.

The venue at 231 Grant St. was smaller than in previous years — this is the event’s second year since the pandemic — which made the environment cozy and welcoming, like a family atmosphere.

This doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a good turnout though, as the room filled up within an hour after opening. Zoe Jung talked about the strong sense of community he felt as an attendee. “There was a sense of camaraderie between the musicians and the artists and even the people walking through.”

Seneferu is an artist herself. She says she hopes that she can transform the meaning of space for Black women by creating one that

Black Caucus Members Welcome New Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas

belongs to them.

She intentionally puts artists of different experience levels in the exhibit to show the historical legacy of Black women artists. “I just felt so deeply honored and humbled, and I have a lot of family photos in the altar that I created, and I just loved seeing people go up and see my family and hopefully see some of their own family in my family.”

The reception was a lively space. From the minute of opening, people mingled while still taking the time and space to appreciate the art.

The art, the people and the music together made for a beautiful experience.

Harpist Destiny Muhammad and violinist Tarika Lewis played duets shifting the focus and spotlight away from the walls.

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

The California Assembly ushered in new leadership with the swearing in of Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) at the State Capitol in Sacramento on June 30.

Rivas replaces Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), the outgoing Speaker who presided over the Assembly for the last seven years.

Rivas is the 71st Speaker of the state Legislature’s lower house. Known for being a pragmatic coalition builder, Rivas’ rise to power has been steady, colleagues say, since he was first elected to the State Assembly in 2018.

After being sworn in, Rivas informed the 79 other members of the Assembly that his leadership, which he says will benefit everyone, will be characterized by “urgency and unity” as his top priorities.

“California is still the greatest state in the union. But if we in this room do not act, and do not act with greater urgency, it will get more and more difficult to build a good life here,” Rivas said. “I feel, and I know that you all do, too, a great sense of responsibility because we are the ones who can keep the door open for the next generation.”

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11), U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (DCA-18), Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass were among politicians, state officials, family members, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and others present to witness 43-year-old Rivas take his oath of office.

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) said the day celebrates “the new season of leadership under the Honorable Robert Rivas” and all members of the Assembly’s hearts “should be filled with joy” about a man who came from humble beginnings.

“On behalf of the Black caucus, congratulations on your success,” Wilson, the chairperson of the CLBC said to Rivas. “We look forward to working with you on monumental legislation to ensure equity for all and continue dismantling systematic discrimination and racism.”

Civil rights icon and labor rights advocate Dolores Huerta, Rivas’ mother Mayra Flores, his grandmother and about 30 farmworkers from his district were “scattered throughout the chamber” to see the swearing-in ceremony along with his wife, Christen, and their daughter Melina, Rivas said.

The three African American state Constitutional officers Controller Malia Cohen, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and

Secretary of State Shirley Weber also attended the proceedings on the Assembly floor.

Raised in Paicines, a small town in San Benito County with a population of under 700 people, Rivas says he watched his grandfather as a child stand side by side with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers (UFW) as a leader in the movement that won equal rights and fair contracts for farmworkers.

Rivas attended local public schools in San Juan Bautista and Hollister. During his inaugural speech, he mentioned that along with his mother and brother, he once shared a house of “three beds” with five other family members, including his cousins.

In 1988, Rivas’s grandparents, aunts and uncles pooled together money to purchase a small house for $140,000 in the city of Hollister, a community established by ranchers and farmers in 1872.

“It was a massive investment, but it was doable,” Rivas remembered his family’s ambition to own a home of their own. “It gave us a sense that our future was not so precarious and that there was a place for us in in the greatest state

in the country in California.”

Rivas graduated with a bachelor’s degree in government from California State University Sacramento and later earned a master’s degree in public administration from San Jose State University.

A lifelong resident of the 29th Assembly district, Rivas served two terms on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors prior to becoming an Assemblymember in 2018.

During his first term in the Fall of 2020, Rivas was appointed the Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and elected as ViceChair of the influential Latino Legislative Caucus.

Rivas’ priorities are directed at tackling California’s housing and homelessness crisis, battling climate change, and enhancing public services and infrastructure.

“I am excited for the future of this body and even more excited for the future of this great state with Robert as our speaker,” said Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), who is also a member of the CLBC. “So, congratulations to our speaker designate and my good friend Robert Rivas.”

VETERANS OF OAKLAND CALIFORNIA

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2727, located in Oakland, CA is seeking new members to join its Post.

Must meet eligibility as follows:

1. Proof of Service by providing a copy of your DD Fm 214

2. Must have been awarded a recognized campaign medal or badge

3. Served in Korea between 30 June 1949 until present, or earned Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Pay as evidenced by your DD Form 214.

4. Overseas service in hostile areas.

If eligible, Post 2727 will pay the membership fee for the pt 2 years of your membership.

For more eligibility details and to apply, please contact one of the following individuals: Arthur Butler, 253-343-8554

Aumont Phipps 510-677-4843

Al Dean 510-332-2891

Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) thanks Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas’ wife, Christen, for being patient with him while he represents his community in the Assembly. CBM photo by Robert Maryland.

Entry to The Black Woman Is God exhibit in downtown San Francisco on June 29. Photo by Daisha Williams.

Violinist Tarika Lewis, left, and Harpist Destiny Muhammad, both of Oakland performed at the Fourth Annual The Black Woman Is God opening reception on June 29. Photo by Zoe Jung.

Ten Years After His Death, Family of Larry Lovette Jr. Seeks Justice

Supreme Court Denies Affirmative Action ...

Continued from page 1

back the clock, and a generation of talented young people of color may not be given the same opportunities that I had.

For those reasons and more, I’ve fought hard to uphold affirmative action. California’s Proposition 209, which effectively banned affirmative action across our state’s public education systems, was a harmful policy that deprived countless students of color the opportunity to study at some of the greatest academic institutions in the world.

In 2020, I fought for the reversal of Prop 209, but it sadly failed.

legacy admissions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh knows this intimately, as a legacy admission to Yale.

Judge Clarence Thomas was an affirmative action admission as well. Yet, they are denying future generations their same opportunities, and making the application of a first-generation college student from an immigrant family less notable than the child of a fifthgeneration Yale graduate from a wealthy family.

In the spirit of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent on the ruling, preventing the consideration of race does not end racism, and deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life. We do not live in a colorblind society.

Fallout from Holy Names Closure...

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Attorney General decides on the dispensation of remaining funds.

As suggested by its very name, the leaders of a “nonprofit” must not be allowed to “profit” from its closure.

Although the school has closed, HNU’s Board of Directors has not been disbanded and still has responsibilities to fulfill.

In a letter to Bonta dated June 26, the students wrote: “At the time of our enrollment, we were provided with the ‘Logan Scholarship,’ which paid approximately half of our tuition.

Barbara Parker sent a letter dated May 8 to Bonta “to request that (he) object to any proposal from Holy Names University for the distribution of HNU’s $55 million endowment that is contrary to its declared purpose for education in Oakland.

“We … are concerned about the students who have been relying on scholarships from funds controlled by HNU to pursue their teaching degrees (“Logan Scholarships”) and seek to ensure that the funding for local teacher training will continue, even (though) the Board chooses to dissolve the University.”

Special to The Post

It has been 10 years since Larry Lovette Jr. was taken away from the people who love him most. On the afternoon of Jan. 11, 2013, Larry was brutally murdered in the 4000 block of Canon Ave. Known as a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and a guardian who would keep everyone from harm, his passing has left a void in his family.

His sister said, “Ten years of living day-by-day not knowing who was involved in taking the life of our loved one, causes great stress and discomfort. We walk in faith, not fear! The unknown created a difficult space to trust anyone, we can’t move forward with our lives without knowing. We heard so many stories, but we need to know the truth. Who is responsible for taking Larry’s life on Jan. 11, 2013, at approximately 3 p.m. and why?”

The Family Support Advocates join with Lovette’s grieving family and loved ones in their pursuit of justice. “We, the family of Larry Lovette Jr., are pleading for your help. Anyone with information regarding this case, come forward and remain completely anonymous. We’re not the only family going through this. If Larry was your friend or family and you know

something, we’re asking you to do the very least he would have done for you if you were in this situation. Give his family justice and closure, because like I said if Larry loved you, you knew it ... AND THAT’S FOR SURE!!!”

Anyone in the community with information about Larry’s murder is asked to contact the Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or the TIP LINE at (510) 238-7950. CrimeStoppers of Oakland is offering a reward for an arrest in this case. #JusticeforLarry.

FAMILY SUPPORT

ADVOCACY TASK FORCE

The mission of the Family Support Advocacy Task Force, a committee of the Violence Prevention Coalition, is to advocate for local, state and federal policies and legislation to enhance and expand support to families and friends of those who experienced violence; for more compassionate and transparent communication between law enforcement, the district attorney with the family of homicide victims and to push for the elimination of all violence, but particularly gun violence and homicides.

I argued against the banning of affirmative action before the UC Board of Regents years ago, and since that policy went into effect, the share of Black, Latino and Native American students has fallen significantly.

California has a difficult relationship with race. Despite being one of the most progressive states in the country, we struggle with racial inequality of epic proportions.

Ironically, [June 29] the California Reparations Task Force completed the report they were commissioned to produce. I was the only member of Congress to testify in front of the task force, and yesterday’s ruling affirms the need for their work toward an effort to repair the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow and systemic racism, and for my continued effort at the federal level to establish a Commission on Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation.

While the country mourns the end of affirmative action in higher education, let’s be clear: The Supreme Court did not strike down affirmative action for everyone. It was just taken away for everyone that’s not wealthy and white.

For many wealthy white students, it still exists in the form of

After two days of unrest in the French cities of Amiens, Annecy, Bordeaux, Dijon, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Pau, Roubaix, Saint-Etienne, Toulouse, Tourcoing, Merzouk’s grandmother called for calm but the expression of outrage against police continued.

Some stores were looted, garbage cans and trucks and cars set on fire, with damages countrywide amounting to $1 billion.

Police Slaying of Teenager Outrages

French People of Color

By Kitty Kelly-Epstein

Reminiscent of the Black Lives

Matter protests over police killings of unarmed citizens in the U.S., France has been in the throes of national unrest in the wake of the police slaying of Nahel Merzouk in a Parisian suburb on June

27.

The police killing of Nahel, a 17-year-old French citizen of Algerian and Moroccan descent who lived in Naterre, one of France’s mostly Black and Brown cities, has led to days of protest all over France. Merzouk was shot in the chest at point-blank range at a traffic stop.

Merzouk’s slaying became a rallying cry among minority youth in France in much the same way that George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, had in 2020.

“We don’t forget, we don’t forgive,” crowds in Naanterre chanted as they denounced Merzouk’s slaying.

French President Emanuel Macron said the shooting death was “inexcusable and unforgiveable,” a rare response from authorities.

Two policemen on motorcycles

chased Merzouk last Tuesday when they saw him driving a yellow Mercedes through bus lanes and didn’t stop until traffic blocked his progress.

The policeman who shot Merzouk initially reported that he had feared for his and his partner’s life, presenting as if the driver was going to run them over.

But the story changed when video of the incident and witness statements fully contradicted the policeman’s assertions: Merzouk was shot at point-blank range at the driver’s side window and the video recorded a threat to shoot the victim.

“You are going to get a bullet in the head,” a voice is heard saying in the video, National Public Radio reported. And as the car moves forward, a single shot is heard.

On June 29, the officer was taken into custody where prosecutors have announced a preliminary charge of voluntary manslaughter. The officer has also apologized to the youth’s family. Merzouk was an only child, studying to be an electrician, and in the words of his mother, “My best friend.”

Systemic racism is not an abstract idea. For the far right, it is intentional, deliberate and strategic. Their efforts to ban books, erase history and simply deny students of color entry into the building is a coordinated effort to uphold white supremacy.

Education has always been the great equalizer, which is why, for centuries, people of color were systematically shut out of educational opportunities. [Last] Thursday’s decision is simply one more part of this effort and, ultimately, lays the groundwork to undermine Brown v. Board of Education, which began the dismantling of Jim Crow.

The remnants of Jim Crow laws and the chains of slavery were meant to be broken, not meant to take new forms. Affirmative action is a crucial tool to not only incentivize racial diversity on our college campuses, but level the playing field for all those in pursuit of the American dream.

This opinion was originally published in the Sacramento Bee on July 1.

Showers for the Unhoused

“This was very important to us because the funds available for becoming a teacher are very limited, and in order to be employed, we need to be enrolled in a credential program. For many of us, the other half of the tuition was paid by federal grants.”

The letter continued: “We are not affluent people. Most of us are teachers of color and/or firstgeneration college students, and many of us have chosen to serve in our own communities …We had no idea Holy Names was closing. In order to remain employed, we are required to enroll in a different credential program, and in every case the tuition is higher because the Logan (Scholarship) is not available.”

In a public email, Helen Ghebreyesus, an art teacher at an East Oakland elementary school who helped organize the teacher letter to Bonta, said, “We are now without the scholarship and without a university, which has created a financial hurdle and forced some of our peers to leave the profession ... Allowing us teachers to use a portion of the funds to pay tuition, will help us to continue to serve our community and students.”

Backing concerns raised by the teachers, Oakland leaders Mayor Sheng Thao and City Attorney

Marriott Hotel Tower ...

Continued from page 1

“We were looking forward to (the development), but they didn’t really give us any consideration,” said a family member. “We were assured that during this development, our business and our property wouldn’t be impacted. That just wasn’t the reality.”

The letter points out that while part of HNU’s closure plan would allow former HNU students to attend an academic program at Dominican College in San Rafael, these programs and those at other Bay Area universities are too costly for many of the students.

“We understand that 100% of HNU’s undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid, and about 30% are first generation college students from underserved communities. Statistically, these students are unlikely to be able to continue their education at Dominican given the economic hardships the commute presents, and many may discontinue college altogether as a result. These students will be left with college debt and no college degree.”

Because HNU “has not yet been required to seek a decree from Superior Court for its proposed distribution plan, we do not know the Board’s true intentions for its $55 million endowment, the city letter said. “However, we have heard that the Board is making plans to distribute HNU’s endowment outside of Oakland, and perhaps even outside of California for non-educational uses.

“If this is true, such a plan wholly disregards HNU’s declared purpose, violates California’s public policy, and fails the very community it purports to serve.”

were, “Protect and keep what we have, and that’s what I’m trying do,” said Craig Jones in an interview with NBC Bay Area.

In a Youtube video, (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=sh8sN1KEELk), family members tell how they lost their ‘legacy.’

More than 3,600 people have been detained in the country, most of them young Black and Brown youth like Nahel, whose funeral was July 1.

The response to the young people’s rebellion by agents of the French government has been the expression of more racism.

Two police unions issued a joint statement calling people in Black and Brown neighborhoods “vermin.” In one suburb, a Right-wing deputy has demanded to change the name of the “Angela Davis School,” because she supported the right of Muslim women to wear the hijab or veil.

A fundraising page for the officer showed that 85,000 people donated a total of $1.7 million, while 21,000 made $450,000 for Merzouk.

And French protesters are already being sentenced in an “expedited process.” One 58-year-old man was sentenced to a year in prison for picking up items off the pavement three hours after a store was looted. By comparison, during the same month a white man who sexually abused his granddaughters received a suspended sentence and no jail time.

Many in France’s Black and Brown communities are descendants of people from the French colonies who were encouraged to move to France to rebuild the country after World War II.

Dignity on Wheels, a mobile hygiene service program run by WeHOPE, celebrated its 150,000th shower for the unhoused population in the Bay Area. Since its creation in 2015, the program has expanded to include mobile laundry services and a mobile health clinic. WeHOPE also launched a new office in Oakland at West Side Mission Baptist Church, which will offer case management services to clients. Additionally, a new Point of Distribution (POD) workflow will equip and deploy their trucks and trailers to reach surrounding areas with Dignity on Wheels services.

Sacramento Observer

Named Best Black Newspaper ...

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Excellence), seven second-place awards (Entertainment; Instagram Campaign; Business; Health; Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle; Layout & Design; and Editorial

Uncle Willie’s was located in the city’s Black Arts Movement Business District, which was created by the city in 2016 to support and encourage small Black businesses in the downtown area, but the city never implemented the resolution.

Uncle Willie, a Parish, Texas, native, moved to Oakland in 1970 after serving in Air Force during the Vietnam War. He passed his seasoning, smoking meats and homemade BBQ sauce-making skills to his son Craig Jones and nephew Nichalas Breland, who make ribs, brisket, chicken, and homemade beef links.

“My dad, when he was transitioning, his last few words to me

Oakland Soul Women’s Soccer Team ...

Continued from page 1

port of the organization’s collaboration with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) to bring soccer to the Oakland Coliseum area, including a new women’s professional soccer team with the USL Super League.

Additionally, on May 19, 2023,

& Opinion) and three third-place awards (Environment, Facebook Campaign and Community Service). Of note, The Observer won an award in every digital category.

Lee was also saluted by his fellow publishers by being named Publisher of the Year — an award that moved him to tears.

“Being honored by your peers is very special, because I know what

According to news reports, Wolff is chairman & CEO of Wolff Urban Development, LLC, a real estate acquisition, investment, development, and management firm. Since 1994, Wolff has served as chairman of Maritz, Wolff & Co., a privately held hotel investment group that owns and manages assets for top-tier luxury hotels, with over $1.0 billion of assets under management.

Since 1968, Wolff has developed over 4,000,000 square feet of urban real estate, including hotels, office space, retail, town homes, and commercial parking properties.

By the Oakland Post’s deadline, the newspaper had not received a reply for a request for a comment from Wolff or Marriott.

in her role representing the Oakland community as the Chair of the Coliseum Authority Board, she and her colleagues on the Oakland Alameda County Authority (OACCA) voted in favor of directing staff to undertake the process to allow the Oakland Roots and Soul to play at the Oakland Arena Area.

From the media office of Oakland City Councilperson At-Large Rebecca Kaplan.

you all go through,” he told the hundreds in attendance.

The NNPA awards comes on the heels of The Observer also being named the third-best weekly newspaper in the entire state of California by the California Newspaper Publishers Association last month.

Larry Lovette. Courtesy photo.

Nahel Merzouk. Wikimedia photo.

Alicia Garcia, Chief Operating Officer, Anita Blount-Dao, Director Mobile Homeless Services, Rev Ken Chambers, Community Leader, Pastor Paul Bains, President WeHOPE